THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

"How long have you been aware of these powers?" Arthur asked, although it was far nearer a demand than a request.

Merlin swallowed and stared at the king who was his friend.

"Arthur…"

"For the benefit of the court." Arthur stated, glaring hard at him.

There was something of Uther in him that made everyone straighten.

Merlin swallowed.

"My whole life… I was born with it."

This response earned Arthur's eyes to move over the room as people started to murmur and gasp worriedly, more than they ever had at anything.

The knights looked to their king, although Mordred kept his eyes on Merlin.

Arthur looked down at the parchment he held before back up at his manservant.

"Is there anything you would like to say?" He demanded.

Merlin straightened.

Mordred shifted.

Merlin schooled his features and held Arthur's eyes with a bravery that made the kings stomach twist.

"I always wanted you to know the truth Arthur." Merlin said as firmly as he dared, "and I accept that I now have to live the consequences of you bearing such knowledge…"

There was silence for a moment.

Merlin swallowed.

"I don't fear you, or what you will do to me… you are not your father… he would have burned me without a glance and that is why I did not, could not tell you before you were king…" Merlin pressed on, "and when you became king it was too hard, I didn't know what you would do… but now with Gwen at your side…"

"She is your queen." Arthur snapped, "You will refer to her as her majesty…"

"Arthur." Gwen stated over him, rendering him silent and some murmurings form the court, as both monarchs turned their eyes back on the warlock who was speaking.

Gwen's were soft and staring while Arthurs simply glared.

He would not accept that this sorcerer and the merlin he knew were one and the same.

Merlin stared at Arthur desperately, "Now I have no choice but to trust you as my friends and as I always have done, which was why I always protected you..."

Arthur scoffed at this and looked away.

His expression made Merlin angry through the tears in his eyes.

He remained on his knees but his voice grew.

"How can you scoff at that?" He demanded, "After all I told you and confessed over all the times I have saved your life, and after saving the one thing which means more to you than anything…"

Gwen straightened and Arthur snapped his head back around the glare at his manservant.

"You have no right…" He thundered.

"You have a right to listen to what I am telling you and honour yourself by not being a prat!" Merlin yelled.

Gaius lifted his eyebrows but Merlin was nothing but serious.

Arthur glared at the young warlock.

Gwen swallowed.

Merlin continued, "My destiny is to protect you Arthur…"

"I am my own man I make my own decisions." Arthur stated.

"Do you?" Merlin cried, "You didn't even know I was a sorcerer…"

"Exactly!"

Arthur shoved himself from his chair and strode towards Merlin, the young warlock locked his jaw and stood up, shaking off the guards who made to try and force him back down before his king.

He did not know whether they expected him to throw them into the walls, for they retracted their hands fast and backed away as murmurings went through the room.

Arthur stood before him, glaring yet afraid, although he would never admit it.

"I followed my destiny to help you and Gwen because there is not anything I would not do for either of you!" Merlin shouted, "Arthur I am Merlin… being a sorcerer does not change that… you know me…"

"Do I?" Arthur bellowed, spinning to face him with furious eyes.

Merlin straightened.

Arthur narrowed his eyes at him and leant close.

"I knew the man who was my friend…"

"I still am." Merlin hissed through the furious tears in his eyes.

He would not let them fall.

Arthur's chest heaved with anger, confusion, fear and hurt.

It was a rasping sound in his body.

"Look me in the eye and tell me…" He stepped closer, "Have you ever used your magic against me or against Camelot? To hurt anyone who was good and innocent."

Merlin stared back into his eyes.

His voice was firm and completely sincere.

"No."

There was silence for a moment as murmurs went through the crowd.

Arthur straightened, stared hard at Merlin, before turning his eyes to the guard's.

"Take him back to his cell…"

The murmurings rose a pitch.
"Sire!" Lord Melwes stepped forwards, an old ignorant man from Uther's reign who Gwen despised.

"Sire the law clearly states that magic is outlawed…."

"Do not recite the law to me Melwes; I am the one who writes it." Arthur stated, turning to walk back to his throne.

"Your father would have shown him no mercy!"

Melwes's voice cut through the growing murmurs and Gwen glared hard at him, before looking at her husband who locked his jaw and snapped his head around.

"Guards!" He declared coldly.

Guards moved to drag Melwes from the room, who spluttered and protested as he went.

Arthur turned his eyes over the court.

"One thing must remain clear!" He shouted, "While I punish the crime of magic and the lies that have come with it I do not persecute those sorcerers who are innocent. I am not my father, and magic in this kingdom and its attitudes must change…"

Gwen watched as he straightened and she sighed sadly for him.

He gritted his teeth before he swallowed and continued.

"But in this case, where a trusted one of our own has lied… the law must be upheld, it is paramount, and the verdict that is delivered must be clear and without doubt." He declared firmly, "Merlin shall remain in the dungeons until such a judgement can be reached…"

Everyone bowed and murmured.

Arthur held his hand out for his wife and helped her from their throne.

He led her passed Merlin who was forced back onto his knees.

"Arthur…" He tried but the king ignored him.

Merlin was dragged back upright and towards the dungeons just as Arthur stormed from the room.

Gaius, Mordred and Tanya sighed heavily as the gossip continued.

A storm was coming.

THE DUNGEONS

Merlin was thrown back into his cell, as Melwes was hurled into the one beside him.

Still he protested and shouted his innocence, but he fell silent when Merlin sunk to sit down against the wall, his knees draw up to his chest, his hands clasped as his shoulders shook.

He felt so alone and uncertain.

For he did not know what Arthur would do, for all that he trusted him.

Melwes flinched and staggered back when Merlin lifted his eyes to stare at him.

Tightening his hands around one another, Merlin's eyes flashed and a wind tore through the cell, sending Melwes sitting and silent in fear.

Merlin stared at him, no trace of humour touching his eyes.

"Thank you."

He preferred Melwes when he was as silent was the grave.

He sighed and leant his head back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling, the shackles still around his wrists.

He could feel something in the air around Camelot stirring.

A storm was coming.