Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, the BBC does.

Sorry for the delay, here is the next chapter:

Merlin groaned and clutched his chest as he collapsed on the cobbles. As Merlin struggled to breathe as he looked up to see the face of his attacker. As his world started to blur, Merlin could just make out the face of the King of Camelot. Then his world went dark.

Arthur's POV:

I stared at the scene in front of me. Merlin, the newly discovered sorcerer Merlin, was lying seemingly dead on the cobbles. This was too much to believe. His heart was torn in two directions. He felt relief that the danger to his kingdom was gone, but Merlin was dead.

This sorcerer lying on the cobbles before him and Merlin, his clueless man-servant seemed like two different beings. How could this scrawny boy cause so much upheaval in just a few days? The mere thought of Merlin and sorcery even being in the same sentence was insane, but how could he possibly deny it, the stupid idiot had just confessed to being a sorcerer in front of the entire population of Camelot. He might as well have signed his own death warrant there and then.

Arthur shook his head in frustration. Why was he trying to justify Merlin's very existence in Camelot. He was a sorcerer, and evil being who manipulates nature itself to achieve his own goals- at least that is what he was told. Could he possibly be wrong?

Merlin had always been the idiot, the trustworthy idiot, but never a murderer.

Maybe there was some truth to what his servant had said. Was there another sorcerer in Camelot? If so, that would explain the strange happenings of late? Merlin would never have attacked his home like that. That had to be it, now he had to convince his father of the same.

Arthur suddenly snapped out of his musings when he realised that Merlin was dead. Shot dead by his own father.

Without thinking of the implications, Arthur ran forward to the figure sprawled out on the ground in front of him. He dropped to his knees and rolled Merlin over onto his back. Arthur was never the best at healing, and had no idea how to help is friend, that is if he were even alive anymore. He crouched down to Merlin's face and listened for sounds of breathing.

"There! "Arthur yelled aloud, "He's still breathing, he's alive!"

The entire population of the courtyard stared at the young prince. His father approached him slowly. "Son, what are you doing?" Uther asked " This man is a traitor, he does not deserve your help"

Arthur proceeded to tell his father his own suspicions of what had happened, and that Merlin was innocent.

Uther just stared into the distance when Arthur had finished. Arthur took this as a good sign. "Gaius!" yelled Arthur on the top of his lungs. 'Where was that man when you needed him?' the prince thought to himself. "Merlin needs help, quickly Gaius!" Arthur yelled again, searching the courtyard for the familiar physicians face.

As Arthur was about to send a group of knights to sweep the castle in search of the old man, his father grabbed his arm. "Stop this at once Arthur!" exclaimed Uther. "What you are attempting to do at this very moment is treason- take one more step to help this criminal and you will be banished!"

Arthur rounded on his father, in a state of shock. 'Why are you doing this?' Arthur thought to himself

'Merlin is innocent, the real sorcerer is out there somewhere, and he had framed Merlin!'

"You can't be serious!" replied Arthur. He was torn. Merlin had grown to be his best friend. He trusted him. Arthur thought long and hard about what he was going to do next.

"Very well, Father" exclaimed Arthur as he walked away his injured friend.

"Excellent, now we have rid the kingdom of the sorcerer that betrayed it, Arthur, I believe this calls for a feast!"Exclaimed Uther, with joy in his voice. The very sound made Arthur feel ill.

"A fine choice father, but I think you misheard me" Arthur replied as he grabbed the reigns of his stallion.

"What was that?" the king turned to face his son.

"I said, that you misheard, me. I intend to help my friend, sorcerer or not, he has been a good friend to me" Arthur replied. As he spoke Arthur lifted his injured friend from the ground and laid him gently over the back of his horse.

"You will have to banish me father, because Merlin will live!" Arthur yelled.

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Uther's POV

Uther stood in front of his son, totally astounded. Had he misheard, or was his son really betraying his kingdom?

"Arthur, you are being foolish. Do you know the consequences that will follow, if you leave with that abomination you call your friend?" Uther asked

"I know very well father, and at this point in time, Merlin is my number one priority. I will make you see father, that you were wrong" With that Arthur mounted his horse, made sure Merlin was secure behind him, and rode out through the gates of the castle.

Uther stood in silence, utterly stunned by what his son had done. Uther realised that his son had just made him look weak in front of his subjects. That was unacceptable. Without batting an eyelid, the King exclaimed:

"Knights, after them immediately! Bring my son back here in chains, and kill that sorcerer!"

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Ok, guys I will try and update this as soon as possible, but I have exams that are fast approaching, and a very empty brain, so this fic might have to take a back seat for a while. On a lighter note, I'm at home for the whole summer this year, so have plenty of time to write then!

Please R&R. It makes my day,

Thanks!