Princefinder

[Guinevère]

..

The light was coming into the chambers of the very man the light would kill. Gwen turned to look at the window, and the light starting to pour in as dawn quickly hit the kingdom. "Come on, Merlin!" She softly fretted as panic started setting in! He'd been gone for a while!

They'd spent the while night waking people up and preparing to prove Gaius innocent and if Merlin took to much longer it would be to late! She moved closer to look out the window and saw them loading Gaius into the prison wagon! No! She silently screamed! They had prove he was not using magic! The wicthfinder was using belladonna drops and cheap tricks to make people think they saw magic!

The loud sound of the door bursting open made Gwen jump; and she turned to FINALLY see Merlin rushing in. "Merlin!" She called to him, running closer. "Where have you been?!" He had said something about setting everything up! But they were going to be to late!!

TAG: Merlin And then Arthur
SETTING: Morning
TIME FRAME: Witchfinder

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[pie]

Everything had been set it place. The evidence against Aredian, the Witchfinder, was complete, and Gaius could be proven innocent. But he was late, it had taken longer than he had thought it would. He ran with all speed back to Gwen's house, he had to get there quickly, to tell her that they could prove Aredian as a liar.

There was no way that Gaius had been using magic against these people, that wasn't the type of person he was. He couldn't believe that the King wouldn't put more faith in his friend, in Gaius. He didn't bother to knock, Gwen would be expecting him, and burst into her house frantically.

At her words, he looked at her, and without hesitation said, "It's done! Everything's in place!" Now they had to hurry and get to the court, to tell the king that Aredian was lying and they had proof. But the worried look on Gwen's face told him that something was wrong...

[Guinevère]

..

Gwen knew she was hovering but she honestly could not help it. She was becoming emotionally frantic. All she could think about was her father! Gaius would die like her father did! Everyone would always think he was guilty! He wasn't! Another innocent man could not die at the hands of Uther Pendragon and this one he claimed as a friend!

"It's too late!" She told her sounding just as panicked as she felt, "Gaius has already left the dungeon!" How could they stop it in time?! They would need it to rain to or something to stop the fires! Gwen had almost been burned at the stake but Gaius was coming allot closer then she was!

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[pie]

He looked at her with slight shock when she told him that Gaius had already left the dungeons. No! This couldn't be happening, they had even less time to do this then he had thought! They couldn't let an innocent man -- in particular Gaius -- die! He would feel terrible if that happened! Gaius had just been protecting him!

He wouldn't let that happen, though. And nor would Gwen. They had been up all night preparing, they would not let their efforts and that time go in vain!

"Then--" he looked around frantically, as if searching for an answer. There had to be some way to do this! "We'll have to delay the execution!" Yes, there had to be a way. He could think of one person that could help them do such a thing...

[Guinevère]

..

Yes!! That what they needed to do! But how did two servants over power a king's ruling?! She thought for a quick moment before shaking her hand, "How?!" She begged him knowing they needed to hurry! Gaius was going to burn!!

She tried to think about what to do, how to stop them! She wondered if begging the king would do anything?! He was Gaius' friend! surely he had doubts? What if they ran to him and begged him and offered him proof?

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[pie]

Gwen was right, how? There had to be someway that they could stop this. Uther, perhaps? No, that wouldn't work, Uther had already made up his mind, to Merlin's distress. So what, then? Then it hit him that the person that he had bee thinking of a few moments before definitely had the best chance. "Arthur!"

Yes, Arthur could save Gaius! They had to convince Arthur to stand up against this and save Gaius! But they would have to hurry if that was what they wanted to do! It was the only course that Merlin could think of, and so he would go with it. Hopefully... hopefully it worked. "I'll speak to Arthur!"

[Guinevère]

ARTHUR! Yes! Arthur would save them! He had the power to stall it, if not stop it! They just needed to tell him they had proof! When Merlin went to move around her she moved quickly to stand before him. "No!" She said in a sharp tone, yet still highly emotional. "Leave Arthur to me!" She told him, even point in her haste to make sure Merlin did not join her. She knew in that moment only she had the words to make Arthur stop this madness.

He would not dismiss her as he might Merlin. She turned and ran out of the room, hearing Merlin on her heels. When they got to the court yard, there were so many people there to watch. How could they watch such things?! How did you stand by and do nothing!? She pushed her way though each one, trying to make them move so she could reach him in time.

Panic was setting in for she could see Gaius now, up on the platform in which he would die if she did not make this crowd move! She lost all manners as she started pushing and not bothering to say an excuse mes. She only knew that time was down to the seconds! She had to find him!

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[Arthur Pendragon]

This was wrong, so very, completely wrong. In fact, it was beyond that. Arthur was not enjoying a second of this nor could not come to terms with it, or believe it was true. Gaius had served his father loyally for many years, and become more of a trusted friend than just the physician. So where was this evidence from? Arthur felt sick watching Gaius in a cage, being led to his execution; to be burned at the stake as if all the people's lives he had saved -- his included -- meant nothing in this moment. There was evidence, and that was it. His father would not make any exceptions and Gaius would die today. It was difficult to watch; not only for Arthur, but judging from the looks on everyone's faces in the crowd, it was painful for them to witness as well. It showed them that no matter how close the king was to anyone, as soon as accusations of magic arose, any trust would vanish. Any act of kindness would be forgotten. It showed the people, just harsh the laws were. And it made Arthur afraid for how much fear his father was instilling in the people.

His father. He could not even watch this horrid sight. Arthur did not have to look up at him to know that he had left. He enjoyed no more than anyone else, except maybe Aredian who looked like he was getting far too much twisted pleasure from this. Arthur did not want to stand here and watch, but he had to supervise. He had to make sure it was done, no matter how sick it made him. He thought of Merlin as well, and how devastated this death would make him. How much it would ruin him. And just how much it would make him forever resent the king . . . and maybe even Arthur.

When the cage was opened, Aredian pulled Gaius out of it, practically dragging him along like a dog. "Easy there! Show some respect." Arthur said in a stern, very commanding voice. Respect for a man who's service to this kingdom had saved hundreds of lives, and who now was being killed. Arthur stood there with a practically emotionless express, as he was very serious in this moment, and using his strength to compose himself. With his arms folded across his chest, he watched, in his mind desperately praying for some sort of miracle to stop this execution against a man who was loved and well respected throughout Camelot. This was wrong, so very, completely wrong.

[Guinevère]

She could see him now, Arthur. Standing there near the bottom of the stage. She felt hope and fear curl within her at the sight of him. On one hand, the fear that she would fail. The fear that while moving closer she would only have a front row view of the burning flames that would take Merlin's father like friend from them all! "Arthur!" She cried before she got to him, not caring who over heard. "Arthur!"

She pushed though the crowd finally and ran freely up to him, again not stopping for protocol. A man's life is at stake! She did not have time to bow and think of manners! "Arthur, you have to stop this!" She begged, sounding both worried, stressed and out of breath from her run to him. She looked up at him, not at the stage because she was frightened at what she might see. She did not want to see this; she wanted to run but she hoped that Arthur would stop this! She believed in him! He would do it!

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur looked at Guinevère as she spoke in a desperate voice to stop this. His gaze only rested on her briefly as he looked back ahead of him. He was not surprised that she was here, begging on Gaius' behalf. It would have either been him or Merlin making last minute attempts to stop this horrible act. But Arthur could do nothing. He could not stop this entire thing because Guinevère and Merlin wanted him to. It was not that simple; had it been, then Arthur would have stopped this long before Gaius was put in a cage.

"I can't Gwen, you know I can't." His voice was formal, strict, yet there was an underlying defeat in it. Did she have something that could stop this? Some sort of evidence? Even then . . . what could he do? His father had already made up his mind. He could not undermine his father's authority this publicly . . . again.

[Guinevère]

He could not?! "Merlin has proof that Gaius is innocent!" There! She had just given him the the reason he would need to stop this! Surely he would now! He could stop this, and they could all confront the witchfinder together! Make his lies and murdering ways stop here and now as they should have done years ago!

Who knows how many innocent people had died thanks to his lies, and tricks! He even accused Merlin of having magic! How much more wrong could it get?! While she had not witnessed the pleasure first hand, that he got from his job she could tell that he was evil. That he took pleasure in his power; and in death. How could the king be so trusting to one person and so damning to the next?

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Evidence? What evidence? There had already been evidence to convict him, including a confession from Gaius himself. So what could they possibly have now? While Arthur had been desperate for this miracle, when it actually happened, he knew it would change nothing. His father was a stubborn man, everyone knew this. There could be the slightest chance that he would reconsider for the sake of an old friend, but . . . Gaius was already being tied at the stake. Wasn't it too late? Yes. It was. And Arthur was suddenly struggling with having to face the reality of this situation.

He looked at her shaking his head mid sentence. "My father has already passed sentence, there's nothing I can do." His tone was a bit softer, yet serious, and had subtle sympathy in it. He knew this was hard for Gwen, and even harder for Merlin. He could see that hope in her and hated to be the one to eliminate it . . . or so he thought.

[Guinevère]

She had hoped that he'd take their word on it, before he knew it was the right thing, but ti seemed it would not. She did not see it as a matter of could or could not but would or would not. Right now, he was not serving the people as a prince should; he was serving his father! "You can do the right thing, Arthur Pendragon!" She told her anger in her tone now, as she reminded him who he was! "You can some faith in a loyal friend you can stand by and watch an innocent man die!"

She knew she was shocking him, for he had not been looking at her before but he was looking at her now. Mostly. She did not give him time to speak, but she was watching for any signs of opening to her words. "You did it once before; to my father!" She went as low as she hate to, hating to use this against him. She did not blame him for her father's death and she did not want him to blame him self. It made her next words softer. "Are you really willing to let it happen again?"

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[Arthur Pendragon]

It was clear to tell that she was getting emotional over this, anger being the more evident one. How could he explain that they would be forced to accept this? "Guinevère," he tried to interject but she kept going, ignoring any attempt he made to tell her know. It was her next comment that forced him to look at her, and just stare. She had brought up her father. Did she . . . truly blame him for that? At that time, his feelings for her had virtually been non existent -- nothing that surpassed friendship anyway -- though he had felt somewhat responsible for it. Not doing more to have prevented it or stopped it completely.

But to hear her say that now . . . consumed him with guilt and shame. His feelings for her had developed and so no man wanted to hear that the woman he loved blamed him for her father's death. It had the cold hard truth though, one Arthur now knew. She did blame him. And there was nothing he could do to make her forgive him for it. He didn't know what to say, so he just continued to look at her.

[Guinevère]

He was just staring at her and time was running out! Would he not do something!! "And you can stop looking at me like that!" She demanded, "I know I am only a servant!" She was not allowed to speak to him as such but she did not care! He was just going to stand here and watch someoen whom served him for years burn?! Based on the proof of a stranger?! Would he do NOTHING?!

"And I though you were a prince! So start acting like one!" Stop this before it was unstoppable! she did not run out here for a closer look at a friend about to die! She came out here for him! She ran to him! Because Arthur would do the right thing! Because he was only one who could! She'd often thought he looked knightly and heroic but now it was time to see the proof! She knew in her heart he was!!

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Had anyone . . . anyone else said such words to him, he would have been offended. He may have even had them arrested. But not Guinevère. He knew why she was saying them, and quite frankly, they were rather effective. At the same time, Arthur did not know what to do. There were many moments that he was so torn as to publicly disagree with his father, or appear as if he was supporting his decision, when in truth, he did not. He knew however that his father did not want this. That if there was any evidence that would grant Gaius freedom, then the king would accept it. Time was running out though and Arthur had to decide quickly.

He looked a bit past her, conflicting thoughts entering his mind. The fire had been lit . . . it was being brought closer, and closer . . .Arthur looked up at Gaius, seeing him, seeing the poor man who had saved so many lives, who had been nothing but a loyal subject and friend to both the king and himself . . . about to die for something he may not be guilty for. What kind of future King would Arthur be if he just let this happen. He seconds, mere seconds away . . . What should he do . . . What should he do . . . What should he . . .

"Wait!" He exclaimed, holding his hand out towards the witchfinder, using his authority to stop him from taking a step forward. The man stopped immediately, and while Arthur did not have to look at Gaius, he felt his gaze upon him, and he knew it was one of hope. "Lets settle this once and for all." Let them get rid of any suspicion for good! And he hoped desperately that whatever evident Guinevère and Merlin had gathered, would be sufficient enough to exonerate Gaius.

[Guinevère]

"Wait!" One would could change everything! Guinevère felt hope then! They had done the impossible! Stopped the hand of the witchfinder. Now they just had to give the king proof and hope that he would be of an open mind! Guinevère knew this was the hardest part. The king was very set in his ways! She had horrid thoughts of her father all over again.

She stood behind Merlin as he gave the king all the evidence he should need. REAL proof not just the word of a stranger! Her hands were clasp tightly together as she silent prayed a million prayers! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEAS---

That was when Arthur proved to everyone, once again, why he would be the greatest ruler the kingdom would ever know. As he stepped up, and moved to stand before his father; Guinevère felt her head lift with pride and the knowledge that in this moment--everything would be alright. Arthur was not going to let anything happen to Gaius!

When the knights and men went to the witchfinder's room with see what they discovered Guinevère down the hall. Far enough away that she was not over stepping her bounds but close enough that either way she could fins out quickly!

Fear began to pound in her chest when a few of the knights came rushing out and ran past her down the hall with all spread; then worse when a few more knights came out, with an arm around a shaken looking Morgana. What happened?! She once again stood there with her hands clasped, eyes glued to the door to see if Merlin or the witchfinder would come out arrested! PLEASE let the truth be shown, she prayed. What was happening?! What was happening?!

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Things had taken a rather drastic turn. It turned out that Aredian had been the one who was responsible for all of this. It was despicable really! How could he cause the death of an innocent man if it meant putting some extra coins in his pocket and keeping his reputation as a successful witch finder in tact. Arthur was looking forward to arresting him for his horrendous crime . . . when he only made it worse by using Morgana as a human shield; using her as leverage so that they could not harm him. The coward! And furthermore to add to these intense moments, Aredian somehow managed to trip and fall out the window, meeting his dead. He raced to the window, peering down, seeing the lifeless body lying there.

"Clear the body from there," Arthur told a few of the guards, not wanting anyone to have to witness a corpse lying in the middle of the street. He then checked on Morgana, making sure she was alright before a few of the men escorted her out so that she could calm her nerves. Arthur then looked at his father, a bit expectantly, and Merlin stood there, sharing the same look, though not as strong as the Prince's. His father then told the guards to release Gaius. Merlin was the first to react to this news as he raced out of the room. Arthur did not follow him, he assumed they would want some time alone . . . for Arthur imagined that Gaius was not too pleased with the king right now.

The guards hurried out after Merlin, not with the same enthusiasm but with hastened speed. Uther was the next to leave, storming out of the room, a strong serious expression on his face. It was clear that he was extremely angry at the witch finder for framing his close friend. Arthur was the sole person to remain in the room, looking around at the mess . . . feeling relieved that Gaius was alright. Feeling relieved that Guinevère had come to him just in time. Otherwise, an innocent man would have died. It made him wonder . . . or rather, lament on the fact that he could have indeed done more to prevent Tom's death.

[Guinevère]

Then Merlin came running out and went down the hall the other way, with a few guards on his heels. Why was Merlin running from them?! Oh no! What had gone wrong? When the king stormed out looking angry she pressed her self the the wall with her head bowed until he passed by. What happened!? She turned to run down the hall and peek her head into the room. No one was there but Arthur. Guinevère rushed in and looked around at the mess.

"Arthur!" She exclaimed and looked up and over at him with her expression full of confusion and fear. Where had that horrid witchfinder gone? she had not seen him leave. "What happened? Will Gaius go free?!"She had so much hope in her expression as well, as if his next words would make her day or break her. Gaius and her were not as close as her and others but he was still a dear friend. Almost fatherly to her since her own father had died. She did not want to loose him.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Once he saw the guards had taken away Arthur focused his gaze on pile of amulets that lay there. He went over, crouching to pick one up, only standing up when he heard someone approaching to see it was Guinevère. A very concerned and worried Guinevère. "Yes," Arthur answered simply trying to assure her as quickly as possible that Gaius would live, that he would be free, and if he still desired his position, would return to being the King's physician. "It appeared that Aredian framed Gaius, concocting the evidence that led to the belief that he had been using magic."

Arthur looked at the amulet in his head, thinking about just how close friend had come to dying . . . because of his father's irrationality when it came to magic. And Arthur had almost let it happen. Just as had been the case when Guinevère was arrested and she was almost executed . . . just as had been the case when Tom was arrested and actually executed. She was right. What kind of Prince was he . . . what kind of King would he be for continuing to allow such things to happen. "You were right," he added in a low voice, for she had been the voice of reason that had stopped a horrific crime for occurring. He kept his gaze on the amulet, feeling ashamed for letting it go as far as it had.