Shortly later Prince Arthur arrived, he had seen Gwaine who had told him that the boy was being moved.
"How is he Gaius?" Arthur looked down at the boy; the blankets were tucked right up under his chin. All that was visible was the thin face and mop of black hair.
"Still unconscious Sire, I have done all I can, I hope he will wake soon so I can get sustenance into him. Your father has been here."
"I saw him leave; I would have been here sooner. What did he want?" Arthur asked. It didn't seem like his father to enquire after the boy.
"He brought the collar for the boy." Gaius looked at Arthur.
Arthur moved across and moved the blankets away. There round the thin neck was a metal collar locked round the pale throat. Arthur grimaced. "Take it off, it will damage his skin."
"I can't Sire, Your father has the key, anyway it was the only reason he'd let the boy come here. It will suppress his magic." Gaius explained.
"Thank you for getting out of the dungeons Gaius" Arthur looked again at the collar. "Could we put something between it and the skin, to protect him?"
"Gaius got up and found a soft piece of woollen material "This might help. It won't stop the collar working but at least it might make the collar more comfortable for now."
"What do you mean Gaius, do you know something I don't" demanded the prince.
"I believe Sire that the boy is a Warlock, born with his powers, if that's so and he is prevented from using his powers he will die, and there's nothing we can do to stop it."
Arthur paled "How long?"
"A few days, perhaps a week, but Arthur he only has two days anyway you won't change your father's mind."Gaius was trying to be realistic.
With that the door opened once again, it was Morgana, the king's ward.
"Has be woken up yet?" She demanded. She too had been trying to help the boy since he had arrived at the castle.
"No my lady, Oh by the way Arthur I found this round his neck, have you seen the like before." Gaius handed Arthur the pendant, Arthur took the pendant and looked at it closely. Morgana looked at it as well.
"It might help trace his family, at least then they can claim his body." Gaius said sadly.
"No! Uther can't do it, he mustn't." Morgana looked at Arthur.
"Its good quality, I wonder where he got it from. I haven't seen it used before but it's a Merlin." He looked down at the figure once more. "That's what I'm going to call him, Merlin. I can't keep calling him boy. And you're right for once Morgana, we won't let it happen."
"Merlin it is then, at least unless he wakes and corrects us." Gaius grinned "Merlin….it suits him somehow."
Morgana sat down by Merlin and move his hair out of his eyes. "How can Uther be so hard? It's not fair." She got up and left the room tears in her eyes. Arthur and Gaius looked at each other, wondering what the beautiful woman would do.
When the knights visited him later they were all told of the name they had given the boy, and why. The knights all felt very protective towards the lad and all hated the idea of his death. When Gaius had to leave Merlin to go about his visits one of the knight could be found sitting by the lad. They didn't want him waking up alone and frightened.
Arthur meanwhile had checked a few facts and old laws and was preparing for this crowning as Crown Prince. Merlin didn't wake before the ceremony, but neither did he die. As the celebrations commenced the knights were getting nervous. A platform had been erected for the beheading; the trial was to take place after the crowning. So the beheading could be carried out before the feast. Uther seemed to think this would be a fitting way to mark the event. Another sorcerer removed from the world, making Camelot a safer place. Although there would be a trial the outcome was already decided, a fair trial was not Uther's way, not when it came to anyone accused of magic. Far better in his view, to be safe than sorry, the bandits would all face trail the day following the feast. They would be hung if found guilty.
On the morning of the celebrations the knights where making plans, they had no intention of letting the boy die, not even the usually obedient Leon and Lancelot. He had saved their lives and that of the King and Prince. They were waiting to see if the Prince's, as yet unknown, plan would work before taking their own action.
Arthur was in his chambers waiting to go down to the great hall when his sister burst through the door. "What are you going to do Arthur, you can't let them kill him, he's only a boy!" Morgana had tried to talk sense into Uther and was frightened that nothing would happen to save him.
"Please Morgana leave it alone, I have a plan but if you keep making a fuss you may spoil it. Please leave it to me. If my plan doesn't work the knights will save him and take him to the druids. Just don't ruin everything."
"They'd better or I'll never forgive any of you." with that she flounced off.
Arthur was called to the ceremony and as he walked up the King sat on his throne at the end of the room, he noticed all the knights and Morgana watching him. He was nervous, not because of the ceremony but what he was going to do afterwards. He had no doubt it would affect his relationship with his father, but he had no choice it was a matter of honour.
He hardly heard all the words his father and Geoffrey of Monmouth spoke, nor could he recall his answers. He knew all had gone to plan as the crown settled on his head. He was now the Crown Prince. Then he heard his father speak the one sentence he had been waiting for. He saw Geoffrey swallow hard; he knew what was to come. Arthur had asked him the law on what he was about to do, Geoffrey agreed with the Prince, but it would make life uncomfortable for a time, particularly if the King were ever to find out that Geoffrey had known in advance.
"My son is now Crown Prince of Camelot and as such, and as is tradition, I now ask you Arthur, Crown Prince of Camelot, may I grant you a wish on this day." Normally it was tradition to ask for a feast to be shared with the townsfolk. But Arthur had other plans.
"King Uther of Camelot, you may grant me a wish as is tradition; however I ask forgiveness of the towns folk and hope you grant their feast, but my wish is for the boy, known as Merlin, to be given into my sole care and protection, so I may train him to be my personal servant."
Arthur looked his father in the eye and didn't flinch as the face in front of him contorted in fury.
"Your wish is not granted." Uther spat out. The hall became alive with the sound of shocked voices and one or two cheers.
Arthur didn't flinch "I have the right to my wish under the laws of Camelot you can't deny me my wish."
"I can and I do" Uther replied, not believing his son could so disgrace him.
"Geoffrey of Monmouth, what is the law in such matters?" Arthur said loud and clear.
Geoffrey stepped forward, half expecting the King to turn his fury on him.
"The law states that the Crown Prince may ask for anything for his wish, except for the current ruler to stand aside, or for war to be declared as a result of the wish, the wish for a particular servant has been asked for and granted in the past."
Uther looked to his son and then to Geoffrey as he struggled to contain his rage. "You have your wish." Again talking erupted in the room and under cover of the noise Uther turned to Arthur and snarled "the collar remains and I will keep the key, you will regret this Arthur." The king then forced a smile onto his face before turning to the crowd.
"The feast will continue." With that he turned and left. The feast was planned for that night so they all had a couple of hours before they had to face each other again.