Uther hated what he had to do. He knew he had a lot of enemies, but... his own son? How dare Arthur betray him in such a way? He knew that he had to abide by what he had said: if he couldn't follow his own laws, nobody would. There was too much proof for his s- Arthur's guilt, and... well, there was absolutely no proof for his innocence.

"Can you prove your innocence to me?"

"No, but-"

What had the prisoner - for he refused to think of a sorcerer as his son - been going to say? He hadn't been able to prove his innocence. That was what mattered. And if he wasn't innocent, he was guilty. It was as simple as that.

There was a war between love and hatred tearing him in half. How could he sentence someone he used to love so much to death? And yet it was what all sorcerers deserved, he had said it himself many times. He supposed he was getting a taste of what the families of all those he had put to death had experienced. And it wasn't pleasant. But it was necessary.

Yet still the king paced, torn and indecisive in a way he had never been before, especially not where sorcerers were concerned. He knew the law, and he also knew that it did not make exceptions for anyone, no matter how much they meant to Uther, or used to mean to him. Before they used magic in Camelot. And yet how could he live with himself for following his own laws and sentencing Arthur to death?

It was the Kingdom or Arthur.

The Kingdom had to come first.

Arthur or the Kingdom.

Arthur was heir to the throne...

"Guards!" He called, and the two stationed outside the door entered quietly and bowed.

"Sire?"

"Send Leon."

It barely took a minute for the knight to be sent for. He knocked hesitantly and bowed low before his King as he entered. Uther knew that what he was about to do would be more than hard on the knight; Leon had trained Arthur since he was old enough to hold a sword. But it was necessary. That was what he kept telling himself. It was for the good of the Kingdom.

"Leon, I..." his voice cracked, and he took a moment to compose himself before continuing. "I want the prisoner to be executed in a three day's time. He will be burned..." he took a deep breath. "He will be burned at the stake."

The knight nodded, lowering his head in a clear attempt to hide the unshed tears in his eyes. He bowed, and turned to leave, but the King called after him.

"Leon?"

The knight turned, and this time there was no hiding the single tear track down his cheek.

"I know this is hard on you. I'm sorry."

"Yes, My Lord. It is hard on me. I thought you cared more."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and left.