A/N: I swear I start writing and when im making corrections suddenly an eight word document transforms into twenty pages. I have never written so much in my life for a ff.

So yes… another freaking longgggg chapter. I WILL STOP WRITING SO MUCH. I PROMISE. UGH. Anyways enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

A King's Salvation

Agravaine made his way to Uther's room in silent and methodical steps. His face serene and his hands clasped behind his back; the personification of calmness as he walked. His mind, on the other hand, was another story. His ideas and thoughts were going erratic inside his brain and the fact that he had barely slept last night wasn't helping his case.

The plan inside his head putting itself together like pieces in a chess board with Morgana's voice guiding them.

'You only have once chance, Agravaine!" Morgana's voice was saying. "Do not fail me."

He passed the hallways and rooms that he knew like the back of his hand, petulantly watching the day unfold as he went not getting too immersed in it, not wanting to be delayed any longer: servants came and went around him, all in different kinds of hurry in the first hours of the day, bringing clothes and trays of food along with them. Knights walked past him to get to their designated activities, noblemen wandered around the corners of the castle gossiping about the latest news.

Finally, he stepped into the hallway of the west wing that would lead him to the chambers of the King; his final destination. Once outside the doors, he nodded to the two Knights that guarded day and night the king's chambers wherever he was inside or not. No one entered or exited without them knowing.

"Inform the King that I request a meeting with him at once." He ordered clasping his hands behind his back and nodded for the knights to let him in. "It's of the most importance."

The knights looked at each other but none of them opened the doors.

"He actually left early this morning, Sire." The one on his left. Sir Lionel? Leon? Whoever, answered. "He said he would be back after midday."

Agravaine tried to hide his curiosity over such news behind a calm face. Where had he gone? Why? And more importantly with whom? And why wasn't he, Agravaine, aware of the situation? Why, pray tell, when he was second in command—Arthur technically didn't count anymore—the King felt it was not needed to inform him?

Agravaine feared that he would have to put his plan on hold for a moment. Morgana would not be pleased with this turn of events.

"Sire?" The other Knight asked worriedly when Agravaine just stared contrite at the doors. Since it was implied that Agravaine should know the whereabouts of the King at all times he didn't risk question the Knights any further.

"Of course. Of course. I had forgotten, so many things to take care of." He said as he rolled his eyes and the guards relaxed visibly. It wouldn't be the first time that the knights of the realm would be fooled after all. "I'll come back later, I have a meeting to attend."

"Milord," They both bowed as Agravaine stalked down the hallway, a grim look on his face.

Once he was alone back in his quarters he threw a silent tantrum putting his hands in fits. What now? The King was out and it didn't take a genius to figure out Arthur and Merlin were gone too. The principal pawn on his board was the King, and the King wasn't here to play his part.

He didn't know what to do, finding himself at a great disadvantage. Finally, Morgana's voice rang inside his head.

"Do whatever you have to do, Agravaine." She basically spat. "I want him dead! All of them!"

And we will do so. Agravaine pondered a few ideas as he looked outside the window of his room, the sun was about to rich his highest point, meaning he still had a few hours before the King was back…

He blinked as an idea struck him, a moment later, a dark grin showed on his face.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"I have to say, Sir Arthur. That this… this is quite the spectacle."

"Well, it's quite the legend it holds, my King." Arthur said with a soft smile as his father rounded the rock where the sword was embedded. He watched as his father's eyes traveled up and down the sword to the point where the tip disappeared into the solid rock. Then, slowly as he might be burned because of it, the King placed his hands on the hilt, however, he did not move to pull it out, probably marveled that such a thing existed in the first place.

Arthur just watched in silence. If Uther approved of the sword in the stone test at least they wouldn't have to worry about Agravaine's tournament. As the King kept inspecting the sword, Arthur glanced over his shoulder to find Merlin along with Gwaine hovering under a tree. Arthur nodded in a silent thank you towards Merlin, after all, this all had been his idea. The sorcerer crossed his arms and smiled smugly in his direction.

Arthur rolled his eyes and turned his back towards him, seriously if his attitude keeps up he was cutting the word 'thank you' and 'sorry' from his vocabulary.

Although, he kinds of deserves it….A voice inside his head—that sounded painfully like Lancelot's–said and Arthur just shook his head in annoyance.

Thinking back from this very morning to this point in time everything had happened quite unexpectedly, Arthur had been in such a guilt trip yesterday that he had kind of forgot about the fact that they had to ensure that the test that they had proposed would be the one to win. He had not forgotten about his Father condition, not for a moment, but he had grown more worried about Merlin's emotional state than Agravaine's test.

So, when Leon woke Arthur up at first light telling him Uther had requested to see him, Arthur had been beyond surprised. Arthur did not question it, and just like he used to do when Uther had known him as a son, he got ready and headed out his room along with Leon. However, Leon did ask Arthur why his father had referred to him as 'Sir Arthur' which had never happened before.

Arthur huffed and waved a hand at it. Saying it was a phase of his Father: 'something about teaching him manners.'

Leon furrowed his brows but as the kind soul he was he shrugged and let it go, after all crazy things always happened in the castle and more times than not the King was kind of… hard to deal with. If Arthur said it was a phase, it was a phase.

When Arthur began to get closer and closer to his Father room being anxious would be an understatement, however, neither his voice nor his hands shook when Leon opened the door for Arthur to step inside. Once Leon closed the door Arthur bowed—which he never did in normal circumstances—and presented himself—which he never did in any circumstances.

"You requested to see me?" Arthurs questioned curtly with his hands behind his back. The King was standing by the window with the clothes he usually wore to go hunting or to a trip, when Uther turned a bit to rise his eyebrows at him Arthur stammered a: "M-my King?"

It still hurt. Deeply. Every time Arthur encountered Uther he had the vague hope that he would recognize him. Uther had never showed any improvement though through these past days and Arthur, for the meantime, had settled on calling his Father my king and my lord at all times, scared that by mistake he might say something that he would regret. For example commit the stupid mistake of calling him Father. He tried to not feel offended at such a thought.

"Sir Arthur." Uther said turning completely,"I'm pleased to see you are an early knight, Arthur. I assume you have not forgotten the principal task we have at hand?"

"No, of course not, My King" Like if Arthur could forget. To look for an heir when he was one. The irony of it all maybe was the reason Morgana made this happen.

"Well, true to my word I spent the whole day and night thinking about this rock you were telling me about yesterday. The situation is very precarious and time is exactly what we don't have." Uther said as he walked slowly around his room to retrieve his sword from a nearby table. Arthur payed no mind, after all, he had gotten the habit to think with his sword at hand from his father.

"I take it you have taken a decision then, uh... milord?"

"I have." Uther said with finality as he looked to Arthur's face. "I'm declaring a tournament next morning—" Arthur felt like he had been kicked in the guts, his face bleached, his feet felt like they were made of rock and the air inside his lungs suddenly disappeared. "however, I once promised to someone to never think that all is lost without proof. So—this stone you are talking about." Uther said with his hands behind his back, resolute on his posture. "I wish to see it."

"You—you wish to see it?" Arthur stammered and after a beat: "My king?"

"Well, but of course. After all if this rock really exists—which I still have my doubts— then the sword that is in it should obey my demand, since I'm the rightful king of Camelot at the moment." Uther sheathed his sword elegantly on his belt and looked ready to leave. "If the stone exits then I will call off the tournament."

When Arthur didn't move or breath or say anything for a second—which was enough to make Uther furious—Uther clarified what he supposed was the reason that got the young knight into such a silent predicament.

"I already told Sir Leon to give you the morning off, Knight" Uther said impatiently. "Now— take me to this rock."

Arthur nodded and bowed when he finally understood the words. They had one last chance. He felt like screaming and hugging his father. Which of course will have him dead by night but he smiled relieved.

"O-of course, my lord." Arthur stammered and then he remembered protocol: Tell the King where are you going, how long it would take, the preparation, call for a patrol worthy enough for the task.

Arthur didn't waste time. He told the king that it would be a short travel by horse; they should be back before midday if everything went according to plan. The stone wasn't near any dangerous village and a patrol set of four knights and the King would suffice.

At Uther impatient stare Arthur nodded. "We leave whenever you desire so, my lord."

"Very well, meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes," Uther said before Arthur bowed one last time—still not quite believing this was happening—and exited the room. He walked out almost in a daze, he hadn't even closed the door behind him when it was slammed open again. It was Uther, however, the King wasn't even looking in his direction.

"Sir Leon," Uther commanded. "Ready a patrol for me and Sir Arthur. We leave at once."

With that one last statement, the King stalked off in the direction of what Arthur presumed would be the courtyard as Arthur's mind registered what just had happened.

His Father had agreed to magic—well, of course, he didn't know… yet, but still! Arthur went pale. Oh, God. When he sees the rock would he notice it was really just magic? Or would he believe a higher power of Gods were tampering with the rock? If Uther discovered it was just magic...what then? He hadn't thought of that.

Arthur gulped and Sir Leon shook his head in amusement sharing a glance with the other Knight, Sir Percy. They both shrugged; sometimes the King was a bit harsh on Arthur. Calling him 'Sir' instead of 'Son' and ignoring him so blatantly was a bit over the edge and Leon wondered what could have possibly Arthur done to deserve such a treatment.

"Sir Arthur?" Leon turned towards Arthur, eyes glinting with mirth once Uther was out of sight. "Is the King punishing you for something, Sire?"

"The patrol," Arthur said ignoring Leon for the moment and using his best 'I am your prince, you are mi knight/shut up' voice, "I want Lancelot and Gwaine. No one else."

Leon blinked a bit surprised, "Just three knights? Usually, the patrol for a king is five knights, Arthur."

"Don't you think I know that?" Arthur used his steel voice; he couldn't have an argument over this right now. "This is of great importance, Leon." Arthur made himself clear. "Any number higher than five will attract unwanted attention. The trip we are doing is near Annoraa, just a few hours away from Camelot and close to the safest roads there are in the kingdom, besides a patrol was dispatched in that direction just an hour ago and the same one will return just after midday, meaning any danger before and after us will be taken care of, but If you feel like my father's word and mine aren't enough to convince you, please tell me so."

Leon and Percy wisely shut up.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Arthur basically blasted Gaius's door open as he stepped inside. He looked around for a moment before he huffed and crossed Gaius's chambers in quick strides, passing the old physician on his way with nothing else but a wary glance in his direction. The prince took the three steps that led to Merlin's room in a rush and opened the door with not so much as an advice.

There, sleeping like a log despite the amount of hassle Arthur had managed to create, was Merlin.

"Arthur?" Gaius voice could be heard from behind him. Arthur didn't wait though and just threw Merlin unceremoniously out of bed with a loud thud, sheets and all. "Arthur! The poor lad did not sleep a blink yesterday!"

Arthur did feel a bit guilty about it but right now sleep was the least of his concerns.

"Merlin, you idiot, wake up!" Arthur urged as Merlin's head emerged from the other side of the bed.

"What…I— Wha' time is't?" Merlin babbled as he rubbed his face before he frowned annoyed at the covers that he was tangled in. "Did I oversleep?"

"Merlin, listen to me, my father has decided to visit the stone." He locked eyes with Merlin so his friend could understand the predicament they were in, however Merlin was just blinking owlishly still rubbing his forehead, looking at Arthur like he had grown two heads "Merlin! He wants to see the sword in the stone. Right now!"

Merlin stopped fumbling with his sheets for a moment and with a flash of gold, they untangled themselves from him, bringing him up right along with them as they folded by the end of the bed. Both friends ignored Gaius aghast reaction at such a blunt use of magic.

"Right now?" Merlin repeated in panic as he hurriedly went to his closet to grab a pair of black breeches and a red shirt that he threw haphazardly over his torso fighting to get every limb where they should go. "Wait, does this mean he will go for our idea?"

"Maybe, I don't know!" Arthur was already dashing out the room passing a stunned Gaius on the way to the door. Arthur turned on his heels to ask Merlin something but found empty air instead. He fought the urge to scream. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, Merlin wasn't ready yet but it wasn't the end of the world. He could wait. Three seconds passed by… He heard Merlin mumbling something and he had the instinctive feeling Merlin was still battling with his shirt. He lost it. "For god's sake, Merlin hurry up! Don't even bother having breakfast and I do hope you remember where that damned 'sword in the stone' is or I will kill you myself before Uther hangs me."

There was silence for a moment where Gaius(still in his pajamas) eyed Arthur with half amused half worried eyes.

"I love it when you wake up at the right side of your bed, Sire!" He heard Merlin scream from his bedroom and Arthur didn't swing anything at him because this—sadly—wasn't his room.

"Meet me in the courtyard in five minutes!" Arthur demanded. "And for God's sake find my sword will you?!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Lancelot met Arthur halfway on his way to the courtyard, one look at Arthur's face and Lancelot was sure that yesterday's talk had not been in vain but he was also sure that whatever was going was urgent if Arthur's anxious face was anything to go by.

"Arthur, what is going on?" Lancelot asked quietly and Arthur spared a glance up and down the hall. Lancelot internally sighed. "What is really going on."

"Not enough time, I'll explain later, right now…" Arthur drifted as they started to walk to the courtyard with short steps and heads bowed together. "You need to pretend I'm a knight, at all times. We are going on patrol with my father."

"You are a knight, milord," Lancelot said confused and Arthur grunted, regretting not telling Lancelot this yesterday's night.

"It's hard to explain but it involves my father and— Gwaine!"

Gwaine was waiting for them to get in level with him by at the end of the hall, as they approached him he raised his left hand to stiff a yawn and with his right hand he rubbed his face tiredly. He looked like he hadn't slept a bit last night.

"Had fun at the tavern?" Lancelot asked amiably as he clasped Gwaine's shoulder.

"You have no idea," Gwaine said but the charming smirk that usually accompanied him didn't follow his words. "Shame you couldn't make it."

Lancelot just smiled wider and after one last shake at Gwaine's arm he dropped his hand and turned towards his prince. Gwaine stood straighter feeling the tension in the air.

"So, about the patrol, what do we need to know?" Lancelot asked, politely giving Arthur the chance to explain this in whatever terms he wished to get Gwaine to cooperate.

"I'm going to say this once and once only so listen carefully," Arthur said gravely, however, when he explained he thought he sounded more like Merlin than himself. "My father has put me into uh—some kind of test. Yes. So, uh—he feels that if I'm going to be king, he needs to test me in all ways possible."

"Really?" Gwaine asked concerned looking at Lancelot for something that indicated he felt the same way he did. "Why? You are his son. What do you need to prove?"

Lancelot was looking gravely at Arthur but said nothing.

"In any case, I'm just advising you to go along with it for all our benefits. He thinks I need to have a better comprehension of the life of a knight, whatever that means. So don't laugh, don't make questions and if you really need to talk to me refer to me as "Sir Arthur" and that's an order. Understood?"

Lancelot and Gwaine both bowed.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"I have never seen something like this before," Gwaine whispered to Merlin as the King kept inspecting the sword under Arthur's vigilant eye. "Looks like magic. Does it really… ya' know—choses the rightful king?"

Merlin nodded, his eyes on the King and the King alone, aware that Uther might try to test the sword without further notice, however, he was listening to Gwaine's every word.

"You are not making this up, are you mate? The whole story an' all that?"

Merlin grinned and turned towards Gwaine with an impish smile. "Do I look like I know how to do that? Fool an entire kingdom?"

Gwaine stared at Merlin's blue eyes for a few seconds before he sighed "No, sorry mate, you can't lie for your life."

"The one who pulls the sword out will be the rightful king of Camelot, though," Merlin repeated as he ignored what Gwaine had said. "Want to have a try?"

Gwaine shrugged and scoffed. "Would give it a try but look at Uther— he would yell treason if I dared to even touch the hilt of it."

And he was right; so far neither of the knights—Arthur included— had even tried to get closer to the sword, the look on the King's eyes was enough to keep them at bay. It was the same look that the king have had with the white stone.(That was still attached to a chain around his neck) It was a mix of amusement and curiosity, but the almost innocent and childish look was killed with the little glance of darkness and greed that all the knights and the sorcerer were able to see.

Merlin and Gwaine were under the shadow of a tree talking and overseeing the general area while Arthur and Lancelot were standing side by side, talking in low tones closer to the stone and King.

They were all silent for a moment before Gwaine coughed and nudged Merlin's ribs. Merlin waited for it impatiently.

"Uh, Sir Arthur, sire?" Gwaine called and Merlin chuckled at the annoyed look on Arthur's face—who managed to keep his cool but he almost broke his neck with the violence in which he turned to glare at them, beside him, Lancelot closed his eyes in dread, between keeping Merlin alive, fighting alongside Arthur to ensure he will become King, and keeping Gwaine on the sober side as often as he could, he had to wonder when exactly he became the official babysitter.

"What is it, Sir Gwaine?" Arthur said coolly.

Fifty-four times, Merlin counted with an amused smirk, fifty-four times that Gwaine had called Arthur 'Sire' today. Lancelot had told Merlin that Gwaine would reach a hundred by the time the day ended.

Merlin had bet he would reach it before returning to Camelot.

"Can I ask something?" Gwaine, who had been quiet all the way there—always submissive around the king— didn't wait for an answer now that the King was entertained. "What's the point of this?"

"What do you mean?" Arthur played dumb as he looked to the side.

The King had the white magical stone on his hands, with a final stare at the sword he placed it on the hilt, slid it down the metal and then let it rest on the stone. After a second where nothing happened he crossed his arms again staring at the rock.

"I mean that, Arthur. All of this." Gwaine gestured with his head towards the sword and the King as he whispered. "You are the future king. Everybody knows that, so why does Uther wants to test you with this? Just to see if you can pull it out? Does he think this is a trick from a sorcerer? Is he afraid someone else can reclaim your throne?"

Lancelot smirked, "Too many questions, don't you think?"

Gwaine shrugged and flicked his hair out of his face. "I think that the stone is not fake… but who assures us that the stone actually works for that. We are trusting a fairytale."

Arthur didn't comment and Lancelot just shook his head amused. Gwaine rolled his eyes and turned to Merlin.

"What do ya' think, mate?"

"Me?" Merlin stammered before he shrugged in a very Gwaine style. "I think that if Arthur manages to pull it out then the stone works. Really, Gwaine, it's not that hard to follow."

"Yes… but the sword is in a rock." Gwaine felt the need to emphasize.

"We know." Arthur, Lancelot, and Merlin said.

"What am I missing here?" Gwaine pressed but neither of the other three graced him with an answer. Gwaine huffed indignantly as he muttered under his breath.

"Sir Arthur." Uther called and Arthur turned with a final 'shut up you three' stare, before he walked to meet his father by the rock, the rest of the knights and sorcerer walked just a bit closer to watch.

Uther was still gazing at the sword. He coughed self-consciously once he realized he was being observed and turned towards Arthur, however, his eyes never quite left the sight of the embedded sword. "Well, you have proven that what you said it's true and that apparently, this act of—of destiny, perhaps, is not linked with magic."

"Of course not, Sire." Arthur lowered his head. "Something made out of magic can't be trusted in a matter as important as ruling a kingdom. The rock was born out of… power will, destiny, and fate if you would like."

Uther nodded and Arthur kept his stare fixed on his father, he knew Merlin would never take his words to heart but still, Arthur felt incredibly guilty for saying it out loud. One day, he promised himself as his father's stare turned from curious to greedy looking at his sword, one day it will be him. After all, it was gifted to him and him alone by Merlin.

One day he would change the view that the Kingdom had of magic.

"Very well, then." Uther clasped his hands together. "Let's see if this fairytale of yours works, Sir Arthur. Shall we?"

Arthur nodded stiffly and took a step back as Uther placed his hands on the hilt, still dubious at the whole ordeal; he scoffed and rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath about fairytales and stories of old and finally his hands stayed put on the hilt.

The silence was so heavy Arthur felt like it was ringing in his ears. The wind blew softly and he risked a look at his companions.

Gwaine had a look of total concentration as his eyes flicked from the stone to Uther's face every few seconds. Lancelot had his hand resting on the hilt of the sword, his eyes looking around the clearance, on their way here Lancelot's biggest worry was that Morgana somehow had found out about their whereabouts and as loyal as ever he was doing his job correctly. Merlin caught Arthur's stare and he just gave an almost invisible nod at Arthur before his eyes turned to the sword completely fixed on it.

Uther closed his eyes, his shoulders tensed and under the careful watch of those around him he pulled the sword by the hilt.

It didn't move.

The sword didn't move an inch.

Uther blinked and he turned a shade of red from embarrassment and anger. Witt not a moment to waste, he tried again. This time you could see his face contort for the effort.

Nothing.

Uther took a step back, moving his legs to have a wider stance. He stubbornly placed one steady hand on the handle as he muttered under his breath that he was the rightful king. He pulled, and pulled hard, enough that some veins on his head were visible. He looked a second away from giving up.

Arthur turned towards Merlin, desperation all over his face. What was Merlin playing at?! Arthur felt the urge to kick Merlin when he saw that his friend had his head low, hiding a smirk in his scarf and his arms were crossed over his chest to keep himself from laughing.

The bastard! The fucking idiot! Arthur was going to kill him!

"One more time, Sire." Lancelot pressed and Arthur placed his hands behind his back to avoid choking Merlin where he stood. "You are the rightful king of Camelot."

"Damn right I am." Uther hissed not raising his eyes from the damned sword.

This time Uther used both hands and took a big breath before he pulled.

Nothing for a second and before he gave up…it moved. Uther stopped for a moment in amusement before he tried again. It moved up another inch up.

Uther finally pulled the sword out elegantly, slowly at first but then gaining confidence. All of the knights gasped as the sword left the rock with a scrappy noise. While Lancelot and Gwaine were entertained with Uther, Arthur's eyes flicked for a moment to Merlin who was one step behind Lancelot, his eyes golden, stare fixed on the sword.

Arthur felt a pang of guilt, and if he was being brutally honest, a bit jealous.

He wished Merlin would have done the same but for an entirely different person. Him for instance. After all, this was a gift that Merlin, Gwen, and the Dragon had made for him and he had to willingly give it to his father for the moment. He sighed and turned his face back to his father. Little sacrifices for a greater good.

Everybody was silent for the longest of times as they all admired the sword once it was completely out. Impressive couldn't even begin to describe it. Uther looked at the sword for a moment before a smile broke across his face, he swung the word to try it out and nodded before he looked at the blade more intently, then his eyes were fixed on Merlin and Merlin wondered if he had made some sort of connection but before he could begin to worry the king turned to his knights.

"This sword… I have seen it before." Uther said looking at the blade once more before. He blinked and the idea suddenly left him. "Somehow… somewhere."

Lancelot, bless his soul, was the one who answered again as Arthur just stood there stoically. "It's a sword made for the rightful king, Sire, I guess it would feel like second nature on your hands."

Gwaine nodded in approval and bowed, totally amazed at what he had seen. "A sword made for you and you alone, my King."

Uther nodded distracted, accepting the explanation. He raised it above his head and the sword shined in the rays of the sun, after a moment of amusement all around he turned to Arthur with and air of finality.

"Very well, looks like we have finally found our test, Sir Arthur."

Arthur nodded and bowed and the other three men followed. Merlin watched as Uther readied himself to put the sword inside the rock once again, and with his magic, he helped Uther to place it back where it belonged.

Merlin looked towards Arthur, his blue eyes fixed on what should be his. One day. One day it would be Arthur the one and rightful King.

Oh, he just wished Agravaine had been here to witness this moment.

As they departed and Uther walked ahead of them Arthur clasped Merlin left shoulder as he went, nodding in a silent but clear 'thank you', Merlin impishly grinned and rolled his eyes. It had been nothing. Arthur pressed his hand harder on his shoulder and shook his head.

It hadn't been nothing. Merlin finally sighed and took the compliment for what it was.

"Oi, Sir Arthur! The King demands to start our way home immediately." Gwaine called from up the little hill and both friends hurried to the top in silence but easy steps. Lancelot from the top smiled down at them and the three friends shared a nervous but happy grin.

They had won.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Far away from where the knights and the king were, the witch Morgana sat on her wooden chair. Dark rings under her beautiful eyes. She hadn't slept at all that night thinking about the news Agravaine had delivered. News about the tournament, about the so-called 'sword in the stone'

And about Merlin. Morgana had been furious when Agravaine had told her that.

Merlin was Emrys? She would have laughed had not been for the look on Agravaine's face as he recalled the event. The most shocking part wasn't exactly that Merlin had magic—which was still unbelievable—but the fact that Arthur— her stupid sibling!— knew about this. Since when has Arthur known? And how in hell Merlin had fooled her for so many years?! Her, the most powerful sorceress, fooled by someone like Merlin?!

She had smashed the vials she had been working on to the ground. She was enraged, aghast, humiliated.

Morgana had to accept that thinking back it made sense, every time she had been defeated had been because Merlin had been there in some way or the other, wasn't it? To think that he had been so close to kill so many times… and she had just crossed him with the title of manservant. Of stupid. Of the little dog that followed Arthur anywhere, stupid and loyal to the bones.

She had been so wrong.

She had wanted to scream in frustration. She had wanted to snap Agravaine's neck in anger. The bloody fool had let him go! He should have killed him right there and then when he saw him.

Morgana had refrained from doing so, choosing to calm herself. If Merlin had fooled her and defeated her Agravaine wouldn't stand a chance, losing allies was something she could not afford at the moment.

So all night she had stayed awake thinking of what her next step should be. Agravaine even dozed off on his seat waiting for her plan. She will have to be careful, look at every possibility, she only had one chance. Killing Uther and Arthur was first priority, however, she realized that if she wanted her throne she will have to kill Merlin first, without him in the picture Arthur would be just a mere insect that could be squashed in an instant.

She will kill Emrys and she will make sure of it. She relayed her plan to Agravaine who nodded, loyal like a fool he would follow her plan to the very minimal detail. They had the upper hand. Neither of the boys suspected Agravaine and for once they could use such knowledge in advantage.

"Agravaine." She had commanded before Agravaine left back to Camelot. "Once you come back tonight I do not only want Merlin's head, but also the exact location of this sword. Am I understood?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Sir Leon was waiting by the entrance of the castle when the knights and Merlin arrived. One look at his face and Merlin knew something must have happened, something horrible, and apparently Arthur and Uther thought that too since they both dismounted their horses in a hurry and reached Sir Leon at the same time, at the last second Arthur stepped back. Uther glared at Arthur for a moment, reminding him his place as a knight, before he turned towards Sir Leon.

"What is it?" Uther said and Sir Leon instead of replaying looked at Merlin with a strange face. Merlin knew that stare, involuntarily he took a step back.

"Speak!" Uther urged Leon.

"I—it's Agravaine, Sire." Leon found his voice and turned his eyes to the King once again. "He demanded a meeting in the throne room. He says is of the utmost importance."

"And what is this meeting about?" Uther said calmed once again. "For Christ sake, Sir Leon! I thought we were under attack from the face you held!"

"He—he didn't specify," Leon bowed.

Merlin and Arthur shared a look behind the King. Agravaine calling a meeting? Definitely bad news. "Very well then, tell them him I will meet him before sunset."

"Agravaine said—"

"That is an order, Knight." Uther glared at Leon and Leon lowered his eyes. Uther had no time to oversee taxes or accommodations of noblemen, he had a test that had to be thought out to the very last detail and the only who could help him was Gaius.

"Of course," Leon said stepping out of the way of the King. Uther walked the stairs up to the main hall and disappeared past the doors after a nod to the knights in general as a goodbye. The second Uther was out of sight Leon didn't waste any time meeting Arthur halfway down the stairs.

"What is it Leon? What happened?"

Merlin didn't like the way Leon was eyeing him at all and he suddenly felt dizzy as his eyes grew huge. Oh, Gods. He knew that look, he took a step back and he would've fallen down the stairs had not been for Gwaine, who was there to catch him by the arm.

'You okay'" He mouthed concerned and Merlin nodded distractedly.

"It's Agravaine," Leon repeated. "He said that—it's impossible!"

"Speak freely, Leon," Arthur said with a hand on the left shoulder of the knight and Leon didn't hesitate any longer.

"He came early this morning looking for you. Once he found out you were gone, he came to me a while later to organize a meeting. He told me… to start saying around that— Arthur... He's talking nonsense." Leon said as he looked towards Merlin with a face that indicated that whatever was to come wasn't going to be nice.

"Leon—"

"He said that Merlin is a sorcerer." Leon blurted out in a quiet whisper. All eyes snapped towards Merlin in different levels of anxiety while said warlock looked about to faint.

Silence had never been as thick as in that moment in life.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

A/N: I will just shut up and let you deal with what you think will happen next. I just hope I didn't confuse you with the timeline. Morgana's part happened 'yesterday's night' but she is still fuming remembering what had happened, while the rest of the story followed after that. And quick reminder that Uther had seen the sword before, the time Uther faced the knight that could not be killed in season one or two I believe, that's the reason Merlin made the sword in the first place, Uther trapped Arthur inside his room (Since anybody who faced the undying knight, would, ya know, die) but Gaius got the sword back from Uther at the end of it, however, Uther forgot everything related to Arthur, so I guess the sword was forgotten too, although he vaguely remembers, the way he vaguely feels protective of Arthur.

Thank you for your reviews! I really love to read each one, I really do. They give me life!

Saimiri: Thank you for your review! Im really happy that you liked the last chapter since I honestly wasn't quite convinced with it. Hope you like this new one.

Cromick: Thank you! Well! I did write! I can only hope it still amazing.

Zoelin: Thank you! God, my chapters are long aren't they? D: Book style.

Aaronna: I used your username as the city's name that was close to the sword. (Backwards) I had been running out of ideas and I was going by the reviews and I said. Yes, this is good name. Annoraa.

Mersan123: Glad you liked the 'sod destiny' part well, yeah, I hate Agravaine with a passion too and now that Merlin has been found out even more. Well, we will have to see if your guess of the second person that found out is correct. Not long before it's displayed.

Linorien and duchessliz: Thank you, glad you liked Arthur's and Merlin's conversation I had been worried I had slipped OOC!