A Destiny Defied {Heavy Editing}

A Magic Discovered

Arthur P.O.V.

I was mad. I was mad that my father made me play with the other kid. As Helena pulled me off the horse, I glared at the other kid. Who did my father think this kid was, to let him play with me?  I huffed and walked over to him.
"I'm Arthur. Don't think I'm enjoying this." I said to him. He tilted his head at me.
"Don't you understand me?" I asked angrily. He smiled.
"Me Merlin! You Arthur." He said, pointing at himself then me. I sighed.
"Yeah, I'm Arthur. Hi Merlin." I said. This Merlin was a very curious kid. "You know any good places to hang out?" I asked. He nodded and pointed to the woods. I smiled. Maybe this Merlin kid wasn't so bad after all.

Merlin and I headed out into the woods. (With father's permission, of course.) As we were wandering, Merlin waved for me to follow him. He lead me to a waterfall.
"What's so special about a waterfall?" I asked, curious as to why he lead us here.
"Secret cave." Merlin replied. I was starting to get excited. This was my first adventure! I finally would do something exciting for once! Merlin slipped around a few rocks that wouldn't be visible to anyone except for people who'd been there before. I stepped in the cave and gasped.

Where I thought there would be just a small old cave that wouldn't be anything special, was a cave with beautiful crystals. I looked away from the walls. There was a small but elegant rug, with candles everywhere. I wondered where Merlin got all this stuff.
"I got it from our attic. My mummy gave it to me. She said it was my dada's, but I never met him." I gaped at Merlin.
"You know how to talk?" I asked. He nodded.
"I don't do it much, the other villagers don't like me." He said, looking at his feet. I frowned. I realized I had spoken aloud, before thinking about what Merlin said. Sure, I didn't like Merlin at first, but now he just seems nice. I wondered what could make a village hate Merlin. At that moment, Merlin sneezed. I noticed something unusual. All the candles that were previously unlit were now lit.

"How'd those candles light?" I muttered to myself. Merlin looked at the candles.
"I'm sorry, I can't help it." He said shyly, before his eyes flashed gold and they went out again.
"You have magic." I said, staring at him. He nodded.
"I don't mean to, my mummy says it's not my fault." I bolted out of the cave. My father had to know about Merlin, and fast.

When I reached my father, I hurriedly told him about Merlin. He growled under his breath.
"It's the wench's fault. She had to have taught him magic." He muttered angrily. He turned toward me again. "How'd he do it?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure he's enchanted, it's like he didn't even say anything. I think he had magic forced upon him." I said. Father nodded.
"Hunith cursed the poor child. We can't get rid of the magic she put upon him, but we can get rid of her. You did well, my son." I nodded, feeling unsure about what I had done. Father turned to the Knights we had brought with us.
"Sir Edward, find the boy. Be gentle, we don't want him dead or frightened. Sir Leonard, find his mother, the witch. Make sure she is contained so we can get her to Camelot. We will have a formal execution for her atrocious crime. The poor boy." Edward and Leonard nod and head on their way.

A short time later, Leonard came dragging a bound Hunith. Leonard pushed her on her knees in front of my father. He glared at her.
"You are accused of using sorcery against your own son. You shall be tried for your crimes and burned at the stake. I can only hope the spell you put on him will die with you." Father said before turning away. I saw Edward coming towards us carrying a sleeping Merlin.
"What will we do with Merlin, Father?" I asked quietly. Father turned toward me.
"If the enchantment doesn't wear off when the witch dies, I will be forced to put him in a... Permanent prison. I won't kill him for what his mother did to him." He said, before sighing. He frowned. "He reminds me of you, son."

As we rode back to Camelot, Hunith was forced to walk behind us. She was tied to Sir Leonard's horse. I looked over at Merlin, who was still sleeping in Edward's lap.
"Why isn't he waking up?" I asked impatiently. Edward looked at me.
"I'm honestly not sure. I hope he gets good rest though, the poor boy." He whispered after checking to make sure my father couldn't hear. I looked at Sir Edward curiously.
"Why?" He sighed.
"The only permanent prison your father has is where the light will never penetrate. It also is hotter than anywhere else in the five kingdoms. It is in the lowest part of the castle. There is a rumor that the last dragon resides in the prison." Arthur gaped at Edward.
"A dragon? No way. My father killed them all," I muttered as Edward sped up. "didn't he?"

When we got back to Camelot, I saw that they were already building a pyre for Hunith. I sighed and looked over at Merlin, who still hadn't stirred. It had been hours.
"Sir Edward, take the boy to Gaius. Stay with him, and if he wakes up reassure him. Arthur, you go with. It might be easier for him if someone around his own age explained what happened." I nodded and followed Edward to Gaius' chambers. Gaius looked up. Upon seeing Merlin, he immediately cleared a cot for him.
"Who's this?" Gaius asked.
"This is Merlin. His mother is a witch. She enchanted him and now he has uncontrollable magic. Uther is going to burn the witch, and this poor boy gets a permanent prison." Edward answered. Gaius sighed sadly.
"Is it Hunith?" Edward nodded. "She's my niece. I never thought she'd- oh well." I jerked at what Gaius had said. His niece? That meant that Merlin was Gaius' great nephew. Poor Gaius had to watch his niece get burned at the stake.

Merlin was finally starting to stir. Father had asked that his wrists were bound to the bed, in case he freaked out. Gaius willingly agreed. I sat next to him, feeling strangely protected of this child. He was only a toddler. He didn't deserve to be locked up for the rest of his life. Especially for something his mother did. Merlin groaned.
"Where am I?" He asked quietly. I smiled sadly.
"You're in Camelot. You see, your mother was accused of being a witch." I whispered. Luckily, Merlin had slept through the execution. He wouldn't bear it. Merlin's eyes widened. He started pulling on his restraints.
"Where's my mummy? I want my mummy!" He started wailing horribly. "Mummy!" The glass of Gaius' window shattered. I sighed. I had hoped Merlin would lose the magic. If he had, my father said he would've let him live with us. I was saddened greatly, he was so innocent.
"I'm sorry Merlin, she's dead." I whispered quietly. He stopped struggling and wailed. I left quickly. My father was standing outside.
"Is his magic gone?" He asked hopefully. I shook my head, looking at my boots. Father sighed.
"I didn't want to do this. Gaius? Make him sleep, I'll try to make his new home as comfortable as possible. Get someone to carry him down as soon as possible." Father said, before stomping off. A few minutes later, I saw a guard walk out and carrying a sleeping Merlin. I wiped away some tear. Why am I crying? I asked myself. I was a prince, I shouldn't cry over a boy I just met. As Merlin disappeared down a flight of stairs, I wiped away more tears. I'm sorry, Merlin. Maybe someday we will meet again.

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Author's Note
Sorry that chapter was so long! This is one of my first fanfictions. The other chapters will probably be a little shorter. By the way, Morgana will be a year younger than Merlin. Also, Balinor is Uther's brother.