"This.. doesn't make any sense, father!" Arthur found his voice. Uther scared him. When he became like this, it really scared him. Merlin couldn't be a dragonlord, whatever that was. It sounded so much full of power and control, Merlin wasn't one to be like that. But Uther wasn't convinced. And when it had to do with magic, there was little in this world that could change his mind.
"These matters don't concern you, Arthur." the king turned back to his son. "Sir Leon. Escort my son back to Gaius and have him tend to my son's injuries." He added not even looking at the knight.
"I'm not leaving without Merlin. He is my manservant."
"He is no longer your manservant. He is a criminal and will be executed." The man spoke with a snarl. "But first I will have him tell me where his father is." He spoke with rising anger and turned his attention back to the dark haired one, gripping the iron rod tighter, and the warlock flinched at the mere sight of it.
"And what do you want me to tell Gaius?" Arthur spoke quickly. He had to keep his father away from Merlin somehow. "Should I tell him, that you are torturing his ward? Or you want to tell him personally that you want to execute him?"
Uther looked at the prince again, same crazed anger on his features. He couldn't for the life of him understand why his son has to be so stubborn and ignorant to the cause of his actions; why couldn't the boy just see sense and do as he's told for once?
"How dare you..? What I do now, I do for the safety of Camelot and it's people. Gaius will understand." He nodded and Arthur merely opened his mouth but found no words coming out. No way in hell Gaius will understand this..
"And if you hope to be king one day you will need to learn that your kingdom and your people come first."
"How can this serve Camelot?! You are hurting an innocent man!" Arthur felt he was losing the little control he had over himself.
"Enough of this insolence! Sir Leon! I gave an order!" The knight stepped closer but clearly with no real intention to drag the prince away. "I need to do this for Camelot!"
"How can you say that?.. How can you believe that..?" Then Arthur had an idea. It was a risky one, but he was willing to try anything at this point. "You sound.. almost as if you were enchanted.."
And the king's eyes widened and for a minute he stared into nothing. Uther looked at Merlin in amazement, then tossed the rod aside and stormed out of the chamber.
Well, that worked..