"What's going on?" Veronica yelled as she ran down the stairs.
Merlin looked up and for the first time Veronica realized that she was in the men's quarters. Ignoring the feeling that she shouldn't be there she took in the scene. Balthazar lay on his bed, unconscious. His jacket and shirt had been removed. Horvath stood beside him, his face stained with soot. The smell of smoke permeated the room, possibly coming from the jacket that had been discarded into the corner.
"I've healed his wounds," Merlin said calmly, "It should take him a little longer to wake up though."
"How was he wounded?" asked Veronica, looking between the two men, "You just had to do some containment spells!"
"He…he let his shields drop," Horvath said, "I had to drag him out myself."
"What are you talking about?" demanded Veronica.
"We…we found Letholdus," Horvath said, his hand tightening into a fist, "And Catherine, and Albin. They…they'd been murdered."
Veronica felt the color drain out of her face.
"What?" she asked faintly.
"Mordred did it," Horvath said furiously, "I know he did. So does Balthazar."
"Can you back it up?" snapped Merlin.
"No, but we've got to do something," Horvath said irritably, "Balthazar…he kept muttering how we can't do anything, but we've got to-"
"He's quite right," Merlin said, "I'm surprised that he could see it in his condition and you, who are normally so sensitive to these things and in full possession of your wits, cannot. Things are already bad enough without this complication."
"The Blakesons' murders are a complication?" demanded Horvath furiously.
"Mordred is toying with us!" roared Merlin, pounding his fist into the wall, "He is trying destroy the very foundations of the kingdom, and he knows that to do that he needs to break us first. Him and that damned mother of his!"
He breathed in heavily. Quietly Veronica moved next to Balthazar and touched his face gently with her fingertips.
"We have no proof," Merlin said quietly, "If we accuse them now it will look as though we're trying to take attention away from the Queen."
There was a deep and pregnant silence.
"What are we going to do then?" asked Horvath.
"Think," Merlin snapped, "Over the next few days things are going to get much, much worse. Four witnesses means death for both Guinevere and the King's sanity."
Rubbing his temples Merlin turned away.
"I need to get back to the castle," he muttered, "Horvath, come with me. I need your political sense with me now."
Clenching his hand into a fist Horvath gestured to Balthazar and said;
"We can't leave him alone."
"I'm still here," Veronica said, drawing herself up, "You two go. I'll take care of him."
Merlin looked at her gratefully before grabbing Horvath by the shoulder and pulling him along. Veronica watched him close the door behind him. Calmly she pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. Balthazar was still unconscious, and Merlin had seen to it that his wounds were no longer life threatening. However, she could see that the flames were going to leave scars on his arms and shoulders for the rest of his life.
She took a deep breath in. Perhaps it would be better if he didn't wake up any time soon. It wasn't going to be easy for him when he did. Veronica knew all too well what he was feeling, why someone else had had to remove him from the scene. She would've given almost anything for the man she loved not to have had to experience what she had ten years ago.
Veronica sighed again. As she did she noticed that his hand was clenched tightly around something. Very gently she started to pry his fingers apart. Balthazar shuffled in his sleep and Veronica froze. When he settled again she resumed her task. Finally she separated his fingers to reveal a silver ring in a bed of a festering blister.
Gasping she withdrew her hand. Calming down a little she removed the ring and started to heal the blister. Quite suddenly Balthazar's hand tightened around hers. The gesture was so sudden that she nearly screamed, but managed to restrain herself. Balthazar's eyes opened, and for a minute she saw incomprehension. Then his eyes became wild and he tried to get up.
Placing a hand on his chest Veronica started to push him back down.
"Shhhh," she said, "You're safe. Rest."
Reluctantly he allowed her to push him back down. She put the ring back into his now healed hand and closed his fingers over it. Balthazar stared at his hand for a minute before whispering;
"They're gone."
"I know," Veronica murmured.
"They'd just been left there…"
"I know."
"They…I could smell it," he said, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, "Their skin was burning, it was…it was…"
"I know."
"They were my family," he said, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes, "He was my brother and Catherine was a sister…Albin was so damn young…"
"I know."
Balthazar opened his eyes.
"I…I can't…they…" he pleaded desperately.
Looking at him sadly Veronica tightened her grip around his hand. She had to let him understand, understand that she had been there, she had felt exactly what he was feeling. However, there was the only thing she could say that would adequately convey that. Veronica just hoped that Balthazar understood.
"I know," she said, more slowly now.
He blinked at her, the tears freely pouring down his cheeks. Biting down on her lip Veronica moved her free hand to the side of his face.
"I know," she repeated quietly.
.
.
.
Horvath sighed and rubbed his temples. Four days had passed since the death of Balthazar's family. Events were now moving quickly, just as Merlin had predicted. King Laertes in the south was standing up for his sister, proclaiming that the evidence was false and a blatant attempt for Arthur to procure a new wife. He was threatening war now, and this had many nobles anxious to start the trial.
Arthur and Merlin had been stalling the proceedings for Guinevere's trial, but despite their best attempts the trial would begin the next day. For some reason Morgana had called Merlin into a meeting, and Merlin had warily had his apprentices accompany him to the meeting hall of his Keep.
The doors opened at the end of the hall. Horvath turned, expecting to see Veronica and Merlin. Instead Morgana walked in. Horvath made a quick expression of distaste before turning away.
"Aren't we ungallant today," Morgana observed.
"Lady Morgana," Horvath said stiffly, "I have nothing to say to you."
"Hm, what an angry young man," she said in the same tone of dryness she had used earlier, "I do wonder what I have done to arouse such ire."
"A couple of murders sound familiar you disgusting bitch?" he snarled before he could stop himself.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw her smile.
"Why, of course not," she replied, "Why must you hate me such? We're really rather alike."
"I doubt that," snarled Horvath, spinning around.
She cocked her head, an almost sweet expression on her face.
"Doesn't it disgust you the way Arthur is ruining this kingdom?" she asked, "All the peasants elevated to high stations? Magic no longer given the place it deserves. Merlin is the only magical advisor when we are the ones who should be ruling. You see it when those other, weaker apprentices don't, or perhaps they're just satisfied to remain on the sidelines. You though, you know that you belong in the spotlight. But people tend to remember Letholdus' brother and the beautiful one more than they remember you. Rather unfair, don't you think?"
Horvath recoiled from her as though he'd been slapped.
"You deserve more," she said, "You know you do, and you want more. It was much the same with me. Do you suppose it's fun giving precedence to my baby sister every damn day? We both want everything that comes your way."
Morgana's smile broadened as Horvath looked at her in horror. How did she know he thought like that? Some of him urged him to tell her that he did, to continue the conversation in the way that she was obviously inviting him to. Irritation filled him though; no one should know that he thought that about the people around him, especially not about his fellow apprentices. Instead he straightened and spoke coldly to her.
"However you know this," he said, "it matters not. Nor does it matter what I think. I'd never side with you-"
"-against Merlin and his other pets," she finished for him, still smiling, "We'll see, we'll see."
Narrowing his eyes Horvath opened his mouth to say something biting. Instead the doors opened again and Veronica and Merlin came in. Merlin glared at Morgana, who fixed him with that strange smile again. Steadfastly ignoring Morgana Veronica came and stood beside her fellow apprentice.
"Is Balthazar coming?" asked Horvath quietly.
Veronica shook her head. She had a pained expression and Horvath put his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. Balthazar had lain on his bed for the past three days, saying little and eating even less. Veronica had been his constant companion, and Horvath knew that his condition must be making her remember the loss of her own family.
Her eyes flickered down to his hand on her shoulder, and then to Horvath's face. She blinked and moved her shoulder away a little. Horvath immediately removed his hand. He looked at her in surprise, and she bit her lip. Suddenly he realized that the contact must have been making her uncomfortable. Quickly he ducked his head in apology, although it hurt to have to do that, and she nodded to acknowledge it.
"What do you want here Lady Morgana?" asked Merlin.
"No one is being very nice to me today," she said, folding her arms, "And here I am with a solution to all your problems."
Merlin's eyes narrowed.
"What if Mordred was unable to testify tomorrow, him and his friends?" she said, "It's so easy to get sick, and if they get sick, then they could forget everything in their delirium. Such awful things."
"And if…they were to become ill," Merlin said slowly, "What would their reward be?"
Morgana smiled.
"I want Mordred acknowledged as Arthur's heir," she said, tilting her chin upwards.
Horvath stared at her, astonished. Veronica had a similar look on her face, but she remained silent. After a few seconds Horvath felt a snort escape from his lips. Morgana glared at him, but he said;
"Um, as the son of a Duchess of Lothain, and as a mere Count, he has absolutely no chance of becoming King of England," he said, "He has no connections to the crown; I think I've got a better chance than him and my chances are nil."
Horvath laughed loudly. He stopped when he realized that Veronica was just smiling at his joke and Merlin was looking grave.
"Yes," Morgana said tightly, "as Count his chances are rather slender. But as the son of the King of England he has a good deal of a claim."
Eyes widening Horvath exchanged a quick look with Veronica.
"Oh, did he not tell you?" laughed Morgana, pointing to Merlin, "Did he not tell you the true father of my darling boy?"
"You'd be excommunicated if you tried to play that card," Merlin snarled, "No one would follow you then."
"Just let Arthur acknowledge me as his sister and Mordred as his nephew then."
"But…" Veronica said, "you just said that Arthur was Mordred's father…"
The silence that followed her words were more poignant than anything anyone could've said. Veronica looked sick and Horvath felt somewhat nauseous.
"He really didn't tell you," tsked Morgana, "Never wondered why hostilities ceased between Lothain, Orkney, and England around the same time Lot married my sister? That was when she found out. I, on the other hand, put the knowledge to good use. You see, the two of us had the same mother, so I'm Arthur's sister and the mother of his child."
"And the seducer of a drunk nineteen-year-old who had no clue who you were," Merlin said, "You must be very proud of yourself, you who did that knowingly."
"It doesn't matter now," she said, "He'll have to capitulate or watch hiswife burn for her infidelities."
"I'll stop it," Merlin said, "I'll always stop you, everything you've done in your life, everything you've assisted with. I'll see you fall."
She leaned in and pointed an accusatory finger at him.
"You forget yourself Merlin," she said, "You forget that I too have heard the Arcana Nineve."
A silence stole over the room. Horvath looked questioningly at Veronica, who shrugged. Horvath knew that an Arcana was a prophecy, a great world changing one that a seer would have once in their life. However, he'd never heard of an Arcana Nineve before. Merlin drew himself up and his lips into a snarl.
"You don't deserve to say that name, sullying it with your filthy lips," he growled, "Know this; Arthur will never acknowledge Mordred. He knows what you and that boy are; a whore and a bastard."
Fury flashed in Morgana's eyes. She started to speak but Merlin spoke over here;
"Remove yourself form my Keep," he said, "Before I break my vows and strike you down where you stand."
Horvath had never heard Merlin speak like this before, never heard him so incensed. Face paling Morgana turned on her heel and swept from the room. The door slammed behind her and Merlin slumped down. He placed a hand on a pillar and started to breath hard. Uncertainly Horvath stepped forward.
"Master?" he asked, "What 'other' things has she done?"
Merlin looked up at him. His eyes flickered over to Veronica before saying;
"For another time."
"And the Arcana Nineve?"
Merlin sighed.
"Something I heard a long time ago," he said quietly, "And something that must never be mentioned again."
Frowning Horvath took a step back. He didn't like information being kept from him, especially when it was so obviously important. Merlin didn't notice though and drew himself up.
"We need to formulate a plan," he said, "I cannot leave Camelot, it will be noticed. But my apprentices, no one shall notice you."
Merlin turned to the two of them.
"Horvath," he said, "You must travel to Cardinal Invictus in Rome. Use a teleporter ring. He is not antagonistic to magic users and you are crafty; he may listen to you. You must ask for a Papal Bull demanding that the charges be dismissed. He will understand the delicate political situation and use his influence."
Horvath nodded.
"Veronica," continued Merlin, "You must go to King Laertes, he will respect an emissary I send. Tell him he cannot invade, instead he should set aside a fortified castle near the border that Guinevere can flee to."
She nodded.
"We need to find Lancelot," Merlin said, running his fingers through his hair, "He's the only one who can pull off a rescue. He probably doesn't even know a trial is going on, that fool never did understand politics. But who…who can I send?"
"Send me."
As one they turned to the doors. Balthazar stood there, his face stoic.
"I'll find him," he said.