"I'm so sorry Gwen," Merlin whispered through the bars with tears in her eyes.

Last week had been a whirlpool of happening and feelings of all the range. After the tournament Merlin had gifted the dog to Leon as a hunting companion despite Arthur and Kay putting up a jealous fight. Merlin knows nothing of dogs but apparently it was a great specimen to clash sword over. Merlin, Anna and Guinevere had watched over them in amusement while having a break from chores.

Merlin had quickly fallen into a routine. Wake up really early, clean up her chamber from the stuff flying around in her sleep, go to the woods to gather herbs, come back for a morning meal with Gaius, go up to the prince's room to do morning chores, say hi to Gwen and Anna in the kitchen, wake up the prat and then keep busy for the rest of the day until she is so exhausted she hoped to fall to a dreamless sleep. So much for hoping though, since every night she would wake up from a nightmare and go vomit into a bucket.

Surprisingly it was the lady Morgana who first guessed what had happened. Merlin had been invited to a meal with her and Guinevere and after Morgana had prompted delicately, Merlin had burst into tears and explained everything. How she felt dirty and violated and how she now flinched from every physical contact.

Morgana had asked if she wanted a hug and the three of them had sat in front of a fire and just relaxed in each others arms. Morgana had sent for Morris to take over Merlin's chores for the day and Arthur had had the mind to not mention it on the days that followed. Merlin had spent the night and witnessed that she wasn't the only one sleeping terribly. Merlin had picked up the prettiest of flowers she could find on her herb gathering trip and gifted them to Morgana and Gwen the day after.

Then the plague happened.

The corpses looked horrible, with palish blue and veiny skin and whitened eyes. It came fast and people where dying overnight. They couldn't control it from spreading from man to man, woman to woman and child to child. The children's bodies where particularly hard to examine, lives lost way too soon.

Merlin and Gaius had tried to keep the panic on a minimum but Uther had demanded answers as quickly as possible. Because there weren't any evidence of why the plague had struck Uther had shouted sorcery and everyone had come under the scrutiny. Arthur and the knights had patrolled through the whole city in search of the magic user that was behind the plague.

Gaius and Merlin had gathered that it was in fact magic that that was behind it all. After that knowledge Merlin had buried herself into research. She was horrified by the evilness of the magic and while Gaius said that magic corrupts Merlin didn't entirely believe him thinking it's the power that corrupts. There are good and evil magic users just like there were good and evil kings. The more and more she read the more and more she believed her assessment of the subject. And she read a lot.

She poured over the books Gaius had on medicine and her spell book of course. Uther had destroyed a big part of magical knowledge during the purge and Merlin was frustrated that she couldn't find a solution to the plague despite having a bit of hope for a certain healing spell.

Merlin knew she could heal everyone, she had found a spell to counteract the plague's symptoms but Gaius had been firm that they should find the cure through science. It would be risky and a slow go but she could do it. She respected Gaius' thrive to protect her but when Gwen had come in hysterically crying Merlin knew she had to act.

They had found that the illness was spreading through water but not knowing what could be done about it, it would have been too late for Tom. So, Merlin sneaked in their cottage that night and performed the spell she had found.

And now, while Gwen's father had been cured, Guinevere was waiting a death sentence.

"It's not your fault," Gwen tried to assure her.

Merlin felt a pang in her heart. Gwen's face was adorned with glistening tear tracks and something inside Merlin wanted to blurt out the truth so Gwen wouldn't look at her like that anymore. Like Merlin had given her a gift by coming to see her. Merlin wanted Gwen to scorne her for it was Merlin's fault that Guinevere was arrested in the first place. If only she had gone with her gut and cured all the people despite what Gaius had said.

"Gwen, I..." Merlin started but the other girl cut her off.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be okay."

"But..." Merlin found that she couldn't finish her thought without tearing up even more.

"No, no. Don't cry because of me. There's nothing to cry about, I have lived a wonderful life and I'm glad I got to call you a friend," Gwen soothed. Merlin didn't know about the wonderful life because she hadn't known Gwen for long but she could take her word for it.

"I'm glad too, well, not about this but about the part where we are friends."

"Just do one thing for me."

"Anything." She meant it. If Gwen asked her to make flowers out of the cell bars, she would, to hell with keeping magic a secret.

"Remember me."

At that request Merlin's mind was made.

"You can't die, I won't let this happen."

She didn't stay to hear what Gwen had to say to that but rather run as fast as she could up the stairs from the dungeon and towards the council chamber. She knew that there was an emergency meeting afoot because she had helped Arthur earlier to dress for it. Her rush however was interrupted by Leon who was guarding the entrance to the council chamber.

"Leon, let me through."

The blonde knight looked surprised at Merlin's determined stance. It was true that Merlin hadn't been very lively these past days. She had gone through the motions and seen her friends but the spark of her eyes had diminished ever since Valiant. Now though, her thoughts were consumed with hope for her friend and a sense of justice. It didn't matter what happened to Merlin, Gwen couldn't die for a crime that she did not commit.

No matter the ethics of sentencing someone for death because they healed a loved one.

"It's for Gwen, let me through... Please."

Leon nodded and let her pull the heavy chamber doors.

"I'm the sorcerer who healed Tom the blacksmith!" She shouted before even stepping in. She would have liked seeing Leon's reaction for that, she imagined it was rather funny but she had other things in her mind. Like the way Uther was glaring at her, ready to have her arrested and free Gwen subsequently. She was ready.

She saw Gaius looking frightened from the corner of her eye and Arthur's speculative expression from the other. But she didn't mind, all that matter was Gwen getting to go home to her father. Merlin didn't know her own father. Her mother never mentioned him but she liked to think that she would fight for her own father too. No matter what atrocities he might have done to make Hunith never talk about him.

Almost all of the council men had stood up and Gaius tried to make her to shut up. He didn't understand. It was her fault that Gwen was in the predicament that she was in. She had to make it right.

Uther was ordering his men to arrest her when Arthur slid in on to the conversation. "Merlin can't be the sorceress."

"Arthur, what are you doing," she hissed at him.

"Saving your arse," he whispered harshly.

"See," he continued for his father, "Guinevere is Merlin's best friend, you could say they love each other. They gift each other flowers, just yesterday Merlin came to clean my chambers with a purple flower in her hair."

Uther looked a bit dubious.

"I know the love between two women is frowned upon but it's hardly a crime. Merlin is just an idiot trying to save someone she loves."

Merlin must have looked a sight. She was rendered speechless. She tried to counteract Arthur but the words stuck in her throat. She must have looked like the idiot Arthur was accusing her of being.

Arthur put his arm around her and Merlin flinched. He shot her and apologetic look which dumbfounded her even more. Arthur couldn't know about Valiant. Had someone told him? No, he couldn't know. Merlin's breath started to come out in gasps and Arthur escorted her out of the room to Leon.

"Get her to Anna, I still have to be in council."

And that's how Merlin found herself with warm broth in her hands, bundled in blankets, sitting across Anna, waiting for Gaius.

Guinevere wasn't the sorceress, that much was clear to Arthur. Even if she had healed her father, which he doubted, she wasn't the one behind the plague. The magic user behind the plague wasn't even in Camelot anymore, why would they be and risk being caught by Uther's soldiers. No, he was sure the culprit was long gone. But his father was on a war path and there was little Arthur could do to protect Camelot's citizens. His father very rarely listened to his counsel saying he was too young to know about how to rule and that he would know when he was king. But Arthur did know that he didn't want to rule like Uther. He wanted his subjects to respect him, not fear him. Uther had said they are the same thing but Arthur knew better. He would be a servant to his people and make sure they had the best life possible. But he also knew he had a lot to learn and there wasn't other role models to look towards than Uther.

Not to get him wrong, Uther was a good and strong ruler. He had made Camelot safe to live in and other kingdoms didn't dare to challenge Camelot. He had a firm hand for criminals and encouraged his people to work hard. He was fair as long as there wasn't magic involved.

Merlin's recent confession was a raise for concern though. She had been more jumpy lately and Arthur didn't know how he could help her. It had something to do with Valiant, that much he knew but Merlin hadn't wanted to open up to him when he asked. Leon and Kay had said they also had noticed Merlin's changed demeanour but couldn't pin point the cause. Something bad had happened but until Merlin came forward there wasn't much they could do.

But to barge in to a full council and announce being a magic user was reckless and stupid. If Arthur hadn't been there Merlin would be on a way to the stake. Was she telling the truth? Arthur couldn't know but he vowed to be more observant. In the mean time he had to start concentrating on the raise of taxes they were discussing about to cut the costs of funerals and care of the patients. They really had to find the source of the illness or there wouldn't be a kingdom to run soon.

"I tried to save her," Merlin cried miserably. Anna had been patiently sitting before her, letting Merlin gather her wits. Leon had told Anna what had happened and Anna had begun to work on calming the witch down. Not that Merlin had noticed, sitting down depressed and thinking there's nothing she could do anymore.

"Merlin dear," Anna started, "you don't have to do this alone. I know you are from a small village and didn't have much friends, but you have friends now." Merlin lifted her head, now finally listening to what Anna had to say. "There's Leon, Kay and me. Maybe even Arthur. I'm sure we can at least get her out before anything happens."

Merlin took couple of deep breaths. Anna was right. She wasn't alone. She had her friends and most of all, she now had Gaius. Who probably was mad with worry.

"I'm sorry Anna, but I have to go. The council is probably finished now and I promised to aid Gaius in figuring out the disease." She hurried out the door with a new plan in mind.

Anna smiled and let her go with a friendly wave, visibly relieved to see Merlin back in action.

"Arthur's the idiot," Merlin announced as she barged in to the physician's chambers. Gaius was sorting through books and sent her a disappointed look over his shoulders.

"No. He was right to do what he did." This much Merlin already knew. "And, thankfully, he saved you from your own stupidity."

"Yes, I know," Merlin sighed. Anna had made her open her eyes to the reality that she mattered to people. Only thing left to do was figure out how she could help Gwen without throwing herself to the flames. "I didn't know what else to do. It's my fault she is in there."

"Yes, but you don't prove her innocence by offering to jump into the flames. You do it by finding out what's causing the disease!"

"Well, whatever it is, one thing's for sure: Arthur isn't going to find it. He thinks he is so sharp! But even when I told him I was a witch, he still couldn't see it." Now that Merlin thought about it, announcing her magic in front of court was pretty stupid. Ugh, she would have to thank Arthur for stepping in. But what had been the talk of two women loving each other? Whatever it was, it had saved Merlin's hide and once she had saved Gwen and cleared her of the charges she would be thankful for it.

"Sometimes they're pretty hard to spot."

"Well, I should wear a pointy hat then." Actually, not at all a bad idea, now that she thought about it. Purple perhaps, that seems quite distinguished.

"I don't think you'll find one big enough," Gaius bantered. "Anyway, forget that. If we're going to save Gwen, we have to find out what's contaminating the water."

So they made their way to the catacombs running under the kingdom where all the city's water was sourced. Gaius asked her to take a sample of the water but when Merlin went to dip the bucket into the water, something moved. Something very very ugly and slimy. It had a gaping mouth full of sharp yellowed teeth and Merlin though she had never seen something so disgusting.

They took the water sample back to Gaius' chambers and without prompting Merlin went to a stack where she knew Gaius kept his magical books and started searching for the monster with him. Finally Gaius found out the the creature was an Afanc but there were no way in how to defeat it. In her desperation Merlin went back to the dragon, Kilgharrah, of whom she still wasn't sure what their relationship were. He was useful but so not so at the same time and while he had let her hide out in his cave, he was only a little of comfort. Kilgharrah was cryptic as ever, spouting something about coins and elements and flying away before Merlin had the answer she felt she deserved. If she had this grand destiny of protecting Arthur and also Camelot, she would need help. She was only but a small witch in the grand scheme of things.

Going back to Gaius she pondered the elements and thought out loud for when Gaius found the answer of using wind and fire to counterattack the elements of earth, ermm, mud and water. And while she knew she could do this alone and other people would only get in the way, the "two sides of the same coin" was ringing about in her head. If Arthur was part of her destiny, he needed to be where she was, protecting his people. Also, if she just killed the afanc there was no way to prove Gwen was innocent since she doubted the court, and more so Uther, would believe her. Now all she had to do was to convince Arthur to come with her which shouldn't be too hard.

But before she could go on and get him, Morgana came in with the most awful news. Time was running short, Gwen would be executed soon. After explaining Morgana what they had found they hurried on to search for Arthur. Morgana said she could handle it but Merlin couldn't help herself.

"We need a real rough tough, save the world kind of guy," Merlin smirked a smile that could rival Morgana's.

"A what?" Honestly. Merlin was obviously the brighter side of the stupid coin, the prince could be a bit slow sometimes.

Luckily Arthur didn't need much convincing, he was the world saving type after all and there was a monster included. Morgana had seemingly grew bored of proper court etiquette since she too came with and that's how Merlin learned about Morgana being skilled with a sword. Not that she had seen the lady with a sword but Morgana didn't seem the type to lie and brag about her prospers. If she said she could fight, then she obviously could. Which could come handy for Merlin someday. If nothing else, maybe the lady Morgana could give her some pointers since Arthur seemed determined to make her learn something. All in all, Arthur and Morgana's healthy banter made Merlin feel a lot better about facing the ugly beast.

The afanc was surprisingly fast and they were wary of every shadow. At one moment it was there, the other here and then behind Morgana. It seemed almost impossible to reach it long enough to strike. It wasn't for a lack of trying. They split up to cover more ground but since the afanc seemed to enjoy freaking them out they ran to each other's screams.

Arthur was leading them forward, Morgana in the middle since she had arrived in a dress and in Arthur's logic being the most vulnerable, Merlin keeping up the back. She hoped that they could get to the beast soon, the more time they wasted the more likely they would be too late to save her first friend in Camelot. She had no idea how long they had been underground and she was getting anxious. Surely they wouldn't execute anyone without the prince being in attendance? She hoped so, otherwise they might run out of time.

There was only glimpses and shadows for what felt like ages. The monster turning out to be a flighty creature. Every time it appeared Merlin grew more and more desperate. Her heart was beating faster than when she was running around woods with Will, playing with wooden swords and laying traps for rabbits. She was always horrible at both, seemingly having no coordination and letting the rabbits lose even though she knew they had to eat something. Anyway, the point was, she was more agitated than she had ever been.

When she was swiping her sweaty hands on her hose, she finally saw it.

"Arthur!" She cried. The prince charged, pointing the sword but Merlin knew that would do little to attain their goal. "Use the torch!"

Arthur listened to her, and after she would wonder about it, but right now she had a spell to perform. She crept back a little and whispered under her breath: "Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan."

The wind rushed towards the afanc, catching on the flames and the monster died with a squeal. Merlin breathed a sigh of relief. Arthur's testimony would be enough to free Gwen, she was sure of it. Uther didn't know the creature was magic so there wouldn't be anything to sentence Gwen for.

After leaving Arthur and Gaius to deal with Uther, Merlin found herself accompanying Morgana and Tom to release Gwen. Morgana praised Merlin's heroics to the newly freed girl and Merlin had a feeling Morgana had an ulterior motive for it. In the end Merlin got the best hug she had ever had and didn't even flinch this time.

Nimueh was gazing into her basin wearing a pensively. This new sorceress Merlin was quite a character. There was something familiar about her in her dark curls and clear blue eyes but Nimueh couldn't pin point why. But, if she was protecting Camelot, it's citizens and it's royalty, she had to go. So she turned her back to the scrying basin and begun the planning of her sweet revenge. Camelot and it's king would go down, no matter what and no obstacle would be too big. Merlin had to go.