AN: Okay, so this chapter is super short and it took forever to get out, but sadly that's cause my inspiration wasn't up. Please review! Help me get inspiration! And Enjoy :)

The early morning sun was showing spirals of dust near the city gates, but other than that Camelot appeared unprotected and alone. It seemed that the night guards had already abandoned their posts, and the morning were yet to arrive. Poor planning, as far as letting strangers enter, such as the dark clad boy who was now stalking into the city. Few people were out this early, and so few people saw him slip past the gates of the castle and into the castle itself.

MMM

"Merlin, get up! What're you doing sleeping in? You've got to go help the prince of Camelot!"

Merlin groaned and stumbled to his feet at the sound of Gaius' voice. He had hardly slept in, it was still early. He was just a bit more tired from running around to Morgana's chambers last night. Now he pulled on a clean shirt and his neckerchief before grabbing the outstretched toast Gaius had to offer and scrambling up the stairs to the prince's room.

He pushed open the door without knocking and was surprised to find the prince standing in the middle of the room, glaring at a shirt hung over a chair.

"You're awake! Oh good, I was worried about waking you up," Merlin smiled. "I'll be right outside as you dress."

"Merlin," the prince called him back, his face angry. "You really are the worst servant I've ever had! First, you don't wake me up and a guard had to do it! Second, you can't run off! Help me get dressed and then fetch my breakfast. I'll be wearing my ceremonial robes since we have a knighting ceremony this morning. Hurry up Merlin!"

Merlin gulped and scurried to do as he was told before running downstairs to snatch Arthur's breakfast. On his way back up he ran across Gwen who was getting Morgana's breakfast.

"Hello Merlin," she smiled at him, and he nodded, stopping to talk to her. "That was really nice of you to come with Gaius to check that Lady Morgana was alright."

"It was the least I could do," Merlin blushed.

"Well it was very nice of you," Gwen smiled. "Merlin, did you have any plans for lunch today?"

"Morgana wants to have lunch with me?" Merlin's eyes lit up, however he was somewhat disappointed by the answer he got.

"Uh… No, I did though," Gwen offered, and Merlin's excitement died a little, however he still smiled.

"That would be fun," he told her. "Yeah I… I'm free I guess. Yeah, we can have lunch…"

"Merlin," Gwen's face turned serious as she studied him closely. "You don't… Like her, do you?"

"Of course I like her, doesn't everyone?" Merlin replied.

"I mean like her like her. As in, love her."

Merlin's face turned bright red and he looked away, causing Gwen's jaw to drop. She looked around nervously before turning back to her fellow servant.

"Merlin, you can't! You're a servant, she's a princess! Merlin, you really can't! King Uther could have your head!"

"It can't be that bad," Merlin replied. "Besides, what if she likes me? What if we like each other?"

"It doesn't matter, Merlin!" Gwen cried quietly. "Really, you should forget all about her!"

With that, Gwen hurried away, however Merlin simply stood there for a few moments, contemplating what his friend had said. Gwen couldn't be completely right, though, could she? No, if they loved each other, it'd be okay. After all, Morgana was kind and often went walking in the lower town, unconcerned about status. It'd work out, Merlin was sure.

MMM

The knighting ceremony was the big event of the month, it seemed. Everyone was there, the other knights, the lords and ladies, even a cluster of servants. The young knight, a sir Leon, had apparently been through rigorous training as a knight, and now it was official. Merlin thought he might recognize the man.

The King was giving a grand speech about the man, when suddenly Merlin's skin tickled. He frowned and tried to ignore it, but suddenly he realized what it was. It was magic- not his magic, but someone else's. The other person's magic was building dramatically and about to release in a huge explosion, and Merlin looked around in shock. Who in the world would be stupid enough to release a bunch of magic in Camelot? Everyone in the room had all eyes on the ceremony, and so Merlin attempted to put his attention on the king, however the magic itched in the back of his neck, and he was again distracted. Merlin tried desperately to find the source, however the source of magic was growing at such a dramatic pace that it seemed to be everywhere in the room! No one else seemed to notice, however he knew that magic of this proportion couldn't be controlled for long.

Merlin's attention was suddenly pulled to the Lady Morgana, who was watching the ceremony along with everyone else, however Merlin's heart dropped when he saw the color of her eyes flickering. Morgana had magic? How had she not noticed before? Merlin frowned in confusion, however, because she didn't seem concerned at all. It was as if she didn't even notice that the magic was reaching its climax! Merlin cleared his throat and tried to catch her eye, however her attention was placed firmly upon the soon to be Sir Leon.

Merlin was about to clear his throat louder, when something seemed to punch him in the stomach, and he let out a low grunt, and then the room was in chaos.

There were screams was suddenly there was an explosion of golden tendrils that shot around the room, randomly running into people who were pushed backwards with the force of the magic. Merlin slowly raised his head, terror in his eyes, and his fears were confirmed. It seemed that the magic was flowing out of a shocked and horrified Lady Morgana who was watching the scene with utmost confusion, spinning around the room, trying to figure out what was going on. The only person who seemed so far untouched was the king, whose face was white as a sheet.

The king's mouth very slowly formed the word magic, however he seemed frozen to the spot. He didn't get the chance to give a command, however, because a group of guards and knights raced forward and restrained the terrified Lady Morgana and brought her before the king, whose eyes were wide with horror.

Merlin watched as Uther's mouth slowly formed the word magic again, before looking around the room almost nervously.

"Should we take her to the dungeon, Sire?" One of the guards asked, and the king hesitated before shouting.

"Unhand the Lady Morgana," he declared. "This is an outrage, she will explain what just happened."

Morgana shook her head at him in a clear sign that she had no idea what had just happened and that she had absolutely no explanation, her eyes wide in fear. Uther stared at her before swallowing and surveying the room.

"I will question her later," he decided in a clipped, harsh voice. "Take her to a cell. This ceremony will be put on pause."

Merlin watched in horror as the guards wrestled Morgana away, the room a deadly quiet. After a few moments, the people began to disperse and Merlin was about to hurrying over to Arthur, who had gone white as well, however a flash of something familiar caught Merlin's eyes, and he frowned. Taking a final look at the king and prince, Merlin turned and also fled the room, following a figure in all black with a black cloak. The figure waded between people in the lower town, however when the figure finally seemed to turn down an alleyway, and Merlin raced after the dark cloaked person.

The alley was dark and dank, and Merlin felt uneasy the minute he entered. He was about to turn and leave, when the dark cloaked figure stepped out from behind a pile of boxes, and Merlin's jaw dropped.

"Mordred?" Merlin asked in shock, for there stood his friend, only he hardly looked like the kind, laughing, curly haired boy from two days ago. Mordred now wore dark clothing and had a generally darker look on his guarded face. "Mordred, what are you doing here? Why were you… Why were you at the ceremony…"

A horrid idea suddenly got planted in Merlin's mind, and his heart rate picked up when a slow, absolutely terrifying smile spread across Mordred's face.

"Mordred you didn't… Plant the magic in her?" Merlin's face was crumpling, and when Mordred's smile grew still wider Merlin almost felt tears fill his eyes. "Mordred what… What are you doing? Why… Mordred?"

"Come home, Merlin," Mordred spat. "She'll be executed by the end of the week, there's nothing you can do for her now."

"What?" Merlin cried. "What?!"

"The penalty for magic is death, and everyone knows she has it now," Mordred shrugged. "Come home. People don't know I did the magic, they figure she did."

"No, I can't!" Merlin cried, backing away from his old friend who now seemed like a stranger in his eyes. "How could you do that? Mordred?!"

"It needed to be done," Mordred shrugged. "Only thing that can save her now is me turning myself in, but I would never. You're not going to turn in your best friend since we were babes in arm, are you Merlin?"

Merlin shook his head in horror, stumbling backwards as tears suddenly filled his eyes.

"What happened to you?" Merlin's voice was small. "Mordred, I don't understand!"

"I did what was needed to get her dead and you home. You should thank me," Mordred shrugged. "Come, Merlin."

"No!" Merlin stumbled away from Mordred's outstretched hand. "No, you killed her! You condemned her! How could you?"

"Come Merlin," Mordred's voice became harder and much more sinister.

"No!" Merin cried. "I… I will save her! This is your fault! She is innocent! I will not let her die!"

"What are you going to do?" Mordred smirked. "Turn yourself in?"

Merlin's face was pale, and he shrugged slowly.

"I… I don't know. I… I will save her. I will."

"Have fun with that," Mordred chuckled, turning around. "Maybe I won't see you again after all. So long, Merlin."

"Mordred?" Merlin cried. "What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving," Mordred shrugged. "I'm save myself. I care not what you do."

"But…" Merlin stared after the boy who was generally so concerned about his friends' well beings.

"Goodbye," Mordred said simply, and then in a flurry of dirt and straw, he was gone, leaving Merlin with tears running down his cheeks.

AN: Please review! What do you think will happen now? And what's up with Mordred?