A work based on Episodes 12 & 13, Season Five: "The Diamond of the Day Part 1 & Part 2", and continuing on after the finale, with a different ending. A Multi-chapter work.

This work is entirely my own, based on the characters established by BBC's Merlin. I do not own any of the characters, and am not making any money from this fiction. It is created purely for my own, and others' enjoyment.

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Welcome to a new reader; SpangleyPony. Glad you are enjoying the fic, and hope you continue to do so.

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FACETS OF A DIAMOND

Chapter: Twenty-six

Three weeks had passed since Gaius' move away from the Citadel. The old man appeared to flourish away from the stress and worry of daily work: it appeared that he was sleeping well in the new bed installed in Gwen's cottage for him. Meals had been provided for the first few days as he'd spent time organising his library and setting up equipment. Since then, a maid-servant had come twice a week to bring fresh food, supplies, and clean the small space. Cleaning and tidying had never been Gaius' forte, as observed by anybody who'd ever visited him in his cluttered rooms in the castle. All too often the physician had been distracted by an interesting development in one of his studies, or the brewing of a complicated potion. Such mundane things as clearing and tidying rarely raised their awareness in his convoluted mind.

Contrary to this, however, was the particularity with which he treated his herbs, simples and preparations. Each of these had always been used and returned immediately to their designated place, ready for the next time they would be required. Merlin had long ago given up trying to impose some sort of order on the main rooms, once he noted how little it affected Gaius' ability to function.

Now that his new abode was organised to his satisfaction, Gaius once again returned to the simple pleasures of preparing his own meals from the supplies brought him from the Castle. He hardly noted the cleaning that went on around him, or the laundering or his robes or bed-linen. It had not taken the serving-maid, named Averil, to realise that as long as she did not disturb the physician's experiments, books or herbs, she was pretty much free to do whatever needed seeing to in the house. So it was that Gaius enjoyed a relaxed and well-ordered dwelling, hardly aware of the activity around him.

He did make sure, though, to always know when Merlin planned a visit if possible. He made it a point to have a pot of lamb-tail stew and root vegetables thickened with oats on the fire each time Merlin was expected. It was the young warlock's favourite, after all. Although, thinking over the last few visits, Gaius was unable to recall Merlin actually consuming any of the food he'd accepted with such pleasure, even though the bowl was always empty when returned to him.

The change of pace obviously suited Gaius, and this showed in a reduction in the irascible old man's temper, as well as an increase in his vitality and overall health. Merlin had been able to reduce the strength of the foxglove draught that he and Niniane provided, despite the protests that Gaius was well able to concoct his own. Truth be told, Merlin did not trust Gaius to remember to brew his draught if left to his own devices.

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Niniane as assistant had worked well for the new physician: she seemed to have a knack of anticipating his medical needs, and it was rare that Merlin didn't find the draught he'd need for his latest patient already brewed, sealed, and labelled on its shelf.

The first week had been spent with the young woman shadowing Merlin in his daily activities: learning the daily visits and rounds, becoming familiar with his regular patients and their ills, as well as how to manage those who thought they were far more unwell that proved true. Some of the more intractable patients seemed to respond better to a female's sympathetic ear than they ever had to Gaius or Merlin.

Visits occurred regularly to the Druid healers in the lower town, and the Citadel physicians were able to prevent a severe outbreak of fever by sequestering a portion of the city from contact with any others, while simultaneously providing all necessary draughts and treatments via the druids for the treatment of those affected. Merlin's foresight was proving valuable, and he revelled in the prevention of much distress and suffering throughout Camelot while still being able to tend to the needs of those who ailed. It was at this time that he truly appreciated the incredible load that Gaius had carried all these years, and thanked his lucky stars that Arthur had agreed so readily to welcoming the druids into his city.

There had been several further conversations with Davydd over seeings and portents being relayed from various druid clans in the area. It seemed that a total of three separate seers were aware of some unrest in 'the north', which always involved a young man with light eyes. Such incomplete reports only served to put Merlin further on edge, and his frustration at having no clear information to go on shortened his temper.

Merlin spent much time pondering this problem, wishing that he could know what was going on, in order to be able to better protect Arthur and Camelot. Once, and then again his thoughts dwelt on the Crystal of Neahtid; that artefact that he'd had only once in his hands, and had flung from him in fear and disgust at what it had shown him. (1) More than once he'd dismissed these thoughts as desperate ramblings, until he began to wonder if there was, perhaps, something in it, after all.

As Emrys, and wielding the full power of his destiny, he was able to scry and see at will. It was, however, a skill that he abhorred and avoided as much as possible, not wanting to once more experience the sickening knowledge that there were events unfolding that he may not be able to alter, or worse, may have a part in bringing to pass.

But perhaps the Crystal would be different for him, now. It was, after all, hewn from the Crystal Cave itself. Since his Quickening, Emrys had an increased affinity for the Cave and anything from it, which was why he'd initially created his Staff from the roots lining the heart-chamber. He wondered if this would allow him to use the Crystal of Neahtid any more easily. Pondering in his bed in the depths of night, he remembered flinging the artefact from him in horror. When he'd calmed down somewhat, he'd used his magic to dig it a grave, somewhere lost in the forest surrounding Camelot, and burying it deep. Although he'd never tried, he knew that he would be able to locate it again, though he'd be the only magic-user capable of doing so. Rolling to his side and fixing his gaze on the night-sky, Merlin resolved to speak to Arthur about this tomorrow.

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"The Crystal of what?" Arthur asked, confusion shadowing his face.

"Neahtid, Sire. You remember, we went with a party of Knights to regain it from the druids eight years ago when it was stolen by Mordred and Alvarr." Merlin deliberately refrained from mentioning Morgana's role in the painful sequence of events.

"That thing! Why would you want to go and find it again? You told me it was lost: that you'd accidentally dropped it into a gorge, and seen it washed away by the current."

"I know, Sire. That was, um…"

"Another of the…half-truths that you employed back then?" Arthur asked with an eyebrow situated remarkably like one of Gaius'.

"Um…yes. It was, Sire. Only because it was powerful and dangerous in the wrong hands. It showed me the future, things I was too young and too inexperienced to deal with at the time. So I buried it deep in the forest, never intending to touch it again."

"And why do you want to retrieve it now?" Arthur poured two goblets of wine from the setting on the table in his quarters and handed one to his friend.

Merlin accepted the gold etched vessel, and moved to his feet, pacing restlessly as he tried to make Arthur understand without alarming him further. "There have been reports, Sire, from the druids, which indicate there may be some danger to Camelot." Merlin stood still for a moment, and impaled Arthur with cold blue eyes. "The reports are varied, and unclear. But each of them mentions a danger from the north. A danger that includes a young dark-haired man with magic, who has light eyes, and seeks revenge against you."

Arthur blanched and drew in a sharp breath. "Mordred." He whispered.

Resuming his movement, Merlin took a mouthful of wine before answering: "That is my guess, Arthur. But I need to be sure; I need to know so that we can prepare."

"And this crystal thingy can help you do that?"

Slumping into a seat, Merlin exhaled loudly; "I think so. I hope so, "and buried his face in his goblet once more.

Assessing the warlock shrewdly Arthur observed quietly "And you really don't want to do this, do you Merlin?"

Shaking his head, Merlin answered bluntly "No. But I believe I must do this. Or attempt to, anyway." Silence fell for some time as the friends drank in silence, each lost in their thoughts.

"Then you shall, my friend," and Arthur clapped Merlin on the back, knocking the slender man forward onto the table and causing him to clutch reflexively at his goblet. "Tell me what you need."

Righting himself, Merlin muttered a phrase that sounded remarkably like "Dollop-headed dingle-twerp!" and carefully placed his goblet down, wiping the wine that had splashed into his face away with his sleeve, glaring at his liege-lord as he did so.

"Really, Merlin. I go to all the trouble of providing you with new robes, befitting your exalted status, and you use them as cleaning cloths?" Merlin shot a filthy look at his king before continuing on the previous conversation.

"I will need, Sire, a day away from my duties in order to trace down the Crystal and retrieve it. I will take Niniane with me; as a magic-user she may be able to help if there are any…uh…side-effects from touching the Crystal. Apart from that I will need nothing."

"Nothing? Not at all?" Arthur was confused.

Merlin laughed out loud "If you only knew, Arthur, all the times I have set off on some mission with even less preparation than this, and with nobody to assist me!" Sobering, he went on "You forget, my friend, that I can teleport, and Niniane, being of magic, can safely do so with me. We will not need horses, and can accomplish whatever we need to with magic. We can easily carry whatever we need with us. And we will attract less attention that way, too: two healers heading into the woods to collect herbs. Nothing unusual in that."

Nodding, Arthur acknowledged the truth of Merlin's statement. "I'm just, not used to this, you know? It doesn't feel right, sending you off into danger with no protection, without me."

At this Merlin lost control, and guffawed outright. "No protection? Have you forgotten who you're speaking to? And it's not the first time I've headed off alone in order to save your royal backside, either!"

Arthur gave a severely disgruntled look, and growled out "All right, all right! Don't rub it in, Emrys! It's just that…this is the first time I've known about one of these missions." He picked up his goblet, tracing his finger around the foot idly. "Was it really all that many times, Merlin?"

Merlin leaned forward, placing his hand on Arthur's forearm. "More than I can count, Arthur. One day, when we have time, I will sit and tell you of those I can remember: of the time I was stung by a serket, and the time I retrieved the Sword from Avalon, and the time I cast a spell on Morgana to block her magic. Yes, Arthur, it was many times."

Silence fell once more, to be broken by Arthur's quiet serious voice: "Never again, you hear me? Never again will you leave on one of these missions without discussing it with me. I may not be able to help, but at I want, at least, to know."

Merlin nodded wordlessly, and drank once more.

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Next morning saw Merlin and Niniane hurrying through their morning routine. Having prepared the necessary draughts the previous evening, they divided the rounds in half and distributed the vials as needed. Niniane's growing familiarity with Camelot was proving invaluable, and Merlin found himself availing himself of her expertise often and without second thought. Indeed, he could not remember the last time she had slept in the lower town since having moved some of her belongings to the old storage room.

She appeared content, and had seemingly adjusted well to her new circumstances. Most meals were taken in the Healing Rooms together as Merlin had adopted the habit of having food sent up regularly from the kitchens. As Court Physician he was entitled to this service, and saw no reason to deny himself the convenience. Ordering slightly more on the platter was easy, and for simplicity's sake he and the druidess had developed the habit of eating at the hard-slab wooden table morning and evening while they discussed the cases they had seen and treated. A solid working-bond had been established between them, and Merlin found himself ever grateful for that fact.

Discussion this morning had centred on the planned mission to locate and retrieve the Crystal.

Niniane had opened her brown eyes wide with surprise; "You know where it is?"

"Well, sort of. I remember the rough direction, but not its exact location." Merlin continued eating in his rapid and messy manner. "We were running from the druids and the bandits combined, and Arthur'd left me to guard the Crystal while the Knights slept. I looked into it and saw…well, you don't need to know that. Anyway, the power it contained frightened me, and I buried it using my magic. "

Awe showed in the woman's gaze. "You can use the Crystal of Neahtid?"

"Yes, of course I can."

Shaking her head Niniane answered "That is not a common skill, you know. Not for a healer, anyway."

"Sorry? What do you mean?" Merlin pushed his bowl aside, ready to learn something new from the druid's ancient store of knowledge.

"Well, most sorcerers have one, perhaps at the most two areas of expertise. They have their primary gifting in which they learn best, and then can maybe learn a few simple spells from another. But these usually take far more study and time to learn, and much effort to cast. And yet here you are; a gifted Healer, who says he is also a powerful Seer. And, from what I have heard, you also command a Dragon?" She shook her head in wonder. Although I should, perhaps, have expected this from you, Emrys."

Merlin was stunned by this revelation. "What, you mean that nobody can claim gifts in all the aspects of magic?"

"No, Emrys. Nobody can."

"Huh! And here I was thinking I was a pretty useless sorcerer. I used to get so frustrated when I couldn't master a new spell. Healing was the most difficult for me, and even now it is not my strongest magic. I have studied hard and long to become what I am today."

"Hard and long? You really have no idea, do you? The level of healing power you command is rarely mastered within a lifetime of study. And not only do you heal, but you do it without incantation."

"Well, yes…"

"And all of your magic is done without Incantation!"

"Now it is, yes. Since I went through the Heart of the Crystal Cave I admit that I am far stronger than I used to be. But before then, I used incantations all the time. Even now, when I'm doing new magic, or if its complex, I use the incantation the first time or two. After that I don't have to: I know the feel of it. And as a child the only wordless magic I could do was to move objects. It was only when I came to Camelot that I began to really learn magical incantations, and expand my skills and how to control them."

"I say it again: you really have no idea how unique you are, do you. No! Let me explain" as Merlin went to interrupt. "I was born amongst the druids, and I grew up learning magic all my life. You, on the other hand, have studied only for the last ten years to accomplish what you have. For a child to move objects with their will alone is un-heard of!"

"Well, I wasn't really a child." Merlin stated sheepishly. "Um…I was really a baby. Mother said I was moving things before I could speak."

"You see what I mean? Nobody has ever had that kind of power, Emrys. And to display it at that age would indicate it is your primary gifting. This would usually mean that other areas of magic would be difficult, if not impossible for you to learn. But not so with you: you Heal, you Fight, you Defend, you Teleport, you Scry and See. And you have your own brand of magical ability that I cannot describe. All this, with only two handfuls of years studying; and most of that was from a single book, and one teacher. Druid children are brought up in a magical community; exposed to multiple teachings and people, in order to find what their gifting is, and how they learn best. And even then they only usually manage one or two types of magic. What you do is impossible, Emrys. Or should be, anyway."

Both magic-users fell silent. Niniane was lost in thought, contemplating the isolation Emrys must have endured if really was so ignorant of his unique gifts and power. She was awed that she had even seen the man, let alone work with him.

Merlin pondered once again that he was set apart. Even amongst kin he was different, and always would be. His yearning for a place of belonging seemed destined to never be fulfilled. His thoughts then moved on to his own feelings of inadequacy. With no bench-mark to measure himself against, he'd assumed that his failure or difficulty in mastering a certain spell or skill was due entirely to his own weakness. What Niniane was telling him was that he shouldn't have been able to learn it at all!

He remembered back to the time he practised all night to bring alive a stone dog (2) to thwart an evil threat, and the exhaustion he'd felt then. Flicking forward, he remembered the desperation with which he'd cast a spell on a lance in order to allow Lancelot to slay the Griffin. (3) The sense of failure, of people's lives resting on him had been crushing in both these circumstances and the many others that followed. And yet, again, Niniane who'd grown up with magic said it should have been impossible for him to do any of this.

His thoughts branched onto another track: 'Surely Gaius must have known this? Why did he encourage me to attempt these things which were impossible? Why didn't he tell me?' A moment's thought revealed the answer: 'because he didn't know what my limits might be, so he presented me with impossible challenges to stretch me and make me grow. And I did!'

Merlin smiled wryly at Gaius' deviousness.

"What? " Niniane asked; "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, really. Just somebody I need to talk to. Anyway, we have a task today. Let's get going." And with that the two had set off on their morning rounds.

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Mid-morning, several hours later, two figures could be seen walking into the forest surrounding Camelot. A glance informed a casual observer that they were Merlin, the new Court Physician in his blue Over-robe, and his assistant Niniane. It was whispered by some that she was a druid, but since she wore no robes, many discounted this. Merlin carried over his shoulder a square leather satchel, and Niniane sported a similar one: they were off gathering herbs for healing then, and the casual observer promptly dismissed them from mind.

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As soon as they were hidden by the trees, Merlin came to a stop and closed his eyes, preparing to listen to the forest around him. He was searching for the telltale power of the Crystal of Neahtid, and believed that a few minutes' search would show him its location.

Niniane regarded him, her face creased with puzzlement; "What are you doing?"

"I'm listening."

"Sorry? Listening for what?"

"For the Crystal. Sh…there." Opening his eyes, Merlin pointed with confidence toward the northwest. "It's in this direction, about 4 leagues away."

"How can you know that? You said you couldn't remember exactly where it was."

"I told you, I can feel it, I can sense the magic in it."

"How?"

"Hmm…how to explain it. Maybe I can just show you. You can use mind-speak?"

"Yes, I can."

"Then close your eyes and I will show you." Niniane obeyed, and Merlin placed his hand on her forehead and concentrated. "There. Can you see it?"

"I…I think so. Yes." Niniane's' mind was filled with an image she presumed Emrys had placed there. She was overwhelmed with a feeling of life surrounding her. Focusing on this, she identified what she thought were trees and bushes. Casting further she could sense the various animals. Far away, a pale orange glow stood, humming faintly. It appeared to draw her in some way."

Merlin removed his hand. "There, do you see now?"

"Yes. The…that 'orange', that was the Crystal?"

"Yes. I am familiar with its resonance, and was able to find it fairly quickly."

"But it will take us hours to walk there. And then we need to walk back."

Smiling wickedly, Merlin answered "But I don't intend to walk."

"Oh, King Arthur has loaned you a horse?"

"No." laughing. "I plan to teleport. Take a good hold of my arm and I can transport both of us." He extended his left arm to her.

"But you can't transport to somewhere you haven't been!" Niniane was frightened and unsure.

"Normally, yes. But I have a powerful anchor at the other end to guide me. It's alright; trust me."

Nodding, the thin woman grasped his arm in a tight two-handed grip. So tightly that Merlin half expected his hand to go blue. Refraining from saying anything, he closed his eyes, focused, and flexed his will, moving both of them instantaneously. Opening his eyes once more Merlin steadied his companion as she adjusted to the abrupt change before releasing her and extending his hands waist-height. He walked forward slowly, moving slightly to his right as if drawn by a string before stopping. "Here. It's here." Merlin opened his eyes and looked down at a piece of ground that looked remarkably like any other piece of ground he'd ever seen.

"Emrys…" the druid began.

Merlin winced at the name, and brought his thumb and forefinger to his nose, shaking his head in frustration as he did so.

"Niniane, do you think we can leave the 'Emrys' stuff?"

"But it's your name."

"No. My name is Merlin; that is what my mother named me. Emrys is a kind of title, an identification that only the druids use. I'd much rather be called Merlin. Emrys makes me feel…different. Kind of set apart. Please?" Pleading blue eyes pinned brown puzzled ones.

"Of course. Yes, if it means that much to you Em…Merlin."

Nodding in satisfaction, Merlin focused once more on the patch of earth before him. "Thank you! Now stand back while I focus on this." A subtle rumbling began, and Niniane watched as a giant mole-hill formed on the ground. Quickly she focused her senses on what Emrys was doing. She sensed the 'orange' in the earth, many feet down and it was moving upwards slowly but steadily. With a final pull she saw the top of a glowing glass-like shape appear, burrowing up from under the soil. Eventually it sat, naked and exposed on a small hill of earth. Turning to her Emry…Merlin asked "Are you a Seer at all Niniane?"

"No. Not one bit!" She laughed.

"Then would you pick it up for me and wrap it in this cloth? I don't want to touch it; not out here. I will use it back in Camelot, when we can be more secure."

Quickly Niniane stepped forward and lifted the Crystal, feeling nothing but a mild tingle in her fingers she wrapped it in the cloth Merlin held and placed it in her collecting satchel.

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The rest of the afternoon was spent in gathering herbs. As Emrys said, they would be expected to return with something to show for the afternoon away. They wandered in the general direction of Camelot, gathering as they worked companionably. After an hour or so they came across a slow-moving creek and stopped to drink. As they balanced on the bank she was surprised to hear Merlin murmur a name: "Freya."

Niniane glanced up quickly, gasping in surprise. There was the shape of a dark-haired Lady in the water, and she seemed to be talking to Merlin. Merlin had the most peculiar expression on his face; kind of soft and happy, but sad as well. "Em…Merlin? Who is she? What is she?"

The warlock glanced sideways, a smile lighting his face. "Niniane, I would like to introduce you to Freya. She is the Lady of the Lake, and an old friend of mine."

Nodding at the shape in the water Niniane greeted "Hello Freya. It is good to meet any friend of Merlin's."

A musical pleasant voice answered her "And it is good to meet you too, Niniane. I came to warn you, Merlin. There is great unrest." Merlin's expression abruptly changed.

"What unrest? Does it involve Mordred?"

"In a way. It also involves Morgana. I have sent my Vilia to her, but she is still angry and will not listen to them or to me. She is trying to contact Mordred, Merlin. She is aware of his hatred and his need for revenge, and she plans to assist him. With his gifts I fear that he may be able to speak with her, and form an alliance. And that would be a terrible thing. She also calls out to the Dochraid, and has been fuelling the crone's hatred of you. She has not forgotten the time you wounded her with Arthur's sword." (4) She and Morgana together will be a formidable force.

Merlin sighed. "Since when is anything those three did anything but terrible? Thank you, Freya. It is for this reason that we have come today to find the Crystal of Neahtid. I am aware that there is unrest, but I need more information. I will try and see what is happening when we get back to Camelot. Thank you, Freya, for your help."

The Lady faded from Niniane's sight, and Merlin sat staring into the water, melancholy in every line of his countenance. Abruptly he stood and grasped her arm. "You ready?" he asked briefly. She nodded, and was once again lifted from her feet by his magic, appearing once more in the forest outside of Camelot. They turned together and began moving towards the city. Merlin silent and worried, Niniane puzzled. 'I warrant there is a story there, between Merlin and Freya. I wonder what it involved? And how do they know one another?'

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(1) Season Two, Episode Eleven 'The Witch's Quickening.'

(2) Season One, Episode Two 'Valiant'.

(3) Season One, Episode Five 'Lancelot'.

(4) Season Five, Episode Nine 'With all my Heart'.