Read and review please, I own nothing
The morning sun light up the white walls of Camelot, the sun crept into the room of the castle and over the lower towns of the city. People began to wake; they came out their homes to look in aware at the newly built stake in the square. They must be an execution going on.
Uther got out of bed and walked to his window, his first view of today was the fate that awaited Arthur. Down below his window was the executioner and a few guards; the executioner was adding the last few bits of wood, and twigs to the platform where in just a few hours Arthur would stand here and meet his end.
The executioner had asked Uther for extra pay as he found it hard to kill his prince, he wanted as much wood as this would hold, more wood the hotter and larger the fire would burn, Arthur will die quicker, would suffer less. The guards were there to ensure no one broke the stake.
"NO, stop, he's got the wrong person" A young boy came running up to the guards, he had black hair, that was standing up in all directions, blue eyes, red scarf, and raggy clothes. The guards just pushed him to the floor; this boy was no threat to them "Do you know who the King is going to kill? Has he told you?" The boy's eyes watered as the guards ignored him, as though he was not there.
"He's going to kill Arth..." the rest of the boys words where cut out both by a sob and by an old man shouting "Merlin, come away or the king will have you to" The old man pulled the boy up from the floor and walked him away, his arm around the boy.
Uther watched as Gaius walked Merlin away, he had not heard what Merlin had said as the windows were too thick, but he could guess right that the boy had tried to stop them. He shook his head, the boy was young, foolish, Uther had more important things to busy himself with. He opened his wardrobe and found clothes for him to wear.
Gaius closed his chamber door
"That was foolish Merlin! What on earth were you thinking about? The king doesn't want anyone to know who will be...I made your mother a promise that I will look after you, what will I tell her if you got yourself put in the flames to, did you not even thing for a..." He stopped, he had just seen Merlin. The boy was holding the table, tears streaming down his face, Gaius had been shouting so loud he hadn't heard Merlin's sobs.
Gaius walked over to Merlin and put both his arms around him. "Don't give up hope, Merlin". He said more softly now "Running around shouting will not change anything, you're only going to get yourself in trouble" Gaius let Merlin go, who rubbed his eyes on his sleeve
"I'm going to see The Great Dragon, he'll know what to do" Merlin looked to Gaius to see if that was ok, Gaius nodded.
"Well young warlock, what do you need help with now? You only come by in times of need" The Great Dragon sat on his rock and looked down at Merlin with his big yellow eyes.
"Uther is going to kill Arthur" Merlin could only just get the words out.
"How and why" asked Kilgharrah
"He thinks Arthur used magic, it was not him, it was a witch, she looked like Arthur and she tried to hurt Uther, well Uther thinks it was Arthur, that he wants to be king and killing Uther will make him king, so Uther has ordered him to die, he's made a stake, he's going to burn Arthur alive, today in less than a hour, I've tried all I can, Arthur's going to die, I have failed" Merlin sounded desperate, something The Great Dragon had heard to.
"Arthur is still alive though is he not?" Kilgharrah shifted his weight to one foot.
"Yes, for now" Merlin took a deep breath.
"Then they is still hope, you will know what to do" Kilgharrah opened his wings
"Wait, so what I do?"Merlin shouted as he took flight
"Just be like Gaius...Do Nothing" Kilgharrah looked back at Merlin than he was gone.
"How can I just do nothing? He will die" Merlin's voice echoed the full craven. Nothing.
*****
"Get up" Uther said in a harsh cold voice.
Arthur lifted his head, his father had just rattled on the cell bars, waking him. Arthur was laid down his arm straight as the chain would go no further. He sat up slowly, watching the man before him. The man before him was not his father; it was just the king, looking in at a prisoner.
"Father, I..please let me out, I'm not a wizard or anything" Arthur begged, he hoped his father had calmed down since last night
"I am letting you out" Uther said, Arthur smiled, he knew his father would see reason....
Seeing the look on Arthur's face he added "Your getting executed in half an hour, I've come to give you these" Uther handed Arthur some old raggy clothes. Arthurs smile faded, his mouth dry, his heart beat got faster.
"No...I'm your son, Arthur, please...my mother died to give birth to me..she would of died in vain...father" Arthur couldn't get his words out, they all crashed into each other.
"I'm not letting my people know who is in the fire" Uther continued as though he had not heard Arthur "Also here is a sack, I would have you put it over your head, flames are not very nice to watch as they burn at your flesh" Uther handed him some black material.
"I will see you outside in twenty minutes" Uther closed the door and left.
Arthur froze, his heart going so fast. It knew it only had so little time left. He looked up, the cell opposite him was going to be the last thing he had ever seen.
A guard came into view followed by a servant. The door opened
"I have to dress you in these", the servant said, looking at Arthur face, he picked up the rags the king had dropped in.
"What did I do that was so bad, that I get to have you as the last person I talk to" Arthur put on a grim, which looked forced and it didn't reach his eyes, which looked dull and scared.
Merlin hugged Arthur so fast Arthur didn't even noticed until Merlin had put his arms around his neck
"I'm sorry, I should have been there for you, I should have looked in your cupboard when I cleaned your room" Merlin said holding his friend close.
"Merlin, you part, I'll have you in the stocks for that, hugging a prince" Arthur tried to make a joke, but more water came from his eyes and his mouth twitched. "Promise me this, if you ever do serve a different prince any time in your life, make sure you don't like them better than me and don't ask them how long they have been training to be a prat and Merlin, don't be an idiot" Arthur give his manservant a smile. "No, promise me you won't blame yourself, they is nothing you can do for me, Merlin, please don't blame yourself"
Arthur and Merlin both helpt to get Arthur in the raggy clothes, Arthur was now raggier than Merlin, no one would think it was the prince of Camelot now.
"Come on, you out now" The guard was back.
"It's been an honour to serve you Arthur" Merlin said, trying now to cry.
"The honour is all mine, to have you as a servant, it was nice to meet you Merlin, look after yourself and remember what I told you"
"Merlin" Arthur called after his servant, who stopped and turned
"You have been a great friend to me, thank you" Arthur gave him a nod
Merlin smiled at Arthur one last time and the guard walked him back out the dungeon.
He went to join Gaius, who was outside in the courtyard waiting next to the stairs to the castle, looking out at the platform, loads of people had started to mill in to watch the execution.
"Uther's not even going to let people know who they are watching die" Merlin said angry "Arthur is sat in the cell wearing rags he is terrified, Uther is going to put a hood over his head, what are these people going to think when they don't see their prince walking in the streets and the guards know Gaius, they not bothered by it, this is sick, Uther's going to watch his own son die, slowly and painfully and he's not even unnerved by it, he's sick and twisted!" Merlin's eyes glowed gold with anger
"Merlin! Settle down, I know" Gaius rubbed Merlin's arm and looked around to make sure they were not heard and no one has seen Merlin's eyes. "You must not lose control Merlin"
"And I'm not going to" Merlin said quietly, Gaius looked at him with fear and alarm, for the young warlock was looking darker than ever. His black hair looked suddenly shaggier, wilder, his blue eyes looked murderous. Gaius could see the real powerful sorcerer standing next to him
"Merlin, what have you done?" Gaius asked, shocked.
Merlin did not answer; the doors to Uther's balcony opened and out came Uther. Merlin saw red.
Gaius looked in horror from Uther to the young boy next to him, though the boy looked more like a man now, and he scared Gaius. Merlin continued to watch Uther.
The sound of drums...
Gaius turned and saw guards leading a man to the platform, he wore rags and had a sack over his head, the guards walked him up and turned him around, tying his hands around the stake. Arthur was fully bound to the stake... no escape.
