Neither Merlin nor Arthur noticed when Arawn slipped from the room. Merlin went to the wardrobe to get clothes for the prince and noticed the spot where Arawn had fallen was now empty.

"Sire, Arawn is gone," Merlin said returning to prince.

"You took care of him rather quickly." Arthur's voice was emotionless as he stood out of the bath and dried himself off.

"No, he must have woken up. He's left."

Arthur was quiet for a moment. The thought of Arawn being out there was disturbing enough, but to have him just walk out of Arthur's chambers was difficult for Arthur to swallow.

"Less for you to deal with I suppose." Arthur finally answered.

Both men were quiet as Merlin helped Arthur dress. Merlin silently cursed himself for not bringing Arthur's breakfast up with him. The last thing he wanted to do now was leave the prince alone.

"Arthur, would you like me to get you your breakfast?" Merlin asked cautiously.

"I'm honestly not hungry Merlin… I think I'm needed for council, or training, or something. I don't have time for this anyway."

"You know, I can get Gaius, say you feel under the weather, deathly ill, that kind of thing. No need to see anyone today." Merlin was worried about Arthur having to face Arawn during council, training, or even just around the castle. Merlin knew Arthur was strong enough to handle anything but he also knew Arthur would be in anguish every time he saw the other man.

"No Merlin. Thank you, but I'll handle this like the man that I am. Just give me a moment alone and I'll collect myself."

Merlin was hesitant but agreed. "Yes. You're right. I'll be right outside the door."

"Thank you Merlin. I'll be just a moment."

Merlin nodded and stepped out of the prince's chambers. He shut the door behind him and stood making sure no one came within ten feet of the room. He ignored the crying he could hear from behind the door. He wished he could go in and comfort the prince but he also knew it was more beneficial to pretend he had heard nothing.

After ten minutes the door opened behind him and Arthur came out looking as if he still had all the pieces to himself put together. No one would have guessed he was a changed, slightly broken man.

"Well… please clean my room when you get the chance. Let no one in until you do." Arthur said as if it were the same order he'd given a hundred times before.

"Of course Sire."

Arthur's eyes met Merlin's briefly. The conversation that occurred between their eyes spoke of compassion, relief, and gratitude. However, Merlin didn't miss the brief hint of fear and despair from Arthur as the two parted ways. Arthur went towards the armory and Merlin stepped back into the prince's chambers.

He looked over the scene in front of him and sighed, shoving back his own thoughts and memories. Blood stained the sheets of the bed and the places on the floor where Arthur had been seated. The tub of bath water was still filled with pinkish water, tinted from the blood. The shield was still at its fallen place across the room and had spots of blood from colliding with Arawn's head. If it weren't for all the blood, the room would look like a relatively normal morning mess.

Merlin worked first on cleaning the floor. It was after he had finished disposing of the bath water that Merlin was interrupted.

"Merlin. Your presence is required in front of the king," Sir Cador said as soon as he saw the servant.

Merlin quickly exited to room before Cador could come too far into the room and see the signs of what had transpired.

The two set off towards the council room quickly.

"Sir, do you know what I'm being summoned for?" Half of Merlin hoped that Arthur had decided to tell the king after all. Merlin didn't completely agree with Arthur's decision to keep what Arawn did a secret, but he understood why.

"I think it's best we don't speak." Cador said sternly.

As soon as they entered the council room a few minutes later, the doors were shut behind them. Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Uther sat with Arawn at one side and the council at the other.

There was silence as only Uther and Arawn made eye contact with the young man.

"Merlin. You are under arrest for both the possession of magic and for using said magic to attack a knight of Camelot." Uther said with such fierceness in his voice that would have made a weaker man than Merlin crumble.

Merlin was speechless. Out of all the possible situations, he had no idea this would be one of them. He thought Arawn would lay low for a while, not wanting to raise suspicions.

"You will be burnt at the stake tomorrow at dawn." Uther said heartlessly.

As Cador and another knight approached Merlin, his worry grew tenfold. "Please, I have no idea what you're talking about. I've been with Arthur all morning!"

Uther stood up quickly and stared at Merlin in anger. "My most trusted knight was found passed out with a head injury, dragged to a corner of my castle. The other knights found him with your neckerchief in his hand and blood dripping from his head. When he awoke he told that you had attacked him with your magic and tried to kill him to get past him on patrol to steal from our vaults. And indeed a fair amount of gold was missing from the vaults. And you're going to tell me you have nothing to do with this! You stupid, useless servant… Men, take him to a cell and whip him until he learns his place."

Merlin hadn't even noticed that he had taken off his over shirt and neckerchief to draw the bath for Arthur and that her neckerchief was missing.

"Speak to Arthur! Arawn is lying!" Merlin shouted as the knights dragged him off.

Uther huffed and paced. "Magic… in my own castle… Thank you Arawn."