The Curse of Cornelius Sigan
"Well done my boy!" exclaimed Gauis, as he embraced the grinning Merlin in a hug. Merlin let go and looked at Gauis with a frown "what are you doing out here, you could have been hurt!" he exclaimed. "I heard the noise stop, I wanted to make sure you were alright" Gauis replied.
Merlin was touched and smiled back at him, "thank you, Gauis."
He glanced over at Arthur who was still unconscious on the ground, "we have to get him inside, he's been hurt" Merlin said urgently. Together they picked him up and carried him into the castle. They walked with him into the infirmary and laid him on a bed. "Arthur!" cried the King, running over, "is he alright Gauis?" he demanded. "Please, Sire, let me examine him" Gauis replied. The King nodded and stepped back, nervously watching as Gauis looked over his son. "He is fine Sire, he will come round soon enough." Uther breathed a sigh of relief and squeezed Gauis on the shoulder "thank you Gauis" he said. Uther turned away as one of the knights asked to speak with him. Gauis moved on to check on his next patient. Merlin looked down at Arthur whose eyes fluttered open.
"Merlin?" he asked groggily. He frowned, "how did you get out?" Merlin hesitated briefly, "one of those creatures ripped the door off, I wasn't going to hang around." Arthur frowned at him, "no I suppose not" Arthur said as he slowly sat up.
"Ah, Arthur you are awake" said Gauis, coming over to give him another check over. Uther heard this and hurried over, "Arthur! Are you alright?" he exclaimed. "I am fine father" Arthur replied, frowning as he touched his sore head, "what happened?"
"Yes, what happened?" Uther demanded, rounding on Gauis and Merlin. Merlin looked nervous and opened and closed his mouth a few times before Gauis started to speak. "It was a servant by the name of Cedric my Lord, he stole the jewel from Sigan's tomb and was possessed by the soul within."
"Cedric..." said Arthur quietly. He looked over at Merlin who caught his eye briefly before they both looked away. Uther frowned, "how can you be sure?"
Gauis paused and glanced across at Merlin, who still looked nervous. "Merlin and I heard the noise from the creatures stop; we went outside to see if there were any injured people we could bring back inside. We saw Cedric standing in the square, his eyes were black Sire and he spoke with a voice that was not his own. He was distracted when he saw us, and luckily one of the creatures he had called to life attacked him. He was killed before he could react and as he died his soul was forced back into the jewel." He nudged Merlin who held the jewel out to show Uther.
Uther grabbed it with a frown, and Gauis continued. "Merlin then noticed Arthur on the ground, and we then brought him inside."
Uther nodded his thanks, "and what of the creatures?" he asked. "Gone, Sire" replied Gauis, "they ceased to exist when Sigan's soul entered the jewel again."
Uther nodded again before holding up the jewel. "This is the sorcerer's soul? You are certain of it?"
Gauis nodded, "Yes my Lord, the tomb must be resealed" he said solemnly.
Uther nodded, "Very well, I will see to it immediately" he said, and with that he turned to speak with his knights to arrange it.
"We need to bring the injured back inside" said Arthur, groaning as he tried to stand. "No Sire, you must rest." Said Gauis firmly.
"I'll go" volunteered Merlin.
Arthur frowned at him and then relented, "very well" he said with a nod.
"Sir Leon" Arthur called to the knight standing nearby, "take ten men and accompany Merlin, we need to bring the injured in for treatment." Sir Leon bowed, "yes my Lord" he said before nodding at Merlin. Merlin picked up the medicine back beside him and followed Leon from the room.