Forbidden Magic
xxMedusaxx
Chapter 3 – The Knight
Sorry for the delay, this was a long long long chapter. If we get to 10 reviews I will post the next chapter faster promise. Not a lot of spells in this one, hope you like it
"What do we need?" Crystal asked. She had been at the castle more then a week now, and Merlin had seen little of her. Every morning she was called to Arthur's room to train him secretly in the art of what she called "gymnastics" and "self defense". Her secret cover was a specialize embroiderer, luckily for them she actually could stitch she had already added a few designs to Arthur's attire and they looked rather well done for something she had done by hand. For this Arthur had given her a blue cloak and she now had wrapped around her to ward away the chilly morning air.
"Mushrooms, Gaius is running low." Merlin responded, he was surprised to find that Crystal was not a morning person and was extremely difficult to awaken once asleep, and Gaius had thought he was difficult to wake up. Crystal tried to stifle another yawn, and Merlin sighed.
"Why do you need me for this?" Crystal asked.
"Because I do." Merlin responded. Crystal frowned and sat down on a log.
"Well I'm going to stay right here." Crystal snarled sitting down on a felled tree. Merlin turned to argue with her but smiled instead.
"You found the mushrooms!" He cried rushing towards her. Crystal moved her skirts and sure enough there they were right at her feet.
"Well would you look at that I was right." Crystal cried, smiling gat him proudly. Merlin dropped to one knee beside her. Crystal was suddenly uncharacteristically sheepish, her face turning a slight pink hue and for some reason Merlin copied the motion.
"What are you blushing about?" He asked her busying himself with the mushrooms.
"It's really stupid, but you look like you're going to propose to me." Crystal whispered. Merlin looked away his blush intensifying; Crystal was looking away as well.
"Is that something you'd like?" Merlin asked, trying to not look her in the eye. The look on Crystal's face was one of fear, which Merlin found confusing, and then look disappeared. Crystal stood quickly, her bright blue eyes surveying the skies.
"What is it?" Merlin asked, standing to move toward her.
"Something, something big." She whispered. "Something fast, Something magical." Merlin watched her walk away from him, her eyes moving back and forth, suddenly her gaze whipped to the sky, she then crouched down her arms above her face. Merlin nearly cried out in fear when a large half bird and half lion landed on top of her. Merlin rushed forward ready to hurl any magic that came to his mind first, but he found himself throwing his body to he ground when a sonic boom sent the creature flying away from her. Merlin glanced up and shivered with fear. The Crystal standing before him wasn't the same Crystal that had been before him seconds ago. Her outfit had changed. Her hair flying around her face as was a black cape billowing out behind her. Her blue eyes were more vibrant then before, she was dressed in tight black pants and an even tighter black tunic. Her hands were on fire, and for the first time Merlin could see her weapons, on her back two large swords were strapped. Merlin awed at the utter power she radiated, and he wished that one day he could look like her.
"Get behind me." She demanded. Merlin glanced back behind him and saw the creature recomposing itself. Merlin scrambled to get up and then shot behind her
"I really should be helping!" He cried as Crystal set herself ready for anything the animal dished out.
"Just stay out of my way." She snarled as the creature charged her again. Crystal immediately lifted her hands making a fire shield in front of her. Merlin watched ready to see this creature rebound off of it but all of a sudden Crystal brought down the shield and her appearance changed, the creature collided with her bringing Merlin down with her. Merlin was stunned for a while, he saw the creature swipe, then saw a sword forcing the creature back. Merlin felt as if he had a dead weight on top of him, and once his head cleared he realized that the mass on top of him was a limp Crystal.
"Crystal?" Merlin whispered fearfully, her cloak was torn as was half of her bodice, blood was seeping through the fabric. Merlin shook in fear, she was supposed to be immortal. There was a loud shriek and the creature fled, leaving Merlin alone with the incapacitated Crystal and their savior. The boy turned to him, and surveyed the damage. Merlin looked up at him taking in his face, he wasn't unfortunate looking, he had darkly tanned skin and brown curly locks. He was dressed as a peasant but not many peasants had swords.
"We need to get her to the castle." He whispered.
"Yes we do. Thank you." Merlin mumbled to him. He tried to pick Crystal up but she was much heavier then someone of her size looked, after a few minutes of struggling the kind stranger took her from his arms. Merlin thanked him sheepishly, slightly embarrassed that he could not carry her himself.
"Don't be embarrassed my friend, we both know you'd rather not damage her further, plus she is quite heavy." The stranger commented. Merlin nodded, he found himself more interested in the fact that a few minutes of holding her in his arms had stained the front of his shirt in several places. Luckily for them they didn't have to carry her much farther, as soon as they made it out of the forest they were spotted by Arthur who was out in a flash.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" Arthur cried rushing to take her out of the stranger's arms.
"We were attacked." Merlin snarled, but before he could explain more Arthur whirled away from them stalking past his confused father and knights to Gaius' cottage.
"Her lover?" The stranger asked. Merlin shot a glare at him and then followed after him.
"I guess not."
When Merlin got into the hut, Crystal was on the bed designated for patients.
"But what of Merlin? Is he ok?" Gaius was asking.
"I'm fine." Merlin replied. Gauis rushed forward, clasping Merlin's face between his two wrinkled hands.
"What happened are you ok?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, but we were attacked by a flying creature." Merlin explained.
"WILL SOMEONE HELP HER?" Arthur cried, he was kneeling beside her holding a surprisingly pale hand to his face. Gaius whirled around to gather herbs and such to help her.
"It seems like deep gashes. She got hit by the brunt of the claws." The stranger murmured from behind him. Merlin turned to look at him, he was not aware that he had followed them.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you were there, I'm Merlin. I must thank you for saving our lives. I'm forever in your debt." Merlin introduced offering his hand to shake.
"I'm Lancelot, and think of it as a favor." Lancelot replied.
"Merlin come and help Arthur put pressure on her wounds." Gaius ordered. Merlin did as he was told, leaving Lancelot to watch them slave over their wounded friend.
--
Merlin thought he'd see his first bosom differently, her entire chest looked as if the beast had been trying to carve a turkey. The gashes stared on her left shoulder and went down to her waist. She had been bleeding an awful lot, and had bled through four dressings. Arthur had stayed through the entire operation, watching as Gaius spread herbs on her, as she was bandaged, he held her hand whispering soft words to her.
They had finished a few hours ago, and Crystal had contracted a fever. Arthur had no intention of leaving her, but Uther was at the door.
"You have spent enough time with this servant; you are required in the castle the training of your men." He demanded.
"I'm not going to leave her!" Arthur cried.
"You need to learn responsibility. You have been here all day, it is now five in the evening and your duty is to your men. She is in good hands. Leave now." Uther demanded and with that as the last word he left. Arthur turned to Merlin.
"If I find that she has died over night because you're a moron you will never see daylight!" Arthur snarled to him.
"You act as if you're the only one who cares about her." Merlin snarled.
"I definitely wouldn't have taken her into the forest to get attacked." Arthur countered.
"Neither did I!" Merlin snarled back.
"You keep her as comfortable as possible, anything she wants you give her, and if you have trouble with anyone you just tell them I said you could. If they say no, you come to me and I will deal with it myself." Arthur demanded, and with one last look at her he left.
Lancelot had sat in the corner, he had offered help but had been denied many times throughout the procedure.
"You know Arthur well?" He asked.
"Sure, he's a pain but yea I know him." Merlin replied, busying himself with Crystal's care.
"I take it you and him have some sort of rivalry for her affection." Lancelot mused.
"No." Merlin snarled.
"Ah, he's won her, but you want her." Lancelot tried again.
"NO!" Merlin cried.
"Is he gone?' A hoarse voice whispered. Merlin turned to Crystal who should have been unconscious, only to find her awake. Her purple eyes half open, staring at him.
"Who? Arthur?" Merlin asked.
"Yes, the colossal pain in my wounded ass." She snarled, forcing herself to get up. She lifted the spare tunic to assess the damage. Merlin felt his heart stop, Lancelot would ask questions
"What are you doing, you're still weak lie down." Merlin ordered.
"Don't be stupid." She snarled. "Wow, I got sliced like bologna."
"Crystal, I need you to sleep, we need to give Lancelot a bed so he'll be taking yours." Merlin whispered, hoping she'd get the hint. She shifted to look behind Merlin, where Lancelot stood smiling at her.
"Ah, our savior." Crystal replied, waving at him.
"Crystal." Merlin snarled, hoping to shut her up.
"He knows." Crystal responded. Merlin turned to look at him.
"'I saw her barrier, what I don't understand is why you took it down." Lancelot responded. Merlin ran a hand through his hair, the last thing he needed was his one chance to keep Nimeuh at bay to be sentenced to death.
"Arthur has a habit of having one of his knights accompany Merlin and I into forest, I sensed a knight and assumed it was one of them. Had they seen my barrier I'd be in the dungeon." Crystal explained, still staring at the damage on her chest.
"Seriously?" Merlin asked.
"He doesn't trust you. I made him promise to let us alone one day, seemingly today. Needless to say I will not be able to convince him, via words or physical efforts to try that again." Crystal whispered.
"Don't you even think of healing yourself! If Uther sees that you've made a remarkable recovery he will question it, and we do not want that." Gaius snarled, seeing the obvious intent on her face.
"Hey! I heal quickly! What do you want me to do, un-heal everything once a day?" She asked. The look on Gaius' face was an obvious yes, and Crystal looked furious. Lancelot merely laughed.
"I think I'll like it here." He whispered.
"OH! Yay! Finally a cute one!" Crystal cried clapping her hands twice in her giddiness. Merlin shot her a glare, thankfully silencing her but the happy smile on her face didn't fade.
"Yes I wish to become one of Arthur's knights." Lancelot explained.
"YES! Now I can convince him to send Lancelot to trail us when we go into the forest." Crystal cried, gabbing Merlin's sleeve and tugging a few times. Merlin turned to her.
"NO!" He cried, ripping the sleeve out of her grip, she turned her innocent eyes on him.
"But he's not going to not leave us alone after this." She replied referring to her bandages, "However I can do a lot more stitching now." Merlin watched her carefully.
"I was wondering if you could possibly talk to Arthur about letting me in as one of his knights." Lancelot asked, regaining Merlin's attention.
"Yes, I can do that. I see him every morning."
"You can see him now, he's in the court yard with his knights." Crystal responded, levitating her sowing supplies to her lap. Merlin felt the strong need to cuff her head like he usually did when she acted so irrationally, but her injuries stopped him.
"Yes I can do that. Lancelot, I know it's awful of me to ask you of yet another favor, but can you just watch her and make sure she doesn't do anything that could get us all thrown in the dungeons?" Merlin.
"It would be my pleasure." Lancelot whispered bowing to him.
"Pleasurable indeed." Crystal whispered blinking her eyes coquettishly at him. Though Merlin didn't want to leave the two of them alone, he did, knowing somewhere down the line he'd regret it.
--
Merlin rushed towards Arthur, he wanted to minimize the amount of alone time Crystal had with Lancelot, not because he didn't trust him, and definitely not because he was jealous, or so he was telling himself. He just wanted to be with her in her time of need. As soon as Arthur spotted him, he rushed forward leaving his knights.
"Why are you here? It's Crystal isn't it? She's dying, I knew it, let's not waste time." Arthur cried, rushing past Merlin. Merlin had to grab his chain link to stop him.
"No, she's fine, though she did send me." Merlin replied, it wasn't a total lie, it was her idea to come and see Arthur now.
"Really? What's wrong?" Arthur asked.
"There's someone who wants to be a Knight, his name is Lancelot. He saved our lives, Crystal's in particularly. I'd like you to consider him, and so would Crystal." Merlin explained. Arthur watched him, considering his words.
"Fine, tell him to bring his seal of Nobility." Arthur demanded. "And, uh, go to the store room, take a few blankets and a couple extra blankets for Crystal."
Merlin smiled as he watched Arthur walk away, he didn't tarry longer he wanted to get Crystal's stuff and then tell Lancelot the good news.
--
Lancelot was, in fact, not amused by this revelation once Gaius went and destroyed their dreams by mentioning that Lancelot was not someone of nobility and therefore could not offer up a seal of nobility and therefore could not be a knight. Crystal's only input was 'make him one' and then she was asleep again cuddling with the pillow Arthur had sent her. Lancelot was given her spare bed and had retired, exhausted from his battles that day, with both dangerous creatures and his shattered dreams. Merlin had just finished blowing out the candles when he heard a soft whimper. Crystal was by Gaius' bed, where all patients slept so he could survey them, but he was conversing with Uther about Crystal's condition and the possible origin of the creature. Merlin walked over to her, in the shadow of the moonlight he could make out the sweat on her brow and the pain on her face. Merlin stroked her cheek softly, whishing it was him in her place.
"Merlin?" She asked him, Merlin withdrew his fingers immediately.
"Yes?"
"Can you stay with me tonight?" She asked.
"Yes, I'll be right here, beside you." Merlin whispered plunking himself down beside her.
"No, I mean in the bed with me, you know, holding me. It would make me feel better, and Arthur did say you had to do everything I said, specially if it were to make me comfortable." She whispered, Marlin eyed her with suspicion and confusion.
"I may have looked unconscious but I was awake, painfully so, you and he saw everything. That was very hard to lie still through." Merlin smiled in spite of himself.
"Give me a few minutes and then I'll be with you." He whispered. She smiled at him and then re-closed her eyes. After changing into a night shirt and sprinkling a few herbs that would make him smell better all over himself he finally joined her. Her breathing was barely noticeable which worried him, but once he moved to join her in the small cot he could feel it. She was shivering despite her burning temperature, her body shaking slightly under the stress. Merlin lay facing the back of her head, wondering what he should do, he moved closer to her, mainly because he was half off the bed, and put a hesitant arm around her waist, she made no sounds of protests or movements that suggested to remove it, so Merlin kept it. He lay his head down on the pillow, watched her hair, waiting for any signal of disgust but none came. Though he was completely aware of every inch of his body that was touching hers, Merlin found sleep rather quickly, considering how anxious she usually made him.
--
When he awoke the next morning, Gaius was already awake, as was Lancelot, and apparently Arthur.
"What are you doing?' Arthur asked, staring down at them.
"Uh –Uh –Uh…." Merlin asked, but Crystal's had moved back and smacked his face.
"Five more minutes." She mumbled.
"She asked me." Merlin cried, pointing down to her, as she smacked him again Merlin stole a look to Arthur who looked amused at the beating he was taking.
"You beep one more time you stupid clock and I'll unplug you and then smash you." She threatened. Merlin could only stare at her in anger, she thought he was a clock?
"And you did as she asked?" Arthur asked.
"You told me to!" Merlin cried.
"That's it!" Crystal cried pushing herself up, she grabbed Merlin by the hair and then stopped.
"You're not a clock." She groaned, looking at him through half open eyes.
"No, I'm not, can you let me go now?' Merlin demanded. Crystal did as she was told and then threw herself back down on the bed.
"How are you feeling?" Arthur asked kneeling down beside her, he moved slightly and pushed Merlin right off of the bed.
"Fine." Crystal responded her voice muffled from the pillow.
"Did Merlin do something to hurt you?" Arthur asked.
"No I asked him to. You said he had to do what I said." Crystal whispered. Merlin popped up behind her.
"SEE!" Merlin cried.
"Shut up!" Crystal cried.
"Go and clean my dishes and get Crystal her breakfast." Arthur demanded in hushed tones. Merlin scowled but did as he was told, with Lancelot following.
"Merlin, can you bring me more fabric please? I'd like to try to sow today." Crystal whispered bringing her head out from the pillows. Merlin smiled at her and nodded.
Once out of the stuffy cottage Merlin could clearly see Lancelot's smirk. Merlin couldn't think of a thing to say either, he could only glare at him.
"It is always interesting to see just how blurred the lines between your relationship with her, and Arthur's relationship with her." Lancelot suddenly whispered.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked.
"Well from what I've seen, she merely tolerates Arthur, but prefers your company." Lancelot explained. Merlin gave him a dubious look, having seen no evidence of that himself.
"Crystal and I barely tolerate each other." Merlin snarled.
"Yet you were the one that ended up in her bed last night."
"Well what about you? You just going to avoid Arthur now?" Merlin asked.
"Well, yes. As soon as I'm able I'll leave."
"But I can help you."
"Help Crystal first." Lancelot whispered.
--
Merlin stopped by the record chamber on his way back to Crystal. Lancelot deserved to be a knight, he had to do this for him. He looked at Geoffrey, he was busy looking over new records. Merlin grabbed a dust covered, leather bound volume, it should hold some sort of records, ones that hadn't been updated in a while and therefore easy to manipulate. He opened up to a page and put a blank page beside it. He sent a sneak look to Geoffrey before continuing with the incantation, he watched the words and crest form upon the page with the added name of Lancelot to the bottom of the family tree. He heard the soft whoosh of cape on stone and stiffened.
"Quite a dull read." Merlin whispered handing the book back to Geoffrey while hiding the page with the things for Crystal. He then hurried back to the hut.
"No, I can't take this." Lancelot cried, when Merlin gave him the document.
"Why not?" Merlin asked.
"Yea why not?" Crystal mimicked.
"It's a lie!" Lancelot.
"But you get to be a knight!" Crystal cried.
"Yes, You get to be a knight." Merlin mimicked.
"But it goes against the code." Lancelot whispered.
"The codes unfair, show the code whose boss. Shove that code where the sun don't shine. You feeling froggy code? JUMP!" Crystal cried. Lancelot and Merlin turned to stare at her.
"Gaius has given me quite a lot of medicine." She whispered slumping into the new covers and several new pillows.
"I think what she was trying to say was over come the code, it is unfair anyways." Merlin whispered. Lancelot nodded.
"I suppose, but I just don't like having to lie like this." Lancelot snarled.
"Look, when you pass the initiation test you'll be a knight, if you prove yourself they can't take it back. Right?" Crystal asked. Lancelot smiled at her.
"I will try." Lancelot whispered.
"Tell Gwen, Crystal needs armor and nice clothes." Crystal demanded.
"What why?" Merlin asked.
"Well, she'll make it because Arthur said that all servants have to do what I ask no questions. Besides she's the best. When she done with your tailoring I'll stitch something on your shirts. Sound good?" Crystal explained. Merlin smiled, the witch was a genius.
--
Merlin left Lancelot alone with Gwen when they started to get all flirtatious on him. He walked out of the armory where her father work, and saw that Arthur was sitting on the grass, staring up into the sky at the passing clouds and he could see Crystal's head resting on his shoulder. Merlin snuck up on them hoping to hear some of the conversation.
"That one looks like a bunny." Crystal commented pointing to a particularily fluffy one.
"That one looks like a lion!"
"Naw, that looks like a horse." Crystal argued.
"Do you feel alright?" Arthur asked her. Crystal nodded to him.
"Why don't you join us Merlin, what sort of clouds can you see." Crystal replied. Merlin straightened considerable, wondering what excuse he could use. Arthur turned to him he wasn't very happy. Merlin could see that Arthur had her between his legs, her back resting against his chest, and her head on his shoulder. He had her wrapped up in a blanket so she wouldn't be too cold, but Merlin could see that she had a flush on her cheeks. Her eyes were only half open, and were fluttering rapidly.
"I can see a rose." Merlin whispered. Pointing a particular slim cloud.
"Yea it kinda does!" She whispered. Arthur shot him an evil look.
"I think it looks like a sword." Arthur commented. Crystal didn't respond.
"Why is she even out here?" Merlin snarled to Arthur, hoping she didn't hear him.
"I wanted some fresh air." She mumbled, her eyes were officially closed now.
"I have to get to our practice, can you take her back?" Arthur asked.
"He can't carry me." Crystal whispered. Arthur gave him a look that basically said 'you are useless'.
"Fine I'll take her back." Arthur snarled. Hauling her up into his arms, she looked so small and fragile and for the first time Merlin felt guilty, he was the one who called her to him and now she was injured. Getting himself up from the ground Merlin found himself at a loss. He felt dazed and confused and angry all at once. He wanted to be strong enough to carry her, he wanted it to be his arms safely wrapped around her, but most of all he wanted her to be well again.
"Shall we go see Arthur?" Lancelot asked showing up beside Merlin. Merlin nodded.
--
That night Lancelot presented Arthur with his seal of nobility and he was then included in the training that night. Arthur accompanied Lancelot back to Gaius' cottage where he said good night to an ailing Crystal, warning Merlin that he did not want to see him in her bed again. Though Merlin had a feeling he would anyways, and whatever the consequences it would be worth it. Sure enough Crystal called him to her the second Arthur was out of the cottage.
"Yes?" Merlin asked.
"I don't care what he says can you stay with me tonight?" She asked. Merlin smiled.
"Of course." He whispered, hurrying off to change into the proper attire. When he came back he saw that Lancelot and Gaius had pushed together his bed and the former Crystals. Lancelot had moved her from the patient's bed to her own.
"We thought it would be more comfortable for the both of you if you had two beds." Gaius whispered.
"Thank you." Merlin whispered sheepishly.
"Well I've noticed that you are the best medication for her. She may not show it but she is in quite a bit of pain Merlin." Gaius warned.
"But she said she heals quickly." Merlin whispered.
"Yes, but she also happens to be re opening whatever heals at least thrice a day." Gaius explained. Merlin ran his fingers through his hair thinking about this.
"She's basically going through the initial attack three times a day, just so Uther won't be suspicious?" Merlin asked. Gaius nodded.
"Can't we just chance the suspicion?" Merlin asked.
"And chance loosing her before the battle with Nimeuh has even been fought?" Gaius asked. Merlin thought that over. It would be rather useless.
"Fine." Merlin snarled, joining her in the bed. Gaius whispered good night to the both of them leaving Merlin and Crystal alone for the first time that day. She rolled over, her face now buried in his chest.
"I'm fine, honest I am. I've been through much worse." She whispered.
"Worse? How much worse?" Merlin asked.
"In my world there's an organization a lot like Uther that is suppose to keep us magical folks in line. They wanted me to be a super agent, using my powers to squash others, to take them into custody where they're treated like prisoners, or experiments. When I decided I didn't want to be one of them any more they took me and tortured me." She explained softly. Merlin felt his breath catch as she relayed the story to him.
"And then what happened?" Merlin asked.
"I got angry one day and for the first time I used the full extent of my powers. Broke out, destroyed a full building, killing many of people but at the same time freeing the ones that had been caught and since then I've been fighting them as a resistance leader of sorts, and since I also happen to be the strongest of my kind I can do about anything I want."
"One day I want to be just like you. Not the torture and the killing people of course. But I'd love to be as strong as you. Do you think I could?" Merlin asked.
"Why yes, yes of course you can." She whispered, her voice getting lower and lower. Merlin smiled against her hair.
"Go to sleep." He mumbled, his arms wrapping around her to hold her close to his chest. Suddenly it hit him, the feeling he felt constricting in his chest was a final sense of belonging like with her he was home.
--
Crystal had wanted to see Lancelot's test, but had barely the energy to sit up. Merlin was starting to get worried about her ever failing health. Merlin stood beside Gwen as Lancelot stood in front of Arthur. Gwen was particularly pleased with the way his armor had turned out. Crystal had even taken the time to sow a flowery patch on his tunic, and once the armor was off it would be noticeable.
"You can be a knight if you prove yourself, and in order to prove yourself you must best me in a fight." Arthur declared. Lancelot's face showed no discernable ounce of fear, but Merlin could tell he was nervous, Arthur's prowess on the battle field was legendary, but Lancelot readied himself for the attack. He and Arthur danced around each other in an intricate circle before Lancelot finally got antsy and attacked first. A few lunges and a few parries and it looked as if Lancelot was going to win. In desperation Arthur brought up his elbow hitting Lancelot in the face and knocking him down. Gwen's hands flew to her mouth as she cried out in horror maybe trying to mask her response. Merlin felt anger build up at Arthur's dishonorable actions, fully intending to tell Crystal all about it. Arthur walked around Lancelot's extended legs and looked down upon the fallen boy.
"You had the making to be a good Knight, but it seems you are too rash." Arthur murmured to him. He was about to walk away when Lancelot's arm whipped up and knocked Arthur to the ground. Lancelot was then up on his feet his sword pointed at Arthur's neck.
"Do you yield?' He asked. Arthur growled softly at his defeat but nodded. Lancelot then helped him up.
"You will make a good knight." Arthur whispered, to him. Merlin smiled, now it was time to get him knighted.
--
Lancelot knelt before Uther who was reciting the proper words to make Lancelot an official knight. He took out his sword and lifted it over his head from his right shoulder to his left, Merlin smiled now Lancelot was a Knight, just as he deserved. Merlin was too happy to notice that Uther had taken the seal of nobility and given it to Geoffrey.
At the party for the new knight Merlin stood with Gwen watching Arthur and Lancelot talk. Arthur had been momentarily blinded by the appearance of Morgana, and once again he felt the all too familiar heat course through him.
"Hey do you think she's pretty?" Arthur asked him.
"Yes she sure is." Lancelot whispered but his stare was directed at Gwen instead. Across the room Merlin had noticed Lancelot's stares.
"Hey Gwen, Lancelot seems to be interested of you." He teased, stealing yet another drink of ale.
"Shut your mouth." Gwen snarled, blushing slightly but looking away.
"If you could choose between Lancelot and Arthur who would you choose?" Merlin asked. Gwen glanced up to him, with a reprimanding look on her face.
"I wouldn't choose either." Gwen answered. Merlin was about to respond when he caught a glimmer of something behind Arthur. At first Merlin couldn't believe his eyes, Crystal was standing behind Arthur, her hair was flowing out like she was in a wind, she was in a midnight blue dress, much like the purple one Morgana was wearing. She held her hand out to him, her lips mouthing something though no sound came from her, then suddenly she was falling back and in a shimmer she had disappeared.
"CRYSTAL!" Merlin screamed. In a second Arthur was on his feet, and everyone was staring at him but Merlin didn't care, he was off as fast as his feet could take him.
When he broke into Gaius' cottage with Arthur on his heels, he saw Gaius leaning over her trying to hold her down trying as her body shook with violent tremors.
"What's wrong with her?" Merlin nearly sobbed throwing himself down to her bedside. He took her hand in his, and brought the smooth skin to his lips.
"She's dying Merlin, and we can't stop it." Gaius whispered.
"What do you mean you cannot stop it? You're the healer DO SOMETHING!" Arthur demanded.
"I cannot, her body has taken to large of a toll, I have prolonged this for as long as I could, but she just cannot take it." Gaius tried to reason.
"Then prolong it just a little longer, Gaius please." Merlin whispered. He could barely look at her as her eyes rolled back in her scull. Arthur was on her other side now, holding her own hand.
"Please don't leave me. I need you to stay with me." Arthur breathed into her hand. Her body gave one last shudder and suddenly her body grew limp and her breathing shallow.
"Gaius why has she stopped?" Arthur asked.
"I think her body has finally exhausted whatever energy it had left." Gaius tried to explain.
"What should we do?" Merlin asked.
"We're moving her into the castle where I can watch her." Arthur demanded.
"You can't take her away from Gaius!" Merlin cried.
"Then he will come with her."
"You're being unfair! Moving her could make things worse."
"No, it might just be what she needs." Gaius interjected. Merlin could only stand by silently as Arthur gathered her up in his arms once more and took her away from him.
--
Lancelot was thrown in the dungeons the same night, Geoffrey had determined that his lineage was fake though done very well. Merlin had found his way to him that same night.
"I'm so sorry." Merlin whispered.
"No, you mustn't think that. I chose to lie and have brought this on myself." Lancelot replied. Merlin hung his head.
"It seems I can't do anything right."
Arthur had just finished tucking Crystal into the bed right across from his room. She looked dwarfed against the size of the bed, and her sallow skin and shallow breathing definitely did not calm him down in the least.
"You have disappointed me." Uther boomed.
"And you me." Arthur countered.
"How dare you!"
"And Lancelot? He proved himself, and yet he's in the dungeon!" Arthur countered.
"He lied to me and to you, he went against the code."
"The code is wrong!" Arthur near screamed, behind him, Crystal groaned, and Arthur's anger faded. Uther noticed the strange behavior and snuck up behind his son.
"She is getting worse."
"I know."
"She will die soon."
"Not if I can help it." Gaius declared dropping his bag in the room. A small cot had been set up for him in the corner, so he could be there if Crystal were to need him.
"She has a long night a head of her, and I must request that you take your argument outside, majesties." Gaius whispered with an incline of his head for respect. As the stubborn royal males made their way out of the room, Gaius readied his bed, it was going to be a long night for the both of them.
--
The next morning peasants from surrounding villages came pouring in with tales of a flying beast attacking them and killing people. Gaius had left Crystal to tend to these new comers, and this upset Arthur.
"What do you expect me to do?" Gaius asked him.
"You were supposed to stay with her!" Arthur accused.
"There are others who need my help, Merlin is with her, he will come if there is any change." Gaius explained.
"Merlin's an idiot! What if he gets lost? What if he trips and falls and knocks himself unconscious, then what?" Arthur asked. Gaius gave him a very dry look, Arthur folded his hands over his chest, to signify just how serious he was about this.
"Then you should stay up with her as well." Gaius offered.
"Father says I need to stay down here incase the great beast comes." Arthur pouted. Gaius rolled his eyes
"Arthur there is nothing more either of us can do, she made it through the rest of the night, she just might pull through." Gaius explained.
Above them Merlin was sitting down beside a very silent Crystal.
"I miss your laughter, I actually miss your insults most of all." Merlin whispered. Her eyes fluttered open and Merlin nearly fell out of his chair.
"You're awake." He whispered.
"Griffin." She whispered.
"What?"
"Griffin." She whispered yet again. There was an ear shattering shriek and the mingling cries of the many people in the courtyard. Merlin ran to the window and outside the creature was swooping down upon the people waiting for Gaius' help. Below them the knights assembled their shields held high as the creature took one final swoop before he landed in front of Arthur. Arthur charged of course only to realize that his sword was useless, he scrambled back and grabbed a lit torch.
"Plendone Anouielle Gifeluec." She whispered. A Blueish flame lit from her lips and suddenly the flame in Arthur's hand lit blue, the Griffin screeched and took off, leaving Arthur to question what had just happened.
--
"She called it a Griffin." Merlin whispered to Giaus, who nodded going over a few of his tomes, Uther would be there soon, and word was he was furious.
"Of course I couldn't find it, I was looking at existing creatures, Griffin's are pure myth." Giaus whispered back.
"She used a spell, I think it warded him off." Merlin explained.
"What a stupid thing for her to do, this is what had made him so angry." Gaius swore. Uther stormed it at that moment.
"I am sick of this Gaius, Magic going on right under my nose!" Uther cried. Gaius hung his head.
"Yes My Lord, but it did save the life of your son." Gaius tried to explain.
"What is that creature?"
"It is a Griffin my lord, and I think magic may be the only was to defeat it."
"That is not true, Arthur can do it himself, I have sent him and his knights out for one final hunt, it must be killed tonight." Uther demanded.
"How can he fight it if it can only be killed by magic?" Merlin demanded.
"Everything can be killed, magic is not needed." Uther snarled. He took his leave from them after that leaving a sense of impeding doom on the two of them.
"We must do something. You can't let Arthur go to his death. I think I know what spell she used." Gaius whispered disappearing to go and get one of his books.
--
Arthur had left Crystal and headed down to the dungeons. He found himself staring at his acting knight.
"I should have known, it was so obvious." Arthur snarled once he had Lancelot's attention
"I am so very sorry my lord."
"You shouldn't have lied to me." Arthur stated. He saw the guilt in Lancelot's eyes and was sorry.
"I now my lord, I shouldn't have done I, but I wanted to be one of your knights and it was the only way to do so." He explained.
"I have a horse ready for you, go to the stables and leave." Arthur demanded opening the gate. Lancelot stared at him in disbelief.
"You want me to leave? I can't you need me to fight the monster." Lancelot cried.
"Go home Lancelot. You're not needed here." Arthur whispered, and then he was gone.
--
Merlin had been practicing for hours, but it hadn't worked. Frustrated, he found himself rushing towards Crystal's room, the only one who had managed to get the spell to work. When he found her she was sitting up in bed.
"Are you feeling better?" He asked her.
"No, something's not sitting right in the air, something's going to happen, I'm putting off un-healing myself until I know just what it is." Crystal responded.
"I need your help." Merlin whispered.
"I can see."
"I can't do the spell. The one you used, it's impossible I'm not strong enough, Crystal please, you have to come with me into the forest, to stop the creature from killing Arthur." Merlin pleaded.
"Merlin, if I leave Uther will notice, I've used most of my magic as it is, at the current moment I am not strong enough to fight anything. You have to do it yourself Merlin, I know you can, have faith in yourself and your magic and you will prevail." She whispered. Merlin saw pain spasm over her face and he knew the process had begun, he could see the stains of fresh blood leaking through her new wrappings. She closed her eyes and lay back down, and Merlin let her drift into a hay sleep. As he walked the halls down to the great doors, Merlin was chased down by a worried Gwen. She didn't explain what he needed she merely grabbed his hand and dragged him to the stables.
Merlin found Lancelot saddleing a horse, a war horse, in his armor with a lance. He was going after Arthur.
"Lancelot!" Merlin cried.
"You're not stopping me Merlin."
"No I'm going with you."
--
They were alerted to the battle by the sounds of many screams. They found dead and injured knights strewn across the clearing and in the middle, standing over Arthur's unconscious body a shimmering Crystal. Her battle swords in her hands, she turned to look at him.
"I've kept him alive as long as I could, I don't know if I can say the same about myself." She whispered her voice sounding otherworldly and with that she was gone. Merlin felt his heart grow cold, he wanted to turn back and run to her, she said she couldn't take much more magic and this, this seemed worse, more strength.
"That didn't sound well." Lancelot whispered. A shrill cry echoed through the forest. "Well it's now or never." Lancelot whispered mounting his horse. From across the clearing he could see the creature had landed and was pawing the ground ready to charge. Across from him was Lancelot his great lance ready at his side
"Ok Merlin, you can do this. Plendone Anouielle Gifelue." He whispered, but nothing happened. The creature reared up on his hind legs, causing his horse to do the same thing. Nothing happened.
"Plendone Anouielle Gifeluec!" Merlin repeated, as both the Griffin and Lancelot were getting closer.
"Plendone Anouielle Gifeluec! Plendone Anouielle Gifeluec! Plendone Anouielle Gifeluec!" Merlin repeated over and over again but nothing was happening and they were getting closer. Merlin took a deep breath.
"Believe in your magic, Plendone Anouielle Gifeluec." He whispered. Finally a reaction, a blue fire ignited starting at the tip and flamed all the way back to the hilt. Lancelot's weapon hit the charging Griffin right on the chest, and with one last gurgling cry, the creature died.
--
When Lancelot and Merlin finally got Arthur back to the castle, and were certain that others would be going for the wounded they had been forced to leave behind. Uther had placed Arthur in the same bed as Crystal, hoping it would not just help his son, but the rapidly ailing Crystal. He had taken Lancelot into the great hall to talk to him.
"You have proven yourself again, but I cannot change the laws." Uther said to hi Lancelot bowed his head respectfully.
"With all due respect majesty, I think I would be of better use if I went out and tried to train myself, hone my skills so to speak." Lancelot whispered.
"Thank you for all you have done." Uther whispered and then sent him away. Lancelot found Merlin at the doorway of the sick ones. Arthur was already patched up, and Crystal's breathing was becoming shallower by the hour. Merlin turned away from them to look at Lancelot.
"Well you did it." Merlin whispered.
"Don't you mean you did it?" Lancelot asked. Merlin stared at him, shocked, stuttering over the right words.
"Come on Merlin, 'Anouielle Gifeluec' I heard you." Lancelot whispered. Merlin could only stutter more, he couldn't go to the dungeons, he needed to help Arthur fulfill his destiny.
"Don't worry I won't tell anyone." Lancelot whispered. Merlin smiled, linking arms with him they took their leave of the sick ones to revel in what little wine Gaius had in his hut. After all they did deserve it.
--
It was late afternoon Arthur was over looking the tending of his knights, Giaus was collecting more herbs for the girl, and I was watching her. She was getting worse, and this was worrying everyone she had come in contact with, including me. I could see fresh blood forming on the new wrappings, which I found odd, Gaius had just re wrapped her and she had well forming scars. I hesitantly leaned over and began to unwrap the linens, I didn't mean to unwrap her fully, only her shoulder where the trio of gashes started. I could see the haggard and torn edges of skin on either said, no sign of scabs, almost as if she had been sliced again, then I saw it. The smallest Mark on her shoulder, possibly the size of one gold coin, slightly covered by the first jagged slice and it finally made sense. Her odd behavior, the unsealing wound, the fact that she survived such a wound in the first place, but what was she doing here? Her kind had been destroyed, each everyone hunted and killed. I watched her eyes flutter open, her eyes no longer a normal color, they were a bright blue, another sign of her kind, eyes that could stare down into your very soul, eyes that could translate the thoughts of the mind, eyes that could take control of someone's mind, there was no doubt now.
"I know what you are, now heal yourself." I demanded. She blinked once or twice, her eyes changing from the bright blue to the deep purple and then her eyes closed again. I didn't know if I had gotten to her in time, I could only hope she headed my demand.
--
Merlin had said good bye to Lancelot, and had stood with Gwen and Arthur waving him good bye from Crystal's borrowed bedroom. She was awake when they came to see her, sitting up in bed and finally showing some sort of energy and appetite. She had demanded Arthur carry her to the window so she could wave good bye to the would be knight as well. Merlin smiled at her sudden recovery wondering what others would say about what brought it around, though no one really seemed to question it at all. Crystal was the first to notice Gwen's tears, and produced a small trinket that Lancelot had given her. She gave the leather band to her, with a know all smile. Gwen smiled back at her, a sort of unspoken bond between them. Arthur carried crystal back to her bed, Merlin sat beside her, as Gwen produced more fabric and needles for her to sow with.
"What shall I sow first?" She asked her companions. She smiled as they all shot of random ideas for her, taking a hold of the hem of Gwen's dress she began to work on an elaborate design only she would have. From the door Morgana watched, wanting so much to be like her, but not entirely knowing how.
