To Kill the King

Merlin and Marayna were sleeping soundly in their beds one night, one of the rare nights where Merlin stayed in their room, too exhausted by the day's chores to make it to Morgana's chambers…when they suddenly jolted awake, feeling a surge of magic sweep through them, but not their own, no…someone else had used magic in Camelot…

They looked at each other in alarm, that was never good…

~8~

Merlin yawned as he and Marayna stepped out of their chambers, Marayna rubbing her eyes as Gaius looked up at them, "Can't sleep?"

"Something woke us," Merlin shook his head.

"What?"

"Don't know," Marayna frowned, "A feeling."

Gaius eyed them closely, "What kind of feeling?"

"Powerful magic."

Merlin nodded, "Here, in Camelot. We weren't sure if…"

But before another word could be spoken, Gwen rushed into the room, frantic.

"Gwen," Marayna gasped, rushing to her side as she fell to her knees, "What's wrong?"

"My father's been arrested!" she cried.

"Arrested?!" Merlin gaped, "What for?"

"They say he was making weapons for a sorcerer! They're charging him with treason!" she started to weep, "Please, please you have to help him…"

Marayna and Merlin looked at each other as Gwen sobbed in Marayna's arms, "Where's Arthur?" she asked the girl, "Well get him to help…"

Gwen shook her head, "He and Morgana are with Uther."

Merlin nodded, holding out a hand to his sister, "Come on."

She took it and they ran out of the room, leaving Gaius to try and calm the girl down. They ran through the corridors, empty, it wasn't even dawn yet, and right to the Main Hall…only for the doors to be shoved open, Morgana, in her nightgown, storming out, looking murderous, clearly having argued with Uther on Gwen's behalf.

"Go after her," Marayna nudged Merlin, knowing he'd rather go after Morgana than deal with Arthur, "I'll talk to Arthur, see what happened."

He nodded and ran down the hall after Morgana as she stalked down them, as soon as she stepped around a corner he pulled her into his arms, safe from prying eyes, "Shh…" he whispered in her ear as she threw her arms around him as he hugged her, "Shh, it'll be alright Gana…"

"He's a tyrant!" she cried, actually staring to cry against his shirt, "He won't even LISTEN. I tried to tell him there was no proof, that Tom might not have known he was helping a sorcerer, it's not like you can look at someone and just KNOW…"

"Well," he smiled lightly, rubbing her back, "I'm not certain about THAT…" which made her look up at him, confused, "When I first laid eyes on you," he reached out and stroked her cheek, "I knew you had to be magic," he whispered, "You were far too beautiful to be ordinary."

She smiled, blushing, calming down from her murderous high, before she cuddled closer to him, letting his arms encompass her as she clutched to his shirt, resting her head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat calming her more, "He says he'll give a fair trial," she sighed, "But Uther already sees Tom as guilty for but breathing the same air as a sorcerer."

Merlin chuckled, humming lightly as he swayed her, "I wonder how he'd react to know he appointed his son a warlock as a manservant."

Morgana laughed, "I wonder how he'd react knowing I do MORE than just breathe the same air as a warlock," she smiled up at him, moving onto her toes to kiss him lightly.

"It'll be alight Gana," he promised when he pulled away, "We'll save him."

She nodded, "I may have been able to get Arthur to question him."

"Good," he remarked, "Let's hope Aya has luck in that area too."

~8~

Marayna watched as Arthur paced in his chambers, having explained everything that had happened in the Main Hall, oddly enough, as truthfully as it had probably happened.

"So…let me see if I understand," she began, "If I'm walking in the market, and a little old woman drops her basket of flowers, and I help her pick them up and go on my way…I could be executed if she's later found to be a sorceress?"

"Don't be ridiculous Mara," Arthur scoffed, "Of course not."

She frowned, "Why not? Because I'd hardly be innocent in the kKing's eyes."

"I'd vouch for you."

"Oh, so I'd be safe solely because I'm your servant then?"

"No…"

"So it's because you believe me so much?"

"Mara…"

"It's the same whether it was me or Tom," she cut in, "You have no solid proof he knew it was a sorcerer. Did either of you think Lady Helen or Sophia were what they were? You BOTH welcomed them into the castle and helped them, yet neither of you will be executed for doing so. Or did your father just forget that little detail of his own laws, because, based on what he's said just this night, he should execute himself…"

"That's treason!" he glared at her.

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand, "That is neither here nor there, but to continue, what I truly find fascinating is how you STILL don't realize that Tom is going to die either way, no matter how much proof you may find that he's innocent."

Arthur frowned, "If he is innocent then he shall be freed."

"Really?" she raised an eyebrow, "Didn't you JUST tell me that your father said, and I quote, 'He'll get a fair trial, and he'll be found guilty, 'cos that's what he is.' How in the world does that seem fair when the judge already believes a man is guilty? You know, Arthur, that Uther WON'T listen to ANYTHING that you or anyone else might say against Tom's guilt because he already thinks him guilty."

"My father will be as fair a judge as he is a king."

She stared at him a long while, "In all the years you've been alive and in all the trials you've witnessed, how many were proclaimed innocent?"

He was silent.

She nodded, getting up and brushing off her skirt, "That's what I thought," she stepped right up to him, "You must see the fallacy in this logic. The king hears magic and it is guilt. No matter what. No matter the innocence. Or have you forgotten Gwen?" he winced, "Or the children?"

He shook his head, "It won't just be up to him, he'll heed council and…"

She gave him a sad smile, patting him on the shoulder as she passed, "He's filled his council wtil those who would not dare oppose him. He has passed this judgment before and he will again…" she moved to the door, "Watch for the coming days Arthur, he'll execute men and women who simply smiled at the sorcerer."

He frowned as she left, shaking his head, actually hoping she'd be proven wrong…because he honestly felt like…she might be proven right.

~8~

Marayna stayed at Gwen's side as the girl went to visit her father in the dungeons. The guards had been loath to let them past, even with Gaius vouching for her. But when Merlin, of all people, pointed out that Marayna would go with her and, as servant to Arthur, she wouldn't ever break the law, to which they'd both silently sniggered, they relented. As long as she or Merlin went with Gwen…and with the guards thinking Merlin an idiot, it really left JUST her to go.

"I didn't know Tauren was a sorcerer," Tom finished his tale of what had happened to Gwen and Marayna, hoping that the servant of the prince might have his ear, "I meant no harm, I swear."

Gwen shook her head, "Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"

"I knew you wouldn't like it, Gwen. You're cautious. I didn't want to let an opportunity pass..."

"Opportunity? You call this an opportunity?"

"I know. I've been a fool," he sighed, "I just wanted to make a better life for us. For you. I wanted to make you happy."

"But I am happy! I don't need anything else. I have everything I want."

"And I've thrown it all away," he whispered, his heart breaking to see his daughter so upset.

"I could have helped you," Gwen whispered, leaning in, "I could have made it so you wouldn't get caught…"

"How?" he shook his head, "It is impossible with Uther as king…"

Gwen smiled softly, looking at Marayna, "Rayna?"

She nodded, looking to the side, down the hall where the guards were, "Na gehieran," she whispered, her eyes flashing, before looking at a shocked Tom, "The guards won't hear us now."

"Wha…" Tom shook his head, "Gwen?"

"It's alright," Gwen said quickly, "Marayna and Merlin…they've only EVER used their magic for good, to help the castle, to…to protect Arthur…and me…" she looked down a moment, "They…healed you papa," she murmured, "When you were ill and nearly died."

Tom looked at her, stunned, "That was them…I thought it was a miracle," he turned back to Marayna, "You healed me?"

She nodded, "Merlin and I, mostly Merlin, though…" she smiled, "I think Morgana would have done a better job."

Tom's eyes widened, "The Lady Morgana is a sorceress!" he shouted, before looking down the hall as though expecting guards to come running.

"Magic," Marayna murmured when no one came.

"It's how we're going to free you," Gwen added.

"No!' Tom cried as Marayna reached for the bars, "No, you mustn't…"

"We would never harm you Tom," Marayna promised, taking his hesitancy to be fear, "I swear, Merlin and I have only ever used it to protect…"

"I know," Tom nodded, seeing his cautious, good Gwen with them, he knew she'd never trust an evil sorcerer. He knew his daughter well enough to know that, if she trusted them, then they were truly good people, "I know you won't, but you can't help me escape that way."

"But…" Gwen began.

"If I 'magically' escape, then Uther will think me truly guilty," he explained, "I need a 'human' way out. Like…a key or a metal saw…"

"A key," Marayna nodded, "All the guards have one, it would be easy to explain it as you'd snatched it off one."

"But we won't be able to…" Gwen shook her head.

"We can take one from Arthur, he's got loads to spare."

"Then that's what we'll do," Gwen nodded, looking back at her father, determined, "We will get you out of here, I promise."

Tom smiled, "I know you will."

Gwen kissed his cheek through the bars and turned to head back down the corridor, Marayna moving to follow, when Tom reached out and took her arm, "Wait…Marayna," he whispered as she turned back, "If…if this doesn't work…" he blinked, tears in his eyes, "Please, promise me you and your brother will KEEP looking after Gwen, for me?"

"We ALWAYS will," she promised, resting her hand on his, "But that won't happen, we will free you," she winked, "We've freed quite a few people before you."

He laughed and nodded, relieved, as she headed off after Gwen, seeing her talking to Merlin and Gaius where the guards were.

"…said Tauren came to him at the forge," Gwen was saying, "Offered to pay him a fortune for his help, not to make weapons, for an experiment or something," she looked at the guards pointedly, "DIDN'T know he was a sorcerer," they just rolled their eyes, they'd heard that before.

"What kind of experiment?" Merlin frowned.

"Tauren didn't say."

Merlin looked at Marayna, 'But he used some kind of stone...some kind of magic...' she added silently to him as he nodded.

~8~

Gaius stepped out of Merlin and Marayna's room, which had been offered to Gwen so she wouldn't be alone during this terrible time, "She's sleeping now."

"I don't understand it," Merlin rubbed his forehead, "What would a sorcerer want with Tom?"

"His forge, Merlin. It's the finest in the kingdom."

"Tom wasn't lying," Marayna shook her head, "He wasn't making weapons."

"I know," Gaius nodded, "When Tom was arrested, they found gold on him."

"So?" Merlin frowned.

"And from what Gwen was saying, Tauren's experiment bears all the hallmarks of alchemy."

"But alchemy's impossible, isn't it?" Marayna asked.

"To change the very nature of one thing to another has defeated all who have tried. But if you used magic..."

Merlin blinked, "Do you think that's what woke us?"

"It is possible, I suppose."

"It would make sense," Marayna nodded before getting up to go sit with Gwen, knowing, even in sleep, the girl wouldn't want to be alone.

~8~

It hadn't even been an hour before both Merlin and Marayna sat up stiffly, feeling another surge of magic sweep through them. Marayna looked over as the door opened and Merlin entered, 'You felt it too?' he asked her silently, not wanting to wake Gwen.

She nodded, 'What was it?'

He could only shake his head, moving to sit on the floor beside Gwen's bed as Marayna sat on a chair, reaching out to take the girl's hand while Marayna stroked her hair.

There was a soft knock on the door moments later and Morgana entered, "Merlin," she smiled, "Rayna," she nodded at her, before turning her attention to Gwen, stepping further in, "How is she?"

"She's ok for now," Marayna told her.

"We should let her rest."

"Yeah," Merlin whispered, getting up to follow Morgana out of the room, "How are YOU Gana?" he asked, hugging her tightly.

She sighed, shaking her head, "This reminds me far too much of when my father died," she admitted, "Uther had sent him to battle, promised him troops, and never gave them. He died for Uther, and now it appears Tom will as well."

"We spoke to Tom. He wasn't plotting against the king."

"I know. But Uther...Uther only sees enemies."

"But Tom is the most gentle soul I've ever met," he offered her a small smile, "Well, apart from yours."

She blushed, "What of Rayna?"

He laughed, "She does NOT have a gentle heart," he remarked, "She can be a right terror when she wants."

Morgana nodded, knowing Marayna truly was a good person, but life as a peasant had made her tough, strong, willful. She was just as likely to lash out and fight as Arthur was. But she was a good woman, a just and fair woman, gentle in her own way.

"Uther won't care," she sighed, "Tom was seen with Tauren, and that makes him an enemy."

Merlin nodded, he expected that, "We were thinking of sneaking Tom a key, playing it off as being snatched from the guards. If Tom leaves it behind, Uther can't claim sorcery. It would give us time to clear his name if he makes it out."

Morgana nodded, "Leave that to me, I can get into Arthur's chambers, take one of his…"

"We were thinking that as well, expect well, Marayna wanted to get the key," he laughed, "She was actually hoping that Arthur would be there too."

"Why?"

"She's developed a fondness for knocking him out with whatever she can find," he chuckled, "Likes to prove she can still best him."

Morgana smiled, "Well if he's there, I'll knock him out for her."

He leaned in and kissed her quickly, "Good luck."

She nodded, heading off to do her part, not about to just sit by as her best friend's father's life was on the line.

~8~

"I feel as though I should say I told you so," Marayna remarked hours later as she stood by Arthur's side at the edge of the castle, watching as the executioner and some guards escorted various men into the square, all of whom were 'guilty' of harboring the sorcerer and 'helping' him. One had run the local inn the sorcerer stayed in, another the baker who the sorcerer had bought bread from, the last an old man who the sorcerer had helped collect water from the pumps.

And those were just a few.

"Don't Mara," he crossed his arms.

"Why not?" she challenged, crossing her arms in return, "They're to be executed, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"By order of the 'good and just' king?"

"They committed a serious crime!" he defended, he didn't like it, but this particular sorcerer was planning to make weapons! Weapons, they could only assume, that were meant to be used against Camelot.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes, "Giving a man a bed for the night in the inn?!"

"Not a man. A sorcerer. One of the evil ones."

"Alright then, are you going to arrest your father for giving Sophia a bed for the night?"

"That was different!"

"Why? Because he didn't know it was a sorceress? How is that different than them!" she gestured her hand at the men.

Arthur looked around shiftily as the crowd that was gathering, listening to them argue, some of them actually seeming to agree with her.

"It is not for you, or anyone," he cast a glance at the crowd, "To question my father's actions. Is that understood?"

"Oh I'm not questioning his," she remarked.

"No?"

"No. I know his actions are ridiculous," Arthur gaped at her openly stating that, the crowd actually looking impressed she would dare do it, "They are ruthless, blind, and flawed. I'm not questioning that at all."

"Mara…"

"No, I'm questioning your actions."

He blinked, "What?"

"Yes, My Lord," she shook her head, "YOU are to be the next king of Camelot. Your actions, right here, right now, will show the kingdom the type of king they shall have to look forward to," she eyed him, "I'm questioning whether your actions will prove you a better king than your father could ever hope to be or whether I should flee to another kingdom when a second Uther takes the throne."

And with that, she strode off, the crowd parting for her in awe as they looked at Arthur.

"Did she really just do that?" one of the men in the crowd murmured to another.

"Better question, HOW did she just do that?" a woman beside him shook her head.

Arthur turned and headed back into the castle, he didn't know either.

~8~

Tom was dead.

Gwen was devastated.

Apparently, Morgana had been able to give him the key to escape…but he'd been caught, leading Uther to give the order to the guards to execute the man on sight. Which was exactly what happened.

Gwen had been the one to see her father's dead body on public display, being carried off in a cart as a warning to others, and broken down, Merlin and Marayna rushing out to comfort her, support her, as her father was taken away, Morgana watching from her rooms. She'd immediately stormed off to confront Uther, shouting about how he was a tyrant and a cruel, unjust king…which had landed her in the dungeons, chained to the wall.

She looked up when she heard soft footsteps, but coming from the direction of the tunnels, not the guards. Marayna appeared, smiling. She glanced up and down the hall before her eyes flashed and the door unlocked. She stepped in, shutting it behind her, both of them knowing Morgana couldn't escape otherwise it would just make her look worse in Uther's eyes, just like with Tom.

"I'm sorry this happened," she began, moving to sit beside Morgana, reaching out to take her hands in hers, her eyes flashing as the manacles binding her fell away. Morgana rubbed her wrist and looked down at them, sores already forming from the chaffing. Marayna took her hands and held them up, "Try it."

Morgana looked at her wrists, concentrating, feeling a faint pressure behind her eyes, before her skin healed over. She let out a breath, feeling a small rush through her, "Was that…" she touched her cheek, just below her eyes.

"Yep," she nodded, "Your eyes flashed and everything."

Morgana smiled, "Gwen?"

"Merlin's with her. He wanted to come, of course, but um…Gwen wouldn't let go of him, she's…she's heartbroken."

"I hate Uther," Morgana spat, shaking her head at her thoughts of what her best friend was going through, "I can see why the Dragon thinks my path is still unclear," she knew he meant that her path could lead her to the darkness she feared, "I just…" she sighed, "I want to kill him sometimes. I truly do."

"You're not the only one…I think half the people might want to as well," she blushed, "I may have made a bit of a scene in the market earlier."

"Good for you," Morgana squeezed her hand, "Me standing up to Uther, you to Arthur, we are quite a pair aren't we?"

"Just be glad your bloke is Merlin," Marayna smiled "Arthur's skull must be inches thick."

"Well, you DO keep hitting him in the head," Morgana joked.

Marayna laughed, quieting a moment later, "I promised Tom, that I'd protect Gwen," she added, "That Merlin and you and I would protect her," she shook her head, "How much longer till Other goes after her as well for merely being his daughter?"

Morgana sighed, "Too soon."

"We have to stop him."

"I agree. But how?"

Marayna was silent a long while, before she turned to Morgana, "I have an idea…but I need your help."

"Anything," Morgana squeezed her hand.

~8~

Gwen was sitting on Marayna's bed in her and Merlin's room, Merlin sitting beside her, his arm around her, she'd let go of him a few moments ago, but was just…staring blankly into space and it was worrying him, "Gwen?"

"I just don't understand," she murmured, "He should have been able to get out. He KNOWS the kingdom. Why would Uther have him murdered on sight? His trial was in the morning."

There was a knock on the door as Arthur entered, Gwen didn't even look up, didn't move, didn't care enough to show him propriety.

"Guinevere," he began formally, his heart hurt to see her like that, to see a woman he'd come to view as a sister (at least in his own mind) so…devastated.

His father…he had all but declared Tom guilty when the man had tried to flee, had thrown out the notion of a fair trial he'd always claimed the accused would get. No matter what, he would have let the man, upon capture, have that trial. People were scared, they naturally tried to flee, it was the same with animals that were being hunted.

Marayna's words had come back to haunt him as he saw exactly how his father had reacted to Tom's escape. It hadn't even been the work of magic, they'd found a key on the floor, but he still declared the man guilty, claimed he was escaping to join the sorcerers when everyone could see he just…hadn't wanted to die.

"I...want you to know that your job is safe," he added, "And that your home is yours for life. I guarantee you that. 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 paused a moment at the silence, "I'm sorry."

"Thank you," Gwen called when he turned to leave, not blaming him, she knew Arthur, he'd NEVER have given that order.

~8~

Merlin stepped out of his chambers, Gwen sleeping again as he saw Marayna enter the room from the other end, both of them smiling at each other. They often did that, appeared at the same time in the same place without preplanning it, "Merlin," Gaius called, "Rayna," spotting them from the book he was flipping through, "Come and take a look. I've been doing some research and found this."

"The Mage Stone?" Marayna frowned as she eyed the sketch of the stone her uncle was looking at.

"Wonder of the ancients," Gaius remarked, "Lost for a thousand years or more."

"What does it do?" Merlin asked.

"Theoretically, it could give the bearer the power of transformation."

"Gold," Marayna's eyes widened, "The power of alchemy!"

"Exactly. I believe it was the Mage Stone you sensed on the night of Tom's arrest."

"Of course!" Merlin nodded, "Tom said that Tauren had some kind of stone!"

~8~

Morgana sat in the cell, the manacles back around her wrist, as she went over the plan Marayna had devised. It was brilliant, it was crafty, much like she imagined Marayna had to be in order to have survived with her magic as long as she had. Merlin gave off the innocent feeling, but Marayna was far too brash to get off in that manner. She could see Merlin bumbling his way through an explanation for something odd happening, but Marayna would need a bit more skill than that, because that wasn't her personality to be so stuttering. This plan though…it would be hard, it would require far more patience than she thought she had at the moment.

She looked up when the doors opened and Arthur entered, "You," she glared, "How proud you must be. Son of the mighty Uther. How you must look up to him. Does the king's little helper bring a message? Or have you just come to gloat?"

"Guards!" he called.

Morgana stood and backed away, yanking at the chains restraining her, "Get away from me, you cowards!"

"You're free to go," Morgana stopped as the guards unlocked her and turned to stirde to the doors when Arthur spoke quietly, "Morgana," she paused, "I swore to him you'd never challenge his authority again. I swore that you'd learned your lesson. Tread carefully. Next time, I may not be able to help you."

Morgana smirked, her back to Arthur, "Thank you," before it morphed to a smile as she looked at Arthur over her shoulder, "You're a better man than your father. Always were," and with that, she turned and left, Marayna was right, she truly knew Arthur and his reactions.

Arthur though, frowned as he watched Morgana leave, her words sounding oddly like what Marayna had shouted at him earlier.

~8~

Gwen had departed for the night, gone to tend to Morgana, needing something to do to keep her busy, not wanting to return home. Merlin and Marayna took the time to sleep, needing it for what they knew the upcoming days would hold. Hunting down the sorcerer, helping Gwen, keeping Morgana from trying to attack Uther with a fork…

Merlin jerked awake as he felt the familiar magic of the stone flare, Marayna sitting up on her cot suddenly as well though she hadn't been sleeping.

They quickly got out and rushed out of the room, making their way through Camelot…only to see Morgana glancing back, a cloak around her, as she snuck through the castle. Merlin frowned at seeing her and took his sister's hand, following her through the Lower Towns and into the woods…nearly about to jerk forward to help her when the sorcerer, Tauren, and his men surrounded her, but Marayna pulled him behind a tree, pressing a finger to her lips.

'Aya!' he cried, 'Morgana…'

'Clearly expected this,' she cut in. He frowned at that, confused, 'She's not alarmed,' she explained, 'Merlin…why else would she come here?'

He paused, considering that…when he heard them starting to talk.

"Where's your maid?" Tauren demanded.

"I've come in her place," Morgana stated, having been told by Gwen that she'd been confronted by Tauren and the man demanded she 'bring the stone' to him, not that Gwen had any idea at all what the stone was.

"Kill her."

"No! Wait! I brought the Stone!" she held it up.

Merlin's eyes widened as he saw it, frowning, why hadn't she told him she'd had it? Marayna though, glanced at her brother's expression before watching Morgana, not as surprised as he was.

"What else have you brought, My Lady? The Knights of Camelot?"

"I came alone, I promise you."

"Give me the stone," he snatched it from her, "You were foolish to come here. I had no quarrel with your maid. But you, my Lady Morgana, you are Uther's ward!" he pulled his sword and put it at her stomach.

Merlin jerked again, but Marayna held him back, 'She's not afraid.'

"If you kill me, you'll regret it," Morgana said calmly.

"Why is that?"

"Because I want Uther dead, too."

Merlin's heart stopped at hearing that. He knew Morgana was angry, but this…this was…dark…this was like the darkness she feared was inside her.

"You? An enemy of the king?" Tauren scoffed, "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."

"And this…" she pulled back her sleeve to reveal the new sores around her bruised wrists, left unhealed, for this very purpose, "Is it usual for Uther to chain his friends to a dungeon wall? The stone," she nodded at it, "You took it to the forge. Why?"

"With it a man can alter the very essence of things. He can turn a lump of lead into gold."

"Gold? A good man died in your quest for riches, Tauren. His daughter is now an orphan."

"I'm sorry for that. Truly. But we did 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."

"What are you saying?" Morgana eyed him.

"Bribery is rife at Camelot. I will use the corruption at the heart of his kingdom, and such abundance of gold will buy me into the king's chambers, even to the king himself."

"The guards may be fools, Tauren, but the king is not."

"Do you have a better plan?"

She smirked, "To get to Uther, you need someone close to him."

"And you know of such a person?"

"I do," she nodded, "Me."

Merlin gasped as Marayna squeezed his hand.

~8~

"Pass the salt, please," Gaius called as Merlin stared at his bowl of dinner, distracted, his mind on Morgana and what she was planning to do.

He was so torn. Did he tell her he knew? Confront her about not telling him? Try to stop her? Alert the king?

No, not alert the king, he would NEVER do that to Morgana. It was just…this was so unlike her. He couldn't see her trying to kill the king. Something was wrong. For a moment, he wondered if Tauren had cursed the stone, enchanted her…

He reached out and handed Gaius an apple.

"You alright?"

"What?" Merlin looked up, "Yeah. I've just got a few things on my mind, that's all."

"Anything you'd like to talk to me about?"

"I can't imagine you'd be interested."

"So long as you're sure."

Merlin shook his head, "Come on Aya," he glanced at his sister who had been sitting silently beside him, "We should be getting to work," he got up and headed to the door behind him.

"Merlin?" Marayna called, standing up, "That's a broom cupboard."

He nodded, moving to the correct door this time.

Gaius looked at Marayna as he left, "Morgana might be trying to kill the king," she deadpanned. Gaius blinked as she got up and moved to leave as well, "But we're on it."

~8~

Merlin stood at the window of Arthur's chambers, staring out them, far too much on his mind to be healthy. He'd snuck down to see the Dragon, without his sister, only for the Dragon to basically tell him to let Uther die, ignoring his concerns over the path Morgana seemed to have started down. He'd talked to Gaius about whether Uther was a good king…only for the man to defend his friend, claiming him a good king regardless of what he'd done, but also bringing up the point that Arthur…he wasn't ready to be king.

And, to make matters worse, Morgana had met Tauren again, solidifying their plots to kill the king. Apparently she would ride out with Uther to her father's grave and, from there, Tauren and his men would attack and kill him. He was finding it hard to believe this was even happening, that his Gana could orchestrate something so sinister. It wasn't like her…

He was almost certain she was being enchanted.

"Merlin?" Gwen asked, spotting him staring out the window. She knew Marayna had been requested by Gaius to gather herbs so Merlin had been left to clean Arthur's rooms, but he wasn't doing much of that.

"Gwen," he blinked, turning to her, "How are you doing?"

"I was about to ask you the same question."

"I'm fine. Fine."

Gwen looked out the window at the riding party of Morgana and Uther, heading out with some guards, "Morgana's been amazing these last few days."

"Yeah," he smiled softly, "She has. But…" he blushed, looking at her too, "I think you've been amazing. After all that's happened, getting your life back together..."

"It's better than sitting in an empty house, waiting for my father to walk through the door. The thing I find hardest to bear is that people will always think he was guilty because he tried to escape," she sighed, "If he had made it, we could have proved him innocent."

"Well, WE know he was innocent."

"Sometimes I wonder if it helped. Uther had already made up his mind. That's the kind of man he is."

"I wouldn't blame you if you wanted him dead," he remarked, looking at her carefully.

"If Uther died I'd feel nothing. He means nothing to me."

"But if you had...you know...the choice, what would you do? If you had the power of life and death over Uther, would you kill him? For what he did?"

"No."

"No?" he blinked.

"What would that solve?" Gwen shook her head, sighing, "That would make me a murderer. That would make me as bad as him."

Merlin smiled, "You're right. Of course you're right!" he ran out of the room, he had to get to Morgana, he had to tell her that. He knew the ONE thing she feared was to become lost in her hate, to become Uther. If he could just show her what Gwen had shown him, he'd get her back.

"Is anything wrong?!" Gwen called after him.

"No, no! See you later!"

Gwen frowned though, guessing where Merlin had gone, hoping it wouldn't ruin Morgana's plans for if even a single thing went wrong…Morgana would surely be executed.

~8~

Merlin was running through the woods, trying to catch up to the riding party, the Sidhe staff in his hands, rushing past the horses that Uther and Morgana had left…only to see the guards dead, the sorcerers ahead of him, already closing in on Uther and Morgana as they knelt at the top of a hill at her father's grave.

He bolted, rushing after them, "Ácwele!" he shouted, blasting one of the sorcerers, to see another drawing his sword, so he took care of that one too. He moved in closer, spotting Tauren, the cause for Morgana's descent, aimed, "Ácwele!"

Tauren suddenly turned and held up the stone, absorbing the bolt and sending it back at him…knocking Merlin back flat on the ground before the man snuck up on Uther.

"No!" Morgana cried, spotting Tauren behind Uther, "No! No!"

Uther turned just in time and blocked the blow of Tauren's sword, wrestling with the man, their shouts stirring Merlin to action once more. He rolled over and saw Tauren pin Uther down, pulling out a dagger.

"Die, Uther Pendragon!" Tauren sneered, about to stab the man…when he fell forward, a sword in his back.

Morgana dropped the sword, Uther's sword that she had picked up, as Uther pushed the man away, hugging her tightly.

~8~

Merlin sat in Gaius's chambers, his leg up on a stool, his tumble down the hill from when he'd been knocked back had twisted his ankle, "Busy day?" Gaius asked as he wrapped his young ward's foot.

"Had its moments," he shrugged.

"I hear that Tauren tried to assassinate Uther."

"That's what I hear."

"And that Morgana saved him. How many men were there? Three? Four?"

Merlin smiled, Morgana had redeemed herself, come back from her darkness all on her own, just as he knew she would, and saved the King, "Yeah, something like that."

"Morgana must have shown extraordinary courage to have defended a king against such odds. I suppose you had nothing to do with it?"

"Oh, you know. Just background stuff."

"No need to be so modest, Merlin."

"Sorry."

"It's not a criticism. It's a compliment."

Merlin smiled, "Right. Thanks, Gaius," though his smile faded, with his foot all done up, he'd be unable to meet Morgana that night, it was good he'd sent Marayna to tell her.

~8~

Morgana looked up as there was a knock n her door, Gwen opening it to reveal Marayna, "Rayna," Gwen brightened, "What's wrong?"

She laughed, "Nothing's wrong, well, nothing too bad," she glanced at Morgana, "Merlin's twisted his ankle, he won't be able to bring Morgana her draught, and Arthur still wants me to polish his armor…"

"I can get the potion," Gwen offered, truly needing more to do, before dashing off.

Marayna watched her go before entering Morgana's chambers and shutting the door behind her, "I'm sorry you had to do that alone," she murmured after a moment.

"Me too," Morgana nodded, she'd felt so tempted to let Uther die, but she shook her head, she hadn't had it in her, even then, to let it happen, "I'm sorry you had to lie to your brother."

"Me too," she sighed, "But everything went according to plan?"

Morgana nodded, "Uther trusts me implicitly now."

"Good," she took a breath, "We'll need that in the future."

Morgana smiled, "Who would have thought you capable of such deceit?"

"Well," she laughed, "You know what they say about us 'sorcerers,'" she smiled though, "I've always been better at tricking people than Merlin."

Morgana laughed, "I can tell. I doubt Merlin would have ever considered putting Uther in danger like that."

Marayna shrugged, thinking of her plan to 'kill the king' but not really KILL him, "Uther could handle himself. I'm proud of you though Morgana," she added, "It took remarkable skill to pretend not to hate him."

She nodded, "I'd do anything for Merlin."

It had been their goal to get Morgana trusted by the king once more as they both knew his trust in her had been shaken by her reaction to Tom. They needed that trust so that, if in the future, one of them was accused of sorcery, she could better sway Uther's decision. Merlin, of course, seemed more likely to be caught than her which was why she'd agreed and played her role so well, she wouldn't ever want to see him harmed.

A/N: These glitches are slowly driving me insane :( I was able to log on! So I was doing a dance in my chair (of course lol), clicked on Doc Manager to double check the chapter...and it kicks me off! D: I just got on about 2 minutes ago, posted Welcome Holmes, went to this...and it kicked me off again! Multiple (probably obsessive/frantic) refreshes later and it finally got me to the chapters page again so I'm posting this before it glitches on me again :( I'm thinking I should go back to my old internet explorere, Chrome I got last week, and then this happens :(

-Sigh- But I hope you liked the twist for the chapter, Tom knew, but he's a wise man isn't he? And the plot with Uther being an actual plot and not something Morgana changed her mind in :) I did like that she regretted her decision in the show and saved him, but I wanted it to be more of a preplanned, conscious knowledge that Uther was not going there to die :)

Some notes on reviews...

Morgause will still appear yup ;) But we'll have to wait and see what happens with her }:)

I'm glad you're enjoying the story :) I can't promise that a hedgehog will appear, but I can say that someone will have a very small pet one day, I can't say who or what it will be though }:) I love hedgehogs and turtles too ^-^ And no worries, ramble away :)