It was the worst day of Merlin life. Part of him blamed Arthur. Blamed him for marrying her. blamed him for not annulling the marriage.

But No.

It was no one's fault.

At the time they got married Arthur and Gwen loved each other. It was only after they had fallen out of love that Lancelot moved into the picture.

Arthur had known had told her to go to him. She had. Arthur had asked Merlin to come to him. He had.

And yet he had not annulled the marriage. Merlin asked him why. Arthur had told him they did not have a reason for annulment. The only reason they could give would mean Guinevere being executed for high treason.

He told Merlin that if he wanted him to, he could find a way to annul the marriage. Merlin told him no. So had Gwen, So had Lance. They all knew that Camelot needed both Arthur and Gwen. Especially if Arthur should one day not return from a battle or a hunt.

And it became the worst-kept secret in Camelot's history. Everyone knew the queen spent her nights with the First Knight. And the King Spent his nights with the Court Sorcerer. Everyone who did not care knew and for almost four years they kept the secret from all who would not allow the two couples their happiness.

But then eleven days ago, a servant to a visiting noble had seen Gwen enter Lance's chambers and told her Lord who told the council and the ball was sent in motion.

Lancelot was exiled. Merlin remembered the King's words clearly, "If you return my knight will be forced to attack you. And don't think of trying to save her the east and west entrances will be too well guarded. And the dungeons will be made impossible to get into."

Not that Lancelot was stupid. As First Knight he had been in charge of security and the guard.

Many had objected to this sentence, including Arthur and Merlin. She had told Arthur that it was not his fault and had thanked him for giving her those years with Lancelot. She asked Merlin if he could help with the pain, and perhaps her passing when the time came. Merlin had promised he would.

All that leading to this moment. Gwen being brought into the courtyard to be burnt at the stake with the charge of high treason.

She pulled her arm out of the guard's hands and marched to the pyre, raising her arms to the executioner to be lifted up. He pulled her up and tied her to the stake, before jumping off.

The men with torches looked to Arthur for the command. Arthur who was as white as he had been after the Questing beast's bite all those years ago.

Merlin grabbed his hand, to comfort him ass much as to have arthur's comfort. Arthur glanced at him a terrified expression in his eye, a look that he was certain was reflected in Merlin's.

He looked at the Men and nodded, giving the command to end his friend's life. They lowered their torches. All but one hesitating. Arthur was not the only royal loved by the people.

As the flames climbed higher, a clattering of hooves on cobblestones in the north enterance was heard and people's attention drawn from Gwen, if just for a moment.

Someone cried "Lancelot! It's Sir Lancelot."

Merlin heard Arthur's muttered, "Good timing," and couldn't help but agree.

The crowd parted to allow him access to the queen. Merlin would later discover Lancelot had not even told them to move, only drawing his sword once he reached the pyre. Like Merlin and Arthur, they also did not want to see the queen burn.

Later Arthur would lecture his knights on their slowness and clumsiness with a smile. After all, Gawain had never tripped over his sword before.

Merlin did not see the fumbling, lazy knights he was too busy asking the rain to come. And come it did, in torrents, decreasing visibility, hearing and, of course, the flames.

When the rain cleared the pyre was there, but the Queen was gone as was Sir Lancelot.

It would be five years before Merlin would see either of his two friends again.