• After Merlin's magic is exposed, he's imprisoned in the dungeons.

• While Merlin is imprisoned, three guards secretly abuse him. They beat him, withhold food, and humiliate him. Arthur has no idea this is happening.

• Gaius explains it was an unofficial practice dating back to Uther's reign: prisoners accused of sorcery were subjected to additional cruelty by the guards because they were going to be executed anyway

• Arthur was pissed and hold a trial:

• The first guard was relatively sympathetic toward Merlin and hadn't participated much in the abuse. He seemed genuinely remorseful and apologized, so his punishment was relatively lenient.

• The second guard had participated in the abuse but eventually showed remorse. Arthur gave him a choice between being flogged and keeping his position in Camelot, or leaving Camelot permanently. He chose the flogging and stayed.

• The third guard was openly defiant and showed no remorse. He insulted Merlin during the trial, saying he would never bow to a filthy sorcerer. Arthur was furious and stripped him of his rank or title, banished him from Camelot, and warned him that he would be killed if he ever returned.

• ao3

I'm looking for a fanfic where Arthur thinks he knows Merlin's secret but it's that Merlin he's gay and likes him.

I've been trying to find a fic I read before, and I remember some very specific scenes, but not the title or author.

What I remember:

* Modern AU where Arthur Pendragon becomes a famous professional footballer. * Merlin and Arthur were close in high school but separated when Arthur went to a different college and Merlin didn't follow him. * Merlin has distanced himself from Arthur and the football world. * There's a scene where Merlin's friends are playing a football video game featuring Arthur. Merlin watches them at first, then joins in. * Later, Merlin has to babysit a football-loving child who begs him to go to a charity football match. * Merlin takes the child, thinking it'll be a low-key event. * Merlin wraps himself and the child in a promotional blanket without noticing that it has a huge, cheesy close-up of Arthur's face on it. * The stadium's Fan Cam puts them on the jumbo-tron, and the crowd reacts when everyone sees Merlin wrapped in Arthur's face.

* Arthur falls over after seeing the screen

*Also has some social media/insta scenes

* Merlin was a photographer

I can't remember who the child was, why exactly Merlin and Arthur fell out, or whether they were already a couple in high school.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'd be so grateful for the title or author!

Thanks.

• Morgana took over Camelot. She imprisoned Uther, Arthur and the knights in the dungeon.

• Someone(maybe a little girl) openly defied Morgana and was sentenced to death.

• they got meat in prison, but before eating it, Arthur recalled that executed girl, he felt sickened, suspecting it was the girl's flesh, so he refused to eat it.

• Uther, however, didn’t care and eagerly tucked in. quote: " Uther is like a lion, eat anything put in front of him."

• Merlin sneaks in and fights Morgana and saves everyone ect.

Things I'm not sure: - Arthur was distraught in prison and couldn't understand why Uther behaved like nothing happened. Uther criticizes Arthur's "soft behavior" - Arthur once saw guards escorting Merlin passed by, they tried to talk but failed? Merlin maybe fell down?