Author's Note: This story is being actively updated to fix errors and add new information to the story. I thought about deleting it, but I figured updating the chapters was the better option since I'm not too worried about new reviews or anything like that for an old story.

Merlin walked into the armoury, searching for Uther. His eyes glowed gold as he cast a spell to light the torches within the room. As he walked to the other end, he heard metal clanging and the sound of rattling chains. He saw that a weapon was swinging from side to side, causing some of the noise. As he reached out to stop it, he heard a gust of wind blow through, and a felt chill go down his spine. He turned to face whoever might be behind him, only to find himself suddenly pinned to the wall with spears.

The warlock looked down at his body. It was pinned to the wall, which wouldn't be so bad if one of the spears wasn't sticking out of him. He looked up and watched in horror as Uther came charging at him with a gleeful smile.

"You will die a slow and painful death. You don't deserve any other kind of death. You've gotten away with your crimes for far too long," Uther stated as he draped his hand around the spear. He began to twist the weapon around, causing Merlin to scream in pain. The former king only laughed with enjoyment. It was as if the young warlock's screams of agony were music to his ears.

Merlin always knew that a price would have to be paid for magic's freedom. He also knew that it would be a painful price, and right now, his body was exploding in pain. Was it time to pay the price?

Arthur awoke on the floor of the throne room. He rubbed the bump on his head as he got up and grabbed the horn. As he wandered through the corridors of the castle, he heard a blood-curdling scream coming from the guards' armoury. He quickly matched the scream to Merlin and broke into a run.

He reached the armoury just in time to see his best friend's barely conscious form pinned to the wall and see his father laughing like a madman.

"Get away from him," Arthur ordered as he held up the horn.

Uther turned around with a smile, "He must die from his crimes against my kingdom."

"He has committed no crime, Father," Arthur said.

"He has magic and must die," Uther insisted. "If he lives, he will destroy the kingdom I have worked so hard for."

"No," Merlin weakly squeaked.

Arthur glanced over at Merlin. He had heard what his father had said but paid it no mind. Merlin needed to be rescued right now. He could not waste time arguing with the ghost of his father. If he did, Merlin would surely die.

"You had your turn. It's my kingdom now," Arthur stated as he put the horn to his lips and blew.

As soon as his father was gone, Arthur rushed to his manservant's side and got him down as quickly as possible. He laid his body on the floor and yelled for anyone who could possibly hear him as he put pressure on Merlin's wound. Merlin howled in pain before losing consciousness all together.

Right now, Arthur wasn't thinking about saving a sorcerer's life. He was thinking about saving his best friend's life. "You are not going to die, you dollophead," Arthur stated with conviction in his voice.

It took a group of guards five minutes to arrive and help. It took another thirty to get the younger man to Gaius. One of the guards had to run ahead in order to warn the elderly physician about his ward and give him time to prepare.

Arthur watched as Gaius set to work assessing the damage his father wrought upon Merlin.

"It looks like the spear missed all of his organs," Gaius stated as he gathered the supplies he needed. "But with the amount of blood loss and damage Uther did, it will be a miracle if Merlin survives."

"What are his chances of living?" Arthur asked, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Gaius started cleaning the wound, "Right now, let's just pray he makes it through the night."

And pray Arthur would do.