It was about noon the next day when they rode into Camelot. To the others' surprise, Gwaine had offered Merlin his horse when they started out that morning; the two knights had walked the rest of the way. Gwen met them in the courtyard; handing the reins over to Gwaine so the knights could stable their horses, Merlin jogged up the stairs while the king and queen shared the usual emotional reunion.
It didn't take long to find Gaius; the dining hall had been transformed into a temporary infirmary, as usually happened when there were many casualties. The old physician was stooped over one of his patients, but left whatever he was doing as soon as he noticed his apprentice. "Merlin!"
"Told you I'd be back." The boy, expecting an embrace, was surprised when Gaius spun him around and hauled him off at a brisk trot in the direction of their chambers.
"What happened, Merlin?" Gaius questioned as they went.
"I saved him." A huge grin lit the young wizard's face. "Arthur's fine."
"Merlin!" The healer paused for a moment, turning to face his ward, but didn't know how to put his pride, relief, respect and joy into words. Treating the boy to a rare smile, he continued along the hall.
"So what's going on?" Merlin had to walk rapidly to keep up. "The knights said you needed my help."
"You're not going to like this, Merlin, but you're the only one who can save Mordred."
Shooting a sidelong glance at the boy to see how he reacted, Gaius was surprised that Merlin didn't state immediately that he'd do no such thing. Instead, he nodded. "What's wrong with him?"
Raising an eyebrow, the physician explained, "The dagger Morgana stabbed him with released malignant magic into his system. He'll be dead within a day if you don't save him."
"Right, what do I do?"
The old man gave Merlin another curious look. "I didn't think you'd agree."
"Agree to what?"
"To save him."
"Why not?" The boy seemed genuinely confused.
"You wouldn't before."
"But the time when he was supposed to kill Arthur has passed, and he didn't." Merlin was more than willing to explain. "I think he's really on our side now, Gaius. He changed his destiny."
"No, Merlin." The physician shook his head. "Mordred didn't change anything. You did."
"Mordred helped." Merlin grinned lopsidedly. "If he hadn't changed his mind at Camlann, Arthur would be dead."
"Or you'd have saved him anyway."
Further debate was precluded as they reached the door of Gaius' room. Arthur and Gwen were standing by Mordred's cot, holding hands as usual as they watched the young knight's slack face.
"The pair of you are going to have to leave." Gaius told them immediately. "We need peace and quiet to manage this, and both of you have a lot to do. We'll let you know if his condition changes." Arthur tried to protest, but the old healer ushered him and his wife out unceremoniously and bolted the door behind them.
Merlin knelt beside the cot. "What do I do?"
"I have no idea." Gaius frowned. "You'll have to figure it out yourself."
"Great." The wizard leaned his elbows on the edge of the bed, staring at Mordred's pale countenance. "He doesn't look too good."
"That's because he's on the verge of death, Merlin." His mentor's tone was one of weary patience. "He could die any time in the next few hours."
"I'd better come up with something soon, then." He sat back on his heels, still leaning his elbows on the cot, and lapsed into a contemplative silence. Gaius went about his business, gathering fresh supplies to take with him when he went back to the infirmary downstairs.
After a few minutes, Merlin said suddenly, "Why shouldn't a basic healing spell work? Something like what I did when Uther was dying." He frowned. "Of course, that did kill him . . ."
"The spell wasn't to blame for that, though." Gaius pointed out. "I suppose you could try it."
Merlin nodded. "What did I use . . . four drops of hogswart, right? And then there was that sage branch – what was the point of that again?"
"That's what the book said you should do." Gaius shrugged. "I can get it out again if you don't remember."
"Probably a good idea," His ward agreed. "I don't want to do it wrong."
They had to hunt around on the shelves for a minute before they found the manuscript in question, and longer to find the right page. Finally, Merlin reviewed the words of the spell while Gaius gathered the necessary materials.
The wizard carefully splashed four drops of hogswart into Mordred's slightly open mouth, then held the sage branch a few inches above the boy's face and began to chant, moving it back and forth as it began to smoke. His voice rose harshly toward the end of the chain of strange words; his eyes glowed and, without warning, Mordred lurched upright, eyes wide open.
Startled, Merlin let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Mordred?"
The young knight frowned at his surroundings, obviously confused. After a tense silence, he asked suddenly, "Where am I?"
"Back at Camelot." Merlin clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "Morgana stabbed you."
"I remember that." The boy nodded, still frowning.
"The blade was enchanted." Merlin explained. "The magic in it has been killing you."
Mordred's eyes stopped searching the room to fasten on Merlin's face. "Did you save Arthur?"
"Yes. He's fine." The wizard's smile expanded. "And very grateful to you, by the way."
"To me?"
"Yes." Merlin thumped the youngster's arm gently. "You killed Morgana, Mordred. You saved Arthur."
"You saved Arthur." Mordred shook his head.
"Couldn't have done it without you." Merlin sat back, heaving a sigh.
Gaius joined the two, groaning as he stooped to sit down. "Merlin, I'm going to need your help taking care of the injured. There are a lot of them."
His apprentice nodded. He wanted to find Arthur and sound him out, because he still wasn't sure how the king felt about his magic, but logic told him Arthur would be too busy with matters of state, what with the battle and the defeat of Morgana and all the casualties and whatnot. He'd talk to him tomorrow morning.
"We'd better get going, then." Merlin jerked to his feet. "Ooh. I'm sort of stiff myself."
"Merlin." His mentor stopped him unexpectedly. "Gwen knows you have magic."
He hesitated uncertainly. "What did she say?"
"She's quite willing to accept it, actually. And very thankful for all you've done for Arthur."
"I told him, you know." The young wizard stated impulsively. "He knows now." The other two met this revelation with questioning looks, so he elaborated, "At first he was upset. Now I'm not sure what he thinks."
They went their separate ways; at the two healers' insistence, Mordred stayed where he was to rest for a bit, while Merlin headed for the infirmary to get to work. Gaius went to inform the king and queen that the young knight was on the road to recovery.
Arthur met him halfway to the throne room. "Gaius? How is Mordred?"
"He's doing much better now; the injury should heal quite soon." The physician told him.
Glancing around to be sure they were alone, the king stated in a low voice, "Merlin is a sorcerer."
When Gaius answered this with a blank expression, Arthur shifted back, scowling. "You knew."
"Yes, sire." The old man nodded.
"Gaius, I don't know how to . . . I don't even . . ." Lost for words, Arthur gave a helpless shrug.
"He's not just a sorcerer, sire." Gaius leaned closer to emphasize his statement. "There are some who say he is the greatest sorcerer that has ever lived."
Arthur raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Merlin."
"Yes, sire." The physician nodded, then, after a pause he added, "He is many things, Arthur, but above all, Merlin is loyal to you."
"I believe that." The king nodded. "But I can't . . . magic . . ." Once more unable to phrase his thoughts, he shrugged and strode away abruptly, leaving Gaius to interpret his words as he wished.
A/N: What do you think? How am I doing with keeping everyone in character? That's what I think I'm having most trouble with, but I think I managed it okay. Getting near the end now... please review! :)
