Author's Note:

Hi everyone:)
I know it's been half a year (even though I finished writing this story in November). I couldn't find the time to edit it and then everything became a bit too much... and let's just skip the part with the thousand apologies and get on with the story. After all, it took me long enough.
For those who don't quite remember what happened: Merlin will be burned at the stake in the morning, Gaius has found the pendant Morgana used to reverse Merlin's spell (to kill Uther) and now wants to show it to Arthur and hereby save Merlin.
Enjoy and please R&R! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin...

Chapter 8: Fire

When the first rays of the rising sun turned Camelot red, the pyre was built and a huge crowd had assembled, quickly having been called together in order to make the execution a memorable one. Arthur was standing on the balcony, on the exact spot his father had stood so often, and let his gaze sweep over the crowd. Most of them were whispering, glancing nervously up at him and most likely wondering where Uther was or what all of this meant. Usually an execution was announced days before, giving them enough time to prepare.

A few days ago, Arthur would never have imagined standing here, about to kill the traitor he had believed to be his best friend. A few days ago, his father had still been alive.

The thoughts made bile rise in his throat and Arthur pushed them away, instead focusing on the entrance where Merlin would enter the court.

It didn't help. The former servant didn't carry himself in a shamed or distraught way as everyone would have imagined. Instead he walked to the pyre by himself, looking free and proud to the people around him as his gaze swept through the crowd not unlike Arthur's moments ago. Then his eyes lifted towards the balcony and the Prince quickly looked, away, focusing on the people instead and on the slow beats of the drums. He could to this. He had to do this. For his father.

Arthur wasn't weak.

He stood a little straighter, his proud stance ressembling that of Merlin in an ironic way, even though they looked so different. Golden hair- combed and neat, a Prince couldn't appear dishevelled- in contrast with black tousled hair. Rich red robes compared to the usual blue shirt, red scarf and brown pants and jacket. Only their eyes looked very much the same- a fierce blue shining in both of them.

Arthur waited until the soldiers had reached the pyre and proceeded to climb it, binding Merlin to the pole in its middle. Even from the distance Arthur could see that Merlin shot the man binding him a small smile, making the poor guy flinch uncomfortably. Something in his chest constricted, but he willed it to loosen, continuing to wait until the guards had stepped back and stood around the pyre in case the sorcerer tried to flee.

He didn't even seem nervous.

Taking a deep breath, Arthur took another step forward and forced himself to speak, avoiding the lone figure at the pole as he spoke to the crowd.

"Dear people of Camelot. I'm sure many of you wonder what is going on, why there is an execution that wasn't announced beforehands. Some closer to the castle might even wonder why this man, my former manservant-" my best friend "-is tied to the pyre."

Murmurs rose and Arthur closed his eyes for barely a second, concentrating. It was a hard task- most of the people had liked the sorcerer and he had helped quite a lot of them- but he could do it. After all, he was the Prince of Camelot.

This was what he had been trained to do.

Gaius was hurrying through the castle as fast as he could with his lungs aching and his whole body screaming for rest. He had been up till late past midnight, trying to find Arthur (the first time he had tried the Prince's chambers they had been empty, and the next time the guards wouldn't let him pass - under no circumstances). Oh, and apparently the Prince had ignored- or simply not heard- his shouts from outside. So when he had finally returned to his chambers and sat down, trying to think of a plan (any plan), he had fallen asleep.

Stupid age and stupid work that had made him so tired. His nephew was about to be killed and Gaius had the only prove for his innocense- how could he ever have fallen asleep?!

When he woke he first feared it was too late, seeing the beams of light that had hit his eyes and woken him. But luckily it was still shortly after sunrise and the crowd of people was assembled in the courtyard, the pyre not having been lit. Yet. Which was why Gaius was no hurrying towards the balcony to talk to the Prince, fearing any moment to hear the shouts of the crowd that would announce the pyre being lit.

They didn't come.

When the physician had reached corner before the passageway to the balcony he had to stop and catch his breath, only then proceeding more calmly towards the door. Which was of course guarded- by exactly the same guards that hadn't let him inside Arthur's chambers yesterday, because apparenlty they were too-loyal-for-their-lives bootlickers.

Gaius groaned on the inside, putting on a friendly smile even though he felt like shouting at the men to let him see the king. He had been Camelot's physician for many years and had calmed lots of panicked fiancées and argued with lots of illbred kids. He could do this.

If only it didn't take too long.

"This man has sneaked into the heart of Camelot for many years, slowly gaining all our trust and confidence. But last night he finally showed his true colours when he tried to kill the King."

There were shocked gasps from everywhere, people starting to whisper, wide eyes flickering between the still forms of the sorcerer and the Prince.

"As you well know, King Uther has been wounded gravely and was an admittedly easy target at the moment, which is why this man took his chance. He revealed himself to be a sorcerer-" this time Arthur simply continued talking over the shocked sounds "-and has relied on the fundament he built in Camelot to attempt a murder on the King."

Now he had to tread carefully. Arthur didn't allow himself to pause, swallowing his sorrow as he spoke on.

"The crime of magic is still punishable in Camelot. I promise you that I will protect you from all its beasts and charms. Magic comes undetected, hidden beneath friendly seeming faces. But you mustn't trust it, for it will stab you in the back as soon as you don't watch it. We can't let magic win. Sorcerers believe themselves to be allmighty and better then everyone else- but we know that they can be fought and killed! They aren't invincible, whatever they think. They can be hurt just like they have hurt you, they have hurt us so many times. This isn't just revenge- this is justice!"

Somehow Arthur felt strange, slightly lightheaded, as if he had stood up too quickly. He frowned and then decided to ignore it. After all it was most likely a sign of sleep deprive.

"Magic is evil. It is an illness and we know the cure. So let's use it!"

Now his head was really starting to throb, but he wouldn't seem weak, couldn't, not in front of his people. They needed a strong regent, especially now-

A small village, barely more than a few houses. But there were lots of children, more than he'd have imagine the village to have.

No, he was standing on the balcony in Camelot, gazing down at the people, his people-

They were all surrounding him, their little faces angry grimaces, snarling at his face. But what was even stranger- he was smaller than them, weaker, even though they couldn't be more than ten years old. One of the older boys stepped forward and lifted his fist, smirking as he held his fingers- so fragile and pale now- in front of his face, to protect himself...

"You don't belong here. Monster."

Arthur stumbled and had to grasp the reiling of the balcony. The people whispered and a few shocked shouts could be heard, but Arthur didn't notice him. Instead his eyes were searching the crowd, searching where this scenes came from- until they hit Merlin's blue eyes.

A pair of piercing blue eyes was looking right at him and he felt nervous, remembering they kids in the village with their angry words and fists- but this man didn't know, and he was stronger now. He could protect himself. Unlike the other boy.

"Hey, come on, that's enough."

The blond man frowned, obviously not used to someone arguing with him, and he had to work hard to keep his breathing even.

"You've had your fun, my friend."

"Do I know you?"

He forced himself to smile, stretching his hand out even if he didn't feel like it. "Er, I'm Merlin."

The man didn't react to the hand being offered. "So I don't know you."

"No."

"Yet you called me a friend."

The blond drew the last word out, smirking slightly at the idea. His friends laughed and bumped each others shoulders.

"That was my mistake," he answered and the other's smirk grew, confident with his power. It made his blood boil. Who did he think he was?! "I could never have a friend who could be such an ass."

"Or I one who could be so stupid," the prat said easily, stopping him when he had already started to walk away.

An hour later he was sitting in the dungeons for insulting the Prince of Camelot.

It was impossible. There was literally no way. Merlin was wearing a gag, he couldn't talk, couldn't say any spells- he couldn't use magic! Because why else would he still be here?

But nonetheless, Arthur had just watched their first meeting. And from Merlin's point of view. So either he was going mad or the sorcerer had found a way to use magic without spells. Either way, there was an easy solution.

The Prince lifted his hand, straightening himself once again. Immediately, the crowd fell silent. "Magic users will pay for what have done. We will cure the land from its plague!"

With those words, he let his arm fall, signalling the guard with the torch to light the pyre.

Gaius was still standing in front of the guards, the pendant firmly in his hands, when he heard the shouts. His heart almost stopped, sending his ming in a series of 'Nonononono'. They had lit the pyre. Merlin was burning. And of course the idiot wouldn't do anything to save himself, leaving that to the old man. The physician grit his teeth.

"I have to talk to the Prince right now."

The guards looked slightly bored. "As you've said before. But, like I said before, that's not possible right now. He's doing some really important business, ya know?"

Gaius had to suppress the urge to cry out in frustration, instead thinking hard, until something crossed his mind.

His plan was simple, but it had worked before. It would work again.

That's it for now... hope you liked it. I'll try to update soon- and the next part should be the final chapter to this story. Of course I always love getting reviews *hint hint* ;).