Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. BBC does.
Right, just to let you know, I'm not going to be redoing every single episode. I will be doing most, but not all as we all know how they go so there will be time jumps and episode skips.
Merlin shook his head, smirking at the clear spat that Arthur and Morgana were having, right in the middle of the feast. He had clearly said something that had upset her as she stormed off and Arthur walked over to where Merlin was standing.
"Can you believe Morgana?" He stopped, placing a hand on Merlin's arm as he turned to look at the prince. "She said she saved me. Like I needed any help." Merlin smirked slightly considering that was exactly what had happened. "I wanted to say, I made a mistake. I shouldn't have yelled at you that way." He looked ashamed and Merlin nodded.
"It's alright." Merlin said softly making a note of whether there was anyone around them to hear. "It wasn't exactly as though I could give the proof needed at that point in time without revealing who I am." He whispered and Arthur nodded.
"Was that-"
"Arthur." Merlin shot him a look his eyebrows raised as he glanced around knowing exactly what it was Arthur was about to ask. Arthur gave him a small smile as if realising his almost mistake.
If truth be told, the events over the last few days had been the first time since Merlin had come to Camelot that they hadn't seen eye to eye. Merlin had known since seeing him that there was something off about the Knight Valiant but he hadn't been able to put his finger on it.
Once he had discovered the snakes in the shield and questioned Gaius, he knew that he had to do something or Arthur would be killed. He didn't doubt that that was why Valiant was here. Arthur had believed him when he had told him and shown him the snakes' head he had managed to get from the shield but when Arthur confronted his father and Uther rebuked him, Arthur had taken it out on Merlin.
He knew that it was just frustration at his father's reprimand that had Arthur acting that way but Merlin couldn't deny that it hurt. It wasn't just the fact that Arthur had shouted at him in a way he had never done before but it was the fact that he blamed Merlin for the fact that Uther didn't believe him about Valiant using magic.
He had quickly turned to the magic book that Gaius had given him, hoping that it would provide some answers. He had managed to find a spell that would bring inanimate objects to life. It had taken a little work to get the statue of the dog to his chambers without being seen but it had been worth it. He had been able to bring it to life and he knew that he would be able to do it to the snakes.
Trapping the dog in the small antechamber where Will would sleep if there was ever a need was a challenge all in itself. Before making his way down towards the arena, he had warned Will not to go into the small room, stating that he would deal with it later. Having seen the servants' shocked expression, he knew that he had not listened and had seen the dog that was now residing in the small room.
The biggest challenge had been working out how to perform the spell without alerting anyone around him. He knew that were he to be caught there would be no way out for him but he also knew that he couldn't just sit back and do nothing. Thankfully, the noise of the crowd drowned out anything that would be said, Gwen and Morgana having to practically shout in each other's ears to be heard over the din. And they were sat next to each other.
It had been a tense few moments after he had recited the spell under his breath, seeing the snakes come to life out of Valiant's shield. He held his breath, hoping that no one had heard or would link him to what was happening down on the field.
Arthur glanced at him, somehow knowing that he had caused what had just happened and Merlin gave him a small nod in return. He had pulled the attention to himself, calling out to the crowd. But he had failed to realise as the snakes dropped out of the shield completely.
He had no sword.
Morgana had thought quickly, reaching behind Merlin to one of the guards standing at Uther's side and grabbing his sword, throwing it easily to Arthur who then finished off the snakes and Valiant rather quickly.
In essence, Morgana had saved him but Merlin wasn't going to aggravate the prince any further.
He could see that Arthur regretted his actions and his words to his foster brother and best friend and his mind, even if Merlin waved him off, he would have to make it up to him.
But it wouldn't be easy.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Merlin walked through the door into Gaius's chambers, looking for a headache remedy. His head was still pounding from where he had been thrown against the wall in Arthur's chambers by an angry Sidhe. Gaius smiled at him, knowing exactly why he was there.
"Here," he handed him a vial, which Merlin eagerly took from him.
"Why is it that so many people want to kill Arthur or Uther lately?" He queried, sitting down at the table in the physician's chambers.
He had taken to asking the old man for advice ever since he had given Merlin the magic book some months ago.
"I don't know," Gaius answered, sitting down across from Merlin as he sat there, waiting for the remedy he had just taken to kick in. "Or maybe, it's just because you're more aware of it because of the knowledge of your destiny."
Merlin shook his head, wincing slightly. "No, Arthur's definitely been in more danger over the last few months than before. I mean, Lady Helen," he started to count them off on his fingers, "Valiant, Nimueh twice-"
"Although that second attack was aimed at you," Gaius pointed out and Merlin nodded.
"Alright, fine, I'll give you that one but, she also went after him when he went to get the antidote," he reasoned and Gaius nodded, agreeing with him. "The griffin, although that was just Arthur being Arthur, there. And the latest one, Sophia and Aulfric. I've never known someone to be in so much danger." Gaius studied him for a moment. "I'm not counting Edwin as an attack against Arthur because it wasn't. That was against Uther. Not that that's any better but still . . ." He looked at Gaius for some kind of guidance. "I don't think I can keep doing this, Gaius."
"You have to, my boy." He patted Merlin on the hand, not knowing what else he could say to the young man. "Now, off you go. If it hasn't already that remedy should start to work soon. I'll bring some more up to your chambers later on in case you need some more."
"Thanks, Gaius." Merlin grinned, standing up. He was feeling marginally better as he walked out of the physician's chambers.
But he had been telling the truth. He didn't know how he was going to keep doing this. Yes, he was able to warn Arthur that someone was trying to harm him but in the end, it was down to him to find a solution and get rid of the problem. Something he didn't know how he was going to keep doing when he had so much else on his plate.
Now he had turned eighteen, Uther had decided that he would, alongside Arthur become more involved with the ins and outs of the workings of Camelot. It added more onto the workload he had already had.
He shook his head as he walked back to his own chambers, turning in surprise as a scream belonging to a small child reverberated through his head. He shook his head, starting to make his way to his chambers when the voice sounded in his head.
"Help."
He stopped at the sound of the small boys voice inside his head, just as the dragon's had been. He turned, following the voice outside, walking out of the castle steps, looking around the courtyard.
"Help me."
He looked around, seeing the guards stopping everyone and searching all those with carts. He looked, his gaze falling on a small boy, huddled behind a cart, covered with a green cloak, holding his arm protectively to his chest. The boy seemed to realise that he had Merlin's attention, sitting up a little straighter as he saw him.
"Please, you have to help me." Merlin kept his gaze for a moment. "Help me." Merlin glanced towards the guards who forcefully stopped a cart and a man, questioning him about a boy he might have seen. "They're searching for me."
"Why are they after you?" Merlin pressed his thoughts towards the boy, who closed his eyes before looking back over at Merlin, having heard him.
"They're going to kill me," was the only answer he got.
When one of the guards called the others to search inside another of the entrances around the courtyard, Merlin jogged down the steps, keeping an eye on them, having seen his chance to get the boy to safety. He would need to be quick. He turned as he ducked into one of the smaller openings that ran into the castle, turning to face the boy, calling him with his mind.
"This way," he nodded to the boy who looked dubious. "Run." He let out a small sigh as the boy hesitated. "Run!" Seeing that this was his only chance the boy quickly getting up and running across the courtyard to where Merlin was. He wasn't quick enough as one of the guards spotted him, yelling to the others.
Merlin grabbed his hand as he reached him, pulling him through the corridors and up the stairs in the castle. He was forced to stop as he heard the guards in front of and behind him, rushing through the first set of doors he happened upon which just so happened to be Morgana's chambers.
"Have you forgotten how to knock, Merlin?" She demanded, not noticing the small child he held protectively in front of him before he turned to face her.
"The guards are after him," he explained as she looked at the child in front of her, "I didn't know what to do."
They all turned to the door, hearing the guards banging on it forcefully, calling for Morgana. She gestured towards the screen in the corner of her room and Merlin immediately grabbed the boy, leading him over and pulling the curtain just enough to shield them from view, conscious that the guard was still knocking.
As she opened the door, Merlin could hear them talking and Morgana answering but he couldn't focus on what was being said as the boy collapsed into Merlin and he sank into a crouch, his hand coming away from the boys arm, covered in blood.
The boy woke up not long after and they had laid down pillows and blankets for him to keep him comfortable. It wasn't long before a crowd started to assemble and the druid the boy had been with was led to the platform in the centre. They both stood at the window as they had some months before in Merlin's chambers when the man accused had been executed. This time, they could see Arthur standing beside his father and he glanced over at Merlin, showing his disapproval of his father's actions.
"People of Camelot, the man before you is guilty of using enchantments and magic," Uther addressed the people in the courtyard, "and under our law, the sentence for this crime is death. We're still searching for his accomplice. Anyone found harbouring the boy is guilty of conspiracy and will be executed as a traitor." Merlin and Morgana looked at each other with those words, both of them wondering if the sentence and warning he had just applied to anyone found with the boy applied to the two of them as his wards. "Let this be a lesson to your people."
"You have let your fear of magic turn to hate," the man on the platform responded, looking up at the king. "I pity you."
"I can't watch this," Morgana moved away from the window, moving to sit next to the boy, an arm curled protectively around him as the man was forced onto his knees.
Merlin turned away as the axe was brought down, the boy's scream echoing through his mind once again, his magic shattering the mirror above Morgana's dressing table. The two of them looked to each other in worry, seeing the anger and pain on the boys' face. He was powerful, Merlin could sense that.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Later on in the day, Merlin had begrudgingly left Morgana's chambers, knowing that people would start to wonder where he was if they could not find him. He sat in his rooms, playing with the lunch that Will had brought up for him before he had left to finish his other chores.
There was a knock at the door and Merlin called for them to enter, smiling when he saw that it was Gaius. He placed a small vial on the table in front of Merlin and he knew that it was the medicine he had promised. He thought for a moment as Gaius turned to leave, biting his lip.
"Gaius?" He called out, knowing that the old man was most likely going to be the only one that he could ask. "Do you know much about the druids?" He asked and Gaius blinked, a little shocked. Part of him should have known that Merlin would be curious after the execution earlier that day.
"Very little, they're a very secretive people. Especially now they're being hunted by Uther." His head snapped up and he lifted a finger, pointing at Merlin. "Merlin, please tell me you haven't gotten yourself mixed up in this."
"Me, no. Mixed up in what?" He attempted an innocent look but he could see from the look on Gaius's face, he didn't truly believe him.
"For someone with such a big secret, you are a terrible liar." He stated, stepping over towards the young man, who shrugged.
"Well, I haven't done anything." He shrugged, levelling a look at Gaius.
"Merlin," he sighed at the worry in the old man's voice.
"I heard the boy calling out," he admitted and Gaius blinked. "He was nowhere to be seen but I could hear him. Like he was inside my mind."
"Yes, I've heard of this ability." Gaius admitted. "The druids look for such children to serve as apprentices. While their searching for this boy you must be especially careful. Otherwise, kings ward or not, it'll be your head on the chopping block."
"I'm always careful, you know me."
"Yes, Merlin, unfortunately I do."
Merlin was slightly disturbed at how violently the guards were searching for the boy as he passed the windows showing the courtyard on the way to Morgana's chambers. He knocked, quietly announcing himself before he opened the door. Morgana led him over to the screen where the boy was.
"How is he?"
"He's sleeping. He's very pale," she sounded worried as she turned to look at him. "I worry he may have lost a lot of blood." She stopped by the edge of the curtain, looking down at the boy as Merlin stepped up behind him.
"Has he said anything at all?" He asked.
"Nothing," she looked over to him, "he won't even tell me his name."
"We need to figure out what to do with him." Merlin sighed looking down at the boy. "With him here, we're all in danger."
"What do you mean?"
"Uther believes he has magic and that makes him guilty." It was a truth that Merlin had to deal with every day. It was one that if he allowed it to, would crush his spirit. He clung to the hope that Arthur would end the persecution when he became king. It was the only hope he truly had.
"Uther's wrong." He looked up at Morgana's words, shocked by her tone.
"You believe that?" He felt a small glimmer of hope at her words as she looked down at the boy.
"What if . . . magic isn't something you chose?" She asked, looking at Merlin. "What if it chooses you." He couldn't completely fight the surprised look on his face as she summarised exactly what he had been dealt in life. He hadn't chosen to have magic. It was something he had been born with and there was nothing that he could so about it. Morgana had no idea that she had explained it perfectly in those few words. "Why are you looking at me like that? Why are you helping him?"
Merlin paused, thinking his answer over for a moment before only admitting a partial truth. "It was a spur of the moment decision." She narrowed her eyes at him, knowing that that wasn't the whole reason, not pushing him further. "We need to do something with him, he can't stay here."
"We have to find a way to get him back to his people."
Later on that evening, he begged off dining with Morgana and the king, citing the headache he had and having the vial as proof that he had seen Gaius had ensure that no one would question him too thoroughly. After the execution earlier that day, he didn't think that he could sit in a room with Uther for too long. He had seen the king order executions for those with magic before but never before had the king authorised such an extensive search for a boy, magic or not.
It disturbed Merlin to think of the lengths the king would go to.
He made sure to stay in his chambers for the rest of the night, proving the earlier excuse correct before he emerged from his chambers in the morning, heading directly for Morgana's, slipping past the guards. He was going to have to talk to Arthur about them, it was too easy to get past them.
He made it to Morgana's chambers just as the Great Bell was tolling signalling for the people to brgin their day, the sun illuminating the towers of the castle.
Merlin knelt down next to the boy, seeing a faint sheen of sweat covering his forehead. Merlin pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling the heat from the boy's skin.
"He's burning up, how long has he been like this?" He asked, glancing at Morgana.
"Since early this morning." There was an extremely worried lilt in her voice and he knew that he couldn't take it out on her. "I think his wound may be infected. We need Gaius before it gets any worse."
"It's too dangerous to involve Gaius. Besides if he finds out about this, he'll execute me himself." Merlin whispered, Morgana not pleased at his words.
"We need to get him out of Camelot and we can't do that while he's sick," she shot back and he nodded knowing that neither of them knew what to do. She was right. They needed Gaius.
He didn't have time to respond before they heard footsteps approaching from outside her chambers. They looked at each other as whoever it was knocked on the door. She stood up and Merlin staying crouched as she closed the screen. He was oddly reminded of how Arthur had hidden from George behind the screen in Merlin's room a few months before. But this of course was much more serious.
Merlin reasoned that they would be able to trust Arthur with the knowledge of where they boy was but considering he was in charge of finding the boy, he didn't really go anywhere without the guards.
Merlin moved the curtain so he could see what was happening. Morgana opened the door to find none other than Arthur standing there, flanked by two guards.
"Arthur," she sighed. "To what do I owe this pleasure."
"Don't get all excited, it's not a social call. I'm looking for the druid boy." He walked into the room, stopping in front of Morgana. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to search your chambers."
"You're not searching my chambers." She argued immediately.
"Don't take it personally, I have to search the entire castle." He stepped around her. "Only take a few minutes."
She glanced towards the screen where Merlin was keeping an eye on Arthur's movements. "I'm not having you mess up my things."
"I'm not interested in your things, I'm just looking for any evidence that they druid boy is in the castle." Merlin looked around the room, sucking in a breath as he saw the boy's boots at the foot of Morgana's bed.
"Perhaps the druid boy's in your chambers, they're usually such a mess, you'd never know." Morgana shot back, clearly trying to get Arthur out of the room.
"It's not my fault my servant can't keep up with my needs." Arthur sounded slightly smug and Merlin rolled his eyes as he focused on the boots. "By the way, have you seen Merlin around? I haven't seen him all day." Merlin paused at the sound of his name before focusing on the boots.
"Bestepe scós," he whispered and the boots immediately started to tiptoe towards him, he glanced him, panicking slightly as he saw Arthur turn. He knew that if Arthur saw the boots walking towards the screen, he would immediately come and investigate and what with the guards by the open door, he wouldn't be able to say that there was no one there.
"If you can't even find Merlin, what hope do you have of finding the boy?" Morgana shot back, clearly having no clue what Merlin was doing while she tried to distract Arthur.
"Gestile scós," he watched as the boots tiptoed backwards, settling themselves on the opposite side to the pillar as Arthur. He was just thankful that he and the boots were hidden by the furniture in between them and the door.
"I'm due to search his chambers but I can't find him anywhere. You know what he's like about having people in his rooms without him here." Arthur scoffed and Merlin glared at him from where he was hidden. "He's almost as bad as you are."
"Astýre scós." Merlin had the boots come towards him, at a faster speed this time as he needed to make sure they weren't seen.
Merlin grabbed the boots as they made it to where he was behind the screen, the rest of the conversation between Arthur and Morgana filtering into the background.
"The druid boy's hiding behind the screen," his head shot up as he registered Morgana's words, moving out of the way of the gap just as Arthur looked over. "I'm sure your father would love to know how you wasted your time by rifling through my things." She stepped over to him, seeing him hesitate. "Go on." She urged and he placed his hands on his hips, gesturing towards the screen.
"So you can have the satisfaction of making me look a fool." He challenged and she only smiled.
"In my experience, you don't need any help looking like a fool," she taunted, a challenging grin on her face. "What are you waiting for, take a look."
She knew she had Arthur when he glared at her. "Why don't just go back to . . . brushing your hair or whatever it is you do all day."
Her grin widened as she watched him go. "Bye, Arthur," she teased as he stormed out. "Good luck with the search."
Merlin felt his head drop as the door closed and she turned back to the screen. He opened it as she walked over, a smug smile on her face as she knelt down in front of the two of them.
"Never do that again." He warned and she shrugged, grinning, clearly not fazed by what she had just done. If Arthur had taken the bait and looked behind the screen, they would all have been in trouble.
"Never."
