A/N:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I'm back! Terribly sorry for the delay, but I was re-writing what I'd already posted and things got very hectic in real life.
I don't own BBC Merlin (if I did the series would have had at least one year where magic was being brought back). I do own most of the plot, though part of it is inspired by actual Arthurian Legends.
THIS FIC HAS TWO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE OVERALL PLOT OF MERLIN!
In episode 3x12/3x12, where Morgana takes the Throne from Uther, she doesn't fire on the people, Morgause orders the soldiers to, leading Morgana to halt the arrows in mid-air. Not to mention leading to a slight discord between the two sorceresses. IT WILL MAKE SENSE!
(However, Morgana won't just be magick'ed better or back to how she was a couple of years ago).
In 4x12/4x13 she doesn't force the knights to fight for food, Helios does and Morgana halts it, insulting the need for barbaric sport, (She liked hunting and fighting yes, but she never really even liked the duels etc, and they at least had rules and honor). Agravaine extracts the information about Arthur's whereabouts from Elyan, trying to get back into Morgana's good books, what with the rivalry with Helios.
Also, just to make clear, I did change a few of the things that happened, however Morgana still kills her sister, uses the formorrah on Merlin and kills Uther and so on.
GO BACK AND READ THE EDITED VERSION OF THE FIC - HIGHLY EXPANDED! (Aside from the intermission, I haven't quite decided what to do about that yet...)
And without further ado, I bid thee enjoy!
Chapter Nine: The Quest.
Merlin and Gwaine had been in Caerleon for a few days now they'd been stayed at the inn 'The Bull's Horn'. A place bordering between the more dilapidated inns and the few lavish ones in the city. However their search for information had resulted in nothing, it wasn't the first time they wondered as to whether they'd been sent on a wild goose chase. They were sitting at one of the tables in the bar area downstairs, they'd just finished the warm breakfast and were debating what to do next.
"I'm starting to think there isn't anything here." Gwaine commented.
"What else are we suppose to do?" Merlin retorted, "It's not like we can do anything else."
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Gwaine asked indelicately and wiggling his fingers slightly.
Merlin rolled his eyes, "No. I'd need someone's belongings and other things, it'd take too much and might not even work..." He trailed off, "Isn't there anything you can think of"
Gwaine grimaced and tried to hide it but he knew the warlock had seen it, "There are a few contacts I could reach out to, only you might not like the consequences."
"What does that mean?"
"It means my sister would find out I'm here and I was kinda hoping to avoid that."
Merlin nodded, "I'm sorry but you might have to. Time is of the essence."
Gwaine nodded and finished off his drink it was a light cider, "I'm going to get going then, what are you going to do?"
"I have a couple of things I want to look at myself. I'll meet you back here later."
Gwaine nodded and waved thanks to the barkeep before leaving the quiet and darker bar for the light and bustle of the streets. The city was almost split in three areas and was situated next to the river Usk and it's tributaries. Gwaine looked around there were a number of changes since he'd last been here, but as per usual, it was still its natural bustling self. Sighing he ambled along, making sure to look like he was just going for a walk. His feet lead him through the twisting streets in a way that would hopefully loose a tail. It was unlikely he had one, but you could never be too careful. He stopped before a house, there was a courtyard entrance as was the style for the more lavish houses in Caerleon. He furrowed his brow, the place still looked the same, with a few minor alteration and it was in much better condition. Gwaine wondered how'd they'd wrangle the money for that. Before he threw caution to the wind and walked into the courtyard, before he could reach the door it opened and a servant stepped out, "M'lord Gwaine if you would follow me."
Gwaine followed the servant into the house, the entrance hall was sumptuously decorated as was the rest of it, he was led through to a sitting room, it was decorated in blues and there were a number of seats dotted around and some bookcases situated between the windows. Gwaine walked further into the room, the servant bowed and left.
"Lord Gwaine! Such a pleasure to see you again." A voice announced from the doorway, the knight turned around to see the man he was looking for Armand. He was naturally tall and thin with a long brown hair, he would have been handsome if not for a scar that ran from his left cheek down his neck and continued on under his shirt.
"Armand."
"It's Lord Armand now, but I suppose you can call me by my given name." Armand said waving his hand at Gwaine and moving to sit down in one of the plush chairs in the centre of the room.
Gwaine followed his example, "You married then."
An odd smile quirked at the corner of Armand's mouth, "Yes, I did. Now, why are you here?"
"I've been in Caerleon for a few days now an-."
"I know." Armand interrupted purely to see the knight bristle.
Gwaine stopped himself from visibly responding and continued, "I need information, no one else seems to have any or if they do, they are too scared to offer it."
Armand sat back in his chair looking at the man in front of him contemplating what he should do next, "What would you give me for the information?"
The knight snarled, "You know damn well that I owe you nothing and you know damn well you'll do this for free."
"No need to bring death and damnation down on us, it was a simple question."
Gwaine forced himself not to fidget, he wanted to move, to do something, "Will you help?"
Armand opened his mouth to respond, when a different and decidedly female voice rang through the room, "Hello brother."
Gwaine jumped and turned to the doorway, "Sister, what are you doing here?"
"Can I not visit my husband?" She asked moving over to Armand.
"You married him?" Gwaine exclaimed in askance.
"Why should she not?" Armand retorted, "After everything that happened, you just left."
"You know why I left."
"Yes, I do. But be that as it may, your sister is a great woman with a mind for politics and intrigue we are well suited to one another. Besides," He glanced over to his wife, "I love her."
Gwaine just stared at them both, his jaw clenched slightly. Claudia interrupted holding up a hand, "He has no access to any of my money or holdings." Gwaine glanced towards Armand expecting him to look disappointed, instead he looked oddly pleased. "They will go straight to my children." Gwaine's sister paused, "Oh come now Gwaine, you know what would have happened to me if I had not remarried, someone would have arranged one for me. I had not the standing to be alone, nor the inclination to be bound to a man I did not want. I learnt a lot from what happened and fashioned a life for myself." She laughed suddenly, "Though with Queen Annis ruling now, if I had been in the same situation I was back then, things might have turned out differently."
Gwaine nodded, processing the information. Rubbing his forehead, he could feel a headache building up.
"Now, what is it that you want from me, brother?" Armand said smiling widely.
Gwaine blanched before calming himself down, he looked down to see his hand clenched in a fist. He slowly uncurled it, it wouldn't do to attack the man he needed something from, "As I said earlier I need information." He glanced over at his sister, but she remained in the room, in fact she took a seat next to her... husband, trying not to focus on that revelation, he continued, "About the disappearances occurring throughout Albion, the magical ones."
Armand paused and stared at Gwaine, it was the first time he'd ever seen the man look slightly ruffled, Claudia leaned over and placed a hand on his, "Very well. But it will take time." Gwaine nodded, satisfied.
"Well then, you must come stay with me and your travelling companion of course." Claudia exclaimed, before going on the explain, that yes she did in fact mean at this estate as it would be nonsense to travel a day or so outside the city now. On one hand Gwaine was relieved he wouldn't have to see his ancestral home, before he'd left he'd given Claudia and her two young children the key. She'd already elected to move out of the former husband's house. On the other he did not want to see more of Armand than he had to. Inwardly he sighed, knowing that they had someone keeping an eye on Merlin as they spoke and could only hope he wasn't doing anything too stupid.
Merlin had started off the day by letting Gwaine walked off, he had had an uncharacteristically serious face on this morning and Merlin could guess he didn't want to be observed. So Merlin had hung back in the inn for some of the morning, nursing a mug of cider and listening in on the myriad of conversations dotted around the room; taxes, the road and some random court gossip were what most of it consisted of, one or two people spoke in hushed tones, eliciting curiosity from some and indifference from others. Eventually Merlin left to explore the city, it was very different from Camelot and afar cry from the small village of Ealdor. Merlin had never really had the chance to explore cities, usually it was get in or get out. Sometimes he had enough time to create hideouts, he never knew why or when he'd started doing that, just that it was something he felt like he needed to do. He touched the medallion through his shirt, it linked itself with the safe houses letting him know if any where in use, at the moment three were. He usually didn't wear it as it could be distracting, but he figured he could do with a heads up of what to expect if they needed a safe haven. A loophole he'd written in was that someone with a magical affinity could lead someone without in, as long as they were touching. He hoped it had served anyone badly. But he had no way of knowing.
The hair on the back of Merlin's neck prickled, he'd felt it since they'd first arrived. A flash of cloth drew his attention behind him. He was being watched and follow. Years of sneaking around had honed his senses, carefully he walked around, acting as if he had no idea before slipping away when they weren't looking. He had to doge one or two more. All the while wondering who it was that had set them on him. Eventually he ducked out of the city, needing to escape and found himself wandering the forest, it wasn't the safest or the sanest thing to be doing at the moment but Merlin wasn't thinking of that.
The flapping of wings overheard announced the arrival of Killgarrah, the dragon gracefully landed in a clearing and Merlin ran forward into it, "Are you mad?" The warlock yelled, "What if someone saw you?"
Killgarrah eyed the young warlock, "It is of no consequence, I came here for a reason, Aithusa needs to spend time around you. You hatched her, she needs her Dragon Lord."
Merlin froze, "I can't right now. Not in the city." Merlin amended after seeing Killgarrah's reaction.
"Very well, you should take care to do so Merlin, Aithusa is attracted to magic, all dragons are but it is particularly strong in the young."
"What do you mean?" He asked sensing there was more to what the dragon was saying.
"Aithusa is attracted to strong magic, particularly that which is bound and influenced by yours." Killgarrah reaffirmed moving closer to the warlock.
"You mean..." Merlin froze, "Morgana?" He asked weakly.
"Healed." Killgarrah said snapping his jaw, "And nearly bonded with Aithusa, which is another reason why she needs you. I will not have that witch twist and turn one of the last dragons to her own ends."
Merlin nodded, "Give me a few days, to get out of the city."
Killgarrah grumbled but acquiesced, before moving away again, heedless of whether anyone could see him. Grimacing Merlin muttered a spell to shield him from view, because Killgarrah was large, he had to expand it exponentially and it took a lot out of him. Merlin frowned knowing the dragon had done it on purpose, to show his displeasure. After resting for moment he headed back to the inn and had some lunch, he then spent the rest of the day sitting in the corner, listening and watching and waiting for Gwaine to show up.
Eventually, when it reached mid-afternoon the knight strode into the inn looking like he'd just survived a run in with two or three ghosts. He located Merlin in the corner and joined him, asking for some mead from the barkeep. He held up a hand to keep Merlin from talking, once the mug was placed in front of Gwaine he took a large gulp of it before turning his attention to Merlin. "What a day huh?"
Merlin nodded for his own reasons, "Gwaine what happened?"
"I ran into my sister and her new husband."
"Oh." Merlin responded, not entirely sure how to respond.
"Oh, indeed." Gwaine responded before informing the man that they were to stay at his sister's house.
"What's your history with Armand?" Merlin asked, not wanting to go in with no idea what was going on.
Gwaine sighed and toyed with the handle of his tankard, "When we were younger, my sister and I. Our father died and our King did nothing to help us, our mother became very ill and we lost everything. My sister Claudia who was the eldest had lost the advantageous arrangement she'd had and had to settle for someone who had the means to support her. Suffice it to say he wasn't a nice person. When I grew up I tried doing something about it but it backfired badly, I ended up being helped out by Armand. His parents were French nobles who'd relocated to England, and he'd grown up here, he's the type of person who deals in information and knowledge, he wanted advancement and I wanted my sister's freedom. Her husband was in the way of both of those things so we plotted and it worked. Only, I couldn't bare to stay..." He trailed off, "Now I'm back and they're married." He scoffed and stared down into the tankard as if it could offer him all the answers in the world.
Merlin sat there thinking it over, Gwaine hadn't told him anything specific but it was enough information for now, "He's the one who had tails following me." Merlin stated and Gwaine glanced up sharply, Merlin shrugged, "They weren't very good." Gwaine burst into laughter and after an hour or so of sitting in the bar, Merlin grabbed their things from their room, whilst Gwaine paid the bill. Both of them heading over to Claudia's estate with trepidation.
A/N: Any beta's out there that are interested in taking this fic or any of my others feel free to let me know!
Wow, that expanded quickly... No, I hadn't quite planned it like that, it kinda ran away from me a bit here... I might have to tweak a couple of things.
Reviews are lovely!