Here's the next installment, and I'll say that it's a loaded chapter! Hope you all enjoy!
"Arthur!"
The prince slowly closed his eyes, knowing what was to come.
His father's enraged voice echoed down the hall as Arthur stood wait for him in the Royal Court.
"Where is he?! Where is my son!?"
Seconds later, the doors to the Court burst open. A furious Uther stormed in, headed directly towards Arthur. Sir Terrowin slunk in behind him, like a snake watching a slaughter.
"Father-" Arthur began, but the king hushed him before he could speak.
"You insolent fool!" Uther bellowed with rage, "How dare you disrespect this house, this kingdom, and myself by assaulting my own honored guest!? I am ashamed of you!"
"The man is running rampant in our kingdom," Arthur held his ground as he glared at Terrowin, "and he challenged my direct instruction."
"And that warrants you to attack Sir Terrowin so violently?!" Uther countered.
"That is not all, sire," Terrowin took this opportunity to speak up, "it was at the mention of his servant Merlin that Prince Arthur so savagely assaulted me."
Uther slowly turned towards Arthur, barely able to contain his fury. Arthur looked to the floor, inwardly seething at the witch hunter.
"You struck a friend of the Royal House," the king said through strained breaths, "A friend of Camelot, and the selfless man willing to rid this kingdom of the magical disease….for a pitiful, little servant boy?"
"You do not understand, father," Arthur responded, agitated, "Terrowin admitted that he may have had some connection with Merlin's stabbing incident!"
"I said nothing of the kind," Terrowin said with innocent wide eyes that lied underneath, "Your majesty, would I lie to so powerful and good of a king? Prince Arthur cannot be blamed, he is young, a child. His wild imaginings are products of his adolescence. You must give him time to grow into the responsibilities a future king must bear. Though, it is my own opinion that children cannot go unpunished, my Lord."
"I agree," Uther nodded.
"Father!" Arthur protested, "He mocks me like a child! How could you allow this? He is making fools of us all!"
"Silence!" Uther held up a hand, still angry, "Sir Terrowin, you've done Camelot a great service by apprehending this fugitive. I do not doubt your opinion on this matter. Arthur will receive proper punishment. If he is to act like a criminal, he shall pay the price of one. I order you, Arthur Pendragon, a sentence of three days in the jails for brutally attacking an innocent man."
"This is outrageous, Father!" Arthur's eyes were wide with shock and hurt, "You cannot do this! I am your son and Prince of Camelot! There are responsibilities I have, I cannot just abandon them!"
"And you have disgraced your title!" Uther retorted coldly, "three nights in a cell should give you enough time to realize your mistake and should teach you the valuable lesson of respect. In the meantime, Sir Terrowin shall complete your responsibilities during your absence. "
Terrowin smiled wide, like a tiger, behind King Uther who towered over his son. Arthur's jaw dropped in shock.
"Knights!" the King called.
"Sir Leon and Sir Percival appeared in a matter of moments, "Yes, sire?"
Uther looked at Arthur with hard eyes all the while, "Take this prisoner to the dungeons. His sentence is to last three days. Ensure no contact with his servant, Merlin, and minimal contact through the duration of his stay."
"Yes, sire."
Arthur looked to the floor, head bowed in shame, as his knights lightly gripped him by the arms and led him out of the Royal Court.
Uther and Terrowin watched him go, one smiling gleefully and the other with a hardened expression.
"Very good, my Lord, I believe you did the correct thing. Arthur is young, he will learn in time," Terrowin praised the King, "Now, for a gift."
Uther perked up, looking at the witch hunter expectantly.
"Bring forth the fugitive!"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Merlin," a gentle hand shook his shoulder as the young sorcerer opened his eyes for what seemed like ages.
He could immediately detect Gaius' voice, but had to blink and observe his surroundings for a few moments to understand where he was.
"Gaius?" he croaked.
Immediately, the old healer brought him a cup of water. Merlin gratefully accepted, recognizing his bedroom in their dwelling. The bright sun shining through the window was covered by a cloth curtain to allow Merlin to rest. Though, he could tell by the intruding rays that it was late morning.
Gaius allowed Merlin to regain himself for a few moments. He helped Merlin sit upright.
"How long have I been asleep?" Merlin asked in a tired voice.
"Three days," Gaius responded, starting his evaluation on Merlin. He pressed a hand to his forehead and found no fever.
Merlin allowed Gaius to perform his assessment as he continued asking questions, "What's happened? Terrowin, is he-"
"A danger, Merlin," Gaius said darkly, "There have been some dire occurrences during your rest."
"Arthur…?" Merlin asked hesitantly.
"Alive," Gaius nodded, much to his ward's relief, "but Arthur has been jailed for a violent act towards Sir Terrowin."
"Jailed?" Merlin gasped, "King Uther ordered Arthur to the dungeons? That is lunacy, Arthur cares for the kingdom more than any other!"
"It was the will of the King," Gaius shrugged, "the sentence was placed this morning for three days. Terrowin is to assume all of the Prince's royal responsibilities while he is in prison."
"No!" Merlin shook his head in disbelief, "this cannot be, Uther is not this blind!"
"I'm afraid it is the truth, my boy," Gaius helped him upright, so he could examine the wound, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Merlin nodded, still reeling from Gaius' news.
"I should think so," Gaius responded, "days of rest did you well. I had been applying my healing ointment as well." Gaius did not mention the healing spell he chanted every night urging Merlin to heal quicker.
"Thank you," Merlin said gratefully, "Gaius, I wouldn't be here and alive without you, and I couldn't be more appreciative. All of your work has saved my life."
"I agree," the healer had a ghost of a smile on his lips, "without me, you would have been long ago."
Merlin smiled back as Gaius opened the wound from its bandages, though he did not feel to be in a joking mood. The stitches he'd tied would need another few days to completely mend the skin. The wound did not look infected or irritated, only tender. Merlin would need to be careful not to injure it further.
"Are you feeling any pain?" Gaius asked.
Merlin furrowed his brows, "No, I am not...is that normal, Gaius? For a wound of this severity?"
"I added some herbs to your water and to the ointment that will numb the pain temporarily for what we must do."
"For what we must do?" Merlin echoed, feeling some strength return to his limbs, "Gaius, what is wrong?"
"Two nights ago, Terrowin entered our dwelling, along with Prince Arthur. He threatened to kill you if I did not rid of the Prince. I successfully managed to divert Arthur's attention, but when I returned a note was left on the mantle that you will bleed, Merlin….Terrowin intends to strike again."
"So it was Terrowin who orchestrated my stabbing," Merlin clenched his fists.
"Edmund, to be accurate."
"Edmund?!"
"Not by choice," Gaius shook his head, "he explained to me the circumstances of his forced employment with the witch hunter, and I pity the poor soul. Terrowin already has killed his young son and threatens the rest of his family should he not act."
"Oh….," Merlin hung his head, feeling pity rise in his heart for Edmund's circumstances, "How did you come in contact with Edmund? He is a recluse in the woods."
"Terrowin joined the knight patrol headed towards the Eastern Plains," Gaius sighed, "and there he 'caught' Edmund. Though, you and I both understand that Terrowin knew Edmund was there all along and is fooling the rest of Camelot with his claims. Edmund returned in a horribly injured condition, the wounds on his face making him almost unrecognizable. I managed to tend to his injuries, and, when he awoke, he revealed to me Terrowin's plans to besiege the kingdom."
"Plan?" Merlin asked, slightly fearful.
"He does not attack you in public, for he fears Arthur's vengeance given his power over the knights and his growing authority over Uther's throne. Though it may not seem like it at the present moment, Prince Arthur is closer to ascending the throne than you think. He is strong yet caring, fearless yet emphathetic. He has all the makings of being the greatest king that has ever sat upon Camelot's throne, and Terrowin sees this. He wants Arthur's power. Terrowin may not have power through magic, but he intends to find it through the most formidable kingdom in all of the lands, and Prince Arthur is the only person in his way."
"And he's locked in the dungeons for three days," Merlin clenched his jaw, "I must go see him, Gaius-"
"You cannot," Gaius shook his head, "Uther has prevented any contact between the two of you."
"Then, I cannot just wait around and let Arthur perish!" Merlin felt anger boil through him, "Terrowin cannot succeed, he will not take Arthur's throne and birthright!"
"I concur," Gaius nodded, "and that is why Edmund and I have formulated a plan."
"Anything," Merlin said eagerly, "I will do anything to stop this witch hunter."
"Magic, Merlin," Gaius spoke in a low voice, "you and Edmund must join forces to banish Terrowin from this kingdom using your abilities. I believe Edmund can be trusted, and he is just as willing to use his magic to rid Camelot of Terrowin once and for all."
"Then, I shall agree to it too," Merlin nodded surely, "I will use my powers for the good of Camelot, just as I have been destined to do."
"Very well," Gaius nodded, "gather yourself, rest. I shall go speak with Edmund."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"I present to you, sire," Terrowin bowed before Uther respectfully, "the fugitive of Camelot that has pestered your kingdom long enough."
Two guards dragged Edmund into the Royal Court. Uther glared at the man hatefully from his throne as Terrowin presented him like a platter of meat to a hungry wolf.
"So you are the fool who dares use magic upon my lands," King Uther snarled, "What is your name?"
Edmund clenched his jaw and did not reply. Terrowin slapped him across the face with a powerful hand, "Answer your king!"
"Edmund," he revealed stiffly.
"What prompted you to dishonor my law and practice your magic freely, Edmund?" Uther asked coldly.
Edmund looked up at Terrowin for a moment, for it was the witch hunter who made Edmund go onto the Eastern Plains. He could expore him this second in front of the king.
The witch hunter smiled evilly, and reached for a pendant hanging from his neck. Edmund's eyes widened when he noticed the pendant was a ring he gifted to his wife for their marriage. Terrowin was sending a clear threat to Edmund that should he utter a word about their letters, Terrowin would murder the rest of his family.
"I do not know, sire," Edmund hung his head, "I was led to believe my whereabouts were secret, I did not realize the knight patrol would find me."
"You think that the Knights of Camelot are fools?" Uther scoffed, "They are the greatest warriors across the land, of course they'd discover you!"
Terrowin smiled, tucking the pendant back under his armor.
"The punishment for using magic in my kingdom is death," the King said in a deep voice, "and you will receive that consequence. I, Uther Pendragon King of Camelot, sentence you, Edmund, to an execution by the hangman's rope come dawn. That is my decree. Back to the dungeons with you."
Edmund was dragged back into his cell by two cold guards. He was thrown inside and left to rot. Evening was falling upon the kingdom, sending warm light through the small, caged window of his cell. Edmund crawled to a corner, basking in the last of the rays. The light warmth felt good upon his bruised, bloodied face.
There was a sound in the cell next door. Edmund froze, as nobody else had been in the dungeons with him since he'd arrived.
He took cautious steps towards the gate and peered into the jail neighboring his own.
Edmund saw Prince Arthur pacing the cell. He was stripped of his royal robes, just in a loose red cloth shirt, trousers, and riding boots. No sword hung at his hip. He recognized the Prince from his haze when Terrowin presented him to the knights.
Arthur spotted him, eyes staring deep into Edmund's.
"You," Arthur said in a tone that wasn't harsh nor soft.
Edmund quickly retreated from the gate and deeper into his own cell, but Arthur had already seen him.
"You're the fugitive," he said in an unrevealing voice again, "Terrowin captured you."
"Yes," Edmund nodded, upset with his now infamous title. From a meager farmer to Camelot's most desired criminal.
Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but the doors to the dungeons opened above. Edmund and Arthur both froze, unsure of the person's identity. Both of them braced themselves as the unknown person descended the steps. Arthur reached for the sword at his side, but it was not there.
Gaius emerged into the cell block, much to the relief of Edmund and Arthur.
"Gaius," Edmund's shoulders relaxed, "I'm glad to see you."
Arthur's brows furrowed, "You're glad to see Gaius?" he asked, confused, "He's a respected citizen of Camelot, how do you know him?"
"Nevermind that for now," Gaius waved off Arthur's questions, "you two have been acquainted with one another?"
Edmund and Arthur stared each other up and down.
"Somewhat," Arthur responded coldly, "he's a fugitive of the kingdom."
"And our best hope," Gaius added, "Edmund, I received word regarding your execution. You are to hang come morning."
"I know," Edmund lowered his gaze, "The King delivered my sentence himself."
"Rightfully so," Arthur naturally defended his father, "magic is outlawed in the kingdom, and the punishment is death."
"In other circumstances, I would not dare challenge your father's order, Arthur," Gaius spoke, "but Sir Terrowin is initiating a plan that could endanger us all."
"What plan?" The Prince asked, curious.
"A plan to take your throne," Edmund clenched the gate bars.
"Preposterous!"
"I'm afraid it's true," Gaius spoke plainly, "but we have discussed a way to stop him."
"How?" Arthur asked with narrowed eyes.
"Me," Edmund stood tall, "my magic," he did not mention Merlin, much to Gaius' relief.
"That's outrageous!" Arthur scoffed, "First, there is no solution where you will exit this cell, you are due for the hangman's rope come morning. How do you expect to stop Terrowin in just a few hours time? Second, Terrowin is the most successful, feared, and cruel witch hunter these lands have seen, what leads you to believe you can outmatch him?"
"We are to strike when he least expects it," Gaius answered, "Terrowin believes he has won, his guard is down."
"And when will he 'least expect it?'" Arthur raised a brow.
"Tomorrow morning," Edmund nodded, "at my execution."
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