"You did this! You killed my wife!" The king pressed his sword against the woman's throat
"I warned you! A life for a life, the Old Religion always claims a price!" She did not stray from sword-point, but looked at him with sadness in her eyes "I did not know what the price was until it was claimed, I swear"
"You're lying, sorceress" He pressed harder and a thin line of blood slid down her neck "Your evil practices have done enough damage, I see the truth now"
"You're blinded by your rage, Uther Pendragon" She leveled his stare with no fear in her eyes "You will regret these actions"
"The only regret I'll have is to have ever called you a friend," He answered, pulling the sword back and brandishing it against her.
The sorceress looked regretfully at the man before vanishing in a whirlwind as soon as the sword came close to slashing her. Uther screamed in frustration and hit the wall with his sword, not doing any damage to the stone wall but probably causing a dent in the metal.
"You called, Sire?" A knight entered the throne room where he had found himself once the sorceress left.
"Call for the council, I have urgent matters to discuss" the man nodded and left.
•••
"You cannot be thinking clearly, Uther," the dark haired man protested.
"My mind is clearer than ever, Balinor, and you would do well not to insult my judgment" The king's words were cold "Magic is a force of evil that must be eradicated from my kingdom as fast as possible"
"Friend…"
"KNOW YOUR PLACE!" The king snapped, punching the table.
Balinor looked into the king's eyes and sadness overtook his features.
"I thought I knew, Sire" The title held none of the respect for its owner, instead laced with resentment for having to employ it after such a long time "But I see now that I was mistaken. I will ride out in the morning"
"What –" The king was left talking to thin air as the man walked away from his once friend.
And so it started, the purge, the persecution of all magic in the kingdom. At first the people disagreed, but fueled by fear and hatred, along with their trust on their king, resolves faltered and executions started.
Sorcerers came to fear the red knights in which they had put their trust on, fleeing the kingdom before they could be caught. Some were not so lucky, dying in capture, in the dungeons, the executioner's block or even the pyre if the king deemed it were so. Children with any signs of practicing magic were gathered and left on a well to drown as their parents were executed for permitting such evil to touch their children.
•••
"Sire" The maidservant bowed to the king. The baby in her arms was sleeping quietly, blond head tucked on her neck.
"Hunith" the king's eyes softened at the sight of the maidservant and his son in her arms "Has he been fed?"
"Just a few minutes ago, Sire" She answers with a fond smile.
Uther had not had the heart to dismiss his wife's maidservant, instead making her Arthur's wet nurse since his wife was not there to breastfeed her son and he could not think of anyone better to care for the boy than the young servant girl that was so close to his beloved Ygraine.
"Let me hold him" he came close and Hunith deposited the baby in his arms "I know Gaius could use some help collecting herbs, I can take care of Arthur for a few hours, go"
"Thank you, Sire" She bows and leaves.
The small child blinks his blue eyes open to gaze up into his father's and the king sighs, moving close to a window.
"Don't worry, Arthur" he reassured the little bundle of joy that smiled at him from his arms "You won't have to worry about the evils of magic as you grow, I promise you'll be safe"
His only answer were small happy noises from the boy, but that was enough.
So... baby Arthur and Hunith *cooing*
Wanna see what's next? Follow me *Jumps into the next chapter*