Finding Emrys: The Forgotten Tale Book 4

Gauis Punishment

Flash back to after Merlin stormed out and went to help Borden.

Gaius's POV

I sighed deeply, frustration mixing with a bone-deep weariness as I stirred the tincture simmering in front of me. My mind was no longer fully on my task, wandering back to my last conversation with Merlin. That girl—so stubborn, so determined to follow her heart instead of heeding advice from those older and wiser—would have to learn the hard way. As much as I wanted to shield her, I knew I couldn’t. Arthur might be more merciful than his father, Uther, but he was still Uther’s son, and some things, like distrust of magic, ran deep. I just hoped Merlin wouldn’t pay the ultimate price for her defiance when she finally realized that I had been right all along. Arthur…

"GAIUS!!"

The roar of my name shook me to my core. I flinched, a gasp escaping me as I spun around. My heart leapt into my throat, and I stumbled backward, raising my hands to shield my face from whatever presence had materialized so violently. In a heartbeat, my back hit the table, nearly overturning the bubbling tincture, but that was the least of my worries.

Standing before me, glowing with an ethereal light so bright it almost hurt to look at her, was the Triple Queen herself. Her radiance filled every inch of the room, her very presence oppressive, powerful—divine. Her flowing robes shimmered like spun silver, her eyes burning with icy fury, and her form seemed to blur at the edges, like a being not fully of this world.

"My lady…" I whimpered, falling to my knees, cowering beneath her gaze. It felt as though her eyes alone could turn me to ash where I knelt.

"You have nearly caused the destruction of Albion," she hissed, her voice venomous.

Her words struck me like a blow to the chest. Confusion welled up within me. Destruction of Albion? What was she talking about?

"M-my lady, I don't kno—"

"SILENCE!" The word cracked through the air like thunder. Her eyes flared with a dangerous light, and I felt the very air around us tremble with her wrath.

I pressed my lips together, too terrified to speak further. My heart pounded painfully in my chest.

"Since you seem incapable of understanding," she continued, her voice sharp enough to cut through stone,

"I will explain. If Merlin had listened to you and left Rhaegal to die, trapped in that tower, it would have brought down a curse upon her that very well could have cost her her life."

My mind spun. Rhaegal? The dragon? Merlin had gone after her despite my warning… Of course she had. Merlin always had a heart too big for her own good.

The queen’s voice was unforgiving as she continued.

"The curse Merlin would have received for abandoning Rhaegal would have been even harsher than the one her father endured when he allowed cowardice to stop him from aiding the Great Dragon. You foolish man, do you not understand? Merlin is not just a sorceress, not just a protector of Camelot. She is the Crown Princess of Magic itself."

Her words struck me like icy daggers. Princess of Magic? Merlin? How could that be?

"If she had left Rhaegal to die, as you suggested," the queen went on, her tone cutting,

"she would have been abandoning her duties—not just to the dragon but to all those she is destined to rule. There would have been no redemption for her. No second chance. Albion would never come forth, and her lineage would have been wiped from the face of this earth."

A shiver ran down my spine. The weight of her words crashed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for breath. I had thought I was protecting Merlin—protecting her from Arthur's wrath. Instead, I had almost doomed her.

"But," the queen's eyes narrowed, her anger still palpable,

"thankfully, Merlin did not listen to you. She followed her heart and did what was right. But you… you have failed her time and time again."

I felt a cold pit form in my stomach as the queen’s gaze bored into me.

"I warned you, Gaius, after you nearly caused Merlin to abandon Morgana, not to let your fear rule your judgment," she said, her voice lowering to a deadly whisper.

"But you ignored me. And now, you have once again allowed your fear to cloud your mind. You nearly led Merlin down a path she could never return from."

The room seemed to grow darker, the light from the queen flickering like a flame caught in a gust of wind.

"For your crimes against magic, Gaius," the queen intoned, her voice cold and final,

"I curse you. You shall never utter another word until you have proven that you can act without fear ruling your heart. Only then will you regain your voice."

My heart stopped in my chest. "No… Please, my lady…" I begged, but it was too late. She raised her hand, and I screamed as a searing pain shot through my mouth. My tongue shriveled within me, leaving nothing but a stump where it had once been. I clutched at my throat, gasping, but no sound escaped me.

The queen gave me one last, stern look.

"Take this punishment and change, Gaius. For if you step out of line again, it will cost you everything."

With that, she vanished in a burst of blinding light, leaving me on the floor, trembling and broken.

The door burst open, and the palace guards rushed in, their swords drawn.

"Gaius, we heard your scream! Are you all right?" Sir Jason, one of the newer knights, looked at me with concern.

I opened my mouth to answer, to reassure him that I was fine, but no words came out. Nothing but silence. My hands flew to my throat as panic clawed at me. I tried again and again, but no sound passed my lips. I was mute.

I collapsed onto the floor, my knees hitting the cold stone, tears burning in my eyes. I was cursed. I would never speak again.