Hi here's my new story for Merlin. I was extremely heartbroken with the ending of my beloved Merlin so I wanted to share my idea of a Merlin AU story I hope you like it. Lucy

You only have to ask.

Part one

For many years Camelot had been a great and vibrant place for all its citizens, magic thrived and brought a light to Camelot which gave the city life, and joy to all those who visited the shining city. People would travel from far away kingdoms to see it including many other kings and queens who hoped there reigns would bring about the same peace that Camelot had.

Yet it was all about to change.

The king was old and his queen had already passed away 3 summers gone. He had never been the same since, the death of his beloved had changed the man and he truly didn't want to go on without her. He rarely slept as his chambers and bed always felt to empty without his wife. His court could see the king waste away before their eyes, his spirit had broken, the court physician did everything in his power to help the king overcome his grief as did his closest friends but still they knew it wouldn't be long before their king left this world to join his queen in the next. The only reason he stayed is so he could prepare his son for the throne and his new duties that would come with being king.
As a young man the prince knew that his life was going to change, once his father passed, he hoped that he would live up to his people's expectations and be as great a king as his predecessors were. He didn't have to wait long.

On a harsh winters night he was sharply awoken by the guards with a message from the court physician stating that the prince should hurry to the chambers of his father. He ran in only his night shirt and trousers to his father's rooms. He made it in time to say goodbye to the man who had raised him. The young man knelt at his father's bedside clutching to his hand and softly crying as the king passed away. The physician and the knights around his knelt around the young man and softly spoke "Long live the king" at different intervals until each had spoken.

Yet the now young king didn't respond until a soft voice and presence behind him gained his attention. "Uther? My love?" She placed a hand on his shoulder pulling him away from the bed. He turned and rose from his spot on the ground; slowly he placed an arm around his betrothed and pulled her into his chest clutching her as if she was a lifeline. Uther sobbed silently on her shoulder as the people in the room started to leave their king to mourn the passing of his father.

During his reign, Uther made some bad decisions and did unspeakable things to many innocent people. His main decision was his anti-magic laws he passed, when his wife Yigraine died giving birth to their son Arthur, it set in motion change that nobody could have predicted.

People with magic weren't executed. Instead they were forced to register who they were to the crown and made to wear a silver bracelet which was a clear beacon to anybody that the wearer had magic. This treatment lead to people being forced into excite as people feared those who practiced magic many were killed and more and more people were hunted because of this new fear that had swept across the kingdom.
30 or so years had passed since Uther's father had died and Camelot was no longer the shining city it once was.

The thought of magic is almost nonexistent, no magic user had been seen in over a decade, people had start to forget stories had begun to be told to children about the powerful magic users that once roamed the land. Some stories say that the users had been pushed so far out of the kingdom that they fled across the sea to the uncharted lands beyond the horizon. Others say that they are hiding in the depth of the old forests just waiting to return, once the time of the prophecy comes to pass. And the once and future king sits on the throne of Camelot. But that was just stories that passed along though the villages and travelers through the lands.

Arthur Pendragon was 22 years old when his father was murdered. Arthur's father had become paranoid and Gaius the physician tried to help with potions and medicines that would help calm the worrisome king but nothing worked. When the king started to have people killed, the first to speak out was his son, yet his advice and pleas were not herd by the king. There was nothing he could do to stop his father becoming a tyrant that people feared and soon hated. Arthur knew that it was only a matter of time before someone tried to make a move against the king. He didn't expect it to be him.

During the last years of Uther's life Arthur had started to gain more and more support from certain Camelot knights and its people. He had a network of people who helped him in secret to get people out of the city once they had been targeted. This was all behind the back of the king and the king's personal guards; who were ruthless murderers that could easily persuade the king and use his trust for their own gain. The leader was a man called Sir Harold he was an ugly foul man who lacked manners and respect for anyone else, Arthur had wondered how he had become a knight at all, except the fact that he was a noble and could have easily bribed his was into the king's service.

Sir Harold had become the main enemy for Arthur ever since he had started to speak up against his father's choices. It got worse when Sir Harold's targets surprising started disappearing during the night. He was constantly trying to undermine the prince, always questioning him on his whereabouts and what the prince was doing when he wasn't at his studies or training. But Arthur always had an excuse and as to where he was thanks to his closest friends and the people who work with him in his campaign to help people.

One particular night Arthur was personally escorting a young boy out of the castle after the kings guard had accused the boy of stealing, when in fact in that the knight himself who did the stealing, and went straight to the king. The king sent for the boy and not even an hour had passed when the guards were dragging him out of his little house he shared with his mother in the lower town and straight to the throne room of the palace.

The boy had an unfair trial which consisted of him kneeling in front of the king and being shouted at and accused, Uther didn't listen to reason and well didn't listen to the boys side of the story at all. In the end he was sentenced to death for stealing from the crown. His mother wept for him and tried to reason with the king herself but was only restrained when she spoke above her station. Her son was escorted to the dungeons to await his death.

In the night Arthur traveled down to the dungeons to help the boy escape, as he had usually had done with the wrongly accused. But something wasn't right the two guards who always took the night shift of the dungeons weren't there it made Arthur curse under his breath. The two guards were two of his men and were loyal to him, yet it had seemed that they may have been found out and replaced with unknown men. Probably Harold's men.

He took a breath and walked around the corner to face the men. He walked with authority that came with his title. As a rule Arthur never wanted to come across as better than others, believing that everyone is and should be as equals, but in situations like this his education and upbringing came in handy. "I wish to speak to the prisoner. Stand aside." He said in a harsh strong tone that made the guards flinch which they tried to hide by shifting where they were stood.

"We have orders sire, no ones to see the prisoner." The taller guard said.
"Orders? Who's orders?" Arthur knew who orders they were he just didn't want them to be true because it would mean that Sir Harold was onto him and which could be dangerous for himself and the others that worked with him.

"Sir Harold's sire..." the smaller guard said.

"And you think a knights orders outweigh mine, your crown princes?" Arthur stepped closer to the men getting was into their personal space.

"No, sire... of course not... but Sir Harold said his orders came from the king sire?" The guard blurted out quickly. "And we were supposed to alert the knight at once if you came here."

"Did he now? And what happened to Richard and John? They are always in guard here at night?"

"Umm... I don't know?" Tall guard looked to the shorter one then back to Arthur just to confirm that both didn't know where Arthur's guards went. The other guard shook his head in agreement.

Arthur carried on interrogating the guards when a flash of movement was seen behind the two men, coming from inside the dungeons. A man slightly taller the Arthur walked close to the wall, edging closer to the guards. Of course Arthur noticed the man immediately and recognized his friend so he continued drawing the guards attention until the brown haired man struck the taller guard with the butt of a sword knocking him unconscious immediately at the same time Arthur's fist connected with the others head and he too hit the floor.

"What took you so long?" the man whispered to Arthur, whilst lifting the smaller guard and dragged him to an alcove where he wouldn't be found.

"It's not my fault..." he snapped "these idiots wouldn't let me pass."

"So you were just waiting for me to rescue you were you princess?" Arthur rolled his eyes whilst the man chuckled at Arthur's expense.

"Shut up Gwaine." Arthur ran passed the man and quickly down to the cells. In the last cell was the young man who was sat in the far corner his knees pulled to his chest. Arthur pulled out his keys and unlocked the door. "Come, Oliver, quickly!" Oliver stood up and rushed to the door. He lowered his head when he recognised the man who was to be his saviour.

"Sire?" Arthur didn't answer only tugged onto his arm and pulled him down the corridor towards the exit.

"Don't worry Oliver were getting you out of Camelot. Your mother is already waiting for you." Gwaine smiled at him. Oliver nodded and quickened his pace.

The trio was nearing the gate of the citadel when the warning bell sounded above them soon they were surrounded by many guards and knights all pointing swords at them. They did not know they were targeting their prince as he wore his blue hooded cloak instead of his preferred red. Arthur and Gwaine drew their swords, knowing fighting would be suicidal to fight against so many. "Let us pass!" Arthur shouted from beneath his hood lowering the tone of his voice so it wasn't recognisable to the men surrounding them.

"Now I'm afraid that won't be possible." Arthur knew that voice so did Gwaine. Arthur saw how tense he became when Sir Harold came to the front of the crowd. "Lower your weapons Arthur. Now."

"We won't surrender to a traitor like you Harold!" Gwaine shouted.

Harold just smirked and held up his hand which there on his finger sat the royal seal.

"That's King Harold to you peasant." The shock on Arthur's face made the smirk grow "by royal decree of the late king Uther Pendragon" Sir Harold read of a piece of parchment "I here by name Sir Harold of West shire heir to the throne of Camelot."

The shock of the announcement didn't end with Arthur, as it seemed, the whole crowd was affected by the news of their Kings death. "What have you done to my father? You coward!"

"I'm deeply regretful in saying that your father has passed away. Now lay down your arms and surrender to my rule and I shall let you live."

Arthur knew it would be his best chance of living, but what about his friend and Oliver he was trying to rescue. Just as Arthur was about to lower his sword a small smoking bundle flew passed the prince and straight towards the new king. Harold looked at his feet, where it had landed, and a second later a blast of light and fire exploded from the ball. Immediately Harold and the surrounding men were knocked their feet and soon more smoking balls were flying through the air towards the enemy exploding much quicker than before. The men scattered in attempt to get away. Gwaine grabbed Oliver's arm and made a run for it towards the now clear gate. "Arthur!" he shouted back towards his prince. But he wasn't there Arthur had run towards the disarmed Harold, he grabbed Harold's had which the royal seal sat. "This is belongs to me! "And with that said Arthur unsheathed his dagger and cut the chubby finger and ring off of the man and left him clutching his injured hand.

Quickly catching up with Gwaine the three men ran to the stables and miraculously two horses were waiting for them. "I think we have a guardian angel tonight sire!" Gwaine mounted his horse pulling Oliver up behind him and riding out of the city with Arthur close behind him.

Just before entering the Darkling wood Arthur turned to see his castle some of which was in flames and ciaos was everywhere. "Arthur we must go. Harold would have sent rider out after us."

"Where do we go Gwaine?" Arthur was still looking towards the castle. His voice full of sadness. His farther murdered and city taken from him. He had nothing left.

"I know a place we can get our bearings back sire, form a plan." He sounded hopefully "it is not two days ride from here. They won't find us there."

Arthur didn't reply just turned his horse in Gwaine's direction and nodded to his friend.

They road into the forest and into the unknown.

Review please. As you can tell a few things have gone off canon but stick with me and it should all reveal itself :)