Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. BBC does.
It was a few weeks later when Arthur turned up at the lake. He had brought the knights and Gwen along with him to see Merlin. Gwen had been asking questions about how Merlin had been alive and how he had been at the lake. She had been asking where Merlin had gone, where he had been before he had appeared at the lake and Arthur had tried putting her off as long as he could. He knew that it would be difficult for Gwen to understand what Merlin was and maybe longer for her to come to terms with him.
He had decided to take her to the lake so that Merlin could explain himself as he knew that he wouldn't be able to explain it without making a mess of it.
Merlin lifted his head from where he was laying on the edge of the lake, the merpeople lounging around soaking up the last of the sun before the late autumn chill would set in. He caught the scent of Arthur and the other knights along with Gwen, a small smile gracing his lips. If they had come to the lake, there must be at least some stability back in Camelot, for Arthur would not have left without it, no matter how close the destination was.
He slipped into the water and made his way over to the dock, swimming underneath it. He heard Gwen's gasp as she caught sight of his tail. He kept close to the surface, catching snippets of what they were saying. Gwen wanted to get away from the lake, off the dock but Arthur was trying to convince her that it was alright, that they were safe. Everything she had heard of the lake and the monsters she had been told lived within in was at the forefront of her mind and she was terrified they were going to be attacked where they stood. Especially considering she could see one of them just below them.
"Gwen," he heard Arthur's voice as he lifted his head from the water underneath the dock. It being slow low to the water, he wasn't able to pull his head out completely, his mouth and chin still submerged. "Gwen, it's alright."
"Arthur, you know what's in the lake!" She pleaded, scared, trying to pull back. He held her firmly in place, restraining but not hurting her as he looked her in the eye.
"Yes, Guinevere, I do," he glanced to his knights who all nodded. "We all do."
"So why are we here?" She looked at the rest of them, seeing the looks on their faces, wondering why they were all so at ease. "If you know how dangerous it is, then why are we here?"
"Guinevere," Arthur sighed, pulling her attention back to him again. "Do you remember, when you and Leon found us?" She nodded, looking confused. "We had been hiding here. We were here for a week, Guinevere. We're safe here. They won't hurt us."
"How can you be sure about that?" She wasn't convinced and Merlin sighed, submerging once again. He swam out from underneath the dock and he heard Gwen let out another shriek as she spotted him. "Arthur!"
"I know," Arthur sighed, letting her go. She didn't run, watching as Arthur walked to the edge of the dock and sitting down on the edge. He looked back at her and she stepped away from him her face fearful as he lowered a hand into the water, smiling as he felt Merlin's tail brush against his fingers. "We're perfectly safe here, Gwen." He looked to the water. "You can come up now."
Merlin took a deep breath before emerging in front of Arthur, knowing that Gwen could see him from where she was. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she looked at him. Tears welled in her eyes and she shook her head as he moved to the dock, resting his arms on the wood in front of him, watching her carefully. He didn't move any more, not wanting to frighten her any more than she was already.
"You're . . ." she whispered, shaking her head. "You're one of them."
"I'm sorry, Gwen." He said softly, looking down at his hands, feeling the guilt of not having told her. It was the same guilt he had felt when Arthur had found out, knowing that they considered him a friend and that he had kept a huge part of himself from them. She had been his first friend in Camelot, introducing herself when he had been shoved in the stocks after Gaius had freed him from the dungeons for defying Arthur that first time. She had been the first one to befriend him and they had been close ever since. He could see the betrayal in her eyes as she looked at him, completely at ease in the water. She could not see his tail but the implication was there nonetheless. "I wanted to tell you but . . . I couldn't put you in that kind of danger."
"What do you mean?" She shook her head, her hands moving away from her mouth, linking in front of her. She didn't approach him but the fact that she hadn't run screaming was a plus in Merlin's book.
"Imagine if I had been caught," he shrugged and she shook her head. "If I'd somehow been caught and you had known, you would have been right there with me in punishment. I couldn't let that happen to you."
"So you really are . . ."
"Half fish?" Arthur supplied earning a glare and a dousing from Merlin. "What? You are." He laughed and Merlin shook his head, rolling his eyes. Arthur turned back to Gwen, the seriousness returned to his face. "Merlin is the reason we are safe here. He's the reason we were able to stay here during Morgana's occupation of Camelot. He's the reason I'm still alive, Gwen."
"Then why did you say he was dead?" She shot back, glaring at Arthur who winced at the look.
"When he saved me for the second time that was when I found out what he was." Arthur sighed and Merlin nodded, remembering the river. It seemed like so long ago but in reality is was a scant few months. "I had a choice to make. I didn't know whether the knights had seen him in his true form and I wasn't going to risk him being harmed in Camelot, not after what he'd done. So I let him go. We needed something to tell everyone about his disappearance because, despite being a clumsy oaf-"
"Hey!" Merlin's head shot up, glaring at the prince. "You try learning to walk on legs after a lifetime with a tail. It's not easy."
"Alright, I'll give you that one," Arthur chuckled, looking up at Gwen again. "I knew that he would be missed and he was. Telling everyone that we weren't able to find him after that was the simplest option. We never said that he was dead, Gwen. Only that he hadn't been found."
"It was certainly implied." She snapped, looking between the two of them.
"I know you've been hurt, Gwen and I'm sorry," Merlin looked up at her, his eyes searching her face. "That was never my intention. I knew that when I saved Arthur, there was a risk he would find out but it was a chance I had to take. I couldn't let him die."
She nodded slowly, looking down at her hands. "I understand." She sighed, walking over to where Merlin and Arthur were slowly, still slightly wary, her eyes darting around the dock as she moved.
"Don't worry, Gwen," Merlin assured her. "Even if you were to jump in the centre of the lake, no harm will come to you."
"How can you promise that?" She asked, glancing behind him as if his words were about to be proven false and they were about to be lured into the water by the merfolk unseen.
"Because no one disobeys the golden one," Arthur mimicked Karina's words and Merlin rolled his eyes.
"What does that mean?" Gwen looked between them, confused and Arthur chuckled, gesturing towards Merlin.
"Merlin here, is the only merman in history to have a golden tail." Her eyebrows shot up and he shrugged, unable to answer why himself. He had thought about Arthur's theory that it was his magic, combined with his and Gaius's theory that it might have had something to do with his destiny as Emrys. He had a feeling they would need to speak to the druids to find out. If they knew, that is. "He's somewhat in control here in the lake."
"We don't eat everyone that comes to the lake, Arthur." Merlin rolled his eyes and Gwen paled slightly at Merlin's mention of them eating people. Arthur and the others had seen them lure enough of the immortal army to their doom over the week they had been hiding in the cave so they had come to understand that it was just a part of who they were are creatures. Gaius had been right, there were plenty of other creatures that were not magical that wouldn't hesitate to try and make a meal out of a human.
Gwen, unfortunately, had not had the experience they had.
"Can I . . ." She shook her head, taking a breath. "Can I see it?"
Merlin gave her a small smile as she asked, feeling that her asking was one step closer to her understanding of what he was. That he wasn't going to hurt her. Of regaining that trust they had had for so long. As servants they had held a comradery that they hadn't with the others. He pulled himself out of the water, sitting on the side of the dock as if he were human, dangling his legs into the water before laying down on his side, exposing more of his tail.
She gasped again as she saw it, the water creating tiny diamond like sparkles on his scales, the gold shimmering underneath. Arthur grinned as he looked at Merlin who shrugged, resting his head on his arm as he usually did when taking in the sun. It was only around midday and the sun was high in the sky. The fact that it was starting to get cooler as the autumn progressed didn't matter. Sun was sun and Merlin and the rest of the merfolk were going to soak up as much of it as they could get.
She knelt down next to him, reaching out slightly before pulling her hand away looking to him for permission. He gave her a small smile and Arthur took off his glove, taking her hand in his.
"Here," he placed her hand where he had upon touching Merlin's tail, running her fingers gently over the scales, causing them to twitch slightly at the feather-light touch. "He likes it there." He flinched away at the splash of water directed at him.
"I'm not a cat, Arthur." Merlin groused and Arthur laughed.
"No," he shook his head, looking back at the merman. "But you didn't deny it." Merlin rolled his eyes, resting his head back down on his arm. He looked over as he heard footsteps coming down the dock, seeing Sir Leon approaching. The others smiled at Merlin, giving him a wave. He looked back to Sir Leon, realising that this was the first time, other than a glimpse at the river, the knight was seeing his tail. The others had become used to it over the week they had hidden here but Sir Leon had not been there during that time. He looked down at Merlin, giving him a small smile as he knelt down by the merman's head.
"I never got to thank you," he said softly, his eyes diverting to where Arthur and Gwen were sitting, Gwen's delicate touch still running up and down Merlin's scales. "For saving Arthur."
"I couldn't let him die, Leon," Merlin sighed, looking up at the knight, still feeling oddly relaxed even with the man looming over him. Maybe Arthur had a point, not that he'd ever admit that to the prince. "I know what people think about my kind but I couldn't let him drown. He wouldn't have been harmed by those in the lake but his armour was too heavy. He wouldn't have been able to get back into the boat before it pulled him under."
"Well, I just wanted to thank you," Leon grinned, placing a hand on Merlin's shoulder, giving a light squeeze as the other knights made their way onto the dock.
They stayed at the lake for another few hours, Gwen, now that she had gotten over her initial shock, asking Merlin what it was like to live under the lake. He didn't hold back as he spoke about the life under the water and the other merfolk in the lake. They ate up his stories as though they had never heard anything more spectacular before reasoning that they had to go. The knights and Gwen made their way up the dock, but Arthur lingered, calling that he would catch up.
"Is everything alright, Arthur?" He asked, seeing the prince's conflicted expression.
"I don't know, Merlin." He sighed, looking down at the man in front of him. "Hearing your stories, life here in the lake sounds so peaceful and carefree," Merlin shrugged, realising that it was. "Kind of makes me want to escape."
"What do you mean?" Merlin pushed himself up, confused by Arthur's words. He loved Camelot more than anything and would never abandon his people, no matter the reason. There had to have been something more going on.
"Everything that's happened since Morgana betrayed us," he sighed, his expression darkening as he pulled his gloves on. "My father still hasn't come out of his chambers, he hardly says a word to anyone. She's broken him, Merlin. And I don't know how to fix him."
"Maybe you can't." Merlin reasoned and Arthur looked to him, confused. "Maybe what your father needs is time." Arthur nodded, looking down at his hands again. "He's suffered a huge betrayal by Morgana and time may be the only thing that can heal that hurt." Arthur had to admit that his words made sense. Merlin let out a sigh as he regarded the prince in front of him. "Perhaps we're heading for a new time. You may need to take charge." Merlin advised and Arthur nodded. "Become . . . become king."
"Who knows what the future will bring." Arthur nudged Merlin once more before he stood up, grinning as he turned to join the others at the end of the dock. He turned back to the end of the dock to see that Merlin was no longer there, ripples on the water the only sign that he had dived below once more.
At least Arthur knew that he had a place to escape to should he ever need it.
Over the next few weeks Gwen had taken to coming to visit him at the lake. Her first solo visit, she was extremely nervous, jumping back in fright as he had emerged in the water next to the dock. As her visits continued, she became less nervous and more than once, she had been accompanied by one of the knights. The other merpeople had become a little more confident when it came to the knights, somehow knowing that with these particular men, they weren't going to be under any kind of attack from Camelot if they were seen.
The knights knew that they were safe from the merpeople in the lake but they were also aware that that didn't make them any less dangerous to be around. Karina, it seemed had taken a liking Percival and it would seem the large, quiet man wasn't sure how to take her approaches. Merlin had just laughed and advised that she wouldn't stop but that she meant no harm.
Percival didn't look so sure.
Merlin had just emerged from the cave he shared with his mother at first light, the habit from when he had been a servant in Camelot still rousing him whenever the sun rose. He had briefly considered moving to a cave lower down where the light couldn't reach but then realised that he didn't want to be somewhere without his mother and he couldn't ask her to move. This was where they had been settled his entire life and they had an entire collection of things built up. He didn't want to move her.
He just had to hope that he grew out of the habit, even though it had now been five months since he had left Camelot. Winter's chill was crossing the land and the majority of them stayed submerged, not wanting to feel the wind's chill above the surface. There was one more plus side about living under the water. While it may chill slightly in the winter, the deeper you went, the warmer the water was, the winter's cold not able to breach that far.
"Merlin," he turned to see Karina approaching, glancing at the surface. "You smell them too?"
To be honest he hadn't but now that she had brought it up, he could smell and hear two humans at the side of the lake. The two of them pushed upwards, emerging behind the reeds the merfolk tended to use as cover. The winter's cold had no killed them off and Merlin was grateful.
He hissed as he saw Morgana and Morgause approaching the side of the lake. Morgana looked nervous but Morgause looked triumphant as she looked upon the great expanse of water.
"Who are they?" Karina whispered, looking out as he was doing, hearing the hiss he had let lose. It wasn't often Merlin was angry enough to sound so vicious so she knew they were humans that had angered him greatly.
"Morgana and Morgause." Merlin responded, his tone dark and his eyes stormy.
She let out a low hiss, having heard those names many times when the humans had dwelled in the cave. "The woman that toyed with the Cup of Life?" She looked to Merlin who nodded gravely. After they had found the Cup amongst the rubble left in Morgana's wake, Arthur had brought it to the Lake of Avalon, giving it to Merlin to keep hidden. He had done so, placing it where no human would find it. To the merpeople, the power of Life and Death was precious and they would not remove it from where it had been hidden. Not for anything or anyone.
The Cup would not be seen again.
"The very same," he confirmed and she nodded, her eyes narrowed and dark with animosity. "They can't see me. They both know that I'm alive but if they were to find out what I am, it could be dangerous and not just for us."
Karina nodded, looking back over at the two women who were clearly waiting for something to happen. Morgana was standing a little way back from the edge but Morgause stood next to the water, another half step and she would be in the lake. "You would have thought after she saw what had happened to her men, she would be more cautious."
"She is a powerful witch." Merlin explained and Karina nodded. "She does not think like anyone else would."
"Do you wish for me to be . . . rid of them?" He smirked at the suggestion in Karina's tone, the idea truly tempting but shaking his head nonetheless. While he had betrayed him, he knew that Arthur would most likely not want any harm to come to Morgana. And with her being with Morgause, any songs sung or attacks made would encompass them both.
"Find out what they want." He advised, turning to look at her and she nodded. "Make sure they are aware they are not welcome here. Let them go this once but be clear that this is a onetime deal. That if they return, they will not be leaving." She nodded, submerging and making her way to the two women.
He looked at where they were before diving himself, emerging a little way away, out of sight but able to hear what was being said.
"Sister, are you sure we should be here?" He could hear the tremble in Morgana's voice and it reminded him of when she had first discovered she had magic. She feared the lake that was clear, not liking being so close to something she had heard such horror stories about.
He smirked as he spied Karina in the water, causing ripples and essentially taunting the two women with her presence.
"Do not worry, sister." Morgause's voice was confident as though she had everything under control. She relied on her powers and that, especially in this case, was dangerous. She believed that she could overpower anything in the lake, never dreaming that a simple hummed tune could be her demise.
He heard Morgana gasp as Karina broke the surface and Merlin moved slightly to see the wicked grin on her face. With her deep red hair, matching lips and tail, Karina truly was a sight to behold. She looked exactly like the sirens men feared and he knew that she had been the perfect choice to confront the witches that had approached the lake.
"You've come to a dangerous place," she stated in lieu of a greeting, her voice taunting as she tilted her head to one side. "You should leave now."
"We could do," Morgause looked down at the mermaid in front of her, a confident smile on her face. "But I think I have a proposal that might interest you."
"I doubt that." Karina returned Morgause's smirk and Merlin's interest was piqued. What did she think she could offer the merpeople that they would want? They didn't have need of anything. "You have nothing that we could want or need. Well," her smirk turned into an evil smile that had even Morgause stepping backwards a step. "Almost nothing."
Merlin smirked, wondering how much they would actually be able to get off the two women. Neither of them would really give much of a meal, they were so thin.
"Not even the chance to get your revenge on Camelot. On Uther Pendragon." Morgause stepped forwards once again and Karina laughed, a deep throaty chuckle that had Morgause looking on in confusion.
"Where would you get that idea?" She shook her head, smirking up at the witch. "Though Uther Pendragon's Purge was vicious and deadly he has never been able to harm a creature in this lake. Not one of my kind has fallen at the hands of Uther Pendragon. We have no need for revenge."
"Do you not care for those with magic he has slaughtered?" Morgana stepped forward, a little closer to the lake but nowhere near as close as her sister. "Does their loss of life mean nothing to you?"
"What happens in the world of men has no bearing on us." She looked to the dark haired sister who stepped back slightly at the fierceness of the gaze. "The war being waged between Camelot and magic is a war of men. We will not interfere." Now that wasn't exactly true. They would but not for them. The only one that would receive the help of the merpeople would be Arthur.
"So you will sit back and watch as magical people and creatures are slaughtered at the hands of the Pendragons? First Uther and later Arthur will be no better." Morgause smirked. "It is only a matter of time before he comes for you."
"You see, that is where you are wrong." Karina returned the smirk with a far more deadly one of her own. "An accord has been struck between the prince of Camelot and the Golden One of the lake." Morgause's expression darkened. "There is a truce between those that dwell in the Lake of Avalon and in Camelot. You will find no help here, Morgause." The witch blinked at the use of her name. "The Golden One has bid me give you a warning. You are free to go this time, unharmed but you are not welcome here. Should you return, you will have met your doom." She looked between the sisters. "I would leave now before he changes his mind."
She dived, leaving the two sisters confused on the bank of the lake. They stood there for a few moments, Morgause seething at the thought that she had lost powerful allies in the lake. She had seen a portion of what they could do when they had destroyed her immortal army and she had wanted their power for herself.
Needless to say, that wasn't going to happen.
They quickly left the lake after Karina's warning and Merlin had to wonder if the words would be heeded. They were making their way up one of the rivers that fed into the lake, so Merlin had one of the other mermaids in the lake discreetly follow them, trying to find out what they were up to.
She returned a few weeks later with news that Merlin didn't want to hear but was surprised at nonetheless.
They both knew that he was alive but that he wasn't in Camelot. They were looking for him for some reason. Maybe with how close he had been to Arthur, they thought that he would know something that could be useful. What made them think that he knew anything, even when they knew that he was not with the prince right now?
She said they had passed into the newly crowned Lot's kingdom. After Cenred had died, there had been squabbles for his throne, Lot coming out the victor and claiming the crown. She had advised that they had passed by another gathering of merfolk and they would carry on the observation as long as he required it. He nodded, thanking her for her forward thinking. With the speed they could move, anything the two witches did within a reasonable distance of any stretch of water or river, they would have back to him in hours or days, depending on where they were.
Merlin had a feeling they wouldn't stray too far from Camelot.
What they wanted was there.
It was a week later that Arthur visited the lake once again, meeting Merlin in the cave considering the temperature drop. Though the lake did not freeze over, there was a light frost that covered the surface, belying the cold of the day. The caves around the lake were always at a constant temperature, providing a cool resting place in the summer – not that they were ever used considering how much the merpeople loved the sun – and a warmer place in the winter.
Merlin advised Arthur of Morgana and Morgause's visit and Arthur looked immediately tense. He had looked slightly relieved as Merlin advised that he had Karina let them go but with a warning. He nodded, understanding Merlin's actions and not needing to question why.
"So they know about the truce between Camelot and the merpeople of the lake?" He asked and Merlin nodded.
"They needed to know that they would not find any help here." Merlin advised and Arthur nodded, not meeting Merlin's gaze. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing," Arthur mumbled and Merlin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Arthur?" He looked down at the merman, seeing the look in his eyes, questioning. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."
Arthur took a deep breath, looking out onto the shimmer of the water that lit up the cave. "It's my father." Merlin nodded, knowing that Uther's health would have been prominent in Arthur's mind. "He's not getting any better. If anything he's gotten worse."
"It will take time, Arthur," Merlin repeated his words from when they had visited after the reclaiming Camelot.
"I know," he nodded, giving Merlin a small smile. "Well, at least I've got my uncle to help me now." Merlin furrowed a brow, wondering what he meant. "A couple of weeks ago, my uncle Agravaine came to Camelot, to give me his help." Merlin nodded, something about the sudden appearance of Arthur's uncle putting him on edge. Arthur took a breath, standing up and looking down at Merlin. "I should be going."
"Yes, as Prince Regent you've surely got a lot on your plate." He smirked and Arthur rolled his eyes.
"More than I thought I would." Arthur had indeed taken the mantle of command, king in all but name and he had made clear that he would not usurp his father. While his father was still alive, Arthur would not be taking the crown, something Merlin could completely understand.
"Hey," he called as Arthur turned to leave the cave. "Tell Gaius to come and see me, will you?" Merlin smirked and Arthur gave him a wry grin back. "It's been a while since he's come to see me."
"Missing the old man, are you?" He teased and Merlin shrugged.
In all honesty, Merlin did miss Gaius. The old man had become like a father to Merlin and he had missed seeing him daily. There was another reason he wanted to see Gaius. Merlin found it suspicious that his uncle had just appeared out of nowhere with no warning.
If anyone else had any suspicions about Agravaine, it would be Gaius and he hoped to find out soon.
He bid Arthur farewell as he watched him clamber out of the tunnel, the light sheet of ice that had formed out the outer rim of the tunnel. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he submerged into the water, re-joining his family.
As he settled down to sleep with his mother, his mind was racing with what Arthur had just told him. Merlin knew that it wasn't uncommon for family members of a sickly sovereign to appear after long absences. It may have been that Agravaine was really in Camelot to lend Arthur his support but with Arthur's luck with his family members, Merlin wasn't so sure.
He would have to confer with Gaius when he next could.
