I'm back! Sorry for the wait, It's been tricky to find the time to write. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please leave a review! (feedback motivates me!)

"He's where?" Rhea demanded, unwilling to believe her ears.

"In the cells." I repeated, to the two uncomprehending faces in front of me.

"What? Do you mean as part of his job? Has been asked to update some of the iron gates?" Dryden asked, trying to come up with a comprehendible reason for his son to be in the cells.

I shook my head, "No, he was arrested." I told them slightly nervously, not knowing how they would react.

"What?!" Dryden yelled, jumping to his feet and knocking a cup off the table beside him in the process.

Rhea remained seated, but her mouth dropped wide open in disbelief. "No… no you must be mistaken." She stuttered. "He can't be. What could he possibly have done to end up in the cells?"

I looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with either of them. "He tried to attack the king." I mumbled.

"He did what?" Rhea shrieked.

Dryden grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me round to face him. "Lilia, tell us exactly what happened. Now." His voice was serious and intimidating, though the worry for his sons life could also be heard.

"I went to visit a friend. But he wasn't there, so I thought I'd borrow one of his books. The King came in looking for my brother, because he had his armour. I'd found the armour and was helping the King put it on, when Fredrik came in. He asked why I'd left the house and I explained. Then he said something about how medical textbooks weren't befitting for woman. The King explained that when I was last here I helped treat his father. Fredrik said that I couldn't have been very good if the King had died. He sounded a bit aggressive, so the King asked him if there was going to be an issue. Fredrik said something about not appreciating the King's manner towards me, and when I protested, he said he was the only reason I was there. He tried to order me to come back here, the King said that Fredrik had no right to give me orders. So, Fredrik told him to stay out of it. Then the King said 'or what' and something about Will, my previous fiancé. That was when Fredrik lunged at the King. The King caught his arm, twisted it behind his back, called the guards and arrested him for attempting to harm the King." I gave them as much detail as I could and tried to speak as confidently as I could with Dryden's hands still clutching my arms.

They both looked shocked. "But, are you saying that the King is accusing him of treason?" Rhea asked a wobble in her voice.

"I… I think so." I said slowly.

"Treason is punishable by death." Rhea whispered.

"Maybe the King will be lenient." Dryden said with some desperation vibrating throughout his voice. We could try and petition the charges. We could say he was sick, not in his right mind. Or that it was a misunderstanding. We need an audience with the King. He visits the forges a lot, maybe I could try to speak to him then. He might change his mind if he's not surrounded by people that he needs to impress."

"What if he doesn't visit the forges soon Dryden, our son could be executed." Rhea said, tears beginning to fall.

I looked between the pair, they were so distressed. Fredrik had been rude and offensive to me, but did that really mean he should lose his life? Did it mean that Rhea and Dryden should be put through the pain of losing their son?

"Why don't we go and talk to him?" I said.

"Who Fredrik?" Rhea asked.

"No, that wouldn't change anything. We speak to the King."

"But, how?"

"Trust me."

They looked sceptical but when I turned and left the house, they followed. I walked in front, leading the way through the palace. Rhea and Dryden followed behind me in complete silence. Though I could sense how anxious they were. I nodded to the guards outside Arthur's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Arthur's voice called from inside the room.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, closely followed by Fredrik's parents. The room was fairly tidy; the bed had been neatly made and the dinning table had been freshly polished, although there was a pile of discarded armour and clothes peeking out from behind the screen next to the wardrobe. Arthur was sat, the opposite side of the room, at the desk in front of the windows. He had a mess of papers scattered in front of him, along with a half-eaten apple. He looked up when we entered, smiled slightly and then raised an eyebrow upon seeing who was with me.

"Sire." I said bowing my head slightly.

"What can I do for you Lilia?" He asked.

"Rhea and Dryden," I gestured behind me, "Would like to know exactly what charges and punishments are being brought against Fredrik."

"Of course," He nodded, "Fredrik is being held on charges of treason against the King. As for his punishment, I have yet to make a decision."

I looked at them, neither spoke, but they seemed wary and nervous. "Um, I think they would also like to know if, execution or perhaps exile, are possible punishments you are considering."

Rhea looked even more panicked as I spoke the question that she'd been so concerned about earlier, she clung to her husbands arm as they waited in desperation for Arthur's response.

"Unlikely. A minor attempt of an attack, is hardly worth the trouble it would be to coordinate either and execution, or the issues that an exile would create." He said, as both Rhea and Dryden physically relaxed, but then clarified, "That is not to say that the punishment won't be severe."

"Thank you, sire." Dryden spoke gratefully, as both he and his wife bowed to their king.

"Guards." Arthur called out. The two from outside entered the room, "Take these two to the cells. I'm sure they want to talk to their son."

Rhea and Dryden followed the two guards, leaving only me and Arthur alone in the room. He rose from his seat and came over to where I was stood.

"My uncle has advised me to exile Fredrik."

"You just said you weren't going to do that." I said quietly and slightly confused.

"Because I'm not. I was going to. Then I realised that you would still be engaged to him and would probably have to go as well."

I sighed and nodded, "I wouldn't have had a mother wants this marriage to happen, I can't disappoint her. I would have had to leave as well."

He nodded, "I think the most suitable punishment would be a period in the cells, and his position in the royal forges will be revoked."

"I think that would be appropriate, sire." I smiled slightly. Revoking Fredrik's position in the forges would damage his pride, and I will admit that the thought did give me some joy. I think Arthur knew that, I am fairly sure that he wasn't punishing Fredrik for crimes against him, but rather for crimes against me.

A loud thud from the other side of the servants door distracted us from our conversation. Arthur walked over and pushed the door open, revealing Merlin lying flat on his face, a pile of clothes now scattered just in front of him.

"Merlin. How's the floor looking?" He teased.

"Bit dirty actually."

"Good, then you can add it to the list of things I need you to do."

Merlin groaned as he pulled himself up and into the room, "What's going on here then?"

"We were just discussing Fredrik's sentence." Arthur told him as he sat back behind his desk and began busying himself by shuffling around papers.

"What is it then?"

"He'll remain in the cells for a while and his position in the forges will be revoked."

"Question."

"What?"

"Why am I the only person ever sentenced to the stocks?"

"It's just not as amusing with other people." Arthur grinned looking very pleased with himself. I stifled a laugh as I watched my brother attempting and failing to come up with a come back. Arthur turned back to the papers on his desk and tried to focus.

I was just about to leave when Arthur flung his hands up in the air, "Hopless," He declared, "Merlin organise this mess. Lilia, we are going to inform Fredrik of his sentence." He strode out of the room purposefully.

"Wait." Merlin called.

"What?" Arthur said, his head reappearing in the room.

"Can't I come too?"

"Fine, actually," He pointed a finger at Merlin, "go to the cells bring Fredrik and his parents to the throne room." He grinned, before disappearing again.

I started to follow after him, but Merlin grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Ok I have definitely had enough of people grabbing my arms today. Merlin, let me go."

"Not until you tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"What's going on between you and Arthur?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"He's being weird."

"So are you." I said trying to pull my arm out of his grip.

"No, but he's being off since you left. He seems a bit more normal now, still not quite normal enough."

"Merlin, his dad died. He's allowed to be a little off."

Merlin looked me right in the eye. His mouth suddenly dropped open, "Oh Lilia no. He's a King. You can't be with him."

"I know that. Why do you think I agreed to marry Fredrik?" I tried to keep my voice calm, but I'll admit just saying it out loud made me want to cry. I used to be so strong, how did a single man manage to turn me into an emotional wreck? I took a deep breath and mentally steadied myself, "Merlin, you're mean to be at the cells by now."

"Crap." He whined, letting go of my arm as he sprinted at full pelt out the room and towards the cells.

I pulled myself together and left. Walking slowly to the throne room. The castle was beautiful. The sun was setting and all the stain glass windows were throwing colours all around the passages. I smiled at the guards and servants as I passed, until finally I reached my destination. The room was filled with people, including a few knights and servants. Rhea and Dryden were stood at the front of the room, slightly to the left. Fredrik was in chains and stood in the middle of the room, with two guards behind him. Merlin and Gaius were opposite Rhea and Dryden, both expectantly waiting for Arthur to make his entrance.

I stood just behind Fredrik's parents and waited with everyone else. The room lolled into a quiet, and not long after the doors were flung open as Arthur entered. He strode down the length of the room, stopping just in front of his throne, where he turned to face the room.

"Fredrik." He announced loudly, "I have found you guilty of a treasonous crime against the crown. As such you have also committed a crime against Camelot. I sentence you to three months in the cells, and revoke you of your position in the royal forges. Do you have anything you wish to say?"

Fredrik looked to his father, who shook his head. "No sire. I do not." He said, his voice full of resentment and anger.

"Very well." He paused for a second, "Guards return the prisoner to the cells."

The guards dragged Fredrik from the room. Arthur watched them leave, before striding out of the room himself. The rest of the room emptied quietly. Leaving only me, Rhea and Dryden.

"Three months." Rhea sobbed.

"It could've been worse." Dryden whispered half-heartedly, as he led the way out of the room. The rest of the day passed in silence.

As the next three months passed, I was the only one in the house, who was at all happy. With Fredrik's absence I had the chance to go back and work with Gaius. The days where long and I managed to avoid Rhea and Dryden the majority of the time. I knew they were miserable over their sons fate. I tried my best to avoid Arthur too, after all, Fredrik's sentence would not change the fact that I would still have to marry him. It was easier to accept that if I didn't see Arthur.

On the few occasions I had seen him, I'd tried to keep the conversation from becoming too personal. So instead we talked over state matters, Merlin's laziness and even Fredrik, though mainly about his sentencing.

I'd lost count of how long Fredrik had been imprisoned. So I guess you could say I was slightly bombarded when I returned home late one afternoon to find him sitting at the table with his parents and a huge loaf of bread.

"Was it awful?" Rhea asked him.

"It was. It was so dark and cold. The bed was just a sack on the ground and at night rats would run through the cells."

"It's all over now son." Rhea crooned trying to comfort her son.

Dryden looked up at me, "You should really thank Lilia, son. She got us in to talk to the King, she was the reason we got to see you before your sentencing. And speaking to some palace servants, it sounds like the King is usually more harsh in his sentencing."

"More harsh? Father, I've just spent three months in a cell."

"There are people who have committed lesser crimes, theft for example, and spent a year imprisoned." I told him, some would say I was antagonising him, I suppose they would be right. But in my defence it felt more like revenge for his sexist comments the day he was arrested.

Fredrik was about to open his mouth to protest, but the front door flung open and banged against the wall.

My head snapped around to see Leon stood in the door way. "You all need to leave, get to safety. We are under attack."

"From who?" I asked before he disappeared.

"Morgana."

Leon disappeared, and panic erupted in the house. I ran around, collecting essentials into bags. It seemed I was the only one familiar with being under attack.

"What do we do? Where do we go?" Rhea shrieked terrified.

"We can go to Ealdor. We should be safe there."

And so, I pushed them all out the house and we ran through the town, not stopping until we reached the safety of the forest. As we disappeared amongst the trees, I turned to see Camelot in flames. I hoped Merlin and Arthur weren't still there, I hoped they got out.

Pushing the thoughts from my head and started the journey to Ealdor.

Home.

That's the end of this chapter, I hope you've enjoyed it. Please leave a review.

Thanks, xem98x