Hello my Fanfic fam. I am back with another Merthur story. I know it's been years since I've posted anything. But, I recently received my bachelor's in creative writing and English, and I'm now going for my Masters as well. So my stories will be that much better. Anyway, I got this idea from a video I saw on YouTube featuring Dark Merlin! So be warned. He will be OOC, as will Arthur. This will be Slash, boy/boy romance. And some character death, not Merlin or Arthur.

Chapter 1

Inside the city of Camelot lived a small peaceful family. A woman by the name of Hunith, her husband Balinor, and their soon to be child growing inside the woman's womb. She had only just met Balinor when they fell in love, and it was just two months later she found she was with child. Two months after that, the couple got married, and Balinor could not be more happy with his life. Their happiness would not last long, though. For at that very moment, Camelot's queen had suddenly perished, and the ignorant king had decided to reek havoc on all who he blamed; those who practiced magic. Balinor and King Uther were once friends, close as kin. However, the king's sudden hatred of magic got the best of him, and where he once saw friend he now saw foe. Even though Balinor warned Uther about using magic to conceive. For using magic to create a life, a life must be taken. But the king was more focused on getting an heir. Balinor's bloodline was a rare one, for his kin didn't need to practice magic. Their magic came from the moment the baby would enter the world and breathed natures air. This was something Uther knew from the moment they met. But this did not change the King's sudden hatred for his once friend, and so he commanded his knights to storm Balinor's home, kill the man, and bring Uther the wife. However, Balinor was smart. He knew King Uther would come for his family.

"A wife for a wife," Uther had told Balinor.

Balinor grabbed Hunith and fled the Kingdom on the back of the dragon Kilgharra. Uther in all his anger vowed to one day find the Dragonlord and punish him for all of his magical evil doing. This would not be until years later, when Balinor lets his guard down as he teaches his son the laws of the Dragonlord. For his son didn't need to use his powers of persuasion on the dragons. The dragons saw light wherever this boy went, and so they made a vow of their own. They would follow the Dragonlord Prince, as they titled him, no matter what he asked they would not deny him. It was heartbreak that would blow the boys light forever.

"Merlin? Son, go help your mother with the garden. There's a storm coming. I need to get the firewood for this evening," Balinor called from the small cottage door towards the lake a few feet from their home, before he turned and walked towards the woods on the other side of their cottage.

Merlin was a small boy for his age. Very thin and scrawny as some of the other villagers liked to tease. But that didn't stop his heart of gold. Already a young man of 17 years old, Merlin helped anyone in need. There was even one old woman in particular who adored Merlin, and would never stop complimenting his kindness to the boy's parents. Merlin walked towards the back of the cottage where he saw his mother kneeling and pulling out potatoes.

"Mother? Do you need a hand?"

Hunith brought the back of her hand and wiped at her forehead. Although there was dirt on her face she was very beautiful. Merlin was her spitting image with raven hair, snow white skin, and big blue crystal colored eyes. They sometimes wondered if Merlin received anything from Balinor. Hunith exhaled a small breath.

"Just about done, love. Just need the vegetables taken to the well for washing."

"I can do that," Merlin grabbed the basket before Hunith could protest and he walked towards the edge of the woods where the well stood.

Merlin lay the basket of vegetables under the spout of the well before he started pulling the lever for water to come out. After the basket was full of water Merlin got to his knees and dug his hands into the basket, scrubbing each carrot and potato with his hands.

It's amazing how you could be doing something so normal one second, and the next second everything feels as if it's going to hell. Because at that moment Merlin heard a familiar yell coming from the woods. He stopped what he was doing and looked towards the trees scanning for any movement. Then he heard the yell again, closer.

"Father!" He jumped to his feet just as Balinor ran though the bushes with his hand holding his side. Merlin ran towards his father who could barely stand. "Father? What's wrong?" Balinor only gasped as he fell holding his son's shoulders, making them both fall to their knees just as Hunith came running around the corner screaming Balinor's name.

Only two words came from Balinor's mouth once he saw his wife, "U-Uther. R-run."

Merlin eyes widen in shock and disbelief as his father's head fell in his arms with his eyes rolling back. Merlin's eyes trailed down his father's body until he saw the blood staining his own hands. "No. No. No. No!"

Hunith sobbed loudly before hearing the men running through the woods, and grabbing her son's hand, and pulling him to his feet. No matter how much she loved Balinor there was nothing she could do with his body. She had to protect their son. It was a promise she made Balinor long ago. If anything were to happen to Balinor, Hunith would take Merlin and flee. But fate had other ideas that day as knights stormed the town through all corners, and Hunith found herself and her son surrounded by men in armor wearing red capes. Hunith, still holding Merlin'shand pulled him behind her, her motherly perfectiveness showing as she glared at the men. It was then that Hunith heard Merlin growl low in his throat. She gave him a sideways glance and gently shook her head.

"Our king would like a word with you. Come willing or suffer the same fate as your husband, Hunith."

Merlin blinked in anger and confusion. How did these people know her name? How did they know Balinor?

"Stay calm, Merlin. Don't do anything rash," she warned.

Merlin couldn't help it through. When his magic heat up there was no way for him to stop it, it was as natural as breathing. If he couldn't do it, then his head would spin and ache. However it was Hunith's words that stopped Merlin's magic.

"I'll come, but Merlin stays here."

The knight stared at the woman for a long moment before he raised his hand with a crossbow. "There is no negotiating." He pulled the trigger and Hunith gasped in shock for a moment believing it was her who was shot. It was the gargle behind her that had her turn towards her son who was staring back in shocked pain. He looked down and pulled his jacket back to reveal a wood sticking out of his side. Merlin gasped before he collapsed onto the floor, the last thing he heard was Hunith's scream.

"Come with us if you want him to live. Uther has the antidote."

Hunith looked up from where she was kneeling next to her son, a hatred in her eyes that was never seen before.

"He thinks he's won. He doesn't know how wrong he is."