Chapter 6

When Merlin let Gaius lead him out of the antechamber; Gwaine and Lancelot were sat there waiting. They got up and smiled at him, but Gaius waved them away. Merlin felt his control slip a fraction and he grabbed Gaius' arm for support.

"Gaius," he said, "I'm not ready."

"It's okay Merlin," said Gaius, "this will take some time." He put his hand over Merlin's. "We'll get you upstairs and I'll give you something to help you sleep." Merlin just nodded his face tight as he fought back control; in the end he closed his eyes and let Gaius lead him back up to the main castle.

Gaius pulled a blanket over Merlin's still form, he'd given him a sleeping draught to allow him to rest and recover his equilibrium. Arthur stepped inside just as Gaius came out of Merlin's room.

"Sire," said Gaius in a low voice.

"How is he?" asked Arthur.

"He's been able to exert some control, but it's difficult for him to stay focused. I gave him sleeping draught."

"What does this mean for him now Gaius, does Merlin have magic?" asked Arthur.

"This is something that has been done to him," Gaius hissed advancing on Arthur at a startling speed, "I will not have you doubting him for this, Merlin is a good man, who saved your life more than once. Should he survive this intact, Merlin will need our support, not suspicion and mistrust." Gaius was angry, but he kept his tone low and even. "This is not Merlin's fault, and you will not treat him like a criminal because of it."

Arthur stood back surprised but he understood; Merlin was practically a son to Gaius, the very suggestion that Merlin had magic and the consequences of that would scare him.

"I'm not accusing Merlin of anything," said Arthur raising his hands up to Gaius, "I swear, I'm just worried, if whatever the Kalix did put magic in him I need to know if you can cure him of it and if you can't is it dangerous?"

"Merlin would never hurt anyone, except in the defense of others," said Gaius, still clearly upset by the conversation, "I can't undo what the Kalix has done, what you chose to let her do, I might add. But the effect of the veil is passive to everyone but Merlin. He can see the spirits that roam our world, that attach themselves to the living. It's terrifying, and stressful to see ghosts, especially the ones that must inhabit Camelot."

"What do you mean especially here?" asked Arthur.

"Camelot has a rich and bloody history, how would you like to see every person who'd died here, wandering around all the time, in pain or lost? It's torture," said Gaius.

"Are all the spirits he sees in pain?" asked Arthur.

"Not all," said Gaius, "only those that are formed of pain or hatred. Some attach to people out of love, or a need to protect."

"So when Merlin told you my mother walks beside me?"

"Your mother's spirit is with you always, her love for you was instant and eternal, such connections can never be broken, so when she died her spirit couldn't let go of the love she had for you so part of her stayed with you, to love and look out for you," Gaius smiled sadly at Arthur who was trying to hold himself together.

"Merlin saw all that?" asked Arthur hoarsely.

"He saw Egraine with you, and felt her love, and it was so strong it helped Merlin even without him realizing I think, to hold back the other spirits in the wood, but when he came to Camelot, the sheer volume of spirits here overwhelmed whatever unconscious control he had that's why he ran."

"So Merlin is for want of a better term going to be haunted for the rest of his life?" asked Arthur.

"That is the deal that has been made," said Gaius.

"How can we help him?" asked Arthur.

"Merlin can see what we cannot, he must learn to close that vision off, to redraw the veil. What will help is knowing that this will not affect how we see him. Keep what has happened between the knights, and us; no one else should know. This kind of sight may be termed magic, and if the people knew that Merlin had it, they may be afraid of him, or worse it may put him in danger. Not to mention it may put you in a bad position, if when your father returns to health, he decides that this is magic. Would you let Merlin be executed for saving your life?" asked Gaius.

"Of course not," cried Arthur, "Merlin's loyalty is never in question, and if what you say is true, that this sight will not corrupt him like magic does then I see no reason for anything to change. Tell Merlin we're all grateful for what he's done to save us, and his place in Camelot is secure. He can take as much time as he needs to get well, and get this sight under control. When he's ready he can come back to work."

"I'm sure Merlin will be pleased to hear that sire," said Gaius.

"I need to return to my duties, let me know if there's anything you need and you'll have it immediately," said Arthur.

"Yes, sire," said Gaius as Arthur shut the door behind him.

Arthur was across the other side of the castle when he it occurred to him that Gaius hadn't actually said Merlin didn't have magic.

Author's Notes: I'm Baaack! I've been away, but I'm back now, I'm actually almost done with my sequel for this one, I may be going a bit dark. Though the series itself goes a lot darker too.

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Cynic