Merlin didn't mind the stocks, he didn't like it when people threw fruit or veg at him but when he is left alone it gave him time to think. But today was different Arthur left him in it though out the night. He was starting to drift off to sleep in the summer warm weather when he felt someone push a hard object into his mouth and tied it around the back of his head. Merlin was a wake trying to scream as he heard he chuckled "I've been waiting for you to end up back here for long time." The stranger purred as he trailed his fingers down Merlin's spin.

The dark haired man started to feel panic rise as he tried to wiggle himself free as the man behind him pulled trousers down. "You are being punished for your crimes against the Prince, who is far too soft on you." He told him as he ran the end of a cane over Merlin's cheeks making the blue eyed warlock look up at the man whose face was hidden by the darkness of the night. Merlin let out a muffled scream as he felt the cane make contact to his lower half. The stranger smiled as he rubbed the red line that was wrong Merlin's backside "Oh theses are going to scar beautifully." He purred before he brought the cane down again and again. Merlin kept screaming though the gag hoping a passing knight would hear him he couldn't believe that none of them are on petrol. Tears were running down his face at the pain as the stranger kept hitting him.

By morning Arthur decide to let Merlin go he walked down to the stocks he took his time when got there he found Merlin hanging there limply he thought he was a sleep as he unlocked the stock. "Come on lazy bones get up, you're not meant to find it comfortable." He said with a chuckle but Merlin didn't move. "Merlin come on!" Arthur yelled as he moved closer he could see blood seeping through the back of Merlin's trousers. "Merlin." He whispered as he moved the unconscious young man into his arms "Merlin." He whispered his name again as he heard a pain whimper come from his lips. He lifted young warlock up carefully only to get a pain groan from him but Arthur found it was the only way he could carry him as he made a mad dash to Gaius.

Merlin's guardian looked up when the door to his home was pushed open by the Prince of Camelot, he brought in Merlin who was still unconscious "W…What…?"

"I left Merlin in the stocks and someone must have attacked him during the night." Arthur said as he walked up to Merlin's bed chambers and placed him down on the bed

"Put him on his stomach." Gaius said weakly as he walked in carrying a bowl and some bottles, Arthur frowned as he turned the young man servant onto his front and let the old man peal back Merlin's trousers down and his shirt up.

"Oh god." The prince gasped, seeing the large angry marks on Merlin's body front the small of his back down to the curving of Merlin's bum.

"Same as before." Gaius said sadly as he started to bath the wounds, some were long cuts along the skin others were just angry and swollen

"You've seen this before?" The Prince asked as he knelt by Merlin's bed and took his hand and held it as Gaius cleaning the marks. Merlin whimpered and squeezed Arthur's hand at the pain but he still didn't wake up.

"I have. There is someone in this place that abuses those on the stocks, I have had men, women and sometimes child in there. At first it was just the marks the cane he use but he started to do more things to them." Arthur didn't miss what the old man was hinting at and it made him pale at the thought

"D…Did this person do more to Merlin?" He asked, he was afraid to know but a part of him had to know." Gaius was quiet as he cleaned the blood off Merlin's body he never once looked at the prince in the eyes blaming him for putting Merlin in the stocks

"Yes." He said after a while and he saw from the corner of his eyes Arthur slump back still holding Merlin's hand.

"Does my father know about these attacks?"

"Well many of victims have said they think he is working for the king, why else is the guards pulled off that area and they have said this man talks about punishing them for the king and the prince." The Prince shook his head in disbelief he didn't want to believe that is own father would do something this cruel.

Arthur left Merlin with Gaius and marched back to the castle to find his father. He found Uther talking to a group of Knights about patrolling the North gate. "Father I need to speak to you!" Arthur yelled. The king looked up and waved the knights away before looking at his angry son

"What has you so riled up this morning? Is that blood?" Uther asked looking at Arthur's hands

"Did you give permission to one or more people to abuse those left in the stocks over night?" He yelled at him. The room become quiet as Uther looked at him those who were in the room moved out of sight. "Did you tells them that they can beat them with a cane then…then rape them?" He snarled quietly

"I have no idea what you are talking about Arthur?" Uther said sound at least shocked, but Arthur didn't buy it quite yet

"Gaius has been treating people for the last year who have been abuse by this man and I'm sure he has told you. Now my man servant was attacked!" He yelled at him

"If he was in the stocks then he was punished." Uther said as he turned away. Arthur felt himself growl at his father as he walked after the man

"So you do know about it! Men, woman and Children do not care at all at what you started!" He yelled

"Enough Arthur! I am sorry that your man servant was hurt but you put him in the stocks again he had to be punished further." He told is son.

"He was raped!" Arthur screamed so other could hear him "You are no fit to be king." Arthur snarled before he walked away from him leaving Uther yelling his name.

He went back to see Merlin who was now resting on his side curled up a sleep, he turned to Gaius and dropped into the chair "My father knows about it, he had said he had to be punished further." The prince told the old man. Gaius shook his head as he looked down into his drink before he started speaking

"He will be unconscious for a while, there will be scaring as there is only so much herbs and rubs can do. He will be in pain when he wakes up and I doubt he will be any fit state to go back to work any time soon." Arthur looked at Gaius and frowned at him

"I don't care about him coming back to work Gaius, I just want him to get better." The Prince said feeling like he was in bad mood.

Gaius watched the Prince for a moment before he leaned forwards "How much do you care for Merlin?" he asked him, the blonde man turn and looked at the court doctor in shock

"I care for Merlin very much! Okay I do treat him badly at times b…but I care for him more than most." He whispered.

"Ummm Merlin is a wizard." Gaius said,

"W…What?" Arthur asked, he looked at him with wide eyes and then to the open door behind them where he could see Merlin sleeping form.

"Merlin is a wizard a powerful one at that he has saved your hide more than once." The older man said as he watched the Prince "I'm telling you this because you said you care for Merlin and if you break his trust or mine by telling your father I will send him away and show you what I am really hiding." They were quiet for a while as Arthur let what Gaius said sink in. "He will need you understanding Arthur, a good wizard can turn dark and sadly your father had made many good wizards and witches turn bad. Merlin has had darkness in his heart he has had pain and hate grow there. You have seen someone good turn bad with your father's ward." Arthur gasped as he felt his hand gripped the chair arms

"Morgana?" He whispered, Gaius nodded with a sad look on his face and he sighed remembering a sweet young girl he use to know

"Because of Uther she felt that she had no choice to do what she has done and Merlin bless him has tried to save her from herself and her sister." Arthur frowned at the this information he felt anger at himself for not helping the people he cares for

"I promises Gaius I will keep Merlin's secret." He said to him seeing the older man smiles.

Merlin could hear voices around him and it made him want to bury his face deeper into this bed cove. But then the pain of his wounds started to hurt and he whimpered and fisted the bed sheets trying to hold off from crying out in pain. But as the second ticked by the pain only got worse to the point that tears started to fall from his eyes "Merlin." Came the whisper of his name. He open his eyes and saw Arthur looking at him as he cupped his cheek and watched as the dark haired young man cried out in pain and at the memories of last night. He grabbed Arthur's wrist and screamed making Gaius rush into the room and held a cup to Merlin's lips

"Drink Merlin, it will help." He said firmly as the amber liquid dribbled down the young man's chin as he tried to swallow it. Gaius pulled the cup away and watched as Merlin fell back into the bed and curled back up onto his sides still holding Arthur's hands

"Shhh its okay just rest." Arthur whispered to him as lowered himself until he was eyes level with Merlin.

Arthur looked into the dull blue eyes that were only bright and bold 18 hours ago, he reached with his free hand and brushed away Merlin's damp hair and smiled weakly at him "I'm so sorry Merlin if I knew..." He stopped and tried to hold back his tears seeing the how broken the young warlock looks

"Arthur." He whispered his name as he let himself be comforted by the Prince.

"Just sleep and I will look after you." As he watched Merlin drifted back off to sleep and his hand let go of Arthur's wrist.

The prince stood up and wiped his eyes as he turned to face the Merlin's guardian who was stood watching. "I want to help may I?" He asked the older man, Gaius smiled gently at him as he walked into the room

"You already are helping."