Disclaimer: Unfortunately Merlin isn't mine, my patent attorney is still working o getting the rights settled.

A/N: Don't you think that if a crazy, yet powerful old sorcerer came barging into your castle saying he'd enchanted you to fall in love with a servant when you knew for a fact that you hadn't been enchanted at all, you might have a question or two?

This is set while Merlin is pretending to be an old sorcerer to save Gwen during "Queen of Hearts"

To Die an Old Man, Filled with Regret

It was cold in the cell, but he was used to it, having been thrown down here more times than he cared to remember. But this time had been different, for one he was not himself, or at least not the self he recognized.

And also in this little foray into the dungeons he had come clean, walking straight up to Uther and declaring himself a sorcerer, there was a certain feel of it, walking into the dungeons rather than being thrown into them.

Everything had gone to plan, as he had been escorted to his cell he had passed Gwen as she was led back into the open air. He smiled, a fair trade, a life saved, two lives by the look on Arthur's face when he discovered her release.

But the way Arthur had looked at him, when Merlin had confessed to enchanting them, it had chilled him, but it was worth it, his friend was safe, and it wouldn't be long now before he too would be out of harms way.

And now Merlin was simply waiting, he was sure they would come, at some point, and now he was just trying to guess which of them would come down the stairs first. Whether it'd be Arthur's thick leather boots or Morgana's light heals clicking down the stone steps.

Within the hour he heard the clatter of footsteps on the stair, And as expected the prince came into view around the stone columns. Merlin smiled a little as Arthur approached, leaning back against the cold stone wall of his prison, "I was wondering when you'd get here." That stopped Arthur in his tracks.

But then his jaw hardened, "you knew I would come sorcerer?" he asked accusingly. "Well I figured you would, after I…'enchanted' you and Guinevere" Merlin said, trying to hide a smile. While Arthur flinched "I want to know why. Why you would enchant us."

"Your highness, I think we both know, there was never any enchantment" And at that Merlin couldn't hold in the small smile as he looked up at the prince through the bars, raising his eyebrows as he did. Before turning his face away again.

Arthur just looked awestruck for a moment, and then confused, and then angry again, "then why would you frame Gwen?"

"Now, is that what I really did?..." Merlin said as he gazed out the small window, seemingly aloof. Arthur had no answer to this and remained quiet, waiting for the sorcerer to speak.

Finally he turned and upon groaning joints began to stand from where he had been sitting against the wall. And when he was eye to eye with Arthur, Merlin said quietly "maybe, instead of framing Gwen, I saved her life." He raised an eyebrow, waiting for his friend to catch on.

"Prince Arthur, do you really think that a sorcerer bent on doing you harm would come right out and say that it was him, do you really think a sorcerer powerful enough to cast such an enchantment would be so sloppy?

"Come now my prince, do you really think that if I wanted to escape these chains I wouldn't be able too? I am a 'sorcerer' as you say. And if I am as powerful as you believe why would I remain here?" He asked, and Arthur saw the old man's eyes fill with gold, and moments later they both herd the lock click, and the door opened easily, but the sorcerer stayed inside the cell standing before Arthur as his eyes changed back to blue.

"I could escape if I wanted to." Merlin said quietly. "I'm protecting her, Arthur, and you. There is an evil sorceress residing in Camelot, hiding right under your father's nose. I can't tell you who." He said quickly when Arthur was about to speak. "It is much easier for me to deal with her if no one else knows. I am trusting you, Arthur Pendragon, to not do anything stupid. This witch knows about your love for Guinevere, she is trying to kill her to break you, I will protect you and Gwen, but you have to trust me. I have protected Camelot for too long for you to screw it up now, so don't." the door suddenly closed of its own once again. "Wait…" Arthur called shaking his head, trying to understand, "how long have you been here?" Merlin laughed a little, "Awhile… protecting your sorry ass cause you can't seem to stay out of trouble."

"Do I know you?"

Merlin stopped, if he had been looking at Arthur, the jig would've been up, he had stopped, suddenly, rigidly and there was no doubt that Arthur had noticed.

"Perhaps, but it is also likely that you have heard of me, the Druids are quite fond of my legends, and there is usually a sorcerer every few months who wishes to challenge me and test his strength against Camelot."

Merlin would still not look at the Prince and instead stared contemplatively out the window until Arthur broke the silence "But who are you?"

Merlin sighed and turned around to face his prince, "I am Emrys. I shall tell you no more, if you look hard enough I'm sure you can figure out what that means, but you will have to look elsewhere, you will find no answers in this dank cell."

"But…"

"No Prince Arthur. I'm done talking, rest assured I will protect Guinevere, but you must find the answers to your questions above ground." And then Merlin sat back against the wall again and looked away, appearing on the surface as a decrepit old man once again, if he spoke anymore he would give himself away, and he couldn't risk that, not now.

The prince went away, walking slowly back up the stone steps, deep in thought.

It wasn't until the late hours of the night that he received another visitor…

A/N: I'm going to continue this at least one more chapter, if you want me to write about Arthur trying to figure it all out, all you need to do is spend 15 seconds writing a review, I need to know if the story is good enough to continue.