It was a week later, when Arthur left leading a patrol in the Darkling Woods to try to keep the bandits numbers down, they rode out as yet another sorcerer was executed, Thomas Collins had been caught using enchantments. Morgana managed to miss the execution by claiming to be unwell so Uther was alone on the balcony this time. But they heard later that the condemned man's mother cursed Uther and said he too would lose his son before she teleported out and escaped.
It was during the week patrol when Arthur first opportunity to find out more about the sorcerers. They were ambushed and during the fight a sorcerer tried to kill Arthur and was stopped by Edwin, the sorcerer for the trip. After they had finished the rest of them off the patrol stopped in a clearing by a stream for a break and something to eat. Arthur approached Edwin "Thank you"
"I had no choice" Edwin told him "I would just as soon see you Pendragon's dead." He snarled expecting punishment. He was surprised when nothing happened.
Arthur just looked at him before asking "I'm sure you would, could you answer a question for me?"
"Do I have a choice? You are carrying the control to this" Edwin gestured to the collar round his neck.
"Look I just want to understand. I know that if a threat is made to the carrier of the control you have no choice but to save them, and also carry out instructions. But I have never seen what happens if you don't, what don't any of you rebel and why have you never tried to remove it?" Arthur seemed genuinely interested.
Edwin looked at the young Prince before answering "Why don't you ask the King!"
"Because I want to know from you" Arthur explained "I want to understand, I really do"
"You ask why we don't rebel, we did at first several of us died through it. The collar turns our magic against us and cause's a pain like you could never experience, it sent some mad. The same happens if anyone tries to remove it, even with magic. When the boy came to us we had to tie his hands to stop him pulling at it. His screams were so bad. Don't you think we want to be free! Some are druids, peaceful people who wouldn't harm anyone so to control them Uther had the control altered so if one tries we all suffer, it was the only way he could force them to kill" he paused "Does it make you proud"
Arthur felt sick, he believed what Edwin had told him and realised what a fool he had been, for years he had believed his father who had told him that the collared sorcerers were volunteers who agreed to have their magic controlled for the good of Camelot. It was seeing and hearing of Merlin that had first put doubts in his head. He turned to Edwin once more "Do you know how the collars can be removed" he asked
"If any of us did don't you think anyone of us would give our lives to free the rest?" Edwin spat out.
Arthur looked round to see if anyone was listening, seeing Leon close by Arthur lowered his voice. "One day I will free you all" he promised "You have helped lift the blinds from my eyes"
Edwin looked at Arthur in surprise "Perhaps the druids are right you will unite us all. But you are young boy, it will be years before you can take on your father and win and by then we may well all be dead"
Nothing more was said. On the ride back to Camelot Leon rode by Arthur's side and said in a low voice "Be careful Sire, your father won't like it if he thinks you are questioning him. It's good that you do, you will be your own man, but you are young yet"
Arthur looked at Leon "There is so much you don't know, things I have found out, I have to do something!" Arthur paused "I have learnt some shocking things recently, things that make me sick to the stomach but I don't know what to do" he admitted, He trusted the knight completely, it had been Leon and Kay who had shown him that arrogance got you nothing but hatred.
Leon nodded his head "If you want to talk Sire, I am here for you, but not now, we need somewhere more private."
While Arthur had been away on patrol Morgana had been talking to Hunith about what was happening to her. Hunith had known seers in the past and promised to help Morgana all she could. "We can keep this between us" Hunith told her. "You will be safe my lady, I will help you"
Morgana felt better than she had for some time, she had someone to trust. They both felt as if life was better now, Hunith no longer had a secret she had to keep from everyone and she trusted her mistress not to say anything. All she had to do now was trust Arthur.
Gaius went up to Morgana's rooms on the pretext of seeing Uther's ward, but managed to speak to Hunith "Arthur knows everything, he has spoken to Kilgarrah, but be careful my dear, it will be years before the prince will be able to challenge his father on all this. He is young"
It seemed to them all that something had to give there were just too many secrets for things to stay as they were.
When the patrol arrived back Arthur reported to his father, and was praised on the death of another sorcerer. It left a sour taste in Arthur's mouth, he was still trying hard to reconcile what he know knew with what he had been told all his life. Especially the circumstances of his birth and the relatives he know knew he had. He loved his father and didn't want to believe what he had been told but the facts were just to compelling.
Arthur was then told there was to be a feast that night to celebrate Morgana's seventeenth birthday, so he went to prepare. As always with these events Uther had several of the sorcerers placed round the hall. To Arthur and Morgana's disgust he had Merlin chained and sat just below the high table like a trophy. The boy had been dressed in clean trousers, and a thin top and looked cold. His collar stood out against the pale skin of his neck. Hunith was acting as server to Morgana and it was the closest she had been to her son in years. But even then she couldn't see him as she was behind the high table and he was below.
As the guests came up to give Morgana her gifts many of them touched Merlin as if he was some sort of merchandise. He flinched at each touch, but knew better than move. The feast was well underway when the guest singer arrived on the stage. Helen of Mora was considered the best singer in Albion and Uther had asked her to come as a surprise for Morgana. Morgana was on edge after all her nightmare had shown Arthur being killed at the feast. Hunith tried to calm her saying that the captive sorcerers would deal with any attack. What no one realised was that Helen was in reality Mary Collins the mother of the man killed. Mary Collins had killed the singer on route and used a glamour to hide her real self.
As the singing commenced all the people began to fall asleep, including the sorcerers, Mary Collins had made sure to use a spell that would affect the captive sorcerers. The only person in the room not effected was Merlin, his magic different coming from the earth itself. What no one had yet realised was that the boy did not have magic Merlin was magic, it flowed through his veins. Realising it was the Prince who was in danger and not the King, Merlin acted. He wasn't sure why but his magic seemed to want to protect the Prince. His eyes flashed gold and the large candle holder above the singer fell and landed on the singer. As the rest of the room began to wake they saw 'Helen' turn into Mary Collins.
Everyone was still groggy from the spell as Mary Collins in her dying moments went to throw a knife at Arthur, who himself was to drossy to move, Merlin by now was stood up, and not being about to move far because of the chain used his magic to knock the Princes chair over taking the prince out of danger. His eyes were still golden as Uther looked around to see what was happening.
Arthur was getting up and looking round he saw the knife in the wall behind at the level of his heart and realised what a close shave he had had. Uther had come to the same conclusion. Looking at the body on the floor he called for the guards "Remove that and burn it." He demanded. Then he looked at the sorcerers around the room. "Did only the boy act?" getting no answer he turned to Merlin "Well boy why where you able to act when no one else could!"
Merlin shrunk down in fear. Alvarr spoke up "I believe Sire he was not affected due to his young age, He is the only child in the room."
Luckily Uther seemed to believe this explanation without question, he looked down at the small figure, "This is good news, if you are immune to some spells then I have a special job for you, you will be responsible for the safety of the Prince. He will still have a fully trained one with him out of the castle but you will be with him at all times. Make sure he is safe your life is on the line boy"
Merlin looked at Uther making sure not to make eye contact, he stood waiting further orders. Uther took a controller from his pocket and handed it to his son "He sleeps in your room on the floor near the door. And goes everywhere with you! There has been an increase to the threats against you, this might help keep you safe. Make sure he trains with Aredian when you are at knight training, and keep him on tight discipline. Any breach in rules and he is to be whipped" Uther told his son.
Arthur took the controller "Father I hardly think I need a child to protect me!" he protested. He wanted Merlin under his control but knew his father would expect him to protest.
Uther looked at his son "Until we eradiate magic from the land we all need to use the tools we have in the fight, this" he pointed at Merlin "is a tool no more, don't make the mistake of thinking him human, he is no more than an animal. If he misbehaves treat him like one. If he behaves throw him a bone"
Morgana and Hunith looked at each other, they both hated Uther's attitude but were thankful Merlin was now under Arthur's control. The feast resumed and at the end of the evening Arthur undid Merlin's chain from around the table leg and pulled him out of the room, making sure his father thought he was reluctant to take him. Arthur was followed by George his manservant who disappeared briefly to return with a moth eaten blanket that he put at the door. A guard knocked on the door and he was let in and hammered a metal ring into the wall. "Sire the King asked me to tell you to make sure the sorcerer is chained to the ring when in the room. I am to take him to the midden before you settle for the night."
"Take him now then" Arthur said and Merlin was dragged off. It seemed the King had been stating the truth when he said he thought the sorcerers were animals. Poor Merlin was being treated like a dog and taken to relieve himself at the midden. George helped Arthur undress and prepare for bed. He turned to Arthur "Sire I have been told that I will bring his food up after yours in the morning, he is to have his set rations. I understand from the normal guards he will be washed down outside when necessary and the guards will take him to the midden morning and night" George looked disgusted at the extra work but said nothing.
"Thank you George, that will be all, wake me early in the morning I have knight training" Once George had left the guard returned, Merlin had been taken out of his better clothes and had his normal clothing on. It was still thin and didn't look enough to keep the boy warm. But at least there was a fire in the room. The guard chained Merlin to the wall and left to stand guard outside.
Arthur walked up to Merlin and bent down to his level, speaking quietly so the guards wouldn't hear "Merlin I will be as kind to you as I can, but I can't be seen to be breaking the rules. When we are alone if you need anything ask me and I will do my best to help you, but if anyone else is about you must treat me in the way my father expects. Thank you for saving my life, your mother is the maid of the Kings ward I will take messages to her for you, but be careful" he smiled at the young boy, It was hard to think he was eleven years old he hardly looked more than seven or eight, he was so thin and slight.
Merlin looked up at his new master and didn't speak, he knew better. He wondered if he really would take a message to his mother or if it was a trick. He hadn't spoken to her for so long. Sometimes Gaius took massages but he didn't see him much, only if he had been beaten. Once Arthur moved away Merlin curled up on the floor, it was cold and hard but his pallet in the dungeons wasn't much better. Merlin pulled the blanket over him and lay looking at the fire before falling asleep.
The next morning Merlin was woken by George coming into the room, the tray he was carrying had such wonderful smells coming from it. Arthur sat and ate his food while George went to get Merlin's meal. He was fed twice a day and always the same gruel, sometimes with bits of meat in it. Merlin ate his food as quickly as he could, in the dungeons the guards often took the bowls before they had finished so they all learnt to eat quickly. The food was never hot. He then drank his water. And waited for Arthur to tell him what to do.
Arthur looked at the small bowl of gruel that Merlin had been given and was thankful he didn't have to eat it. As George helped him to dress Arthur looked at the fruit in the bowl on his table and picked up an apple and threw it across to Merlin "For saving my life" he said gruffly ignoring Georges scandalised look.
Merlin caught the apple and looked at it, He had never had an apple before although he had seen others eating them. He smelled it first then took a bite before devouring the lot as quick as he could. Just as Merlin finished the Guard came in and took him to the midden and then down to the training ground. Aredian sneered as he saw the slight boy approaching "Here comes the boy of the moment, well don't think you'll get special treatment here, you will work as hard as the rest"
Merlin joined the others as their training started. He knew that the witch finder would be hard on him, it wasn't his fault he was allocated to the Prince but Aredian wouldn't see it that way. The other sorcerers were pleased that the boy was out of the dungeons but wondered how the Prince would treat him and if he had gone from the frying pan into the fire so to speak.