Disclaimer: I own none of that character's below, they belong to their respective owners

First chapter up after Merlin series 2 has started, I hope you all decide to keep reading and don't get distracted too much by the new series (and a very gorgeous looking, naked Bradley James) :) And I don't think I have ever laughed so much at the word Clotpole (I'm thinking of adopting it as my new insult!) :P I hope you all saw it anyway (had to download it, but the wait was worth it) It was very good. I could go on, but I won't as you're probabaly want to get onto reading this next chapter. I hope you enjoy it anyway, please don't hate me too much and don't forget to review! :)

Chapter Fourteen

Execution day.

Suddenly overcome with tiredness, Merlin had slept through the night; something he had not expected to achieve. He was, once again, woken to the soft almost musical voice calling his name. "Emrys," Merlin slowly felt himself regaining consciousness. "Emrys. Fear not, Emrys," However, just like two mornings previous, once Merlin was fully awake the voice stopped and he was left feeling more isolated than ever, not knowing what the voice had meant.

The morning passed swiftly. His breakfast came and went, making the young sorcerer feel more sick than full and before he knew it, he was being led out of his cell, up the stairs and into daylight: the courtyard.

Merlin had had no visitors since Gaius, Arthur, Gwen and Morgana had visited the previous night. He hoped they'd all got out alright. All he wanted was for them all to be safe. Was that too much to ask? Mentally shaking himself of all thoughts of his friends, Merlin turned his attention to his location. It wasn't the usual courtyard where the executions took place, which surprised Merlin slightly. It was a smaller courtyard on the other side of the castle, he noticed, realising that Uther didn't want his death to be a spectacle.

There was only a small crowd in the courtyard and seated above them on a higher viewing platform, the Royal Stand, sat the King himself, along with Arthur, Morgana and Gwen, all of which looked apprehensive and terrified. Gaius was nowhere to be seen and for a moment Merlin hoped he had come up with a plan to save them all.

As he was dragged up beside them, for Uther's final consent, Gwen leaned down to whisper to him while the King was distracted in a conversation with Arthur.

"I'm sorry," she murmured for what must have been the hundredth time.

"We all are," Morgana added quickly, before turning to glance at Uther, pretending she hadn't said anything.

"I know," Merlin said, wearily, before remembering something which had come to him the previous night. "When this is over, can you send word to Ealdor and my mother? Tell her… tell her I'm sorry and that I…I love her," he whispered, stumbling over a few words as he tried to control his emotions. "I want her to know and I want you all to be there to comfort her," Merlin said, glancing cautiously at the King, who was now engaged in an argument with Arthur. It was now obvious, by the way they spoke, that they were still locked in a mutual disagreement. They seemed not to notice Merlin's own careful conversation, and his guard had, thankfully turned a blind eye to their exchange.

"Of course we will," Gwen said, another tear falling. "And Merlin…" she paused and in that brief second before she could say anything more, there was an uproar beside them as Arthur and Uther's argument got more louder.

"I cannot believe I am hearing this!" The King cried his disbelief at his son.

"You can't?" Arthur retorted mockingly. "Think about it, father. Just think about it for a moment. You are about to give the final order to have my… to have our friend's head chopped off just because he was brave enough to show his magic in public so he could save my life. Do you really think I'm going to take that without any protest?"

"As Crown Prince of Camelot, I expect you to. I don't care if he is your friend or not. He broke the law."

"He saved my life!" Arthur half yelled it. "You value the laws of Camelot over my own life? The life of your own son?"

"I didn't say that," Uther replied harshly, subtly gesturing to a pair of nearby guards to aid him. Only Merlin saw the motion.

"Arthur!" He yelled in warning. "Look out," He pointed as the two guards began to run towards him.

"Guards! Restrain them both," Uther's voice rang out, echoing around the courtyard walls. The guard attending Merlin immediately pulled the sorcerer's arms up behind his back, instantly immobilising him. He could only watch on as Arthur was, too, restrained, a look of pure contempt on his face, as he glared at the King.

"I don't want you making a scene," Uther whispered menacingly to Arthur.

"I will never forgive you," Arthur said back warningly, as his lip curled up in disgust.

Before anything else could be said or done, Merlin was suddenly pulled away rather roughly by his guard, who had obviously got word from Uther to hurry up. Arthur's face softened as he turned to watch Merlin being pulled away towards the executioners stand.

Merlin had forgotten completely about whatever Gwen was about to say to him as he winced and looked away from the restrained Arthur and shock friends. He glanced briefly over the small crowd, not recognising anyone in particular, his eyes only picking out a tall man towards the back, his face covered in a dark hood. Surely he looked too suspicious for Uther to allow in?

Trying to stop his eyes from suddenly watering, Merlin turned away from the crowd until his eyes came to rest on the executioners stand and block which he was being led to. The faceless guard actually muttered a brief apology before forcing him up the stairs to where the executioner stood waiting. Not expecting the rough shove in the back, the young sorcerer stumbled, feeling the material on his knees rip with the friction. Gwen gave a small gasp at this before, Merlin glimpsed out of the corner of his eye, turning to bury her face into Morgana's shoulder.

Beside them, Arthur's stony face remained stoical; determined not to show any emotions, even in front of the small crowd. Merlin turned to look at the Prince, determined to have the vision of his friends firmly in his mind as the last thing he'd seen.

Before the cloth bag was dragged over his eyes, Merlin caught the briefest glimpse of Gaius, as he suddenly appeared behind Morgana. Hope lifted in the younger man's chest at the sight of the physician; maybe he had come up with something. The hopes soon faded, however when Gaius gave a small shake of his head and the hope etched in Merlin's face was once again replaced with sorrow. The two then shared a swift last smile before Merlin's world was turned into darkness; never able to see light of day again.

The young sorcerer and manservant had little idea of what was going on, but soon found his head being forced onto a hard wooden stump. This was it. After all that, it was so simple. After all his secret keeping and hiding from friends, he was going to be killed for it. And they'd only known for two days, less even.

Suddenly, there was a shout of 'No!' from behind him and Merlin recognised the voice as Gwen's. Hearing, being his only source of sense, Merlin strained to hear the scrambling of bodies and the King's cry of 'Restrain her!' He instantly knew Gwen was now being held by guards.

"Merlin! No!" Gwen's voice continued to call out.

"Can somebody gag her?"

"No! Merlin!" She screamed his name and Merlin could only imagine the tears cascading down her face. "Merlin! I love you!"

Merlin swallowed, not knowing how to respond. Dare he reply? And if so, what to say?

"I love you, Mer-," Gwen's cried were cut short and Merlin suspected someone had found something to gag her with. There was another brief scuffle and then it all went quiet.

The silence had begun. This was it. This was the end. The ending of all.

"This boy has been convicted of using sorcery in my Kingdom and has been found guilty," Uther's commanding voice called out, silencing everybody with a tone of finality. "For this he will pay the price with his life."

Merlin mentally imagined Uther giving a wave of his arm, signalling to the executioner. As his head was still pressed to the block of wood, Merlin heard only the faintest grunt as the executioner lifted his axe. There was a gasp, which he faintly recognised as Morgana's and then another grunt.

"NOOO!" Arthur's angry, painful cry rang through Merlin's ears as the axe fell through the air, creating a dull whistle as it did.

It was the ending of all.