"I hereby sentence you to die for the crimes you have committed against Camelot, for acts of sorcery, high treason, and for the murder of countless innocent people. You will be publicly executed by fire in two days."

As the knights and guards dragged him away and towards the cells, he caught a final glimpse of Gaius and Morgana both, noticing the mortified expression that had appeared on their faces.

Merlin broke down into tears once he had been thrown into a cell in the prison. He didn't know what he felt about what had just happened, aside from frustration and panic. He didn't see this coming. He should have, but he had let himself be fooled by his own hope, and Arthur's willingness in seeing him, that he hadn't even thought about the fact that it could've simply been a plan to apprehend him and throw him in the dungeons. He had been so foolish, so stupid and not to mention reckless! Breaking out of prison would only prove his guilt, and Arthur would be convinced that his intentions had been impure.

He clenched his fist, slamming it into the stone floor repeatedly as he shouted out in frustration and pain, tears streaming down his face as he had himself a minor emotional breakdown right there in the cell, completely ignoring the fact that there were around seven guards stationed just outside his cell, keeping an eye on him.

He threw himself around, his back now leaning against the cold and damp stone wall, cradling his head in his arms as he cursed his own stupidity and naivety. Just what had he thought would happen anyways? This is what happens when he doesn't have Gaius around to tell him just how stupid and reckless some of his ideas are.

He had messed up his speech too, he had completely forgotten to mention the round table! He was certain that it wouldn't have made a difference regardless, but even so, he should've remembered to mention that part! He had spent just about the whole day prior to heading to Camelot practicing what he was going to say.

The cell he had been thrown into smelled lightly of mold, there was barely any sunlight entering from a tiny, tiny window at the top of the cell, and he had a very hard and uncomfortable pile of straws to sleep in, and a bucket in case he needed to take care of business.. It was just like the cell he had been thrown into on his first day in Camelot. He did however notice the chain and cuffs that were bolted into the wall, which looked like a new addition. They didn't look like typical iron cuffs either, they had symbols of the old religion carved into them.

He had calmed himself down somewhat now, his curiosity sparked. The young warlock pushed himself up onto his feet, making his way towards the chain and cuffs. His hand extended, but before his fingers established contact with the metal, he got an ominous feeling.

"They are magic suppressing, just like the prison bars and lock. My father had this cell modified after your betrayal, just for you, Merlin. I am glad to finally be able to put it to use, though I must say it has served us well over the years." An all too familiar voice spoke from behind. Merlin spun around, laying eyes upon Arthur. The man's brows furrowed as he noticed Merlin's bloodshot eyes, and the tear stains on his face, not to mention the somewhat bloodied fist of the Young Warlock.

"Arthur, I would never betray you. I know that I've given you no reason to believe me, but I swear on my life, I am not the Merlin you know. I beg of you, you must believe me." Merlin pleaded, approaching the prison bars with rapid steps. He came to a halt once he saw Arthur's hand drop to his sword.

"You are right, I have no reason to believe you, and anyone would be a fool if they listened to your words and believed them to be true. Just how stupid do you think I am?" Arthur questioned.

Merlin bit his tongue, swallowing a witty retort, before he decided that he was going to die anyways, and just went for it.

"Stupid enough to not be able to tell a hammer apart from a sledgehammer"

"It was a rhetorical question! Are you not aware of the situation you're in? You really shouldn't make matters worse for yourself." Arthur replied with an agitated tone to his voice.

"I am already sentenced to die in two days, execution by fire to be exact. I don't see how my situation could get any worse." Merlin responded rather coldly.

"And since I'm going to die for things I didn't even do, and don't even have any knowledge about, I think I can let myself forget formalities and proper etiquette, you prat." he quickly added before Arthur had a chance to respond.

"I am -not- a prat" Arthur insisted.

"You're right. You're not a prat. You're a royal one." He couldn't keep a small smirk from appearing on his face, especially when Arthur let out an annoyed groan. Though it quickly faded when he remembered his current situation.

"Merlin."

"Shut up?"

"You guessed it." Arthur let out, raising his brow lightly for a brief moment, before he let it drop again.

"You seem very talkative, so how about you tell me about the real reason for why you came here, and what you are plotting. Seeing as you have no way of breaking out of this cell.." Arthur spoke, flicking his finger against the engraved metal bars. "And you have no one to help you escape, you could just make this easier on all of us and come clean. Like you said, your situation can't get any worse than it already is."

Merlin furrowed his brows lightly as he spoke. "I'm not plotting anything, Arthur. I only came here to tell you what I've already told you. I hoped that you would believe me, that I wouldn't have to live away from Camelot, alone, knowing that all my friends hate me for things I don't even have any knowledge about. I honestly didn't think that something like this would happen. I fooled myself into believing that you and the others would believe me, when I should have known how unrealistic and unbelievable it may sound. If I am to die, then I am just glad that I was able to see all of your faces one last time, and that I got to see -you- again. I can die happy, knowing that you all will be safe and that no more harm will come to you all."

"If what you've said is true, and I am not saying that I believe a single word that you are saying, then what about your 'own' world. Would you not rather return there, where you were happy and could live freely?" Arthur questioned, a skeptical look on his face. It was clear how absurd he found Merlin's story.

"It's like I said.. Your Merlin went to my world, when I came here. I've seen visions of what he has done, and there will be no Camelot left for me to return to. He's destroying it as we speak, and there's nothing I can do to help them. I may as well die here, knowing that this world will be safe. My friends will probably not survive his attack, and I can't imagine a life without them anyways." He couldn't help but to feel his heart sink in his chest. In all honesty, he did not wish to die, at least not like this. But he couldn't help but to think that perhaps it would be for the best. His sacrifice to ensure the wellbeing of all his friends.

"Then I am sure that you understand that I can not risk my people's wellbeing and safety. Even if what you say is true, and you're a different Merlin than the one we've been struggling against, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Your execution is still set to take place in two days. I am sorry that you've ended up in this situation, and I am sorry that I can not award you the benefit of a doubt." Arthur stated, turning around to walk away from the prison bars.

"Thank you, Arthur."

"You have nothing to thank me for. I have sentenced you to die, you should be upset with me, not thankful.. There's something about you, Merlin, and it just doesn't add up, and I can't make sense of it."

"I have more to thank you for, than you could ever know. But most of all, I am thankful for being able to speak with you one last time. I means more to me than you could ever imagine. So thank you, Arthur. I truly mean it." Merlin responded, his voice portraying his gratitude, grief and sadness. Arthur glanced over his shoulder, a puzzled gaze aimed towards the warlock. His face gained a conflicted expression, like something was troubling him. Not long after he turned back around, continuing to walk.

"I'll have Gaius look at your hand."