"Quickly Now" (Rose)

I waste no time in following after the prince, not wanting to be near the king for any unnecessary amount of my life. Merlin shadows me, then charges ahead after we've left and twisted about the corner.

"Arthur," he says with humility and stumbles just slightly in his sentence, "Thank you."

"For what exactly?" Arthur asks- his tone a bit on the bored side.

"For ..."

"Lying to my father to save your worthless hide?"

"Yes," Merlin admits.

"If you ever put me in that position again, I'll clap you in irons myself," he takes a harsh route, "And, Merlin," he closes in on the serving boy, "You'd better hope we find that crystal."

Merlin remains still, breathing just a little harder. I wait until Arthur is well on his way before attempting to calm him at all.

"Don't listen to him, Merlin," I take his hand for reassurance the way he did for me all those nights he slept on the hard floor, "They would have gotten to it with or without Arthur's chambers being locked. Whoever it is obviously knows their way around the castle or the task wouldn't have been that easy."

He nods, "I know, you're right. But I can't help but take the blame."

"In the end, it doesn't matter who did it or how it was accomplished. What does matter is that we get it back and make sure it doesn't happen again," I give his hand a squeeze, resulting in him holding mine tighter. I'm hoping that he can't feel my heartbeat through my tensed hand, because it's pounding wildly.

"Quickly now," he mutters gently, "I know who did this, and I want to talk to Gaius about it."

"Ask and Tell" (Merlin)

We are light on our feet as we pad to Gaius' quarters, and I'm trying my best to not lose my train of thought, despite the fact that it is a whole new level of feeling holding Rose's small hand firmly in mine while we are both completely conscious and surprisingly willing.

I don't let go as I open the door to find our elderly caretaker has taken it upon himself to start supper. "Oh, hello," he greets us kindly, "I was wondering where you two were off to. I hope you've been behaving properly," his eyes trail down to our hands, causing us to let go faster than the crack of a whip.

"Here, Gaius. Let me," Rose offers to relieve him of dinner duty, "Merlin brings you news that you should hear promptly and without distraction."

'Thank you,' I tell her in my mind.

'You're welcome,' I see her smile warmly while chopping up some herbs. 'I didn't want your night to be totally deplorable,' her voice fills my head with a tone that makes me want to laugh.

Gaius and I seat ourselves at the tiny piece of furniture we use as our dinner table. I spare no detail in recounting the day's events or my conclusion.

Our meal is now before us with Rose at her beside me. It is now my mentor's turn to ask and tell.

"Morgana stole the crystal?" he asks in a way that seeks affirmation.

"I'm certain of it," I state directly, "I caught her in Arthur's chambers. She must have taken his keys."

His face submerses in thoughtful urgency, "Can you prove any of this?"

"Not exactly, b-" I softly mutter.

"Merlin," he interrupts in a fatherly manner.

"She did it," I retort, "I'd bet my life on it." My voice remains hushed and serious.

"Merlin, you go accusing the king's ward without proof that's exactly what you'd be doing," he takes the logical approach.

"I know. You're right," I agree.

"So, what do we do?" Rose asks the question of the hour.

"It doesn't make sense," the old man addresses, trying to digest the situation, "Why would Morgana steal such a thing?"

"Uther said it was an instrument of magic," I inform.

"Do you know anything about it, Gaius?" she eagerly prods.

"There are many legends about the crystal," he tells us.

"Is it some kind of weapon?" I ask curiously.

"That I don't know," Gaius admits.

"You've heard of it," I confirm.

"Indeed," he nods, "The sorcerers of the past believe it held the secret of time itself."
"What did they mean by that?" I keep the questions going. I need to know all I can. We must know what we're up against.

"I'm not sure," he pauses in thought, "The crystal is an artifact of the Old Religion. There is only one who could tell you more."

"Who?" Rose questions innocently. I forgot she has no idea of our other "friend" who is full of knowledge on such things. I know just of whom Gaius speaks so I take a moment before turning to her.

"You should come with me," I stand, looking down at her, "I know you wouldn't want to miss out on meeting him."