In The Hearts Of Men

Chapter 19

Two days later Arthur was pacing outside Gaius's chambers. His father was talking to the physician inside in a hushed voice, but suddenly Arthur could hear Uther slightly raising his, and he could clearly hear Gaius's reply through the closed door:

"He is dying, Uther! I will not allow you to press charges!"

"You are questioning the king?" Boomed Uther.

"Yes I am!" Gaius shouted. Arthur was stunned. He didn't think he had ever heard Gaius shout before. "If you sentence Merlin to be burned at the stake then you may as well not bother because he's going to die anyway! You cannot send a terminal man to his death!"

There was a pause. Arthur pressed his ear to the door.

"He's just a boy, Uther," said Gaius. "Please."

"If he is not dead by the end of the week, then he is to be sentenced to death for sorcery," Uther said, and Arthur had to leap aside a moment later as his father banged open the door.

"Come, Arthur," he commanded, but Arthur said,

"One moment, Father. May I see Merlin?"

Uther sighed crossly.

"There isn't much point, he's basically a corpse already!" He huffed, a stormed off down the corridor.

Arthur slipped inside Gaius's rooms.