They ran upstairs towards the courtyard as fast as they could, which wasn't very fast. Arthur was still weak and dizzy from blood loss and Merlin was recovering for starvation and torture. Their speed left much to be desired, however they did eventually get to the courtyard just as a huge mass of scales flew right over the top of the castle and landed right in the centre of the yard. The royal guard began hurling arrows and swords but were forced back as the creature swung it's tail to keep them at bay.

The two princes watched in horror as the vampires and humans flooded the yard, forcing one another back until both sides stood facing each other. Arthur had to admit, the vampires were smaller in number than his father, the guards and their knights but their dragon more than made up for it.

The large pale vampire Lord made his way to the front, sword drawn and fangs on full display, Uther began to walk forward too making a show of drawing out an obviously silver plated piece.

"Father!"

"Father stop!"

The princes ran out and stepped between the two, each facing their own parents with hands raised in defense.

"Merlin." Balinor sighed in relief before scowling, obviously taking in all the still healing wounds.

"You've been starved, tortured."

The vampires growled but didn't move.

"I'm okay now, Arthur saved me." Merlin explained, "Please don't take revenge on the city for what his father did."

"Arthur! What are you doing?" Uther scolded, "Get out of the way!"

"No." Arthur replied, "I won't."

"Merlin, get back in the ranks." Balinor ordered, "This isn't you're fight."

"It is." Merlin argued, "I won't stand aside and let you harm anybody in this city...not even Uther."

Arthur shot his friend a grateful look, even if he had done terrible things he still didn't wish his father dead. Both sides stood in silence, all ready to leap into, what would no doubt be a bloodbath, at any moment. The dragon rumbled, it's large golden tail sliding around the group of vampires as far as it could go, ready to defend them at a seconds notice.

"Listen to your father, little one." The dragon spoke, shocking all human's in the vicinity.

"You are not my minder anymore Kilgharrah." Merlin growled, "Let us speak."

"We both want peace." Arthur spoke up, "Vampire's are not monsters, we're not so different really."

Merlin shot him a smile.

"I now it's hard to understand at first, give them a chance and I swear you will see what I see."

"They invaded the city!" One of the soldiers spoke up, which was met with a round of shouts in his favor.

"Only because their prince had been attacked, poisoned, tortured and starved!" Arthur argued, "They have every right to be furious with us, especially their prince but instead he is the one here defending you!"

He could see the panic beginning to appear on his father's face as he spoke.

"Your king, my father, no less has done this, without reason."

"They are monsters! They are magic, what more reason do I need?" Uther roared.

"You assume just because they are different that they are a threat!" Arthur yelled as the vampires watched with awe, "They have done nothing to us! Nothing."

"They will-"

"Stop it!"

All eyes were now on Father and son. Arthur could see the unease in his people, not directed at he, but his father. He was coming across as manic, even slightly mad. Perhaps, Arthur wondered darkly, perhaps he was.

"You pretend you're protecting this kingdom but you're not! You're protecting yourself from an enemy that isn't even there! Admit it, you're afraid. You're not doing this for Camelot's best interests, you're doing it because you're so afraid of anything or anyone different from you that you see them as a threat!"

Silence.

"Think about it," Arthur addressed the people now, "So little can hurt them, they have a dragon for goodness sake! If they wanted to take Camelot by force, they would."

There was muttering then, Arthur shot the vampire's an encouraging smile that some of them even returned.

"If we fight it will only breed more hatred between our races." Merlin began, "We don't want that, human's are our friends and our helpers, why should you be any different, just because you didn't grow up beside us as they did?"

Lancelot stepped toward's the group and several other thralls made their way to the front to show their support. Many of Camelot's citizens looked suspicious but the thralls smiled in a welcoming way to show their trust. Slowly, the knights began to put away their swords and the guards lowered their spears and the vampires followed suit, fangs and claws retracting to form nothing more than what appeared to be very pale humans.

"Father please?" Arthur begged.

Uther sighed and lowered his sword, the prince beamed. Turning to Merlin the two princes smiled at one another, they'd done it!

"Arthur, what are those marks on your wrist?"

Damn.

"Nothing." Arthur lied quickly, "Just a scratch."

"It looks like two scratches to me." uther said slowly, "Two round ones..."

Then Arthur made the fatal mistake of flicking his eyes nervously to Merlin's and the king put two and two together.

"You bit my son!" he roared, "How DARE you!"

"Father I-"

"You monster!"

Uther advanced on the prince only to be shoved backwards by his own father and king who snapped at him viciously.

"You will not harm my son again."

"He is the one who drank from my son!"

"But he-" Merlin tried to explain but was quickly shut down.

"You starved him! He had no choice! I'll-"

"I LET HIM!" Arthur bellowed, causing yet another wave of eerie silence.

"I let him." Arthur repeated, "He was starving, he didn't want to at first but it was my choice."

"You...you!" Uther stammered, his face turning a brilliant shade of red before turning quickly to Merlin, "You!"

Then several things happened at once, Uther reached into his belt and produced a silver dagger, thrusting it forward toward the vampire prince but before he could a large golden claw descended upon him, knocking him across the stone ground.

"Do not attack my prince." Kilgharrah growled, "Not while he is showing you such kindness after all you have done."

When nobody moved to help him Uther got to his feet, holding his side and breathing heavily. Now he truly looked mad, Arthur couldn't believe this was the man he'd once sided with.

"Leon, take my father to his chambers, I think it's time he took a long rest." Arthur ordered.

In the end it took several knights to drag Uther, kicking and screaming back to the castle. The people who witnessed the event didn't seem overly worried, some even seemed happy, later some would confess that they had wanted Arthur as regent for some time.

With the situation diffused Arthur suddenly felt very tired.

"Blood loss." Merlin supplied, "You should go and sleep."

"Right." Arthur nodded, "You and your people..."

"We will sleep in your crypts and any other windowless rooms you have when morning comes." Balinor supplied, "Kilgharah will rest outside the city walls, you needn't worry yourself. Go and rest."

A few more chapters to go.