A/N: Hey guys! This chapter gave me such a headache. It just kept growing and growing with no end in sight, but finally I managed to get it just the way I wanted it. It's over 12,000 words, and I can barely believe it. I hope you all enjoy it though, and as always, feel free to review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
/
Arthur and his party were in the courtyard preparing to leave on yet another search when a messenger came galloping in. He brought word that one of the other parties had been brutally attacked. When he was sent back to the city more than half of them had already fallen. Uther ordered Arthur to take his party and find them. Merlin swung up onto a horse next to him.
"What do you think you're doing?" Arthur asked her.
"I'm coming with you. If there are any survivors, they're going to be injured. You'll need my help."
"Merlin, I don't have time to argue with you about this…"
"So don't." Merlin said as she kicked her horse and made him move forward. Arthur just shook his head and followed after her.
/
They traveled fast and found the party in the foothills of the mountains. Merlin knew they would be too late to save anyone, but Arthur ordered them to search for survivors anyway. When none could be found he said that they would follow the party's course, which they had learned from the messenger. Merlin didn't think that was a good idea.
"Should we really be doing that? I mean, these men were slaughtered." she whispered to Arthur.
"Yes, and that means that they were on to something. We have to find out what it was. It might lead us to Morgana."
/
It did lead to Morgana. Merlin could scarcely believe her eyes when the woman came walking out of the trees toward them. While she was glad that this meant that no more search parties would be sent out, she was also terrified about what Morgana might tell Arthur and the king about her disappearance. If she told them that Merlin had tried to kill her, Merlin's execution order was as much as signed. Surprisingly, Morgana didn't say a word about Merlin's actions to the king or prince. She did speak to Merlin about them. She said she understood why Merlin had done it, and that she regretted everything she had done. Merlin looked at her tear-streaked face, and she couldn't help but believe her. She thought, maybe her friend had returned. She was wrong.
/
When Uther started having hallucinations, Merlin grew suspicious. When she saw Morgana leaving the castle one night, she knew the girl had something to do with the king's illness. It became clear that Morgana was not who she claimed to be; she was working to destroy Camelot. The worst part was, she was succeeding. By striking at the king, she was also striking at Arthur. As Uther deteriorated into madness, Arthur also began to crumble. Merlin knew that she had to do something. She followed Morgana one night, but that only lead to her being captured.
"Why is it that you continue to risk everything for Arthur?" the witch asked her. Merlin chose not to respond.
"There's something you're not telling me, but no matter. You will take your secrets to your grave. You tried to poison one of my own. You may yet regret that."
Morgause enchanted the chains around Merlin to be unbreakable, and then she left her to the Serkets. No matter how hard Merlin tried, or what spell she used, she could not free herself. She also couldn't fight off the giant scorpion-like creatures, and soon enough one of them struck her in the back. The venom burned in her blood, and Merlin knew that she needed help.
"Kilgharrah! Please, I need your help!" she screamed into the sky. Merlin knew it was a long shot, but the dragon was her last chance. Just as night fell and Merlin had given up hope of being rescued, she heard the tell-tale sound of the dragon's wings. He came swooping out of the sky and burned the Serkets that were surrounding Merlin. When the creatures were dead, he gently picked up Merlin in his claws and flew her to safety. They landed in a large cave near the top of the highest mountain in Camelot.
"I didn't think you'd come; didn't know if you could hear me." Merlin wheezed.
"I can always hear you, young witch. I told you the last time we met that I would reward your courage. It is not yet your time to die."
Kilgharrah breathed over Merlin and she felt the burning in her veins cool and the pressure in her chest dissipate. The chains around her body fell away and Merlin sighed in contentment.
"Rest. It will take time for your strength to return."
Merlin nodded and let her eyes fall closed.
"Thank you." she whispered before sleep claimed her.
/
The next day Merlin got the dragon to fly her back to the city, where she broke the enchantment on Uther. However, in her absence, things had gone from bad to worse. Cenred and his army were closing in on Camelot, and they would have no choice but to fight. Arthur was forced to take charge and act in his father's place while Uther was still recovering from the effects of Morgana's enchantment. When it was time for Arthur to get ready for battle, Merlin found him in the king's chambers.
"Sire. It's time." she said quietly.
Arthur looked at her and then back to his father. He leaned over him and said, "I promise I will not let you down."
When he stood before Merlin she reached up and brushed the tears from his eyes. They walked back to his chambers in silence and Merlin put him in his armor. When she handed him his sword she said, "It is your fate to be the greatest king Camelot has ever known. Your victory today will be remembered by every age until the end of time."
Arthur's gaze softened and he said, "There are times, Merlin, when you display a sort of…I don't know what it is. It's not wisdom, but yes, that's what it is."
Merlin smirked and he took her arm to pull her to his chest.
"I won't tell you to stay in the castle, because I know you won't. Just be careful." he whispered into her hair.
"You're the one who should be careful. I'll be fine."
"See that you are."
He kissed her and then left to go to his men. Merlin watched him walk away and she knew she was looking at a true king.
/
The battle as well as it could have gone. There were a few interesting moments, like when Uther charged headfirst into the foray, and the magical living skeletons were unexpected. Uther was brought back into the castle, Arthur and his men defended the citadel, and Merlin took care of the magic. When the dust settled, Camelot was victorious. Of course, Merlin got no credit and Morgana managed to maintain her charade of loving ward. It was going to be a long year.
/
When Merlin accidentally released the goblin, she didn't think it would be all that bad. Well, to be fair, compared to other things, it wasn't. Mostly, it just caused a bit of embarrassment and hilarity within the city. Even so, she was glad when Gwen was able to help her contain it again.
Days later, Arthur and Merlin went for a ride so they could spend some time together alone. They stopped at a tavern for a drink, and found themselves in the middle of a fight. A brunette man came to their aid, and took a knife that was intended for Arthur. His name was Gwaine, and Arthur brought him back to Camelot to be treated. He awoke the next day when Merlin brought him some food.
"What am I doing in this bed?" he asked her. Merlin smiled.
"You were wounded. Arthur wanted to make sure you were treated by his physician."
Gwaine gave her a confused look.
"Arthur?"
Merlin set the food down.
"Prince Arthur. You saved his life when you took that knife for him."
Gwaine groaned.
"If I'd have known who he was, I wouldn't have. He's a noble."
"Yeah, but he's a good man."
"If you say so."
Merlin just stared at Gwaine. The only other person she'd ever known with such distaste for nobles was Will.
"So, whose bed is this?" Gwaine asked after he'd taken a sip of water.
"It's mine."
Gwaine grimaced.
"Oh. Well, forgive me for robbing one as fair as you of her sleeping quarters."
Merlin smiled.
"It's fine, really. Gaius has a spare cot in the main chamber that I slept on. Besides, you needed to be close so that we could monitor your condition."
"So you're the physician's assistant then?"
Merlin nodded.
"As well as Arthur's personal servant."
Gwaine laughed.
"I don't envy you that position."
The smile fell from Merlin's face.
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him. Arthur comes off as a prat at first, but after a while you find out that he's actually got a good heart."
Gwaine considered her for a moment, and then smirked.
"And you'd know quite a bit about his heart, wouldn't you?"
Merlin ducked her head and didn't reply. She left the room to the sound of Gwaine's laughter.
/
It didn't take Gwaine long before he was back on his feet. He used them to take him to the tavern in the lower town, where he managed to wrack up an impressive bill. Merlin had to come down and deal with the owner on his account.
"You've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed when she saw the bill. Gwaine just smiled at her.
The owner stepped closer to her and said, "He says he don't have any money, so it looks like you'll be paying for it all."
Merlin's eyes widened.
"I can't afford this!"
"Then you better find someone who can."
Merlin thought they were going to be in big trouble, but then she remembered Arthur.
"Send the bill to the prince. He'll pay it."
The tavern owner took a step back.
"Prince Arthur is going to pay for him?" he said gesturing to Gwaine who had fallen onto the floor in his drunken state.
"Yes. You have my word."
The owner looked at her for a minute longer and then nodded. Merlin helped Gwaine up and together they made their way back to Gaius's chambers. When Merlin laid Gwaine onto her bed he smiled up at her.
"You're the best friend I've ever had, Merlin. And the prettiest by far."
"You're drunk." Merlin laughed.
"That may be true, but you still are the prettiest woman I've ever seen. And I've seen my fair share."
Merlin blushed and made to leave, but Gwaine stopped her when he said, "I'd love to see Arthur's face when he gets that bill."
"What is it with you and nobles?"
"Nothing. My father was a knight. He died in battle and left my mother penniless."
Merlin sat next to him on the bed.
"You never knew him?"
Gwaine shook his head.
"Just heard stories."
Merlin sighed.
"I know how that is. I met my father just briefly before he died. He was banished."
Gwaine sat up.
"What for?"
"Nothing. He served King Uther."
"And the king turned against him. That doesn't surprise me."
Merlin shook her head.
"Arthur's not like that. He wouldn't turn away people that had helped him. He cares about his subjects, each and every one of them, whether they're noble or not."
Gwaine just smiled.
"Well that may be, but none of them are worth dying for."
He fell back onto the pillow, and Merlin left him to sleep off the alcohol.
/
Knights had been arriving for the melee for days, but two of them were not what they seemed. Merlin knew they were planning to kill the prince when she cut herself on one of their "blunt" swords. They found her in their chambers, and they tried to hurt her, but Gwaine came to her rescue. He was banished for assaulting a knight. Arthur had done all he could to save Gwaine's life, giving his word that Gwaine was a good man, but he could not make his father reconsider. With Gwaine gone, Merlin had to focus on saving Arthur. The melee came and just when it looked like Arthur would be struck down, one of the knights came to his aid. When Merlin saw the way the man fought, a smile lit up her face. There was only one man she knew who could fight like that. After the two imposter knights were struck down, Gwaine revealed himself. Uther was furious, but Arthur once again spoke on his behalf. Uther granted him a pardon, but would not revoke his banishment. Gwaine once again had to leave the city. Before he left, he caught up to Merlin in the market.
"It seems you were right about Arthur. He's worth dying for."
Merlin smiled.
"I told you he was a good man."
Gwaine nodded.
"I hope he knows how lucky he is to have your loyalty. If all the people of Camelot love him as much as you do, then he's bound to be a great king."
Merlin squeezed his arm and kissed his cheek.
"Take care of yourself, Gwaine."
"I'll do my best."
Merlin made her way back up to the castle. It was almost dinner time and Arthur would be hungry. When she came in with his tray he had a guarded smile on his face.
"So, are you going to miss Gwaine?" he asked as she set his food in front of him.
"Yes. He made things interesting around here."
Arthur laughed.
"To say the least."
He was quiet for a moment while he took a few bites of his food. Merlin went about straightening up and setting out his nightclothes.
"I saw you two in the market." Arthur finally said.
Merlin turned to look at him.
"I was just saying goodbye."
"Do you kiss all the men you say goodbye to?"
Merlin stared at him for a few long seconds and then she laughed.
"You're jealous! Oh please, Arthur, it was just a peck on the cheek. It was completely innocent!"
Arthur scowled.
"Did he know that? He seemed very taken with you."
Merlin walked over to the table and leaned over him.
"That may be, but I'm only taken with one person, and it isn't Gwaine."
Arthur set down his cup and turned more towards her.
"Oh yeah? And who is this person?"
Merlin smiled.
"I think you might know him. He's a royal prat and can often times be arrogant and condescending, but he's also a good man with his heart in the right place."
"He does sound vaguely familiar." Arthur conceded.
"I thought he might." Merlin said just before she placed her lips over Arthur's.
/
When Merlin entered the Crystal Cave a month later, she didn't know that a series of events would be set in motion that would break her heart. She saw a vision of Morgana killing Uther. To try and stop this from happening, she began to follow the woman and keep a close eye on her. In order to stop her one night, she used magic that caused her to fall down a flight of stairs. Morgana sustained a bad head injury, and Gaius didn't think he could do anything to save her. Both Uther and Arthur were devastated, but Merlin didn't know just how much until the afternoon that Arthur came into his chambers near tears. He collapsed into a chair and Merlin just stood awkwardly off to the side.
"I'm sorry about Morgana." she whispered.
Arthur sighed.
"After all we went through to rescue her, all she lived through, it doesn't seem fair to lose her like this. I've grown up with her; she's like a sister to me. I'd give up my place on the throne for her to see another sunrise."
Merlin's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't let Morgana die. Not if it would cost her Arthur's happiness. She went back to her room, and there she overheard Uther talking to Gaius. She had to contain her surprise when she learned that Morgana was actually Uther's daughter. So many things made sense in that moment; his desperate need to find her no matter what the cost, his absolute trust of her, his grief over the thought of her death. Everything made sense. Merlin combed through her magic book looking for a spell, any spell, which might save Morgana. She found one at last late that night. When she whispered it over the sleeping girl, she watched in amazement as color returned to her and her breathing deepened. Merlin had saved her.
/
As soon as Morgana's health was restored everyone in Camelot began smiling again. Uther was in such a good mood that he invited his close friend Lord Godwyn and his daughter Princess Elena to the city. They arrived as soon as they were able, and Merlin noticed that Arthur seemed distracted.
"Make sure you put them in the finest guest chambers available." he told her as they walked down one of the corridors after Uther and Arthur had formally welcomed the two to Camelot.
"It's all been arranged. They will not be less than impressed."
Arthur nodded and then stopped. Merlin turned to him with a concerned gaze.
"Something is troubling you, isn't it?"
"It's nothing, not really. My father just had some surprising news for me. He expects me to marry Princess Elena."
Merlin's breath left her in a rush.
"Marriage?"
Arthur's eyes widened when he noticed her distress and he shook his head.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to."
He set off back down the corridor and left Merlin standing there. She was trying not to worry, but it was proving difficult.
/
The next day Uther planned for Arthur and Elena to go for a ride and then enjoy a picnic lunch by the river not far from the city. Merlin was to go along and attend to them during the meal. She'd noticed that Elena was nothing like what she always thought princesses would be like. The girl was clumsy, had appalling manners, and was hopeless when it came to personal grooming. However, she could ride a horse like no other woman Merlin had ever seen. Even Arthur was impressed with her skill. When she caught up to the pair, Merlin heard him compliment her. Of course, she had to laugh a little when Arthur gave Elena a rose and it made her sneeze. That's when she figured it would be best to make herself known.
"Merlin! There you are." Arthur called when she walked over to them carrying the blanket, pillows, and food for their picnic.
"Do not leave me again." he whispered to her as he grabbed the blanket from her. She set everything up while Arthur and Elena walked along the riverbank. When everything was ready she called them over. Arthur helped Elena sit, but the girl still managed to mostly just fall. Arthur looked over her head and grimaced at Merlin. Merlin just tried not to giggle too loudly.
/
When Merlin found out that Elena's maid was a pixie, she knew that something must be going on. She told Gaius, and he guessed that Elena was a changeling, a human harboring a fairy. They set to work trying to find a way to force the fairy out of Elena, but it was slow going. After a long night of research, Gaius finally found a potion that would do what they wanted. It wasn't easy to make, but they were determined to make it work. Still, they were running out of time. Arthur had called a gathering for that morning, and Merlin had a bad feeling about it. Before the meeting, he asked Merlin to come to his chambers.
"I need to talk to you."
"Yes. I'd guessed that when you sent for me. It's about your marriage to Elena, isn't it?"
Arthur crossed his arms over his chest. The look on his face said everything Merlin needed to know.
"You're going to propose to her." Merlin stated.
"It's what my father wants."
Merlin stepped closer.
"Well, Elena is a smart girl. She will make a fine queen."
Arthur dropped his hands and Merlin finally saw the tears in his eyes.
"I don't want her to be my queen. I want you, Merlin. Is that really so insane?"
Merlin swallowed the lump in her throat and willed her voice to be steady as she said, "Yes. To everyone else, it's completely insane."
"Then I'm happy being insane. It beats being miserable."
Merlin shook her head.
"I hardly think Elena will make you miserable. If nothing else, she's a constant source of entertainment."
Arthur laughed a little, but then he looked right at her.
"If I marry her, what will you do?"
Merlin met his gaze and said, "I will watch you become the king that I know you will be and I'll be happy knowing that Camelot is in good hands."
Arthur nodded and turned away from her. He needed time to compose himself, and Merlin left him alone. When he actually got down on one knee before Elena and asked her to be his wife, Merlin forced herself to watch. She was eternally grateful that she managed to do it without crying.
/
Gaius and Merlin managed to complete the potion before Arthur's wedding, and Merlin was able to kill the fairy when it finally left the girl. Once she knew that Arthur was no longer in danger, she left. Merlin had watched him propose to another woman, she didn't think she could actually see him marry her. She found Gwen and asked her to do her a favor.
"Of course, what is it?"
Merlin swallowed and took a deep breath.
"I need you to bring Arthur his ceremonial sword. It's in his chambers on the rack. It's the one with the marble handle. He always forgets it."
Gwen nodded and then placed her hand on Merlin's arm.
"Alright, but where are you going, Merlin?"
Merlin tried to smile, but it just wouldn't come. Instead she just shook her head.
"Back to my room. I'm not feeling well at all and I don't want to ruin the wedding by passing out or throwing up. Arthur will understand. Thanks for helping me, Gwen."
She brushed past her friend quickly. Merlin knew that if Gwen kept asking her questions she was going to do something horrendously stupid and tell the truth.
/
Merlin made it all the way back to her room when she finally realized that she was being selfish. As hard as Arthur's getting married was for her, she knew that it was even harder for Arthur. He needed her today, and she wasn't going to let him down. She took off and ran all the way to the throne room where the ceremony was to take place. Merlin tried to slip inside undetected, but Arthur turned just in time to see her enter.
"Wait!" he called.
Merlin held her breath.
"Is there something you wish to say?" Geoffrey asked him.
"Something I should have said a long time ago. Something from the heart I dare not speak."
A curious hush fell over the crowd and Merlin's heart began to race.
"Elena, you are a wonderful woman, but I cannot deny my feelings."
Elena smiled.
"You do not love me."
Arthur shook his head.
"And I think if you were honest, you do not love me either."
Elena also shook her head.
"So we are both here out of duty. Can you forgive me?"
Elena gave him a bright smile.
"I agree with all that you have said. Thank you, Arthur."
Arthur released her hands and then strode back up the aisle with Uther hot on his heels. Merlin was frozen to her spot. She couldn't believe what had just happened.
/
Elena and her father left that afternoon. Merlin stood beside Arthur to see them off.
"I wish you well, Arthur Pendragon." Elena said as she descended the steps into the courtyard.
"And I you, Princess Elena." Arthur said as he kissed her hand.
Elena looked right at Merlin when she said, "I hope one day we both find the love we deserve."
She looked back to Arthur when he raised his head.
"In the meantime, if you ever want to be beaten in a horse race, you know where to find me."
Elena walked away and both Merlin and Arthur watched her go. When she was out of earshot Merlin turned to Arthur and said, "I like her. She knows how to take you down a peg."
Arthur glanced sideways at her.
"Yes. Almost as well as you do."
They made their way back to Arthur's chambers where he pulled Merlin into his arms.
"So, it appears that I'm still a single man."
Merlin smiled.
"So it does. It's for the best, really. You didn't deserve Princess Elena."
Arthur laughed.
"No? Well I had hoped to have forsaken her for one equally as lovely, with maybe a little more wit but not quite as many brains."
"Hmm, I'm not quite sure I know of such a lady."
"I do."
Arthur leaned down for a kiss and Merlin smiled against his lips.
/
Some weeks later, Gwen went missing. Merlin searched her house, but all she found was a cloth doused in a concoction potent enough to knock someone out. She showed it to Arthur as soon as she could.
"What is that?" he asked her when she came running into his room.
"It's a cloth that I found in Gwen's house. I heard that she didn't turn up for work this morning and I was worried."
Arthur gave her his you're-an-idiot look.
"You found cloth in Gwen's house? Well, that's really suspicious. Who would guess that there'd be cloth in a seamstresses house?"
Merlin sighed.
"Smell it."
Arthur shook his head and gave her a disgusted look.
"What? No."
Merlin thrust the cloth at him.
"Smell it."
He did this time, and promptly reeled.
"What on earth? You could knock a man out with that!"
Merlin nodded.
"Or a woman."
Arthur looked at her and asked, "You think Gwen's been kidnapped?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Whatever for?"
Merlin shrugged her shoulders.
"I have no idea, but I intend to find out and get her back. Gwen's like my sister; she means the world to me."
Arthur took in her distressed and worried state.
"Alright. If it means that much to you, I'll see if my father will send out a search party for her."
Merlin threw her arms around him.
"Thank you, Arthur."
/
Uther wouldn't send out a search party, he wouldn't do anything. In his eyes Gwen was just a servant and she had no real value. Merlin was devastated. It didn't last long, because Gwen turned up the next day. Merlin ran into her, literally, in a corridor.
"Gwen! I've been worried sick about you! I scoured the lower town looking for you."
Gwen wouldn't meet Merlin's eye.
"I'm sorry. I just had a cold, that's all."
Merlin wasn't buying it.
"I went to your house, Gwen. You weren't there."
"No, I…um…I…"
That's when Merlin saw the bruises on her wrists.
"Who did this to you?" she asked. Gwen tried to pull down her sleeves, but it was too late.
"No one. It was an accident."
By this time she was crying, and Merlin knew that something terrible had happened to her. She helped her up and brought her home. When they got there she made some tea and handed a cup to Gwen.
"Tell me everything."
Gwen sighed.
"Men came to my house last night and drugged me. I don't know where they took me, but it was an old castle by the sea. Cenred was there. He captured my brother, Elyan, too. Cenred said that if I didn't bring Prince Arthur to him in a week then he'd make me watch while he tore out Elyan's heart. I don't know why he thought that I could make the prince do anything. I suppose we're friends, but it's not as if I have any real sway with him. My brother is going to die, and there's nothing I can do about it."
Merlin was gobsmacked. She had an idea why they would take Gwen. Everyone knew that there was no one that Merlin was closer to, and if you asked the right people, it was also known that no one was closer to the prince than Merlin. Merlin of course was too well protected to kidnap, what with her being with the prince almost constantly and having a room within the castle, so the next best thing was to take Gwen. If they could force Gwen to have to make a terrible choice, whoever was planning this knew that Merlin would do anything to make sure Gwen didn't suffer. And if Merlin was going to help Gwen, so was Arthur. He'd never let her do anything by herself.
"Let me talk to Arthur. I'm sure he can help us."
Gwen turned to her with wide eyes.
"No, Merlin! I can't involve the prince in this, I can't. It's what Cenred wants."
Merlin shook her head.
"And I can't let you suffer. We'll talk to Arthur and see what he says. He might be able to help us come up with a plan."
/
And that was how Merlin, Gwen, Arthur, and Morgana set out to the Castle Fyrien to rescue Elyan. Merlin knew it was a bad idea to bring Morgana along. She was the one feeding information to Cenred, Merlin was sure of it. With her along, their plan was pretty much doomed to fail from the start. Merlin's fears became realized when their "secret way" into the castle was discovered and all four of them were captured. With some more quick thinking by Arthur, they managed to escape the dungeons, but Morgana was nowhere to be found.
"Merlin, take Gwen and Elyan and get them to the horses. When you get there, ride straight for Camelot."
"And where are you going?"
"To find Morgana. I'm not leaving here without her."
"It's too dangerous!"
Arthur gripped her arm.
"I can't leave her. Promise me you'll go to the horses and get yourselves out of here."
Merlin had no choice but to nod and watch Arthur run back the way they had come. Once he was out of sight she turned to Gwen and Elyan.
"Do as he says. I've got to help him."
"But he just said…" Elyan tried, but Gwen stopped him with a hand to his shoulder. She met Merlin's eye and understanding passed between them.
"Be careful." she said, and then she led Elyan down the corridor while Merlin chased after Arthur. She got to him just in time to save him from Morgause's magic. Merlin ran in to help him up and he yelled when he saw her.
"You promised me you'd get out of here!"
"Yeah, well, you're not the only one who couldn't leave someone they cared about behind."
Together they got Morgana and escaped the castle. They met up with Gwen and Elyan at the horses and Arthur sighed.
"I guess no one in this group takes my orders seriously."
Gwen smiled.
"Just because you're a prince, that doesn't mean we always have to do what you say."
The ride back to Camelot was lighthearted and filled with the sense of victory and accomplishment, even though Morgana didn't seem to share those sentiments.
/
A month later Arthur had to prove himself worthy to take the throne of Camelot by embarking alone on a quest. He'd chosen to retrieve the Golden Trident of the Fisher King. Merlin wished he could have chosen something easier, but like always, he didn't listen to her. Just before he set out, Merlin caught sight of a bracelet on his arm.
"Like it?" he asked.
"It's very nice. Where'd you get it?" she asked.
"Morgana gave it to me."
Arthur rode away and Merlin knew that whatever that bracelet was, it was not going to help the prince.
/
Gaius discovered that the stone in the bracelet was actually not a stone, but an eye of the phoenix. It supposedly drew the life force out of the wearer.
"I've got to get to Arthur before that bracelet kills him."
"You can't go alone, Merlin. The Perilous Lands are, as their name suggest, perilous." Gaius insisted. Merlin paused and then smiled.
"I won't be going alone."
/
It took some hunting to find Gwaine, but once she found him he agreed to help her with little fuss. Together they set out for the perilous lands. They were almost there when Merlin found a man guarding a bridge.
"So Magic has arrived!" the man exclaimed when he saw her.
"Excuse me?"
"Courage passed this way not long ago. I told him that to be successful in his quest he would need Magic and Strength. Magic stands before me, and I suspect Strength is not far behind."
Just then Gwaine came stumbling down the path and the man smiled.
"Ah, there he is. The trio is complete."
Gwaine pointed to the man and asked, "Who's he?"
"I am the keeper of the bridge. You both must hurry, but remember, nothing is as it seems."
Gwaine and Merlin both stepped forward and began to make their way across the bridge. When they reached the other side Gwaine turned to her and said, "That was a very strange man."
"Yes." Merlin said, but she couldn't help but think that he had told them something important.
/
When Merlin and Gwaine made camp that night they were startled by the cries of some beast.
"What was that?" Merlin asked.
"Pheasant." Gwaine said. She turned to look at him.
"Pheasant?"
"A very big one."
Merlin laughed. Gwaine was truly a character. After a while she said, "You can turn back if you want."
Gwaine just shook his head.
"I'm not scared of pheasants."
"You know what I mean. Why do you want to do this?"
Gwaine's gaze softened and he said, "The same reason you do; to help a friend."
Merlin smiled softly at him.
"Arthur's lucky to have us."
Gwaine shook his head.
"Not Arthur." he said as he placed his hand gently on her knee. Merlin looked at him and nodded.
"I'd do the same for you."
"I hope so. You're the only friend I've got. Although, I wouldn't mind being more than just your friend."
Merlin stiffened, but Gwaine just laughed and removed his hand from her knee.
"Don't worry, I know there's no chance for us. I could never hope to compete with your prince."
Merlin relaxed again and gave him an apologetic smile.
"I hope Arthur knows what a treasure he has in you." Gwaine said softly.
"He does."
Gwaine nodded and got up to get ready for bed. They didn't speak for the rest of the night.
/
When Merlin found Arthur he was unconscious, but he quickly woke up after she'd removed the bracelet. When he saw her he was furious.
"What are you doing here? You've completely ruined the quest. I'm supposed to do this alone!"
"I'll just leave you to die then, shall I?" Merlin asked, but Arthur just scoffed. When Gwaine saved them both from a wyvern, Arthur grew even angrier. Still, he didn't refuse their help and they began searching the castle for the trident. At one point, Merlin got separated from the two men because she'd stepped on something that caused a stone door to shut. She couldn't hear anything through it, even though she tried yelling for them. When she turned around she found herself in what was once a throne room. Merlin walked closer to the throne and found the Fisher King himself. He told her that this was really her quest and not Arthur's. He gave he water from the lake of Avalon, saying that it would help her in Camelot's darkest hour. In return, she put the phoenix eye bracelet on him so that he could finally be at rest. He'd just disappeared when Arthur and Gwaine were able to open the door.
"Merlin! Are you alright?" Arthur asked her as he rushed toward her.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Arthur looked her over from head to toe, and when he was satisfied that she really was fine he took a look around. When Gwaine got to her, he wrapped Merlin in a hug. He'd just released her when Arthur picked up the trident and announced that they could leave. They left Gwaine at the border, since by Uther's decree he was still banished.
"I'm sorry, Gwaine. There's nothing I can do to change my father's mind."
"Maybe one day." Merlin added.
"Yeah, when Camelot gets itself a half-decent king." Gwaine said with a smile.
Arthur shook his head and said, "Careful. He is my father."
"Well, you can't have everything, can you." he said while looking right at Merlin. She blushed under his gaze, but luckily Arthur didn't seem t notice. He and Merlin rode back to the city, and Gwaine once again let the wind take him.
/
Alice, a woman from Gaius' past, arrived a few weeks later. Gaius was thrilled to see her again, and Merlin soon learned that her mentor had once been engaged to the woman. He still loved her very much, and Merlin was happy that they could be together again. Unfortunately, she discovered that Alice was under the control of a Manticore. Merlin tried to tell Gaius, but he wouldn't believe her. It wasn't until Uther was in danger that the old man had no choice but to see the truth. He helped Merlin get rid of the creature, but Alice once again left Camelot. Merlin took no pleasure in breaking Gaius' heart, even though she'd had no choice.
/
Although, if Merlin thought that breaking Gaius' heart once was bad, then there was no way she could have prepared herself for breaking his heart again, along with Gwen's, Arthur's, and her own at the same time. Arthur had planned a day for just the two of them out in the forest. Merlin was very excited as she made her way to the spot Arthur had picked. At first, everything was wonderful. They had lunch and enjoyed the sunshine and just got to relax. Merlin had just leaned over to kiss Arthur when the king and Morgana rode up. That's when everything went to hell.
/
"He's banished you!" Arthur screamed after he'd come back from meeting with his father. Merlin stood up so quickly it made her dizzy.
"What?"
Arthur threw a cup at the wall and screamed again.
"He's banished you from Camelot. You have three days to leave. To return is on pain of death."
"He can't do that!" Merlin insisted.
"He's the king, I assure you, he can."
Merlin collapsed back into her chair. Finally she whispered, "I suppose I have no choice. I'll go back to my mother in Ealdor."
Arthur took her hand.
"I'm coming with you."
Merlin shook her head.
"You can't! If you leave you'll give up your rights to the throne. I can't let you do that. You have to become king!"
Arthur silenced her with a kiss. When he drew away he cupped her cheek and said, "One day we will return to Camelot and you will take your place on the throne beside me. I swear it."
Neither of them saw Morgana silently shut the door.
/
The next day Merlin was dragged into the council chambers by two guards. She was thrust to her knees before the king and he shoved a poultice in her face.
"Do you recognize it?" he demanded.
"I've never seen it before in my life."
Uther sat back and said "I believe you planted it in Arthur's chambers to make him fall in love with you."
Merlin looked over at Morgana and saw the smirk she couldn't contain.
"I did no such thing." she said without taking her eyes off the woman.
"Why else would Arthur fall in love with someone like you?" Uther demanded.
Merlin was shaking in rage. She was being set up, and Morgana had covered her bases well.
"I don't expect someone like you to understand that." she spat. Just then, Arthur came striding into the room with Gwen at his heels. She'd seen Merlin being dragged away and had obviously alerted Arthur.
"What is the meaning of this?" the prince practically yelled.
"This poultice was found under your pillow. It's some kind of love charm; you were under its spell." Uther said as he showed Arthur the small pouch. Arthur shook his head.
"That's ridiculous. I know how I feel. I'm not enchanted."
Uther stepped closer to his son and asked, "So can you tell me how it came to be in your chambers?"
Arthur shook his head.
"I don't know, but I don't believe that Merlin put it there. Why would she? She's been my servant for years. Why would she enchant me now?"
Uther turned to glare at Merlin where she was still on the floor.
"Because up until now she's been gaining your trust. She's been biding her time and waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
Arthur was shaking in fury.
"No. I know, Merlin. She would never do anything like that."
Uther turned back to his son and cupped his cheek.
"Until this spell is broken I can't take anything you say as the truth. Merlin has been found guilty of using magic and enchantments. She will be burned at the stake."
Arthur shook his head and paled.
"No. You can't do this!" he yelled. Uther had him restrained.
"My lord, at least give Merlin a fair trial!" Gaius pleaded. His pleas fell on deaf ears.
"I have all the evidence I need. I know you care for your ward, Gaius, but you know the law."
Arthur struggled against the guards holding him.
"I'm begging you! We will leave Camelot, just let us go! I relinquish my entitlement to the throne!"
Uther walked over to him saying, "My son would never do that. It is proof beyond doubt that you are enchanted."
"I will never forgive you for this."
Uther nodded.
"She will die, the enchantment will be broken, and you will see that I was right. Take her away."
Guards came forward and dragged Merlin off the floor and towards the doors. Arthur yelled and fought against his captors. He was able to break free long enough to rush to her and press a kiss to her lips.
"I will always love you." he said as he was caught again and Merlin was dragged away.
/
Merlin wasn't in the dungeon long before Gwen came to bring her food.
"I thought you might be hungry." she said as she put it down on the bench. Merlin shook her head.
"I've just come from seeing, Arthur. He's devastated. I've never seen him like this."
Gwen came forward and took Merlin's hand.
"You two really love each other, don't you?"
Merlin gave her a small smile.
"Yes."
Gwen nodded.
"I knew that you cared for each other, everyone did, but I didn't know that he'd be willing to give up the throne for you."
Merlin let out a mirthless laugh.
"As if I'd let him. I'd rather die tomorrow than have that happen. Arthur must become king."
Gwen shook her head.
"If you die tomorrow, there will be no Arthur. You might as well tie him to that stake next to you. If he loses you, Merlin, he will lose his will to live. One look in his eyes was enough to tell me that."
Merlin choked out a sob and Gwen wrapped her arms around her.
"He's not the only one who can't watch you die. You're as good as my sister, and like a daughter to Gaius. We will find a way to get you out of here. I promise."
Merlin shook her head.
"Uther will never see reason."
Gwen cupped her cheeks and said, "I will not let you go to that pyre, Merlin. You hear me? I won't. You've saved my life many times over, risked your own life to help me, and I will not abandon you now. We will get you out of here."
She pressed a kiss to Merlin's forehead and then swept out of the cell. Merlin watched her go and thought that if anyone could find a way to get her out of this, it was Gwen.
/
Gaius came to her later looking hopeless.
"Gwen and I have tried to think of anything we could do, but nothing seems like it will work."
Merlin reached out through the bars and gripped his hand.
"It's alright, Gaius."
Gaius squeezed her fingers and said, "No it's not. I can't lose you, Merlin. None of us can. Who could have done this?"
Merlin sighed.
"I think we both know the answer to that."
Gaius nodded.
"But we'd never be able to prove it was Morgana, and nothing short of bringing in someone else to take the blame will convince Uther to let you go."
Merlin suddenly smiled.
"Gaius! That's it! If we can't expose the real magic user, we'll make one up!"
"What are you talking about?"
Merlin felt hope swell within her.
"I read a spell once that will age a person. If I use it on someone and you make another poultice, then we can make sure that this person gets caught red-handed putting it in Arthur's chambers. Uther will have no choice but to release me, and when he does I'll cast the counter-spell and return the person to their normal selves. We'll make it look like the culprit escaped, and no one will get hurt."
Gaius smiled
"That's brilliant, my girl! But, who could we get to agree to do that?"
Merlin knew just the person.
"Gwen will do it."
Gaius shook his head.
"Are you sure, Merlin? You'd have to expose your magic to her."
Merlin nodded.
"I know, but we can trust Gwen. Go find her and tell her the plan. Send her down here with something she can put on over her normal clothes. While I cast the spell, you make another poultice."
"Alright. I hope this works, Merlin."
"So do I."
/
Not too much later Gwen once again appeared outside Merlin's cell. She was carrying a bundle of cloth, but Merlin couldn't read her expression.
"Is it really true?" she asked when she knew they wouldn't be overheard. Merlin sighed. She knew she was going to have to explain herself.
"Yes. I was born with magic."
Gwen shook her head.
"But you're such a good person. How could you have magic? It's evil."
Merlin slowly walked toward her.
"No, Gwen. It's not magic that's evil, it's people. Magic is just a tool, and I've never used my magic to hurt you, or Arthur, or Uther, or Camelot. I swear it."
"But you have hurt people with it?"
Merlin nodded.
"When it was necessary. I've been protecting Arthur since I got here. That's the reason I have magic. It's my destiny to make sure he becomes the greatest king Camelot has ever known. I never meant to lie to anyone, but I had to keep who I really was a secret. Otherwise, I would have been dead a long time ago."
"Yes. You would have."
They were silent for a moment, but then Merlin extended her hand toward Gwen through the bars.
"I know you're hurt, Gwen, and probably really confused, but I want you to know that nothing that's happened between us is a lie. You are my dearest friend and I love you as I would love a sister. I would never do anything to hurt you."
Gwen grasped her hand without hesitation.
"I know that, Merlin. If I didn't then I never would have agreed to your plan. Magic or not, I still care about you and I don't wish to see you die. So, do what you have to and we'll hope it works."
Merlin nodded.
"Everything's going to be fine, you'll see."
Merlin cast the spell and Gwen aged before her eyes. When the enchantment was complete she was shocked. No one would recognize Gwen, that was for sure.
"How do I look?" she asked. Merlin smiled.
"Nothing like yourself. Put the clothes on over yours. Gaius will meet you upstairs to give you the poultice. You know what to do after that. Once Uther orders your execution they will bring you down here. I'll knock out the guards and cast the counter-spell. After that you'll have to hurry and change and get out of sight. As soon as you can you're to get out of the dungeon and go back to Gaius' chambers."
Gwen nodded and reached back through the bars to squeeze Merlin's hand. Merlin gave her a reassuring smile, and then she was gone.
/
The plan worked like a dream. Uther was furious that they'd let the "sorceress" get away, but he'd still released Merlin under a full pardon. Arthur came running when he found out.
"I can't believe I almost lost you again." he breathed into her hair while he wrapped her in his arms.
"You should know by now that you can't get rid of me that easily."
"Well, for that I'm eternally grateful."
He kissed her then as if she was the air he breathed and Merlin melted into it. She spent that night in Arthur's bed where he traced every inch of her with his fingertips and lips as he whispered, "Don't ever leave me."
"I won't." was her constant reply.
/
The tournament the following month brought a flood of visitors into the city. Merlin had never seen it so packed. She understood when she learned that anyone could compete and there were no rules. It was no wonder Arthur was so excited about. Well, he was until he learned that his father was also planning to fight. That frustrated him, but Merlin was more focused on one of the other competitors. His name was Gilli, and he was surpassing everyone's expectations by winning round after round. Of course, he had a secret weapon that Merlin eventually discovered. He had magic. She tried to get him to pull out of the tournament when he started using it to really hurt people, but he wouldn't listen to her.
"People are finally giving me respect. You don't know what that's like for me." he said when Merlin cornered him in the inn.
"I do." she insisted.
"No you don't. No one does."
Merlin shook her head. There was no way he was going to listen to her unless he knew that they were actually the same. She closed the door and then whispered a spell into her palm.
"It's lonely to be more powerful than anyone you know and have to live like a shadow. To be special and have to pretend you're a fool. I know how it feels. I understand."
Merlin could see that Gilli was shocked to discover that Merlin too had magic, but he still didn't want to listen to her.
"Then you must understand why I have to fight. If Uther is killed, so what? How many of our kind have died at his hands? How many more will? It's time that those of us with magic fought back."
Merlin shook her head.
"No. You need to learn to use your magic for good. That is its true purpose. It's not to be used for your own vanity."
"You can't tell me what to do! I'm not going to apologize for who I am! You can be a servant and pretend that you're less than them, but I refuse to!"
Merlin shook her head.
"That's not what I do!"
Gilli threw his arms in the air.
"No? You're defending the king! You're protecting a man that would have you dead."
Gilli wasn't listening to her. He didn't understand.
"I'm protecting you!" she pressed, but he couldn't hear her.
"Merlin, you've been pretending for so long now that you've actually forgotten who you are. It's time someone struck a blow for the likes of you and me, and if you're too weak to do it, then I will."
He left before Merlin could say anything else.
/
Merlin had to use some of her own magic to make sure that Gilli didn't kill Uther in the final round, and because of that he lost.
"You betrayed your kind." he told her. Merlin wouldn't have it.
"No, that was you. You'd won, but you were going to kill the king anyway? There's no honor in that. You're better than this, Gilli. Magic is not meant for fighting or to bring you glory."
Gilli nodded. He finally understood.
"I see now that you're not weak, Merlin. You know that magic can corrupt, and because of that you choose only to use it when it's necessary. You are stronger than I am. I'm sorry."
Merlin gave him a smile.
"I know that you can't see it now, but one day magic will be permitted once again. When that day arrives, neither of us will have to hide. We'll be free. Maybe then our paths will cross again."
"I hope so."
Merlin watched him go and felt glad that another of her kin was allowed to live.
/
For nearly three months Camelot enjoyed peace. It was relaxing, if not more than a little boring. Even so, Merlin couldn't help but feel like a great storm was brewing. The clouds came rolling in when a patrol from the city was slaughtered. Neither Uther nor Arthur could fathom how they had been so easily taken, but when Sir Leon, who should have died with the rest of his comrades, returned to Camelot without a scratch on him the king determined he had bigger things to worry about. The Druids had cured Leon with the help of the Cup of Life, and Uther was determined to take it from them. He ordered Arthur to go after the Cup and to only take with him a person who had his absolute trust. Well, that was an easy choice, and soon Merlin and Arthur were riding as fast as their horses would carry them from the city.
/
Merlin knew that the mission was not going to go smoothly. It never did where Arthur was concerned, so she couldn't say she was all that surprised when she felt a sting in her neck right before darkness claimed her. When she woke up she was tied and on a cold stone floor. She could hear lots of voices, and for a moment she couldn't understand them. When she did, Merlin froze in terror.
"She's not hard on the eyes. We could keep her for ourselves. It'd be nice to have a warm body around to take our pleasure from." a deep voice said.
"Indeed. It gets rather cold during the winter. Something soft and warm to snuggle up to would be good indeed." a higher baritone added.
Someone else laughed.
"And you think you could share? I know you men better than that. She'd be dead by the end of the week. No, we'll sell her and make a nice bit of profit. Women always take a higher price than men."
The last man that spoke walked over to Merlin and slapped her. She gasped as the abrupt pain bloomed across her face.
"Wake up, girl! We can't have you sleeping all day."
He dragged her up and Merlin stood on wobbly legs. The man cupped a hand around the back of her neck and made her walk forward.
"Wait, Jarl! If we can't keep her, can't we at least have a chance to see what we're giving up?" one of the men asked with a lewd smile. The others gathered around him nodded in agreement. Jarl, who was the man holding her and obviously their leader, thought it over and then relented.
"I suppose we can all have a quick look."
He drew a knife and cut down the front of her dress. Once that was done, he dragged her skirt up and slashed at the fabric until it fell away leaving everything from her mid-thigh down bare. Jarl tossed his knife to one of his men and then pulled the front of her dress open. Merlin tried to stop him, but he just grabbed her arms. When her breasts were exposed Merlin blushed in shame and embarrassment, but the men all cheered.
"She's a right pretty one, she is!" one of them said as they pointed to her. Jarl smiled.
"That she is, and she'll fetch a pretty penny too!" he said. He let her dress fall closed once again and then pushed her forward. His hand went back to her neck and he guided her away from the men and through a series of twisting corridors. Merlin heard shouting, and it didn't take long for her to realize that they were heading in the direction of the noise. In the next instant, she recognized the voice as Arthur's.
"Arthur!" she called, but Jarl squeezed her throat cutting off her air.
"You be quiet!" he hissed in her ear. They walked into a large room and to the edge of a pit. The pit was filled with men, and among them was Arthur. Merlin was also surprised to see Gwaine standing next to him.
"What have you done to, Merlin?" Arthur yelled in fury when he saw the state of her clothing and the way Jarl was holding her.
"Is that her name?" Jarl asked.
"Release her!" Arthur yelled once again as he tried to climb the wall of the pit. Gwaine tried to hold him back, but Arthur pushed him off.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events. I'll make you a deal. If you can beat my champion in a duel then you and the girl are free to go. If you lose, then I'll make you watch as I take my pleasure from her and then slit her throat. How's that sound?"
Arthur was shaking and Merlin could see the fire in his eyes.
"There will be nothing left of your champion by the time I'm done with him." he hissed.
"We'll see about that. Are you ready, my champion?" Jarl asked.
Merlin's eyes widened when Gwaine looked up and said, "I am."
/
Arthur and Gwaine fought, and even though Merlin knew that neither of them would hurt the other, she couldn't help but feel like at certain moments the fight was real. Eventually, whatever plan they had worked out failed them, and Merlin had to use her magic to ensure that all three of them made it out of the castle alive. When they were free and had made it to the forest, Arthur slung his vest over Merlin's shoulders. He set to work fastening it, but Merlin could still see the tension that had not left his muscles. When she was as covered as she was going to get, Arthur stepped back.
"Did they hurt you?" he demanded, but Merlin knew what he really meant. He wanted to know if she'd been violated.
"No. I'm still intact. They did nothing but put me on display."
Some of the tension left Arthur's shoulders, but Merlin could still see the shame in his eyes that he couldn't protect her better. Merlin had almost forgotten that Gwaine was with them until she felt his hand on her shoulder. She had just begun to turn toward him when Arthur wrenched Gwaine's hand away from her and backed him up against a tree with his forearm at his throat.
"Don't touch her!" he hissed. Gwaine's eyes were wide in shock. Merlin ran forward and tried to pull Arthur away from him.
"Stop it! Arthur, he's our friend!" she cried. Gwaine raised his hands slowly in a move of surrender.
"I didn't mean any offense. I was just trying to comfort her."
Arthur released him and shook his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "I know. I'm sorry."
Gwaine smiled.
"It's alright. I wasn't thinking. I'll keep my hands to myself, shall I?"
There were a few tense moments of silence, and then Arthur smiled.
"See that you do, or I may have to kill you."
Gwaine laughed.
"You couldn't kill me even if you wanted to. You tried, remember, back in the arena."
Arthur shook his head.
"That was just a game. I wasn't really trying."
Gwaine raised an eyebrow.
"A game, was it? I won that game."
Arthur crossed his arms over his chest.
"No you didn't."
"Yes I did. I had you banged to rights."
Merlin couldn't listen to anymore of this.
"Would you both stop it? Neither of you won. Your plan was a half-baked disaster, and if it weren't for that fire then we'd all be pushing up daisies. So, instead of standing here arguing, why don't we get back to what we set out to do?"
Both Arthur and Gwaine turned to look at her with shocked expressions. It wasn't every day that Merlin lost control. Gwaine recovered first.
"And what did you set out to do?"
"We're looking for the Cup of Life."
Arthur lightly shoved her.
"What part of secret don't you understand?"
Merlin just shrugged.
"It's Gwaine. He can help us, and let's face it, Arthur, we need help."
Arthur turned to look back at Gwaine and found that he couldn't argue with Merlin's point.
/
It didn't take them too much longer to find the Druid cave and collect the Cup. Merlin also got herself more suitable clothing. While on their way back to Camelot, they were attacked by Cenred's men and lost the cup. Arthur was injured, and Merlin spent the night ensuring that he didn't die from the poison the arrow that struck his leg was laced with.
"We need more firewood." she finally said when Arthur started getting tremors.
"You're right about that." Gwaine responded.
"Would you like to go and get some?"
Gwaine shook his head.
"No, but that's for asking."
Merlin was about to say something else when Gwaine smiled.
"Come on, Merlin. Don't you know when someone is joking with you?"
He took up his sword and got to his feet.
"If I die collecting firewood, keep it to yourself would you? I've got my reputation to consider."
Merlin waited until she was sure he was gone, and then she tried out a few spells on Arthur. None of them helped.
"Come on, Arthur. Come on!" she whispered desperately, but the prince just continued to shake while his fever raged.
"Now is not the time to be a stubborn prat. I need you to recover." she pressed, but still nothing happened. Merlin arranged Arthur so that his head was pillowed in her lap and she ran her fingers through his hair. That's how Gwaine found them when he returned with more wood.
"He'll be alright, you know. There's no need to cry." he said softly. Merlin looked up at him and raised a hand to her cheek. She was surprised when her fingers came away wet. Gwaine came and sat beside her. After a moment he wrapped an arm across her shoulders and she leant into his side.
"If the poison doesn't kill him, then his fever will if it doesn't break soon." she whispered, and Gwaine held her closer.
"If there's one thing that I've learned about Prince Arthur, it's that he doesn't go down without a fight. He'd never let something as small as this be the death of him. When he dies it'll be after he's been king for many years. He'll have married a good woman and had lots of children. He'll go down like the knight that he is, with a sword in his hand."
Merlin huffed out a laugh and smiled.
"That's the way he would want it."
"And Arthur always gets what he wants. He's lucky that way."
Gwaine pressed a kiss to the top of Merlin's head. Merlin shook her head and pulled away from him.
"Gwaine…"
"I know. I just couldn't help myself. It won't happen again."
Merlin shook her head.
"Why does this always happen to me?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
Merlin looked at him.
"You're not the first man to love me who I couldn't love back. My best friend from my childhood, Will, also loved me. He died a few years ago to save Arthur, but now there's you. It makes me feel terrible."
"Don't feel terrible. There's nothing to feel terrible about."
Merlin shook her head.
"But I don't understand. Why me? I'm clumsy, uncoordinated, and hopelessly useless when it comes to most things. Why would any man love me, much less three of them?"
Gwaine smiled.
"Did you ever think that it's because you're all of those things and more? You're not perfect, Merlin, but then who is? Yeah, you've got some faults, but there's more to you than that. You've got a fire in you that I've never seen. You're not afraid to do what's right, even if others think it's wrong. You put yourself in danger to help those you care about without a thought to what might happen to you. You're the most amazing person I know. How could I not love you?"
Merlin shook her head to try and clear away the tears that were threatening to fall from Gwaine's words.
"You're going to be the best queen anyone has ever known."
Merlin smiled and looked down at Arthur. His tremors had stopped.
"Well, if and when I am queen, I hope I will see you find a woman more worthy of your love than I am."
Gwaine laughed.
"The chances of that happening are slim to none, but I kind of like the look of those odds."
/
Arthur woke up the next morning and was furious to learn that they'd lost the Cup. All three of them set off back for Camelot, but they were too late. Morgause and her army of immortals had taken the city. They found Elyan hiding at Gwen's and Gaius hiding in his chambers. Arthur wanted to find his father, so he and Merlin set off to do that. They found him just in time to watch as he was thrown to his knees before Morgana, who was then crowned Queen of Camelot. Now Arthur knew who she really was; his half-sister who had been plotting to take his kingdom.
/
Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius retreated to the woods where Arthur knew of some caves where they would be safe. For a while Arthur just sat in a state of depression over the betrayal of Morgana, but Merlin finally managed to pull him out of it. They were going to fight to reclaim the kingdom. Merlin sent word out to Lancelot because she knew they were going to need all the help they could get. He came, along with another man named Percival, to join them. Gwen and Sir Leon managed to escape the city and also joined them. Merlin knew that even with the extra men, they would need magic to take back the city. She used the water of Avalon that the Fisher King had given her. Freya appeared in it and told her that she would need Excalibur if they were going to win. Merlin set out to retrieve the sword, and when she had it, Arthur moved everyone to the Castle of the Ancient Kings. There, Merlin witnessed Arthur knight Gwaine, Lancelot, Elyan, and Percival. If they were going to fight, they were going to fight as men of Camelot; members of the most noble army the world had ever known.
/
The next day they all prepared to leave and Arthur approached her.
"I would tell you to stay here with Gwen and Gaius, but I know you better than that."
Merlin smiled.
"I'm going with Lancelot to take out the warning bell. He'll keep me safe."
Arthur nodded, and then he cupped her cheek. Merlin glanced over at the group and caught sight of Lancelot talking to Gwen a little ways away from the others.
"They'll see." she told Arthur.
"I don't care. I want you to know that if I never see you again…"
Merlin shook her head.
"You will, Arthur."
"Let me finish, Merlin." he pressed and she fell silent.
"If I never see you again after today then I want you to know how much you mean to me. You're everything, Merlin. Nothing else could ever hope to compare. I love you."
Merlin nodded.
"And I love you more than anything else I know, but more than that I'm proud of you, Arthur. I'm proud to call you my prince, and when we win this battle and we take back Camelot one day I will be proud to call you my king."
Arthur kissed her and she kissed him back fiercely. It only lasted a moment before she heard Gwaine say, "Do any of you other lads feel left out here?"
Merlin pulled away from Arthur to see that Gwen and Lancelot had had their own private moment. Gwen was blushing darker than Merlin had ever seen her and it made her laugh. Arthur smiled and turned to his men. He raised his sword and said, "For the love of Camelot!"
"For the love of Camelot!" everyone echoed, and then they were off.
/
The battle was long and tiring. At one moment Merlin seriously doubted that they'd get out alive, but then Gaius showed up and the tables turned. He was able to distract Morgause long enough for Merlin to spill the blood in the Cup of Life. That action destroyed the army of immortals, and it was easy after that. Morgana came in to see Morgause injured on the floor from where Merlin had used her magic to throw her.
"It's over, Morgana."
Morgana gathered Morgause into her arms and said, "No. It's just the beginning."
She screamed and the castle began to crumble around her. Merlin, Gaius, and Lancelot got out before any debris could crush them. After everything settled, they tried to search for Morgana, but there was no sign of her or Morgause anywhere. They'd escaped again.
The days following the reclaiming of the city were hard. The people were overjoyed to see that Arthur had once again saved them, and they returned to their homes with smiles on their faces in the knowledge that they were safe once again. Uther was not adjusting so well. He had locked himself in his chambers and would not see anyone. Merlin asked about him as she and Arthur sat on the steps of the castle.
"I don't know how he is. This whole thing as hit him hard."
Merlin nodded.
"Perhaps we're heading for a new time. Camelot needs a leader. You might have to step up and become king."
Arthur glanced over at her and said, "Who knows what the future will bring."
Then he leaned over and kissed her for everyone in the courtyard to see. Obviously, things were going to change in their future. Merlin turned away at the sound of hoof beats. She looked up to see Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival, Elyan, and Leon ride up in full knight armor proudly wearing the Pendragon colors. Gwen was among them riding next to Lancelot. She smiled at the sight, and Arthur did the same. He stood to greet them, and Merlin slipped away. There was something she had to do. Quickly retrieving Excalibur from her room, she took it out to the woods and thrust it into a stone. There it would be safe and wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. Things were changing. A new era was beginning and perhaps they would have need of the sword once again, but for now it would rest. When she made it back to the city Arthur wrapped her in his arms and escorted her away. Merlin ended her fourth year in Camelot with a smile on her face and hope in her heart.