Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters....but i'd like to own Arthur.
"Arthur!" Merlin shouted in warning as he watched the man Arthur had just stabbed rise up on to his knees. Four daggers flew through the air towards the back of the crown prince. Merlin jumped.
Arthur, hearing the shout, turned as Merlin crashed into him, bowling him out of the way.
Thud, Thud, Thud, Clang!
The prince raised himself up from where he lay. Merlin was standing above him, staring at the man, now lying dead on the courtyard. Arthur walked up to him and laid his hand on Merlin's shoulder, spinning him around. His eyes widened as he saw the daggers buried in the young man's shoulder, thigh and stomach; the fourth dagger lay where it had fallen on the cobbles. Merlin grinned his cheeky smile at Arthur, before his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed, Arthur catching him before his head hit the cobbles.
"Arrest that boy!" Uther barged onto the scene. "I witnessed him using magic! Guards, take him to the dungeon!" Merlin, it seemed, had jumped, powered by magic, right over Uther's head to where Arthur was standing, over 100 metres away. The guards seized the unconscious warlock from Arthur's grasp before he could move, and dragged him off to the dungeons.
"He just saved my life! How can you do this?" The prince shouted, his face turning red in anger.
"He practiced magic! All sorcerers are evil! He may have saved you this time, but next time it'll be he who tries to kill you!" Uther replied in a no-nonsense voice. He walked off with Arthur staring at his back. The crowd parted silently. Uther paused briefly by Gaius. "Attend me in the throne room immediately."
Arthur, Morgana and Gwen congregated in Gaius's chambers while the physician met with the king.
"I can't believe what happened. Who could have thought Merlin was a sorcerer?" Morgana commented, calm and cool as ever.
"He lied to me. I trusted him with my life." Arthur muttered, head in his hands.
"And he saved your life!" Morgana snapped. At that moment Gaius hurried in and began gathering up various herbs and potions.
"What did my father say?" Arthur demanded, leaping to his feet.
"He said that I was allowed to treat Merlin. He wants him to be awake and aware when he's...he's...." Gaius sat down suddenly, tears in his eyes, unable to say more.
"Executed.... I must see him!" Arthur finished, starting to walk out.
"No, Uther has forbidden anyone to see him except me. He especially mentioned you." Gaius said. He began collecting his remedies again. "I have to look after Merlin; while I still can!" With that Gaius left.
Merlin was lying where the guards had left him, still unconscious, with the knife hilts still sticking out of him. Gaius rushed to him, ignoring the pool of blood collecting around the boy.
"Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. Why did you do it? Uther is sure to execute you now." Merlin's eyelids flickered. They opened briefly as he asked.
"Arthur...is he... safe?" the boy gasped out, lapsing back into unconsciousness as Gaius said the prince was fine. The physician examined the wounds, cleaning them with stinging alcohol, causing the warlock to twitch and moan. Luckily none of the knives had penetrated Merlin's vital organs, or severed major blood vessels. Gaius carefully removed the daggers, trying not to make more damage. He sewed up the wounds and bandaged them up with herb compresses. He administered a painkilling potion, and then had to leave because of the impatient guards.
"Can you give him some water every so often? He's in no state to harm anyone" Gaius requested, and the guard nodded as he looked at the helpless boy inside the cell.
Arthur slept badly that night, even with the potion Gaius had given him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Merlin's smile as he collapsed, heard the thud as the daggers hit home, smelt the blood that came pouring out of his manservant. Who was he kidding?... his friend. He got out of bed and sat down on the window seat. He remained there until the first rays of the sun showed in the sky.
Hope you like this. Review and I may just post the next chapter....if I'm feeling nice.