The Two Princes (Merlin Fic)

The mark of the preistess

The great bell tolled in the lower town of Camelot as Merlin and Gaius made their way to a body they were informed was there. Merlin was hesitant of the corpse spread on the ground where as Gaius knelt down beside it checking for a pulse. The few onlookers there carried on with their business letting the physician do his job.
"Aren't you scared?" Asked the warlock
"Of what?"
"That you might catch what ever it is."
"I'm the court physician, Merlin. This is part of my job," Gaius explained. "Most of the time, there's nothing really to be scared of."
The old man rolled the corpse over and a sense of shock filled the two. The dead man's skin was translucently white, blue veins spidered their way across his face, the most perturbing thing were his eyes. A misty frost seemed to cover any color that had once been there, the gleam of life missing from them as if covered by fresh, unwelcomed snow. Merlin knew the eyes of death, he had seen them more times than he cared count.
The two looked to each other and back at the corpse.
"You were saying?" Merlin asked.
"People mustn't see this. They'll panic," Gaius whispered eyeing a couple walking in their direction.
The boy acted quickly, snagging a hanging blanket to drape over the body.
"We need to get him to my chambers for examination," the physician stated.
"I'll get a cart," the boy agreed springing to action.
After the body was loaded the two made their way to the citadel, pulling the cart along.
"What are you doing?" Gwen asked from behind them, her voice chipper and a bundle of flowered in her hands.
"Uh, just moving something." Merlin quickly moved between her and the cart, wanting to spare his friend from the sight.
"Looks heavy."
"It's nothing really. Uh, someone got you flowers?" Merlin asked in an attempt to distract her.
"Oh, no." She blushed.
Merlin smiled and raised a knowing brow at the girl.
"Would you like one?" Gwen glanced through and selected a small flower cluster. "A purple one. Purple suits you." (Haha purple. Cuz he's a warlock. Clever.)
Merlin accepted the little cluster.
"Thanks. Well..." he put the flower in the fold of his neckerchief. "Uh, see you."
"Bye,"she replied watching the two walk off.
Gwen quick made her way to Morgana's chambers with the rest of the flowers in hand.
"You look happy," the lady commented as her maid walked in.
"I picked these for you." Gwen showed off the white and purple flowers, her cheeks tinted pink again.
"That's so sweet."
"Something to cheer you up. I know you're not sleeping well."
"Oh, you cheer me up. "
The shade on Gwen's cheeks deepened.
"Would you like me to put them in water for you?"
"Thank you, Gwen."
_______________________________________________________________________________(you know I had to include their most shippable moment.)
"I've never seen anything like this before," Gaius stated examining all the visible veins on the corpse's face.
"Do you think it could be some kind of plague?" Merlin asked.
"No, I fear something like this could never come from nature. But who has this kind of power?"
"I could think of a couple people, but none that would do this... probably."
Gaius opened his mouth to ask more when Arthur called for the serving boy from just on the other side of the door. Merlin rushed over to answer.
"I'm on my way. Sorry I'm late."
"Don't worry, I'm getting used to it."
Merlin rose a questions brow as to ask when he had yet to be late. Arthur, on the other hand, looked to the cluster of little flowers resting against the other's neck apprehensively. The serving boy, who had for gotten about the flowers, reached his hand to his neckerchief, self conscious. When he felt the delicate petals.
"Oh, uh, Gwen. She gave it to me," Merlin explained with the cluster now in hand.
"Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now."
"Okay."
And with that, the prince left.
"Gaius-"
"I heard."
"Why couldn't he just tell you himself?"
"'Cause that's the way it is. You're a servant."
"This place is rediculous. I swear, if this were Maelidor-"
"But it's not. Right, get this covered up." Gaius gestured to the body.
"Hey, I'm not your servant."
"No, you're my dogsbody. Come on, hurry up."
Merlin gave the old man a look before reaching for a sheet and covering the body. Gaius quickly packed up his medicine bag and the two headed off to find the king.
They found Uther and a few noblemen in the throne room, a corpse at their feet baring the same symptoms as the last. Gaius quickly knelt down to examine the body.
"What's happened to him?" Uther demanded.
"I don't know sire. That's the second case I've seen today."
"Why didn't you report it to me?"
"I was attempting to find the cause," Gaius answered simply.
"And what did you conclude?"
"I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one."
"What are you concealing from me?" Uther questioned.
"Sire, I have seen noting like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours and it's spreading fast."
"But what is the cause?"
"I think you should say the cause-" Gaius paused not wanting to finish the statement. "The most likely cause is sorcery."
The king mulled that over, distaste apparent on his face. He and the prince looked to the corpse with a pang of sympathy before the two walked over to a secluded corner to discuss.
"You must find who did this," Uther demanded of his sun.
"I will, father."
Gaius and Merlin shared a look.
"Conduct door-to-door searches, increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates," And with one glance at the physician and the boy moving to move the body, " and lend the physician your servant."
"Merlin? But-"
"We need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, the city will be wiped out."
Uther's tone left Arthur with little room to argue.
"This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic if for a cure." Uther took a breath. "We have to find the sorcerer and quickly."
"Yes, father," Arthur complied and went to work on securing the city.
_______________________________________________________________________________
As promised door-to-door searched began immediately, looking for any form of enchantments they could within the people's homes. Gaius began to lead Merlin away from the commotion, having gotten the ingredients he needed and not wanting the boy to get too involved. Merlin however stopped to inspect a man sitting on the ground coughing, his skin pale and veins beginning to show.
"Gaius. Gaius, he's still alive."
Merlin crouched down by the man that was reaching for help.
"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him," Gaius responded standing next to Merlin.
"But we haven't tried."
"If we don't know what the disease is then how can we cure him?" The physician asked.
"With magic?" The young warlock suggested uncertainty.
The old man shot him a glare.
"Have a look," Gaius pulled the boy to his feet. "Their suspicious of everyone. This is not the time to be using magic. Science will lead us to the source of the disease."
The two made their way back to the physicians chambers where Merlin watched Gaius work.
Soon the old man held a flask and the boy grimaced at the site of the contents.
"What are you doing?" Merlin asked.
"I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach."
"Will that tell you who did it?" The boy questioned as the old man poured a red liquid into the flask.
"No but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind."
"I can't imagine why someone would use magic like that."
"Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends."
"I've never seen magic, on its own, be corruptive, Gaius. I know it can't."
The physician opened his mouth to respond when Arthur and a hand full of guards burst in.
"Over there," the prince ordered and pointed in the general direction of the window. "I'm sorry, Gaius. We're searching every room in town."
"What for," Gaius inquired with a furrowed brow.
"The sorcerer."
"And why would he be here?"
"I'm just doing my job."
"Well, we've nothing to hide. Go on then search." Anyone could tell the old man was irritated  but no more than anyone else who's home had been searched.
The guards looked through stacks of papers and at books and the many dried herbs around them. They even checked within the beds.
"What are these books and papers?" Arthur asked searching through a particular stack.
"My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You're quite welcome to read through them if you wish," the old man offered.
The prince looked uninterested even unwilling to actually read the research in front of him, instead moving on.
"What's this room up here?"
"It's mine," Merlin finally piped up.
"And what do you expect to find in the Region?"
Arthur looked to the pair.
"I'm looking for material evidence suggesting the use of enchantments."
"What have you done with the magic book I gave you?" Gaius whispered to Merlin.
The warlock paused a second.
"That's fine, but..." a brief moment of terror crossed the boy's face. "My father's book."
The boy quickly went to follow the prince into his room. The room was fairly cleanwith the exception of some dirty laundry next to an unkept bed and a single book partially tucked under the pillow.
"Well your rather tidy," Arthur commented as he opened the cucboard closest him.
Much to Merlin's displeasure, the prince  had seen the book before he could hide it.
"Trying to hide something?" The prince questioned as he lifted the book up.
"Course not."
Arthur opened the book to a random page and the secret prince was glad he hadn't looked at the inside of the back cover.
"Poetry?" The blond raised a brow at his servant.
"It was a gift, from my father. Besides, I like poetry," Merlin stated proudly while inwardly praying that Arthur simply put the book down without further investigation.
"What a girlish thing to say," Arthur laughed and put the book back on his bed.
The brunet let out a breath he hadn't known he'd held as Arthur moved on to the desk and finally gave a once over of the room before walking out with Merlin in tow.
"How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?" The prince once he was face to face with Gaius again.
"It depends on how many interruptions I get," the physician stated, clearly irked.
"Of course. I'm sorry," the prince apologized again. "We're finished here."
With that, they all left the physician and the boy to work peacefully, Gaius closing the door behind them.
"What was in that book that you were worried about?"
Merlin tucked in his lips before answering.
"It may have my full name and the Ambrosia crest."
"You need to hide that book."
"I know. I know, it was stupid of me to leave it out."
"Merlin, your life is destined for important things," the physician stated.
"I don't see how, i can't even use magic to help the sick."
"There will be a time when your skills will be recognized."
"Not anytime soon."
"Patience is a virtue, Merlin."
"What, sitting by and doing nothing, that is a virtue?"
Gaius could hear Merlin's voice crack at the end and he could tell that the boy wasn't simply talking about recent events. He sighed.
"Your referring to Maelidor."
"I...went back the day after...and did nothing when he had loyal knights hanged for refusing to change their allegiance...I knew, each...and every one of those men, their families. I grew up with their children, Gaius. Don't just make me stand by." The secret prince's voice quivered.
"Your time will come, and we will help these people, but we have to discover how this illness is spreading."
Merlin took a deep breath and mulled the situation over. Gaius was right, he knew he was and the part of him with a princely rationale won out the small part that wanted to solve the problem with magic.
"So what do we do?"
"Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all."
_______________________________________________________________________________
As the day drew to an end fifty bodies lay in the courtyard under linens. Everyone was growing anxious with the scattered corpses especially the prince, as he walked past each one to head to the throne room.
The king stood upon his son's entrance.
"We've searches everywhere, the entire city," Arthur informed
"Nothing?"
"I don't know where else to look."
Both looked grave as Uther considered what to do.
"I want you to impose a cerfew. No one is to be allowed on the streets after the great bell."
"Father."
"And cordon off the lower town," Uther added.
"Why?"
"Because that is where most of the victims are. Let's isolate it. Stop this disease from spreading."
"But what about the people that live there?" Arthur asked.
"Dont you think I haven't considered it? What else can I do?" The king inquired lifting his arms to dive the question further. "I have to protect the rest of the city."
Arthur, though ashamed, understood his father's rationale and left to see his orders carried out.
_______________________________________________________________________________
"What's different about this victim?" Gaius asked the next day, gesturing to the noble woman that lay pale and dead between him and Merlin.
"Um, she's a woman."
"Sometimes I do wonder whether your magical talents were given to the right brother. Anything else?"
"Um..." Merlin examined her elegant bead necklace and fine dress. "She's a courtier?"
"Ah." Gaius agreed informing Merlin that he had hit the mark.
"But how does that help us?"
"Courtiers seldom go down to the lower town. So what does that mean?"
"Um..." themulled it over. "She hasn't spoken to any townspeople."
Gaius nodded.
"Yes. It suggests that the disease is not spread by contact."
"And they probably eat different food," Merlin continued.
"Good. Anything else?"
"I doubt they've breathed the same air."
"So what's the one thing they do share?" Gaius prompted.
"Water?"
The physician nodded again with a grin.
"Water? You think the disease is spread through water?"
"Merlin, you're a prodigy," Gaius praised then moved to grab a bucket and place it in front of the boy.
The young warlock took it without question and started for the square where the well was. As he was retrieving water the fast paced shuffle of feet caught his attention and Merlin turned to see Guinevere rather distraught.
"Gwen?" He asked.
When she passed him by he took the bucket and chased after her calling her name again.
"Gwen?" Gaius asked when she burst into the room.
"Gaius," she coked out.
"What? Do you have the sickness?"
"No." She shook her head. "It's my father. Please Gaius, he's all I have."
"Gwen, I have no cure," Gaius stated sadly.
"I am begging you," the girl pleaded.
"I wish there was something, Anything, but so far the remedy is beyond what I can achieve. I'm sorry, Gwen."
The girl stormed past Merlin, tears streaming down her eyes.
"There must be something we can do?" Merlin asked, his heart breaking for his friend.
"My best. Let's hope that this can provide some answers." Gaius took the bucket and filled a vial of water sticking a flower in it to let it absorb .
"But that will be to late for Gwen's father."
"I fear you may be right," the physician spoke forlornly.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Evening fell quickly over the castle an Merlin sat up in bed when everyone else had gone to sleep. Gwen's distress continued to play through his head. he really couldn't sit and do nothing could he? the boy stood up and crept to his door.
In the physician's chambers, Gaius was snoring in his own bed. Merlin saw this as his chance to act. he quietly closed his door and went to the loose floor board that held the book of spells. Merlin took the book and leafed through it's content while sitting on his bed. one page in particular caught the young warlock's eye. A poultice that counteracted disease spells.
Merlin quickly gathered the ingredients as quietly as he could around the physician's chambers and got to work putting it together. Afterwards the boy looked at his work, praying to the gods that it worked before pocketing it and leaving.
The warlock crept out of the castle easily enough and headed for the lower town, hiding in any nook and cranny he could. Once he arrived, Merlin glanced through the window to see Gwen sitting on the floor in her nightgown, her head resting on the bed in front of her as if she had fallen asleep presiding over her father.
Merlin walked into the house with bated breath as he made his way towards the two. he winced when the floor creaked and waited till Guinevere finished stirring her slumber, then he quickly took out the poultice and slid it under the pillow Gwen's father lay on. he gave a quiet incantation and smiled when it seemed that the spell had actually worked.
the boy quickly made his way out, avoiding the squeaking board as he went. He watched from the window as the man awoke with a new found vigor and stroked his daughter's hair. The two embraced and Merlin's smile grew before he finally slipped back to the castle.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The next morning the body count had grown. The courtyard was nearly full of corpses. it disturbed everyone.
Gaius stood in the council chambers to present his bottle of water and a now entirely white flower.
Arthur, out of curiosity reached to lift the vial up.
"Don't touch it! I had this in the water for no more than a few hours."
"Where's the water from?" Uther asked.
"The pump where the people get their daily supply."
"We have to stop the people from using it," Arthur stated.
"The city cannot survive without water," Gaius Explained.
"Then we have to find this sorcerer," Uther said.
"I don't believe they're in Camelot."
"then expand the serch to the villages."
"We've started. But I can't search the entire kingdom."
"And I can't stand by and watch our people die," Uther stated, staring his son down, daring him to question his decision.
Arthur nodded and made his way out.
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin made his way to the lady Morgana's chambers where he knew Gwen would be working. The maid was making quick work of her chores while humming.
"How,s your father doing? Is he better?" Merlin asked.
Gwen smiled.
"Yeah. It's incredible. It's a miracle."
"His skin's clear, back to normal?"
"Yes." Gwen nodded.
"Great." Merlin smiled and turned to leave.
"You don't seem surprised."
"No, no I am. It's a miracle."
"But how did you know?" she asked.
Merlin glanced awkwardly behind him to watch the door close, wracking his brain for an answer.
"Uh... because you're smiling."
"That's really weird because I haven't told anyone, but you know." Gwen looked at Merlin suspiciously. "How could you know?"
"Yeah." Merlin gulped. "Alright. You've finally found out. I'll tell you." He leaned in close to Gwen. "I'm psychic."
"No you're not," Gwen laughed
"It's true!" Merlin exclaimed.
"Alright, what am I thinking?'
"That I'm not psychic."
Gwen laughed again.
"You're strange."
Merlin gave a raised brow in response.
"I don't mean that in a nasty way. You're just... funny."
"Well, I'm pleased for you,"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"I don't know," Gwen shrugged."just for asking."
"I didn't like seeing you upset."
A sense of suspicion crept back into the maid servant as she watched Merlin leave. _______________________________________________________________________________
Later that day the maidservant's home was searched after rumors of the blacksmith's astonishing recovery. Arthur himself had gone to confront the man. Every nook and cranny was checked. Every table, chair, and chest was searched, and the beds, one in particular, filled Arthur's heart with dread.
The only person the prince knew was there, according to the blacksmith, was Gwen. The poultice the guard handed him radiated with magic and gave off a gentle, golden glow. Simply holding it made any feelings of ailment drift away, which only crippled the prince more.
He would have to arrest Guinevere, and she would surely die. He glanced at the men's faces knowing full well that he couldn't keep this from his father and swept out of the small home. The heaviest of burdens clasped between his fingers giving off the purest and most innocent of intentions one could ever know.
___________________________________________________________________________
Gwen held close the flowers she had picked for Morgana, finding it strange that they had turned completely white when Arthur and a number of guards burst in.
"Seize her," the prince ordered in a monotonous voice.
"No," Gwen said confused.
"Guinevere, I am arresting you for crimes in contravention to the laws of Camelot,"
Gwen struggled, dropping the vase of flowers as two guards came and began dragging her out by her arms.
"That you did practice enchantments," Arthur finished.
"Gwen?" Morgana walked in confused.
"What have I done? I haven't done anything! Help me, please!" Fear was evident in the maidservant's voice.
"What are you doing?" Morgana rounded on Arthur.
"I found a magic poultice in her house."
"That's ridiculous."
"How else do you explainer father's recovery?"
"She's innocent," Morgana protested. "I know she's innocent."
"What can I do? I can't just turn a blind eye!" Arthur snapped back.
Arthur led the guards and Gwen down to the throne room with the maidservant struggling the whole way.
"No please. Listen to me. Please. I haven't done anything wrong. You have to listen to me, please!"
Arthur clenched his jaw to keep from doing something he would regret more than arresting this girl behind him. Her pleas jabbed into his sides like broken glass.
"I'm innocent,I swear. Let me go!"
Merlin rounded the corner having heard the commotion.
"I swear to you. Merlin!" She called to the boy when she saw him.
The boy's eyes filled with horror. Someone else was taking the fall for him again.
"Merlin, please help me!" Gwen begged.
Gaius came up and stopped the boy before he did something stupid.
"Why won't you listen to me! Merlin, please."
The physician dragged the boy back to his chambers.
"What have you done?" Gaius demanded.
"I-"
"I warned you. Oh, I understand, you thought you were doing good."
"I couldn't let her father die if there was the slightest chance I could cure him."
"Did you not think it would look suspicious? The curing of one man?"
"Then I'll just have to- to cure everyone. No one would have to know it was magic."
"It's to late. They think Gwen is a sorceress. They think she caused the disease."
"But she didn't!" Merlin snapped.
"Oh, and how are you going to prove that?"
Merlin opened the door.
"I'm not sure yet." Then he left.
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin found himself in the throne room listening to Gwen's hearing with the king.
"Well done," Uther praised his son.
Arthur felt no pride in his actions and couldn't even look at the girl he was condemning.
"Why will no one believe me?" Gwen asked. "He just got better. He just recovered." She looked around the room for help. "I didn't do anything."
"I believe you." Morgana stormed in. "Perhaps this is a disease that is not always fatal. Have you thought of that? Perhaps he recovered naturally."
"Then what of this poultice that we found?" Uther asked not really caring for an answer.
"Poultice? I- I don't know anything about a poultice." Anyone could tell she had no clue what the king was talking about.
"It was found, in your house. Undo this enchantment." Uther demanded. "Put an end to this contagion."
"I can't."
"Then I can show you no mercy."
"I am not a witch. I don't know how to stop the illness." Gwen tried to convince to no avail.
"If you will not undo your sorcery, you force my hand and I must find you guilty."
"But I've told you-"
"It is therefore my duty to pronounce judgement. Under the circumstances I have no choice but to sentence you to death."
"No," Gwen protested
"I can only hope that when you die, this evil plague dies with you. Take her away."
Guards came over and lifted the girl from the ground and dragged her away with protests reverberating against the walls as she went.
Merlin didn't know what to do as he followed everyone out of the chamber. Only Arthur and Morgana stayed.
"I know Gwen. She's my maidservant, not an enchantress," Morgana tried in Gwen's stead.
"Have you seen an enchantress? Believe me, they bear no sign, no mark. There is no sense of evil in the eye."
"I have seen the way the girl works, her fingers are worn, her nails are broken. If she was a sorceress, why would she do this? Why would she kneel on a cold stone floor morning after morning when she could make these things happen with a snap of her fingers? Like an idle king," Morgana spat at Uther.
"You have no right!"
"But you have right to cast jusdgment on that girl!"
"I have a responsibility to take care of this kingdom. I take no pleasure in this."
"But you're sentencing the wrong person."
"She's right father." Arthur finally spoke up. "You heat the word magic and you no longer listen."
"You saw it for yourself, she used enchantments." Uther pointed out.
"Yes, maybe. But to save her dying father. That does not make her guilty of creating a plague. One's the act of kindness, of love; the other of evil. I don't believe there is evil is in this girl's heart." Arthur protested gesturing to where the guards had dragged Gwen away.
"I have witnessed what witchcraft can do. I've suffered at its hand. I cannot take that chance. If there is the slightest doubt about that girl, she must die or the whole kingdom may perish."
"I understand that."
"One day you may become king. Then you will understand, such decisions must be made. There are dark forces that threaten this kingdom." Uther explained.
"I know witchcraft is an evil, father. So is injustice. Yes, I am yet to be king, and I don't know what kind of king I will be, but I do have a sense of the kind of Camelot I would wish to live in. It would be where the punishment fits the crime," Arthur stated in hopes of getting his father to see reason.
Unfortunately it had the opposite affect.
"I fear you are right. She played with fire, and sadly, she must die by fire."
Distress washed through Morgana like a vile poison and Arthur felt betrayed, not just by his father but by his own words as well when he saw her face as she left.
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin's sat across the table from Gaius who awaited an answer.
"I thought I was doing good, and that curing Gwen's father would help her. I thought I was saving a life." Looking back on it, Merlin realized his stupidity. "It seemed so simple."
"An easy solution is like a light in a storm, Merlin," Gaius explained. "Rush for it at your peril, for it may not always lead you to a safe harbor."
Merlin nodded.
"I can see that now."
"How many times have I warned you about the responsibilities of being a warlock?"
The boy sat in silence, thinking.
"I must see her," he finally proclaimed before leaving for the dungeons.
Upon arrival, the young warlock passed a red eyed, sobbing Morgana. He didn't know what to say, this was his fault after all. Merlin ran the rest of the way to Gwen's cell, peering inside once he was there.
Gwen wasn't crying, though there were tear stains down her cheeks and her eyes were puffy, it seemed that she gave up on crying.
"Gwen," Merlin called to her.
She looked up and a small sense of hope sparked her eyes.
Merlin, she thought, he can help. She a part of her knew he could help but all of her refused to acknowledge to what cost. The maidservant stood to walk over to Merlin, to speak better with him, but the chains that held her kept her from moving close to the bars. The chains were a reminder of her fate and her heart sank once again.
"Thank you," Gwen said.
"What for?" Merlin asked in turn.
"For coming to see me."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
It was though.
"Well..." Merlin bit his tongue before he said anything stupid.
"It's alright. Don't worry about me. There's no point in crying about it." Her head sank to look at the floor. "I mean- I'm not saying that you were going to cry about me. Obviously I don't think that." She stammered after realizing her previous words.
"Oh, Gwen! I can't have this happen. You shouldn't be the one in there." Merlin ran his fingers through his hair and gave a glance around for ideas.
"Please... One thing. Y-you don't have to, but..."
"What?"
"Remember me."
"Your not going to die," Merlin insisted. "I'm not going to let this happen."
Gwen watched as Merlin ran off a sense of determination in his eyes.
"Don't do anything rash, Merlin," she mumbled as she sat back down on the bench beside her.
___________________________________________________________________________
"What if burning this witch doesn't stop the poison?" Uther asked his council. "How do I protect my people?"
"My men have closed down the water pumps." Arthur stated.
"But the emergency supply won't last for much longer. We have to find a way of cleansing the water of the disease," Gaius stated.
"But how?" Uther inquired.
Gaius opened his mouth to speak, barely getting a word out before Merlin burst into the room panting.
"It was me! It was me who used magic to cure Gwen's father." He took a couple seconds to breathe and let everyone process the information. "Gwen is not the sorcerer, I am!"
Gaius stood.
"Merlin, are you mad?"
Merlin shook his head.
"I cannot let her die for me," he quickly muttered to Gaius than turned to the king. "I place myself at your mercy."
"He doesn't know what he's talking about." Gaius tried.
"I do." The boy countered.
"Then arrest him."
Arthur's eyes went wide.
"Father, please. I can't allow this. This is madness. There's no way Merlin could be a sorcerer." He protested.
"Did you not hear him?"
"Yes."
"He's admitted it."
Merlin nodded as if he were actually on the king's side.
"He saved my life remember."
"Why should he fabricate such a story, especially when faced with the burning pyre?"
Merlin audibly gulped and shivered at those last couple words. His right side suddenly felt rather itchy.
Arthur thought quickly.
"As Gaius said...he's got a grave, mental disease."
"Really?" Uther asked almost sounding intrigued.
Arthur searched his mind for an explanation.
"He's in love."
"What?" Merlin asked.
"With Gwen."
Understanding and irritation fell on the king's face.
"I am not."
"Yes you are."
"No way," Merlin tried to protest.
"I saw you yesterday with that flower she'd given you."
Merlin gave a laugh.
"I'm not in love with her."
Arthur wrapped an arm around the other's shoulders.
"It's alright, you can admit it."
"I don't even think of her like that."
"Perhaps she cast a spell on you," Uther suggestioned.
Merlin mentally cursed. Everyone's face fell till the king started laughing. They all joined in with the exception of Merlin's and Gaius.
"Merlin is a wonder, but the wonder is that he's such an idiot."Arthur continued his efforts. "There's no way he's a sorcerer."
Merlin felt uncomfortable as Arthur emphasized every syllable of that last statement, especially with the prince looking directly at him.
"Don't waist my time again. Let him go," Uther ordered.
Gaius bowed to the king and walked his ward out
"How can you be so stupid, Merlin? You almost had yourself killed! Your mother told me to look after you and I can't do that if you go galavanting around like an idiot!" Gaius snapped as soon as they were near the physician's chambers.
"Arthur's the idiot," Merlin snapped back, shoving the chamber door out of his way.
"No, he was right to do what he did, and thankfully he saved you from your own stupidity."
"What else could I do? It my fault Gwen is going to die."
"Yes, But you don't prove her innocent by jumping into the flames."
Merlin couldn't help but shiver again at what was almost his fate.
"You do it by finding out what's causing the disease," Gaius continued.
"Well, what ever it is, one thing's for sure, Arthur's not going to find it. He thinks he's so sharp. Even when I told him I was a wizard, he still couldn't see it."
"Sometimes there pretty hard to spot."
"Maybe I should go around wearing a pointy hat."
"I don't think you'll find one big enough. Anyway, forget that. If we're going to save Gwen, we have to find out what's contaminating the water," Gaius said throwing a satchel to Merlin who only no realized that the old physician had been gathering supplies up till this point.
The boy threw the bag over his shoulder and followed Gaius out allowing him to lead the way to the water supply. Gaius led the way to an under ground cave system. Merlin held a torch in front of them as they walked around. Water could be herd dripping from the ceiling and a sense of darker magic loomed, reverberating off the walls, leaving a heavy pit in the warlock's stomach.
"The water from here supplies the whole town," Gaius explained as they came up on a pool of water. "Take a sample."
Merlin complied, taking a bottle and filling it with the water, having to tip some out before corking it and hanging it to Gaius.
"Let's take this back and examine it."
Merlin nodded ready to leave the feel of magic behind. They both turned and headed in the direction of the exit, though a splash of the water and a strange hissing stopped them in their tracks. The thing that could elicit such a noise was dark with lumpy skin, slick with water and claws and fangs that could tare someone to ribbons, and just as quickly as it had come, it dove back into the water.
"What the hell was that?!" Merlin swore.
The old physician guided the boy out and made haste back to his chambers. Upon arriving he scoured his books till he found what he was looking for than flipped through the pages till he pointed to a specific section.
"There!" Gaius proclaimed.
Merlin was quickly looking over his shoulder at the opened book.
"It was an afanc."
"An- a what?" Merlin asked.
"A beast born of clay and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerer. Now we have to find a way to defeat it." Gaius glances at all his books again. "But where?"
"That could take days. Gwen could be dead by then."
"Have you got a better idea?"
Merlin's first thoughts where of Nimueh. She would know how to destroy the creature, the only problem was that he didn't know how he could communicate with her, then a certain winged creature popped into his head.
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin ran across the courtyard stopping momentarily to gaze at the pile of wood being stacked. He felt ashamed of himself for feeling relieved, even glad that it was not his fate. He was even more determined now that this wouldn't be Gwen's fate either and continued running.
He walked down to the cells where she was kept. Gwen appeared to be sleeping.
"Gwen? He asked. "I'm going to get you out. I will."
After that Merlin turned and headed deeper into the dungeons barely hearing the sniffle as he left for the dragon.
The warlock stepped curiously into the small platform, torch in hand but no dragon to be seen.
"Hello?"
"Hello," the dragon replied back flying down from the cavern's ceiling. "The great warlock returns as I knew he would."
"I need to know how to defeat an afanc," Merlin declared instantly.
"Yes I suppose you do."
"Will you help me?"
"Trust the elements that are at your command."
"Elements?" Merlin asked. "But what is it I have to do?"
"You cannot do this alone, you are but one side of a coin. Arthur is the other."
"I don't understand. Tell me what it is I have to do." Merlin was already getting fed up with this creatures riddles.
"Your a prince, perhaps you can figure that out on your own." With that the dragon lifted himself up, back toward the top of the cavern and out of Merlin's sight.
"Oh yeah, right. Thanks," Merlin said, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
___________________________________________________________________________
Arthur walked into the council chambers where his father stood in front of a burning candle.
"Have you found anything more?" Uther asked.
"I've tried. I can keep looking."
"People are dying. We can't delay any longer." Uther stood up straight. "We mush kill the witch. Bring her execution forward to tonight."
Arthur bowed and left glad his father's back was to him so he couldn't see the distain on his son's face.
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin scoured the physician's bookselfs, pulling them out at random before setting them on the table next to him.  Gaius walked in while he was doing this, completely confused by the boy's actions.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" He set the medicine bag on another table.
"Looking for a book," was the younger's reply looking back at the pile of books intently.
"Care to tell me which one?"
"A book on elements." He sifted through his growing mess.
"Elements?"
"Yes. Which one would I find them in?"
"Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process."
Merlin was now giving Gaius his full attention.
"But how would that help me defeat the afanc?"
"Well, the afanc is a creature made from earth and water. That's two of the four base elements," Gaius explained.
"What about the other two?"
"Well, perhaps they would destroy it. You want fire, wind and fire. How did you find this out?"
"Um," Merlin looked over the table again looking for a viable answer. "I just knew. You know, it's just part of my powers."
"What else do your powers tell you?"
"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously."
"And who's the other side?" Gaius inquired.
"I think that might be Arthur."
"They're bringing forth the execution." Morgana stormed through the door. "We have to prove Gwen's innocence."
"We're trying," Gaius assured.
"Please, just tell me what I can do to help,"
"We need Arthur," Merlin answered.
"Arthur?"
"There's a monster, an afanc, in the water supply. That's what's causing the plague."
"We must tell Uther," the lady concluded looking between the two.
"The afanc's a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save Gwen. He'd blame her for conjuring it," the physician explained.
"So what do we do?"
"We need to destroy it. Then the plague will stop and Uther may see sense," Merlin spoke.
"And that's why you need Arthur."
"He's our best chance, but he won't want to disobey the king."
Morgana nodded.
"That to me."
The lady left as quickly as she'd come and Merlin followed suit shortly after with the key to the water supply in hand.
___________________________________________________________________________
Arthur lifted his head from papers on his desk when Morgana walked in. He stood and made his way towards her, an idea in his head about why she was there. Gwen.
"Are you alright?" The prince asked.
Morgana glanced at the dirty dining table in front of her. Arthur followed her gaze and frowned slightly.
"I'm sorry about all this. Merlin's not been in today."
"Poor Mirlin."
"Yeah," Arthur nodded in agreement.
He didn't want to believe that his serving boy had feelings for Guinevere, but the sheer amount he was willing to do to save the girl was beyond ignoring.
"To offer his life to save Gwen's,"Morgana continued. "I certainly can't imagining any man loving me so much."
Arthur shook his head.
"No, I certainly can't imagine that either," he joked.
"That's because you're not like Merlin. He's a lover."
"Yeah, maybe that's because I haven't found the right person to love," Arthur retorted, recognizing the lady's jibe.
"Haven't you?"
"Morgana, please."
"Oh well, the age of gallantry seems to be dead anyway. Sad really. You look around and all you see are small men not big enough to fill their armor. There's not one of them that's willing to stand up for what is right."
Arthur sighed as he looked around. He recognized that tone she used from the many other times the lady had wanted him to do something.
"What do you want me to do?"
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin was on the verge of hyperventilating as he waited for Arthur and Morgana near the pyre. He again felt both relieved and guilty that he wasn't the one the pile was meant for. His side itched reminding him how painful the licking tongues of fire could truly be. He shuttered and looked over to the main entrance of the castle glad to see Arthur and Morgana walking out of it.
Merlin lead the way to the entrance to the underground water system. Arthur had his sword drawn as the three of them made their way in, lighting a couple torches to light the way.
"You'd better be right about this, Merlin," the prince warned.
The warlock rolled his eye but otherwise carried on without a word. Soon after, something elicited a growl from deeper in the cavern to stop and the lady, Morgana, gasped. Arthur met eyes with Merlin who had an I-told-you-so look. The prince than turned to the woman behind them.
"You should stay here," he recommended.
"I'm coming with you."
"No."
"Scared I'll show you up?" She challenged.
"Father will slam us both in chains if he knew I'd endangered you."
"Good thing he doesn't know about it then."
"I'm telling you, Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt," Arthur tired to reason.
"So could you," her words were sincere, till, "if you don't get out of my way."
Arthur looked back to Merlin and rolled his eyes as the lady stepped past him. Merlin simply shrugged and the two followed suit.
"How are we going to find it?" Morgana asked a little while after.
"Just hope we do before it finds us," Merlin replied.
Arthur turned abruptly having thought he'd heard something.
"Stop."
"What?" Merlin asked immediately.
Shadows seemingly danced over the cavern walls. Arthur assumed his eyes were playing tricks.
"It's just a shadow."
Soon enough they made it to the water pool, no creature in sight.
"Spread out," the prince said, gesturing where he wanted Merlin and Morgana to search.
Arthur took his own route but stayed near the pool. He turned to look back at the small body of water when he thought he'd heard something.
The creature came out of nowhere snarling and swinging it's sharp claws. Arthur barely had time to move out of the creature's reach before thrusting his flaming torch at it. The afanc retreated back into the shadows with a hiss.
Merlin and Morgana both ran back to the prince at the sound of the commotion.
"What is it? Are you alright?" Morgana bombarded as soon as Ather was in view.
"Yeah," arthur simply answered staring into the darkness that the monster had withdrawn itself to.
"Did you see it?" asked Merlin.
"Yes." Arthur began to pace.
"What did it look like?"
Arthur shook his head.
"It's quick."
Morgana screamed as the creature emerged from the darkness yet again. The prince stood in front of the other two ready to fight when the thing slunk back out of sight.
The afanc's actions reminded Merlin of the numerous fearful, though curious, animals he had run into during his time with the druids. Arthur, on the other, hand grew irritated with the thing.
Seconds later everyone was looking around again when the beast didn't show up.
"Where is it?" Arthur demanded, his impatience showing through.
"I think it went this way," Merlin answered, trying his best to pinpoint where he felt the dark magic emanated from.
Arthur took charge again, leading the to down another corridor of the caverns. They stopped when the creature snarled again. This time it moved slowly as it made it's way out of the shadows, crawling around on all fours. It's skin was lick and brown, many fangs protruded from it's open mouth. Everyone looked horrified at this thing that permeated the air with a thick miasma of dark magic. It was difficult for Merlin to stomach.
Arthur advanced on the beast with his sword, getting a couple swings at it before the thing swiped the blade out of the prince's hand. Morgana now brandished her own torch towards the thing in hopes of protecting her friend. The creature recoiled from the hot tongues of orange flame and slashing it out of the lady's hands and herding her back against the cavern wall.
Arthur stepped back in with his own torch, careful not to let this one get stolen away. He kept his feet moving, sidestepping and thrusting the flaming stick an the beast when he could.
Merlin saw this as the best chance he would get, seeing as everyone was focused on the creature rearing back on it's hind legs. He uttered the enchantment he'd memorized as loudly as he dared and soon the the cavern was seemingly breathing and the fire Arthur wielded, grew hot as it engulfed the prince's vision. Everyone shied their eyes away from the light as Arthur gave one last, blind, thrust.
The afanc roared in agony, it's flesh seared and sizzling till it was nothing but ash on the sand covered ground.
Merlin smiled briefly at his achievement and the other two looked utterly confused.
___________________________________________________________________________
Merlin, Morgana, and Gwen's father walked eagerly down to the dungeons. They were all more than ready so the innocent girl released.
Gwen herself, was excited to see a guard in lock her cell door. The first one inside was her father who hugged her tightly. They both gently rocked side to side as if dancing and tears streamed down their faces. Morgana had a bright smile on her face as she watched the two. Merlin lingered outside the cell, a faint smile on his face but with eyes filled with guilt and shame, for he was the reason Gwen had been wrapped up in this mess to begin with.
Gwen soon released her father and walked over to Morgana.
"Thank you." Her voice conveyed everything she didn't think she could possibly find words for.
"Don't Thank me," Morgana spoke. "It was mostly Merlin."
Everyone looked to the boy that lingered outside of the cage.
"Really?"
"He's the real hero here," Morgana boasted.
Gwen could see the glint in his eyes as he shied away from the praise. A suspicion that had been in the back of the girl's mind over the past couple days, and which she had plenty of time to reflect upon, came to the forefront of her thoughts.
"Can I- can I speak with Merlin, alone?" She asked, unsure of what she would say should they inquire why.
The two looked between Merlin and Gwen before nodding and leaving.
"I'm going to head home, I'll see you when you get there," Gwen's father spoke as almost an after thought.
The girl in question nodded and waited till it was just her and Merlin.
"Merlin... I-I wanted you to know..." she hesitated. "Your secret is safe with me."
Gwen could see Merlin blanch but admired his ability to hold his small smile.
"My secret?" He asked.
Gwen shook her head.
"You don't have to pretend, Merlin. I'm your friend and I know you meant well," she tried to reassure.
"If I meant well, truely meant well, I would of thought about what I was doing... and the consequences it would bring." Merlin looked down to his feet. "I'm so, so sorry. I-I thought I was helping, but stupid me never thinks anything through. My father must be turning in his grave seeing what an utter mistake of a son I am."
"Merlin! Don't you ever say that about yourself. Your father would have been proud, you made a error in judgment than did everything you could to fix it. We're young it's okay to make mistakes. I forgive you, and...well your secret is safe with me, I understand why you wouldn't want anyone to know." Gwen gave Merlin a big hug.
Merlin hugged her back.
"Thank you. Believe it or not I'm actually terrified of fire," he laughed.
Gwen laughed with him as they pulled away from each other.
"Well I better get going," Gwen stated.
"Of course," Merlin agreed.
They both gave one last smile to one another before leaving the dungeons and parting ways.
___________________________________________________________________________
Later that evening, Gaius made fish for dinner. Merlin stared skeptically at a chunk of the meat he had skewered on his fork.
"This fish didn't come from the water, did it?"
"Well where else is it going to come from?" Gaius asked sarcastically. "The water's fine now. That's not your worry."
Merlin looked up from his food to give the old physician his full attention.
"This is the work of a very powerful sorcerer. I only hope you didn't come to her attention."
"Doubt it," Merlin mumbled.
Gaius raised a brow at him.
"Okay, maybe you have a point." Merlin hesitated a moment. "But would it really hurt if someone else knew?"
"One day, Merlin. One day."
"One day, what?" The warlock asked watching the physician stand to refill his goblet.
"One day, people will realize you weren't a complete idiot."
Gaius pat Merlin on the back, who smiled at the gesture.
"Thanks," he said once the old man sat back down.
The two laughed and talked as they enjoyed the rest of their evening in peace.