Gaius takes the still born from Hunith his heart in his mouth and turns to Uther who nods to the guard behind him to open the blanket. He looks down at the dead baby and sneers as he takes his glove of his hand and touches its face.
"Poor mite" for a moment they think they have got away with it, but Uther continued "Betty must be heartbroken, return her dead child to her" then he turns to Gaius "Did you really expect to fool me with exchanging the baby? I heard about this one my guard is Betty's next door neighbour. Now open the bag" he said coldly with barely supressed anger.
Gaius paled as did Hunith "Please Sire don't harm my baby" she cried as Gaius opened his bag and exposed the sleeping new born.
Uther looked at her then down at the child once more "You think me a monster?" the King said quietly as he strolled his finger down the child's cheek. Then he turned to Gaius.
"We have known each other for many years, since before I became King, I know as a healer you will do anything to preserve life and you are after all this one's kin. What do I do with you Gaius? As for you my Lady it is your child" he stood and made them wait before continuing watching Hunith's tears roll down her face.
"Gaius, you have saved my life a couple of times in the past so from you I want a vow now that you will never use magic again, making this little one sleep so soundly shall be your last ever spell. You will swear on these twos lives for they will be forfeit if ever you cross me again." He then looked at Hunith "Your child will be returned to you, but you will both remain here under lock and key until I deem otherwise. You are a fine seamstress so I will send you work to do, but your son's life and that of your uncles are dependent of no further plans of escape." He gestured to Gaius to hand the baby to Hunith who took her son and held him to her breast.
"Thank you my lord" she said "He is but an innocent child."
Gaius let out the breathe he had been holding "You have my vow Sire"
"You may only visit once each moon cycle unless I allow otherwise. Do not let me down again Gaius, now check them now and be gone, you have quarter of an hour." Uther turned and left.
The couple were stunned, they had expected far worse, and both started shaking as realisation hit them. Then Gaius pulled himself together "Come my dear let me check you and when I have if you have problems let the guard know and the King may let me come sooner."
"Gaius how long do you think he will leave us here? It's no place for a baby so young" Hunith asked.
"I don't know my dear, but for now you are both alive we must hope he will relent and allow you and young Merlin out soon." Gaius said trying to give his niece hope.
FOUR YEARS LATER
Laughter sounded down in the dungeons as a small boy ran up and down the passages. "Merlin come here you need to go back with your mother now" came a voice trying hard to be stern.
"don't want to Will" came the childs voice.
"Well you must do as you are told Merlin" Hunith's voice called out.
A very small boy came shuffling up the corridor between the cells. He was very pale having never been outside in his short life, and his raven hair was as long as a girls, his mother was never permitted to have anything to cut it with, but it was clean at least. As the boy approached the cell his mother was sat in the guard opened it up and Merlin walked reluctantly in and then it was locked behind him.
"Thank you Will, I don't know what I'd have done without your kindness" Hunith smiled at the young guard.
"Least I can do Hunith, boy like that should have chance to run, I just wish it could be outside in the grass. Sorry he had to come in but the second guard will be here soon and I can't risk it"
"Fank ou Will" came a small voice as Merlin sat down on the floor with his carved wooden toys. Merlin always made the most of the small time he had running in the dungeon corridors, the other prisoners never said a word they to felt it wrong that the boy never saw the open air. Anyway most were only there for a couple of days at most as they awaited execution. The long term prisoners being in a different area were Merlin was not allowed. Hunith was grateful to the guard as soon as Merlin was walking he had allowed the child out of the cell for the short periods when he was the only guard. He wouldn't risk it otherwise, Will couldn't understand the need to keep such a small boy prisoner for all his short life, and felt if he only had the cell to exercise in he would grow weak.
Will had also given Merlin some toys, when his younger brother had finished with them. They supplemented the ones that Gaius had given Merlin and at least kept him occupied when his mother was busy sewing. Hunith found the confinement tedious but at least both her and her son were alive, and when there was life there was hope for a better future. She would spend hours telling her son stories of the outside world. She had become terrified when at only a few months he had started to use magic. But she had managed to hide it from everyone. The screen she had been given to wash behind she had moved to provide a play are for Merlin. Telling the guards she wanted him to be shielded from the harsh realities of the dungeons. They hadn't objected. When Merlin started to be let out by Will she had warned Merlin never ever to use his magic, and so far it had worked. For the half an hour he was out he was too busy running to even think about it.
Gaius had visited as frequently as he could ad Hunith had told him of her son's powers so he had made an herbal tonic to help reduce his power. He could stop it all together but at least Merlin had avoided being found out to date. The healer had grown grey in the time his niece and her son had been confined, he hated what was happening to then but knew he could do nothing. He played the loyal servant to his King and hid the resentment he felt, not willing to risk his family. Each time he visited he checked then both, Gaius worried about the effects on Merlin of not having sunlight and added to the other tonic something to try to make his bones grow strong. At least that way Hunith had a reason for having the bottle in her care.
In the outside world the great purge had been going on and the numbers of magical people and beings was decreasing, although the attacks on Camelot had increased as bitterness and resentment built. There was still kingdoms that hadn't outlawed magic, even though Uther had been pushing them to do so. Arthur own son was growing and was now coming up to his eighth birthday, Uther had given him over to nannies and saw him only to make sure his progress was good enough for a prince. Arthur had grown more like his mother in looks and Uther couldn't bear to see him, it wasn't that he didn't love his son, he did in his own way, but the memories hurt too much.
The task he had set his council had been completed two years previously and Uther now had a team of ten 'controlled' sorcerers. They stayed in the other area of the dungeons in their special cells unless needed. Each wore a collar that stopped them using their magic without permission. They took it in turns to be on duty as part of the guard on Uther, in case of magical attacks. If Camelot's army went into battle they were taken along. As a guarantee of their behaviour their families were not permitted to leave Camelot. Uther ruled over them with a rod of iron. Uther never intended to free them or their families. But in truth he had much better long term plans and now was the time to start putting them into practice.
Uther made his way down to the dungeons to see Hunith and her son, today was the day he intended to let her out of cell. He walked up to the cell door and signalled the door to be unlocked then he walked in. Hunith jumped up and bowed. Merlin hidden behind his mother in her skirts, just peeking out.
"I told you I would return when the time was right" he looked at Hunith, then at the small boy "Come here boy" he demanded.
Merlin shrunk back even further behind his mother. "Have you taught him to disobey his King?" he demanded
"No Sire, but he is unused to people" She turned to her son "Do as the King asks you Merlin"
Merlin crept out from behind his mother and took a couple of tentative steps forward. Uther grabbed the young boy under the chin and looked him over "He has both of you in him, he's small, all skin and bone. He is four is he not?"
"Four today Sire, I feed him all I can Sire, but he lacks exercise" Hunith said defiantly
"I suppose so, you will come with me Hunith Emrys, I have a task for you, an orphan girl has arrived and she needs a maid servant, she is a year older than Arthur and is to be my ward. You will see to it that she learns the ways of the court but you will also do all the duties of her servant." Uther kept looking at Merlin as he spoke. "Your son will come with me, the same rules apply if you disobey me, do I make myself clear?"
"You do my Lord, but what will happen to Merlin Sire, I will see him will I not."
Uther gave her a look that frightened her "You will" he clicked his fingers and the guard handed Uther something. Before Hunith or Merlin knew there was a snap of metal and a collar was round Merlin's small neck. Attached to the collar was a chain. Merlin tried to get to his mother but Uther yanked on the chain pulling the small boy over. "You didn't think you could keep his talents hidden from me did you? I have known for a couple of years, he is after all the son of a dragonlord. No he is mine and will be trained as my pet sorcerer."
"Guards take the servant to the Lady Morgana" he turned to Hunith "You will see your son, from a distance, but if you fail in your duty you will watch him burn. I am a magnanimous King, you may say goodbye to your son" he sneered.
Hunith fell to her knees and hugged her son "I love you Merlin, I'm so sorry be a good boy and stay safe"
Merlin screamed as his mother was dragged away, tears running down both of their faces. "Mummy!" Merlin shouted as his mother was taken from him. Then he kicked Uther as hard as he could "Let my mummy go!"
Uther looked at the boy "Do that again and I will have your mother whipped to you understand me, you are mine to do with as I please as is she." he walked off dragging the screaming and crying boy after him. As they reached the stairs the guard picked Merlin up and carried him to he could keep up with the King. When they reached the top Uther turned "Put him down, he will walk or I will drag him"