Title: The Curse

Authors: Cassy27
Words: 1452
Characters: Morgana, Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, Uther
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Merlin, sadly enough!
Spoilers: No spoilers in this post

This story takes place somewhere in season 1

AN: I know, it has been ages since I posted a new chapter so I hope you guys can forgive me. School is taking up most of my time so I could barely find any time left to write this chapter, but the next chapter will be posted sooner than last, that is a promise!

Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 14

Previously

Arthur's eyes widened, his breathing fastened and his legs started shaking as he watched his father walk away from him.

"You will hang him," his voice was nothing more than a whisper. He couldn't believe this was actually happening, what was he supposed to do now?

* * *

Morgana had been anxiously waiting on the return of Arthur and Merlin when someone knocked on her door. If it were Arthur or Gwen, certainly they would not knock so perhaps it was Merlin. She rushed to the door only to find the King standing there. Swallowing heavily, she produced a faint smile. Why would Uther show up here? Why now? Was he already on to them?

She thought about the book she had carefully hidden away and reassured herself that Uther would never be able to find it.

"My Lord," Morgana said, inviting him in.

Uther did so and glanced around the room. "I came to ask you if you have seen Arthur?"

"No," Morgana answered, "why?"

She had to find out what was happening because if Uther was starting to understand the whole situation, all of them would be in trouble. Arthur was working with a witch after all and Morgana was helping him. Would Uther truly execute his own son?

"I am afraid he will do something he will regret later, something stupid," Uther sighed, "you know how my son can be."

"Yes," Morgana smiled now, playing along to make sure she wouldn't appear to be hiding something. "But why would Arthur do something idiotic?"

"I have reason to believe his servant is working with a witch," Uther answered, no emotion in his voice, only coldness, "Merlin was arrested and I know Arthur is rather found of him."

"Merlin?" Morgana couldn't hide the shock in her voice.

"You too were close with him, were you not?" Uther asked.

Morgana didn't answer immediately, she first needed to let the news sink in. Merlin was arrested for treason then because that is how Uther would most certainly see it. When she though about it, she couldn't blame the King for thinking like that, somehow, it did make sense. Merlin had been deadly sick and now he appeared healthy again and a book had been stolen.

"Yes," Morgana said, her voice soft, "he is my friend." And she certainly wasn't going to let Uther execute him.

"If you see Arthur," Uther said, "tell him I am looking for him."

"Of course, My Lord," Morgana said. She guided the King outside from her chambers and then carefully closed the doors behind her. She had to do something. Perhaps she could help Merlin escape or maybe give him an alibi. She could visit him right now and tell him everything would be alright.

"Morgana?"

She quickly turned around, not having heard someone enter again. She could only smile when gazing upon Arthur. She ran towards him and was about to flung her arms around his shoulders when Arthur quickly jumped back, his hands up in the air and his face filled with shock. Morgana quickly noticed her mistake and took a step back again. How could she have forgotten? Touching Arthur would still mean a certain death. She sighed as the situation suddenly appeared even more desprate.

"I heard what happened," Morgana said, gazing into Arthur's eyes.

"I wanted to come sooner, but I saw my father here and he is the last person I want to speak to right now," Arthur said. Morgana only nodded.

"I need the book," he continued.

Morgana walked towards her closet and pushed some gowns aside. When removing a small wooden shelf, a little space was revealed just big enough for the book to fit in. She took it and handed it over to Arthur.

"What are you going to do with it?" she asked.

Arthur took in a deep breath. "I am going to give Nimueh this book and I am sure she will let Uther know she has it, she will taunt him with it."

"And so Uther will know Merlin could never have given her the book as he is locked in a cell." Morgana understood the plan, she wasn't quite sure it would work, but it was the only thing they could do.

"Wish me luck," Arthur said. He knew he had agreed with Nimueh to give her the book tomorrow morning, but the situation had changed and he couldn't imagine that Nimueh would not want to get her hands on the book sooner.

Turning around, he left Morgana behind who could only hope everything would be alright. Arthur hid the book underneath his jacket and walked through the halls as quickly as possible, soon exiting the castle and on his way to the forest.

* * *

Merlin didn't know what to do with himself. As he sat on the floor, thinking about what had led him here and what was happening outside his cell, Merlin couldn't help but assume Arthur would have the book by now. Morgana would certainly not stop him now, she considered him her friend en she would do anything to stop this from happening.

Things were getting out of hand and there was nothing he could do about it. Merlin closed his eyes when he suddenly realized how tired he felt. It had been days since he had slept properly and all the pain he had recently experienced was not helping either. Without being able to control it, Merlin placed his hand on his chest and felt his own strong heartbeat.

At least he wasn't in any pain. He wondered what would happen should Nimueh not hold her end of the bargain or should Arthur not give her the book. Would he just drop dead in the morning or would he feel that horrible pain in his heart again? Merlin's eyes fluttered open. He didn't want to think about it and he certainly didn't want to die.

This wasn't the time to be stubborn, this was the time to think about himself because if Nimueh wasn't going to kill him, Uther would. A loud bang erupted his thoughts and Merlin jumped up to his feet. He pressed himself against the back wall and hoped that this didn't mean it were the guards coming for him already as he had no idea how much time had passed.

He was wrong, though as it weren't any guards that came for him. Gaius appeared, keys clenched in between his fingers, his face pale.

"Gaius?" Merlin took a few steps forward.

"I am getting you out of here," Gaius said as he started opening the cell.

"What?" Merlin couldn't believe what was happening, "No!"

"Don't be stupid, Merlin, I am not going to stand by and watch Uther kill you, you are too important to me," Gaius said, his eyes piercing though Merlin's.

"No," Merlin protested again, "don't you think that if I wanted to escape, I would have? I am still a sorcerer, Gaius, I could escape with ease."

"Then why don't you?" Gaius looked at Merlin, a frown filling his face, not understanding what his ward was trying to tell him.

"Because then I would only show Uther he was right about me," Merlin explained, "and if you now help me get out, you would be next on Uther's list."

"I can't just stand by, Merlin," Gaius said again, "I can't."

"Don't worry about me," Merlin smiled, knowing it wasn't really convincingly, "I am sure Arthur will turn up to help."

Merlin was sure he was telling the truth, Arthur would not just let this happen. He was only afraid of the way he would try and help which involved a certain witch named Nimueh.

"Are you sure?" Gaius asked. He didn't seem very willingly to walk away now that he stood there with the key.

"Did you take out the guards?" Merlin suddenly asked, remembering the loud sound.

Gaius laughed softly, appearing to be blushing a little. "I made sure they didn't see me and they will be sleeping for the next few hours."

Merlin smiled fully now. "I know I can always count on you, Gaius, thank you for that."

"But if you get out of this mess, make sure it doesn't happen again."

"It won't."

Gaius stretched his hand through the bars of the cell door and Merlin took it in his. After a short moment when they both smiled at each other, Gaius left, leaving Merlin behind who had no idea if what he just did, declining Gaius' help, was such a good idea.

All he could hope for, was that Arthur would not let him down.

AN: That was it for today, I'm afraid. I really wanted a moment between Gaius and Merlin and I hope Gaius wasn't too OC. Let me know what you thought of this chapter because reviews are always welcome =)

Quick update: SeceretGoldenEyes, thanks for the review on this chapter and you pointed out a mistake I made which I hadn't even noticed yet. I took away the hug between Arthur and Morgana and wrote something else so thanks for letting me know. It had been a while since I sat down and wrote another chapter so I kinda forgot about nobody being able to touch Morgana...My mistake, my big mistake, my very big mistake. But I fixed it =) So thanks again for letting me know about it...