Author's Note: SOOOOOO Here is Chapter 2. Hope you all enjoy!
Uther stared at the two for a minute longer, holding Arthur's gaze. Arthur didn't back down. Uther saw Arthur's hand make contact with the sorcerer's as if they needed the contact for strength or something. That was it. Arthur needed to be separated from his servant, forcefully if needed. However, he was at a stalemate. Arthur could overpower the guards and Arthur's emotions were running high. Uther walked back to his throne thinking of a solution. There! He had it. He sat down on his throne and looked towards Arthur.
"Arthur, I understand your caring for the boy, I really do. But magic is something that needs to be controlled."
"Controlled how?"
"Kept somewhere where I can keep an eye on it. I will not kill the boy if he will agree to a test."
"Test, what test?" Arthur asked.
"A test that will prove to me that your manservant is not evil. I will tell the details of the test if he agrees to it." Here Uther looked to Merlin. "Do you accept, sorcerer?
Merlin looked to Arthur for confirmation. Arthur looked to his father. "What will this test entail?
"I will not say until he agrees to it."
"How is that fair?"
"It's not. I don't know what he can do with his magic and I don't want him preparing an escape or..."
"I agree!" Merlin said, interrupting the two royals. He looked to Arthur with a look that said It will be fine.
Uther and Merlin made eye contact. Uther began to walk down towards Arthur and Merlin. If Arthur moved slightly to still stay between his father and friend, Uther did not seem to notice.
"Now sorcerer, there is a cell in the dungeons that very few people know about. It suppresses magic." Uther took some satisfaction that Merlin's eyes widened with fear. Now Merlin knew EXACTLY what he was getting into. "You are going to spend a night in the cell. Don't do anything that would make me think you are evil and I will let you out, to remain Arthur's servant. Otherwise…" He left the threat hanging, but could see the message was understood in Merlin's eyes.
"No visitors, and that means you Arthur."
Arthur looked at his friend and would have laughed if not for the situation. Merlin had his signature I'm scared but I'm going to look brave face on. Arthur knew he was playing a dangerous game with his father and Merlin was the pawn. Uther had moved and now it was Arthur's turn.
"Father." Arthur said.
"Yes."
"Promise me he won't get hurt."
Uther looked at his son. "I give you my word. Merlin will not be harmed." He then looked to Merlin. "Do you consent?"
Merlin stared Uther down. "Yes, Sire."
"Then Arthur, please escort your servant to the dungeons. A guard will come and escort you to your chambers after Arthur."
Arthur nodded while Merlin bowed and they both walked out into the hall.
Merlin and Arthur walked to the magic-suppressing cell. Arthur was amazed at Merlin's bravery. He could hear Merlin's breath accelerating. Arthur opened the door and they both walked inside.
Merlin suddenly clutched his stomach like he had been punched.
"Merlin." Arthur asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Merlin gasped out. "It's just a reaction to the cell."
The guard walked in with magic-suppressing cuffs.
Merlin grew pale as he saw what the guard was bringing in.
"Please, Arthur…" Merlin whispered. "Please, anything but those…."
Arthur looked at Merlin and saw he scared he was, but this needed to happen. "Merlin, you have too. This is the only way my father will let you live."
"But Arthur," Merlin begged, grasping Arthur's arms, "I will die if those are left on for too long."
"Merlin, it's just one night."
"Arthur, I AM magic. Cutting me off from my magic is like getting a wound and letting it bleed out without patching it up. You get weaker and weaker and eventually you die."
Arthur looked at Merlin's fearful eyes with the wide-eyed surprised ones of his own.
"Merlin…." Arthur calmly said, trying to soothe his friend.
"What if Uther does not keep his end of the deal for only one night?" Merlin interrupted. "Once those cuffs are on me, I will be defenseless, and you are going to be locked up in your room until Uther lets you out. What happens then, Arthur?"
Arthur looked to his friend, trying to figure out what to say.
"I want to prove to your father and to you, that once and for all, magic can be a source for good, but I don't want to die for that cause."
Arthur asked for the chains off the guard who promptly gave them to him and left. Arthur walked towards his friend, no….his brother. "Merlin….you know I trust you with my life right?"
Merlin nodded.
"Do you trust me?" Arthur asked.
Merlin looked at Arthur and said "Yes, Arthur. I do."
"Then I promise you, nothing will happen to you. You will not die by Uther's hand. And when we get through this and I take the throne, together, you and I will rule over the greatest kingdom the world has ever known.
Merlin smiled at Arthur's little pep talk.
"But now, we have to play by my father's rules and prove to him that you and magic are not all evil. So please…. let me do this."
Merlin looked at Arthur and saw the sincerity and regret filling his face with what he was about to do to him. Merlin nodded his head and held out his wrists to be cuffed.
Arthur took the cuffs and clasped the first one around Merlin's left wrist.
Instantly, Merlin gasped for air. It felt like he could not breathe. Soon after, came the second cuff and the loss of oxygen again made Merlin gasp. He collapsed in Arthur's arms. He could feel the cuffs draining him and he could feel his life force slip from him.
"Merlin, are you okay?" Arthur asked.
He really can be a dollophead most of the time, can't he? "No." Merlin answered truthfully. "but I will be in a minute."
As Merlin stood up, Leon came to the door of the cell.
"Leon." Arthur said. "What are you doing here?"
"The King has told me to tell you that he has added something to Merlin's sentence."
"What?" Arthur asked, moving to stand protectively over Merlin.
"The King wants you to string him up. He wants Merlin to hang on the wall overnight."
"And if I refuse to do so….?" Arthur growled through his teeth.
"Then I have the authority to use force to tie you up, Sire, and chain you in your room and Merlin stays in here for a week, subject to Uther and whatever punishment he seems worthy."
Arthur looked about ready to punch something. Merlin noticed and when his friend turned to look at him, he responded. "Just do it, Arthur. It will be ok."
Merlin walked over to the wall with the peg on it especially made for this. Arthur followed and completed the action.
"I'm sorry about this." Arthur said, as he let Merlin go.
"It's not your fault, Arthur." Merlin said, "Now please go before Uther comes up with anymore punishments.
"Bye Merlin."
"Good Night, Arthur. and Thank you…..for everything." Merlin said.
Arthur walked out of the cell and shut the door. He started walking back to his room and hated every second of it. He needed to be in there with Merlin. Anyway, he started to notice Leon tailing him. Arthur made it to his chambers and when he stepped in, Leon followed.
"What are you doing?" Arthur asked Leon.
"I'm sorry Sire but the King asked me to make sure that you do not leave your room."
Arthur sighed. "I just want to be alone, Leon. Can't you wait outside the door?"
"I would Sire." Leon began, "but the King told me to make sure you don't leave your room."
"What am I going to do?" Arthur yelled. "Climb out the window and rescue him? Of course, that's what I want to do, but even if I could, my father has this sick game of his all played out."
Arthur turned to the window and brought his forehead against the cool glass. "I thought I was in control, but I'm not. I can't do anything, because if I do, he'll hurt Merlin and I am never going to let that happen."
Arthur closed his eyes and let the cool window soothe his head.
"Tie me to the bedpost." Arthur said suddenly.
"What?" Leon asked.
"Tie me to the bedpost, but leave enough room so I can still walk but not leave my room."
Leon walked up and grabbed some rope. Arthur held out his wrists and Leon obediently tied them together. Arthur then went and sat in the windowsill while Leon tied the other end of the rope to Arthur's bedpost.
Arthur turned to Leon. "Now, can you leave? I cannot possibly leave my room tied up like this, now, can I?"
Leon looked at Arthur and convinced that Arthur was going nowhere replied "Yes, Sire."
Leon left, closed the door behind him and Arthur heard the door lock.
Now he was tied up in his own prison, just like Merlin. He looked up at the stars above and after a while, he fell asleep.
Hope you all enjoyed this next section. Leave a review, reviews make me happy. See you soon for Chapter 3