Chapter 3 - A King's Judgement

Night had fallen over Camelot and Arthur was stood in his chambers watching those things in the courtyard below. So many people had died that day. So many people. He thought about his knights, who had bravely gone out to face the monsters. Those brave men who had met their end that day. In the end, they had had no choice but to retreat into the castle. The doors were locked and barred, the people safe. But Arthur was not content. He didn't want to hide.

He was startled by a clanging noise and looked round to find Merlin on the floor, picking up a silver goblet which had fallen from the table. For once, Arthur had nothing to say about the uselessness of his servant and returned to looking out over the city. So many had died.

The Doctor looked one way, then the other and then crept down the stairs to the armory. It was different now than it had been that morning. Swords lay, discarded on the ground, dented and broken armor was piled in heaps around the room. To his relief, the room was empty and he hurried over to where his T.A.R.D.I.S. stood. Opening the door he immediately ducked as the Dalek shot at him.

"Not so dead after all," he muttered angrily.

He paused for a moment and then stood up. The Dalek, which was sat beside the console, looked at him but did not shoot.

"Why are you here?" the Doctor asked, "what have these people done against you?"

"We are here for you Doctor. We came searching for the doctor and his T.A.R.D.I.S."

"But you've found me. You've got the T.A.R.D.I.S. So why are you still here?" the Doctor asked, leaping up the steps to the console until he was stood before the Dalek.

"There are greater powers at work here," the Dalek replied. "A great enemy has come and the Daleks must find him!"

"Who?" The Doctor asked, peering closely into the Daleks antennae. "Who is this great enemy?"

"A boy by the name of-"

At that moment however, there was a blast like a gunshot, the Doctor was thrown backwards and the Dalek exploded in a blaze of heat and light.

"What?" the Doctor shouted, scrambling to his feet. He looked around and saw Merlin by the door, slowly lowering his hand.

"That-that was you?" the Doctor gasped. Merlin nodded, his face dark and solemn.

"But-but how? What? Oh!" The Doctor smacked himself on the head. "You're the great enemy!"

Merlin didn't reply. He looked at the smouldering remain of the Dalek then at the Doctor.

"You better come quickly," he said gravely, "the knights have arrested Amy and Rory."

Amy was pushed to her knees in the council chambers. Her hands were locked in thick iron cuffs and Rory was pushed to the ground beside her. She tried not to be afraid. The Doctor will come, she reminded herself. The Doctor always comes.

He had left them only an hour before in the chambers of Merlin's friend Gaius and had gone to check on the T.A.R.D.I.S. Merlin had gone to do his duties for Arthur and she and Rory had sat. And waited.

The day had been filled with worry and fear. Even the Doctor seemed at loss at what to do. People had died, many people had died and they could do nothing.

Not five minutes before, they had left Gaius' chambers to find the Doctor. And then the guards had found them.

"Eyewitness statements say they saw you both, this morning in the courtyard when the attack began." Amy looked up to see a man with soft blonde hair, standing in chainmail and a long red cloak. Arthur Pendragon.

"Do you deny this?" he asked.

"No ... sire," Amy replied, returning her eyes to the floor.

"Witnesses say they believe you to have used sorcery to unleash this attack on Camelot," Arthur continued.

Amy's head jerked upright. "No!" she said, "no it wasn't us!"

Beside Arthur sat a woman with long dark hair. She frowned slightly at Amy's words.

"People have died today and I am intent on finding those who created this attack," Arthur said.

"It wasn't us," Rory said quietly.

"Witnesses also said they saw two other men with you, are they your accomplices? Who are they?"

Amy thought of the Doctor. Where was he now?

"They are friends," she replied softly.

Suddenly the great wooden doors at the end of the room opened and the Doctor strode in. Amy smiled in relief.

"Sorry I'm late everyone," the Doctor said, striding up the Arthur, his hand outstretched as if to shake the King's hand.

Before he got there however, half a dozen swords were pointing at him and he could go no further.

The Doctor looked at them for a moment and then, pushing them aside, continued in trying to shake Arthur's hand.

Arthur however held his ground and stopped the Doctor with a sharp jab in the chest with the tip of his sword.

"Not a step closer," he growled.

"Well this is all very exciting," the Doctor said, "I'll just be taking my friends here and we'll go?" he asked hopefully.

"Arrest him," Arthur commanded and men converged on the Doctor.

Arthur turned and sat in his throne, sheathing his sword as he did so.

"I ask only that you remove this threat from Camelot," he said. "Many people have died and for what cause? What is your quarrel with me?"

"We don't have one!" Amy said angrily, "we're trying to get rid of the Daleks!"

"What did you call them?" the woman asked, rising out of her seat.

"The Daleks," the Doctor replied, "they're aliens from outer space …" he stopped as he thought about what effect his words might have on the medieval king.

Merlin stood in the shadows at the corner of the chamber. He watched the events unfold, wondering if he should reveal what had happened earlier that day. But he couldn't, questions would follow and Arthur would find out. About everything.

He saw the Doctor look around and spot him. But before he could do anything, Arthur had begun to speak once more.

"The evidence is hard against you. Take them to the dungeons. Keep guards posted outside their doors. At first light you will will be burned at the stake for the crime of sorcery. I can only hope your magic dies with you."

Note: Thanks to everyone who's reading this! The next chapter will be on its way soon!