Part one of two, I think.

Raven's Revenge I

The raven swoops down, and lands on a painfully still Arthur, blood coming through his chainmail. Knights lie around him, Camelot is in ruins, and there are black feathers in the corner of her eyes.

Morganna woke up with a cry. "The Raven! Arthur! The Raven!" Gwen held her, trying to reassure her she was alright it was just a dream, and Morganna could only think of how the last time she dreamt of Arthur's death, it had almost happened.

Neither woman paid attention to the noise coming from the castle depths.

In his cave, Kilgharrah groaned, trying to curl up so his wings muffled the sound. Uther would be a wonderful snack, he decided. Forget the promise he made Balinor and Ygraine about eating humans, it would be wonderful to get some sort of revenge for all the King had put him through.

"What is he trying to do, ruin the castle's foundations?" Kilgharrah asked the air. His own cavern(s) were actually just behind the castle, and not directly under it. Merlin was still blocking him (Arthur had assured him his last visit that Merlin was finally starting to come around. Apparently, Merlin's attachment to his mother was greater than most other human hatchlings.) so he couldn't yell for Merlin to stop the noise.

A feeling of amusement made him pause. Ah, he'd reached Merlin after all. "Get them to stop!" Merlin didn't completely block him, this time, but he got the feeling he was taking his own time to do it.

Kilgharrah felt something cold and dark brush him, and he shivered. Wonderful, Uther had unleashed something one of his forebears locked away. Clearly, the man had forgotten everything Nimueh, Balinor and Kilgharrah had warned him about taking this place as his castle, seat of his ancestors or no.

On the upside, this meant Merlin would be coming to see him soon.

Arthur groaned, finally having had enough. King's orders or no, he was going to request the workers stop working at night. His knights were suffering in their training for this, and only the King's chambers were so well insulated that the noise didn't reach him. (Arthur suspected some sort of magic, to be honest or Uther had something stuffed in his ears.)

Getting dressed, he all but stumbled out the door, the guards giving him a nod as he strode down the hall.

Merlin was standing in front of the entrance to the workings. "Finally had enough?" Arthur guessed, taking another torch.

"The noise has been bothering Kilgharrah." Merlin muttered. "I couldn't block him, the noise isn't helping me, either, and he demanded I go stop them."

"Well, let's see if they'll knock it off for the night, then, by order of a prince." Arthur sighed.

They didn't have to say anything it turned out, the workers scrambled out of there as if they'd stumbled on the gates of hell. Or seen one of their comrades die suddenly, Arthur mentally amended, finding the corpse of one of the workers in a tomb filled with gold.

"Crossbow bolt, but that doesn't turn one colors." Merlin muttered, frowning.

"Where on earth is the crossbow?" Arthur looked around. Most of it was in darkness, but the torches just illuminated a raven statue to the side.

"We should get Gaius."

"And notify the King." Arthur added. "I'll stand guard, you better go." Merlin nodded, and both carefully backed away from the body and the treasure. Arthur took up a guard outside the tomb, while Merlin ran to notify the two.

Gaius was slightly less helpful in the cause of death than Merlin, save that he found it, prompting Merlin to use a plate to block the bolt that fired from the Raven's mouth. Arthur's attempt to help was cut short at the voice of the king and two guards. He quickly turned to greet the king, and winced as Uther called Merlin an idiot when all he saw was Merlin scrambling to catch a rolling plate.

"Are you naturally that clumsy or do you have to work at it?" Arthur asked, only half joking.

"It's just one of my many gifts."

Arthur rolled his eyes at Merlin's comeback. Why was this man his best friend again?

"What killed him?" Uther noticed the body on the floor.

"He seems to have triggered a trap here. They may be more." Gaius warned.

"Well, Gaius, I was right. Which one of my predecessors do I have to thank for all this?" Uther bent over the casket, while Merlin and Arthur watched from a safer distance. "Gaius?"

"I'll have to look into it, Sire." Gaius found a box with a sigil ring.

"Well, in the meantime, we'll have a door fitted with only one key. Arthur, you will be in charge of it." Uther declared.

"Yes, sire." Arthur nodded, not really looking forward to this new assignment.

Merlin didn't see Arthur for the next few days, when he finally did get called to join a hunt; Arthur looked on the verge of killing something other than a boar.

"Merlin, my new manservant, Cedric; Cedric, this is the Physician's apprentice, Merlin." Was the rather brusque introduction to the man carrying Arthur's gear.

It took Merlin a few minutes to realize why Arthur looked so annoyed. Cedric was a bootlicker. The only reason Arthur hadn't gotten rid of him yet was because he was fairly good at his job.

"Why'd you need a manservant anyway?" Merlin asked the rare time Cedric wasn't hovering by Arthur's side, having been told to get firewood while they set up camp.

"Apparently, it's something I'm supposed to have." Arthur muttered. "I know Cedric's a bootlicker and most likely after something, but he's good enough for now."

Merlin found himself annoyed by Cedric very quickly. Heaven and Earth, that man was able to hit all the wrong strings like a fake bard pretending to know a 'foreign' instrument. Arthur just clapped his shoulder when he noticed that Merlin was scowling at Cedric.

Morganna paced in her room, unsure whether or not she should go to Arthur and tell him about her dream. While Kay had assured her that her speaking out hadn't caused Arthur's near death, she couldn't help but think she should have stayed silent. Gaius didn't help, even though she had only told him about the raven swooping towards her, not the bodies she'd seen, the fact he just seemed to brush off her concerns did not help.

She needed to tell someone. As she was turning to face her screen, a name came to her. Merlin. Merlin had believed her, and had done everything possible to save Arthur.

The problem was, he'd no doubt go to Gaius, who'd come and scold her for making a big deal out of nothing, she realized as she turned away from the screen. Maybe if she begged him not to tell Gaius? Morganna let out a breath, finally stopping her pacing when she almost tripped on the hem of her gown.

Too risky, she reluctantly decided, Merlin was related to Gaius. Which just left Arthur, when he returned. The only reason she couldn't tell Kay or Bedivere, was a very small issue of Kay being over protective, and he'd probably follow Arthur everywhere, which would attract the notice of anyone with a mind, however dim. Maybe if she made Arthur swear not to give up?

"My lady, are you alright?" Of course, Gwen would return just as she threw herself onto her bed in frustration.

"No, Gwen, I'm not, parts of my nightmares come true and I might be going insane. Of course, I can't say that out loud." Morganna paused, and lifted her head to look at Gwen, who looked torn between concern and slight bemusement. "I just said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Is this about Arthur and the questing beast?" Gwen set down the tray of fruit and sat down beside her. "Sir Kay mentioned you thought it was your fault."

"It was, Gwen, I saw Arthur with the exact same injury, lying in the exact same room, and when I told him, I saw him believe what I said, he practically said farewell." Morganna stared at her pillow. It was comfortable, Uther had insisted on that so maybe she could sleep easier, but she was starting to associate it with her nightmares.

"Last night, you dreamed again about Arthur dying?" Gwen asked, one hand gently rubbing her back. "You called to Arthur in warning about a raven."

"The raven landed on him, he was surrounded by knights and rubble, and he wasn't moving. There was something else in the corners of my vision, but I woke before I saw it." Morganna sat up. "Gwen, you can't tell Gaius, he doesn't listen to me, he tells me they're just dreams, but I know there is something more to them."

"I won't, Morganna." Gwen promised, hugging her.

Morganna relaxed. Why hadn't she thought of telling Gwen earlier?

"If you'll forgive my forwardness, my mother used to keep a diary where she'd write bits of her dreams she found important. My grandmother believed angels sometimes left messages in our dreams."

"Did your mother ask you to do it?"

"No, her diary turned into a place to teach me to read and write." Gwen admitted, and flushed.

"I knew you were reading that book!" Morganna grinned. It might not be considered proper by some lords for servants to know how to read and write, but Morganna had never cared about such a stupid rule. She'd suspected Gwen could read, though the other had denied it when there was anyone else around. "I won't tell. I think I might try that, maybe then, I'll know for sure if they really do happen."

Gwen nodded, and helped Morganna straighten herself out when she stood up.

It was after Gwen left that Morganna realized she should still talk to Arthur.

Gaius sighed to himself as he settled back down with his books. Uther had dismissed his claims about Sigan. It was dangerous, they didn't know if any item was enchanted, and well, he'd hoped Uther would remember the last time he'd disturbed the grave a reputed sorcerer. The enchanted ring was still in the vault.

The best he could do now was warn Merlin, and Arthur, about the risk. Having the two all but dive through his door was a bit of a surprise, especially as Arthur was holding a tapestry waded up in his arms.

"Gaius." Arthur nodded, leaning against the door in a way that implied blocking it instead of trying to be casual.

"My lord, is there a problem?"

"No, not really." Arthur's glance at the door he was leaning against was proof enough he was lying.

"Arthur's new manservant is a toady." Merlin offered when Gaius looked at him. This would have been believable, if Merlin hadn't been hiding one hand behind his back.

"What did you do this time?" Gaius looked at both, amused as they promptly caved.

"I, uh, tried to relight a candle." Merlin muttered.

"And?" Gaius asked, and frowned when Merlin revealed a singed sleeve.

"He set himself and a tapestry on fire. He wasn't- he was doing it normally," Arthur corrected himself with a glance at the door, "with a taper, and set it and himself on fire." Arthur sighed. "We might have damaged the tapestry, trying to put them both out, and I really don't want to have to face my father about it right now."

Gaius would normally have lectured them both on responsibility, but honestly, he found the predicament rather amusing and they were both quite young still. "Alright, I won't tell, let's patch you two up; I have something to tell you."

"So, the jewel can't be removed from the crypt." Arthur studied the writing. "Is there anything else that we shouldn't touch? Obviously the raven statue is one."

"That might have been placed there to keep someone from taking the heart." Gaius corrected.

"… My father had it disabled when he put the door up, didn't he?"

"Uther just blocked off the stone that activated it." Gaius watched as Arthur and Merlin shared an annoyed look. "He will not have it re-sealed."

"And I've got the only key." Arthur sighed, rubbing his eyes with a hand. "I'm going to ask, is there a way to make it so only I or my father can touch the key?"

"I'd have to look it up." Merlin also sighed. "You better keep it safe."

"Tell me something I don't know." Arthur stood up. "Unfortunately, I've experienced how even the most vigilant sentry can be distracted, which is why I'd like you to find a fail-safe."

"If Sigan does rise again, he will destroy Camelot." Gaius frowned, not liking the way the two were narrowing it down to just trying to stop Sigan's resurrection.

"I'm planning under the assumption that we can't allow the king to know about any of this." Arthur looked at Gaius in annoyance. "First we need plans to keep anyone from entering the tomb, and then we start on contingencies. Until we get the fail-safe for the key, I'm going to order double the guard. I know two who we can trust with the knowledge that there is one thing that can't ever be touched in the tomb."

Gaius nodded, contrite, as Arthur excused himself and left.

"What was that about?" Merlin asked, and Gaius sighed.

"I don't want Arthur relying on your magic for everything." Gaius admitted, and received an incredulous look from Merlin.

"Arthur won't let me rely on my magic for everything. He made me promise not to light or extinguish candles and campfires with it unless it's an emergency. I have to spar with him so he's convinced I can block a sword with another sword and not get myself impaled." Merlin added the last sentence with the indignity of someone suffering a long grievance.

"The tapestry?" Gaius asked, gesturing to the waded up ball of fabric.

"Going to ask Gwen if she knows how to repair it, actually." Merlin winced. "Last time I tried to repair something that was burned, I just set it on fire again …"

"That's what happened to the table?"

"… Maybe?" Merlin's expression was one of a child caught with a forbidden sweetmeat.

"You better start on that fail-safe." Gaius sighed. He'd learned that sometimes, one really didn't want to know.

It hadn't been too hard, getting the job as the prince's manservant. A bit of honey always got more flies than anything else one could use, his dear mother had always claimed, and it had been easy to assure he was the right man for the job.

Unfortunately, the prince wasn't an empty headed noble, or someone he could flatter easily. Didn't really matter, keeping him at an arm's length was just as beneficial as allowing Cedric to follow him everywhere, but Cedric somewhat respected the way the Prince was just as wary of people as he himself was, and that he didn't make such pathetic demands for someone to dress and bathe him. (Though, the last noble he'd done that for had never even noticed he'd lost bits of jewelry, so that wasn't the worst thing he could be asked to do.)

However, he didn't want to empty out chamber pots and bow and scrape for life, and it was easy enough to figure out which key was the one to the tomb. (Not nearly as many dings and scrapes on it as the others, it had been made recently and used so rarely.)

The problem was the prince tended to wake up if he heard Cedric re-enter the room.

That was easily fixed with an old sleep remedy he'd learned from his mother, practically tasteless (unless in water or tea, then it left a bitter aftertaste) and wouldn't force the person to sleep, just make it easier to fall asleep and keep them under longer.

The prince didn't suspect him of that, oddly enough, then again, he might have guessed that Cedric wouldn't poison him because he needed him alive for a bit longer.

There were extra guards, but he had enough of the special herbs that his mother had once suggested burning for sleep, before discovering that too much made the person unable to wake up even if they were being burned.

Cedric smirked as the guards collapsed from the smoke. It was fast acting, and even a small whiff of it made one extremely dizzy.

So much gold, he'd take what he could carry, hide the satchel, return the key, and disappear before anyone ever noticed.

He forgot about that plan when his eyes landed on the beautiful crystal, an ethereal blue color that seemed to glow, on the crypt itself. That was surely worth more than anything he had stolen before, and it was so easy to pry it from its setting.

He'd felt it, when the trap meant to discourage anyone from accidentally reviving him was triggered. For so long, he had existed in darkness, half slumbering, half aware of his confinement. He'd known that soon, someone would break the crystal free, regardless of the trap and warning.

He hadn't quite expected it to be so soon. His new host had no defense, for all his perceived cleverness, it wasn't hard to convince this Cedric that letting him have control of his body (for now, of course) would not be a bad thing for him. (It was best, he'd figured out, to let them believe to have some will in the beginning. The only hosts that could fight back were priestesses or dragonlords, and that had been a mistake he wouldn't make again.)

No magic, though. Cedric wouldn't survive possession long if he used magic, as it was, a mortal body could barely survive having more than one soul for too long; using magic in a body that was not capable of the magic he could wield would just burn it out faster. And the other drawback was that he had to wait until the next time the moon reached the middle of the sky to take a new host after taking one, but that was a small price for his immortality, and given some time, he'd figure out how to fix that small drawback, he'd almost had it figured out before.

Sigan smiled. It was time to take stock of this new era for himself. He'd look for some other potential hosts while he was at it. Oh, and return the key to the Prince Cedric served. Wouldn't do to have their suspicions raised too soon.

The Prince … now, there was a thought.

Added some drawbacks to Sigan's ability to possess people, mostly because, well, you'll see.

Guinevere's ability to read and write- the average person of this time period might be able to recognize one or two words, but wouldn't be able to tell you the alphabet. Storytelling was done orally or by bards who memorized ballads to sing/recite, but their repertoire was in their head, never written down. Servants weren't supposed to be able to read very well or at all, in fact, they (like many other commoners) might get mocked for being uppity or trying to overreach their station just by admitting to 'knowing their letters'. The ones who were accepted and expected to be able to read and write were: Monks and Scholars (who were often just the lay version of monks, or monks that left the cloister), Priests, Nobles, and of course, Kings. Hopefully. Sometimes they ignored their lessons, and so only pretended to know what they were reading.

Please note, of the groups capable of reading, they're all predominately male. Women were not really encouraged to learn how to read or write (think Disney's Belle), instead embroidery and home management were encouraged instead; in fact, a woman too intelligent was, on average, feared by men and might have been accused of witchcraft for knowing more than she was supposed to- especially if it was more than the local know-it-all man (usually the priest or mayor) did, and she wasn't well liked by others.

That said, some noble women did learn, if only to 'read poetry' (more likely, they had some minstrel sing it while they embroidered) and Morganna and Guinevere strike me as independent enough to learn. Guinevere's mother, as a maid, might have learned from one of her more independent ladies, and Guinevere might have learned even more from Leon and just general eaves-dropping on other's lessons.

MC: Again with historical trivia, though this time, she assures me there's no point, just explaining away what she thought was a plot hole on the writers' part. To Quote her: 'uh, how's Gwen supposed to rule a kingdom if she can't read? I can see it now, men telling her documents say one thing, and she can't read it for herself!' I had to point out its television and she just gave me a disgusted look that she gives when she thinks I've missed a point. I think this was one of the things that she thought could have been used for character development.

Oh, this is why she sent Lancelot to Lord Ban for education. Commoners wouldn't be able to read. (Duh.)

SV you can stop looking so smug!

Uh, let me think- nope! (And you can't hide my ice cream, cause I ate it all, hah!)