A/N: This is the end. Thank you to all of you who reviewed/alerted/favourited this story! I'm surprised I took it as far as I did. I don't actually think Arthur is the kind of person who wouldn't confront Merlin if he found out that Merlin is a sorcerer. However, I mostly got the idea from my reviewers, so here we are! Anyways, on with the chapter!

Pairings: None really...because there is no romance in this story.

Spoilers: Set after the end of Season 3.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Merlin"

Chapter 3: Faith

Arthur was making his way to the throne room because his father had summoned him there. The Prince hadn't known why he was being summoned though.

The guards opened up the doors and he walked into the room to see a bound Merlin being forcefully held on his knees in front of the King. Arthur paused and surveyed the scene.

Leon, Percival, Elyan, Gwaine and Lancelot were standing around the throne. The last of the two, looked as if some invisible force was holding them back from jumping to Merlin's rescue. Arthur turned to Merlin and realized that the warlock had cast a spell to stop Lancelot and Gwaine.

Gaius was also standing in front of Uther speaking to him. Arthur caught whispers of 'just a boy', 'doesn't have magic' and 'please Uther' giving him a good idea of what had occurred.

Somehow, his father had found out about Merlin's magic and was deciding the boy's fate. Arthur though would never allow that to occur. Merlin did not deserve the fate that his father most likely had planned for him.

So the Prince threw back his shoulders and walked towards the throne. He gave a quick glance to Merlin as he passed and felt his stomach twist at the fear that had sprung up on Merlin's features. The warlock was afraid of the Prince's condemnation.

Well, this hadn't been what Arthur had planned when he had decided to keep Merlin's secret hidden. The Prince had been waiting for the right opportunity to tell Merlin that he already knew of the warlock's secret and then Arthur would have watched Merlin sputter in amusement.

Merlin had not known that Arthur had used a recent hunting trip as an excuse to go visit Hunith. He had taken two Knights along with him, Knights that Merlin didn't know very well, which meant Merlin was left none the wiser about the trip. He had left the Knights to hunt for game while he'd visited Hunith. She had agreed remarkably easily to tell Arthur the truth. Then again that could have been because Arthur himself had asked her directly and hadn't shunned Merlin even when suspicious. Whatever the case, Arthur now had majority of the facts on his side...of course no one except Hunith knew that...yet.

However, at the moment things were looking bad. He had to be careful how he went about this. A haphazard plan forming in his mind Arthur waited for his father to acknowledge him.

"Arthur...your servant has been accused of magic...no not accused he was caught doing magic."

The Prince waited to hear who caught Merlin doing magic but Uther was not forthcoming so Arthur asked, "Are you absolutely certain it was Merlin?"

Uther's eyes narrowed as he said, "Yes, I am, because I was the one who caught him doing magic. Your servant is a sorcerer!"

Arthur's eyes widened. Well, plan A of playing on Merlin's stupidity and clumsiness to acquit the warlock had been thrown out the proverbial window.

Time for plan B...well there actually hadn't been a well formed plan B. So the Prince decided to make things up as he went along.

Arthur asked in a completely nonchalant tone, "So?"

Every person in the room turned shocked eyes at the Prince. Lancelot and Gwaine stopped struggling, the rest of his Knights' eyes widened, Merlin's mouth had dropped open, Gaius's eyebrows had risen up to the ceiling, and Uther...well the King looked thunderous.

"Have you lost your mind Arthur? I said your servant has been performing magic in Camelot. It is against the law!"

Arthur tilted his head slightly and said, "Maybe the law is wrong then..."

Uther stood up from his throne angrily and Arthur's focus shifted entirely to the King. This would be the deciding moment. He would play on Merlin's loyalty and the King's mistakes to acquit the warlock. It was the only way.

"Arthur! Don't you dare! Are you going against your King?"

Arthur smirked and said, "No, I'm not. I simply have no reason to believe Merlin is evil. In fact, Merlin is entirely loyal to me. You may sentence him to death but he will free himself. However, if I were to do the same, the loyal idiot would probably burn at the stake even though he is capable of escaping."

Arthur gave a glance towards Merlin to see the warlock's shocked eyes. Arthur's smirk widened as he turned fully around to face Merlin with his back to his father. It was an insult to the King, but Arthur wanted to prove a point.

He motioned to the ropes around Merlin's wrists and said, "Take those off Merlin."

Merlin's eyes widened even more and he glanced at the King. Arthur could guess at the furious expression on his father's face without turning around to face the King. However, Arthur was not giving in that easily. He'd be damned if he let Merlin be condemned for the amount of times the warlock had saved Camelot.

Arthur stared intently at Merlin and said, "Where do your loyalties lie Merlin? Are they with me?"

Merlin stared at Arthur and then whispered words so softly that it barely passed the warlock's lips. With one flash of gold across blue irises the ropes were untied and Merlin brought his wrists up to his chest, rubbing at the soreness but still staring at Arthur.

Arthur felt a flood of warmth flow through him. Merlin's stare was one of absolute trust. He was leaving his fate in Arthur's hands. The Prince then motioned for Merlin to stand and the warlock did just that. The guards that had been holding Merlin had moved away, in shock or fear Arthur couldn't tell.

The Prince turned to the King and wasn't surprised to see the mixture of shock and anger on the King's face.

Arthur didn't let the King say a word, "Father, are you that ignorant that you truly believe Merlin would not be able to escape from wherever you put him?"

Uther's eyes literally bulged out of their sockets and his mouth opened to say something. However, Arthur didn't let him. The Prince had been waiting for this opportunity from the moment he had learned of his father's guilt and he relished at the chance to put his father in his place.

"Yes, you are that ignorant. You were foolish enough to kill majority of the people who had even an ounce of magic in them. You pushed magic so far away from Camelot that in the end there was no one left to protect this kingdom from magical threats."

Uther once again tried to interrupt but Arthur didn't let the King get a word in, "No father, we were defenceless. No matter how much you believe that a mortal weapon can fell powerful magical foes it is not true. The only reason Camelot has survived these past four years has been because of Merlin."

Uther fell to his throne saying, "Are you telling me that you had known about your servant's magic all along?"

Arthur shook his head to the negative, "No, I just recently found out about it. But I have complete faith in Merlin. He will never intentionally hurt me or Camelot."

Those words rang out across the throne room and the strength in them shocked many and warmed the hearts of a few. Arthur stared at his father and said, "I see you don't believe in Merlin's loyalty as much as I do. Then I'll give you further proof of what he is capable of. What he had been capable of doing for all these four years but has never done."

Uther blinked and Arthur realized he had piqued his father's curiosity. The Prince turned back around to Merlin and said, "Merlin, I want you to go to my chambers and get me my sword. I left it there in the rush to get here. Oh and Merlin, I want the sword this instant..."

Arthur stared at Merlin blankly. The warlock looked a little panicked and glanced at the King again. The Prince felt a spike of annoyance at that and said, "Merlin, I'm commanding you as the future King you will get me my sword this instant!"

Merlin stared at Arthur and said, "Arthur..."

Arthur narrowed his eyes, "Merlin, prove your loyalty to me. It is not my father who is asking this of you. I am..."

Merlin blinked then stared at Arthur. The warlock then closed his eyes, whispered a few words and vanished from the room. Arthur heard the King stand up and yell, "Arthur! What have you..."

Arthur once again didn't let the King finish he just turned around and said, "He will return. I give you my word. I'm just trying to show you that this is what he is capable of. He could get out of any dungeon you place him in. Could have quite possibly destroyed all of Camelot if he so wished...but he hasn't done so."

That shut the King up. Arthur held unwavering faith in Merlin; it was the same faith Merlin held in Arthur. And true to Arthur's words Merlin returned with the sword from the Prince's chambers. Arthur took the sword from Merlin and sheathed it at his waist.

He stared at Uther and said, "Now do you believe me?"

Uther it seemed was slightly speechless but Arthur knew the King well. He was as stubborn as the Prince himself. So Arthur waited for the next argument that would arise. After everything that happened with Morgana, Uther's hatred for sorcerers had sky-rocketed, so Arthur knew the King wouldn't let this matter go that easily.

Uther replied with barely veiled anger, "Sorcerers are all evil! Magic corrupts them! They choose to practice..."

Once again Arthur didn't let the King continue his tirade, "Merlin was born with magic. He didn't choose to practice it, so your argument doesn't apply here. In fact, Morgana was also born with it. She had the powers of a seer, it was why she had those nightmares. I did some research and found out that seers are born with their powers."

He heard Merlin's shocked gasp. It gave the Prince some satisfaction to know that although he wouldn't have the amusement of seeing a sputtering Merlin, he could still shock the warlock speechless.

Uther raised his voice and said, "That is not true! I would have known about it!"

Arthur gave an empty laugh and tightened the web around his father by saying, "And what would you have done once you had known? Had her burnt at the stake?"

Uther replied immediately and clearly without thinking, "No! I would have helped her! I wouldn't condemn her like that..."

Arthur frowned, although he had succeeded in trapping his father he was utterly disappointed in his father's hypocrisy, "So you wouldn't condemn her...the person who has tried to kill you countless times, but you would have Merlin executed for saving you?"

The disappointment and anger was heavy in Arthur's tone. Even Uther realized that. The room had gone silent as everyone watched the scene with barely veiled curiosity.

Arthur spoke softly, but his voice rang out like a bell toll through an empty square, as though passing judgement on the King, "You seem to have taken a better approach to appease your guilt with Morgana's treachery."

He heard another soft gasp from Merlin and saw Uther's eyes widened. Arthur continued speaking, "I expected you to go on another Great Purge...but it seems some part of you realizes that Morgana's treachery is partially your fault. Something you never fully understood during mother's death. When my mother died you blamed magic and Nimueh for her death, but never yourself. However, in that case I'll admit you probably never fully realized the repercussions of your...deal."

Arthur had gritted his teeth while he said that. It had been a hard pill to swallow but if he ever wanted to be a fair and just King he couldn't always lash out at every offender. He needed to learn how to forgive as well. That was something his father had never learnt. It was something Arthur had learned from Merlin's mother. The warlock's loyal and forgiving nature was clearly brought on by his mother's influence.

Uther had gone pale and then he turned on Merlin in anger, "You! Did you tell him?" Arthur could clearly picture Merlin shaking his head in confusion behind the Prince's back.

Then Arthur saw his father turn on Gaius, "You gave me your word!"

Arthur decided to stop the accusations by saying, "No one in Camelot told me of this father." That was not a lie, Hunith didn't live in Camelot. Then again she hadn't known everything. Merlin had hidden a lot of information from his mother as well, in an effort not to alarm her.

Arthur continued speaking, "I figured most of it out on my own. That day, you gave me your word that you loved my mother and that you would never intentionally hurt her, but you never said that you had nothing to do with her death."

Arthur saw his father's hands wrap around the armrests of the throne in a vice-like grip. He had never wanted to bring this topic out. He had been trying to free Merlin using only the warlock's loyalty as his argument, but his father had given him no choice.

Besides, Arthur delighted in the satisfaction he received at broaching this topic. It had been eating away at him since he'd realized the truth of Morgause's revelations.

"I had always wondered about your hatred towards magic and I never fully understood it. But anyways that isn't the point of this conversation. Merlin could have easily allowed me to kill you that day. He didn't have any reason to save you and yet he still did. If I had killed you in a fit of anger that day Camelot would have been destroyed. Merlin understood that and stopped me from committing what would have been the biggest mistake of my life. Is this your way of repaying him for the countless times he's saved you, me, and Camelot?"

Uther just kept staring, his face a mask of sadness, "What happened with your mother...it wasn't supposed to happen that way Arthur. You must believe me..."

Arthur stared at his father intently and said, "That isn't the point of this conversation. The point is Merlin's acquittal."

Arthur was avoiding the topic. He didn't want to speak of it right now. If his father let Merlin go then the Prince might consider having a long chat with his father, but not now.

Arthur saw the small spike of anger in Uther's eyes as the King said, "Even after you know about your mother you're willing to trust him!"

Arthur blinked slightly surprised and disappointed, "Father, what happened to my mother was nobody's fault. It wasn't yours or Nimueh's. Neither of you knew the true repercussions of your actions. Besides, Merlin had nothing to do with that, he wasn't even born then."

Uther scoffed, "Nimueh had definitely known about the sacrifice! All sorcerers are liars and filthy turncoats!"

Arthur saw Gaius flinch and said, "No they are not. This is once again your grief talking. No not just your grief, you're taking out your anger on magic. Magic itself is neither good nor evil father, it is only a tool. In Merlin's case he didn't even have a choice."

Uther shook his head stubbornly, "I refuse! He will be executed in the morning!"

Now Arthur felt a burst of anger as he said, "Fine! If that is how you want to do this..."

The Prince turned to Merlin and said, "You will stay in the dungeons overnight Merlin...I apologize for that...but tomorrow when they take you to be burnt you will escape. I don't care how you do it...just escape. I do not want you gone from Camelot but I want you alive more than that!"

Uther's voice rang out across the room as he said, "He will do no such thing!"

Arthur smirked and turned to his father, "It doesn't matter what judgement you pass...Merlin is loyal to me and he knows that I do not want him dead. So he will do whatever it takes to stay alive. If he wants he could escape right now...but I was saving some face for you father! If the sorcerer escapes when being burnt then the people won't suspect anything of you. After all I'm quite sure half the castle already knows that you've caught a sorcerer. They'll be expecting an execution."

Uther pursed his lips for a second before he said, "I can't let one sorcerer walk free because you believe he is not dangerous!"

Arthur laughed, "I'm quite sure every single person in this room except for you father believes Merlin is innocent."

At that comment all the Knights and Gaius came and formed a half circle around Merlin. Arthur stood in the middle and smiled. He knew he had won already. He had no intention of sending Merlin away from Camelot. The warlock's place was by the Prince's side and that is where Merlin would stay.

Uther looked at them all then turned and looked at Arthur saying, "You feel very strongly about this..."

Arthur shrugged, "I do not agree with you repaying Merlin's efforts by killing him. He has done no wrong and I give you my word that he will do no wrong in the future."

Uther sighed, resigned. The King though did say very firmly, "If anything should happen Arthur, you will most likely be to blame. I hope you realize that! Also I may be letting him go but he will be under constant watch!"

Arthur smirked triumphantly and said, "He is always under constant watch. He is after all my servant and I highly doubt he wants to give up that position."

Arthur heard Merlin scoff softly behind his back, but he knew the servant would never seriously deny that last statement.

Arthur and Merlin were sitting in the Prince's chambers staring at each other. Neither knew where to begin.

Merlin softly said, "Thank you Arthur...I know I've lied to you before but I just didn't know how to tell you about my magic."

Arthur nodded, "I know."

Merlin smiled and said, "When did you find out?"

Arthur smirked and said, "Your disguise that day in the woods was horrible. Besides I have a feeling I sort of knew all along but it just never registered. In the woods that day although I couldn't see your face I just had a gut feeling that it was you..."

Merlin blinked a little surprised then asked, "What about all the other stuff? How did you figure all of that out? I know you didn't know that before!"

Arthur's smirk widened as he said, "I asked your mother."

Merlin's mouth dropped open, "What?"

Arthur nodded, "Well…I wanted to see you sputter about once you found out that I knew about your secret…that didn't exactly go according to plan."

Merlin's mouth opened then closed, then opened again as he said, "But...she wouldn't have just told you all of that stuff about your mother! I'd told her..."

Arthur didn't let the servant continue, "She wasn't completely forthcoming. I had to pry it out of her when I realized she knew more about that incident with Morgause than she was letting on. Don't blame her for it."

Merlin leaned back heavily on the chair and sighed, "This is the complete opposite of the scenario I had imagined once my magic was revealed. I had assumed I would have been scared witless while trying to explain everything to you and YOU would have been the one who was shocked. In my more dramatic imaginations I even had you apologizing and thanking me…" Merlin smirked at that and Arthur chuckled.

"Well glad to turn your world upside down for a change! But seriously when I realized your secret it hadn't been that easy to let it go. Not only yours but also my father's secret. Your mother was very helpful there. She sort of calmed me down and told me that I needed to learn to forgive." Arthur paused in thought for a moment before saying, "Still...I can't believe you had been lying to me for four years!"

Merlin who had been smiling at the comment directed at his mother suddenly frowned and said, "I know but I didn't have a choice…."

Arthur nodded, "I realized that. Besides I already knew you were hiding something from me all these years."

Merlin's eyes widened at that, "No!"

Arthur raised an eyebrow and said, "You're a horrendous liar Merlin…In fact if someone had come up to you directly and asked you if you are a sorcerer, you would have been found out in seconds. You're lucky magic is such a taboo topic around Camelot."

Merlin screwed his face up indignantly, "I wouldn't have endangered myself like that! I've been getting out of sticky situations for years!"

Arthur smirked and said, "That's actually because of me. I unwittingly gave you the cover of an idiotic and clumsy servant. That was why it was so easy for you to get away from 'sticky situations' as you put it."

Merlin pouted, "I can get out of someone asking me if I'm a sorcerer!"

Arthur stared at Merlin. The wheels in his head were turning. Arthur had been given the perfect opportunity to see a sputtering Merlin.

"Really…fine then. I'll prove to you that you cannot get out of it. Not now of course…you're ready for it now."

Merlin narrowed his eyes, "Fine! Just you watch I'll walk away from it without my secret revealed!

Arthur was speaking to Guinevere about his plan. She hadn't been part of the people in the courtroom so she had asked Arthur about what was going on.

"I wasn't allowed inside the room. Rumour was that a sorcerer had been caught. What exactly happened?"

Arthur just said, "I'll explain later but first I need your help with something."

Guinevere looked curious and asked, "What do you need help with?"

Arthur had a wicked smile on his face as he said, "Just a prank on Merlin! You have to ask Merlin if he is a sorcerer."

Gwen's eyes widened fearfully as she said, "Arthur that's not funny!"

Arthur waved aside her concern, "Don't worry, nothing is going to happen. You know Merlin well enough to admit that watching him blabber on shocked at your suggestion would be really funny!"

Gwen's lips twitched as she imagined the scenario and Arthur knew he had her. She just needed a slight push, "It's all in good fun Guinevere! It's not like he's going to be executed."

Guinevere sighed and said, "Oh fine…you are correct it would be sort of funny."

Arthur smiled jubilantly and said, "He should be coming around this way soon. You have to ask the question suddenly. He shouldn't suspect a thing. I'll hide behind here I have to see his reaction!"

Guinevere chuckled at the Prince's childishness but Arthur didn't care. He was riding on a high from his success in the throne room. So Arthur hid and lay in wait to see Merlin's reaction.

Merlin turned into the hallway and spotted Gwen, "Oh Gwen! How are you?"

Gwen smiled and immediately asked, "Merlin, are you a sorcerer?"

The reaction was priceless! Merlin's eyes widened, he backed away slightly, and started a litany of 'what are you talking about?', 'of course not', and 'you seriously can't believe that.'

Gwen's eyes widened to epic proportions, "Merlin...it was a joke…you…"

Merlin realized his mistake instantly, "Well…of course it was a joke…a really bad one too…anyways I have to go…you know Arthur and chores and all of that…"

The warlock meant to make a hasty exit except Gwen stopped him, "Merlin, you're not really a…"

"No! Of course not!"

Gwen's eyebrows rose at the high volume and too quick refusal. Merlin was also avoiding Gwen's eyes. And at that Arthur couldn't hold it in, he burst out laughing.

Merlin jumped into the air at the sound and Arthur's laughter increased, "Oh that was good!"

Merlin realizing what had occurred scowled, "That was harsh! I was really scared…I could have gotten out of it…" The last part was whispered dejectedly.

Guinevere was now very confused, Arthur knew that so he decided to explain, "I'm sorry Guinevere but this sort of relates back to what occurred in the throne room. I trust you implicitly and so does Merlin I'm sure, that's why I have no qualms about telling you what happened."

Merlin sighed and nodded at the Prince who looked back at him for confirmation. Then Gwen was taken to the Prince's chambers where the whole story was told to her, not just the throne room incident but everything. From Merlin's arrival in Camelot to the present time. This also gave Arthur the opportunity to hear the whole story. Merlin's mother hadn't known all the facts, just bits and pieces Merlin had told her in letters and his minimal visits. The very same was later done to the Knights that had been in the throne room.

Arthur and Merlin's relationship didn't change in the slightest. The Prince had no qualms about teasing and insulting Merlin and the warlock had no qualms about returning the favour.

In fact, their friendship was strengthened even more since there were no lies impeding it. It foreshadowed the future that the prophecies spoke of...the very future the Prince and warlock were currently heading towards.

A/N: There you have it! Please review. Although the story is done I wouldn't mind hearing your feedback about it. As I've said before in another story, even it if it's been a year since this story was published please review! Thank you for sticking with the story! Hope you all enjoyed it!