This one is a crap chapter and the next one is also a crap chapter so i figure why not give you this now. I think I'll give you a new chapter each day this week. We shall see. I'm actually in a really bad mood so I'm not sure why I'm being so kind maybe it's because the new season of Merlin is coming up this weekend! woot! hopefully i can find it online to watch it. stupid syfy doesn't play it until spring. damn. anyways yup yup. enjoy.

"Well, well, well, look what the cat's dragged in," Artemis said leaning against the counsel chamber's door. Arthur, Uther, and a tall man in all black stood inside. Uther had sent for a witch finder after Merlin was stupid enough to let his magic be seen and not just any witch finder, but a man called Aredian. A man Artemis was very much acquainted with. He had accused her of sorcery in many Kingdoms and each time he had failed to prove it. His resentment for her could hardly be matched. Aredian looked at her.

"You," he hissed. "I thought I smelt your foul sent, sorceress."

"Still accusing me of magic? That never gets old," she replied pushing off the door and walking to him.

"You are familiar with my maid?" Arthur asked.

"We have met on many occasions," he said not taking his eyes off her. She stepped closer to him. She got the satisfaction of watching him take one step back as if she was a disease.

"What is it you want, Artemis?" Arthur asked. Artemis stared at Aredian.

"Just to make my presence known to Aredian. I have no doubt in a matter of days he will accuse me of sorcery again. I might as well make it easier for him to fail."

"You are a sorceress. I would bet my life on it," he said.

"If that were true you would die were you stand," she said dangerously. "Do not play with me Aredian. I will win, and you will fall."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, I am making a promise." Artemis turned on her heels and left.

"Servants," Aredian said in disgust.

"Gaius has been arrested for magic!" Merlin said entering Artemis's home. Artemis and Ava were playing a card game when she entered.

"What?" she asked.

"Aredian accused me of magic, and they searched the home and they found a bracelet. Gaius said it was his. Aredian had him arrested." Infuriated, Artemis threw her chair back. "Artemis?" Merlin asked. "What are you going to do?"

"I will not let Gaius die for me. I will give Aredian what he wants."

"What?" Merlin asked confused. "But-"

"Merlin, trust me." Artemis went to the counsel chambers. She threw the doors open. Arthur, Uther, Morgana, and Aredian were inside. Artemis entered.

"What do you want now?" Arthur asked wearily. He seemed annoyed by her presence as of late. Perhaps he was worried what kind of rash decisions she may make. She walked to a few yards in front of Uther.

"You are mistaken," Artemis said. "Gaius said that that amulet was his so that Merlin would not be wrongfully accused." Aredian laughed.

"So what that amulet just happened to be there?" he asked.

"No," Artemis said. "That amulet is mine. I kept it there in case you search my home like I thought you would. It is mine." There was silent.

"That's impossible," Arthur said. "I've known you long enough. You're no sorceress." Artemis looked sternly.

"Would you like some proof?" she asked.

"That will not be necessary," Uther said standing. "Guards!" he called.

"Father!" Arthur argued.

"She has confessed, Arthur." The guards grabbed Artemis and without struggle she was brought down to the dungeon. Artemis was thrown into a cellar. It was an unfortunate predicament she got herself into.

The next day, she was dragged from her cell into a separate room. Aredian stood there calmly.

"So, I've finally got you," he said. "Once I found out that that Merlin boy was your brother I knew it would be easy for you to take the blame."

"Congratulations, snake," she hissed. "You know how to cheat. You know that my only weakness is the ones I love. I've always wondered what kind of man you were. Now I know, you aren't a man. You are a evil, slimy, worthless snake, who doesn't deserve to live."

"We shall see who will live and who will die. Guards!" he called. She was thrown back inside the cell roughly. The questioning started. None stop questioning about her past and her life, about her morals and her wrongs. Did she lie? Not directly. It was tough. There was torture and pain. Artemis was starved and was suffering from thirst.

"I hear you are frequently seen with Lady Morgana. Is this true?"

"Yes," Artemis said. "I am a shared maid of both Morgana and Arthur."

"Is it true that you and Morgana sometimes go off alone?"

"Yes, we are friends."

"Friends of a sorceress? Interesting."

"Artemis," Aredian said stroking her arm. She wanted to hit him, but she was too weak to. "Are you prepared to confess?"

"I'd rather die first," she said weakly.

"Good," he said, "and die you shall, but not alone I am pleased to say. You shall have company."

"What?" she whispered looking at him.

"Gaius, Merlin, and the Lady Morgana are to join you in the flames."

"No. This is a trick. You are a liar!"

"No, you've corrupted them, Artemis, and they must answer to their King."

"Why are you doing this?" Artemis asked. "It is me you wanted, is it not?"

"True but like you said you are weakest toward the ones you love. Which reminds me, I believe I think that little girl that lived with you will go in the flames too."

"What! If you touch Ava, I will kill you!" she yelled.

"I will leave them if…"

"If?" she asked.

"Confess!" Aredian yelled throwing Artemis onto her knees. She was weak and sickly. She had a few wounds on her body that were visible. It pained Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, Gwen, and Morgana to see her like this. "Confess!" Artemis sighed.

"I… I am a sorceress, sire," she said to Uther with what dignity she could gather. "I am responsible for conjuring the smoke. I'm guilty of practicing magic in Camelot, the goblin, the faces in the well, I am the person who conjured the toad from her mouth.

"You've betrayed Camelot," Uther said standing. "By the laws of Camelot, I must sentence you… to death." Aredian threw Artemis hard on the ground.

"The sorceress would be purged of her magic by means of fire!" Aredian announced. "She shall be burned at the stake tomorrow at dawn. Bare witness and heed this lesson!"

"Take your damn victory," Artemis muttered. "You will still die for this crime by another's hand." She was dragged away.

"You're a liar!" Merlin yelled going toward Aredian. Arthur grabbed Merlin. "You're a liar!"

"I'll deal with this," Arthur told the guards. Merlin threw a punch at Arthur and missed as they reached the dungeons.

"It's alright I know your angry and I know your upset. I am too. I'm not going to throw you in jail."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Breaking the law," he replied walking to Artemis's cell. He opened it and stepped in. She looked up at him. "Stay out there for a moment," Arthur said. "I want a word with her."

"Joy," she laugh coughing slightly. He looked at her.

"I will get you out of here," Arthur said. "I know you were protecting Merlin and Gaius."

"No," Artemis said looking off. "Don't bother with me, Arthur."

"What do you mean don't bother!" he yelled. "You're innocent!"

"It doesn't matter. I will not run. That will only justify that I'm guilty."

"At least you will be alive!"

"I would rather be innocent and dead then live and be thought guilty!"

"Suck up your pride!"

"No," she said sternly. Arthur hit a nearby wall.

"You're infuriating," he muttered putting a hand to his forehead.

"Is that the last thing you are going to say to me?" she asked almost in a teasing way. Arthur looked at her.

"No… If you die tomorrow… I want you to know… I am… You are… I am sorry this is happening and I'll miss you," Arthur said looking away. Pain was scattered across his face. It was clear he wanted to say more but simply couldn't.

"Become a great king, Arthur, like I know you will. You are a man I am proud to say I know." Arthur nodded before turning to leave. "Arthur," she called. He turned to her. "Promise me you will not try and stop this. Promise me you won't attempt to be a hero," she said. There was silence. "Arthur?"

"I promise," he said with a strain in his voice before leaving. Merlin entered.

"Why would you have something like that outside your trunk?" Merlin asked. Artemis shook her head.

"It's not mine. I was covering for Gaius." He shook his head.

"I don't know what to say."

"It's alright, Merlin. Sometimes silence is the perfect amount of words."

"No, I mean… that amulet isn't mine or Gaius's. We thought it was really yours."

"Then how did it get there?" Artemis asked.

"Aredian." Merlin said.

"Snake," Artemis hissed.

"I will save you," Merlin said. Before, she could say anything Merlin ran off.

During the evening, the door to Artemis's cell opened. Aredian stood there. He sighed.

"I've looked forward to this day for a long time," he said. "I didn't think it would be this easy to tell you the truth. I mean well... let's look at the the facts. The number of times you have escaped me is really quite amazing, and well... I thought your prince would fight a little harder to keep you alive with the way he looks at you."

"Get out of my sight," Artemis grumbled darkly.

"Well, I just thought you'd like to hear the news," he said.

"What news?"

"My investigations have begun."

"Begun? But you've already extracted my confession."

"Which leaves four more sorcerers left: Merlin, Gaius, the Lady Morgana, and Ava."

"You liar!" she yelled. He slammed the door.

"Arthur?" Ava yelled running to him in the citadel. "Is it true! Artemis confessed! They're burning her at dawn!"

"It's true," Arthur said quietly.

"Aren't you going to do something! You love her, don't you!" Ava yelled. Arthur looked at Ava.

"How-"

"Oh, it's bluntly obvious you bumbling idiot!"

"She made me promise to do nothing," he said.

"If I have to watch Artemis die, I will… I will… I will kill you!" she yelled marching away.

The sun woke Artemis up. She had never thought of the sun as an enemy until today. Would she die today or would she be sparred? How many times had she been close to death in Camelot? Too many. How many times was it to protect someone she loved? Too many. Why did she come to Camelot? Why? Surely the Servants knew the risk sending her. What was their plan? What was so important they would risk her life multiple times for it? Surly there was more than they claimed.

"Good morning, Artemis," Aredian said entering with guards.

"Hey, Aredian? You're a sad disgrace for a human being and when you die and go to hell I hope sorcerers will rip your soul apart piece by piece everyday." She was dragged away by the guards.

Being dragged through the streets in a cage was degrading. To think about death was interesting now. Part of her just wanted to cry, part of her wanted to scream in terror, and part of her wanted to say thank god. So many emotions filled her and she didn't know which was the dominate one. Aredian dragged her to the stake.

"Easy!" Arthur yelled. "Show her respect!" Tied to the stake, Artemis watched everything. She watched as Ava buried her face into Everett's chest. She was crying. She saw Arthur look away in both grief and pain. She also so Merlin and Gwen running to Arthur. She felt herself crying. She didn't want to die. Oh, gods, she didn't want to die. Several months ago, perhaps it wouldn't have been so hard, but now… she didn't want to die.

"I want to live," she cried tears falling down her eyes. Aredian lit the torch. "Oh gods I want to live." He leaned down. It seems this truly was it. Tears falling. Her eyes blinded.

"Wait!" Arthur called. Aredian pulled the torch away. Artemis looked to Arthur through tears.

It was back to work the next day. Aredian had apparently fallen through a window and been killed. It had also been proven that he had set her up. It was Merlin's doing of course though he refused to say exactly what he did. She was in Arthur's room cleaning when there was a knock on the door. Uther stood there. She stared at him.

"Arthur isn't here," she said.

"I know I wished to see you."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"I uh… wanted to say I am sorry if you suffered at his hands."

"But I did not suffer at his hands, Uther. I suffered at yours. He worked for you. He was following your orders."

"Yes, but I was deceived."

"No, you were deceived long before Aredian. You deceived yourself. You see foes were there are friends. You see sorcerers were there are but servants. I am not the first to wrongly accuses, and not all was as lucky as I! How many more must die because of one personal death to you! How much suffering must there be! This is murder! This is treason against humanity!"

"I assure you that all measures will be taken to make sure this doesn't happen again."

"But it will anyways," Artemis said turning and picking up laundry. Someone cleared there throat. Artemis knew it was Arthur. Uther turned and left. Arthur took the basket from Artemis.

"Go spend time with Ava," he said. "You look tired."

"I am fine," she said.

"Artemis," Arthur said. Artemis looked up at him.

"Arthur? I… when you're close to death… you think about the things that matter and… thank you… really… I… care… about you…," she said slowly. "No matter what I say." Arthur nodded.

"I don't know what I would have done if you had been burnt," Arthur admitted. Artemis sighed.

"Maybe I will spend time with Ava. I've been neglecting her." Artemis turned away and left leaving Arthur to watch her out his window as she gracefully strolled out of the courtyard. He decided right then and there he would never allow her to get that close to death again.