Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin
A/N: I hope this chapter satisfies you a least a tad bit, Jacqs and Seansey, and thank you for the great reviews. And to everyone, sorry for the update time. I hope this chapter doesn't feel rushed. It feels that way to me, but maybe that's just because I'm writing it. Ignore any awkwardly phrased sentences as well; I didn't feel like editing them.
Merlin had barely made it out of the castle without being caught by Gilroy, who seemed to be herding all lounging servants into the dining hall for final clean up. Grinning at his escape, Merlin took in a deep breath, a cool breeze replacing the city's usual dung-scented air with a forest smell. With no curfew in place, this Camelot almost felt like home.
"Merlin, is that you?"
Merlin froze in mid-step.
"It is you, isn't it?" the unmistakable voice of Gaius snapped. "What are you doing out of bed during this time of night?"
Merlin slowly swiveled around to see the shadowy form of his guardian standing sternly in the doorway of the inn, arms folded, medicine basket hanging from one elbow.
"I might ask you the same question," Merlin retorted, but not wholeheartedly. After a moment's silence he asked in a concerned voice, "Who's sick?"
"One of the merchant's passing through has a son who is plagued by bouts of seizures every few months or so," Gaius answered. Merlin could hear the regret in his voice.
Merlin pressed his lips together in sympathy. "Could you help him at all?" he asked softly.
"I gave him some sedatives, and a potion that should make him more comfortable," Gaius answered. "But I'm afraid there's little I can do for these types of illnesses."
"Anything I could do?" Merlin asked, a significant slant put on his voice.
"Absolutely not!" Gaius snapped.
"Gaius..." Merlin warned sharply.
"We aren't going to discuss this here!" Gaius lectured, gesturing at the fact that they were in the middle of the street, where anyone who happened to be awake could hear them. "Besides," his mentor continued in a kinder tone, "You can't cure a person until you know the cause."
Merlin's shoulders slumped in defeat and he gave a single nod to show that he understood. Magic was able to cure a lot more diseases and afflictions than any normal medicine could. But there were some cases that frustrated both science and magic-users alike. Still, Merlin resolved to stop by later and take a look.
"This is besides the point, Merlin," Gaius reminded stubbornly. "What are you doing here?"
"Walking," Merlin replied.
"I highly doubt that," Gaius scoffed, taking a few steps forward. Merlin could make out more of the old man's features now that his face was out of the shadows. He didn't look impressed.
Merlin frowned, considering. "Well, come with me then," he volunteered slowly.
"What on earth makes you think that I'm going to even let you go?" Gaius asked incredulously. "Come on. You can get into mischief later."
"Sorry, Gaius," Merlin said. "I have to go."
Gaius raised his eyebrows.
"You aren't going to be able to stop me," Merlin said simply.
Gaius snorted but he couldn't deny Merlin's statement.
"If you want to keep an eye on me," Merlin said, "you'll just have to follow me. In fact, I think I'd prefer it if you did come."
Gaius narrowed his eyes.
"Well?" Merlin asked.
Gaius raised his head. After a moment he decided, "Very well, then. But you're carrying this!" He shoved the medicine basket into Merlin's hands.
Merlin took the basket and grinned.
"So just where are you dragging me?" Gaius asked, falling in time with Merlin's steps.
"Later," Merlin said, glancing around at the dark windows surrounding them.
"One of these days, Merlin..." Gaius trailed off, shaking his head.
Merlin smiled softly in the moonlight. "Well at least you're confident that there is going to be another day," he replied.
Gaius frowned. That didn't sound terrible optimistic.
O o O
After twenty minutes of walking through the darkness, with only a sliver of moonlight to guide them, Gaius nearly yelped in surprise at the sudden brightness that popped into existence.
"Merlin!" he scolded, whacking the boy in the arm.
"What?" Merlin asked incredulously. "We're in the woods now! No one's around!"
Gaius glared at the bobbing light Merlin had conjured and retorted, "And how can you be so sure?"
"I did a brief lifeforms search," Merlin replied airily. "The only thing watching us right now is the owl sitting three trees that way."
Gaius squinted, but in the dark, and with his eyesight already poor to begin with, he didn't stand a chance. "A lifeforms search?" he questioned his amused ward.
"It helps to know whether there's anyone watching you when you're doing something illegal," Merlin said cheerfully.
Gaius frowned. "I wouldn't take it so lightly, Merlin," he warned.
"True, someone could randomly barge through those trees and catch us," Merlin agreed.
"Merlin," Gaius snapped, but he smiled, faintly amused.
"I think you should stop worrying so much," his ward continued on, guiding the light further down the path so they could see more than a few feet in front of them. "It would be inconvenient if Uther found out I had magic, but not devastating."
Gaius winced at his ward's stupidity. "You'd be executed before you could say 'I didn't do it!'" the physician snapped. "Don't get so caught up in your magic that you forget how vulnerable you are."
He expected an apology, or at least a guilty look, but no, Merlin laughed. He actually laughed.
"Merlin! You are far too relaxed! This arrogance of yours will get you killed," Gaius said angrily. He couldn't believe how lightly Merlin was taking the subject. Hunith had told Gaius that Merlin was special, and that he needed to be taught control. But she'd never mentioned anything about the boy having absolutely no sense of self-preservation.
Merlin's laughter had ceased almost immediately at Gaius's outburst.
"Gaius," Merlin said seriously.
Gaius did a double-take, almost wondering if his ward had taken place with someone else.
"You really don't need to worry about me," Merlin continued, his voice stern, but kind. "I'm far more powerful than I've let you believe."
Gaius frowned.
"If Uther ever found out, I'm afraid there's nothing he could do to stop me," Merlin said, looking distant.
The old physician could hear the sincerity in Merlin's voice. He truly wanted Gaius to understand whatever point it was he was trying to make. Gaius knew Merlin was powerful. He'd never seen anyone so adept at silent spells or quick on the uptake when it came to learning new magic. But still...
Hesitantly, Gaius said, "You know, Merlin. Uther owns a pair of cuffs that block out magic. If he got you into those, you wouldn't stand a chance." Merlin remained silent. Gaius added, just in case Merlin didn't believe him, "You haven't seem them used yet because-"
"Because they have magical ruins carved in them, I know. Uther doesn't like using them because a sorcerer made them," Merlin interrupted, then added under his breath, "The hypocrite." He glanced up at his mentor, who was staring at him. "I've been through nearly all the stuff in the vault," he explained.
"You..." Gaius trailed off, then decided that he shouldn't be surprised.
"No need to worry about those handcuffs either," Merlin said cheerfully. Gaius raised his eyebrow skeptically, wondering if the boy had gone and stolen them – the idiot. But he was surprised by Merlin's follow-up reply.
"They don't work on me," he announced.
"Is that so?" Gaius asked sceptically, on the verge of smacking the boy over the head. In fact, he probably should. Anyone who believed they were powerful enough to overcome magic-bindings that were capable of disarming even a being as magical as the Great Dragon deserved a good whack over the head.
"It would be like trying to hold back an ocean with a beaver's dam," Merlin said simply.
Gaius whacked his ward alongside the head.
"Ow!" Merlin exclaimed. He used his free hand that wasn't carrying the medicine case to rub the sore spot. "What was that for?"
"You, Merlin my boy, are going to get killed for all your arrogance!" Gaius lectured, his brow creasing in frustration.
"You don't believe me, then?" Merlin asked, somewhat annoyed. He suppose he really couldn't blame Gaius. After all, similar binding spells were used on the chains imprisoning Kilgharrah. No one in their right mind would ever believe a skinny kid like him could escape such traps.
"Of course I don't!" Gaius huffed. "I don't even see how you can believe yourself."
Merlin grinned in the faint light.
"As soon as we get back from this ridiculous errand, I'm going to have to teach you a thing or two about magical theory," Gaius continued. "And I think I'll have to confiscate your magic book for a while."
"Gaius!" Merlin whined. He was rather fond of that book.
"You need to learn some self-restraint before you learn any more magic," Gaius said firmly, satisfied that he was finally getting a reaction out of the boy.
Merlin grumbled something unintelligible.
The two walked in silence for the the next ten minutes: Merlin brooding over Gaius's stubbornly cautious nature, and Gaius hoping that taking away Merlin's source of magical education would be enough to tone down the boy's impulsive nature. This only slightly distracted them from the edginess of the situation. Merlin could feel them approaching Nimueh's magical signature, and he was determined to ensure that his decision to bring Gaius along was a safe one. If anything happened to the old man because of him... he shuddered and went back to concentrating on the surrounding magic.
Gaius could feel his own nervousness increase with every creak of the trees, every screech of an owl, and every time some night critter scampered along the forest floor. Merlin was a bright boy, but the physician knew the warlock had a tendency to rush into situations without thinking. More likely than not, this situation would end with them being captured by bandits, robbed, then sold into slavery. At least, Merlin would probably be sold into slavery. Gaius was too old to be of any use for hard labor. Perhaps his skills as a physician would be needed?
Gaius shook his head when he realized the direction his thoughts were headed. That was why he had come with Merlin after all, to prevent such a thing from happening. Merlin, despite himself, was rather talented with magic. If Gaius was there to mentor him in any sort of attack, perhaps they might make it back to the castle alive.
Merlin heard his mentor let out a small gasp when he put the wizard's light out.
"Sorry," he whispered to his mentor.
"What did you do that for?" Gaius asked, whispering as well, wondering if Merlin had seen something. Now that the light was gone, he couldn't see more than a few blurry feet in front of him – if that.
"We're getting close," Merlin answered. "I'd rather she didn't know we were coming." More likely than not, Nimueh was already aware of their approach, but Merlin didn't want to give up a slight advantage that they might have.
"You're meeting someone then," Gaius said bluntly.
"Yes," Merlin answered.
"Who?"
"Someone who will either convince me to join her in her plans to destroy Uther, or kill me," Merlin answered.
Gaius frowned.
"Don't give me that look!" Merlin grunted. That only made Gaius scowl even more. Apparently the boy could actually see in this despicable darkness. "I'm not going to let her do either."
"Well that all depends on who we're meeting," Gaius pointed out, annoyed. "Is she a sorceress?"
"Witch," Merlin corrected him.
Gaius raised his eyebrows. He hadn't been aware that Merlin knew the difference between the various titles of magic users.
"She's a high priestess of the Old Religion," Merlin elaborated when he didn't get a response.
"Merlin!" Gaius scolded. "You mean to tell me we're meeting a person who could very well kill us, no matter what we do?"
Merlin frowned. "Of course not," he scoffed. "I wouldn't have brought you if I wasn't sure we were going to get out of this!"
"Somehow that does not reassure me," Gaius hissed.
After a few moments of standing in silence, Gaius suggested firmly, "We should go back. Right now."
"Absolutely not," Merlin said. "I need to talk with her before she poisons the entire city!"
"Poison? Merlin, what are you going on about?" Gaius demanded softly.
"She seems to have an affinity for the stuff," Merlin said, not elaborating.
"And you know her?" Gaius asked.
"We've met several times," Merlin answered, being purposefully vague.
"You realize that she's toying with you," Gaius said slowly.
"She thinks she's toying with me," Merlin corrected. "There's a difference."
"She is a high priestess, Merlin!" Gaius argued. "No matter how powerful you are, you're no match for someone who's been studying magic her entire life."
"We aren't continuing this conversation," Merlin said firmly. "You can go back, but I have to see this through."
Gaius sighed, hearing the stubbornness that underlied Merlin's tone.
"I can't. Wouldn't be able to see a thing, anyways," Gaius admitted.
Merlin smiled, knowing this was Gaius's way of sticking with him. "Thank you," he whispered. "Should I turn the light back on, then?"
"If she's a high priestess, it's very likely she already knows we're around," Gaius answered, resigned to his fate.
Merlin nodded. "I was afraid so," he sighed.
The glowing orb popped back into existence.
"Onward, then!" Merlin gestured after Gaius's eyes had adjusted to the light.
"Wipe that smile off your face," Gaius snapped, grumbling something about idiotic warlocks who didn't know their place.
Merlin continued to smile, but his thoughts turned to more serious matters – such as quick defense spells. It was during times like these when he wished he had his Sidhe staff. The thing was very capable of storing complicated spells that usually took long hours of preparation or long lines of incantation. Back home, Merlin had a whole catalog of spells saved up on the staff, ready for immediate and repeated use. Instincts were good and all, but they were too unpredictable and far less accurate than if Merlin actually thought the spell through logically. Oh well, even the basic spells were bound to be adequate in a situation like this. After all, he was only defending himself and Gaius, not all of Camelot.
"So you're finally here."
Merlin set down the medicine basket and stepped into the clearing, which Nimueh had already lit with a circle of blue bonfires. The effect made her look eerily like the the Cailleach, guardian of the veil. Merlin blinked the thought away and answered pleasantly, "Arthur was drunk."
"I see," she replied, sounding amused. "You brought someone with you. Who is it?"
"Someone who might help with several of the explanations I've been wanting," Merlin answered. "You are not to hurt him."
Nimueh smirked. "We shall see."
Merlin frowned, but gestured for Gaius to come out of the trees.
Recognition filled Nimueh's expression. "You!" she hissed. Merlin could feel her magic connecting with the web, prepared to attack.
"Stop, Nimueh!" Merlin ordered. Gaius's eyes widened at the name.
Nimueh didn't seemed to hear Merlin as she slowly raised her hand, poised to release the striking spell.
Merlin conjured a fireball and yelled, "Don't make me force you!"
Nimueh blinked in surprise, but her features quickly slipped into amusement as her focus turned to amusement. "So you think you could defeat me?" she laughed. "You, a magician-in-training, taught by an old codger who has ceased his practice of magic?"
Merlin scowled. A magician was the word magic-users employed to label the fakes, the people who used sleight-of-hand and smoke screens, with no real magic in them at all. Merlin's fireball increased in size.
"You said you wanted to talk with me," Merlin reminded loudly.
Nimueh narrowed her eyes. "Not with the traitor here," she said clearly.
Merlin's fireball dissipated. "Very well, then," he agreed. Gaius moved forward to stop him, but Merlin place a hand on the physician's shoulder, stilling him. "After he answers some of my questions."
Nimueh frowned and Gaius raised his eyebrows.
"I want to know the reason why Uther hates magic," Merlin continued, "and why you think Gaius is a traitor."
Gaius's shoulders slumped.
Nimueh snorted. "His standing as a traitor should be obvious. He supports a murderer."
Merlin raised his eyebrows. "You should talk. Arthur would be dead if I hadn't intervened," he pointed out. "I think that constitutes as murder, don't you think?"
Nimueh growled, "The young Pendragon has done nothing to deserve my sympathies. He is no better than his father."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. "Arthur Pendragon is a good man," he snapped. "There is no reason why you should be the one to decide otherwise."
"He led raids against innocent druid camps!" Nimueh snapped back. "Women and children were killed!"
"And he still has nightmares about it!" Merlin retorted crossly.
Nimueh let out an emotionless laugh. "A Pendragon having nightmares about killing off magic-users? That I cannot believe," she said, nose in the air.
Merlin scowled. "Arthur has been taught to hate magic his entire life, but he still feels compassion towards his father's victims. Is that not worthy of some note?" he asked.
"He does nothing to stop the crimes," Nimueh hissed. "As long as his father is alive, Arthur Pendragon will be a menace."
Merlin cocked his head. "What if I can change him?" he asked, stepping forward, eyes wide.
"Change him?" Nimueh asked.
Merlin nodded. "What if I can make him come to terms with magic – not hate it, or the people who use it?" he asked.
Nimueh frowned, considering the possibility. Then her features hardened. "It matters not," she decided. "Uther will continue to execute people, whether or not his precious Arthur agrees."
Merlin took another step forward. "What if I can make sure that no one else dies because of Uther's magic law?" he asked.
Gaius winced. He hoped Merlin wasn't about to make a promise that was bound to get him killed.
Nimueh was frowning. "How would you accomplish this?" she asked.
Merlin straightened his back. "It would be easy enough to get the prisoners out of the dungeon. I can have people take them and their families somewhere safe – I know of a few places. The tricky part will be making Uther think that the people are actually executed."
Nimueh pursed her lips. "You have a plan, I suppose?" she asked, somewhat primly.
Merlin gave her a sideways smile. "Of course I do. Needs work, but it will come together eventually."
"And how soon will this plan take before it can take affect?" Nimueh inquired, mildly curious.
"One to two weeks, tops," Merlin promised.
"And what about Uther?" Nimueh demanded. "The murderer deserves to suffer."
Merlin sighed – back on the revenge thing again.
"Arthur isn't ready to be king," he said sternly. "Nor would it be a good idea to further his hatred of magic by having it kill another of his parents."
There was a moment of silence before Merlin's words fully sank into their heads.
"Merlin," Gaius breathed slowly, "what do you know of Ygraine's death?"
Merlin looked at the sky. Now how was he supposed to explain away this one? Perhaps it would be easier to simply tell the truth (most of it, anyways). He took a deep breath. "I know most of the story," he admitted. "I know that Nimueh used her command over life and death in order to give Uther a son. When Ygraine died in Arthur's place, Uther went berserk and gave the laws to outlaw magic."
Gaius stiffened. "Where did you hear about this?" he whispered hoarsely.
"Here and there," Merlin shrugged off. "Some records in the sealed vaults of the library."
Gaius frowned. "How did you ever get in there?" the physician asked incredulously.
Merlin wiggled his fingers in answer.
"Ah," was all Gaius could reply. The physician's frown deepened. Something wasn't adding up – there was no way Merlin would have read that story in a bunch of dusty records. As far as Gaius knew, Uther had destroyed all information related to the existence of Nimueh, and had ensured that nothing would ever be written about her involvement. Very few people had known about it in the first place, and even fewer were still alive. Still, Gaius thought, glancing at his ward, he wasn't about to interrogate the boy while that woman was around.
"Are you aware, then, of how much I despise Uther?" Nimueh asked.
"Did you warn him of the consequences?" Merlin asked intently.
"Of course I did!" Nimueh snapped. "He brushed my warnings aside like he would a fly. Even Gaius, for all his faults, attempted to stop the king's madness!"
"Then why didn't you just not do it?" Merlin asked.
Merlin was actually surprised to find Gaius stepping forward in Nimueh's defense. "Uther was the king, Merlin. If she had denied this request, Uther probably would have had her banished."
Merlin balked. "You're justifying her actions?" he asked, disbelievingly. "A person died, Gaius!"
"My actions?" Nimueh shrieked, her magic sizzling.
"Uther did not have the magic to do it without you," Merlin said, his voice stone-cold.
"If not me, it would have been another," Nimueh snapped.
Merlin took in a deep breath, and forced himself to calm. There was no real use in arguing over things of the past. After all, so much would be different – neither he nor Arthur would be alive – if roles had played out differently.
"I apologize," he said sincerely. "It is not my place to question your actions, not without being there."
Nimueh only looked slightly mollified by his apology.
"I do want to know why Ygraine had to be the death," Merlin said, pursing his lips. "Don't you have some control over the subjects?"
Nimueh scowled. "I let the fates take over. That way, the death would be on Uther's head. But if I had known it was Ygraine who was to take the blow..." she trailed off, and for a glimmer of an instant, Merlin swore he could hear a strain of remorse creep out.
"So you didn't realize that Ygraine was going to be the one whose life was taken," Merlin repeated, wanting to make sure he had this fact down correctly.
Nimueh nodded. Merlin turned to Gaius, who nodded as well. He remembered Nimueh informing him that she was going to let destiny decide who was going to die. She hadn't wanted take responsibility for Uther's mess.
While the fact that Nimueh hadn't known who was going to die didn't really change the fact that she had knowingly killed someone for the king, Merlin couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved. If she had purposefully taken the queen's life in order to spite Uther for ignoring her warnings, Merlin would have felt no hope in getting her to cooperate with him. Nor would he want her too, if that were the case. He didn't work with murderers. (He ignored the voice in the back of his head reminding him that she had almost killed multiple loved ones.)
"So... I know Uther would have been upset, but taking it out on a whole group of people? Really?" Merlin inquired, hoping for more information.
"He is a pompous idiot," Nimueh answered, as if that were the only explanation required.
Merlin snorted.
"Uther has never been fond of magic," Gaius finally answered. "He simply had an uneasy alliance with its users since some of them helped win Camelot for him."
Merlin nodded slowly. Before Uther, the house of Pendragon had been stuck with the title of duke. Their fortunes changed when the previous king had been assassinated, killed along with the rest of his family (probably explaining Uther's paranoia). Camelot had been thrown into a decade of anarchical chaos, with multiple families challenging one another for the thrown. Once a teenage Uther had joined the throes, having gathered a suitable force of loyal followers, he'd been able to take the crown. A reign of peace had followed. Merlin couldn't help but respect the man.
"His brother had been killed by a magic user, who had, through very gruesome circumstances, his life force ripped from him in order to perform some archaic spell," Gaius said regretfully.
"Basically," Nimueh finished, "Uther is scared."
"You would be too, in his position," Gaius snapped.
Nimueh snarled, "Traitor."
"Which brings me to my next line of questioning," Merlin said. "Why would you say Gaius is a traitor?"
"He turned his back on his own kin to support Uther," Nimueh hissed, glaring at the physician. "He renounced magic, just so he could remain as the king's sniveling follower."
Gaius gave his ward a sharp glance to see if the boy was surprised by the admonition that his mentor had magic too. But Merlin didn't react, instead staring carefully into Nimueh's eyes.
"What did you do when Uther gave the order?" Merlin asked.
"I fled, of course!" she said, glaring. "I was the first one ordered dead."
"And you're blaming Gaius for not doing anything?" Merlin scoffed.
Gaius winced. "Well, she did come back a month later – secretly," he admitted to his ward. "She hadn't realized that Uther had outlawed all magic. She had thought it was only her that the king was after."
Realization dawned on Merlin. "So by the time she got back..."
"Everyone I cared about was gone," Nimueh said, teeth clenched.
Gaius sighed. "And because I didn't do anything to prevent the massacre, I'm afraid she blames me," he said sadly.
"Do you deserve to be blamed?" Merlin asked softly.
"Of course he does!" Nimueh fumed.
Merlin held up his hand, glaring at the witch. "I wasn't asking you," he warned.
"I'm not proud of the way I acted," Gaius admitted, steeling himself for the wave of disappointment from Merlin that was bound to follow. "I was a coward, feeling there was very little I could do to stop the tragedy. I imagine there was also a part of me hoping that Uther would come to his senses."
Nimueh laughed softly at that comment.
"When did you realize that his hatred against magic was permanent?" Merlin asked.
Gaius looked up into Merlin's blue eyes. "Far too late, I'm afraid," he said.
"Did you try to help anyone at all?" Merlin asked, hoping he wasn't sounding desperate. He knew Balinor had been rescued by Gaius, but it sounded like he had been a close friend. All of those other people though...
Gaius looked hurt by Merlin's near-accusation. "I wasn't completely heartless, Merlin!" he said, eyebrows furrowing. "There were a few people I managed to have smuggled into safety." He looked at Merlin significantly, wishing he could tell the boy about Balinor, despite his mother's strict instructions not to. He blinked away the longing thought and continued, "I also managed to warn a majority of the druid camps before the army got to them."
"Not that it helped," Nimueh sneered. "Uther caught up to most of them eventually."
Gaius slumped.
Merlin's heart reached out to his foster-father. Perhaps he shouldn't have brought up the subject. He knew Gaius was a very passive man, probably due to his profession. It couldn't have been an easy situation for him: His good friend grief-stricken by the death of his wife, and all of Camelot paying for it. Merlin knew Gaius had probably suffered tremendously throughout the whole ordeal, and here Merlin was, interrogating him about it, even though he owed Gaius so much.
Feeling slightly guilty, Merlin placed a hand on the old man's shoulder.
Nimueh snorted. "I knew you would side with him. After all, you are just like him, waiting hand-and-foot on a Pendragon."
Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Arthur is my best friend," he said. Gaius raised his own eyebrows at the admonition. He wasn't aware that Merlin saw Arthur as anything other than an annoying prat – even if he was a good man.
"I won't see him harmed for the deeds of his father," Merlin continued.
"You are his servant, Merlin," Nimueh said with a smirk. "I doubt Arthur sees you in the same light. If he knew you had magic, he would turn you over without a second's thought."
Merlin frowned. "It's a work in progress," he reminded. "I haven't finished with him yet."
Nimueh straightened, looking decided. "It's no matter," she said smoothly. "I will not allow you to leave, in any case."
Gaius groaned, realizing that it had been bound to happen.
"Going to kill us then, eh?" Merlin didn't seem terribly upset by this.
"You have made it clear that you will protect Arthur with your life," she said. "If it was simply a matter of persuasion... but I can see you have made up your mind."
"I know, my talent's wasted," Merlin said with a grin, watching as the web of magic drew to Nimueh's waiting person.
"Indeed," she agreed, before thrusting out her hand. "Astrice!"
Merlin held up his own hand. He found that the physical action helped concentrate mentally. Gaius watched with wide eyes as Merlin's eyes glowed gold without the aid of an incantation. Nothing happened.
Nimueh frowned. "What did you do?" she asked, hesitating slightly.
"I unraveled your spell," Merlin answered politely.
Nimueh's frown deepened. "You what?"
"I suppose I should warn you now that my powers far exceed yours," Merlin said nonchalantly. "If you fight me, you aren't going to win."
Gaius was frowning now as well. Merlin had done what to Nimueh's spell? He wasn't aware that such a technique existed – although he realized with a grimace that Merlin could very well be bluffing. Perhaps Nimueh's aim had been off.
Nimueh was looking annoyed. "A little brat like you has no business threatening me!" she shrieked and threw a fireball at him. Merlin grinned. She was showing off now, using magic without incantations. Only very advanced magic-users could do that and still maintain control.
Merlin caught the ball of flames, threw it up in the air, then caught it again. "You'll have to do better than that!" he challenged with a grin, then hurled the flames back at her.
"Bordwudu!" she cried, and the flames slammed against her magical shield, dissipating.
"Very nice!" Merlin complimented. "Now how are you with lightning?" At his shout, the small bolts that had been crackling under his skin were released. If Nimueh hadn't had her shield up, she would have been killed instantly. As it was, her shield was destroyed and she was thrown backwards.
Merlin strode forward, playing with the thin strands of lightning dancing on his fingers. "You underestimated me," he said, now serious. If worst came to worst, Merlin was beginning to realize that he was going to have to kill her.
Nimueh moaned, pushing herself into a sitting position. She reflexively flinched when she caught sight of Merlin marching in her direction. With a growl, she quickly gathered herself off the ground, completely guarded. Her wariness only increased when she saw the little flashes of light that danced across Merlin's hands.
"You must have a lightning affinity," she noted dryly.
He nodded once. "I also have an affinity for everything else," he said. "Fire, for example." He lifted one of his hands, eyes flashing gold. The blue bonfire to the left rose from the ground. Nimueh's eye widened.
He noted her fear. "Water," he continued, and lifted his other hand. On his command, the dew peeled itself from the grass around them and floated through the air, all converging into a ring of water around his person.
Merlin took a step closer to Nimueh. "Air," he said. The ring of water began to spin and Merlin quickly became the center of a small whirlwind.
Nimueh backed away as her hair began to whip around her.
"This is no game, Nimueh," he said loudly, over the wind. "I am fully capable, and fully prepared to protect the people I love. Are we clear?"
Nimueh bared her teeth.
With her negative reaction, the whirlwind grew bigger and the bonfires lighting the clearing exploded in size.
"Nimueh!" Merlin warned, eyes nearly a constantly, solid gold now.
"I am not done with you yet, Merlin!" she shouted.
Merlin cursed as he realized what she was about to do, but the stupid wind stopped him from concentrating. She shouted a few syllables in the old tongue then vanished, probably reappearing on her beloved isle. Merlin groaned when he realized that he'd been so caught up in trying to scare her that he'd forgot to check the spells she'd been preparing to use.
With a dissatisfied frown, Merlin slowed the wind, let the water splash to the ground, and forced the blue bonfires to die. Darkness reigned.
"Merlin?"
Merlin turned at the sound of Gaius's uncertain voice.
"I'm sorry, Gaius," the warlock said unhappily, feeling like he was apologizing for multiple things at once.
Gaius was silent for a moment.
"Merlin," the old physician said slowly, "you realize that you're an impossibility, don't you?"
Merlin let out a small, bittersweet laugh. "I've heard it once or twice," he said.
"People are only supposed to be able to have an affinity for one element. To have an affinity for two is supposed to be an amazing stroke. But you..." Gaius trailed off, shaking his head.
"And I, after all that, let her escape," he finished, resigned.
Gaius sighed. "I did tell you that she was a powerful magic user, didn't I?" he asked, somewhat teasingly.
"I could've had her if I hadn't been showing off," Merlin said, scowling up at the moon.
"Perhaps," Gaius agreed. "But there's no use wallowing over it now. I think we should be grateful we're alive."
Merlin raised his eyebrows and turned to face Gaius's outline. "You know very well she couldn't have done anything to me," he said.
"Arrogance doesn't become you, Merlin," Gaius scolded. Merlin stiffened in surprise.
Then his form slumped, his magic feeling properly reprimanded. That was usually Gwen's job, back home. She hated it when he was too confident. She felt he let his guard down with an attitude like that. What do you know? She was right.
Merlin gave his mentor a weak smile.
"Thanks for coming with me, Gaius," he said softly.
Gaius approached the lad. After a brief moment of hesitation he let a hand rest on the boy's shoulder. "You're perfectly welcome, my boy," he said, suddenly feeling very old indeed. Then he said regretfully, "And I hope that in time, you'll be able to look past an old man's failings."
Merlin turned to Gaius sharply. "Gaius, I'm not here to judge you for what you did in the past. We're here now, and that's all that matters."
Gaius was about to disagree, when he found himself enveloped in Merlin's arms.
"Gaius," Merlin said softly after a minute, releasing the old man from his impulsive hug. "You're like a father to me. If you dare, for one minute, ever envisage that you're the traitor Nimueh thinks you are, just take a look at me, and realize who exactly you're hiding from Uther."
Gaius had to chuckle at that.
