Hey guys! Here is the next chapter, sorry for the wait.
And of course, a huge thank you to my super beta, Paralelsky :) and to everyone who reviewed
o}O{o
Wild flowers dotted the edges of the main road leading into Camelot, unheeded by the sparse amount of people wandering into the city. All but one of the farmers passing through gave a glance down the slope where sunlight kissed the fragrant flowers good morning and rested on the shoulders of the two figures kneeling amongst them. The tinkling sound of a woman's laughter was at home with the bird song and breeze brushing through the meadow.
"For me?" Gwen smiled and took the flower from Merlin's outstretched hand. "Thank you, Merlin."
The child smiled at her and went back to picking flowers. Gwen watched him with a smile before winding the blossom in her hair. Merlin was squatting and regarding the flowers very seriously. When he didn't see any to his standard he would get up and wander to a new spot, but Gwen made sure not to let him go too far. She went back to picking her own bouquet for Morgana whom hadn't been sleeping well and Gwen thought could do with a bit of cheering up.
"How many do you have now, Merlin?" Gwen asked when the boy began drifting farther away. She laughed when he skipped back and showed her. "Ooh. Very impressive."
Merlin smiled and Gwen could not resist ruffling his raven coloured hair. Mordred had permitted her to cut it and it now revealed a pair of large ears and made his blue eyes look larger than they had been before. It was still a bit fly-away though, Gwen thought to herself. She was glad that Mordred had asked her to take Merlin this morning even though it was short notice- she enjoyed his company. Gwen began humming a tune since Merlin seemed to like it when she did. When she picked her final flower for Morgana's bouquet, Merlin came bounding toward her holding out his hand.
Gwen expected to see another flower but instead gasped at the monarch butterfly that was perched in Merlin's palm. When the insect did not fly away, she looked at the child in amazement. Gwen slowly knelt down and extended her finger, silent so she wouldn't cause the butterfly to flee. She jumped when it flew from Merlin's finger to land on his nose. The child looked confused before looking cross-eyed at it and causing Gwen to burst into laughter. The loud noise scared the butterfly off but Merlin did not mind and only looked bashful. Guinevere looked into Merlin's eyes. "You're very special, aren't you, Merlin?" she said softly.
A blush coloured Merlin's face and he looked away shyly. Gwen laughed and stood up in an even better mood than before. "Come on, we should go see if my father remembered his lunch for the day!"
Merlin nodded enthusiastically and led the way up to the road. When they passed through the tall grass lining the well trodden dirt trail, the boy froze. Gwen stopped and looked curiously to where the boy was looking toward the forest. The maidservant blinked at the donkey ambling in their direction. It was harnessed to a small cart laden with covered goods but there was no owner in sight. She gasped when Merlin bounded for it. "Merlin!" she shouted after him and ran to catch up.
The boy practically jumped onto the donkey's head and was hugging it tightly. Gwen hurriedly snatched Merlin away before the scraggly thing could bite him. She looked down the road for anyone missing the donkey but did not find anyone. "I wonder who you belong to," Gwen wondered. The animal seemed docile enough so she let Merlin go, remembering the butterfly. Merlin was quick to go back to hugging it.
But then Merlin released the donkey, quickly spinning around and Gwen had to grab his shoulder gently to keep him from falling. She turned to see a very tall hooded man walking towards them from the gates of Camelot. Guinevere was unprepared for Merlin dashing away from her and sprinting for the man. The donkey brayed after him.
"Merlin, wait!" she called alarmed, starting to run after him- worry making her chest tight when the man knelt down and caught Merlin who launched himself into his arms. The castle was not too far away to shout for help, but far enough that it would not come too quickly.
The man hugged Merlin tightly and the boy clung to him with all his strength. She walked briskly up to them with a wary expression. "Who are you?" she asked nervously.
The tall man looked to her and let the hood fall from his face. A blush immediately spread across Gwen's cheeks when she saw his strong features and deep emerald eyes. But that didn't stop her from glancing at Merlin whose face was buried in the man's dark red hair.
The man stood up and proved himself taller than Gwen had thought- taller than even Sir Leon. Merlin was still hanging onto him. "A friend," he told her. His voice was low and Gwen glanced at his lips which were outlined by a neat and narrow beard.
She was not satisfied and gathered her nerves. "Give him here please," she stated in a wavering voice. Gwen cursed herself and immediately followed in a stronger tone, "and I do not know you." She glanced again at Merlin who had the man in a veritable choke hold. "Tell me your name, and how do you know him?"
The man gave her a slight smile. "There is no need to fear," he said quietly and knelt down once more. But Merlin would not let go so Gwen knelt down as well.
She reached to touch Merlin's shoulder and the boy looked around at her but didn't move. "Do you know this man?"
Merlin nodded and grinned up at the middle aged man. Gwen licked her lips. "Is he a friend?" Merlin looked to her confused and nodded like she should have known. She bit her lip and glanced at the man Merlin was clinging onto. She was only stared at thoughtfully. "Come on, now. We have to go back to Camelot."
She held her hands out and was surprised when Merlin shook his head and held onto the man tighter.
"Merlin, you are squeezing the breath out of me," he laughed quietly.
Gwen's brow furrowed when he said Merlin's name. The child slid down to the ground and grabbed the man's hand with both of his. "Who are you?" she demanded with barely a tremble this time.
"I am a friend of Gaius," he answered and then turned back to Merlin with a smile. "He's grown a little."
Merlin offered the man a flower from his small collection and he graciously took it with a mock bow. She didn't know why but the action made Gwen relax. A smile formed on her face. "He's still small though," she said shyly. She had known bigger three year olds.
"I'm Gwen," she announced suddenly and held out her hand. The man looked surprised for a moment before taking it.
He surprised her by kissing her knuckles as if she were a lady. She couldn't resist a small giggle. "...Selwyn," he replied. Merlin drew back and looked at him but Gwen could not see the boy's face.
"So are you in Camelot for long?" Gwen asked after there was a small pause.
"I'm afraid not, I was just leaving the city," Selwyn replied.
Merlin shook his head with gusto and made a distressed noise. Selwyn looked down sadly and ran a hand through the child's now short hair. Gwen hesitated when they entered a staring match that ended with Merlin wailing and bounding back into the tall man's arms. The boy started sobbing and it absolutely broke Gwen's heart.
"Merlin," Selwyn sighed. He ducked his head to whisper to the boy and Guinevere looked as the man reached into his cloak and pulled out an elm leaf. He pried Merlin from him and put him on the ground, offering the leaf to the boy. Merlin grabbed it and tucked it into his chest, still crying.
The last of Gwen's wariness towards the man disappeared when he wiped away the tears running down Merlin cheeks with his thumbs and said something to make the boy calm. He was still sniffling though when he stepped back. Gwen placed a comforting hand on Merlin's shoulder and smiled at Selwyn. The man stood up and so did Guinevere. "I will walk you to the gates," he told her, "you must want to get back to your duties." If his tone held regret the maidservant pretended not to notice.
"Thank you, that would be kind," Gwen smiled, accepting only for Merlin's sake.
Selwyn clicked his tongue and the donkey came walking toward him. "I believe you met Archibald," he motioned to the donkey.
"Archibald?" Gwen laughed incredulously and searched the man's face for a joke. But when she found him perfectly serious and slightly offended she stuttered. "I- that's quite a name- I mean, a good name, of course it – um, yes, yes we have." She finished with a nervous laugh.
He nodded and turned without a word toward the gates grasping Merlin's hand when the boy reached for him. Gwen followed with her lips pressed together and glanced oddly at the donkey with the lordly name. When Selwyn spoke she jumped in surprise.
"I suppose Mordred asked you to watch Merlin?" he asked her with a sideways glance.
"Erm, yes," she replied, feeling silly for being surprised that he would know Mordred as well. "Gaius needed his help so I'm looking after Merlin for the morning."
"I see," he said and looked to Merlin and the boy gave him a petulant frown for some reason. He questioned her as they walked and Gwen felt as if she was being interrogated, so she was glad when he stopped about twenty yards from the gates. More people were travelling down the road now, all farmers and merchants heading towards the city.
He then bid goodbye to her and Merlin, miraculously warding off the boy's tears that looked so close to falling. Merlin hugged the man's knees and stepped back sadly, shaking Gwen's extended hand. "Well, it was very nice meeting you," she said.
"You as well, Guinevere."
Gwen smiled and turned with Merlin who gave the man a final sad look. As her back was turned Gwen did not see the dark glare he sent toward the trees. When she got to the gates she turned to find Selwyn still standing there with the donkey. Only when she smiled and went past the gates did he leave. It was only later that she couldn't remember if she ever told him her full name or not.
o}O{o
Oppressive silence hung in the physician's chambers while Gaius examined a dead body on one of the many tables strewn throughout the room.
"I've never seen anything like this before," Gaius said slowly. He was leaning over the dead man with a magnifying glass, squinting for clues.
Mordred stood across from him, frowning and had his arms crossed over his chest. He kept glancing towards the door, fearful that Merlin would sneak away from Gwen and come back home- Camelot no longer scared him it seemed. The young sorcerer reached into his pocket and felt the elm leaf that Merlin had passed to him when they crossed paths near the courtyard. If he was not busy concentrating on the body in front of him he would have been mad that Selwyn had not spared time to come visit him.
His turquoise eyes ran over the dead man without flinching. "Is it magic?" he asked Gaius.
The physician straightened and met his gaze. "But who has this kind of power?" he pointed out.
Mordred did not know but was distracted from thinking on it when footsteps were heard through the door and Arthur called his name. He quickly moved to open the door and stared up expectantly at the prince. They stared at each other until Arthur spoke. "You're late," he informed.
Mordred looked down - he had never been late once. "I'm sorry, Sire. I was with Gaius."
Arthur opened his mouth to say something but stopped and cocked an eyebrow at the neck of Mordred's shirt. The boy looked down and remembered the purple flower that Merlin had given him. He looked back up at Arthur. "Merlin gave it to me," he told the prince and did not remove the flower.
Arthur nodded absently and then spoke with boredom. "Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now."
He left before Mordred could nod, so the boy shut the door. "Gaius-"
"Yes, yes," Gaius interrupted and beckoned to Mordred impatiently. "Come on, get this covered up."
Mordred obediently grabbed the sheet on the stool and covered the dead man before swiftly following Gaius. They walked to the council chamber where the king was standing beside his son. Mordred gave a passing glance to the shocked lady and lord off to the side. Along with Gaius, he studied the servant lying dead on the ground, immediately seeing the familiar pale blue skin and dark veins on the body. He exchanged an unintentional look with the prince.
"What's happened to him?" King Uther demanded.
"I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today," Gaius reported while standing up from kneeling over the body.
"Why didn't you report it to me?" Uther asked him, displeased.
"I was attempting to find the cause."
Uther's hazel eyes bored into Gaius. "What did you conclude?"
The physician was hasty to answer. "I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one."
Mordred frowned when Uther favoured Gaius with a dark look. "What are you concealing from me?"
"Sire, I have seen nothing like it," Gaius declared, "the victims are dying in twenty four hours, and it's spreading fast."
"What is the cause?" Uther pressed.
"... I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery."
Arthur glanced to Mordred before joining his father who led him to the side. The former druid boy watched as the two conversed in low tones. Gaius returned his attention to the dead man and Mordred mimicked him. The physician sent him a glance, still surprised that the sight of dead bodies seemingly had no effect on the boy.
Heavy footsteps started to head away from them and Mordred looked up to see that King Uther was departing the council chambers. His gaze met Arthur's and the prince only told him to assist Gaius before he too left.
"Come," Gaius bid him as he stood up. The physician ordered the guards to take care of the body and then he made his way to the lower town with his oldest ward in tow. Mordred was mostly quiet during the physican's quick inspection of the lower town, only occasionally asking a few questions.
"Gaius, look," Mordred pointed out to where Arthur had entered a home with guards at his back.
The physician only grabbed Merlin's arm and led him away. "A search for the sorcerer," he muttered.
Mordred glanced back while allowing Gaius to lead him along. His eyes were drawn to a man who was lying on the floor against a stand. He was perhaps Arthur's age maybe younger and had the colouring of the victims of the sorcerer's plague. Their eyes met and the dying man extended a hand for help. But Mordred didn't stop, knowing he couldn't do anything. For the rest of the way Morded kept his gaze studiously on the ground.
The dying man was never far from his thoughts but gratefully he was kept busy assisting Gaius. All too soon they were back in the chambers with the first dead man for company. Mordred was looking at the sheet covering him and was trying to remember what the man looked like. A breeze fluttered by him as Gaius strode past, causing him to get a whiff of death starting to leak from the dead man. The physician was holding a small vial with cloudy white liquid inside and went to hold it to the candle flame.
"What are you doing?" Mordred asked curiously and drifted forward.
"Examining the contents of that man's stomach."
The boy made a face. "Why?"
Gaius answered as he was pouring some red concoction into the other vial. "It might tell us how it spread." He then gave Mordred a dark look. "One thing I do know is that this is magic of the darkest kind."
Mordred frowned. "It isn't Tynan's doing is it?"
Gaius shook his head. "Whoever it is, their power is more on level with Selwyn. Likely even stronger."
"How powerful is Selwyn?" Mordred wanted to know.
Before Gaius could answer the door burst open and guards strode through with the prince behind them.
"Sorry, Gaius, we are searching every room in town," Arthur proclaimed.
"What for?" Gaius asked loudly.
"The sorcerer," Arthur answered, surveying the chambers.
Mordred was not worried but Gaius seemed to be. "Why would he be here?"
"I'm just doing my job," the prince said, with a touch of appeasement in his tone.
"We have nothing to hide. Go on then, search." He handed Mordred a sharp glance which the boy met calmly.
Arthur walked amongst the guards who were turning over every little thing and glanced at Mordred who was watching them. He turned his attention to the small desk in front of him. "What are these books and papers?" Arthur questioned, trying to hide his boredom.
"My life's work," the physician responded sternly, walking with Mordred to Arthur. "Dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish."
Mordred smiled at the blatantly uninterested look that passed over Arthur's face. The prince then looked to Mordred and Merlin's room.
"What do you expect to find in there?" Gaius wondered, clasping his hands in front of him.
"I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments," said Arthur, while opening the door to the boys' room.
"What have you done with the magic book I gave you?" Gaius whispered to Mordred when Arthur dissapeared from view.
"It's under the floor board," Mordred said softly.
"You're certain?" Gaius asked and sent a look to the room where Arthur was tromping around.
"Yes."
They both looked when Arthur's voice carried down the stairs toward them. "Mordred, come here. Look what I found."
Gaius glanced warily at him while Mordred heeded Arthur's call, trying to clear the curiosity from his face.
Mordred climbed the steps and immediately became embarrassed to find Arthur holding up an incriminating piece of paper. "What is this?"
The boy tried to ignore the condescending smirk on Arthur's face. "...The knight's code," Mordred muttered.
"So you do want to become a knight then?" Arthur wondered with amusement.
"That would be stupid," said Mordred.
"It would," Arthur agreed and then set it down, not noticing the boy's glare.
Mordred eyed Arthur moodily as the prince searched around the chambers and barely kept his tone from being overtly rude when Arthur asked where Merlin was. "With Gwen, Sire," was all the reply he gave. The prince nodded and finished searching the room. He watched as Arthur strode back down to the main chambers but did not follow, instead walking to the end table which held the ripped out page from The Song of Sir Medraut. Mordred's pale fingers flattened the knight's code and then looked out the window to the sun warming his cold eyes. He stayed there until he heard the main door shut and Gaius call him back. This was going to be a long week, he thought.
o}O{o
"Finally," Arthur called when Mordred opened the door. "What took you so long?"
The prince's servant had the grace to look contrite as he carried Arthur's dinner to the table. Merlin followed behind, beaming at Arthur and forcing him to gentle his expression. "Sorry, Sire. I was helping Gaius with… his work."
As Mordred put the tray on the table, Arthur glanced down at Merlin who was still hovering around the older boy. "Does our little friend know of it?"
Looking up from placing the wine jug off the tray, Mordred smirked in understanding. "No, Sire. I've got you wine, is that- Merlin!" Arthur regarded them in amusement as Mordred bumped into Merlin, accidentally dropping an empty chalice he was about to fill. The child was lingering close to him, looking like he wanted to help but not able to see above the table. Even though he was hungry, Arthur found himself to be patient as he watched Mordred ruffle Merlin's hair and told him to go sit down. The servant went to retrieve the fallen chalice which had rolled away, and when his back was turned Merlin peered up at the table. Within his line of sight was the wine pitcher and he stood on his toes to reach for it. Arthur twitched in his chair but to his great surprise, Merlin did not fall when he grabbed the pitcher and brought it to his level.
Merlin swayed precariously and a bit of wine sloshed out and hit the floor but the child did not notice, instead happily striding forward with the jug in his tiny arms. The prince's fine tuned sense of danger roared in his head and he vaulted up before Merlin even started to trip. Mordred was just turning around from getting the chalice and was too far away to help as Merlin lurched forward, the weight of the wine pitcher sending him off balance. Springing forward with lightning speed, Arthur grabbed the tipping jug and righted Merlin in one motion, and the child seized his arm to keep standing.
With a raised eyebrow, Arthur looked down at the bashful Merlin. "That was close," he noted. The child stepped back and bit his lip, his eyes growing large with worry. "You should be more careful, Merlin," Arthur warned lightly and then tweaked Merlin's nose. Since the wine jug was already in his hands, Arthur brought it closer to his spot and then reclaimed his seat, waiting for Mordred to bring him his food.
"Sorry, Sire," Mordred apologized and hurried to the table. Rubbing his nose and smiling, Merlin climbed on to the chair next to Arthur, the prince making a silly face at him before he could stop himself.
"That's alright," Arthur said as Merlin hunched his shoulders shyly and gave a toothy grin.
The smell of beef stew filled Arthur's nostrils as Mordred placed the bowl in front of him, gaining the prince's attention. Without another word he dug in, ignoring Mordred as he muttered, "You're welcome."
Merlin took turns watching Arthur eat and Mordred go tidy the papers on Arthur's desk. When the prince's hunger was sated, he looked up at his servant while continuing to eat. "Has Gaius found anything new?"
Stacking the papers, Mordred shook his head. "No, I don't think so."
"Hm," Arthur droned unhappily. "Let's hope he finds something soon then." Mordred made some sort of response, but Arthur tuned him out in order to think. His search for the sorcerer had been fruitless, and Arthur was smart enough to know that they might not be found. The people's lives would rest on Gaius and Arthur could only hope that this magical plague did not get worse.
o}O{o
And there you have the first part of the episode! Thank you for reading and please don't forget to review :) And even though it's early, Happy Halloween! Eat lots of chocolate :D
Oh and kudos for the last part with Arthur saving the wine goes to acacia59601 who asked for a prompt with Merlin trying to help but tripping and Arthur coming to the rescue. Thank you! And that said anyone who would like to see something in the story I'll do my best to fit it in :)