Mistaken Identity

- 13 -

Merlin kicked at the door in frustration as Arthur was led away. Where are Morgana and Gwen? What had happened to them? What could possibly be taking them so long? He felt so helpless. It was horrible to be trapped in the cell with a view of his friend, Prince and Master's execution, and being powerless to stop it. It was impossible. It seemed like such a long time ago that Arthur had been accused of sorcery and arrested, when in reality it was barely a week since things had been normal.

How very much they'd changed.

— — —

Gwen gasped as they beheld the sight in front of them. She knew how she felt about Arthur and she could not stand here and watch the man she loved die. She held the cloth tighter. Dragging Morgana to the side and dumping the bundle of clothing in her arms, she whispered to her. "I'll be as quick as I can."

She was true to her word. In barely a minute, she had returned with an almost-identical bundle in her arms to the one Morgana now held.

"Arthur's clothes."

Morgana nodded. "We won't get another chance at this, Gwen."

"Morgana..."

The Lady turned. "...We've run out of time."

Morgana gasped in horror as Arthur was secured to the stake. It was too late. They had failed.

— — —

Merlin waited for his chance to escape, biding his time as two guards patrolled past the door. To his horror, however, they stopped and carefully positioned themselves outside the cell.

Cursing to himself under his breath, Merlin peered through the bars. Biting his lip, his mind raced. Great. On one of the guards' belts was a ring of keys. If only he could get to it and then somehow distract the guards...

"Inbringe, cume mec."

The keys shifted slightly.

"Inbringe, cume mec."

Slowly they lifted and began to slide  down the guard's belt. The clang they made seemed loud enough to fill the world in Merlin's ears, but the guards seemed oblivious, deep in a conversation about... Merlin started. They were talking about Gaius.

"It's the physician, I say. He's the one that done it!"

The keys reached Merlin's hand but all thoughts of distracting the pair were gone from his mind. What were they saying about Gaius?

"Couldn't agree more. He's finally turned on us! Uther should have killed him when he had the chance. He broke the law: why is he still alive? We should have seen this coming."

"And now the Prince is going to be murdered for his crimes."

"We have to stop this: it is Gaius who should die."

Merlin couldn't make sense of what was happening. What had Gaius done?

"Who can we trust?" The second guard continued. "We need the knights' support."

"I'm sure we can count on at least one of them to support us."

"And who's that?"

"Sir Leon. He's loyal to Prince Arthur."

His peer nodded. "Come on."

Both guards marched off towards the dungeon's exit.

Sighing in relief and confusion, Merlin reached through the bars until the key slotted into the lock and turned it.

Stealing down the corridor, he followed the path the guards had taken to the dungeon exit.

After quickly checking that the passage was clear, he darted towards the courtyard. If Morgana and Gwen hadn't arrived yet, they needed more time.

And that was exactly what Merlin planned to buy them.