And the next chapter is here! I couldnt find any breaking points in this chapter, that's why it's so long. Hopefully, you guys enjoy it all the same.
Chapter 47: The Secret Sharer Pt 3
In the cave, Alator began his work. "Ligfyr onbaerne swipe." His eyes glowed and a circle of flames rose up around Gaius's stone slab. "Do not resist the fire. Let it enter your mind. Let the flames search out your thoughts. Feel them burn." Gaius started twitching, pain beginning to make itself known. "Into the darkest recesses of your mind. Let them shine a torch on your deepest secrets. Bring them to the light."
"Acwence pa baelblyse." Gaius said, his eyes flashing as the flames died down.
Alator frowned. "Fyr wipere!" he exclaimed and the flames strengthened into a high blaze.
Merlin looked through Agravaine's chambers. Looking around, he looked under the bed and found a chest, pulling it out. Tugging at it, he found it was locked tight, but with a quick spell, it was easily unlocked. It was filled with books titled "Studies in Sorcery". Merlin glared at the books and threw the one in his hand back in the chest, shoving it back under the bed. He noticed a pair of boots nearby with reddish soil all over them.
He rubbed his thumb across the boot, picking up some of the dirt. He sniffed it, noticing an odd smell. He heard the door unlatching behind him and hid behind the dressing shutters. Looking around, he saw a mirror set up that allowed him to see where Agravaine was. He started undressing, walking behind the shutters as Merlin walked around the other side. The young man never noticed that Agravaine could see him leaving.
Once Merlin had gone, Agravaine pulled his shirt back on and walked around the screen, seeing the thumb mark of dirt missing from his boots.
Gwaine was sitting on a bench across the room from Cade when Merlin returned. Merlin stopped as he entered. "What are you doing in here?" Merlin asked, looking at his sister, who shrugged.
"Got bored of playing soldiers, and thought I'd come see how you and Cade were. Found Cade all alone up here." Gwaine replied.
Still suspicious, Merlin took the bag off of the door and opened it for Gwaine to exit. "We're busy." Merlin said, leaving the door open for Gwaine as he sat at the table across from Cade.
"Doing what?" Gwaine asked.
"What do you think?" Cade asked, making Gwaine turn around to face her.
"Looking for Gaius."
Merlin sighed. "I know everyone thinks he's a traitor, but he's not. He's been abducted, Gwaine. He may even be dead." Merlin turned to look at a book, bringing a candle closer to examine the dirt he'd gotten from Agravaine's boots.
"Probably don't need my help then." Gwaine said.
They exchanged a look and Merlin sighed again. "Do you know what this is?" Cade got up and walked around the table to Merlin's side, looking at the dirt.
"Might do." Gwaine said. He got up and walked over to the table. "Here. Let me see." Merlin held out his hand and Gwaine took a swipe of the dirt, smelling it. "That's iron ore. Where'd you find this?"
"That doesn't matter. Does it help us?" Merlin asked. Gwaine sat down, wiping his dirty fingers on the table.
"Iron ore's pretty rare in Camelot. In fact, I've only seen it once, on patrol." Gwaine answered.
"Where?" Cade asked.
"Er, ridge of Kemeray. They've been hewing iron from rocks there for hundreds of years."
"Then I guess we know where we're going." Cade said.
"We?" Merlin asked. Cade rolled her eyes.
"You really think I'm going to let you leave me here when our uncle is out there in mortal danger?" Cade asked. "You obviously don't know me as well as I thought, brother dear."
Merlin rolled his eyes, smirking. "Alright, fine, you can come." Cade grinned. "Besides, even if I said no you'd still sneak out after us." The teen shrugged.
That night, the siblings and Gwaine rod off into the night, not knowing that Agravaine was watching them from his window.
At the ridge of Kemeray, Alator was continuing his interrogation. "Feel the fire roar deep within you. Feel your thoughts begin to simmer. Let them flee the rushing flames. Let them run like burning oil. Let them escape. Allow them free, Gaius." Gaius struggled to resist the pull of the magic. "Tell me. Who… are Emrys and Catrin?"
Agravaine galloped through the forest, finding Morgana's hovel quickly. He burst in as Morgana was unloading firewood. "Merlin and Cade are onto us. They're out searching for Gaius even as we speak. They may even know where he's hidden."
As Merlin, Cade and Gwaine rode to the mining caves, Alator continued his torture. "Tell me about Emrys and Catrin. Tell me, Gaius. Where can we find Emrys and Catrin?"
Gaius struggled not to speak, but found he couldn't stop himself. "In Camelot." He said.
"Where in Camelot?"
"Emrys and Catrin are… Emrys and Catrin are names by which they are known to the druids, but to me… I know them by different names."
"Tell me, Gaius."
Gaius started to form the names, but suddenly shouted, "No!"
Alator placed his hands on Gaius to strengthen the spell. "Who are they?"
"They are the most powerful sorcerer and sorceress who have ever lived."
"What are their names?"
"Their names are…" Gaius continued to struggle. "Merlin and Cade."
Merlin, Cade and Gwaine entered the mining shaft, Merlin taking notice of the same iron ore on his boots.
Now that the worst had been spoken, Gaius continued without a fight. "For the druids' legends are true. Merlin is… Emrys and Cade is… Catrin. Two people destined for greatness. Two people who will one day unite the powers of the old world and the new and bring about the time that the poets speak of. The time… of Albion." Gaius closed his eyes.
Merlin, Cade and Gwaine continued their search. A bodyguard suddenly jumped out at them. Gwaine began fighting him, but soon, Merlin stepped in and, with a flash of golden eyes, the thug was down. Alator looked up as the guard screamed. Merlin helped Gwaine stand and they continued.
Eventually, they came to a fork in the road. "We should split up." Merlin said.
"Yeah." Gwaine agreed.
Gwaine started walking one direction while the siblings took the other. Merlin turned back to Gwaine. "Gwaine, if you find him, don't wait for us." Gwaine nodded and they separated.
Agravaine and Morgana pulled up, Agravaine dismounting. "Black horse belongs to Gwaine. He's a hot head. Better be careful of him." Morgana led the way inside. Once they had entered, Morgana turned to Agravaine. "Go to Gaius. If he remains alive, we're all in danger."
"You can rest assure, he won't breathe another word." Agravaine said. They separated.
Merlin and Cade continued searching, seeing firelight ahead. They ducked into hiding as Alator came around the corner. Alator stopped, but he didn't look down where they were hiding. When he left, the siblings went where he had just come from.
Agravaine found Gaius quickly. Stepping into the stone circle and checking on Gaius, he found that he was still alive. Agravaine pulled out a dagger, holding it to Gaius's throat.
"Agravaine! So it was you! You abducted him!" Gwaine exclaimed.
"What? No!" Agravaine shouted.
"What are you doing?" Gwaine placed his sword to Agravaine's throat.
"He's unconscious. I'm trying to help."
"With that?" Gwaine gestured to the dagger.
"I want to see if he's still breathing." Agravaine lifted the dagger from Gaius's throat to his nose.
"And is he?" Gwaine asked.
"Just. You can see the breath still on the blade, look." Gwaine held the torch near the dagger and Agravaine parried Gwaine's sword. "Now do you believe me?"
Gwaine put his sword back at Agravaine's throat. "Then how did you know he was here?"
Agravaine paused, searching for an answer. "Guards at the western gate saw you, Merlin and Cade leave. Knowing Merlin and Cade's concern for Gaius, I thought it must be some new information at hand. So I just followed your trail."
Gwaine backed off, nodding. "So you agree he was abducted then?"
"Yes, of course he was. Now we must get him back to Camelot without delay. Come on."
"We have to find Merlin and Cade first." Gwaine said, starting to walk away.
"No!" Agravaine shouted. Gwaine looked back at him, suspicion clear on his face. "I fear if we do not leave now, Gaius will not survive. "We've no time to lose. Give me a hand!" Gwaine started to leave anyway. "Look, the people who took Gaius have already fled. I saw them with my own eyes from the ridge. We must get back to Camelot by nightfall." Gwaine hesitated. "Come on, Gwaine! Help me! Please!" Gwaine sheathed his sword and came over to help. "Merlin and Cade can find their own way back."
Merlin and Cade reached a dead end. "Great. Just what we needed." Cade said, rolling her eyes. The two turned around to go back the way they came only to be thrown backwards by Morgana. The witch glared at them.
"You two really are thorns in my side, aren't you?" She pulled out a dagger. "When will you learn not to meddle with things you couldn't possibly understand?" Morgana threw the dagger, controlling it as it hovered by Merlin's throat as both siblings scampered backwards on the ground. "It's difficult, isn't it? When there are so many different ways for me to be finally rid of you both."
"We don't care what you do to us." Merlin said.
"All we want to know is what you've done to Gaius." Cade interjected.
"Well, Gaius had some information I needed. The whereabouts of the sorcerer, Emrys, and sorceress, Catrin. If he gave it to me willingly, his suffering would not be prolonged, but… if he did not…" Morgana smirked.
"If you have harmed him…" Merlin growled.
"Why are we discussing his fate when it's time to decide both of yours?" Morgana continued. "Not whether you're going to die alone here in this godforsaken place. That's going to happen anyway. But how. Or more precisely, how painfully." Alator entered the area behind Morgan. "Alator, this is Merlin and Cade." Alator looked surprised as he looked more closely at the two siblings. "They're just servants, but they're the most troublesome servants I've ever known. I take it your time with Gaius was fruitful?"
Alator looked at Morgana. "Gaius told me everything."
Morgana looked back at Alator. "So you know who Emrys and Cade are?"
"Indeed I do." Alator walked forward, Morgana following a few steps, desperate for his answer. Alator kneeled down, looking both Merlin and Cade in the eye, both siblings glaring at him. "Not only do I know who Emrys and Cade are. I know exactly where they are."
Morgana's eyes widened with eagerness. "Then tell me."
Alator looked back at her. "Never." He stood and aimed his staff at her. "Forp fleoge!" Morgana screamed as she was thrown backwards against a rock and collapsed, unconscious. The dagger dropped and Merlin and Cade scrambled to their feet. "Merlin, Cade, I am Alator of the Catha. I am honored to be of service."
"You have magic!" Merlin said.
Alator nodded. "I understand the burden you carry. I have lived with it all my life. I have been shunned, persecuted and sometimes even hunted in every corner of the five kingdoms. I understand what that feels like. You're not alone. From what Gaius told me, I do not have you great powers, Merlin and Cade, but I share your hopes. For I, and others like me, have dreamt of the world you seek to build. And we would gladly give our lives to help you do it." Alator kneeled to Merlin and Cade, the siblings sharing a look before sighing in amazement.
Meanwhile, Agravaine and Gwaine had returned to Camelot, Gaius slung across Gwaine's horse. Gwaine jumped off the horse and jogged up the stairs ahead of the guards carrying Gaius. He met Arthur on the landing.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"We found him." Gwaine replied. "He'd been kidnapped."
Arthur looked at Gwaine sharply for a moment. "He's in a bad way." They followed the guards carrying Gaius, Agravaine behind them.
In Gaius's chambers, Arthur and Agravaine watched Gwen mopping Gaius's forehead with a rag. "It seems I misjudged Gaius." Agravaine said. "Merlin and Cade were right all along."
"We're lucky they found him." Arthur said.
"Indeed. If it hadn't been for the tenacity of your boy and girl, Gaius would be dead." Agravaine said. Arthur swallowed hard. "We both owe Gaius, Merlin and Cade an apology, my lord." Arthur left, Agravaine following after one last look at Gaius.
When Merlin and Cade arrived back at Camelot, the first place they went was to Gaius's chambers. When he finally woke, his nephew and niece were sitting right at his bedside.
"I'm ashamed." Gaius said.
"Why?" Merlin asked.
"Your secret. A secret I thought I'd protect with my life."
Cade reached over, grabbing Gaius's hand, squeezing it gently. "Gaius, you could've died." She said.
"But if Morgana found out…"
"She didn't. She didn't count on Alator's true loyalties." Merlin said.
"I worry that one day I'll let you both down."
"My worry is Arthur." Merlin said.
"We can't tell him about Agravaine." Gaius said.
"He needs to know." Cade said.
"We don't have any evidence." Gaius stated. "And you've seen how dear he is to Arthur."
Arthur knocked on the door and entered. Neither Merlin nor Cade were thrilled to see him. "I think I owe all three of you an apology."
"Not to us." Merlin said, gesturing to himself and Cade. "To Gaius."
"Yes." Arthur said. Gaius, Merlin and Cade shared a poignant look. Arthur looked at the siblings. "Merlin, would you and Caden give us a moment?"
Merlin gave Gaius a mischievous look. "Does that mean we get the morning off?" Gaius smiled.
"Yes." Arthur said. Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Yes, you can have the morning off to… clean my chambers, polish my armor and launder my clothes."
Merlin looked at Arthur. "You certainly know how to apologize." He said. Arthur just gave an amused shrug, grinning. They shared a look, Arthur nodding to the siblings as the two left, Cade giving Gaius's hand one last squeeze. Arthur walked over to Gaius's sickbed.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm just glad it's all over." Gaius said.
"I made a mistake." Arthur stated.
"I've looked after you since you were a nursling, Arthur. You should've known I love you far too much to ever betray you." That made Arthur look both touched and ashamed at the same time.
"Gaius, who abducted you?"
Gaius swallowed hard, considering for a moment on how to answer. "I couldn't say, but I'm certain they were in league with Morgana."
"What did they want?"
"Information. About you… Camelot… to help bring down the kingdom."
"Did they get it?"
Gaius shook his head. "Morgana got nothing from me." Arthur chuckled, taking a seat in the seat previously occupied by Merlin and grasped Gaius's hand.
"I'm grateful." The king braced his arms on his legs. "But there's a matter that still concerns me." He said more softly. "When you were asked about the sorcerer who killed my father… you lied."
"I did, sire."
"You admit it?"
"I chose to protect him. I feared you would seek him out and execute him. That would've been a grave mistake. The sorcerer did not kill your father. Uther was dying. He tried everything in his power to save him." Gaius could see Arthur struggling with what the physician had said. "Contained within this great kingdom is a rich variety of people with a range of different beliefs. I'm not the only one seeing to protect you. There are many more who believe in the world you are trying to create, Arthur. One day, you will understand… just how much they've done for you."
Arthur processed Gaius's words before nodding.
I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Next episode is Lamia and as soon as i figure out Cade's role in that episode, i'll get it written out!
Let me know what you guys thought!