Arthur's Sons (Book 1)

The Poisoned Chalice (Part 3)

Brutus's hooves thunder across the draw bridge as Arthur rides into the citadel, as he approaches the steps of the courtyard the guards block the way standing stoic.

" What are you doing? Let me pass." Arthur snaps.

" I'm sorry, Sire. You're under arrest, by order of the King." The knights grab the prince and drag him toward the dungeons despite his protests and throw him inside slamming the door quickly behind him. No more than one candle mark had passed when the King came thundering into the dungeons.

"You disobeyed me." The disappointment was clear in the king's voice but Arthur was to wound up to care.

" Of course I did, a child's life was at stake. Do not let that boy die because of something I did." Arthur begged knowing full well that he was running out of time.

" Why do you care so much? The boy is just a servants child." Arthur felt his blood boil at the Kings complete lack of understanding, he carefully reined in his temper before he said something he would regret.

" He knew the danger he was putting himself in, and he knew what would happen if he drank from that goblet, but he did it anyway. He saved my life. There's more. There was a woman at the mountain. She knew I was there for the flower. I don't think it was Bayard who tried to poison me." Arthur informed the King of the sorceress in the hopes he may have clemency.

" Of course it was." Uther stated defiantly. Arthur pulls out the flower a prays his father will show mercy.

" Gaius knows what to do with it. Please, I'll never forgive myself if that boy dies. Please father." Arthur hands the king the flower, he studies it for a moment before looking at his son.

" Put me in the stocks for a week, a month even, I don't care. Just make sure it gets to him. I'm begging you." Arthur's voice cracked with emotion but the king was not swayed and instead crushed the flower cruelly.

" NO!" Arthur roared slamming his hands on the bars.

" You have to learn there's a right and a wrong way of doing things. I'll see you're let out in a week." Uther drops the flower just outside Arthur's cell door. The guards leave the door and Arthur tries to get the flower just beyond his reach tears streaming down his face.

" He hasn't got much longer. Has Arthur got the flower?" Gaius asks watching the boy anxiously.

" I don't know. Uther won't allow anyone to see him. Is there nothing we can do to help?" Gwen wrings her hands nervously and Merlyn begins to cry silently.

" Only the leaf of the Mortaeus flower can save him." Gaius reminds her genitally. Rowan slams to his feet determined.

" And we have to find out if Father has it. I could sneak into the dungeon." Rowan suggests.

" Sweetheart it's too dangerous." Merlyn whispers quietly.

" I've got to. Brother will die if I don't. Besides I promised I'd help find the antidote and I'm not about to break my promise." Rowan stares down the adults in the room, Arty struggles to breathe and Merlyn turns to her son resigned.

" Be careful." Rowan nods and hurries out of the room down toward the dungeons.

Rowan sneaks down the Wrought Iron stairway and quietly spy's on the guards. Two at the entrance and two outside the Prince's cell, Rowan cracks his knuckles. He focuses down the opposite corridor and whispers a spell that causes a racket sending the first two guards to investigate. As they head down the corridor he motions with his hand and the heavy wooden doors shut silently behind them and lock. With a smirk he slips down to the two guards standing outside the cell, he hides quietly in an alcove and makes an owl hooting sound with his hands. Both guards are immediately on alert and begin moving down the hall opposite to where he just came.