Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter (especially the ones I can't reply to), and to Sesshouluver for helping me out again!

Chapter 7

It didn't take long after Richard had escorted Gaius and Gwen back outside the dungeons, and checked on the prisoner, that the warning bells were heard, echoing through the city. Arthur smiled as he heard the commotion outside of his room. He quickly fell to the floor before his father stormed in.

"If I find out you have anything to do with this…" his father started to scold him, until he saw his son and heir lying on the floor.

"Arthur," he suddenly said as he made his way to his fallen son.

Arthur made sure to blink his eyes a little more than was necessary as he slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position.

"Father," he asked the King, sounding dazed, "what happened?"

"The spell," Uther suddenly said as he seemed to realize something, "the spell must have worn off." He then turned towards one of the guards, lurking in the doorway and ordered, "Go and get Gaius." The guard quickly nodded and scurried away.

"Arthur, my boy, you were enchanted," Uther said as he turned back towards his son. In the meanwhile Arthur had stood with his back towards his father, but as soon as Uther said those words, he whirled around.

"Enchanted," he demanded, acting surprised.

"Yes," Uther confirmed as Arthur sat himself down on a chair, "what do you remember?"

"Euhm…I was on my way to come and see you and…after that, everything seems to be a blur."

"That was the day before yesterday," Uther muttered more to himself than to his son, "well, you should know the sorceress responsible for this was the same one who…escaped a few months ago. The one you told me was dead," Uther emphasized as his eyes found those of his son. Arthur cursed silently. He forgot about that little detail.

"She isn't," he tried questioningly, but by the way his father's eyes narrowed he didn't know if the King believed his surprise.

"Clearly not," Uther finally decided to say, "that accomplice of hers, the knight, was caught in your room earlier. You were under the impression…" Uther seemed to have difficulty saying the next word. "…under the impression that he was your son."

"My…my son," Arthur managed to stutter. Really, he should get some sort of price for this.

"Yes. Obviously they were trying to spy from the inside and to weaken our defences by enchanting you, but he was caught this morning."

"We have him imprisoned," Arthur asked, trying to sound happy with their 'success'.

"He just escaped," his father said curtly, and his eyes narrowed again.

"Well then," Arthur said as he quickly stood and turned around so he wouldn't have to meet his father's eyes, "I must go and lead a search party. He could hold eminent information for the coming battle."

It was silent for a while before Uther finally spoke, "Yes, indeed you must." And with that, he left a very relieved Arthur in his room.

After that, the crown prince quickly made his way through the castle towards the physician's chambers. He was only halfway there, when he almost ran into him.

"Sire, are you okay," the old man asked, clearly concerned, "A guard came to get me, saying you were unwell."

"I am fine Gaius," Arthur tried to brush the man off, not knowing what part he had played in his son's escape, "just a little tired, that's all. Now, have you seen Merlin," Arthur asked as he looked around the courtyard, "My father gave him the day off."

"Oh yes," Gaius said "I think he is in his room, catching up on a little reading." And with that he walked off again.

Arthur snorted as he continued his way to the physician's chambers. Merlin and reading? Now if that wasn't a bad excuse. Seriously, he would have to teach Merlin to come up with something better soon, because there was no way they would ever keep this from everyone if Merlin kept lying so badly. "Merlin," he cried as he threw the door open, only to be stopped by a body crushing against his.

"Oh Arthur, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you, and with Morgana here and all…" Gwen started as he closed the door behind them

"So you decided to throw yourself against the first one that came through this door," he asked, clearly amused.

"Wh..No," she quickly defended herself as a slight blush crept up her cheeks, "I just wanted to distract whoever it was long enough so Morgana could hide."

"Mission accomplished," Arhur said as he smiled at her, and their eyes locked.

"Ahum," Merlin suddenly coughed with a big grin spread across his face.

"Yes, Merlin," Arthur asked as he reluctantly turned away from Guinevere, only just in time to see a figure with long black hair come up to him and embrace him.

"It's good to see you Arthur," Morgana whispered as she hugged him.

"Well, you too," Arthur said a little awkwardly as he returned the embrace. He was still getting used to this emotional stuff. "So where is he," he asked as soon as his adoptive sister released him.

"Who," Merlin asked with feigned innocence, a huge grin on his face.

"Merlin," Arthur said in a warning tone, "I had my head knocked onto the floor, my son arrested and sentenced to death before my own eyes, and spent the day locked in my room, so not in the mood. Where is Alexander?"

"He is safe," Gwen answered as she put her hand on his arm, "he is at the Castle of the Old Kings."

"How did he get there," Arthur asked surprised.

"It was Gaius's idea," Morgana answered, and when she noticed Arthur's confused expression, they soon explained everything that had happened since he had been locked inside his room.

"You organized all this," Arthur asked as he turned towards Guinevere with an obvious look of amazement on his face.

"Gaius and Merlin helped," she said as a blush crept up to her cheeks again.

"And her motherly instincts," Morgana added as she smiled at her best friend.

"But Gaius…" Arthur whispered as he realized the old man had known more than he had let on. A sudden feeling of gratitude washed over him at the obvious sign of loyalty and friendship the man had shown, but deeper down he was also amazed at the ease with which the old physician seemed able to keep a secret. He obviously had been a member of his father's court for too long.

"Yes, that's another thing we wanted to talk to you about," Merlin said as he leaned against Gaius's workbench.

"We think we could use some extra help," Morgana added.

"Help," Arthur questioned, "from Gaius, you mean?"

"Among others," Merlin said again.

"Others? Merlin, what part of 'keeping things quiet' don't you understand," Arthur asked trying to ignore the fact his best friend had been able to keep his big secret for two years before the prince finally found out.

"The part where there are people here in Camelot who know Elena. The real Elena. Don't you think it's better they try to help us stop this before they meet her on the battlefield?"

It was silent for a minute, until Arthur sighed and answered, "I guess it is. We have to be careful though," he added quickly, making eye contact with everyone in the room, "my father suspects I'm up to something."

"We can meet at the Old Castle," Gwen quickly suggested, "It wouldn't be so hard to leave the city with these secret passageways Alexander told you about."

Arthur nodded again, "My father asked me to lead a search party for the escaped prisoner," he smirked. "I'll just make sure only our friends and allies are in that group."

Everyone nodded their agreement. "In the meantime, we should all act like we would any other day," he continued.

"Any other day we are preparing for war," Merlin added with a grim look.

Arthur nodded, "Yes…so, Merlin, saddle the horses, will you?"

"W…what? But your father gave me the day off," the warlock cried out indignantly.

"Thank God you're not my father's servant than, are you," Arthur asked with a grin as he turned and left the blabbering servant no choice but to follow him.

Merlin sighed as he took Arthur's saddle out of the stables towards his horse.

"Excuse me," he suddenly heard a woman's voice behind him. He smiled as he turned around to find a girl in her late teens staring back at him.

"Yes," he asked politely, "can I help you?"

"Yes," she was quick to answer, "I wish to see the Lady Morgana, please."

Merlin froze, "the…the Lady Morgana," he asked again, hoping he had misheard her. She nodded. "I'm sorry, the Lady Morgana has been missing for over six months now," he said as calmly as possible as he turned back towards the horse and fiddled with the saddle so he wouldn't have to meet the girl's eye.

"Now, we both know that's not true," the girl simply objected as she smiled.

"Excuse me," Merlin stuttered.

"I know she is here in Camelot, and I know you know where she is," the girl said, totally creeping the warlock out.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Merlin quickly said as he turned back to the stables to go and get his own saddle.

"Emrys," she called after him, and he froze as he recognised his druid name. He slowly turned around while she made her way back towards him, "don't be afraid. I am not here to hurt you," she said as she smiled again.

"I am not afraid of you," Merlin said, almost indignantly, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Do not lie to me," she said in a low tone as her smile suddenly disappeared.

"I…" but suddenly, her eyes rolled into the back of her skull, and she fell to her knees.

"My Lady," he cried surprised, as he knelt down beside her and looked at her helplessly. What was wrong with her? A few surrounding guards quickly came up beside him, and he composed himself enough to tell them to bring her to the physician's quarters. They quickly put her down on the cot, while a passing messenger promised to go and get Gaius.

"Melinda," Morgana said worriedly as she came up to the girl after the guards had left.

"You know her," Merlin asked surprised.

"Yes," Morgana answered as she felt the girl's forehead. Something she must have felt there must have reassured her, because she relaxed as she sighed, "it's okay. It's just another vision."

"Vision," Merlin asked her surprised, "Morgana who is she?"

"She came to Avalon a few months ago. Apparently she had been held prisoner by Bayren because of her gifts."

"Her gifts," Merlin asked, though he could guess.

"Yes. Melinda is a seer, albeit not a very powerful one, but Bayren used her for the same thing he used Elena and me for," Morgana sighed as a dark shadow crossed her face as she remembered the abuse she and her daughter had suffered from the evil sorcerer, "she is nowhere near as powerful as Elena or me though, and the spell almost destroyed her."

"So he decided to throw her into the dungeons," Merlin asked incredulously. Morgana nodded.

"Yes. He kept her alive to find out if he could use her again, no doubt."

"That's terrible," Merlin said as he looked at the girl again and he felt a pang of guilt shoot through him for not trusting her earlier. That explained how she knew so much about him and Morgana.

"But what is she doing here then," he asked her confused.

"I don't know," Morgana admitted, "she came to Avalon a few weeks after I got back. Asked if I could help her, teach her."

Merlin and Morgana's eyes locked as they both thought about another reality in which Merlin had revealed his magic to her, and did those exact same things.

"I tried," Morgana continued after a while, "but the spell… I don't know what it did to her, but ever since Bayren used it on her, her visions have gotten painful." Her eyes travelled back to the girl on the bed.

"Isn't there anything we can do," Merlin asked her as he looked down as well.

Morgana shook her head, "No. We tried everything we could, some of our best healers tried to help her, but they say she has to get through this on her own."

"What do you mean," Merlin asked as he looked back at the royal beauty beside him.

"She holds on to her premonitions too much," Morgana tried to explain, "even though they are unreliable, they are so vivid to her, she sees them as the one and only truth. She takes them too literally."

Before Merlin had a chance to respond to that, the door opened. Morgana quickly hid behind the table, but Gaius was quick to reassure her.

"It's only me, My Lady," he said as he rushed to the cot, "a page came to me and told me someone collapsed in the courtyard," he explained as he was already feeling the girl's pulse, "What happened?"

"She's okay Gaius," Merlin started to explain, but was quickly met by the infamous eyebrow.

"She is lying unconscious in my chambers, Merlin," Gaius said indignantly, "I know you have no desire to become the next court physician, but I had hoped that after your time with me you might have known that is not the definition of okay."

"She is a seer, Gaius," Morgana tried to explain while Merlin threw his guardian an indignant look. Gaius turned to Morgana, shocked, "these… episodes are linked to her premonitions. She will wake up shortly."

The words had barely left Morgana's mouth, and the girl started to stir on the cot behind them. Only seconds later, she gasped and suddenly shot upright.

"Melinda," Morgana asked as she neared the girl cautiously. She, unlike the others, understood how disorientating these visions could be.

"My Lady," the girl cried relieved as soon as she saw Morgana, and before the latter knew what was happening, Melinda's arms were around her.

"It's okay, Melinda," she tried to reassure the girl, gently patting her on the back, "it's okay."

"Oh My Lady, it's not…I…"

"What did you see," Morgana asked in an understanding tone. The girl's terrified eyes met Morgana's and her answer made a shiver cross Morgana's spine, "the end."

It was silent for a while, before Merlin's curiosity got the better of him.

"The end," he questioned the girl.

"Of Camelot," she added.

"Melinda, you'll have to give us a little more than that," Morgana said, though she had a feeling she knew where this was going.

"Camelot…was burning," the girl said as her eyes travelled to the ground, "and there were bodies everywhere. The knights were slaughtered. The king and the prince both dead. You, My Lord…" Melinda said as she suddenly looked at Merlin.

"Merlin," he interrupted her, "and sorry for out there."

"No worries, My Lord," Melinda answered as she smiled a little, "you were just protecting our Queen."

Merlin's smile faded for a second, before his grin became even wider than before. The girl answered his smile, before she remembered she was telling them about her vision, and her face grew serious again.

"You were fighting a young sorceress, My Lord, but she…she killed you too." Suddenly tears started to form in the girl's eyes as they travelled to Morgana still sitting next to her on the cot. "She killed everyone, My Lady. Even you."

It was silent for a while, before Morgana sighed and got up, "You know of the army coming for Camelot, Melinda," she questioned the girl as she turned towards her.

Melinda nodded, "Yes, I…"

"That's my daughter," Morgana interrupted her, and the girl was shocked into silence, "well, future daughter actually."

"But…My Lady, I saw her kill you."

"Yes," Merlin interrupted her again, "we're working on that. You see, she's my future daughter too." The girl looked from a grinning Merlin to an almost blushing Morgana and was obviously shocked as the realization sunk in.

"She came back from the future to help us free Avian," Morgana continued, "but something she did then, changed her own future, obviously, so…"

"She is going to kill you," Melinda said again.

"Not if we can help it," Merlin objected.

"But she will," Melinda said passionately, "I saw it. She is going to kill us all."

"Melinda," Morgana suddenly intervened again, "the future isn't set in stone, I told you this before. We can change things." Melinda nodded but didn't look convinced.

"Euhm…You better get going Merlin," Gaius suddenly, "This girl is obviously upset and needs rest. Besides, Arthur will be looking for you."

Merlin suddenly shot up from the bench he was sitting on and all but ran to the door. He had completely forgotten about that. As if summoned, Arthur's voice was suddenly heard booming through the corridors.

"Merlin," he yelled as he threw the door open, "is it so difficult to saddle the horses…" the rest of his scolding got stuck in his throat though, as soon as he saw Melinda sitting next to his wanted sister, "Euhm…Merlin? Aren't we supposed to keep Morgana hidden," he asked his servant instead.

Merlin grinned as he introduced her, "Melinda, meet Arthur, the praty prince that is leading this kingdom. Arthur, Melinda, Morgana's seer friend."

Arthur was still shocked speechless, both by the girl's sudden appearance, and Merlin's total disrespectful introduction as Melinda stood and made a small bow, "My Lord."

Arthur could only nod, "No offence, My Lady, but what are you doing here? I mean no disrespect, but Camelot is not really the safest place for a seer if you didn't know that yet."

Melinda grinned as he said that and answered, "I came to look for my queen."

"Morgana," Arthur asked confused as he looked at the latter, "why?"

"Because I know she is in danger."

Arthur sighed as he seemed to relax a little before he turned halfway to the door and answered darkly, "Aren't we all? Well, you better stay here Merlin. It will be dark soon, so you'll be able to get Morgana out of here. And Melinda if she wants to come."

"I'm not leaving my queen," the young girl said immediately, determined.

Arthur shot Morgana a look that obviously asked her if she could be trusted. Her short nod was all the conformation he needed. "Okay than." he said, this time opening the door, "see you there." He was just about to close the door behind him, before he peeked his head back inside, "Oh, and Merlin…" he said as the warlock's head shot towards him, "please, try not to get caught."