Merlin walked through the streets of Camelot, pleased at the sights around him. Magical charms hung in nearly every window. Vendors sold enchanted amulets on street corners. A mother encouraged her young daughter to cast a spell on a flower to help it grow. Arthur was king, magic was legal, and Merlin couldn't be happier.
Merlin jerked awake and sat up. Uther was still king and magic was still banned, but Merlin could definitely sense powerful magic coming from somewhere in the city. Then he saw movement in the corner of his eye and he looked over to see that Mordred had also sat up. You sense it too? Merlin asked.
Yeah. What is that? Mordred wondered.
Never felt anything like it before, not even when I visited your clan, Merlin mused.
Do you suppose the city is under attack?
I don't know…I don't think so, Merlin decided. It doesn't feel wrong the way Lady Helen's effigy or Valiant's shield did. It's just…strong. Whoever this is, I hope we don't end up having to fight them.
Maybe we should ask Gaius, Mordred suggested.
Merlin nodded and got out of bed, followed by Mordred. They found Gaius awake and working on a stack of parchments. "Couldn't sleep?" Gaius asked.
"Something woke us," Mordred explained. "Powerful magic, here in Camelot."
Before Gaius could respond, the door burst open and Gwen ran in, tears streaming down her face. Merlin frowned as he noticed her distress. [Gwen, what's wrong?]
"My father's been arrested!" she cried.
"Arrested!" Mordred exclaimed. "What for?!"
"They say he was making weapons for a sorcerer! They're charging him with treason!"
"But he wouldn't!" Mordred protested. "Why would they think that?"
Gwen helplessly shook her head. "All I know is that they found him with a man named Tauren, who is apparently a known sorcerer and enemy of the king. Father bought me a new dress the other day, he wouldn't say where he got the money…but I can't believe he'd commit treason!"
[Well, how about you visit your father and get his side of the story,] Merlin suggested. [We can't help him until we know what really happened.]
Gaius, Merlin and Mordred waited by the entrance to the dungeons while Gwen talked to Tom. After a few minutes, she walked out of the cells and met up with them.
"What did he say?" Mordred demanded.
Gwen swallowed. "He said Tauren came to him at the forge, offered him a fortune for his help—not to make weapons. For an experiment or something."
[What kind of experiment?] Merlin asked.
Gwen shook her head. "Tauren didn't say. But he used some kind of stone—some kind of magic." Merlin and Mordred shared a wide-eyed look. "He turned a pot of lead into gold. Father swears he didn't know what Tauren had planned, he didn't know Tauren was a sorcerer!"
Merlin turned back to Gwen. [Do you want me to walk you home?]
"I can't bear to go home," Gwen sniffled. "Not when I'm wondering if I'll ever see my father again." Mordred stepped forward and gave her a hug.
[Would you like to stay with us, then?] Merlin offered. [You can use my bed. I'm used to sleeping on the floor.]
Gwen nodded tearfully. "Thank you, Merlin."
The boys waited in the main chamber while Gaius helped Gwen to get settled. Mordred bit his lip and looked up at Merlin. If Tom didn't know Tauren was a sorcerer, they can't punish him for that, can they?
Merlin grimaced. They once wanted to execute Gwen just because there was a magical poultice in her house, even though she didn't know it was there. I think it's going to take more than logic to save Tom.
Gaius emerged from the bedchamber. "She's sleeping now."
"I don't understand," Mordred said, upset. "Why would a sorcerer go to Tom, anyway?"
"His forge is the finest in the kingdom, Mordred," Gaius explained.
"But Tauren wasn't making weapons."
"No," Gaius agreed. "His experiment bears all the hallmarks of alchemy."
Merlin frowned. [But…alchemy's impossible, isn't it?]
"To change the very nature of one thing to another has defeated all who have tried. But if you used magic…"
"Do you think that's what woke us?" Mordred suggested.
Gaius nodded. "It's possible."
The next day, Merlin and Mordred stayed with Gwen. Gwen slept through much of the morning, but neither brother wanted to leave her at a time like this. At one point, they sensed the powerful magic once more, and they shared a glance.
It was nearly noon when their door opened. "Merlin? Mordred?"
"Morgana!" Mordred exclaimed. He rushed over and hugged her, sniffling.
Morgana returned the embrace, then nodded at the bed. "How is she?"
Merlin sighed. [She's doing as well as can be expected.]
Morgana eyed her sleeping maid with concern. "We should let her rest." She then led the way back into the main chamber. Merlin quietly closed the door, though not all the way.
[Morgana, have you spoken to Uther?] Merlin asked. [This is all a mistake. Whatever Tom was doing, he wasn't plotting against the king.]
"I know that, of course I do," Morgana said softly. "But Uther—Uther only sees enemies."
"But Tom is one of the nicest people I know," Mordred protested.
"But he was seen with Tauren," Morgana said gently. "To Uther, that makes him an enemy." She moved toward the door.
"I thought he was going to have a trial tomorrow. Isn't there any hope?" Mordred pleaded.
Morgana turned back to look at him. "There's no hope, Mordred. None at all." She left, closing the door behind her.
Mordred looked back through the door at Gwen. She was sleeping soundly now, but he could still see the faint outlines of tear tracks on her face. He made up his mind. Tom was not allowed to die.
Mordred carefully pushed open the door to Arthur's chambers, cautiously calling the prince's name. There was no response, and Mordred closed the door behind him. He made his way to one of Arthur's chests of drawers and pulled out the drawer where he knew Arthur kept his keys. He rifled through them, and pulled out the key that unlocked the dungeon cells.
Suddenly, the door opened. Mordred stiffened and hid the key behind his back. "Mordred!" Morgana exclaimed, surprised. "Why aren't you with Gwen?"
"I…uh…why are you coming to Arthur's chambers?" Mordred retorted.
For a few awkward moments, the pair stared at each other, lost for words. Eventually, Morgana broke the silence. "How about you go back to Gwen and we pretend we never saw each other?"
"Okay." Mordred headed for the door, trying to keep the key hidden.
Morgana narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What do you have there, Mordred?"
Reluctantly, Mordred brought out the key. "If Uther's not gonna see reason, then Tom's only hope is to break out of the dungeon. I don't even remember my father. I don't want Gwen to lose hers. Please."
A shadow crossed Morgana's face. "I was only a little older than you are now when my own father died. Uther sent him into battle, promising reinforcements. The reinforcements never came. I will never forget how devastated I felt when I heard the news. Believe me, I have no desire to see Gwen lose her father either."
"So…you'll let me take this to Tom?" Mordred asked hopefully.
"I will take it to Tom," Morgana said firmly. "His escape will not go unnoticed. Better that you were never seen near the dungeons."
"But what about you?" Mordred protested.
"I'm the king's ward. Even if I do fall under suspicion, the consequences will not be as severe." Morgana held out her hand. "Please, give me the key. I will see that Tom gets it, I promise."
Mordred handed over the key and headed for the door. Halfway there, he paused and looked back. "So…why did you come here? Were you planning to break Tom out too?"
Morgana smiled ruefully. "It seems we think alike."
Merlin stood with Arthur by the drawbridge. Soldiers walked past, escorting various subdued-looking citizens. Uther had ordered the arrest of anyone who had had anything to do with Tauren.
When the depressing parade showed no sign of ending, Merlin turned to Arthur. [They're to be executed?] he asked incredulously.
"Yes, Merlin," Arthur confirmed. "By order of the king. They committed a serious crime."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. [Giving a man a bed for the night is punishable by death now?]
"Not a man. A sorcerer."
Merlin tensed. [Will stayed over at my house sometimes when we were children. Shall I add myself to the lineup?]
"It is not for you to question my father's actions!" Arthur hissed. "Is that understood?"
Merlin stood glaring for a few moments, then nodded stiffly.
"Now go and get on with whatever it is that you're meant to be doing," Arthur added somewhat coldly. He walked away, not giving Merlin a chance to say anything else.
Merlin stayed where he was, trying to rein in his anger. Then something occurred to him. Arthur hadn't really addressed his question.
Mordred returned to his bedchamber and found Gwen stirring. She blinked sleepily, then frowned at Mordred. "Mordred, what are you doing in my house?"
"Uh…this isn't your house, Gwen. You're staying with me and Merlin, remember?"
Gwen's face fell. "Oh. Right, sorry. Is there any news?"
Mordred bit his lip, wondering if he ought to tell Gwen about his and Morgana's plan. He decided that it would be better to tell her once Tom had successfully escaped. "Your father's trial is set for tomorrow morning. Morgana's going to do everything she can to make sure he doesn't get executed."
Gwen nodded, not looking reassured. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you all."
Mordred smiled. "That's what friends are for, Gwen."
In the evening, Merlin brought Arthur his supper. He set down the tray rather harder than he normally would have done. Then he picked up the water pitcher and stood to the side, resolutely not looking at the prince.
Arthur sighed, not touching his food. "Merlin, about what you said earlier…no, I don't think you ought to be executed. I haven't forgotten that I owe Will my life."
Merlin put down the pitcher, still staring at the wall. [You said he wasn't even a man.]
"We were surrounded by people, Merlin. You couldn't be overheard, but I had to be careful what I said. I can't be heard disagreeing with my father, whatever my personal opinion on the matter at hand."
[So…what about the rest of those people? Do you honestly think they deserve to die?]
Arthur sighed again. "I don't think most of them knew who Tauren was, nor do I think that they meant treason. I tried talking to my father, but he's made up his mind." Arthur briefly stared into space. "When I am king, I swear that I will not execute anyone without proof of intent."
Merlin finally looked at Arthur. [Then I would be proud to serve you.]
That night, the warning bell rang out. Gwen and Mordred got up to join Gaius and Merlin in the main chamber while they waited for something more to happen. Mordred suspected that he knew why the bell was ringing, but he didn't want to get Gwen's hopes up yet.
"What do you suppose is going on?" Gwen wondered.
"I'm afraid I've no idea," Gaius replied. "I do hope the castle isn't under attack."
Merlin glanced at Mordred. I don't sense anything, do you?
No. Nothing.
After about fifteen minutes, the bell stopped ringing. No one came to bring any news, which Mordred hoped was a good thing. They all went back to bed.
In the morning, Mordred went straight to Morgana's chambers. He knocked on the door, and she let him in.
"Did it work?" Mordred asked hopefully. "Did Tom escape?"
"I don't know," Morgana said worriedly. "I don't want to raise suspicions by asking."
They heard a loud wail from outside, and they hurried over to the window. "No! Father!" Gwen cried, running out of the castle toward a pair of soldiers pulling a cart with a covered body. The soldiers did not so much as slow their pace, ignoring the distraught young woman. Gwen followed them, continuing to wail her heartbreak.
Mordred turned to Morgana, eyes wide with horror. "But…he hadn't even had a trial yet!"
Morgana glowered at the sight below them. "Once word got out that he'd escaped, Uther no doubt ordered him killed on sight." She snorted bitterly. "Why run if you have nothing to hide."
"He ran because Uther was never going to pardon him!" Mordred objected.
Morgana turned to him. "I know that and you know that, but Uther will never see things that way! He rules only with the sword." She looked back out of the window. "One by one, he will make enemies of us all."
Mordred swallowed, a lump in his throat. "This is our fault, isn't it."
"No," Morgana said coldly. "It is Uther's. He has blood on his hands. And it is high time someone called him out on his tyranny." She lifted her chin and left her chambers.
Mordred also turned to leave, but then he paused when he felt a surge of the same magic that he and Merlin had been detecting. To his shock, it seemed to be coming from a corner of Morgana's room. He cautiously walked over to a dresser. Several small boxes sat on top.
A tingling sensation led Mordred to an ornate metal box. He cautiously opened it and found a small brown pouch inside. He opened the pouch as well, and out spilled a glowing orange stone the size of his hand. The stone sat in a setting with three silver claws on each end. He had a feeling he'd just found the stone that Tom had mentioned…but what was it doing in Morgana's chambers?
Mordred put the stone back where he'd found it. He would just have to ask Morgana about it. No doubt she would have a perfectly good explanation.
Meanwhile, Merlin lifted his head as he sensed the magic yet again. Not having any idea where it was coming from, he stayed in Gaius's outer chamber. Eventually, Gwen returned and went into his bedroom. Merlin followed and found Gwen sitting on his bed, staring blankly at the wall.
[You all right?] Merlin signed worriedly.
Gwen shook her head. "I just don't understand. Why did he try to escape? His trial was this morning."
Before Merlin could answer, there was a knock on the door. Arthur entered, looking subdued. Gwen rose to her feet and curtsied. "Sire."
Arthur took a step toward her. "Guinevere, I want you to know that your job is safe, and that your home is yours for life. I guarantee you that." He paused, obviously trying to find the right words. "I know that under the circumstances, it's not much, but…anything you want, anything you need, all you have to do is ask." He made to leave, but then he turned back to her. "I'm sorry."
"Thank you, Sire," Gwen replied, her voice ringing with sincerity.
That night, Gwen went home. Gaius pored through a book while Merlin and Mordred washed up. Eventually, Gaius called his wards over to him. "Merlin, Mordred, come and take a look. I've been doing some research, and I found this."
The brothers looked over Gaius's shoulder. The book was open to a page that contained a picture which matched the stone Mordred had found in Morgana's chambers. Mordred read the caption out loud. "The Mage Stone?"
"Wonder of the Ancients, lost for a thousand years or more," Gaius explained.
[What does it do?] Merlin wondered.
"Theoretically, it could give the bearer the power of transformation."
[Gold,] Merlin realized. [The power of alchemy.]
"Exactly," Gaius agreed. "I believe it was the Mage Stone you sensed on the night of Tom's arrest."
Merlin nodded. [Gwen said that Tauren had some kind of stone.] He glanced at Mordred. [You're very quiet about this.]
"It's interesting," Mordred said distractedly. He really needed to ask Morgana why she had the Stone. He'd kept checking her chambers all day, but he hadn't seen her since she left to talk to Uther.
The next morning, Mordred went in search of Morgana. He checked her chambers, but there was still no sign that she had ever returned to her room. Now worried, Mordred looked for Arthur. He encountered the prince just outside his chambers.
"Mordred! Is everything all right?" Arthur said worriedly.
"I haven't seen Morgana since yesterday morning!" Mordred informed him. "Do you think something could have happened to her?"
"I'll look into it," Arthur promised.
Mordred found Gwen at the entrance to the castle and joined her as she began her morning duties. About half an hour later, Morgana entered her chambers, wearing the same dress she had worn the day before. She looked harried and she was rubbing her wrists.
"My lady!" Gwen exclaimed.
Morgana jumped at the sound of Gwen's voice, then turned to look at them. "Gwen! Mordred! I didn't expect to see you here." She rapidly walked past them toward her changing screen. As she passed, Mordred noticed that there was dirt on her dress and in her hair.
"Morgana, what happened?" Mordred asked, concerned.
"Nothing. Well, nothing a hot bath wouldn't fix." Morgana reluctantly faced them, still rubbing her wrists. They were covered in red sores. Morgana sighed and averted her eyes. "I spent the night in the dungeon. Uther doesn't like to be challenged."
"It wasn't about my father, was it?" Gwen asked worriedly.
"You have enough to deal with without worrying about such things," Morgana soothed.
Gwen shook her head. "You shouldn't have done that, not on my behalf. If anything happened to you, I couldn't bear it."
"You need to go home, Gwen," Morgana cajoled. "Get some rest, please."
"I'm fine, my lady," Gwen insisted. She walked over to a table and picked up a hand mirror. Mordred realized she was on the verge of tears.
"Gwen? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"I can't go home," Gwen confessed, breaking down.
Morgana walked over to put a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "It's understandable, to feel so alone."
Gwen shook her head and pulled away. "Tauren. He attacked me. He threatened me. He was looking for some kind of stone."
"A stone?" Morgana repeated curiously. Mordred frowned at her, though she was too intent on Gwen to notice.
"He's waiting for me in the Darkling Woods," Gwen sniffled. "I have to do something. If I don't get this stone to him by dawn tomorrow…" She trailed off as Morgana's face hardened. Morgana headed to the door while Gwen watched in confusion. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to send the guards, of course," Morgana replied. "It won't be you that Tauren meets. It'll be the knights of Camelot." She continued out the door.
Mordred gave Gwen a hug, then went back to Gaius's chambers. He still needed to ask Morgana about the Stone, but protecting Gwen was more important. He'd let Morgana worry about that right now.
An hour before sunrise, Mordred sensed the Stone's power again. He rolled over in bed and ignored it, confident that Morgana had the matter under control.
Merlin, on the other hand, had no such knowledge nor confidence. He clutched his head and glanced over at Mordred, surprised that his brother didn't seem to be affected this time. After a moment, he shrugged it off, deciding it was probably for the best that Mordred wasn't about to wander into trouble.
Merlin quietly got out of bed and dressed himself. Then he crept out of the physician's chambers, attempting to pinpoint the source of the magic. Soon, he spied a cloaked figure exiting the castle, and he followed.
The figure led him to the Darkling Woods. As the sky grew pale with the first signs of dawn, the figure finally stopped in a clearing. The figure pulled down her hood, revealing Morgana. Merlin hid behind a tree, wondering what on earth she was doing.
Four darkly clad men came out of the woods and surrounded Morgana, three wielding swords. The fourth stopped in front of her. "Where's your maid?" he asked coldly.
"I've come in her place," Morgana replied.
"Kill her," the man said casually.
"No! Wait!" Morgana cried, fumbling in her cloak. "I brought the Stone!" In a flash of understanding, Merlin realized that the man must be Tauren.
"What else have you brought, my lady, the knights of Camelot?" Tauren demanded suspiciously.
"I came alone, I promise you."
Tauren held out his hand. "Give me the Stone." Morgana handed him the brown pouch, and he turned away. "You were foolish to come here. I had no quarrel with your maid. But you, my lady Morgana, are Uther's ward." Tauren drew his own sword and held it to her chest.
Morgana lifted her chin. "If you kill me, you'll regret it."
"Why is that?"
"Because I want Uther dead too." Merlin caught his breath.
"You, an enemy of the king?" Tauren asked skeptically. "And I'm to believe that?"
"Why else would I be here?"
"I can only guess at your motives, my lady. You could be a spy, for all I know."
Morgana held out her arms, revealing her sores. "And this? Is it usual for Uther to chain his friends to a dungeon wall?"
After a few moments, Tauren lowered his sword, looking at her with newfound interest.
Morgana narrowed her eyes at him. "The stone. You took it to the forge. Why?"
"With it, a man can alter the very essence of things," Tauren explained. "He can turn a lump of lead into gold."
"Gold?" Morgana repeated incredulously. "A good man died in your quest for riches, Tauren! His daughter is now an orphan!"
"I am sorry for that. Truly. But we do not want the gold to line our pockets. The gold was but a means, a means to rid this kingdom of Uther Pendragon once and for all. Bribery is rife at Camelot. I will use the corruption at the heart of his kingdom, and such an abundance of gold will buy me into the king's chambers—even to the king himself."
Morgana shook her head. "The guards may be fools, Tauren, but the king is not."
Tauren sheathed his sword. "Do you have a better plan?"
"To get to Uther, you need someone close to him," Morgana suggested.
"And you know of such a person?" Tauren prompted.
"I do. Me."
Merlin picked at his breakfast, overwhelmed by what he'd witnessed. He vaguely heard Gaius ask him for something, and he handed Gaius an apple.
Mordred gave his brother a curious look. "Uh…Gaius asked for the salt. Are you okay?"
[Yes. Just have a few things on my mind, that's all.]
"Anything you'd like to talk to us about?" Gaius prompted.
Merlin shook his head. [I can't imagine you'd be interested.]
Gaius raised an eyebrow. "So long as you're sure."
[I should be getting to work,] Merlin signed, standing up and walking toward the door.
"Uh, Merlin?" Mordred called. "That's the broom cupboard."
Merlin stopped and blinked, realizing he had indeed nearly walked into the broom cupboard. He turned around and hurried out the correct door, desperately hoping that Gaius and Mordred wouldn't ask any more questions.
Merlin continued pondering his dilemma as he tidied Arthur's chambers. If he did nothing and let Uther die…that would be tantamount to cold-blooded murder. And he certainly didn't want to be a murderer—after what he had done to Edwin, he had sworn to himself that he would never go overboard like that again.
But wasn't this different? He had tried to inflict unnecessary pain on Edwin, and that was definitely wrong. On the other hand, he had no intention of needlessly tormenting the king. Uther had murdered so many innocents, and showed no signs of stopping. Uther was the reason that Mordred's birth family was dead and Merlin had no voice. Whereas Arthur had clearly shown that he would be a better king than his father. Perhaps one day, Arthur would even legalize magic, just like in Merlin's dream. Wouldn't the whole kingdom be better off if Arthur took the throne?
Merlin was startled out of his thoughts when he heard Arthur clear his throat. The prince was standing over him, looking concerned. "Merlin, you've folded that same shirt half a dozen times now. Is everything all right?"
Merlin hesitated, but then he realized that he could really use some advice right now. He put down the shirt. [Say there was a man who had caused nothing but harm both to you and to people you care about, and showed no signs of stopping. And say you had the opportunity to kill this man…in cold blood. Should you take that opportunity?]
Arthur considered this for a few moments. "If someone was threatening people I care about, I would do whatever it took to protect them." He frowned. "Merlin, is someone threatening you?"
Merlin shook his head. [No, it's just…something that's on my mind, that's all.]
"If you ever are in trouble, you can always come to me," Arthur offered.
[Thank you.]
Meanwhile, Mordred went to visit Morgana yet again. Once in the room, Mordred glanced at the dresser, trying to see if he could still sense the Stone. He didn't sense anything any more, and he turned to Morgana.
"So, what happened with Tauren this morning? Did the guards arrest him?"
"He must have caught wind of the trap," Morgana replied. "The guards waited, but he didn't show up."
Mordred bit his lip. "I hope he's not going to attack Gwen again."
"I'm sure he won't," Morgana said reassuringly. "He's seen that she won't be so easily targeted."
Mordred nodded, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snoop, but…I just got this weird feeling the other day, and I felt drawn to that box on your dresser. I found that glowing stone. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to spy or anything, but…why would you have that?"
Morgana put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Mordred. I felt much the same way when I went looking for Gwen at her father's forge, it's how I found the stone in the first place. I didn't think it was something that should be left lying around."
"What will you do with it?" Mordred asked.
"I got rid of it." Morgana's face hardened, and her gaze fixed on a point in the distance behind Mordred. "It was too dangerous to be kept in Camelot."
Later in the day, Merlin sat in Gaius's chambers, still unsure what to do about Morgana's plot. Eventually, Gaius entered the room, and Merlin coughed. Gaius looked over at him.
[Do you think Uther is a good king?] Merlin asked.
"Sorry?" Gaius said, sounding bewildered.
[Uther. Do you think he's good for the kingdom?]
"Yes," Gaius replied. "Yes, I do. In light of recent events, you may find that hard to believe."
Merlin snorted bitterly. [In light of my entire life, I'd say more like impossible to believe.]
"Merlin…"
[Everyone hates him!]
Gaius walked over and sat opposite Merlin. "It is not Uther's job to be liked. It is Uther's job to protect the kingdom. Most of his methods are right. Sometimes he may go too far."
Merlin stared incredulously at Gaius. [Slaughtering entire communities down to every last man, woman and child—that's just a bit "too far"?]
Gaius winced. "Despite Uther's failings, he has brought peace and prosperity to this kingdom."
[But at what cost?] Merlin challenged. [Women and children, fathers and sons…when will it end?]
"It will end when Arthur is king."
[Then why not let that time be now?] Merlin suggested. [Why not let Arthur be king?]
Gaius shook his head. "Arthur's not ready. The responsibility would be too great. Brave though he may be, he lacks experience, he lacks judgment." Gaius stood up and gave Merlin a shrewd look. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"
[I can't, I just…no, I can't,] Merlin signed helplessly. [You've just got to trust me. Gaius, it's something I've got to work out for myself.]
"I do trust you, Merlin," Gaius said quietly. "Whatever it is, I know you'll make the right decision."
Merlin averted his gaze. If only he had so much faith in himself.
That night, Merlin was unable to sleep. He got up and went for a walk, hoping to clear his head. While walking along the battlements, he spotted a cloaked figure exiting the main part of the castle. He followed along the top of the wall, and he was unsurprised to find Morgana meeting up with Tauren just outside a gate. He withdrew into the shadows and listened to their conversation.
"So, my lady, what news?" Tauren asked.
"Uther has fallen for the bait," Morgana revealed. "We ride out in the morning for the old cairn on the hill."
"Are you sure you're committed to this?"
"More than ever I want Uther dead," Morgana stated coldly. "As much as you, as much as anyone in this rotten kingdom of his."
"Then the deed is as good as done," Tauren promised.
In the morning, Merlin watched from the window of Arthur's chambers as Morgana and Uther rode out of the palace with a group of guards. Morgana kept looking around, her posture tense. Was it Merlin's imagination, or was she nervous?
Footsteps jolted him out of his thoughts. "Merlin?" He turned and saw Gwen looking at him with concern.
[Gwen, how are you doing?] Merlin signed.
"I was about to ask you the same question."
[I'm fine.] Merlin looked back out of the window.
Gwen followed his gaze. "Morgana's been amazing, these last few days."
[I think you've been amazing,] Merlin told her. [After all that's happened, getting your life back together…I don't remember my own father, but I was there when Mordred's father was killed. That was the same day I lost my voice.] He gave her a rueful look. [Truth be told, you're handling the stress better than I did. I spent weeks refusing to even leave the house.]
Gwen raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I don't think either you or Mordred ever mentioned that anyone had died that day."
[Mordred doesn't remember that day, and Mother and I prefer not to talk about it. Mordred knows what he needs to know about it. But…I don't think it's real to him. His…his father is just a story to him.] Merlin swallowed, staring into the distance again. [I used to be so different, before it happened. You barely would have recognized me. I was so cheerful and energetic, and I hardly ever stopped talking. Then the whole world came crashing down around me, and…as horrible as things were, life went on. Despite everything that went wrong that day, Mordred survived, and that was because of me. At least I can be proud of that.]
Gwen smiled wistfully. "In a way, I envy you. What have I to be proud of? People will always think my father was guilty because he tried to escape."
[I know he was innocent,] Merlin assured.
Gwen nodded, a tear spilling out of the corner of her eye. "I think he tried to escape because he knew that whatever he said or did, he'd be killed. Uther had already made up his mind. That's the kind of man he is."
For a long moment, Merlin stood there looking at her. [I wouldn't blame you if you wanted him dead.]
Gwen shook her head. "If Uther died, I'd feel nothing. He means nothing to me."
[But if you had the choice, what would you do?] Merlin pressed. [If you had the power of life and death over Uther, would you kill him for what he did?]
"No! What would that solve? That would make me a murderer. That would make me as bad as him."
[You're right.] Merlin glanced back out the window. [Of course you're right.] He ran toward the door.
"Is anything wrong?" Gwen called after him.
Merlin paused just long enough to sign a reply. [No, no, see you later.]
Merlin hurried into his bedchamber and pulled up the loose floorboard. He pulled out the staff he'd taken from the Sidhe, currently wrapped in a long cloth. He then ran out of the castle to follow Morgana and the king.
Eventually, Merlin found a group of horses tied to some trees. Nearby, several soldiers lay dead on the ground. Looking around, Merlin spotted a group of Tauren's men heading toward a nearby hill. Merlin pursued them as quietly as he could.
Merlin came up behind a pair of renegades. He used the staff to shoot a bolt of blue light at one of the men. The man collapsed on the spot. The other man turned around and drew his sword, but Merlin attacked him too.
With those two men out of the way, Merlin continued up the hill. He encountered Tauren near the top. Tauren heard Merlin's approach and turned around. Merlin shot another bolt of light at Tauren, but Tauren held up the Mage Stone and blocked it. The light rebounded at Merlin, and the world went black.
When Merlin came to, he heard the sounds of a struggle at the top of the hill. He grabbed the staff, staggered to his feet and approached the sound. Tauren and Uther were grappling on the ground. Morgana stood watching, her back to Merlin and a dagger in her hand. She stepped back as the two men rolled past her. Tauren pinned Uther underneath him and reached for his knife, releasing Uther's arm. Tauren readied a strike against the struggling king, but before Merlin could react, Morgana moved and blocked his view. Moments later, Tauren fell to the ground, a red stain blossoming on his back.
Uther shakily stood up and embraced Morgana. She embraced him in turn, burying her head in his shoulder. Merlin lowered his staff, surprised but relieved by Morgana's change of heart. He quickly slipped away before either royal had the chance to see him.
When Mordred heard that Morgana had saved the king from an assassin, he decided to pay her another visit. He found her staring out her window, looking somewhat lost.
"So…you're a hero," Mordred commented.
"I defended the king," Morgana said stiffly. "It's what any good citizen would do."
"You said your own father died because Uther didn't send him any reinforcements," Mordred noted curiously. "Why don't you hate him for it?"
"My father was one of Uther's closest friends," Morgana answered, still staring out the window. "Uther never intended to send him to his death. Then he took me in because he promised my father he would look after me if anything should happen. In many ways, Uther has become a second father to me."
Mordred frowned. "Fathers shouldn't throw their daughters into the dungeon."
"No," Morgana agreed somewhat bitterly. "Uther's temper blinds him at times. But he apologized. He regrets clapping me in irons, and he admits that he was wrong to have Gwen's father killed. He promised that he will listen to me more and quarrel with me less. He is a flawed man, there is no doubt about that…but so are we all." She finally turned to Mordred. "There may very well come a day when you do something you regret. Learn from your mistakes. Let them make you into a better person. And I hope for your sake that when that day comes, it won't be too late for you to make amends."