Merlin scrambled to his feet and Uther looked astonished, flicking his eyes between the two of them. Arthur watched him warily, waiting for the shock to wear off. Uther's expression then twisted into a furious snarl. Arthur instantly stepped in front of Merlin, blocking him from his father's wrath.

'What is the meaning of this?' he demanded, barely able to speak past his rage.

'Father I- you see it's-' Arthur said, desperately trying to find the words that would placate him.

'Boy- speak!' Uther shouted at Merlin.

'Father it's not his fault, you can't-'

'You will not tell me what to do, especially when I come here to find you doing- this!' Uther snapped, pushing Arthur aside and glaring down at Merlin.

'What were you just doing with my son?' he hissed.

'I was- saying goodbye, my Lord,' Merlin mumbled, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on his feet.

'I suppose you think this is funny, do you?'

'No, my Lord.'

'Do you know that we do not tolerate your kind here in Camelot?' Uther asked.

'Father, please-'

'Silence! And do you know what happens if we ever discover someone like you?'

'No, you can't!' Arthur shouted.

'And why not?' Uther growled.

'Because- because I love him!'

Silence fell in the chamber but Arthur's words rang in his ears. Uther stared at Arthur, his expression unreadable.

'Guards!' he barked and they rushed in. 'Seize him,' he commanded, pointing at Merlin.

'Father, no!'

'Take him to the dungeons,' Uther said, sweeping out of the room. Merlin didn't even struggle against them, he felt numb, too many things were happening at once. Arthur pushed his hands through his hair and Gwen came in just as they were pulling Merlin out of the door.

'What's going on?' she asked, surprised. 'Where are they taking Merlin?'

'To the dungeons. Father's going to banish him,' Arthur said, putting his head in his hands.

Uther paced around the dining chamber, Gaius stood by the table, waiting for him to say something.

'Did you know about this?' he asked suddenly.

'Know about what, Sire?' Gaius asked.

'Arthur and Merlin,' he said, shivering in disgust.

'What about them, Sire?' Gaius frowned.

'I've just caught them in Arthur's chambers- kissing. Did you know?'

'No, sir, I didn't.' Oh, Merlin, he thought, why can't you make anything simple?

'I've never heard him express these sorts of- feelings before; there must be something more to it.'

'With all due respect, Sire, perhaps he never mentioned it to you because he was afraid of how you might react, after all it is against the law,' Gaius reasoned.

'Perhaps, but if he has always felt this way then why risk Camelot's reputation now? And for a manservant- he wouldn't, unless…' Uther trailed off and scrutinised Gaius.

'Unless what, Sire?' he asked, silently praying that he wasn't about to say what he thought he was about to say. Uther didn't answer at first, but called in the guards and Sir Leon.

'I want you to search Arthur's chambers and his manservant's immediately.'

'Yes, my Lord. May I ask what we're looking for?' said Leon.

'Yes. You're looking for evidence of sorcery.'

'Oh, Arthur,' said Gwen. 'You mustn't blame yourself.'

'But it is my fault, Guinevere, I was the one that convinced him to, and now who knows what will happen to him,' he said.

'He'll be fine, Arthur, he'll just go back to Ealdor,' Gwen reassured. Then the door banged open and in strode Sir Leon, followed by four soldiers.

'Sorry, Sire, we've been ordered to search your chambers,' Leon said apologetically.

'What for?' Arthur demanded.

'I'd better go, Arthur, Morgana might need me,' Gwen excused herself.

'What? This is ridiculous!' Arthur exclaimed as Leon directed the guards around the room. One of them rifled through Arthur's drawers while another rummaged under the pillows and pulled out a small bag that smelled like herbs.

'My Lord, this is completely irrational,' Gaius complained.

'Is it, Gaius? How else do you explain this sudden love for a servant?' Uther said as he bent to look under Merlin's bed.

'But, Sire, think about it, Merlin is not a sorcerer!' Gaius said indignantly.

'How would you know, Gaius?' he said scathingly, pulling all the clothes from the cupboard.

'He's been living with me for years, I like to think I'd have noticed by now.'

Uther threw one last cursive glance around the room, clearly disappointed that he hadn't found anything.

'You see?' Gaius said. There was a crash downstairs and raised voices.

'Sire!' someone called. Uther rushed downstairs to find Sir Leon and a furious Arthur.

'What is it?' Uther asked.

'We found this under Arthur's pillow, my Lord,' he said, holding up the bag of herbs. Uther grabbed it.

'I've seen this before. This is clearly a magical poultice,' he said.

'Don't be stupid, Father, it's not a poultice,' Arthur said.

'Oh really?'

'Yes, really, Merlin puts those under my pillow to calm me during sleep. They freshen my mind for morning training.'

'That's exactly what he wants you to think.'

'Please, Sire, you're being unreasonable!' Gaius cried.

'I know you are fond of the boy, but you will hold your tongue,' Uther said coldly. 'You- bring me the boy,' he ordered Leon.

Merlin was sitting on the floor of the cell, thinking. He'd always seen this day coming and he thought he'd been prepared for it. There had always seemed to be a way out, but this time Uther had seen them with his own eyes. He supposed he'd have to go back to Ealdor until Arthur was king, but the thought of leaving him was unbearable.

'Merlin?'

Leon's voice broke him out of his reverie.

'Yes?'

'The king wants to see you.'

'Why?' Merlin frowned, surprised. Leon just looked at him sadly and escorted him to the throne room. When they got there, it seemed all of the Royal Court had been gathered. He was brought before Uther and forced to his knees. Uther bent down.

'Do you recognise this?' he asked, throwing the little bag down.

'Yes, those are the herbs I prepare for Arthur, why, is it important?' he said, trying to look for Arthur.

'Do you really think, that after all these years, I can't tell when I'm being lied to, sorcerer?' Uther sneered. A gasp rippled through the gathered crowd.

'You can't be serious,' Arthur's outraged voice called out. So he was here. 'Merlin, a sorcerer?'

'And to think, I let you into this castle. I will not make that mistake again,' said Uther, ignoring his son.

'Father, stop it!'

'Why should I? He is a threat to Camelot.'

The court exchanged uneasy looks. Merlin had never been so much as a threat to a rat, let alone the whole of Camelot.

'He's not a threat! The only thing he's ever done is love me!'

Merlin sighed; he could tell that Arthur was only making it worse.

'He's an abomination and he's got you enchanted for who knows what reason!' Uther snarled.

'If he's an abomination, what does that make me?' Arthur demanded. This only seemed to enrage Uther further as he turned back to Merlin.

'I find you guilty of practicing magic and of treason-'

'No!'

'In accordance to the laws of Camelot-'

'I won't let you do this!'

'Restrain him!'

It took five guards to hold Arthur back.

'In accordance to the laws of Camelot- I sentence you to death. You will be burnt at the stake at dawn, now take him out of my sight.'