So, this is kind of my challenge to myself. I'm writing one fanfiction for each episode of Merlin. Some are one-shots, some are longer stories. I ran out of ideas for fanfictions so this is how I'm dealing with that. If anyone has any prompts for me, feel free to leave it in a review and if I write it after I finish writing these 65 stories, I'll dedicate it to you… so, thanks. And I give you Season 2 Episode 5.
Summary: After Gaius's failed attempt to tell Uther that his "new lady friend" is a troll, Merlin and Gaius concoct some… interesting plans to reveal Lady Catrina for what she is. Eventually Merthur.
Story 18: I Told You So
Chapter 1: Mirror Mirror
"Please don't say anything, Merlin," Gaius warned. He was not in the mood to listen to Merlin's taunting.
"I wasn't going to say anything," Merlin hastily lied.
"You were going to say, 'I told you so.'," Gaius pointed out. He knew Merlin far too well to believe that he wasn't going to rub it in.
"OK. I was. But I… I'm not going to now," Merlin promised.
"Uther didn't take to it well," Gaius reluctantly admitted.
"Augh, you see? I told you… sorry," Merlin said apologetically. He hadn't meant to say almost say 'I told you so.'
"But I know him, Merlin. He's a proud man, but he's not stupid. He will reflect on what I said, I'm sure he will," Gaius said uncertainly. He hardly believed it himself, he certainly hadn't been able to convince Merlin.
"And if he doesn't?" Merlin asked.
"We'll think of something," Gaius said determinedly.
"What else can we do? Uther definitely won't see reason and I've tried speaking to Arthur about it. He thinks I'm comforting him or something," Merlin said shaking his head.
"I'm not sure," Gaius replied. He frowned as he thought about their predicament.
"We could try to expose her," Merlin suggested. "Magic doesn't work with mirrors. Her true form will be shown. If we can get Uther and her to look into a mirror, he would have to realize what she was."
"Merlin, sometimes I think you are a genius," Gaius said with a small smile.
Merlin grinned. "Thanks," he said. "Do you have a mirror? I can use my magic to make it more intricately decorated and then you can gift it to Uther as an apology for trying to tell him that his lady friend is a troll."
"And if that doesn't work?" Gaius asked.
"I'll duplicate mirrors and hang them up everywhere I can think of," Merlin said with a shrug.
Gaius rolled his eyes. He didn't think Merlin was being serious, but they could come up with another plan if this doesn't work. He leafed through a draw under the shelves that held his apothecary materials until he found what he was looking for. It was just a slate of a mirror. Gaius used it when he was a boy when he was learning scrying spells. He handed it to Merlin.
Merlin took it and went to his chambers. He had to make a plain sleet of mirror fitting for a king. He had a lot of work to do.
Hours passed as Merlin used several glamorizing spells to make the mirror something that the king wouldn't be ashamed to use. First, he created a gold border. He made sure it was shiny so it looked like it was professionally forged. Then he manipulated the gold so that a design of a vine indented itself in the gold. Finally he frosted the corners of the mirror to give it a wintery look.
Glamorizing spells weren't particularly difficult, they were just time consuming. Merlin had to concentrate through every step or else the spell would not do what he wanted it to.
When Merlin had finished, he looked back proudly. This was definitely fit for a king. He brought it back out to Gaius who appraised it. "Very good Merlin," Gaius said impressed.
Gaius stood up and grabbed a brown burlap bag to wrap the mirror in. He didn't want anyone to see what he was carrying. Gaius went to go see the king. In his head, he tried to figure out what to say to Uther when he saw him. He had to be convincing if they wanted this to work.
Gaius went to the dining hall. It was around the time when Uther would be having supper. Gaius hesitantly entered the dining hall. Uther was sitting at the table, but was not eating yet. "My lord," Gaius called softly.
Uther turned to face Gaius, his face a blank mask. "Gaius," Uther acknowledged curtly.
"My lord, I wished to extend my most grievous apologies," Gaius offered with a small bow.
"You may speak," Uther said with a nod.
"I realize that the concerns I brought to you before may not have been perceived in the friendliest way. I was out of line and I wanted to express how sorry I am for how malicious my words may have sounded. I also want to assure you that it was not my intention to attack the Lady Catrina or imply anything about your feelings for her. It will not happen again," Gaius assured. Gaius thought his words sounded ridiculous, but he knew that they would appease Uther.
"I appreciate you coming to me to with that apology," Uther accepted. "I understand that you were just concerned."
Gaius nodded. "To show how much I regret what I said, I wanted to gift you and the Lady Catrina with this," Gaius said, handing Uther the mirror still covered in the bag.
Uther took it confused. As he pulled the bag off the mirror, his expression changed from confusion to awe. "It is beautiful. I'm sure the Lady Catrina will appreciate it," Uther said with a smile.
As if she heard her name, Catrina entered the dining hall at that moment. "My lady," Gaius said with a bow.
"Gaius," Catrina greeted, nodding her head.
"My lady," Uther said affectionately. "Gaius has gifted us with this." Uther held up the mirror.
Lady Catrina carefully kept herself out of the way of the mirror. "It's lovely Gaius," she told him.
"You must look into it. I was guaranteed it will reflect the clearest image possible," Gaius insisted.
"I must decline. I have been trying to avoid mirrors lately. Reminds me too much of what I've lost," Catrina sighed sadly. Gaius frowned. He had to admit. The troll spun a lie with ease. She was very convincing.
"Of course," Uther said, immediately covering the mirror. He grabbed Catrina's hand and squeezed it gently.
Gaius internally groaned. He hoped Merlin was working on a plan B. "I must get back to my patients," Gaius said with a quick bow. He left in a hurry.
When he got back to his chambers, Merlin looked up at him expectantly. Gaius shook his head. It hadn't worked.
Merlin got a determined look on his face and disappeared into his chambers.
Gaius had difficulty focusing on the remedies he had to prepare that night. He didn't know how to help Uther and it was distracting him from his work.
The next morning when Gaius woke up, he noticed mirrors. There weren't many, not enough to arouse suspicion, but enough that it would be difficult to travel from place to place without looking in a mirror. He didn't need to ask to know that that would be Merlin's doing. He honestly hadn't believed Merlin when he said that he was going to hang up mirrors all around the castle. In retrospect he should have known better. He had to admit it was subtle, but genius.
As the days passed, Gaius kept an eye on Uther and Catrina, but Catrina seemed to have an uncanny ability to avoid the mirrors.
Every day, more mirrors popped up around the castle. It was really starting to get ridiculous. Gaius always felt like he was surrounded by people, even when he was alone. At any moment, walking through a hallway, Gaius could see his reflection on at least four mirrors. He wasn't sure how Catrina was dodging them.
Eventually it had to stop. When Uther asked Gaius if he had noticed that there are a particularly large amount of mirrors around the castle, Gaius knew they had to think of something else to reveal Catrina for what she was.