Chapter 1: Banished

"Arrest him."

"Wait what?!" Merlin exclaimed, the queen before him glared at him heavily.

"Silence! You are being arrested for treason against the Crown and against Camelot."

"WHAT?!" Merlin couldn't do anything but stare at her incredulously.

"Silence traitor!" Sir Kay ordered, as he placed manacles on Merlin's wrists and bound him.

"Why?! What happened? What did I do?!" Merlin demanded to know as he was dragged to the throne room by Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere. He was dragged through the halls, other servants who were friendly with Merlin staring in shock. He was pulled into the throne room, where all the important nobles as well as Gaius were stood. He was forced to stand before the thrones as Gwen sat on the throne of the king. She stared at him with such hatred it made Merlin flinch.

"Merlin, you are being charged with treason against the throne of Camelot and the Crown. You have Magic, don't bother denying it Gaius told me. You have Magic, and normally I could look past that, however ever since you arrived in Camelot things have started going wrong. Ever since you arrived people have died in the threats you brought. My father, Sir Lancelot, Sir Elyan, sir Gwaine, and now the king. Who you were tasked with saving."

"Gwen, I swear I tried to save them I really truly did." he pleaded,

"How do you plead?" she continued, ignoring him.

"Not guilty." the room went up in murmurs.

"Merlin evidence of magic was found in your chambers, Gaius told me you have Magic. yet you plead not guilty?"

"Yes."

"Merlin. As queen of Camelot, I find you guilty of treason," Merlin gaped, his heart hammering in his chest. " though you knew of Morgana's upcoming betrayal, you said nothing. Though you knew Mordred would kill my husband, you said nothing."

"Gwen, please!"

"I should execute you, burn you, hang you." Merlin's stomach dropped. "However, without you we would not have won the battle of Camlann, so I will be lenient. Merlin, you are hereby banished from Camelot, and all our allied kingdoms. My scribes are drafting letters warning our allies about you."

"You can't! Camelot is my home, YOU CAN'T SEND ME AWAY!" Merlin screamed,

"I can, and I will. You have until sunrise to pack your things and leave. I never want to see you again." And so Merlin, was released. He was frozen, tears filling his eyes. Why? Why had Gwen done this? Gaius quickly helped him up and pulled him back to his chambers. Gaius looked to have aged a hundred years, Merlin was sat on the bed in his room.

"I am so sorry Merlin, I did not think she would do this. I had thought that she would understand. I am so sorry."

"Gwaine's dead too?" Merlin asked, Gwaine had practically become Merlin's best friend. When Gwen had become queen she and Merlin could not spend much time together.

"Yes, Percival is taking it hard." Merlin did not doubt that. He had seen how close they were. He suspected that they had had a secret relationship. It was in the little things, the small touches, looks they shared when they thought no one was looking. Merlin nodded, and stood up. He used his magic to pack his things.

"Merlin, I would like for you to keep this." Merlin turned and looked at the man, who was holding the book of enchantments. "I managed to get it back after it was discovered, and you never did finish it." Merlin smiled and pulled Gaius in a hug.

"Thank you, I will take good care of it." He told the elder, "I don't blame you for this happening. You did not know she would react this way. It isn't your fault." Gaius smiled,

"You were like a son to me Merlin, it saddens me greatly that this is goodbye." Merlin smiled weakly, before pulling away from the hug. Dawn was in a few hours, he needed to get going.

"You were like a father to me Gaius, thank you for teaching me everything I know. I'll miss you." Merlin said. Putting the book in his bag, along with his clothes, the shrunken sidhe staff, and the crystal of Neahtid, his bedroll, a couple blankets and a bit of money. He was not going to leave Camelot. What if Arthur returned before Merlin had passed on and joined him? He could not take the chance that this might happen without Merlin being there to welcome him back.

With his pack over his shoulder, Merlin made his way to the exit. People stared as he passed, some of them angry, others with sadness or pity. On his way out he passed by the knights he had been closest to, Leon and Percival. Merlin wanted to keep walking but they stopped him.

"Merlin!" Leon called,

"What? I need to get going lest I face to Queen's wrath." Merlin answered bitterly,

"What she did was not right." Percy said, "I know you did everything you could for Arthur."

"So do I." Leon agreed, "This is extremely unjust we tried to change her mind but she wouldn't budge."

"Whatever, it's fine." Merlin told them, "Thanks for trying though." before they could continue Merlin turned and continued walking, tears threatening to spill. Soon he lost control of his emotions as people continued to stare. He ran. He continued to run until he was just outside the city limits, having to slow down and catch his breath. He pulled himself together, before continuing to walk. As the sun began to rise Merlin reached his destination. It was exactly the same as he had left it. He stood at the very edge of the lake of Avalon, before collapsing and breaking down into sobs. He did not know how long he was crying for, by the time his sobs slowed the sun was high in the sky. Merlin looked at the lake, his eyes red and puffy, his vision slightly blurred. At least he was close to Arthur. The man he loved. Suddenly he started, is that why Gwen reacted this way, because she figured out how Merlin cared for her husband? Did she think he had been planning to give him a love potion? Did she hate him because she considered him a threat to their relationship? Merlin knew that he hadn't been, he knew Arthur loved her. New tears for his lost love fell from his eyes as Merlin cried, it wasn't the loud sobbing of before, now it was quiet sniffles with the occasional heartbroken cry. He sat there all day, wishing more than anything in the world, that Arthur was there with him.

Soon Merlin settled in. Using his magic he built a cottage off the shore where he had sent Arthur off. It was small, maybe three rooms. A bedroom, a living area and kitchen, and a storage room. He built himself furniture, a cooking fire, a table, a bed frame, cupboards and shelves. Disguising himself he had gone into a town, large enough to have shops and vendors but not as large as Camelot. There he purchased vegetable seeds, enough flour to last a year, a couple chickens and a rooster for eggs, as well as things to make his home more lived in that he couldn't make himself, such as pillows, a rug, metal cooking implements and silverware, and gardening tools. When he returned to his cottage, using magic, he had created his garden, growing carrots, cabbages, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, beetroot, endives, garlic, several herbs for both food prep and medicinal use, using his magic to ensure that he would be able to grow and harvest his crops year-round. He put the chickens and the rooster in their enclosure, with their little house to keep warm. Of course he knew that with the rooster the eggs would likely hatch chickens so he cast a spell to ensure that only one of the chickens would lay eggs that would hatch. It took him nearly a year to complete his cottage. It sat in a small clearing just off the shore of the lake. Merlin could see the spot where he had sent Arthur off to Avalon. Soon the anniversary of his death came, and Merlin, as would soon become tradition, gathered flowers, and weaved them into a flower crown as he sat on the shore.

"Hey Arthur, I don't know if you can hear me, but I would like to think you can." Merlin began, weaving a rose in with the violet, "I really wish you were here, I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. I don't know if you know this but Gwen banished me, she blames me for the deaths of her father, brother, Lancelot, Gwaine and you. She says I betrayed Camelot and people believe her. Leon, Percival and Gaius believe in me, but they couldn't talk her out of it. I feel just so alone. If I had saved you than I would still be there, working with Gaius, polishing your armor, cleaning your room. But I failed. I failed in my destiny, my duty. I was supposed to protect you but couldn't." Merlin had weaved in half of the flowers, the crown was taking shape as Merlin let tears slide down his cheek. "I hope Avalon is nice, I hope you are happy there, if you see them, tell Lancelot, Gwaine and Elyan that I'm sorry, and that I miss them." 

Merlin paused for a long moment. 

"I miss you most of all though. My Arthur, I miss hearing your voice, I miss watching you train, I miss our banter, hell, I miss my chores, I even miss how you would throw things at me. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you, and I really regret never telling you how I really felt, how much you really mean to me. How much I love you." Merlin finished in a whisper, tears were freely falling. The crown of roses and violets was finished, Merlin placed a kiss on the crown and floated it out onto the lake, hoping that somehow Arthur would receive it. "For you my king, my love." And with that Merlin stood and walked back to his cottage.

Another year passed, and Merlin decided to disregard everything Gwen said, he disguised himself, and went to Camelot's capital city. He hoped to spot Gaius in town. Merlin's hair was rather long now, Merlin let it hang loose to cover his ears, and with some minor glamor charms, as well as forgoing his signature neckerchief, he knew no one would likely recognize him. And so he made his way into town. Acting more confident than he felt, he slowly made his way into town. As soon as he was halfway through the lower town he stopped dead. A man had just created a butterfly from thin air, as Merlin had done before. he looked around. People were using magic, and no one was afraid. The few guards he saw paid it no attention. Magic was legal now. Merlin smiled brightly. This is what Albion was about. No more unjust laws. He made his way through town, eventually reaching the upper city within the outer walls, where the nobles as well as the shopping district were.

"MAKE WAY! MAKE WAY FOR THE COURT PHYSICIAN!" Merlin turned smiling, expecting to see Gaius, but he stopped short. Instead of the elderly man he was used to seeing, there was a younger man, maybe a year younger than Merlin, with red hair, freckles, and black eyes. Merlin frowned, the man, surrounded accompanied by a guard, passed by without sparing Merlin a glance. He kept walking, eventually reaching the vendor stalls. One woman was selling flowers. Merlin approached the stall,

"Hi." he greeted,

"Hello. How can I help you?" the woman greeted kindly,

"I'm just looking, do you have any lilies?" Merlin asked her, the woman smiled and nodded, grabbing a couple and showing them to Merlin, "Last time I was here the court physician was a man named Gaius, he was a friend of mine. Do you happen to know what happened to him?" Merlin asked as he handed her a few coins,

"He passed away several months ago, the memorial that was put up is still there, he touched the lives of so many that man." she told him sadly, Merlin stopped short. Gaius... was dead? How could no one tell him? No one had even bothered to try and search for him to send word to him. Why?

"If I remember correctly he had a sort of apprentice recently, boy by the name of Merlin. Is he still around?" Merlin asked her,

"No. He was banished a couple years ago. You best stay away from that boy. He only ever brings trouble to those around him. He was a menace, since he left, there's been no trouble. And that's how it'll stay." The woman told him, Merlin wanted to cry, he could already feel his eyes prickling. He thanked the woman and continued on his way. He took the lilies, and wandered the town. He hoped to find the memorial for Gaius. Eventually he did.

It was along the inner wall. The one separating the castle from the upper town. It was made up of candles, and flowers, the name Gaius painted on the wall in a small gap. There must have been dozens of flowers. Merlin knelt in front of the memorial. He allowed a couple tears to fall.

"Hi Gaius, it's me." Merlin began, he didn't say his name in case people were listening. "It's been a while. I would have come sooner, but I had no idea you had passed until I arrived. I don't understand, why wouldn't anyone try to send word to me that you were gone? You taught me everything I know, you were like a father to me, and no one bothered to even try to tell me you were gone. I'm sorry. I missed you, I thought of you everyday, and I will continue to do so. Goodbye Gaius, for good."

Suddenly, just as he laid down the flowers, Merlin was yanked to his feet. He yelped,

"What is this? What are you doing?" Merlin turned angrily, and scowled. It was Sir Bedivere. "Who the hell are you and what is the meaning of this?!"

"Drop the act Merlin, I know it's you." Sir Bedivere told him, Merlin simply cocked his head to the side, although inwardly he was panicking.

"Who?" Bedivere simply struck him.

"You do realize that returning after being banished is punishable by death."

"I am, although I have never been banished, my name is Myron." Merlin tried, "And I would thank you to never lay a hand on me again."

Next thing Merlin knew he was sat on the ground in front of the Queen.

"Court Sorcerer, remove his disguise." she commanded, Merlin looked towards the man who stepped forward curiously. He was a dark haired man, maybe forty years old, with light brown eyes, and tanned skin. Merlin scoffed, even as his disguise was removed. the queen glared at him. "You were banished." she snarled,

"Yeah I know, but..." Merlin tried to protest, he was cut off,

"You will be punished for returning." she growled

"Hold on-"

"Guards, escort him to the dungeon and prepare a pyre. This sorcerer will burn."

"I only came back cause I heard Gaius was dead." Merlin cried out. He was yanked to his feet by the guards, tears were falling down his cheeks. He saw Leon and Percival looking at him sadly, "I only came back so I could pay him my respects, he was like a father to me, I loved him, I just wanted to say goodbye, please. Please just let me go, you'll never see me again. I swear it." He tried, the guards were dragging him away, but it was no use. The queen just stared after him, hatred burning in her eyes.

In the cell Merlin cried, he was going to die. Gwen was going to kill him.

"Merlin." someone called, Merlin raised his head, Leon and Percival were standing there. They had aged well, Leon wore a ring on his left hand.

"You married." Merlin said, Leon chuckled,

"Yes. Her name is Lydia, we have a girl and two boys." Leon told him,

"Enough of that, get up Merlin. Arthur would not want you to sit around and mope." Percival interjected, "This is unjust." Percival said,

"Yes, it is. But she's the queen."

"And you are the most powerful warlock to ever live. You get up, and you free yourself. Arthur would want it that way." Merlin scoffed lightly, but he played to words in his head. He was right. Arthur wouldn't want him to let Gwen execute him. But Merlin's heart yearned to see Arthur again, the man he loved more than anyone else. They chatted for awhile, and soon the knights left. Merlin, thought of Arthur. He could practically hear his voice telling him to be strong. Merlin made his decision.

Standing up, Merlin dusted himself off. He looked at the lock. The cells had obviously been enchanted to block magic, but Merlin was unaffected. He was Emrys for crying out loud. No binding spell can hold him. He looked at the cell door. "Forp fleoge" He cried, and the cell door exploded outward with a loud crash. Merlin took off. He knew how to escape. And so as he heard the guards mobilizing, he fled. He fled deep into the dungeons. And he paused only to use his magic to put out the guards torches. "Færblæd wawe" Before turning and fleeing again. He could hear the guards crash into each other and the wall as they tried to keep up. Soon he arrived at Kilgarrah's cave. Using his magic, he summoned an air current to lift him up and carry him out of the cave. By the time the warning bell sounded, Merlin had left the city entirely. 

"Wait!" Merlin froze, he turned, there was Percival, running towards him. "Hold on a second, take this." He held out a package. "Some stuff Arthur would have wanted you to have, as well a couple powerful artifacts that honestly, are much safer with you than they are in the vault." Merlin smiled lightly, 

"Thank you." he said, taking the package. 

"You're welcome, now run." And Merlin did. 

Arriving back at his cottage, Merlin finally allowed all the pain he had been squashing to bubble up. He sat on the edge of the lake and sobbed. Goddess I just want to die. I wanna see Arthur again. Merlin sobbed, tears cascading down his cheeks.

"Arthur," he cried, "Arthur please. I know that Albion isn't in danger, but I-" Merlin choked for a second, "I need you. I know that you wouldn't want me to join you at my own hand, but I can't take it. Gaius is gone, Gwaine, Lancelot, Elyan. I need you so much, you wouldn't side with Gwen right?" The warlock continued in this vein. Pleading with Arthur to come back, to save him from himself. Eventually Merlin stood and returned to the cottage, before laying down on the large bed, and falling asleep.

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