Thank you everyone, this story is proving popular. One of the inspirations for it was Prince John 1905-1919 son of George V who had epilepsy and was hidden away from the public. He was kindly treated and loved however.

….

The police had immediately surrounded the man and one of them checked the monitor. It showed views of what appeared to be one largish room and a small shower room and another small area that appeared to be set up as a kitchen. The only figure visible was a person led on the bed the prisoner conformed there was no one else in the room and reluctantly gave the key to the Inspector indicated that the door be opened carefully.

Down in his room Merlin had been totally unaware of the events going on over his head. He was lying down on his bed. He had been feeling out of sorts recently and had had a cold. Then he heard noises at his door, no one ever came in at this time of the day, except maybe the doctor but he had been a few days previously and only ever came once a month or if he had had a seizure.

Due to the conversation with Cenred the unusual worried him, had the King died? Then Merlin realised someone was opening the door. His heart started pumping and he stood up and stared at the door, as the door opened a unknown man looked directly at Merlin, he held a gun and came in quickly followed by two others, they scanned the room, another man came in his hand held out to show they were empty and he smiled at Merlin "Don't be scared we have come to free you Prince Merlin."

As he spoke Merlin suddenly went rigid and he groaned and fell to the ground before he went into a seizure. The policeman called for the paramedics and immediately made sure anything around the Prince that could hurt him was moved and he put the pillow from the bed under the prince's head. Merlin had blood running from his mouth, he had clearly bitten his tongue.

As one man was dealing with Merlin the others checked the room, there was no one else present. The Paramedics had arrived and waited for the fit to stop before carefully putting Merlin in the recovery position. "We should let him sleep it off before moving him, getting him up those stairs is going to be difficult until we can get him on a carry chair."

The police officers were careful not to disturb anything, some were sent to check out the other corridor. The decision was made to wait and see if anyone else came down to tunnel so they could arrest more of the suspects. As the situation was stable the Inspector went back up the stairs.

As the Inspector reached the Prince and Princess he smiled at them reassuringly. "We have the person, who we believe to be the Prince safe, he had a seizure which is why we called the medics, he is sleeping now and they will bring him up once he wakes. I ask you to be patient we have arrested one man. There is a tunnel that leads well away from the castle and is clearly used to access the area the men are investigating it now." He looked at the two Royals "Your bother is safe your Majesties, unfortunately we cannot let you down there, for your own safety and also we need to preserve all the evidence."

Arthur looked at the Inspector and in a voice that showed the stress he had been under replied "We understand Inspector Howden, we haven't seen Merlin for sixteen years we can wait a bit longer as long as he is safe"

Commissioner Bayard led the group to the sitting room and arranged for tea to be made in the small kitchen in the Kings chambers. So far no one else was aware of what was happening, the police had been brought in in an unmarked delivery van and through areas that were empty. The Castle was working with a skeleton staff as the King was dying. Buckingham Palace was where everyone was busy. So far a total blackout had been achieved.

As the tunnel was straight the police had arranged for more cars and armed officers to be waiting in the area they were expecting to come out in. The prisoner was secure and waiting to be moved out when appropriate.

Inspector Howden had gone back down to supervise the operation. His men had reached the end of the tunnel and gone through the door at the end. The outside teams had been using GPS to work out where they would be emerging and were surrounding the house. It was one of the grace and favour homes of the Royal family. The tunnel end in the house was also hidden behind panelling. When the emerged police emerged they arrested a further three people, the biggest surprise was who lived in the house. It was the late Kings brother in law Agravaine de Bois, who had been stunned to be arrested like a common criminal. The Inspector looked at the irate man "Hardly a common criminal Sir, you have been arrested for the false imprisonment of a child Prince and holding him for sixteen years" he turned to one of his men "Take him to Scotland Yard and secure the scene"

Returning back along the tunnel he spoke to the paramedics "The tunnel is sloping and might be better than taking the Prince up the stairs, also less obvious for the media"

"Thank you Sir, can you send details to the station and they can get the another ambulance there"

"No problem, give us the keys and I'll get one of my boys to drive yours round, no need to tie up another team" he looked down "How is he and I can give his Royal Highness's an update"

"He is sleeping of his fit, he doesn't appear to be in to bad health, but I wouldn't want to say more" One of the paramedics replied.

"Fine you will have a police escort to hospital and two men in the ambulance. All this is top secret, you understand, nothing to be said to anyone not even your partners. Once at the hospital you will be asked to sign a paper, this is all covered by the official secrets act. You'll understand why soon enough"

"Our job is confidential anyway but we understand" from what they had over heard and seen both men had a fairly good idea what was going on anyway.

Merlin was soon on the trolley and off in the ambulance, for a very detailed health assessment.

The Inspector returned up the stairs and to the Royals "Your Majesty, your brother has been taken out up the tunnel it was easier and also the ambulance won't be seen leaving here. I am told the patient had recovered from his seizure and is sleeping, he appears to be in a good condition from the paramedic's assessment. We can arrange an escort back to the hospital when you need it, although I would give them time the other end"

The Commissioner spoke up at this point "Your Majesty, I have informed the PM, his suggestion is to make a statement about your father, and may I suggest a simple announcement of his death and nothing else at this point."

Arthur nodded "Yes I will get the team to do that"

Commissioner Bayard looked at the couple with sympathy it was going to get harder for the couple from now on. "Also I'm afraid I have more news, the tunnel came out in Agravaine de Bois's house"

It seemed to both Prince Arthur and Princess Morgana that nothing would surprise them ever again. But at the moment it seemed they had their brother back from the dead and that was all they could think about for now, the rest would have to wait.