A/N

Time to play wheel of excuses! To start off, to be honest for a while I lost inspiration to write. School wore me out and I just didn't want to write. But when I wrote this chapter my computer crashed and I lost everything. As I rewrite the chapter I lose internet for 5 days. Ugg… anyways long story short I got imspired to write more for this story so here it is.

Arthur wasn't sure how he would get through the day. A young druid had been found and captured inside the city and would be put on trial this morning. Arthur though knew though that the trial was just a formality and that the druid was already guilty as far as his father was concerned. Arthur would have to watch one of his own die at his father's hands today, and he was helpless to stop it.

With shaking hands, Arthur slowly pulled on his 'royal prat clothes' as Merlin so fondly called them. He had to look like a prince when the druid was executed. The idea of an innocent person slowly burning made Arthur sick. Slowly Arthur placed his crown on his head, it being far heavier than Arthur remembered it being.

Are you ok Arthur Merlin mentally asked. When Merlin first started mentally speaking to Arthur he would always start slightly, but now he didn't react in the slightest.

Arthur considered lying to the idiot so he wouldn't worry, but decided against it and replied, No, I'm not.

We'll get through this Merlin assured with more confidence than Arthur had. Would they? How could they morally stand by and do nothing as their people burned for an imagined crime? Arthur took a deep breath to calm his nerves, his magic reluctantly calming beneath his skin. Just remember to breathe. He just needed to stay calm and he would get through this. He had to. Merlin had gone through dozens of trials without any trouble, and so would he.

Just then Merlin walked through the door carrying a large platter filled with food. The thought of eating though made Arthur sick. Instead of eating anything Arthur stood and made his way to the door.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Merlin asked, confused.

How can you even think about eating? Arthur wondered. Instead though Arthur replied, "I'm not hungry."

"But you're always hungry!" Merlin exclaimed. When Arthur didn't respond Merlin sighed, "Alright fine. You probably should eat something though."

"Aren't you the one who's always calling me fat?" Arthur asked. Merlin glared at the Prince and picked up an apple, throwing at his head. Arthur easily caught the fruit and took a large bite out of it before throwing it back at the servant who just barely dodged the apple.

"There I ate." Arthur retorted after swallowing the rather large bite.

"That's not what I meant!" Merlin exclaimed, setting the food down and following Arthur.

"Is that no longer the definition of eating?" Arthur asked, grinning.

"No, eating has a minimum of at least two bites," Merlin retorted. Grinning, Arthur rolled his eyes and didn't respond. As they walked to the throne room Arthur swore he felt that one bite sitting in his stomach like a stone. As they reached the doors to the throne room Arthur felt himself stiffen slightly. You'll get through this. Just breathe. Arthur took a deep breath before pushing the doors open and strolling to his seat with more confidence than he really felt. You can do this; you do this all the time. Relax. Breathe. No one will know. As much as Arthur repeated this through his head though he could not make himself believe it.

Arthur stiffly sat his in chair, forcing his expression to remain relaxed as he anxiously waited for the druid to be brought in. Arthur carefully looked over at his father who had a twisted smile on his face. He enjoyed watching those with magic suffering, reveled in it even. Soon the druid was dragged in making Arthur regret even taking that one bite. It was a girl, no older than seven in chains, very obviously beaten and starved. Arthur couldn't even hide his horror as his father listen off her 'crimes'. She would get no trial, no chance to defend herself. Her fate was sealed.

"Father please, she is just a child," Arthur begged, hoping he could make his father see reason.

"That thing is a sorcerer," Uther hissed, "It deserves its fate."

"Father-" Arthur protested, but it was useless.

"As ruler of Camelot, I Uther Pendragon sentence you to death for use of sorcery!" Uther declared, ignoring his sons' protests. Arthur thought he could sit back and silently watch this, but this was a child, someone who had not even begun to live their life. Uther was willing to take her life before she even had a chance to live. Arthur could not, would not, sit back and let her die without at least trying. Before the guards could drag her off Arthur stood and blocked their path declaring,

"Father please this is wrong!"

Arthur stop! Merlin mentally pleaded, but Arthur ignored him.

"What are you doing?" Uther hissed rage like nothing Arthur had ever seen before in his eyes.

"I can no longer sit back and watch as he murder innocent people!" Arthur shouted, his magic ranging just beneath his skin, begging to be let loose. He had to hold it back, they couldn't know about that just yet.

"You are committing treason," Uther hissed, "I could have you hanged for this."

"You would hang your own son for speaking his mind?" Arthur asked in horror. Was his mad quest to destroy magic really more important than his own blood?

"Yes," Uther growled, making Arthur freeze long enough for the guards to grab him and shove him to the floor. An agonized scream echoed through the throne room and with horror Arthur looked over at the druid girl. Arthur's eyes found her on the floor, bleeding from a large gash through her chest. She was completely still.

"No!" Arthur shouted, loosing what little control he'd had over his magic. His magic burst out of him sending the guards who had him pinned flying.

"Sorcerer!" Uther shouted glowering at Arthur. Instead of seeing his son though, all Uther could see was a monster. "Kill it!"

"Stop!" Merlin shouted throwing out his arm, his eyes blazing. The guards and king where thrown back and Merlin shouted, "Run!" Those who were still standing threw themselves out of Arthurs path, looks of terror written across their faces. His entire kingdom hated him. Arthur couldn't think about that though as he fled through the castle, shoving people out of the way, not caring who got in his way. The pair ran into the stables and started throwing saddles on whatever horse was closest to them. Run, hurry of they'll kill you…

"Arthur! Merlin! Wait!" A voice shouted, momentarily making Arthur freeze. They were too late; the king would kill them…

"Leon I'm sorry but we have to leave!" Merlin exclaimed, continuing to saddle the horse he'd grabbed.

"Let us come with you!" Lancelot replied, gesturing to the other knights.

"Look I'm sorry but you'd only slow us down," Merlin sighed. "Besides we need someone here who we can trust."

"But-" Gwaine protested, but Merlin cut him off.

"I'm really sorry about this but we do not have time to argue!" With a wave of his hand, Merlin sent Gwaine, Lancelot, Leon, Elyan and Percival flying, causing them to slam into the sides of the stable. "Sorry," Merlin mumbled guiltily, know that they would be in quite a bit of pain when they woke up.

"We have to get out of here!" Arthur hissed when he heard at least a dozen pair of footsteps thundering towards them.

"Right," Merlin agreed tearing his gaze off of the fallen knights. The pair flung themselves on their horses and fled the castle, galloping through the town and ignoring the people who had to jump out of their way. They didn't have time to be gentle they had to get out. Very quickly they were galloping through the lower town and through the gates. Even outside the city though they weren't safe. They probably would never be safe again. Arthur chanced a glance back at the city and was relieved to find no one had followed them outside the city yet. If they could make it to the forest any knights Uther sent would have trouble following them. Very few men were as skilled a tracker as Arthur.

Thankfully they made it into the forest with no one following them. They didn't stop their though they continued to thunder through the forest until their horses couldn't take anymore. The pair slowly got off of their horses and led them to a nearby stream, the horses gratefully drinking.

"So… what now?" Arthur tiredly asked. He was an outlaw from his own kingdom by his father's hands. He could never go back.

"We could try finding the druids," Merlin suggested. "I've never seen them turn someone away." Arthur numbly nodded his head, lost in thought. He would never see Gwen again. She probably hated him know though so maybe it was a good thing. He no longer had to worry about pleasing anyone but himself. His people would never let him take the throne, regardless of how horrible his father treated them they feared magic far more than they hated him.

The thought should have depressed him; instead he felt a heavy burden being lifted off of his shoulders. He spent his entire life working to please them but at the first sign that he was different they cast him out. If they were so willing to turn their backs on him he wouldn't look back. Mourning what he'd once had won't change anything; he had to just move on. Invigorated, Arthur tore off his cloak that held the Pendragon insignia, a sign of who he once was and threw it to the ground. He then tore of his crown, his chain and threw it away without a second glance.

He was no longer a prince of Camelot. He was Arthur, a sorcerer who was finally free. NO more hiding, everyone knew about his magic anyways. Arthur then pulled off everything that Prince Arthur had once owned and threw them to the ground without a care. Eventually they would rot there in the forest to be forgotten. Finally Arthur pulled off his mother's ring, so small he wore it on his pinkie finger and hesitated. The ring was a sign of his life in the royal palace but it was also a sign of love. It was a reminder of a time when there was peace and happiness in Camelot. Could he really just toss that aside? As much as he wanted to keep it, he couldn't wear it, it obviously came from somewhere very wealthy and he couldn't afford to be recognized by the wrong people. Sighing Arthur slipped it in his pocket, he'd decide what to do with it later.

Arthur looked around at all the jewels and other rich items he'd carelessly flung off of his body. Without their weight he felt free. All these things only served to keep him down and imprison him. He'd spent his whole life hiding and concealing who he really was. Now he didn't have to hide. Now he was free.