The next few weeks were rather busy. Uther got into a…tricky situation with Lady Katrina the troll. (I ended up having to taste the potion she drank to make herself look like Lady Katrina, as well as the equally disgusting potion that Gaius made to replace it.)

And, while I was helping Arthur figure out how to get Uther to see he had married a troll, I was helping Morgana learn more about her magic. It was actually rather fun practicing with her because we were both learning together. At first, I thought she would expect me to know everything, but she seemed to enjoy learning things right along with me.

We became close in that time. She began to trust me and come to me when she had nightmares, instead of Gaius. He kept giving her sleeping draughts, believing that was helping, and she took the dutifully, but they really didn't help.

She had wanted to tell Gaius the truth, but I told her that we must hide it from him for as long as possible. "It'll be our secret," I smiled. She smiled and agreed.

However, even with all her charm, she could not convince Uther that Lady Katrina was a troll. I finally had to find the Great Dragon and ask him for help. He was reluctant, but when I swore I would free him someday, he agreed to give me the answer. Uther had to cry tears of true remorse.

Tears of true remorse? How was I going to get Uther to do that? He'd never been sorry for anything in his life! Well, in the time that I'd known him, that is.

But wait! There was one thing that he would regret…


Gaius was explaining the plan to Arthur while I was cleaning the prince's room. "So your great plan is to kill me?" Arthur exclaimed.

"No," I replied quickly. Then, I added, "Well, yes. It…not exactly. It's…Gaius has made a potion that gives the appearance of death without the actual dying bit. It's fine. There's nothing to worry about. It'll only bring you to the brink of death."

"Oh, only to the brink," Arthur scoffed.

"We haven't got a choice," I pointed out.

"We have to make your father cry," Gaius added.

"He doesn't care about me anymore," Arthur sighed.

"Nonsense," Gaius protested. "That's Catrina's influence. I've known your father for many, many years. There's never been anyone or anything he's treasured more than you. It's perfectly safe. A single drop of the antidote will reverse the effects immediately."

"Antidote. What antidote? You didn't say anything about the antidote!" Arthur cried, glaring at me.

"Er…I didn't think it was important," I tried, smiling sheepishly.

"The potion will lower your heart rate and breathing. For all intents and purposes, you will be dead," Gaius explained.

"And the antidote reverses the effects?" Arthur hesitantly asked.

"Yes," Gaius replied. "If it's administered in time."
"If it isn't?" Arthur questioned.

"You will be dead," stated Gaius.

"You just said it wasn't important!" he shouted at me.

"Erm…yeah, I suppose it is a bit important," I returned, laughing nervously and coming to stand by Gaius.

"Merlin will have the antidote," Gaius told him. "Once I have administered the poison…" Arthur looked at him with wide eyes "…er, the potion, he'll have half an hour to get it to you."

"Don't be late," Arthur commanded, pointing a finger at me.

"Am I ever?" I grinned.

Gaius took the vial out of his pocket and held it up. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?" he confirmed.

"It's the only way to save Camelot," Arthur sighed and rolled his eyes.

He then took the vial and drank it all it one gulp. He waited, smiled, and shrugged. Then, his eyes rolled back and he fell forward. Gaius and I caught him and laid him gently on the ground. We looked at each other and nodded. "Time to break the bad news to Uther," Gaius said. I nodded.


I was on my way back to Arthur's room. I peeked around a corner, and the jogged down the corridor. A vase fell from above and hit me on the head. I assumed it was Lady Katrina's henchman, but I had hardly any time to think because I passed out, and dropped the vial containing the antidote.

When I awoke, I had no idea how much time had passed, but I hoped I was not too late. I checked to make sure I still had the antidote. Not finding it, I began to panic. I looked all around, thinking it may have rolled away.

To my horror, I finally found it broken on the stairs. I quick untied the scarf around my neck and used it to soak up the liquid, careful not to get any glass with it. Then, I got up and ran toward Arthur's chambers. I would come back and clean up the mess later.

I burst in through the side door, grateful that everyone else was occupied with the troll in the room. I knelt beside Arthur and rung out my scarf into his mouth. Thankfully, only a drop or two was needed.

Arthur jumped up and grabbed his sword. He went straight for the troll. Uther gasped in surprise and relief. "Is that any way to treat your dear old stepmother?" Katrina the troll mocked. With that, she picked Arthur up and threw him across the room. He hit the wall, but was unphased.

Katrina's henchman made a move toward Arthur, but the prince ran him through. Katrina then made her way toward Arthur again. I knew it was time to help. I whispered a spell that made the rug slip out from underneath her.

Arthur ran up to her, as she now lay on her back, and he killed her. We all groaned at the awful smell, but sighed with relief that it was over.

After supper that evening, I was making my way toward the chambers I shared with Gaius, when Arthur spotted. "Merlin," he called. I stopped and smiled. "I want you to know that I never doubted you."

I gave him a dubious look. "Alright, maybe I did, but it's your own fault. You've got a suspicious look about you. Shifty. Like you've got something to hide," he replied.

"I am an open book," I responded, smirking inwardly.

"I don't believe that for a second. However, I do know that without your help, I'd still have a troll for a stepmother. Well, thanks."

He began to put his arm around me, and thought it was weird, but if he wanted to hug me, I guess I'd be okay with it. "Whoa. What are you doing?" he questioned, pulling back.

"I thought you were going for a hug," I said, also pulling back.

"Nooo," he said, shaking his head.

"No," I repeated.

He gave me a strange look and then walked off down the corridor. I just laughed. He was a great puzzle sometimes.


I was out gathering herbs in the woods. It had been a couple weeks now, since we had had any magical incidents. It was nice to have some peace and quiet around the castle.

I sat on a hill and looked out over the meadow. I could still see the castle quite well. Then, I saw a huge column of smoke rising into the sky. I smiled as I imagined all the shapes that smoke could make.

Checking to make sure no one was around, I held out my hand and uttered a spell. The smoke turned into the shape of a horse. I smiled and made it prance.

Just then, I heard a rustling. I quickly made the smoke return to normal. A woman was suddenly by my side. "Did you see that?" she asked frantically.

"See what?" I asked, shaking my head.

"That smoke…it was magic! There is sorcery here. We must tell the king!" she cried. She then ran toward the castle.

I sighed. Great! Gaius is going to kill me! With another sigh, I stood up and headed back to the castle.

Sure enough, Gaius had a lot to say. But not before we listened to the woman tell Uther what she saw in the woods. "You're sure it was magic?" Uther questioned.

"I swear it," she replied. Arthur suggested that it may have been a trick of the light.

She shook her head. "The smoke was alive, I tell you," she insisted. "I feared for my life." I rolled my eyes. It's not like I made a dragon! It was a horse for crying out loud! And Arthur says I'm a coward!

She continued on, and Uther told her she would be rewarded for reporting it to him. She thanked him and bowed. Then, I followed Gaius to our chambers.

He was silent for a few seconds, but then he went off. "How many times, Merlin?! How many times must I drive it into that thick skull of yours that your magic is a secret to be guarded with your life?! What were you thinking?!"

"I…I wasn't thinking," I admitted.

"Well think, boy, think!" Gaius exclaimed.

"It was just a bit of fun," I protested. And a horse—not a ferocious beast!

"It was magic and it was seen," Gaius countered.

"You're right," I admitted. "I'm sorry."

"You must hide the book," Gaius simply replied. "And anything that can connect you to sorcery in any way."

"What? Now?" I asked.

"Yes, now, Merlin. The man that Uther has sent for, I know him."

"The witchfinder?"

"Hmm, some know him by that name. I know him as Aredian. He is a force to be reckoned with."

I swallowed hard. I knew there was not going to be an easy way out of this. What had I gotten myself into this time?

The next day, the witchfinder showed up in a black carriage. I glanced at Morgana when he entered the council chambers. She was nervous. "Calm down," I said in her head, using magic. "The more you look nervous, the more he'll suspect." She took a deep breath and tried to smile.


Over the next few days Aredian began to interview everyone in the castle, as well as everyone in the town. On one of these days, Morgana came running down the corridor crying. I stopped her and pulled her into an embrace. She let me hold her until she could stop sobbing.

Smiling, I reached up and gently wiped away a tear. She returned my smiled weakly. "Oh, Merlin, I'm so scared," she wept.

"What happened?" I asked.

"He knows I have magic. I'm sure of it."

"I won't let anything happen to you," I promised. "He's after me, really. I made the smoke turn into a horse in the woods."

"What?" she gasped.

"I didn't think anyone was around, so I had a bit of fun."

"Merlin!" she scolded.

"I know. I know. Gaius got on to me, too. I just wasn't thinking, that's all. But I promise that I will not let you bear the consequences of my actions."

She smiled and thanked me. Then, she turned and hurried in the direction of her room. I sighed. It was at moments like these that I almost thought it would be possible. But no…she was royal…and I was only a servant.

A few days later, after I fumbled through my interview, Aredian announced that he had found the sorcerer. "The boy, Merlin!" he proclaimed, dramatically turning around and pointing a finger at me. I gasped and so did Gaius.

Arthur just laughed. "Merlin? You can't be serious," he said. Gaius then added that he had no proof, but he said that a thorough search of my chambers would reveal all he needed to know.

I glanced toward Morgana. Determined to make sure she remained safe, I replied that I had nothing to hide. Aredian grinned wickedly. Uther gave the order to restrain me and let the search begin.


Arthur came to my cell door and opened it. He told me I was free to go. I furrowed my brow. Something was amiss.

Just then, I saw Gaius being escorted into another cell. I demanded to know what was going on. Gaius replied that they had found a magic bracelet of his. I looked at him questioningly. I was about to ask what bracelet he was talking about when he said, "Say nothing, Merlin. Do nothing. Promise me!" I nodded dumbly, but resolved to figure out a way to save him.

I tried talking to the Great Dragon, but he was of no help. It seemed that I was the one who caused this mess, and I was the one who was going to have to fix it.

I burst into the throne room, announcing that Aredian was a liar. Arthur raced up to me and grabbed me, saying he would deal with me. He dragged me to the dungeons.

I made a swing at him, but he caught my arm and twisted it behind my back, just as he had done on the day we met. I winced. "I know you' re upset," he breathed in my ear. "I know you're angry. It's alright. I'm not throwing you in jail."

"Then what are you doing?" I asked.

"Breaking the law," he replied, letting go of me, and shoving me a bit forward.

He opened the door to Gaius' cell. He told me he could only give me a few minutes. I talked with Gaius in a whisper. We came to the conclusion that Aredian had planted the bracelet in out chambers so that he would have some evidence against us. I was determined to use this knowledge to accuse Aredian, and prove Gaius innocent.

Gwen burst into my chambers. "He won't let it go!" she cried. I gave her a questioning look, and she added that he was interviewing Morgana again. "She's almost to her breaking point," she cried. "I know she's innocent, but he can get a confession out of anyone."

"Well, maybe not entirely innocent…" I thought.

I then explained to Gwen what Aredian had done. She agreed to help, but asked how we were going to get proof. I just smiled.

We eventually caught Aredian by having the apothecary bear witness to giving Aredian's witnesses the drug that made them hallucinate, and by planting a whole bunch of bracelets in his cupboard. I also added a personal touch by making toads come out of Areidan's mouth. Gaius scolded me afterward for going too far, but I didn't care. Aredian deserved it. Though perhaps he didn't deserve the falling out of the window. But I couldn't help it that his reaction was so dramatic.

Uther exclaimed, "Sorcerer!" when he saw the toads come out of Aredian's mouth. At that, Aredian grabbed a dagger and Morgana. He held the dagger at Morgana's throat. She gasped and glanced toward me. Then, she fixed her eyes on Uther. "Aredian, think carefully about what you're doing," Uther warned. "You will never escape from Camelot alive."

"I will if you value the life of your ward. Hmm?" Aredian challenged.

"Forbærnan," I whispered.

The handle of the dagger began to glow and heat up. Aredian dropped it, freeing Morgana. She rushed into Uther's arms, but shot me a look of thanks. I smiled.

Aredian was so shocked that he stumbled backwards, tripped over a trunk, and fell, head first out the window. Uther glanced out the window and ordered the guards to dispose of the body. They quickly exited.

Later, Gaius scolded me for getting involved, as usual. He added that the toad may have been a step too far. But then we both laughed and all was soon forgiven and forgot.


A/N: Please let me know what you think. Again, sorry for any errors, I only proof read this once. This chapter was kind of short, I know, but the next chapter will be a bit longer. And things will start to get interesting. :)