I don't own any characters other than Elle Knight. That credit goes to the BBC

26

Noon came too quickly for Arthur. He was frantic. There were two...what had Elle called them...mages in the castle. One in the dungeons and the other only God knew where. Merlin. Incompetent, bumbling, idiot Merlin was a sorcerer. Somehow it didn't seem fair. Poor, clumsy, and magical to boot. Merlin had no luck.

Arthur paced obsessively. He had no idea what was happening outside the council door. His father had not permitted him to leave his side and Morgana was locked in her own chambers to circumvent Merlin's rescue. Gwen had come in with their breakfasts, and quickly whispered to Arthur that Elle was planning to get Merlin out. Arthur waited as the minutes ticked by, but he didn't hear the warning bells signifying an escape. Either Elle was very, very good, or his men were complete idiots. Or worse, she hadn't managed to free him. Merlin had saved his life. He couldn't be killed for that. Arthur would never forgive himself.

"It's time." Uther was almost gleeful. "Come, Arthur."

Arthur had no choice but to follow his father out.

Normally, Uther stood watched an execution from the balcony. Apparently that was not intimate enough this time. Uther swept down into the courtyard, his red cloak billowing behind him. People had already gathered, their eyes wide, their faces carefully emotionless. They all knew Merlin, knew what a kind boy he was, albeit a bit ungainly. This execution cut at their very hearts. Arthur was deposited behind a line of his own knights, where he would have to watch but would be unable to intervene.

And then they brought Merlin out and Arthur's hope vanished. Elle hadn't gotten him away. He walked quietly, head bowed, between two large men-at-arms that looked sick to their stomachs. Arthur couldn't understand. Where was Elle? Had she fled? Did she really just leave Merlin to his fate? She was evil. She was a coward.

She was... on the scaffolding.

How…

"Uther Pendragon!"

People whispered behind their hands in shock and fear. The girl seemed to have appeared from nowhere and Uther hadn't noticed. She stood, disheveled and intense on the steps to the chopping block, a resolute road block.

Uther was forced to halt. "What is the meaning of this?"

"This has gone on long, enough, your Majesty. It's time to put your anger away."

Her words echoed off the stone. Arthur stopped his incessant threats and howls of anger to hear. Morgana opened her window and peered into the courtyard to watch her vision unfold.

"You insolent child, how dare you! Guards!"

"Touch her and I'll run you through myself!" Arthur shouted. The guards froze, not certain whose orders to obey. Uther was king, but Arthur looked mad enough to back up his threat.

"This boy used magic!" Uther spat.

Elle laughed. Laughed and the people watched, captivated by the pureness of the sound. "Oh, Uther, who cares?"

The king seethed. "The people of Camelot…"

"You've been killing the people of Camelot," Elle snapped. "You've taken away mothers, fathers, and children. You make them hate you a little more with every senseless death. You tear their hearts out. Just look at him, Uther. Do you really think that Merlin is a sorcerer?" Elle was the only thing that stood between Merlin and the chopping block. Her face was dark, her eyes burning. "And be honest with yourself. Do you think he'd put up with you throwing him in the stocks every other day if he could use magic? Would he allow people to treat him like a workhorse? Do you think he would be a servant, if he had any talent for magic?"

The sky was quickly darkening. Rain began to spatter the cobble stones. People looked nervously to the king. If there was going to be a beheading, it would have to happen soon or it would be rained out. Many of them routed for the rain.

Elle took a deep breath. "Do you think it would have been so easy for me to enchant him if he were a sorcerer?"

Uther stared at her disbelieving. He had thought that this foolish rescue attempt would happen, but he didn't think she would take it so far.

"You realize it, now, don't you? Merlin didn't do magic, your Majesty. I did." Her words were greeted by a clash of thunder. "I've had you all enchanted from the moment you found me in the wood. Merlin is innocent. I bewitched him, but he's no good to me anymore. I can hardly use him now that you're watching him so closely."

Merlin stared at her with complete fury. She was lying. She was out and out lying. She hadn't enchanted anyone. Her gifts didn't work that way. She was going to get herself killed and for what? For him? He couldn't let her. He wouldn't. He opened his mouth to speak, but his words wouldn't come out. His mouth went suddenly dry. He managed only a painful croak.

He glared at Elle and she gave him a sad smile. She was going to rescue him, like it or not.

Uther drew his sword. "Enough. I understand that you want to protect your lover, Elizabeth…" his voice was choked off by his own surprise.

Elle lifted her hands to the sky as the rain suddenly poured down in earnest. Through the sheets of rain, everyone could see the spiral of water that twisted around Elle at impossible angles. Uther let out a shout of rage. Merlin hung his head, defeated. Arthur stared at Elle in disbelief.

"You can't shut it out, Uther. It's everywhere. It's in the Earth." Morgana felt dizzy, like something was moving through her. The water seemed to pulse around Elle.

"It's in the wind." Merlin's eyes turned gold as a breeze kicked up behind him, sending Elle's soaked curls back in the gale. He hadn't done that. Was she…was she invoking their elements?

"It's in the fire." Something stirred inside Arthur, deeper and bigger than he could understand. Elle was faintly glowing, now, her eyes challenging.

"And it's in the water." The deluge suddenly stopped. Rain still fell but it never hit the ground. It held about their heads, above Elle's outstretched hands.

"The magic is in your people, Uther like it or not. It isn't something you can fight or hate. It simply is. You want a Camelot void of magic? You'll have a Camelot void of life."

Morgana cheered. Her voice was the first, but it was quickly joined by others. Soon the entire courtyard was alive with triumphant shouts. The girl had not even been in Camelot two weeks, but she was their champion. She was the only one brave enough to show Uther the truth. Magic was alive and well in Camelot. Uther hadn't purged it at all. He had simply taught it to hide, to practice in secret, to be strong.

Morgana's vision had come true.

The rain stopped and the sun made a welcome return. Elle lowered her arms and the ceiling of water hovered above their heads, casting strange patterns of light on the stone. Merlin worried about the sort of magic Elle was calling on. She looked tired already, weakened by acts too big for her gift.

Uther was murderous. "You've bewitched us all." Uther pointed his drawn sword at the crowd. He cast a sympathetic glance at Merlin, saw the boy's rage, and misinterpreted it. Uther thought Merlin was angry at being enchanted, not angry at Elle for being so so stupid. "I can see what you have done to this poor idiot. Your fate is sealed."

Elle laughed again. This time the sound was without mirth. It was a cold, horrible laugh. "My fate is not in your hands, Uther Pendragon."

Merlin didn't like the sound of that, nor the look of resignation that crossed her features when she said it. Elle smiled as the water roof she had been holding up crashed down on them. Merlin felt the sting of the cold water and cool hands on his throat. He sputtered, his voice back. His shackles clattered to the ground the same moment he heard someone whisper, "Forgive me, Merlin."

He was free.

And Elle was gone.

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