It had been two hours since Merlin had been found, and Arthur was now in his chambers with Gwen, sitting on his bed, staring off into space, in his hand he held the parchment that had been found. Gwen was sitting next to him, her hand on his bare shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"Why?" asked Arthur softly. "why would anyone do this? Want to kill Merlin of all people?" he added, the guilt he was feeling finally finding a voice after an hour of silence.

"You weren't to know, no one could have known what was happening" she said to him. He looked at her then, seeing the tear streaks on her face. He shook his head as she watched him.

"No. I should have stood up to the council. I should have let Merlin come to the feast, at least that way he wouldn't… wouldn't…" he tried, found he couldn't form the words. Gwen's heart went out to her husband, and she gripped his shoulder more tightly.

"Arthur, you can't blame yourself" Gwen replied gently. Arthur pulled away slightly, standing.

"I know I shouldn't feel this way, I should act like a king…" he said as he stood, Gwen watching his movements, he looked down at the ceremonial armour that lay on the floor in the corner, slowly walking to it.

"He's a servant I know, but damn it Gwen, he's the best friend I ever had, the one person in this entire kingdom that I could be myself around, just be Arthur" his voice sounded loud, even though he only whispered. Gwen wanted to tell him it would be alright, that everything would be fine, but she couldn't. Suddenly there was a loud clatter as he kicked the armour, sending it flying into the wall, Gwen jumping slightly. The Door opened and a guard rushed in, at alert.

"Sire?" he said, scanning the room. Arthur shook his head at him.

"Sorry, just a slight accident" Arthur said. The guard nodded, not entirely convinced but backed out of the room with a bow, closing the door. Arthur took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

"Arthur try to get some rest" Gwen whispered as she came up behind him. "Merlin would want you to at least try to" she added. Arthur looked at her.

"how can I rest knowing something capable of such an atrocity is still roaming around?" he asked her.

"Arthur, you've doubled the guards, the Knights will continue their investigation, and Merlin is in the best place for him. There's nothing more to be done tonight" she said. Arthur blinked, slowly nodding his head. Gwen smiled as she took his hand, gently leading him to the bed.


"There's nothing more to do tonight" said Leon, echoing Gwen's words, as the other knights finished their sweep of the castle. Nothing had been found of the intruder. The guards that had been on duty at the main entrance having seen nor heard anything, the same for the guards at the side entrances. It was, if anything else, infuriating, now they stood in the courtyard, all of them feeling some measure of guilt, stupid though it was. It was Gwaine, obviously who put their thoughts into words.

"I swear, when I get hold of the bastard who did that…" Gwaine, was, of all the knights, the most protective of Merlin. Leon nodded at him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I promise you Gwaine, when we find out who did this then they will pay" Leon assured him. "Now everyone try to get some rest" he ordered. The other knights grumbled, and Leon held up his hands.

"We'll do Merlin more good if we come at this fresh and ready in the morning" he added. The knights slowly nodded at each other, seeing the wisdom of Leon's statement, and slowly walked away. Leon sighed and shook his head as he watched them enter the castle, his gaze tracking up to the still lit window of the pharmacy, slowly he followed the other knights inside.


Percival stood in his chambers, tired as hell, the events of the day catching up with the knight. He had removed his armour and changed into his sleeping clothes, but sleep evaded him. Merlin was if anything else, his friend. A friend not only to the other knights but to the King as well. And he was such a gentle soul too, never moaning, or complaining, always doing his duty with a friendly smile, a word of encouragement. He was brave too, always following Arthur, even into battle, where, even if he did not do much, he at least stood with them. So for someone to do what they had done. No, Percival had taken that as a personal affront, as had Elyan, Gwaine and to a certain extent, Leon. Sighing, Percival laid on his bed, looking out the window across from him.

Thud

Percival sat upright, looking around the room, into every corner, nothing becoming visible.

"Who's there?" he called out, feeling stupid. The thud had been so muted it could have come from somewhere else in the castle. He turned his attention to the dressing screen, slowly standing and moving towards it. He grabbed his sword as he moved towards it, eyes darting left and right as walked. Eventually he reached it, and slowly reached out, his fingers gripping the edge of it, pulling it aside. Letting out a laugh as Cedric, the castle cat looked up at him lazily.

"How the hell did you get in here?" he muttered as he picked it up. The cat purred in his hands as he stroked it. Then it tensed.

"What's got into you?" he asked, then gagged as a wicked dagger suddenly dragged itself across his throat. Cedric hissed as it leapt from Percival's arms, Percival gagging even as he tried to turn, before he fell to the ground, his blood pumping from him. Eventually he lay still. Standing over him the helmeted figure looked down at his victim, then dropped a small piece of parchment next to the body.


"Gaius? how is he?"

Gaius blinked and looked up as Sir Leon entered the room quietly. Gaius looked down at Merlin's resting form, a grimace on his face.

"I've done what I can, now nature must take its course" Gaius whispered, then he looked back at Leon.

"I'm sorry Leon, can I help you?" he asked. Leon smiled and shook his head.

"No, I just came to check on him" he said. Gaius allowed a small smile to touch his face.

"I'll be sure to let him know you came by" he promised.

"Do you need anything?"

"No, but thank you"

"Very well, goodnight Gaius"

"goodnight Leon" the old man replied, watching as the knight left the room. When the door was closed, Gaius looked back at Merlin, taking his hand softly.

"What happened here Merlin?" he asked softly. Merlin's only reply was a ragged breath.


Arthur and Gwen were awoke early the next morning by the sound of the alarm bell chiming to life. Arthur sat up, looking around, Gwen beside him. Arthur was just out of bed when the door burst open, Elyan walking in, looking like he wanted to be sick.

"Is Merlin….?" questioned Arthur, mentally kicking himself. If it had been Merlin then it would have been Gaius here, not Elyan, he thought even as Gwen moved to her obviously distraught brother.

"Sire, its.. you'd better come quickly" Elyan said. Arthur didn't question the knight, but quickly pulled on his tunic. Gwen was in her nightgown, and followed the two men as they left.


Elyan led them quickly through the corridors, up to the Knights wing, the knights were gathered outside of Percival's chambers, and looked over as Arthur approached. Gwen going to follow, Elyan holding her back. Arthur pushed past them, even as they tried to move aside, his step faltering at the door, as he saw what was in the room. Leon and Gaius, laying by the body of the knight. The blood that was pooled around him attested to the fact that unlike Merlin, Percival had not survived.

"Gaius?" asked Arthur as he stepped forwards slowly, looking down, aware his foot was perilously close to stepping into the red pool.

"It appears his throat was slit sire" Gaius said looking up.

"Who the hell could have done this?" demanded Leon. Gaius looked at him, shaking his head.

"Only a twisted individual, and a dangerous one" Gaius replied. Slowly he stood and moved to Arthur, who stared mutely at the body of one of his closest friends.

"there's more" Gaius said, looking at him. Arthur nodded, tearing his gaze away from the body, to look at Gaius. "The wound, you see how ragged it is? It's the same as the wound on Merlin's stomach" he said gently, then he held up a piece of parchment.

"and there's this" he said. Arthur took it, opening it.

TWO

Arthur felt himself shiver, the power of one small word. Arthur crumpled the paper up.

"I want the city locked down, now" he ordered. "No one is to enter, no one is to leave" he added. Leon stood, nodding, before he left the room, Arthur turned to Gaius.

"How's Merlin?" he asked.

"I left a guard in the room with him, he should still be sleeping" Gaius said. Arthur nodded.

"Once you've finished here, I want you to get back to Merlin, someone tried to kill him once, he's not to be left alone. And Gaius, if he does wake up, I want you to try to get as much of a description as you can from him" Arthur ordered, he turned and marched out, looking at Elyan.

"Elyan, I want you to stay near your sister at all times, if she is not with me, then she will be with you" he said. Elyan nodded, Arthur taking in Gwen's questioning gaze.

"sire what about you?" called Leon as Arthur strode away.

"I can take care of myself" Arthur called back.

"So could Percival" Gwen's retort made him pause. He turned to her and slowly nodded.

"Leon, once you're done here, meet me in the audience chamber" he said.

"Sire" Leon agreed with a bow.

"And what am I meant to do?" asked Gwaine.

"You're Merlin's Bodyguard" Arthur replied. Gwaine nodded, and then moved off. The group dispersed soon after, Gaius calling in two guards to take Percival's remains to the castle morgue. The old man watched as they left. Slowly closing the door to Percival's chambers. With a sigh he turned and hurried back towards the pharmacy.


A figure stepped from the shadows where they had been watching, their gaze taking in the retreating form of Gaius. Slowly it held up a parchment, THREE was written on it. It turned its gaze back the way Gaius had gone, then slowly stepped back into the shadows.


Gwaine looked up from where he was sitting by Merlin's pallet as Gaius walked in. Gaius blinked as he looked at him.

"What are you doing here?" Gaius asked.

"I'm his bodyguard remember" Gwaine replied. Gaius rolled his eyes. With Gwaine's incessant nattering how was he meant to get anything done?

"Gaius, I won't get in the way I promise. I just want to help" Gwaine assured him. Gaius felt his resolve soften and he nodded, truthfully, he admitted to himself, he'd be glad of the company. Even if it was Gwaine.

"yes, well, see that you don't" Gaius told him, trying to lighten the mood. Gwaine nodded and turned back to Merlin's resting form, even as behind him, Gaius pulled several books from the shelves and began to look through them.


"Sire" said Leon as he entered the Audience chamber. Arthur looked up from where he was speaking to a couple of council members. He nodded at them and dismissed them. They bowed as they left the room, the doors closing behind them.

"Is the town secure?" asked Arthur.

"It is sire, if the killer is here then they will not escape" Leon assured him. Arthur nodded and sighed as he sat back.

"You have any theory's?" Arthur asked him. Leon sighed and shook his head.

"none, I mean why attempt to kill Merlin? Why kill Percival, popular though they are with us, they're not important in the grand scheme of things" Leon said. Arthur shook his head.

"They're important to me" Arthur pointed out. Leon slowly nodded, conceding the point.

"You think someone is targeting you?" Leon asked. Arthur shrugged.

"I'm not worried about me Leon" he said softly.

"Gwen?" asked Leon. Arthur slowly nodded.

"I can't ignore the fact that two people I consider to be close to me have been savagely attacked Leon. So it stands to reason that sooner or later whoever is behind this will try to target her" he admitted. Leon stepped forwards, taking Arthur's arm gently.

"We will not let that happen" he vowed. Arthur looked up, seeing the truth in his eyes.

"Thank you Leon" he said. The man nodded and let go of Arthur's arm.

"We need to find out what's driving these attacks" Arthur said at length.

"Possibly someone who is displeased over your marriage to Gwen?" offered Leon.

"No, If that was the case, then why kill Percival? Why attack Merlin?" he asked.

"Well, they were both openly supportive of you" Leon said.

"good point, but then so were you and the other knights" Arthur said. "I can see someone hating me and Gwen enough to make their feelings known, but to attack an unarmed servant and kill a knight instead… no, there has to be something more" Arthur said. "We need to start eliminating suspects" Arthur said at length. Leon nodded.

"Do we even have any?" he asked. Arthur shrugged.

"We can start with the guards that found Merlin, I don't believe they didn't see anything" Arthur said.

"I'll have them brought here right away" Leon said, walking away.


"What's this?" asked Gwaine as he picked up a red jar from the shelf by Merlin's pallet. Gaius looked up from his book.

"Crushed Raven's beaks" Gaius replied. Gwaine made a slightly disgusted face and put the bottle back, Gaius returning to his book. He picked up another bottle, taking the top off and sniffing the contents.

"Gah… and this?"

"Aniseed" Gaius replied patiently. Gwaine put it back, and picked up a blue bottle.

"This one?"

Gaius sighed and turned around.

"Wolfs bane" he said. Gwaine nodded and put it back, moving to the next shelf along, silently. Gaius slowly turning around.

"This?"

"Pigs liver" Gaius said turning back. Gwaine nodded and picked up a tray with several items on it.

"What's this?"

"My bloody dinner now will you shut up and let me work!" Gaius snapped.

"Sorry, I'm bored" Gwaine replied putting the tray back.

"Well if this is what its going to be like you can be bored somewhere else" Gaius said, regretting his words as the knight's face fell. "I know you're worried Gwaine, believe me, we all are, but please I need to work" Gaius said.

"I know, I just feel like a useless idiot just sitting there. I need to do something" Gwaine replied. Gaius sighed and nodded.

"Then perhaps you can help me" he said, holding up a book. Gwaine smiled and nodded.

"Just tell me what you need" he said taking the book from Gaius.

"What we're looking for" said Gaius, as he indicated for Gwaine to sit, "is a weapon capable of the severe damage that was done to Merlin and poor Percival" he finished. Gwaine nodded, and opened up the book Gaius had given to him.

If there was one thing Gwaine knew about other than women and ale, it was weapons.