Hi everyone this is chapter came so late because I had problems with my other story Arthur the Snake. Hope you enjoy this next chapter. J

Cedric's plan was going perfectly. He'd requested an audience with the King a few minutes ago and now Uther was furiously pacing around the council chamber, angry that his son had disobeyed his orders and had gone back to that dare he say it Sorcerer!

"Sire, what should I do now? I need a job, and I don't know what I did wrong," Cedric had decided a grovelling tone was best. "Never upstart the King and remain calm," He kept telling himself.

"Indeed you need a job and I gave you one," the King paused and turned to eye Cedric critically. But whatever he was thinking he didn't voice it and swept it under the carpet. "Since my son seems to think he can disobey me and choose a sorcerer over his own father then the only way to resolve that is to remove the problem."

"What do you mean sire, have I done anything wrong?" Cedric grovelled.

"No!" Uther remarked, before calling out. "Guards, arrest Merlin in Gaius' care and have the executioner know I will require his services tomorrow. Then send for my son!"

"Yes My Lord," The guard said and left to do the King's bidding.

"What am I to do Sire?" Cedric asked, he was beginning to get tired of repeating himself again and again.

"You will work as my servant for a couple of days until I find a more permanent position for you." Uther replied. "You can start by cleaning out my stables you are dismissed!"

"Thank you, sire," Cedric bowed low and exited the Council Chamber smiling.

As he crossed the courtyard he saw Merlin being dragged quite literally across the corridor, he kept looking back and crying out for Arthur. The prince himself was running after Merlin but also being dragged the other way by another pair of guards. His smile grew wider, the pair of them were separated and now could easily be picked off. Merlin would die tomorrow by execution and Arthur would follow next. But his smile faltered when he saw Lady Morgana and her Maidservant eyeing him with a conjoined look of contempt.

Merlin didn't know what had happened or what he could do. One minute everything had seemed fine he was resting with Arthur, who was alive and finally knew that Arthur viewed him as more than a manservant. The next minute he was being thrown into a rather familiar cold hard cell with the door being slammed behind him.

He gazed around the dungeon cell and whimpered; he realised that he was only in here for one reason and that meant execution. But surely Uther wouldn't. He thought that there would at least be a way out of it but the more he thought about it now, the less it likely it seemed. If Uther was serious about his demise he'd be dead either later today or at the latest dawn tomorrow. He hung his head helplessly. He sensed that Arthur would be in a lot of danger without him and Cedric would be involved in this someway.

"Oh someone help me please, please!" He thought desperately.

Arthur yelled out at his father and hadn't stopped yelling at him for ten minutes since he'd being dumped in the Council Chamber by the guards.

"WHY FATHER WHY? He's done NOTHING wrong, he's NOT evil." Arthur slumped to the floor finally running out of words to throw at his father. He was completely disgusted at what his father had become, and swore mentally to himself he wouldn't let Merlin be harmed.

"You disobeyed me son; you disappointed me and now you must pay the price." Uther had expected his son's reaction and had prepared himself for it. "Merlin will face the punishment he should've gotten originally and you will go on an ambassadorial journey to Bayard of Mercia. I want you to negotiate the sharing of the new farmland that has been developed."

"I'm not going ANYWHERE! Not without Merlin!" Arthur snapped.

"You will leave immediately and without complaint. Go now and prepare!" Uther's voice had developed a low and icy tone to it.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me! I'm not going anywhere without Merlin!" Arthur knew he was treading on very dangerous territory but he couldn't help it.

"Go now and then perhaps the sorcerer will still be alive when you get back. You might get to watch him die at least." Uther wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"I won't let you execute him father, you can't take my best friend from me because of what he was born as it's not fair!"

"Neither is life Arthur, now go my word still stands," Uther said and stood up leaving Arthur crumpled on the floor resigned.

He waited till his son had left the room and then took his place on his throne again. There was a knock at the door. "Enter!"

The executioner entered the room gazing at Uther with fear. He hated his job but couldn't say no the King, he bowed and waited for Uther's command.

"Ah yes, George sharpen your axe for tomorrow at dawn I have a sorcerer for you to execute. You will receive payment upon doing your job as usual."

George never said a word to the King he simply took his orders nodded and bowed as he left. Uther sat back in his chair. And looked out the window and saw his son making his way across the courtyard towards the stables. He sent a quick, sad look towards the dungeons. Then hung his head and left.

Hope you enjoyed that chapter. Please read and review.