17. Hidden Enemies

"This is ridiculous!" cried Uther in despair, throwing down his quill in disgust, "does no one have good news to report?"

Two foot soldiers stood uneasily before the King, both shifting uncomfortably from one weary leg to the other. It had been a hard five days journey from the outposts of the rebellion to convey the latest battle reports and each had dreaded this moment the entire way.

"Fine!" shouted Uther, throwing his hands up in frustration, "If that is all – you may report to your barracks."

With a great sigh, the King sank bank into his chair, his tired eyes roving across the map of his Kingdom that lay on the broad table before him. The last few days had brought nothing but disastrous accounts of defeat upon bloody defeat and the areas marked off as peaceful land, loyal to Camelot, was fast shrinking.

"Well men?" he asked at last, his voice heavy and despondent, "You are King's council are you not? I pray you – council your King."

"If I may sire," began Gorlois tentatively, "I believe I have discovered the reason for the continued disputes with the villages in the northern territories."

"Go on," replied Uther gruffly.

"My man informs me that the people still believe their demands are not being met and are continuing to refuse to allow goods to be transported out from their farms."

"What demands?"

"To be granted safe passage and protection from the Saxon insurgence and also a reduction to the current levy of taxes."

"Reduction in taxes? That is absurd!" barked the King, "At this rate I'll be paying my own subjects for the privilege of living in my kingdom!"

"That's just it Sire," continued Gorlois, leaning forward over the council table urgently, "You have lowered the taxes and the Saxons have been pushed back to the northern boundaries yet still a malevolent force is stirring up animosity among them."

"What are you saying?" demanded Caradoc angrily, "My men have been liaising with those people for weeks – are you accusing us of-"

"I accuse you of nothing Sir Caradoc," interjected Gorlois impatiently, "I believe simply that we have a hidden enemy amongst our ranks, I did not say that enemy was you."

Caradoc folded his arms defensively across his broad chest, dark eyes glowering unhappily at the Duke.

"Regardless of the source of these so called lies, what proof do you have of their existence?" asked Abraith, setting his wine goblet down slowly and pushing the fingertips of both hands together thoughtfully as he spoke.

"If I had proof sir, the culprit would be kneeling before us now!" replied Gorlois sarcastically.

"Maybe Hectimere has something to hide," said Sir Bors, fixing his fellow knight with a wary glare, "Your last mission to the regions of Thanet was as equally wrought with failure as your time spent in the southlands."

"How dare you!" spat Hectimere furiously, "My men are impeccably loyal to the King, I cannot help it if those ingrates do not listen to reason!"

"Come now Sir Hectimere," interjected Abraith smoothly, "You have been a valued member of this court for many years now… let us not forget the newest member of our group?"

All eyes turned accusingly to Gorlois who stared round at his peers in surprise, "What does my length of service in King's council matter? My loyalty is no less resolute."

"It seems to me that these rebellions only took a real hold on our noble land… when you returned from Cornwall Gorlois," explained the Court Sorcerer with relish.

"Enough!" cried Uther in exasperation, "Anyone would think my council had been overrun with children the way you are all behaving!"

"I merely point out sire that-"

"I said enough!" repeated the disgruntled sovereign, "We cannot fight amongst ourselves in this fashion, it will lead only to further dissent. We must be a united front against our enemies, now more so than ever before."

The knights, advisors and noblemen that filled the room looked at the King expectantly as he paced back and forth, a troubled frown on his royal brow. Suddenly, Uther clapped his hands together loudly and turned to face his council, "I have it," he stated earnestly, "Come, all of you, gather round the table, side by side," he instructed, pushing those next to him in line.

"Sire I don't see how-"

"Abraith, please just do as I ask," Uther interjected, "as close as you can, right round the table, that's good."

As the last member of the council stepped into place - a tight, misshapen ring of men took form and each turned to the King in bewilderment.

"Now look around you, each and every man," began the King, his eyes gleaming brightly, "This is how we must be, an unbroken circle of trust and honour, a never ending line of unity and solidarity," he stared intently at one face after another around the body of councillors, "We are comrades," he continued, "fellow knights and trusted noblemen of Camelot; together we will be able to break the back of the rebellion because I know that this rulership will bring the greatest prosperity and peace to this land and this is what the people deserve."

"Here, here!" called out Sir William raising his ancient fist shakily into the air.

"Thank you William, we follow your lead," said Uther, inclining his head toward the aged advisor, "Each man must raise his right hand to swear an oath to follow this new code of unity… anyone who does not wish it may leave the council chamber at once."

One by one each of the council members raised their hands until the entire body of men held their arms aloft in a perfect ring of salutes.

"For Camelot… and Albion," intoned the King solemnly, his oath being repeated in faultless synchronicity by the fifteen men that surrounded him, their combined voices echoing off the walls of the confined space. A wide smile spread across Uther's face and he clapped Abraith heartily on the back as the council members took their seats once more. "Now – to the matter at hand," he stated bluntly, "Let us deal in facts Gentlemen, where do we stand now, I want the broad picture."

"Most of the rebellions are breaking into distinct groups," began Sir Ector, "Some declaring outright war with Camelot, the rest wishing independence from your sovereignty."

"And who are the leaders of these groups?"

"Cendred has amassed a vast army my Lord," said Caradoc, gesturing to the area of land he currently occupied on the map.

"Odin also leads the rebellions in Thanet," Hectimere informed him in a low voice.

"Alined and Olaf conspire together in the west," confirmed Bors.

"Others, the likes of Bayard, Uriens and Hoel, all demand rulership of their own provinces separate to Camelot but are willing to do so peacefully," added Gorlois.

"Is Albion a dead carcass to be carved up among these vultures?" cried Uther in shock.

"I have also had report sire that each group commands his own battalion of warlocks," said the Duke grimly, "More and more of these skirmishes are being fought and won by supernatural means."

"Abraith, what say you of this?" demanded Uther, his fingers curling into angry fists.

"It is true sire; we are recruiting more men from the Druid settlements to fortify our own armies."

"Very well," replied the King, wearily massaging his temples, "We must be vigilant men and pull together as a group in the spirit of unity. If, as Gorlois says, there are spies among us we cannot afford to be complacent, we are the leaders of this nation and we must not fail it now," sucking in a resolute breath, Uther surveyed the map of his kingdom once more, "We must not fail…"

A/N – While doing a bit of research on the round table I found several references that stated that Uther was responsible for founding the Order of the Round Table. The table was then given to Arthur when he became King so I thought that it would be interesting to add this little detail in. Obviously, the ideals of the round table may fall to the wayside somewhat as we continue on our journey toward the Uther we know and love in Merlin…