Chapter Fifteen

Arthur had always known many of their people were poor. He had always known many of them had to struggle each day just to put food on the table. He also knew that with Gwen always happy to have him spend his meals with her and between her job at the castle and what small amount he made blacksmithing they were never in any danger of starving. He had worked hard as a Prince. He had trained his knights, he had helped his father to administer the law and he had defended Camelot against her enemies. But he was beginning to understand there was a whole new kind of tired that he had never felt before; one that couldn't be rested away in a comfortable bed after a large meal, but you just had to slog through it into the next day where more tired was waiting for you. Arthur had always cared deeply for Camelot and her wellbeing, but living among her people, seeing it from the perspective of one of her subjects, Arthur had a deeper respect for them.

He even began to have a new respect for Merlin, remembering all the jobs he had given him to do while he was still his man servant and his conscience sometimes winced as he remembered the occasions he had called the man lazy.

But at the same time there was something restful about not having so many people look to him, expectantly waiting to see what he would do and say. He did not have to answer to his father; there was nothing he could do to make him proud. He didn't have to lead men and feel the responsibility of having lives in his hands. All he had to do was muddle through blacksmithing and spend any free time with Gwen.

Being able to see Gwen every day, being able to laugh with her, joke with her, being allowed to kiss her…never in his dreams had he imagined how wonderful it would feel or how free he could feel with her. And there was none of the hesitation that had been in both of them that there had been when he was Prince. They had both been aware that as long as his father was King there was very grave danger of heartache. But now, without that, Gwen followed her heart fully. And Arthur found himself doing the same.

As the days slipped by into weeks, Arthur found he stopped keeping an ear open for news from the castle. He stopped asking Gwen if any strangers had visited Uther lately. The hope the sorcerer would appear began to fill him with another feeling, one far more mixed with dread. The idea of losing Gwen hurt him inside in a way he never could have imagined.

It was nearly three months since his return to Camelot. Since his return he hadn't tried to convince anyone more of who he really was. He sometimes caught Gaius looking at him speculatively, the physician clearly still wondered who he was, but Merlin seemed to think it would be rude to bring up Arthur's earlier claims to royalty (Arthur speculated that Gwen had shared with him her theory that it had come about through grief of losing his family). He told himself he wanted to try and convince Gwen of the truth, but deep down he suspected he never tried because he was afraid of what she would do or say if she believed him or if she just thought he was crazy.

Arthur soaked the hand cloth in the barrel of water and then wiped some of the grime off his forehead. His shoulders ached and he was conscious of being extremely hungry. It had been a long morning, he had been busy in the workshop since early dawn and it was now well past lunch. He picked up a small hand trowel he had repaired for Gaius and decided he'd take a break from work and drop it off.

As he walked out on the streets heading towards the town square, he was conscious that something was wrong. There were few people about and those that were there were in groups, whispering between themselves, glancing around nervously. There also seemed to be something in the air; tension, nerves.

As Arthur entered the town square he found where the people were. They had gathered in a large crowd, but they were largely silent, save for the occasional whisper. Over their heads he could see a large stone block set in front of the castle steps, and city guards standing around it.

He began to have a very bad feeling about things.

"Arthur." Merlin had come up to him while he was watching the guards. Merlin looked tense.

"What's happening?"

"You haven't heard?"

"Heard what Merlin?"

Merlin lowered his voice and explained, "Earlier this morning Edwin Jarl was arrested for practicing magic."

"The baker's younger brother?" asked Arthur, shocked.

"Yes…Uther has ordered his immediate execution. He's to be beheaded."

"Edwin?" Arthur looked horrified towards the city guards. "But he's just a boy. He's only sixteen. He can't have meant any wrong."

"He used magic. As far as Uther is concerned that's enough." Merlin's voice had grown angry and one or two passersby shot a curious look towards him.

Arthur grabbed his wrist and pulled him farther away from the crowd. "Be quiet….they're executing him now?"

"Yes. Uther expedited it."

Arthur opened his mouth to say something when the murmuring in the crowd grabbed his attention and he saw two guards leading Edwin down the castle steps towards the block.

He glanced back at Merlin who looked on the verge surging forward. Suddenly feeling it was very important to get Merlin out of there, he put a hand on the man's shoulder and pushed him towards Gaius' chambers.

Merlin sat on a bench looking down at his hands as Arthur stood over him trying to focus his attention on the man before him and not on what had just happened outside.

"I should have done something," said Merlin suddenly.

"There was nothing you could do Merlin," Arthur pointed out. Merlin glanced up and gave him a funny look Arthur couldn't quite understand.

"There could have been."

"Merlin, anything you tried to do would have just gotten you arrested. Uther might even have convicted you for attempting to assist sorcery and you could have been executed. Look at me. This isn't your fault. It's Uther's. Uther executed that boy. Not you."

Merlin nodded but Arthur wasn't sure he was listening to him. Sighing Arthur placed the repaired trowel, which he still held clutched in his hand, down on one of the tables. "Tell Gaius I dropped it off. I'll see you later Merlin."

Merlin nodded but didn't respond.

Arthur shut the door behind him and walked slowly back down into the inner city. The streets were still eerily empty. People had mostly gone to their houses. He couldn't keep himself for thinking about Edwin. He had gotten to know him slightly over the past months. He had been young, lively and was just reckless enough to try a little magic for the fun of it, but he never would have meant any harm. How could Uther have ordered him to be put to death? Punish him yes, but kill him? Arthur knew magic had often attacked Camelot, he had seen the results and the effects and the deaths that could result, and when his father had railed against magic Arthur had agreed with him if slightly more temperately. But Edwin hadn't been an evil wizard bent on destruction and vengeance; he had just been a boy.

Arthur was so wrapped in his thoughts he didn't notice until he was feet away from Amon. He stopped short, and found himself at a total loss for what to say. He was suddenly very conscious of the fact that it was his father who had ordered the execution.

"Amon…I'm very sorry about your brother."

The man standing in front of him was not the baker he remembered from just yesterday. His eyes looked empty and lifeless, and his face was haggard and grey.

"Edwin was just a boy," murmured the man looking nowhere in particular.

"I know."

"He just…"

"I know," said Arthur firmly. He stepped closer and laid a comforting hand on Amon's shoulder. "Let me take you up to Gaius. He can give you something to sleep. You look-"

"No!" Amon shouted, pulling back sharply. "No." He said more calmly, "I'm leaving Camelot."

For the first time Arthur noticed the pack at the man's feet.

"Leaving? Now? I know you feel terrible but shouldn't you wait to make this decision?"

"No," said Amon, shaking his head firmly, and for the first time his eyes seemed to focus on Arthur. He picked up his pack and slung it across his back. "I'm leaving and I'm never coming back. And if I were you Arthur, I'd leave too."

"What? Why?"

"Because Camelot is going to pay." Amon's voice grew sharp. "So if you value your life, you will leave Camelot before the full moon. Or I'll not answer for you."

Amon turned away abruptly and started walking.