Balinor's Son

As He Should Have Done

"Kilgharrah! Kilgharrah!!"

Uther watched as the boy was thrown back into his cell. He yelled in frustration as he brought his fist into the stone walls. The boy knew!! He Knew!!! He looked at the guards who stood awkwardly, awaiting their next order.

"Get out of my sight!!" 

They obeyed immediately, scurrying away down the halls.

Uther peered through the bars at the shadowed form on the ground. The boy seemed to be unconscious, though his body still quivered and shook against his magical restraints. 

"No less than you deserve," the king muttered under his breath. As his footsteps echoed back up the long hall he thought about his next move. It was quite possible his mistake had lost him control of the boy, but this was no matter. He was still incapacitated, which made him a useful bargaining peace. 

He stopped suddenly, listening. There was a sensation that he couldn't quite describe. A sound, or an experience. He took off his glove and felt the floor with his bare hand. Pebbles bounced around his hand, moved by a violent vibration. 

"UTHER!!!!!"

His blood ran cold. It was a voice he recognized, a voice he had hoped to never hear again. There were not many things that Uther truly feared. Magic disgusted him, sorcerers angered him, but dragons...

He sprinted down the hall, trying to escape the voice.

"THE COWARDLY KING RUNS FROM HIS PAST!!!"

Uther panted as he made it to the first flight of stairs. He was met by one of the guards who had a look of confused horror on his face. Uther grabbed him by his cloak. 

"Lock this door!!! Open it only when I command!!"

"Yes, my Lord!" the guard yelped. 

Uther took the steps two at a time and before he knew it he was passing terrified servants and nobles.

"My Lord?!"

"What's going on?"

He reached Gaius' chambers and threw open the door. 

"Sire!" the old man said in surprise. He was huddled on his work bench comforting Morgana's maid. 

"Gaius! I need your assistance!"

"What is going on, Sire?"

Uther didn't answer but could tell that Gaius understood when he saw the fear in the kings eyes.  

"Uther, what have you done?"

"He called out to me, Gaius. By name."

The citadel continued to shake underneath them.

"You must speak to him! Appease him or we'll all be lost!"

"Are you mad?!?" Uther spat. "Consult with a dragon without a dragonlord? I'll be dead within the hour!"

The girl yelped as a vile of red liquid slipped off the table and smashed on the floor. 

"My Lord, we don't have time!"

Uther's expression hardened. He swept out of the physicians chambers.

"Sire!" Uther nearly collided with Sir Brutus. 

"Sir Brutus! Gather all the knights and tell them to meet in the dungeons. There's something we have to do."

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