Disclaimer: There is nothing in this world that would make me happier than owning Merlin but I don't so shut up and stop making me point it out!

A/N: So yeah, I've finished Over Time and couldn't wait to get my teeth into another Merlin fic. This is actually an idea I tried to make an original fic around three, maybe four years ago but it never worked and I found it on my hard-drive a few weeks back and it just seemed to click. In terms of when it is set, this is between seasons three and four but there is no Agravaine because he's slimy and doesn't work with the storyline at all. Believe me I've tried but it's just wouldn't work. For those who are curious, and maybe even those who aren't, I intend to continue sending chapter previews to anyone who reviews as well as continue posting them on my facebook page (facebook[dot]com/lady[dot]harker). Please let me know what you think by leaving a review and I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. l-h.

Upon Reflection

Chapter One: The Mirror Snare

"Are you sure it'll be safe in this room of yours?"

Arthur wore a strained smile as he turned to the woman he was leading towards the empty rooms that had once belonged to a woman he had once considered his sister.

Normally the door was locked, forgotten and forbidden to absolutely anyone and everyone who might get curious as to looking inside, not that anyone really did. Even the passing corridor was usually clear, never used unless absolutely necessary. Even the few who did walk by would avoid even looking at the door as though the evil that had consumed the heart of the girl who had once resided there would crawl into them as well.

"I assure you, Lady Eleina, nobody enters this room if they can help it."

Due to months with no one entering or residing in, the air within Morgana's rooms had become stale and there was a great layer of dust that was disturbed as Arthur pushed the door inwards for the first time in what felt like far too long.

Drawing back, he allowed the lady to enter, her deep blue dress slightly flicking in the wind she created as she hastened past, arms greedily reaching out to trail across the great grey cloth that hung from some great hidden piece that her guards had brought in at Arthur's instruction.

"Might I enquire what is beneath the cloth?"

"It is one of the few things that remain of my family." Her fingers gently gripped some of the cloth just above her head before clutching at the small creases the gesture made and slowly brushing her fingers down its length. Her eyes flashed with a love and admiration that Arthur knew one could only hold for something of great sentimental value. "I was promised it would one day lift me to my rightful place." Stepping back, she kept her fingertips lightly brushing the cloth and smiled. "And that day is soon."

Arthur made no comment on her claim, although he truly believed it to be nothing more than a fairy tale. Most likely it had been told to her as a child to give her hopes and dreams for her endless possible futures or maybe when she was a few years older and all but forced to give up the dreams that so many young people took for granted.

A gentle, heartfelt smile, flawless porcelain skin and a powerful stride that shook the length of her naturally wavy light brown hair as she walked; Lady Eleina was every bit the widow of a Knight of Mercia and following her husband's death, she had continued to carry out the expected duties of any lady of her realm. More often than not she would travel as some sort of ambassador of the kingdom, representing the King, his people and their interests in any one of the neighbouring realms. Although, if that was the reason she was here now, it was unclear.

Her last visit had been with her then-alive husband, around two maybe three years before Merlin had arrived in Camelot and Arthur was still a teenager, a prince-in-the-making if you will. There had been one thing about her that had stuck in his mind, more than anything else of the curious young woman she'd been back then and that was the vast difference in age between herself and her husband. Of course it was considered nothing short of rude to actually ask her age, but he knew she wasn't too much older than himself while her husband was closer to that of his father's with more than a few greying hairs showing through.

Their marriage had been one of convenience, her family having done something or other to displease their King and the price to show their loyalty was to promise their young daughter to one of his knights. When Arthur had asked her, she had confessed her initial reluctance but she had taken well to the life of a noble, even if she hadn't managed to bear him any children. The Knight had passed not two years later.

It was two weeks before this current visit, when word reached Camelot that the Lady was due to return, that Arthur had relayed all that he remembered and almost all he'd come to know to his manservant, Merlin, emphasising that unless she expressly asked the boy's opinion or some such thing, he was to remain silent in her presence. Without exception.

Needless to say, Merlin had questioned the reasoning behind this order but Arthur had merely glared at him, deciding against revealing the great many rumours that had spread about the Lady's temperament since the death of her husband. None of them were particularly pleasant. It would just be better for them both to watch their tongues in her presence and pray that the rumours were just that. Rumours.

"It must be of great value to you."

She smiled, the glint of sunlight on her teeth seeming almost predatorial but not lasting long enough for the Prince to pick up on it. "Oh, more than you know." Crossing to the far side, the one nearest the window, she gripped the cloth tightly in her fingers and playfully pulled at it. "Care to have a look?"

Arthur smiled at seeing her so very happy considering how sombre and dour she had been the last time the two of them had met. "I would be honoured." Her grin widened and with a gentle tug she pulled the dull cloth back to reveal the Lady's most treasured prize, something that she held above all things.

A vast mirror, around eight feet tall and three feet across was leant back against the side of the empty bed, the grey cloth still covering half of the still, crystal face and covering half the frame. Of what he could see, the frame itself was an ornate design, a series of interlocking woodland vines that went all the way round the mirror while at regular intervals there were small solid colourless flowers and acorns, sticking forward waiting to catch the loose clothing of any unsuspecting passer-by. It seemed to glimmer and shine in the glittering golden sunlight that poured through the nearby window, showing off the silvery-grey metal that the frame was made from.

Eleina moved to stand beside him as he gazed in wonderment at the beauteous structure before him. "What do you think?"

"It's magnificent" And it truly was.

"It's a llestr enaid."

It seemed far too dull to be pure silver but didn't hold any of the browney-green colour that came with aged bronze either. More than anything it seemed to be similar to pewter, but there was something more about the carvings; there had to be because how else could just gazing upon a mirror cause his breath to catch in his throat so.

Arthur was unaware that she had moved to stand almost directly behind him, still entranced by the simple beauty the mirror held and finally his eyes began to dance along the smoothness of the glass that brilliantly reflected the room behind him until it was almost unrecognisable.

"And I'm afraid, dear Arthur, it is your new home."

Her voice barely registered as he discovered that the lower he allowed his gaze to fall, the closer to his own reflection, the more of a thrill that ran along his skin and he found himself wanting to see himself in this mirror. More than anything he wished only to see how this mirror showed him because it was no ordinary mirror but it was one that showed the truth. Although he wasn't sure how he knew that.

"It draws in the eye of people like yourself." Her voice was light and innocent and she didn't care that Arthur's eyes had glazed over as he continued to lower his gaze along the glass. Let him take his time; there was no real rush. "Those with power – real power – can do nothing to resist its pull. And you… well, you have a whole kingdom in your control."

As he took a step forward, eyes completely blank and slightly slack-jawed, she knew he was truly under the draw of the mirror and beyond anyone's help. With a smile that would seem too innocent to anyone who happened to see it, she moved forward with him, resting her hands gently on his shoulders. Squeezing them she whispered, "Look at how it brings out your eyes, Arthur."

And in the same instant that Arthur locked eyes with his reflection, Eleina began to chant words that were heavy with power, continuing as the Prince sank slowly to the floor and watching as her beloved mirror shone with the magic she was using to fulfil what she had dreamed of for years.

It was all beginning to fall together.

Training had finished a fair while ago and the knights had moved on to their other duties. On the whole, the armoury was empty except for two people, Merlin and Gwaine. The former had entered around twenty minutes ago looking for his master who he hadn't lost, no matter what anyone might suggest to the contrary, more temporarily misplaced. The latter had, upon Merlin's arrival, taken it upon himself to distract the boy, if only to allow him a break from the many extra chores he had taken on as personal manservant to the Prince Regent.

It was mid-afternoon when Gwen stumbled into the armoury, her flyaway hair sticking out at odd angles while she leaned rather heavily on the door and managed to stutter something out about Arthur and trouble. She'd barely even mentioned Morgana's abandoned chambers before Merlin had disappeared out the door rushing through the castle leaving the Knight and the maidservant to struggle to catch up behind him.

As Merlin entered the corridor that led to the long empty bedchambers and saw the door was stood ajar, he pushed himself to run faster. Vaguely registering the cries of Gwaine and Gwen coming from behind him, Merlin covered the last few meters and burst through into the glistening sunlight that poured through the window that overlooked the courtyard. Merlin ignored it, instantly falling to his knees beside Arthur who was laid out on the floor, unconscious.

"Arthur!" He reached for the Prince's neck, feeling a steady beating pulse there and quickly checked to see if he had any injuries but there was nothing, nothing to suggest why he was currently passed out on the floor in a forbidden room. "Arthur, wake up!"

"I found him like this." Gwen knelt down beside Merlin raising a hand to her chest to steady her worried breaths as she tried to keep herself calm. "I couldn't wake him, I didn't know what to do."

"Panicking isn't gonna do him much good." Gwaine's hearty voice was reassuring to the two servants as he lowered himself onto Merlin's other side, reaching around and placing a steadying hand on the Gwen's back. "We'll watch over him, you go find Gaius." She nodded slightly before shakily getting to her feet and hastily leaving through the door. "What's the matter with him?"

"I don't know." Merlin checked his pulse again. Still strong – almost too strong. He'd never felt a pulse that persistent and heavy in his life but then he wasn't the physician and hopefully Gaius would know what to do. In the meantime, it was all he could not to shake the man awake. "Arthur! Come on, what's wrong with you!"

"Maybe it's something to do with that." Raising his head, Merlin saw what Gwaine was referring to and his heart near stopped.

The beautiful, ornate mirror was still half-uncovered and lightly reflected the gentle light that was bouncing around the room back onto the walls.

"What do we need to do, Merlin?" Gwaine moved away from the servant, shifting so he was next to the Prince's knees, ready to do whatever was instructed of him. Except there was no response and with a glance up, he saw the boy wasn't paying him any attention. "Merlin. What do I do?"

Merlin didn't hear him, his focus consumed by the shimmering and glistening of light on the carvings and something in the grand mirror that seemed to be calling him forward. His magic seemed somewhat undecided, buzzing in response to the call and trying to drag him towards it while at the same time retreating, screeching at him to leave it alone.

"Merlin!" Gwaine waved his hand in front of his friend's dead eyes for the third time and once again got no response. He was struggling not to think upon the usual spark of life he'd just watched almost flicker away like a snuffed candle. "This isn't funny, we need to help Arthur."

The boy merely blinked and the knight moved so he was crouched in front of Merlin, blocking his view of the mirror but still those blue orbs remained dead and unseeing.

"Merlin, Stop this!" He grabbed onto Merlin's shoulders, barely paying attention to whether he was hurting the servant or not. "You're scaring me now. Stop it!"

Merlin didn't think he would be able to ignore the call from the mirror much longer. It spoke to a part of him that longed to respond and much like when trying to ignore an itch it was only getting more insistent, crying out to him. He knew though, he just knew, if he was able to move closer, maybe look into the cool, pale glass it would be alright. That's all he had to do.

Except something was stopping him moving, holding him in place and his mind was a bit too fogged to identify what it was. With a bit of a struggle, Merlin managed to wrench himself from whatever grip had held him. Getting to his feet, ignoring the fact he was swaying slightly and shifted in response to the calling that sang to him from the mirror.

Gwaine rubbed slightly at the back of his head which he'd hit against the floor when Merlin had managed to shove him away – how the scrawny boy had managed that he'd never know – and watched as the clearly entranced servant moved, still gazing intently at the mirror. "Merlin, what are you doing?"

"Gwaine?" Turning to the door the knight saw Gwen entering, Gaius just behind her and saw their slack-jawed expressions. "Wha-? What?"

"What do I do?"

The physician's eyes took in the mirror, the unconscious Prince, the confused Knight and although he had little to no clue what was going on here, he felt he'd seen enough to make an educated guess at what needed to be done. "Don't let him look in the mirror!"

Merlin was perfectly oblivious to those around him now, not having even noticed that he wasn't paying them any mind anymore. All that mattered was doing as his magic and the mirror were encouraging him. Look into the glass.

Already he could see the room behind him reflected as he approached around the side and saw his own hair and own clothes but for some reason he wasn't able to make eye contact with his reflection, which felt like it was the thing he needed to do to rid himself of this damned compulsion.

Then, in the moment he found his own reflection's eyes so many things happened at once.

His reflection, with its vacant stare that reflected his own perfectly, smirked as they looked each other in the eye in a way which caused him to shiver, before it slowly closed one eye in an obvious wink. But beneath that he saw a flash of blonde hair and the Prince's face as a distant cry, that a part of his still confused mind recognised as an ally, sounded within his head.

"Merlin! No!"

Then in the next moment, just as his reflection's smirk drew back further on its face, he felt all his strength slowly begin to fade away and his legs began to fold beneath him. He never hit the ground, barely fell at all as Gwaine moved to block his view and wrapped his arms around the young manservant, bracing himself as he felt Merlin continue to collapse into his arms.

"Don't look." The reassuring words were whispered into his ear and Merlin, upon realising he had his eyes closed, discovered he really didn't want to fall unconscious as Arthur's cry continued to echo within his head.

"Ar-" shifting slightly, and finding he was completely unable to move his legs let alone support his own weight Merlin struggled to hold back a moan, letting out a slight whine which caused the arms around him to tighten.

"Just don't look, Merlin. It'll be alright." Gwaine felt the boy lower his face against his shoulder and pulled him closer. He wasn't sure if he'd stepped in the way in time but guessing from his friend's limp form and need to be held off the ground, he hadn't.

"Wha…" the question on his lips drifted away as he began to feel exhaustion overcome him. Except he really didn't want to sleep right now. Something really didn't feel right. "I…"

"Quiet, Merlin. I've got you. Cover it up, quick!" The last part was directed over his head towards what might have been the doorway but Merlin wasn't entirely sure he could even tell up from down right now.

Gwen carefully picked her way across the room and, purposefully avoiding looking in the mirror, hoisted the grey cloth and with a few flicks of her wrist pulled it across, hiding the cursed object from view.

"Gaius." Gwaine's call was softer and Merlin barely registered it as his mind was beginning to drift on the edge of waking and instinctively he tried to grasp onto something in an attempt to ground himself.

A soft, warm hand that didn't feel as though it belonged to Gwaine slipped into his, and gently squeezed it.

The hand belonged to Gwen, having grabbed it as she noticed the slightly twitching hand after Gwaine had stepped back from laying him on the ground, giving up on the hope Merlin would find his own feet. "It's alright, Merlin."

Although the look on her face as she glanced between the Prince and his manservant, which Merlin couldn't see, clearly showed she didn't believe her own words. Unsurprisingly neither did Merlin although he was a bit too far gone to indicate to the others

At that point everyone in the room held the same question in their mind.

What on Earth had happened?