AN: I see a lot "this is how he becomes evil" and to tell you the truth it's not that simple. There's a spoiler at the bottom.
This execution business is an emotional skyscraper which I'm going to take full advantage of for (this and) the next 2 chapters.
Sorry for the lack of Mergana but this has to happen without her.

Doubt

Papers littered the oak desk before him as he held his head in his hands. The study was a mess. He couldn't eat, couldn't sleep and the very last thing he could do was think. Lord Godwyn was murdered in his sleep by a knife piercing his hart. Lord Godwyn who was an ally of Camelot and one of his father's oldest friends. Writing Princess Elena, soon Queen Elena, a letter about her father's death was not an easy task. Arthur didn't write much himself. He usually told Merlin to do it and then criticize his work here and there - formalities mostly since Arthur was more educated in that respect. Now he had to write it himself. The biggest problem wasn't the murder but rather putting into words that he believed the man incarcerated was innocent. Merlin, his loyal manservant and friend, had been incarcerated for cold blooded murder. He hadn't spoken with him yet but he would once he would come to. Alined broke off negotiations under the guise of respect for Gawant's fallen leader but rumour had it he was selling arms already.

It was difficult for the young King to think. The fireplace that burned and warmed the study danced hypnotically but reminded him of the cold and dreary dungeon his friend was in. The oak desk, that had endured the spilling of beer, wine and even rat stew, had long since lost it's woody smell and was replaced by the sweet scent of said wine. On many of those occasions Merlin was there to clean it up again. It seemed like every little thing, from clean socks to polished armour, seemed to remind him of Merlin.

The door swung open and slammed shut for Gwen to stride in like Arthur knew she would.
"Merlin murdered Lord Godwyn?! It's insane!" She shouted.
"I know it is." Arthur said calmly. They had this conversation in his head three different ways already.
"Then get him out of the dungeon!" Gwen demanded.
"I can't." He regrettably confessed. "The people heard Merlin did it and so will Elena. The only way to set him free is to catch the actual murderer."
Guinevere pondered other options to set her friend free but none seem to come to mind.
"Then there's another thing." Arthur continued "Merlin would never murder someone like this."
Gwen knew something bad was coming and spoke with a slight tremor "But?"
"We have to consider the possibility that Morgana controlled him all along." He replied with equal displeasure.
Without another word Gwen left Arthur's study. He didn't do anything to stop her knowing his attempts would lead to nothing.

Gwen wanted to go home but couldn't hold her tears and went to one of the supply chambers instead. This couldn't be happening. Merlin didn't commit the murder, he couldn't have. He was one of the bravest and most caring people in the world. He was a man of justice. Not justice of law but justice of the heart and not his heart alone. She knew he served Arthur not only as a servant but as a moral compass as well. Now the world was upside down. It was Merlin who was in trouble and Arthur buried his head in politics. To make matters even worse Arthur even suggested Morgana still controlled him. Gwen knew she didn't. She had discreetly checked his neck and there was no Fomorroh. He even passed their stupid test. Merlin was Merlin and none other than Merlin.

How she wished Lancelot was still alive. He was one of few people she could truly connect with. Merlin was one of them and so was Arthur but neither of them was capable of comforting her. Noble, honourable Lancelot. A man who understood the meaning of sacrifice. With Arthur disappointing her so, she wished he had been selfish enough to be alive that day.


Brown leaves of fall surrounded the trees from which they fell. He felt cold, inside and out, but his hand was warm.

Drip.

Drip.

Dark red drops disturbed the texture of the leaves. His hand was wet and warm from the fluids that ran through it. He couldn't see what it was - all he saw were the leaves- but a metallic smell filled his nostrils. All he could do was feel. It was dread, anger and regret. There was pain burning inside him as if carrying a weight that was far too heavy. The mysterious strain was tingling throughout his body but didn't stop there. It surrounded him like the trees and leaves. He desperately tried to hold onto the feeling in the fear that the world would fall away if he let go.

Pain ran through his arm as he opened his eyes and saw the floor of a prison cell. He was in the dungeon and the nightmare left a sweaty mark on the back of his shirt. He had a throbbing headache. Whoever knocked him on the head had done it a bit too well. He wondered what everyone had been up to while he slept. One such answer came by looking at his jailor, Sir Percival.
"Where to begin?" Merlin thought as he sat up but Percival noticed him and beat him to it.
"Did you do it?" He asked brutally honest.
Percival wasn't usually this forward but Merlin understood that his friends needed a straight answer from him.
"No." The prisoner gave his straight answer.
The muscular bloke stared at him for a moment and then visibly relaxed. At least someone believed him though it would pain him if any of the Knights didn't.
"Morgana?" The burly man suggested and Merlin shook his head in denial.
"The plot is her style but the target isn't."
Percival nodded in agreement. Morgana would have targeted Arthur or maybe even Gwen, not Godwyn.
"The other servant killed him but he's long gone." Merlin said with a slight smile. "There goes your trial."
"Merlin," Percival tried to be gentle, "there won't be a trial."
"What?!" The warlock exclaimed in shock although he knew the reason already.
What he had supposedly done was no ordinary crime, it was treason. The rules had changed and so did the game. The trial was now unnecessary for his execution. That was the sentence for treason such as this.
"Arthur told me to fetch him as soon as you're awake." Percival informed him.
The manservant nodded and took a deep breath. This was quite a predicament he was in.
"Bring Gaius as well." Merlin added.

The story was told without any interruptions and Gaius managed to successfully explain the workings of the Blood Crystal. It all seemed to be going well until Arthur started asking questions.
"Why were you out of bed at such a late hour?" He asked.
Merlin couldn't believe what he was hearing. Arthur was questioning his honesty? He didn't complain when the same tactic kept him safe from Morgana.
"I couldn't sleep." Merlin replied casually.
The King didn't like the answer. He wasn't going to question it but he always used that excuse and it was the same Morgana used. It only fuelled his depressing suspicions that Morgana had enchanted him.
"Who or what should we be looking for?" The King asked Merlin.
"Find the missing servant. If Gaius can prove he died before Godwyn then that would make the servant seen by the guards a sorcerer."
Merlin could be quite bright at times, especially when it came to bending the rules. It wouldn't immediately make him innocent but it gave reasonable doubt. If there was a sorcerer in Camelot and Merlin's guilt uncertain then the execution would have to be cancelled. Elena could still push for his guilt and then it would become a lengthy trial.
"The Knights are already looking for him but they don't know he's probably dead." Arthur said.
Merlin and Gaius briefly talked before the court physician left with the King. Once outside and out of earshot, Arthur approached Gaius for advice.
"Gaius, there's something worrying me and I need to get it off my chest." He said.
"What is it, Sire?" Gaius slipped into his role as family of the kingdom and keeper of secrets.
"Do you think it possible Morgana enchanted him to do it?"
Gaius moved uneasily at the disturbing thoughts of his King. "Magic comes in many shapes and forms. There are ways to bend the wills of man but I don't believe it to be the case. I would have taken notice."
Arthur nodded in understanding but understanding should not be confused with acceptance. He didn't think Gaius to be a fool but he was an old man nonetheless. With all the strange things Merlin had done over the years, did anyone really know Merlin?
"And if he was indeed enchanted?" Arthur theorised.
"Then it would have ended with the death of Godwyn."
Regardless of the crime he may or may not have committed, there was at least one thing Arthur was sure about that moment.
Merlin is Merlin

AN:

Short update. My well of inspiration is a bit dry at the moment.

* SPOILER ALERT *

* DON'T SCROLL DOWN *

Spoiler: The execution will not make Merlin evil but it will changed him.