Everyone's lives continued much as before for the next few years. Morgana and Arthur began to think they had been seeing things that weren't there. Arthur was kept busy with his knights training and also his lessons on history and treaties that he would need on day when he became King. Morgana continued to watch Hunith but found nothing else to convince her anything other than grief for her dead husband was behind her maid servant's behaviour.
Hunith was being more careful realising she may have roused suspicions, and wanting to protect her son at all costs. She occasionally saw Merlin in the distance and Gaius sometimes got to treat him or one of the others so past on any information he could. Both Gaius and Hunith visited Kilgarrah when they could, Gaius more often than Hunith due to drugged wine. Kilgarrah advised them to wait. He told them both that Merlin's destiny had been altered due to his captivity but that the prophesy would ensure it was put back on track at some time. Albeit in a different way, Arthur would become the Once and Future King and Merlin would be by his side. They were all trapped, held by concern for the others.
On Gaius's last visit to Kilgarrah the Great Dragon had told the Physician that it may mean that one who was destined to be Merlin's foe might now work with both the Once and Future King and Warlock to bring about Albion. In his normal cryptic way he refused to say more.
Uther meanwhile was getting impatient with Merlin, who was now eleven, convinced that somehow the boy was holding out on showing his true powers so he decided to force the issue in a cold-hearted manner. There was to be yet another execution, and the pyre was built in the courtyard as usual. Morgana as she had ever since she was fourteen tried to get out of watching she was finding the executions harder to cope with. Arthur said nothing but like Morgana hated attending them. He was now fifteen and still trying hard to get his father's approval. Morgana now a young lady of sixteen was getting more rebellious. But as usual Uther forced her "You have to be seen to support the fight against sorcery" he said in his usual forceful manner.
The stood to his right on the balcony as the young druid was tied to the stake. Uther waved his hand and Merlin was dragged out to stand at his left. His face full of defiance, the collar round his neck and the chain in the hands of a guard. Uther turned and snarled at his so his family couldn't hear. "You will do as you are told or suffer the consequences, look below"
He looked across and at the back of the crowd saw his mother between two guards. She looked up at her son in fear. Morgana noticed where Merlin was looking as his face went pale and his knees almost buckled. She looked across and saw Hunith. Uther did his normal speech about the fight to get rid of the evil of sorcery and then turned to Merlin "Do your job"
Merlin muttered some words in the old tongue and raised his hand, the pyre lit, but with such ferocity that the druid didn't have long to suffer. Morgana noticed Hunith fall to her knees as she continued to look up at the balcony. As soon as she could Morgana hurried back to her room. Arthur left to go to training and Uther turned to Merlin "I knew you were holding out" he spat "Sir Kay is too soft on you, tomorrow you train with Aredian once more, I will not have you defying me. You know the consequences to your mother and uncle. Your will have ten lashes this time, next time it will be your mother who suffers. I know you have heard the guards using the women prisoners so I'm sure you understand what I am staying."
Merlin was dragged off to the dungeons, where his lashes were administered, with each one his hatred of Uther Pendragon grew. His normal placid and gentle nature pushed aside as his fear for his family took over. Where it not for the collar Uther Pendragon would have died that day.
When Morgana got back to her room she sent for Hunith only for a different maid to arrive "I asked for Hunith why are you hear?" she demanded
"I'm sorry my lady I understand your normal maidservant is unwell" the girl spluttered.
Morgan stormed out of the room and headed down to the Court Physicians. She need to see him anyway for a sleeping draft as she had recently started to have nightmares and knew today's events would most certainly cause one. As she went to knock on the door she heard Hunith's voice and paused hoping to get a clue as to what was happening.
"But Gaius how could he be so wicked to force my poor gentle boy to kill!" Hunith sobbed
"Hush Hunith child you must take care if you are overheard.." Gaius's gentle tone replied. "There is nothing we can do Uther has us all trapped"
"But Uncle, my son is no killer, what else will that monster make him do?"
"I don't know, my dear, but Merlin made sure the man didn't suffer to long we need to be thankful for that, we knew this day would come. You must be brave for his sake" Gaius didn't tell his niece that her son was to be whipped. He would go and treat the boy later, Uther wouldn't want his wounds to become infected. Merlin was too valuable for that. "Now dry your tears and go back to your work, here take the lady Morgana's sleeping draft she will be sure to have a nightmare, and take on for yourself my dear."
Morgana stepped back and quickly made her way back to her room. Later when Hunith arrived she sympathised with her maid servant when she said she had a headache. But later once she knew they would not be interrupted she went to the small room of her bedroom where Hunith slept and walked in and sat beside the woman who had been like a mother to her for so long. "Hunith I want to help you, please don't be scared but I saw what happened in the courtyard earlier and I also heard you with Gaius earlier."
Hunith looked at her mistress in fear "Please my lady, please say nothing to your guardian, please…."
"I have no intention of saying a word, he is a hard and brutal man. I had thought before that there was something…..but I thought I was wrong and your tears at night were due to your dead husband. I never dreamed you had a son, one who was being treated so shamefully." Morgana hugged Hunith "I want to help you both"
"My lady there is nothing you can do, please leave things as they are you must" Hunith pleaded
"Hunith…..You have been like a mother to me, looked after me when I have been ill, hugged me when I grieved for my parents and scared my nightmares away there must be something I can do"
"I promise you my lady there is nothing, nothing anyone can do" Hunith sobbed.
The couple hugged each other then jumped in fright as a voice from the door said "What about me? Is there anything I can do?"