A/N: Yay! Part three is finally here! Are you guys excited? I'm excited to be able to post it. I mentally decided I'd update once this story received 4,000 views. You guys are truly amazing! I hit my goal right before I had to go to work. Unfortunately I didn't have time to update before or during work :/ But I'm here now!
I have no idea when The Poisoned Chalice will be ready for updating/posting.

Alright, over and out! As always, review if you want :)


The Mark of Nimueh: Part 3

Adrielle soon discovered Gaius' idea of an adventure consisted of taking them down into the bowels of Camelot to the source of the city's water supply. They had walked a considerable distance along the outskirts of the citadel until they came upon an old wooden door hidden amongst the stones. Gaius produced an old and aged key from his robes and unlocked the door with a solid clank. Merlin lit a spare torch before the trio stepped into the dank darkness.

The trip into darkness made Adrielle oddly reminiscent of the trip she and Merlin had made when they discovered the dragon. The walls became more encased in dew and mold the deeper they walked. Adrielle guessed they hadn't walked as far to the source of the water as they had when they found the dragon, but she could still feel the cold, crisp air trying to seep into her bones.

"The water from here supplies the whole town," Gaius informed as the stairs leveled out into a small cavern. In front of them looked to be a small pool that led to a much more vast collection of water.

"Take a sample," Gaius instructed while handing a small vial to Adrielle. She took the vial obediently and stepped up onto the ledge and towards the pool. She felt the cool water slip over her hand as it dipped into the water.

Adrielle started to withdraw her hand from the water when a strange hand like claw grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the water. Her voice shook as a scream escaped her lips before she was engulfed in the water.

"Adrielle!" Merlin shouted. He and Gaius rushed to the waters edge and tried to fish the young girl out. Adrielle flapped her arms haphazardly in hopes of gaining some footing and find her way back to the surface. Her hand shot out of the water still grasping onto the sample of the contaminated water; although at this point Adrielle was literally drowning in the water.

The creature grabbed her again by the ankle and dragged her deeper into the water. Adrielle's lungs began to burn from the lack of air they were able to take in. Her heart had been racing earlier to fuel her fight or flight response, but she could feel her pulse starting to slow down in a vain attempt to keep her alive as long as possible. She pulled her captive leg back before kicking the monster hard. It released it's grip on her before retreating into its watery home.

Adrielle started to kick her legs frantically and move her arms as if she was trying to claw her way back to the surface. She gasped for sweet air as her head broke the surface. It took her a moment to orient herself before her head bobbed back under the water.

Hands came grabbing for her hands and arms and hurriedly pulled her out of the water.

"Adrielle, are you alright? Did you swallow any of the water?" Gaius inspected quickly.

"No, I'm fine," Adrielle managed between coughing fits. Her teeth started to chatter and her body shake as the air started to remind her she was no longer submerged in water.

"What happened?" Merlin asked quickly.

"I have no bloody idea!" Adrielle started. "Something grabbed onto my wrist and pulled me in! And then when I tried to swim back up it grabbed onto my ankle."

A splash followed by a low groan erupted from behind them. They all turned around in time to see a large creature sinking back into the water.

"Come on, we need to get back and examine this," Gaius ordered, turning the two twins around and ushering them out.

~xx~

"Here. It was an Afanc," Gaius said while pointing to a spot in the book he had open.

"An...a what?" Merlin asked with a scrunch of his eyebrows.

"An Afanc," Gaius repeated. "A beast born of clay, and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerer. Now we have to find a way to defeat it. But where?"

Gaius, Merlin, and the still wet Adrielle looked up at Gaius' collection of research books.

"That could take days. Gwen doesn't have that much time," Adrielle noted.

"Have you got any better ideas?"

"We could try and offer Adrielle back as a human sacrifice?" Merlin suggested.

"What?!"

"It already tried to take you once. Maybe it's got a thing for you. A thirst only you can curb," Merlin said with a nonchalant shrug. Adrielle glared at him through narrowed eyebrows before speaking.

"On second thought perhaps your books will provide the answers after all."

~xx~

The familiar sensation of reading past her brain's current capability pierced through Adrielle's skull. She had read through so many words in the past hour they all seemed to blur together. Her eyes could no longer register and transfer what she was seeing to her brain for comprehension. She could have been reading a recipe for an apple pie spiked with rum for all she knew. She highly doubted that would help them save Gwen.

Adrielle lifted her head, which had somehow ended up lying on the open book page, when someone sped into the room like they were on a manhunt.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Gaius inquired. Adrielle's eyes cooperated enough for her to see Merlin riffling through Gaius' books and papers at a speed which she'd never seen him do anything before.

"Looking for a book," he said quickly.

"You going to tell me which one?"

"A book on elements," he clarified.

"Elements?" Adrielle repeated.

"Yes. Which one would I find them in?"

"Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process," Gaius explained.

"But how would they help me kill the Afanc?" Merlin pressed.

"Well, the Afanc is a creature made from earth and water. That's two of the four base elements," Gaius continued.

"What about the other two?"

"Any ideas, Adrielle?" Gaius asked, using another prime moment to teach the young girl.

"Uhm...well," she started. "I suppose if you've already used earth and water the only two left are fire and air. Is that how we're going to defeat it?"

"It's the best idea I've heard in all day. How did you find this out?" Gaius asked turning to Merlin.

"Erm...I just knew, you know? One of my powers," Merlin replied with a quirk.

"What else do your powers tell you?"

"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously."

"And who's the other side?"

"I think that might be Arthur," Merlin admitted.

"Who on earth told you that rubbish?" Adrielle refuted.

"The same person who said you and Arthur are bound by something greater than fate," Merlin said, giving her that same pointed look he'd come to sport whenever she and Arthur were mentioned in the same sentence.

Before she could open her mouth and refuse the possibility of that ever happening, (she didn't want to be bound to anybody and certainly not Arthur Pendgragon), Morgana came storming into their chambers.

"They're bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Gwen's innocence," she said with a quiver of her voice.

"We're trying," Gaius tried to reassure her.

"Please, just tell me what I can do to help," she almost begged. Adrielle didn't take Morgana to be somebody who begged to others, but if she ever came close to this was that moment.

"We need Arthur," Merlin declared.

"Arthur?"

"There's a monster, an Afanc, in the water supply. That's what's causing the plague," Adrielle explained.

"Well, we must tell Uther," Morgana reasoned.

"The Afanc's a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save Gwen. He'd just blame her for conjuring it," Gaius explained.

"So what are we to do?"

"We need to destroy it. Then the plague will stop and Uther may see sense," Merlin decided.

"And that's why you need Arthur," Morgana said with a nod, understanding the problem and Merlin's idea to solve it.

"He's our best chance," Adrielle admitted despite herself. "But he won't disobey his father willingly. Not for Gwen and certainly not for either of us."

"Leave that to me," Morgana said with a declarative authority. "Meet us in front of the steps in the citadel in fifteen minutes." She turned and swept from the room without another word.

~xx~

Fifteen minutes later Adrielle and Merlin stood outside waiting where Morgana had dictated.

"He's not going to come," Merlin kept muttering under his breath.

"Calm down, he'll come. If anyone can talk his conscious into it it's Morgana," Adrielle spoke. As she looked around the courtyard in search of the Prince and the King's ward, she watched the guards come and go. True to the King's word, the execution was moving forward as planned. Well, only if they failed in their mission. In the center of the courtyard the guards began building a pyre for Gwen to 'die by fire'. Adrielle looked away quickly, unable to stomach the thought of what might take place there.

"Well I'll be damned," Merlin breathed, more to himself, as he watched Arthur and Morgana emerge from the castle.

"Told you so," Adrielle teased.

"Come on," Merlin said, ignoring his sister, as he lead the group out. Merlin and Adrielle led the other two through the same path they had taken earlier in the day. Adrielle brought out the same key Gaius had used to unlock the door. She pushed the heavy wooden door open and they descended into the earthy tunnels again.

Arthur took the lead, his torch lighting their way and sword drawn defensively while Morgana took the rear with a torch of her own. The twins directed the group towards the spot where they had gathered the water sample, where Adrielle had been 'chosen' as a human sacrifice, as Merlin liked to put it.

"It could be anywhere around here," Merlin noted.

"You'd better be right about this, Merlin," Arthur barked, swinging his torch around to illuminate the walls around them.

"Would you just trust us for once?" Adrielle sighed, rolling her eyes. "We haven't steered you wrong in the short amount of time we've been here. So why would we now?"

"In my experience trusting the wrong people can get you killed," Arthur replied, sounding oddly older than he should.

"Well give it enough time and you'll trust us with your life," she retorted.

"As if that's not frightening enough as it is," Arthur muttered as they slowly rounded another corner. Before Adrielle could come up with a snarky response a menacing and low growl echoed through the cavern. The group stopped in their tracks and focused. Even as Adrielle listened she couldn't pinpoint where the sound had originated from. It sounded as if the entire underground was filled with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Afanc's all calling out at once. If that were the case she'd probably defecate herself and need to burn yet another pair of her clothes.

"You should stay here, Morgana. You too, Adrielle," Arthur instructed.

"I'm coming with you," Morgana stated.

"No."

"Scared I'll show you up?" she taunted with a playful pout.

"Father will slam us both in chains if he knew I'd endangered you," Arthur snapped.

"Well good thing he doesn't know about it then."

"I'm telling you, Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt," he said protectively.

"You could too...if you don't get out of my way," Morgana said defiantly before brushing past Arthur.

"I like her," Adrielle said approvingly.

"It's not like you'll listen to me either, but you should stay back, too, Adrielle," Arthur said turning to the lone girl.

"In the words of our dear Morgana I quote; no."

"This is no place for you. You have no fighting experience or training. What will you do if it attacks? Scare it away with facts about medicine?" Arthur nearly sneered, trying to scare the young girl into running away.

"It's not like any of you have faced this beast either," she said with a raise to her voice. She had to bite her tongue from admitting that magic was her counterattack to the Afanc. "In fact I'm the one who's come the closest to this thing. It tried to kidnap me and drown me earlier, and look, I'm still here. So so far the score is one for me and none for him."

"Fine," Arthur snapped. "You stubborn women."

"How are we going to find it?" Morgana called.

"I just hope we do before it finds us," Merlin replied.

"We should spread 'll be able to cover more ground that way," Arthur decided. He pointed Merlin and Morgana down the opposite halls and started forward down the remaining tunnel.

"I'll just...stay here I guess," Adrielle sighed, turning back to examine the same pool of water she had been swimming in earlier.

"You said it yourself," Arthur called back as he carefully searched his end, "you do have the most experience dealing with the Afanc. I'm the most experienced warrior here, so it's only natural we should stick together."

"I can't tell if you're joking or being serious," she said with a furrow of her eyebrows.

Arthur turned around, apparently deeming his tunnel safe and Afanc free, before speaking to her again.

"That's just part of my charm," he replied with a playful raise of his eyebrows.

"Now I know you're joking," Adrielle snorted. "As if you have any charm."

"Are you insulting your Prince?" Arthur questioned, exaggerating the authority in his voice.

"No, I-"

"I could have you thrown in the stocks for that," he continued, feigning insult.

"If I recall you're not actually the crowned prince, yet," Adrielle said with a smirk.

"Yet," Arthur reminded. "I could still have you thrown in the stocks or dungeons."

"You're just upset because I don't think you have any charm. I'm just trying to show you the error of your ways," she played.

"Oh really? Is that so? You don't think I have any charm?" Arthur repeated.

"No, not that I've seen so far."

"I'm sure that will change."

Before Adrielle could answer her eyes were drawn to a dark shadow behind Arthur. It moved slowly as it crept up behind the young prince. As her eyes focused and adjusted to the low light she realized the shadowy figure was the Afanc. It stood on its hind legs and brought it's arm back, preparing to strike the unsuspecting Arthur.

"Arthur! Look out!" she cried. Adrielle launched forward and grabbed onto his arm before pulling him back towards her and out of harms way. The pair stumbled back into the ledge of the pool. Arthur knocked into Adrielle and caused her to lose her footing. She could feel herself teetering over the edge and dangerously close to falling into the bloody water again. Arthur's sword fell from his hands as he reached up to catch Adrielle.

"I didn't know you cared,"Arthur said, which translated to Adrielle as a thank you. Suddenly all she could focus on was their new proximity to each other; how close they were still standing to each other. As Arthur spoke she could feel his warm breath on her face. Her body was constantly sending signals to her brain reminding her that his hand still clung protectively to her lower back.

"I care about saving people. It is my job after all. That's why I'm down here searching for the Afanc," was her brain's most intellectual response.

"What is it? Are you alright?" Morgana asked worriedly as she came hurrying back into the area, Merlin on her heels. Arthur let Adrielle go and shot away from her like she was on fire.

"Yeah, we're fine," Arthur answered.

"Did you see it?" Merlin asked.

"Not exactly. Adrielle might have. She pulled me out of it's line of fire," he answered again while nodding towards her.

"What did it look like?"

"It, it's quick. It was gone again before we could get a good look," Adrielle replied.

Morgana's scream pierced the air suddenly as she stumbled backwards.

"What is it?" the trip asked in unison.

"I saw it! There!" Morgana exclaimed while pointing a shaky finger in front of her.

"Where has it gone now?" Arthur questioned impatiently

"I think it's gone this way!" Merlin shouted and directed the group down another tunnel.

Arthur assumed his position in the front again as they tracked down the beast. Adrielle kept her mind and body on high alert, ready to act if the monster struck again. She could feel her magic swimming beneath her skin ready to unleash it's wrath upon the beast when the moment came.

They stopped at a fork in the road and looked down each way trying to determine which way it had gone.

"We should stick together this time," Adrielle said.

"Agreed," Arthur nodded.

They collectively began down the left tunnel when a shadow moved along the edge. Each person stopped as a low growl rumbled from in front of them. A tremble made it's way down Adrielle's back, subconsciously reminding her of her experiences down here earlier. Not that her near death experience had scared her, but it wasn't necessarily an experience she'd jump at the chance to relive.

A large, earthy paw emerged from the shadows followed by another, and a large clay body attached to them both. It was practically the size of a bear as it's jagged body crawled towards them. It's eyes - God could it even see? Where Adrielle assumed it's eyes should be were jagged abscesses. The Afanc opened it's grotesque mouth and revealed several rows of sharp and mismatched teeth.

"Arthur, the torch!" Merlin shouted. Arthur parried against the Afanc with a wave of his torch. Adrielle sunk back towards her brother, realizing now was their moment.

"Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan," they incanted in unison. Their eyes flashed gold as a gust of wind tousled Adrielle's air. The force of wind reacted with the fire and set it into an eruptious blast towards the Afanc. Everyone was forced to shield their eyes from intense light shift as the fire came into contact with the beast. It screamed in agony as it started melting until all that was left was a burning pile of melted clay.

Merlin gave Adrielle a congratulatory pat on the back as they shared a brief look of accomplishment. Adrielle breathed a sigh of relief as she looked over Morgana and Arthur. Neither seemed to notice that they had been the ones who conjured the wind. They must have been too caught up in the attack that neither heard their spell.

Arthur sank back on his heels as he eyed the puddle of Afanc suspiciously. The Afanc was a creature if magic; it appeared to be defeated, but he wouldn't put it past it to spring back to life any moment and take them all out. To have multiple scapegoats and fail safes so that it never truly perished. When all seemed well and nothing would spring out of the shadows unexpectedly, he turned to his companions to make sure they were alright.

"Are you alright, Morgana?"

"Yes," she replied, clearly still a bit shaken up from the attack.

"Merlin? Adrielle?" he asked turning to them. Merlin nodded in response.

"I do believe that makes two for us and none for you," Adrielle remarked while holding up two fingers.

"What?"

"Two instances where you were right to trust us."

~xx~

Immediately once they had returned to the surface Arthur and Morgana raced off to find the King and explain what had happened, using their first hand accounts as evidence. Even Gaius had evidence to provide. Those who had gotten sick, and were still fighting for their lives, were already on their way to making a steady recovery. The King, unable to deny that the disease had stopped spreading and those affected were healing all without the death of Gwen, ordered for her to be released and dropped her charges.

Merlin and Adrielle, along with Morgana and Gwen's father, all made their way down to the dungeons. The guard on duty unlocked Gwen's cell door and undid her chains.

"You're free to go," he announced before exiting the cell. Gwen looked from each person confused and surprised. Her father enveloped her suddenly in his embrace and held her tightly.

"But...I don't understand?" Gwen stammered. "I mean I'm not guilty but I didn't think the King would reverse my sentence! What on earth made him change his mind?"

"We discovered and eliminated the real source of the disease. He couldn't deny the evidence, the eyewitness accounts from Morgana and Arthur," Adrielle explained with a smile.

"Really? Thank you, my Lady."

"Oh don't thank me. It was more Merlin and Adrielle. They're the ones you should be thanking. Without their knowledge of the creature none of this could have happened," Morgana said, shooting a smile towards the siblings. "All Arthur did was swing a torch."

"I don't know what to say," Gwen said while swallowing hard.

"I didn't do anything. Less than Arthur actually," Merlin said with a humble shrug.

"I'm- I'm grateful to you all," Tom thanked. Gwen left his arms to give Adrielle a tight hug before departing. She could only imagine what Gwen would do first with her newfound freedom. Go for a walk, smell the fresh air, run through the woods, sleep in her own bed.

Once Tom and Gwen were out of earshot, Morgana turned to Merlin and Adrielle.

"Merlin. I wanted you to know, your secret's safe with me," she said.

"What? My secret?" Merlin asked feigning ignorance.

"Merlin, don't pretend. I know what you did," she continued. Adrielle looked at her brother from the corners of her eyes, already preparing a million and a half excuses to cover up their tracks.

"You do?" Merlin continued.

"I saw it with my own eyes."

"You did?" Adrielle hesitated.

"I understand why you don't anyone to know," she said with an understanding nod.

"Well, obviously," Merlin said, giving up his pretending act.

"But I won't tell anyone," she insisted. "You don't mind me talking to you about it?"

"Er...no. I, I, it's, er...you have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden," Merlin's said, his voice picking up enthusiasm. Finally someone besides his sister and Gaius he could go to about his magic. It was a weight off his shoulders. In reality it was five pounds of relief from thousands of pounds pressing in on him, but even the little difference made it easier for him to breathe.

"Well, you can continue to deny it, but I think Gwen's a very lucky woman," Morgana said with a warm smile.

"Gwen?" Merlin sputtered. Morgana smiled mischievously and put her finger to her lips.

"It's our secret," she said with a small wink before leaving the cell.

Adrielle bit her lip as a snort escaped her mouth.

"It's not funny," Merlin said, now slightly annoyed.

"Oh yes it is. Everyone else can clearly see your feelings for her. You're only trying to convince yourself at this point," she said with a smirk. Merlin shoved his sisters shoulder playfully before leaving the cell himself. He was half tempted to shut the door behind him and lock her in; let her experience a night in the cells for once. Maybe then she'd no longer be Gaius' 'favorite'.

~xx~

Adrielle was more than pleased to finally sit down to a meal and not be surrounded by dead bodies or their decrepit organs. The physicians chambers were chambers once again and not something that resembled a morgue. They were finally suitable for both the living and dead to inhabit, although Adrielle prayed the later wouldn't be an issue any time in the near future.

Gaius served the pair their dinners and sat down to enjoy his own meal. Merlin lifted his fork to his lips and chewed a few times before freezing.

"This fish didn't come from the water, did it?" Merlin asked while curiously inspecting his meal.

"Well, where else is it going to come from? The sky?" Gaius replied humorously. Merlin opened his mouth to spit out his food when Gaius spoke. "The water's fine now. That's not your worry. This is the work of a very powerful sorcerer. I only hope you didn't come to her attention."

"Doubt it. Well no one else seems to appreciate our skills. I just want someone to see me for who I am," Merlin sighed.

"And what exactly is that?" Adrielle wondered.

"I dunno, something other than a lazy, fumbling, good for nothing servant."

"Oh come on, you're more than that," Adrielle replied.

"Really?" Merlin said hopefully.

"Yeah. You're also a lousy brother," Adrielle teased. Merlin frowned at her playfully. Merlin rolled his eyes and sighed impatiently.

"Thank you so much, Adrielle."

She flashed him a cheeky grin before giggling shortly.

"One day, Merlin. One day," Gaius trailed.

"One day what?" Merlin asked.

"One day people won't believe what an idiot you were," Gaius joked.

"And that's where I come in, right? To remind everyone what was like during our childhood?" Adrielle insisted.

"Thanks you two," Merlin grumbled. "Where would I be without you?"