^^ me trying to write this story and being drowned by paper 😜

So yeah, sorry I've been super busy recently but this chapter is for the evidence!

I hope to get PMs from you all soon, don't forget to accuse people, it gives me something to write about! Obviously if you're a sorcerer don't accuse other sorcerers, but you could try to mess things up for the others hehe!

Idk for best comment, any suggestions?

Enjoy and I hope the writing quality is still ok!

"And do we know where this poison was sourced?" Uther Pendragon sat straighter in his chair as he spoke. He had the air of a man who felt threatened, a man who needed to make a powerful impression. It was clear to all gathered in the hall that the attempt on his life had shaken him, despite his futile efforts to hide it.

His eyes darted like fleeting shadows across the throne room. He sat straight and tall on his throne, muscles tensed, chin raised. His posture was a warning to whoever dared threaten him again.

Stay away! It seemed to scream as the king beheld his subjects. Leave me alone, don't you dare threaten me again!

Because surely they would try if they weren't stopped. Uther could not let that happen, Camelot could not be made to look weak, it must be unconquerable, and for that to happen the assassin amongst them must be found.

Sighing impatiently, he repeated the question. His tone was disbelieving and frustrated, although with underlying tones of cruelty and paranoia. "Does nobody know?"

To his surprise, it was Gaius who stepped forward to speak. "I'm afraid I do Sire. I am led to believe that the poison was taken from my chambers not long before your... poisoning." He bowed his head. "Although I cannot fathom who, I'm afraid."

Uther was nodding. "I should have known." His eyes narrowed as he addressed the room. "Make a list of anyone seen entering or leaving the physician's chambers, and question them until you are sure that they are not responsible for this. Then bring all your suspects straight to me." Several guards departed to do their king's bidding as he continued. "I'm sure you're all aware by now that there is a traitor among us. Let it be known to all that any who dare to challenge my authority or the strength of Camelot will be sentenced to death." Uther paused to let his words sink in. "Painfully."

Several murmurs arose from the assembly. "Meanwhile, track down the bottle of wine. I want anyone who even saw it brought to the palace immediately. Whoever is responsible for this will be caught, and soon."

What the court members didn't hear were his next words, accompanied by his expression darkening to a frown.

"I hope."

———

The huge, monstrous double doors swung open with an ominous groan, their hinges protesting angrily as if the movement pained them greatly. Amber's shoes clacked against the cold stone floor, echoes resounding loudly throughout the cavernous room as it swallowed her small figure. Blood-red banners swirled and rustled uneasily in an unknown breath of wind, not unlike that of a dying man, as the heavy doors were barred behind her. For a second, the Lady felt claustrophobia building inside of her, but dispersed it quickly. Now was not the time to panic. If she was going to convince these people that she was innocent, she needed to keep a cool head.

The 'questioner', as Uther has appointed him, was a large brute of a man. He was tall and well-muscled, with a face that seemed to have a deep frown permanently etched onto his features. He wore fine leather clothing and expensive cloths, he even had fur adorning his shoulders. Amber was under no false impressions; this was a powerful man who she was sure would do anything to get the answers he wanted. You're innocent. She reminded herself. They can't kill you for that.

"Lady Amber Godwin?"

"Indeed." She kept her voice cold, not allowing her guard to slip. Her head felt a little fuzzy from her ordeal earlier, but she wouldn't let that get in her way. Instead she stared patiently at the man. "And you are?"

"Grendon." His voice was rough and gravelly, rasping almost. "Tell me, Amber, what were you doing in Gaius' chambers, only a few hours previous to the attempt on the king's life?" His wording, she noticed with a shudder, made it seem as though he was already convinced of her guilt. Ignore it.

"I panicked. Gaius says I have a condition that means I am easily stressed, and that this is the cause. I'm afraid I was incapacitated for most of yesterday afternoon," she smiled innocently, "and had only just been awakened when Uther was nearly killed."

Grendon merely jerked his head in acknowledgment at her protest of innocence. "And you've never experienced this before?"

"Oh, are you a physician now?" His questioning was beginning to get or her; she had no desire to speak about this, and especially not now.

"Answer the question, my Lady."

"No, I haven't."

He raised his eyebrows. "How convenient that it should occur now, just when the king happens to be poisoned." His tone matter-of-fact and casual, as if they were discussing the weather and not the king's near assassination. Amber felt anger begin to bubble up inside her and had to fight to suppress it and remain calm and collected.

"Are you suggesting-"

"Nothing." He cut her off, smiling slyly. "I am suggesting nothing, merely pointing out truths."

"I didn't poison the wine." She hissed, furious.

"No no! Of course not." His sarcastic grin was poison to her eyes as she beheld him with disgust.

"Will there be anything else?"

Grendon sighed, as though he had been dreading the question. "I'm afraid not, what a shame, we should do this again some time."

Amber simply stared coldly at him, refusing to be intimidated. "Very well." He sighed. "Until next time, then, Lady Amber."

Trying not to look too relieved, Amber scraped the chair legs against the floor with a harsh squeak and strode from the room, but was halted in the doorway by the questioner's voice. "And mark my words, there will be a next time."

———

"Lucan. Psst, Lucan." The young knight turned around at the sound of his name, but there was no one there.

"Hello?"

"Over here." It was Azric. The older man pulled the other into a small alcove, motioning as he did so for silence. Lucan nodded. 'What is it?'
He mouthed.

Azric gestured with his hand for him to follow and the young knight obeyed questioningly. Where were they going?

Eventually, Azric motioned his companion through a small wooden door. Stepping past the threshold, Lucan realised they must be in Azric's own chambers.

It was a small room, with a neatly made bed against one wall and a few pieces of furniture pushed up against the edges, leaving a bare space in the middle to move around in. A few books were piled in one corner and neatly folded clothes were dotted about, giving the room the impression of an inn's bedroom - but other than that it was a fairly bare space. Azric went to sit at the rickety table and Lucan pulled up a chair opposite.

"What is it?" He questioned again, this time aloud, his frustration ringing out clearly in very word.

"Uther has requested that we track down that bottle of wine. He wants us to bring everyone who came into contact with it to the palace. But Lucan..."

The younger knight cocked his head in confusion. "Yes?"

"... that includes us." Azric sighed and tilted his chair backwards, allowing his companion a few seconds to process what he had said. When he failed to reply, Azric was obliged to continue. There was a loud clack as his chair legs smashed back into the ground forcefully and he stared intently at Lucan. "You see, that's the wine from our knighting ceremony, so any of us could have had the opportunity to poison it. Lucan, we're all suspects."

The youth's face paled as he considered the statement. It was as though all the life and warmth had been pulled from inside of him until he was but a shell, grey and colourless, at the accusation that he could be a traitor. "Not all of us." He whispered, as a new and even more horrifying thought occurred to him. "Azric, only us two drank the wine. Me because it was me being knighted, but all the others drank from that other bottle remember, and-"

"-And me because you gave it to me before the servants took it back." Azric frowned at the memory. Of course. "What do we do?"

"We should carry out the king's orders and round up everyone who came into contact with the bottle, and then..." Lucan paused, unsure. "Then we turn ourselves in." He said decisively.

"Lucan!"

"No, Azric, we have to gain Uther's trust, if we hide something from him he'll just be more suspicious. If we turn ourselves in willingly he will see our loyalty to him."

The young man stood, followed by the senior knight. "C'mon then, I guess. We've got a lot of work to do."

———

Emile glanced over at Thoryne where he sat at the far end of the bar. She had just finished polishing the wooden surfaces of the inn and Ye Olde Pheasant was shining in the weak sunlight as if it had been transformed into bronze, the whole place glowing and warm. Emile felt a little smile dance over her lips as she stacked glasses on the counter. There had been good business earlier but now sunset was drawing near and Ryne was the only customer left, sitting with a drink in his hand and just staring thoughtfully into the deep amber liquid.

It had reached her ears by now that the king had nearly been killed yesterday. Gossip spread quickly in the lower town and Ye Olde Pheasant was a breeding place for rumours. Personally, Emile had to share Thoryne's view that perhaps Camelot was better off without Uther. Of course, there was no way that she was involved in any of this, but it didn't change the fact that she had no illusions about their monarch: he was a tyrant, the whole city lived in fear that one day guards would stream into their home and arrest them for a crime they did not commit. Women, children, mothers, fathers, it didn't matter. One word from the king, and you were dead. Emile scowled at the thought. She would never willingly kill the king, but a small part of her just wished that whoever was responsible had succeeded. When Arthur became king there would be no more need to keep secrets.

Peeling back the heavy curtains, her large eyes wandered aimlessly down the street. A pair of guards marched past the door, followed by another. Security in the citadel had been increased tenfold since yesterday's events. It was meant positively, but all the added guards were making people more edgy. More fights broke out at the bar and on the streets, people walked quicker than they used to, hoods hiding their downcast faces.

Emile may not like the king, but the idea that there was an assassin roaming the city freely made her skin crawl. The sooner they were caught and the guards called back to the palace, the better.

———

She was staring again and Ryne was thoroughly irritated by now. Of course, it must look odd, his being the only one in here. But did she really have to stare at him? No.

There was a knock on the door.

Emile looked up and it was Thoryne's turn to watch her as she laid down her glass, although she made no move towards the door, instead she stood there, an almost frozen look on her faces. He could see the quick pulse in her neck from here.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The knocking was slow and the strokes deliberate, resonating through the thick oak. If it was possible for knocking to sound sarcastic, this did. It was mocking, a falsely polite request hiding what Thoryne felt was ill intent.

Drawing a newly made sword, one he had been taking home only today, he advances towards the door, motioning for the barmaid to stay back.

He only made it halfway across the cavernous room, however, before the door was thrown back. Men streamed into the room, blocking the fading daylight from outside as they charged into the room. Thoryne had half a second to register that these were the kings men, and another half to register the dislike he had of knights, before he felt something hard against his skull and the world span. The last thing he heard was Emile screaming his name before it all went black.

———

"Gaius, I did come in here yesterday, you know I did."

"Yes I know but still, you're not a murderer! There's no need to turn yourself in, it'll do more harm than good."

"And you expect our pig-headed excuse for a monarch to see that? If he knows I'm hiding something other than, well, you know, he'll kill me!"

"Calm down, my boy. I'm just saying there's no reason to rush into things like this. Maybe give it a bit of thought...?"

"No, I've got to do this now, Gaius. If I don't I risk everything, I risk losing Arthur's trust, I risk losing my job, my entire way of life!"

"Well, if you must, but let Merlin know first. I'm not breaking the news to him that you've more or less confessed to being a suspect. For heaven's sake Aithlin, this is a murder investigation, not a game!"

The youth sighed in defeat. "Alright, I'll tell him. Bye Gaius."

With a quick hug the stablehand departed. It was going to be a long day, but hopefully if he admitted to being in Gaius' chambers it would avoid suspicion later, after all, they were bound to find out eventually. Anxiously, he twisted a loose thread from his sleeve around his finger, pulling it tight and releasing it, watching as it returned to its usual pale colour. He breathed out slowly through his nose, and headed towards Arthur's chambers, hoping to find the prince's manservant there.

Instead, he nearly walked into his friend as the warlock hurried out of the room and shut the door behind him. Aithlin heard a thud as some sort of large object collided with the wooden surface and fell to the floor. He grinned. "Bad mood?"

Merlin just rolled his eyes and pushed past the stableboy. "You bet."

Watching his friend's back disappear down the corridor, Aithlin felt his shoulders slump as a large sigh escaped his lips. Perhaps it's better he doesn't know.

Turning, he knocked on Arthur's door. He felt his breathing quicken and his heart beat wildly against the inside of his ribs. The silence seemed to stretch on for eternity to the youth's ears. But then:

"Come in."

One last calming breath later, he was inside the room.

He was admitting his (potential) guilt.

———

Amelia glanced over at Tiv. They were both down in the kitchens, helping out the kitchen staff, although both knew it wouldn't last. Sooner or later Uther would send his men after them and it was likely that they would both be questioned on his poisoning.

It came as no surprise to them, then, when footsteps echoed down the corridor. The footsteps were heavy and rang threateningly through the stone. Footsteps of many men; Uther obviously hadn't expected them to come quietly. Nevertheless, neither servant was planning on defying the king and made no attempts to flee before the stampede of knights. They were both suspects, yes, but what good would running do?

None.

What surprised Amelia the most was that it was Prince Arthur leading the company. Why did he come all this way just for two servants? It worried her more than she cared to admit that she was really that much of a suspect.

She didn't plan to serve the king that night. She couldn't have helped it. But now the king's son was marching towards her and her best friend, looking more than a little angry, with a host of guards at his back. It was more than enough to make her want to give in to her instincts and flee. But she stayed put and waited patiently with a clam she did not know she possessed as her and Tiv were surrounded and marched towards the throne room.

Amelia felt slight claustrophobia make her skin crawl as a guard clenched his glove hand tightly around arm and dragged her off. She stumbled as she tried to keep up, hissing in pain. Eventually, however, they all reached the throne room. Amelia and Tiv were jostled roughly to their place in a long line of all those Uther had gathered as 'suspects'. There they were separated and she watched helplessly as Aestivus was dragged away from her to join the kitchen staff. Amelia recognised most of the people there already, although their pale faces and wide eyes made it harder to distinguish their features, hidden under hunched shoulders and bent backs.

There were others, too, who weren't servants. She saw two villagers standing to one side, a man with large shoulders and long dark hair, standing protectively behind a young woman, her large eyes widened and stark against her innocent face. There were nobles too: Amelia saw Lord Callahan, her own master, along with Lady Amber Godwin, Tiv's Lady, and the visiting noble, Lady Teodora. Amelia remembered Evelyn saying that everyone called the beautiful young woman Teo for short.

Oh, and speaking of Evelyn, there she was, speaking in low tones to Tiv where he had joined her and gesturing, rather oddly, Amelia thought, towards Callahan several times as she talked.

———

Aestivus nodded as he listened to Evelyn explain how she had ended up here; she and Lord Callahan had privately arranged the meeting between Teo and Uther. He understood how she felt, and his heart ached for her. She was trying to do the right thing, to help her Lady settle in, and it had got her nowhere but a possible sentence in jail or even on the pyre.

His lips formed a thin line. Uther needed to see beyond the limits of his own limited emotions and understand that other people, namely many in this room, cared for each other on a level he could never understand. It made Aestivus angry that their king was so focused on his own personal safety. If only he cared more. When Arthur is king, things will change.

But his thoughts were interrupted as the hall fell silent: even Evelyn left her sentence hanging in the air, unfinished, as the double doors swung open. They shook slightly as they did so, and Tiv felt his hair stir as the breath of wind the pushed towards him soared through the room as though it were a caged bird searching desperately for its freedom.

With the clacking of polished leather boots on stone and the rustle of a crimson cloak, Uther Pendragon stepped slowly into the chamber. He did not stop to admire the intricate decorations, nor the stained glass leaking dappled light, and the impressive array of colour splashing onto the floor from them. He didn't stop to stare at the court or suspects alike. Instead he swept through the room, his sheer regal presence drawing all eyes to him as he reached the mounted dais and ascended to the throne. For a moment he sat there and merely surveyed his subjects.

As his eyes passed over Tiv he felt as though a cold bucket of water had been thrown over him and he shuddered, bending over slightly. By the time he raised his eyes again, the king's gaze had moved on and he was left shaken in the crowd.

———

Evelyn watched as Uther's icy gaze swept the assembly. She felt cold shudders quiver up her spine as it swept by her, but his attention was fleeting and it soon passed. It felt as though they all held one collective breath as the king stood once more from his throne.

"I have gathered these people," he gestured to the crowd at the front of the hall, "here, as they could all have been involved in the... events, last night."

Evelyn felt guilty as she thought of that evening. She thought how Teo must feel. How had it all gone so wrong? All she had wanted was to make her Lady happy and now Teo was facing an accusation of treason and it was all her fault.

"I have given this matter much thought," continued Uther, "and I have made the decision that none of you are allowed to leave the citadel under any circumstances. I'm sorry for any inconveniences caused but we must eliminate you from our investigations before you are allowed to leave."

He doesn't sound very sorry.

"In an attempt to narrow down this group to our top possible traitors, I would like to dismiss all the kitchen staff gathered here today. You must still not leave the citadel, I'm afraid."

He paused to let his words sink in. "I have taken this deduction due to your consistent loyalty to me throughout your time here. If any of you, however, suspect your colleague, please report it to any of my guards. You may leave."

For a second the hall was filled with a cacophony of whispers and rustling as the kitchen staff left the hall. Evelyn noticed Tiv leaving with them, after all, he was here because he was working with the kitchen staff, but he was blocked by the guards. Evelyn heard the man's gruff voice: "Not you. You don't regularly work in the kitchens and are still highly suspected." With that Tiv was pushed back to the line. Evelyn counted. There were 13 of them left.

"Line up side by side."

They did as they were told, after all, they couldn't disobey the king, could they?

———

Uther stepped from the dais and paced slowly and deliberately towards the line. He stopped in front of the the first in the line. Lady Teodora Silva.

"You were dining with me."

"Yes my Lord." She bowed her head politely. "But I had no idea that I was going to have the honour until a few hours prior-"

"A few hours is enough."

Leaving Teo helpless to defend herself, he moved along. "Lady. Amber. Godwin." He smiled in mock-friendliness. "I understand you visited Gaius earlier?"

"Yes but, Sire, I assure you, I was only just awakened when the news was delivered of your poisoning!"

"Was there a witness, to confirm you stayed in your chambers? You could easily have taken the poison when you visited Gaius and snuck out of your chambers."

Amber's face paled. "There was no witness, Sire."

With a nod, Uther swept on.

It was Emile and Thoryne after that. They revealed that it had been Emile who supplied the wine Uther had drunk, and Thoryne who had delivered it to the palace. With no way to prove their innocence, they were left to the mercy of the king.

"Sirs Lucan and Azric."

"Sire." The two accused men chorused, heads bowed.

"The wine was drunk by you two, and you two alone, at the knighting ceremony, is that correct?"

"Indeed Sire." It was Azric who spoke.

"But Sire, we can both vouch that the other did not meddle with the wine." Lucan added.

Uther nodded. "It is easy to poison, young one. It could be done whilst your back was turned, though you never left the other."

"Indeed sire."

Next it was Lord Callahan and Evelyn, the two who had organised the feast. Both swore that they did it to help Teodora fit in.

"Who proposed this idea?" The king questioned.

"Me, My Lord. Although I assure you that no harm was meant-"

Callahan interrupted his companion, smiling at her reassuringly. "My Lord, I know Evelyn. She would never hurt this kingdom!"

"That's what's sorcerers and traitors do. They make you believe that they're innocent!" He narrowed his eyes at the two. "You are the only ones who knew that this was going to happen. I view you both with the utmost suspicion."

He swept on to Amelia's slim figure. "And what is your name?"

"Amelia, Sire." Her voice sounded small and scared. "I-I served you at your meeting with Lady Teodora."

Uther nodded. "Why should I not believe it was you who poisoned me?"

"I have no proof, Sire, but I can assure you that I have always been loyal to Camelot..." she trailed off.

"So you have no proof?"

"I'm afraid not, Sire, but I pride my role as a servant to this house."

Tiv next. Uther didn't even give Amelia the decency of a reply.

"Aestivus Clares, I have been informed that you suddenly decided to work in the kitchen, conveniently on the day an attempt was made on my life."

"That's right Sire. I'm afraid I had no idea that there was a meeting going on, until Evelyn informed me that Amelia would be serving."

Uther's eyes flashed. "So you did know?"

"Well, yes Sire."

"As I thought."

He moved on.

Cedric and River has been entertaining. He gave them a similar questioning as he gave Amelia and Teodora. Cedric has subconsciously pushed River behind him, as if to protect his apprentice from the king's accusations. It was therefore the jester, rather than his apprentice, that answered his monarch.

Last of all was Aithlin, the head stableboy. As a relatively new member of staff in the castle, and one that Arthur had appointed and not Uther, he was suspicious. "My Lord." He was the only one to greet the king before being spoken to.

"You were in Gaius' chambers?"

"Yes, but I was working for the rest of the day. I went nowhere near the kitchen."

"So you say."

"Yes, I do."

With a sneer and a scowl, Uther came to sit back on his throne. He addresses the court one final time. "As you can see, there are many suspects on this case. If you feel you can confidently accuse someone of being a traitor, I implore you to do so. But for now, they will all be free to do as they wish. The court is dismissed."

And just because I added a new character - russetfox12345 I also added a gif for them, seeing as everyone else had one:

^ Aithlin, this is Everyone. Everyone, this is Aithlin.

So yeah, pls PM me if you want to accuse someone because I can't write chapter 6 until someone does!

And sorry for the wait again: I hope to have made up for it with this 4543 word chapter!

Also, I've created a google hangouts, so if you have a google account and haven't already, PM me your email address and I'll add you!

Until next time...