The Fire Inside- A Merlin BBC Fanfic

The Malgraine Migraine

Peter Malgraine, a lousy man who lived in the Northern Woods, looked around his tiny shack of a home. His wife was stirring up a powerful sedative, and his two sons were tying up their newly found Witch with great pleasure.

The Malgraine family never had a direct source of income. Sometimes there fields grew, and sometimes the sons earned their wages around town, but never anything steady. So, naturally, the family had turned to other resources of income. For example, the King always paid a handsome price for sorcerers such as the one tied up in Peter's home.

His wife hated the business but the sons didn't know any other life. Peter knew why his wife hated it for she herself was born with magic. The only reason she stuck around was she knew exactly what would happen to her if she spoke out of line.

"These knots will hold until the King gets a hold of her," Peter's eldest said, dusting off his hands on his trousers.

"We'll set off at dusk for the castle, then," Peter decided as the boys nodded. His wife, of course, stayed silent.

"How's the sedative coming along, Mother?" The youngest asked his mother. She made no move to answer him.

"Answer him," Peter warned her and she turned with fear in her eyes.

"It'll be done shortly," she spoke in a quiet voice. The boys all nodded in satisfaction.

The family set off that night with their trusty wagon holding the youngest, the mother and the prisoner while Peter and his eldest son rode the horses attached to the wagon.

"Mom, why does it have a wing?" The youngest boy asked. His mother checked to be sure her husband wouldn't hear before she spoke.

"The wing is magic, dear," she practically whispered.

"But then why does it not fix itself?" The boy pestered, poking the wing they had crumpled to tie down. His mother simply shrugged, because even she had no idea of the story of the sorceress in the wagon.

While the journey was a lengthy one, the family made no breaks as they rode towards Camelot. Peter was just starting to doze at noon when they finally reached the city.

"Halt! What is your business here?" One of the guards called out to them.

"My name is Peter Malgraine, and I have found something to show the King,"the guards nodded as soon as he announced his name- every guard knew what that name meant; a witch was to be burned.

~

Only three days had passed in Camelot, and Merlin was only know gaining consiousness. Gaius had only just started to treat Merlin when the Malgraine family appeared in Camelot. The duo was still separated, and both still without conscious.

Arthur sat in his chambers reviewing laws and decrees when a guard knocked on his door.

"You may enter," Arthur called out.

"My lord, Peter Malgraine has arrived once again," Arthur's face froze at the name.

The King had written up a decree to legalise magic weeks ago, but wanted to check with Merlin to make sure it addressed all the right properties- after all, he still had to outlaw the evil magic practiced by his late half-sister. But with Merlin only now returning, Arthur was yet to announce the new law. And even he remember the cruel Peter Malgraine- he would put to death any with even the slightest connection to magic, including his own mother-in-law.

"He must learn it really is rude to come unannounced. I will meet with him in two days time," Arthur tried to delay the inevitable, but hopefully he could announce the new law today or tomorrow and not have to burn another.

"He says its urgent, sire-" the guard persisted.

"You dare to question your king?" Arthur said slowly, and the guard simply shook his head no, "tell him we will meet in two days' time," the guard scurried out of the room.

~

"Gaius," Merlin whispered in a hoarse voice.

"Merlin you need to rest-" Gaius tried to lecture him again.

"It's Cyra, she's been abducted," Merlin tried to continue, but his coughing cut off his sentence.

"Abducted? But by whom?" Gaius asked, ignoring his earlier words.

"I- I don't know," Merlin went into another coughing fit. Gaius gave him another cup of water to drink.

"I'll tell Arthur after today's court, Merlin, now you need to rest," Merlin again tried to object, but decided he was too tired and laid back down.

~

That day's court had been dull. Gaius was struggling to stay awake through the dull reports given by Sir Leon, and when an old woman and her grandson started to tell of their predicament Gaius ended up having to pinch himself to stay awake.

"You see, sire, we've been having to pay taxes-" The old woman continued before being cut off by the doors being slammed against the inside walls.

"I request a presence with the King," the infamous Peter Malgraine announced, shoving the old woman to the ground and kneeling. His two sons carried their prisoner in behind them, kneeling awkwardly with the bound Cyra in between them.

The crowd gasped both at the rudeness to the King and of the state of the girl. Cyra was not only heavily bruised and battered, but was also completely naked except for the ropes that bound her. The sleeping draught had been wearing off, so Peter had made the surprising decision of bursting into the court room. Now, Cyra mumbled and her head swayed but she was still without consciousness. Her crushed wing also earned her a few mutters and whispers by all members of the court.

"What is the meaning of this? Bursting in on official court business? I could have you imprisoned for this, Malgraine," Arthur tried to sound angry, but he was internally panicking. The law to free sorcerers was to be brought to the round table after court, so he didn't know if this girl could've saved.

"I apologise sire, but the consequences were dire," Peter trailed off, hoping the king would allow his to rise to continue. Instead, Guinevere spoke.

"Put. Her. Down," Gwen said, her teeth clenched. Even Arthur was shocked- he'd never seen her so angry.

The boys looked to their father, and once Peter nodded they dropped the moaning Cyra without hesitation. Cyra whispered inaudible whispers, slowing gaining her mind.

"Sire, this magical beast I bring to you," Peter said, gesturing to Cyra, "In hopes you shall rid this Kingdom of her wrongs,"

"You dare accuse a girl of witchcraft in my court while she is bound, naked, and unconscious?" Arthur wondered how his Father ever trusted this lunatic.

"Well, yes, but, sire is it not obvious she's of magic?" Peter scoffed.

"Under my rule, Camelot shall be just and fair. You cannot accuse anyone of anything without letting them speak to the court as well," Arthur addressed Peter, "Gaius, please take the injured out of this court,"

Gaius allowed several guards to carefully pick up the girl and headed out of the courtroom. Gwen looked at Arthur, pleading to let her go and help, and he nodded, so Gwen set out after the group.

"You will be allowed to meet in this court again when the accused is healed. Dismissed," Arthur announced, hopeful for a reason to end court early. He stopped Sir Leon before he left.

"I wish to visit Gaius- fetch Guinevere and I when the round table meeting is to start," Sir Leon nodded and Arthur started to walk after his wife.

The two guards set the girl on one of Gaius's tables wrapped in a sheet, only a few feet away from where Merlin slept. Both subconsciously smiled- the duo was together once again.

~~

Nice sweet end for this part- simply because I'm not going to get a lot of time this week to upload.
Stupid Marching Band...

Hope you enjoyed!