Arthur was aware of his father's foot tapping in impatience as he tried to come up with an answer. What could he tell him? The moment he implicated Merlin, he was dead.

"I think Gedren should go first," he said, catching both men off guard. "There's something important he needs to say."

Gedren was glaring furiously at Arthur, who glared back. Taking a deep breath, and obviously remembering the threat from the tavern, Gedren began to explain.

"Your son speaks the truth. I did want Merlin out of the way. I told you he was magic, that's no lie. What I saw in the tavern –" here he glared back at Arthur, who shrugged. "There was no magic. It was merely my nerves."

"Did you attack Merlin?"

"I took him from Camelot twice, to keep him away from your son."

"They are master and servant," said Uther. "In Camelot, a servant cannot be removed or dismissed unless the master allows it. You had no right to do what you did."

"The last time he took Merlin, he did something to him," said Arthur, anger lacing his words.

At that moment, the doors opened and Gaius came in, followed by two knights, who were pushing a chair in which Merlin's soulless body was slumped.

Uther's eyes widened. "What's wrong with him Gaius?" There was no concern, it was merely a question.

"He is insane," Gaius replied. He didn't bother mentioning that Merlin was still with Arthur. "He can't do anything but blink and breathe. Someone else must do everything else for him."

"Thank you Gaius." Taking this as a dismissal, Gaius followed the two knights out.

Uther turned his attention back to Gedren. "Did you do that to him?"

Gedren sighed. "Yes."

The king's expression closed. "I warned you what could happen when you came here. Guards, arrest him!"

They rushed forward and escorted him out. Arthur followed without waiting for a dismissal.

Safely back in his chambers, he paced and wondered what to do, pausing only long enough to let Merlin eat.

Half an hour later, he had an idea.

Gedren rattled his bars, to no avail. He'd tried every spell he could think of to try and get out of his cell, but nothing had worked. There were no guards posted, but it didn't matter.

The sound of footsteps alerted him that someone was coming. He tensed but relaxed when he saw it was only the prince.

"Going to let me out?" he asked.

Arthur glared through the dark at him. "No."

Gedren gave the bars a final shake in frustration and made to step away, but Arthur grabbed his hand. Summing up all his emotions, he gave himself over to Merlin.

Push. Up. Out.

They weren't spoken, but as Arthur gripped Gedren's hand, he could feel Merlin's insanity flowing outward, with him as the bridge. Gedren began to whimper and when he tried to jerk away, Arthur tightened his grip. He wasn't going to let him get off scot-free and giving him Merlin's insanity seemed a fitting revenge for all he'd done.

At last, Arthur felt Gedren's resistance eroding and he let go. Gedren collapsed to his knees, his gaze as blank and staring as Merlin's had been.

Back to normal, Merlin shifted restlessly. What's going to happen to him?

"That's up for my father to decide," said Arthur, turning away from the sight that would no doubt haunt him for days. Without looking back, he returned to his chambers.

They didn't hear a word about Gedren until the following day. During the annual pre-Christmas ball, Gaius took them aside.

"The king told me last night that Gedren's been banished from Camelot," he said, to the delighted faces of the two young men. "He's in the care of another kingdom. And don't look like that."

Arthur and Merlin ducked. "Sorry Gaius," they chorused, looking apologetic. "We know he was a friend," said Arthur.

"That was a long time ago." Gaius sighed. "It's not your fault it ended the way it did."

Arthur opened his mouth to reply but Merlin jabbed him in the ribs. "Forget about it," said Merlin.

Arthur returned to the party. He deserved to enjoy the holiday after what they'd been through. They both did.