He did? I don't quite remember what was said. Perhaps he just offered to be punished -period- or expected something different at least.

He said "put me in the stocks for a week, a month even, I don't care..."

And I thought: wait a minute, why the stocks? Did that ever happen before? If he had said "keep me in the dungeon for a month/have me flogged/something else", I would have find it less surprising.

I think the question is does Uther hate magic enough to have his son executed and leave his country without a natural heir to the throne.

Concerning the question of the heir, I would think Uther wouldn't want a magic user as king anyway so it probably comes down to his love as a father vs. his totally hate-on for all magic.

Hm, I smell angst fic possibilities.