Merlin was terrified, he was only thankful that Uther didn't know he was Emrys as the dragon had told him. He hoped that Arthur would be able to save the other magic users. For himself he was scared of burning and if Arthur couldn't save him he would ask that the Prince run him through with his sword. He started to shake as the Kings last words struck home. He didn't want to use his magic to kill another magic user, it was wrong, he hated killing anyone but at least the soldiers and the magic users that attacked them he could try to justify to himself. He still had nightmares about killing.

Then Merlin realised they were heading down to the dungeons and toward the cell where the magic users were kept before execution. Arthur stood before the bars and looked at young woman inside, he thought she didn't look much older than Merlin maybe sixteen to his fourteen. Not much more than a child "What did you do?" he asked her

She cowered in the corner of the cell, twisting her head she looked at the Prince. "I saved my neighbours their hut was on fire, they would have died else, I didn't hurt anyone"

Arthur took a deep breath, this was so wrong. Arthur thought it ironic that by saving other form fire she herself would die by it. "Your neighbours reported you?"

"No Sire, they were grateful, it was their other neighbours who reported me, when the witch finder came to the village. It was a week later Sire" she started to cry "They wouldn't have but he paid them good money and they have five little ones to get thought the winter"

Arthur nodded and turned away, once they were out of hearing of the guards Arthur turned to Merlin "Could you open the cell?"

Merlin nodded "Easy, the magic suppression stops those inside getting out, won't stop me getting in. Do you want me to?"

"Yes but not yet we need an alibi first, come on we haven't much time" Arthur headed out to the knights. After talking to Leon and Gwaine the four of them headed out on their horses saying they were giving their horses exercise as they couldn't go out later due to the execution. Once out of sight they swung round to the entrance to a siege tunnel and Arthur opened the grid, once they had uncovered it. Gwaine rode off to find the druids he knew were nearby. Arthur and Merlin went down to siege tunnel leaving Leon to keep watch. The guards as usual were sat down talking. Merlin cast a spell to make them sleep. The Arthur knocked them over the head, so it would look like that's how the prisoner had escaped. Merlin had the cell door open and soon the girl. Merlin and Arthur were off down the siege tunnel. Once out they relocked the door and covered all their tracks. Again Merlin used his magic to hide all trace they had been anywhere near.

The girl was put on Arthur's horse and they rode off to meet Gwaine, an hour later they handed the girl over to Iseldir, chieftain of the local druids who Gwaine had meet prior to joining Arthur. Making sure she was safe and promising the time would come when they would all be safe, Arthur and the others rode back to Camelot. As they approached it was clear that a search was underway for the missing sorceress. Arthur reported to his father immediately "Do you want me to take over the hunt?" he asked

"You should have been here" Uther spat out "Why did you leave the citadel?"

"The horses needed exercise and I thought a quick patrol to protect those coming in for the execution was a good way to check Sir Gwaine's horsemanship prior to his knighting. How did she escape?"

"The guards got knocked out, asleep I expect. Morgana's seamstress saw two men and a woman leave the castle. Hardly anyone had seen her before so I see no reason to doubt it. She must be in the Citadel I want every hovel and shed searched."

Arthur's plan had worked, by telling Gwen what the girl looked like before they freed her had stopped the King looking for another way the escape took place. With Morgana backing her seamstress Gwen would be safe as she had only just left Morgana when she 'saw' the escape. Arthur turned to his father "I will go and supervise the search"

Uther wouldn't let the search stop until nightfall so it was next morning before Arthur had the chance to speak to Morgana. After telling her the girl was safe he added "We have to find a way to stop Aredian once and for all, he is a danger to everyone and will stop at nothing in his quest to remove everyone." Arthur was determined to sort out problem for once and for all "Let me know if you have any ideas."

Later that day three men rode into the Citadel and asked to speak to the Prince. Arthur went down to meet them and found two knights and another fighter who although good, couldn't be knighted as he wasn't a noble. The One of the men spoke up after Arthur introduced himself. "Sire, my name is Sir Lancelot de Luc and this is Sir Percival Attwater"

He gestured to the tallest of the men "The other is Elyan Smith, I believe his sister works in the castle, he is a good fighter and has been riding with us for a couple of years and would be happy to continue to do so"

A dark skinned man stepped forward and bowed, Arthur shook his hand and smiled "It is my belief that any man should be able to have a knighthood if they are good enough and live by the knight's code. I can't do anything about that until I am King however"

"Then I will fight by my friends side Sire" Elyan said "It will be good to be near my sister, I haven't seen her for several years"

"And your sister is?"

"Sorry Sire Gwen Smith she is a seamstress"

"And a fine one, she sews for the Princess Morgana" Arthur said "Does she know you are coming?" a thought running through his mind

"No I thought I would surprise her." Elyan admitted.

"Can I ask you to do something for me please, I'd like you to pretend not to know these knights, and we can say you just travelled with them for protection. Only it might be best if you we a free agent so to speak for now, we have a little problem it might help with"

Elyan looked at the knights before agreeing "Of course Sire, I'll g and find my sister then shall I? No point in me staying here and raising suspicions" with that he disappeared of into the castle.

Arthur took Lancelot and Percival to his room and after talking to them for over an hour he called in Leon, Gwaine and Pellinore so they could all get to know on another. This group would be his knights, he was satisfied that with a good core he could move his plans forward. Although young, he had after all grown up quick, he considered himself a good judge of character, and as the two new men were known to Leon he had no qualms in involving them. He wanted to build a new and fairer land for his people.