Sorry for the delay in posting, but I had a series of emails from someone who was reading through all my stories and basically saying I was a rubbish writer and it knocked me back. In the end I told the person if they were so bad to stop reading them as I do this for fun! Thank you to all those who enjoy my work I do it all for you.

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"You have forgotten one thing Princess, you have a bloody dragon on your side! What more do you need? What's more a dragon who is pissed off because one he has been chained up, and for two, well your King killed his dragonlord." Gwaine grinned.

"That's what I'm worried about I don't want the citizens hurt more than they need to be, none of this is their fault." Arthur said despondently.

"I wouldn't worry Sire I'm sure Merlin will keep him in check, don't forget he will be coming into his dragonlord powers soon" Gaius injected.

"One more reason we need to act soon, the last thing we need is for Uther to have a dragonlord under his power, Gaius how will he know when he comes into that power?" Arthur turned to the physician.

"We won't, he should get an increase in his magical abilities, but normally a dragonlord gets his power when his father dies. But Merlin was still in the womb. I would guess soon." Gaius looked pensive "I know Kilgarrah cannot test the link, Uther would know if he did from the collar, he visited years ago and has told Kilgarrah he will send Merlin with the pyre if he does, although I would suspect he would be reluctant to burn someone he considers a weapon of the future" Gaius looked at the Prince "Please take care Merlin means a lot to me"

It was clear that Merlin's great uncle was concerned about how all this would affect his family.

"He means a lot to me to, I would like to get to know him as a free person" Arthur said "It seems strange to think I could have grown up with him if things had been different." Gwaine could see that the Prince was truly upset by what had happened and decided he would stay around to see what happened. He might like a good time but he also enjoyed a good fight, and this had the looking of a very good fight. All he needed now was a good drink to help ease the ache in his leg.

The three men made their way back having made sure the guards would wake up soon. Arthur went back to his room and ignored the look he got from Merlin as he entered. Gaius made sure Gwaine was settled before he too got into his cot to try and get some sleep in what remained of the night.

Arthur had hardly had time to dress in the morning when Morgana burst into his chambers. Merlin had been taken down for his morning visit to the midden so he was all alone. "Morgana! I could have been naked"

"Well you're not and anyway I need to talk to you" Morgana was in disarray and not her normal well-manicured self. Arthur noticed she looked pale and like she hadn't slept.

He was concerned he knew what that normally meant "You had a vision last night?" he took his sisters are and led her to the chair and made her sit down then sat opposite her. "Was it bad?"

"I had two, well I think I did, it might have all been one. It was the blonde woman again, I was with her and we were attacking Camelot" Morgana looked at her brother wild eyed "I was trying to kill you!"

"Well clearly you haven't" Arthur said sarcastically "So don't worry I hardly see how even two women could best me"

"Arthur we both have magic you don't" she exclaimed. "Then choosing to ignore his comment she continued "Why was I against you? What does it mean?"

"Morgana you won't turn against me, I know you won't! I trust you with my life and together we will get through his and you will be free" Arthur wasn't going to believe the doubts that the dragon had tried to put in his head. "You said two dreams?"

Morgana took a deep breath and steadied herself before continuing "There was an army, nothing could kill them. I saw Merlin fall and I laughed"

Arthur put his hands on Morganas shoulders and looked into her eyes to help calm her "It seems to me that this is some sort of warning, we know we have a battle ahead, I thought it would be Uther but perhaps we have more than one. I think your blonde is the witch Morgause. I don't know why you might consider joining her but if not for me then for Merlin never do it, it seems if you do he will die"

Morgana looked shocked "I would never endanger either of you" she protested. "You have to believe me"

"I do Morgana, I do. But you must have faith in yourself to do the right thing." He hated Morgana's visions they were always so vague and they frightened her. "Look Morgana, I have a knight who is going to side with us, and more on the way. We will do what we need to and we will win if we stay together on this, now calm down or the King will want to know why you are so upset. He can never suspect."

Morgana glanced at Arthur "I know, I don't know what I would have done without you and Hunith. Between you I can just about cope with these visions, she is helping me so much, she has made me understand most of them."

"Which is another reason why I know you will never turn against us. Now can I get dressed I have been ordered to break my fast with the King." Arthur grimaced "What a wondrous start to the day, poor Merlin will only have his gruel this morning"

Morgana smirked "I will keep something so you can give it to him later, I suppose he was to go with you?"

"He does, and listen to all Uther prattling on about the evils of magic, even if he uses it himself" Arthur paused "I need to get him to agree to allow Gwaine to swear fealty and become a knight under my command, so go, I can't afford to be late."

Arthur found it remarkably easy to get his father to agree, it seemed Uther was of the opinion that Arthur should now be getting his own men around him. "The loyalties you forge now will last the rest of your life, you need that for when you eventually become King, not that I'm intending to die for a good many years yet" Uther almost joked. "I have already put out word to the nobles to send their sons to test for knighthood, the fact that his lad from Essetir is experienced is a good thing, I know of his family, minor nobles but noble enough, always difficult for a younger son, best thing they can do is move on to new pastures."

Then Uther became more serious "We have an execution later, Aredian brought in a sorceress from one of the villages. She is to be burnt late morning, the pyre is being readied. Make sure you came and bring your mage with you. I must inform Morgana to attend"

Arthur almost felt Merlin stiffen behind him "I believe Morgana had a headache Sire I don't she will be fit to attend" he paused "What was her crime? Have you already heard the case?"

"Nonsense she will attend we have so few, she must be seen, after all it doesn't take that long. As to her crime, sorcerery, that's all I need to know. I refuse to waste my time talking to the witch. Aredian has investigated his word is good enough"

Arthur looked scandalised. "You haven't even asked?"

"No, she would have burnt in the village but we haven't had an example here for a while. Don't tell me you are getting soft Arthur. We are winning the fight as soon as I am sure, we can have a final celebration and have a mass burning of the collared ones." Uther sounded even more fixated than usual "We will keep a couple in case, but I see no reason to feed and clothe what we don't need. Now as I see it we have only a few left that are any threat. There is the witch Morgause, and I know King Alined has a fool but he is little more than a hedge witch, Alator and the Catha have left for Gaul. We are working on killing the last of the Shidhe. There are still a few Druids about and one or two of them are powerful and I have my sources that tell me of a powerful warlock by the name of Emrys among them. By the time you come to the throne boy we will have driven them from the land. Then we can work on defeating the Saxon's"

"After what the collared ones have done you will still burn them!" Arthur was incensed and didn't care if his father knew it.

"They have only done it because I made them" he turned to face Merlin "Isn't that right boy!"

Arthur could see Merlin was about to say something that would get him punished. "He can't say anything but agree can he. I am going I have training to do" He stood up and gestured Merlin to follow, glaring at him to try and stop him speaking.

"Make sure you are both there for the execution. I think I might get your boy to light the pyre" It was clear that Uther knew why his son was leaving and didn't want to miss his fun at Merlin's expense.