A/N: I don't own Merlin. Reviews are always appreciated! :)
"I, Arthur Pendragon King of Camelot, hereby banish you for practicing sorcery." Merlin looked at Arthur smirking, thinking the whole thing to be a farce by the knights, but the look in Arthur's eyes made him stop. His friend's eyes shone with betrayal and… fear? Arthur was frightened of him?
"Arthur," he began. The king held up a hand, silencing him. Merlin glanced at Gaius, who could not meet his eyes.
"I don't want to do this Merlin," Arthur said. "But you know the law. I want you gone by nightfall."
"You ARE the king!" Merlin cried, "you are the law! You can make new ones and destroy old ones!"
"My father's laws exist for a reason. I am not as experienced as he was when he placed them there. Magic is dangerous and anyone who practices it is as well." Arthur told him, sweeping his cape to leave the room.
"What have I done to make you believe I would hurt you or Camelot? I have saved your life more times than I can count, by use of magic. It is not dangerous, it's the people who wield the magic that decide what to do with it!" Merlin was furious. All he had worked to achieve, gone because he had chosen to act and save the king's life with magic. He had thought Arthur would understand, had hoped that Arthur would accept him. Now his near perfect life was ruined.
Arthur stopped by the door and glanced back at Merlin, tears in his eyes. "You can't pass judgement on something you don't fully understand." Merlin tried one last time to get his friend to see reason.
"My entire family has suffered because of magic. That's all the understanding I need to pass my judgement." Arthur glanced out the window at the sunset. "You have one hour until I send the knights out after you." Merlin stared at Arthur, not wanting to believe that everything he had done for his friend had been for nothing. Gaius gently took Merlin's arm and led him away as the tears started to fall.
13 years later…..
"I'm sorry sire," the young physician said. "There is nothing I can do against old age." King Arthur nodded, solemn and understanding.
"I know. Thank you for trying though. How long does he have?"
"I would guess about two weeks at the most. Honestly, he surpassed his life expectancy about three years ago."
Arthur nodded and dismissed the man. He moved to Gaius's side. The old man was like a grandfather to him, and Arthur wanted to do everything he could to make the old man's last days on earth his happiest.
"Arthur," Gaius wheezed. It broke the king's heart to see the one constant in his life fading. Gaius had always been a true friend and reliable adviser.
"Gaius. You have served this kingdom well in your long life. Countless times you have saved my life and lives of those around me. The kingdom is indebted to you and I promise you will be honored and remembered for a long time to come." Arthur's words shook, but he had to make sure Gaius knew how valuable to the kingdom he was. "If there is anything that you want, it's yours. All you need to do is ask."
Gaius whispered something quietly. Arthur leaned in to hear.
"Merlin. I want to see Merlin."