Season 2, Episode 5
Story 18: I Told You So
Chapter 7: Fallen
Arthur glared at Catrina. She was the epitome of hideousness. In the darkened hallway, Arthur hadn't been able to get a good look at her, but now he couldn't help but wish the lighting in the chapel was a little worse.
"Now everyone can see you for what you are. Father, look upon your bride. Tell me what you see," Arthur ordered. "Do you see a beautiful bride or do you see a troll?"
"Stop it!" Uther shouted. "If you do not hold your tongue and stop insulting my bride I will have you arrested."
"But father," Arthur protested. "Look at her."
Uther looked at Catrina and for a moment, his smile faltered. Merlin watched as Uther closed his eyes. For a brief moment, he looked conflicted. Then the amulet he was wearing around his neck, glowed red and his confusion disappeared. "I see my future wife and you would do well to show her some respect," Uther warned.
Merlin understood. Catrina was controlling him. "Arthur," Merlin called. "The necklace."
Arthur looked at what Merlin was talking about. He could see a faint red glow coming from the amulet hanging around his father's neck.
Arthur looked at the Lady Catrina and then looked at his father. She was enchanting him. Arthur ran for his father and he heard footsteps behind him. He didn't know if it was a guard, trying to arrest him, or someone else charging for Catrina.
Arthur's hand wrapped around his father's necklace and he tugged until he felt the chain break. He allowed the amulet to fall to the ground.
"No!" the troll roared. Arthur turned in time to see the troll throw a dagger. Where she had been hiding it, he would never know, but it didn't seem to matter anymore. He didn't have time to move. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the pain that was sure to come.
It never did. Instead, Arthur heard a loud thump.
When Arthur opened his eyes, it took him several minutes to realize what was happening. The hall had erupted in a chorus of screams. Arthur watched his father take a step forward.
"You… you're a troll," Arthur heard his father gasp.
"I told you…" Arthur started to say. The words died on his lips when he looked towards the ground.
He looked down to see Merlin, gasping for breath. The dagger was protruding from his stomach. Suddenly Arthur knew who the footsteps he had heard earlier belonged to. They didn't belong to a guard trying to arrest Catrina, they belonged to Merlin who was trying to protect Arthur. Just like he said he always did and always would. Arthur still didn't know how he felt about the whole magic thing, but he didn't want Merlin to die.
Arthur reacted on instinct. He pulled the sword out of his father's belt. For the first time, Arthur was grateful for the custom that the king or prince marry with the sword they wield at their side. It was supposed to symbolize how they will protect their wife as they protect their kingdom. Ironic, considering Arthur was going to use it to kill his father's wife.
Before the troll had the chance to react, Arthur had thrust his father's sword through her stomach. As the troll fell to the ground, she emitted the foulest stench Arthur had ever smelt. It made his eyes water and his stomach churn. He grabbed his nose, hoping to block out some of the disgusting smell.
Arthur knelt down by his fallen manservant. He put his hand in front of Merlin's nose. He still breathed, but it was faint. He picked up Merlin carefully and started to leave. He didn't take more than a few steps before he turned back to his father. It was petty, but Arthur couldn't leave without saying something. "Do you believe me now?" Arthur asked in an even voice.
As Arthur left the chapel, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Gaius. Arthur was grateful for that. He had no idea where to start to help Merlin, but Gaius would know what to do.
Arthur kept pace with Gaius as they headed back to Gaius's chambers. Gaius entered before Arthur and cleared off the table. He laid down a sheet and instructed Arthur to place Merlin on it. Gaius carefully pulled out the dagger and pressed a towel to the wound.
Moments later, Gwen burst through the door. In her wake was a hysterical Morgana. "What can we do?" Gwen asked in a shaky voice.
"Fetch some water," Gaius said without looking up from Merlin. "And some clean towels." Gwen and Morgana went to get what Gaius had requested. "Arthur. On the top shelf there is a bottle with a dark green liquid. I need you to get it."
Arthur did as he requested. Gaius pulled the stopper out of the bottle and poured all of the contents down Merlin's throat.
"What will it do?" Arthur asked Gaius curiously.
"It's a potion Merlin made long ago. I don't think he ever intended to have to consume it himself," Gaius explained vaguely. He could remember the day Merlin had made it with clarity. It was a few days after the questing beast had almost taken Arthur's life. Merlin had wanted to make a potion so that if Arthur got hurt again, Merlin would have a means of saving him.
Merlin would be furious with Gaius for using it on him, but Gaius figured he could always recreate the potion.
"Did he use magic to create it? Will it heal him?" Arthur asked hopefully.
For the first time, Gaius looked away from Merlin. "Why would you think he could use magic?" Gaius asked anxiously.
"Because I saw him use it," Arthur explained quietly. "It is how we escaped from the troll's trap."
"What are you going to do to him?" Gaius asked. He was beginning to regret that he had used the potion on Merlin. It should be able to heal him, but he hated to heal him just to have him be killed later.
"Nothing," Arthur said quietly.
"Nothing?" Gaius questioned.
"He saved my life," Arthur said quietly. "That's a debt I cannot repay."
He couldn't tell Gaius the exact truth. He hadn't realized, not until that exact moment when he was faced with the choice, but he knew he could not have Merlin killed. He loved Merlin with all of his being, Merlin's magic didn't change that. For a moment, Arthur was blinded by hatred and betrayal, but Merlin had proved to be the same man Arthur had initially fallen in love with. It would be unbearable for Arthur to lose him.
Gaius nodded, but could not mask his shock. "Will it heal him?" Arthur asked again.
"We can hope Sire," Gaius answered honestly. "Merlin made this well over a year ago after you had nearly died. It is meant to heal the internal injuries that someone has. We never had the need to try to save anyone with it, so I cannot be certain, but I have faith in Merlin's abilities."
Arthur nodded. It wasn't enough. It wasn't the reassurance that he had been looking for, but it was something. "Internal injuries?" He questioned.
"The dagger may have punctured something inside of him. I cannot be sure, but this potion should ensure that everything inside of him that has been damaged will be healed," Gaius explained.
"But it won't heal the actual stab wound?" Arthur asked.
Gaius shook his head. "That is easy enough to treat," he said with a shrug.
Just then, Morgana and Gwen returned. Morgana was carrying a stack of towels and Gwen was holding a bucket filled with water. They brought them over to Gaius.
Gwen fetched some clean white bandages while Gaius removed Merlin's tunic so he would be able to properly examine the wound. Everything passed in a blur for Arthur. He sat down on a bench that allowed him to see what was happening to Merlin. It had been too much for Arthur. The same numbness that had crept over Arthur when he had found out about Merlin's magic was returning. Arthur was afraid that Merlin wouldn't make it. He was afraid the potion wouldn't work. He was afraid he would never get to speak to Merlin and tell him how proud he was.
As Gaius cleaned and bandaged Merlin that was all that was on Arthur's mind. That Merlin might die and he would never get the chance to tell him that he forgave him for his magic.
The minutes crept by slowly. Arthur could tell the exact moment that Gaius had finished, because he took a seat at his work bench across from Arthur and waited. Eventually Gwen and Morgana found seats on the floor. They waited and waited and waited.