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When the doors to his chambers burst open, Uther was shocked to see his son storming in with a face full of rage. He looked ready to run into battle, fury and anger painting his features.
“Arthur?” The king demanded, looking up from his desk.
“You've gone too far this time,” Arthur roared, pointing an accusing finger.
Uther stood up and sighed. He was pretty sure he knew what this was about, but Arthur was always overreacting. He knew that his son rarely agreed with his opinions, but he was the King, dammit. Arthur would have to deal with it for once.
“Arthur, calm down. It's for the best.”
Arthur scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. “You're wrong. You have to undo this, now .”
It was ridiculous, really, Uther thought. Arthur was acting irrationally, wasting all this emotion. The law had been broken, and it was Uther's responsibility to determine punishment. This punishment fit the crime, and Arthur would have to accept that.
“Don't be an idiot, Arthur. The execution will be carried out tomorrow; there's nothing you can do to change that.” Uther shrugged and rounded the table, picking up some parchment to glance over.
Arthur tore the papers from his father's hands and threw them to the ground. “No! This is wrong and I will not allow it to happen. All he did was practise a little magic, to save me. ”
“And magic is forbidden!” Uther roared, slamming a hand on the table. “You are blinded by some enchantment he's placed upon you. The sorcerer must die.”
Arthur looked close to tears and Uther reasoned that the enchantment must be a strong one. Uther continued, “The boy dies and I will not hear another word about it. Now, leave.”
Arthur's lip wobbled but he steeled himself, squaring up to the King. “No.”
Uther frowned, feeling a wave of anger grow inside of him. “I beg your pardon? You dare say no to me? To your King?!”
“I dare to say no to my father! Have you no compassion? Will you not listen to your son and maybe even pretend to care about him?” Arthur waved both of his arms in question.
“This is a matter of state, Arthur, not a personal one. One day, when you're King you might begin to understand that putting the kingdom first is what must be done. No matter who you upset along the way.” Uther's voice was harsh and strong as he spoke, a tone he had rarely taken with Arthur before except on the most serious of occasions.
Uther sighed as he saw the look on his son's face. He couldn't understand why this was affecting him so much. Merlin was just a servant . He was easily replaceable and Arthur could have someone new attending to him with a click of his fingers. There was something else going on here. For Uther the only explanation was magic.
“When he dies tomorrow, the enchantment he has on you will end and you will see this situation for what it is: dangerous. Who knows what that traitor has been up to whilst in our walls? Practising sorcery and waiting on the crown prince?!”
Arthur didn't respond. He simply wiped a hand over his face and took a deep breath.
“Think of all the secrets he could've taken to our enemies, Arthur. Don't you realise how badly this could turn out if we don't execute him?”
“Merlin would never betray me,” Arthur murmured, voice so quiet that Uther almost missed it. “He wouldn't do anything to betray this kingdom or me. Or you, despite everything that you are and stand for.”
“You don't know that!” Uther cried, taking a step closer to his son. He grabbed the prince by his shoulders and squeezed. “Listen to me; his death will be for the best.”
Arthur pushed Uther away, his strength coming as a bit of a surprise. Uther tripped back slightly, the table behind the only thing to break his fall. An awkward silence fell over the room as the King stared at the Prince, a silent challenge between them.
Uther stormed forward and raised a hand, bringing it down on Arthur's cheek with a loud crack. Arthur stumbled sideways and hissed at the pain, holding his face which was quickly turning red. He stood back up and squared up to Uther once again.
“If you kill him, I swear you will regret it!” Arthur croaked out through tears. “I won't let you get away with it.”
“Arthur, see reason,” Uther said darkly, a fist clenched at his side. He didn't want to hit his son again but he reasoned with himself, Arthur was obviously under a spell. He wasn't thinking straight, he was delusional, he was… He needed to understand. If hitting him was the only way to get through then so be it. “I will not have you arguing with me anymore. Say one more word and I will lock you up down there with him and throw away the key.”
“Fucking go ahead and do it then!” Arthur's voice rose and filled the room, shocking the King. “I'd rather die down there with Merlin than spend another moment with you .”
Uther opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't find the words. His own son, his flesh and blood, his heir, had just said he'd rather die... than be near him. The words stung and Uther stared straight ahead, searching for some kind of response.
It was Arthur that broke the silence. “I know I've always been a big disappointment to you, father. So sending me to die shouldn't be too hard.”
“Arthur,” Uther breathed, his shoulders softening. “You are my greatest achievement,”
But it was too late. Arthur was heading to the door again and as Uther stepped forward to stop him, the Prince halted. He took a deep breath and turned. His face was red from tears and the strike that Uther had dealt. His mouth was screwed up in determination and Uther knew then, that he had lost the battle. He had waged a war against his closest ally and lost, there was no coming back from this.
“You have until the morning to change your mind, or you will never see me again,” Arthur said through gritted teeth. Then he turned and left leaving the King alone, stranded and heartbroken.
Outside, the Kingdom was quiet as all of Camelot stood under an inky black sky. The moon was shining high above and as Uther made his way to the window, he looked up at the brightness with tears in his eyes. As a father, Uther’s heart was telling him exactly what to do; free Merlin, apologise to Arthur and make up for this silly argument. But his head, his duty as King and protector was screaming loudly. Sorcery was illegal and Merlin must be punished! He had to die.
Why couldn’t Arthur understand that this was all for the good of Camelot? Why couldn’t he see that Arthur wouldn’t have a kingdom to be King of if the sorcerer was allowed to live? Merlin needed to die, it was the only way. If Uther kept him alive, he’d be showing weakness to his enemies, to the druids. He’d make a mockery of himself. The kingdom would call him a hypocrite.
And surely the way Arthur was reacting to this was all down to an enchantment, a spell that would be broken as soon as Merlin stepped foot on the pyre. Then Arthur would understand, he’d realise that this was all for Camelot and things would be okay, right?
Uther didn’t know how long he stood at the window, staring at the moon, warring with himself about what to do. But soon enough, the moon began to fade and on the horizon, a new day began to dawn. The day had come and Uther had to make his final decision.
The King looked out over his kingdom one last time before laying down in his bed to try and steal a small amount of sleep before facing the day ahead. When he opened his eyes again, the sun had fully risen and was streaming in through the window, drowning the room in golden light.
Uther knew what he had to do.
Damn the consequences.
It had to be done.
Merlin needed to die.
Uther began to get ready for the day, bathing quickly and changing clothes. There was a knock on his door and then Arthur entered, looking about as rough as Uther felt. He stood in the doorway, fists clenched by his side and jaw set.
“Arthur,” The King began.
“What have you decided?” Arthur demanded.
Uther sighed. He half wondered if a good night's sleep would’ve cleared his son’s mind but it seemed not; Arthur was just as deluded as before. “The boy must--”
“Don’t.” Arthur held up a hand. “Don’t even say it.” The prince turned to leave but he glanced back at Uther briefly. “But don’t forget, I warned you father. You will live to regret this. Goodbye.”
Uther was met with a door slammed in his face. He yanked open the wood and watched as Arthur stormed down the corridor, pushing aside anyone who got in his way. Uther had two choices, follow his son and try to reconcile or rush to the dungeons, bring Merlin to the pyre and hope that the enchantment died with him.
The King turned away from his son, raced down the corridor to the left instead and barked an order to the guard. “Ready the pyre and have that boy brought up. Now.”
The castle jumped into action, guards and servants rushed around to enact the King’s wishes as Uther himself marched towards the courtyard. Just as he was about to step out onto the cobblestones, the warning bell rang and Uther’s heart sank. He knew instantly exactly what had happened but he didn’t want to admit it. He couldn’t bring himself to believe that Arthur would do something so stupid.
But then a guard ran to Uther and confirmed his fears, told him that everything he had been dreading had come to fruition. The sorcerer was missing. And so was Arthur.
“ FIND THEM, NOW!” Uther roared, screaming into the sky in intense frustration. The guards scrambled away again, and Uther charged into the castle and up to Arthur’s chambers, hardly slowing as he pushed open the doors with a growl.
How could Arthur do this?! How could he defy not only his father but his King too? Had he really failed that much as a man? Uther could feel the heat rising in him, anger and fear and disappointment. He tore off his jacket and threw it aside before marching to the window to get some fresh air. He was too hot and irritated and…
“Fuck… ”
Uther looked out the window in disbelief. There, just beyond the city walls, on the road that led to the northern boarder, was a horse, galloping away at high speed. Uther could just make out two figures riding atop of the white beast. A smaller, dark haired man and behind him, was the unmistakable form of Arthur. Blonde hair glistening in the sun, red cape billowing behind him and one arm holding on tight to the body infront of him.
“Arthur…” Uther whispered, staring ahead as the figures got smaller and smaller. That was when the real truth hit him and the veracity of the situation sunk in.
Uther had failed.
He had failed to rid the kingdom of magic.
He’d failed as a King.
And worst of all… He’d failed as a father.
He wondered if he’d ever see Arthur again, wondered if this was it for Camelot. But another thought entered his mind, a thought that ignited a fire in his soul that grew into a blazing rage.
Magic had already torn Ygraine away and now it had taken Arthur too.
The King clenched his fists in savage fury. “I will find you, Merlin, and when I do… You. Will. Die. ”
