A/N; Aw, thank you so much for all the reviews, follows and favourites for the first chapter! And yes, I felt really sorry for Daegal too in the episode! But with me, whenever there's a hint of Arthur caring/being protective over Merlin the episodes that ended up with him not finding out Merlin was hurt, I feel it's my personal duty to write an AU about it;) Hope you enjoy this final part:)
Disclaimer; I don't own Merlin.
"He will be all-right won't he?" Arthur asked Gaius.
"We got him here before the poison spread Sire, he should make a full recovery but he must rest."
Arthur let out a sigh of relief.
"Good. Thank you Gaius," the King said with gratitude before beginning to walk out.
"Where are you going Sire?"
"To see the person who did this to him."
Arthur didn't wait to hear Gaius's reply, he was already walking to the dungeons.
Whoever did this would regret their actions for the rest of their lives, however short that life may be when Arthur was finished with them.
"My Lord", two guards who were guarding the dungeons nodded as Arthur walked in.
"Show me the last person who was brought in", he commanded.
He followed a guard through the cells and thought of the look of pain on Merlin's face when he was first brought back and his anger intensified, it was threatening to bubble over.
Eventually, the guard led him to a cell, and let him in.
Arthur didn't see a young boy crying in a heap on the floor, he just saw a man who had caused extreme pain to and almost killed his best friend.
"Get up." Arthur commanded harshly.
The boy quickly got to his feet but took a step back to try make as much distance from him and the fuming King as he could.
"Why?" Arthur said, spitting it out like venom.
He just could not understand why anyone would want to hurt Merlin, he was probably the most amazing person Arthur had ever had the fortune to have in his life or to meet.
"I didn't want to-" Daegal started, speaking behind sobs.
"Yet you still did! You poisoned him and would of left him to die! So tell me why!"
"She made me..She would of killed me if I didn't, please my lord, I didn't want to!"
"Who made you?!"
"Morgana."
"You're lying. She would of done it herself if it was her."
"No! She said something about wanting him to know what it was like to be poisoned by someone you trusted and I-"
"He trusted you?" Arthur said, dangerously quiet.
"What?"
Arthur looked up, seething with anger.
"She made you poison him because she wanted him to know what it felt like to be poisoned by someone he trusted, you said. So he trusted you?"
Daegal had a crestfallen look on his face and gasped out another sob before answering.
"Yes! But I never wanted to betray his trust! Is Merlin-"
"Dead? No. It would take more than scum like you to kill him."
Arthur stepped next to Daegal and pinned him against the wall, no longer caring about trying to control his anger.
"You are not even worthy of saying his name!" Arthur spat out.
Arthur was confused to why Daegal seemed so relieved.
"I am glad he is all-right. I never wanted to hurt him."
"But you did! And anyone who hurts Merlin has to deal with me, and unluckily for you, I happen to be the King." Arthur said, grasping Daegal harder now.
"I know I deserve punishment. But please, let me speak to Merlin first."
Arthur released him angrily and laughed in sarcasm.
"You think I would let you anywhere near him?! And yes, you deserve your punishment, and that will be death. For attempting to murder one of my subjects and conspiring with Morgana. Have you got anything to say?"
"I..I'm sorry. I truly am."
Arthur walked towards him once more and whispered in his ear.
"You made me almost lose Merlin. No amount of apologises will ever make up for that."
Then walked out, leaving Daegal crying and muttering "I didn't want to" behind him.
"Is he still not awake?" Arthur asked Gaius.
He had went straight up to see Merlin after his talk with Gaius.
"The rest is good for him my lord" Gaius replied.
Arthur just nodded and took a seat next to Merlin's bed where he was lying.
"Shouldn't you be with the Sarrum?" Gaius asked gently.
"I won't leave him."
"Arthur, may I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"What punishment are you giving the man who did this to Merlin?"
"He will die in the morning."
The old man looked shocked.
"Arthur, are you sure that's what Merlin would want?"
Arthur felt angry again.
"Well he can't tell us because he's unconscious because of him," Arthur said bitterly.
Gaius was about to say something but Arthur silenced him.
"I've made my decision Gaius."
The boy would die.
When Merlin flickered his eyes open, the first thing he saw was Arthur looking at him with worry in his eyes.
"Merlin," Arthur smiled.
"Erm, what happened?" he asked.
The last thing he remembered was Daegal poisoning him.
"Leon and the Knights found you," Arthur replied.
Merlin was confused.
"Why were the Knights in that area?"
Arthur didn't answer.
"Arthur?"
"I sent them to look for you," he said quietly.
"Thank you." Merlin smiled.
If Arthur hadn't sent people to look for him, he would of been dead.
Arthur put his hand on Merlin's shoulder.
"The person who did this to you. They've been sent to death."
Merlin was horrified.
"No, Arthur!"
Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Don't start Merlin, he tried to kill you!"
"He didn't want to, Morgana made him!"
"Then he conspired with her, Camelot's sworn enemy!"
"It was the first time he had seen her, she came up to him and forced him to do it. He's a boy, he was scared."
"You could of died Merlin." Arthur whispered.
"Yes, because of Morgana, not him."
"You feel that strongly about it?"
"Yes. Please Arthur, let him go, he's just a boy."
Arthur was thoughtful for a moment.
"Fine. But he is banished from Camelot, and he is to come nowhere near you ever again."
"Thank you."
Arthur's annoyance turned to concern.
"You need to rest."
Arthur was about to leave before turning back.
"Merlin..don't disappear again. I was worried."
"Really? You care?" Merlin asked, touched.
"We've been through this before Merlin, of course not," Arthur joked before leaving.
But they both knew he did.
A/N; Hope you enjoyed, remember to leave review:)