Chapter 21

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Rounds in the Lower Towns with Gauis were always instructive. It taught me how to deal with patients and their family. How to deliver news, whether bad or good. Merlin was always with us. Officially, I was Gaius' apprentice but Merlin, in addition to his magic, was also learning how to be a physician. Which I thought to be a good idea. I mean he needed to learn that magic wasn't always the answer. That was how he would become the greatest warlock that has ever walked the Earth.

It was cold and raining that night. My favorite kind of weather to stay in bed. But, you know how it is, duty calls and all that. On our way home, we came across a cage outside of the tavern. A young girl was inside. Pale, bruised, scared in a torn-up dress and chained up.

"Gaius?" Merlin called while the girl looked at us, terrified.

"She's fallen prey to a bounty hunter." Gaius simply said as he looked at the girl.

"She's only a girl." Merlin frowned at Gaius.

"She's still fetched a good price, though."

"Who would pay for her?" I asked him horrified.

"Uther offers a handsome reward for anyone with magic." Gaius explained.

"There must be something we can do?" Merlin looked back at the girl.

"Merlin." Gaius turned to Merlin. "Bounty hunters are dangerous men, they are not to be meddled with. You of all people should understand that." And he walked away.

I stayed behind with Merlin. We both looked at the young girl. She seemed so innocent, so fragile. Surely, she couldn't have done any wrong in her life. I grabbed Merlin's hand and pulled him behind me. This could be Merlin in this cage, and I'd do anything for him. Anything.

Like sneaking out in the middle of the night. With my brother, Merlin. We returned to the tavern together. We had, in fact, a great experience in sneaking in and out of the castle. Merlin's experience was definitely greater than mine. Since he had been doing it more often than me. So, I was counting on him to get us through, unseen and safely.

I peeked inside the tavern to make sure the bounty hunter was busying himself, by drinking and eating. I turned around and nodded at Merlin. Giving him the go to sneak around the cage.

"Don't worry." Merlin reassured her as I joined him near the cage. "We're not going to hurt you." I followed him around to the cage's door. "Tosprnge." His eyes flashed gold. The chains broke and the door opened. He climbed inside the cage as I looked around, making sure we weren't being seen. "Unspene pas maegb." I heard Merlin whisper.

"Come on." I called, moving them around the cage. We quickly crouched down as the bounty hunter was walking out of the tavern.

Merlin and I exchanged a look, before he said under his breath. "Ic bebiede pis giestaern tacen fielan." The sign above the tavern broke off and fell over the hunter's head. Knocking him out.

I took the girl's hand and pulled her behind me as we ran away from the tavern. I stopped seeing a patrol coming in our direction, and clearly couldn't go back So, I ran through the first door I saw. It was one of the numerous doors that led to the tunnels of Camelot. Right under the castle.

Merlin took the lead as we rushed down the stairs. He had lit a torch with his magic. The young girl and I were following him through the underground tunnels for a few minutes. Until we reached a small store in a corner. Putting the torch in a sconce, Merlin nodded. "They won't find you here."

The girl seemed cold and frightened. So, I took the shawl in my bag and moved to place it around her shoulders. But she flinched away. "It's alright. I won't hurt you. I just thought you might be cold." I said glancing at Merlin.

"Why did you that?" She asked us quietly.

"What?" Merlin replied.

"Help me?"

"Well, we saw you and …" Merlin started. "…it could have been me—In that cage."

"Plus, helping is kind of our specialty." I added.

"You'll be safe down here." Merlin told her. "We'll come back in the morning with some food and candles." She remained quiet. "Will you be alright till then?"

She nodded. "By the way, I'm Nellie and this is my brother, Merlin." I introduced us to her.

"I'm Freya." She gave us her name.

I smiled at her. "Freya. You'll feel better with this." I said offering her my shawl once again.

She took it from my hands, timidly, and placed it around her shoulders. "We'll see you in the morning, Freya." Merlin said.

Merlin and I headed out when we heard. "Thank you." We both turned to her and simply nodded before leaving.

"You're awake. Good!" I smiled at my brother the day after. I showed him the basket I had in my hands. "I just came back from the kitchen. Angharad, bless her heart, was kind enough to give some bread and cheese. And some fruits too."

"Angharad? The kitchen maid?" Merlin asked.

"Yes. Sometimes, I help her with cleaning the kitchen." I replied quickly walking to the shelves.

"When do you have time to clean the kitchen?" Merlin asked frowning.

I walked back to the baskets with the candles. "After dinner. Or when I can't sleep." I shrugged. "Come on, we still need to wake Arthur up and then, we'll go see her."

When we stepped in his bedchambers, the prince was snoring still. Merlin eyed the Prince's plate, in which there was ham, before he added it to the supplies destined to Freya. I smiled softly at my brother as I walked to the window and drew the curtains open.

"Breakfast." I announced cheerfully.

'Oi!" Arthur called as I joined Merlin by the door. "Where's the meat? Why's there just cheese and bread?"

"That's the new breakfast menu," Merlin shrugged.

"This isn't enough."

"We need to keep you in shape, Arthur." I said. "You know, you being Prince and Knight, you need to be fit and healthy."

"I'm fighting fit." Arthur defended.

"And we want to keep it that way." Merlin replied.

"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed. "Is there somewhere you have to be?"

Merlin and I glanced at each other before we answered. "Of course not."

"Good." Arthur smirked. "'Cos I've got some chores for you to do."

When he said some, he meant plenty. I left to retrieve his armor for his training session while Merlin was drawing him a bath. Only for me to return to a yelling Arthur, a drenched Merlin. Then Arthur went on telling me that his armor wasn't polished clean and that I needed to do it again. Note to self: Never mess with the Prince's breakfast again.

Merlin and I were finally able to leave and go to Freya. Except that the Bounty Hunter was looking for her. They were searching the villagers in the lower towns. We exchanged a look as we got closer to the hunter. With a shake or a nod, he was ordering the guard to search the people. Merlin and I were able to get through It didn't mean that we were in the clear.

Freya was sleeping on the floor. Looking small and fragile.

"Freya?" Merlin called softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. She awoke with a jolt and leapt away from him "It's alright, it's okay." Merlin reassured her. "It's us, Merlin and Nellie."

"And we came with gifts." I said putting out the food we brought her.

She reached for the food timidly, tasted it and started to eat faster, showing just now how hungry she really was.

"It's good." Freya commented as Merlin placed the candles on the side.

"As it should be" I replied. "After all, it's fit for a prince." Merlin waved his hand and candles lit. As she continued eating, I noticed a tattoo on her forearm. The same that Mordred bore on his shoulder. "I see that you have the druid symbol on your arm, were you born one?" I asked her.

"Why are you asking this?" She asked defensively.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry." I apologized.

"I'm sorry." Freya apologized in return.

"I understand." Merlin assured her.

"You could never understand." Freya countered.

"I know what it's like to keep secrets." Merlin continued and I cleared my throat. "We both do."

"Does anyone know that you have magic?" She looked at Merlin.

"You, Nellie and one other person." Merlin replied. "They know but…"

"…We'll never understand." I finished for him. "We don't have magic. We don't know how heavy of a burden it can be."

"I wish I was like everyone else but…" Freya started.

"…you always know deep down, you're not."

"Because I'm cursed."

"Freya, don't say that." Merlin told her. "Magic doesn't have to be a curse. It can be a gift."

I decided as I listened to Merlin talk to Freya that I should let Merlin come alone next time. They had more thing in common. Things I would not understand. Never fully. I turned my gaze to the candles, their flames were floating in the air, dancing around them.

"That's beautiful." Freya complimented, smiling at Merlin. And Merlin smiled back. Yeah, he' was coming back alone next time. Also, I was wondering if Arthur and I looked like that when we were smiling at each other.

"I'm sorry, Freya. But we have to go." I said reluctantly. "They may notice we're missing."

"We'll come back." Merlin promised. "And we'll bring you some more food."

"Do you know anything about the girl?" Gaius asked us as soon as we stepped in his chambers.

"What girl?" Merlin asked him.

"The girl in the cage. She escaped last night." Gaius answered.

"She did? Well, good for her." I retorted walking further into the room.

"They're out hunting for her." Gaius declared.

"Why can't they just let her be?" Merlin said.

"You helped her escape?"

"No." He stared at Merlin before turning around to look at me. "Nellie?"

"You warned us not to get involved. So, we didn't get involved."

"You promise me you had nothing to do with this?" Gaius asked us.

"Yes!" Merlin and I insisted in our lies.

"Good." Gaius said satisfied. "Because when Halig finds out who helped her. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes."

Gaius went back at his tasks Merlin and I exchanged a glance. We needed to be more careful.

Plate piled with meats, Arthur was eating away. Two drumsticks, one pork ribs, three sausages and some tomatoes. Healthy meal for a fit Prince. But he could skip one for the time being. Merlin and I stood next to each other while he was eating his dinner.

"Would you like some water with that?" Merlin offered, holding up the pitcher.

"Mmm," Arthur nodded as Merlin poured the liquid in his goblet. Arthur's knife flew to the floor. He retrieved his knife one the floor while a drumstick flew into the pitcher. "I had two drumsticks." Arthur said after a few seconds of confusion.

"I don't think you did." I told him walking to the table to look at his plate.

"Emma, I had two drumsticks." Arthur repeated.

"Maybe you dropped that too." I suggested.

Arthur looked around confused and not convinced. He disappeared under the table and the three sausages joined the drumstick in the pitcher. "I had sausages." He shouted this time.

"Are you sure?" Merlin joined me by the table. "They must have fallen under the table."

"Merlin!"

"What?" Merlin exclaimed. "You can search me, I haven't taken them."

"Well, where have they gone?"

"This is all very strange." I remarked.

"Very."

"Maybe you've eaten them and you've forgotten?" I looked at him apologetically.

"I haven't had the chance to eat them." Arthur yelled at me.

"Oh, Arthur, I think you're overworked." I said patting his head. "You need to rest." He glared at me.

"Look, I think it's best if you go to Freya alone." I said to Merlin as we both walked out of the castle.

"Why?" Merlin stopped and turned to me. "She'll expect both of us."

"Maybe, but you'll understand her better than I do." I replied. "And she'll understand you better than I do." He was about to open his mouth. "It's alright." I said as we resumed our walking. "I think it would benefit you to speak with someone who—" I looked around quickly. "—has magic like you." I whispered.

We grinned at each other. Before bumping into Halig. He said nothing as he stared down at us. he ordered the guards to take us to the dungeon cell.

The guards held us tightly as he turned the pitcher over to reveal the few scraps of meat. "This is just the Prince's leftovers." Merlin explained.

"Does he know you steal his food?" Halig asked.

"Of course, he knows. That's why we're hiding it in a pitcher." I replied sarcastically.

"Where were you taking it?" He demanded.

"Home." I glared at him. "For dinner, if you must really know."

"Really?" He retorted stepping closer to me.

"The Druid girl I'm looking for, have you seen her?"

"No." We both answered.

"Do you know how much money she's worth to me?" He eyed us and we shook our heads. "More than your lives combine," he sneered, "So, I'm asking you again. Have you seen the Druid girl?"

"In what language must we tell you? We haven't seen her." I spelled out to him.

He lashed out, shoved me in the wall behind me, "Hold her!" He ordered the guards. "I think you're lying to me."

"Leave her alone!" Merlin shouted, struggling against the guards that were holding him.

"I am not lying." I said, struggling against the guards' hold.

"I don't believe you," Halig said, raising his arm to slap me.

"Halig!" Arthur's voice boomed behind him. "What do you think you're doing?" He said stepping into the cell, his eyes trained on me.

"We caught them behaving suspiciously, sire." Halig answered.

"Merlin and Emma?" Arthur scoffed.

"They could be harboring the girl, and she's," he glared at me, "gonna tell us where."

Halig lifted his hand to strike me but Arthur grabbed his hand. "Leave her alone." He ordered while reaching out to me. He pulled me out of the guards' hands. "And release her brother." Merlin came to stand next to me, behind Arthur. The latter was still holding my wrist. "Merlin and Emma are my servants. They have my absolute trust. If you have a problem with them, you come to me. Do you understand?"

Halig's jaw tensed, he bowed his head, "Sire." He turned to leave. Before that he sneered at us. "Don't forget your dinner."

Arthur looked down at the meat on the floor. "Thank you." Merlin smiled as Arthur turned to him, before looked at the sausages on the floor pointedly. "Ah…"

"Are those my sausages?" He asked us both.

"Surprise?" I said frowning.

"You took them?"

"To keep you in shape." Merlin explained as he moved to pick up the meat.

"Are you saying I'm fat?"

"No. Of course not…yet" I reassured him, half reassured him.

"I am not fat!" I did everything in my power to hold in my laughter.

"You see?" Merlin smiled. "It's working." And my brother left immediately.

I cleared my throat. Arthur looked down at me. "Gaius is expecting me." I said.

"Of course." He answered.

I smiled. "I need my hand." He released quickly, flushing slightly. I smiled at him quickly. "Sire." And then left.

Merlin told me of their short encounter. Freya was afraid that she had scared me away but Merlin explained everything to her and she accepted it. Merlin was clearly warming up to her in ways that he hadn't with others. By the sound of it, it seemed Freya was warming up to him. I could sense it; my little brother was falling in love. If the glint in his eyes was anything to go by.

Gaius and I were in the lower towns, examining two dead bodies. As Merlin was currently visiting Freya. "They've been killed by some kind of wild animal." Gaius started to report to the King and Prince.

"Have your men been able to track the creature?" The King asked his son.

"Well, that's the strange thing." Arthur stood up. "Because the ground is soft. A bear or wolf would leave some mark. But no tracks."

"What are these?" I said noticing the footprints left in the mud.

"Human footprints." Arthur stated.

"But they're leading away from the bodies." Gaius remarked. "Did anyone escape the attack?"

"No one's come forward." Arthur answered.

"Could the person who made these be responsible?" Uther asked walking to the footprints.

"Those wounds look like they could have only been inflicted by a beast of considerable size. I don't think a human could have done these, sire." I realized over the years that my opinion held more importance in the King's eyes, only when I was working with Gaius. As Arthur's maid, my words held no value.

"If this was done by neither a man or beast…" Uther started. "…there's only one other explanation." He looked up at his son as I felt Gaius' gaze bore into me. "It must be the work of a magical creature."

If Gaius had any suspicions, he did not speak of them. On the contrary, we remained quiet most of the day while doing researches on the creatures that could have inflicted those wounds. Except none seemed to match. Or rather without any more pieces of information on the creature, there were too many possibilities.

Merlin was pacing, in circles. With some sort of lightness in his steps. Humming a song while eating his soup. I really hope I didn't look like that when I was happy and in love. Yes, my brother seemed happy and cheerful. He left again that evening, to join Freya.

Gaius looked at me pointedly. "Don't ask me. No idea what's putting him in a such a good mood."

It would not last, though. Gaius and I were once again in the lower towns. Two more victims had been found, in the lower towns.

"The beast has struck again?" The King asked as they were taking the body away.

"I'm afraid so." Gaius answered. "Their wounds match those of the previous victims."

"The men who saw it spoke of a huge black cat with wings." Arthur declared standing next to me.

"I was right." Uther said. "This is the work of a natural creature."

"Are there any tracks this time?" Gaius asked Arthur.

"Just human footprints again."

"Can you identify this monster?" Uther asked the Physician.

"I will need more time to investigate." Gaius replied.

"Come on, you always have a theory on these matters." Uther said in disbelief.

"This time, Sire, I prefer to wait until I'm certain."

"There is no time to waste, Gaius."

"I will report back to you before the day is out, Sire."

"I'm sure I've read about a creature of this sort, Gaius." I said to my uncle as we made our way back to our chambers. "Why didn't you tell him?"

"First, I must speak with you and your brother." He said seriously. And I didn't like it.

Merlin was already there, putting things in a bag. "Gaius, Nellie, I was just…" He started.

"Merlin, sit down." Gaius told him. "You too, Nellie." I shook my head at Merlin's raised eyebrows. "I want to talk to you."

"Is everything alright? You look worried." Merlin sat down, next to Gaius.

"The beast struck again last night." Gaius informed him.

"It made two more victims." I added.

"Do you know what it is, yet?" Merlin asked us.

"Once more, there were no tracks around the bodies." Gaius explained calmly. "But human footprints led away from them."

"Right."

"It doesn't seem to add up." He continued as I glanced at Merlin. There was a reason as to why Gaius was telling all this. He already knew what it was. "The footprints indicate a human is responsible. But the wounds inflicted are definitely the work of some kind of beast."

"Strange."

"Yes." Gaius retorted. "Until, I remembered what Halig said about the Druid girl."

Merlin looked up at Gaius and so, did I. "What did he say?" I asked him.

"She's cursed."

"What's that got to do with the monster?" Merlin asked worryingly.

"Ancient chronicles speak of a heinous curse." Gaius explained. "It dooms its victim to turn at the stroke of midnight, into a vicious and bloodthirsty beast." I felt a pit in my stomach. It was growing larger and deeper as he continued. "The writers of old called this creature a Bastet. A monster of nightmare, that inhabits the twilight world between the living and the dead."

The horrified look on Merlin's face made me feel for him. What Gaius was implying was insane and I didn't want to believe him. And yet, it was possible. But Freya is a kind and gentle girl, I knew it. Within my heart, I was sure of it.

"Now, I want the truth." Gaius looked at us both. "Did you release the Druid girl from the cage?"

"Yes, we did." The truth needed to come out sooner or later. Especially, if there was the slightest chance that Freya was cursed. "But we only did what was right."

"You know the creature and the girl are one and the same." Gaius retorted.

"You're wrong." Merlin defended vehemently. "Freya is just a girl."

"Please, think about what I'm sayng." Gaius demanded. "You know it is the truth."

"She was cursed, Gaius. She is not responsible for all this." I defended.

"She's killed already and she'll kill again. She can't stop herself." Gaius said.

"Please, Gaius." Merlin begged him. "Where are you going?" Merlin asked as he walked to the door.

"To Uther."

"I'm begging you. Just give me sometimes to get her out of the city, please."

"I'm sorry. I can't let more innocent people die."

"Nellie." Merlin turned to me, teary eyed and desperate.

"Come on." I said getting up. I would help him save Freya.

But Freya was gone. Leaving behind her, her beautiful dress. Merlin distraught and worried. And I understood the feeling. He isolated himself in the safety of our chambers. Whereas I was brewing some potions for Gaius.

"Where's Merlin?" He asked upon his return that evening.

"In his bed." I said. Gaius moved to go in our chambers. "We went to find her but she was gone already."

"I had no choice, Nellie." Gaius said apologetically. "Uther had to be told."

"I know." I sighed. "But…Merlin and she had a connection. An understanding of each other. An understanding that you and I will never share with him. We can only imagine. But nothing else." The warning bells rang in the night. Merlin rushed outside, not even sparing us a glance on his way out. "Merlin, wait!"

Gaius caught my wrist, stopping from following him. "The girl trusts him. She won't harm him."

"But…He needs my help." I protested.

"Sometimes, Nellie, you won't be able to help him."

That statement hit me like a ton of bricks. I already knew that. I'm his big sister but he had magic. There were things in his world that I did not comprehend. Things that I won't be able to help him with. But what really hit me was the fact that Merlin and I destined to go on different paths. We had the same destination: The Unification of the Five Kingdoms. Albion. However, our roads were to be different. He was to follow magic and greatness and I was to follow…I still didn't know. I was still looking, it seemed.

I saw him the morning after. He was sitting by the window. Alone and grief-stricken. Freya had died. I sat at his side in silence. True, there would be times where I wouldn't be able to help him. But I could still open my arms to him and offer him a shoulder. To rest his head when he needed it. And he needed it. Freya, his first love, was dead. I could not take the pain away but I could wipe his tears, as they come.