Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. BBC does.

"You ever say anything like that again and I swear you'll join her in exile forever."

Standing in the hallway outside Arthur's chambers after having the door slammed in his face, Merlin couldn't understand what had just happened. If asked ten minutes before, he would not have thought that Arthur would act upon the threat made the previous day.

Especially when he hadn't spoken of the forbidden subject of Gwen since then.

He couldn't comprehend what had just come out of Arthur's mouth.

"Get out!" He'd slammed his goblet on the table and stood up, not walking round but levelling his manservant with a heated glare usually only reserved for those soon to be on the receiving end of his sword. "I warned you of what would happen and you didn't listen." His tone had taken on a deadly calm that Merlin knew did not bode well for whatever had caught the king's ire. "I didn't want to make good on my threat, Merlin and I'd hoped that you would take it seriously but it seems I cannot even expect that from you!" He leaned forward, balancing his weight on his hands on the table before looking back up at Merlin. "You are banished from Camelot." Merlin felt the blood rush from his face and a sickly feeling developed in his gut. "If you return, it is upon pain of death. I do not want to see you again. You have until sunset to leave the city."

He had then walked around the table and forced Merlin out of his chambers and into the hallway before slamming the door forcefully closed.

Merlin turned and slowly made his way back to Gaius's chambers, Arthur's words churning around his head. Walking through the door and closing it softly, he leaned back and let out a breath, closing his eyes.

"Merlin?" Gaius turned from the medicines he was mixing to look at his ward, a concerned expression marring his features. "Merlin, what's the matter?"

"Arthur," Merlin's voice choked as he drew in a breath. "He's . . . he's said that I'm banished from Camelot." His voice was nothing more than a whisper as Gaius's concerned expression changed to one of shock. "I have to leave by sunset."

"Did he say why?"

Merlin shook his head. "'He threatened it yesterday after I mentioned Gwen. He told me that if I mentioned her again, I would join her in exile. But I didn't Gaius. I swear I didn't mention her at all. I don't understand why he thought I would."

"I'll talk to him." Gaius's tone was decisive and stern, essentially telling Merlin that he would get to the bottom of whatever was going on in Arthur's head and try to get him to retract the sentence.

If he couldn't then he had no idea what would happen to the prophecy of The Once and Future King and Emrys.

As Gaius left the room, Merlin collapsed on the bench by the main table and let his head drop into his hands. He had to hope that Gaius would find out why Arthur had suddenly done this. He couldn't think of what may have happened in that time. He hadn't spoken of Gwen to anyone. Not Arthur, none of the servants spoke of her and he hadn't even mentioned her to Gaius.

He didn't have to wait long for Gaius to return, a grave look on his face. Merlin felt his heart drop at his expression knowing that Gaius hadn't been successful in getting Arthur to take back his sentence.

"What did he have to say?" He asked, knowing what the answer would be before the words even passed his lips.

"He wouldn't tell me why. All he would say was to make sure you left before sunset." He sat down across from his ward, looking at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Merlin."

"I just don't understand. I don't understand what made him do this," he could feel the tears welling up, the sting of them just behind his eyes. He looked out the window, seeing the sun high in the sky showing signs that it was just after midday. He should have been getting Arthur's midday meal right now, manoeuvring around the other servants in the kitchens and sneaking bits off the trays left out where he could. "What am I going to do? What about the prophecy? How am I supposed to protect Arthur when I can't be here?"

"I don't know." Gaius sighed, linking his fingers in front of him on the table. "I do not believe it will be forever."

"He told me that if I return, it's on pain of death." Merlin shook his head slowly, still trying to work out what had caused Arthur's sudden decision. "I can't come back, Gaius."

They lapsed into silence, neither of them knowing what to do or say. The thought of saying goodbye was difficult for both of them, having become much of father and son as anyone not of blood could. Though he had met Balinor, Gaius was the father figure he'd had for the last five years. He had become Merlin's support system and guidance. He didn't know what he would do without the old man there do guide him.

It was painstakingly hard for Merlin to pack his things and walk down the steps into the main chamber. Gaius looked up at him, the pain of having to say goodbye to the man who had become the son he had never had showing clearly on his face. Merlin shook his head when Gaius stated that he would walk him down, not wanting to draw out the sorrow of having to say goodbye.

He walked through the castle, taking the servants passages so he knew that he would not run into any of the knights who would clearly question where he was going with a full pack. He did not want to have to explain what had happened, knowing that they would be outraged by what had happened.

He slipped quietly out of one of the side gates and crossed the courtyard towards the gate. He kept his gaze towards the ground, not wanting to catch anyone's attention. He fought not to turn around and look back at the castle that had been his home for the last five years and forced himself to keep walking through the main gates that would take him through to the lower town and out through the main gates of the city.

And because he did not look back, the young warlock did not see the king looking down from his chambers, a look of regret in his eyes.