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The Doctor in Camelot
Chapter 2- Guests and Prisoners
"Merlin, will you hurry up?" Arthur called irritably. His father was expecting him in five minutes down in the throne room to meet with their ally, King Dorn and his very large and obnoxious daughter, Princess Lora.
Merlin stumbled out of the wardrobe on the other side of the bedroom with Arthur's best red coat. He was plenty irritable himself. He didn't see why the Prince of Prats couldn't get dressed himself. Such was the price of being a manservant. Oh well, it allowed him to keep a close eye on Arthur and keep him alive long enough to one day become king. God only knew how difficult of a task that was.
Merlin helped Arthur into his jacket. "About time. Now let's go," Arthur said.
Merlin gaped at him. "Why do I have to go?"
"Quit whining, Merlin. Lora and her father are ghastly people, but they're allies of Camelot so we have to play nice. In any case, if I have to put up with them, so do you."
Merlin pouted, but nonetheless followed his prince down into the throne room. Arthur sat down next to Uther and Morgana, while Merlin took his place in the back with Morgana's maidservant, Gwen. Merlin's eyes momentarily fell on the king's ward. He knew that she may seem nice, but she was about as trustworthy as a snake.
Moments, later, the doors opened once more and the elderly King Dorn stepped in as if he owned the place. Walking in step behind him was Princess Lora, an enormously large woman whose light brown hair was pulled back into two braids. She too was looking mighty full of herself.
Uther and his clan stood up, the two kings immediately walking forward to embrace one another. "Dorn, it is so wonderful to have you back in Camelot."
"It is great to be back, Uther," Dorn responded.
"Lovely to see you as well, Lady Lora," Uther said, gently kissing the princess's hand. Lora then proceeded to fart and giggle.
Arthur shot Merlin a disgruntled glance. Merlin knew he was recalling the troll Uther had married the year before.
"I'll have you both shown to your rooms," Uther continued. "You've had a long journey. I would be happy to see you at dinner."
"Of course, Uther! See you then," Dorn said jovially as he and his daughter were led by two servants out of the throne room.
No sooner had they left then a guard burst in. "Sire, we've captured three sorcerers. It appears they've used some sort of magical device to enter the citadel."
Merlin stiffened. Uther's strict laws against magic had always caused a great deal of stress on him. The king also lost his relaxed manner. "Bring them in," he ordered.
Several guards dragged in three people; they were two men and a woman, all seemingly in their twenties and dressed somewhat oddly. Clearly, everyone else in the room thought so too because there was a bit of chatter before the king held up his hand to silence them.
"You have been brought forth on charges of sorcery," Uther told the three newcomers. "Speak your names."
"I am the Doctor," one of the men said. "These are my friends Amy and Rory. And I assure you, Your Majesty, there was no magic involved."
Uther glanced at one of the guards, who instantly spoke up. "They just appeared in the middle of a corridor in a blue box, Sire. We have left the device there for further examination."
"Good choice," Uther said. He turned his attention back to the trio. "You shall all be put to death tomorrow morning. Lock them up."
The prisoners were dragged away. Merlin looked at Gaius, the Court Physician and the only person in Camelot who knew he could use magic. The old man had a grave look on his face. Gaius had always told Merlin to be careful he was never seen using magic… or else it would be the death of him.
The Doctor paced the cell anxiously. Amy and Rory just sat against the stone wall, their faces pale.
"Well… what now, Doctor?" Amy finally demanded.
"There's no escaping out the cell door," the Doctor murmured. "We'd be caught by the guards before we got ten feet. So we'll… we'll have to go out the back!" The Doctor snapped his fingers.
"Excuse me?" Rory said blankly.
The Doctor pointed to the barred window above Rory's head. Outside, he could see a few servants preparing the pyre which would be their place of death. The Doctor raced over to the window, pulling his sonic screwdriver out of his jacket pocket. With Amy and Rory keeping watch for guards, the Doctor used the screwdriver to remove each of the bars. "It'll be a tight fir out this window, but we can do it," the Doctor said jovially.
"Doctor, where do we go?" Rory asked. "The guards will notice we're gone."
The Doctor thought for a moment. "There's one place we can go to for help," he finally said. "Follow me!"