This chapter has reference to Episode 6 of Series 4

Chapter 19

"Where's Merlin?" Gaius and Rowen entered the council chambers after seeing only six horses return to Camelot, all of whom had riders dressed in the knight's armour. Only Leon, Percival and Gwaine had ridden out with previously but returned without Merlin and Arthur the evening before, explaining how they had been attacked and Arthur had fled the battle, carrying Merlin. Early the next day, the three had departed again with Elyan and Lancelot to get the king back from wherever he had sheltered in the forest. And yet still, not all of them had returned.

"He's alive. Last I saw of him, he was still alive," Arthur had sad eyes, "Dispatch patrol at first light, scour every inch of that forest," he told Leon.

"Yes, sire."

"We'll find him, Gaius. We will," Arthur nodded to Rowen as a gesture for her to follow him out of the room.

"What happened?"

"We were betrayed," he said sadly, "Someone knew our route and we were attacked. Merlin was injured and the two of us were split off from the others. The mercenaries found us again in the Valley of Fallen Kings. There were too many to fight so Merlin caused a rockfall to separate me from them."

"He was on the other side of the rocks," Rowen guessed.

"He practically sacrificed himself so I wouldn't have to fight them. He saved my life and now the mercenaries have him."

"He'll be alright. Leon's patrol will find him and heaven knows Gwaine and Lancelot will never stop looking if it kills them."

"He's such an idiot," Arthur wiped his brow in irritation.

"I'll go with the patrol tomorrow," Rowen volunteered, "I want to help."

"Alright," Arthur said, "Go and tell Leon so he can have a horse arranged.

Rowen nodded, "Don't worry. We'll find him."

"Worry," Arthur scoffed, "About Merlin? Why would I worry about him?" he winked and walked away.

They left before the sun had even risen. Rowen, Leon, Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival, Elyan and, to their annoyance, Agravaine. The usual joking and light-hearted chatter that Arthur's knights normally brought on any trip wasn't exactly up to the usual happy nature with Arthur's uncle with them. They searched, and searched and searched. Desperate for any sign of any life. But there was nothing. Not once did they even rest while they travelled.

"Look at this," Agravaine called at one point, he was holding a piece of brown fabric that no one had seen him bend down to pick up.

Gwaine snatched it, "That's Merlin's," he growled, "From his jacket."

"It doesn't mean anything," Rowen said, "Only that he caught his jacket on something."

"Perhaps," Agravaine said, "we should head back."

"No," Leon said, "We keep looking. The King told us to search every inch of the forest. That is what we will do. Keep going."

The knights shared a small, half-hearted smile.

"It's getting dark," Elyan said reluctantly after several more hours, "We can't find anything with no light."

"No," Gwaine said, "We continue."

"He's right," Leon shook his head, "We have to go back."

Gwaine made a strange cry as if he were being tortured and threw his sword in the ground. Lancelot lowered his head sadly and Percival looked at Elyan regretfully.

"He can't just have vanished," Rowen said, "He has to be somewhere, whether he's alive or not."

"We'll continue tomorrow," Lancelot said decisively, "But for now…"

"We go back," Agravaine ordered and everyone grit their teeth, scowling angrily before mounting their horses and riding back to Camelot, eyes still peeled.

As soon as they arrived back in the castle, Leon and Agravaine went to report to Arthur and the other's reluctantly put their horses safely in the stables before moving to the armoury. Gwaine kept swearing that he knew Merlin had to be alive and he'd spend every day looking until they had him back. Once they had packed away, Rowen made her way solemnly to Gaius chambers. The physician wasn't there, so she waited respectfully for a few minutes until the door opened.

"My Lady?"

"Gaius," she smiled.

"I hear you had no luck in finding Merlin."

"No," she said sadly, "We found nothing. He's just vanished."

"No one just vanishes," Gaius told her with a frown.

"You don't think-"

"There is a traitor in the castle," Gaius said, "Someone that shared Arthur's route. With Morgana."

"Morgana?"

"It must be. Merlin would be able to escape anyone other simple bandit."

Rowen sighed, "Who do you think betrayed us?"

"I fear it may be Lord Agravaine."

Rowen sighed, "I'd be inclined to agree with you. He has reason. Revenge for his sister's death. Oh, Gaius. Do you think we'll ever get him back?"

"I hope so."

Rowen was hurrying excitedly through the corridors. She had just heard from Gwaine that he and Arthur had managed to find Merlin the previous evening and that he was completely fine. She's spoken to Arthur, chided him for not finding her sooner and he had apologised emotionally, telling her he'd been caught up in relief. She told him she understood and explained that he was going to visit Merlin but Arthur had frowned.

"Just a warning," he had said, "I think he's still quite tired."

"Why's that?"

"He's in a very peculiar mood. He got so angry when he couldn't serve me lunch and he collapsed when helping me prepare for the knighting ceremony."

Rowen frowned, "I'll go and make sure he's alright. And Arthur? You're allowed to admit you were worried."

"I was not worried. Something must have happened to him, though. His fatal wound was completely healed when we found him and he was too out of it to tell us what happened properly."

"He could have used magic to heal himself," Rowen suggested, "But I'll go and find out."

"Thank you."

Rowen had to keep herself from running straight to Gaius' chambers after that. She could barely contain her joy that Merlin had returned safely.

"Gaius! I just- what's going on?" she pushed the door open carefully but was met with a very strange sight.

Gwen and Gaius looked up almost scared. They were standing over Merlin who was slumped over a chair, either asleep or unconscious.

"Is he alright? What are you doing?"

She crossed the room to look at what seemed to be horrifying them so much. She gasped when she saw something writhing around inside Merlin's neck.

"What is that?"

"A Fomorroh," Gaius told her seriously, "It is used by the high priestess to control minds."

"Someone's controlling Merlin? What do we do?"

"We must paralyse the serpent," Gaius said, and Gwen moved immediately to collect a potion and poultice to apply it. Gaius took it and carefully applied some of the solution to the back of Merlin's neck. The creature stilled, and Gwen asked, "Is it dead?"

"Sadly not. Merely dormant. Now for the tricky bit. Pass me the blade."

Rowen grimaced as Gaius cut into the skin and removed what looked like a small snake's head.

"That is disgusting. And that's it?"

"I believe so," Gaius threw the Fomorroh into the fire.

"So he's alright now?" Rowen checked.

"He should be."

"We have the old Merlin back. Arthur is safe once more."

"Arthur?" Rowen asked once Gwen had left.

"Merlin was trying to kill him."

"Morgana did this," Rowen assumed.

Gaius nodded, "I expect so. Could you help me get him into his bed? I'll give him something to help him sleep until morning."

After helping Gaius make Merlin comfortable in his room, Rowen left to go straight to Arthur. She had decided not to tell the king of what had happened to Merlin, just in case it tilted Arthur's unsure opinion of magic the wrong way. She couldn't tell him that the one person he trusted most in the world had tried to kill him.

"Have you found the traitor?" she asked as she confidently entered Arthur's chambers.

"Not yet," Arthur grumbled, "But I have an idea."

"You don't sound pleased."

"My uncle," Arthur said, "He's the only one that would make sense. But he wouldn't, would he?"

Rowen was speechless, "He might."

"What could he have against me?"

"Your birth caused the death of his sister," she reminded him carefully, "He has every reason to want someone else on the throne."

"You aren't surprised," Arthur accused.

"You know we don't get on," Rowen shrugged, "Besides, he has been most suspicious. When we were out searching for Merlin, it was he who found the fabric from his jacket, but I could have sworn he never picked it up. I think he had it all along. I shared my suspicions with Gaius and he thinks I might be right. He did prompt you to kill Caerleon, remember and that nearly caused a war. He's been playing mind games with us."

"I can't be sure."

"No," Rowen agreed, "You can't. But be careful."

"Why is it," Arthur asked, "That you're always right?"

"I'm just a genius," she joked.

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Did you see Merlin?"

Rowen nodded, "He's fine. Gaius reckons he's just exhausted."

"Good. Now, I'm going to see my uncle."

"Be careful, Arthur."

"I will. I have some things I need to discuss with him."

Rowen was walking through the castle quite early the next morning when she saw Gwen and Gaius dragging Merlin, who had an impressive purple bump on his head.

"My lady!" Gaius greeted her, "Could you get that door?"

Rowen ran ahead of them for the rest of the way to Gaius' chambers, holding open every door along the way.

"What happened?"

"The Formorroh is still in Merlin," Gaius said while they gently lowered him onto the table, "It grew back."

"If you kill one, another grows in its place?" Gwen asked.

"I've heard such stories in the past but never thought they were true. That will silence it for a while," he gently pressed some more of the solution onto the creature and they watched as it stilled. Gaius opened a vial of smelling salts and held it under Merlin's nose. The poor boy coughed horribly and shot up so he was kneeling on the table.

"What is that?" he cried, "Arthur's socks? What are you trying to do to me?"

"I'm trying to stop you from killing the king."

Merlin laughed, then his face fell and he swayed slightly, "Oh."

They helped him down from the table and steadied him until he could stand by himself and then Gwen excused herself, "I'd better go and deal with that bath water."

Gaius nodded to her gratefully and she sent Merlin a concerned look before leaving. Gaius went to prepare some food while Rowen sat Merlin down at the table.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"You don't remember anything?" Rowen asked worriedly.

"I remember Morgana conjuring the snake, but nothing more."

"Lucky for us you're such a bad assassin," Gaius said and Rowen could help but snort in laughter.

"But all is well now. I feel fine."

"For now, the serpent is dormant," Gaius told him, "But when it wakes, your mind will be Morgana's once more. Nothing will stop you from killing Arthur."

"How do we get rid of it if it keeps growing back?" Rowen asked.

"There is only one way, I'm afraid- you have to kill the mother beast."

"That creature that lives in Morgana's hut?"

Gaius nodded silently.

"Great. How long have I got? How long before this thing wakes up?"

"A day," Gaius guessed, "No more. And I wouldn't face her alone."

"I'll go with you," Rowen volunteered.

"No. Don't worry, I won't be there at all. Well, not exactly," Merlin shot to his feet and picked up a potion, "She won't recognise me if I'm 80 years old."

"What shall I say if Arthur asks for you?"

"Tell him I'm anywhere. Anywhere but the tavern."

"I'll go and see him later," Rowen volunteered, staring in dismay at the closed door. Gaius nodded appreciatively.

"Sometimes I just don't know what to do with that boy."

"Where is he?" Arthur asked as soon as Rowen arrived in his chambers a couple of hours later.

"Who?"

"Merlin," Arthur growled, "Guinevere told me he was sorting out my bath water but it was her who returned to fix it. So where is he?"

Rowen didn't have the chance to reply before Arthur's five favourite knights burst into the room, each sporting a bruised head and with slightly glazed eyes.

"Sir Leon," Arthur addressed, "What happened?"

"Sire, whilst on patrol we came across the old man. The sorcerer who killed your father."

Arthur glared at Rowen who only looked back with an innocent smile.

"Sire?" Elyan prompted.

"Well?" Arthur asked, "Where is he?"

"He escaped, my lord," Leon admitted, "Knocked us all out and fled."

Arthur growled, "Where was he going?"

"I don't know sire. He was moving away from Camelot. Into the forest."

"You should have run him through on the spot," Arthur said, looking angrily at Rowen. She only giggled quietly.

"Told you," Gwaine muttered under his breath and Leon scowled at him.

"Sire, we can go after him, if you wish," Lancelot offered, looking slightly reluctant.

"No," Arthur sighed, "Go to Gaius. Get yourselves cleaned up and those heads looked at."

"But sire, he-"

"I said no," Arthur snapped, "I will not lose any of you to the man who killed my father."

The knights nodded respectfully and left.

"Where's he going?"

"After the bandits who kidnapped him. He knows where they are and is going to deal with them. He'll be back soon."

"Maybe I'll let Gwaine run him through when he gets back."

Rowen laughed, "I came to make sure you weren't going to kill him."

"I'll think about it," Arthur mumbled.

When night was beginning to fall, and there was still no sign of Merlin, Rowen decided he was taking too long and ran to the stables. She hopped on a horse and left. As she passed through the courtyard, she looked up at Arthur's window, to see him looking down seriously at her. She smiled innocently and urged her horse into a gallop. She only hoped she could find Morgana's hut. She travelled to where the knights said they had seen the old man, then continued on, looking around carefully. Thankfully, she didn't have to find the exact location of Morgana's dwelling because a few minutes later, an unnaturally strong wind, spooked her horse and she tensed. Dismounting quickly and tying her horse to a nearby tree, she set off into the heart of the storm, leaves blowing in her face. She arrived in a small clearing just to see Morgana fly through the air and land crumpled in the twigs and dirt.

"Merlin?" she called out carefully.

"Here," came the weak response of an old man. He was trying to catch his breath, sitting slightly slumped against a tree, "Get the Fomorroh," he pointed to a jar a little way away from him with a shaking hand.

Scooping it up quickly, Rowen ran over to him and helped him up. "You look wonderful," she told him and he chuckled.

"I feel terrible."

"Let's move," she laughed, and together, they hobbled through the forest, in the general direction of Rowen's horse.

"Wait," Merlin said after making a bit of progress.

"Are you alright?"

"We need to kill it," he told her urgently, "Before the bit in my neck wakes up."

"We need to get you back to Camelot," Rowen said, "You're hurt."

"I'll be fine. Please."

"Alright, fine, sit there," she pointed to a little crook in a rock where he could rest, "I'll make a fire."

A few minutes later, a small fire was burning and Rowen looked to Merlin excitedly. The old man was fast asleep, leaning against the stone, breathing heavily. She smiled to herself and carefully teased the jar out of his limp hand. As soon as she opened it, the beast screamed at her and, slightly surprised, she threw it into the flames, "Ontend disne wrym paet he licge unastyred a butan ende," she chanted, unsure exactly of where the spell came from. The fire crackled and the Formorroh squealed in pain before going silent. Merlin groaned in his sleep and flexed his neck before calming again. Slightly disturbed by his wrinkled appearance, Rowen searched in the pocket of his robes, grateful to find a little phial of pale green liquid. Hoping it would do what she wanted, she gently tilted Merlin's head back and poured the potion into his mouth. Slowly, and rather gruesomely, the decrepit appearance of the old man melted into Merlin's usual, youthful and peaceful face.

Without the heart to wake him, Rowen settled next to the fire and rubbed her hands together, fully prepared to keep look out all night while her friend recovered beside her.