AN: My first Merlin fanfic! I hope you enjoy and since this is my first, reviews are greatly appreciated so that I know what I'm doing wrong or right. I hope none of the characters are OOC but if they are please inform me and I'll try to fix it.

Merlin and Arthur had been together for nearly a year now. Gwen, who had figured it out on her own, and Gaius, who Merlin eventually told, knew but no one else. Not even Morgana knew, though she did suspect something was going on. Both Merlin and Arthur hated the secret but they couldn't risk it getting out.

So, there was sneaking around and late nights. The fact that Gaius and Gwen knew made Merlin feel less guilty since the only other people he would want to know would be his mother and Morgana. He promised himself that he would tell his mother the next time he saw her, this wasn't something you could just put in a letter.

Morgana hadn't been told because Arthur had asked Merlin not to say anything to her though. It wasn't that they didn't trust her, for they did, Arthur was just particularly worried about what she might think.

Still, considering the circumstances they were both happy. However, they should've known it wouldn't last.

It was a Friday and Merlin had just brought in Arthur's breakfast. Curled up in bed, it took forever for Merlin to finally convince him to get up. He may have used some kisses to help as well.

"You're lucky you're cute or I might've thrown something at you," muttered Arthur as he sat down in front of his food.

"That's never stopped you before."

"You're right," replied Arthur with a half smile as he picked up one of his boots and threw it at Merlin's head.

"Ow!" Merlin cried as the boot hit him behind the ear. However, he couldn't help from giving that goof-ish grin as Arthur laughed. "I don't understand why I put up with you."

"Oh, you know you love me," replied Arthur as he pulled Merlin into a kiss.

Sadly, they were interrupted as a knock at the door made them both jump. Merlin sighed as he took several steps back from Arthur so he wasn't right on top of him as Arthur said, "Come in."

The door burst open as knights poured in surrounding and grabbing Merlin before anyone could so much as blink. Arthur jumped to his feet as he cried, "What do you think you're doing?"

However, none of the knights answered. Arthur worriedly looked at Merlin and saw fear in his eyes that probably mirrored his own. When the knights began to leave with Merlin in tow, Arthur immediately ran after them, not even bothering to put his shoes on. At the moment, he really didn't look like a prince at all with his wrinkled clothes, messed up hair, and bare feet.

They went to the council room which was already full. His father stood instead of sitting in his chair and on the side stood several people. Among them were Gaius, Gwen, and Morgana. Arthur looked to them questioningly but all he got back were confused glances from the girls. Gaius, on the other hand, looked like he knew exactly what was going on.

Before he could say anything though, the knights shoved Merlin to the floor in front of Uther. The king looked at Arthur's servant with hatred as he said, "Merlin do you deny using magic?"

Shocked silence went around the room until Arthur said, "Father how can you accuse—"

"Silence!" yelled Uther as he glared at his son. "I repeat, do you deny using magic?"

Merlin's silence was answer enough.

"Take him away. I will announce his execution later."

As Merlin was dragged past Arthur he cried, "Say something! Deny it! Don't let them just drag you away!"

Merlin looked down at the ground, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. However, the knights didn't drag him off fast enough and Arthur saw them as clear as day.

Gwen looked to be about in tears too as her hands covered her face. Gaius gently took hold of her and guided her out of the room. Several other people left and finally it was only Morgana, Arthur, Uther, and two knights.

Morgana stayed silent from shock for only a little while when she yelled, "Do you have any proof of this?"

"A knight saw him in the stables," Uther replied simply. "He was levitating the armor while he was cleaning it."

"So you're going to execute him because he made it easier to clean some armor?" asked Morgan in disbelief.

"He was practicing magic. It doesn't matter how he was using it just that he was."

"But father, this is Merlin we're talking about. The boy who can barely go on a hunt with me because he hates the sight of killing animals, he wouldn't use it to hurt anyone. At least not without reason," Arthur responded, still silently in disbelief that Merlin was a sorcerer if what his father said was true.

"It doesn't matter!" yelled Uther. "He will be executed for what he has done no matter what you say to me!"

His yells echoed across the stone wall and floors as Morgana said, "You're unbelievable! Have you no compassion anymore?"

"Not for the practice of magic," replied Uther coldly, his answer causing Morgana to leave in a huff. "Go get yourself cleaned up Arthur," he then said as if nothing had happened.

However, Arthur didn't move. He may not be so sure about Merlin now, but he wasn't going to let him get executed no matter what the truth was. Arthur took a deep breath as he got ready to argue with his father, for once not needing Morgana or anyone else to convince him to stand up against the man.