Chapter 5
"Perhaps you should tell Arthur about your magic," said Lancelot. "I find it hard to see how you can solve this without the full help and co-operation of all members of the Round Table. The Prince is Regent now and having him know your secret would help greatly if you have any problems with Uther."
"Gaius?" Merlin was hoping that the old man would back him up.
"It might well be necessary at some point but, let's see if you can keep up the pretence for the time being. Say I've been keeping some type of charm in this room, and have given it to you for protection."
"Then Arthur will just order you to give it to him," said Gwen in an obviously frustrated tone.
"As Gaius said, I'll worry about it later. If I have to tell the others then I will, but no earlier than is absolutely necessary." Merlin was feeling more confident now. Here, in this situation, he was ultimately the one in charge. He was the only one who could move freely around the castle, the only one who could create the spells and the only one who had any realistic chance of undoing the enchantment. "So, Lancelot … let's get this conference area set up."
He quickly cast the shield spell on himself and Lancelot before the pair picked up a small table from a nearby room and made their way up to the grassy area where he and Arthur had watched Gwaine leave that first time he'd visited Camelot. Merlin got Lancelot to settle the table down as close to the centre of the area as possible.
"What about the object?" Lancelot asked.
"I'll just use the table itself … less likely to cause any awkward questions," Merlin replied with a shrug. He cast the spell, spread it out to the low walls and towers that surround the area and then quickly dropped his own shield to check it had worked. This time he kept Lancelot's in place and quickly recast his own.
"Now?" the knight asked.
"Now we need to bring the other key knights here whilst they're still frozen and then I can warm them up without having to create a personal shield for them. That will be much easier and safer for them and for me."
"Yes, I see but, I'm not sure if … we could carry them here." Lancelot was being polite again. Merlin certainly wouldn't be much help carrying those muscular young men.
"Alright … so let's wake up Gwaine. If anyone has to find out about me … I'd rather it was him. You two could then easily carry the others here … even Percival?"
"Of course, and you can carry their armour."
"Well, I'm used to that," Merlin replied with a grin.
"Will you be able to protect three of us at a time?"
"It's getting easier every time I do it so, I'm sure I can, especially if we all stay close together."
So they went to Gwaine's room and Merlin repeated the spells he'd used on Lancelot to defrost and wake his friend up. Despite saying that he was the least concerned about this particular knight finding out, he had no intention of admitting to his magic if there was a way to avoid it.
"What! Merlin. Lancelot. What's happening?" Gwaine asked.
"There's not much time to explain," said Merlin. "Someone's cast a spell on Camelot and everything and everyone is freezing. Luckily it didn't work properly and we're starting to get everyone from the Round Table together to solve the problem."
"Yes, but …"
"Quickly, Gwaine, there isn't much time. Get dressed and we'll go and get Elyan." Merlin hoped that in their urgency and haste, no-one would have much time to think properly. That had certainly been the case with him initially. Once he was ready, they moved down the corridor as quickly as possible, his newest companion's eyes constantly darting in confusion to the ice strewn walls of the palace.
Gwaine cried out in surprise when he saw Elyan lying, covered in ice, on his bed but, this time, Merlin directed the two Knights to pick up their frozen comrade and take him to their protected central area where it would be much easier to cast one single spell in secret.
"Yes, but why is he frozen when I …?" Gwaine frowned trying to work out the logic of it.
"As Merlin said, the spell didn't work properly. Not everyone's affected in the same way," Lancelot said, looking nervously at Merlin.
"Yes but ?"
"Later, Gwaine, we really need to hurry," said Merlin. "A couple of scouts have already been snooping around, there's bound to be more soldiers or sorcerers on the way soon." They started towards the conference area carrying their various loads, but had barely made it out of the door before Gwaine slipped on the icy floor, dropping Elyan's legs, shortly followed by Merlin with a loud clatter of chain mail. Without their arms free for balance and support, it was almost impossible to stay upright.
Lancelot gave the skinny man a significant look. "It's not going to work this way, Merlin."
"You're right," he said rubbing his sore elbow, "and we can't take the chance that I might really injure myself and loose concentration completely. Put Elyan back on his bed, Gwaine. There's an easier way to do this."
"So ... does that mean you're going to tell me what's really going on here?" Gwaine asked grinning broadly as he helped lower Elyan back down.
"Yes," Merlin said with a huge sigh. "You and everyone here in the palace was frozen like this. Everyone but me."
"You?"
"Yes." He took a deep breath. "I have magic."
Gwaine stared at him for a long while before a small smile appeared on his face. He appeared to be thinking back on various incidents from their times together when suddenly, unexpectedly, he burst out laughing. "Well of course you do," he said punching him on the shoulder. "Now that makes perfect sense." Merlin rubbed his arm and stared at his friend, surprised at how easily he had accepted the admission.
"You see. Maybe telling Arthur is the correct course of action," said Lancelot with a smile.
"You think Arthur will take the news that well?" grumbled Merlin pointing at the still grinning Gwaine, who then started to laugh even louder.
"You are probably correct," Lancelot admitted with an amused smile of his own.
"So ..?" Gwaine asked eventually, pointing at Elyan.
"Oh yes." Merlin created the shield and then started the warming spell. It noticed that it was becoming very much easier every time he did it.
"Most impressive," said Gwaine calmly.
So now, Merlin tried the same trick on Elyan; rushing him to get changed, not giving him a chance to ask any awkward questions and then taking him to the conference area with a shield, that he didn't know he was wearing, wrapped around him. Four shields were quite a struggle for Merlin to hold and he had to keep persuading the group that they should stay close together to make it easier. Once they were back in the conference area, he dropped all of their personal shields in relief before dashing off on his own to find and defrost Percival and Leon.
He supposed he should have done it this way before. With only him and the one knight to worry about he didn't have to perform the magic in front of anyone that was actually conscious, and he only had to worry about holding one extra shield along with his own. Still, Lancelot had a point, it was amazing he'd managed to do as well as he had and, considering the stressful circumstances, probably not surprising that he'd not been thinking as clearly as he could.
Once all five knights were safely installed in the conference area and happily discussing the military implications of their current situation, Merlin hurried back through the icy Palace to check up on Gaius and Gwen.
~o~0~o~
"There you are, Merlin," said Gaius in his usual impatient tone. "Gwen thinks she might have something."
"Oh?"
"Yes, it's this diamond … look?" She held up the book. "Well, it's a piece of a much larger, ancient gem – The Ice Diamond it was called - but, even this small remnant is supposed to hold great power."
"You think that's holding the enchantment? We'll never be able to find something so small."
"True but ... I think I've already seen it," Gwen replied.
"Where?" She just looked at him with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Gwen?"
"In Morgana's chambers," she replied eventually.
He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Now, why does that not surprise me."
"Can you take me to look?"
"Yes but … I was just about to go and wake Arthur up." He laughed as he saw her face light up at the comment. "Oh, go on then," he continued. "At least I can rely on you to distract him if he starts getting overly curious."
"What do you mean?" she asked nervously.
"You know, just bend down and pick something up? Wearing that dress I guarantee that he won't be paying any attention to what I'm doing."
"Merlin!" Both Gaius and Gwen scolded him at once and his grin turned even broader. They opened the door to leave when suddenly Gwen yelped and pulled back inside.
"Merlin … shield!" she cried shivering.
"Oh, sorry …"
"Please don't loose concentration now."
"Sorry, I'm just a bit distracted about facing Arthur."
"Well, I understand that, of course."
"Gwen, why have you decided not to move into the castle? Is it because you've been offered Morgana's chambers?" he asked as they made their way carefully along the frozen corridors.
"Partially. Although, if I really insisted, I'm sure I would be assigned other rooms."
"So?"
"Well, both because I still feel awkward about being the Lady Guinevere but mostly because … well, it's not fair on Arthur."
"Why do you say that? He's sulking quite a bit about it you know?" Gwen gave a slight smile.
"Exactly. Those rooms are not that far from his and very secluded."
"Ah ..." said Merlin, finally catching on.
"I mean … it's not that I don't trust him to be honourable, of course he would be, but …" She bit her lip. "Well, to be honest it's me that I don't trust. I mean … he'd be just down the corridor and I think I might be tempted to do a little sleep walking one night and …"
"Gwen!" Merlin was shocked at what she was implying and she gave him a sheepish grin.
"In some ways this new situation is worse than the old one. When we believed there was no chance at all it was easier to resist each other but now … every time he gets close to me, I just want to …"
"Fine, I get it. That's more than enough information, thank you." Merlin knew he'd started to turn pink.
"Sorry, I'm making you embarrassed and jealous."
"Jealous?" He asked, looking at her suspiciously.
"Oh, sorry. I wasn't referring to those rumours about you and Arthur … obviously," she said, grinning slightly.
"W-what rumours?" he asked nervously.
"I just meant that it's a shame that you haven't got someone, that's all."
"Oh. Good ... I think."
"Why not, when you've girls like Sara throwing themselves at you?"
Merlin paused for a long time before answering. "I don't know. This secret is part of it, I suppose and … well there was someone. Someone I loved. She died."
"Oh, Merlin, I am so sorry. I had no idea." He shrugged, pleased that he had a good excuse for keeping his eyes on the floor.
"That hurts … it still does. Then there was Morgana?"
"Morgana?" She smiled at him, surprised.
"It's a magic thing, I think. I seem to be drawn to them, despite myself." He sighed. "Yes, I liked Morgana and … there's still this connection, even now."
"So, you're only attracted to those with magic?"
"Well, I wouldn't say 'only' but … they do seem to grab my attention, yes."
"Which explains why you didn't notice me when I threw myself at you that first year."
"When you …? What?"
Gwen coloured and grinned shyly at him. "It hardly matters now."
"But ..." He paused for a moment before nodded slightly. "Yes, I think I did wonder at the time but … I honestly didn't believe that someone as pretty as you would be interested in me that way."
"Aw, Merlin … that's so sweet. Totally wrong of course, but very sweet." He felt his cheeks burn at the compliment. "So, I don't suppose there is anyone else left with magic for you here now?" she continued.
"I think there's one other here around my age. Not much power … probably won't come to Uther's attention."
"Oh?"
"I don't feel right saying. Not really my place to give them away."
"Of course not, it was rude of me to ask. Anyway, it's not all bad news for your love life as Sara's not your only admirer."
"S-she isn't?"
"No," she said with a gentle laugh. "Half the court and most of the maids like you."
"I think you're teasing me, Gwen."
"I'm really not. Not every woman goes for those, 'Rough, tough, save the world' types, you know?" Merlin stopped and turned to look at her with a slight smile and she laughed, suddenly fully understanding the joke. "But then you are a, 'Save the world' type, aren't you?"
"If not exactly rough or tough. Right … are you ready?" They'd been standing outside Arthur's door for a couple of minutes now.
"Ready."
"Good." Merlin bit his lip and turned nervously towards her. "You will protect me from him if gets cross, won't you Gwen?"
~o~0~o~
A/N Thank you again for all your lovely reviews. You've being surprisingly kind to me so far but I've some major cliffies coming up so you'll be hating me very soon, I'm sure!
So, here's where things really start to hot up (oops!) No prizes for guessing who wakes up in the next chapter and it is well overdue, don't you think?
Hey, no-one has mentioned the rabbit mask ... did you recognise it? I wonder why Gaius has it?
Okay, enough waffle from me; please R&R and speculate ... lots to talk about now.
Edited 19/5/12