I'm not good at writing Uther's POV, might get better in the final chapter (next chapter is the last chapter), but there will be more stories after this one...
Uther followed the rush of guards as they headed down to the dungeon. Sir Leon ran by his side.
"We found the guards tied up in the guard room."
"Do we know who did this?" Uther snarled, anger rising up as a cold wave in his chest. His fists clenched at his sides, fear sparking his aggression. Leon looked at him nervously but he answered calmly.
"Not yet, Sire."
"Sound the warning bell, if that sorcerer has escaped we need to secure the prince."
Leon flinched as Uther referred to his son almost as an object. For the moment Uther couldn't see him any other way. He couldn't comprehend what Arthur had done. All his life he had been told that the use of magic was evil, that the people who used it were corrupt. Then that stupid serving boy had come along. Uther gritted his teeth, regretting the day he had offered Merlin the position in the household. But Merlin had saved Arthur's life. Without him, Arthur would have been stabbed through the chest. It made Uther wonder, had there been other times, when Merlin had stepped in, and had used his powers to protect Arthur.
That couldn't happen. Camelot had been built on the laws that it stood by. For it to be found out that the prince's servant had been using magic to protect Arthur was a disaster. One small fact could pull the entire kingdom apart. Uther couldn't let that happen, he had fought so hard to make the kingdom strong, equal to its neighbours. A lot of the decisions he made were not popular, but he had to make them. Arthur would have to one day, he had to learn that. However Uther made the lesson, it was one Arthur would have to take.
As they reached the dungeon where Arthur was being held they looked around in shock.
"Olwen!" Leon said, rushing to the prone knight, while others tended to the guards. Leon gently touched the lump on Olwen's head. It was sticky with blood, a small pool of the dark liquid congealing on the floor. Leon smacked him lightly on the cheek.
"Olwen! Olwen!"
The knight gave a groan. Uther turned to the lingering guards. "Search the castle, find them! Seal the doors; no one gets in or out until we locate them. I want the prince found!"
They all went clattering off. With every guard on alert it was going to be impossible for them to escape. They couldn't have gone far. Uther soothed himself with that thought, as he strode over to Olwen and Leon, standing over them, shaking with tension and anger.
"Olwen, what happened?" Leon asked.
Olwen blinked and looked up at Leon. "I'm not sure, I came down to bring the prince something to eat. I offered, didn't I? The order was only the knights could bring anything to the prince. I was supposed to see what he needed, wasn't I?" His voice was faint, sounding very confused. Leon looked at the lump on Olwen's skull, feeling a shiver of worry as the young knight tried to focus on him.
"Yes, then what happened?"
"I was giving Arthur food, I put the plate down and he said he wasn't hungry. I told him the bread was nice, freshly baked and then…
"…then I don't remembered an… oh… I don't feel good." Olwen said as he was sat up. He clamped his hands over his mouth, his body convulsing as he tried to control his retching. Leon tipped him over and directed him towards the drain. He didn't make it that far, Olwen retched heavily, vomiting into the nearby straw, staying on his hands and knees but even then he was still wobbling. Leon watched him in concern.
"We had better take him to Gaius."
Uther's jaw hardened, looking ready to dismiss that idea, but Olwen groaned and fell on his side, putting a hand up to his head. He wasn't acting, his head really hurt, he could honestly say he wasn't sure what happened. He remembered Merlin coming in, and the conversation, but halfway through it all went blank. Even as he sprawled there, head pounding, he made the calm decision to not mention Merlin's arrival. That would be obvious, since Arthur had disappeared. Olwen still had to play his role, of the insider in Camelot. At least it was easy to be convincing.
Leon said nothing, waiting for Uther, who watched Olwen for a moment, before he relaxed a little.
"Very well, inform the physician of his injury, but nothing more. The guards are to stay in the room while he works. Those two had better be taken as well," Uther waved at the sleeping guards. "We don't know what the sorcerer might have done to them."
Leon nodded and indicated to the remaining group of soldiers that were lingering outside. Uther turned and stalked off and Leon hurried after him. The knight felt very aware of the fact that Uther was not calling any of them by name, as if he didn't quite want to associate with them. They headed up through the castle, teams of soldiers were moving around, the knights organising them to search as quickly as possible.
In the midst of that chaos Morgana came running up. She had clearly been disturbed dressing for dinner. Her hair was tumbling over her shoulders and down her back. She was struggling to fasten one of the ties on her gown. Her maid, Gwen, was running behind her, trying to do exactly that. Uther relaxed a fraction as he saw her. She stared up at him with wide startled eyes.
"What's the matter, what's going on?" she asked, looking around. Uther reached out and took her gently by the shoulders. Gwen stepped back from her, pausing in her work and lowering her head, but her eyes moved around, glancing at Leon, and then at Uther and Morgana.
"It's nothing for you to worry out, everything will be fine," Uther said, his voice a little patronising. He pulled her close and gently hugged her. None of them close by noticed the sudden tension in her back, and the flash of contempt in her eyes as Uther did so. As he pulled back her face composed into an expression of gentle concern.
"Sire! They were seen trying to make for the caverns!" One of the knights shouted as he ran into the large hall. "The search teams cut them off, we've forced them upwards, we are trying to cut them off by the north tower staircase. Four knights are with them."
Uther released Morgana and strode towards the stairs, following the knight. Leon chased after him and without hesitation Morgana invited herself along. Gwen lifted her skirts and ran after them, biting down on her lip to control herself from asking any questions. It had to be Merlin and Arthur, to cause all this. Gwen had been shocked and frightened by the sudden revelations. What slowly dawned on her throughout the day was the thought that Merlin's revelation as a sorcerer was the least surprising part of it.
"Which knights?" Leon asked.
"Sir Jonas, Sir Robert, Sir Rupert and Sir Gareth!" the knight panted as they struggled up the stairs, and turned to jog down the corridor swiftly. Morgana and Gwen had some trouble keeping up, but Morgana seemed determined to stay with them. Gwen ran, eventually kicking off her shoes and enduring the cold stone floor against her feet so she could stay with them.
"We tried to take a shot at the sorcerer, but the prince was too close, we couldn't take the risk," the knight said. "The knights protected both of them."
Uther paused, the entire group slammed to a halt. He turned to look at Leon.
"Are they aware of the sorcerer's talent?"
Leon shook his head. "I do not know My Lord. It came as a surprise to all of us. Merlin just doesn't seem… likely."
It was the only word he could think of. Uther regarded him coldly.
"You had no idea my son's servant was a sorcerer?"
"No, My Lord, no one did."
"Sire! They are heading up the north tower, they are cut off!"
"Take no chances, I don't want Arthur hurt!" Uther snapped, running ahead of the group again. Leon chased him and after sharing a look Morgana and Gwen followed. Gwen kept pace with her mistress.
"I can't believe it," Gwen panted. "I mean, Merlin wouldn't hurt anyone, he never has."
"You don't know what he might have in mind, Gwen," Morgana said gently, her eyes were serious and she tried to smile at her maid. Gwen blinked back, worry flickering over her features. Morgana turned and ran for the stairs, confusing a group of soldiers who were heading that way. They paused as she pushed past them, determined to stay with Uther. Gwen watched them stare at each other in confusion. She was the king's ward, they didn't dare stop her, but they also thought that it was a dangerous situation for her to be running into. Still, they didn't stop her. However, Gwen was not afforded the same privilege. She was hemmed in for a moment, by the rush of soldiers, before she could follow. As she did so, she heard one of the knights mutter, as they ran upwards.
"How are they going to escape now, fly off the battlements?"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
That was in fact, the same question Gareth had posed on their frantic dash up the north tower staircase. They were panting from the exertion of trying to stay ahead of all the search parties. In the end they had been forced upwards, and as that happened, Merlin suddenly demanded they go higher.
Now they stood on the battlements, wind rippling past them, all of them shivering a little at the sudden cold. The sky had almost darkened, the town lit by the torches, houses glowing with the warmth of the hearth fires. Arthur looked at it, seeing the spread of the city, the last of the light to the west spreading its red rays across the scene. He swallowed heavily, this was his home, and the likelihood was becoming stronger that he was going to have to leave it. Arthur was fairly certain he could cope with that, it was just the thought of not knowing when he could return. His eyes closed, but they flashed open as Merlin bellowed out across the sky, his voice ringing with authority.
"What is he doing?" Rupert asked Arthur. Merlin stopped shouting, panting for breath again; his dark hair was sticking up where he had run his fingers through it. Arthur waited, and they didn't have long. The dark red rays of the fading sun were obscured as a shadow moved across the sky, wings beating in the air. The dragon's long neck stretched out as he flew towards the castle, gliding on an updraft as he came close. They watched him circle, the knights gasping, backing up as they watched the creature fly towards them. Merlin put an arm out to guide them back, and give Kilgharrah room to land. The knights muttered shocked curses under their breath, swords ready as the dragon landed on the battlements with a thud, front paws dropping, making the stone underneath him groan. He twitched his tail, carefully curling it around his feet so he didn't dislodge anything from the tower behind him. He regarded Merlin curiously.
"My young warlock," he said in greeting. He peered around at the castle with interest, head dipping over the battlement wall to look at the pyre in the courtyard below, and the soldiers running around frantically. "Things seem very busy, but I don't suppose you called me here for a social visit."
"What? How did you do that, Merlin?" Jonas hissed.
"He's a dragon lord," Arthur told him, and then shushed him, leaning in towards Merlin. "And the reason for this is?"
Kilgharrah watched them, eyeing the knights carefully. "It would appear your talents are becoming known."
"Very, Uther knows, he's going to execute me at dawn."
Kilgharrah looked down at the pyre again, and he snorted, sparks flying from his nostrils. All the knights tensed again, shifting behind Merlin as the sounds of footsteps started to echo from the corridor beyond.
"And you young Pendragon, where do you stand on this?"
"With Merlin."
That seemed to take the dragon by surprise, his head reared back and he blinked, curiosity filling his eyes as he looked at Arthur, tilting his head as he did so. The sound of the footsteps beat louder, lots of footsteps. It wouldn't be long before they reached them.
"We need to get out of here, I need you to carry us," Merlin said.
Kilgharrah looked a little offended. "I am not a horse."
"NO!" Merlin shouted at him. "You're a big dragon that can carry seven of us, and fly out of here!"
Kilgharrah chuckled, his body shaking as he gave a deep rumbling laugh. Merlin stepped forward, away from the group, going closer to him. The rest of them watched, Arthur feeling a ripple of tension as Merlin went close to the huge beast. He didn't think the dragon would hurt him, but the prince didn't feel entirely inclined to trust the beast, even if Merlin could literally order him into submission.
"I'm asking you, not forcing you," Merlin said. Kilgharrah lowered his head, putting it close to Merlin.
"Unlike the last time, young warlock."
Merlin flinched as he thought of that. The spell to cure Morgana, because he couldn't stand to see the depth of grief around him. He had hoped it might make her think, and consider the people that did truly love her. Merlin wasn't sure it had worked.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"There is good reason to assume, my young friend, that she may be the cause of this problem. However careful you may be, they know you are the enemy, you will have been watched carefully."
"Yeah, I thought that to."
"If you take Arthur, you know she will twist the situation to her advantage. He sees nothing but a loving daughter, Uther is blinded, and he will hate you more if you do this."
"It's Arthur's choice."
"I doubt Uther will see it like that."
"I know," Merlin murmured. "But I don't trust Uther with Arthur's safety, not now. I have to take him, he's my only concern."
"Not your only one I think, child," the dragon said gently. "But you know I will help you in any way you need, and I believe, in this, you are right."
Kilgharrah's head reared up, "very well," he said loud enough for the others to hear. He shifted his body, tilting sideways and lowering his wing. The knights looked at him tentatively.
"We're going to get on that?" Jonas asked. Kilgharrah tilted his head again.
"That?" he questioned Jonas quite calmly. "I seem to be the only way you are getting away from here, unless of course you want to try flying yourself."
Merlin gave them a push forward. "It's all right, it's fine, I've done it before."
"Yes, I do recall you rather enjoying yourself, although you were still feeling the effects of a severe poison, so I do suppose you can be forgiven," the dragon drawled. Arthur looked at Merlin with shock.
"What poison? When?"
"Long story, don't worry about it, get on."
Arthur looked ready to argue. "How am I not supposed to worry about that?"
Merlin didn't answer; they both turned as the footsteps came closer, and Uther's voice could be heard. Arthur tensed, looking stricken. He loved his father, perhaps blindly at time, Merlin thought. He couldn't risk Arthur having a change of heart now. He gave Arthur a none-to-gentle push on the shoulder.
"Go! There's something I have to do." Merlin turned towards the archway that would take him down towards the advancing troops.
"Merlin?" Arthur shouted, both a warning and a plea. Merlin turned and waved in an indication that Arthur should mount the dragon. Gareth was currently struggling up, being pulled by a more agile Robert, who was already on, and pushed by Jonas, who wanted to get up there before he had any more time to think about it. Kilgharrah was watching the whole thing with private amusement.
"Just, let me do this. I'll be back."
Arthur watched him go, turning to the dragon, to find himself suddenly face to face with him as Kilgharrah leant down towards him.
"He will not hurt anyone. That is hardly in his nature."
"Unlike the rest of us," Arthur said, moving around the dragon's huge head to follow his knights.
Uther moved ahead of the knights, all of them didn't think that was a very wise move as they came around the final corner and there was the short walk to the stairs. They led up to the battlements, where the escapees had been hemmed in. Morgana had also worked her way to the front of the group, eyes focused on what was in front of her, jaw set. None of the knights dared move her, she was Uther's ward, and he hadn't objected to her presence. He hardly seemed to realise she was there, all his attention was on finding Arthur, and ridding himself of Merlin.
The group yanked to a halt as there was a light tread on the stairs in front of them, and very slowly as he came down the short flight, looking calm and collected Merlin revealed himself. He took his time, reaching the last step and putting one foot down on level ground. His other foot he kept on the first step, body turned as if ready to head back up when he needed to.
As the pursuing group looked at him Merlin looked utterly innocuous. He looked as he always did, his arms loosely at his sides, shoulders relaxed, making no move towards them. He just looked at them calmly, his eyes fixing on Uther. Uther glared back, hate radiating out of him like a blast of hot air. Merlin could feel it. Morgana looked just the same, her eyes steely as she glared at Merlin.
Stillness settled over the corridor. All of them looked at Merlin. He still looked just like Merlin, but there seemed to be something else, pushing it's way out from under the surface of his skin. Whatever it was, he seemed to glow with it as he waited for what was to happen next. Uther lifted his hand, indicating for the knights to go forward.
"Take him."
Leon and three others went forward. Merlin made no overt move, he lowered his head a little and his eyes flashed gold. As they ran forward the knights slammed into what seemed to be a solid wall. They fell back in unison, clattering to the floor, tangling together as they crashed down. Merlin didn't shift, other than to lift his chin a little, and his gaze went back to Uther.
"I don't think I'm going to allow that to happen."
"Where do you think you are going to go to? You are trapped up there, and when I reach you, I will throw you off the roof myself!" Uther snarled.
Merlin gave a smile, looking at Uther as if he was an amusing child. A moment later another soldier ran around the corner, clearly looking for the king.
"Sire, the great dragon! He's landed on the castle battlements."
Everyone spun round at that sudden news, and then the turned back to look at Merlin, who shrugged, giving an embarrassed smile.
"I am the last of the dragon lords."
Uther's face contorted with fury. "The dragon lords are dead!"
"Balinor was not, when I released Kilgharrah."
"You unleashed that monster on Camelot!" Uther shouted at him, stepping forward, but he paused where the knights lay, not daring to push that barrier.
For a moment Merlin's face flickered with pain and regret. "I'm sorry for that, when I made the bargain with him I didn't think it would turn out like that. But you killed every other of his kind, and nearly all of his masters, I suppose the revenge was somewhat justified."
Uther's face contorted with anger. "He killed innocent people."
"So have you," Merlin told him calmly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Morgana's face flicker with curiosity, her brows coming together for a moment, before her expression smoothed out and the anger took hold again.
"But I think we are beyond throwing those recriminations," Merlin told him calmly. "I think we are beyond the point of a lot of things."
Uther stepped forward. "Return my son, do so willingly and I may show the knights clemency."
"And me?"
"You will still die! By the laws of this land, nothing else can happen!"
"And do you think Arthur would ever forgive you for that? I have to do what needs to be done. Arthur will return, I promise you. I will return him to you, and to this kingdom. His destiny will not allow him to do anything else. Now, however, is not that time."
"If you are not executed then Gaius will die in your place!" Uther snarled the threat out, his voice cold and Merlin's face flinched with panic. He composed himself a moment later.
"Then I will not return Arthur, when this kingdom needs him. I can let it fall, and Arthur can start again. Bear that in mind before you start making rash decisions."
"How will you ever know?"
"Oh, I will know Uther, be sure of that," Merlin said, his voice hardening as much as the king's. He still remained relaxed, but energetic tension was crashing out from him, meeting Uther's anger. They stared at each other, knowing what they were negotiating for.
"And you would be a fool to start cutting down the friends you have. There are enemies inside Camelot's walls, and I am not one of them."
Morgana's face contorted, her eyes burned, but her face returned to the look of shock she was carefully composing. Merlin tried not to catch her eye, instead he looked at Uther.
"I'll keep Arthur safe, I promise you, but in return, I expect you to look after Gaius, and he will care for you as best he can."
Merlin looked at Uther who stared back in astonishment and anger. Merlin turned, spinning on his heel and he ran the stairs, he went up. The rest of them were mounted on the dragon, clinging on. Merlin ran and his feet ran up Kilgharrah's shoulder and his leg swung over his back with surprising agility. If he had made that move wrong, he would have fallen over the battlements. Instead he landed lightly between the dragon's shoulders, and the beast took that as his hint. His wings beat gently, gaining momentum and the knights yelped to varying degrees as he lifted his front claws off the ground and tensed his back legs.
It looked almost impossible, the way that the dragon could take to flight, but he did it anyway. His back rippled with power and he lowered back on his haunches before launching himself up into the air. He hung for a moment, his weight lilting under the frantic beat of his wings. Then suddenly he dipped, his haunches rising. The people on his back gasped and swore as they felt it, trying not to look at the sight below of the castle, and the painful road to the ground. Kilgharrah swirled, his tail flicking as he flew, turning around the nearby tower before he took to full flight. As he breezed over the battlements Uther and the group in pursuit ran out, swaying in the breeze as the dragon passed over. They all looked up in shock at the dragon took them away. Arthur turned his head to look at his father, seeing him stood there; he tensed his jaw and turned away, hiding his face in the dragon's thick skin.
They watched the dragon fly, dipping down over the forest, and as the sun finally slid down over the horizon plunging Camelot into darkness, Uther lost sight of his son.
