Alaia Skyhawk: WOO! Just to let you guys know, my first book "Thunder Before White Fire: First Strike" is NOW AVAILABLE from Amazon as an ebook. The paperback is still in progress though, due to a printing issue with the cover. I hope to have that one up on Amazon by the end of the month. Also, my rebuilt website has now gone live, although the contact form is presently disabled :)
(And I'm aware of the typo in the summary on the amazon page. I have to wait for my previous update to it to finish processing before I can fix that, ah well *sighs*)
Anyway, now on to the chapter, which was delayed a little while I got the ebook sorted out. This is going to be an interesting sub-ep, and obviously it will finish off the end of the ep that I cut off last chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: Hunith's Letter To Gaius (Merlin OST)
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A
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Chapter 4: Nightmares ~Part 1~
All eyes turned to look at them as they entered, several knights moving forward to help the two of them moved the dazed prince to one of the tables. Arthur was just starting to come to, roused by the jostling he was receiving, his father hurrying to his side while Gaius caught the attention of one of the assisting warriors.
"There's a dead man out there, near the well, dressed in a black cloak. I need you to bring him in here. Don't worry about doing it neatly. After what he's responsible for, being dragged isn't half as much as he would deserve."
Gaius turned his attention back to the prince and his father, the king now regarding his physician in urgent concern.
"Is he all right?"
Gaius nodded.
"Bruising mostly, although the wound on his chest will require some tending. He'll be fine so long as he doesn't overwork himself for a few days."
The young man in question was now opening his eyes, grimacing at the pounding headache he had as he carefully sat up.
"Father? What happened?" He started to look around, at that moment spotting Merlin and exclaiming. "What are you doing here? I thought I had you locked in the dungeon."
Merlin, who had been about to go get water to clean Arthur's wound, froze to the spot. There was an awkward silence, before Gaius hastily interceded.
He gestured around at the infirmary, and the many wounded presently being tended in it.
"I asked Captain Georg to let him out. Merlin is my ward, my apprentice. With all the wounded being brought in, and given the circumstances of his incarceration, I begged the favour of him."
Uther, who had been on the verge of calling the guards over, frowned.
"What do you mean by 'circumstances'."
Ward and mentor glanced at each other, the latter speaking to the king.
"Merlin and I realised the only one who had access to the key to the tomb, both to take and put that key back, was Arthur's new servant, Cedric. Merlin tried to warn the prince this morning, while I came and spoke to you." He now frowned a little at Merlin. "But it seems when he wasn't believed, he tried to take matters into his own hands. That unfortunate fist-fight in Arthur's chambers was the reason Merlin was taken to the dungeons."
Arthur stared at the cringing servant.
"So you were being serious?"
Merlin said nothing, even as Uther noticed the blue crystal he was holding.
"Wait, is that?"
Merlin, as if noticing the item for the first time, lifted it a little more into view. Once again it was Gaius who rescued him, after glancing about to be sure only those around this table would hear.
"It also seems my ward decided not to obey my request to come here, and retrieved that from my chambers. And it was a good thing he did... Sigan's soul has been trapped once more. Although I suggest that be taken back to the tomb, and the place sealed again as soon as possible.
Uther, now staring at Merlin.
"You defeated Sigan? With that?"
Merlin, aware of how he was being stared at, found himself in the uncomfortable position of wishing he was somewhere else; anywhere else.
"I um... It was just a hunch. I took it to the courtyard and I um..."
Uther raised his eyebrows, unmoving.
"Yes?"
Merlin, for lack of a better excuse, said the first thing that came to his mind.
"I uh... I threw it at him, and when it hit him ah... well a strange blue light came out of him and was sucked into it. Cedric, the man Sigan was in, just dropped after that."
As if to cue, the guard Gaius had sent outside entered dragging the body of Cedric. When Arthur confirmed the man's identity with a nod, Uther, at a bit of a loss, barked out orders to Merlin and the closest guards to cover any awkwardness.
"Take it to the tomb immediately. I want it sealed, and the passage to it permanently filled in." Merlin bowed, darting out with the crystal in the company of a pair of guards, while behind him he heard the king mutter faintly. "We've just been saved by a hapless idiot."
Merlin felt bit bemused at that, but shrugged and just got on with it. He'd get proper credit from Gaius at least, and at least no one was going to be asking questions this way. He was just the idiot who got lucky, so nope there couldn't possibly be any other way he'd stopped Sigan.
It was the following morning before an exhausted Gaius returned to his chambers, now that all the wounded had been treated. The guards were in the process of clearing the bodies of the dead from the town, and laying them out in the courtyard. He was also able to tell Merlin that the numbers of actual dead were far fewer than feared. Many of those lain in the streets had merely been knocked out and had minor injuries. For it seemed that once a person was no longer moving, the gargoyles had been inclined to ignore them so long as they were not wearing armour.
Merlin was equally tired, having been roped into helping with the initial sealing of the entrance to the tomb. He'd spent three hours hauling bits of rock around, before he'd finally been able to escape with the excuse that the Court Physician might be needing him.
He'd actually gone straight to Gaius' chambers, and straight to bed. Snatching a couple of hours of sleep, after the drain from the magic he'd used, was the only reason he was currently able to sit upright.
But now? Now Gaius was serving up the leftover stew he'd gotten from the castle kitchens, taking the first bowl over to where his ward sat.
"You know, you won't get any thanks, Merlin. Nothing open at least."
Merlin smiled, snorting in amusement.
"I'm not a complete idiot, and this wouldn't be the first time. Given the story I told the king, I'm even less likely to get anything for it."
There was a knock on the door, the hinges creaking a little as it was then opened. It was Arthur who walked in, sporting a bandage visible through the opening at the collar of his shirt, and also the beginnings of a fine black eye. He was also carrying a large hemp sack that bulged with its contents.
"I've come to see Merlin." The servant in question avoided looking at him, expecting to be yelled at. As it turned out, he wasn't. "I've not forgotten your lazy, insolent ways... Or that you called me a 'clot pole'." He regarded Merlin with a hint of bemusement. "But I do have to admit that there was some truth in your accusations against Cedric."
At this point Merlin looked up at him, starting to smile.
"Does this mean that you're admitting, that on this occasion I was actually right?"
Arthur continued to stare a little, before his tone became vaguely sarcastic.
"Not exactly, no. It means that I have a knighthood to bestow first thing tomorrow, and no one to clean my armour."
He upended the sack over the table, letting his entire set of armour rain down in a clatter. It was as well Gaius hadn't yet set the bowl of stew on the table, or it would have been buried.
Merlin regarded it with disbelief.
"All that?"
The prince nodded with a smile.
"Yep."
He turned and walked out, Gaius waiting until the door had closed before looking sidelong at his ward.
"Clot pole?"
A pause followed, before the both started to chuckle and Merlin shook his head.
"Well I guess this means I've got my job back. The chief of staff will be pleased, even if Arthur can't seem to make up his mind about who he wants to hire." He stuffed the armour back into the sack, dumping it on the floor so the two of them could resume their meal. And once he was done, he quickly rose to his feet and followed after the prince. "I'd better go get him his breakfast."
When he did arrive at the prince's chambers with the breakfast tray, Merlin couldn't resist a subtle tease by laying out what was actually a simple but hearty spread of food, in the fanciest and most flourished way possible. That is to say, he laid it out like the bootlicker, Cedric, had done.
Arthur seemed to take the hint, not commenting on the reversion to the usual routine. He left his servant to his chores after a very short time, heading for the door with a serious expression.
"I'm going to check on the people. If anyone comes asking for me, you can tell them where to find me."
"Yes, Sire."
Merlin watched him go, sighing. He was glad Gaius had said fewer were killed than believed, but he knew Arthur still felt responsible for the deaths of those he'd been unable to protect. He probably felt even worse than he would otherwise, seeing as he knew his servant had been the one to save everyone, and apparently with dumb luck. He just wished he could tell the prince he felt the same way. That if he'd only gone to the dragon sooner, and not hesitated, then more people might have lived.
Shaking his head, reprimanding himself for thinking about might-have-beens, he resumed tidying the bed. He'd just returned from taking the breakfast tray back to the kitchens, when there was a knock on the door.
He opened it, finding a guard stood outside.
"If you're looking for Prince Arthur, he's gone down to check on the lower town."
The guard didn't move, instead regarding him flatly.
"It's not the prince I'm here for... The king wishes to see you, now."
Merlin gulped nervously, nodding and following the guard. The king wanted to speak to him? Was it about last night? Did he suspect magic?
Uther was in his study, somewhere Merlin has never been before, and after the door closed he waved Merlin to come further in.
"Come forward."
Merlin did so, bowing nervously.
"We wished to see me, Sire?"
Uther, almost reluctant in manner, regarded him with the smallest of frowns, his tone clipped.
"It is about Sigan... Despite your obvious mental failings, I am forced to admit I owe you a debt for your actions last night. Even if those actions were something as seemingly stupid as throwing a stone at a sorcerer." He pushed a small wooden box across the table. "Take this as your reward, but in return you are not to breathe a word as to the true circumstances of Sigan's defeat. If you do, I will have you incarcerated."
Merlin tentatively crept forward and took the box, but didn't open it, although he was aware of the clink of coins from inside it.
"Thank you, Your Highness. You have my word I will not speak of it... I will not embarrass the Knights and Prince Arthur."
Uther seemed a little startled, that Merlin had picked up on the reason for the order for silence, but recovered quickly.
"No, you would not do anything to embarrass him... at least not deliberately."
He dismissed Merlin with a wave, the warlock all too happy to get out of his line of sight. So much so that as soon as he was clear of the king's study, he let out a massive sigh of relief and high-tailed it back to Gaius' chambers.
Gaius seems surprised to see him when he got there, and also surprised at the polished wooden box he carried.
"What have you got there?"
Merlin, letting out a shaky breath, slumped into the nearest chair.
"The king summoned me to see him... to repay a debt. He gave me whatever is in this box, as a reward for saving everyone, even if it was by doing something as stupid as 'throwing a stone' at Sigan." He shook the box, and was rewarded with a loud jingle. "It sounds like money, which is typical. He's paying me not to tell anyone Sigan was defeated by a servant."
Gaius chuckled, a little amused.
"Indeed... Well go on then, open it."
Merlin grinned, setting the box in his lap while his mentor came to stand at his shoulder, deliberately undoing the latch as slow as he could before flipping up the lid... He then had to immediately stop himself from dropping the box, his jaw falling open in shock. It was filled with gold coins, easily worth a year, maybe two years', of his wages.
"This is a fortune! What am I supposed to do with this much money? It's not like I can quit my job or leave Camelot. I have to protect Arthur."
Gaius, equally stunned, patted him on the shoulder.
"You could always spend it on equipment for your studies, which would help with protecting Arthur. You can't keep borrowing mine forever. Stray scraps of spells, and medicine, don't really mix, and your magic that requires materials will work better if you use tools dedicated to the purpose."
Merlin glanced up at him.
"Won't it look a bit suspicious if I start buying stuff like that?"
Gaius raised an eyebrow.
"Not if you go round buying it with a list I've written. We can make it look like you're picking up things for me. A lot of the simple things you could do with owning, are basic requirements for any budding physician to have. I do tell people I'm teaching you medicine, or at least I'm trying to. You can get yourself a starting stock of herbs as well, instead of borrowing from mine for your experiments."
Merlin, after a moment's indecision, started to grin.
"Could you write that list for me now? If I'm quick, I could go order what I need and get it delivered, before I have to start work on cleaning that armour."
He pointed to the sack he'd left on the floor that morning, Gaius nodding and heading to his desk.
"Don't take all of that money into town. You're best off getting what you need from among the silver stashed under your bed. Save the gold for some other time. If Uther wants to you keep quiet, he won't appreciate the rise in attention, that you going around spending gold will draw."
Merlin continued to grin, going into his room and coming out a few minutes later with coins tucked in various pouches, pockets, and his boots. He was still carrying a lot of money, and wasn't silly enough to keep it all in one spot.
He took the list that Gaius held out to him, jauntily going out the door.
"Thanks, I'll be back a bit."
The town was bustling, but still had the lingering signs of last night's attack. The remains of dark puddles stained the ground here and there, and carts were still taking the last of the bodies up to the castle. Now and then, he'd pass someone, or a group, who were crying. Others still had a look of anger at what had happened, a grim set to their stride as they passed.
It was with a little relief that Merlin entered the shop of the city's best apothecary, walking straight up to the counter and handing over the list.
The man who was stood there smiled, recognising the ward of his best customer.
"So this is to be charged to the treasury? Supplies for the Court Physician?"
Merlin shook his head, starting to look a bit embarrassed. This was probably going to get him an odd reaction.
"No, they're for me. Gaius is teaching me medicine, and says he can't have me using up his supplies with my mistakes."
The shop owner blinked, clearing his throat a little and focusing on the list. Every line of his expression displayed scepticism that the young man before he was going to learn medicine. It wasn't surprising, and Merlin knew it. It was all down to his reputation.
"Ah, that explains the bottom part of the list." He tapped a finger on the scrap of parchment, at the point where herbs gave way to equipment. "I have some of these, but the large iron bowl will have to come from the pot merchant, and the glass items will have to come from the craftsman at the end of Well Street."
Merlin accepted the list back, after the merchant had copied down all the items he could supply.
"Thanks. How much will it be for the things you can supply me?"
Merlin left the apothecary a few minutes later and many coins lighter, a little wary at how much he'd spent but also a little excited. His own supplies to practice magic with, even if officially he'd be learning medicine. He had a number of spells in mind already, that he wanted to try out soon.
He went to the pot merchant next, emerging with the large iron bowl he needed, carrying it tucked under one arm as he then headed to the glass craftsman. The fine glass flasks and vials he commissioned there were actually the most expensive of the items on his list, which is why he ordered only two flasks and ten vials, but he bulked out that order with a request for a range of much cheaper jars and bottles made from cullet, scrap glass. They'd be cloudy and oddly coloured, but they'd be used for for storing his more expensive powders and oils. It wouldn't matter if he couldn't see the contents clearly, so long as he labelled them properly.
He was feeling extremely pleased with his day by the time he got back to the castle, and was perfectly content to spend the afternoon cleaning Arthur's armour. He saved himself time by stripping the dirt off of all of it with a spell, meaning all he had to do now was polish and oil it until it gleamed so perfectly there was no way Arthur could complain. He'd go to that knighting ceremony tomorrow, wearing armour that shined like it was new.
The rest of the day was uneventful, almost bland in fact. Evening chores came and went, and it was as the Great Bell tolled that Merlin made his way back to his room and his bed.
He yawned as he changed into his nightshirt, giving only a passing glance to the three large crates that had been set in his room. The apothecary had worked fast, just as he did for Gaius' order, but the glassware wouldn't be ready until tomorrow. It was a little disappointing, to have to wait to try those spells, but upon yawning yet again Merlin knew he wasn't really in the condition to be experimenting.
Merlin blew out his candles and curled up under his blanket, letting out a sleepy sigh and closing his eyes. He was asleep within moments, the night starting to drift by, until in the early hours of the morn his slumber became fitful.
He grumbled under his breath, frowning and twitching under the cover, while in his mind a strange dream came to his mind.
It was Camelot, but not the one he knew. There was no town, just the soaring walls of the castle and a huddle of houses near it, and nearby massive wooden sleds bearing blocks of stone waited in a line.
Merlin stared at those blocks, confused, eyes widening when one of them suddenly started to float up into the air. His eyes followed its progress, watching as it was taken to a point where the castle wall wasn't complete. Then, in the blink of an eye, he found himself up on that wall watching the block settle into its bed of mortar, the steely-eyed man who'd lifted it there smiling in satisfaction while a man wearing a crown approached along the wall.
"The castle is almost complete, Sigan, and it is all thanks to your efforts. Without you, we'd still be working on the foundations."
The sorcerer, Sigan, turned grey eyes and a smile to the king. Confident and proud in his power as a man no more than thirty.
"It has been an honour to assist you, My Lord. I shall be sad when it is time for me to go on my way."
The king put a hand on Sigan's shoulder, leading him into the castle while the builders on the wall finished setting that last block of the day.
"About that, I have a proposition for you. When the castle is complete, I will be needing a Court Sorcerer. I would like that it be you."
Sigan looked to him with honest happiness at the suggestion.
"It would do me great pleasure to accept your offer. You have always treated me as a good friend."
The two of them disappeared through the door at the end of the section of wall, and then Merlin jolted awake breathing in panicked rasps.
He looked around his room, a harsh whisper of magic lighting his candles and banishing the shadows as his brow dripped sweat.
What the hell was that?
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Alaia Skyhawk: Dun dun dun dun! Hehe, I loved that line Uther says when Merlin left the infirmary. See what I meant by him getting the credit in a backwards way? Hehehehehe! And Merlin being able to buy stuff for magic! He had such a scattering of stuff in his room in Season 3, that I figured I should come up with a reason for how it all got there XD
And if any of you do decide to get my book, it would be great if you could leave a review on Amazon after you've read it. I really want to know what you guys think of it. Happy Reading! :D