Audience Chamber, Camelot, Friday Evening Fandom Time

It had been less than a few hours in Fandom, yes, but in Camelot over a day and a half had passed since Arthur's guests had arrived.

A day and a half. It was some kind of ( 'Cause trouble' record, and Arthur might have found that amusing if he wasn't absolutely petrified right now. )

[[ nfb, nfi, ooc-okay, and taken from the Merlin season 2 episode 'The Witchfinder'. Preplayed with the brilliant bigdamndestiny, glacial_witch, thismaskiwear and thatsamilkshake. ]]

Throne Room, Citadel of Camelot, Saturday Morning-Ish Fandom Time

( Can you say 'fuck fuck fuck' ten times fast? )

[[ nfb, nfi, ooc-okay, and taken and adapted from the Merlin episode 'The Witchfinder'. ]]

The Citadel, Camelot, Saturday Evening-ish Fandom Time

Things had been going from bad to worse, and they were just degenerating by the second. First, Aredian had paraded in three more 'witnesses' who had all seen 'horrible visions of magic' around town. Arthur's father had been appropriately moved, and had of course promised to do whatever Aredian wished.

Arthur was fairly sure Merlin hadn't done anything that stupid. He hoped.

"The sorcerer laughs in your face!" Aredian intoned. "Even now, magic flourishes on the streets of Camelot!"

"I scarcely believe it," Uther breathed, his face growing pale.

The frown on Aredian's face was downright triumphant. "And yet it is the truth, my lord!" he called. "Fortunately, I have utilized every facet of my craft to bring this to a swift resolution."

"The sorcerer..." Uther leaned forward. He watched Aredian as the man paced between the courtiers. "You have a suspect?"

"Oh, I do, my lord," Aredian promised. "I regret to say--" He didn't look like he regretted anything-- "that they stand among us in this very room."

A collective gasp passed through the courtiers present. Arthur privately felt glad he'd had the forsight to tell the girls to stay away from the audience chamber this time around, but he couldn't help but glance Morgana's way. She looked even paler than usual. God-- he hadn't even thought about what this might mean for her.

"My methods are infallible!" Aredian, meanwhile, was revving up to his final speech. "My findings, incontestable! The facts point to one person, and one person alone! ( The boy, Merlin! )

[[ open for reactions from anyone in Camelot who isn't currently incarcerated. ]]