Chapter 3

Arthur was lying on his bed, eyes closed. This was the first moment of peace he had had for months. Ever since Merlin was first blackmailed by Uther. For the moment Merlin was safe, he was getting better, and Uther hadn't visited him once. Arthur knew Uther wasn't done, but he knew Merlin was safe for this one perfect moment. Then a knock came on the door. It was hesitant, and soft. Arthur kept his eyes closed and fought the urge to answer the door. The knock came again, slightly louder and a voice drifted through. "Sire, it's me, Sir Leon. "

Arthur grudgingly opened his eyes. There went his perfect moment of peace. He got up and walked to the door. Leon stood outside, looking embarrassed and shaken. Arthur beckoned him inside. The knight walked in and turned to face the young Prince. "Your highness, I am very sorry you were not informed, but the King has just knighted Merlin."

Arthur blinked once. "What?"

"Your father... he knighted Merlin."

"Why?"

"For his bravery in saving the King from the intruder."

"Intruder?"

"Apparently, Merlin, excuse me, Sir Merlin, fell down the stairs in an attempt to catch an intruder who had been waiting to ambush the King."

Arthur breathed out sharply. So this was Uther's story. It was imaginative, he had to admit. What was he planning?

Arthur sat on a table, and put his head in his hands. "Thank you, Leon."

"There's more."

"Yes?"

" I stayed behind, to question Merlin about the intruder. He had already drifted back to sleep. The King and a man were standing in front of the bed whispering. They thought I left. I stepped behind a curtain and I'm, embarrassed to say, I eavesdropped."

"It's fine, please, go on."

"well, your father was telling the man that Merlin was the one, and to be discreet, and not to leave evidence. Then he slipped the man a small pouch. "

"What do you think this means?"

"I don't mean to incriminate the King, but I think he plans to have Merlin killed."

"so do I." Arthur got up. He was livid. He began to pace."Leon, would you help me catch this man if it came to it?"

"If it saves Merlin, of course."

"Good, I'll approach you later with details." Arthur went to his window and peered out. Leon knew the conversation was over, and he bowed and left the room. Arthur stayed at the window. He had to do something. Uther had to go, before he could kill Merlin...

Arthur sat at the head of a large table. His most loyal knights surrounded him. Gwaine, Percival, Elyan, Leon, Lancelot,and a few others. They all sat staring at each other. Finally, Arthur got up, and spoke.

"As you know, Merlin is still in a critical stage of health. What you don't know is that King Uther put him there. My father pushed Merlin down those stairs." The knights looked at each other and then at Arthur.

Gwaine piped up. "That's despicable."

"I know. And I also believe that my father plans to finish Merlin off very soon. He has already hired a man to do the job."
"How can he kill Merlin now? It would be too much of a coincidence." Lancelot spoke up from the other end of the table.

"I think he's going to make it look like an accident. Most likely this man will cause Merlin's broken bones to puncture something or other, and cause massive bleeding. As I'm sure you've noticed, Merlin is a great deal more than my manservant and I couldn't bear to lose him, and I know many of you think of Merlin as a friend, so I am begging you to help me stop this plan in it's tracks. Merlin can't protect himself, so we will do it for him. I don't plan on losing Merlin quite yet. Can I count of your complete secrecy and compliance?" The knights all nodded. Arthur smiled vaguely. "I knew I could trust you. Now..."

Arthur sat beside Merlin's bed for days. Merlin was often given sleeping draught by Gaius, so he wouldn't have to deal with the pain. Arthur would just stare at Merlin's face. Day by day it got a little better, but the rest of him was still a mess. Arthur could sit for hours looking at every detail of Merlin's face and remembering how beautiful it was before Uther happened. He didn't care whether Merlin ever looked as beautiful, because to him, Merlin would always be that bright eyed attractive boy who had walked into Camelot and stolen his heart with a single word. When Merlin was awake, Arthur would hold his hand, and they would talk about what they would do when they were together. But there was always underlying fear in Merlin's eyes. Like he thought his days were numbered. But Arthur would distract him by starting to be feisty to Merlin like they used to be. They would both end up laughing uncontrollably, which would lead to Merlin doubling over in pain, and Gaius giving Merlin a sleeping draught. Arthur felt more and more angry every time this happened. The fact that Merlin couldn't even laugh without agony made him want to fly into a blind rage. But he always held back. He knew that all would resolved soon.

Arthur always stayed with Merlin until late at night, whether Merlin was awake or not. He wouldn't leave until a Gaius came in to change Merlin's wrappings and get him out of bed to keep his circulation going. One night, Arthur noticed Gaius didn't come in. Uther came in to Merlin's chamber instead, and told Arthur to go to bed. Arthur got up. "Where's Gaius?"

"I told him to go to bed. That I would have Merlin taken care of."

"I'm sure you plan to." Arthur muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Goodnight, Father."

"Goodnight."

Arthur felt Uther's eyes on him as he kissed Merlin's forehead and left the room. He immediately went to Sir Leon. "It's starting. Initiate the plan." Leon nodded once and left to find the others. Arthur headed in the opposite direction.

Leon and Gwaine sauntered up to the guards in front of Merlin's room.
"It's time to change the guard."

"We weren't instructed to leave until the King told us to."
"Well, the King told us that we should change the guard."

"How? The king is inside."

Gwaine and Leon looked at each other, and then slammed the two guards heads into the wall. The men fell to the ground in a heap. Leon and Gwaine dragged them around the corner to Percival , Lancelot, and Elyan. They took their helmets and stood outside the chamber door and waited. Uther came out just minutes later, smiling and he walked briskly down the corridor, not noticing Leon and Gwaine at all. Leon and Gwaine sighed in relief, and prepared to wait.

Arthur was waiting in Uther's chamber, concealed behind a dressing screen. His stomach was in knots, and he was nervous to the point of hysteria. But he hardened his resolve by thinking of Merlin's broken body at the bottom of the stairs, and he face the night they declared their love. He had to be of steel now. Nothing could stop him. He gripped a sharp dagger in his hand. Then he heard the chamber door squeak open. Apparently Uther hadn't noticed that the guards outside his door weren't there. He walked in. Arthur peeked through the fold between two screens. Uther was smiling in a satisfied way. He turned around to start undressing. Arthur was frozen to the spot. Uther would turn around any minute. He hand was white clenched around the dagger. Arthur forced himself off the spot. He ran from the screen and grabbing Uther around the neck, plunged the dagger into his back.

Uther made a strangled noise and fell to the ground. Arthur stepped back and dropped the dagger. then he fell to his knees next to his father. He gently turned him over. Uther was gasping. He looked into Arthur's eyes. He mouthed "Why?"Arthur had already begun to fall apart. "He whispered, "It was you or Merlin." Uther grabbed at his son's arm for a few second's with sputtering breaths, but then fell silent, his hand falling to his side. Arthur fell apart. Uther's eyes were still open, frozen in a gaze of betrayal and hate. Arthur started to sob, and he cradled his father in his arms.

Leon and Gwaine waited patiently outside Merlin's room, Elyan and Precival waiting in shadows further heard footsteps and a man in a dark cloak rounded the corner. He walked towards the door, but was stopped abruptly by the force of two guards. They slammed him against the wall. The man struggled, but as Elyan , Lancelot and Percival showed as back up, the man knew he was outnumbered. He turned around and the guards ripped the hood off. They didn't recognize the man, but he immediately broke, saying he was a doctor turned criminal, who had taken the king's money in exchange for puncturing Merlin's lung with his rib. He started snivelling and saying he was sorry, but the Percival grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him towards the dungeon. Meanwhile, Leon, Elyan, Lancelot, and Gwaine headed towards Uther's chamber.

The knights arrived at the chamber, planning to question the king, but they walked in to find Arthur, on the floor cradling Uther, the king lifeless and covered in blood. No one moved for several minutes. Finally, Leon stepped towards Arthur, and knelt down. "I saw nothing, sire. Your father was killed by the man in the dark cloak. We apprehended him, and he admitted it all. Are we agreed?"

The rest of the knights nodded. Arthur looked up. " Is Merlin alright?" Leon nodded. "Sleeping like a baby."

Arthur got up, and tried to compose himself. "I need to clean up. Excuse me." Arthur walked quickly out of the room. The knights were left to wait and call for help once Arthur was safely in his chamber.

Several days later, Uther was buried, in a huge ceremony, the tragic victim of an assassination. His "killer" was sentenced to death and beheaded a day later. Arthur was proclaimed King, and Merlin ( who had been informed of the true events) and Arthur mourned the loss of his father. Arthur placed flowers on his tomb every week, taking a moment to mourn his loss and feel remorse. But, that was pushed back in his mind to make room for HIs newfound freedom. Arthur proposed to Merlin and waited until he was better, and then held a joint ceremony. Part coronation, part wedding. Arthur and Merlin were declared King and Prince, and husbands within an hour of each other. Arthur enjoyed Merlin's soft lips for longer than he should have when they were announced married. They sat in their thrones, hand in hand, and smiled at one another. Then Merlin's face turned serious. " Did you make the right choice?" Arthur got a sad look in his eyes, but smiled at his husband. "It was you. It was always you. I loved my father, but he was a threat that had to be stopped. You will always be my first choice." Arthur leaned over and kissed Merlin softly. Merlin smiled vaguely and nodded. They turned and smiled at their kingdom, ready to take whatever life could throw at them.

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