Eleanor gazed at the group before she started the memory. "From now on, I am going to reveal the name of the memory after we finish each one. Is that all right with everyone?"

The group gave her a collective nod. Eleanor nodded in response, and her eyes flashed gold, allowing the memory to begin.

In a dark and damp cave, a woman wearing a blood red dress – who had dark hair and bright blue eyes – stood before an ornate basin filled with water, forming a small creature out of clay by using her hands.

Merlin and Arthur both sneered at her, but for very different reasons.

Gwaine whistled loudly. "How is it that all the bad guys in your life end up being gorgeous women?" He asked Merlin.

Percival rolled his eyes. "Is it possible for you to not hit on every woman you see?" Realizing what he'd just asked, he backtracked swiftly. "Actually, don't answer that."

Merlin rolled his eyes at Gwaine. "Gwaine, stop looking at her like that; she's an evil High Priestess who's tried to destroy Camelot several times."

Arthur stiffened as he realized something. "She's the woman who tried to kill me when I traveled to the Caves of Balor. I had went to the caves to retrieve the Mortaeus flower."

"Nimueh," Merlin growled, remembering his last encounter with the witch.

Before anyone had the opportunity to question Merlin and Arthur about their reactions to the woman, the memory continued.

When the woman had finished forming the small creature, she placed it in a small egg. She began to chant over it, "Berbay odothay arisan yeldo. Bebiede þe arisan ealdu."

Gwen furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What exactly is she saying? It sounds quite similar to the animation spell you had used."

"Command thee arise ancient. I command you, ancient one, to come forth," Merlin translated for the queen.

The woman put her hand over the egg, and it began to glow. The egg then began to thump, similar to the thump of a heartbeat. The witch – obviously proud of her work – smiled up at it.

Once the spell was complete, the witch – whose name was Nimueh – placed the magic egg into the water. It began to travel through a series of underground waterways, until it arrived in a man-made cavern. Once the egg had arrived, a small creature was seen.

Back in her cave, Nimueh stood before her basin, watching as citizens of Camelot were gathering water from a pump.

"Diegol cnytte, gewitte me yst, aliese hine, to Camelot he cymþ," she chanted as she ran her fingers through the water.

"Illuminate the darkness, let me see through the rough water, deliver him, he comes to Camelot," Mordred translated. "Isn't that a scrying spell?" He asked Merlin.

The warlock nodded towards the Druid. "It is; they're not very hard to learn."

In the middle of a street in the lower town, Gaius and Merlin were overlooking a corpse lying in the street.

"Aren't you scared?" Merlin asked when Gaius knelt down to examine the corpse. Merlin was standing a few feet behind Gaius.

"Of what?" Gaius inquired, looking up at his ward.

"That you might catch whatever it is." Merlin answered, glancing down at the corpse as he did so.

"I'm the court physician, Merlin. This is part of my job. Most of the time, there's nothing really to be scared of."

"That wasn't the case with this," Lancelot guessed.

Gaius turned the corpse over to reveal a face. The skin was white with blue blood vessels showing through, and the eyes were pure white with no pupils showing in them.

"That's unsettling." Elyan shuddered. He wasn't in Camelot at the time of the outbreak. As a matter of fact, the knights who weren't present during that time looked sickly pale at the sight of the dead body.

Both Gaius and Merlin looked at each other. "You were saying?" Merlin asked gently, a slight tone of fear lacing his voice.

"People mustn't see this. They'll panic," Gaius told him, looking around for something to cover the body with. Merlin saw a blanket hanging on a clothesline, and grabbed it. Gaius helped him to cover the body quickly from a few passersby on the street.

At their small cottage home, Gwen and her father, Tom, were getting ready for work.

Gwen felt her eyes begin to fill with tears. "Oh Father," she whispered sadly. Elyan pulled his little sister into a hug. Both siblings were saddened to see their father when he was still alive.

"Dad, here's your sandwich," Gwen said, setting a small white and pink wrapped bundle on the table.

Tom smiled as he brought it up to his nose to smell it. "Ooh. Mmm, what's in it?" The blacksmith asked his daughter.

"It's smoked pigeon. But I'd say there's more smoke than pigeon." Gwen admitted. Tom let out a heartfelt laugh.

With the exception of Gwen, everyone else laughed at that as well, hoping to lighten the mood a bit.

"You're such a good girl to me," Tom said, giving Gwen a smile.

Gwen bent down and picked up a handful of wildflowers before turning back to her father. "And I've done you some watercress soup tonight."

"Don't tell me:  with more water in it than cress?" Tom guessed with a large smile on his face.

Gwen laughed and reached her arms up for a hug.

"I'll see you later," Gwen told him, letting go and heading for the door.

"Okay, bye," Tom said after her.

Merlin and Gaius were wheeling the corpse over the castle drawbridge. The body was covered with the same blanket as earlier, and only one booted foot was visible. As they entered the castle, Gwen approached carrying the flowers she had picked at her home.

"What are you doing?" Gwen asked curiously.

"Er... just moving something," Merlin moved back to make sure the body was completely hidden from Gwen.

Gwaine chuckled. "That doesn't make you look suspicious at all, mate."

"Looks heavy." Gwen observed carefully.

"Er, it's nothing really. Er... someone got you flowers?" Merlin noticed, trying to take her attention off of the cart that held a corpse.

Gwen looked down at the flowers, as if she'd forgotten she was holding them. "Oh! No," Gwen giggled. "Would you like one?"

Before Merlin could answer, Gwen plucked one out of the bouquet. "A purple one. Purple suits you. Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you," she backtracked.

"You two were so adorable with your flirting," Gwaine teased.

Arthur glared at him. Gwaine gave the king an innocent smile. "What? It's not like you were courting her at the time, Princess."

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" Arthur asked through gritted teeth.

"You've also told me to stay out of taverns, and we all know that I don't listen." Gwaine laughed, with Merlin soon joining him.

"Yes. Both of you need to spend less time in the taverns," Arthur retorted before turning his attention back to the memory. Merlin could only roll his eyes at Arthur's blunt obliviousness.

"Thanks. Well, er..." Merlin looked around to place the flower somewhere, and he decided to stick it in his scarf. He then held his arms out in a 'ta-da' fashion.

"Aww."

"Er... see you," Merlin said, turning his back to Gwen so he could help Gaius push the cart.

"Bye." Gwen waved to both Merlin and Gaius.

Gwen entered Morgana's chambers with the flowers, smiling brightly as Morgana approached her.

"You look happy," Morgana noticed. She spoke with an upbeat voice, and a smile flashed across her features.

"I picked these for you." Gwen revealed, holding out the flowers to Morgana.

Morgana smiled as she gratefully took them from her maidservant. "Oh, that's so sweet."

"Something to cheer you up. I know you're not sleeping well."

Leon looked over at Merlin. "She wasn't sleeping well because of her visions, yes?"

Merlin could only nod. "At the time, she didn't even know that they were visions; she only thought them nightmares."

Gwen shuddered. "I remember how she used to wake up in the late hours of the night, screaming. I felt so bad for her. If I had known sooner, perhaps I could've helped her."

Arthur wrapped an arm around his wife's waist. "Gwen, what happened to Morgana is not your fault. The fault lies with me. I should have seen she was troubled; I should've been there for her."

Merlin shook his head at the king and queen. "Arthur, Gwen, neither of you are to blame," he spoke in a weary voice. When two of his closest friends turned to look at him, he had his head in his hands, and his shoulders had slumped forward – as if there was a weight on them. "The blame for what happened to Morgana is mine, and mine alone. Don't blame yourselves, okay?"

"Merlin..." Arthur's voice trailed off, but Merlin cut him off.

"Arthur, let's just watch the memory, alright? You'll know everything soon enough."

Arthur's eyes still held a burning question inside of them, but he nodded at Merlin's statement, turning his attention back to the memory. Gwen's gaze on Merlin lingered for a few more seconds before she, too, turned her attention back to their past selves.

At the mention of Morgana's dreams, said woman became less enthusiastic. However, she kept her smile on her face for Gwen's sake. "You cheer me up."

Gwen laughed before she offered, "would you like me to put them in water for you?" Gwen then walked off, while Morgana turned to watch her.

In the physician's chambers, Merlin and Gaius were studying the body of the dead man with a magnifying glass.

"I've never seen anything like this before." Gaius said as he carefully examined the corpse.

"Do you think it could be some kind of plague?" Merlin asked, worried about what could be the cause of this man's death.

"No. I fear that something like this could never come from nature. But who has this kind of power?" Gaius questioned, straightening up as he looked at Merlin.

"That would be Nimueh." Elyan offered.

"You think it's caused by magic?"

"Is Arthur a dollop head?" Lancelot joked, trying to break the tension in the atmosphere.

"Merlin!" Arthur's voice called out before Gaius could answer his ward's question.

Merlin opened the door to reveal an annoyed but sleepy Arthur.

"Erm... I'm on my way. Sorry, I'm late," Merlin said, closing the door partially so that Arthur would not be able to see the dead body.

"Don't worry. I'm getting used to it," Arthur mumbled, tiredness still lacing his voice.

"If you were to show up on time now, I'd think something was wrong." Arthur laughed. Though Merlin still looked dejected, he managed to laugh alongside Arthur.

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the flower in Merlin's scarf. Merlin looked down, and laughed at it.

"Oh, er... Gwen, she gave it to me," he explained as he pulled the flower out of his scarf.

Arthur shrugged and looked past Merlin to see Gaius. "Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now," the prince said before he turned and walked away.

"Okay," Merlin mumbled, looking out to make sure Arthur had actually left before closing the door. Turning back to his mentor, Merlin began, "Gaius..."

"I heard," Gaius cut him off.

"Wait, why couldn't he just tell you himself?" Merlin asked as he walked back towards the examining table.

"'Cause that's the way it is. You're a servant."

"Wha... if he knew who I was, what I've done..." Merlin stated in irritation.

"You would be dead." Leon pointed out.

Arthur mulled over their words. Would he have killed Merlin if he knew about his magic?

"You'd be a dead servant," Gaius reminded. "Right, let's get this covered up."

Percival chuckled. "Leon, you really should stop copying Gaius."

"Hey, I'm not your servant." Merlin argued.

Merlin grumbled, "Apparently, I'm everyone's servant."

"No, you're my dogsbody. Come on, hurry up." Gaius said as Merlin covered the body with a sheet.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "As if being someone's dogsbody is any better."

In the council chambers, a servant lay dead from the same magical illness, a tray and cup of wine spilt beside him. Gaius knelt down to examine him.

"What's happened to him?" Asked Uther. Arthur stood beside his father, looking down at the body. The prince was rendered speechless.

"I don't know, sire. It's the second case I've seen today." Gaius informed.

"Why didn't you report it to me?" Uther asked, worry filling his voice.

Gaius stood up to face his king and his prince. "I was attempting to find the cause."

"What did you conclude?" Uther questioned as he began to pace in front of the throne. In the background, Merlin was still staring at the servant's corpse.

"I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. A scientific process is a long one," Gaius explained.

"What are you concealing from me?" Uther asked, being straightforward with his court physician.

"Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours, and it's spreading fast."

"What is the cause?" Uther questioned firmly.

"Reckon he suspected sorcery?" Gwaine asked.

"I think Uther always suspected sorcery unless it was an obvious in-his-face type of sorcery. When it came to that type of sorcery, he thought it was perfectly natural." Merlin explained.

Arthur lightly whacked the back of Merlin's head.

Merlin gave Arthur an annoyed look as he rubbed at the back of his head.

Gaius paused momentarily before answering, "I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery."

Nervous mutters and murmurs erupted from the courtiers. Uther's face donned a disgusted look. The king gave the dead servant another look before pulling Arthur aside.

"We must find who did this," the king told his son firmly.

"I will, Father." Arthur promised, still gazing over at the dead body.

In a scared whisper, Uther continued, "Conduct door-to-door searches." In the background, Merlin and Gaius both bent down to take care of the servant's body. "Increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates. And lend the physician your servant."

"Merlin? But..." Arthur attempted to argue.

"I'm going to need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, this city will be wiped out. 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 for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer, and quickly." Uther finished, desperation taking place of the fear in his voice that had been there only moments ago.

"Yes, Father," Arthur said before he walked out.

In the lower town, Arthur and some of the guards began their search in the city. Arthur talked to one of the townspeople, who pointed at a certain house. Arthur waved the guards over before kicking down the door. Merlin and Gaius watched momentarily, before turning and walking back through the town.

"Arthur, I'm curious. Did you ever catch the sorcerer who was responsible in your searches? Or any actual sorcerer?" Percival inquired.

Arthur only shook his head, remembering what else had happened during this memory. This seemed to answer Percival's question, because he was now fixated on the memory once more.

While they walked, Merlin saw a man sitting on the side of the road. His skin was white, and he was showing all the symptoms of the illness. "Gaius?" Merlin warned, kneeling before the sickened man. Gaius turned to look at his ward. "Gaius, he's still alive."

"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him," Gaius stated sadly.

"But we haven't tried." Merlin exclaimed, his attention on his mentor.

"If we don't know what this disease is, then how can we cure him?"

"With magic." Merlin answered in a serious tone.

"How many people could have been saved had magic not been outlawed?" Arthur questioned, looking down at the man who lay dying in the street.

"Every one of them," Merlin replied without hesitation. "More so because, if magic was not outlawed, most – if not all of the sorcerers – would not have any reason to attack Uther or Camelot."

Gaius pulled Merlin up to his feet. "Have a look," Gaius scolded, motioning towards where Arthur and the guards were currently standing. "They're suspicious of everyone. This is not the time to be using magic. Science will lead us to the source of the disease."

Back in the physician's chambers, Gaius heated a vial of milky liquid over a flame.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asked while watching.

"I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach." The physician explained.

"Will that tell you who did it?"

"No, but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind," Gaius said harshly as he added a red liquid to the vial.

"Why would someone use magic like that?" Merlin questioned; his curiosity sincere.

"Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends." Gaius attempted to explain.

"But not all magic is bad. I know it isn't," Merlin argued.

"It's neither good nor bad. It's how you use it." Gaius informed, giving him an eyebrow.

"Unfortunately, because of the Great Purge, all you get to see is those who use it for evil. Anyone who uses magic for good is too afraid of getting caught," Merlin said sadly.

Before Merlin could elicit a reply, Arthur and the guards burst in the door and began to spread out through the room.

"Over there," Arthur ordered, and then turned to Gaius. "Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town."

"What for?" Gaius wondered indignantly.

"A sorcerer," Arthur replied, looking around.

"But why would he be here?"

"It's not like there's a powerful warlock living there that Uther never noticed. Oh wait, there is!" Gwaine joked.

Arthur looked over at the knight with a disapproving scowl.

"I'm just doing my job," Arthur said as a means of apology.

"We've nothing to hide." Gaius claimed, guiltily locking eyes with Merlin. "Go on, then. Search."

"Definitely nothing to hide at all," Percival joked. "Unless you count the secret warlock or his spellbook."

"All these books and papers?" Arthur asked, rifling through a stack of books on the worktable.

"My life's work – dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish."

Everyone laughed at that.

"I'm sure Arthur's brain would explode if he tried to read one of Gaius's books." Merlin teased.

Grimacing at the idea, Arthur motioned up towards the back room. "What's this room up here?" He asked.

"Er, it's mine." Merlin answered.

"And what do you expect to find in there?"

"I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments." Arthur replied, heading up the stairs.

"What've you done with the magic book I gave you?" Gaius whispered to his ward.

"I thought it was under your floor?" Leon questioned.

"I hadn't hidden the book yet," Merlin explained.

Merlin looked up towards his room, worried. He panicked more when Arthur called out, "Merlin, come here. Look what I found."

Lancelot and Mordred both paled. Did Arthur find Merlin's book?

Merlin walked in with a gulp.

"I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard," Arthur said patronizingly.

Everyone sighed with relief that the prince had not found Merlin's book.

Arthur went back to searching through Merlin's messy room, flipping through some papers on the table.

Merlin spotted his magic book on the floor. With a flash of his eyes, his bed sheet magically fell down and covered the book. Arthur looked under Merlin's bed, but missed the book and exited Merlin's room.

Gwaine snorted. "I can't believe it was right there, and you didn't even see it!"

"How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?" Arthur asked Gaius.

"It depends on how many interruptions I get." Gaius said pointedly.

Arthur nodded. "Of course, I'm sorry." Motioning to the guards, he declared, "We're finished here."

The guards exited, and the room grew silent. Gaius closed the door behind them before turning to his ward.

"We have to hide that book."

Merlin leaned in. "No. we must use it," he said as a small smile fell upon his lips.

"Don't be stupid." Gaius scoffed.

"If I have this legacy, then what is it for? You keep telling me it's not for playing tricks," Merlin reminded.

"You had an excellent point." Gwen remarked.

"You want to practice magic when the king is hunting for sorcerers?" Gaius whispered loudly. "Are you mad? Merlin, your life is destine for more important things."

"But if I don't practice, then how will I get to be this great warlock?" Asked a frustrated Merlin.

"That's another good point," Gwen stated. Merlin smiled, happy that someone agreed with his reasoning.

"There will come a time where your skills are recognized."

"When? How long do I have to wait?" Merlin cried out desperately.

"Patience is a virtue Merlin..." Gaius replied.

"A lesson that I have learned over the years whilst living in Camelot." Merlin said to no one in particular.

"Sitting by and doing nothing? That's a virtue?"

"Your time will come." Gaius repeated patiently.

"I could cure that man we saw." Merlin shouted, sounding exasperated.

"And get killed doing it." Gwen said. "Saving one life won't save everyone."

"I know it's tempting to use the way you find the easiest, Merlin..." Gaius said gently, trying to find the best way of appeasing the young warlock.

"It is when it would save a life." Merlin replied with a stubborn edge to his voice.

"It's no good just saving one person! We need to find the cause of the disease and how it's spreading." Gaius reasoned.

"Arthur is out there looking for the sorcerer!"

"A sorcerer who is powerful enough to do this will never be found by searching the town."

"Gaius was right; she wasn't even in Camelot anymore." Merlin said.

"Why did she stop attacking us, Merlin?" Leon asked quietly.

Merlin shrugged, "I stopped her." He turned back to the memory and left no room for discussion.

Merlin sighed, "So what can we do?"

"Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all."

"Well aren't you a little ol' ray of sunshine Gaius." Gwaine called out.

The scene changed to show the council chambers. Arthur entered them where Uther was waiting.

"We searched everywhere, the entire city."

"Nothing?" Uther replied anxiously.

"I don't know where else to look." Arthur replied, clearly losing hope.

"I want you to impose a curfew, no one is to be allowed onto the streets after the great bell."

"Father?" called Arthur warily.

Uther continued, "And cordon off the lower town."

"Why?" asked Arthur clearly confused.

"Because that is where most of the victims are, let's isolate it, stop the disease from spreading."

"You can't be serious! He was going to leave all those innocent people to die!" Eleanor cried out.

Arthur nodded and looked ashamed, "He was. He was going to let them all die to protect the citadel."

"To protect himself." Gwaine rolled his eyes.

Eleanor composed herself. "My apologies for the outburst."

Arthur shook his head. "Don't apologize for your anger, Eleanor."

Eleanor decided not to argue with her godfather. "Yes, sire."

"What about the people who live there?" Arthur asked.

"Do you think I haven't considered it? What else can I do? I have to protect the rest of the city." Uther replied, clearly showing that this was not up for debate.

Arthur bowed and left the room, clearly not happy with his father's decision.

Gwen smiled. "You are twice the king that your father could ever hope to be. You care for everyone in the kingdom – not just those in the citadel and the lower town."

The scene changed to Gaius's chambers, Gaius and Merlin were examining another corpse.

"What's different about this victim?" Gaius asked Merlin, pointing to the corpse.

"Er... she's a woman?" asked Merlin who looked like he just said the first thing that came to mind.

"Sometimes I do wonder whether your magical talents were given to the right person, anything else?"

"So do I." Arthur said with a teasing grin.

"Ermm..." Merlin paused, "She's a courtier."

"Ah." Said Gaius, Merlin had finally said what he was looking for.

Merlin was clearly still confused, "How does that help us?"

"Courtiers seldom go down to the lower towns, so what does that mean?"

"Erm... that she hasn't spoken to many towns people."

Everyone laughed at Past Merlin's answer.

"Yes, it suggests that the disease isn't spread by contact."

"Oh, they probably ate different food." Merlin mused, frowning as he tried to think.

"Good anything else?" Gaius asked.

"Erm... I doubt they breathe the same air." replied Merlin.

Then it hit Merlin, "Water! Water, you think the disease could be spread through water Gaius?"

"Merlin you're a prodigy." complimented Gaius, he then handed the boy a bucket.

Arthur scoffed, "Took you long enough Merlin"

Merlin rolled his eyes, "Like you would ever be able to find the cause of a plague."

"Idiot!"

"Prat!"

Arthur hesitated then blurted out, "Bootlicker!"

"You take that back you clotpole!" Merlin replied, putting a hand over his heart dramatically.

Gwen smiled fondly at them both, happy they were somewhat back to their old ways.

The scene changed to Gwen and Tom in Gwen's house.

Gwen tied her cloak and called out softly to her father, "It's time to get up Father." She called out for her father again, "Dad?" She moved over to him, gently turning him over since he wasn't responding.

Elyan winced, he tried to avoid thinking about their Father.

"I remember this..." Gwen whispered.

"Gwen." He slowly opened his eyes and moaned in pain. Gwen let out a pained cry when she saw his white eyes and realized he had the plague.

Gwen started crying and ran out towards the castle, passing Merlin as she went.

"Gwen!? Gwen!" yelled Merlin when he saw Gwen crying. He grabbed his bucket of water and ran after her, ignoring the fact that the water was going everywhere.

Gwen burst into Gaius's chambers. Gaius looked alarmed when he saw Gwen's tear stained face "Gwen?"

"Gaius." Gwen whimpered.

"You have the sickness?" Gaius asked gently although he looked alarmed.

Gwen shook her head and took a breath. Trying to control her sobs she mumbled, "My father! Please Gaius, he's all I have."

Elyan winced and looked at the ground, suddenly feeling full of guilt for leaving his family the way he did. He knew that his father had died, but seeing Gwen so upset made him feel terrible; he knew he should have stayed around and tried to be a good brother, but he had hated life in Camelot. "I'm sorry Gwen."

Gwen sniffled at the memory before turning to face Elyan, she gave him a small sad smile, "It's okay, Elyan."

Gaius frowned and looked at Gwen sadly, "I'm afraid I have no cure." His eyes were filled with sympathy. Gwen frowned at Gaius's reply and started to sob again, "Gaius. I'm begging you!"

"I wish there was something I could do Gwen." He gave Gwen an apologetic smile, and his tone turned softer "But so far the remedy is beyond what I can achieve." Gently he took her hand and murmured "I'm sorry Gwen."

"There was nothing he could do." Gwen said with a soft smile, "But there was something you could do." She grinned at Merlin.

Merlin watched the scene with a frown, he knew that he could do something, but it would cost him.

Gwen ran out of the room sobbing hysterically.

"No one should have died." Merlin ran a hand through his hair, taking deep breathes to keep his tone even "I could have saved them, for the rest of the day scenes like that unfolded. Mothers begging for a remedy for their children's lives, children begging for their parents, brothers begging for sisters, sisters begging for brothers. And I couldn't save them." He closed his eyes for a second, "I couldn't save them... I could have I mean... but I would have revealed my secret..." his voice took on a hard edge and he stared at Arthur.

"I know you all hate me for not trusting you, but keeping it all a secret wasn't easy. I hated keeping it a secret, but I had to otherwise those people who died would have died for nothing. They died to keep my secret safe." he paused to look at Gwen, "But I couldn't let Tom die and I couldn't let you die." He gave her a small sad smile which she returned.

Gwaine and Lancelot shared a solemn look. They both knew the guilt the young warlock felt.

Lancelot knew that Merlin felt as if he was responsible for everything bad that happened to his friends. Merlin would blame himself for everything under the sun; it's just how he was.

Arthur looked down at the ground for a second unsure of how exactly to respond to Merlin's outburst, Gwaine rolled his eyes at Arthur and gave Merlin a small grin. "Merlin mate, it isn't your job to save everyone. Even if you want to."

Merlin paused to make sure Gwen was out of ear-shot before turning to Gaius and yelling, "There must be something we can do."

Gaius looked up at Merlin with a raised eyebrow and calmly replied. "My best." He gestured to the books and vials, "Let's hope this can provide some answers."

"But that will be too late for Gwen's father." Merlin muttered.

"I fear you may be right." Gaius said gently, he placed some water into a jar and put Gwen's flower into it. Merlin frowned and looked like he was in a daze before going to his room.

"Someone's plotting." Gwaine grinned at Merlin who weakly returned it.

That night Merlin crept out of his room and looked over towards Gaius, letting out a small sigh of relief at the sight of the snoring physician. He turned back to his room and scanned through his book of spells. He muttered something under his breath and then snuck out of Gaius's chambers and ended up near two guards.

"Leon... as head of the guards you seriously might not want to watch this." Merlin said with an apologetic smile.

Leon sighed "I think I have already lost all faith in the guards Merlin... I don't think you could hurt my pride any more than you already have."

"Your funeral." Merlin shrugged.

Merlin eyed the guard nervously, the older looking of the two guards points towards a house "What about... over there?"

"Certainly sir." The guard replied, various guards were scattered around imposing the quarantine. The younger guard points over to where Merlin is hiding.

Merlin's eyes flared gold as he whispered "Onstyrian, onbregdan!"

"Move here." Merlin translated with a shrug, "You'll see what it does in a minute Gwaine..."

The door across the street creaked open and a guard started to approach it, when he got closer the door swung open and knocked the guard out.

Gwaine and Elyan burst out laughing whilst the others tried to hide their laughter for Leon's sake.

"Merlin." Gwaine grinned, "That was amazing. Why don't you do that more often?"

Merlin rolled his eyes, "Maybe because of the whole if I get caught using magic I die thing?"

"Well...you were caught...and you're still alive so.." Gwaine shrugged.

"Yeah well I didn't expect to be." Merlin said a little more seriously. He was being honest though; he hadn't expected to last more than 5 seconds after revealing the truth.

Merlin let out a small sigh of relief and headed towards Gwen's house. He opened the door carefully trying not to wake Gwen or Tom, he walked to Tom's bed and placed a poultice under his pillow.

"þu fornimst adl fram guman." Merlin's eyes flared gold.

"Overcome the sickness in this man." Mordred translated.

Merlin nodded to himself satisfied that it would work and hurried out of the house, he paused when he saw Tom open his eyes.

Slowly Tom got up and walked towards where Gwen was sleeping, gingerly Gwen opened her eyes and let out a soft gasp.

"Father?"

"Gwen." Tom replied softly.

"What's happened? I can't believe it." Gwen smiled and hugged her father.

Elyan watched the scene, trying to ignore the pang of guilt he felt. He missed this because he had been so busy trying to not be his father, but he had never really thought about how much he had missed. He gave Merlin a small smile, "Thank you Merlin."

Merlin returned the smile and nodded at Elyan.

The scene changed to the Council chambers, Arthur, Merlin, Uther and Gaius were gathered in the chambers. Equipment was laid out on the table and Arthur examined a small vial of the tainted water with a flower in it.

"Don't touch that." Gaius muttered, "I had this in the water for no more than a few hours."

"Where's the water from?" Uther questioned, glancing at his son with an irritated expression.

"He really needed to give you a break." Elyan shook his head at Uther.

Arthur looked at the ground and didn't reply.

"The pump where the people take their daily supply." Gaius replied.

Arthur's head snapped up with a concerned look "We have to stop the people from using it."

Gaius shook his head ruefully, "The city cannot survive without water for long."

"We have to find this sorcerer." Uther growled.

"I don't believe they are in Camelot." Arthur said calmly, trying to make sure he didn't anger Uther.

Uther glared at his son, a slightly manic gleam in his eye "Then extend the search to the villages!"

"We've started." Arthur attempted to calm his father, "But I can't search the entire kingdom."

"And I can't stand by and watch out people die." Uther replied darkly, leaving no room for an argument.

Arthur bowed his head and left.

"Sorry Arthur, I know that he is dead and that he is your father, but he was a terrible man." Merlin said, "Or at least he was towards you."

The scene changed to Merlin and Gwen in Morgana's chambers, Gwen was humming softly to herself as she gathered up Morgana's clothing.

Merlin smiled softly at Gwen "How's your father? Is he feeling better?"

"Yeah it's incredible, it's a miracle." Gwen replied practically vibrating with happiness.

"His skins clear, back to normal?" Merlin questioned.

"Yes." Gwen nodded.

"Subtle Merlin." Leon commented, "Once again, how did we never catch you or even notice things like this?" he gestured to 'past-Merlin'.

Merlin grinned and shrugged, "I don't know, the only people who ever noticed anything strange was Lancelot, and although she didn't know the truth, Gwen."

"Great!" Merlin beamed at her and turned to leave.

Gwen paused for a second, "You don't seem surprised."

"No. No." Merlin blushed slightly, starting to get flustered "It's a miracle."

"But how did you know he was well?" Gwen pressed.

"Er..." Merlin stalled, "Because your smiling?"

"You really were a terrible liar," Arthur observed.

"That's really weird." Gwen frowned, "Because I haven't told anyone, but you know. How could you know?"

Merlin deadpanned. "Yeah, alright." He held up his hands in surrender "I'll tell you, I'm psychic."

Gwen let out a small giggle, "No you're not."

"No you weren't." Gwen crossed her arms, "You had magic."

Merlin shot her a sheepish grin, "Close enough?"

"It's true."

Gwen sighed, "Alright, what am I thinking?"

Merlin looked her dead in the eye, "That I'm not psychic."

Gwen giggled again, "You're strange. I..I don't mean that in a nasty way. You're just funny, I like it."

"Awwh!" Gwaine let out a fake-squeal, "Gwen you were so cute and flustered. All because of that little crush."

"Gwaine." Arthur muttered as he clenched his fists, "That's my wife you're talking about."

"Erm.." Merlin looked unsure of how to respond to that "I'm pleased for you."

"Thank you."

Merlin frowned "What for?"

"Don't know." Gwen shrugged, "Just for asking."

Merlin gave her a soft smile, "I don't like seeing you upset." he paused and gestured to the door awkwardly. "I... er... have to go."

"..Sometimes it's painful to watch you two, you know that?" Gwaine muttered.

Merlin waved awkwardly and walked out of Morgana's chambers, leaving Gwen behind.

The scene changed to the forge, Tom was working in the forge whilst Arthur and the guards approached.

"The story is you were sick." Arthur called out.

Tom turned to face Arthur, "Not anymore!" He replied brightly.

"Oh, you're joking. I felt like death itself, not enough strength in me to stir the air." Tom replied.

"Then... what happened?" Arthur asked quietly, sharing a suspicious glance with the guard.

"Oh, I don't know. Suddenly it was gone. I'm fitter than I was before." Tom gestured to himself.

"That's remarkable." Arthur remarked, trying and failing to keep the skepticism from his tone. "Was anybody with you when all this happened?"

"Just my daughter, Gwen." Tom replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Arthur gives Tom a nod of thanks before looking at the guard and gesturing towards Tom's house. Tom turns back to his work whilst the guards search his house.

Arthur finds a glowing poultice under Tom's pillow and shows it to the guards, letting out a weary sigh he headed back towards the castle.

Gwen winced as she remembered what happened after this. Arthur and Leon both shot her a sympathetic look whilst Merlin gave her a soft smile.

"Well this isn't going to go well." Percival frowned.

Gwen hums as she carries away a vase full of dead flowers.

"Seize her." Arthur called out to the guards

"No." Gwen cried out slightly, struggling against the guards.

"Guinevere, I'm arresting you for crimes and contraventions of the laws of Camelot, that you did practice enchantments." Arthur kept his tone cold and refused to meet her shocked gaze.

Morgana entered with a soft smile on her face, she looked at the scene unfolding and took a protective step towards Gwen "Gwen?" She glared at Arthur.

"But what have I done? I haven't done anything! Help me, please!" Gwen started to get more hysterical as she realized what was going on.

"What are you doing?" Morgana called out to Arthur, confused by what was happening.

"I found a magic poultice in her house." Arthur replied calmly.

Morgana rolled her eyes, "Oh, that's ridiculous." her voice rising with her anger.

"Then how else do you explain her father's recovery?"

"Well, she's innocent! I know she's innocent." Morgana shouted, her expression gaining a stubborn edge.

"Why didn't you believe her?" Elyan muttered angrily, "You know Gwen! She wouldn't do anything like that!"

Arthur gestured for Elyan to calm down. "She was just a servant back then, so I didn't really know her and I couldn't turn a blind eye." He paused for a second and gestured to Merlin. "Even the nicest people can have magic Elyan."

"What can I do? I can't turn a blind eye!" Arthur yelled back, he walked out of the room with Gwen and the guards. Morgana watched them leave and scoffed at Arthur.

"She did used to care." Gwen mumbled almost to herself, "It's a shame... that everything happened."

Merlin nodded sadly. "Yeah it is."

Arthur and the guards dragged Gwen along the corridor, she was trying to get out of their grip whilst calling out hysterically "No, please. You've got to listen to me! Please, I haven't done anything wrong! You have to listen to me, please! I am innocent, I swear! Let me go! I swear to you!"

Gwen turned her head and saw Merlin approaching her, "Merlin! Merlin, please help me!" She begged. Her attention then turned to the guards. "Why won't you listen to me?!" Merlin started to walk towards Gwen when Gaius grabbed his arm and escorted him back into Gaius's chambers.

"Please listen to me!" Gwen called out as they left.

Once they were safely inside Gaius's chambers Gaius turned to Merlin and gave him a stern look "What have you done?"

"What?" Merlin said trying to play innocent.

"I warned you!" Gaius looked at Merlin and his anger disappeared "Oh, I understand. You thought you were doing good."

"I couldn't let her father die knowing I could cure him." Merlin replied.

"Didn't you think it might look a bit suspicious, the curing of one man?"

"Well then, all I have to do is...I'll cure everyone! No one will ever have to know it was magic." Merlin replied dramatically. He knew he was being childish but he had just wanted to save someone.

"It's too late! They think Gwen's a sorceress! They think she caused the disease!" Gaius muttered.

"But she didn't!" Merlin yelled.

Merlin paused for a second before rushing out of Gaius's chambers.

"Oh, and how are you going to prove that?!" Gaius muttered as Merlin stormed out.

Arthur entered the Council chambers, Uther as well as many guards and council members were gathered around. The guards followed behind Arthur and dragged a sobbing Gwen behind them.

Arthur looked at Gwen and gave her a soft smile. "Gwen. I am so sorry about that. I love you and I know that you would never do anything to hurt me or anyone."

"Please listen to me I have done nothing, please! I swear I haven't done anything!" Gwen looked around at the people who had gathered, begging someone to believe her.

The guards dropped her on the floor whilst Uther eyed her with disgust.

"Well done." Uther briefly nodded at Arthur.

Arthur let out a small scoff of disbelief. "The only time he complimented me was when I brought some poor girl to him so he could kill her."

"Why will no one believe me?! He got better, he just recovered. I didn't do anything!" Gwen protested hysterically.

Morgana entered and glared daggers at her father and Arthur.

"I believe you. Perhaps this is a disease that is not always fatal. Have you thought of that? Perhaps he recovered naturally." Morgana challenged, her voice rising steadily.

"And what of this poultice that was found?" Uther questioned, his voice gaining a smug edge when Morgana didn't make a move to reply.

"What poultice? I don't know anything about a poultice!" Gwen called out weakly.

"It was found in your house. Undo this enchantment. Put an end to this contagion." Uther ordered.

"I can't!"

"I will show you no mercy." Uther threatened, his eyes sparkling with anger.

Merlin scoffed quietly and glared at Uther. "As if you would have showed anyone with magic mercy." His voice was filled with hatred and the others all stiffened at Merlin's tone. It was still strange for them to see such a dark-side to the usually goofy, happy go-lucky Merlin they knew.

"Merlin, mate." Gwaine muttered softly, trying to calm his friend down.

Merlin snapped out of it at the sound of Gwaine's voice and flashed everyone his usual grin. "Sorry.."

Eleanor also had to contain her anger. She grabbed the first hand she could hold, which was Mordred's. The Druid knight could see the underlying anger in her blue eyes, and he gently squeezed her hand to help calm her down.

"I am not a witch. I don't know how to stop the illness!"

"If you will not undo your sorcery, you force my hand and I must find you guilty..."

"No one could force my father's hand." Arthur shook his head at the image, he loved his father and it pained him to be reminded of what his father did.

"But I told you, I..." Gwen began before she was interrupted by Uther's cold voice. "It is therefore my duty to pronounce judgment. And under the circumstance I have no choice but to sentence you to death."

Elyan took a protective step towards Gwen and glared at Uther.

"No." Gwen gasped.

"I can only hope that when you die, this evil plague dies with you." He declared with mock-sorrow.

"No! No!" Gwen cried out as she started to sob hysterically.

"Take her away." He muttered coldly, ignoring Gwen's cries.

The guards nodded at Uther and roughly grabbed Gwen's arms and dragged her out of the room.

"Please, no! I'm innocent! Please, please, no! Please help me! Please, I beg you! No!" She cried as she was dragged away. Morgana watched as her friend was torn out of the room.

As soon as everyone was out of the room, Morgana turned towards Uther, her voice rising with anger and her eyes sparkling dangerously. "I know Gwen, she's my maidservant, not an enchantress."

"Have you ever seen an enchantress? Believe me, they bear no sign, no mark. There is no sense of evil in the eye." Uther spoke to Morgana as if she was a small child and he was teaching her a lesson, which only made her angrier.

"I've 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!" She added the last part as an afterthought, and she smirked when she saw Uther's temper flare at the last part.

"Ironic." Merlin mused, "The girl who cursed Uther for being so cruel and hated him should be the one who would turn out just like him." He shook his head sadly. "She became the one person she hated."

Eleanor was still holding onto Mordred's hand, just not as tightly as before. "Is it possible she wouldn't be the sorceress she is now had she been told the truth?"

Merlin shrugged. "It's hard to tell."

Eleanor nodded. She was thankful that she didn't have to live in a Camelot where Morgana was still alive. She would've said something, but she couldn't risk saying anything about herself just yet.

"You have no right!"

"You have a right to cast a judgment on that girl!" Morgana returned.

"I have a responsibility to take care of this kingdom! I take no pleasure in this!" Uther yelled, his voice rising with Morgana's.

"But you're sentencing the wrong person!"

After watching their debate Arthur thought for a second before stepping forward "She's right, Father. You hear the word magic, you no longer listen." He reasoned.

"He's right." Merlin called out.

"You saw it for yourself. She used enchantments." He muttered.

"Yes, maybe. But to save her dying father, that doesn't make her guilty of creating a plague. One's the act of, of kindness, of love, the other of evil. I don't believe evil's in this girl's heart." Arthur tried to make his father see reason.

"I still don't." He gave her a soft smile.

"I have witnessed what witchcraft can do. I have suffered at its hand. I cannot take that chance. If there is the slightest doubt about this girl, she must die or the whole kingdom may perish."

"I understand that." Arthur began to talk again but was cut off.

"One day you may become King. Then you will understand. Such decisions must be made. There are dark forces that threaten this kingdom."

"Like you." Gwaine muttered.

"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 tried to make his father see sense.

"That's why you're the 'Once and future King' you're just, kind and fair." Merlin gave Arthur a sincere smile. "You want things to be just and fair and good. You're everything your father wasn't; you show mercy where he would show hate, you show kindness to those he would show contempt." He paused for a second sounding embarrassed at the speech he was giving Arthur. "It's why you are and are going to be one of the greatest kings the five kingdoms has ever known."

Arthur went red, unsure of how he was supposed to respond to that. Instead, he just gave Merlin a thankful nod.

"I fear you're right. She's played with fire, and sadly she must die by fire." Uther nodded thoughtfully.

Morgana let out a frustrated groan and left the council chambers. Arthur started to pace around the chambers trying to work out how to make Uther see sense.

The scene changed to Gaius's chambers where Merlin was pacing around "I thought I was doing good and that curing Gwen's father would help her. I thought I was saving a life. It seemed so simple."

"An easy solution is like a light in a storm, Merlin. Rush for it at your peril, for it may not always lead you to a safe harbour." Gaius intoned wisely.

"I bet that helped you." Gwaine muttered to Merlin with a grin. "Kind of like that Dragon guy."

"Kilgharrah, Gwaine." Merlin rolled his eyes, "He's called Kilgharrah."

"Merlin..." Gwaine gave Merlin an innocent grin that make everyone in the room suspicious. "You know after this? Do you think I could meet him? Or maybe ride him...?"

"No." Merlin smirked, "That probably would not be a very good idea... but I have gotten to ride him before, and it is amazing."

"Mean." Gwaine pouted

"I can see that now." Merlin muttered with an eye roll.

"How many times have I warned you about the responsibilities of being a warlock?" Gaius lectured.

"I must see her." Merlin ran out of the room, not even acknowledging Gaius's lecture.

Merlin headed down the stairs towards the dungeons, passing a weeping Morgana on his way.

Merlin saw Gwen's cell and ran towards her. "Gwen!"

Gwen tries to get to the cell door, but her chains don't stretch that far, her eyes are red and puffy from crying. "Thank you."

"What for?" Merlin tried to hide the panic in his voice.

"For coming to see me." She clarified with a weak smile.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." Gwen shook her head and smiled.

"Well..." Merlin winced.

"It's alright. Don't worry about me. There's no point crying about it. I mean... I mean, I'm not saying that you were going to cry about me. Obviously I don't think that." Gwen stammered nervously.

"Even when you're about to be executed, you can't hide your little wee crush." Gwaine watched the exchange with a grin, "Seriously though Gwen, you are probably feeling terrified and you're trying to reassure Merlin."

"Oh, Gwen. I can't have this happen." Merlin tried to keep his voice even.

"Please, one thing. You, you don't have to, but..." Gwen interrupted him, her voice taking on a sense of urgency.

"What?"

"Remember me." Her voice broke at the end.

"You're not going to die. I'm not going to let this happen." Merlin promised, he rushed off without a goodbye and headed up the wrought iron stairway.

Uther is standing at the center of the council chambers as he addresses the council.

"What if burning this witch doesn't stop the poison? How do I protect my people? My men have closed down the water pumps."

"But the emergency supply won't last for much longer. We have to find a way of cleansing the water of the disease." Gaius frowned.

"But how?" Uther questioned.

"Well..." Uther was interrupted as the doors burst open and Merlin ran into the council chambers.

"It was me! It was me who used magic to cure Gwen's father!" He declared. "Gwen is not the sorcerer. I am!"

Everyone groaned. Arthur's eyes widened. "Merlin!"

Merlin blushed and gave them all a sheepish grin. "Yes?"

Mordred shook his head. "I can't believe you would expose yourself in front of Uther's court!"

Merlin shrugged. "I wasn't about to let Gwen die because of my actions."

"Still... you shouldn't have done that," Lancelot lamented.

Gaius stood up and gave Merlin a warning glance. "Merlin! Are you mad?"

"Yes!" Arthur answered quite quickly.

"I cannot let her die for me." He inclined his head towards Uther. "I place myself at your mercy."

"He doesn't know what he's talking about." Gaius tried to cover for him.

"I do." Merlin muttered.

Uther watched Merlin for a few seconds before gesturing to the guards. "Then arrest him."

"Father, please! I can't allow this! This is madness! There's no way Merlin is a sorcerer." Arthur scoffed.

"Yeah..." Lancelot grinned. "No way at all... impossible... that would never happen." He muttered sarcastically.

"It's impossible." Merlin joined in, "Almost as impossible as Arthur growing ears and a tail... wait.." he trailed off.

"Did you not hear him?" Uther frowned.

"Yes." Arthur muttered.

"He admitted it."

"He saved my life, remember?" Arthur reminded him.

"Why should he fabricate such a story?"

"As Gaius said, he's got a... grave mental disease." Arthur said, sharing an uncertain look with Gaius.

"Thanks for that by the way..." Merlin huffed, "Because of that Uther spent the rest of his years thinking I had a mental disease."

"Really?" Uther asked, starting to believe the story.

"He's in love." Arthur blurted out.

"What?!" Merlin exclaimed, shooting Arthur an incredulous glance.

"With Gwen." He continued, gratefull that Uther seemed to be buying it.

"Oh...how the tables have turned." Percival shook his head fondly.

Uther paused and grinned.

"I am not." Merlin protested, bewildered as to how no one believed him when he was mutually telling the truth.

"I was actually being honest and no one believed me."

"Yes, you are." Arthur growled, trying to get Merlin to shut up.

"No way!" Merlin protested.

"I saw yesterday with that flower she'd given you." Arthur reminded him.

"I'm not in love with her." Merlin scoffed.

Arthur put his arm around Merlin, his tone joking but Merlin could hear the hard edge to it "It's all right, You can admit it."

"I don't even think of her like that!" Merlin yelled.

"Perhaps she cast a spell on you." Uther deadpanned.

Arthur shot his father a worried glance before Uther started to snicker. Suddenly, other council members joined in whilst Arthur let out a sigh of relief.

"Merlin is a wonder, but the wonder is that he's such an idiot. There's no way he's a sorcerer." Arthur reassured his father.

Arthur groaned and turned red as the others started to snicker.

Merlin watched Arthur with a smug expression not even trying to hide the grin on his face, "There's no way I'm a what, Arthur?"

Arthur smirked. "You heard me the first time."

"Although, in a sense, you are right. I'm not a sorcerer; I'm a warlock," Merlin reminded.

Gwaine grinned and let out a burst of laughter whilst Arthur looked like he wanted to sink into the ground.

The scene changed to Gaius's chambers where Merlin was once again pacing the room. "Arthur's the idiot."

"You've got that right." Gwaine smirked.

"No. He was right to do what he did. And, thankfully, he saved you from your own stupidity." Gaius muttered.

"What else could I do? It's my fault Gwen's going to die." Merlin muttered.

"Yes, but you don't prove her innocence by offering to jump into the flames. You do it by finding out what's causing the disease!" Gaius declared, clearly frustrated.

"Well, whatever it is, one thing's for sure: Arthur isn't going to find it. He thinks he is so sharp! But even when I told him I was a sorcerer, he still couldn't see it." Merlin failed to hide his amusement at that fact.

"Sometimes they're pretty hard to spot."

"Well, maybe I should go around wearing a pointy hat." Merlin muttered dramatically.

"Well... I think maybe we can still do that." Arthur grinned "I'm imagining a whole new servants uniform."

"Bring a pointy hat near me, and it might just spontaneously combust." Merlin deadpanned.

"I don't think you'll find one big enough." Gaius shook his head fondly, "Anyway, forget that. If we're going to save Gwen, we have to find out what's contaminating the water." Gaius gestured to the bucket next to Merlin.

The scene changed to Gaius and Merlin at the underground entrance to the water supply. Nimueh was watching them from her stone basin.

"The water from here supplies the whole town. Take a sample." He pointed to the water, Merlin nodded and grabbed a bottle, scooping some of the water into it.

Gaius watched him and when he seemed satisfied he nodded. "Let's take it back and examine it."

Suddenly the Afanc reared out of the water and Merlin and Gaius both jumped back. Afterwards, the creature sunk back into the water.

"What the hell was that?" Merlin yelled, visibly shaken.

"I agree!" Gwaine muttered, "What the bloody hell was that Merlin?"

"Afanc." Merlin replied, not explaining any further.

Gaius eyed the water warily and pulled Merlin's arm as guided the young warlock out of the water supply.

The scene changed to Gaius's chambers, Merlin was looking into a bucket of water whilst Gaius scanned through a book.

"Here. It was an Afanc." Gaius pointed to a page in the book.

"An...a what?" Merlin muttered clearly confused.

"A beast born of clay, and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerer. Now we have to find a way to defeat it. But where?" Gaius explained before hurrying towards his bookshelf and tried to find the right one.

"So that witch... Nimueh?" Gwen frowned. "She made it?"

"Yup." Merlin muttered.

"That could take days. Gwen'll be dead by then." Merlin groaned.

"Have you got a better idea?" Gaius replied.

Merlin looked out of the window and saw a pyre being built, an image of Gwen crying in the dungeons flashed in his mind. He frowned and closed his eyes before softly mumbling. "Gwen? I'm going to get you out. I will."

The scene changed to the dragon cave, Merlin called out to the darkness. "Hello?"

Lancelot chuckled. "You decided to visit an old friend."

Kilgharrah appeared. "Hello." He flew down to the rock in front of the young warlock. "The great warlock returns, as I knew he would."

"I need to know how to defeat an Afanc."

"Yes, I suppose you do." Kilgharrah sounded almost amused.

"Will you help me?" Merlin rolled his eyes.

"Trust the elements that are at your command."

"Bloody dragon can never give me a straight answer." Merlin grumbled.

"Elements? But what is it I have to do?" Merlin questioned.

"You cannot do this alone. You are but one side of a coin. Arthur is the other."

"What's with the coin business?" Arthur asked.

Merlin shrugged "I don't know; it's just how he described you to me. We were both two halves of a coin."

"I- I don't understand. Just tell me what it is I have to do." Merlin cried out, clearly frustrated.

Kilgharrah flew off.

"No! Please, help me!"

Kilgharrah's voice rang out in the darkness. "I have." his laugh echoed around the cave.

"Oh, yeah, right. Thanks." Merlin rolled his eyes and failed to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

"I can't believe you did anything if that was how it helped you." Arthur muttered.

"That was Kilgharrah for you." Merlin muttered bitterly, "He never gave me a straight answer."

"Will he ever?" Eleanor questioned.

Merlin laughed. "If he did, I'd think something was wrong."

The scene changed to Arthur and Uther in the council chambers. "Have you found anything more?"

"I've tried. I can keep looking."

Uther shook his head. "People are dying, we can't delay any longer. We must kill the witch. Bring her execution forward to tonight."

Arthur shook his head. "He thought he was doing the right thing."

"He did." Merlin replied. "But he tried to do the right thing the wrong way."

Arthur bowed his head and exited.

The scene changed to Gaius's chambers where Merlin was frantically searching through some books.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Gaius questioned.

"Looking for a book." He replied shortly.

"Well duh!" Gwaine called out.

"You going to tell me which one?" Gaius asked patiently.

"A book on elements." Merlin mumbled, still searching the shelves.

"Elements?" Gaius waited for Merlin to elaborate further.

"Yes. Which one would I find them in?" Merlin muttered.

"Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process." Gaius mused.

"But how would they help me kill the Afanc?" Merlin frowned.

"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?" Merlin asked.

"Well, perhaps they will destroy it. You want fire. Wind and fire. How did you find this out?" Gaius frowned, unsure of how Merlin had worked this out.

"Erm...I just knew, you know? One of my powers." Merlin mumbled unconvincingly.

"What else do your powers tell you?" Gaius asked in astonishment.

"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously." He added the last part with a small smirk.

"And who's the other side?"

"I think that might be Arthur." Merlin mumbled. Gaius was about to say something else but Morgana burst into his chambers. "They're bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Gwen's innocence."

"We're trying." Gaius mumbled.

"Please, just tell me what I can do to help." She told them with a sincere smile.

"We need Arthur." Merlin explained.

"Arthur?" Morgana frowned.

"There's a monster, an Afanc, in the water supply. That's what's causing the plague." He clarified.

"Well, we must tell Uther." She called out.

"The Afanc's a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save Gwen. He'd just blame her for conjuring it." Gaius explained.

"So, what are we to do?"

"We need to destroy it. Then the plague will stop and Uther may see sense." Merlin reasoned.

Morgana nodded, "And that's why you need Arthur."

"He's our best chance. But he won't want to disobey the king." Merlin mumbled.

"Leave that to me." She smirked and exited the chambers. Merlin shrugged and accepted the keys to the water supply tunnels.

Arthur entered his chambers and frowned when he saw Morgana waiting in them for him.

"You alright? Sorry about all this" He gestured sheepishly to the mess. "Merlin's not been in today."

Morgana tutted softly "Poor Merlin."

"Yeah."

"To offer to give up his life to save Gwen's. I certainly can't imagine any man loving me so much." She sighed wistfully.

"No, I certainly can't imagine that either." He muttered dryly.

Morgana smirked "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." He shrugged.

"Sadly the age of gallantry seems to be dead. 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 able to stand up for what is right." Morgana murmured. Arthur smirked at her obvious manipulation.

Gwaine let out a low whistle. "Well she was good."

"What do you want me to do?" Arthur questioned.

Morgana and Arthur walked to the Square where Merlin met them. Arthur drew his sword as they opened the tunnel door and lit a torch before they entered the darkness.

"You'd better be right about this, Merlin." Arthur muttered.

"I'm always right!" Merlin declared dramatically.

A low growl comes from the water supply. Morgana jumped back and gasped at the noise.

"You should stay here." Arthur eyed her warily.

"I'm coming with you." She muttered stubbornly.

"No."

"Scared I'll show you up?" She retorted with a teasing smirk.

"Father will slam us both in chains if he knew I'd endangered you." Arthur reasoned.

"Well good thing he doesn't know about it then."

"I'm telling you, Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt."

"You could you... if you don't get out of my way." She threatened.

Merlin watched the exchange with a grin, he was clearly amused. Arthur groaned and rolled his eyes at Morgana's stubbornness.

"How are we going to find it?" Morgana turned to Merlin.

"I just hope we do before it finds us." Merlin muttered.

Arthur spins around and puts a hand out towards Merlin and Morgana. "Stop."

"What?"

Arthur shook his head, but it sounded like he was trying to reassure Merlin and Morgana "It's just a shadow."

"Well done princess..." Gwaine mumbled with an eye roll.

As they keep moving, the Afanc starts to creep out of the shadows behind them, after a few more seconds they make it to the water supply.

"Spread out." Arthur called out and they all started to split up.

A growl echoes around the cave, and the Afanc swiped at Arthur from behind then disappears. Morgana rushes over to help him.

"Saved by a girl...again." Gwaine sighed dramatically.

"Heh." Arthur muttered, "You're right, after all I was saved by Merlin wasn't I?"

"What is it? Are you alright?" She asked him.

"Yeah." He tried to reassure her.

"Did you see it?" Merlin pressed.

"Yes." He replied shortly.

"What did it look like?" Merlin asked.

"It-it's quick." He said, sounding anxious.

The Afanc came up in front of Morgana, she screamed. Arthur goes for it, but it disappears again.

"Where is it?"

"I think it's gone this way!" Merlin gestures to another part of the cave, they run towards there.

The Afanc crept slowly out around corner into full view. Arthur swings at it and loses his sword. It also swiped away Morgana's torch. Arthur circles it with his torch.

The knights started to gather round, gaining a bit more interest as they watched the fight.

"Arthur, use the torch!" Merlin called out.

Arthur started to swing the torch around, aiming for the Anfac.

"Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan." Merlin's eyes flared gold as his spell blew the flames towards the Afanc, incinerating it.

"Go Merlin!" Gwaine cheered, "And that is why every kingdom needs a secret warlock."

"What did you say, anyways?" Arthur questioned.

"You are air in the fire's heat but defeat the hostile one." Merlin translated.

Nimueh watched in her stone basin.

"Merlin. Mah!" She yelled and splashed the water in anger.

"Well she isn't very happy." Leon pointed out.

Uther laughed with his advisors as he examined the parchments, "It's very good."

"Good news, Sire. There are no new deaths, and those that are sick are recovering." Gaius told him with a smile, everyone was clearly relieved at the news.

"Good. Strange, I've never heard of an Afanc before." He frowned.

"It's conjured from clay by powerful magic. The type that can only be invoked by an ancient sorcerer. One that has the power to mirror the spirit of life. I found this at the water source." Gaius hands Uther the cracked egg shell.

"It bears the mark of Nimueh. We must be vigilant, Sire." Gaius told him solemnly.

"Will I never be rid of her?" Uther sighed, sounding like a broken man.

"It sounds like he knew her." Lancelot commented.

Merlin bit on his lip to refrain from saying anything else. The truth would be revealed soon about Uther's connection to Nimueh.

"Sire." Gaius started to say but he was interrupted by Uther.

"Leave me!"

Everyone bowed their heads and exited. Uther sat on the throne and ran a hand through his hair warily.

The scene changed to the dungeons. The guards opened Gwen's cell where Morgana, Tom and Merlin were waiting to greet her.

Gwen ran towards her father and hugged him. "Dad!"

"Oh, my little child!"

Gwen reached to grasp Morgana's hand. "Thank you!"

"Don't thank me. It was more Merlin." Morgana told her.

"Really?" Gwen asked disbelievingly.

"He's the real hero here."

Gwen mumbled looking at Merlin before whispering softly. "I don't know what to say."

"I didn't do anything." Merlin told her humbly.

"I'm- I'm grateful to you all. Come on, Gwen." Tom thanked Morgana and Merlin before he and Gwen turned to leave.

They walked out of the dungeons. Once they had left, Morgana took a step closer to Merlin.

"Merlin. I wanted you to know, your secret's safe with me." She smiled at him reassuringly.

"I thought you said she didn't know!" Arthur accused.

Merlin groaned "She didn't... just watch."

"What?" Merlin asked, clearly startled, "My secret?" Merlin gulped.

Morgana rolled her eyes and smiled at him. "Merlin, don't pretend. I know what you did."

"You do?"

"I saw it with my own eyes." She nodded.

"You did?"

"I understand why you don't anyone to know." Morgana told him sympathetically.

"Well, obviously."

"But I won't tell anyone. You don't mind me talking to you about it?"

"Er...no. I- I, it's, er...you have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden." Merlin stumbled over his words, but he was obviously relieved.

"Well, you can continue to deny it, but I think Gwen's a very lucky woman." She smirked.

Eleanor giggled at the misconception. "She thought you were in love with Gwen."

Merlin nodded. "Apparently everyone thought I was in love with Gwen," he said and looked at Arthur pointedly.

Arthur smiled. "At least my fib saved you from being beheaded."

"Gwen?" Merlin frowned.

Morgana put a finger to his lips. "It's our secret." She smirked and left the dungeons.

Merlin sighed.

In the physician's chambers, Gaius and Merlin sat down to eat. Merlin eyed his fish warily. "This fish didn't come from the water, did it?" Merlin questioned Gaius.

Gaius shook his head at his ward. "Well, where else is it going to come from? The water's fine now. That's not your worry. This is the work of a very powerful sorcerer. I only hope you didn't come to her attention."

Merlin chuckled somewhat dryly. "Oh, I most certainly did come to her attention."

"Doubt it. Well, no one else seems to appreciate my skills. I just want someone to see me for who I am." He muttered bitterly.

"One day, Merlin. One day." He reassured his ward.

"One day what?"

"One day people won't believe what an idiot you were." Gaius gave Merlin a fond smile.

"And that day has come." Arthur called out with a grin. "You're even more of an idiot that I had thought."

"Thanks." Merlin said sarcastically, but shot the king a heartfelt smile.

Merlin and Gaius share a toast whilst Nimueh watched from her stone basin.

"Merlin, you will pay for this." She vowed.

The memory ended, and Eleanor tore herself away from Mordred. She placed the memory back on the shelf where she had found it. She then faced the others.

"This memory was titled The Mark of Nimueh. It's very fitting, actually."

Gwen nodded. "Definitely fitting."

There were silent agreements with the Queen.

"Would you all like to see the next memory?" Eleanor asked tentatively.

There was a collective nod from everyone as an answer for Eleanor's question.

Eleanor selected the fourth memory on the shelf, and her eyes flashed gold. The memory traveled from her hands to the wall of the cabin, ready to play itself for everyone to see.

~ ~ ~

11996 words

Next Update:  The Poisoned Chalice

Published:  2/01/2021

*Since I didn't update as much as I wanted to yesterday, I am posting The Poisoned Chalice tonight.*