I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world
~ Thomas A Edison
Chapter 8: The First Favor
Merlin asked to see his father before he took off. He remembered the last time he went to Camelot against his father's knowledge. He didn't want to do that again.
Merlin found himself in the throne room where his father, Abel and Richard were there. They listened to Merlin as he explained about Lancelot saving him and earning his debt and about how he was just summoned to Camelot to heed the first favor of that debt.
The three of them looked to each other.
Merlin thought this a bad sign. "I understand if you think this a bad idea but I made a promise and you taught me to honor my commitments."
Balinor shook his head. "No Merlin, you don't understand. That's not it."
"What is then?"
Richard answered. "It's the timing. If this Lancelot summoned you to Camelot then it is almost certain of why he did now."
"Why?" he asked his surrogate uncle.
"We've only heard just a few hours ago of a plague that hit the city of Camelot. A druid sent us a message of a search being conducted in a nearby village to his camp done by Camelot's troops for a sorcerer that is unleashing a plague on the people there."
"What sort of plague?"
"We don't know."
"The three of us were just discussing what we should do about it if it does involve a sorcerer," his father said. "We were wondering of how to conduct an investigation when you came in with all of this."
"Yes," said Abel. "If this Lancelot summoned you now then it's because he is sick and called you to cure him or perhaps a loved one of his that has been stricken."
Now Merlin was glad that he did decide to inform his father first. "I'm not too knowledgeable with magical illnesses. Or any illnesses."
"You would be wise to consult with your sister first then," said his father. "She can show you what you will need to accomplish what you will most likely have to."
Merlin controlled his reaction. "So…I have your blessing then?"
"I have a feeling that whether you had it or not, you would go anyway," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. It faded after a moment and he went serious. "While you are there, see to this situation. Handle it accordingly. Remember, it's time to spread our message among the commoners of Uther's kingdom that his views of us are not benign truth."
Merlin bowed to him. "Yes Father. I won't disappoint you or Frith."
Lancelot was outside the city in the woods where the griffin had been struck down. He had gone there immediately after he called out to Emrys and had stayed there until the sun had gone down. He didn't know how long it would take for Emrys to show, if he was going to show. But he didn't move from that spot. He couldn't if he wanted to help Guinevere.
"Hello there."
Lancelot was startled at the voice breaking the silence of these dark woods. He looked to the side to see the sight of Emrys in his cloak with the hood covering a good part of his face.
"Emrys," he breathed out. "I've been waiting for you."
"Yes, I can tell. Has it been long? Don't tell me you came here as soon as you called out to me?" Lancelot's silence after the question was all the answer he needed. Emrys laughed a bit. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I'm afraid that I was quite a bit away at home."
"I wasn't sure how long it would take you to respond and I didn't want to take the risk that you would come here and not find me and then leave."
Emrys chuckled. "Understandable. Now, enough with trading apologies and why don't you tell me about why you summoned me."
"Right. A plague has hit the city. Some kind of magic is infecting the city's water and many people have died and many more are fatally ill. My friend's father is one of them. These people need your help. Will you please help them?"
So his father had been right. He was called in response to this plague.
"I will if that is what you have requested. You have my debt Lancelot and if this is what I must do to repay it to you then I will."
"Thank you Emrys," he said gratefully.
He held up his hand. "Don't thank me yet. I have yet to do anything. Show me to whom you want me to cure first."
Merlin easily went through the city unnoticed. A few spells at random things to cause them to fall and some fog and he avoided the patrols of the city. Lancelot was behind him, marveling at how Emrys could easily infiltrate a city whose king wanted him dead especially when it was on a curfew. He pointed out Guinevere's home and Merlin told him to go back home and leave him to handle this. He peeked inside the window to see that there was a young maiden, most likely Lancelot's friend, who was sleeping at the side of the man on the sickbed. They were both out which made it easier for Merlin to sneak in. He took a poultice from his satchel and placed it underneath the man's pillow. He then chanted the medicinal spell that his sister taught him and watched as the poultice's contents became enchanted and then seep into the man and expel his ailments. His skin regained color quickly and his breathing became calm and tranquil. Merlin quickly summoned the poultice back and then left.
As soon as he did, the man awoke to stir awake his daughter and they rejoiced in the small miracle of his recovery. Merlin watched them for a moment with a small smile before he took off. That was just one. There were a few more he had to help out tonight. It was easy to spot where to go even without Lancelot as there were quarantine marked X's on their doors. He visited about 10 others before he left as the sun would be rising soon. Many families and friends had awaken to small miracles much like Guinevere and Tom had.
Lancelot went to visit the Lady Morgana's chambers to see if Guinevere had come in to work today and was pleased to see her there already working with a beautiful and content smile on her face.
"Guinevere?" he called out before entering the room.
She turned around and smiled wider at the sight of him. "Lancelot, hello."
"You're back," he said happily. "What about your father?"
She beamed at him. "My father is feeling better. He's recovered."
"He has?" He hoped that he sounded surprised enough.
Guinevere was either too happy or distracted to notice if he wasn't. "Yes. It was amazing. It's almost like he was never ill at all. He told me that he was heading back to work in his forge. I told him to take it easy for the day but he said that he didn't want to spend his new energy and waste it lying in that bed any more than he already did." She laughed at the memory of how her father carried on with her this morning.
Lancelot silently marveled at that. He knew Emrys was powerful, considering the rumors about him, but to heal her father that well. It was amazing.
"I'm happy that he is okay."
"Thank you Lancelot."
"Why are you thanking me Guinevere?"
She blushed a bit. "I…I don't know. I just feel that I should for some reason."
That morning Lancelot was smiling widely at the sight of Guinevere happy that no doubt would be mirrored on the faces of many others that had who had their loved ones saved. It only faded when he saw Guinevere being arrested and taken frantic by the guards with Arthur behind them.
"Arthur," he said as he moved over to them quickly. "What are you doing?"
Arthur went over and held Lancelot back. "Stay back Lancelot. Don't make things worse."
"Why are you arresting Guinevere?" he demanded.
"She's under arrest for suspicion of sorcery."
"What? That's ridiculous. Guinevere is no sorceress," he barked angrily.
"That's what I told him." Morgana came down the hall at the two. "She hasn't done anything."
"Then how else do you two explain her father's complete recovery? He was gravely ill and was found working healthy and strong as if nothing had ever happened." He then went to follow after the guards with Morgana at heel.
Lancelot stood there feeling rooted to the floor. He had thought that Emrys' power was a good thing. Instead it had been what sealed the king's suspicion and it was on the wrong person. No, he should've done something. Perhaps had warned Guinevere to tell her father to not display his new health so proudly and draw the king's attention. He had to fix this!
He ran to the throne room in time to see Guinevere on the floor denying that she did anything. Uther demanded that Guinevere end the disease on the kingdom believing her the one that created the plague. Now that Lancelot couldn't help but find ridiculous. If Guinevere had been the one to cause the plague then why would she infect her own father with it? Did Uther lose all matter of sense as soon as magic was brought into any situation?
Before anything more could be said, another knight barged into the throne room and interrupted them. "Sire!" he called out.
"What is the meaning of this interruption?!" Uther barked out still reeling.
"Forgive me but there has been an urgent discovery. It seems as if more people have been seen fully healed of the plague just as the blacksmith was. Near a dozen. They all seem to be completely healthy."
Uther was taken aback. "What? How is that possible?"
"You see," Morgana said taking the center of the room. "Perhaps this is not a disease that is always fatal. Guinevere's father and these other could've recovered naturally."
Uther glared at her. "All of them? On the same night, at the same time? And for them all to be fully recovered as well? It must be the work of magic and I want to get to the bottom of it. Take this one away to the dungeons," he ordered for Guinevere. He then looked to the knight that came in. "Gather those that were with all those who are healed and arrest them all at once. I want them all questioned and interrogated on this matter. The culprit must be among them and I want to find out who!"
Guinevere was carried out frantic and Lancelot was left not knowing how to feel. It seemed as if the situation had lightened a bit but Guinevere was not out of harm's way yet. More people have gotten involved and in trouble and he was at a loss for what to do. He ran for Arthur's chambers as he knew they would be empty. He took the disc out and put it to his forehead.
"Emrys, I don't know if you are still near. Your healing of my friend's father and the others might have been too good. Their loved ones are now under suspicion for sorcery by the king. If I have to make a second request then it is to make sure that none of these people suffer for any of this. Please, help."
In the throne room, Uther was left with Arthur and Morgana as they discussed the recent events.
"Father, you can't just arrest all these people because their loved ones recovered."
"Then how would you explain all of this Arthur? What would you have me do?"
"I'm…not sure. But I know that we can't just throw these people in the dungeon so carelessly. We have yet to discover if they've committed any sort of crime. There was no evidence in the maid's home and we have yet to search these other people's homes for evidence of sorcery. You hear the word magic and you no longer listen. Had this been any other sort of crime you wouldn't just throw these people in the dungeons based on a simple hunch."
"He's right," said Morgana. "These people were suffering as much as the others thanks to this plague. They are just lost and scared. They were just given a chance to rejoice in the recovery of their friends and loved ones and you are stripping that away from them. How is that meant to solve what is happening?"
"It's meant to show that the law will not bend no matter what the circumstances are. I warned you Arthur. Remember? If we can not control this plague then the people would turn to magic for the answer. It's happened. Even if these people hadn't started the plague then they might soon create calamities for the kingdom in the future when the magic they employed corrupts them. Even worse, what if the culprit behind the plague is indeed among them? The kingdom is in danger and I must do what is necessary to ensure its safety and protection. We have too much at stake as it is. Rest assured that I take no pleasure in any of this."
"Father, I understand protecting the kingdom but we can't just punish our people for crimes that they may or may not committed or will commit on mere speculation. Even if one or all of them used magic it was to save the lives of their loved ones and I don't think they would be like this sorcerer that infected our city. One bit of magic was pure evil, the rest was kindness and love. Morgana's maid showed no evil in her heart in her employ here and I don't think that any of those other people have any sort of evil in their hearts if they saved people who were on death's door."
"Have either of you truly seen a sorcerer up close? You have yet to fully experience what their magic can do to us Arthur. You as well Morgana. They leave no mark. There is no sign of evil in the eyes of the most skilled practitioners of that wicked art. Do not forget about the most important detail of our gravest enemies?"
"No Father, I have not forgotten about Balinor or Emrys. But they are not the issue at the moment."
"And I will not take the chance that any of these people aren't our current issue. If the culprit behind any of this magic is indeed among them then they must all be imprisoned and questioned until we discover the truth. My decision on this is final."
Merlin heard Lancelot's plea from the woods. He was glad that he decided to camp out for the night there after all. He didn't want his debt to be something that the ones he paid them to be something they regret. He figured that the best way to help Lancelot and the rest of the people in Camelot overcome Uther's foolishness would be to end this plague. If he recalled, Lancelot had said that the water had something to do with the disease. He decided to do some investigating. His father had said that they needed to investigate the matter so why not start now.
He traveled to the catacombs where the city got its water from. He could feel something amiss here. He followed the feeling until he saw himself in front of a great pool. He conjured a light that shone the area like a miniature sun and it caused the water to ripple slightly. The ripples grew in sequence until the pool bubbled and a beast of some sort broke through and revealed itself. Merlin took a good look and then took his leave of the place immediately. He sensed great power in the creature and wondered exactly what it was as he had never come across something like that before.
Merlin went to the outskirts just outside the city. He sat down to meditate and contact Kilgharrah. Though not dragonlords yet, he and his siblings found that they could still have contact with Kilgharrah if they concentrated hard enough even if they don't know exactly where he was. He concentrated for a good few moments before he heard a response.
"Yes sire," Kilgharrah's voice sounded in his skull. "I'm here."
"Kilgharrah, I'm in Camelot, investigating the plague for my father,' he responded in his own head.
"Yes, your father informed me of it. What have you found?"
"I encountered a creature in the city's water supply. I felt great power pouring from it. I'm visualizing the creature now." The image of the monster he saw appeared to him and he sent it to Kilgharrah.
"Ah, I see."
"Do you have any idea what it is?"
"I do," he said gravely. "It is an Afanc."
"An Afanc? I've never heard of such a creature."
"It's not surprising as it is not a natural beast. It's one that has to be conjured by dark magical practices. It's molded by clay and infused with dark magical energy to bring it to life. Its body produces a coating of venom that is known to be quite hazardous to the health of other living things."
"So its presence is contaminating the water and poisoning the people of Camelot."
"Yes Merlin."
"How can it be destroyed?"
"Trust the elements at your command Merlin."
Merlin hated when Kilgharrah went cryptic. He claimed that he would never learn to think and solve problems if the answers were just handed over though Kilgharrah seemed to enjoy his riddles and games regardless. "Thank you Kilgharrah," he said regardless of his annoyance. "Would you please inform my father of what I have found?"
"Of course sire. I will leave you to your mission then."
Merlin thought on what he had learned. Trust the elements. The elements were Water, Earth, Wind and Fire. The Afanc was a creature of clay as Kilgharrah said. Clay is made from Earth and Water. If those two gave it life then perhaps the other two would give it its death. Wind and Fire…the polar opposites of Earth and Water. Yet, Merlin knew he just couldn't destroy the creature outright. That wouldn't help the people that Uther had arrested. Based on what his father and uncles have told him and what he witnessed first-hand he had a good grasp on how the King of Camelot would react. If the sickness suddenly ended then Uther might pin it on them and claim they did it as an attempt to sway him not to execute them.
It took an hour of thinking but Merlin formulated a plan to both save the prisoners and destroy the Afanc. It wouldn't be too soon until nightfall so he had to move quickly. He went into the city as his normal self and took note where there were people still ill and took note on the ones that were in the critical stages of sickness. He then made a map on the places where he had already cured people and added them to his list. He then rented a room for the night in the inn called the Rising Sun. There he readied the poultices he still had left from his sister and waited until it was nightfall.
The prisoners were questioned all day but all of them claimed the same thing. They knew nothing on how all these people were healed so miraculously and hadn't dabbled in any magic whatsoever. Uther was considering a notion to have all these people executed to prevent more of the people that still had loved ones ill from following in their footsteps. He had gone to bed that night with the mindset to announce the decision at midday the following day.
Instead, Uther was spending his midday absolutely livid. First, there was new reports of newly healed people; about eight more. Each of these people were at full health again just like the others. Not only that, there was something hanging from the doors and roofs of their houses and the houses of the others who had been miraculously healed. The blue banners of the Dragon King. The people of Camelot saw the banners and marveled at them whispering theories about how Balinor and Emrys had arrived to try and save them. Some wondered if they were here in the city, watching them all this time. When the knights and guards had been sent to get them down, they found glowing poultices at the foot of those banners. Like the one conjured during the Purge festival so many weeks ago, they couldn't be shredded or burned away.
Uther had a new suspect that not only infected the city but cured all the people so well.
For Merlin, as he observed everything in the guise of his normal unassuming self, he mentally checked off the first phase of his plan. Not to move on to the second phase.
Lancelot was tending to Arthur's room with a slightly sullen look in his eye. He didn't know exactly what Emrys had in mind with this latest stunt but it did cause Uther to turn his attention of Guinevere and the others so he supposed that was something. However, she was still in the dungeons so there was no reason to celebrate just yet. It bought some time but until this plague was destroyed and the culprit found they weren't out of danger yet.
A cawing sound made Lancelot jump. He looked to the open window to see a Merlin perched there. It was looking up at him and chirped. Lancelot noticed a letter in its talons. It cawed before extending its wings and taking flight leaving the letter. Lancelot went to it and noticed that the symbol of the Dragon King was on it. He opened it to find that it was a letter from Emrys. It was accompanied by a crudely drawn picture of a slimy monster.
I heard your message on what happened. Forgive me for the earlier blunder. I had forgotten to take into account Uther's views when I fully healed the first group of people. I hope that my recent bout in Camelot helped to avoid them suffering any grave consequences. I have a way to fully clear them if Uther remains stubborn on their supposed guilt. The source of the plague is a creature in catacombs under Camelot that the city gets its water from. It is poisoning the water supply and if the knights were to find the creature then they would find the evidence that exonerates the prisoners. It won't be easy for them to destroy but I will ensure that they succeed for you. Be careful of how you present this find and do it with someone that you trust that can spin it as you stumbling on the answer. Say that you explored the catacombs and came across the beast and drew this picture of it. Good luck to us all.
Lancelot could only think of one person that could help him spin this and that he could trust in matters of magic. He burned Emrys letter in the fireplace and afterwards made his way to Gaius' room. He told him of exploring the water source as they had found that the water held the source of the plague and came across the creature and showed the picture to him.
Gaius looked through a book that had pictures of different beasts and creatures in it until he found a page that had a much better picture of it.
"It's an Afanc," Gaius said as he read on the information. He read silently to himself before he nodded. "This is indeed causing the disease."
"Is this a time where telling the king would actually help then?" Lancelot asked.
Gaius narrowed his eyes in thought. "I'm not sure. His mind is rather unstable at the moment with the arrival of the Dragon King's sign. There are still sick people and he might be on the hunt for people that are turning to support Balinor and Emrys now."
Lancelot huffed. Uther wouldn't be of help then. "What about Arthur? He has been able to keep a cool, rational mind on this."
"That might be the wise course."
"I'll go tell him then."
Lancelot ran out the door and Gaius stared out after him. He was getting more suspicious of the young man. All of this: Guinevere's father healing in the nick of time, attention being diverted when she and others were in immediate danger, and now finding out the cause of the disease. Things seemed to be going a little too conveniently for Lancelot. He didn't think Lancelot was up to anything nefarious but there was something going on. He was certain of that.
"I still am lost on how you talked me into this," Arthur said as he led himself, Morgana and Lancelot into the catacombs of the city's water supply.
Lancelot had found Arthur in his chambers talking with Morgana and had told him what he and Gaius found. Arthur and Lancelot were set to go down and investigate this creature and inform Uther of it after it had been disposed so that he'll have a cool head as he listened to the facts with the plague over. Morgana had followed after them. Morgana and Lancelot were on either side of the prince with torches and swords while Arthur had his sword out and was keeping vigilant of their surroundings in the lead.
"Don't think too much on it Arthur. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself before we find the beast," Morgana teased.
There was then a loud screech that made all three of them jump.
"I think the beast is looking for us my lady," Lancelot said as he made himself ready his sword to fight the creature where or when it pops itself up.
"Keep close," Arthur ordered.
The three of them came across a passage that went off in three directions. The screech sounded again, louder than last time, and there was the sound of movement. They didn't want to move and trap themselves in a dead end so they stayed in that fork with their backs to one another as they maneuvered themselves to make sure that they weren't caught off guard. They each focused their sights in the distant darkness that their torches couldn't light before Morgana screamed out.
"I saw something," she shouted as she pointed down the tunnel directing in front of her.
Lancelot and Arthur turned slightly to face that tunnel to meet that creature before movement to Lancelot's blind side caught his attention as the creature roared at them. Lancelot tried to strike at it but the Afanc swiped at him and made him fly off a bit. Morgana flung her torch at it while Arthur jammed his blade at its head. It made the beast step back in surprise before it stomped for them again. It pounced which made the two break away to avoid colliding with it. Morgana lost her footing and hit against the cavern wall as she fell. Arthur managed to stay on his feet as the beast growled at him. Arthur's foot hit the torch that Lancelot had and he picked it up with his free hand as he struck at the creature. His sword slid into the beast's torso but the Afanc still growled at him. Arthur tried to pull the sword free but it felt like he had stuck it in tough gripping putty. Arthur then took the torch and waved the flame at its head to make it go back and free his blade. Suddenly, a great wind blew at them and the fire from the torch flew off and enveloped the creature and poured itself down its mouth. The Afanc then vanished in great ball of flame. Arthur stepped back and was breathing hard. He felt his back hit the cavern wall and he took note of everything around him. Morgana was getting back to her feet and Lancelot was stirring from where he lay. Arthur went to try and help his servant when he saw something a bit aways. The faint torchlight illuminated a figure in the distance. It looked like a man. Morgana ran to Lancelot to help him up and drew Arthur's gaze away for a moment. When he looked back, the figure was gone.
Was Arthur seeing things or was there really someone there?
The three of them exited the catacombs unaware that they were being watched by a Merlin perched on a tree branch close by.
"Sire," Gaius said as he walked into the throne room. "I have good news to report. The people have stopped getting sick and those who are still ill are steadily recovering."
"That's good to hear," Uther said as Gaius approached him. "Now all that remains is to find Balinor and Emrys and make them answer for all of this. And to punish the conspirators in the dungeon."
"Actually sire, it would seem that none of them appeared to be the culprits behind the plague."
"What do you mean?"
Gaius showed him what looked to be a big cracked eggshell. "This was found in the city's water pool. It is what conjured the Afanc. It bears the mark of Nimueh." His words made Uther stand back in shock. "We must be vigilant sire."
"Will I never be rid of her?" he whispered out.
"Sire, if Nimueh was the one who did this then it seems that the Dragon Royals did this to correct it. If you are seen punishing random people that they saved from another sorcerer's evil then it would only create unrest amongst the people. You might be seen as the butcher that they and their followers call you and only give them more followers within the kingdom. That could be the reason that they even saved the people that they did. They perhaps want you to begin executing your own people to make themselves look more like heroes for the kingdom over you and rally more people for their cause."
Gaius hoped that his prideful maneuvering would work and resisting breathing a sigh of relief after the king's words.
"Perhaps you're right. I will not be made to be a puppet to those beasts. However, I want the names of those people recorded. If they are seen again connected by magic then we will know that they weren't random at all."
Gaius nodded. "Understandable sire."
He then left Uther to ponder what Nimueh was planning for him now.
Lancelot raced to the dungeons when Gaius told him the news and arrived just in time to see the guards letting the people out of the cells. Guinevere's father Tom was there along with the Lady Morgana as they celebrated her liberation.
"You and the others are free Gwen," Morgana said as she hugged her maid.
"Thank you Morgana."
"Don't thank me." She looked to Lancelot. "It was all him. He was the one who discovered what was really happening and helped clear you and the others."
"Lancelot?" she asked a little timidly.
"The Lady Morgana is exaggerating. I didn't do too much at all. I'm just glad you and the others are safe and well again."
Guinevere went over and pulled Lancelot into a tight hug. Morgana smiled at the sight of the two of them while Tom tried to not stare at his daughter embrace a man that fondly.
Lancelot went to bed that evening, thankful that the worst of events had been avoided. It was thanks to Emrys who went above and beyond what he had asked of him. Emrys was only called to cure Gwen's father and all those other people. He didn't have to try and save all those people that Uther had condemned with his attention drawing stunts. He didn't have to tell Lancelot about the Afanc or show up in the catacombs. He didn't know if Emrys was someone he could truly trust but it was clear that he had a code of honor of his own. He took the disc and saw that one of the three holes in it was filled with a design of that star pattern from the Dragon King banners. His first favor of Emrys debt had been fulfilled. It seemed as if Emrys did all of the extra work on his own.
"Thank you Emrys. On behalf of everyone, thank you."
Merlin heard Lancelot's words of thanks and smiled as he took one last look at the city. He can almost hear the other silent words of thanks coming from others in the city that knew that they were cured thanks to him. They can't express it in fear of what Uther would do but that didn't lessen their gratitude. He thought all of this was a good start in countering Uther's purge of his people.
His views weren't shared when his image was seen by Nimueh in her scrying bowl.
"Curse you Emrys!" she growled into the bowl at the sight of her plans destroyed by that man.
End of Chapter 8
A/N: I hope you liked how that one wrapped itself up. I had fun writing this chapter big time.
The next chapter will focus on the daily happenings in Frith. We'll see some daily misadventures of Merlin, Liana and Nowe.
