Here's the next chapter! Sorry it took so long!
Chapter 46: The Secret Sharer Pt 2
When Merlin got back later that evening, he immediately went to his and Cade's room, knocking on it first so that he wouldn't walk in on his sister. "Come in." she said and Merlin entered. The teen was laying on her bed, a book in hand. She smiled when she saw her brother, putting the book down and sitting up. "So how'd it go with Agravaine?" she asked.
Merlin looked at Cade, holding up the dagger. "He wants me to give this to Arthur."
"That's oddly kind of him." Cade said.
Merlin nodded. "I agree." He got a thoughtful look on his face. "There must be something planned."
"It's Agravaine, Merlin." Cade said. "But you don't really have much of a choice, do you?"
Merlin shook his head. "We'll just have to deal with whatever Agravaine has planned." The two siblings left so that Merlin could bring the dagger to Arthur. They crept to his chambers, finding Arthur fast asleep inside. Cade stood by the door while Merlin walked over to Arthur's bed to put the dagger beside his bed.
Before he could walk away, however, the alarm bells started ringing, which woke Arthur up and prevented the quick escapes of Merlin and Cade. The next thing they knew, Agravaine and several guards were tearing apart Gaius's chambers.
"My lord, he was seen riding away from the city." Agravaine said.
"No, that can't be true." Merlin said. Cade looked around at the now destroyed chambers, a frown on her face. She turned when she heard Leon come in.
"Sire," he started. He walked over to Agravaine. "You were right. A white stallion has been taken from the royal stables."
Merlin looked at Cade, both siblings sharing the same look of confusion. Arthur spoke. "Where would he be going? Why leave at this time of night?" he asked.
"I could hazard a guess, sire, but I think a thorough search of his belongings may well provide us with the truth." Agravaine said. It took all of Cade's self control (along with an arm placed in front of her by Merlin) to prevent her from lashing out at him, Cade just barely keeping her magic under control.
Merlin frowned when the guards soon found a book on sorcery and witchcraft under some papers on Gaius's desk. "That can't be his." Merlin said.
Agravaine raised an eyebrow and took the book from the guard, walking over to Arthur. "We shall see, won't we?" And with that, Agravaine and the guards left. Arthur looked at Merlin and Cade.
"We'll look into this, but I don't think it's Gaius's." he said.
"No, it isn't!" Cade snapped, Merlin squeezing her shoulder as the king left the room. She turned to her brother. "There's no way that Gaius would do anything like this!"
Merlin nodded. "I know, but right now, there isn't anything we can do."
The next morning, Arthur and Agravaine were in the main hall, Arthur sitting at the table with the book in front of him. He held it up. "And this was found in Gaius's chambers?" he said.
"I am as disappointed as you, sire." Agravaine said. Merlin and Cade glared at him from across the room as he continued speaking. "Someone so close, so trusted… Well, it's not merely the discovery that he was a sorcerer, is it? It's, it's the lies." He sighed and leaned on the table, shaking his head. "Lies and years of betrayal." Arthur flipped through the book before slamming it shut and putting it on the table. "I know it's hard to believe, isn't it, sire? But we both saw him refuse to condemn magic. We both knew he was hiding something. Neither of us want to believe it, but now, with this hasty departure in the middle of the night… These are not the actions f an innocent man, sire. There can be no doubt. Gaius is the traitor." There was silence for a moment as Arthur sat back in his chair. Agravaine continued. "I'll send out a search party as soon as possible."
"No." Arthur said. Agravaine turned back in shock. "What purpose will that serve? Let him run."
"As you wish, sire." Agravaine said, bowing his head. He started walking out, looking over at the siblings as he did so, who glared after him in return as he left the room.
Once the door closed, Merlin spoke. "How can you believe this?" he asked.
"I know how you must feel." Arthur said, looking over at them. "We questioned him. He's been consorting with sorcerers. He more or less admitted to it."
"And that makes him a traitor?" Merlin asked.
"Why run if you have nothing to hide?"
"He's given his life to this kingdom. He would never betray you."
"Then explain his actions."
"Alright." Cade said. "They're lies. Gaius would never, ever run off in the night."
"Look, I know it's hard." Arthur said. "No break-ins were reported. His possessions are missing. A horse has been stolen."
"He would not leave without saying goodbye to us." Merlin said. He turned his head away and continued speaking. "Agravaine has made this story up."
Arthur sighed. "I shall ignore that last comment."
"Because he's your uncle, you will not see who he really is." Merlin continued.
"Merlin!" Merlin stopped speaking. "I've had my heart broken enough already today. I don't want to lose another friend." Arthur stood, grabbing the book and beginning to walk out of the room. "Gaius condemned himself. There's no more to be said." He threw the book on the table and walked out the door.
"There's no possible way Gaius would ever do something like this." Cade said, looking up at Merlin. Merlin nodded slowly.
"I know, but whatever is going to be done will need to be done by us." He said.
"What else is new?" Cade asked, eliciting a small smirk out of Merlin, who looked at her with a small smile.
"Very true." He gestured for Cade to follow him and the two made their way to Gaius's chambers.
In a cave far outside of Camelot, Gaius was waking up. Morgana crept up and began stroking his cheek. "You've had a difficult journey. You must be tired. It's time to wake up." Gaius's eyes peeled open as he looked around. "It's time for the fun to begin."
Gaius frowned when he discovered he was unable to move. He looked back at Morgana. "Get on with it, Morgana. Whatever you want to do, just do it now. I'm not afraid to die."
"Dying is the easy part. I wouldn't be in such a hurry if I were you. My friend here's going to help me get some information." She gestured to a bald man standing behind her. "Some information you might be reluctant to give. I want you to tell me where Emrys and Catrin are."
"I don't know anyone called Emrys or Catrin."
"Oh, I think you do." Morgana said.
"Do what you will. I will never tell you anything, Morgana." Gaius said.
"Alator is no ordinary torturer. He's a Catha… priest of the Old Religion. He has at his disposal some skills only known by initiates. But you're a learned man, Gaius. I'm sure you know exactly what he can do." She turned and left, Agravaine following close behind.
Once Merlin and Cade were back at Gaius's chambers, they began sifting through the destruction, looking for anything that might help them to help Gaius. That was where Gwen found them later, on the floor, jackets discarded as they looked through books and papers.
When she opened the door, both Merlin and Cade turned towards it, smiles on their faces. The smiles dropped when they saw it wasn't who they had hoped it was. "Thought you were him." Merlin said as Gwen made her way over to sit by the siblings. She put a hand on Merlin's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "Agravaine's behind this. He's done something to Gaius."
"Arthur told me what you said." Gwen said.
"He won't listen to me." Merlin said.
"I'll do what I can, but… Agravaine's his uncle. He, he trusts him more than anyone." Gwen said.
"Yeah." Merlin responded, going back to digging through the papers.
Cade stood. "I'm going to see if there's anything in the library that can help us." She said and started to walk out of the room.
"Be careful!" Merlin shouted after her. Cade rolled her eyes and waved, going out the door.
As she walked to the library, she nearly ran into both Michael and Astrid. "What's the hurry, Cade?" Michael asked. "Arthur got you and Merlin working overtime?"
"No." Cade said. "I'm heading to the library."
"Let me guess, this has to do with the Gaius thing, doesn't it?" Astrid asked. Cade nodded.
"They found a book in Gaius's chambers that Merlin and I know very well doesn't belong there." She started. "We're certain that it was planted by Agravaine so I'm hoping maybe the library will have something that can help us."
"That's a very big IF, Cade." Michael said, crossing his arms.
Cade sighed. "I know, but other than that book and the mess that was formerly Gaius's chambers, there isn't much we can do."
Michael and Astrid shared a look. "Well, you and Merlin let us know if there's anything we can do to help. For now, we've got to get down outside for some training."
Cade nodded. "Alright. Say hi to Lancelot from me." The two knights nodded and walked away as Cade continued to the library. She soon found out that there was absolutely nothing there that could help so she chose to return to Gaius's chambers, hopeful that maybe Merlin and Gwen had found something out.
Hope this chapter was worth the wait! I'll try to get the next one out as soon as i can!