The Golden Age Universe
As Shadows Fall– Chapter 6
~Fran Gipani

Disclaimer- So I obviously don't own Merlin no matter how much I'd love to :'( but I do own my OC Brooke

Note from the Author- Thank you to my Beta SailorPetal for checking it over :)

Notes on the Setting- So basically the prologue to this universe was set in season one episode one and then this is set starting at the end of series four :)


After Merlin had been sent down to the dungeons, it took Arthur longer than he thought to decide what to do. The internal battle going on inside him was maddening; follow the laws of the kingdom or change the laws and follow Merlin and save his friend. Neither choice was entirely right, neither choice was entirely wrong; creating one of the most difficult decisions King Arthur had needed to make yet. Which would he choose: his friend or the kingdom?

~Day I~

Merlin had been held in the dungeons before, once even as Dragoon the great; but he had never thought that he would be there for the reason he was then. The young warlock understood why he was there but he had never thought that Arthur would react like he had to his having magic. Merlin stared round the small cell; he wasn't exactly cold and nor was the ground really that uncomfortable but there was something about the situation that bothered him slightly. Maybe, he thought to himself, he felt that he wasn't rightly there; he then argued though that Arthur had every right to put him there. He just wasn't used to being as unsure about a situation as he was right then; that would be it, he thought. He didn't even know how long Arthur would take to decide his punishment, or maybe this was his punishment, a life sentence to the dungeons. He wanted to know though, so that he could plan how to save Arthur from himself; for Merlin knew that any decision that the King made concerning their predicament Arthur would regret.

Merlin was sitting against the back wall, leaning against the bed like bit of furniture with his eyes closed, his head resting against the hard stone wall. He snapped his eyes open when he heard the two sets of feet approaching the cell. Through the bars of the cell Merlin saw Gaius and Brooke staring down at him with looks of worry and sadness on their faces. "Merlin, what are you going to do?" he heard Gaius ask but had no idea how to answer.

"I have no idea Gaius! I can't exactly run can I? He already doesn't trust me, running won't help." Merlin stood up stretching his saw limbs, and walked forward to the front of the cell. He moved his gaze from Gaius to Brooke, "You're looking a lot better now Brooke." He smiled at her as Brooke looked up smiling and nodding slightly.

Gaius watched the exchange between the two, he saw Merlin's warm smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, the old physician knew that Merlin was a lot more worried than he was going to let on. "You can Merlin, I know that you can but I also know that every little bit of you is screaming for you not to."

"For our destiny to still work like it was originally set out I need him to trust me. He won't trust me any more if I run." It pained him to speak like this, because he did want to run, for Arthur's sake he should. Merlin knew that whatever Arthur decided to do his friend would regret it, and Arthur would never forgive himself. "We don't know what he has decided yet Gaius, I can't work out what to do until I know."

"Who knows when that'll be?" Gaius replied sadly, "Merlin, I will be back, please think about what I said though."

"I will Gaius." Merlin replied, his shoulders slumping slightly as he saw the physician leave. Brooke followed behind him after she had given him a sad wave in farewell.

Merlin sunk back into the position he had vacated minutes ago, just to close his eyes and fall back into his pool of thoughts.

~O~O~O~

Arthur was shocked by the corner he had backed himself into. The whole castle and even some of the lower town would know about Merlin by now, he had to do something, Merlin had broken the law. Three options: imprisonment, exile or execution; the latter being the one most advised by the law, the first the one best for Merlin and the second, well it would be the cruellest for Merlin but the easiest for him, it would be easier for him his Merlin wasn't there to make him feel that much more guilty. He knew that everyone who had found out about Merlin would be expecting the third; but anyone who had found out and knew about the relationship the king had forged with his manservant, they would be expecting one of the first two.

He knew that his highest duty was to the kingdom, its laws and its protection but if it was one thing Merlin had taught him it was that whatever he thought was right in his heart, would be right for the kingdom as well, but were Merlin's words of wisdom right for this situation. To execute Merlin would break his heart, as would exile and imprisonment, but by the laws of Camelot Merlin needed to be executed. He needed to be executed even though he was born with magic and hadn't learnt it on purpose under the king's nose. All that Merlin had ever done was for the good of the kingdom, Arthur couldn't send him to execution but the whole of the Kingdom had an aversion to magic that would mean for him not to abide to the laws would be catastrophic in the long run.

Two people now had told him to think about the decision he would make but thinking had only made him doubt his judgement more and more. Arthur knew he needed to decide, and to do that he knew he would need to talk to Merlin. Merlin had always been able to help him see clearly, Arthur knew that Merlin wouldn't take into account that it was his own death. Merlin would help him to see sense.

~Day II~

Arthur woke on the morning of the second day to fell a sort of heaviness on his shoulders and in his chest that he knew was because of Merlin. George served him a breakfast of bread, cold meats and fruits that morning, but despite the punctuality and quality of the service Arthur didn't want to eat. He managed a piece of the bread which was warm from the oven and his usual favourite in the morning, but it tasted strange and thick in his mouth. After he was dressed Arthur walked slowly down to the dungeons, the king felt sick in the stomach, not from the food but from the thought of what he was about to do. He didn't even know how he felt about the situation now, his anger at Merlin seemed to have dissipated somewhat but it was still there and he knew his duty really was, to the kingdom. Arthur knew that every person in Camelot was counting on him to make the right decision; but what was the right decision? There was this constant battle running through his head. Merlin needed to be punished under the laws of Camelot, for his crimes could only ever warrant execution; but the man honestly didn't deserve to be punished, or did he? Merlin had lied to the king, to the court; Arthur's best friend hadn't trusted him with the information that he was a sorcerer and now he would be punished for it. Arthur knew that he had to rule Camelot as a King and make decisions based on the rules, with no exceptions. For his people to trust him he needed to stick to the laws, he knew Merlin would understand and make the sacrifice, that's the type of person he was, not that he would have a choice.

Arthur originally thought that he was ready to listen to what Merlin had to say but now his anger had over powered him again. King Arthur had an announcement to make to the whole of Camelot and there was nothing that could stand in his way.

~O~O~O~

Brooke had woken that morning to the same dream she'd had every night since she had arrived at Camelot. In seeing that it was light she washed and dressed herself. She then walked out through Gaius's chambers, saying good morning to him along the way. Brooke wanted to go and talk to Merlin but she needed to attend to the Queen. Brooke smiled to herself, it was an honour to serve the Queen but her smile faltered as she remembered her voice. She was almost at the main corridor that she remembered led to the King and Queens chambers when she saw the King heading in the other direction. Brooke stopped and bowed her head as he passed, this having been expected at every place she had served at. Brooke then carried on to the Queens chambers; the large wooden door loomed ahead and she took a deep breath. Brooke's sharp knock on the door broke the silence; she waited until she heard the muffled reply of "Come in?" before pushing the door open. The door swung open to for Brooke to see a beautiful dark skinned woman sitting up in her bed, the woman smiled when Brooke walked in.

"You must be Brooke." Gwen gave the other woman an encouraging nod and a smile; she really hoped they could get on well. Gwen watched as Brooke nodded and smiled back. Arthur say's you have trouble speaking because of the trauma of being in the forest for so long."

Brooke nodded again, "Y...yes, m...my lady" Her stutter was again prominent in the quiet room.

"Don't worry, I will try and help you to get better, and I am sure that Gaius and Merlin will help as well. And you can call me Gwen, I think we would both rather us to be friends." Gwen smiled again, "Well I think it is probably time for me to get dressed and don't worry, George brought Arthur and me our breakfast this morning so that is one less thing you have to do this morning." Gwen let out a light laugh as she finished her sentence.

Brooke joined in with a shaky laugh, "Th...thank y...you, my l...Gwen" She corrected herself quickly with a little shake of her head. She then went over to the cupboard with Gwen to help her pick out something to wear; they picked out a beautiful purple dress which Brooke then helped her into. Brooke then tamed and brushed out the queens long, black wavy hair; she two two clumps of hair from the front of her face and plaited them until they touched, Brooke then plaited the two together at the back of her head.

"Thank you Brooke," Gwen ran her hand down the back of her head to inspect her maid's handy work, "I was thinking of walking down to see Merlin today, too see how he is. Arthur has a busy day today so I thought I could go down now when he won't be there talking to Merlin. Would you like to come along too?" Gwen watched her maids face light up at the thought of going to visit Merlin but there was sadness behind the smile that showed Brooke's view on Merlin's situation. Gwen knew her expression mirrored Brookes and knowing that there wasn't a huge amount that they could do to change the Kings mind made the whole situation that much worse.

Brooke followed the Queen out of the door and down the steps towards the corridor that led down the long winding staircase towards the dungeons. They were very nearly there when they saw none other than the King walking back in the opposite direction, with a very determined look on his face.

"Arthur, we were just going down to see Merlin. Were you just there?" She asked him her voice soft

"No I wasn't Guinevere but I need you to please come with me. I have an announcement to make to the whole of Camelot, and I need you there with me to do so." He looked pleadingly at her, Arthur knew as he was the King and she was his Queen it meant that she had to do everything he said but he wanted her there as his wife and friend, rather than his Queen.

Gwen didn't contradict his motives but she did need to know, "Is it about Merlin? You have made a decision haven't you?" She worried about Merlin's fate, and knowing her husband's state of mind only made her fret more.

"Yes I have, Just wait until we are in a more private room so I can explain. Brooke, you can be dismissed. I will be making the announcement in about an hour so if you could spread the word because everyone in Camelot needs to hear."

Brooke bowed her head, "Ye...yes, My L...Lord, M...My L...Lady" Brooke waited until they had gone before going down the winding stair case to the dungeons, to Merlin. This time Merlin was sitting and leaning against the bars on the cell. Brooke watched as Merlin's bright blue eyes lit up when he saw her standing there and she smiled. She wanted to say something but there was something holding her back. Brooke sat down next to him against the wall and waited for him to speak, thinking what she would say to him if she could. As the words ran through her head she felt a sort of warmth behind her eye's that she had never felt before.

"Hello Brooke!" Merlin smiled at her but his voice was slightly flat. He was about to say something else when he heard a voice in his head; a voice that he recognised though he had only heard very little of it.

"Hello Merlin! How are you feeling? I need to tell you something."

"What was that?" A confused look crossed his face as he looked over to where Brooke was sitting, her look of confusion mirroring his. "Did you do that?" He asked before the voice entered his mind again but not through any sort of sound.

"What was what?"

"I can hear it, your voice in my head, replying to me. Every time I speak. I only know one person who can do that, and he's not a person; he is a creature of magic."

"Look at my eyes, I don't know what it is but every thought I have with the words I want to say to you, I feel a slight feeling of warmth behind my eyes. If you are hearing what I want to be able to say to you then it is some sort of magic."

"Your eyes, they feel warm? Say something again and I'll watch." Merlin watched as Brooke's eyes glowed gold, the words entering his mind as if he was hearing them. "You have magic." He stated simply, he was in shock. "But it must be spontaneous, almost instinctual; it's there when you need it. Is there anything else? Anything odd?"

"I do?" Merlin could hear the doubtful shock in her words, "Yes...it's nothing really but I have these dreams sometimes, they're so vivid. They always turn out to be true. Merlin, don't worry about my magic I need to tell you something."

"Brooke what is it? Has Arthur made a decision?" Merlin's excitement over being able to have a conversation with Brooke was gone. His mind went back to waiting.

"Yes he has," Merlin heard her tone become sad, "but I don't know what it is. He didn't say and is making a formal announcement in about an hour. There has to be something we can do, you need to get out of here."

"Everyone keeps telling me that. I'm sorry Brooke but I won't run, and I won't even consider the idea until I know what he has decided. He will tell me when he's ready."

"But Merlin..."

"No Brook I am sorry but I can't work out what I will do, if anything at all. I need to though, somehow, save Arthur from himself." He looked into Brooke's dark brown eyes as they began to glow a warm shade of gold as he heard her voice in his head again.

"Ok, then Merlin, I trust you to have good judgement."

Merlin could hear the concern in her voice and then through the concern he saw the real reason she wanted him to run, "You have those dreams, the dreams that turn out to be true. You're a seer; you saw what will happen to me didn't you? You know what happens but you know you can't tell me." Merlin watched as Brooke gave him a sad nod before leaving Merlin to his thoughts.

~O~O~O~

Arthur stood where his father had stood five years before hand, about to make the same announcement. He looked to Gwen who looked just as pained as he felt but the King knew that he owed it to the Kingdom to do this and he knew that things would never be quite the same. He took a deep breath to steady his voice before speaking; "People of Camelot, about twenty five years ago my father put a ban on magic that would sentence anyone to death who practiced such things. I as the King need to carry on that tradition in my father's honor." He paused for a moment to gather his words before beginning again. "The man called Merlin has been found guilty of practicing magic in Camelot, magic has been outlawed for twenty five years, and so by the laws of Camelot I sentence him to death." Arthur almost choked on the next few words to escape his lips; "Merlin will be executed at noon tomorrow." Arthur turned slowly to leave the balcony and with a teary Gwen behind him he walked down to the dungeons to tell Merlin, his decision.

~O~O~O~

Merlin waited for Arthur to come down and tell him his decision, he didn't have to wait long. He saw his friend walk down the steps towards him a look of mixed emotions on his face. Merlin stood up at the front of the cell brushing his dark fringe out of his eyes. Arthur stood a step back from him a look in his eyes that said all the man wanted to say. "Merlin I..." He began but didn't have the words to finish the sentence.

"I know, sire, I understand." That was all Merlin need to say.

"Thank you Merlin, I am so sorry." He gripped Merlin's shoulder before he left, in a final farewell.

As Merlin felt Arthur's strong hand on his shoulder his heart sank though he had always known what his friend would have chosen to do. The Kingdom would always come first, and for that Merlin didn't blame Arthur one bit. To let him off and embrace magic would have disrupted the whole of Camelot and there would have been nothing that Merlin could have done to change that. All there was for Merlin to do now was to work out how to save Arthur from himself; because Merlin knew that his friend would blame and almost hate himself if Arthur sent him to execution, and Merlin didn't stop it. He needed to not get executed but Arthur needed to know why. He pondered the problem at hand for another few moments before he realised what he should do.

~Day III~

Arthur walked out onto the balcony for the second time in the past two days. His heart was beating fast and he felt physically sick. He tried to take a deep calming breath but it got stuck in his throat. He tried again and this time it worked a bit better and he began to speak.

"People of Camelot, about 25 years ago my father put a ban on magic that would sentence anyone to death who practiced such things. I as the King need to carry on that tradition in my father's honor." Arthur swallowed dreading what he needed to do next but he had to, his loyalty was to his late father not a disloyal servant, even if the servant was his former friend. "Bring forth the criminal to the block!" He said with as much authority as he could muster, willing his voice not to crack under the strain of his pain.

Arthur watched as a man dressed in a blue shirt and dark brown jacket, light brown pants and black boots was pulled roughly through the crowd. This could have been any old serving boy but for his strikingly black hair and his red necktie that he was never without. The pitiful figure of Merlin was being pulled through the crowd to the center platform and then was roughly turned to face him "Do you have anything that you would like to say?" Arthur called down to him seeing his friend alive for the very last time and dreading what he was about to do, wishing that there was another way. That he had never found out about his friends powers. He saw Merlin there, staring up at him with eyes that would not judge; like Merlin had said that his actions were his choice and he had to deal with the consequences Arthur knew that his choice to execute Merlin for his crimes was his and his alone, and he would have to deal with what came after.

"I have just one thing to say Sire, just one thing. I told you once that I would serve you as your servant till the day I die but we still haven't done all the things that we are destined to do together. I'm sorry, I am so sorry but I cannot protect you when I am dead my friend."

With those words lingering in the air between them Arthur watched as a cloud of gold dust began to swirl very, very fast around and around until it totally engulfed Merlin. Arthur felt a great warm breeze expand out to him before the cloud imploded, taking Merlin with it. The shocked silence rippled out in waves from the space where Merlin had disappeared, no one blinked; no one even dared to breathe. All eyes were on the King, waiting for his reaction.