The last two days passed in a blur. Merlin could feel the anger slowly rising in him when he saw how Arthur was pushed to the side.
It didn't look like the knights cared that Arthur was their commanding officer or that he was a prince. Something is going on in Camelot and Merlin was intrigued to find out what.
With one last looked as the knights got off from their horses handing them over to the stable boys, Merlin disappeared into the castle looking for Gaius.
The castle was bustling with people working and running around. He could hear servants talking about someone who was captured for using magic and awaiting trial. For a moment there was sadness in his heart.
Merlin had heard about the cruelty Uther would go after sorcerers, hopefully, one of these days it would change.
Arthur was silent as he followed Uther into the castle, he could feel his heart trying to climb out of his chest. He forced himself to keep his breathing under control even if the only thing he wanted to do was turn and ran.
When they got to the room Uther showed with a hand that Arthur should sit down. Uther wanted to scream when he saw the blank look in Arthur's eyes. He knows he is the reason why Arthur is like that, but at the same time, he wanted to change it.
And he had no bloody idea how.
"Tell me what had happened?" Uther kept his voice neutral, just waiting for Arthur to begin.
Arthur was silent for a long moment before he found his voice to speak. "When we got there, a man was waiting for us in. He killed two of the knights when they tried to charge him, he said that he would let the rest of us go if we turn around right away.
"He also said that if we ever tried to attack again he would kill every last man," Arthur said the last part so fast, that Uther had a hard time deciphering what he was saying.
Uther forced himself to take a deep breath, Arthur had done his best and that was that. He wasn't going to punish him for it.
"Thank you, we will make a plan with that place one of these days." Uther made sure to keep the anger from his voice, even though he was sure that there slip in some.
Arthur waited with bated breath for Uther to continue with his punishment for failing, but there was only silence.
He bit the inside of his lip as he waited, his mind screaming at him to leave before Uther changed his mind but at the same time was he frozen in place.
Uther just watched his son for a few seconds. "You are dismissed."
With a bow Arthur disappeared from the room, forcing himself to walk to his chambers, instead of running as he felt like.
He swayed slightly when he finally got to the room, the guards just gave a nod before Arthur open the door.
For a moment it felt like he finally could take a breath, there was no one watching him or being close to him.
His footsteps were quiet until he disappeared behind the closet and dressing rack. He sank, closing his eyes for the moment.
He felt relieved that everything had worked out as well as it did, but at the same time, his mind felt like running away with him when he realised that Uther hadn't given him punishment for failing.
A shudder ran through his body.
His mind went back to the boy -Merlin- that had shown up that first night. How he said his magic was searching for a way out.
A sob almost broke free from him. It was thanks to magic that Uther hated him. He could faintly remember that before Uther had found out about it, that Uther had at least seen him as his son, even if it was through resentment.
Why, why on earth would he allow it back in his life? It had only bought heartache and pain to his life.
Arthur could feel his skin almost lighting up when he thought it, it crawled in his blood and Arthur knows that it would only get worse.
Maybe he should listen to that man and do something about it but at the same time, the fear that it would only end in more pain stopped him from changing it.
He can simple life with it.
"Uncle!" Merlin's voice was loud in the small room, Gaius was almost relaxed where he was busy crashing leaves.
He jumped with a start when Merlin suddenly talked.
The smile that broke over Gaius's face showed to the world how happy he was to have his nephew here.
It was silent since Arthur had stopped coming for magic lessons.
"Merlin, my boy. It was such a long time since I last saw you." Gaius pulled the young man into a hug. It was almost five years since he last saw Merlin.
"How are Hunith and Balinor?" Gaius asked as he pulled back, checking Merlin over properly.
"They are good, said you need to come and visit them when you have time again." Merlin was happy to see the old man.
Since he was a little boy, they had connected, riffling his relationship with Balinor.
"What are you doing here Merlin?" Gaius had read the letter that was sent to him a few days ago, but he would prefer to hear it from Merlin directly as well.
"As you know, the king had sent some knights to take out the village, it didn't work out as well as they had hoped it would. The leader, I believe his name is Arthur, had me amused." Merlin showed his arm where a small dragon was busy forming.
"He is your mate?" Gaius was amazed, it was rare for magic users to get a soul mark these days.
Merlin only nodded.
"You have to tell him." Gaius couldn't help but say. Arthur went through a lot in the last few years.
"No, I have a feeling that he went through a lot, he doesn't need to feel the pressure of a soul-mark, if he wants to be in a relationship it should come out of his own free will." Merlin kept his voice firm.
The mark was less rare in the village and he had seen some of the effects that the mark kan have on people. Some would go against the bond feeling like they are pressured into the relationship. And others would be able to handle the mark like it is just another part of life, accepting it, embracing the new.
"He had been." Gaius trailed off. It wasn't his place to tell Merlin what had happened in the last couple of years.
"I won't tell you what had happened, just know that he could do with someone on his side." Gaius gave Merlin a tired smile.
His mind going back to the king. The sudden change anyone could notice since he had Arthur punished less than a week ago and now he wasn't as angry as he should be about the village.
Merlin gave Gaius a tight smile. "Did you know his magic is trying to find a way out?" Merlin had a feeling that the prince was trained under Gaius for at least a while.
He could see how Gaius's face went white. For a moment there was silence in the room as they just stared at each other before Gaius sighed.
"Arthur had trained his magic not for long when he was five. One night Uther had gone into his room, startling him and he used magic. As you can guess that freaked Uther just out, he had dragged Arthur here, demanding that I made sure that he would never be able to use his magic.
"I tried to learn him more control but since that day Arthur wasn't able to use his magic." Gaius could still remember the heartbreaking scene of a small child crying in fear.
"I guess since then, Uther had treated Arthur differently?" Merlin could feel the anger in his veins and for a moment he wished that he could kill Uther and be done with it.
Gaius could only give Merlin a sad nod.
Arthur was silent as servants carried in the bath. Uther had tried a few times to get him to have a manservant, but Arthur had stood against it each time.
He was more than capable of taking care of himself.
When the last servant gave a bow after adding the water, Arthur closed the door with a bang, making sure it was locked.
It took some work to get out of his amour and tunic. His eyes darted to the bruises on his hips and tights and for a moment he hated everyone.
All it was is a bloody game to the knights. They enjoyed seeing people hurt, a power play. It was all it was in the end.
Arthur bit the inside of his lip when he sank into the warmth of the bath. Small opened cuts sting from the hot water and lavender.
But at the same time, the light scent cleared his mind.
He took a deep breath before he disappeared into the water, for a moment there was only silence. Arthur felt like his body was free and his mind as well.
Underneath the water, he could only forget about everything that was plaguing his mind.
When he finally resurfaced he gasp for breath, water streamed into his eyes and mouth. A small smile broke free.
With long strokes, he got himself clean. He knows that he should put the salve on that Gaius had given him, but something inside him screamed against it.
When he finally finished with his bath, Arthur dried himself off, getting into his nightclothes.
He knows he should have gone to fetch his dinner, but he wasn't hungry or in the mood to face people.
So he just pushed himself into bed. His mind felt like someone had pressed linen against his brain and his body was heavy. He could only hope that sleep will take some of the edges away.
Merlin woke up with a start when someone called his name. A small smile works its way to his face. A dragon here?
This day was just getting interesting with each second that passed.
Without a thought, he got himself dressed in day clothes, before he slipped out of the room.
With the lead from his magic, he easily found the way to the caves beneath the castle.
When he entered the dark cave, Merlin whispered a spell, allowing a small orb-like to enter the cave, giving it an almost natural light.
His eyes widen when a magnificent dragon flew down. The almost brown-green scales made Merlin wanted to reach out.
The dragon took one look at the boy in front of him before he bowed before Merlin. "The time had finally come." The dragon's voice was croaked and gruff from a lack of use.
Merlin's eyes were wide with curiosity as he looked at the dragon. "The time for what?" His voice was loud in the quietness of the cave.
But the dragon only looked at him for another long moment. "You and Arthur would bring peace to the five kingdoms. Allowing magic to reign again, just like in the time of your forefathers." The dragon looked like it might combust with pleasure.
Light blue eyes peered up to the dragon. "What's your name?" Merlin ignored the words the dragon had said. He would go through it when he was on his own.
"I'm Kilgharrar. Uther had imprisonment me when the great purge had almost ended, saying that I would make an example for any magical beast that ever enters Camelot again." Kilgharrar was almost sad when he said it.
The dragon could feel the magic radiating from the boy in front of him. The time had come that Uther would learn his place.
I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Please tell me what you think of the story and constructive criticism is always welcome.
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