So this is a story completely co-written with Anna Davenport. She's another user on here; you should totally go check out her stories! (She's writing a Merlin one!)
IMPORTANT: This is an AU sort of thing. Arthur is king, but Morgana has not yet been discovered as evil!
"I, Arthur Pendragon, hereby announce that Merlin, my former manservant, is to be detained until tomorrow. He is the first example of why magic of all types had been banned from Camelot. The sorcerer will be executed at dawn."
It was with a heavy heart that Arthur so condemned his friend and former servant, but the morals of his father were ingrained deeply into his heart. All magic was evil- it always had been and always would be.
In every attempt on his life, somehow magic had been involved. They had never found an explanation for the source of the magic, until now. No one besides Merlin would be impetuous enough to expose himself in such a manner. Arthur wondered what Merlin's goal had been; to take his life or simply make his life miserable, because he certainly had done a good job with the later.
According to his father's traditions, Arthur had no choice but to detain him in the dungeon until dawn at which time he was to be executed.
Arthur made his way slowly to his room where he sat upon the bed, running his hands through his hair.
"Merlin!" He called, then his stomach dropped in realization.
'Okay, no, he's not your friend anymore. He is a sorcerer, he has betrayed you,' Arthur reminded himself. Still his eyes drifted toward the spot where Merlin had always stood at attention, ready to follow Arthur's every command, more or less.
Arthur groaned as he realized he had no choice for a manservant other than George.
"George!" Arthur shouted, and then screwed his eyes shut as he mentally prepared himself for the most boring week of his life with George until someone new could be hired.