Hello peasants! (I love you) This is the first fan fiction that I have written that I am posting, so I would really appreciate reviews! Thank you :)


This was not the first public execution that Merlin would not be attending. He hated hearing the gasps and cheers of citizens as innocent men and women were beheaded, or hanged, or burned alive. Men and women with families, jobs, and lives. He hated seeing his kind killed for who and what they were, and he hated looking at Arthur as it happened, seeing the regret in his eyes.

Merlin knew that Arthur didn't like executing people, either, but this was what he had been raised to do. What else was he supposed to do? Let sorcerers run rampant through the streets of Camelot?

Merlin sighed and continued to mindlessly clean Arthur's room. He was pointlessly dusting around the already tidy furniture, trying not to focus on the cheering that could now be heard outside Arthur's window. It was done, another man was dead.

Merlin finished dusting every piece of furniture in the room. Outside, the crowd's excitement had died down, and they had all run off to get back to their lives.

It didn't take long for Arthur to make his way back to his chambers, removing his jacket and throwing it on the bed for Merlin to pick up.

"I need you to do my laundry, Merlin. There's a feast tonight," he said. He didn't look at Merlin ."And it's really important, so don't think that you can get out of it, either." Merlin looked up.

"I didn't hear anything about a feast."

Arthur nodded. "That's because I am just now telling you." He said, sarcastically. "It's last minute. Gwen's idea, actually. She says she had something she wants to announce."

"What is she announcing?"

"If I knew, Merlin, I would tell you."

"Would you?"

"Probably not."

Merlin nodded, picking up Arthur's jacket to hang in his closet. "Right, anything else you need, sire?"

Arthur looked around, seeming to notice for the first time how clean his room was. He looked impressed. "Did you polish my armour?" he asked. Merlin nodded. "Muck out the stables? Walk my dogs?"

"I did."

"Then there's nothing. You're excused for the afternoon," he said, grabbing a new belt from his drawer. "As soon as you finish my laundry." Arthur said. He inspected the unusually clean state of his room.

"Thank you, sire," Merlin said. He looked at Arthur as he put the belt on. "Is there anywhere you have to be before the feast tonight?"

"There is another trial for a girl accused of sorcery in an hour. I believe she is no older than 15," he said. Merlin looked at him.

"Where are her parents?"

"Her father was executed under the same accusations last week. Her mother is nowhere to be found."

"Did she commit a crime?" Merlin asked.

"The mother? How should I know?"

"The girl."

Arthur finished putting on the new belt and took a seat behind his desk. "She's a sorcerer. She was seen using magic."

"Besides that?"

"Isn't that enough?"

"Not if it was harmless."

"Sorcery is never harmless, Merlin." Arthur said, growing impatient. "Why are you so interested all of the sudden?"

"I'm not."

"Okay then," he said, dismissively. "Leave me to my work." He picked up a quill and dipped it in ink, attention already shifted to whatever kingly duties he had sitting on his desk.

Merlin moved to the front of Arthur's desk, staring down at him. Arthur was working on conditions for a peace treaty with one of the outlining kingdoms. His handwriting was sloppy, as if he was distracted.

"May I help you with anything?" Arthur asked, not looking up.

"No. Nothing."

"Then you may go." Arthur made a shooing gesture with his hand.

Hesitating for only a moment, Merlin left.


Please review! Thank you!