The Fire Inside- A Merlin BBC Fanfic

A New Decree

"How is she?" Gwen asked worriedly as she entered the room while the guards left behind her.

"Well she's not in the best shape," Gaius said as he examined Cyra's bruised and cut form.

Gwen laid a blanket over her friend, but stopped when she got to the crippled wing, "What have they done to her?" She whispered, a look of worry on her delicate face.

"I've never seen a sleeping draught so powerful, let alone a potion to conjure a wing. Guinevere do you mind untieing her?" Gaius asked casually, seeing what ingredients he could use to try and wake her up.

"Of course," Gwen remarked, starting to undo the course rope that bound Cyra. When she unwrapped the wing Cyra jerked and twisted in her semi-conscious state. Gwen looked horrified.

"Gaius- the wing, it's not, part of her, is it?" A horrified Gwen shot at Gaius.

"We won't know until she wakes up," Gaius commented, "Now Guinevere do you have any flowy clothes for Cyra? Nothing that would apply pressure to the wounds," Gaius specified, collecting vials of varied ingredients.

"I might have a nightgown, I'll go fetch it," Gwen dashed out of the physician's quarters, catching Arthur in the hall.

"Guinevere! How's the girl?" Arthur asked while Gwen stared at him, gobsmacked.

"You really didn't recognise Cyra?" Gwen asked and a look of complete surprise flooded Arthur's face.

"You mean-, she's-, but what-, how-," Arthur gaped.

"Never mind how, now I have to grab her some clothes. And you, mister, have a meeting to attend," Gwen pointed out as she saw Leon heading their way.

Gwen grabbed one of her looser night gowns and strutted back through the halls. Returning to Gaius she found Merlin awakening and Gaius brewing up another potion- hopefully for Cyra.

"Nice to see you're up, Merlin," Gwen smiled at him as she went to dress  her friend, "Gaius do you happen to have a screen? She's been exhibited far too much already," Merlin brought out the screen and separated Gwen and Cyra from the rest of the room.

"Gaius what's happened?" Merlin asked, glancing back at his two friends.

"Peter Malgraine attempted to bring in a cursed Cyra and call her a witch," Gaius explained, "Although I suspect Arthur will want a fair trial, and she's so obviously cursed that Peter will have to point but to redraw,"

Merlin looked slightly panicked, "Gaius, Arthur can't just kill her," Merlin tried to plead, thinking of all the people who have been brought so close to death when accused of sorcery. Gaius looked at Merlin with a faint suspicion.

"Didn't you hear, Merlin? Once we prove that she's been cursed, Arthur has no choice but to let her go," Gaius tried to explain again, but Merlin wasn't having it.

"No, Gaius, you don't understand. They haven't cursed her, she is, ah, special," Merlin tried to whisper, but he knew Gwen had heard when she drew back the screen.

"She has magic?" Gwen almost screamed, but Merlin shushed her, "Why am I the last one to know?" Gwen whispered furiously.

"She didn't even want to tell me, but we had to break out somehow, and mi-," Merlin caught himself, "my skills didn't help us enough,"

"You mean even your powerful magic couldn't get you two out?" Gwen remarked, and Merlin's jaw dropped to the floor.

"How- when did-" Merlin was flabbergasted.

"After the battle of Camlann. Looking back, you didn't hide it all that well," Gwen thought, looking to the floor, "Anyway, you're saying Cyra has magic?"