A/N: Thank you GuestM, Buckhunter, mersan123, SnidgetHex, and PadrePedro for reviewing the last episode! We're on the final one now!

Chapter 1

Arthur looked down the list of recruits Leon had compiled for his consideration. There were many young nobles wanting to become knights that would have to go through testing and training to meet Camelot's high standards.

"There is a…wide variety of skill level," Leon said, standing at his side in the hallway. "We can divide them into groups accordingly."

Arthur nodded. Whereas during times of prosperity he was far more stringent with who he accepted into the knighthood, their ranks had been severely depleted from Morgana's siege of the city a few weeks ago. Arthur couldn't afford to be picky.

Marching footsteps drew their attention to where Uther was striding down the hall toward them, accompanied by several guards. His expression was like steel as he came to a stop.

"Arthur, you are under arrest for treason," he declared.

Arthur gaped at his father in astonishment. "You can't be serious."

"Consorting with sorcerers, harboring dangerous creatures," Uther went on, tone unyielding. He waved at the guards, who stepped forward to seize their prince.

Leon's eyes were wide as he flicked harried glances back and forth between them, not knowing what to do. Arthur waved Leon to back away and not go against the king. His father was angry and was probably just trying to teach Arthur a lesson with this display. He allowed himself to be grabbed by the guards.

Uther moved closer and gripped Arthur's wrist, forcing his hand up. "I saw the sorcerer use a ring like this," he said.

Arthur grunted as he yanked it off forcefully.

Uther then looked at him with such scathing disappointment. "My own son, using magic. You have betrayed Camelot and me."

"It apparently runs in the family," Arthur defiantly rejoined.

Uther backhanded him, stunning Arthur with both the stinging strike and the fact that his father had never before raised a hand against him. The guards began to haul him away, and Uther followed. Arthur was taken to one of the tower cells where his wrists were clapped in irons chained to bolts in the wall.

Uther seethed with fury as he stood before his son. "I will find Merlin and destroy him."

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

His father sneered. "That old physician was a friend of Alice, was with the sorcerer. So perhaps she knows where to find them."

Arthur stiffened. He had brought Alice to the Sanctuary, shown her exactly where it was. But surely she wouldn't give them up. Gaius was her friend, after all.

But the look of madness in Uther's eyes filled Arthur with dread. He knew what his father was capable of.

Uther turned on his heel and strode out, leaving Arthur locked away, with no way to warn Merlin of what was coming.

Leon stood in the back of the hall with the rest of the knights as Alice was brought before Uther and forced to her knees like a criminal already found guilty of her crimes.

"That friend of yours, the fellow physician," Uther began. "He was with the sorcerer Merlin. Where do they live?"

Alice looked frightened as she replied. "I don't know anything about that. My lord, I have always been your loyal servant."

"So I thought of my own son," Uther said sharply. "But that will not spare him my wrath. And you mean far less to me than him."

Alice cast a frantic look around the room, but of course no one was going to help her. "Sire, Gaius and I hadn't seen each other in decades before he came to assist with the Afnac. We communicated through letters only, but their destination were secret from me."

Uther's gaze bore into her for a long moment. Then he waved at a guard, who stepped forward and handed him a vial of black liquid. "Do you know what this is?" he asked Alice.

Her eyes went wide in horror. "Veritas mortem," she said in a hushed voice.

"That's right. Its serum will extract the truth from whoever drinks it."

"And kill them once every last secret is spilled," Alice finished.

Leon's heart rate ratcheted up. Surely he wouldn't…

But Uther nodded to the guards, who came forward and seized Alice to hold her still. One of them pinched her cheeks hard, forcing her mouth open. Leon wanted to shout for them to stop, that this wasn't right. Did no one else see that?

But it was clear that everyone watching was either too afraid to speak out against the king, or they were relishing this display of power. Never mind the king that had reigned against magic for his entire rule was now resorting to using it.

Uther poured the potion in. Alice coughed and sputtered, black liquid staining her lips and chin. The guards released her, and she doubled over with a series of choking gasps.

"Where is Merlin hiding?" Uther asked.

Alice lifted her head, face pinching in distress. "A mountain," she stuttered out.

Leon's lungs froze.

"Prince Arthur took me there when we fled Camelot and Morgana's army."

She went on to describe how to get there, the waterfall illusion concealing the entrance, how vast it was inside. Uther pressed for every detail, and Alice described everything she had seen. She spoke of how Gaius had treated Arthur's wound, but Uther didn't seem to care about that. And then she described the baby dragon that had enchanted all their swords to battle the immortal army, and Uther's face went puce with rage.

"How does this work?" he asked, holding up Arthur's communication ring.

"I- I don't know."

"Are there any other traitors in our midst?"

Leon went rigid. He hadn't gone with Arthur and Alice to the Sanctuary, but it had been his idea…

Alice's face scrunched up, either because she was trying to resist or the spell was wracking her thoughts for the answer. "I… I don't think so."

Leon could have collapsed right there in relief, but then Alice started making horrible, guttural chokes. In the next moment, she fell to the floor, eyes frozen open.

Uther gazed down dispassionately. "Well, that is all of it, then." He turned to the knights. "Muster the army! We will destroy this haven of evil once and for all!"

Leon rushed off with his fellow knights before Uther could single him out for any reason, but the first chance he got, he slipped into a shadowed alcove, mind and heart racing. He didn't know what to do. It was his duty to follow his king's command, but he couldn't participate in a slaughter of his friends. And he had no way to warn them unless he got there first. But he couldn't leave Arthur behind. Leon had seen Uther angry and unforgiving, but never had he taken such actions against his own son, and Leon feared what Uther might do to Arthur in the end. So, no, he had to free him first. But how was he going to break him out of the tower?

An idea struck him out of the blue, one he wasn't exactly fond of. It was inspired by a game Gwen used to force him to play when they were little. He wasn't even sure it would work, but it was the best idea he had, and so with a grimace, he snuck off to find and steal some ladies' dresses.

Once he'd procured the items, he stashed them near the tower, then steeled himself and went up to the guard station.

"The king has ordered Arthur be brought on the march with him," Leon reported. "So he can witness the destruction of the heathens."

The two guards on duty, fortunately, bought it, and went to unlock the cell door. Leon followed behind, and as soon as the door was open, he struck them both on the back of the head, knocking him out.

"Leon?" Arthur exclaimed. "What are you doing? My father will have you executed."

Leon dragged the unconscious guards into the cell, then snatched up the key to unlock Arthur's chains. "We have little time. Uther is gathering the army to march on the Sanctuary."

Arthur furrowed his brow. "How? He can't know where it is."

Leon's mouth pressed into a grim line. "He used a truth serum on Alice, forced her to tell him where it is and how to get inside."

Arthur's eyes widened. "We have to warn them." He scowled. "My ring."

"We'll have to escape first," Leon replied. "Also…Alice is dead."

Arthur's jaw tightened. "I hope you have a plan."

He nodded. "I do."

He and Arthur crept down from the tower. They didn't run into anyone, as everyone was busy preparing for war. Leon retrieved the dresses and pushed one into Arthur's hands. He looked at it dubiously for a long beat.

"No way."

Leon was already struggling to get the other gown over his own garments. "This is the only way we'll get out without drawing attention."

"Me strutting around in a dress is going to draw attention!" Arthur hissed.

"Do you have a better idea?"

Arthur's jaw ticked, but after a long moment he shook his head and huffily started pulling the dress over his head. Leon helped him get the skirt down over his shirt and straightened the bodice. The sleeves were particularly tight, but they only needed the disguise to hold until they were out of Camelot. Leon picked up some scarves last, which they wrapped around their heads and faces. Leon, for his part, had to cover his beard.

Arthur spread his arms out. "Well?"

Leon couldn't keep a laugh off his face, though he knew he had to look equally ridiculous. "It'll do."

"Let's hope."

They made their way through the corridors to the courtyard, which was full of men gathering their horses and weapons. Leon pursed his mouth in thought as he scanned the area. There were two saddled horses off on the perimeter whose riders were busy helping load some supply wagons, so Leon and Arthur hurried toward them. Taking the reins and hiding behind the bulk of the steeds, they managed to sneak out through a side gate without being seen, then they mounted up and rode off at a gallop. Only once they were a good distance away did they stop to remove the constricting gowns. Then they made haste to the Sanctuary.