Chapter 17

We wait a few more moments to let Aredian wander further away before we roll out from underneath his bed. His holds out his clenched fist with the petals.

"Any idea what these are?"

I shake my head, never having a talent to identify plants.

"No, but if they're used for something then Gaius' book would have an answer."

He pockets the petals and we sprint back to Gaius' chambers, reaching for the botany books. We flip through the pages frantically, but I don't see anything that looks similar. Not that they are extraordinary looking things. They could be anything.

"Here!" Merlin cries. I abandon my book, scurrying over to his and he points at the page. The exact petals are drawn at the top. "Belladonna," he reads.

"Ulcers, allergies, muscular inflammation," I scan over the words. "He must have it locked up for some reason."

"Under certain conditions, a tincture of the flower can produce hallucinations," Merlin continues.

"The women. They were hallucinating," I realise, trying to piece it all together. "But Aredian's smart. He couldn't have given it to them himself. What's so special about them. Why hasn't anybody else come forward," I wonder, pacing around.

"They were only women. Is there something that men don't use? He would have to put it in a mixture of some kind," he rattles. My fingers raise to my lips, brushing over the dry skin. My eyes widen as I realise why it's only women.

"Beauty!" I cry. "Women use things on their faces to enhance their features."

I drag him by the arm, and we sprint out of the castle, grabbing a torch along the way. We go down into the lower town, which is completely empty at this time of the night. We have a few hours at most till dawn. I'm incredibly tired from the lack of sleep these past two days but sleep is not a luxury that I can afford at the moment.

While I'm not one to often buy such products (only when I feel insecure or want to look pretty for Leon), Gwen has brought me to this shop multiple times. It's the only one in the Camelot market that's not a small trading vendor.

Once we arrive, I knock rapidly on the door, not feeling guilty in the slightest for possibly waking the man. A few moments later, the door opens and a disgruntled man. The apothecary. He provides things for Gaius as well I believe, tinctures and other tools to use. But he also provides to the general public non-medicinal items.

"I remember you, you're Elena aren't ya?" he huffs. "What do you want at this time of night?"

"Please, sir, it's quite urgent," I beg. He sighs, stepping aside to let us in. "Do you sell a tincture of Belladonna?"

"What's this all about?"

"Please, we need to know."

He goes over to a shelf, scouring through it.

"Well, I, I think I've got some somewhere, but what you'd be wanting eye drops in the middle of the night, I really don't want to know." He holds up a clear vial and I grasp it.

"Eyedrops," I muse. "Apparently it dilates you eyes but belladonna is quite poisonous actually. I read that somewhere. But this would make sense considering."

"Where did you get this?" Merlin presses. The man shrugs, taking a moment before he answers.

"My usual suppliers."

"You didn't get this from the Witchfinder?" I ask, not beating around the bush. I need answers and I will get them as soon as I can. The man glares at me but denies it.

"No, I didn't. And if it's all the same to you, I would like to get some sleep."

"Our friend is about to be burned at the stake tomorrow. Gaius. You know him," I push again.

"I know him. But that has nothing to do with me," he counters, trying to pass by to go upstairs but I block him.

"But it does. Because if Aredian gave you this then we have proof to stop it. But we need you to tell us the truth."

"The people who used this saw visions produced from those eyedrops. If he's connected in anyway then we have something to prove he is behind all this," Merlin adds, and I realise my own words were a bit flaky without explanation. The apothecary swallows, eyes shooting between us before he exhales.

"He forced me to sell it. That he would kill me if I told anybody," he admits. I can see why he would try and hide from it. The Witchfinder is an intimidating man but not so much to make me back down.

"Thank you," I say, placing my hand on his shoulder. "We're going to need you tomorrow but we'll have enough proof to get rid of Aredian so he cannot harm you."

"Thank you," Merlin adds.

We head back to the physician's chambers and Merlin grabs the tincture and petals.

"That's it. We've got everything we need," he declares and goes to leave but I shake my head, keeping my feet planted.

"No, we need more. I'm sorry Merlin, but we have to dive into this headfirst," I argue.

"We've got a witness as well though," he counters, not understanding my hesitation.

"We've done this before," I exclaim. "We have the evidence; we show them and then somehow they prove us wrong. We need to make sure there's something he can't explain. Something that doesn't look like it involves us. Uther may not believe servants over Aredian, but he will have to believe hard evidence that can't be denied."

Merlin reluctantly agrees, his shoulders dropping.

"I don't know what else we could do. And we don't have much time till the sun comes back up."

I run my mind through the possibilities.

"He planted evidence on you right," I note. Merlin nods but doesn't add to it. "Well, he has the petals, but he must also have other things like that. The amulet and whatever else is in that cupboard. We have reason for them to search his chambers, along long as we can convince Arthur."

"We just have to make sure they find it," Merlin says, catching onto my words.

We quietly make our way to Aredian's chambers, the man fast asleep in his bed. Merlin raises his hand to the cupboard, muttering a spell as I watch over Aredian's sleeping body. He turns in his sleep and for a moment I'm terrified he's going to wake up, but he never does. I just can't get over how familiar he looks. Merlin joins me, a smirk donned on his lips.

"Ceolwarc," he casts, his hand hovering over Aredian's throat. I eye him in question, but he only continues to smirk. I glance at the window over the edge of his back, tapping his shoulder. I point to the window, the sun beginning to rise, and we scurry out of the room.

We sprint back to Merlin's chambers and I go straight to the window to look out at the pyre while Merlin grabs the evidence.

"We have to go speak with Arthur now. If we can get through to him - we can get to Uther," I declare. People are beginning to circle around for the public display. "It's already starting," I mumble. Merlin joins me at the window, a determined look planted on his face.

"We're not too late," he decides.

Making sure we have everything we need, we sprint out to Arthur's chambers, not bothering to knock. Arthur is just finishing putting his white cotton shirt on as he spins around at the sound of his door slamming open.

"Merlin!" he exclaims. "How many times-"

"Sorry, Sire, but this is urgent," I cut off, stepping out from behind the warlock. "You need to stop this execution." The Prince sighs, sauntering over to us.

"I'm sorry, Elena. Really, but my father has made he decision and there's evidence. I can't do anything," he counters.

"But you can!" I cry out. "We have proof of Gaius' innocence and you are the Prince. How many people have been executed falsely? How many times has Merlin told you something that he was right about? This is Gaius' we are talking about. A loyal friend who's been there since you were born."

Arthur twists his lips, but I can see the contemplation in his eyes, the inner turmoil of facing his father again. But my argument is strong; I mean, how many times has Merlin told Arthur something for it to turn out true. Arthur needs to learn to trust us.

"Alright," he agrees. "I will get you an audience with my father and pause the execution." He leans forwards, his eyes narrowing at the both of us. "But if you make a fool out of me…" his threat trails off, leaving Merlin and I wondering what in the world he could do to us, worse than killing our friend.

Arthur leads us to his Father, demanding that they halt the execution for now, in light of some new evidence to prove Gaius' innocence.

"We need the witnesses that Aredian brought – the women," I add. "We have reason to believe that what they saw wasn't real at all." Uther looks between the three of us.

"You believe they were lying?" Uther questions, disbelief hinting through his words.

"No, Sire," Merlin says. "They saw what they saw but it was a hallucination caused by a tincture of Belladonna eyedrops. "We have the man who sold them to these women, he was forced to."

"Guards!" he calls, four guards stepping forward at attention. "Bring the Witchfinder and his witnesses to the Throne room. And somebody find the apothecary as well." He turns back to us. "I hope what you say isn't lies to protect your friend, but I will halt the execution until further notice."

"Thank you, Sire," Merlin thanks. Arthur bites his cheek, knowing that not only will Merlin and I get backlash if this goes wrong, but he will too.

All the witnesses, the apothecary, and the rest of the court are present. Leon and Castor as Knights are present. I glance at them, never having been in front of the court in such manner but Leon nods encouragingly, Castor giving a comical thumbs up. Uther motions to the witnesses.

"You brought this Belladonna from this man?" he questions, holding up the vial. All the witnesses nod silently. "Where did you get it from?" The apothecary hesitates, the Witchfinder giving him a subtle glare. "Don't be afraid, no harm will come to you here."

"The Witchfinder. He gave them to me," he admits. Uther looks surprised at the man's confession, as thought he didn't expect the words of two servants to be true.

"Did he tell you what it was for?"

"No. only that if I did not sell it, he'd have me burnt at the stake." Uther turns to Aredian who is still wearing a smug look but behind it there is a sense of panic as he knows the truth is being divulged.

"How do you answer to these accusations?"

"They're absurd," he snarls. "The boy and the girl have clearly concocted these lies in hope of saving the boy's master."

"Then you won't mind if we search you chamber, will you?" Merlin retorts, rather cockily. I huff a small breath of air, a slight smirk playing on my lips as Aredian's eyes narrow down on us. He knows what we're playing at and he hates it. Losing at his own game.

"Silence!" Uther snaps. "You have no authority here!"

"Father," Arthur interrupts. "Let's settle this once and for all. If what Merlin and Elena says is wrong, they must bear the consequences. But if there is some truth in what he says…"

"I have nothing to hide," Aredian declares, reiterating Merlin's words when he first accused the boy. Oh, how the tables have turned.

Uther calls forth a number of guards, Castor and Leon taking pleasure in stepping forward and we venture to Aredian's guest chambers along with Morgana, the King, and Arthur. I watch proudly as Leon tosses through the man's things, taking no care. Though Leon has no personal vendetta against the man himself, I know my dislike towards Aredian has rubbed off on him and his trust in my opinion is clearly being displayed in front of me right now. And Castor…Well, he just looks like he's enjoying making a mess.

"You're wasting my time," Aredian snarls, but Arthur is having none of it.

"The cupboard over there."

Castor opens the door and to everybody's surprise, even Merlin has a shocked face, amulets fall out to the ground, tumbling at the knight's feet. Castor looks up with a cheeky smile at me, picking up one of the amulets. Leon walks over as well, pulling out Belladonna tinctures.

"These things don't belong to me!" Aredian defends. "This is a trick." He coughs, holding his throat. "Those two plot against me!"

The Witchfinder coughs louder, gagging as something seems to come out of his throat. Everybody is the room watches in disgusts as a live toad crawls out of his throat and plops to the floor. I lean over the Merlin, whispering in his ear.

"Nice touch," I giggle.

"Thought it would be," he agrees.

"Sorcerer!" Uther exclaims. The guards move forward to arrest him but Aredian moves forward, grasping both a dagger and Morgana, holding the blade to her throat. "Aredian, think carefully about what you're doing. You will never escape from Camelot alive." The men in the room draw their weapons, holding them up but don't move against him.

"I will if you value the life of your ward. Hmm?" he taunts, moving backwards, away their swords.

"Forbærnan," Merlin casts, and the dagger's handle glows a bright red. Aredian cries out, dropping the blade which allows Morgana to escape from his grasp, rejoining us in safety. In his confusion, the Witchfinder stumbles, tripping over one of the items the guards dropped on the floor and he tumbles backwards, breaking through the glass of the window and from there all we can hear are his screams. Uther and Arthur race forward to the window and his screams stop suddenly. I cringe, thinking of the mess his body will have made at the bottom but I'm glad he is dead.

Uther, Arthur and most of the guards start leaving, Leon, Castor, Merlin, and myself wandering out at our own pace.

"Well that was a fortunate ending," I state, my hands propping themselves against my hips. "People should really start listening to us more."

"We probably won't even get a thanks for this," Merlin grumbles. Castor smiles, overhearing and places a hand on Merlin's shoulder. The boy looks surprised, never having spoken to Castor besides simple passing words.

"Thank you, Merlin," he says. "Gaius wouldn't be with us still without you." Merlin smiles, almost blushing at the recognition.

"Oh…uh…thanks," he mutters.

"Where's my thanks," I say. "I did help," I point out. Castor side eyes me, giving me a playful glare.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there," he laughs, walking forward.

"Didn't? -" I start. Frowning, I jump on his back from behind, my legs anchoring around his stomach and use my hands to cover his eyes. "Can't see anything now you oaf," I tease. Castor shrieks out, arms shooting upwards to hold his balance then go up to claw at my hands. Merlin laughs quietly from the side, enjoying the show and Leon sighs playfully.

After a few moments, arms wrap around my own stomach, lifting me from the knight's back and my feet touch the ground again.

"Crazy woman," Castor scoffs, turning around to face me.

"Oh, you'll get it," I cry, trying to move forward but the arms around my waist tighten, holding me against their chest. "Let me at him."

"As much as I want to see that" Leon laughs. "Castor is due down at the south wall for his duties."

Castor's head falls backwards, letting out a string of curses. He runs off, once again late or entirely forgetting he has a job.

"I'm going to go make sure Gaius is ok," Merlin says, going off in a different direction. I turn in my captor's arms to face him.

"Thank you," I say. "For trusting me."

"I won't lie. I took a bit of pleasure in tearing his room apart," he confesses. "Especially after what he did to Gaius'. I saw how torn up you were about it."

"How about we go for a ride. I want to see how you horse is going," I offer. Leon smiles down at me, kissing my cheek.

"That sounds nice."