Nine

"This is my fault." Arthur announces to the crowd, arms spread wide in an all-encompassing gesture. "I am young, and naive, and I..." He thinks quickly, what can he say, what could possibly excuse such treasonous actions... "have been under the spell of an evil sorcerer that I have only just broken." He tries to ignore the shocked look on his father's face. "This man" he repeats "is innocent" the crowd is hanging onto his every word, captivated by the action. Gwen and Morgana are both staring at him with 'what the hell are you doing?' expressions on their faces, mouths gaping comically open. "He is also..." And here Arthur pauses, eyes squeezing tightly closed as he takes a deep breath under the weight of what he feels he needs to admit. "My best friend." Morgana gapes wider at him.

"Arthur..." Her fine eyebrows knit together in a frown. The peasants are only here for the drama, he snorts to himself, so let's give them a show.

"He's saved my life," Arthur declares dramatically "many times, like when he pushed me out of the range of a knife when we first met, and in return for these deeds, I have just managed to break the spell of the evil sorcerer who had enchanted me. The dark spells" he waved and wibbled his hands mysteriously around in what he thought to be a 'dark spell' like gesture, "made me believe that this man, Merlin, who we all know as kind, considerate and who could never, ever, hurt anyone, is some kind of crazy evil sorcerer," he wonders if his lie sounds even remotely convincing as he puts in a laugh "now how ridiculous was that? I can't believe I fell for it Merlin? A Sorcerer! Definitely ridiculous!" he tries to laugh again, but realises how hollow and empty it sounds and quickly stops. But the crowd is falling for it, chatting amongst themselves about the man they know as Merlin.

"Such a sweet boy" he hears the cook whisper to the maid standing next to her, "would never hurt a fly" The maid nods wisely.

"And always so helpful! He always asks if he can help at all when he sees one of us struggling! Why I remember the time he helped me carry three huge baskets of laundry up all those stairs to the bedchambers in the North tower,"

"I remember that!" The cook chips in "He was late bringing the Prince his lunch, poor boy got shouted at for almost twenty candlemarks!" Arthur cringes at this, remembering the time well, if only he'd given Merlin a chance to explain his lateness before shouting at him. "Forgot his own lunch too, silly skinny thing, I always say he needs fattening up!"

Understanding flits across Morgana's face as she gets what he's trying to do.

"Merlin," Arthur continues as the voices find a lull "My manservant, has experienced firsthand the evil that sorcerers can..." he couldn't bring himself not to use the word 'can', leaving the possibility of magic being use for good dangling like a carrot before his captivated audience. "...bring to the land. He did not deserve this unjust, painful fate, and I ask you place the blame for this atrocious act solely on my young shoulders. I was naive and acted foolishly, and I hope I can be forgiven."

The people cheer for him like a brave hero, but inside he feels dirty and cheap as Gaius smiles tiredly; looking older than Arthur has ever seen him.

Then Morgana is suddenly there with a stretcher she's obtained from god-knows-where, and their gently pulling Merlin's limp body onto it. He distantly realises his voice is ordering the people to stand apart and make a path. Moments blur together as Arthur watches as the prone form is rushed away towards Gaius' chambers to be treated for his injuries, Morgana holding up the opposite end to the old man with Gwen in tow, still brandishing both hers and Morgana's swords.

"This is all my fault" I should have acted sooner, saved him faster. "Father," I turn to address the King once more "I shall alone atone for my crimes" crimes of treason, he knew, but the unspoken 'if you hang him, you hang me too' hung in the air dark and ominous like a man from a... Arthur suddenly feels sick all over again. He believes his Father won't harm him, he is, of course, the crown prince, but he worries for Merlin, Merlin he desperately needs to be beside protecting, and the dark, murderous look in his Father's eyes. He wouldn't punish him for treason right? After all, no-one would expect that kind of punishment, it would look suspicious with Arthur's perfectly concocted lies, and Arthur knows Uther wants to protect his own reputation desperately, which he cannot do if he punishes Arthur as a traitor to the crown. And the people are cheering him. You can't punish a saviour.

He feels disgusting for it though.

Like he should be punished.

Because he didn't save him fast enough.

"We shall speak of this inside, Arthur." The glare made his blood run cold, as Uther turns away from the balcony and heads inside.

Arthur follows at a snail's pace.

Feeling like he's now heading to his own execution.

A/N: So for those of you wondering how on Earth they were going to get out of there, now you know!

But now Arthur's in trouble! They just don't get a break do they?

Fwahahhaa.

Due to most reviewers wanting just a friendship fic, I'll leave it so it can be interpreted as such. :D

Thanks for reading, drop me a review and telll me youurrrr thouuughghhhtttssss!

Lenle G.