Chapter 10: Saving Padme
It had only been a few days since Morgause and Padme's plot against Anakin which saw the Sarrum killed by one of his own men. Merlin and Obi Wan had informed Gaius of what had happened on Merlin's journey to help the young boy and now Merlin was determined more than ever to save his friend from Morgause's control.
He knew that Morgause and Padme would try again and this time he would be ready and ensure Anakin would see it with his own eyes and as luck would have it, one nightfall, he would have his chance.
Darkness had set over Camelot for another night and everyone had all fallen asleep. They moved through the castle's hallway stealthily, with a cloak over their clothes. They moved down a curved stairwell descending to the lower levels as they continue on, the moonlight shining through the windows above, reveal the woman's bouncing dark curls. She pushes open a wooden door moving through the corridor until she reaches the double wooden gates leading to the tunnels
It is Padme, she pushes open the gates and slips through, turning back as she hears footsteps approaching causing her to hurry on through the tunnel. A small group of Camelot guards move past the entrance causing Padme to duck behind one of the bricked pillars until they were gone and allowed her to move on.
Thinking she was in the clear, she stepped out from behind the pillar to continue moving down the tunnel but hadn't seen one of the knights, Edward, stop and look down the tunnel seeing the unknown figure
"You there!" he calls out as he steps into the tunnel. Padme halts in her steps, annoyed at being seen hearing him go on "Show yourself!" he declares moving towards her with his flamed torch in hand. Padme then suddenly spins around, stunning him "Your highness?" he adds, confused "Are you all right?" he asks her "Is something wrong?" he goes on seeing Padme simply smile back at him
"No, no, all is well" she assures him as Edward cautiously stares back at her
"It's dangerous to be out at such an hour" he advises her as Padme remains calm and casual
"I am grateful you are so scrupulous in your duties" she only replies as he is still surprised to see her out here
"It's not where I'd thought to find you, your highness" he confesses thinking she'd be up in her chambers with Anakin. Padme is silent for a moment before she steps back towards him
"One doesn't always wish to be your highness, Edward" she lies. Edward curiously stares back at her, before he gives a nod as she goes on "I enjoy being in the lower town, it reminds me of back home, before I was ambassador, to see the people" she confesses. Edward though, still holds concern for her
"Is that wise?" he asks knowing full well Anakin loved and protected his wife and Queen dearly. Padme thinks for a moment before she then goes on
"Well, people only see a Queen when they expect to" she tells him. Edward nods but wishes to escort her back inside
"All the same-" he tries to say before Padme is quick to cut him off
"And it reminds me of being at home with my parents" she insists. Edward turns back to her as Padme then confesses "And I need that sometimes" she insists. Edward, thinking about his own family, knows what it is like to lose loved ones, nods
"Of course" he replies seeing her silent as he nods once more "I understand" he assures her. Padme then shakes her head
"I'm not sure Anakin would" she points out adding "He has Arthur and Morgana as family, all his life" Edward shakes his head in agreement
"I won't mention it" he promises her seeing her give him a small smile
"Thank you" she softly replies. Edward then turns to head back out of the tunnel, leaving Padme standing there, breathing a sigh of relief. That was too close but luckily she convinced him easily with her story and without another thought, she continued on through the tunnel to meet up with Morgause.
Having exited out of the tunnels and into the forest, Morgause was already waiting for her friend. She saw Padme hurrying up towards her, smiling. Morgause is the first to speak
"You're late" she tells her as Padme breathes
"I'm sorry" she replies as Morgause then asks her
"Is there a problem?" she asks cautiously as Padme shakes her head
"Nothing I can't handle" she reassures her. Morgause then goes on
"Did you get what I asked for?" she enquires. It is then she watches as Padme pulls out a long rolled up parchment from her cloak
"It wasn't easy" she admits holding it out in front of her "It details the route the levy collection will take, the names of the knights, their arms and the day they depart" she assures her smirking proudly as Morgause takes the parchment from her.
"You've done well Padme" she tells her as Padme then asks her
"But how can it further our cause?" she asks curiously at the very same moment, neither of them realised they were being watched, by no other than Anakin! He hears Morgause then explain her plot further
"With this we can strike at the twin pillars of Anakin's power..." she explains to her. Anakin was hiding behind one of the trees nearby, watching the exchange between his wife and sworn enemy. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Slowly, he begins to pull out his sword just as Merlin, who had brought him here turns to him
"No my lord!" he whispers telling him to put his sword away "Morgause is too powerful, now is not the time!" he hisses as Anakin is unable to take his eyes off his beloved wife, talking freely with Morgause
"How could she do this?" he asks him as Merlin is quick to point out
"She is not the Padme you love" he insists looking back at Padme and Morgause "She has fallen prey to a dark and powerful magic" he explains keeping his voice low as Anakin is unable to believe what he is seeing
"If I lose her, I lose everything" he confesses. He deeply loved Padme from the moment he met her when she first came to Camelot, he couldn't lose her now. Merlin then turns to him, quick to re assure him once more
"We will find a way to bring her back, Anakin" he promises him "I promise" he tells him and that was a true promise however Anakin just couldn't stop looking over at his beautiful wife standing there with Morgause and more than that, giving her secrets to the city that would destroy his city! He wanted to believe Merlin was telling the truth but he wondered just how they would free Padme from this magic.
The following morning, after seeing Padme with Morgause in the forest, Anakin sat in his dark coloured pants and white loose over shirt, sat at their table in their chambers, fiddling with his food, glaring across at his wife, dressed in her gorgeous long sleeved satin purple dress. She was smiling up at him sweetly, playing the girl he loved all those years ago and yet Anakin sensed that deep down, Padme only wanted him dead and he feared what she would do to Arthur and Morgana.
Padme picks up another piece of fruit to eat before she speaks "I thought I might ride this morning" she confesses. Anakin is silent for a moment, wanting to create less suspicion about what he knew.
"Yes" he only replies shifting in his seat slightly as she hears him ask
"Would you like to join me?" her sweet smile grinning back at him. Anakin is silent, thinking that she could just very well be luring him into a trap. He shakes his head
"That won't be possible" he informs her. Padme, surprised by his response, looks down at her food,
"Oh, perhaps this afternoon, then?" she suggests. Anakin then looks up at her, wondering if he should simply give her the illusion that he would spend time with her before he knew her true alliance
"Perhaps" he simply replies going back to playing with his food as Padme, curiously looks over at him, wondering why he was so quiet this morning
"Anakin, is everything alright?" she asks. Anakin lifts his head up at her, giving her his innocent charming smile
"What do you mean?" he innocently replies as Padme notices his plate is still full,
"You seem distracted" she comments watching him playing with the food in his hand as he shakes his head
"Not at all" he assures her before he then goes on "Pressing matters of state, that's all" he lies "I'm sorry" he adds. Padme nods
"I understand" she replies grinning "Is there anything I can help you with?" she asks. Anakin looks back at her. Silent as he knows he doesn't want Padme interfering with official business knowing she'll just run straight to Morgause. He shakes his head
"Won't be necessary" he simply replies with a smile. Padme resumes enjoying her meal as Anakin continues playing with his food before deciding he best keep moving. Anakin then gets up from his seat, without a word and moves for the door startling Padme who knows he's not eaten
"You've hardly eaten!" Padme points out as Anakin already at the door, looks back at her
"I have a training session I must attend" he lies opening the door and exiting the room hearing Padme then call out to him
"Well, perhaps I'll see you later" she tries telling him but he was already gone leaving her to wonder what was going on with Anakin's strange behaviour wondering was he on to her involvement with Morgause and had Merlin attempted to let Anakin in on her secret.
Upon leaving their chambers, Anakin knew the first order of business he needed to change was the route his men would be taking. He had summoned his brother and two of his knights, Leon and Nicholas into one of the lower rooms of the castle. Arthur still didn't know about Padme's alliance with Morgause and after revealing the new route, Anakin was going to inform his brother of the developments.
Ensuring to see they weren't being followed, Anakin moved through the lower levels till reaching one of the back rooms and stepping inside the small room as Arthur, Leon and Nicholas all followed him inside. They were all unsure of why he wanted to see them but didn't question him until they knew what was going on.
Once Arthur, Leon and Nicholas were inside, Anakin then closed the door and locked it ensuring they were not to be disturbed. He then moves back over the table they were standing around and open up the piece of parchment he had been holding
"Gentlemen, this is the new route to collect the levy" he explains "Leon, Nicholas, commit to memory" he tells them, surprised by this change, Arthur looks up at his brother,
"Anakin?" he tries to speak up but Anakin only wanted to continue to explain the new plan
"Tell no one of the changes in plans until the patrol is on its way, is that understood?" he asks them looking around at Nicholas and Leon who looked up at him, nodding
"Sire" he replies going back to studying the map like Nicholas was as Anakin looks across at him,
"Nicholas?" he asks awaiting his acknowledgement of the new change
"Of course" he nods before he then asks "But may I ask why we're changing the route, my lord?" then pointing out "This is another day's ride" as Anakin shakes his head, knowing very well what just might happen if Padme got word of this change
"I can't tell you that" he informs them "I just ask you trust me" he tells them. Nicholas simply then nods before Anakin started to begin rolling back up the map "Good, you leave in three days" he instructs before Nicholas, Arthur and Leon then watched Anakin begin to burn the parchment using the lone candle on the table, confused as to why he was taking these measures. Was there a danger coming he wanted to avoid?
A few minutes later, Leon and Nicholas left the room leaving both brothers alone. Anakin re locked the door before turning back to his younger brother, who was unaware of what he was about to hear
"Arthur" he begins to speak clapping one hand on his brother's shoulder "What I am about to tell you, you might not want to believe but it is unfortunately true and you will then understand my reasons for changing the levy route" he explains as Arthur tilts his head,
"We have a traitor in Camelot, brother?" Arthur asks. Over the years, they had quite a few problems with traitors in their city, and their father handled them immediately and seeing his brother sadly nod, means he knew who the traitor was and they were close to them.
Anakin took a deep breath before he spoke once more "Last night, Merlin came to me and asked me to follow him as he had something of great importance to show me, wondering what he had to show me exactly, I cautiously followed him out into the forest where we waited and saw a figure I never wanted to see again" he paused and Arthur could hear the hatred in his voice
"You saw Morgause?" he asks him "What was she doing out in the forest, so close to Camelot?" he asks "And if she had known you were there, she would have killed you brother" he points out. Anakin struggled to hold back his emotions
"She was meeting someone and that someone shocked me" he replies choking on the words "It was Padme. She gave Morgause the old levy details and they were talking about a plot to destroy Camelot" he admits. Arthur is silent, his eyes wide in shock, unable to believe what he just heard
"Padme's in league with Morgause, are you serious?" he asks "How long as this been happening?" he asks as Anakin fought to hold back his tears
"Merlin believes since the dark tower, something happened in there that allowed Morgause to twist Padme into her own pawn and has been using her to help bring down Camelot" he tells him as Arthur then wonders
"Padme's a traitor?" he asks "But why?" he goes on "She loves you and wouldn't ever want to see you dead" he points out as Anakin shrugs
"Merlin says it's like Morgause controls her mind and free will. Right now, she isn't the Padme I fell in love with" he explains as Arthur still had a hard time believing this
"And you trust Merlin with this information and she wasn't giving her a fake route to throw her off?" he asked as Anakin shook his head
"I saw it with my own eyes. She was far too happy with Morgause and the Padme I love, knows that the last time she saw Morgause she tried to killed both of us" he reminds him. Arthur then looks back at him
"So, what are you going to do?" he asks "Arrest Padme?" he adds as Anakin is silent before he is able to respond
"I can't arrest Padme when Merlin argues that she might still be able to be saved and after all that Merlin has done for us, I'm going to trust him and if he figures out a way, you will also be included in the plan" he assures him giving him a strong friendly hug
Arthur smiles up at him "You're my brother and Padme is family and if Merlin believes she can be saved, then we will save her" he insists. Arthur then felt guilt in his heart because if Padme was like this since the dark tower, it was his failure at protecting her that allowed her to be controlled like this.
Meanwhile, Merlin was in his quarters with Gaius and Obi Wan. Merlin was sitting up on the stairs leading up to the upper level where Gaius kept his books as Obi Wan and Gaius sat at the table. They soon started to hear Merlin's frustration at coming up with nothing once more
"Why did I promise to help Padme?" he asks, with a sigh "I have no idea what to do" he confesses before he then speaks out to Gaius and Obi Wan once more "Is there really no remedy?" he asks them as Obi Wan looks across at Gaius who was a holding a small circular item
Gaius looks back at Obi Wan before sighing "If Padme has suffered what we suspect, then no, I fear not" he sadly confesses. Merlin then looks down at them, gripping one hand on one of the stairs,
"You know what has happened to her?" he asks them. Gaius looked over at Obi Wan, allowing him to answer Merlin's question. Obi Wan looks up at him
"When we were younger, Gaius and I had heard talks of an ancient ritual of an Old Religion called the Teine Diaga" he explains. Merlin, confused and unfamiliar with what he had just heard, starts to get up and move down the stairs
"The Teine Diaga?" he asks hearing Obi Wan go on
"The sacred fire" he replies "The ritual used the mandrake root to bring unimaginable terror to the victim" he informs him as Merlin takes a seat beside Gaius listening intently to Obi Wan "Their screams could be heard 20 leagues away" he shivers at that mention looking to Gaius who took over
"When it was finally over, their will was no longer their own, they were slaves of the high priestesses for eternity" he finishes as Merlin, curious to learn more then asks
"Who performed the ritual? Where?" hanging on to their word every minute
Gaius looks back at Obi Wan "We've told you all that we know such mysteries were revealed only to a handful of female initiates as young boys, we were privy to only rumours" he sadly explained as Merlin hoped someone might still be able to help them
"There must be someone who can help" he insists before he hears Obi Wan speak up
"We can only think of two people who truly knows the old ways..." he begins to inform him glancing across at Gaius before continuing "One is Morgause" adding "The other is the Dochraid" he finishes and with that, Merlin had a plan set into motion-he needed to find this Dochraid and on the words of Obi Wan and Gaius, he needed a disguise.
A short time later, Merlin set off to seek out the mysterious figure Gaius and Obi Wan had told him about, the Dochraid. He only had a small brown backpack slung over his shoulder as he made his way through the forest until he came across a open round cave opening and continued inside the cave. He didn't know what to expect or did this person ever exist but he had to try. He made a promise to Anakin and he didn't like breaking promises with friends and he had stopped Morgause before, he would do it this time.
Obi Wan and Gaius's warning echoed in his head "But be warned, Merlin" he remembers "The Dochraid cannot be trusted" as he takes out a small potion vial and drinks it. As Merlin moves further into the cage, the potion transforms him from his regular self into the disguise of an eighty year old man, the very same look he used to get out of the dungeons on the night he was framed for poisoned the King
"She must never discover your true identity" they had warned him and Merlin had taken that advice to heart. Merlin looked cautiously around the dark cave, moving as best as his current form could allow him. He stopped but didn't see a smaller hunched figure rising to their feet. They then made a growl
"Who dares enters the sacred cave?" they asked. The figure wore all black and had light greyish white long fine hair but appeared to have no eyes. Without turning around, Merlin knew he had found the Dochraid
"I come..." Merlin begins to answer them, slowly turning around "To petition the Dochraid" he informs them seeing the figure for the first time. They remained still before extending one of her hands
"Give me your hand!" she hisses. Merlin slowly stepped towards her, his eyes watching her curious as he slowly holds out his hand before she startles him by grabbing it and begins to sniff his hand. After a few moments and watching her sniffing out his hand, she then releases it quickly
"Ah!" she cries "I smell the stench of enmity" she tells him as Merlin only stares back at her
"I come in peace, in friendship..." Merlin only tries to tell her but the Dochraid only scoffs back at him
"You are no friend of the Old Religion" she points out "No friend of Morgause" she continues. Merlin blinks in response trying to cut in
"Great Dochraid..." he tries to speak out before she snaps
"Silence!" she exclaims "I know you, Emrys" she reveals unable to see his eyes widen in shock as she goes on "Your Queen will find no relief here" she informs him as Merlin is unfazed by her remark
"How do you know why I come?" he simply asks as she hisses once more
"I am the Dochraid, the Earth speaks to me, you are not welcome here" she tells him "Depart!" she snaps however Merlin refused to leave, knowing this was probably one of his only hopes of saving his friend
"I cannot do that" he tells her hearing her snarl back at him as he goes on "Not until I have what I came for" he insists as the Dochraid hisses once again,
"You dare challenge me!?" she warns him "The ancient Dochraid?" she asks "You, a puny sorcerer!?"" she asks, her tone telling Merlin that she did not like being challenged or that she was hardly ever challenged. Merlin wasn't backing down
"And yet I will have what I came for" he assures her. He sees the Dochraid slightly turn her head towards him though she cannot see him and refuses to back down
"I am a creature of the earth" she informs him "You cannot kill me" she tells him. It is then that Merlin decides to reveal his hidden weapon he had brought with him. There is silence between them as he slowly pulls out Anakin's sword, Excalibur. He had "borrowed" it from his friend for this journey
He watches the Dochraid as she pulls back hearing the clang of the metal sword swishing before her. Merlin knew he had her attention. "This sword was forged in a dragon's breath and it will do my bidding" he explains. The Dochraid attempted to still hold some power and show she was afraid
"You do not have the power to wield such a weapon" she insists but Merlin, didn't answer her and instead, gripped the sword tightly and swung it towards her arm, hearing her out and grip her arm, as green blood begins to pour out. He sees her griping the wound with her other hand, staring back at him. Merlin lowers his sword
"I wish you no further harm, Dochraid" he tells her going on "Tell me what I need to know" he insists. Gripping her arm, she sneers
"Your Queen is doomed, Emrys" she only tells him "Her spirit has been consumed by the Teine Diaga, bound by the Silver Wheel, for all eternity. Her body is nothing but an empty vessel, filled by the will of another" she informs him as Merlin listens fearing that if he didn't seek an answer now, he knew exactly who would benefit from this
"Morgause" he only replies as he hears her continue on
"Once she has served her purpose, then that too will be cast away" she informs him as Merlin then asks her
"How do I break the spell?" as the Dochraid then answers him
"Only the greatest of sorcerers could attempt such a thing" she tells him as Merlin raises the sword towards her once more seeing her pull back in fright
"How?" Merlin asks, his tone deep and cold, he wanted an answer and was tired of going round in the circle. The Dochraid takes a deep breath before she speaks up
"You must travel to the Cauldron of Arianrhod, there you will need all of your powers" she explains as Merlin listens intently, at last, perhaps some hope "For you must summon the White Goddess herself" she concludes. Merlin tilts his head, holding out the sword towards her causing her to pull back fearful of what he might do
"And that is all?" he asks her hearing her reply back
"No, Emrys" she begins to reply "The Queen must enter the cauldron" she points out "Its waters hold the Goddesses' power" she explains "Only their touch can heal her" she warns him going on "Remember, Emrys" she cautions him "The Queen must enter the water willingly" she informs him "If she is tricked, forced or beguiled, she will fall into the abyss and be lost forever" she tells him
Merlin stared back at her for a moment, he had at least a way of saving Padme. Now he needed to go back and inform Gaius and Anakin of his findings. He lowers his sword before he speaks "Thank you, great Dochraid" he replies "Thank you" he then turns to leave and doesn't see the Dochraid sense the small dagger nearby
"Ataese!" she cries using her magic to send the dagger flying towards Merlin! However Merlin senses the deception and spins around just as the dagger is flying towards him. He uses his magic to send it off course causing her to gasp in shock.
Merlin, displeased by her deception, moves back over towards the Dochraid and raises his sword, he slashes at her hearing her out in pain but Merlin, satisfied that he had shown his anger at her attempt to kill him, gave her one last look and turned to exit the cave. He now had a way to save Padme and it was time to put it into action.
Meanwhile, back in Camelot, Anakin stood in one of the castle's main hallways, staring outside one of the windows into the distance, he fiddled with his wedding ring as he tried to take in everything he had found out in the last few hours. His wife, his beautiful Padme, was in league with Morgause. He never thought she could do something like this, but then again Merlin's words played through his head. She was not the Padme he fell in love with, magic was enchanting her. While magic was banned throughout the kingdom, he and his brother were the only ones who knew and accepted that Obi Wan, Merlin and Morgana had magic because they helped them from falling prey to Morgause and Palpatine. He only hoped he would have his true love back.
He watched Merlin re entering the courtyard on his horse wondering where he has been, only hoping he had news that could help them. He didn't see Morgana approach him until she spoke
"Anakin?" she asks in her soft voice, she touched his arm gently "Is all well?" she asks him. Anakin kept silent, he didn't want her to worry about what was going on as well and simply nodded
"Yes, thank you" he replies "You have no reason to worry about me" he assures her seeing her smile
"Yet, there have been too many times where there have been reasons I've been scared for you" she reminds him "I don't want to lose you, or Arthur and recently, I felt like I could have lost you twice already" she points out and tries to press him once again "So, if there is anything you want to tell me..." she insists
Anakin then turns towards her, placing both hands on her shoulders, "Morgana, you've been like a sister to me and I promise you that you'll have me around for a long time. Everything is fine, I promise" he assures her. "It soon will be" he hopes before he feels Morgana embrace him in a warm hug and he holds her. He wraps his arms around her. He shuddered to think at what would have happened if Morgause and Padme would do to Arthur and Morgana as well.
At the same time, Merlin was arriving back to his chamber followed by Gaius and Obi Wan with news of what he had discovered, and his doubts.
"There are too many things that could wrong" he confesses entering the chamber "And summoning the White Goddess" he continues "That may be beyond me" he admits. Obi Wan looked across at Gaius, shaking his head
"I think not" Gaius tells him adding "Merlin, the only person who ever doubted your powers is you" he reminds him following him back down to his room as Merlin then turns back
"And even if I do manage that, we need to get Padme to the cauldron in the first place" he reminds them "And she's hardly likely to go willingly" he tells him turning to move up stairs into the room as Obi Wan speaks up
"Gaius has already thought of that" he assures him stopping him in his steps. Merlin turns to see Gaius holding up a small potion vial. Merlin moves back over towards them, taking the vial into his own hands
"Tincture of Belladonna?" he asks impressing both Obi Wan and Gaius. Obi Wan chuckles
"All that studying Gaius has been giving you has paid off" he observes as Merlin moves away going on
"It's a powerful and dangerous drug, Gaius" he tells him as Obi Wan simply looks down at Gaius who shrugs
"More dangerous than a traitor in the heart of Camelot?" he asks as Merlin then had another point to bring up
"Padme needs to be conscious when she enters the cauldron. She must do so of her own free will or the spell will not be broken" he points out as Obi Wan nods in agreement
"That we both agree, may not be within our powers" he admits as Merlin sighs, placing the vial down
"Well, then the rest is futile" he simply replies as Obi Wan is quick to add
"But there is someone for whom it is possible" he tells him. Merlin immediately knew who they were talking about
"Anakin?" he asks. Obi Wan and Gaius both nodded as Gaius spoke up
"Only he can reach the part of Padme that remains true" he insists but Merlin was still doubtful
"It won't work" he is quick to reply as Gaius tilts his head at him
"You underestimate the power of love, Merlin" he tells him as Merlin is quick to correct them
"No, not that" he tells them going on "Me" he says "How can I use my magic with Anakin there?" he asks "He's secretly pardoned me once. I don't know how he'd feel to seeing me using my magic so openly once again" he confesses. Gaius looked up at Obi Wan who had a sly smirk on his face and a thought
"Ah, but not if he didn't recognise you" Obi Wan admits. Merlin chuckles nervously, he was just in disguise, he didn't want to be that disguise so quickly
"No" he shakes his head "No, not again" he insists as Merlin then reminds them "You know how exhausting the aging spell is" he reminds them. "I don't have the strength to do that and perform the ceremony" he assures them as Gaius looks over at Obi Wan. He knew that Obi Wan was there when Merlin killed Palpatine, he knew the strength he had.
Obi Wan slowly approached Merlin, placing one hand on his shoulder "Then you must find the strength" he only replied. Though Merlin remained doubtful in himself, somehow Obi Wan's support and reassurance gave him the strength that perhaps he could do this. Now that just needed to get Anakin involved.