Chapter Two

The Mark of Magic

Ironically, it was a beautiful day when disaster struck Camelot. The sun was shining and Gwen entered Morgana's chambers with a smile on her face and flowers in her hand.

"You look happy." Morgana noted with a smile.

"I picked these for you," Gwen said, holding the flowers out,

"That's so sweet!" Morgana couldn't have asked for a better maidservant than Gwen, she was sweet, loyal and kind.

"Something to cheer you up. I know you haven't been sleeping well."

"Aww, you cheer me up." Morgana said, almost overwhelmed by the generosity of her friend.

"Would you like me to put them in water for you?" Gwen asked, taking the flowers without waiting for an answer. There really was no doubt in Morgana's mind that Gwen was as pure as they come.

Morgana looked out upon the courtyard, the bell tolling ominously. Over a dozen bodies were laid out now, each the victim of the plague sweeping Camelot. There was speak of sorcery involved and everyone in the castle had devolved into frenzy. Arthur and his men were searching the town for the sign of a sorcerer. Even Merlin had left Arthur's side to help Gaius find a cure for the ailment. Morgana clenched her fists, she felt useless, despite being the king's ward she hadn't even been allowed to see the bodies as the king clearly thought she was too delicate and would be disturbed by the sight. If only she could do something!

When Gwen was late, Morgana feared the worst. What if Gwen was ill? Or worse, dead. Morgana couldn't bear that thought. She had to distract herself somehow. With her stomach heavy Morgana began to dress herself slowly, avoiding any thoughts that reared up in her mind. It was possible that Gwen was just late, she'd be there soon. Morgana was sure of it. Then the door opened and Morgana smiled in relief.

"Gwen! I…" she was stopped dead in her tracks by Gwen's tear stained face, "What's happened?"

"I'm sorry my lady, I didn't mean to be late." Gwen didn't reply immediately, which only made Morgana more worried.

"Nonsense, tell me what's wrong Gwen."

"My father…" Gwen choked, unable to speak, "Morgana, my father is ill!" Gwen burst into tears and Morgana swept over and gathered her up into a hug. This was cruel beyond words, that Gwen should face losing her father… Morgana understood that pain.

"I should visit Gaius, I'm sure he can do something." Morgana tried to move but Gwen only clung on tighter.

"It's no use my lady, I've already been to see Gaius. He doesn't have a cure. There is nothing to be done!" Gwen cried, getting more hysterical by the moment. Morgana hushed her gently stroking her hair.

"It's nonsensical for you to be here right now, go and look after your father."

"But-"

"Go!" Morgana begged, she would take care of herself. Besides, she had already decided she would lend Gaius her services for the day, and she didn't need a maid for that.

Merlin couldn't sleep. Gwen was his friend and seeing her in tears like that was enough for him to make his decision. Gaius would not find a cure in time to heal Tom, so Merlin had to do it. He was aware that he could get caught out after curfew, or worse, caught doing magic. But he had to take the risk. He hadn't been able to save the man in the street, however, there was still time to save Gwen's father. Gwen had been a friend to him since the day he arrived in Camelot, even though he was in the stocks and covered in rotten tomato, and it had been so comforting to know someone when he began his duties as Arthur's servant. Merlin knew what it was like to grow up without a father but it would be so much worse for Gwen if he didn't act soon.

Moving cautiously, Merlin passed through the streets, avoiding guards and hiding in shadows. His goal solely to reach Gwen's house. Upon arriving, he peered through the shutters to see Gwen sleeping at the side of her father's bed and Tom the blacksmith turning fitfully in his sleep. Merlin opened the door, wincing as it squeaked on its hinges. He slipped the poultice under Tom's pillow and whispered the spell he had memorized minutes before.

Pu fornimst adl fram guman.

A light began to emanate from under the pillow, rising up like mist off of a lake.

Slipping out, he watched as Tom awoke and was reunited with his daughter. He smiled, his victory however, would be short lived.

Morgana walked into the sight of Gwen being pulled away by the palace guards, flowers were strewn across the floor and Arthur stood with a blank expression,

"Gwen?" Morgana looked back and forth between her servant and the prince,

"What have I done? I haven't done anything!" Gwen cried, clearly distressed, Morgana was livid.

"What are you doing?" she turned to Arthur,

"We found a magic poultice in her house." He said, voice factual and cold,

"That's ridiculous!" Morgana spat,

"How else do you explain her father's recovery?"

"She's innocent." Morgana said matter of factly, "I know she's innocent."

"What can I do? I can't turn a blind eye."

Morgana was left speechless in her chambers. How could anyone accuse Gwen of such a thing? Morgana would know if Gwen had magic. There was no way you could be the personal servant to part of the royal household and not be discovered! Gwen was innocent and Morgana had to prove it.

Morgana followed behind Gwen from a distance. It was difficult to keep her temper in check but she knew she would have to confront the king, and for that she needed a level head. As she reached the great hall she could hear Gwen's cries of fear.

"He got better, he just recovered. I didn't do anything!"

"I believe you. Perhaps this is a disease which is not always fatal. Have you thought of that?" she took a risk in defying Uther, but took it gladly to defend Gwen. "Perhaps he recovered naturally."

"What of this poultice that was found?" the king asked, surprisingly calm.

"What poultice? I don't know anything about a poultice." Gwen pleaded.

"It was found in your house." Uther stood, "Undo this enchantment, end this contagion." It was and order, and one Morgana knew that Gwen could not fulfil.

"I can't." she shook her head

"I will show you no mercy."

"I am not a witch! I don't know how to stop the illness!" Morgana looked at the king in contempt,

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

"But I don't know-" the king cut her off,

"It is therefore my duty to pass judgement. And under the circumstance I have no choice. I have to sentence you to death." Morgana was surprised to hear almost sadness in the king's voice

"No…" Gwen whispered weakly,

"I can only hope this evil plague dies with you."

Gwen cried as she was dragged out the room, pleas on her lips. Morgana was speechless. She turned to the king,

"I know Gwen. She's my maidservant not an enchantress!" she realised how weak she sounded, her argument was not convincing.

"Have you ever seen an enchantress?" the king looked at her coldly, "Believe me, they bear no sign. No mark. There is no sense of evil in the eye."

"I've seen the way the girl works. Her fingers are warm, her nails are broken. If she was a sorceress why would she do this?" Morgana had found a hold to her argument and she was not going to let go. "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." Morgana's patience began to wear as Uther ignored her words, "Like an idle king."

"You have no right." Uther hissed,

"You have a right to cast judgement on these things!" she cried.

"I have a responsibility to take care of this kingdom!" he said firmly, "I take no pleasure in this." Morgana had little left to say.

"But you're sentencing the wrong person…" her voice was quieter; losing its conviction.

"She's right father. You hear the word magic and you no longer listen." Arthur stepped forward and gave Morgana another spell of hope.

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

"Yes! Maybe, but to save her dying father. That doesn't make her guilty of creating a plague." The sense in Arthur's words fell on deaf ears, "One's the act of kindness, of love. The other of evil, I don't believe evil's in this girl's heart."

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

"I understand that." But Arthur was silenced by the look on the king's face,

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

"I know witchcraft is an evil father. So is injustice." He persisted, "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." He said, and at that Uther looked up.

"I fear you're right. She's played with fire, and sadly she must die by fire." With fear in her heart Morgana left, fighting the king was useless. She had to find another way.

Morgana was desperate when she went to Gaius, pupils dilated, heart beating fast and pace quickening each second she burst into his chambers.

"They're bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Gwen's innocence." It was a statement, not a request.

"We tried." Gaius said forlornly,

"Please, just tell me what I can do to help," Morgana begged.

"We need Arthur." Merlin spoke up, requesting the last person she expected to hear,

"Arthur?"

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

"Well, we must tell Uther." Morgana replied, still unsure of whether Arthur was really needed. Merlin just shook his head,

"The Afanc is a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save Gwen, he'd just blame her for conjuring it." Gaius interjected. Morgana nodded in agreement, his words rang true.

"So what are we to do?"

"We need to destroy it, then the plague with stop and Uther, may see sense." Morgana was surprised by the assertion in Merlin's voice. He knew what he was talking about. But she continued regardless,

"And that's why you need Arthur?"

"He's our best chance. But he won't want to disobey the king…" Merlin had a point.

"Leave that to me."

It didn't take long for Morgana to convince Arthur; soon the three of them were marching across the courtyard and down to the water supply.

"You better be right about this Merlin." Arthur said clearly irritated, but soon after a growl echoed from the dark. Unlike anything Morgana had heard before. She gasped in shock. Arthur looked back at her,

"You should stay here."

"I'm coming with you." She said unable to keep some of the fear from her voice,

"No." Arthur replied and Morgana cocked her head to the side,

"Scared I'll show you up?" the convincing her bravado was fake.

"Father would slam us both in chains if he knew I'd endangered you!"

"Good thing he doesn't know about it then," she said calmly, she was not about to back down anytime soon.

"I'm telling you Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt." Morgana pursed her lips and sighed, "So could you. If you don't get out of my way." She teased, walking on ahead.

"How are we going to find it?" Morgana queried as they walked,

"Just hope we do, before it finds us." Merlin whispered eerily,

"Stop." Arthur turned suddenly,

"What?" Merlin asked as Arthur studied the dark for a moment before turning back,

"It's just a shadow."

At the source of the water all three had split in separate directions, searching for the beast, when Morgana heard a roar however, she came rushing back to Arthur.

"What is it? Are you alright?" she gasped, then Merlin arrived

"Did you see it?"

"Yes."

"What did it look like?"

"It's quick." Arthur hissed.

Morgana could have answered that question herself because at that moment the Afanc reared out of nowhere in front of her. She let out a startled scream and moved back behind Arthur. By the time she was there, the creature was gone again.

"Where is it?" Arthur said, teeth clenched.

"I think it's gone this way!" Merlin called, moving in the opposite direction, how was it so fast?

They came round a corner and finally the beast revealed itself in all its disgusting glory. It moved towards them like a cat hunting its prey. Arthur swung at it but it moved easily, it turned on Morgana and she tried thrusting her torch at it but in terror she dropped it. Arthur lunged in and pushed the monster back pulling its attention away from Morgana.

"Arthur use the torch!" Merlin called and Morgana turned to him. Then she saw it, the flash of gold in his eyes, the words she didn't understand and an almighty wind that swept along the tunnel blowing the fire of Arthur's torch straight upon the Afank. That was magic. Merlin had magic. Without a second to process it Morgana cowered as the beast burst into flames.

Morgana still had Merlin in her mind when she went to have Gwen released, she was beaming of course at the sight of her maid happy and reunited with her father.

"Thank you!" Gwen cried, reaching out to her.

"Don't thank me! It was more Merlin" she said, her words holding a truth she could possibly never share.

"Really?" Gwen asked,

"He's the real hero here." Morgana supplied,

"I don't know what to say." Gwen was clearly flustered, bless her heart.

"I didn't do anything." Merlin said modestly, and Morgana wondered how many times he'd said that before now.

"I'm grateful to you all." Tom said, "Come on Gwen."

"Merlin? I wanted you to know. You're secret's safe with me." So this was it, she was really going to tell him that she knew.

"My secret?"

"Merlin, don't pretend. I know what you did."

"You do."

"I saw it with my own eyes."

"You did?" the poor boy seemed shocked,

"I understand why you don't want anyone to know." Morgana said, the idea of someone finding out, of someone hurting Merlin who was clearly so good, it made her shiver.

"Well obviously…"

"I won't tell anyone. You…don't mind me talking to you about it?" she asked cautiously, aware that probably everything she was saying could get either of them killed.

"I – uh no. You have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden!" the relief on Merlin's face sent a pang through Morgana's heart. How alone he must be.

"I imagine you've had a greater part in events than anyone knows. It was really brave what you did today. But you don't have to bear it alone. It's our secret."

A.N. Thanks so much for the great reception already! I have to admit I'm so thrilled with how this is turning out. I'd like to thank the beta I can't name for helping me and giving me a hand. Honestly I've been planning this fic for a long time now and I'm just glad to have finally started it.