Twins of Magic
Summary: When Morgana was knocked unconscious, she learnt two things from Uther. First, Uther is her biological father and second, Merlin, the boy who poisoned her, is her twin brother, separated at birth. What will happen now? AU of series 3 onwards.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. Merlin is the property of BBC!
Chapter Ten: The Queen of Hearts Part 3
Something unsettling clawed its way through Merlin's stomach. The young warlock couldn't shake the feeling off that something bad will happen, and it will involve Arthur. Merlin walked towards Arthur's chambers, only to see many guards turning the place over and Arthur leaning on his bedpost with his arms across his chest, looking very confused and annoyed.
"What's going on?" Merlin asked as he stepped inside.
Arthur sighed. "My father has ordered my chambers to be searched," he replied.
Now it was Merlin's turn to look confused. "What for?"
Arthur shrugged when a guard flipped a pillow over, only to see a poultice. He turned to Merlin. "What's that?" he asked her but he shrugged. That was when his eyes widened as he saw the markings of the Old Religion. It had to be Morgana. But who would she be framing?
….
Arthur was running down the halls towards the council chambers when Merlin told him he saw the guards drag a distressed Gwen into the chambers. His thoughts were correct when he saw Gwen dropped to the ground by his father's knees.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur demanded as he saw Morgana standing behind Uther, leaning against the wall with her arms across her chest.
Uther held up the poultice that was under his son's pillow. "This poultice was found under your pillow. Some kind of love charm. You are under its spell."
Arthur scoffed. "That's ridiculous," he said, scowling at his father.
Uther frowned. "What would you know?" he argued.
"Because I know how I feel. I'm not enchanted," Arthur replied, angrily.
Uther pursed his lips. "So can you tell me how it came to be in your room?" he asked sarcastically.
Morgana looked at the scene unfold before her. She doesn't need to do anything else.
"I don't know, but I don't believe Guinevere put it there."
"Until its spell is broken, I can't take anything you say as the truth," Uther said and when he passed the distressed Gwen, he pointed at her. "Her father consorted with sorcerers," he recalled.
Even though Gwen was scared she couldn't help but defend her late father. "My father was a good and innocent man and you executed him!"
"So, you would seek your revenge by enchanting my son!" Uther growled.
Gwen shook her head. "No!" she replied, appalled by the accusation.
Gaius, who was standing in the shadows, watching the scene before him, decided to speak out. "My Lord, whatever this poultice is, I don't believe that Gwen is responsible for magic."
Uther glared at his long-time friend. "I don't care what you believe, Gaius. Arthur is under her spell. It's the only rational explanation for his behaviour!" he growled.
Arthur couldn't believe that this was happening. "Father, you have to see reason. Guinevere has done nothing wrong," he protested.
"She has been found guilty of using magic and enchantments. She will be burnt at the stake."
Arthur shook his head. No! No, no. "No! You can't," he yelled and moved towards his father.
"Guards! Restrain him!"
As the guards tightened their hold on Arthur, tears welled up in the Prince's eyes.
"My Lord! At least give Gwen a fair trial!" Gaius suggested.
Uther shook his head. "I have all the evidence I need."
Arthur continued to struggle against the guards hold and his expression turned to pleading. "I'm begging you! We will leave Camelot and never return! Just… let us go! I relinquish my entitlement to the throne!" he blurted out and Gwen gasped in surprise.
Uther's face turned cold, as did his tone. "My son would never do that. It is proof beyond doubt that you are enchanted," he snarled.
Arthur just stared at him. This person, who was his cold-blooded father. "I will never forgive you for this!"
Uther just stared back. "She will die. The enchantment will be broken. You'll see I was right. Take her away," he said to the guards as he left the room.
"No!"
"Arthur!"
Gwen was struggling desperately when Arthur broke free. He ran to the love of his life and kissed her desperately before they were forced to separate by the guards.
"I will always love you!"
Gwen had tears in her eyes as she looked at the Prince before she glanced at Morgana who was watching with a deadly smirk on her face. She couldn't believe that she would do something like this.
It was the most unforgivable betrayal.
…..
It was a grim morning for Gwen (who was in her cell), Merlin and Arthur as they watch a witch's pyre being set up in the town's square. Arthur sighed and Merlin was the first one to speak.
"We need to find a way to smuggle Gwen out of Camelot," Merlin said, breaking the silence.
Arthur sighed as he shook his head. "My father has me under constant watch. There are guards outside, below in the square. I can't watch her die, Merlin," he whispered before he choked back a sob.
Merlin left the room, trying to think of a plan. He would be dammed if he would stand behind and let Gwen die and lose Arthur. But how can he do it?
….
After speaking to Gwen, his suspicions were confirmed. Gwen told him that before she left, she saw Morgana smirking deadly at her. It had to be her. The question was how was he going to rescue Gwen?
That was when he walked into Gaius's chambers with his hidden magic book.
"Uther thinks Arthur's enchanted. Anything that Arthur does is going to strengthen that belief. I fear that's not going to save Gwen," Gaius protested as they were discussing their options.
Merlin sighed before he broke into a smirk "If we can't expose the true sorcerer, then we must invent one," he replied.
Gaius had to raise an eyebrow at that. "Oh?"
Merlin grinned. "Time to beat Morgana at her own game! What if a sorcerer was caught planting an identical poultice in Arthur's chambers? Uther would've no choice but to release Gwen," he said, shrugging his shoulder.
Gaius frowned, seeing many flaws in this plan. "And do you know of a sorcerer whose stupid enough to get caught doing such a thing?"
Merlin smiled sheepishly. "Well… me. So, if I disguise myself, it won't matter if I'm caught. I can use magic to escape, and then just change back into myself. They'll think that the sorcerer has just vanished into thin air."
Gaius pursed his lips. "Well, no matter how you disguise yourself, I fear Arthur will recognise you," he pointed out.
Merlin smiled. "Not if I'm eighty years old," he replied.
Gaius's frown deepened. "An aging spell? Merlin, aging spells are notoriously difficult and unpredictable. I don't think even Morgana would be capable to perform such magic. If the spell doesn't hold, you'll be exposed."
"If I don't do something, Gwen's going to die, and I'm not going to let that happen. Can you make a poultice identical to the one found in Arthur's Chambers?" Merlin asked, thoughts going a mile.
Gaius thought about it before he nodded. "Well, I believe so," he replied and started working right away.
Merlin went to his bed chambers and took out a large iron bowl and started to grind the right ingredients for the spell. Almost half an hour later and Merlin nodded to himself as he looked at the spellbook, seeing that the potion turned out exactly as it should be.
Merlin took a deep breath before he glanced at the pale blue liquid. "Miht dagan, beþecce me. Adeadaþ þisne gast min freondum ond min feondum," he whispered when the dust caught on fire. A couple of minutes later and Merlin's whole body felt stiff and he ached all over. He took out some of Gaius's old robes and put them on. When he walked out of the room, he saw Gaius's jaw drop which Merlin assumed that the spell worked.
Merlin cleared his throat, it felt dry. "You know me better than anyone, Gaius. Do you recognise me?" he asked.
Gaius closed his mouth and walked up to his ward, looking at him up and down. Gaius pursed his lips. "There's something of you in the eyes. But perhaps that's just because I know it's you."
Merlin grinned before he turned and glanced at his reflection in the mirror. He winced and saw the wrinkles all over his face and his hair long and white. He suddenly groaned and clutched at his lower back.
"I can't believe that one day I will actually look like this. Ah! I ache, all over" Merlin muttered.
Gaius smirked. "Ah. Well, now you know how I feel," he said before handing Merlin the poultice. "You'll be needing that," he added.
….
Merlin walked slowly towards Arthurs chambers with a staff to support him. If this is what he would be like when he was this age, well, let's just say he wasn't looking forward to it. Merlin peeked around a corner to see Arthur talking to some guards. He also allowed him to deliberately spot her before Merlin walked as fast as she could. Merlin walked towards Arthur's bed and waited before muttering a fake spell when he felt Arthur's presence in the room.
"Show yourself. Who are you?" Arthur demanded as he put his sword at Merlin's back.
Well, this is awkward. Merlin turned around and spread his arms out while Arthur took two steps back. "I am…. Dragoon the Great!"
"Is it you who planted the poultice in my bed?" Arthur questioned.
Merlin sighed and bowed his head. "You have caught me red-handed. I have no choice but to confess."
Arthur pointed his sword at Merlin's chest. "An innocent girl almost died because of your actions!"
"I suppose your father will have to release her now that you've caught me."
"I should run you through where you stand!" Arthur growled.
Merlin sighed, getting tired of this charade. "I really wouldn't do that if I were you! Because if you do that... You will never learn of my plan…" he said, his tone grave.
Now Arthur looked puzzled. "What plan?"
Merlin grinned. "Exactly! That's why you can't run me through!"
Arthur slowly lowered his sword and approached his unknowing servant. "Have we met?"
They looked each other over before Merlin shook his head, feigning an innocent look. "No, I don't believe so. I never forget a face."
Arthur pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes as he looked into Merlin's face. "Your eyes. We've met somewhere before…"
Merlin shook his head frantically, beginning to panic. "No… No!" he then looked at a heavy object and muttered, "Flíeh grima!" a flying helmet knocked Arthur's head and fell face in his bed as Merlin fled from the scene.
"Guards!"
Well, this wasn't going well. Merlin sprinted as much as his old body can handle. Really, being old sucks and no wonder Gaius had trouble. Merlin ducked around another corner before stopping and trying to do a reversing spell. "Edniwe min geoguð!" he muttered and nothing happened.
"He went this way!" Arthur called.
"Edniwe min geoguð!" he muttered and again, nothing. He heard more footsteps and saw a murderous looking Arthur, being surrounded by guards.
"There he is! Seize him!" Arthur demanded.
When the guards advanced on him and grabbed his arms, Merlin sighed. Well, this wasn't going to end good if he can't change back.
….
Uther, Morgana, Gaius and some council members were crowded around the table signing papers. The doors opened making all of their heads snap up. Arthur walked in with a stony expression on his face. Some guards were behind him along with an unfamiliar old man.
"Father," Arthur greeted, his tone civil.
Uther nodded. "Arthur," he said before looking at the old man. "Who is this?"
Arthur gestured to the unknowingly Old Merlin. "He is the sorcerer," he replied before handing Uther another poultice. "I found him placing this under my pillow."
Uther looked at the poultice in his hand. It was identical to the one he thought Morgana's maid made. He looked at the old man with pursed lips. "Is this true?"
Old Merlin nodded. "Yes," he said slowly and glanced at Morgana who looked confused. Good, it was working.
"What did you hope to achieve with this enchantment?" Arthur asked, arms across his chest.
Old Merlin turned to glance at him. "If Arthur were to fall in love with a lowly serving girl, it would bring shame on Camelot," he explained, his tongue rolling and slurring his speech. Being old is hard.
Uther slowly put the poultice down on the table and looked at Old Merlin. "Have I wronged you in some way, old man?"
Old Merlin paused and thought about it. This could be his chance to vent without being caught… well, Gaius know who he is, but still! "You have wronged so many people in so many ways. You're blinded by your hatred of magic. You have tortured and executed innocent people. You, Uther Pendragon, are a stupid, arrogant old tyrant!" he snapped.
"You will hold your tongue!" Arthur butted in.
Old Merlin wasn't finished. He turned to vent out on Arthur. Might as well while he can. "And you. Oh, I have heard how you...mistreat your servants! They do everything for you, but do they ever get any thanks? No! You're a spoiled arrogant brat... with the brains of a donkey and the face of a toad." he growled before he gargled and spat. Old Merlin saw Gaius roll his eyes at Old Merlin's antics.
The guards pulled Old Merlin away from Arthur before Uther spoke again.
"This serving girl. She is your accomplice?" Uther asked.
Old Merlin shook his head slowly. "I enchanted her too. The girl is entirely innocent," he replied before glancing at Morgana who was totally confused at what was going on. Now if he can turn back, things would be fabulous.
"My Lord, he has confessed," Arthur said hurriedly, thinking about Gwen's rescue.
Uther frowned and began to sulk as he picked up the poultice. "Release the girl. Tomorrow at dawn you will take your place on the pyre. Take him away!" he ordered the guards before turning the poultice in his hands.
Morgana watched as the old man being escorted to the dungeons with a frown. As they left the council chambers, she placed an hand on Gaius's arm.
"Do you know that man, Gaius?" she asked, still confused.
Gaius paused and regarded her for a moment before shaking his head. "I've never seen him before. Is there something troubling you, Morgana? I would've thought you'd be relieved that the true culprit's been found."
Morgana's breath caught in her throat before she placed a fake smile on her face. She still had a part to play after all. "Of course, I am."
….
After telling Gaius that he couldn't change back, Merlin kept trying to change back into his younger self. He made a spectacular show if he didn't say so himself in the courtyard onto his way to the pyre. He grabbed the antidote that Gaius managed to brew before drinking it and running away from the guards. As he turned a corner, he managed to turn back into his younger self. However, something didn't add up as Arthur thought he was at the Tavern…. What?
Gaius had something to do with this, he would bet his last penny on it. Oh well, at least Gwen was released and he stopped Morgana's plan. Cleaning Arthur's stables were the least of worries. Morgana is up to something, and he would be damned if he let her kill Arthur or Gwen. Merlin vowed to himself that he would protect them until his dying breath. That's a promise.
A/N: Well, Gwen is safe, at least for now! How did you guys think of this chapter? Let me know!