The captured witch was laying on the rough bed available in her cell, her eyes wide open, unable to get any sleep. Evening had come and with it a guard demanding a list of names. She had failed to provide any. She had explained, pleaded, cried, but the guard wouldn't hear any of it.

The shred of hope the Lady had brought her a few days earlier was long gone. She had stopped deluding herself. She knew what awaited her in the morning.

A week of nearly sleepless nights finally got the better of her and she slowly began to drowse. It took her a while to notice the sudden commotion down the corridor, growing nearer and nearer. She woke up just in time to see a man's hooded figure unlock her cell and get in hastily.

He walked closer and held out his arm to her. "Come on, get up, we've got to hurry."


When Arthur got back to Gwen's house, Merlin looked extremely surprised to see he was followed by the no longer imprisoned witch.

"You got her out? On your own?" his manservant asked. "Then I guess I have my answer about your personal opinion regarding magic..."

"Don't say anything that would make me change my mind," Arthur warned.

Arthur finally removed his hood. That was when the witch recognised him at last.

"You're Prince Arthur!" she exclaimed. "I don't understand, why would you... What is this? Why did you bring me here?" she questioned, suddenly looking defiant.

"The other day, you said you knew hundreds of healing spells. Was that true?" Arthur asked.

"Well I... may have exaggerated a little," she admitted.

"Could you heal that woman?" he continued, pointing at Gwen.

"Why? Is this some kind of trap again?" she asked on the defensive without even looking at Gwen.

Arthur sighed. They didn't have time to argue. "Of course not! Will you just go and heal her if you can?" he insisted.

"You mean you really got me out just so I could heal someone?" The witch snorted.

"What's wrong with that?" Arthur questioned, surprised by her reaction.

"Well before we arrived here I still thought someone had selflessly helped me escape. Forgive me for being a little disappointed that I was wrong."

"Help us and you'll go free," Arthur promised. "You have my word."

"For what a Pendragon's word is worth..."

"What are you suggesting exactly?" Arthur began to accuse. "You sure sound much more cheeky than you did in front of the King."

"Maybe because back then I wasn't in any position to negotiate."

Ah, there they were. Arthur crossed his arms over his chest. "All right, what's your price?"

This seemed to take the witch by surprise, as if she hadn't thought this through. That was the moment Merlin chose to interfere.

"I'd hate to interrupt, but even if you both have every reason to distrust one another, I'm sure we can get past that." He turned to the witch. "You've met the Lady Morgana. The woman there is her maid, and I believe her best friend as well. She's our friend too and she's dying. So even if you can't actually heal her, any information you could give us about what's wrong with her would be highly appreciated."

Arthur was surprised to hear in Merlin's tone that he didn't seem to believe she could be of actual help, after all he and Morgana had said in favour of magic.

"Don't let her down just because the big crowned fool over there doesn't know the proper way to ask for help."

"Hey!" Arthur protested. "The big crowned fool can still decide how crappy your daily chores are, Merlin!"

Their exchange made the witch smile. Arthur had to admit that Merlin was probably right and it was likely he hadn't chosen the best way to convince her.

"Look," he told her, "you said the other day that you sorcerers could help if we'd just let you. This is your chance. Show me." From the corner of his eye, he saw Merlin wave him to go on. He sighed. "Please?"

The woman finally nodded. "All right, I guess I can always try to -" She suddenly interrupted when she turned to look at Gwen at last. Her face dropped. "What happened to her?" she asked as she walked next to Gwen and started to examine her.

"We think she was cursed," Arthur answered. "Do you have any idea what this is?"

The witch was carefully observing Gwen's wooden arm. "Oak," she said very seriously.

Arthur exchanged a look with Merlin, and rolled his eyes. He was already beginning to believe this was going to be a complete waste of time.

"I think it could be dryad magic," the witch added. "It does look like it."

"Dryad? What sort of monster is that?" Arthur asked. He saw Merlin frown: his manservant didn't seem to know either.

"They're not monsters. They're nymphs, peaceful spirits of the forest. You're lucky you got me, Elias wouldn't know a thing about them..."

Before Arthur had the chance to ask why a forest nymph would curse anyone, Merlin spoke up: "Then what do you know about dryad magic?"

The woman shrugged. "Not much, only what my grandmother told me about it. Dryads are nearly extinct... They're said to live in oak trees... Their magic operates mostly on nature, they don't curse people unless they feel threatened..." She closed her eyes and appeared to concentrate.

"Do you know any dryad magic spells that could counter this curse?" Merlin asked.

"That's what I'm trying to remember," the witch answered. "I saw my grandmother perform quite a few, but that was a long time ago... She really liked dryad magic. She even used to pretend that she descended from one, but she had already started to lose her mind back then, so..." she finished with another shrug.

Arthur waved Merlin to follow him to another corner of the house. "This is useless," he whispered. "Whatever she remembers will come from an old crazy lady and can't be relied on."

"Give it a chance," Merlin retorted. "Now at least we have a lead, even if she can't think of anything we could still research this dryad magic."

"I've got one!" the witch suddenly exclaimed. Arthur's doubts instantly vanished as hope took over. "Well, I think. I'm... not sure it will work."

"Why wouldn't it?" Arthur asked as he walked back next to Gwen's bed.

"It's a spell meant to get rid of a parasite tree growing on another," she explained. "That's the closest I can think of. But I don't know what effect it will have on a person."

"Then no," Arthur decided categorically. "We're not taking that risk."

"Arthur, it's worth a try!" Merlin insisted. "It could work! It's close enough! What other choice do we have? What is there to lose? Gwen's already dying!" he reminded.

As if on cue, Gwen whimpered in her restless sleep. Arthur clenched his fists. He hated to see her like this. With a sigh, he nodded, and waved the witch to proceed.

She put her hand above Gwen's wooden one and concentrated on it. "Toorhim farunka sitow!"

The spell had no obvious effect, but Arthur was almost sure he saw a slight shift in the wood's texture. The witch cast the spell again. Yes, something was definitely happening! When she gave it another try, Gwen's little finger turned back to flesh. However, it lasted only a few seconds until the disease took it over again.

The witch stood back, panting, and shook her head. "I'm not powerful enough to cast this. I'm sorry."

"What do you mean you're sorry? It's working! Come on, try again!" Arthur urged.

"It's no use, I won't get much better than this. I'm truly sorry."

"Well you're not trying hard enough!"

"Arthur?" It was Merlin's turn to wave him to follow him away from Gwen's bed. "She spent the last week in the dungeons, she's weakened. Maybe with, I don't know, a proper meal or something, she may regain some power?"

Arthur nodded. "Good idea. Go fetch some food from the castle, I'll stay here and keep an eye on them."

"Actually, I was thinking you'd better go yourself," Merlin suggested. "At this hour of night, if someone catches me, they won't let me go. You, on the other hand, they'll let go," he argued.

Arthur sighed. "All right. I need to go and get some fresh air anyway. I'll be back soon."


Merlin kept an eye on Arthur as he left the house. As soon as he was sure he was gone, he headed back to Gwen's bedside.

"I heard what you told him," the witch said. "You know, it's not how magic works. Getting some food won't make any difference. I'm just not powerful enough to cast that spell efficiently."

"I know. I am."

"What?"

Merlin lifted his hand above Gwen, and focused with all his might. Then he pronounced the incantation he had memorised from the witch's unsuccessful castings: "Toorhim farunka sitow!"

No effect at all.

"Toorhim farunka sitow!"

Still nothing.

"TOORHIM FARUNKA SITOW!"

Merlin was absolutely baffled. "This is impossible, why isn't it working at all?"