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Guys, this is a long fic. Let it take its course. Even I don't know yet where it is going to take us.

PART ONE

CAMELOT

Chapter Nine

Gaius' Confession

GAIUS HAD A DILEMMA. HE watched as Merlin would dutifully go about his daily chores for Arthur and do a few extra things for Gaius, but not really complaining about it. But the fact that Merlin had this destiny was hanging over the both of them and Gaius knew that he could give Merlin the bit of information that he needed to at least complete the first task of his destiny.

They had spoken very little about his destiny in the last couple of months but he knew that Merlin still looked for Morgana most nights. It was the dilemma that he had.

Does he tell Merlin?

Does he let him into the King's secret?

Or does he just let Merlin keep exploring the castle until he finds Morgana or Uther finds out the real reason he is in Camelot?

Does he tell Merlin where Morgana is and save the poor girl from her misery?

Those were the questions that Gaius asked himself daily, and over the last few weeks, more than one occasion. He knew that he might get away with saying that he had no idea what Merlin was doing when Uther starts to point the finger but Gaius knew that Gwen wouldn't get off lightly. Uther would be kind if she was given a quick execution. But Gaius knew Uther and he knew that if he suspected Gwen, then she was in for a long and painful death.

It was the only reason Gaius could give himself as to why he hadn't told Merlin yet. He didn't have another reason. There would be so many good things that would come from Merlin finding Morgana but he just couldn't do it to Gwen.

Unless he persuaded Merlin to take Gwen with him.

He was quite glad that Merlin hadn't asked too many questions when Gaius locked the door behind him and asked him to cast a spell that would make sure that their conversation wouldn't leave the room. He could tell that Merlin was watching him as he walked over to a drawer and unlocked it. Gaius was glad that he had the patience to wait as he placed the cloth on the table and unravelled it to show him the key.

"Merlin, believe me. I wanted to tell you but I have been fighting with myself about tell you. It is not because I fear for my own life but there is someone else's at stake. Uther may believe me when I tell him that I have nothing to do with it but this person won't have that chance."

He waited for Merlin to say something but the boy sat there quietly, ready to hear what Gaius had to say. He was still fighting with himself about telling him but he had practical given him the key now.

"There is a Morgana in Camelot. Morgana Le Fay is the daughter of Gorlois and Vivienne Le Fay but I think she might be the person that you are looking for. When she was ten, her mother was caught on the Isle of the Blessed and Gorlois tried to escape Camelot with both Morgana and his wife. Obviously, it was unsuccessful, but Uther had his prize. Morgana has spent the last 12 years paying for what her father tried to do. Uther thinks that her punishment was light but I don't think that being trapped with only three people allowing to know of your existence is light."

"The three people. Yourself, Uther and..." Merlin started, waiting for Gaius to give him the last name.

"And Gwen. She won't get off lightly if Morgana goes missing. Uther will see her as the weak link in the chain and." Gaius paused. "I wouldn't like to think about what Uther will do. If you act on the information that I am about to tell you, you must include Gwen in it."

"I will."

"She is in the west tower. It used to be known as the Queen's quarters or chambers but now no one can go down there. Everyone comes to the same conclusion that Uther is still heartbroken over Ygraine's death to let anyone go down there but that is where he is hiding his secret."

He watched as Merlin leant forward. "I know the reason why he spared her."

"He spared her because she was only a child. A child that Uther said that he would look after if anything happened to Gorlois and Vivienne. Like Gorlois agreed to do the same with Arthur."

"But he doesn't care if they are a child. He has slaughtered or ordered men to slaughter child of magic."

"But she was a child of a friend. Not of magic."

"No, she was his child." Merlin bit his lip. "Maybe I am saying too much."

"No, go on Merlin."

He sighed. "Gorlois told me that the same day that he tried to run off with Vivienne and Morgana, he had challenged Uther to a duel. To save his family from Uther's madness, Gorlois said that if he won, he could take his family back to Tintagel. If Uther won, he would do what he was told. Uther told him that he would say that he wouldn't do that because he wouldn't want Morgana to lose her father but they both knew that Uther would win."

Gaius couldn't say that he was surprised. He had even done his own calculations when Morgana had been because for a baby that was meant to be a month early, she was relatively healthy. Uther never knew what he had in Ygraine. He thought it was the only reason that her death hit Uther so hard.

"I want to know more how Gorlois survived," Gaius said.

Merlin shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly, the first I knew about what had happened was through you. I never realised that he was meant to be dead. But from what I have been taught, the Triple Goddess works in weird and wonderful ways. Maybe she needed him for something."

"Maybe she did."

"The dragon underneath the castle was adamant that my destiny lied with Arthur. Maybe that is why. I think my mother was always going to send me to Camelot but what if I didn't have the last twelve years of training. With Arthur, it doesn't end well. Maybe that is what the Triple Goddess has tried to save us from."

"Or she has her own agenda for him."

"I would like to know what it is now."

"So would I."