Merlin snuck into the empty kitchens. All of the kitchen staff were at a meeting discussing what would be prepared for the King's usual 'after-execution-celebration feast'. Of course, Merlin knew that there wouldn't be a celebration. At least if everything went according to plan.

The young warlock was jumping for joy and simultaneously nervous. He had done it. He had convinced Uther to save the girl himself. Merlin knew now that deep down, deep deep down, Uther wanted the ban overturned. But he felt locked in by what was now a tradition. And it was up to Merlin to help him break away.

The servant quickly filled the bag with food and a water skin. He didn't know how long it would take to find the druids. He went to the stables and readied his horse. The guards at the gate let him through without questioning him. They were so used to Gaius' apprentice going out to search for herbs. They didn't even notice when he came back empty handed and without his horse. Merlin was going to have to talk with Uther about upping the castle's security.

He made his way to the king's chambers. He had an invisibility spell to practice.

Line Break

Merlin had been practicing for a while when the king walked in and sat across from him.

"Are you making much progress with the spell?"

"Well, so far I've been able to make my hand invisible but not my whole body."

Uther shook his head, "No, that won't work. You need to be completely invisible to walk with me past the guards."

"I'll keep trying but I could always distract the guards and sneak past them. I've done it before."

The king looked up at him. "And why exactly were you sneaking into the dungeons?"

"Ummm," Merlin froze. Uh oh. This was not a good time to discuss Kilgharrah with Uther.

"Don't you dare lie to me, Merlin."

"I… was visiting the Great Dragon?"

The king paused. "Was that a question?"

"It was a statement, I was just… wondering how you were going to react."

Uther groaned and held his head, fighting the oncoming headache, "We'll deal with this after we're done with the current disaster."

"I'm guessing things didn't go over well with Arthur and Morgana?"

"Surprisingly, they didn't fuss much which is suspicious in and of itself. Either way I've sent them both to their room to be put under guard. It's the bounty hunters who've been ruining my day so far?"

"What do they want?"

"They tried to get me to double their pay since they brought the girl from the borders. I didn't even want to pay them in the first place since I know the girl is going to get released anyway."

"Why don't you just...not pay them?"

"Where do I even begin? The main reason is that they'd go work for some other kingdom instead taking with them rumors that Camelot is too poor to pay its workers and pretty soon we'll have an army on our doorstep."

"Oh," Merlin looked back down at his spell book.

"Let me worry about it. You just focus on getting that spell right."

Line Break

Leon waited until a little after sundown before knocking on Arthur's door. Two rapid knocks followed by a slower one. Arthur and Morgana avoided the King the entire day, choosing the silent treatment instead of directly fighting with his as they had before. As a result both were sent to their rooms to be watched over by a guard but thankfully not under lock and key. Leon had made sure that he was Arthur's guard.

And why exactly was Sir Leon helping Arthur and Morgana commit treason? He had been asking himself the same question all day. In the end it came down to the knight's code and his loyalty to Arthur. Sure he had served King Uther his entire life but he and Arthur had trained together since they were boys. That and the fact that killing a child in any capacity just felt wrong. He was slowly starting to realize that it was a sentiment shared by many.

So here he was, playing his part in that little girl's great escape. He had used his connections to make sure he was placed as Arthur's guard. Gwen was supposed to take care of Morgana's guard immediately after sundown. She had told him not to worry about it. And he trusted Gwen. He had known her since he was little too. Probably longer than he knew Arthur. They had spent the entire day searching for Merlin, but to no avail. Gaius did mention that the servant was not one for violence so perhaps he had made himself scarce. Leon hoped he was alright.

Arthur peaked his head out a few moments later. When he saw the coast was clear he motioned to Leon, "Come on let's get Morgana and Gwen. They should have already gotten rid of their keeper. Have you seen Merlin?"

"Gwen and I tried searching for him all day. He's nowhere to be found."

"Damn. Perhaps he had something to do for Gaius.?"

"No, we checked with him. It might be possible that he left the citadel. Just for a few days."

"Makes sense. I don't think he'd be one to enjoy executions."

"That makes all of us then."

"Except for my father"

They shared a grim look and headed towards Morgana's chambers.

Line Break

Arthur gave the signature knock on Morgana's door and she opened the door for them.

"Did you take care of the guard?"

Morgana nodded, "Gwen was able to knock him out with a potion from Gaius that she slipped into his drink. He's tied up in my closet. He won't be alerting anyone anytime soon."

The prince turned to her, "Nice work Guinevere."

"Thank you sire," Gwen blushed, "Gaius let me help him since Merlin hasn't been around today. It was easy to slip one of the bottles in my pocket when he wasn't looking."

"So no one has seen Merlin at all? I'm starting to get a bit worried," Arthur paused, "No one tell him I said that."

Morgana shared a grin with her servant.

Gwen wondered for a moment if Merlin was spending the day with the King, perhaps trying to convince him to let the girl go like he did when she was in prison. Gwen made a note to talk more in depth with Merlin about his relationship to the king, although every time she had tried he ran away from the conversation. "I'm sure he's okay. Let's focus on getting that poor girl out of the dungeons."

Arthur nodded, "You and Leon are to go home. Morgana and I will go free the girl."

"What?"

"But sire-"

The responses came simultaneously.

"But nothing. It's too dangerous if the group gets caught. At most father will throw us into a cell for a day or two, but if he catches either of you you'll both be accused of treason. And we all know what the punishment for that is."

Gwen stepped forward, "At least let me help by getting a horse ready and waiting in the woods for you."

Morgana set her hands on the girl's shoulders, "No Gwen, Arthur is right for once. Please go home. I don't want you involved any further. I couldn't bare it if anything happened to you. Once we get the girl out, I'll wait in the woods while Arthur double backs to get a horse."

"Where are you taking the girl? If I may ask, sire?" Leon questioned.

Arthur sighed, "I knew this would come out eventually."

Line break

Arthur and Morgana crouched down on the staircase into the dungeons. Looking over the banister Arthur could see that the guards were all focused on their game. It might be enough for them to sneak by. But then again, maybe not.

The prince picked up a rock the size of his palm and threw it into one of the hallways in the opposite direction he and Morgana were headed. When all the guards turned away towards the sound they both slipped into the corridor when the girl was being kept.

"Which cell is she in?" Morgana questioned.

"It shouldn't be much further. Keep quiet."

Finally after a bit more walking they reached the child's cell. She had been chained to the wall roughly. Arthur felt a wave of rage and sympathy rise in him. How could his father claim to be doing good when this poor child was being treated thus.

Arthur was about to reach for his keys when Morgana grabbed his arm and pulled him quickly into the cell across from the girl's.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh, someone's coming." Morgana whispered.

They hid behind some crates. Thank goodness the storage rooms were full and some crates were being kept in the cells or else they wouldn't have anywhere to hide. They heard footsteps come to a stop in front of their cell. Arthur risked a peak and inhaled. He motioned from Morgana to look.

It was his father. Decked out in his royal clothing. Morgana looked at him with fear in her eyes. This wasn't the plan. His father never visited prisoners especially magic users.

They got down lower so that they wouldn't be seen.

Morgana gave him a motion that asked, "What are we going to do?"

Arthur shook his head. He didn't know. They listened as the king unlocked the cell and heard the sound of manacles being unchained. His father was releasing the girl from her iron cuffs? This didn't make any sense.

"Is the bag and horse ready?" They heard Uther ask out loud.

Who was he talking to? The girl?

"Yes, your majesty."

He froze in shock. Arthur recognized that voice. They both looked over the crates and saw Merlin, who hadn't been there a second ago, standing next to the king.

"Ride hard. Get back before my son notices you're gone. The bells will ring soon after your escape. I trust you know where to go."

Merlin nodded. His servant took the girl's hand and led her away towards where Arthur knew there was a siege tunnel that lead out into the forest. It was the same one he and Morgana were going to use. His father left in the direction of the dungeon entrance.

They both stood up slowly, completely in shock. Arthur has so many questions. Had Merlin spent the entire past day with his father, and that's why no one had seen him? Did his father, King Uther Pendragon really just release a sorceress? He broke his own law. Was this the first time? How did Merlin get here without making any noise? What in the hell was going on?

Morgana and Arthur snuck back into the castle, the guards didn't even notice them. Arthur made a note to talk with his father about security. Preferably after he had figured out when the world had gone mad.

Line break

"Let me get this straight, your father actually let a sorceress go?" Leon asked for the hundredth time.

"I'm more concerned with the part that Merlin's been playing in all of this." Arthur crossed his arms and leaned against the bedpost.

Morgana turned towards him, "Why is Merlin the bigger concern? I mean Uther actually letting a magic user free? The world must be ending."

"Either that or he's under an enchantment." Leon rubbed at his temples.

"Or maybe he has changed his mind about magic." Gwen suggested.

"No there's no way." Morgana shook her head, "He's been murdering those who use magic for twenty years. And you're telling me he just changed his mind? Either he's under an enchantment or…"

"Or what?" Gwen asked.

Arthur sat down across from her, "Or the Uther that we saw tonight was an impostor, like with Lady Helen. And Merlin is in on it. Which is exactly why Merlin is the bigger concern. We know several things. Merlin was appointed by my father, impostor or not, and they've been secretly working together for god knows how long and the way Merlin showed up in the dungeons without a sound means he can be a lot stealthier than I thought he could be. There's only two possible conclusions."

Leon looked at his prince nervously, "Which are?"

"Either my father has been replaced by a fake and he and Merlin have been conspiring against the crown,... or my father really has changed his mind about magic to some degree and Merlin has been working this entire time for my father, as his spy."