Chapter 16

The guards take Merlin under custody and we go straight back to Gaius and Merlin's chambers with the guards and Arthur. The begin trashing the place, paper flying everywhere, trinkets and belongings falling to the ground. I stand next to Arthur, looking at him in a silent plead to make it stop. Gaius is watching is home, his life be torn a part in front of him.

"Careful, please!" he begs. "That's my life's work!"

Aredian, however, is having none of the sentimental stuff. "Comb every inch. The sorcerer is a master of concealment." I snarl my nose at the man and Arthur must feel the same way.

"There's nothing here, Aredian!" Arthur argues, sick of this whole ordeal.

"I'll be the judge of that. Over there behind this tapestry. In there, upend that stool. Be sure to check for hollow legs. In there within those powder jars," he orders as the whole place is quite literally, turned upside down.

"What are you going to do next huh?" I snarl. "Pull out every stone in the walls till it's not even a room anymore."

Aredian turns, striding right up to me. He stands so close, I feel his breath on my head, but I refuse to step back, glaring up at the man. The lines on his face deepen as he scans me.

"I will if I have to," he whispers. I don't move, not giving him any satisfaction that his scare tactics may be working. He walks away and I look around, glad that neither Leon or Castor have joined in on the search because I don't think I could handle seeing them break someone's home so easily as these men do.

A guard smashes one of the jars against the ground, bending to pick something up.

"Here!" he calls out. Aredian strides over, taking the object from the guard's hand. He holds it up for everybody to see and I look over it in confusion.

"An amulet of enchantment. Were you aware, physician, that your assistant kept instrument of sorcery?"

"No," Gaius answers.

"Well, our work is done. I must inform the King."

I'm utterly confused. Merlin's only belonging that even relates to magic is his book which is still being well hidden under his floor. I've never seen this amulet before, nor have Merlin or Gaius mentioned it. And hidden in a jar. It just doesn't fit.

"Aredian! I know for certain that that amulet does not belong to Merlin," he calls. I'm about to agree with him but the next part of the conversation baffles me even further.

"Oh? Well, who does it belong to, then?"

"It belongs to me."

Arthur reluctantly orders the guards to seize Gaius.

"No! You can't do this!" I cry, reaching out to hold tightly onto the physician's robes, beginning a tug-of-war with the guards.

"It's ok, my dear," he tells me. I shake my head, refusing to let go.

"You will not interfere with the orders of a King," Aredian warns, his eyes blaring down at me, but I refuse to step down, testing him. He is about to do something, his arm rising up in the air, but another set of arms wrap around my front, trapping my own to my body.

"Elena, just calm yourself," Arthur commands, his mouth coming closer to my ear. "Don't get yourself arrested too."

I see there is no use fighting. Not here and now, but by the gods, I will do something. Arthur's arms drop as I stop fighting and the guards escort Gaius out, Aredian following along with them. Arthur stares at the chambers; I can tell he doesn't like what has happened just as much as me, but he doesn't say anything, just walking out silently.

Left alone in the mess of a room I sink to the floor. I shove my eyes into my closed fists, biting my lip as I rock on the heels of my feet. At least Merlin will be freed. He would think of something – he has to.

I fall forward onto my knees, in front of a pile of papers. In an attempt to distract myself I begin piling them back up in a neat stack then go to put them on the table but even the table is covered in broken glass and tools. The papers drop to the floor as I give up on them. This place has been ransacked so badly I couldn't even begin to clean it myself. I would need an army.

"Elena?"

I turn to see Merlin entering the room. There is a visible shock on his face, eyes glazing slowly over the room.

"I'm so sorry," I whimper. Merlin shakes his head, picking up a broken piece of glass.

"It's not your fault," he whispers. His eyes are drowned in tears, but he doesn't let them fall. Not only is the home of a friend, but this is also his home too. Where he lives, sleeps. I remember when they searched our chambers to find the sorcerer last year; that was nothing compared to this.

"We will do something about this," I declare. "I won't sit by and watch this happen. Not to you, not to Gaius, not to anybody."

Merlin falls down onto the bench, his head falling into his hands and small sniffles peek through. I walk forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and his immediately wrap around my middle and his head places itself against my stomach. His fingers dig into my sides, but I don't show any pain, as it doesn't compare in the slightest to what he must be feeling right now. I brush his hair slowly with one hand, the other massaging his neck. I glare at the wall in front of me, with no ideas on what to do coming to me.

"Why don't you stay in my room for the night?" I offer. "So you don't have to see all of this." Merlin's head lifts from my stomach, frowning.

"Where will you sleep?" he asks.

"I will stay with Gwen for the night, she has an extra bed."

Merlin silently agrees and I lead him up to my chambers. We pass Castor and Leon on the way who bath us in sympathetic eyes. I silently motion for them to wait for me as I lead Merlin to my room.

He sits on my bed awkwardly as I light a candle.

"It's dark in here so when you wake up it can be hard to know what time it is. You're best to go out and check but there is a small grate up there as well," I inform him, placing the candle next to the bed. "I'll make sure someone will bring you food."

"Thank you."

I go back outside, the knights rounding the corner at the end of the hallway, obviously having trailed us.

"How is he?" Castor asks, referring to the warlock. I shrug, folding my arms close to my chest.

"As good as you can be considering his home was destroyed and someone who is practically his father was just arrested for something he didn't do."

"You don't believe it was Gaius?" Leon wonders.

"No, of course not. And Merlin isn't guilty either. They're both loyal to the Pendragons. More than most would assume."

"I'm sorry, it must be awful having seen all that," Leon sympathises. "We were almost asked to do it, but we snuck out of the room before they could. We didn't want to do that to you or Merlin."

"Thank you. I would have hated seeing you there," I add, rubbing my forehead. "The whole place is destroyed."

"Let's go tidy it up then," Castor offers. "At least so Merlin can go back there if he needs to. He can't live in your room." Leon nods in agreement then tilts his head in question.

"Where were you going to sleep?" he ponders.

"I was just going to go stay with Gwen. I'm sure she wouldn't have minded. But this will be an all-night job so I don't think I need to worry about it."

The three of us go back down to the physician's quarters and both knights are shocked at the state of the room. We begin by cleaning anything that is broken beyond repair placing them in a rucksack to be thrown away. I pick up papers and books, Castor moves furniture back into place, and Leon tidies up Gaius' medicine and tools.

We spent hours into the night here, mostly in silence, but a small conversation flew in here and there. It must be the middle of the night, a few hours from the morning. The chamber looks acceptable, not yet what it was before but I can see the knights closing their eyes for a few seconds every minute.

"Go to bed guys, this will do for now," I tell them. Castor sighs in relief, placing the broom against the wall.

"I'm going to go get some sleep," he mutters, leaving the chambers quietly. I look at Leon, expecting him to leave but he walks closer to me, wrapping his hands around my waist. I lean forward, resting my head against his chest as my eyes flutter close.

"Where are you going to go?" he mumbles. "I'm sure Gwen won't appreciate you knocking at her door at this hour." I lift my head to look around, catching sight of Merlin's door.

"I'll just steal Merlin's bed. I didn't want him to stay here but it's not so bad anymore," I suggest. Leon glances at the door just as I did, nodding slowly.

"Alright. Are you going to be ok?"

"Of course," I nod, tightening my hold on his shirt.

"If you need me, you know where I'll be," he assures.

"If you were anywhere else this time of night, I would be worried," I joke lightly, earning a small smile from the knight. "What secrets do you hide from me?" I tease.

"Absolutely nothing," he rolls his eyes. "Sometimes I think you know me better than myself."

"That's because I do." His thumb brushes my lip with an amused smile.

"Are you wearing something on your lips?" he questions.

"Just a balm that tinted. My lips were getting sore," I answer, licking them. Leon smiles, beginning to say something but I cut him off. "And don't you dare use the 'I can help with that' line."

"Fine. I won't help then," he teases, moving backwards. I whine, wrapping my hands around his neck.

"No. I said don't use the line. You can still do the second part," I whinge. Leon chuckles but gives me my request.

The next day passes over rather slowly. I catch up with Merlin in between his chores but he doesn't know what to do. Gaius is in Aredian's custody and only the gods know what is happening to him. That night I search for Merlin, but he's disappeared, only to reappear once I am making my way back to my chambers.

"I spoke to the dragon," he says gloomily. "Even he didn't know what to do."

I'm tired, a headache forming at the side of my head. I had been overthinking all day and still, nothing came to mind. I don't even know what to say to the warlock.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," I offer. "I'm trying to think of something, but he found that bracelet and…." The realisation comes to me and partially to Merlin, but he doesn't understand the extent of it yet.

"Bracelet? What do you mean?"

"The evidence," I reiterate, a new sense of energy. "Aredian found a bracelet or an amulet."

"I don't have a magic bracelet or amulet."

"But does Gaius?" I point out. "I know Gaius used to practice but I doubt he is stupid enough to keep something like that around. I mean, with the number of times you've been accused of sorcery it would just be silly to have any evidence like that."

"So, who's amulet is it then?" Merlin asks, insinuating what we already suspect.

"But…why would he plant it there. I mean, he was certain that you were the sorcerer and no offence, but you weren't exactly the most innocent person. If he believed truly that it was you then he would count on there being actual evidence. Like your magic book."

"But what about those women from the town. Their visions of sorcery. I can't explain that. We don't have any proof of what he's doing? Nor can we even explain it. What reason does he have for doing this?"

"Well, Uther is paying him so maybe he just doesn't care. In it for the money?"

I nod, thinking it all over. We need evidence. I click my finger, pointing it at the boy.

"Merlin. What are you best at?" I demand. He frowns, shrugging his shoulders in confusion.

"Umm… magic?"

"No! Snooping," I answer for him. "Tomorrow you need to look in his chambers and see if you can find anything."

Merlin's brows peak towards his hairline, new energy in him.

"Ok, I can do that."

The next day we are called to the Council Chambers and Merlin sends me a quick shake of his head, telling me he hasn't been able to go snooping yet. Aredian enters, dragging Gaius through. My hand hovers my mouth at the state of the man and he's shoved to his knees in front of Uther.

"Confess! Confess!" Aredian exclaims to poor Gaius. He looks weary, as though he will collapse any second and at this point, I will be surprised he doesn't. I l glance to Merlin on the other side of the room, the warlock's eyes pinned on his friend.

"I…I am a sorcerer, Sire. I am responsible for conjuring the smoke. I'm guilty of practising magic in Camelot, the goblin, the faces in the well, I…I am the sorcerer who conjured to toad from his mouth."

I shake my head and move to step forward but a hand clasps tightly around my elbow, stopping me from moving. My eyes follow to hand up to Leon who shakes his head subtly. I sigh, stepping back against his side. Uther steps forward, looking down on his once loyal friend. Still loyal friend.

"You've betrayed me, Gaius. Betrayed your friends. And above all, you've betrayed yourself. By the laws of Camelot, I must sentence you to death."

"No," I whisper, my jaw opening slightly. I don't know what to do. What can I do?

"The sorcerer will be purged of his magic by means of fire! He shall be burnt at the stake tomorrow at dawn! Bear witness and heed this lesson!" Aredian exclaims.

We watch in disbelief as Gaius is dragged from the room by guards.

"I can't let them do this," I say to Leon who swallows, looking at the King.

"I don't think you can stop them," he replies, turning his head to look at me.

"You're a liar!" Merlin cries out, gaining the attention of the entire court. He runs forward, aiming at Aredian but Arthur steps forward, blocking his servant from moving.

"Guards!" Uther commands but Arthur takes charge.

"I'll deal with this," he tells the guards who back off at the Prince's words. The court watches silently as Merlin is dragged, quite literally kicking and screaming out of the room. I debate whether to follow them or not and come to the decision moments after they leave, pulling my arm from Leon and jogging after them. I catch sight of them at the end of the corridor and follow them until we reach the dungeon. They enter first but the guards stop me.

"Hey!" I cry, trying to step to the side.

"You are not permitted to enter," one of them says.

"Why not?" I demand.

"Order of Prince Arthur."

I huff, crossing my arms and try peering over their shoulders but I can't see much. I walk away, sulking in a corner until Arthur and to my surprise – Merlin exit. I sigh loudly, unfolding my arms.

"Thank you," I hush to Arthur, for not throwing Merlin in a cell again.

"It's alright," he says solemnly. "I understand this must be hard for you Merlin. Just get some rest tonight."

Arthur pats him on the back, giving me a soft look then exits, leaving me with a rough-looking Merlin.

"You were right," he says. "It wasn't Gaius's either. It was planted there."

We walk back out to the main area of the castle, glancing out to the Square. A pyre is being built. Just the one. Gaius' deathbed if we have nothing to say about it. But we have a lot to say, in fact.

"Merlin! Elena!" Gwen cries, running down the corridor to us. I open my arms, embracing her in a hug that she seems to much need.

"Gwen, what's the matter?" I pepper. Her eyes glisten flickering between us and the pyre.

"It's Morgana. She's being interrogated by the Witchfinder. I'm worried about her. She was so shaken up over last time and she won't be able to handle it."

"He's a liar Gwen. He falsely accused Gaius and he'll do the same to anybody who crosses him. He'll break them down to get a confession of something they didn't do," Merlin spits, glaring at the pyre.

"Why? Why would he do such a thing?" Gwen exclaims.

"Why would any greedy man do something. Money," I answer. "What we need though, is proof."

"How?"

"Just leave that to us, Gwen," I assure. "Wait for Morganna to come out and make sure she's alright. Keep an eye on her in her chambers so he can't plant anything while you're there."

"Alright," she nods. "But come find me if there's anything I can do."

Merlin and I wait till nightfall, spending the day moping around. Castor comes to find me, intending to help but he is dragged off when another knight is injured and needed to be replaced. It's not until nightfall that we get the chance to finally snoop around, entering the chambers. Nobody is in there and we tiptoe around, checking under things, flipping through papers but nothing is even slightly suspicious, only what you would expect a Witchfinder to have. And some of it is rather disturbing.

I notice Merlin attempt to open a cupboard, but it is locked.

"No reason to lock away trinkets," I state, walking over to join him. Merlin's eyebrow peaks in mischief.

"Tospringe," he casts, and the door opens. There are a few oddities in there but what catches out attention is a small bowl full of flower petals. "That's odd," he mentions, grabbing a handful. There is a sound of footsteps nearing the outside of the chambers. We look at each other in a slight panic. I glance around the room and notice the bed untucked. I run towards it but Merlin casts a spell, pulling it up for me. The footsteps are even closer, and I dive under the bed, the only spot I am near. Merlin follows my idea and we lay on our stomachs, just in time as the door opens.

All we see are Aredian's boots, slowly walking towards the cupboard. I swallow, glancing to Merlin for a bit of comfort but his face is anything but what I want to see. His eyes are screwed shut and I realise his mistake as I hear the creak of its door open. It closes and a key locks it once more. We hold our breaths and he steps, achingly slow, the sound of a curtain being pulled away. I thank the air that Merlin didn't hide there, although it was closest. He boots walk in front of the bed and we watch silently as they move back out the door. My eyes close, resting my forehead against the stone floor as Merlin sighs in relief.