Only a short update this time I'm afraid. Hope you like it despite the lack of Merlin and Arthur. Don't panic, I'll get back to them again soon. I just want to deal with some of my Camelot ideas now so I don't have to keep interrupting too many other things later, plus I thought the pair deserved the afternoon off (they're probably going to need it). Just so you know, the start of this chapter overlaps with the end of chapter 8. The rest continues in Camelot where the last chapter left off.

Thank you as usual for the reviews. They really do make my day. Thanks now to D-syfer who I was unable to reply to.

Enjoy! :D

Chapter 11

Mildryd sat leaning against the cave walls, her small figure almost lost in the grand scale of the place. Her eyes followed a wyvern's flight around the ceiling, but it couldn't hurt her. It was merely a shade of the true illusions she had helped to create for Camelot, a pale and translucent side effect of the magical link and a way off ensuring that the effects of their spells still held. Ailith had insisted on going to Camelot alone to carry out the next stage of the plan involving Uther. Mildryd had wanted to be there to watch Uther squirm, that was the reason they were dong this after all, but Ailith was not one to be argued with these days.

Nedra, the middle sister, was stood next to the Pillar. She had her back to her younger sibling, but Mildyrd could sense that she was using magic, probably to observe goings on in Camelot. She cocked her head to one side curiously and up above her the ghost of the wyvern did the same in a most uncharacteristic fashion. Unexpectedly, she turned to face her sister; the gold vanished from her eyes and was replaced by the fire of anger. The wyvern resumed flight, and several more joined it.

"You fool! You complete and utter fool," Nedra fumed.

"What is it?" said Mildryd innocently.

"You didn't kill the warlock, did you?"

"Well, not exactly, no, but I wasn't certain he'd still be alive."

"How much do they know?"

"I didn't speak to anyone if that's what you mean."

"Are you mad? I don't know how you managed to pull off this trick and I'm not sure I want to, but if she finds out."

"Will you tell her?"

"Of course not, but be it on your head and not mine."

"What has happened to you, Nedra? There was a time when you would never go along with something this."

It was true. When she was younger, before she began to have visions of a future kingdom where magic was accepted, her thoughts had been filled with hatred and vengeance. Her older sisters had taught her to rise above that, and although she never truly did, she understood that violence against innocent people was not a solution. That made her no better than the king himself.

"You've still gone along with it though," Nedra pointed out. "You may not have had the stomach to kill the warlock, but you helped create the illusion."

"I'm a coward," her sister admitted. "I think we both know that. I used to look up to you though, because that is one thing you never were."

"Maybe it's because I agree with what we're doing. I'm tired Mildryd. I'm tired of hiding in the shadows."

"I don't even remember a life any different. I want nothing more than to witness Uther's demise and to watch him suffer, but all of this is wrong. You used to believe that. Ailith used to believe that, but she's changed now."

"Oh, you actually noticed that did you?"

"What do you mean by that?" Mildryd cried out. She was startled by the abruptness of Nedra's remark and it hurt her.

"You really don't see it do you. How can you be so blind? Your own sister. Maybe you should stop dwelling on a future that might never happen and take a look at what's actually happening in the here and now for once."

"There is a chance for magic," Mildryd insisted, completely missing Nedra's point. "When Arthur is king…"

"And when will that be? How long do we have to wait?" Nedra turned away sadly. "How many more loved ones do we need to lose in the meantime? Face it. Things change." She rubbed her belly subconsciously. "People change. Maybe it's about time we changed a few things ourselves. Uther's power will end and Arthur will die. I will not rest easy so long as there is a Pendragon on the throne. You should look hard at yourself. What do you want, because you need to make a decision? Where do your loyalties lie?" Nedra spun around and her eyes met again with Mildryd's. "With strangers or with family?"

"I'm not sure I can side with Ailith anymore." Mildryd hung her head shamefully. Nedra placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Then stand by me."

* * *

"Gaius, Sir Reynold is insisting that you treat him." Gaius was rushed off his feet with the number of people he had to treat. Unfortunately, there were many that he was simply unable to help; they had no injuries to heal. That did not stop them complaining. The seemingly toughest knights always made the most awkward patients.

"Give him this potion to relieve the pain." Gaius handed Gwen a small bottle of clear liquid. "But not too much."

"This is water."

"Just don't tell him that." Gaius winked at her and Gwen nodded smiling. "It probably won't make any difference but it may keep him quiet while I deal with the actual wounded. I don't want to waste actual medicines on people they can't help when there's no way of getting more."

The worst of the wyvern victims had been bandaged so they did not have to look at their own maimed bodies, but the efforts were concentrated on those whose injuries had been caused by real weapons and could be fatal if ignored too long. Gaius began dressing a deep gash on a young soldiers arm with bandages soaked in thyme oil to reduce the risk of infection. His mind though, was on other things. He was worried. Ailith's demand to Arthur had been heard all throughout the city and the people now knew that they were trapped and that their prince had fled. Furthermore, the king had not been seen since and it was uncharacteristically odd that he would not react to such an open display of magic, not to mention the threats against his son.
He supposed Merlin's absence could be explained, for if Merlin had failed to show up here, he must surely be with Arthur. At least that is how Gaius reassured himself. He sighed. All hope now rested with them. Presumably, they would continue with their initial plan, to go to Heolstor. Unfortunately since that had now become the very thing the sorceress wanted, it had suddenly become a lot more dangerous.

On the other side of the room, by the door, Sir Reynold was not being a very cooperative patient. Gwen had responded to an outpouring of abuse with her usual mild-mannered tolerance, but she was beginning to lose her patience.

"And don't even think about giving me any more of that rubbish about there being nothing wrong with me. I've lost a bleeding arm for heaven's sake." Reynolds pointed to a ragged stump attached to his left shoulder. Gwen rolled her eyes when she was sure the knight couldn't see her. This was the standard of Camelot's elite? She accidentally on purpose pinched the man where his arm should have been.

"Ow!"

"Oh my! I'm so sorry. Please forgive me," Gwen said in her best apologetic tone.

"Be careful woman." Reynold snapped.

She left him with a superior glance which screamed 'I told you so', or would have done to most people; she knew Reynold wouldn't recognize a subtle hint if it hit him round the head with a flail.

As she departed Reynold's 'deathbed', Gwen heard the sound of coughing next to her before she was taken roughly by the shoulder. The man who had grabbed her had burns on his face and hands.

"Where is Gaius?" he asked.

"Over there," she replied. "Gaius!"

Gaius finished dressing the young soldier's leg and responded to Gwen's call. A quick examination was enough to determine that the burns were real.

"Where did you get this?" said Gaius

"The Northern tower is in flames. I saw the King head in that direction. After the sorceress spoke to us all, I attempted to find him, but a wall of fire blocked the staircase and I was unable to follow."

* * *

Uther's body gave an involuntary jolt as the spell binding him to the floor was lifted. Ailith had vanished, however a ring of flames had him imprisoned. Was this the sorceress's plan? To keep him trapped here in a circle of fear, while the city fell into chaos. Or, was it just another display of flamboyance designed to rile him. As Ailith's voice rang out Uther's pounding heart was lightened at the knowledge that his son still lived, before sinking when he listened to her threats. Uther knew how much Arthur cared for the people of Camelot. Arthur would surely go to her to protect their lives just as he himself would willingly sacrifice himself now to spare Arthur's. Instead though, he was stuck here, powerless to do anything to stop this magic or save his son from whatever the witch had in mind.

A shout from downstairs suggested that someone had tried to reach him and had been beaten back by the fire that filled the rooftop and extended down the stairs. The only safe place was seemingly the small area where Uther was standing. Then, just as quickly as they had been summoned, the flames were extinguished.

"It's out," Sir Caradoc's voice drifted up from below.

"Just like that?"

"Well, obviously it's sorcery. Are you sure the king went up there?"

"I'm certain of it," Sir Hadwyn's voice answered. Spluttering was heard as the pair climbed the tower and inhaled the lingering smoke.

"Well, what happened?" Caradoc asked.

"I was confronted by the one responsible for all of this. I was attacked by means of magic and regretfully was unable to stop her. Now I know her face she will be made to face justice for her actions," Uther declared.

"There's no-one here now," Caradoc turned to Hadwyn and said.

"The sorceress vanished. She will be found," the king announced.

"Do you think she took him? Does he still live?" Hadwyn asked.

"He? He who?"

"Have the castle searched, every room, every corridor," instructed Caradoc.

"I am king and you will take your orders from me. I demand you tell me what's going on."

"Very well," Hadwyn said, ignoring Uther completely.

"Did you hear me?" asked Uther fiercely. The knights retraced their steps back down the spiral stone staircase without giving Uther a second glance.

"I order you to tell me who is missing!" shouted Uther behind them. Had his knights gone deaf all of a sudden? "Ah, Gaius." Maybe his trusted advisor could shed some light on the situation.

"Is there any sign of King Uther?"

"There's no trace of him."

Uther laughed in disbelief. "Excuse me?!" he cried out incredulously, walking round beside Gaius and waving a hand in front his face. He didn't even blink.

"Do you think the sorceress got to him?" Hadwyn asked.

"I fear that is highly probable," said Gaius.

Uther reached out to grasp Gaius's shoulder. He would make someone take notice of him. Gaius took a step forward for seemingly no reason as Uther's arm came out meaning his hand missed the old man completely.

"And given that he is perhaps the greatest enemy of those who practice magic." Hadwyn continued.

Gaius nodded in agreement. "there is a strong possibility that the king may be dead."

Uther clenched his fists in infuriation. He wasn't entirely sure what the sorceress had done to him but things were not good.