A/N I'm really not well today so have stayed home. This just popped into my head. It's set around the beginning of Season 2. What can I say? Gwen's characterisation just annoys the hell out of me sometimes.
Spell
"Hwurfulan forgiefa," intoned the sorcerer, looking through the window and into the maidservant's house. His chosen victim was sitting sewing alone by candlelight.
He'd watched them all for several weeks now: the Prince he longed to assassinate to revenge himself on Uther; the hidden sorcerer who protected him; the headstrong Ward with the seer's gift; the pretty maid that Arthur had secret affection for.
He needed to distract them somehow, to turn their minds away from their own safety and to draw them into his web. He developed the perfect plan. Gwen was their linchpin, the nail that held the pieces together. Morgana's maid, Merlin's friend, Arthur's secret love. Without her, they would fly apart and Arthur would be vulnerable.
He would enchant Gwen and then 'arrive' in Camelot with a new 'non-magical cure for magic'. Uther would welcome him and, when the four friends were at their wit's end with being unable to help Gwen, they would seek his help.
Before anyone knew it, Arthur would be under his control.
"My revenge is nigh, Uther," he cackled as he cast the spell. Gwen stopped sewing for a moment and looked slightly confused. Then she picked up the dress she was embroidering and went back to work.
The sorcerer grinned and melted away into the darkness. He almost could not wait for morning to see the sparks fly.
It was a week later and it seemed that he, not them, was the one at their wit's ends. Why had they not come to him for help? Why did they seem so unconcerned?
Perhaps it was Merlin, he thought, perhaps he found a cure?
He found himself creeping around Camelot again, observing the four. No, the spell was working. Gwen was obviously enchanted and yet the other three seemed completely unaware.
What was this? Perhaps another sorcerer had put a spell on them so that they did not notice witchcraft anymore?
He quietly said the spell to reveal the use of magic and found only a small spark from Morgana's dream the night before and some pointless domestic tasks Merlin had been cheating on (again). He often wondered how the idiot hadn't been discovered before his. He did magic in front of everybody all the time.
"Prince Arthur, my liege," he greeted the Prince and stepped out into his path. He bowed low then straightened up to address him.
"If it please you, My Lord, you may not have heard of me. I am a travelling physician who has discovered an amazing non-magical cure for magic spells. I was wondering if you had need of me?"
"No," replied Arthur bluntly and looked to his companions. Merlin shook his head adamantly for obvious reasons and Morgana look vaguely terrified of the notion. Gwen just stood there looking adoringly at Arthur.
"Are you sure, Sire? I think I feel the presence of magic somewhere nearby? Mayhap one of your friends here is acting unusually?"
"My friends are behaving much as they always have, sir, and I thank you not to peddle your wares so aggressively in the street. Now, I bid you good day."
"I know I'm just a servant, sire, but I do admire it when you speak with such conviction," the sorcerer heard Gwen say as they walked off.
"And Merlin, you're looking very handsome today. I really do prefer nice, ordinary men like you to these rough-tough-save-the-world-type-of-men.
"I wonder when Lancelot's coming back to Camelot. I miss him so much. I really have never felt that way about anybody. Except you, of course, Sire. But our love is so forbidden. Maybe it would be best to be with somebody like Merlin... but then, Lancelot is truly the embodiment of Knightly virtues... maybe if I kissed you all again..."
The sorcerer looked at their retreating backs and regretfully admitted defeat. How could they not notice she was enchanted? He sighed. Maybe the 'fickle love' spell wasn't the best choice.
He looked at Merlin and Arthur walking side by side companionably and gave them a thoughtful look.
Maybe the 'homoerotic subtext' spell? They'd definitely notice that...