Cypriana, thank you for reviewing. I'm glad you find Vivian/Merlin as cute as I do :)LivingInTheClouds, I have to admit when I first read your review I was a bit cunfuzzled, but I loved it so much! It really made me smile knowing that you put that much effort into trying to solve this mystery :) Cazziline, thank you for your lovely review! I'm very happy that I've got you curious about the murder. Random reader, thank you again for your wonderful suggestion and I'm glad you know that you like the killer as a loony! 88, what can I say, you have been so amazing once again :) Thank you for reviewing. BagginsPotterPevensie, you have been so wonderful, thank you for reviewing again :) sidhefaerie thank you for putting my story on Alert and on your favorite story list. It really means so much to me.

It was the morning after and Merlin was restless. His magic helped speed along the healing process. However, it wasn't completely healed, and he still felt sore but he was never going to admit that.

"Gaius," Merlin said, "I really do feel a lot better. Can I please go?"

The physician sighed, " Fine, but don't strain yourself. It might cause your stitches to come out...and don't do anything that will get your blood flowing too quickly. That could be dangerous."

"Thanks!" Merlin got up, after taking one more bite of bread.

Gaius mused, " Why is it that the one day Arthur let's you rest, you can't wait to go to work?"

" You know how I like to oppose him." He replied.

The old man chuckled, " Take a guard with you."

"I will."

Merlin left the room, leaving Gaius to finish his breakfast alone.

He took his time arriving at the counsel room. His guardian would have been very pleased to know he was following his instructions. Also Sir Heylan made sure he didn't strain himself.

When they arrived, Sir Heylan quietly opened the door for Merlin. Thanking him, Merlin entered. Gwen was in the middle of a persuasive argument with Bayard and Olaf. Vivian, Pellamp and Cilydd were listening, intensely. Arthur, who had been leaning back in his chair, sat up at the sight of Merlin. Vivian too swiftly turned her head towards him. This caused everyone else to draw their attention towards the manservant.

Merlin was feeling very embarrassed. He hadn't meant to interrupt.

"Merlin," Arthur got up from his chair and walked over to him, " What are you doing here?"

Cilydd has the most surprised look, "You're alive!"

"Yeah," Merlin stated, " Gaius said I could attend if I didn't strain myself."

Bayard looked at him, "What happened?"

The wizard gave Arthur an incredulous look, "You mean you didn't tell them?"

Taking a deep breath Arthur and whispered him a replied, " No, because I figured it be safer for you if no one knew. That way who ever was trying to hurt you would think they had succeeded."

Merlin thought about this. It didn't seem like terrible plan. It actually sounded well thought out.

Arthur announced to everyone, "Two days ago, my manservant was attacked by the same murderer who killed Sir Bersules, Sir Blubrys and Cleodalis."

"How did you survive?" Cilydd asked Merlin.

"Did you see who it was?" Olaf demanded to know.

Merlin answered them both, " No, the person who attacked me was invisible at the time."

Cilydd quill snapped in two, accidentally.

Merlin ignored this and continued, "I survived, because the attacker just hit me above my heart."

Arthur offered him a chair, "Sit Merlin. We don't want you bleeding all over the floor."

Gratefully, Merlin sat down. He sunk into the seat, trying not to have his injury touch the backside. He was ready to listen. Apparently, during the last talk, a lot had been accomplished. They were nearing an agreement. Suddenly, Merlin jerked up with a realization.

Gwen looked at him, "Merlin are you okay?"

Merlin looked around. He looked fearful. As if his life was in danger that very moment. How little did everyone else know, he was right.

Slowly Merlin addressed Arthur, " Sire, May I have permission to ask a question?"

Arthur frowned at Merlin. Why was he acting so strangely?

"Of course." Arthur replied, not conveying the worry he felt.

Turning to Cilydd, Merlin asked, " How did you know I was injured?"

Everyone turned to Cilydd. The young man was trembling and sweating.

"What do you mean?"

" When I walked into the room you were surprised to see that I was alive." Merlin got out of his chair and began to back away, "You said 'You're alive', but no one knew I was attacked."

Without hesitation, Arthur grabbed Guinevere and quickly took her to the other side of the room.

Pellamp laughed, "This is absurd. You can't possibly believe my brother is responsible."

"The murder started when you're traveling party joined Bayard's!" Merlin exclaimed.

Bayard, also got out of his chair and backed away.

Olaf was next to come to Cilydd's defense, " Are you really going to be so foolish as to believe the word of a servant boy."

Vivian looked at her father. She knew this was going to kill him inside, but she had to do it. She too arose from her seat and went to stand against the wall. Olaf didn't know what to say. His own daughter, betraying him like this was unthinkable.

"How did you know about Merlin?" Vivian asked this time.

Cilydd was shaking, " I- I-"

Arthur's voice was amplified by the walls, " Only Gwen, Vivian and I knew about Merlin's almost death. Anyone else who discovered, found out when Merlin was well."

Pellamp furiously got up, "How dare any of you accuse my brother! He couldn't hurt a fly! He's never even gone into battle, his heart is so weak. Tell them Cilydd! Cilydd..."

Cilydd stared intensely at the table. He had never looked so terrifying.

"You're wrong, brother!" Cilydd jumped up, brandishing a knife, " My heart is not so weak."

Pellamp couldn't believe it. His own shy brother was the murder. Olaf ran over to Vivian and held her tight. King Pellamp ran to where the others were standing.

"Don't you see?" Clidd's he looked at his brother, eyes begging, " I've done this all for you. You'll be so proud of me. You're my brother, my rescuer! You saved me from those druids; from my banishment!"

Pellamp was horrified, "Banishment?"

"Everybody out!"Arthur commanded.

They ran towards the door. Everyone except Pellamp, Vivian and Merlin.

Cilydd bug eyes looked at Merlin, "This is your fault! When I'm done killing you, I'll be able to kill all your filthy kin."

Pellamp looked at Merlin, "What is he talking about?"

"How should I know?" he lied.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled.

The Regent was helping everyone through the door. He held the door's wooden barricade just high enough so everyone could duck underneath. He kept the door barely open so everyone could just slip through, but close enough so he could quickly close it if he need to.

" Do you think I'm stupid?" Cilydd was getting closer to Merlin, " I know about your magic. Mother and father will be proud of me when you're dead."

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted again. "What's he talking about?"

The young warlock stuttered, trying to explain. While backing away from his attacker

"He's a mad man Arthur!" Vivian came to his aid, " You can't seriously believe a word he says."

Cilydd's attention turned towards her. His body was tense, his figures curled and his teeth were clenched.

"You know about him don't you?" the prince sneered, " You're just as bad. mingling with a disgusting creature like him. It's revolting. You both will die!"

Suddenly Cilydd turned invisible.

"Get out of here," Merlin told Vivian and Pellamp, "He's after me, there's nothing neither of you can do."

"No Merlin!" Arthur yelled having heard, "Get out now!"

With a nodded Pellamp quickly ran to the door, and quickly got to the other side of the door. The only ones left in the room now was Arthur, Vivian and Merlin.

"Come on!" Arthur said to Vivian, barely able to keep the barricade up, " Go through."

She shook her head, " I can't."

Olaf yelled at Vivian, "Get over here now! You''ll be killed!"

"I can't leave him here to die!" She yelled back.

Her father continued to shout, " He's just a servant boy! He's dispensable."

She cried back to him, "Not to me, he's not!"

Before she had time to process what came out of her own mouth, she pushed Arthur out onto the other side. The door slammed shut. She was stunned scared.

'Merlin!' She remembered. She quickly ran over to him.

"Vivian!" he shouted, "What are you doing here?"

She heard a footstep over to the left. Taking off one shoe, she threw it in that direction. It hit Cilydd, causing him to become visible again.

"Saving your life, that's what!" She answered back.

" Forbærne! Ácwele! "The prince shot a fire ball at Vivian.

Merlin stepped in front of her, creating a mighty shield to protect them without a signal word.

"Your highness, please think about what you are doing! We're the same!" Merlin tried to make him see reason, " you've been killing people you think have magic, when you're guilty of the same thing."

"No!" the man shouted, " Stop it! know what you're trying to do! Feoll bu brand!"

The ceiling began to crumble from above. Merlin took Vivian by the waste and saved her from the falling stones.

"Flíeh grima!" Merlin shouted, causing a vase to fly towards Cilydd. He ducked and the vase smashed against the wall

"You have magic! How can you do this to your own kin? You're a hypocrite!" Vivian snarled at him.

"No! No!" Cilydd pounded his forehead with his palms, " No, magic is evil. People with magic are evil."

He shot out a yellow light from his hands. Merlin and Vivian ran to dodge it. They feel to the floor, scrapping their skin. Vivian hissed, holding her hand.

Merlin stifled a hiss.

Vivian could see he was in pain. She looked at his back and saw that his bandage was red with blood. His stitches had come undone.

Merlin was panting, " Please, you don't want to do this!"

Cilydd looked stark raving mad. He looked so lost and confused. It was like he didn't know where he was himself.

Merlin calmly spoke, " Magic can be for good. I know people have told you that it's only evil, but that's not true. Let me help you."

Cilydd took his knife, then looked at him like how a child would when he had done something wrong.

"People-with magic," he started to cry, " are evil. They are mistakes."

The prince took the knife and impaled it into his own heart.

"No!" Merlin ran to him.

Falling to the ground, Cilydd's lids began to close. Merlin put his hands over his heart and began to press ferociously to stop the bleeding.

The prince looked up at Merlin. He was so scared.

"Mother? Father?" he cried out, "Please, please, I didn't mean to. I can't help it."

Merlin hushed him, " I know you didn't. I know."

"Please!" Cilydd became to moan, " Stop it! Don't hurt me! Please! Brother, brother I love you. I'll make you proud. "

The prince's breathing became weaker and weaker, until there was no more. His arms feel to his side, palms open. His eyes still open, exposing all the fear, vulnerability and guilt.

Merlin knew he couldn't do anything more. He just starred at the dead body. Vivian went over and sat by Merlin. She closed Cilydd's dead eyes, so they'd stop torturing Merlin.

" I couldn't save him." Merlin just continued to stare.

"No," Vivian agreed, " it was too late for him. His mind was poisoned long before."

" I should have-"

"What?" Vivian asked, " He was disturbed. What ever happened to him, happened a ling time ago. There was nothing you could have done."

"But-"

"Merlin," She took him by the chin and made him look at her, " you saved me. Is that not something?"

Merlin didn't know what had come over him, he kissed her straight on her perfect lips. It held a passion like a river's rapids. Vivian was surprised, but returned a kiss with equal force, coming closer to him.

He cupped her cheeks with his soft hands, while she ran her fingers through his hair. Over and over again they let their lips danced with each other. She gasped for breath after every touch, drowning in his heat. Their hearts pounded in harmony.

" I love you." Softly, Merlin whispered

Vivian finally knew what true love felt like. It was so wonderfully overwhelming. It was fire, light, air, water, earth, primal, spiritual ... magical. They held each other tight. She buried her face in his neck, soaking in his warmth. He held the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her curls, to keep her close.

Throughout this, neither had realized that the others had been trying to break back in the entire time. The door fell off it's hinges. Arthur had gotten the other knights to help him break down the door.

When Olaf found his daughter in the arms of that manservant, he was furious.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Olaf ran over to Vivian and yanked her away by the arm.

Pellamp ran straight for his dead brother. He was check for any sign of life. When he found none, he started to cry.

"Oh, my dear brother." He touched his lifeless face, "Why?"

Pellamp started to cry. He was a king, with a heart made of stone, but for his brother he would shed his tears.

"What happened?" He begged for Merlin to tell him.

Solemnly, Merlin stood up and whispered, " I'm so sorry, but he stabbed himself. He just couldn't take it anymore."

Pellamp returned to his brother and held him in his arms, he couldn't understand it. That's what Pellamp regretted. He never was there for Cilydd, because he didn't know. They were all watching the sorrowful sight, except for Olaf.

Vivian's father walked up to Merlin, " I will have you hanged for touching my daughter."

Merlin was terrified.

"No father!" Vivian ran in between the two of them, "You will not hurt him! I love him!"

They all went dead silent. There were so many emotions and thoughts going around. King Olaf could figure out what to think about this.

"You are too young to understand love."

" I'm not a child!" She glared at him, " You think I am naive. That I know nothing of the world. If that is true, who's fault is it?"

" How dare you speak to me like this!" He pointed his finger at Merlin, "This is your fault."

"Sire," Merlin stood beside Vivian, " Your daughter is loud, bossy, outspoken, caring, loyal, funny, beautiful and amazing. If it is a fault to love her, then yes I am guilty."

Olaf was still furious, he threatened Vivian, " I will have you disowned."

Her answer was unexpected.

"Then do it."

He was in disbelief. It was just an empty threat, and he knew it. However, he had been certain Vivian would have given up on this boy by just those few words.

Her father replied, " You won't have anything. None of your riches, cloths...you won't even have a roof over your head."

"That may be true, " Vivian would not be intimidated by him, " but I will have my heart and freedom."

The king hadn't realized that was how his child felt. Like a prisoner and he was her jailer. He watched and Merlin and Vivian took each other's hands. Their dirty scrapped filled fingers intertwined.

Olaf remembered his own wife. How he had lost her. He had been so determined to keep Vivian safe, that he forgot to let her live.

"Vivian," He became calmer, " I can see you have strong feelings for this boy."

"Merlin." She reminded him of his name.

" Yes, but it can not be." Olaf reminded her, " You are a princess and someday you will be queen. When the time comes, you must marry for the good of your kingdom."

She felt the stinging truth of his words. She couldn't bear to look at him.

" Please Vivian," he father begged her, " Don't do this. Don't leave me. You are the only thing I have left."

She looked at her father. He was desperate. She know understood why her father hadn't let her find her independence. It because he was a lonely old man with only his daughter for company.

A single tear fell down her cheek. What was she to do?

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