Here is the ending to this trilogy. I really like this pairing a lot just cause they are so coupley without even trying. (Side stories may stem from this keep your eyes open!)

Also thanks to everyone who followed this story! Not bad for a first?

One Way To Come Out

Merlin and Arthur had been keeping their relationship a secret for almost a year with almost no problems. On the occasional times that they wanted to bask in each others company everyone in the castle assumed that Arthur was working Merlin late into the night and the clumsy man servant that they all admired for putting up with Arthur would fall asleep on the floor just as Gwen had found him. There had been close calls and their secret meetings almost awkwardly interrupted, once a magic demonstration was almost found out by Uther himself! the close calls had only brought the two men closer together. The run in they had with bandits made them even more inseparable then they already were, much to the King's dismay; he hated how Arthur treated the servants as equals rather than the workers they were.

"Arthur," Merlin muttered sleepily, "I think the alarm bells are ringing."

Merlin was securely tucked under Arthur's arm as they cuddled in their sleep. Arthur stayed asleep so Merlin nestled back into the warmth of his lover ignoring what he thought was in his head. To help him fall back to sleep he ran his finger lightly over the prince's skin, tracing each rib, and noting each breath he made. The warlock was on the line of slumber when Arthur's words woke him.

"Merlin you're next to me correct?" Arthur asked absently as he did exactly Merlin had done to him, the fingers grazing over Merlin's skin made him shiver with delight. Stealthily he shifted his position so he straddled the prince and then leaned down over his face.

"Not anymore." The warlock said sounding magically seductive,"I believe I am now on top of you."

"Yes yes," Arthur said almost impatiently suddenly sounding awake," but the important thing is you are in our bed and not on the other side of the room making noise that sounds like the alarm bells." Arthur stated his eyes were now open and glancing around the room. Merlin was quiet for a moment before both men were scrambling out of the bad grabbing at their respective clothing items.

"Hurry someone will be here any moment to-" Arthur didn't get a chance to finish as a knight burst through the door. The prince was still topless, but Merlin was hiding behind the changing screen with all his clothes in his hands.

"Sire," sir Leon started slightly out of breath,"there is some sort of creature attacking the castle. We believe it to be magical."

"Of course," Arthur said sternly as he assessed the situation," get Merlin here so he can help me get ready and gather what ever knights are not ready. Go!" Leon ran off with his orders as Merlin came out from behind the screen fully clothed, neckerchief and all.

"Wild goose chase for me? I'm touched." Merlin teased as he collected Arthur's armor.

"He'll come back before wasting too much time looking for you." The prince replied as he went to grab a shirt," Merlin didn't you say only magic could kill magical creatures?" The servant nodded.

Merlin had been teaching Arthur about the basics of magic so when he became king and welcomed magic back into the kingdom he would know what he was getting into.

"Only magic can kill magic and I'll only know how to kill when I know what it is, so we need to get out there quickly before any men lose there lives." Merlin said as he finished putting on Arthur's armor and handed him his sword, "Promise me something, Arthur." They both held onto his sword.

"You know I would promise you anything, Merlin." They stood close together in the prince's chambers.

"Promise me you will be okay," Merlin pleaded as let go of the sword to hug his lover tightly, only to feel vibrations of laughter run through Arthur.

"Merlin," Arthur said pulling back slightly, "we are going to fight a creature only you can kill and with the most hated tool in all of Camelot. Do not fear about me. I fear what will happen should your magic be discovered or if our love for one another be revealed after that. Everyone will think it an enchantment, which it isn't, right?"

The question of whether or not they feelings were a conjuring of Merlin's was a running joke between the two of them, Merlin had enchanted Arthur so he would know what to feel for if someone were to do such a thing. But what Arthur felt wasn't lust when he thought of Merlin, but clear love and affection, which turned to lust.

"Arthur it has been several years I think I am okay," Merlin said noting the joke used to diffuse the tension. They stayed and gazed at each other for a moment longer before quickly grabbing the other into a rough kiss which expressed their trepidation of magical revealings.

"Alright, let's go." Arthur said breathlessly as they finally pulled apart. Then they ran.

oOo

When they finally got down to the court yard men were everywhere and the creature hovered above them just out of reach of spear, not that it would do them any good.

"Merlin!" Arthur cried as they ran across the cobble stones to hide behind a pillar as they stared up at the beast, "Can you see what it is?" Knights ran around uselessly throwing spears into the air aimed at the flying figure.

"It looks like a griffon," Merlin smiled he had killed one before, "that's good griffons are easy to kill. Arthur you need to grab a spear. I'll enchant it and you throw it." The prince nodded and ran to snatch a weapon from one of the soldiers; Merlin ran after him until they stood alone in the middle of the crowded space.

"Are you ready?" Arthur asked under his breath.

"Arthur, I was born ready." Both men chuckled at this as Arthur aimed the spear, but the griffon made an unexpected dive for them forcing Merlin to throw up a magical protective barrier instinctively. The attacking creature and unplanned display of magic made both men curse and then immediately pray no one saw it, but no such luck. The court yard once teeming with activity and fighting men was suddenly silent except for the griffon still circling for it's next attack.

"Arthur, there isn't much time now we need to kill it now or never," Arthur was dumb struck and already fearing the death of the man he loved, "ARTHUR! We don't have time for this! Do you here me?!" This woke the prince up from his early mourning and they went back to their targeting.

No one moved as they witnessed their crowned prince be yelled at not only by his manservant, but a disguised warlock, in Camelot!

"I have it Merlin!" Arthur shouted, though since everyone else was shocked to silence shouting wasn't necessary.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluc!" Merlin shouted as Arthur launched the spear at the griffon's chest.

Of course it being Arthur it hit the griffon directly in the heart and the beast fell to the ground dead.

Arthur was so caught in the happiness of saving the city from the creature and so proud of his lover's skill in magic that he didn't think as he slung his arm around the warlock's waist and kiss him directly on the lips, in front of everyone, who were already staring at them from the use of magic. At that moment Merlin knew he was so far past dead that he didn't bother stopping Arthur's signs of affection and actually welcomed the taste of the prince as his tongue demanded entrance to the other's mouth.

"Arthur," Merlin whispered when they finally untangled their mouths, "remember I love you. More than anything else I love you." Arthur looked confused at the reassuring tones of his magical lover.

"Merlin, why do you sound this way?" As soon as the words were out of his mouth his eyes darted around the court yard at the shocked and unbelieving faces of everyone there, including Uther.

"GUARDS!" Uther screamed in the dead silence, "Guards! Seize the sorcerer! NOW!" Arthur's eyes widened as the knights came at them.

"Merlin, Run!" Arthur said as pulled out his sword ready to protect the warlock he loved, with all his heart, with all the energy in his body, but Merlin didn't move.

"Arthur, I can't. I'm so sorry." Merlin felt the tears escape his eyes as the realization came to him; he was going to die, "I'm so so sorry, Arthur."

Merlin walked around Arthur and to the knights, who until recently were his friends, they greeted him with the point of their swords, no one said anything. Merlin said nothing in his defense.

"Merlin!" Arthur called raw emotion obvious in his voice, "Please don't do this. Please just run." The last word was almost a whisper, but everyone heard it. Merlin turned around to face the prince he loved more than anyone else.

"Arthur," Merlin said so softly Arthur teared up, "you and I both know that is not who I am."

Arthur pushed through the knights that crowded around Merlin and held his lover one more time.

"GUARDS!" Uther screamed even louder, "I want him taken away NOW!"

Leon walked forward and gently separated them, apologizing the entire time; "I'm sorry, sire, but we need to take him now, we can sneak you down later. I'm sorry.".

Only when Merlin was out of sight did Arthur look up at his father, whose face was redder than any light Merlin could conjure.

"Arthur!" Uther called down as his resolve disintegrated, "I want to see you in my chambers now! And anyone who isn't doing anything is to set up the pyre. The warlock is being burnt at DAWN! Am I clear!" and with his final sentences Uther left the balcony.

oOo

"Father, I know you are mad-"

"MAD! I am not the one mad in this situation! You, Arthur, are mad! You took your manservant as a lover? Not only that, but he is a man AND a sorcerer!" Uther looked at his son completely confused, "Why? Why would you- how could you-" Sudden understanding flowed over his face, "You were enchanted. That warlock enchanted you to love him!"

The proposal of such a ridiculous idea to Arthur made frustrated, but he also decided now was not the time to tell his father that he had his warlock boyfriend enchant him so he knew what to expect.

"No, father, that is not at all what happened," He let his frustration show, "I love Merlin with every piece of me. I am not enchanted in any way."

"You wouldn't know," His father easily dismissed, "You know nothing of sorcery. I'm sending you to Gaius so he can check you over. Good news is for the enchantment to end one must die and what ever his name is, Marvin, will be executed tomorrow. Go now, Arthur." Arthur left with his dismissal knowing he wouldn't last much longer in his father's company without yelling at him.

In the hall he ran into Leon who escorted him down to the dungeons.

oOo

"Merlin!" Arthur ran past the two knights guarding the cell and went straight for his warlock, "Merlin are you okay?"

Both men stuck their arms through the bars to embrace the other the best they could.

"Arthur," Merlin chuckled, "it has only been an hour at most. Miss me that much?" Their regular teasing was relaxing to the knights on guard who were, like everyone else, trying to figure out how they had missed everything. Leon had seen the devotion Arthur had for Merlin in the court yard, same as all, but knew that this affair must of been going on for a while.

"How long has this been going on?" Leon asked, both Gwaine and Elyan looked curious as well. Arthur turned to them with his princely face set.

"Let him out and we will answer all your questions." Arthur said with the tone Merlin deemed his 'royal prat' tone, but Arthur just wanted him in his arms and didn't care how he sounded. The three knights wanted to agree, but were apprehensive.

"Your fathers orders."

"It's not like Merlin can't just magic himself out anyway," Arthur said dismissively turning away from the crimson trio, "besides he deserves to live, my affection aside, he saved us from the griffon today and has always been using his magic to protect me and Camelot. Merlin, come on out."

"Arthur, I can't." Arthur gave him a look, "Fine, I won't. I may be dying tomorrow, but I don't need another reason to be hated by your father."

"Merlin," Arthur whispered in his ear so close it made Merlin shiver with desire, "I need to say good bye to you and not through bars." The warlock finally agreed and with a simple spell the door was unlocked and Merlin was unobstructedly in Arthur's embrace, their lips once again locked together.

I lied one more since zero comes after one, but I promise not to go into negative numbers (Uther is negative enough as he is!) Thank you again!