Merlin was angry and he immediately started to think of ways round Uther's new restrictions. He would not ignore his destiny. Nor would he be relegated to a breeding machine. He was still fuming when Gaius came in to check him an hour later. Gaius could tell immediately that something was upsetting his nephew.
"Merlin what's the matter, you know you can speak to me, I will keep your confidence." The older man said sympathetically. "You need to be calm to heal quickly."
Merlin glared at Gaius "It's that ….Ass you call King! He came to see me and said I could not leave the citadel but am to get with child and do my duty. He threatened my knights!"
Gaius looked round then said sharply "Emrys take care if you were overheard…."
"I won't be there is a ward on this room, nothing said in here can be heard outside" Merlin was clearly angry. "The man is a fool!"
"MERLIN! He is the King, whatever your differences, you need to be respectful what would your dear mother say if she heard you?" Gaius was shocked at what was being said. Then he remembered that the boy in front of him was but sixteen. "You need to practice patience Sire"
Merlin looked at Gaius and felt guilty, it wasn't his fault and yet he was taking his temper out on him "I am sorry Gaius, but how can I protect Arthur if I can't be at his side"
"I can only say that by presenting yourself as a female you have made life difficult for yourself" Gaius said "You must have realised that"
"In Gangani it wouldn't be a problem, wives follow their husbands all the time. Anyway do you think the King would have accepted me had he known the truth?" Merlin asked sulkily
"No he wouldn't have, he would have considered it immoral for two men to be together. Even if he had allowed you to stay as some sort of friend to Arthur I doubt if he would have allowed you to go with Arthur. You are not exactly warrior like and as he can't know of your special skills, he would still have considered you a liability" Gaius looked at the teenager and wished he could help him more. "Emrys you are going to have to accept that some things won't change no matter how much you might wish it." He added "Also remember although your magic helps you to heal you can't let anyone know that"
Merlin glowered at his uncle as the older man checked his wound and left him with some more pain killers. Later when Arthur arrived back at their chambers Merlin had almost the same conversation with his husband. "I am sorry Merlin but you mustn't anger my father, he will not budge once his mind is made up."
Arthur did his best to cheer Merlin up for the rest of the day, although he was ordered to have his evening meal with his father and sister rather than with Merlin. Uther was clearly still in a bad mood as he immediately mentioned Merlin "If your wife thinks I am stupid enough to buy that nonsense about the reason for her leaving the castle she must think me an idiot. You need to bring her to heel Arthur. Get her with child that will calm her down"
"Father Merlin is but sixteen she has plenty of time yet" Arthur protested.
Morgana smirked at her brother's discomfort and Agravaine also decided to comment. "Sire perhaps she is barren after all she is rather thin and shall I say lacking curves. Remember Lord Spicer's wife much the same build and incapable of having children even if he had bastards by several serving girls."
Arthur stood up in anger "I will not have Merlin spoken about like that. We have been married but a couple of weeks." He went to leave the room not willing to listen to any more comment.
Morgana spoke "My husband did not mean to anger you Arthur, you should not be so defensive, after all as you say Merlin is barely more than a child." She paused "It must be hard to be married to such an immature creature." Looking at her father she continued "As to her behaviour Uther you know what we were like at that age. I know you want Merlin to run the household but I feel it might be too much for her"
"Morgana is right Arthur, now feed the girl up and breed her" Uther added in a tone that suggested he had said all he felt he needed to.
"Merlin is more than capable Morgana, even if you don't want to lose your power" Arthur snapped at his sister "I thank you to remember your place" with that he left the room. But before going back to Merlin he went for a walk along the battlements to calm his temper. He knew Morgana and Agravaine would cause problems and hated the thought that he wouldn't always be there for Merlin.
The next day Uther informed whilst he had been on patrol three more people had been arrested for practicing magic. "They have been tried and will be executed in two days. It is the anniversary of the start of the purge so it is a fitting day. We will have a feast afterwards. Send out some men to hunt we need extra provisions I have also invited King Sarrum to visit to discuss our fight against such evil. He has sent a messenger to say he will be here but sunset tomorrow. I have asked Morgana to arrange accommodation as your wife is unable to do so. But I will expect her to be with you when the King arrives and at both the executions and feast"
"Yes Sire" Arthur knew better than to argue but he was still smarting from his father attitude to Merlin. He also knew Merlin would be distressed about the executions but he could see no way out of it. The sorcerers were a young couple and their child of six, Arthur planned on asking his father for clemency for the child at least but with Sarrum's visit he held out little hope. The other King had an even harder stance on magic and was known to torture anyone he caught even though they were burnt afterwards with damp materials so they would burn slowly. Rumour had it he even tortured victims himself. Arthur was determined to keep Merlin as far away as he was able from the King during the visit.
Arthur didn't mention anything to Merlin to start with as he wanted Merlin to rest and heal. But it seemed his sister had other ideas. Morgana paid Merlin a visit when Arthur was training, Percival had asked Merlin if he was up to visitors and seeing no real reason to refuse, as well as being bored Merlin had said yes. Morgana swept into the room like she owned the place and found Merlin sat in a chair by the fire. Freya was sewing in the corner.
Determined to be nice Merlin smiled at his sister in law "Thank you for visiting Morgana, you have no idea how boring it is sitting doing nothing"
"Well that will change soon we have a visit from a neighbouring King as well as executions to face." Morgana said as she sat down then turning to Freya Morgana snapped "Girl get us some herbal tea and honey cakes"
Freya looked at Merlin who nodded. Merlin looked away as his eyes flashed and he removed the ward from the room so the men outside could hear what was being said. Morgana settled down and then Merlin asked "Which King?"
"Sarrum of Amata, have you heard of him?"
"I have his reputation goes before him. What is the purpose of his visit is he a close friend of the Kings?" Merlin had indeed heard of Sarrum his views and treatment of magic users was something her father was very unhappy about.
"They are allies, mainly in their views on magic." Then spitefully she added "Make sure your 'pet' is kept well out of the way, if he hears about it he will tear it limb from limb."
Merlin paled and decided to send Aithusa on a visit to Kilgarrah so she was well away from such a fate.
Morgana continued "Uther had caught three sorcerers and they are to be burnt on pyres the morning after Sarrum arrives. It is the anniversary of the purge. We will of course all be expect to watch and go to the feast afterwards. You will be glad of your garments while Sarrum is here he leers at the women. I will wear high necks, the man gives me the creeps." Morgana looked at Merlin "I know your people follow the old religion what are your views on magic? Is it viewed as evil?"
Merlin hesitated before replying, he didn't trust Morgana but at the same time he didn't want to lie "I believe magic is like a sword neither good nor evil, it is the person who uses it who decides that. And yes some of the people in Gangani have magic, King Uther knows that"
Morgana looked interested "And your family?"
"Morgana what is your interest in magic? What are your views? I have told you mine"
Morgana looked innocent "I live in Camelot it is a Kingdom whose ruler says magic is evil. I have no other experience but what I have seen. We are attacked by sorcerers with monotonous regularity what do you think."
Freya entered with the herbal tea and cakes, as she put them down on the table by Merlin Morgana told her to leave them. Merlin was incensed that her maid was being ordered around by Morgana. But realising he was not going to get more from Morgana while Freya was there decided to go along with it and nodded for Freya to leave. Merlin then asked about the sorcerers who are to be executed "What did they do?"
The thought of anyone burning to death upset Merlin. But if these people had harmed others it would be easier to understand.
"The parents used magic to stop a fire spreading through their village. Because the child had sorcerer parents she too must die as she will carry the curse" Morgana told Merlin
"Then they did no harm!" Merlin exclaimed "How old is the child?"
"They used magic that is enough for the King, the child is six. Normally the children are unconscious before they go to the pyre, but who knows with Sarrum here" Morgana sighed "Anyway can we talk about something more pleasant, it is enough we have to put up with the dreadful man. Before the visit can I bring Mordred to see your dragon? He keeps pestering me"
The news of the executions had upset Merlin more than he was willing to show. But as there was nothing he could do while Morgana was there he answered her question and tried not to show his distress. "Of course you can. Just let me know when. She is out with Sir Lancelot at the moment as I am not allowed out of the room, physicians orders. Your son is learning to use a sword I understand"
Morgana loved talking about her son "He is, I believe he is doing well, so are his other studies, he is of course heir after Arthur until you have a son." Morgana looked at Merlin speculatively "No sign yet?"
Merlin blushed "Even if I was we have not been married long enough for me to know, but I should love to have children. I know the King is hoping it will be soon. I am sorry your son's position may change. I hope however our children can be friends." Merlin stood up and went to a chest and opened it taking out a box and showing its contents to Morgana. Inside was a smaller version of the dagger he carried. "When I heard of your son, I had the craftsmen make this. Do I have your permission to give it to Mordred on his birthday? I can teach him how to throw it, with your approval of course. All our people learn."
Morgana looked at the dagger "I will ask my husband." She looked at Merlin wondering if Merlin was really stupid enough to think that a knife would mean they could be friends. "As soon as King Sarrum has gone we need to start your training, I have already arranged the accommodation for our visitors as I knew you couldn't" her tone suggesting Merlin should have done it. "I must go, I just wanted to see how you were. Arthur was acting as if you were dying, yet I see as usually he was being over dramatic."
The minute Morgana had left Merlin decided to act, there was no way that family would die. Slowing down time he left the rooms and went past Percival and along the corridors and down to the dungeons. Arriving he saw the guards and sent them to sleep with a spell then putting time right he opened the cell door. Thankful they were the only prisoners. "You must listen to me" he told the frightened family "I can get you out of here. Pick your daughter up the each of you hold my hand and don't let go. I will slow time down and get you out into the woods. From there you must find the druids. Don't stop whatever you do. It is all I can do for you except give you this" Merlin handed the man a several silver coins "It isn't much I'm sorry."
The man looked at Merlin "You are the Princes bride why are you helping us?"
"I am magic like you, if the King ever found out he would kill me to. You don't deserve to die. Now come we must hurry" Merlin slowed down time and led the family out of the town and into the woods. "Hopefully you should have an hour before your escape is noticed Good luck"
The woman hugged Merlin "Thank you my lady, if we don't get away we won't betray you."
Merlin handed the man a dagger he took from one of the guards. The man nodded understanding. He would make sure his family didn't face a painful death if they were caught. "Go north and keep of the paths you should get to the druids before they find you, they will search the town first. Goodbye"
With that Merlin went back to his rooms before making time speed up once more. He had never used so much magic before at once the strain of getting so many people out, on top of his injury and blood loss caught up with him and he collapsed just as Freya entered the room.