Belated Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of the dialogue used from it. The rest of the story, however...
Previously...
"Arthur, you were born of magic."
Arthur stared at his servant. "But.." he started
"I know. I told you that she was lying but I'm telling you that it was the truth. You were born of magic."
What happened next surprised Merlin. "Then I am responsible for my mother's death." Arthur said, sadly.
"NO!" Merlin said. "What she told you that night was true, all of it. It's Uther's fault, not yours. She is proud of you, Arthur."
Arthur sat in silence. Merlin was getting worried. "Arthur…..what are you going to do?"
Arthur still sat in silence.
He then suddenly stood straight up and walked to the cell door, not turning to look back at his servant, who unfortunately was still connected to Arthur through the manacles.
"Arthur." Merlin gasped.
Arthur looked back and an apologetic look came in his face.
Merlin grabbed Arthur's arm. "Promise me you won't do anything you regret."
Arthur stared Merlin down and began to give him a sorrowful smile. He unlocked Merlin's manacle first, then his, and turned and walked towards the exit of the dungeons. He had a king to deal with.
Arthur burst the double doors open, no thought of formal prelude. Uther was surprised and was startled a little at the sudden interruption to his thoughts, but recovered quickly. "Arthur." he said, casually.
"I know what you did to my mother." Arthur growled, having deja vu as he thought about the time when he said those same words over a year ago. "And don't bother denying it."
Uther turned to Leon, who had walked into the throne room as Arthur had burst in. "Close the chamber. No one is to enter." Uther said. Leon nodded his understanding and closed the doors behind him.
As soon as they clicked, Uther asked his question. "What are you talking about? I thought we had…."
"You were so desperate for an heir, you were prepared to use magic. And you did."
"Who...Did Merlin tell you this? He's lying."
"My mother is dead because of your selfishness and arrogance. Her blood is on your hands."
"No, that's not true. But Merlin would have you believe that. He's a sorcerer. Arthur, we already…"
"This is what fuels your hatred for those who practice magic, your hatred for Merlin. Rather than blame yourself for what you did, you blame them!"
"You would believe your servant over your own father?"
Arthur raised his voice. "You have hunted him and his kind like animals. How many hundreds, innocents, have you condemned to death to ease your guilt?"
Uther began to raise his voice as well. "Those who practice magic will stop at nothing to destroy us."
"Merlin did not. He saved your life, in this very room. From me."
"I only do what is necessary to protect this kingdom."
"Your actions betray you Father, You speak of honor and nobility, but inside you are nothing but a hypocrite and a liar!" Arthur said, yelling out the last words.
"I am your King and your Father!" Uther said, authoritatively. "You will show me some respect."
Arthur clamped his mouth shut in frustration. He walked up closer to his father, removed his gauntlet and threw it on the ground at his father's feet. "Pick it up."
Uther looked at Arthur in disbelief.
"Pick it up." Arthur said again.
"Arthur, please. Think about what you are doing."
"I have."
"The sorcerer. He's enchanted you."
"Does it look like I'm enchanted?" Arthur asked, bringing his sword up into a fighting stance.
Uther started to retreat, shaking his head in denial. "I will not fight you."
"If you choose not to fight, I will strike you down where you stand." Arthur growled.
Arthur brought his sword up in a savage downstroke towards his father which was reflected by Uther's sword which suddenly appeared. Arthur immediately began to strike and parry in an impressive manner. Uther began to lose ground under the barrage of strokes. Uther backed up into his chair and fell into it, Arthur's sword coming to rest on his throat. "Arthur, please" he begged, trying to see a flicker of recognition in his son.
Don't do something you'll regret. Merlin's voice trickled into Arthur's thoughts. Arthur eyes started to widen in surprise at the position he found himself in and both Pendragons jumped at the sound of the throne room doors opening.
Leon while waiting outside had remembered how close the previous match had gone between the two Pendragons and this time, he decided to make sure that two Pendragons lived through today.
Before Arthur could even think of apologizing, Uther called for the guards. Leon and another guard ran up and restrained the Prince. He fought in their arms, trying his luck. There was no budge. Uther got up and straightened out his clothes that had gotten ruffled in the fight. "That little traitor will pay dearly for this." Uther said, walking out of the throne room. He motioned for the guards holding Arthur to follow.
Arthur fought in the guard's grip, but was still pushed in the direction of the dungeons. If they were just any guards, Arthur might've had a chance, but since one of them was Leon, Arthur knew his chances were slim. Besides, Arthur was not worried about himself, he was more worried about Merlin. Uther and Arthur descended the steps down to the cells and down the hall to where Merlin's cell was. Merlin peered into the light and made eye contact with his master. "Arthur?" he asked. He wanted to know how Arthur had got himself in this position. With one look at Uther's face, however, he was pretty sure he had a good idea. He also knew that he was in for some big trouble.
"Restrain the prince in there." Uther said, pointing to the cell next to Merlin's. Merlin ran to the side of the cell as Arthur was forced into it. "Arthur, what's going on?" Merlin asked.
Shackled in place on the other side of the cell from Merlin, Arthur tried to respond but was silenced by Uther's fist to his face. Arthur knelt on the ground from the force of the blow and when he looked back up at his father, his left eye was beginning to sport a bruise.
Uther left Arthur, grabbed a coil of rope and walked into Merlin's cell. "The prince seems to think that I am responsible for my wife's death and that I used magic….Something that you convinced Arthur to not believe only a year ago.
Merlin slowly nodded. He remembered.
"I told you what would happen if you told anyone about what happened." Uther said, uncoiling the rope.
Merlin eyes widened in fear and he backed up against the cell bars, his subconscious trying to get to safety, to Arthur.
"Father, what do you mean? What are you going to do to him?"
If you bring up what happened between me and Arthur yesterday to him or to another living soul, I will have you hanged.
Uther made a noose and slipped it around Merlin's neck. Uther made Merlin turn around so he could face Arthur.
Arthur now understanding what was happening surged forward, pulling against the chains that held his arms in place. "NO!" is all he could get out. There were too many thoughts running through his head. "NO!' was the only thing that could make it through the confusion in his brain. "NO!"
Uther started to tighten the noose. Arthur kept fighting against his chains. "No, please, no, no, please, PLEASE!"
Merlin started to choke as Uther pulled the rope tighter. Merlin looked at Arthur, eyes asking for help while his brain told him that there was nothing he could do.
Arthur looked at his friend, eyes telling him that he was not going to leave him. He watched as his father, his king, tightened the noose more and Merlin's choking progressed. He was wheezing now and still trying to stay conscious.
"You're killing him!" Arthur cried, trying once again to reach his father.
"That's the idea…." Uther growled, as he tightened the noose again.
Merlin let out one last gasp and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, his body falling against Uther as he fell unconscious.
"No." Arthur whispered as he fell to his knees. Merlin can't be dead. He just can't. "Merlin, please."
A guard walked in and shackled Merlin's body to the wall, using the previously discarded magic manacles and walked out.
"Is he…?" Arthur asked.
"No." the tyrant responded, almost disappointingly. "He just passed out, but I can't just kill him for that. He has to answer for his crimes just like all his kind have. Release my son." Uther said to the guards.
The guards undid the manacles on the prince's wrists and he gave no resistance as they pulled his arms around his back and stood him up. Until they walked past Merlin's cell, when Arthur lurched towards his friend's broken body.
Uther turned around at the sound of the scuffle happening. "Arthur!" Uther growled, impatience growing.
"Please!" Arthur begged. "I'll come willingly, I just want to see him."
Uther nodded and Arthur ran to the body of his friend. He was relieved to see that Merlin was still breathing but only just. His eyes then found the rubbed red skin from the rope. Arthur fought to keep the images out of his mind but lost as the terror and horror of just a few minutes ago returned anew.
"Arthur." Uther said and Arthur knew it was time to go.
Arthur stood up and followed his father out of the cell. With one last look at his friend, he followed his father out of the dungeons towards the throne room.
Or at least that is where he thought his father was going. Arthur assumed that Uther wanted to talk to him. Apparently, the talking days were over. Arthur started to rethink his decision of coming willingly when Uther stopped in front of another barred door. Arthur knew where they were. This was the cell reserved for nobles. You can't have nobles and peasants in the same cell for long periods of time. This is where Uther locked up Morgana and Arthur helped her out. There would be no one to help him out this time. The door opened and Uther nodded to inside. Arthur walked in and stood facing his father as the guards manacled his wrists to the chains in the floor.
"Is this really necessary? I said I would come willingly."
"I'm not taking any chances. You and the sorcerer have done miraculous things together. I can't let you roam free the night before his execution."
"What is he going to do? You nearly killed him just now and those manacles you have got on him drain him of his energy. He almost has none of it left!"
"Arthur I draw no pleasure from this, I hope you know that." Uther turned to leave.
"Then let him go, sire. Please!" Arthur said, desperately. He knew that this was his last chance. "You gain nothing by his execution. Punish me, hurt me, put me on trial, anything, just let him go."
"Why do you care so much?"
"Because I trust him with my life, a life that he has saved more than once. And now, I've finally decided to show him that he trust me with his."
"How can you trust someone who has lied to you?"
Arthur sighed. "I don't deny that he lied to me, Father. What I can't deny however is his friendship and loyalty to me. Not to just Camelot, but me. Having magic does not change him, he still is my friend and when I take the throne, he will not have to lie or hide anymore."
Well now you've done it. A voice that sounded strangely like Merlin shouted in Arthur's head as what he said caught up with his brain.
Uther grabbed Arthur's shirt and brought him close, nearly choking Arthur. Uther meant to intimidate his son, but Arthur was staring him straight on. "I will not hear another traitorous word out of you." Uther pulled back, meaning to hit Arthur. But before he could, Leon rushed in "Sire!"
"I was not to be disturbed."
"My apologies my Lord, but an army was just spotted in the forest outside Camelot."
Uther turned at that. "How did we not know?"
"They fly under Cenred's banner and the rumors are that he is working with a sorceress, which is how they got so close to Camelot undetected. I have started to prepare the army for attack."
Uther started to loosen his grip on Arthur. "No, this could be good. Let them come."
"Sire?" Leon asked drowning out Arthur's "What?"
"Let the sorceress come. Tomorrow morning, that sorceress will see her kin burnt at the stake, proving that magic does not stand a chance against Camelot."
"But wait…" Arthur started.
"And you." Uther turned around. "You are to be disinheirted, with immediate effect." Uther released his son from his death grip. Arthur fell to his knees. "You are no longer Crown Prince of Camelot. You've thrown your lot in with them." Uther grabbed his son's face to make sure his last sentence made it clear how he felt about the matter. "You're not my son!" He threw Arthur to the ground, throwing the dethroned prince off his balance and falling to the floor. Arthur landed on his shoulder not being able to break his fall on account of his arms being restrained.
Arthur knelt at his father's feet. Uther turned to walk out of the cell. "Please, Fa..." he corrected himself. Uther stopped at the entrance to the cell. Arthur continued. "Please Sire. You've always taught me to be true to my heart and that is all I have ever tried to do. To be the man you wanted me to be. Someone you were proud to call your son. Don't let Merlin die because of something I did."
"My Decision is Final." Uther said, voice cold. The door slammed closed behind him throwing darkness into the room.
Uther turned to look at Leon. Leon was trying, unsuccessfully hide his shock at what had just happened.
"Make sure he does not leave this cell tonight. Tomorrow, he is to be chained outside next to the pyre and gagged as well."
Uther turned to walk away. "And Leon, you have already failed me once today. Do it again and you will be banished."
Leon straightened. "Understood, sire."
Uther walked down and out of the dungeons and looked out to see the progress of the pyre. The first thing that caught his eye however was the flickering lights in the forest beyond the citadel. From that, he looked down to see the completed pyre. He smiled in anticipation. Tomorrow, magic will be wiped off the face of the earth.