Merlin is from BBC. So is Arthur. –sigh-
Last chapter everyone! Enjoy it!

The day of the trial came quickly. Merlin had filled the time with sleeping and healing. Lucky for him, his magic helped him heal faster than any normal person would but it was still slow enough so it wouldn't raise suspicions. Arthur and the knights seemed to spend more time in the physicians chambers than anywhere else but the young man didn't complain. He realized his stupidity now more than ever. The friendship these six men felt for him was there for all to see and he made a silent vow that he would never doubt that again, no matter what people would tell him.

"Do you think he's strong enough to attend the trial?" Arthur asked the old physician who was giving his ward a last checkup.
"I think he is, sire. He can't stand yet though and he will need to put his leg up."
"We'll arrange some chairs" the King replied.
"Do I have to go?" Merlin asked quietly.
"Of course you do, Merlin! How else do you suppose to tell the court about what happened?"
"You can tell them?" the secret warlock tried. Gwaine, who had just arrived, had been watching his two friends and chuckled.
"Mate, you'll be fine. We'll be by your side. You have nothing to worry about." the sturdy knight said reassuringly. The servant grumbled something but let them help him out of bed. Gwaine immediately put a strong arm carefully around the boy's waist for support. They had to get to the courtroom like this since Merlin's injuries didn't allow him to walk with crutches. It was a long walk, they had to stop a few times so the raven haired boy could catch his breath, but they finally made it to their destination.
There were already a lot of people inside the room. Both servants and nobles alike. Arthur went to instruct a servant to get two comfortable chairs for his manservant before he went to talk to some of the court members who were already there. Gwaine helped his young friend to his spot at the front of the room where the other knights were already waiting for him.
"Merlin! How do you feel today?" Lancelot asked upon seeing him.
"Can I go to bed again?" was his short but clear answer. His eyes shifted around the room and it was obvious he wasn't feeling comfortable at all.
Before anyone could respond, a servant arrived with the two chairs and placed them in the right position. The dark haired knight helped his young friend on the stool and placed his injured leg carefully on the other.
"Thanks" Merlin whispered.
"You're lucky you get to sit down, mate." Gwaine said jokingly. "We'll have to stand trough all of this."
"Want to change places?" the servant retorted. Right on that moment, the King made his way over to them. He kneeled down so he would be on Merlin's eye level.
"They're going to listen to you first. I want you to tell them exactly what happened. Don't leave anything out, alright?" the royal informed his manservant. The young man nodded but they all noticed how the color was slowly draining from his cheeks. Arthur gave him a reassuring squeeze in his knee.
"It's going to be alright." he said with a smile. "You're not alone, remember that."
Merlin smiled back at his master and nodded.
"Thanks Arthur." he said and watched as his King walked towards his throne. The court members placed themselves on their chairs and all the spectators went silent. The royal took a last look at his friend and motioned with his hand that the trial could start.

The doors of the courtroom swung open and the three aggressive knights were brought in by some guards. Their hands were chained and they all looked terrible. Sir Thomas had a black eye and it seemed like his nose had been broken. Sir Ethan had a black eye as well and was walking with a limp. Sir Ulrick had a split lip and was cradling his right arm. Merlin turned his gaze to Gwaine who had started to chuckle upon seeing the three bruised man.
"What happened to them?" he dared to ask with a whispered voice.
"Let's say they didn't like to be arrested." the sturdy knight answered with a small grin on his face.
The young warlock shook his head and looked back at his three assailants.
"Thank you" he whispered after a few seconds.

When everyone was where they should be, Arthur stood up and looked into the room.
"These three are standing accused today for the mental and physical abuse of my manservant, Merlin. The court will decide about their punishment after hearing both sides of the story. May the truth come out and justice be served." he said and went to sit back on his throne.
The head of the court stood up and said, "We'll first hear the story of the victim", starting what would be a long trial.

Merlin had seen his three aggressors looking at him warningly but he tried to ignore them. They couldn't hurt him anymore so there was no point in lying to the court. After a few reassuring smiles from his friends, he started his story.
"It all began on the day of the feast for the new recruits." He fell silent for a moment, counting the days. "Thirteen days ago, if I'm not mistaken." He looked at Arthur who nodded to indicate he was right.
"That evening, after I returned from the King's chambers, I felt someone grab me and I got pulled into an alcove. When my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see it were sirs Ethan, Thomas and Ulirck. They were angry about the way I behaved towards the King and his knights and told me it had to stop. They threatened me and said that if I told anyone about our encounter I'd wish I'd never been born."
"You lying filth!" sir Ethan shouted and he tried to pull away from the guard who was still holding on to him. Merlin shrunk back and Gwaine immediately went to stand between his friend and his assailants.
"Silence!" the head of the court shouted. "Go on, Merlin." he said when everyone had calmed down again.
"The uhm… The next day I went on with my duties as usual. When I went to clean the stables they attacked me." His eyes shifted towards the accused again and he bit his lip, uncertain about how to go on with his story.
"I got pushed to the ground and when I turned, they were towering over me. They were angry because I hadn't listen to them the day before. sir Thomas pulled me back to my feet and they started to shout about how I needed to learn my place." The young man looked at Arthur. There was so much more that had been said that day but he couldn't say that now, could he? He decided to leave most of their conversation out of it.
"Sir Ethan pushed me against the wall and I fell to the ground." he went on. "Sir Ulrick said I was worthless, while he kicked me. After that, sir Thomas was…" his eyes found the man in question and he paled.
"What was he doing?" the head of the court asked patiently.
"He was… chocking me." the young servant finally said. "While he told me this would be my last chance. They left the stables after that and I must have passed out because when I opened my eyes again, it was already evening."
Arthur recalled that day. He had thought his manservant had fallen asleep in the stables, neglecting his duties, when in reality he had been injured and unconscious. He cursed inwardly. How could he not have noticed?
Merlin didn't tell them about his nightmares, about how he doubted his friends and how much the knight's words had influenced his way of thinking. The court would have no message to that. Though the nightmares and doubts were indirectly a result of the attacks, they wouldn't be of any use in this trial.
"The next day, the King had announced we would go on a hunting trip. As I was getting everything ready for our trip, they pulled me into an empty room and threatened that if I did or said anything during this trip, they would know. They told me that the King and his knights were happier with me now I was behaving accordingly. After that they let me go."
The looks both the King and his knights were giving the three poor excuses of men were murderous to say the least, making them shift uncomfortable.
"The day after we got back from the hunting trip, I was about to bring the King his breakfast , when they pulled me in a room again. They bound my hands together and used my neckerchief as a gag. Sir Ethan was the first to hit me. I fell with my head against the wall and after that it all went on in a blur. I don't know who did what but I could feel they were kicking me. I managed to free my hands and pull away my neckerchief so I could call for help but then one of them started chocking me. After that, everything went black until I woke up again a few days later."
"Thank you." the head of the court said and Merlin bowed his head.
"Well done." Lancelot whispered, making the raven haired man look up and smile.

"Are there any witnesses who can confirm this man's story?"
Arthur stood up and went to stand in front of the court. Silent gasps and mumbles were heard as the crowd realized that their King would stand as a witness to help his manservant.
"I can confirm the story of my servant." he said loud and clear.
"I noticed his change in behavior almost immediately and could see there was something bothering him but he refused to tell me. It was obvious he was afraid to do so. Six days ago I went to search for him because he didn't show up in the morning. That's when I could hear him call out for help. As I rushed into the room, sir Thomas was chocking him."
"Thank you, sire." the head of the court said with a bow of his head. The King went back to his seat.
"Are there any other witnesses?" the man asked, looking around the room. Gwaine was the next to come forward. He told his story, which was much the same as the king's. After that, the four other knights told their view on the case too. With such respected witnesses and the injuries still clear for everyone to see, the accused wouldn't stand a chance.

"Do you have anything to say to defend yourselves?" the courtier said, looking at the three men in front of him.
"He had to learn his place!" sir Ethan shouted. "Everyone knows how useless and insolent this servant is! Someone had to do it since the King didn't do a thing about it."
The knights of the round table were growling softly. Some people in the crowd were gasping again and Arthur looked like he could kill the man, right then and there.
"Take them outside." the head of the court said. "We will now decide what their punishment will be."
The three men were escorted outside the room and the members of the court left through another door.
"You did well." Arthur said when he had joined his friends.
"Thank you all for coming forth as witnesses." the young man said.
"Anytime." Gwaine answered with a fond smile.

The members of the court came back rather quickly. Everyone went back to their places and the King motioned for everyone to be silent. The accused were brought in again. They were looking slightly pale now, knowing that the trial hadn't gone in their favor at all. They clearly had misjudged the relation this servant had with both the King and his other knights.
"The court has come to a decision. The three of you are hereby stripped of your knighthood and nobility. Furthermore you will all be put in the stocks for a week. After that you'll be banished from Camelot upon paying with death should you return."
The three former knights were brought straight to the stocks, the court left the room and the knights helped Merlin get back to the physicians chambers.

When the young man was back in his bed the knights all took a place around him. Not a minute later, Arthur entered the room.
"That went well." he said with a satisfied smile.
Merlin tilted his head and narrowed his eyes slightly when he looked at his King.
"I don't understand why the court chose that punishment. I'm just a servant after all."
"I may or may not have instructed them to give nothing less than banishment." the royal said.
"I don't like having people like that hanging around in Camelot."
The young servant shook his head and sighed, a genuine smile gracing his face.
"Thank you, Arthur." he said.
"You're welcome." the royal answered.
"Merlin," Lancelot started carefully, "you didn't tell them everything, did you?"
The raven haired boy looked at his friend for a second before turning his eyes at his hands. He slowly shook his head.
"No," he admitted, "I didn't see the point on telling them about the things they said. It wouldn't have made any difference."
"Whatever they told you, Merlin, you shouldn't believe anything they said. It were all lies, no doubt."
"I know." the servant answered.
"Then why did you start to doubt that?" the King asked.
"I had nightmares." the raven haired boy admitted. "They made me wonder about everything that had been said and done in the past. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have doubted you."
"Merlin," Gwaine said seriously, "you are our friend, nothing will change that. No matter what happens, you must know that we will always be here for you."
The others nodded in agreement and Merlin smiled a bright smile, small tears of joy glistening in his eyes.
"I may have called you useless many times, Merlin. But I never meant it. True, you are a clumsy idiot, but I wouldn't want you to change. Don't ever change who you are! Not for anyone!"
A single tear ran over the warlocks cheek but his smile grew even wider.
"Thank you, Arthur." He whispered.
"Don't mention it. Seriously, if you ever tell anyone about this…!"
Merlin rolled his eyes and everyone in the room started to laugh.
"Prat!"
_

A BIIIIIIIGGGG THANKS TO EVERYONE!
I hope you all liked this story. I sure did like writing it. It was a real challenge.
I surely am going to write another one for Merlin (I have a few ideas ready) but I don't know when I will post it yet. So if you are interested, keep a lookout for any updates.
Also, if you have any suggestions for a story, message me and I'll see what I can do. ;)
Love you all and see you soon!

- Geometric14: I'm terribly sorry, but not really. Thanks for staying with the story!
- LaughingFish36: Justice is served! Kinda. Thank you for your support.
- Katie: So happy to hear you liked the story! Thank you for your frequent reviews!
- bloodamber: I hope the trial was as you expected it to be. Thank you for staying with the story!
- fischersfritzefischt: I know right! I adore protective!knights and Arthur so much! I'm glad to hear you liked the story, thanks for your lovely review. :)
- Aaronna: Thank you for your review. I hope you enjoyed the story!
- XphiaDP: Well, no more of that now. :) I hope you enjoyed reading it all. Thank you for staying with the story!