Hey persons :P ! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I think we need to start an "I hate Uther" Club don't you think? Lol

So here's the continuation of the story.

Enjoy!

Xox

Chapter 11

Merlin struggled as he was held down by two knights in Gaius' chambers. After Arthur was dragged off to jail, Uther had insisted that Merlin go and see Gaius. Gaius, who had not seen the incident unfold, repeatedly told Uther that nothing was wrong with his son. Uther, being as stubborn as ever, did not change his mind. So he had Merlin held down on a chair, so that Gaius could examine him.

"My lord, I don't think that this is necessary," Gaius said.

"Gaius, he needs to be looked at!"

"Yes, but I can't look at him when you are all crowding around him," Gaius said.

"Well what do you want us to do about it?" Uther asked.

"I will talk to him and explain to him that I need to check him over so he needs to be still."

"I've already told him that!" Uther yelled.

"And that is exactly the reason why he did not listen!" Gaius said back strongly. He turned towards Merlin, giving him a look.

"Arthur, listen to me," he said quietly, "you are unwell. Can you please let me have a look at you?"

Merlin hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Alone," was all that he said.

Uther began to protest, but Gaius raised his eyebrows, and he was silenced. He signalled the knights to leave the room.

"Sire, what is going to happen to Merlin?" Gaius said.

"He will be executed at dawn." Merlin gasped, but he ignored him.

"I'll be in my chamber," Uther said, before departing.

Once they were gone, Merlin let in a deep breath.

"Alright Merlin, tell me exactly what happened."

"It was so strange. Arthur and I were in his chambers as per normal. Arthur had just come back from seeing Uther. Then all of a sudden, he came barging in, accusing me of being a sorcerer."

"Well, he wouldn't be wrong," Gaius said with a smile. Merlin smiled back.

"Uther hit Arthur as well. There… there was nothing I could do to help him. They just dragged him away like some animal. And now he's probably going to die because of me."
"Merlin, you cannot say that," Gaius said, "You need to find a way to get Arthur out of this. Can you go see him?"

"Uther is not allowing anyone to visit him," Merlin replied.

"Then Uther must not find out," Gaius said simply. Merlin smiled.

***

Arthur sat in the corner of the dark cell he had been forcefully put into. If forcefully was enough to mean thrown, Arthur would have surely approved. Although in the middle of spring, the cell was cold, like the walls were always moist. Arthur placed his head in between his legs. How could his father do this?

What proof did he have that Merlin was a sorcerer? The entire idea was more absurd than anything that he had heard in his life. He knew that his father was an idiot, but he did not know that his lack of knowledge extended this far.

Now he was locked up in a cell, probably to be executed tomorrow. Arthur didn't know why he thought that he and Merlin had even the slightest chance of breaking the spell and returning to normal. Trust his father to make the equation more difficult.

It was not like Arthur to feel fear. But at that point in his life, he had never felt more fearful. Arthur had never been afraid of death, because he always knew that he could prevent it from occurring, or at least have a go at doing so. When he was killed tomorrow, he would not have the opportunity to fight back. He felt so helpless, so guilty. Not for himself but for Merlin. He would have to live his life all on his own. Merlin would never find out what it's really like to be Merlin. He would die as Arthur. Probably having lived a miserable life…

God Arthur, you sound like a girl, he thought. Being so philosophical about life. God, when was he ever sentimental? I guess it's because he's so close to dying or something. Because Arthur was not….

"Stop Arthur, enough thinking and more action."

Arthur searched around the cell for some sort of opening. Trust the crown prince trying to escape from his own prison. He walked up to the bars of the cell only to be met by Merlin.

"You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of madness," he said with a smile.

"As if you can talk," Arthur said, "You've done it so many times. And don't treat me like an idiot. I knew that already."

"And the second is admitting that you know," Merlin laughed, "you are going mad."

"Shut up Merlin. We have a real problem on my hands. I'm probably going to be killed tomorrow and I have no way out of here."

"I'm going to talk to Uther," said Merlin, "perhaps I can persuade for you to have a trail or something." Arthur laughed.

"As if that is going to happen Merlin. My father would not listen even if it was Morgana on the witness stand," he said. Merlin sighed.

"There must be something that we can do," Merlin said.

"I don't think there is. And anyway, how did you get past the guards?"

"Gaius drugged them."

"Drugged them?"

"Yep, going to cover it up by saying it was supposed to be for me. An honest mistake."

"Gaius doesn't miss a beat does he?" Arthur said.

"No." Merlin laughed, "No he doesn't."

Silence passed between the two boys for a while.

"This can't happen," Merlin said at last, "this is not supposed to happen."

"What are you talking about?"

"Someone once said to me, that it was your destiny to become king. Destinies have to always come true right… I think. So this is not right. You have to fulfil your destiny. You cannot die."

"Well it looks like I am going to, so whoever told you that was wrong."

"How can you make a joke of this? This is completely serious! You are going to die tomorrow and you sound like you don't even care."

"I am not afraid," Arthur lied.

"For god's sake Arthur! You don't have to be the prince and pretend that you don't fear anything, because I know that you are damn well scared right now. Just get off your high horse and act human for a change!"

Arthur stared at Merlin, who was now breathless.

"How dare you speak to me like that," Arthur said. Merlin frowned.

"Well it's the truth."

"Right now Merlin, I don't even know what's the truth and what's a lie," Arthur said. Merlin sadly… nodded.

"But you're right," Arthur said finally, "I don't show what I'm truly feeling inside."

"Was that something your father taught you?" Merlin asked.

"Leave him out of his," Arthur said sternly.

"Why? He's the reason you're here right now," Merlin said.

"No, he's the reason you are here right now. I'm just caught up in some double twisted, magical world shit dream that I can't get out of." Merlin smiled.

"That was very well said."

"Thank you," Arthur said grinning. Merlin bit his lip as another moment of silence passed.

"Emotion is a weapon," Arthur said, "that can be used against you in battle. When one shows certain emotions, it shows a lack of control over their body… like a weakness. If one shows no emotion that is considered vulnerable, then that is seen as strength. If one cannot control the emotion of their own lives, then how are they supposed to control the emotions of a kingdom and the people in it?"

"But if one shows no emotion, how can they even be considered human, their like dolls- and even those show a smile."

"We are not completely emotionless Merlin, we just don't show emotions that are susceptible to pain or hurt."

"If showing emotion is considered as strength, then the entire world is weak," Merlin said. Arthur stared at him.

"It's not like I'm going to judge you. I mean… who am I to do that? I'm a servant, my body is about to be killed, and I'm a convicted sorcerer. Surely you are entitled to show me some truth in your emotions."

"But is not about showing it to others. It's about proving it to yourself."

"What's there to prove? That you're invincible? Arthur you are allowed to show emotion. It does not make you weak. How can you even think that?"

Arthur bowed his head. He knelt down right in front of the bars, holding one in either hand. Merlin knelt down with him. He looked at Arthur through the bars of the cell. He really did look helpless. Arthur looked deep into Merlin's eyes and whispered,

"I'm scared."

"Me too," Merlin said, tears swelling in his eyes. "I should be the one to die, not you."

"Don't try to be a hero Merlin," Arthur said. Merlin smiled a little and brought his arms up to the bars as well. Merlin slowly, but carefully placed his right hand around Arthur's left. Arthur closed his eyes for a second; enjoying the silence comfort that Merlin was giving him. Arthur never liked physical contact, but maybe it was Merlin's body, or the situation that he was in right now, that made that small amount of contact, just that little bit more bearable.

Arthur's eyes met Merlin's and then only way that Arthur could describe it was…. electric. Arthur did not know what it was. Merlin was breathing shallowly, both boys not moving for anything. Arthur had the sudden urge to bring up his other hand when…

"Merlin!" Gaius said from around the corner.

"The guards are waking up; we are running out of time."

Merlin withdrew from the cell, disconnecting his hand away from Arthur's.

"Don't worry," Merlin said, "I won't let you die."

And Arthur lost sight of him as he quickly walked around the corner.

Merlin wiped away his tears as he entered Arthur's chambers. Why had he done that? He wanted Arthur to feel emotion; he didn't have to touch him. There was some… connection between them at that moment. Something that Merlin had never felt before, but for some reason- felt was always there.

Merlin cared for Arthur very much, he always had. He knew that Arthur cared for him too, or he would have fired him ages ago.

But that… friendly affection did not explain what had happened before. It was more than that. Merlin was confused.

Seeing Arthur as more than a friend was… impossible. It could never happen. Could it?

***

Arthur sat in the corner of the cell once again, but this time with a realisation:

"I have feelings for Merlin."

WOOT!!!!!

Hope you guys liked that. Finally some slashness, sort of…

Next chapter coming soon

Until then,

Xox

emiliexox