Morgause has disappeared, Grost and two others are dead, and the rest of the bandits have fled. But there are a large number of explanations that need to be made. And where is the seal, anyway?

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the recognizable characters.

The Royal Crest of Camelot

Chapter 10 – Choice

Gwaine took one look at the tattered back of the tent, and whistled. "What in the world happened here?" A quick mental plea to Kari, Durya, and Sven was as much as Merlin had time for before explanations began. By the time the events were sufficiently explained, with thankfully no slips as to Merlin's involvement, the group had retreated into the large tent and seated themselves on a variety of surfaces.

"Morgause?" asked Arthur in disbelief. "This is the same one that challenged me to a duel?" Merlin nodded. "And she's a, what, a high priestess?"

"As close as there is nowadays," explained Sven. "As far as we know, the high priestesses were all killed in the Purge. But one of their Servants," his voice seemed to Merlin to capitalize the word, "saved a small group of the younglings in training, Morgause among them, and managed to hide them away. They trained each other, as much as they could with the help of the Servant who had rescued them. So, yes, she's a high priestess – consecrated to the old gods by the Servants – and she was chosen for the strength of her gift. But she's not fully trained, and probably can't ever be. There's too much that was lost, and even most of the Servants are gone."

Durya broke in. "She's not a nice woman, granted. But she's also not terrifying either. As you saw, two or three of us together can hold her off indefinitely. And generally she has no interest in us, you see."

"Speaking of which," said Geren, "she came for the seal. WE don't want it, and we will all be a great deal safer when we don't have it." He rose to his feet and crossed the tent to shoo Gwaine off the chest he was sitting on. Having raised the lid, he rummaged deeply and pulled out a brightly colored length of woven cloth, wrapped around a small object. He turned toward Arthur with it, but Kari forestalled him.

"A moment, love. May I hold it please, Sire?"

Arthur nodded, and Geren detoured to hand it to Kari.

Kari unwrapped the cloth, and surely enough there was the seal, resting innocent and helpless in her hand. "Sire, has anyone explained to you what this does?"

Arthur looked politely confused. "No, but… I wasn't aware it did anything aside from its usual function. When your little one said it was magical, I assumed she was mistaken. After all, it belongs to my father. Had he known it was magical, surely it would not have escaped the bonfires in the Purge."

Kari looked fondly at her daughter. "Her gift is quite sensitive. She was aware of the seal's arrival in the bandit camp, and knew that it had not left when the bandits did. In any case, yes, there is indeed magic here. Someone with a very powerful gift blessed it with a very specific enchantment for the Pendragons."

"When the seal is used by a scion of the Pendragon line for its intended purpose, it connects the signers of the document it seals. It strengthens in each of them their willingness and determination to uphold their agreement. A very useful implement for a king, you will agree." She handed the seal, nestled in the cloth, to the prince.

Arthur looked troubled under the mask of politeness, and Merlin was sure he knew why. The prince was a true son of the crown. If he told his father about the magic of the seal, what would the king do? Was choosing not to tell his father treason?

"Can the seal in any way harm my father?" Arthur looked from Durya to Sven to Kari as he spoke. "Is there a risk to keeping it?"

"Not as long as it in your possession, I believe." Durya was the first to respond.

"I agree," added Kari. "Though it is a tempting target for spies or thieves, as you discovered, if they know of its magic."

"Maybe there's something we can do about that," Sven said thoughtfully. "Could we create some kind of protection for it?"

"No, not protection," Durya disagreed slowly, "a disguise! A hiding place, so that it can't be found by its magic. Take the cloth," she said, pointing to the bright fabric wadded around the seal, "and turn it into a spell shroud. Contain the magic in the shroud so it can't be detected. It would still be visible to gifted senses when it's in use, of course, but not when it's wrapped."

"That, my dear, is a good idea." Sven looked enthused, then abruptly subsided. "Or Sire, if you wish the magic to be removed entirely, that could be done. Destroy even one of the symbols along the edge – right there – and the magic will be gone."

"More magic. Or no magic. Or continue as we have been."

"Essentially, yes, Sire."

There was a long pause. Merlin held his breath.

"Go ahead and make the spell shroud."

-o-o-o-o

"The spell shroud is complete, Sire," announced Durya. "Shall we test it out?"

Without waiting for an answer, she summoned Katya with a smile and a beckoning gesture. "So how did we do, little one?" Durya held out a bright bundle of cloth to Katya, who looked up at her grandmother in amazement. Merlin felt his eyebrows rising. There was no sign at all that the seal was inside that cloth. Nothing.

"It's not there at all, 'Amma. Is it?" The child tugged at the cloth until the seal was revealed – and there the magic was, as if it had never been interrupted. Merlin was impressed indeed. That was potent magic!

Durya reclaimed the bundle and, after wrapping it carefully, handed it to Arthur, who was seated with Merlin and Gwaine by the fire. "It is yours, Sire. Use it well."

"Thank you." Arthur handed it to Merlin, who held it uncertainly, not sure what the prince intended. There was a silence.

"Sire, if I may ask, what will you do about us?"

Arthur paused for a moment. Merlin had the sense that he was choosing his words with care.

"I have been among you for only a few hours. In that time, you have healed my friend for which I am most grateful – stop grinning, Merlin – at a cost to your own well-being." He looked directly at Kari, and nodded. Merlin understood the unstated 'thank you' and hoped Kari did as well.

"You have shown trust in me, revealing your gifts, first in healing, then in combat, then in spell work to protect myself and my family from those who would seek the seal. You stood against bandits beside me." A chuckle escaped him, and he shook his head and then continued. "You even stood against Morgause when you could have chosen to simply hand over the seal. You have given me helpful information about Morgause, about what she is, and what she wants. I appreciate all of those things."

"I believe I understand why you chose to help Merlin. He was quite pathetic." Arthur gave Merlin an arch look, and Merlin kicked him lightly, the action somewhat hidden by the saddlebags that were resting by their feet. "However, I would like to know why you chose to fight bandits and Morgause, and why you risked doing further magic for my benefit, knowing who I am and what the laws of the land are regarding magic."

There was a quiet moment, as Sven, Durya, Kari, and Geren exchanged glances. Merlin was sure what he was seeing in their faces was hope, and the deep breath before the plunge. The unspoken colloquy ended with Sven lifting an inviting hand to Durya.

"Sire, Morgause and the like-minded among our people would like to change our people's situation by destroying the Pendragons entirely, for vengeance, in retribution for all the lives lost in the Purge. But there is another faction, of which we are part. We believe a better way would be to instead change the hearts and minds of the people, rulers and peasants alike, so that one day those of us with gifts will be trusted rather than feared. And the best way to gain trust is to offer trust, and help, to all who ask it of us. So helping you, being who you are, helps our cause because by it we hope for a better day when you come to the throne."

Merlin had been watching Arthur while Durya spoke, and was heartened by what he saw. The prince was finding her explanation believable, and something about what she had said eased a bit of the tension in him. By the time she finished, Merlin was holding his breath for Arthur's response. Arthur's choice now might one day make the difference between a life of secrecy or one of freedom for so many people, including Merlin.

"Your lives… are yours to live as you please. I will not send soldiers to look for you, and will pass your names to the patrols under my command as free to travel in these lands. I do not wish to mislead you – I cannot be sure of protecting you if you come to the notice of my father. So for now, you should still avoid Camelot patrols. If you learn something that you believe I should know, come or send a messenger to Camelot. It will not be safe to seek an audience with me, so go to… either Merlin here or my court physician, Gaius. Either of them can bring your news to me."

Merlin had forgotten to breathe. Catching a glimpse of Gwaine's face, apparently his friend had too. Gwaine's expression was thunderstruck, and his eyebrows seemed to have found a home in his hair. Quietly, unobtrusively, Gwaine shifted his gaze to Merlin's and a small surprised smile bloomed. Merlin returned the smile and then looked back over at the prince. He will be such a king as the world has never seen, thought Merlin. He will!

Over their interaction, the members of this little family were reacting to Arthur's pronouncement. Katya looked up, puzzled, from where she was playing in the grass, clearly aware that something had happened but having no idea what. Kari, Geren, and Sven traded glances of evident relief, and Durya smiled with something that to Merlin's eye looked like quiet pride. She looked at the prince and nodded firmly. "We are grateful, Sire. And if we hear of danger to you or yours, we will find a way to let you know."

The moment was broken by Katya, who sidled up to Gwaine with something hidden behind her back. "Put your hands out and close your eyes," she requested.

Gwaine grinned and looked at her with a mock-suspicious air. "Are you going to hand me a bug, little miss?"

"It's a surprise. You too," to Merlin, "Put your hands out and close your eyes."

Merlin did as requested. After a moment, multiple feather-light and leafy objects were set in his hands.

"Can I open my eyes now?" he asked the girl.

"Open your eyes!"

Merlin's and Gwaine's hands were filled with flowers, gathered from among the grasses.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Gwaine said with a grin. "I'll keep them forever!"

"Katya, they're very pretty. Thank you!" Merlin realized as he spoke that Katya was looking from himself to the prince in a decidedly conspiratorial manner, and that there was one more bunch of flowers at her feet. Arthur must have seen them as well, because he spoke up on a gently teasing note.

"So, young lady, don't I get any flowers?"

She reached down and scooped up the flowers, which she handed carefully to Arthur.

"But not a surprise."

"Well, thank you! They are lovely. But why not a surprise?"

"Em-Merlin said so. He said you don't like surprises!"

"Merlin!"

Author's note: Hope you're still enjoying the story. I know this was a slower chapter, but hopefully it answered some questions. Many, many thanks for the comments – they really do make my day!