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Chapter 10
Arthur couldn't get the image of Merlin all but bolting out of the council room and decided to go find him. He walked into the armoury, expecting him to be polishing armour, only to find Gwen there restitching a tunic, Percival sharpening his sword, Leon inspecting his chain mail, Elyan polishing his own armour and Merlin polishing the King's armour. Gwaine wasn't even trying to appear to have a reason to be there, sitting in a chair with his feet up on the table and grinning as he told Merlin a story about one of his drunken escapades.
"Sire, I was wondering when you would turn up." Merlin commented dryly.
"Well, I needed to check up on how my armour was going." Arthur cast for an excuse to be there.
"Arthur, really?" Gwen sighed, "Admit it, you're here for the same reasons we all are."
"To prove to the idiot that we're still his friends?" Arthur asked, hoping he was right.
Merlin grinned up at him from his spot on the floor, as Gwen openly smiled at her husband. "Thank you, sire." Merlin muttered.
"Can you not go all respectful please?" Arthur groaned, sitting down next to Gwaine, picking up a piece of armour not yet cleaned and getting to work.
"If you wish so, prat." Merlin corrected, pulling a face at his King.
"So mature." Arthur sighed, pulling a face back.
"Takes one to know one." Merlin commented cheerfully.
"That doesn't even make sense." Arthur frowned.
"Yeah it does."
"No it doesn't."
"Yeah it does."
"No it doesn't."
"Yeah it does."
"No it doesn't."
"Can you please stop." Gwen interrupted.
"Sorry." They said together.
There was silence for a while, then Merlin spoke up, "I suppose, you all have questions about what I have said today."
"Not really." Gwaine shrugged. The other knights looked to agree with him.
"I do," Arthur spoke up.
Merlin didn't visibly react, but his shoulders grew slightly tense, as if preparing himself for a blow, verbally or physically. "And?"
"How did you manage all these years without wanting some sort of recognition? Appreciation? I understand why you didn't tell me, but all those times you accredited it to me, you could've easily come up with a cover story that put you as the hero." Arthur asked. "Why didn't you?"
"It wasn't about being recognised or appreciated or rewarded. It still isn't. What I did was to protect you and Camelot, I didn't need people to give me rewards for something that wasn't heroic."
"Wasn't heroic? Are you actually serious when you say that?" Gwaine asked.
"I was lying to you all. I was using something you all considered evil. I was running about behind your backs, always twisting the truth and spying on people. I broke rules effortlessly without a minute's thought simply because I thought I could protect Arthur and Camelot easier if I didn't follow that rule or this law. I'm no hero Gwaine." Merlin corrected.
"If you're not a hero then no one is." Percival pointed out.
Merlin shook his head. "You guys are. All the people look to you for protection and guidance and you take that all in your stride and do what you can to face their expectations of them. Heros are people who make mistakes and are human yet do their best to do what is right and what they believe in. Not people who lie with every breath they take and hide everything from those that consider themselves friends."
"Are we not your friends?" Gwaine demanded.
"You're my friends. And you all considered me as your friend, but that was when I was lying to you all and you didn't know. I'm not so naive that I don't realise that friendship is broken at least for the time being, until you can all trust me again." Merlin shrugged.
"We trust you to tell us the truth Merlin, yes you have lied in the past, but I trust you will share what you can, when you can, and all you can." Gwen spoke up. "Now, I do believe we were taking a break tonight, from talking, so perhaps we should all have dinner, informal of course, but in the hall?"
"Food?" Gwaine asked, looking hopeful.
"Free food." Gwen corrected, smiling widely at the knights who began to put their things away. Arthur took the things out of Merlin's hands and ignored his protests.
"It's not finished!" Merlin argued.
"So blink and have it finished!" Arthur argued back. "It's dinner time."
Merlin stared back, then grinned. His eyes flashed golden and all the armour was suddenly polished and reflecting the light.
"Show-off." Arthur muttered under his breath.
Merlin just laughed.
They sat in the same spots the next morning as the day before and waited patiently for the warlock to turn up.
And waited.
And waited.
Merlin burst into the room, puffing and gasping for breath. "Sorry, sorry."
"And you were late this time because?" Arthur asked.
"I was casting spells on the castle walls for protection, just some basic ones against fire and general magic attacks. It took longer than I expected to finish up." Merlin explained.
The knights all took a moment to digest that and Merlin grinned at them all. "Now that I can legally do it, I'll do them properly and protect the castle against yet another attack from Morgana."
"Don't overdo yourself my boy." Gaius warned.
"I know." Merlin rolled his eyes. "There's this spell in my book that is meant to enclose the castle in a dome sort of thing that deactivates any disguising enchantments and animation spells, I was thinking of using that, but including wraths and teleportation. So they can't just appear in Camelot without warning."
"Umm…" Arthur blinked.
"With your permission, of course," Merlin added quickly, "Well, kind of. I'd do it anyway because you'd be an idiot not to want me to protect the castle, especially with a family on the way, as Morgana and any other enemy would see Gwen and the children as a way to get to you, Arthur."
"Will this dome thingy affect anyone inside it, or prevent anyone from entering or leaving?" Arthur asked, a little confused.
"No, just spells." Merlin replied quickly.
"Do whatever you think is necessary. Only clear it by me if it directly affects anyone physically, or in any possible negative way." Arthur decided.
"Good." Merlin nodded.
"Merlin, there's no need to be nervous," Gwen spoke up, noticing the man's fidgeting and agitation, "Just continue talking from where we left off yesterday."
"That obvious?" Merlin chuckled self-consciously, immediately stopping himself from fidgeting.
"A little bit." Gwen grinned at her friend, who took a breath and relaxed slightly.
"Right, well, I suppose the next major thing to happen was Uther hiring the Witch Finder, Aredian." Merlin settled into his chair.
"The smoke images, were they you?" Arthur asked.
Merlin nodded. His eyes flashed and everyone slumped over in their chairs as their eyes slipped shut and they were in his memories.
Merlin stood with a pile of wood in his hands, walking around along with the other people out collecting firewood. He gradually drifted away from them, and sat down on the hill, looking out over Camelot.
His face was solemn and serious as he looked out over the town, the noises of life drifting up. There was a column of smoke rising, and he titled his head to the side.
"Hors, beride þá heofonum."
The smoke moved and became the shape of a horse. It reared upwards then galloped along in the smoke, tossing it's head silently.
The shape faded back into normal smoke.
Merlin sighed and shut his eyes, then jerked upright as a woman came running up the hill from the trees, "Did you see it? The smoke, did you see it?"
Merlin's eyes were wide with panic, "No, I saw nothing."
"Are you blind? You were right here! It was magic, I tell you. There's sorcery here. We must tell the King." She insisted. She ran off down the hill to Camelot.
Merlin's face was almost comically stunned, until he ran after her, "No! Wait!"
"After that, Uther went ballistic, called in the Witchfinder." Merlin explained.
"Surely you should've known better than that?" Gwaine asked, surprised the man had been so careless.
"With the amount of times I have berated him about it, one would think so." Gaius mumbled.
Merlin grinned sheepishly. "If it makes you feel better Gwaine, Gaius yelled at me."
"How many times, Merlin?! How many times must I drive it into that thick skull of yours that your magic is a secret to be guarded with your life?! What were you thinking?!" Gaius ranted as they entered the physician's room.
"I...I wasn't thinking." Merlin stuttered, surprised the man was yelling.
"Well think, boy, think!"
"It was just a bit of fun." Merlin tried to argue back.
"It was magic and it was seen."
Merlin's shoulders slumped slightly and he nodded, "You're right. I'm sorry."
Gaius sighed. "You must hide the book. Anything that can connect you to sorcery in any way."
"What? Now?" Merlin asked, looking around the room as if to see where the threat was.
"Yes, now, Merlin. The man that Uther has sent for, I know him."
"The Witchfinder?"
"Hmm, some know him by that name. I know him as Aredian. He is a force to be reckoned with."
"But I'm not a witch. Look. No dress or anything." Merlin did a small twirl, gesturing to the lack of dress. He stopped at Gaius' serious face, void of any amusement. "I'll get the book." Merlin said, heading into his room.
"I must say, I wasn't that worried, despite Gaius obviously being worried, not until I met him." Merlin explained.
"What happened?" Gwen asked.
"I suppose, since I was hiding my magic, when he was questioning me I was worried he would find out, but when he found Gaius and I in the markets before I was interrogated, he made my skin crawl and my magic didn't like him." Merlin explained.
"You're magic didn't like him?" Arthur repeated.
"Oh shut up." Merlin responded. "Yes my magic reacts to plenty of things. It's how I often could tell Morgause or Morgana were planning something, or had someone in disguise in the castle, my magic reacted and I knew something was wrong."
"What happened when you met him and Aredian questioned you?" Gwen asked, getting the men back on topic.
Merlin and Gaius were walking through the markets, Merlin carrying all the jars and purchases.
"Gaius, isn't it? I never forget a face." Aredian spoke, approaching them.
"Nor I, Aredian." Gaius nodded in polite greeting, but everyone observing could see the tension in the memory.
"A physician now, I hear. You always did have a thirst for knowledge." Aredian continued conversing.
"Scientific knowledge." Gaius nodded in agreement.
"Of course." Aredian muttered, looking at Merlin, his eyes raking over the boy.
"My assistant, Merlin." Gaius almost reluctantly introduced.
"Merlin." Aredian repeated. Merlin nodded and waved slightly.
"May your investigation prove fruitful, Aredian. However, you'll have to excuse us, we have work to do." Gaius bowed his head in parting and left, dragging Merlin with him.
Aredian called out after them. "Naturally. Merlin? I have a few questions I would like you to answer. Please be at my chambers in an hour."
"He gives me the creeps." Gwaine muttered, as the scene swirled into a different memory.
Merlin was sitting at the man's desk, while he stood behind him, pacing the room intimidatingly. "You are aware, then, that sorcery has been practiced in the vicinity of Camelot?"
"Yes. I mean...apparently." Merlin all but squeaked. He coughed to clear his throat, and listened as Aredian continued.
"No, no, it cannot be denied. There was a witness." Aredian corrected.
"Yes, I know." Merlin nodded.
"Do you also know that the woman has named you as a witness?" Aredian asked, coming round to sit down at his desk.
"But..." Merlin tried to protest.
"I've already spoken to her. She was quite clear on the matter." Aredian cut him off.
"But I wasn't a witness." Merlin insisted.
"Oh, sorry. Perhaps I misheard. Do you deny that you were present at the time of the incident?" Aredian asked, leaning forward over the desk to stare at him intensely.
Merlin clearly was struggling not to fidget or look away and answered nervously, "No, I, I was there."
"Well, so you saw it, the horse conjured from the smoke?" Aredian asked.
"I saw the smoke, but...it was only smoke. I saw nothing else." Merlin eventually managed to answer.
"Are you saying that she lies?" Aredian asked, leaning back, frowning slightly.
"I didn't say that. I said I didn't see what she saw." Merlin repeated.
"Hmm. Well, how can that be, I wonder? How can one person see something and the other not?" Aredian asked.
"I can't explain it." Merlin half shrugged.
"I'm at a loss as to explain it myself. Unless it was you who performed the magic." Aredian suggested.
"It wasn't." Merlin insisted quickly, almost too quickly.
"Can you prove that it wasn't?" Aredian asked.
"No." Merlin breathed out. His face held traces of his nerves and his fear.
"Hmm. That'll be all." Aredian gestured to the door. Merlin got up to leave and had a hand on the handle before he spoke again, "For now."
"Was he really that intimidating?" Arthur asked. "He'd make anyone look guilty, just by intimidating them so much."
"Yeah well, you know what the final verdict was." Merlin shrugged.
"What?" Gwaine asked eagerly.
"He had three women give reports of magic, and then he named me as the sorcerer. Uther ordered a search of Gaius' rooms, and I told them I had nothing to hide, certain no one would find my book. They looked me in the cells, and went to look. Half an hour later, Arthur let me out, but Gaius was arrested instead. When they had searched the rooms, they found an amulet and Uther was going to sentence me to death, but Gaius spoke up and took the blame, claiming it was his." Merlin explained.
"Uther was adamant it wasn't Gaius and I agreed." Arthur spoke up. "Uther let Aredian question Uther to determine the truth."
"Aredian took the opportunity to try and get me to confess to other magic users, and to simply torture me for his personal enjoyment." Gaius explained. "I refused to give up Merlin, and I refused to say anything other than that I had kept the amulet from my past, and it was a mistake to do so." Gaius' face darkened slightly in memory. "Then he said that I was going to be burned, along with Merlin and Morgana, so I made a deal with him to protect them. I confessed to Uther."
"When they arrested Gaius, I tried to attack Aredian, so Arthur took me to the dungeons, but not to arrest me and I was able to speak with Gaius." Merlin continued.
Merlin was standing opposite Arthur in the dungeons. "I'm breaking the law." Arthur pulled out his keys and opened Gaius' cell. "I can only give you a few minutes.
Merlin rushed in, and Arthur moved back to give them some privacy.
"They wouldn't let me see you, there was nothing I could do." Merlin told Gaius frantically.
"I know. I understand." Gaius hugged the boy.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe Uther would do this to you." Merlin said, eyes wide with fear and disbelief.
"He had no choice. Once Aredian had found the amulet." Gaius trailed off.
"I didn't even know you had such a thing." Merlin frowned at the man.
"It isn't mine." Gaius said, staring at the boy in shock.
"Why did you say it was?" Merlin asked, his face slowly twisting to display his shock.
"I was trying to protect you." Gaius explained.
"I don't know what to say." Merlin muttered.
"It's alright, Merlin. You don't have to say anything." Gaius tried to comfort the boy.
"Yeah, I do. The amulet isn't mine either." Merlin told Gaius desperately.
"Then how did it get there?" Gaius asked the question that was on everyone's minds.
"Aredian." Merlin answered, his face hardening to show his anger.
"Aredian?" Gaius frowned.
"There's no other explanation." Merlin nodded and began pacing, trying to think of a plan.
"But why?"
Merlin shook his head, and smiled at Gaius hopefully, "It doesn't matter why. All that matters is, if I can prove he planted it, you're saved."
"No. You must let this go." Gaius begged.
"No, you're falsely accused. I have a chance to prove that. I must take that chance." Merlin decided.
"No, Merlin. You must not." Gaius insisted.
"I don't understand. Do you want to die?" Merlin asked, his face dropping into a frown again.
"No. But neither do I want you to die. And die you surely will if you get too close to Aredian. He will trap you, Merlin. He will manipulate you, and without ever meaning to, you will incriminate yourself. You must let this go." Gaius begged.
"I must let you go?" Merlin asked again.
"To do otherwise would be an act of suicide." Gaius replied.
Merlin hugged the man once more, then left quietly, letting Arthur lock the cell.
"Surprise surprise, I didn't let it go." Merlin chuckled a little awkwardly.
"No, and I am grateful for it, my boy." Gaius told him.
"So did you prove Aredian framed him?" Elyan asked.
"Yes." Gwen answered.
"Sort of." Merlin answered at the same time.
TBC