MERLIN- PRIMIS ANNIS AVEM

AN: Hey Everyone. Sorry this is so late. IMPORTANT notice really, I typed out this chapter and realised the way it was going it was going to be long, longer than the others. So I moved a bit of tMoN P2 into P1, and a part of P3 (this one) into P2. So before you read on I urge you just read the last part of tMoN P2 because some of it's newly added, then you can come back here to 'One side of the same Coin'.

Thanks you and enjoy.

...~~)^(~~...

THE TRUTH IS...

Merlin and Gaius came to a old door under an underpass. Only a few feet through and the floor gave way to a steep straight staircase. If not for the lone lit torch on the wall and the small window up high, no-one would have seen it. It looked like it led to the depths of the earth! Merlin had to remember that nothing at this point should be scarier than what poor Gwyn was going through.

Taking the torch they made their way down slowly. The space opened up to reveal a network of carved out caves. The pathway was straightforward but every now and then there was a crossroad. Lucky they had their vague map. It took longer than Merlin thought. The sun must be starting to set. Unused torches were hung up which she happily lit again. It became a kind of game, setting a bread crumb trail.

Before everything became too claustrophobic to bare, the two finally approached a large alcove housing a pool of water, kept in by a man-made four foot wall. "This is the reservoir, Merlin. It supplies the whole walled city. Take a sample." Gaius said, a little out of breath. Last time they would go here unprepared...

Merlin passed Gaius the torch and shuffled towards the edge of the well with a small phial from out of the bag. What if the sorcerer was around the corner? What if they've been here all along?

She only had her hand in the water for a few seconds, but those few seconds were strange. It was not just the coldness, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.. like the water had a slight vibration. How can a vibration feel so sinister...?

Quick to draw her hand out, she corked the top of the phial and placed it carefully back in the bag.

"Good. Now lets go back and examine it-"

But they barely made it five feet when there came a rumbling roar. They turned to see a large, vicious looking creature breaking the water's surface with its long arms and claws outstretched, its teeth bared. It wasn't trying to slash at them, it looked more like a threat. However they managed to back up before they got hurt. Merlin stared at the ten foot tall beast in horror, forgetting about possible magical spells to use in defence. Gladly it was not needed. As quickly as it appeared, it dived back under, water splashing out.

"What... what the hell was that?!" Merlin exclaimed.

Gaius grabbed her arm and pulled her with him. "... I'm not sure. But I have a suspicion."

When they were back over the threshold of Gaius' chambers, they allowed themselves to breathe easier. "Wh-Why didn't it kill us?"

"Perhaps it was only protecting its territory..."

"That thing is what's causing all this?!"

"And managing to kill it will surely end the contamination. Now we need to know how..."

"Well... we know what's really poisoning everyone now. If we tell Uther, he'll send men down to kill it."

"But this is a magical plague, Merlin. Whatever that creature is, it will not die from swords... also it will not save Gwyn..."

The old man, with new-found energy, climbed the recently remade stairs to his mezzanine and began rummaging through a stack of books.

"What are you looking for?" Merlin called up.

Gaius did not respond, busy looking and occasionally coughing at the rising dust. Merlin didn't feel like getting in his way.

Minutes later, Gaius made a noise of triumph and hobbled back down with a large old volume. He set it down on his workbench and flicked through.

Gaius pointed to a page. "There! It was an Afanc."

The illustration did indeed quite accurately show the thing they had seen. It did not match any other animal Merlin had ever seen before, or heard of. It was too dark in the caves to make out before but she saw the resemblance now. It was brown and neither had fur or skin. Hunched back and big arms longer than its hind legs. Misshapen head with no visible eyes or ears.

"An Aff-fanck...? I never knew they was such a thing..." Merlin peered at the gibberish writing. "What does it say?"

"Its a beast 'born of clay and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerers. It would have been modelled by them into the shape they desired and brought to life by magic'. Now we have to find a way to defeat it..."

"What? Doesn't it tell you in there?"

"Unfortunately not, no. There's not much known about them at all..." He closed the book and looked around at the many many others in the room.

Merlin thought the old man would be more organised with his research collection. Every shelf was piled high with them, the spines all very similar and the titles worn away. "But the question is where."

"It could take days, Gwyn will be dead by then!"

"Have you got a better plan?"

Merlin thought for a moment. No, she didn't. Her mind was screaming magic, but she should let that idea be buried deep down considering the circumstances. Once again they were in for a long night.

...~~)^(~~...

Merlin couldn't sit still for very long, stooping and watching words blur on parchment or feel herself getting numb in her seat. She got an idea whilst carrying another pile of tomes to go through. A rather simple idea she kicked herself for not thinking about earlier. She left Gaius with no excuse and ran out of the castle and into the courtyard, where the sight of something made her slow to a halt.

In the glow of lit torches, workmen were stacking large amounts of wood and straw around a post with guards standing around. A witch-burning pyre. She made sure they saw her giving them a dirty look as she moved past. It was intimidating seeing something like that for real.

Merlin descended to the dungeons, where again the guards sat down barely paid her any mind. She went all the way to Gwyn's cell. In the guttering torchlight, she could barely make out the serving girl's shape. She was lying on the ground amongst the scattered straw and facing from Merlin. Curled into herself.

"Gwyn...?"

She didn't react or answer. Merlin couldn't see but Gwyn's eyes were open and staring ahead at the back wall. Merlin thought she might have been asleep, but wanted to comfort her nonetheless.

"I'm going to get you out, Gwyn. I will." Merlin hated to leave her just with so little to say. What must be going through her head. But there was someone else she needed to see, someone who might help. And besides, Gaius and her were onto something, but it it would do no good giving out the details...

Sneaking past a guard with his back turned, Merlin grabbed a lit torch and darted down the long wide stairs that lead to the edge of the large cavern. The dragon once again wasn't there. Of course, he didn't have to be on his rock all the time. Hopefully wherever he was, he could hear her.

"Hello?"

A few moments of silence.

"Hello..." His voice echoed. Then with the clinking of chains and the flapping of wings, the dragon came from above and settled on his plinth. "The young sorceress returns, as I knew she would."

She really didn't want the casual chit chat now. "There's an Afanc in the water, I need to know how to get rid of it."

"Yes, I suppose you do."

Merlin didn't know what to make of that. Did that mean he knew all this time? And didn't call her before to help. She knew he could, after all he did so when she first came to Camelot. No, he waited for Merlin to risk coming down to his level in desperation! She was not sure what to make of the dragon yet. They have talked only on a couple of occasions, and the most Merlin got out of him was vague and cryptic riddles about her destiny. Trust was not something she had for him at this point. Yet he was the oldest thing in Camelot, logic said he had the answers.

"Well then will you help me?"

The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Trust the elements that are at your command," its voice boomed.

"Elements...? What does that have to do with it, what do I have to do?"

"You cannot do this alone."

Merlin was at least glad and not going to argue about that. "Alright... I'll get Collin to help-"

"-You are but one side of the coin. Arthur is the other."

The sorceress shook her head. "But I don't understand. Why him? Just tell me what I have to do!" Merlin yelled out but the dragon was already unfurling his wings, preparing to launch itself again.

"No!" The dragon flew upward again, chain trailing after.

"Please, help me! Dragon!"

"I have..." The dragon's chuckling echoed down to her.

"...Thanks." Merlin threw her arm in the air. What can elements do here, they're just there!

Why does he have to be like that? He's stuck down here, what else is he going to spend his time doing? For all I know I'm the only one he's spoken to for decades... Where does he go?

...~~)^(~~...

Since the plague started, anyone would think Uther had not moved from the council hall. He spent his time lost in thought and wearing a hole in the floor, and going swiftly through the palace's wine. But doing anything besides getting out there and doing the things he can just order people to do for him. After all, he was an older king now, but anyone be damned in pointing that out.

The candle he stared at was etched in hours. He had been counting down the time until that servant girl would be executed. By tomorrow the witch will be dead and the city will be free. However while she was down there in the dungeons, the people were still dying, more and more every day. The water supply was cut off, but would eventually run out, at this yet before midday tomorrow. The water left was still poisoned. And He couldn't tell the people to take it easy or ration it out, they would work everything out and there'd be panic. Oh, his head hurt. The only solution was to...

"Father?" Arthur respectfully called. He came up behind his father as he stood hunched over the table.

"Have you found anything more?"

"I've tried... I could keep looking-"

"Then do. But in the meantime people are dying, we cannot delay any longer. We must kill the witch. Bring her execution forward to tonight."

Arthur felt the need to argue, but bit his tongue against it. He reluctantly nodded and left. He knew Morgana was going to hate this.

Speaking of the devil, Along the passageway, she stepped into his path. Not wanting to make eye contact he attempted to just keeping walking past her, but as always with her it was hard not to have a confrontation...

"Well, anything?"

"We can't look anymore, Morgana. There's nothing to look for. We've done everything else, I'm sorry."

"You don't seriously believe Gwyn's the sorceress do you?" Morgana's voice grew fearfully deep and cold.

"My opinion doesn't apply-"

"Of course it does, what do you think?"

"I-I don't-"

"Why have you then given up?! There is something else, I know it!"

"Morgana, I have not been to bed the past few night searching. My father's now more impatient than ever. He's held off this long without action which is something. But now he really does want your maid executed... tonight."

Morgana's beautiful face twisted in anger and she moved round him. But Arthur gently took her shoulder. "It'll do no good. You know that."

The Lady lowered her head, steadying her thoughts. "Gwyn's my friend, Arthur. She's served me for six years. Am I supposed to just watch her wrongfully die like that?!"

Morgana shrugged the prince's hand off her and stormed down the dark corridor. Arthur watched her go. He felt for her. He had never had a bond like that with anyone. And she was about to lose that. Morgana was popular, but Gwyn was the one she could really talk to, and still stay within her place. Alas he still had a horrible duty to have performed.

...~~)^(~~...

Merlin leapt the last two steps of the ladder to the ground with a new stack of books, eyes darting over the spines for any familiarity in the titles. Gaius came in with his medicine bag. "Merlin, what are you doing?"

"Looking for a book..."

"Care to tell me which?"

"One on elements."

"Elements? Well you'd find mention of them in most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process as we know it."

"That's good... 'cause honestly I don't know what I'm looking for, I don't know what 'element' means..."

"They're the things that make up the world you see; Earth, Water, Wind and Fire."

Merlin felt stupid. "Alright, so how will that help us with killing an Afanc?"

Gaius pondered. "Well the afanc is a magical creature made of earth and water, two of the four base elements. Perhaps... perhaps the other two will destroy it! We need fire and wind... How did you find this out."

Merlin, with the new glimmer of hope, was hastily stacking all the now useless books up. "I just had an inklin' ya know, maybe part of my powers. Just came to me."

"Really...? And what else do your powers tell you?"

"That... I'm only one side of the coin, obviously the brighter side." Merlin smiled cheekily.

"Who else."

Merlin's shoulders sunk. "That'll be Arthur unfortunately."

The door burst open and Morgana hurried towards them. "Uther's moved the execution forward to tonight! We have to prove Gwyn's innocence."

"We're trying, as quickly as we can." Gaius said.

"Please. I know more can be done. Tell me what I can do to help."

"We need Arthur right now, Morgana," Merlin chipped in.

"Arthur?"

"There's a monster called an afanc living in the water supply, its causing the white plague."

"Well then we must tell Uther."

Gaius chimed in. "No, we can't do that. The Afanc is forged with powerful magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save Gwyn's life, he'd only blame her for creating it."

"So what are we to do?"

"Destroy it , and fast. The plague will only stop with it dead and that's why it would help for Arthur to be there. The only witness the king would believe, to make him see Gwyn's innocence... but he won't want to disobey his father..."

Morgana looked to be thinking for a moment. She'd not long talked to Arthur and he said nothing else could be done. But... maybe she just had to use a different tactic... "Leave that to me. Meet you in the courtyard." The lady turned on her heel and hurried out. Gaius passed Merlin the keys to the lower reservoir and she bounded up the steps to her room. She had some rushed studying to do. Hopefully it wouldn't take as long as the Valiant situation...

...~~)^(~~...

When Morgana found Arthur in his chambers, he'd been attempting to get some much needed rest before he needed to be up again, for the execution. He had just finished changing, though his head was yet to hit the pillow. He spotted Morgana was there and the air in the room grew more awkward. The prince cleared his throat. "Are you alright?"

He saw Morgana looking down-cast at his table, all cluttered with plates from dinner. "Sorry about all this. Merlin's with Gaius, and Collin hasn't been in today. I suppose that exposure in the hall embarrassed them."

"Poor things," She mumbled.

"... Yes."

"Gwyn means a lot to them, enough for Merlin to try and lay down her young life. Certainly can't see anyone doing that for me."

"No I can't see that either," Arthur snided, picking up on the dramatic melancholic tone he recognised.

"That's because you're not like them. Merlin's a lover, Collin's a softie. You're a fighter."

Arthur didn't quite know where this was all heading, but appreciated they were back to the way they usually talked. "Well, maybe that's because I haven't found the right person to love." He recognised the cunning glint in the lady's eyes, but from past experience knew playing along or giving in was the best way to go.

Now Morgana could steer the situation the way she knew how. "Sadly the age of gallantry seems to be dead. All around we see small men, not big enough to fill their armour. There's not one of them able to stand up for what is right, so young girls feel they have to do it themselves."

Arthur rolled his eyes. Already happily defeated. Maybe it was the delirium thinking for him, but maybe he was getting his second wind. Oh how dare you play the 'coward card', darn you woman. Your manipulating mind tricks are too strong for me.

"Alright, Alright," He smiled. "What do you want me to do?"

...~~)^(~~...

ONE SIDE OF THE SAME COIN

Merlin stood in the palace square, bouncing on her feet impatiently. The sun was behind the castle now and temperature was dropping. She pulled her coat closer to her. Hoping Morgana had convinced Arthur and waiting was not wasting time for Gwyn. The pyre was there a few yards away. Intimidating her. Mocking her.

Movement caught her eye from the right. Collin stopped in front of her, his coat flapping in the breeze.

"... Hey."

Merlin nodded in greeting.

"What are you doing out here? I assume you're not hoping for a good view-" A look from the girl shut him up. There's no excuse to make light of the situation now. "... Sorry."

They stood side by side awkwardly for a few moments, watching the remaining people jotting across the courtyard and the torches being lit.

"I've steered away from the clear stuff since you said. But... boy, I hope your lead actually lead you right... so I can finally shift this pounding headache."

Merlin closed her eyes and smiled. She wasn't expecting anyone she warned about the water to actually take her at her word. She felt for him, at his voice, how it cracked. He at least deserved to be in the loop. "It is in the water. We know what's really poisoning everyone so we are going to sort it out," Merlin looked around for the tenth time. "They'll be here soon."

"What? Who's we?"

"Lady Morgana, Prince Arthur and me."

"... How do they know?"

"Gaius and I went down to the underground reservoir and saw this creature. Some sorcerer put it there. It's created by magic, so it'll take something pretty strange to destroy it. Morgana was getting desperate so when we told her, she wanted to help."

"How's she going to help, you're getting the King's ward involved. What about Arthur?"

Merlin sighed. "I can't explain now, Collin, they'll hopefully be here any minute. All I know is that we can now stop people dying, and save Gwyn. Arthur needs to be there for this to work."

Collin stared at Merlin's face, who just looked ahead at the other end of the cobbles. Under his gaze, Merlin felt so tempted to just blurt out all she had discovered, because nothing of course made sense unless she kept in the parts about magic and spells, and barely helpful dragons.

"Merlin."

The two turned to see Arthur striding towards them, Morgana right behind. The servant girl heaved a sigh of relief.

"What does this thing look like, then?" The prince asked.

"It's, uh, big? Really big," Merlin rubbed the back of her head, messing up her mop. "Big teeth and claws... It hid in the water but I have no idea if it can walk on land."

Arthur looked a little unsure, but nodded. "Right then." That was their cue. With one last glance at Collin, Merlin swivelled around and set off leading them out of the city. The lanky lad stared after them before, without any of their input, fell into step behind the determined party.

...~~)^(~~...

Merlin once again felt the icy touch of the air on her face as she and the others crept down the steps down into the tunnels. She tried to control her shuddering, lest Arthur mistake it for fear.

The prince overtook them all and looked back at Merlin in question, drawing his sword. Merlin nodded as confidently as she could, and the party continued. Collin took a burning torch off the wall and lit another for Morgana to carry.

For what felt like ten minutes, they made pretty good progress. At certain turns, Merlin had to refer to the map. However after the third or fourth fork, the pace slowed.

"... Ah." The group halted.

"What, Merlin. Are we lost?"

"I... I was expecting a left or right turn here, not a crossroads..."

"So we're lost." Arthur grumbled.

"Give it here a moment," Collin stepped up and held half the scroll. "So... we've already had one crossroad here, and we went... straight that time..."

"I thought you'd already been done here, Merlin-"

"Oh leave them for a moment, Arthur, they'll find the trail again." Morgana chided.

After a few moments went by in silence except for Collin speaking under his breath, the boy spoke up and pointed to the junction they were at. "Alright, I think we take the left."

"You better be right, Collin," said the grumpy prince.

Every jagged bump of the walls created disorientating shadows with the torchlight. Behind every other corner they'd stop, look for a while, and conclude the black mass twitching around was not the beast. Eventually their clue came. A low grumbling roar made them freeze. "That came from up there, I think." Arthur turned to Morgana with a grim expression. "You should stay here."

"Er, I'm coming with you. Are you scared I will show you up?"

"My father would slam the manacles on us both if he knows we're down here and I had endangered you-"

"-Good thing he does not know then."

"I'll telling you, Morgana, stay here or turn back. It's too dangerous. You could get hurt!" Arthur kept insisting.

"So could Merlin or Collin, or you;" She smiled sinisterly, "if you don't get out of my way."

She swept past Arthur, knocking his shoulder. Collin and Merlin smiled, for different reasons. Collin in amusement in Arthur's beating down by a girl, and Merlin in condolence for Arthur's bruised manhood.

Another guttering roar echoed through the caves. Alert, Arthur held his sword high and looked all around. Merlin couldn't tell him him at this point that it wasn't a sword he'd need to defeat this thing, since it was easing everyone's fears...

"Where's that coming from?" Whispered Collin. No-one answered him, because they couldn't.

Travelling a bit further, the lay-out began to look familiar to Merlin. The tunnels felt strangely warmer as they approached their destination, yet the air was thinner. The servant girl tugged at her neckerchief. Another growl echoed from a different direction.

"I think it's toying with us now," she mumbled, loud enough for the others to catch.

"Bring the torch this way," Arthur motioned. "We can't let it separate us, if that's what it intends..."

A few minutes later, the group finally made it to the open chamber. Merlin sighed in relief to be out of the claustrophobic tunnels. The reservoir shimmered in their torchlight. But that's all it did. There were no ripples, no bubbles, no movement, no life. Arthur edged closer to the surface with his sword. "This is where you saw it before?"

"Yes... but I don't think you should get closer-"

"What's that?" Morgana pointed. There was something bobbing on the water. Collin reached to take it. His nose wrinkled in confusion as he turned it over a few times in his hand. "... I don't rightly know." It looked like one jagged half of an eggshell, felt like it too. But it had ornate markings on it.

"Merlin, what did this thing do when you saw it?" Arthur spoke out, no interested in the artifact.

"The Afanc jumped out at me and Gaius. But then it disappeared into the water again. I don't think it will do it again. The first time seems like a warning."

The prince nodded. So then next time it would try to give them a less than friendly warning, that would be enough to strike. He dipped the tip of his sound into the water whilst in battle stance.

A few moments later, nothing happened. But then, a gurgling bellow rang out... but it came from the tunnels behind them. They all turned their heads fast. They couldn't determine where it came from. Now things had gotten complicated with the knowledge the beast could leave the water.

"Alright..." The blonde man whispered. "Now I think we should split up. See what you find, but if you see it, don't go near it."

Merlin and Collin glanced at each other in concern, but obeyed. This creature had been made by a powerful sorcerer. It had more intelligence than they first realised. Merlin hoped she would find the Afanc first, since she couldn't explain to the others a spell would be involved to kill it. But damn it, she wasn't the one with a torch! She'd have to make sure she was not seen by anyone when conjuring fire. But she hadn't tried two spells at once. Oh, but Arthur had to be there. Why did he have to be there?!

She kept to the edge of the perimeter and looked back occasionally to see where the others were. Down two separate tunnels she could only make out the retreating flickering lights. So that's Collin and Morgana...

She heard a man's cry of sheer terror and darted round the corner to see Arthur struggling to get to his feet. But there was no sighting of the creature.

"Are you alright? Did you see it? Where did it go?" Merlin hauled Arthur the rest of the way up by the arm.

"It knocked me down, I didn't get a good look. It's... It's quick," Arthur breathed, a little winded. Merlin just noticed both Morgana and Collin had both arrived at Arthur's shout too. See, separation wasn't a good idea!

A scream suddenly pierced the silence, and they whirled round to see Morgana holding her torch right near the creature's face, its mass bearing down on her. She dodged out of the way in time for its claws to come slicing down. The light reflected the Afanc's wrinkled distorted face with only sunken clay-ish craters where it had no eyes and nasty looking teeth. It recoiled and growled at the closeness of the fuelled fire.

Arthur stepped forward to swing his sword at the beast as Morgana got behind him. However as Merlin suspected, the metal rebounded off its hard exterior. Arthur's eyes widened and he drew back. With its time, the Afanc in the blink of an eye disappeared back into the shadows. They couldn't allow it to once again take them by surprise.

"Where is it?!" Arthur called out in frustration. Not being able to trust one's eyes was getting very disorientating.

"I think it went down here," Collin gestured down a tunnel that appeared to lead them only deeper in. Snarling and rumbling indeed came from there. This thing didn't attack like a normal animal. It had human intellect about it. An animal would try to lessen the crowd, separate off the least threatening. The Afanc was subtle, but didn't know what to do with them, like they were the first specimens of life it had seen before. Like the claws and teeth were more for show, and it would rather attack if its prey's guard was down. After all, its way of killing people was contaminating the water supply.

Every step they took, more shadows appeared in front. They couldn't see any turns until they were right in front of one. Merlin had a bad feeling the thing was watching them. Morgana had given Arthur her torch since he was leading. Finally the online of the Afanc could be seen, like it was cornered... or pretended to be. It stayed hunched, but goodness it was still big.

The others kept back and gaped at it, Collin held his arms out to keep the two girls behind. Arthur charged towards it, as it did to him. He attempted to swing at it like before, to chop off at least something like an arm or a chunk of its shoulder, but like Arthur observed before, the creature was quick. As a fighter, he learned that the bigger the opponent, the slower and less agile it or he was. However as a creature of magic, everything he knew did not apply in this case. With the slash of his sword, the Afanc howled in pain and only got madder, but never got weaker.

With one big swipe, the creature bashed the sword right out of his grip.

"Arthur! You have to use the torch!" Merlin yelled.

The Afanc reared up on its haunches, and Arthur waved the flames in front of the creature's misshapen form. He couldn't believe he was fighting off a giant magical... thing with a torch! If lived through this, no-one can know the details. As far as anyone would know, he fought bravely with a sword in his hand and cut the head clean off... not singed it with a lit stick.

The Afanc let out blood-curdling roars, and clawed at the air in front not in attack, but in defence. Merlin felt it was now or never.

"Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan..." She said under her breath, feeling the reaction in her veins. Her eyes shone gold. Oh please let this work first time.

A strong warm wind blew through and filled the tunnels. Once it reached them, they covered their eyes to protect them when the dirt floor kicked up. Instead of snuffing out the torch in the prince's hand, it directed the raging flames towards the Afanc. Its skin caught it as if doused in fuel and in seconds there was no part of it not engulfed in fire. All eyes witnessed it. Collin dropped his own torch to cover his ears when the Afanc let out one last long terrible echoing wail as its flesh melted.

Arthur backed up towards the group. They all watched the final moments of the monster slumping on the ground, half its previous size and blackened, and smoked.

"What... happened?" Arthur stepped round it to pick up his sword.

"I don't know," Merlin lied. "But maybe we should be glad that freak wind happened when it did...? All I knew was that it needed to burn."

"Mmh..." She heard Collin beside her, and saw him to her side narrowing his eyes at the body only feet away.

They all took a few moments to breathe and ease their nerves. The thing was dead, it was done. But whoever conjured it to poison everyone was still out there.

"We still have to get back, Arthur," Morgana turned on her heel and started hurrying back. Guinevere's execution was still in place.

...~~)^(~~...

When they got back to the citadel, Merlin felt exhaustion set in. And not only that, she could have sworn she kept catching strange looks from both Morgana and Collin when the group arrived in the council hall. They all bowed in respect.

"Yes, Arthur? You have news, is all in readiness?" Uther addressed him from his throne.

"Father. Gaius and Merlin have been investigating further into the matter of the cure for this plague. They traced the source to the underground reservoir. The matter has been dealt with, the source has been destroyed.

The king stared for a moment. "How? What was it?"

"It was a creature called an Afanc. I myself have seen it. We managed to slay it." Arthur motioned for Collin to step forward. He held open a satchel, and when Uther peered in his mouth dried up. Before they left, they realised there was every chance Uther would still not believe in such a creature unless he saw it himself. However they were not going to lug a great ugly scorched beast all the way into the palace. What the king saw inside the bag was the charcoal remains of the head and some of the claws. Merlin saw Uther gulp subtly.

He leaned back in his throne somewhat relieved, but the servant girl could tell it was not relief in not having executed an innocent, but simple relief in his kingdom not plagued anymore. Which she supposed for the most part was the best she could expect. "So the sickness is no more."

"Yes, father. That means, does it not, that the serving girl, Gwyn is cleared and released immediately." Its was not a questionable tone, it was a statement.

"So the real sorcerer has been arrested?" Uh-oh...

Arthur shifted on his feet. "... No, Sire."

"Then how can we be sure the maid did not created this... Afanc?"

Merlin tipped her head back and resisted the urge to claw her hands down her face in front of the king and council. The night was nowhere near over yet.

...~~)^(~~...

It took a lot of convincing and arguing (more on Morgana's part), but eventually they came to what could be called a result. Gwyn was not to be executed, but nor was she released. Uther wanted to wait for the real sorcerer to be captured within a day, or Gwyn was still the most likely suspect and executed anyway. But the hardest part was over... they believed.

At least this night, at this late hour, they would all get some sleep at last. After they were dismissed, Merlin stopped outside in the corridor, pondering whether or not to go see Gwyn. But she was so tired, and the lady's maid was still not out of the woods yet. It was her fault. She couldn't go down there and tell her she'd kept her promise when she still hasn't...

"Are you alright?" She came out of her thoughts and blinked at the prince.

"Oh, yes I'm fine. Just tired."

Arthur nodded. "You'll soon return to your normal duties, I should imagine. We should all turn in," He looked between Merlin and something over her shoulder. As he turned and walked away, Merlin looked behind her and saw Collin was still there.

"Collin, hey. Listen, I'm sorry again you got involved in this. But also... thank you for being involved too. You didn't have to come with us."

Collin shrugged like it took so much effort to lift his shoulders. "Eh. What else was I going to do on a Thursday night?" Merlin scoffed in response. Thursday, huh? Has it really been just over two weeks since I came to Camelot...? "I'm glad we can start drinking like we're fish again, but I could sure go for something stronger right now. We still need to check out that tavern in the lower town remember?"

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. Soon." Merlin rubbed her eyes and took the bag he was still holding. "We'd better get some sleep."

"I'm just going to go see Tom, give him the latest news."

"Alright," She smiled in goodnight and moved round him.

"By the way, Gaius may also want this," She turned back round and the lanky lad was holding something else out to her. It was that marked eggshell they'd found floating on the reservoir. "Dunno if it means something, and it isn't the strangest thing we've seen for over the last few days... but still."

"Thanks. Goodnight." All the way back to the physician's chambers, she curiously turned over the item in her hand. Admiring it, that's all.

She didn't see Collin still looking at her with curious eyes of his own.

...~~)^(~~...

The old physician was actually still awake when she walked in. He was keen to bombard her with questions about the Afanc and what happened. But when he saw her, he forwent that and just motioned for her to go up to bed. Merlin smiled appreciatively, put the things down on his bench and stomped up the steps to her room.

The bright sun streamed onto the girl's face the next morning, not letting her sleep in even if she could. She washed and dressed, and feeling a lot fresh-minded, hurried into the main room. Gaius was just coming back in.

"The news has spread. There will be no more deaths. The wells have been reopened, not that anyone noticed," the old man had more of a gleeful tone. "I will need more details from you eventually. I couldn't get much from the burnt parts you brought back. But the cure was indeed killing the beast, everyone who was ill and hours from dying have just about recovered."

"That's great, Gaius," Merlin was genuine about the people being saved, but was not happy about the other aspect. "But it doesn't save Gwyn..."

"Not necessarily," Gaius went over to his bench and picked up the eggshell. "I examined this last night. I think this will be enough."

"That thing? But how, what even is it?"

"This is where it originated. The Afanc was created, placed in here, then put into the water."

"It literally hatched from this egg? So Uther will still think Gwyn did it."

"Not if I show him the marks..." Gaius was already walking back out with determination.

"Why, what do they mean? Can I come?"

"No, Merlin, it's alright. You stay here and have breakfast. I will be back soon."

...~~)^(~~...

The king was surrounded by fellow nobles and councillors when Gaius entered the throne room. The air was much more relaxed, the doors were wide open in welcome and he actually heard Uther chuckling, clearly as relieved as everyone else it was over.

The king walked over to his throne and the physician followed.

"Good news, Sire. There are no new deaths, and those who were ill are recovering."

"Good," he took a swig of wine. "Strange. I've never heard of an Afanc before."

Gaius hesitated. After all this conversation was going to bounce onto the irrational side once he mention to 'm' word, and who did it. "It's a creature forged from clay and brought to life by powerful magic," Immediately he saw the king's smile disappear. "The type that can only be invoked by a very powerful sorcerer with ancient magical experience. One that has the influence to mirror life and death-"

"Why are you telling me all this, physician?" Uther asked in a deep warning tone.

Gaius held out the broken eggshell. "This was found at the source. The Afanc first hatched from it and grew quickly." Uther took a closer look. "See all these symbols? They are unmistakable, Sire." He rotated the shell to one marking in particular. "It bears the mark of Nimeuh..."

Uther stumbled back at the sight; Two overlapping 'X's with a dot settled in the centre, in blood red. "No..." He couldn't look at it.

"We must be vigilant, Sire. She may have failed this time, but she is clearly filled with vengeance."

Uther felt cold, his good mood gone. Will he ever not be haunted by this woman, his past. Shakily, he placed his goblet down. Vengeance?! She has no right seeking revenge after what he'd lost! "Will I ever be rid of her..."

"Sire-"

"Leave me! All of you!" The king bellowed. The nobles shuffled out in confusion, not wanting to question his majesty's change in demeanour as he slumped forward, supporting himself on his chair. Gaius could tell him no more in his state. He left the lonely man to his pain.

...~~)^(~~...

The prince called round a little while later to tell the physician and his ward that his father had officially announced Gwyn's release, much to his own delight and confusion. That was the best news Merlin had heard in days. When she got down to the dungeons she found three people already there. Tom of course, the lady Morgana, and Collin. The guard swung the cell door open and they all swooped in. Gwyn was already unshackled and leapt from the bench. Tom fell into his daughter's arms, tears rolling down both their cheeks.

They let each other go and turned to the others waiting patiently. There would be privacy and time enough for reunion at home. "Thank you, thank you so much!"

"Don't thank me," Morgana beamed. "It was more these two."

"Really?" Gwyn glanced between them in surprise. She did know Merlin and Collin wanted to help, but she didn't want anyone else to get hurt risking themselves for her. And yet they went and did it."

"Weeeell," Collin screwed his face up in jest. "Merlin's the real hero here. I went along- well I would've anyway... I mean."

Gwyn grinned. "I-I don't know what to say. Thank you, again!"

Merlin blushed and looked at the ground. "I didn't do anything, really." Well, I did, but you all can't know...

Tom threw his arms round Gwen's shoulders. "I'm so grateful to all of you. Come along, Gwyn. I'm cooking for you this time." The maid allowed herself to be led out but looked back at the others with mock terror, mouthing 'help me.'

Collin followed them out. Merlin was about to go too, when Morgana tapped her shoulder. "Merlin? I just wanted to let you know... I know what you did."

The girl observed the strange expression the lady gave her with worry, but she wouldn't let it show. Not yet. "...What do you mean?"

"Come on, now. Don't pretend. I know your secret."

"You-you do...?" Merlin felt her chest tighten.

"I understand why you wouldn't want anyone to know," Morgana continued sweetly.

She knows?! "Well, o-obviously!"

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Morgana smiled. Merlin sighed in relief. She knew she should have been more carefully, but by golly, it would feel so good to have another person know. And she was a lady! Ward to the king! She could turn her in, but here she is saying she won't. "You don't mind us talking about it then?"

"No! Oh, no!" Merlin basically shouted. Keep calm, Merlin! Don't act so pathetic and over-excited. "No, really. You have no idea how frustrating it is to keep it hidden from everyone!"

"Well you can continue to deny it, but I think what you're doing is very brave and selfless... but I think Collin's a real catch."

Merlin's smile vanished, she blinked at the lady. "...Collin?"

"Knowing he has feelings for Gwyn and you won't do anything to get in the way. Oh, it must hurt, but don't give up hope." Morgana held a finger to her lips. "Like I said, it'll be our secret."

She teased her with a sly smile and left. Merlin felt the urge to slap herself in the forehead. Instead, she tugged at her neckerchief and chuckled at her own foolishness. She was so close to revealing everything when she didn't have to. Boy, that sleep didn't help. And she still had prince prat's chores to finish.

Later on, Merlin opened to door to Gaius' chambers and was pleasantly surprised to see dinner cooking. Gaius was just plating up and everything smelled delicious. She hadn't eaten properly in days. Neither of them had.

Merlin began tucking in, when she only just realised what she was eating and a thought occurred. She stopped, mouth fill of food. "Thi- fisch didn'- co- fro- the wa'er, did i-?"

"Well where else is it going to come from?" Gaius scorned gently. The girl swallowed cautiously. "The water's fine now, I tested it."

"Alright. Anyway, I wanted to ask about that eggshell. Whatever it had on it, Uther knew about it? And you know who the powerful sorcerer is from that?"

"Yes, I do. Her name is Nimeuh. And Uther knew her," His ward's eyes widened. "I hope you didn't come to her attention..."

Merlin scoffed. "I doubt it, Gaius. I told you, I saw no-one else down in the tunnels. And would she appreciate my skills? No. When will I have someone see me for who I am... besides you."

The physician got up to get the pitcher. "One day, Merlin. One day."

Merlin stared expectantly. "One day what?"

Gaius eased himself back down. "One day people won't believe," he poured them both drinks, "what an idiotic child you once were."

"Thanks, Gaius." Merlin watched as the physician smiled, his wrinkles stretched out. She liked it when he smiled, she thought. The old man held up his goblet, and the two toasted things at peace once more. But for how long...?

...~~)^(~~...

A long way away from them, back in the cave, the woman snarled at the images of normalcy back in that wretched city. That fool Gaius and this young girl... using petty magic to destroy her creation! It wasn't the fact they had discovered the source of her plague, but how did such an insignificant little thing find out the information to defeat it, and just so happen to use powers under the king's nose and live!

"Merlin!" She lashed at the contents of her font in anger, water splashing everywhere. "You will pay for this!"

Nimeuh was not done yet. Far from it.

...~~)^(~~...

A howl faintly sounded from over the horizon

Gaius and Merlin's eyes shot to the window in confusion.

"There have been reports, Sire. They're back"

"COLLIN!"

Men carried the bloodied men into the physician's chambers

Vicious teeth bared and eyes glowed from the darkness

The soldiers drew their swords.

"They have gotten too close to the city!"

The girl frantically searched her book.

"Merlin, didn't you learn from before?!"

He could swear he could feel fingers on his neck and head...

"What did you do?! What are you!? W-What am I?!"

The Adventure continues...

...~~)^(~~...

AN: Thank you so much for reading and being so patient. An original story will follow now. The Next time bit are hints, not necessarily what's accurately in the next chapter.

Thanks again and please do leave a review to tell me what you thought. And I'll see you next time :)