Percival strode along the hallways bringing up the rear of the guards escorting Arthur. He pulled the communicator from his belt and called for the Platoon Sergeant-Major.
"Sir, how may I assist you?" The Sgt-Maj asked.
"Mr. Gosling, this is Sir Percival, I need you to round up your best four squads and meet me at the entry to the catacombs." He ordered.
"Sir, all of my men are engaged with the invaders, I have no more here."
"I understand that Sergeant, but this is a direct order from the King, pull them out of the line and make sure there is at least one squad of Armour in there. This is of vital importance Mr. Gosling."
"I will do what I can."
"You have three minutes, make it happen, Percival Out."
Arthur looked back and saw his Uncle Percy striding up behind his escort, they had passed four dead traitors so far, and Arthur had seen them, but had given them no import. Percival came up beside Arthur and slowed to match the boys pace. Little legs only went so fast.
"Are we off to battle the enemy, Uncle Percy?" Percival looked down and saw the boy was wielding his short sword.
"No Lad, this is not a battle for us, your father will deal with these traitorous dogs. Now sheath you sword and keep moving."
The entry to the catacombs came into sight and the Sgt-Maj had done well, there were four squads of light infantry awaiting them. Standing off towards the fighting at the end of the corridor stood two Battle Suits, two more were at the other end of the hall and four were already scouting ahead in the tunnels. The men were moving four dead bodies out of the hallway, clearly to spare the boy, but he simply looked at the bodies with disdain and carried on. Percival noticed a distinct lack of blood as he passed, but the dead men's heads were at very unnatural angles, and one had a massive depression in the centre of his chest. Never piss of a Battle Suited Soldier he mused. He followed the boy into the dark tunnels and the remainder of the escort fell back and followed.
Uther strode into the entry hall of the palace and looked around for any immediate threats. There were none, six Battle Suits fell in around the King and escorted him through the carnage that was the front doors. He was as proud of his troops as he could be, there were well aware that there was little to no chance that they would survive the night, but they never balked, they were committed to him and would die to protect him. Either side of the entry, Royal Guards had constructed a crude barricade and were exchanging fire with Harold's traitors. The fire was heavy and poorly aimed, but even a blind cat caught a mouse at least once.
A group of men and women ran up behind the King a stood awaiting orders.
"Captain I want your best anti-sniper troops upstairs and make sure our flanks are shored up, I don't want any nasty surprises, I hate surprises." He ordered.
"Yes, My Liege." The man responded with half a smile, it was just like the King to crack half a joke in the middle of a desperate battle.
"The rest of you prepare to enter the courtyard, show mercy to surrendering enemies, but give no quarter to armed and aggressive soldiers." He commanded. "Know this my loyal soldiers, no matter the outcome, it has always been an Honour to lead you and your devotion to me and your duty humbles me."
Uther turned and drew Excalibur, striding through the shattered barricade and down the stairs to the old Executioners Stone in the centre of the courtyard. As he reached the centre of the courtyard, all of the firing stopped and a deafening silence descended on the entire area. Uther looked around at the men in the shadows taking careful aim at him. He smiled and stood at the bottom of the stairs lowered Excalibur so the tip hovered just above the turf.
"I know you are here, Harold. Be a man and show yourself and let's end this." He called. As he finished one of Harold's men lost his composure and rushed Uther screaming incoherently and waving his sword in the air. Uther saw him and dropped in to his ready stance, both hands gripping the Sword of Power. As the man reached Uther's range he swung hard and true, Excalibur slicing through the man's weapon and hitting him flush in the chest. But he was not split in two as most expected, the man was picked up and flung against the perimeter wall. There was a sickening crunch as the man smashed into the granite wall. His body stuck for a moment, but gravity to effect quickly and he slid down, leaving a trail of blood and gore as he went.
The shock of the man's demise was enough to shake the rest of his compatriots from their shocked silence. A tsunami of bullets and grenades proceeded to rain down on the courtyard. None came close to Uther, they were obviously told not to harm him, and a slight movement to his right told him why. Turning that way he saw the Battle Armoured figure of his beloved brother, Harold Pendragon, Duke of Gloucester, and now traitor to the King.
"Why are you doing this, Harold?" He asked sincerely. "You have always held a place with my trusted advisors. You are my only family."
"You would ask such an inane question, Brother." Harold spat back. "You have no concept of the true importance of being King. You, the King that wants to be loved. Love doesn't sustain an Empire. Power sustains an Empire."
"Power gained through fear and intimidation, is not true power." Uther shot back.
"Fear is the only way to gain true power you fool." Harold yelled. "That is why your reign will end tonight and be nothing more than a blip on the radar of history."
"You arrogance and hubris will be your undoing. Your reign will be short and without remark, Little Brother." Uther used the one term that was sure to push Harold over the edge. Harold was only too eager to oblige Uther and rushed him, striking quickly and accurately. But Uther was not concerned by the Battle Suits enhanced speed and strength. He parried every strike with ease, batted away Harold's parries effortlessly. Finally striking out at Harold with the flat of Excalibur's blade across his Brother's chest. Harold flew back and landed several metres away on his back, his sword skittering across the cobble stone driveway. Uther strode over and stood over his brother.
"I beg of you Harold, give up this madness. There is nothing that can't be fixed in time." Uther pleaded.
"I face my fate with a surety of a clear conscience and heart filled with righteousness. Your time has passed Uther, you are too blind to see it, is all." Uther raised Excalibur high to deliver the final stroke and end this madness once and for all.
A sudden and all-encompassing shock of intense pain tore through Uther's shoulder, it fell limp to his side. Uther spun, to face the treacherous enemy that would attack in such a cowardly manner, in time to see the sniper fall from the parapet of the outer wall, dead. The bullet had torn through Uther's shoulder and exited out of his chest plate. It was far from fatal and Uther turned back to Harold. As he went to raise the sword over his head, pain seared through his entire body. It was then that he realised that the shot had, in fact, been fatal. The poison was fast acting and Uther could feel the effects start affecting his body. He looked down at his recalcitrant brother and saw a rictus of a smile as he watched Uther decline.
Uther stumbled back to the Executioners Stand and climbed the stairs, he had to move faster, the poison was very fast acting and he could feel his life ebbing away. Standing now before the Executioners Stone, where so many had met their ends at the hands of Kings and Queens of old, he held Excalibur aloft.
"Plunge the sword in to the death stained stone, Uther. It will remain there until the righteous and true born King returns to claim it." A voice told him, he was sure it was coming from all around him.
"Bear witness all ye who stand before this stone of death this night." He bellowed. "The Sword of Power shall remain driven into this stone." He slammed the sword down driving the tip deep into the stone. "Here shall it remain until the righteous and true born King draws it out." Uther took a deep breath. "Tonight I die, but the true born King lives."
Uther knelt before the sword and lowered his head and grasped the remaining exposed blade. As he wrapped his fingers around the shining steel, his body started to transform. Slowly, his body turned to stone, rising up his legs and across his torso. Just before his head was transformed, he looked at his brother.
"You shall never possess it, Little Brother." Then he was gone, all that remained was a stone statue that knelt before Excalibur, one hand grasping the blade.
Harold walked slowly across the courtyard, all the firing had stopped, and Uther's guard had retreated into the palace and was making their own way. They were devastated at the death of the King, but they knew that they needed to live. The Rightful Heir would return one day and there needed to be loyal soldiers ready to take up the banner at that time. Harold slowly walked up the stairs and stood beside Uther. He gave a small chuckle before turning to his victorious soldiers.
"See what sort of King he was, he had no spine, he ran in the face of his demise. Now I shall claim the Sword of Power and I shall set the country to rights, and then the World!" He yelled to the sky.
Harold grasped the pommel of the Sword of Power and using all of his enhanced strength tried to pull the sword from the stone. But the sword did not move, he tried again, using one foot as a lever point. Again, the sword did not move, not even the smallest of amounts. He walked around and tried from a different angle, with the same results. He tried three more times before he screamed his anger and punched the statues head with all his enhanced power. There was a deafening clang as the steel re-enforced gauntlet met the head of the statue, Harold let out a squeal of pain as his hand broke in five places. The statue remained completely intact, not even the smallest of chips was dislodged. Harold stepped back in defeat, he anger and pain sending him into a blinding rage.
"Find the petulant child and bring him before me, I will have that sword, or he will meet his father on the River Styx." He ordered.
Harold turned leapt the short distance to the ground and entered the palace for the first time. It would be years before he saw his nephew again, and then it would not be in the manner that he expected.