"Merlin, are you sure this will work?" Gwen sniffed the potion suspiciously.
"I mean, I'm sort of sure," Merlin admitted sheepishly. "Remember the troll Uther nearly married? This was her potion. I don't know exactly how it will work on a human, but…"
"Merlin!" Gwen groaned. "You'd better get this right! And I'd better not turn into a troll!"
"I'm sure you won't turn into a troll!" Merlin said, muttering "Mostly" under his breath.
"Let's just get this over with," Gwen said, giving him a dour look and shaking her head. They each held up their vials and drank them.
Gwen's skin began to lighten and she felt her body stretch taller and grow thinner. Her hair felt different, thinner and shorter, and when she cleared her throat, her voice was different too.
Merlin, on the other hand, transformed into an elderly man, with long white hair and a matching beard.
"Ah ha!" Merlin said, looking at his wrinkled hands, and then examining a straight lock of Gwen's light brown hair. He guided her to a looking glass on the counter. "See? No need to doubt me!"
Gwen examined her reflection, surprised to see Sefa's face staring back at her. "Incredible. I stand corrected. I should have known better than to doubt you, Merlin."
"It won't last forever, so we'd better get going," he said, his voice creaky with age.
Following Sefa's directions, Merlin and Gwen made their way to The Order. Gwen, as Sefa, looked ragged. Her hair was now tangled, and she was filthy, with her clothes torn. Merlin had used magic to bruise her wrists and ankles to appear as though she had been shackled in the dungeon.
She looked so terrible, Sefa's father nearly didn't recognize her.
"Daughter! Is that truly you?" he said, shocked. "How did you escape?"
"I freed her from that brute's dungeon since her worthless father didn't," Merlin said.
"And who the bloody hell are you?" Ruadan demanded.
"The Great Dragoon, you worthless trout," Merlin said, getting up in the man's face. Ruadan backed away, clearly offended by his terrible breath, a mixture of rotting teeth and onion.
"He saved me, Father!" Gwen said, weakly. "He was a prisoner too, and he got us both out."
"Come, child," an older woman said, appearing from the shadows. She give Ruadan a hard look before shooing Gwen away with her. "Let's get you fed and into a bath."
Merlin coughed to cover his surprise at seeing her. Alice.
"I suppose you want some reward for your trouble, Old Man?" Ruadan said, sitting at the dining table.
"Why? You resent paying a reward for the return of your child? You think she's not worth it?" Merlin asked with a grunt.
"Not at all, I'm pleased to have the girl returned. But how did you overcome the wards put up by the King's traitorous sorcerers?"
"Because I'm not an idiot or a coward," he grumbled. "Are you really so weak, you're outwitted by the magic of a mere girl and some serving boy she's marrying? Perhaps I've come to the wrong place to offer my assistance. You're beyond help."
"Assistance?" Ruadan asked. "What assistance could you possibly offer me?"
Merlin sneered at him. "This is The Order of the Triple Goddess, is it not? Taking down the Pendragon dynasty?"
"And what have you against the Pendragons?"
"I'm a sorcerer, you half-witted bampot. What do you think I've got against the Pendragons?" he said, pointing his crooked finger in Ruadan's face. "So, tell me, do you actually have a plan, or am I in the wrong place?"
Ruadan looked at him with disdain. "You think I would share that with you? A stranger?"
"Gah," Merlin hissed. "Worthless. I'll just kill the idiot king myself. I don't need to be bothered with amateurs playing at magic."
He moved towards the door pushing the other sorcerer out of the way with his staff.
"Dragoon, wait. It is a sacred war we wage against the Pendragons, to preserve magic," Ruadan said. "But I need to know I can trust you. I don't know you."
"Morgause does. Where is she?" he said, looking around.
"She's not here, she won't return until her sister's wedding," he said.
"Is that so? Well, she'll be disappointed to know she'll miss out, when I kill her traitor sister as well as the king," Merlin said.
"The Princess isn't to be harmed," Ruadan said. "The Triple Goddess wishes her to rule, according to Morgause."
"Is that so? Replace one retched Pendragon for another?" he spat. "So, that's your endgame? Why? What difference does it make?"
"Morgana's rule will legitimize magic, and prevent the myth of Arthur from rising. His legend will be the end of magic."
"The end of magic? How? What difference does it make which Pendragon you keep alive, sitting useless on a throne? Where is this nonsense coming from?" Merlin demanded.
Ruadan sighed. "The Diamair, the key to all knowledge. Morgause was given the prophesy, about the legend of Arthur, and the death of magic. She holds a book, a history of a future kingdom called Britain, that tells of the destruction of magic with the rise of the new religion."
"The death of magic?" Merlin said, confused. "How?"
"Arthur may have had a change of heart about magic due to his sister, but history will not. Arthur's reign will be looked upon as bringing the New Religion to dominance in Albion, and magic will die. It will make Uther's reign seem kind in comparison. Witches will be burned for centuries to come until there are none left. Magic will die, with only nonmagical humans left to burn, which they will eagerly do as a reminder of their religious dominion."
Merlin exhaled. "There must be a way to stop…"
"Yes, exactly. We are going to kill the King and conquer Camelot. And Morgana will take the throne. However, if she gets in the way, she will die along with her brother, and Morgause will sit in her stead. We will ensure magic dominates these lands for the whole of history."
Merlin nodded. "Good. I will do this work, to rid the world of Pendragons once and for all."
"Ruadan! There are Knights of Camelot here!" another sorcerer came in breathlessly.
"They must have followed you, you old fool. Now they will die," Ruadan hissed.
"They have a powerful sorcerer with them," the man shook his head. "They've already breached the perimeter."
"Emrys," Merlin hissed.
"No, it's another. Quickly, we must…" an explosion interrupted his sentence, and knocked him back. Both he and Ruadan were knocked unconscious.
"You're early, Mordred," Merlin grumbled.
"Incredible, Merlin. You're even crankier when you're old," Mordred rolled his eyes. Gwaine laughed at the sight of Merlin as an old man, as he walked in behind Mordred.
Merlin sneered at him. "Carry these fools to the dungeon, and let's go get Gwen. I almost got what we came for, no thanks to your incompetence."
"Yes, My Lord," Mordred sighed. Gwaine slapped him on the back and laughed as he hauled away an unconscious sorcerer, leaving Mordred to brood.
. . .
"I can't be seen in Court with my hair still like this, Merlin! Are you sure it will wear off?" Gwen said, dismounting her horse inside of the gate with Mordred's help. The other knights carried the sorcerers to the dungeons, still unconscious and their wrists still bound.
"I'm certain. There should be no lasting effects," he said. He had already taken the antidote for his aging potion, and had returned to normal. Gwen's potion was beginning to wear off, but she was still a sort of mix between Gwen and Sefa. "I suspect some sleep, including a bit of a lay-in after all this excitement, will do the trick. I'll cover for you with Arthur and Morgana."
"Good-night, Merlin. Good work tonight," she said, pulling the hood of the dark blue cloak over her hair and obstructing her face.
"You as well. Thank you, Gwen, truly," he said, taking Gwen's hands in his and looking into what were still Sefa's eyes.
"There's no need to thank me, there's no selflessness in my actions. I love Morgana as though she were my sister. I will do anything to keep her safe," she said, her eyes darkening back into her own.
After Gwen walked inside, Mordred approached Merlin. "The prisoners are in the dungeon, and the girl has been released by your command."
Merlin nodded. "I'll be in to interrogate them later." And he would have to tell Gaius he had Alice arrested.
"Here," Mordred pulled out a set of scrolls. "I found these in Ruadan's quarters. My Lord…" Mordred hesitated. "The prophesy they reference… it can't be true, can it?"
"It's none of your concern, Mordred," Merlin snapped at him, grabbing the scrolls.
"Dammit, Emrys!" Mordred hissed. "I have a right to know."
"You don't have a right to know anything, not after…" Merlin stopped himself.
"After what? After a potential future that will never come to pass?" Mordred said. "You think I haven't had these conversations with Morgana? She's like a mother to me. She hasn't kept any of this from me, and why would she? Why are you? Why are you punishing me for things I haven't done, and never will?"
Merlin's eyes flashed with anger. "I don't trust you."
Mordred winced. "So I'm aware. But your mistrust is unfair, I haven't earned it. On the contrary, I think I've earned your trust. Arthur believes so, as does Morgana. I saved Arthur's life just days ago, in fact, I nearly died! I expected to die, even! I couldn't have known I would live when I took a sword to the gut for Arthur! If not for Morgana, I would be…"
"You're right," Merlin said, running a hand over his face. "You're right. If I can believe Morgana has changed her path, then I can choose to believe you as well."
Mordred sighed in relief. "So you'll tell me the truth? The truth about this prophecy? Whether our people are in danger?"
Merlin hesitated. "I don't know whether the prophecy is true. But what I do know is that Arthur has brought magic back to Camelot. Do you think he should be held responsible for what future generations do when he's gone? Should he die for that, and Camelot plunged into endless war?"
"No. But if the prophecy is true, there has to be another way of stopping it. Just as Morgana stopped the Great Dragon's prophecies about her, and about me."
"We hope she has. Ultimately, we won't know unless she and Arthur survive a battle that's coming, on the fields of Camlann. And whether you don't plunge your sword into Arthur during that battle."
Mordred's eyes flashed with anger. "But already things have changed. Magic was never restored in her vision. Look, I haven't told Kara, but Morgana saved her. She would've tried to kill Arthur, she would've been executed. And I would have…" Mordred said softly, looking pained.
"You love her," Merlin said.
"She is… someone… Since I was a child... she's always lived inside my heart," he said, looking up at Merlin with a vulnerable expression. "I thought I lost her, and then Morgana brought her to me. You and Arthur brought her to me. I can never repay that gift."
Merlin nodded, understanding his devotion to the girl.
"She's lived through some terrible things, but her heart hasn't been corrupted by it. Whatever would have happened to her later on, to have her take up arms against Arthur, it hasn't happened. It won't happen," Mordred insisted.
Merlin looked at him appraisingly. "And if it does? Where will your loyalty be then?"
"Where would yours be, Emrys? If Morgana became Arthur's enemy, where would your loyalty be?" Mordred turned the question back on him.
Merlin stood with his mouth slightly open, the automatic answer frozen on his lips.
"Exactly. We're no different. Not now. Not now that you love Morgana. If you saw her executed at Arthur's command, how could you possibly continue to serve him?"
Merlin sighed. "I couldn't. But I also couldn't take up arms against him."
Mordred snorted. "You say that, but you couldn't know, not for certain. Regardless, he loves his sister. And Kara is the ward of the Princess of Camelot. They are in entirely different positions than they were in Morgana's vision. And so are we."
"Let's hope those positions don't change," Merlin said. "But, you're right, Mordred. I have been unfair to you. I… will strive to make it up to you."
"I appreciate it. I will continue to earn your trust. I want to protect the people I care about and, Merlin, believe it or not, that includes you. Morgana loves you and, for my love of her, so must I love you," Mordred said sincerely. Then he grinned, and added, "Even if you are quite insufferable."
Merlin snorted.
"But I also want to help you find a way to protect the future of our people," Mordred said, seriously.
Merlin nodded and clasped Mordred's shoulder. "I'm glad to hear it. Get some rest, you've earned it."
"You too, My Lord," he said, turning and walking inside.
. . .
Merlin looked at the sky and saw the beginnings of daybreak. He knew he should get some rest, especially after the exhaustion of using the aging spell, but he was far too wired, and far too worried about the future. He decided instead to check on his mother, who he knew would already be awake.
"Mother?" he said, knocking softly on her door. "Can we speak?"
"Oh, Merlin… um, just a moment, please," he heard her say.
She opened the door a few minutes later, just a crack. "I'm not dressed yet, Merlin. I'm not really sure how to get these fancy frocks on."
"Oh, I'll send Eilidh in, I just passed her in the hall…"
"Oh no, please, not yet, I can wait in my robe," she said.
Her tone worried him. "In that case, Mother, could I please come in?"
"I don't think…"
Merlin heard the floorboards creak behind her and she cringed.
"Mother? Is someone in there with you?" he asked, alarmed.
Hunith sighed, and opened the door a little wider. "Say good morning to your father, Merlin."
"Father," he said, wide-eyed. "You two have resolved your differences then?"
"We're working on it," Hunith said with a frown. "Could we discuss this later, Merlin?"
"Uh, yeah, I'll come back later," Merlin said, with an amused look on his face.
"I'll come with you, Son, give me a moment," Balinor said, as Hunith closed the door.
A few minutes later, Balinor emerged.
"So, Father. Did you… spend the night… with Mother?" Merlin asked casually.
"I did, but it's not what you might think," Balinor said. "She hasn't forgiven me to that extent quite yet."
"But you spent the night in her chambers. That's a good sign at least?" he asked hopefully.
"I hope so. Merlin, I would make her my wife if she'll have me," Balinor said. "I never stopped loving her, all those years we were apart."
"Did you tell her that?" Merlin asked.
"I did," he grimaced.
"And what did she say?"
"She didn't. She threw a vase at my head," Balinor replied flatly.
"Oh," Merlin cringed.
"But eventually she ran out of things to throw at me, and we began to talk. We haven't resolved our differences, but she agreed to continue talking. And she let me kip on her floor when I was too tired to speak any longer," Balinor said.
"That's promising at least," Merlin smiled.
"Not for my back," he said, stretching painfully. "And how was your mission to The Order?"
Merlin sighed. "Informative, but not good news. What do you know of the Diamair?"
"Very little. Is that what you seek?"
"It's what others have already found, specifically, Morgause. The Order claims there's a prophecy that foretells the end of magic, and they believe it's Arthur's fault."
"How?" Balinor asked.
"That seems uncertain. The scrolls tell a story of the domination of the Christian religion. Sorcery will be eradicated, and witch burnings will continue for centuries, to persecute those who don't even have magic."
"And they believe this is Arthur's fault?"
"It would seem so. The way that Arthur will be viewed as an historical figure, revered for his fight against magic and his quest for the holy relics of the Christian religion."
"So, history will get it wrong."
"Presumably."
"And The Order believes that by killing Arthur they will, what, change the course of an incorrect telling of history?"
"It would seem so."
"That's absurd. Without Arthur, future people would just select another figurehead, it's how myths are made."
"Tell that to the sorcerers trying to kill the king and replace him with my future wife," Merlin frowned.
"They want Morgana to be queen?" he asked, surprised.
"That's what all the brainwashing was about. It was to bring upon the reign of a sorceress, preferably one with a claim to the throne to make things easier, and easily controlled by enchantment. But if Morgana won't serve, they'll kill her and put Morgause on the throne."
"And how do you intend to stop the war that's brewing? Obviously you won't be able to talk sense into them. They're fanatics."
"We've captured several members of The Order, they're being held in the dungeons. Gaius isn't going to be very pleased. One of them is someone he loves."
"Oh? Who is that?"
"A sorceress called Alice. Camelot wasn't safe for her when Uther still lived, so she left, but Gaius still pines for her. He's going to be devastated when he finds out."
"Then he'd better hear it directly from you, Merlin," Balinor said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder.
"You're right. Thank you, Father," he said.
"We'll speak further about The Order when you've had some rest," Balinor said, parting ways.
Merlin ran a tired hand across his face. The sun was just starting to shine through the castle windows and he knew he had better go find Gaius.
When he arrived, Gaius was just finishing his breakfast. "Oh, Merlin. Have you eaten? I didn't expect you, or else I would have made you something to eat as well."
"No, I also haven't slept. I need you to come with me to see a prisoner," he said, with a guilty look.
Gaius looked at him and frowned. "Is someone injured?"
"No, but… when we raided The Order, we found an old friend of yours. Alice was with them."
"Alice?" Gaius said softly. "Oh, Merlin."
"She hasn't been questioned yet. Leon agreed you could be there."
"Thank you, Merlin."
They walked together to the interrogation room.
"Gaius!" Alice said, tears in her eyes. "Please believe me, I haven't committed treason."
"You were found with the sorcerers of The Order, who have kidnapped and brainwashed the Princess and attempted to overthrow the King. Can you explain your presence with them? Are you a member of The Order?" Leon asked, gesturing for Gaius and Merlin to take a seat.
"No, I'm not one of them, not really. I've just been trying to get more information," she said, speaking to Gaius and not looking at Leon.
"Information on what exactly?" Leon pressed.
"The Diamair. The Lady Morgause enlisted my help to find them. I couldn't resist. Magical creatures that possess all knowledge. How could I possibly resist such a temptation? And the Lady is a respected member of King Arthur's Court, or, at least she was. I suppose no longer, not after what Ruadan made her do."
"Ruadan is pulling the strings? Not Morgause?" Merlin asked, with surprise.
"In a way. Morgause is the figurehead, the High Priestess, but she loves Morgana. She is doing what she feels is best for those with magic, however. The Order believes removing Arthur from history will save magic."
"So I've been told," Merlin sighed. "But it doesn't even make sense. None of it makes sense. It isn't anything that happens during his reign. Why can't they find another way to preserve an accurate history?"
"The Diamair…"
"To hell with the Diamair!" Merlin shouted, his eyes flashing gold and the table trembling with his fury. Alice gasped.
"Merlin…" Leon murmured, putting a hand firmly on his shoulder. Gaius looked at Merlin with concern. Merlin exhaled slowly and reigned in his magic.
Alice swallowed. "The Diamair says that our accounts won't survive. That Arthur will become a myth, his fight against magic, his search for the holy relics of Christendom."
"Neither of which is true," Leon said. "He's legalized magic, and we've never quested for any such relics. What did the Diamair say exactly about Arthur?"
"I don't know, only Morgause heard their message. But she was certain that the only way to preserve magic was Arthur's death, and Morgana's rise to power."
"Why? What did she see? What was she told?" Leon asked.
"She had a vision, she lived more than a thousand years in just a few moments. She followed the threads throughout the ages."
"And what did those threads show her?"
"The world that Arthur will leave behind," she said.
"And what did you intend to do about it?" Leon asked. Gaius looked down at his hands, not wanting to watch his beloved incriminate herself.
"Nothing The Order would have liked," she answered. "I wanted to discover the nature of the Diamair, to understand them, to understand the mystery of this prophecy. That's why I was enlisted by The Order. But I am not going to help them overthrow the king for a future I don't even think we should trust."
"What knowledge did you have of the enchantment of Princess Morgana?" Merlin asked.
"None, Merlin, I promise," Alice said.
"That's the Lord of Cornwall, you're addressing," Leon said.
"Of course, My Lord," Alice said. "I'm sorry, about your betrothed. I didn't know they had her, or what they did for her. I've only just arrived back to Camelot, after helping Morgause find the Diamair."
"Where is Morgause now?" Merlin asked.
"I only saw her briefly before she departed. That's when I found out about Princess Morgana's enchantment. Morgause was beside herself with anger and grief that the enchantment was broken because Morgana knows she betrayed her. She's destroyed her sister's trust, and her place at Court, and now has no other choices left. She's gone to Cenred, My Lord."
Merlin sighed. "She's gone to bring his army."
"He's her lover, My Lord, but Cenred's no fool, and not even a risk-taker. I lived in his kingdom, he won't attack unless he believes he can win. That's what Morgause is working on changing."
. . .
Leon had additional questions, and by the end, it was mid-day.
Arthur was waiting outside when they finished. "Well?" he asked Leon.
"I believe she tells the truth, Sire. She has provided a great deal of useful information, and has warned us of Morgause's whereabouts," Leon replied. "I do not recommend she be charged with treason."
"Very well," Arthur said. "She is free to go."
Gaius nearly collapsed in relief. "Thank you, Sire."
"You know this woman, Gaius?" Arthur asked.
"She is an old friend and a good woman, Sire. Always one to follow new discoveries, but never one to do anyone harm, at least not intentionally."
"Then I hope she will continue to assist us in our cause. Merlin, with me, please," Arthur said.
"Yes, Sire," he said, leaving Gaius to hug a newly-released Alice.
"Am I to understand that you took Gwen on an unauthorized mission last night?" he said, with a hint of venom.
Merlin cleared his throat. "It was her idea, actually."
"Her hair's not yet back to normal," Arthur scowled.
Merlin cringed. "It will wear off, I promise! It just takes some time. She should drink more water, perhaps."
Arthur sighed. "That mission could have been dangerous, as well as the potion you gave her, that you got from a troll of all places! You cannot put the Queen's life…"
"The Queen?" Merlin grinned.
Arthur flushed. "I mean…"
"You've finally done it, haven't you?" Merlin laughed, slapping him on the back. "You're marrying Gwen!"
"Shh! Merlin! Keep it down!" Arthur looked around to see who could have heard. "We're keeping it a secret for right now. We didn't want to upstage your wedding with our engagement. We'll announce it after your wedding next month."
"I'm thrilled for you both!" Merlin beamed.
Arthur couldn't help the happy smile that crept onto his face. "Well, don't tell Morgana, I wasn't even supposed to tell you. Gwen would be furious with me if she knew I'd slipped up. Not a word, that's an order from your King."
"I won't say a word, I promise," Merlin said, pulling him into a big hug as Arthur groaned. "I'm so happy. We're going to be brothers, and now I have a new sister too!"
"Yes, well," Arthur said, pulling away and giving him an amused smile before hugging Merlin again. "I'm very excited too."