Back with another story. Not sure where this'll go, but I hope you'll like it.

The old man hobbled through the gates of Camelot in the dead of night. He carried a big box and kept it tightly to him. The streets were empty, and the old man found that pleasant. He looked behind him as he heard a noise. Staring into the darkness, the old man tried to see if anyone was there. Shaking his head at how jumpy he was becoming, he turned to continue walking to the castle. He banged straight into the person that was standing there and dropped his box. Cursing, he painfully bent down to pick it up. The other person's hands came into view and did it for him. Returning to his normal height, the old man took the box.

"What business do you have in Camelot at this time of night?" Sir Leon asked, his red cape standing out in the dark night. Two knights stood behind him, hands on their swords, ready for anything.

"I seek to see the King," the old man said, taking his hood off.

The man had short white hair. Wrinkles crawled across his skin. His brown eyes were beautiful and showed how wise he was. His long green robe would have looked ridicules on any man, but made him look great for his age. His glasses were perfectly positioned on the end of his nose.

"I believe that the Prince may not be the Prince," the old man said gravely.

Merlin watched Gaius as they walked to the King's chamber. The young Warlock had truly never seen his mentor like this: worried; serious; deep thinking... Well, he had seen him like this before, but never this bad. It was as if he was looking at someone totally different. As if Gaius had never been the person Merlin thought he was. Merlin was starting to worry, and not just for Gaius or Arthur.

He started to worry about what might happen.

In the dead of night, a crazy old guy had claimed that he had proof that Prince Arthur was not the actual Prince of Camelot. Obviously, King Uther was not awake at that time of evening. However, he was told as soon as he had woken, and you would think that he would be furious, but strangely, he was not. As if he knew that this day would come.

Gaius and Merlin came to the King's private chambers and knocked.

"You never need to knock at a time like this Gaius!" Uther roared from inside. Gaius and Merlin both shared a look and walked in. They both bowed.

"I didn't knock Sire, that was Merlin," Gaius explained, and Merlin snapped his head and gave his mentor the 'I-can't-believe-you-just-said-that' look.

"Well he has to knock, he's a servant," Uther retorted, as if Merlin was dirt. Merlin finally saw Arthur in the corner of the room and saw him raise an eyebrow.

"As am I Sire," Gaius said.

"No Gaius, you are Court Physician and my oldest ally, he's just a..." Uther trailed off, looking for the right words. "I'm not even sure what he is," the King said, finally giving in. He turned away and continued to look at a very old book. Merlin moved from one foot to another, which he seemed to do when he got a little angry with someone. Uther could really be an arrogant –

"Gaius, this is Odmine –"

"I know who he is Arthur," Gaius said, cutting the Prince off. "He's made many scientific discoveries."

"It's a pleasure to be known to such a great Physician. One who's made his own discoveries," Odmine said, shaking Gaius hand.

"Really?" Gaius replied, a little shocked and flattered.

"I am honoured to meet you."

"Now, if anyone is honoured to meet another, it is I who should be honoured to be meeting you," Gaius smiled.

"Nonsense!" Odmine cried and both old men went off rambling about how the other was great in the name of science. Uther, Arthur and Merlin all shared a look of bewilderment and confusion. After a few minutes of their discussion, Merlin cleared his throat. Neither man paid any attention, so he tried again and was again ignored. Rolling his eyes, Arthur went to try, but was beaten to it by Uther.

"Please, can you say to Gaius what you said to me," Uther said a little frustrated. Odmine nodded and took the book off Uther.

"I found this book about three months back. It took me forever to open it because it was locked with magic and finding a non-magical way to remove a spell is very tricky. However, when I had done it, I realised that this was the diary of the witch Nimueh," Odmine said, and everyone's breath got caught in their throats. They all knew the work of that witch.

"May I read?" Gaius asked, and Odmine nodded, handing the book over to him. Gaius read aloud.

"As Uther has finally done the unthinkable and has waged war on magic itself, Gaius began. "I have conducted a plan that will – in time – bring Uther to his knees. I have swapped the Prince for another child and one day the true Prince will find out of his birth right and will set out to take his rightful place," Gaius stopped reading and turned to Uther. The King turned to Odmine.

"I have only seen you and not killed you on the spot, because you said it was linked to magic and you had a way of proving this. If you do not prove to me that my son here," he said looking at Arthur, "is not my son, you will find your head on the chopping block." Uther explained, and Merlin felt nervous. What if this man did prove that Arthur wasn't Uther's son...? Who would that make him?

"I can indeed prove it Sire, with this," Odmine pulled a sheet off a large devise and revealed it. IF Merlin was right, they were a pair of scales. "On either side the scales are filled with a liquid called Lotus Water. Whenever mixed with any other substance, it gains a different weight and forms a different colour. You're blood will make one side become heavier. If your son here is your son, then the scales will balance and remain the same. However, if he isn't, the scales will tip," Odmine finished explaining and the first thing Uther did was turn to Gaius.

"His methods can be relied upon Sire, as I have used this method myself," Gaius said, telling Uther clearly that whatever result they got was not fake. Uther nodded, and Merlin couldn't believe that Uther was actually believing this! Neither could Arthur.

"Father, this is insane!" Arthur declared stepping forward and Uther looked at him as if that was the first time this morning that he had noticed him. Arthur studied Uther's face, but he saw no signs that he was joking about the matter.

"Sires, if you wouldn't mind pricking your fingers on these pins and then handing them back to be," Odmine held out two pins. Uther took one and removed his glove, while Arthur slowly took the other pin. Both royals pricked their fingers and handed them back to Odmine.

The old man then walked over to the scales and at the same time, dropped them in the Lotus Water. The blood clouded the water and the scales moved up and down. Merlin held his breath as this determined his whole destiny. After a while, the scales stopped and Merlin breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, one scale fell.

Arthur was not the Prince of Camelot...

"That can't be right," Merlin said, taking a step towards the scales and looking at them. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at. The young Warlock turned to Arthur, who looked shocked, but accepting this. The room was silent, everyone knowing what was to be done next, but still wondering what was going to happen. How would they find the real Prince?

"Help me change the scales boy and we'll do it one more time in case something had gone wrong," Odmine suggested, picking up two different scales. He handed one to Merlin.

"Who is the real Prince then?" Arthur asked, his face looking like he was a million miles away. Merlin turned angrily to face him.

"You are the Prince, we're going to do it again and it will balance!" Merlin insisted, helping Odmine fill the one scales full of Lotus water, while the old man went to find another pin.

"Merlin, you were a loyal servant –"

"You're firing me," Merlin cut in.

"And I only hope you'll be as loyal to the real Prince... If you are hired," he finished. Merlin lifted the scale, not looking at anyone and tried to place it on the scales. Why was everyone so accepting of this?

"Ow," Merlin said, letting go of the scale and watching it move up and down. He put his finger in his mouth. "I pricked it," he said, looking at his finger again and seeing a small bubble of red blood sit on it. The blood from his hand mixed with the Lotus Water and they all watched as the scales moved up and down, the blood still clouding the waters.

After a while, the scales sat equal...

By the way, I have no idea if Lotus Water actually exists or not.

Review please!