It was the middle of the night when we were disturbed by a loud knock at the door. The three of us had already fallen asleep and we were completly alone. Gaius was in the low town checking on some of his patients and he hadn't returned yet.
Sleepily, Merlin went to the door only to find a cloaked woman waiting outside. Judging by her clothes she should have been a noble, but she was completely alone (Which to me looked pretty fishy. Which noble woman would go herself rather than sending a servant to bring the physician to her chambers?) However, Merlin didn't seem to care about those details.
Under any other circumstances, I wouldn't care either, but I've already witnessed enough attacks against Camelot during my time there for such a presence could pass unnoticed. You may wonder why I cared. After all, I've already plotted against the city for so many years than not even I can remember how I felt before. Well, as I've said, under any other circumstances I would have enjoyed such an opportunity, but I was a petty cat, unable to speak or do anything else but purr and wash my precious fur (at least I am still beautiful even as a cat) and so I got scared. For the first time I've realized that I need Merlin to feed me and give me a shelter. Without him I would only be a stray cat, full of flees and always hungry. Do not get me wrong. As soon as I would manage to regain my powers and my true self form, I would put an end to Merlin's petty life. But let's go back to the story.
The lady asked about Gaius and as she couldn't find him, she asked for Merlin's help. It was clear that Merlin was quite confused. He tried to explain that he was not skilled enough to treat her. Yet the lady insisted and without being invited, she went to Merlin's chambers and sat right on his bed. Merlin tried to do his job as well as possible while the lady watched him silently. It killed me that he didn't demand her to take off her cloak, but Merlin cared just so little about the stranger's face. He was just so caught into doing his part wonderfully. Even with her hood on, it was obvious that she was very beautiful. She wasn't for sure an ordinary girl and I think that Merlin was a bit intimidated by her presence.
Nevertheless, he became quite annoying. He should have told her that he couldn't be of any help and to ask her to come later when Gaius would be home. But, no, he just excused himself for being an idiot incapable apprentice of a great physician and as she gave him some tiny encouragements, he started to run around her as the lapdog he is, willing to impress her with his attention (as if any noble girl would ever care for a stupid servant).
"I haven't forgotten how clumsy you are with girls, Merlin." The lady spoke after a while. I was shocked to find that they knew each other.
However, her words brought me some long forgotten memories, memories from the time I used to think Merlin was indeed a clumsy boy. Though, despite being so clumsy and shy regarding me, his kindness and his cheerfulness and captured me. I've never thought him being and idiot. In fact, I've always been surprised by his sharp mind and his courage. His clumsiness made him sweet. Arthur and I had been brought up to be in check of every gesture. We were brought up to be confident, to be superior to any one, to never be wrong (in fact, to never admit being wrong). Merlin got us out from our everyday rigidity. Yet, I haven't seen that part of Merlin from such a very long time. Once, he discovered my alliance with Morgause, he has never been the same. His voice, his gestures, his actions, everything was checked. There was a note of superiority on everything he did that I hadn't felt before. It's quite funny, though. I've always thought he was at the mercy of my will. In fact, I've always been at his mercy. I hardly knew any spell while he'd already mastered complicated spells. Now, I know that all those problems, all those enemies Camelot had, they were all dealt by him. I was a stupid to think that he, who'd dealt with powerful sorcerers, would be afraid of a stupid witch as I was at the time. Uther would have listened to any wish of mine, but Uther was pettier than me. Yet, Merlin'd treasured friendship too much to take a risk. Powerful as he was, his magic, his real self, would have only lead to him losing his the once he loved. Emotions have always been his weakness….but they have been his strength as well. He will fight armies in order to protect these he cares for. If only I would have been one of them….I would never have to afraid of anything. Was I ever? Has he ever considered me someone that is worth fighting for? It doesn't matter now. Better we went back to the story.
"I've thought you were like that only with me." The lady added as she followed him in Gaius's chambers where he was trying to make so sort of concoction. I followed her as well curious to see what would happen next. It looked as if they knew each other pretty well…or maybe, he had a crush on the lady and he'd tried to gain her attention. Merlin had always been stupid regarding girls.
As he heard her words, Merlin turned back and, without adding any word, he quickly dragged her hook down. She was very beautiful indeed. Blue-eyes, dark haired, milky skin, it was no wonder he'd fell for her. So, I expected him to be happy upon seeing her (although I wish he wouldn't. I simply couldn't stand the idea of him having part of any type of happiness). Instead he put some distance between them while his face darkened. Even a cat would have noticed the tension that existed between them.
"You've died." He uttered. She only smirked. "What do you want from me?" I was clear she wasn't someone he wanted to see. I wondered how many things I were to find about him.
"I've missed you." She said as she stepped on, filling the distance between them. Without any warning, she put her hands around his neck and kissed him passionately. I found it disgusting. Why would a lady like her care for a servant? I couldn't help wondering who she was? I've never known he had a girlfriend or whatever she was.
Soon, he pushed her away. "What are you doing?" Merlin seemed furious. Their relationship was kind of awkward; at least that's how it looked to me. I couldn't figure out why he kept pushing her away. It was obvious he hadn't always been like that.
"I've told you before that we are meant to be together. We are too valuable for each other to keep fighting."
Her words don't seem those of a lover. To me, the lady looked like she cared more about something that made him valuable, his magic, I supposed. I have to admit that I felt hurt knowing that someone had known about his magic while I've haven't. I hardly could resist asking him what she had done to him so he'd told her about his powers. Yet, I said nothing. I just wait to hear what they had to say.
"You and I? There has never been anything before us, Nimueh." That name caught my attention. I thought it was a misunderstanding or simply a coincidence and she wasn't the famous High Priestess. "Plus I killed you, remember?" It was getting very confusing. I've hear that the High Priestess had disappeared, but how powerful was him to kill her? And if he'd killed her, why was she back. I have to keep all those questions for myself so I would listen to the rest of conversation.
"And still I came to you. I was willing to let go of the past because we need each other. Well, Merlin, there's a lot between us…We are both powerful creature of the Old Religion. We are both cruel and mighty and we want the same thing: magic back. What else should it be between us? Love? Do you still believe in this stupid thing? Feelings would only make us weak and we are not weak." She was indeed the Nimueh. The one Morgause had used to tell me so many stories. However, she wasn't mighty at all.
"I'm listening. What do you want? Gave my any reason why I should forget you threatened my mother and my friend and that you tried numerous times to destroy Camelot? Why should I trust you, after all?"
"That was a mistake. I know that and I will never dare to provoke you again. You'd ruined my plans and I wanted revenge. I want you to suffer. Reason? As I've said before, I want magic back. You said you would bring it back to the realm, but I can't see it. What happened?" It was getting interesting. It was the first time when I was really happy to be a cat as I was able to cast a glance upon his private life.
"Arthur will never accept it after everything that happened." I would have never thought he'd admitted that Arthur wouldn't bring magic back. Of course, he had to put the blame on others, probably on me, mostly.
"Maybe, I should tell him the truth." The High Priestess declared.
"And what are you supposed to tell him?" He didn't give much credit to her words. "That you killed his mother and you are sorry?" I wanted to see that. That Nimueh seemed to be quite stupid. Maybe, Merlin should let her speak with Arthur, I thought. I just wondered how he would execute her.
"I haven't killed her. I didn't mean to. It was my first time I've tried that spell and…I wish I'd never obeyed Uther's order, but he was the king and I didn't dare to say no. " This time his features soften. He'd believed her. So, Uther was really a monster. It wasn't like I hadn't known before.
"What if he's not going to believe you?"
"You'll convince him." She stated simply. Well, she was right. Merlin had a lot of influence on Arthur. However, there were some things Arthur would be just too stubborn to accept.
"He'd suffered a lot. He didn't deserve any more pain." Those were his petty words. She'd come with a plan (a stupid plan, but at least she had something) and his concern was Arthur's memories of his father. I really hated Merlin. He would always think about Arthur. He was so focused on protecting Arthur that he was such a stupid sometimes. Wait. I said sometimes? I mean always.
"Were you to be in his shoes would you be happy to be kept in the dark about something so important? Plus, he's the king. What about all those magic people? His happiness is worth their sufferings? And he had you to support him. Hard as it is for me to admit it, Uther's son may make a good king after all. However, he will have to grow up, first." She stated and honestly, I agreed with her (except the last part. Arthur and good king were words that doesn't match together. Everyone should know that)
"What about you? How could I know that you are trustworthy?"
"Are you afraid to take risks? The Merlin I knew wasn't scared." She mocked him and it seemed it worked.
" Fine, but if you tried something, do not blame me for being unmerciful." He threatened her. Him working with an evil sorceress was something really unpredictable. But what followed next was even more so.
"Don't worry, My Lord." She said. Him being addressed like that was something new for both of us. I could see that on his face. However, what I couldn't have expected was her kissing him again and this time he didn't try to push her back. "You're so hot when you're serious, Merlin." She joked as they part. "Do you have any plans for tonight?" She asked and she took him by the hand and pulled him inside his chambers. I wanted to follow them, but she closed the door before I could enter.
As I couldn't hear a thing (probably they put a spell so none could eardrop on them), I decided to look for a place to sleep. Only Aithusa looked happy. She'd found something to eat and she was making sure her belly would be full tonight.
No matter how much I try I can't sleep at all. I couldn't help hating him. She just told him some nice words and he accepted her as if nothing would have happened. I hope she's only using him. I really hope she didn't mean what she said. Anyway, Arthur will never accept magic, won't he? Why do I doubt? If she's telling the truth and they will succeed to bring magic back then….he will never leave her. But, why do I care about it? He can be with anyone he wants to be. Plus, Arthur will never allow magic back. And yet, I don't think I will sleep tonight.
Next time I will give you some details about what happened beyond those doors (just briefly, though).