My apologies for the quality and length of this chapter, as well as the duration between the chapters. This chapter I will admit made me struggle, but I have a bunch of cool ideas for next chapter so I pushed through! Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint too much though.
I tried to get this chapter out before going overseas on holiday, but unfortunately due to time constraints I was unable to put fingers to the keyboard and fast enough. Which I'm sure for you guys is super disappointing, but my apologies.
I've kind of felt that I've just been following the initial 1st season far too much which demoralized me in some ways, but then it is such a CRITICAL part of Merlin, that you can't leave out much of what happens in the 1st season due to the amount of character development thats involved. So for those who are waiting for more AUish stuff, it'll have to come at a later date.
Also, thank you for your amazing response again. Your support is appreciated.
A free day, no training, no bruises and no Sir Leon destroying him. It was a good day and one that Merlin was certain to spend outside lazing about. Those plans all jumped out the window as Merlin walked towards the dead body lying in the street, frowning. He noticed Gaius was already there next to the body, investigating it, checking for signs of injury or what caused the death.
"Aren't you scared?" asked Merlin.
"Of what?" asked Gaius, glancing at Merlin.
"That you might catch whatever it is" replied Merlin.
"I'm the court physician Sir Merlin, whatever it is there is nothing to be scared of" spoke Gaius, turning the body over.
They both paused as the man's skin was deathly pale, with veins prominent and hazy eyes. Gaius and Merlin glanced at each other.
"You were saying?" asked Merlin, glancing around.
There were too many people, and Merlin moved quickly, procuring a sheet and covering the body.
"We must take the body to my chambers so I can investigate...with science" spoke Gaius nodding to himself. "Come help me with the body."
As they dragged the covered body towards the castle on a cart, Gwen appeared from behind them, cheerful and happy.
"Sir Merlin! Where are you heading off to?" she asked curiously, tilting her head as she went on her tippytoes to have a glance at the cart. .
"Oh Gwen, um, just uh...helping Gaius with a few materials that his old frail body cannot fully...pull along" said Merlin, hoping he sounded convincing.
Gwen looked at him curiously while Gaius's eyebrow shot up. Merlin moved his frame in front of the cart to stop Gwen from investigating too eagerly.
"Old feeble body..." muttered Gaius with a shake of his head as Merlin flashed a quick smile to Gaius before turning back to Gwen.
"Oh, what lovely flowers you have there Gwen. Did someone give them to you? Or perhaps, you picked them for someone. Who are they for?" asked Merlin teasingly, before leaning forward. "Perhaps one of the knights? Or even the Prince?"
Gwen laughed as Merlin raised his eyebrows several times suggestively.
"What lady picks flowers for her man? Shouldn't it be the other way round?" asked Gwen.
Merlin just shrugged, before looking at the sun. "Anyway um, the time, ah yes we must be off. Farewell Gwen!" said Merlin, quickly turning around and helping Gaius pull the cart away.
Gwen shook her head in amusement. Sir Merlin was certainly strange, but very nice. She continued on her way towards Morgana's chambers.
Merlin watched as Gaius investigated the body.
"I have never seen anything like this before" muttered Gaius as he held the 'device of science' as he called it over the body and face. Apparently this 'device' was able to allow Gaius to see things even more close up.
"Could it be some sort of plague?" asked Merlin.
"No, I fear that something like this could never come from nature. But who...who has this kind of power" wondered Gaius as he spoke aloud, looking at Merlin.
"You think this was caused by magic?"
A knock on the door drew his attention and Merlin strode over to the door, opening it. Prince Arthur looked at him rather bored.
"Ah Sir Merlin, what brings you to the physician chambers?" asked Arthur. "Did Leon beat you up too badly again and you see some salve for your wounds?"
Merlin just shook his head.
"I have the day off, and once I'm done training with Sir Leon we'll have a rematch. And like the last time with the maces I'll be the one asking you to submit, once again" smiled Merlin.
"Ha" exclaimed Arthur, raising his arms and looking both ways, before dropping his arms and leaning forward. "As if that would ever happen again Sir Merlin. I'll be sure to have you clean out my stables then when you lose. Oh, and tell Gaius my father wishes to see him."
With that he strode off, Merlin watching him go.
"That man has a stick shoved so far up his ass..." he muttered, shaking his head.
A pandemic was on their hands now. Gaius and Merlin worked long hours, desperately trying to stem the plague and stop it from killing the people. As more cases appeared, Prince Arthur and his men conducted searches of every room for any evidence of sorcery. Luckily for Merlin that he had already hidden the book of magic under his bed, underneath a fake stone floor which he had created. It was an illusion that there was still stone underneath the bed. When Prince Arthur had entered his room and checked everywhere, Merlin just looked amused.
"You hate doing this don't you" he spoke from the doorway where he stood, leaning against the wall."
Prince Arthur turned to Merlin.
"Hate what?"
"The blind searches for magic, that all magic is bad, that sorcery does nothing but destroy. The endless time it takes to search everywhere in Camelot for even the slightest suspicion of sorcery, the innocents killed" spoke Merlin.
"This is my duty. Do not test me Sir Merlin. My father does what he thinks is right for this kingdom. And you seem to know a lot about magic, far more than someone I would expect to know" said Arthur, stepping forward with his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I grew up in Ealdor. Once in a while druids would come and offer their healing services or use magic to help people for food or supplies. I saw nothing but good from magic from them, none of these plagues or dangers I hear so much about" replied Merlin.
"I would be careful about what you say about magic in Camelot, even the slightest suspicion will send you to the executioner" said Arthur, staring at him.
Merlin just shrugged.
"I'm aware, but are you?" questioned Merlin. "I'm sure you've seen magic used for good, haven't you? Magic that has healed the sick and injured, that you've seen that not all magic is evil?"
"I won't answer that" spoke Arthur gruffly, shaking his head as he left the room. Merlin smiled brightly.
"We're getting along just fine aren't we" he muttered to himself.
And as they continued to search the town, Gwen made the discovery that her father was sick in the morning. She had rushed past Merlin who had offered to help Gaius, with King Uther giving his permission and allowing him to focus all his energy on the plague with Gaius. To his dismay, Gwen had tearfully shed tears as she pleaded for Gaius to do something. Unable to stand by and do nothing, Merlin did the only thing he could do. He snuck into Gwen's house, placing a healing poultice underneath the pillow to heal Gwen, and swept away into the night after seeing that she was fine. But it wasn't to be.
Merlin stood nearby, watching as Uther accused Gwen of magic. Already in his heart, he knew that it was a mistake to not take that poultice. As a result, he knew Gwen would die. But her salvation was at nigh. Morgana swept into the throne room, clad in a royal blue dress with a long hem that stretched out across the floor. She held her head high and her back straight and stern, ready to fight to the death for her maidservant, and her friend. She went on the offensive straight away.
"I believe you. Perhaps the disease is not fatal, have you thought of that? Perhaps he recovered naturally?" Morgana challenged.
"And what of this poultice?" asked Uther, sitting there not looking amused at being challenged.
Those were the words that unstuck Morgana's argument, as she paused in confusion.
"Poultice? What poultice?" asked Gwen.
"The poultice found in your house. Undo this enchantment"
"I don't know how! I'm not an enchantress" pleaded Gwen.
This only riled Uther up more.
"Then if you will not stop this enchantment...then I can do no further but to sentence you to death. Guards, take her away" shouted Uther.
"NO, PLEASE" screamed Gwen as they dragged her away. "I'm Innocent!"
Merlin's heart gripped with guilt, and he followed everyone out of the room. He wasn't sure how he would save Gwen, but he would do his best. He certainly knew that as a Knight, he couldn't burst into any meeting declaring he was a sorcerer. No, but as a Knight he had two very strong connections that he would definitely use to his advantage. Lady Morgana and Prince Arthur both held a strong swag with King Uther, especially Arthur. And Sir Leon would be more than happy to aid in any way as well. As such, Merlin left to his room, to think and consider how he would save Gwen, using the pieces he had available to him.
Both women wept as they clung to each other through the bars. Lady to servant, friend to friend, sister to sister.
"I don't know what else I can do Gwen" Morgana spoke sadly, eyes downcast. "I'm tried everything with King Uther, but he won't listen."
Gwen gripped Morgana tightly through the bars.
"It's okay Morgana. I am resigned to my fate, do not shed anymore tears for me" she said.
"No!" exclaimed Morgana. "You are my friend, you are my sister. I will do everything I can to protect you Gwen. I just don't know what to do."
Gwen smiled at her sadly.
"I'm sure you'll think of something. You always do, for you are strong Morgana. Far stronger than I could ever be."
Morgana just clung to Gwen tighter, vowing in her head to do anything she could for her friend.
Merlin walked to visit Gwen in prison, only to see Morgana approach from her visit. Her eyes were red and tear stains still present on her cheeks, and clad in the same lovely blue dress, with a black coat over the top to fight the chill. She looked distraught, unsure of what to do for her friend. She turned to him, her emerald eyes full of sorrow as she recognised him.
"Sir Merlin..." she whimpered, looking at him sadly, as tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
She stood there, so vulnerable and broken, that Merlin wanted to do anything he could to help her. Merlin moved instinctively, gathering the broken woman into his arms, holding her tight as she began to wail in sorrow, burrowing her face into his chest.
"Do not worry milady" spoke Merlin, sounding far more confident than he actually was.
"We'll find a way to free her, to prove that Gwen is innocent," spoke Merlin as he continued to stroke her back and hair to console her. "I swear on my word as a knight, that I will do anything I can."
Morgana's face peered up from her position on Merlin's chest, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Thank you Sir Merlin. You are a good man" she whispered softly.
She looked rather embarrassed at her display of her emotions, but she gave a shaky smile before she dashed off, hope blooming in her chest.