Whoop! I've finally got round to writing another chapter! Sorry for the extended wait. I've had ze mocks examens on! :( They suck. On the Brightside...I have no school tomorrow! Doublegoodwhoop! (now I sound like I'm in 1984! :D) cos i gots not exams on that day. Revision though which is poo.
Hope you enjoy the chapter and it has enough drama and angst in :) I want to eat pancakes. :/
Arthur was wracking his brains in an effort to come up with a way; a way that would make his father pay for what he'd done. So far he had nothing. He could not think of anything that would suffice as revenge for the crimes he'd committed. There was not a chance of the prince just leaving it however, Uther would have his comeuppance.
He and Merlin had travelled slowly up to the castle after their argument and then reconciliation. For the most part they'd walked in silence, just enjoying each other's company and the beautiful morning which had broken through the dreary night. Occasionally they exchanged a few words but it was simpler not to. They had a lot of other things on their minds.
Once they reached the castle, they had gone their separate ways: Merlin back to Gaius' chambers and Arthur to the royal wing of the castle in search of his father. The young man wanted to have words. Now he couldn't think of what he wanted to say or do, though, and he was drawing ever closer to Uther's chambers. Maybe he should just wing it – be spontaneous and just say what came to his head in the heat of the moment. That may not work to his advantage, he may find himself speechless in the face of some of his father's colder, unfeeling words and that would not achieve anything. He should really plan. The young man had paused in the corridor and that's where he was now – pondering.
Merlin's heart was feeling considerably lighter than it had been in months. He walked with a spring in his step. His head was fuzzy with the euphoria of discovering his master's feelings for him. Now he held a better outlook on the world – the future didn't look quite as bleak. Yes, he would still have to see Uther everyday and withstand his lewd comments and disgusting manner. Merlin was sure that he would be haunted by those dark memories for the rest of his life, that couldn't be changed, but maybe, with Arthur on side, he could try and move on. Push the memories to the back corner of his mind.
The manservant was pondering how he would inform his carer and mentor, Gaius, of his newfound relationship with Arthur. He doubted whether his uncle would ever believe it. In anyone else's eyes the length of their bond would be absurd. It wasn't that gay relationships weren't permitted in Camelot – not like magic – it's that they were rare and usually secret. For the Prince to take part in such a relationship, that wouldn't go down well. He was meant to find a girl, marry her and have lots of little babies (preferably sons). However, if Arthur was being sincere in his love for Merlin, that didn't seem likely. But they would face that hurdle when it came. No use worrying now.
As he pushed the door to the physician's quarters open, he frowned. There was no one there. He couldn't see the old doctor anywhere. Strange. At this time in the morning, Gaius would usually be pottering around getting medicines and salves ready for his patients during the day. But for some reason or other he wasn't. Therefore it seemed Merlin wouldn't be telling his guardian his news yet.
Feeling suddenly exhausted after the night's adventures, the raven haired boy wandered slowly over to his bedroom door. The small flight of steps up to the room looked like a mini-mountain in his tired eyes and he had to drag his leaden legs up with dogged determination. Thinking of collapsing onto his bed was all that was on his mind, so when he walked into the room he took a few seconds to register there was someone standing there already. Merlin blinked twice, startled.
Uther's silvery grey hairs caught the sunlight streaming in through a high window and shimmered like the scales of a fish. His eyes glittered with excitement when he spotted Merlin. The warlock was too stunned to move or say anything. That gave the King time to stride across the room and grab the youth, forcing him back against the wall. Needless to say, Merlin struggled but Uther was strong and driven by lust and could not be stopped.
To stop the manservant from squirming annoyingly in his grip, the older man brought one hand up to his neck and held it there, crushing his windpipe. Merlin choked, his breathing becoming more difficult. With the rest of his body, Uther pushed his weight into his victim – pinning him in place. Merlin could feel hot, stale breath on his face and cringed visibly. Not only that, but he could feel the King's very hard erection pressing into his thigh.
"So nice of you to join me, boy," Uther said, his voice laced with desire. Merlin wanted to be sick. "I've been waiting ages and you didn't come. But now you're here." A twisted smile made its way onto the man's face. "We can finish what we started that night my son discovered us."
"No," Merlin whispered with what little breath he could squeeze from his lungs.
"You will do what I say," Uther practically growled – he was an animal now, an animal that needed quenching. "I am King and if you do not comply I will kill you."
The warlock was torn between the options, although he had little desire to die, he believed that even that would be better than this. Before he could voice his opinion, however, Uther had latched onto his throat, biting hard and drawing blood. Obviously all the sexual pressure had become too much for him. Merlin let out a hiss of pain. In times before, Uther's intentions on him had been purely clinical and for the King's own pleasure. Now he was doing something else. He actually wanted Merlin – all of him. There was no way that the boy would reciprocate; once again he wriggled but to no avail.
"If you will not comply, I will take you by force." Uther seemed to have rethought his previous ultimatum, realising that he would be able to have the manservant if he killed him. "But you will tell my son nothing of this. Ever. Do you understand?" Merlin merely gurgled incoherently, his throat had become even more constricted in the King's fist and his face was now as white as a sheet with a blue tint. Uther ignored that fact and returned to his savage attack on the boy's face and neck.
With his other hand, he reached down between their bodies and shoved his hand in Merlin's trousers. His wandering hand found a flaccid member. Frowning with irritation, the older man attempted to stroke it into an erection. Nothing happened.
"Get off me!" Merlin begged, finally managing to speak through his predicament. Once again he tried to push Uther's large frame off him, his weak arms pressing feebly into his assailant's sturdy stomach. It had crossed the boy's mind that he should really use magic if he wanted to escape this violent rape. That was the only way. Obviously that would mean revealing just who he was but he wasn't sure he cared anymore. Anything would be worth getting Uther's hot, sweaty paws off him and his hand out of his trousers. The warlock froze, concentrating, as he readied to blast the King off him with a flash of his eyes.
