Chapter Nine

"So…it's a spell." Arthur stated.

"A curse, really." Gaius corrected.

"Someone wants Merlin dead?" Arthur asked.

"No, someone wants to teach you a lesson." Gaius was flipping through another book.

"Me?" Arthur shifted on his feet.

"Yes, it would seem the spell is aimed at you." Gaius said absently.

"How so?" Arthur sat down.

"You're forced to witness the death of someone you…care about…multiple times. You're natural urge to protect him will outweigh you're feelings of betrayal. They aren't trying to kill Merlin; he is merely taking a more direct hit. Their goal is to make you realize your feelings, despite Merlin being a warlock." Gaius stood up straight.

"Okay, how do I fix it?" Arthur sat up in his seat.

"From what I gather, the blood of the old religion can start a ritual that will allow the magic to be purged from the cursed object with fire and water." Gaius said.

"Blood of the old religion?" Arthur went frigged.

"In the story, the man cut his hand and went to wash it in the sacred waters. Because he had magic in his blood, the ritual worked." Gaius said.

"Okay, but I don't have…" Arthur froze. Merlin had told him before; he had told Arthur that he had magic in his blood. "Blood…okay, what about a cursed object?" Arthur tried to stay calm.

"It would most likely be something the victim possesses." Gaius said.

"Something I own?" Arthur asked.

"No, you're the audience, you're meant to watch and learn. The victim is the one taking the immediate power of the spell. That would be…" Gaius said.

"Merlin." Arthur frowned.

"Correct; it would be something he owns, that would have gone unnoticed long enough for it to be cursed. Probably hasn't been touched since the day this started." Gaius started thinking.

"His neckerchief!" Arthur shot up.

"He's wearing that." Gaius mumbled.

"No, his red one; he hasn't worn it once, and it was found after this bright white light. That's what started all of this." Arthur started to rant.

"Are you sure of that?" Gaius asked.

"Yes, it couldn't be anything else." Arthur said.

Gaius nodded his head and went to Merlin's room.

When he came back he had Merlin's red neckerchief in his hand.

"Here, you should leave now before it's too late. There's a lake that was once considered sacred before the great purge, not far from here, I'll get you a map." Gaius said, handing Arthur the neckerchief.

Arthur nodded when Gaius handed him a map.

"See you tomorrow; I hope." Arthur said as he turned and left the room, slipping the neckerchief and map into his jacket pocket.

And your promise to live free

By the time Arthur made it back to the throne room, Merlin had been convicted.

As soon as he heard the news, he rushed to the prison cells.

Please do it for me

"Merlin!" Arthur called when he reached the other man's cell.

"Arthur!" Merlin smiled softly. "You left; I thought I wouldn't see you again."

"I've been talking to Gaius." Arthur said.

"About what?" Merlin asked.

"Merlin, I have relived this day six times. Four times, I've watched you die." Arthur sat down in front of the cell.

Merlin felt a chill run down his spine. "Talk to me about it." He said.

"I will, just not now, later. I have to go break the spell."Arthur said.

"Why are you telling me?" Merlin asked.

"I don't want you to think… I don't want you to think I've abandoned you, again. You have to know what I'm doing." He said.

"Then you should leave, before it's too late." Merlin said.

Arthur felt it again; the tight coil of fear around his lungs. The cold grip he had grown all too familiar with.

"I'll fix this." Arthur said as he stood up and turned to leave.

"Wait; why me?" Merlin asked. "Why am I the one who keeps dying?" his voice was hopeful.

That can't be right. Arthur thought.

"You're…important to me, Merlin. You're my most loyal friend." And I don't want to lose you. He couldn't finish his statement.

He turned one last time to see Merlin's smile, filled with warmth and…dare he think it…adoration.

Arthur smiled back, anxieties melting away for the moment.

With a whispered "go" from Merlin, Arthur was gone.

In 13 hours they'll be

It was an hour's ride before Arthur made it to a rather small lake.

The water was a crisp, clear shade of blue, and lay perfectly still.

There were old faded stone carvings on the cliff wall behind the lake.

Something about the place just seemed to spark with life to Arthur.

He quickly set about starting a fire. When that was ready, he took out Merlin's neckerchief and threw it into the flames, it did not burn.

A sudden onslaught of pressure pushed down on him. He felt as if a thousand bricks had been placed on his shoulders. He began to stumble under the pressure.

Suddenly remembering something else, Arthur grabbed the hunting knife from his belt. With a quick slip of his blade, blood began to slide down Arthur's palm.

As soon as he placed his hand in the water it began to glow bright white. Black smoke began to rise from the neckerchief.

Arthur collapsed onto the ground as darkness enveloped him.

Laying flowers