They soon came to a locked door and immediately Arthur tried to force it open. Percival came up beside him and between them they broke the door of its hinges. As they climbed over the door Arthur's heart clenched in fear and anger. Inside the room as the door crashed down Aredian looked with horror at the Prince and his knights, a red hot iron still in his hand. He looked at the Prince and immediately spoke out:

"This was ordered by the King! You have no right to stop me." He looked at the Knights full of bluster. "The Prince is enchanted, he has been possessed and only burning the sorcerer with iron can the enchantment be broken. This is also the only way to stop the Prince from dying when the soul bond breaks" as he spoke his confidence grew, but them he noticed the looks on the knights faces. They didn't look like they were going to help him.

Arthur was in full protective Prime Alpha mode and he crossed the room snarling. He raised his sword and struck down severing the witch finders hand from his body. He then dropped the sword and moved towards Merlin who was writhing in agony. He had been stripped naked and hung by shackles to the ceiling. He had several burns about his person. It was clear that Merlin also had a dislocated shoulder. Blood was coating his inner thighs and bruising showed clearly on his abdomen.

In the meantime Aredian clutched the stump of his arm and pleaded with the knights "Stop him he doesn't know what he is doing"

Gwaine stood before the Witch finder and picked up the hot iron from the floor where it still lay in the hand that had been holding it. He casually placed the still glowing metal over the now bleeding stump causing Aredian to scream and faint from pain. Gwaine smirked at the fellow knights and said casually "We can't have him bleeding to death can we, after all I'm sure the Prince has other plans"

As Arthur was trying to comfort his omega Percival carefully approached making sure that Arthur was aware enough not to see him as a threat. He lifted Merlin, so his weight was no longer on his arms and as Gwaine handed Arthur the key he had retrieved, Arthur freed Merlin so they could get him down. Arthur very carefully took his omega in his arms as Leon ordered Elyan to go and warn Gaius to expect a patient. Merlin lost consciousness as Arthur held him. The wail of torment that came from the Prince was inhuman in its pitch and intensity. He gathered the slight man up and made his way to the door and out of the room. Leon, Gwaine and Lancelot guarding him as he made his way to the physician's room.

On Leon's order Elyan and Percival had dragged Aredian down to the cells "Make sure he is guarded well" It was clear from their expressions that they would do just that. They wouldn't kill him that was for Arthur to do.

As they entered the physician's chambers Gaius gasped in horror as he saw the injuries his great nephew had, he had seen the boy the evening before and then he had been upset but uninjured and safe in the Princes chambers. He quickly got to work. Arthur refused to leave his omegas side and Gaius knew better than to try to force him. It took the old man an hour to clear and wrap all the wounds and replace the dislocated shoulder back in its socket. Then he looked at Arthur for the first time.

"He needs rest and lots of it. I suggest your room can be better guarded." Gaius looked at the Prince with deep sorrow clear on his face "There is no easy way to say this, but Merlin has lost your babe, the injuries to his abdomen were clearly done with the intention to cause the abortion the child."

Arthur looked at the physician, now clearly a broken man "Will he live?" he crooked out in a whisper.

"I have removed the shackle that was stopping him using his magic, that will help, but I fear his injuries and blood loss may be too much. The beating has damaged him inside and I can do nothing to heal them" Gaius looked at the Prince

Arthur was unaware of the tears running down his face "I cannot lose him Gaius, There must be something you can do…..anything"

Gaius looked at the Prince who saw the look of hope cross the old man's face as he thought of something. "There is someone who might be able to help but…"

"I'll do anything please Gaius" Arthur pleaded

Gaius took a deep breath "We need to take your omega to him, he cannot come here. We must put him on a carrying board. He is too unstable for you to carry him" With instructions Gwaine and Arthur gently lifted the omega onto the board and set off following Gaius. Lancelot taking up the rear keeping an eye out for any of the King's men. But they made it without being seen until they reached the guards sitting playing dice, this was another area with cells but was seldom if ever used. In fact had Arthur been less worried he might have wondered what the men were guarding. Recognising the Prince the guards stood only to find themselves placed in a small cell to one side.

Arthur said nothing as they went down past the steps after opening a metal door continued down a long disused tunnel until they reached a platform. "Place Merlin down" Gaius said "Sire be prepare for a surprise and shock"

Arthur looked at the old man as if he were mad. But at the present moment he would do anything to save his omega. As they settled the carrying board down he heard a whoosh of large wings and Lancelot's gasp. Looking up Arthur saw a large dragon. To say he was surprised would be an understatement, he stood protectively in front of his omega as if to guard him his sword drawn once more.

To his amazement the dragon gave a short laugh then spoke "You could not stop me if I wished to hurt Emrys, but that I would never do. Stand aside young Pendragon and let me heal my kin"

Arthur and the knights looked at the dragon then Gaius. The physician explained "Kilgarrah the Great Dragon has been kept here prisoner since the beginning of the great purge. He is the only one who can save Merlin"

Arthur looked at the beast in front of him "I would be forever in your debt but why would you help the son of a man who imprisoned you?"

"I do it to help my warlock, and the once and future King. Stand aside for time is running out" Kilgarrah said impatiently.

"Please Sire I will explain everything but you must let Kilgarrah help before it is too late. Merlin's time is short" Gaius pleaded.

Arthur looked at the dragon and made his mind up "Please help him and I will free you. But I will stay. The others will stand back but my place is by Merlin's side."

"As you will, but I warn you dragon magic is powerful and you might not like what it allows you to see" Kilgarrah didn't wait, he breathed out a plume of golden mist as Gaius and the others jumped back. The mist enveloped the two men on the platform. As it cleared Kilgarrah looked at Arthur "Well Princeling the warlock will live, to heal fully he needs rest and sleep and his mind will be sorely upset. But remember your promise, I will wait until you have done what needs to be done. I am sure you have seen what has to be, if destiny is to be followed."

"I do, I knew that without your dragon magic!" Arthur said. "I have no choice, not if Merlin is to live" As the mist had enveloped him Arthur had seen several scenes from the past, it made his decision even more necessary.

"Indeed you do not, I would ask you to bring me his head but I fear you will not. Take care young Princeling and today you will become King, but your journey will not be over. You have seen the possible future take heed of what you have seen" Kilgarrah spread his wing and flew off.

Arthur looked at his stunned friends "Come we must get Merlin to my rooms. I want you to guard him with your lives, I have something else to do" The returned along the corridors and into the Princes rooms only seeing a few servants as they made their way through the castle. Seeing the Prince with them they ignored what was happening. Once in his chambers Arthur very gently picked up Merlin and placed him in the bed. Kissing Merlin's forehead gently he asked whispered "I am so sorry my little hawk I have failed you so much" then he looked at Gaius "When will he wake, I need to be here"

"Not for several hours Sire" Gaius looked at the Prince "I will stay with him until he does"

Arthur looked at Leon. "If I fail, I plead with you get Merlin out of Camelot and take Morgana with you. Do not try to do anything to rescue me"

Leon shook his head he was under no illusion what Arthur planned "I will not stay with him Sire, I go with you"

"No! You have a wife and my sister must also be saved. If I fail none of you will be safe" Arthur looked at his head knight pleadingly "Go with me in this please"

"Then take Gwaine" Leon pleaded not willing to let the Prince go alone.

Gwaine broke out in a grin "Yeh I'll come, it's just the odds I like, and no one will miss me. Besides I want to see the man who allowed his get his dues. Your omega did not deserve what he was put through"

"Thank you Gwaine" Arthur was also well aware of what could, and probably would happen, but he saw no other course of action. This had gone on long enough. After what the dragon had shown him had made his action the only one he could take, for both Merlin and his people.

As Arthur and Gwaine left the others the Prince was surprised that no alarm had been raised. Gwaine must have been thinking the same thing "I suppose we were hidden away, but I know we are good but am surprised that we could do so much without even being spotted. You need to do something about security once this is over Princess"

Arthur knew where he needed to go a full council meeting was due to take place that morning. He stopped outside the council chambers, the two guards clearly thought Arthur had been released and said nothing to stop them. Arthur paused before opening the doors and entering. It was no surprise to find the full council look up as they saw him enter with Gwaine. They had been sitting discussing taxes and patrols. Uther also looked up as his son entered.

He looked surprised and angry "Who released you?" he demanded "Guards return the Prince to the cells"

The guards entered the room but looked reluctant to take on Arthur and Gwaine. "I don't think so" Arthur looked at the council and the man who sired him "I have no intention of allowing that. In fact it is you that needs arresting. For ordering the murder of an unborn child, your own grandchild, and the torture and attempted murder of my Omega. Not to mention the complicity in the death of my mother and genocide of your people for no other reason than your guilty conscience. You will be tried by the people and when found guilty you will suffer the same death you have given so many others …. The pyre"

The council feel into a silent hush and no one was sure what to do so they waited. Getting between the two Prime Alphas would be dangerous and foolhardy until they knew what they would be getting involved in.

Uther looked at his son and paled slightly it was clear that Arthur had found Aredian "Are you mad! You are talking to your King!" he looked at the guards "Arrest them"

Gwaine faced the guards and smirked "Come on then try it" he had his sword in his hand and the guards blanched, even the arrival of several reinforcements brought no confidence to them. Gwaine was as well-known as Arthur for his fighting prowess, and his more unorthodox methods, not to mention his lack of respect for the rules of fair play.

Arthur ignored what was happening behind him having full confidence in his knight. One of the councillors gaining courage spoke up "Prince Arthur you are speaking to the crowned King"

Without taking his eyes of his father Arthur replied "I am speaking to a murderer and a coward. He called in the witch finder and after throwing me in the cells took my omega, who is sixteen and pregnant and ordered that the child in his belly be aborted and then Merlin to be tortured, under the excuse that he had enchanted me." Arthur paused for the information to sink in. "Your King" the words were spat out "has also in the past because of his wish to have a son used sorcery to make my mother conceive, knowing she would die as a forfeit. Then when she did and he regretted her death so he started the great purge, for something he himself knew would happen." Arthur looked at the council "Uther Pendragon used sorcery for his own ends, black magic at that. How many people have died as a result? hundreds? thousands?. Women, children and men, most innocent."

Another councillor spoke out "Magic is evil, we have suffered many attacks by magic users"

"Yes we have and why? Would you not want to kill the people responsible for the deaths of your loved ones? Yes there are bad sorcerers, the same as any other group of people but you cannot wipe out a whole people for the sins of a few." He paused and asked Uther "Do you have a defence?"

Uther snarled "I need no defence I am your King, the omega has warped your mind. He will burn. The spawn he carried was an abomination by ordering its death I saved it from a future burning. Put down your sword and I will allow you and your knight to live. Once the sorcerer is dead you will see the error of your ways, you are enchanted"

Arthur lost it in that second, he had been trying to keep his temper, but what had happened to his soulmate and what he had learned about his mother was too much for the alpha. He wanted to kill the man in front of him, nothing else would atone for what had happened. He snarled at one of the guards "Give him a sword"

One of the men stepped forward and handed the King his sword. Uther took it realising he had no choice but to fight his son. He didn't wait, the moment the sword was in his hand he lunged towards Arthur. A lesser man would have been taken out but Arthur was too good to fall for such a trick. As the fight started in earnest it soon became clear to everyone that Uther was no longer the man he once was. Or rather his son was far better. The councillors moved away to the side so not to get involved. Many had seen the tension between the two men for some time and didn't want to be on the losing side. If fact several would like to see the increasingly erratic deposed by his stronger son. The Kings supporters were realistic enough to be careful, if it looked like the King would win they would step in but not before.

Uther suffered several small injuries in the first few moments of the fight but even then he fought with desperation. But one small mistake saw Arthur's sword sink into his belly. Arthur looked his father in the eye and pulled the sword across and deeper causing a fatal wound. Arthur did not follow through with a stab to the heart to end his father's agony but stood and watched as the light faded from Uther's eyes, staring into the dying man's eyes he said. "That is for Merlin and mother, I only wish you could suffer more, you deserve no mercy."

Arthur knew his father heard him, it only took seconds for the King to die as the wound was severe and then there was a deadly hush until Gwaine shouted out "The King is dead. Long live King Arthur"

The council members looked at Arthur unsure what to do next. Arthur looked at them as he cleaned his sword on his father's body. "You now have a choice to make and I for one don't really care what you do. You stand by your dead King who was a murderer and a liar and raise a rebellion, you leave for your estates and retire, or you stand behind me, either way I warn you there are going to be major changes around here. For one I will not have a council who will not stand and be counted. Anyone serving on my council needs to be prepared to die for me and Camelot. Not sit there and do nothing."

He turned his back on the council contemptuously and looked at the guards "Remove the body, it may go to the crypt for internment, anyone who wishes may pay their respects. But I for one will not be mourning." Turning to the stunned council he continued "I now go to my omega inform Sir Leon of your decision. If you wish to leave you have two days after that I will expect your full loyalty and an oath of fealty."

As Arthur reached the door he looked at Geoffrey the Royal record keeper "Announce Uther's passing and that I killed him and will now rule. Allow the people to make up their own minds. I will speak to the people later."

Gwaine stayed behind, much as he wanted to see Merlin he knew there was too much to do and that Arthur would wish to be alone with his omega. He turned to the council "Well if I were you I'd start thinking and maybe packing. Either way I don't expect gossip, I am sure King Arthur will speak to his people and he doesn't need you to do it for him. So stay in your rooms ….if you know what's good for you. The New King is one riled Prime Alpha right now" he looked at the guards "The same goes for you, keep mum or you will have me to deal with"

Gwaine looked down at the body of the late King and gesturing to four of the guards he said "Take the body to his chambers for now and get this blood cleaned up" Then Gwaine leant against the wall waiting for Leon to arrive and take charge.

Arthur practically ran back to his chambers not caring who saw him or what they thought. All he could think of was his omega. He walked through the door and went straight to his omegas side. Not even looking at Leon he said "The King is dead. Gwaine will fill you in. Leave me all of you"

Every one left the room except Gaius "Sire do you want me to stay?"

"Is it safe for you to leave?" came Arthur flat voice. He hadn't even processed that he was now King or that he had killed his own father all he could focus on was his omega.

"Kilgarrah has done what he can Sire. I will come if you need me and I will come back but I suspect you want time alone"

"Thank you Gaius"

Gaius followed the other out. Leon turned to Lancelot "Stay here I will send Gwaine back, let no one in" he went down to the council chambers to take charge.

Gaius looked at the beat knight "I will leave them in peace, if I am needed call for me immediately"

In the room Arthur took of his sword and led it by the bed. He stripped of as quickly as he could leaving just his shirt and breaches before he careful crept in the bed and lay beside Merlin. He curled himself around his unconscious omega and held him in his arms. The new King of Camelot let the tears flow, he didn't care, he had allowed his wonderful omega to be hurt again and as a result they had lost their baby. He would never be able to make it up to the man he loved and he would understand if Merlin no longer wanted to have him near him once he woke up. If he still had his omega once he woke then Arthur fully intended to marry him and spend the rest of his life making it up to his Little Hawk. He also swore that no one would harm him again if he had to have all the knights in Camelot guarding him.

...

For the vengeance minded of you the Witchfinders is dealt with next