I know I have other stories to update, but I can't get this idea out of my head. So here you go, hope you like it!
Merlin walked out of the stables and into the dark night and sighed. His breath was visible in the cold air, and the young warlock pulled his jacket around him closely.
There were hardly any other people out, and the people who were out were hurrying home. Merlin thought it would be a good time to use a spell to warm himself. Just a small spell, and no one was really around.
That was not a good decision. Though Merlin had no idea, a man right outside his own home had seen the boy's eye glow gold.
Sleeping was the only thing on the young warlock's mind that morning. He pulled himself out of bed after Gaius and woken him and changed his red shirt to blue, then his neckerchief blue to red.
Merlin stepped out of his room, yawning, but then stopped abruptly when he saw two guards of Camelot arguing with the physician. The guards turned their attention toward Merlin when they heard the door shut.
The marched up to him, grabbed his arms, and pulled them behind his back.
"What are you doing?" Merlin asked, as they pulled him towards the entrance. They didn't answer him- in fact, they completely ignored the question.
Merlin was pulled throughout the castle, and even passed Gwen at some point. She stared at him questioningly, but he only shook his head as if saying he didn't know what was happening either. But as he thought about it, he had become comfortable with using his magic when there were people around. Had someone seen him?
Eventually, the guards pulled him into the courtroom. King Uther sat on his throne staring icily at Merlin as he came in. The two guards pushed Merlin to his knees once in front of the king.
Merlin bowed his head, not daring to look up. He tried to focus on his rapid breathing.
"You have been accused of using sorcery. There was an eye witness there. Do you deny you used sorcery here in Camelot?" Uther snarled, trying to get immediately to the point. The boy was his own son's personal manservant after all.
Merlin didn't think he should lie anymore, even though fear clawed at him. He shook his bowed head.
"Do you deny that you are a sorcerer?" Uther asked leaning in his seat.
Merlin looked up, and glanced at Arthur who stood at his father's side staring at him looking hurt. "I am not a sorcerer," he said quickly. "I'm a warlock. I was born of magic- it was not my choice!"
Uther struck the boy across the face, and Merlin head snapped to the side.
"Don't raise your voice at me, boy!" Uther said. "I know how you treat my son with disrespect and no honor. I should have reconsidered having you flogged before." He sighed and slid back into his seat. "How could I be so foolish. The personal servant of Prince Arthur- a sorcerer?!"
Merlin wanted to protest. He wanted to scream out that he wasn't evil- magic wasn't evil, it could only be used for evil like any weapon. He wanted to say he only used his magic to protect Arthur. But, as he glanced up towards Arthur who now had tears in his eyes, hurtful tears, and Merlin's heart seemed to shatter.
He tried to plead with Arthur without using words, but Arthur looked away.
"You will be burned at the stake, tomorrow morning for using magic." Uther said. Merlin tried to keep the gasped sob down, but he couldn't. If he died- what would happen to Arthur? Who would protect him?
Then his attention turned toward Morgana. She was smirking, right behind Uther's back. Yes. He had to tell them, before he died. This was his last chance of protecting Arthur.
"The Lady Morgana, sh-she has magic," Merlin said. Morgana's eyes widened, but Uther didn't seem to believe him.
"How dare you accuse my own ward. You'd create any sort of lie to get yourself out of this, but it won't work. Get him out of here," Uther said angrily.
"No! She's evil!" Merlin cried as the guards picked him up from the ground. "Please, listen to me! Magic- it's not evil! It can't all be judged as evil, when there are so many good purposes for it! But Morgana, she made the wrong decision!"
"Merlin," Arthur croaked, as if the name hurt his throat. "Quiet."
But Merlin ignored him. "She used her powers for evil! She's plotting against you, please, listen!" He screamed, trying to escape the guards' grip on him.
"Enough!" Uther screamed in rage. He marched to Merlin, drawing his sword from it's sheath. He pointed the sword at the warlock's throat, and Merlin gave a slight gasp when he saw the anger in Uther's eyes. "I could kill you, boy, I'm the king, so don't think I can't!" He whispered furiously.
The whole courtroom was staring at the scene before them in shock, all holding their breath.
Then the king slashed his sword across Merlin's face. The boy cried out in pain, and would have fallen if it weren't for the guards strong arms holding him.
Arthur stared at his servant, feeling so... betrayed. He didn't know how else to put it. As Merlin turned his eyes to him, he saw the tears. But- a sorcerer? Idiot Merlin, a sorcerer? It didn't make sense. Arthur stared at Merlin coldly, and his servant, his friend, began to cry.
Gods, Merlin, stop. Arthur knew it was the look he had given him, it wasn't pain or fear.
The guards dragged Merlin from the courtroom, leaving everyone in a silent shock. Morgana's eyes were full of tears, from the fear of being discovered, and Uther was breathing heavily. Finally he said, "The council is dismissed."
No one needed to be told twice; they scurried out as quickly as possible.
Merlin was thrown into a cell carelessly, as if he were nothing but an empty sack. Merlin gingerly put a hand on his cheek, but tore it away again when it stung him.
He remembered the look of betrayal Arthur had given him.
That cold glare.
Merlin sobbed.
He wasn't a traitor. He wanted to serve Arthur forever, protect him forever, but now he wasn't going to be able to do that.
His body shook with each sob that came from his throat, tears poured freely down his face, sometimes stinging the wound on his cheek, but he could care less. It was nothing compared to being thought of as an evil person. An evil sorcerer. Merlin had always planned on how he was going to tell Arthur. It would be perfect- Arthur would accept him, and thank him for how much Merlin had saved him. And Merlin would serve the once and future king until the day he died.
But now that wasn't going to happen.