King Arthur's Knights

Book 2: Excalibur

Act 1: Heritage

Of Uther and his Battle Against the Vengeful Cador

Once upon a time there was a young king who fell in love with a Duchess. Sick for love of her, he sought out an old and wise seer to help him obtain her hand. In the guise of her dead husband, the young king went to her and lay with her, and together they conceived a son.

When the Duchess's public mourning was done, the King sent for her to ask her hand in marriage. The Duchess accepted his proposal, and with her three daughters she came to him and made her home in his kingdom… But her young son, Cador, enraged and grieved at the loss of his father, would not follow his mother into the home of the man who had doomed the once Duke.

Though she begged the child to see reason and come with her, he refused and remained to take up his father's Dukedom in Cornwall. There the boy stayed, unaware of his mother's pregnancy, and waited for the opportune time to take revenge…

KAK

It wasn't long before the fallout of Uther's battle against Gorlois began to rear its head. Gorlois was a powerful Lord and had many strong allies and many friends who loved him. His children adored their father with all their hearts, and there was never a man after him that Igraine loved more, not even Uther. When he was killed, grief fell over his lands and the lands of his allies. Hatred grew among those nations towards Uther, who as if to add insult to injury had married Gorlois's widow not even a month after the death of her beloved. Though Igraine went willingly to Uther's home and into his bed, her children were another matter entirely.

Cador raged, in the wake of his father's death, and grieved heavily to hear of the fate that had befallen his sisters, married so very young. For what? Because Uther didn't want to lower himself to raise another man's children? Uther had taken his father… Just a child, yet he had inherited a devastated and grieving land and could not go away from it to be with his family in Uther's court, because to do so would be to abandon his father's people when they needed a leader most. The hurt that came to him, though, was nothing compared to the anger he felt for the fates of his three sisters, two married and one destined to be put to school in a nunnery. Morgan would be nowhere near an age to be sent to such a place.

At a loss, consumed by grief, the boy Cador sought the help of the young crown-prince of Scotland, Caradoc Briefbas, a knight of Uther's court and Cador's best friend. Carados had been sent, at Igraine's bequest, to offer his services to her son. To be his guide and teacher, for Cador had no parent left in the cold and grieving palace at Cornwall, and now no older siblings to turn to either. Despite Caradoc's being close friends with Uther and loyal to him, and though initially hostile towards the knight, Cador soon warmed to the young crown-prince. Carados had never judged or belittled him when he ranted, just listened. Caradoc had offered, in fact, many valuable lessons and pieces of advice, and was in Cornwall almost as much as he was at Uther's side. Caradoc had become a mentor to Cador, and the recently graduated knight returned the youth's affections in kind, looking upon him as both a friend and a brother. So when Cador wrote to him and willed that they meet in private some months after the death of Gorlois, Caradoc went willingly and without hesitation.

They met on the cliffs above the sea. Caradoc rode towards the lone figure standing at the edge, dressed in mourning and looking out over the horizon. Silently Caradoc approached his friend. Cador, hearing his coming, turned and nodded a greeting before looking back out over the ocean. "I'm going to kill Uther," he said bluntly, as his friend came up next to him.

Carados stiffened visibly and looked sharply at the boy. "He is your step-father now," he said. This explained the out-of-the-ordinary meeting, he wryly noted to himself.

"I stopped being a boy when he took my father from me," Cador hollowly replied.

Caradoc watched his friend silently then sighed, turning to follow Cador's gaze. There was silence between them for a long moment. Finally, the knight said, "My loyalty is with the King. You know that."

"Then out of loyalty you should kill me for what I plan to do," Cador answered. Carados made no move to do any such thing. "Please, Caradoc… Spare all of us war again. Kill the king. He trusts you. If ever you loved me, then for my sake kill Uther Pendragon."

"You will speak no more of treachery, Cador," Caradoc firmly said, looking warningly at his best friend. "I am loyal to my king, and that's the end of it. As you should be." He trailed off, looking ponderous. "But I will not leave you for nothing… For what I'm about to say, I should be executed… I only speak out of my love for you. You who has become like a brother to me." Cador looked hopefully at him. "I will only say that there are benefits to having mourning and angry sisters who married into power... Though Lot of Orkney and Nentres of Garlot are still young, they are not forces to reckon with. And they have many allies who would ride with them. Take from that what you will." With that, Carados walked away from Cador and returned to his horse, galloping back home. Cador watched after him silently, taking in his words. By the end of the month, Lot and Nentres were allied to the young Duke of Cornwall. A plot to be done with Uther once and for all was underway.

KAK

Uther listened in shock to the news Carados brought. Cador of Cornwall, Lot of Orkney, and Nentres of Garlot had aligned with one another and declared war upon his land! Seriously? After everything he'd done for Lot? Uther blamed Morgause for this, he decided flatly. He'd have to have a little 'chat' with the crown prince of Orkney, considering they both made it out of this weak skirmish alive. He was willing to forgive. To a degree. And perhaps for a price. "My Lord?" Caradoc asked.

Uther was suddenly aware he must have been asked a question. Most likely pertaining to what his orders were. He looked at his knight and answered, "I shall send for King Ban of Benwick, Prince Nestor of Gannes, and King Bors de Ganis. They're old friends. They shall come. Prepare our armies! Young Cador is sorely mistaken if he believes for one moment he can get away with this little rebellion. I'll have his head." Caradoc shifted but said nothing. He had to trust Uther's love for Igraine would stay the man's hand… But would it…? He bowed to the young king and left to alert the army.

Uther watched him leave then let out a shaky sigh, drawing a hand through his hair nervously as his bold façade fell. This was bad. Very bad. "He is my son," a voice said from shadow. He turned. Igraine.

"Then perhaps you should have warned him to stay out of my way," Uther replied to her.

"You can't do this," she said. "Husband, please. He's only a boy."

"Boys become men, my darling. And then they become dangerous," Uther replied, looking in a mirror and combing his fingers through his hair whilst admiring himself. "You cut the root before it spreads."

"Are you even listening to yourself?!" she demanded of Uther, who was still obsessing over his hair.

Uther paused and was still. Soon he sighed through the nose, closing his eyes and dropping the front. He turned to her again. "I heard you, Raine," he finally answered.

"That boy will be the brother of your child," Igraine said. "Don't think I won't let our baby know what its father did to its half-brother if you hurt my boy."

Uther frowned at her, vaguely annoyed but not intimidated. He looked down at her stomach and his eyes softened. He approached her and gently placed his hand on the growing bump, lightly rubbing it. Finally, he looked up at her again. "I won't leave our child fatherless," he answered. "If it comes down to Cador or me, I will be victorious. If it doesn't, I shall do all I can to keep your child alive."

Igraine nodded gratefully. "Thank you," she said.

Uther nodded then gently pressed his forehead to Igraine's. "Do you despise me, my love?" he murmured.

She was quiet. "No…" she finally answered. "Once I did, but not anymore… If I lost you…" She trailed off, shaking her head frustratedly. She sniffed and looked up to him, smiling. "My brother Budic of Brittany, and sister Lillian, will be thrilled to hear of my pregnancy," she said to him. "Budic's wife is also pregnant, you know. Our children will be born around the same time. Lillian has a daughter, did I ever tell you that? Her name is Fiona. She's a spunky girl, not much younger than you." She said 'you' because Uther was her junior by a few years. Her smile fell. "But Fiona is under a terrible curse."

"A curse?" Uther questioned. "I think I've heard this story before… Mother would tell it to me when I was small."

"It's as romantic as it is tragic, really. Locked away in the tallest room of the tallest tower to await true love's kiss and be set free. The man who reaches her will be a lucky one," Igraine remarked.

"Romantic but so very overdone," Uther purred. "I prefer our love story more."

Igraine smirked in amusement. "Oh really? Should I summarize it for you? Boy meets girl, boy wants girl, girl is already married. Boy rages and decides to go to war with girl's husband. Girl's husband is killed. Boy disguised as husband goes to girl, sleeps with and impregnates her before lawful marriage, then returns home before sending for girl to marry him afterwards. You do realize what you did to me could be classified as rape if I chose to call it such, right?" she asked.

Uther blinked and grimaced, shifting awkwardly. "Point taken," he reluctantly admitted a bit ashamedly and guiltily.

She giggled and looked out the window. Her smile slowly fell. "Don't take my son from me…" she pled.

Uther was silent. "I've given you the only promise I can," he soon said. She closed her eyes tightly and bowed her head.

Three Months Later

The battle raged. It had been raging for two months now, and there was no sign of any letup. Blood was spilled in massive quantities, and the lives cut down in this war… Uther was sickened by it. For what were these men dying? Some spiteful little brat's petty revenge? The longer it went on, the more he regretted promising Igraine he'd do what he could to keep Cador alive. They were winning, this battle was theirs, but the cost had been so high… There was nothing worth the loss of life this war had brought on.

It's your fault.

He closed his eyes, willing away the miserable thought. But he couldn't. Because it was. It seemed he was making a lot more mistakes these days, given the stress he'd been under lately with war pushing at his borders despite his best efforts and the best efforts of his allies.

Cador, for his part, was visibly shell-shocked by all that was happening around him. With every day that passed, more and more guilt fell on him. If Lot and Nentres hadn't been there encouraging him so much, he would have given up this spat long ago. Was it really worth all the lives that had been lost, in the end? So much blood was on his hands now… But on Uther's too!

He heard a swishing sword and gasped, turning to block it. He couldn't get his blade or shield up in time, but it didn't matter. The sword stopped at his neck, and he knew the knight he was facing now. Caradoc. "You were right," Cador said shakily to his friend. "I should have let sleeping dogs lie. This is all my fault!"

"What's done can't be undone, Cador," Carados replied. "You have to push forward. Push forward or die."

"Part of me wants that now," Cador whispered.

Carados was silent, gazing at the young boy. "Your mother is pregnant by Uther. It will be a boy, I think. Your brother…" he said.

Cador's eyes widened, filling with both anguish and hope. "A brother?" he repeated again, almost not daring to believe. "I'm going to have a brother?"

"Yes. And it would be in everyone's best interests if you were alive to see him," Caradoc replied. Cador's eyes filled with determination and he nodded. He quickly pulled away from Caradoc and threw himself into the battle again, totally renewed and all the more vigorous. Caradoc watched him miserably and pityingly. No boy so young should see war, much less fight in it… Not that he was one to speak. He grimaced at that thought, rubbing his face stressfully before spinning to block an incoming attack.

KAK

They clashed on the battlefield not long after, Uther and Cador. Cador's eyes widened in horror on seeing the man whose eyes were blazing like fires. "Uther!" he exclaimed with a gasp.

Uther started on recognizing him, and his eyes narrowed. "You ungrateful little waif," he said darkly to the boy.

"Ungrateful?! What do I have to be grateful for? You killed my father!" Cador snapped viciously back.

"I didn't touch him!" Uther retorted. "Your father was idiotic enough to follow me into the middle of an enemy army. What did he expect would happen to him? I certainly didn't intend it!" In fact, odds were he would have spared the man, if only because he'd been impressed by Gorlois's determination if not brains.

"He wanted to save my mother!" Cador replied.

"Then he should have stayed away," Uther said. "Now look where she is. She doesn't regret it, you know. Marrying me. She will love no man as she loved your father, from that you may take some measure of comfort, but she doesn't regret her decision to marry me. All these lives lost… For what? Your petty vengeance?!"

"This coming from you?" Cador said with a sneer. "You were the one that went to war with my father out of jealousy!" Suddenly he ducked low and spun, tripping Uther. Uther cried out, falling.

Cador lunged at him with a sword, but suddenly Caradoc was there, blocking the blade and driving the surprised Cador back. "Your war is lost, Cador! Leave while you have a chance," Caradoc insisted. "Uther is all out of patience with you. Don't you hear Lot and Nentres blowing the horns of retreat?"

Cador looked passed Caradoc longingly. How he wanted to kill the King who had taken his father… But he wouldn't be able to now, because Caradoc would defend Uther to death and Cador couldn't find it in himself to kill his friend. Finally, he gasped back a sob and turned, fleeing without further protest. Caradoc watched after him. "What are you doing? Go after him!" Uther insisted, pointing in Cador's direction.

"He's leaving. Let it go," Caradoc said. "You promised Igraine you would."

"Some promises must be broken," Uther replied, seizing Caradoc's bow and arrows from him and quickly taking aim at the fleeing boy.

"Uther, no!" Caradoc shouted, seizing the King's wrists and pushing them up into the air.

Uther started, looking at him in shock. "What are you doing?!" he demanded.

"I won't let you hurt him!" Caradoc replied viciously. "Leave him be!"

"You'll do what I command!" Uther said, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

"Not this. I will even draw my blade against my king to protect my friend," Caradoc said.

"If you did, you would be a traitor," Uther challenged, shoving passed the knight and racing after Cador.

Swiftly Caradoc moved in front of the king, drawing his blade. Uther stopped short, looking at his knight in shocked disbelief. "Then I'm a traitor," Caradoc replied.

Uther was silent, watching him. "Fine. Then you'll die like one," he finally replied. He sheathed his sword, looked once more after Cador, then turned and walked away. "Guards, seize the crown-prince of Scotland and lock him in the dungeons!" he commanded as he went. This might actually prove interesting. And useful. He'd been aware Caradoc and Cador had an understanding, but to find out that understanding was in fact a close friendship was unexpected; and again, useful. He didn't for even a moment intend to go through with his threat to have Caradoc executed for treason. Caradoc was a good knight… and a good friend… Plus the trouble it would make with Scotland was too great a risk. However, he wasn't above using the threat to lure Cador back either…

KAK

Cador mounted his horse and looked back one last time. What he saw when he did, though, horrified him. His eyes widened. There was Caradoc, blade drawn against the king! Cador gasped in terror. It was an act of treason! For such an action Caradoc would be executed without question! Because of him… No… No, he couldn't let that happen! He immediately tried to gallop back, but Lot and Nentres swiftly intercepted him. "No, Cador! Don't be a fool," Lot ordered. "It's too late for him now. If you go back, the only thing that will happen is that there'll be two executions instead of one."

"I have to help him! Uther has to see reason. He can't do this!" Cador insisted.

"Caradoc is his friend. He won't. It's a trap, don't you see?" Nentres asked.

"But what if it isn't?!" Cador demanded. "I can't let him die for me!"

"Then find a smart way to go about it," Nentres said. "Give it time. Let Uther's rage cool."

"By then it could be too late," Cador said.

"It won't be. Read my lips. Caradoc. Is. His. Friend. Not only his friend, but one of his most trusted knights. Uther won't hurt him," Lot insisted.

"I can't take that risk," Cador replied.

"Then don't. But think your actions through very carefully," Lot warned. And Cador did.

KAK

Uther gaped in disbelief at the man who had come before him. A messenger from Cornwall. From Cador, more specifically. The man knelt at his throne. Uther had no idea how to react to this. Luckily Igraine was good at icebreaking. "What news do you have from my son, messenger?" she questioned.

"No news, my ladyship. Only a plea. A plea for the knight Caradoc," the messenger replied.

Uther scoffed. "If he wants to plead for his friend, tell him to come see me himself. I won't hear his plea. Go away," he dismissed, waving his hand. "Caradoc will be executed in three days' time. There is no more bargaining. Or perhaps your young master doesn't grasp the concept of treachery and its severity? Be gone." The messenger bowed lower and left.

The next day another messenger had come. Uther blinked blankly. What on earth was Cador doing? "What news do you bring?" Igraine questioned.

"A plea for the life of Carados Briefbas, crown prince of Scotland," the messenger replied.

"Go away and tell Cador to send no more messengers. The next one that comes will join Caradoc on the chopping block, and his head will be sent back as my reply," Uther said. Igraine glanced over at her husband. She hadn't known him to be so merciless before. Something was going on. She knew her husband had no intentions of executing Carados. Or anyone for that matter. He believed Cador's rebellion had cost the land more blood than it was worth as it was. Realization came to her. He was trying to lure her son out! But-but he'd promised no harm would come to the boy if it didn't have to! She had to quiz him about this when she had him alone tonight. She would give him a night he would remember, and then she would breach the topic when he was in a more euphoric state and good humor.

The messenger left again. Tomorrow was the deadline, Uther determined. Then he would send word to Cornwall that Carados had been beheaded. He had half a mind to make the man seriously believe he'd go through with it. In fact, he might, just to drive the lesson home. He wasn't letting this treachery go lightly, you could be sure of that. He just… didn't really want the knight dead. At all. And would go out of his way to ensure it didn't happen. Uther rose. "Where are you going?" Igraine asked.

"I have matters to discuss with Kings Ban and Bors, Prince Nestor, and Sirs Ulfius, Baudwin, and Brastias," he answered. "I'm sorry, kitten whiskers, I'll return soon. Kisses."

She smirked to herself and replied, "If you're going out with the boys, just tell me."

Uther tensed up, cringing, and looked back. "It won't be long," he sheepishly promised.

"Make sure it isn't. I have quite a night planned for you," she replied, smiling seductively at him. He blinked blankly and half considered cancelling his plans then and there. Instead, though, he smirked back.

"Mmm, I look forward to it," he purred. She giggled, blowing a kiss after him. He kissed the air in her direction and left.

KAK

"You really believe that Cador will come?" Ban questioned Uther as he, Nestor, Bors, Ulfius, Baudwin, Brastias, and the King sat in Friar Fat Boys. In disguise, of course.

"Not anymore," Uther admitted. "The boy is running scared. He won't face me. Not even for Caradoc. With luck, that'll help Caradoc see where his true loyalties should lie."

"So you won't execute him then?" Bors hopefully asked.

"No," Uther replied with a sigh. "I should, but…"

"But he's your friend," Ulfius said. "We're aware."

"You need to be more consistent in your punishments, Uther. You can't keep making exceptions for your friends when it comes to keeping law and order," Brastias said.

"Wrong. If they see him as a merciful king, they're more likely to obey him and love him," Nestor argued.

"Or they'll see him as weak and exploitable," Baudwin pointed out seriously.

"Easy on him. Uther has good judgement when it comes to those who deserve to be spared and those who don't," Ban said.

"That's not the point," Brastias said.

"Consistency is key," Ulfius agreed.

"Alright, which one of you wants to swing the headsman's axe?" Uther challenged, frowning. They were all silent. "I thought so. I'll do what I see fit, thank you very much." He looked over at the brothers, Ban, Nestor, and Bors, curiously. "You three have seemed distracted tonight. Is something the matter?" Uther questioned. "Tell it to me and I will do what I can to help you. You know this. I owe you both, for coming and aiding me in this fight." Lot and Nentres were not forces you wanted to cross on your own, and not forces you wanted to make enemies of. Reckless teenagers and young men leading armies was never a good thing. Generally it wasn't a good thing for said teenagers and their armies, but Lot and Nentres were proving scarily competent thus far.

Ban, Nestor, and Bors exchanged looks then turned back to Uther. "The Frankish King, Claudas, has been threatening our lands," Ban answered.

"Persistently. Like he always has. Only this time his bark will match his bite," Bors said.

"We don't know if we can face him," Nestor admitted quietly. "I'm more or less safe, but my brothers..." He trailed off.

"I will help you against him when the time comes. I promise," Uther said to Ban and Bors, looking sincerely at them. "Really it's the least I can do for the grace you've shown me."

"Thank you, Uther," Bors gratefully said. "You don't know what it means to us."

"Now, my friends, let's enjoy our night," Uther said, raising his glass. They raised their own glasses and drank.

The Next Day

"Who has come?" Uther asked, still on something of a cloud nine from last night's… events. With Igraine. She knew what she was doing, that was for sure.

"A messenger from Cornwall," the crier answered.

Immediately Uther's pleasant mood was gone. "Oh for the love of…" he began. Angrily he rose and marched towards the doors to the grand hall. He threw them open. "I told you to tell your master that…" He cut off midsentence, eyes wide. He blinked in shock, unsure he was seeing this. This time the messenger was no mere messenger.

Igraine shot to her feet in shock. "Cador!" she exclaimed, immediately fearful for her son.

Cador looked at her apologetically then turned to Uther again, visibly upset. "Do you know why I've come?" he asked.

Uther considered firing back a snarky remark before deciding now wasn't the time for it. "You come to plead for Caradoc's life," he answered.

"I've come to do more… I've come to offer you my life in exchange for his," Cador answered.

"I could simply have you both killed now, you know. You're here, you won't escape, and you're certainly in no position to bargain with me," Uther said.

"I know… And if you did have us both killed, I wouldn't blame you… In fact, it's what I suspect you will do," Cador answered with a soft sigh. "But I came anyway. I won't let him die for me… Your Majesty, he didn't betray you. I know that raising his sword against you was an act of treason, but surely you know he wouldn't have gone through with anything! He loves you, and his loyalty was always with you. He wouldn't have done it for anyone else but me! If you execute him, you lose a loyal and true friend. It isn't worth it. I'm here now… Let me take his place."

Igraine sat, pale and still and shocked. She wanted to plead for her son, speak, do something… But she had to trust Uther now. It was an act. It was a message. He would exert his dominance, he would let Cador know his place in the hierarchy of things, and that was all he'd do. Her son wasn't in danger. He'd promised her… Right…? Inwardly she found herself going over his words once more to see if there was a loophole she'd missed. Uther was quiet, pondering things. "Very well. Take him to the dungeon and set Carados of Scotland free. Tonight, Cador will be brought before us and beheaded," he said.

"What?" Igraine breathed. "Uther, you promised me no harm would…" she began.

"Silence, my lady," Brastias warned her. "Don't do anything you'll regret."

"You can't hurt him! You promised me!" she pled to her husband as Cador was bound tightly, ignoring Brastias's empty threat. Cador looked woefully, fearfully, up at her before putting on a brave face and smiling gently, reassuringly. Her son should not be trying to be the comforter. "Cador!" she cried out as her child was brought roughly away. Uther looked after him, eyes narrowed, then walked towards his throne again, shutting the doors behind him. Igraine sobbed, falling to her knees and burying her face in her hands.

"Leave us," Uther ordered his knights. Ulfius and Brastias both obeyed, albeit reluctantly. Uther was taking a risk, facing a grieving mother in a high emotional state. Nonetheless, they left.

Igraine looked up at her husband, tears in her eyes. "How could you?" she whispered.

"I promised you no harm would come to him. For goodness sakes, do my promises really mean that little to you, Igraine?!" he sharply demanded. "I've never broken a vow to you yet and you still don't trust me? I shall keep my promise. Your son won't be harmed, lamb's lettuce, but he must know his place. I won't have rebellion popping up willy nilly in my kingdom! Do you have any idea the headache that would be? I'd rather retain my stunning good looks, thank you very much. I'd prefer not to get scarred up in all those nasty little wars."

Igraine looked at him hopefully, but still seemed she didn't believe. "How can I know for sure you mean it?" she asked.

He sighed. "At my worst I'm not cold enough to execute a child in front of its own mother. What kind of monster do you think I am? If it will make things easier, I'll outline exactly what will happen. Cador will be brought before us tonight, he will be placed on the chopping block, and the order to kill him will be given. But, the axe will not sever his head from his shoulders. It will stop just short of the killing blow, and then I'll give him a life lesson his parents apparently never drove home to him. Then he'll be set free like a bunny to hop back to daddy's throne, alright? Everything is under control, Raine. I promise." She looked up at him and opened her mouth to reply, hope reflected in her eyes, but just then the doors were thrown open. Uther spun around and started, eyes widening. There stood Caradoc, eyes blazing furiously!

KAK

Carados had looked on in horror as Cador was thrown into his cell with him, and as he was taken out. "You're free to go, Sir Caradoc. The boy has given his life in exchange for yours," Baudwin had said.

"What?" Caradoc had breathed, looking at Cador in disbelief.

"I couldn't let you die for me," Cador had said, tears threatening his eyes.

"Uther can't do this!" Carados had insisted, spinning on the other. "Baudwin, you knew he wouldn't have gone through with my execution!" He turned to the boy. "Cador, you've been tricked, don't do this! Run!"

"No," Cador had replied, head hung low. "I won't. Just go…"

"I won't let the King kill him!" Carados had insisted to Baudwin. "Surely he wouldn't do this. Please. Please tell me this is some joke."

"The King's orders have gone through," Baudwin had replied, looking away.

"No… Dammit, no!" Caradoc had exclaimed, immediately racing from the dungeons.

"Caradoc, wait!" Baudwin had called after him. Too late. Caradoc was already gone. Baudwin inwardly cursed his luck. Hopefully Caradoc didn't do anything too rash. He wasn't normally prone to rash actions, but Cador was the young man's dearest friend and little brother figure. There was very little Caradoc wouldn't do for him.

"Tell him I'm sorry… I'm so, so sorry," Cador quietly said, head hung. "I couldn't let him die… He has to understand that."

Baudwin looked at Cador quietly. "Cador, you will live. I promise you that you will live. You and Caradoc both," he finally said. Cador looked up at him, putting on a brave smile, but Baudwin could tell he didn't believe a word of it. That was fine. He wouldn't have to. Soon enough he'd see for himself.

KAK

Uther and Igriane stared at Caradoc in shock. "He's a boy! You can't do this to him! Cador does not deserve to die for trying to avenge his father!" the knight furiously said, storming up to Uther angrily.

"Oh for the love of… Does everybody believe I'm soulless monster?!" Uther demanded. "I could have sworn you people knew me better than this!"

"Never in your life have you been predictable, Uther," Igraine said.

"That isn't the point!" Uther said, visibly hurt. He turned to Carados. "You… You have known me most of your life. Do you really think that I would order the death of a child in front of his own mother?"

"Then what are you doing? Cador has suffered enough without this psychological game you're playing!" Carados said.

"It may be a game to you, Caradoc, but it means life and death for me and this kingdom! Why can't anyone see that?" Uther demanded.

"Because it isn't true!" Caradoc said.

"Yes, it is," Uther stated. "And I'm going through with this. Cador is not going to die tonight, but he'll for certain never make this mistake again."

Caradoc was quiet, looking away from him. Soon, though, he drew a shaky breath and turned back to the king. "Fine… But let me be with him until the time for this faux execution comes. I won't tell him what's happening, but he needs someone there. Let Igraine come too."

"Why?" Uther asked suspiciously.

"Because she is pregnant with his half-brother, and if the boy believes he's going to die, he'll want to at least speak to the baby in the womb before he's ripped from its life forever," Caradoc said. Uther gave Carados a warning glare, but let it be. Finally, he nodded. Caradoc nodded back and rose. Igraine followed him quickly.

Left alone, Uther drew in a shaky breath and fell into his throne, letting his composure fall. He closed his eyes tightly, massaging his forehead. Oh he wasn't doing well. Not with any of this. He looked upwards. Was he a good king, he wondered? More importantly, was he a good man? …He didn't know… If he didn't know the sort of man he was, how could he be the king the people needed? He shook his head. So many insecurities… But he supposed they would always be there. He settled back to hold court until the scheduled execution.

KAK

Cador smiled at his mother's stomach, his hand gently placed on it. "Caradoc thinks it will be a boy," Cador said.

"So do I," Igraine replied. "Do you know why?"

"Why?" Cador questioned curiously.

Igraine smiled softly. "Because it feels like it felt when I was carrying you," she answered, tapping his nose. He wrinkled it and frowned at her. "I've carried and born three daughters already. I feel the change."

Cador smiled softly. The smile fell and he looked up at his mother. "Don't tell him about me," he said.

Her smiled fell. "Why?" she asked.

"Because I don't want him to hurt. To know there was a brother he never had the chance to meet… He shouldn't hate his father for taking away a sibling he didn't ever have a chance to see. I don't want to be the cause of any pain or drama in his life," Cador said.

"Cador…" Igraine began, gently taking his hands through the bars.

"Mother, please," Cador pled, squeezing them tightly.

Tears burned her eyes to hear her son's words. Her only comfort now was knowing Uther's plan. "I want him to know who his brother was, and the type of person you became," she said.

"Let him be his own man, mother. Don't let him ever feel like he has to follow in the footsteps of a dead one," Cador answered. "I don't want him to feel like he's the replacement son."

"My child…" Igraine began in awe and hurt, gently cupping Cador's cheek.

"It's time, my lady," Baudwin said from the door to the dungeons. Igraine felt her heart drop into her stomach. Even knowing the truth, she felt such grief and terror go through her… Tears burned her eyes and she sniffed, pressing a tender kiss to her son's forehead before drawing back.

KAK

Cador fearfully eyed the chopping block. Carados was pacing restlessly back and forth. Cador was afraid he'd spring across the room and strangle Uther. Well, both afraid and hopeful that he would, but then his brother would have no father when he was born, and he didn't want his sibling to suffer that. It was good the crown prince of Scotland had been disarmed. Then they could restrain him easily enough, if he went at Uther with his bare hands. Uther sat seemingly unfazed. Igraine was watching tensely, eyes fixed on her son and skin pale. Cador caught his breath as he was pushed to his knees and bent over the chopping block. He shuddered visibly and heard Caradoc try to go for something. Probably either Uther or him. He was, of course, held back, but still. "Be done with it," Uther said, waving his hand.

Igraine was tense. At this point there was no going back. Uther could as easily keep his word as break it, and there would be nothing anyone could do now. Had he tricked them all? She knew she shouldn't think such things, he'd never pulled anything like that before, but still she was scared. The axe swung down. A scream threatened to rip from her throat.

The blade stopped…

Stopped right at the nape of Cador's neck. The boy gasped, opening his eyes. Did he dare hope? "Let him go," Uther commanded. The axe was drawn away and Cador looked up quickly at his step-father, eyes wide. "Remember your place in my kingdom, Cador, and we won't have any future nasty little problems between us. I would advise you learn to judge your enemies a little more discerningly next time, child. You're fortunate a next time even gets to happen." Cador was struck dumb, not sure what to think or how to react. Suddenly his mother was there, hugging him and weeping, and Caradoc was there too, hugging him tight. His eyes were fixed on Uther, who simply rose from the throne with a toss of his hair, walking away to give them their moment...

Some Time Later

He broke down sobbing when the messenger, Caradoc, told him his brother had died in childbirth. If his best friend hadn't been there, he didn't know what he would have done. Tightly Caradoc held him close, gently trying to soothe him and reassure him, but Cador's tears wouldn't be stopped. First his father, now his brother. When many years later word came of the new King upon the throne, this 'Arthur', he'd been as silent as a shadow before turning without a word, leaving his throne room and locking himself away. That title would have been his brother's if he had lived… He hated the new king for taking the title... Caradoc, now ruler of Scotland, bowed his head low to hear of the new ruler on the throne. It killed him that he couldn't speak the truth to his friend, that his brother was really out there somewhere. This imposter king, this Arthur… he didn't belong. For Cador's sake, he had to go. Carados looked up once more, expression dark and determined. When Lot's summons came to join the rebel kings, he'd left his position as Worcestershire's physician and pledged many knights to the cause. Truth be told, even if Lot hadn't incited the rebellion, he may have mounted one for himself...

(A/N: To clear up possible confusion, Caradoc knows Uther's son is alive, but has no idea who that son was. Regarding ages, Caradoc is around Lot's age, whether a bit older or the same I haven't decided on. Lot is probably late teens early twenties, thereabouts. Nentres is a about Cador's age. Cador I envision as around 12 or 13 here, so either Nentres is about the same or in his early to mid-teens. If readers have any questions, I'll be happy to clear them up. Hope you enjoy this next installment of my Shrek series.)