Thanks to everybody for the lovely reviews of chapter one! They mean so much! Honestly! :D

Um, can I just say that this story has been up for 2 days and already over 200 people have read it? I mean holy crap! I only wish you'd all review. :(

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or the speech by Balinor here at the beginning. I stole that from episode 1x09 (Excalibur) :P

Enjoy!

O.o.O

"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people in this kingdom and its dominions according to the statutes, customs, and the laws laid down by your forbearers?"

"I do, Sire."

"Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?"

"I do, Sire."

"And do you swear allegiance to Avalon now, and for as long as you shall live?"

"I, Merlin Emrys, pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its people."

"Now, being of age, and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crowned Prince of Avalon."

The nobles throughout the throne room clapped respectfully, including Arthur. From his position at the front of the crowd, he could see King Balinor placing the golden crown upon Merlin's raven-colored hair. He spun and faced the crowd, beaming happily. His gaze met Arthur's, and his smile slipped slightly.

"Go congratulate him, Arthur," Uther ordered, before turning to speak with a group of men.

Arthur scowled, but stalked over to the newly-crowned Prince anyway.

"I'd like to offer you my congratulations," he said monotonously, clasping his hands behind his back and standing as tall as possible.

Merlin's eyes softened slightly, and he allowed his lips to quirk upwards a fraction. "Thank you."

Will appeared beside Merlin, glowering at the blonde. "This bloke bothering you again, Merlin?"

Disapproval flashed through Merlin's eyes so fast that afterwards Arthur thought he imagined it.

"Will, please go get us some wine," he said, not taking his eyes off of Arthur. The servant shot Merlin a look of annoyance and disbelief, before walking away.

"I'm sorry," Merlin said. His voice was much warmer than it had been earlier that night. "He doesn't trust royalty easily."

"He trusts you."

"We've been friends our whole lives," he explained. Arthur mentally scoffed. Friends with a servant? Before he could retort, Will returned with two goblets. He handed one to Merlin, but instead of giving the other to Arthur, he kept it in his hand. Arthur glared. He really did not like this guy.

Merlin followed his line of sight. He elbowed Will, almost spilling his wine in the process.

"Will!" he hissed, "Please don't be rude. He did nothing wrong."

Arthur blinked. Merlin was…standing up for him? Warmth pooled in his stomach, and he smiled slightly.

Will scowled at him. It seemed as though a silent conversation took place exchanged by glares and frowns. Finally, Will sighed and thrust the cup at Arthur, spilling a few drops on his tunic.

He smiled sweetly. "Oops! Sorry."

Arthur growled, and shoved his goblet at Merlin who took it hesitantly. As soon as it was out of his hands, he threw himself at Will, sending them both sprawling across the cold stone floor. He thought he heard Merlin shout, and suddenly he was being hauled to his feet. He decided not to fight it, and soon found himself being held in place by two guards. He looked over at Will. Merlin had both his arms around the servant's waist. Arthur smirked with satisfaction when he saw Will's nose gushing blood.

"What is going on?" Uther boomed. Nobody dared speak.

The silence was broken by a tremendous crash. For a split second Arthur thought the Earth itself had cracked in half. Suddenly the massive window exploded spontaneously, and everyone dropped to the floor with hands over their heads. As the last shards of glass twinkled down, Arthur raised his head. The first thing he saw was Merlin's messy mop of hair. As if sensing Arthur's eyes, he also lifted his head. Their gazes met. Merlin's eyes were full of alarm, with a hint of curiosity. Arthur assumed his were the same. Suddenly the other prince's eyes went wide with fear.

Shouting his name, he got to his knees and dove at Arthur, propelling him back several feet. A massive piece of granite struck the ground where he had just been kneeling. He looked to the man lying beside him, his mouth agape in awe. This scrawny, goofy-looking prince had just rescued him from being squashed like a cockroach. Merlin risked his own life to save Arthur's. Maybe he wasn't as bad as Arthur thought. He just showed the courage of a lion, and he felt deeply honored. A blush crept across his cheeks as he realized Merlin still had his arm flung across his chest.

"You saved my life," he said stupidly.

Merlin glanced at him and grinned. "Yeah, don't know why I did that."

Arthur was speechless as Merlin finally removed his arm and crawled around the rock that fell from the ceiling to where Will still lay.

Arthur sat up as he heard a loud gasp and a few screams. Sitting in the king's throne was a woman- a beautiful woman with scarlet lips and azure eyes that radiated power. Brown locks swayed gently as she stood and made her way slowly toward…Merlin?

By now the raven-haired prince had noticed the woman. He stood up and hissed a single word with so much venom it frightened Arthur. "Nimueh."

The woman named Nimueh smiled. Arthur wasn't sure if he should be intrigued or repulsed.

As she approached the raven-haired man, she reached a hand out for him.

Arthur got to his feet and placed himself next to Merlin. "What do you want?" he asked with all the authority he could muster. If Nimueh was surprised, she didn't show it.

"The great Arthur Pendragon. I knew our paths would meet someday." Arthur was positive now that he should be repulsed. Her sneer—how could he ever think that was a smile?—radiated absolute evil.

"Nimueh, you know you can't." Balinor spoke. "It is against the Old Religion."

"I am the High Priestess—so I can do as I please." With that confident statement, she raised her hand again and flexed her fingers toward Merlin. Words escaped her mouth in a furious torrent. Her voice reminded Arthur of a spitting cat or a flock of screeching crows.

"Sorcery," he heard his father whisper viciously.

Reacting instinctively, Arthur threw himself in front of Merlin as a crackling white light released from her fingertips and enveloped him. He was bowled over back onto the ground with a painful thud. Black spots swam in front of his eyes. After a few seconds of blinking to clear his vision, he saw familiar blue eyes looking at him with concern.

"Merlin?" he murmured. The other prince smiled slightly and gingerly stroked some stray hair from Arthur's eyes. When he pulled his hand back he glanced at it and paled, his eyes widening. Even with somewhat blurry eyes, Arthur saw red staining Merlin's creamy skin.

He sat up with Merlin's help, and was shocked—and terrified—to find most of the nobles in the room casting spells at Nimueh, who defended herself all too easily. She only had eyes for Merlin.

"B-But magic is…evil." He whispered. Merlin looked at him with sad eyes. "Then I'm sorry you have to see this."

Arthur opened his mouth but Merlin was already striding toward Nimueh.

He raised a hand, eyes blazing, and shouted words that sounded similar to Nimueh's, yet completely different. His voice sounded like wind rustling through trees in autumn, or flames crackling in a hearth.

Arthur quickly turned away as a blinding green light emitted from Merlin's hand. When he looked back again, Nimueh lay in a heap on the floor. A few more words from Merlin's mouth, and she exploded into dust, scattering all over the pure white floor.

Silence once again descended upon the hall.

Arthur glanced at Merlin. His face was full of regret and worry.

Uther was furious, shaking with anger. "You're all sorcerers." He spat the word out like he was referring to the dirt on his boots.

Balinor replied calmly, "Please, Uther. We have no quarrel with magic. We have simply accepted it into our kingdom, and flourished because of it."

But Arthur knew his father would not listen. "You have betrayed my trust," he said angrily.

Merlin cut in. "Just because you fear magic—"

"I do not fear magic!" Uther shouted.

"Father, please," soothed Arthur. He didn't quite know why, but he had the strongest urge to protect Merlin from harm—verbal or otherwise.

"No, Arthur. We are leaving."

"Father!"

"My word is final!" His father's voice was adamant, his tone bearing no tolerance for argument.

The knights who accompanied Arthur and Uther from Camelot hurriedly followed the King from the throne room like obedient puppies. Arthur hesitated. "I'm sorry," he said. "We did not wish to spoil your evening."

Merlin smiled slightly. "It's alright. It wasn't your fault."

Suddenly Uther's voice boomed, "ARTHUR!"

He cringed and smiled sheepishly at the crowd, before turning and making his way outside to the courtyard. His horse stood ready to go, and Uther had already mounted his.

As soon as Arthur was sitting on the saddle, Uther took off, with the band of knights following closely.

His father was being completely unreasonable, Arthur mused. Balinor had always been kind to the kingdom of Camelot, and suddenly Uther was ready to go to war! Arthur was raised to believe magic to be evil, but seeing Merlin defeat that wicked sorceress spurred something new in him. What if magic itself wasn't evil, just some of the people who used it? After all, he couldn't believe evil was in that boy's heart. So, what if it was used with good intentions? He had so many questions, and only one person could answer them truthfully.

Suddenly Arthur knew what to do.

Once they passed the gates, he let himself draw back a bit. Near the end of the group he faced his most trusted knight Sir Leon.

"Leon," he hissed.

"Yes, Sire?"

"Cover for me. I'm going back to the castle."

"But Sire—"

"No, I have to do this." Arthur sighed. "It just feels right."

Sir Leon pursed his lips, but he knew better than to argue with the prince. As soon as he nodded his head, Arthur whirled his horse around and galloped back to the entry gates. He deposited his horse and tied him to a nearby tree, hidden from the eyes of roaming guards. As he approached the gates on foot, a single guard approached him.

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly.

Arthur bristled. "I am Prince Arthur of Camelot—"

Before he could finish the guard's eyes nearly bugged out of his head and he began stuttering, "Oh! My Lord! Please forgive me. I could not see your face in the darkness." Arthur held up a hand to silence him. Without another word, he strode past the nervous guard and into the courtyard.

Now, where is Merlin's room?

Somewhat of a cliffhanger. Sorry. But it's a long chapter! And I'll update soon :)

Review! They make me so terribly happy. :)