Mary comes through the door and looks around. Gaius is standing at the back of the room in front of one of his many bookshelves. He turns around when he hears Mary enter. "Hello, you're here early!"

"Yes, my round in the lower village today was surprisingly uneventful." Mary replies with a smile. She continues to look around the room and goes to the pot, which is still by the fireplace. Glancing in, she frowns and asks, "Didn't you eat breakfast today?"

Gaius turns to her, "Yes, but Merlin still eats practically nothing and always seems to have his mind elsewhere."

Mary sees that the physician is worried. She sets the pot aside and spreads the embers. Then she sets about collecting the tinctures Gaius has made, so she can distribute them around the castle.

Gaius watches her, "You don't have to do that. I'll get to it."

"I know, but I have time and I'll be happy to make the rounds for you." Gaius nods at her gratefully.

Mary sets off on her way.

As she comes through one of the many hallways, she spots Gwen at the far end. Quickly, she walks toward her. She is shaking out one of the countless wall hangings. Mary stands next to Gwen and looks out the window. Far below on the lawn, some of the knights are training. Merlin is also sitting there, sharpening swords. As soon as he finishes one, he picks up the next one. Mary can see that the knights, and especially Arthur, are trying every now and then to draw the servant out...but he doesn't seem to be disturbed in his work. Even when the prince approaches Merlin provocatively with his sword, he barely looks up.

Mary frowns.

Gwen says, "What's wrong with Merlin? I hardly recognize him."

"Yeah, it's not just you."
"Is he still sick?"
"No, he's out of fever and Gaius says he can go back to work."
"Still, he looks groggy."
Mary says quietly, "He's also barely eating and often disappears immediately into his room, according to Gaius. When he asks him about it, he says he's fine."
"I ran into him this morning when I got to work and invited him over to my place for dinner. It's been too long since I talked to him. I was going to invite you too...just a cozy evening among friends. But instead of being happy like he usually is, he said he didn't have time for that kind of thing. He's clearly not well."
"You're right...but we can't change it."
"Yes, we can. We're his friends! He would do the same for us. How many times has he lifted our spirits with his cheerful and funny ways."
"I don't think he wants to be cheered up."

"It even catches Arthur's eye. See how he teases him?"

"I've got to get on. I still have some medicine to distribute. Can I still come tonight? A meeting with my best friend is long overdue."
Gwen beams, "Of course! I'm looking forward to it. Maybe you can still get Merlin to come along! If anyone can do it, you can."

Mary smiles painedly. She's not so sure about that.

A little later, she has almost finished her round and is walking out of the castle with the last tincture. Her destination is the stables. One of the stable boys has received a nasty kick in the back of the knee from one of the horses. The tincture is supposed to help keep the swelling under control. The knights come to meet her sweaty and with various weapons in their hands. The prince must have finished training. At last Arthur comes up to her. When he sees Mary he stops, forcing her to do the same. She bows briefly, "Sire?"

"What's wrong with that idiot of a Servant? All day he does what I tell him to do without a murmur, and then with a result that I can't complain about."

Mary raises an eyebrow in amusement, "Sounds to me like he's doing exactly what he should."

"Yes, he is...but...he's not his usual self! He hangs on his thoughts and doesn't seem himself..."

"Doesn't he respond to your commands?"

Arthur shakes his head in resignation, "No, it's not that. He even answers me when I ask something...but..." Arthur falls silent. Mary looks at him with interest, waiting for him to finish the sentence. Arthur just shakes his head and says, "Oh, forget what I said. If you think he's the same as always, then I guess it's up to me."

He is about to go on but Mary says, "I didn't say that, Sire."

The prince turns back to her, "So my feeling is not deceiving me? Something is wrong with him?"
"I can't tell what the problem is, Sire. But Merlin has been acting differently since we retrieved the crystal from Neahtid."

"He was quite ill before...do you think the trip slowed down his recovery and he is still fighting the illness?" Mary can hear the concern in the prince's voice and it touches her how much he cares.

"According to Gaius, he is perfectly healthy."

"Hmm, well. I hope he gets back to his old self soon. To be honest, I find it pretty boring the way things are going right now. That you don't tell me this to anyone, though...of course I would deny having said such a thing." Mary smiles and nods.

Just at that moment, a guard approaches the prince and says, "Sire, a meeting of the court is being called. In the throne room. An audience with the king has been requested.

Arthur immediately makes his way there. Mary follows him. She will go to the stables later to deliver the tincture to Taylor.

Mary stands in the throne room, as does the entire court, listening to the young man who has requested an audience with the king. "I am a shepherd from the northern prairies, Your Majesty. Three nights ago we camped outside the walls of Idirsholas."

Uther says, "I might not have chosen this place."

"Good pasture is scarce at this time of year, sire..."

"What message do you come with?"

"When we were there...we saw smoke rising from the citadel."

Gaius butts in and asks, "Did you see anything else?"

"No."

Uther asks, "Did you go in?"

"No. No one has crossed this threshold for 300 years. Surely you know the legend, sire?" Mary shivers. She has heard of it.

Gaius says, "When the fires of Idirsholas burn, the Knights of Medhir go forth again!"

The king stands up, "See that this man gets a meal and a bed."

To Arthur he says, "Take a ride out there!"

"Why?"

"So that the people may calm down."

"Surely that's just a stupid superstition?" says Arthur, annoyed.

Uther says, "Call the knights together, and do as I say. Oh, and take the healer with you!"

Gaius returns to his chambers with Merlin and Mary. Merlin asks, "Why is Uther so worried?"

Mary answers in front of Gaius, "Because the Knights of Medhir are a force to be respected."

"So you both believe the story too?"

Gaius says, "It's more than a story, Merlin. About 300 years ago, seven of Camelot's knights were seduced by the call of a witch."

Mary continues, "One by one, they succumbed to her power. At her command, they became a gruesome, brutal force that roamed the land, leaving death and destruction in their wake."

"What happened?"

"Shortly after the witch was killed, the Knights of Medhir finally gave rest."

Gaius says, "Merlin, if Joseph is telling the truth, they were awakened by something. And I fear for each of us. I don't like to let you two go at all. Please take care of each other." Mary nods. Merlin retreats to his room.

Gaius sighs, "It seems to me like he's giving up on himself. Like he doesn't believe in himself. When I try to talk to him, he pushes me away or retreats. Maybe you can talk to him on the trip."

Mary nods, "I met the prince today. He, too, notices that something is wrong with Merlin. Gwen has noticed it, too."

"I hope he is up to the journey. If the knights are awake again, there is powerful magic afoot."

Mary glances at Merlin's door, "Yes. But perhaps he needs this journey to become true to himself again. I'm still going to the stables to drop off the tincture for Taylor."

"Do that my child. And then go home to recover for the journey to Idirsholas."

Early the next morning, Arthur and his men ride off. Merlin and Mary ride close behind the prince, as usual. Merlin shifts uneasily in his saddle.

Arthur asks, "What's wrong, Merlin? Don't tell me Gaius has been telling you his stories again?"

"No, it was Mary who told me the story and I hope it's just that...a story." Arthur looks at Mary with a raised eyebrow.

After several hours, they arrive at Idirsholas. The old walls are empty of people. Still, they are on guard and all the knights have their swords drawn. Mary remains in the background. Merlin suddenly asks, "What is that noise?"

Arthur asks, "What noise?" Mary can't hear anything either.

"It sounds like some kind of tremor."

"It's your knees shaking." replies Arthur, rolling his eyes. Merlin doesn't respond to the sarcasm, but continues to look around worried. Mary, noticing this, stands a little closer to the knights. Arthur goes ahead and opens a rusty gate. They step into a dusty, half-ruined room. In the middle is the fireplace. Arthur feels how warm it still is. "Seems like part of Joseph's story is true. I'm sure they were just travelers."

Merlin turns and says, "Or not!"

Everyone turns around at the same time to find themselves facing 7 black knights blocking their way out. They draw their swords at the same time and come at them menacingly. Arthur grabs Mary and pulls her behind him before he too draws his sword and defends himself. Mary pushes to the edge and sees Arthur fatally strike one of the knights. For a brief moment, it looks as if he will collapse. But then he straightens up as if nothing had happened and fights on furiously. Mary sees a knight of Camelot collapse next to her. She immediately sees that he is dead. She quickly takes his sword. And yet it seems a hopeless fight.

Arthur shouts, "Run, Merlin, Mary! Do as I tell you!"

Merlin suddenly stands beside Mary and takes her by the hand. They duck between the fighting men until they reach the gate. The black knights come threateningly toward Arthur, who is still the last of his knights. Merlin stops uncertainly at the exit and seems to be struggling with himself. Mary shakes him and says, "Merlin! Do something!" As if breaking out of a stupor, he quietly speaks a few words and then pulls Arthur to him in safety. The black knights are stopped by falling stones. The three run as fast as they can until they are safe.

Breathing heavily, they stop. Mary sees that Merlin is bleeding. She quickly goes to him and takes a closer look at the wound. Arthur playfully nudges his servant and says, "Merlin, your first battle wound!" But Merlin doesn't respond to the teasing this time either. Arthur looks questioningly at Mary and then says, "We need to find a place to rest. Night will fall soon and we won't make it back to Camelot. Come. Where are the others?" Arthur looks around for his knights.

Mary lowers her eyes and replies, "We are the only survivors, Sire."

Silently, they fetch the horses, which they have tied up just outside Idirsholas. In a clearing in the forest, they set up a small camp. They dare not make a fire and drink some water from the nearby spring. They don't have much luggage with them, since they thought they would return to Camelot the same day. Arthur sits down next to Mary, who is sitting on a tree stump: "Talk to him. And his wound still needs dressing."

Mary nods, "I know. But he has retreated."

"I'm ordering you to. Don't let him get infection. We have no idea what else was on those swords."

Mary stands up and picks up her herb bag. Slowly, she walks toward Merlin, who is sitting by the spring, gazing into the water. He lifts his head when he hears her.

Gently, she touches his injured arm, "The prince says I should tend to your wound."
Merlin shrugs, "It's not deep."
"I know. But I still need to clean it and bandage it. You're still bleeding."

Merlin says nothing more. Mary cleans the wound with water and tears her sleeve to shreds. She puts some herbs on the wound and binds the whole thing with the cloth strips. Merlin closes his eyes. He feels her gentle touch. Mary notices a tear trickle down his cheek. "Merlin...talk to me. What's wrong?"

He opens his eyes and looks at her sadly, "I don't know. I don't think I want any of this. My magic just makes things worse instead of better. I'm losing people I care about and I can't save them despite all the power I'm supposed to have. When I look into the future...I don't want any of this!"

After a moment's hesitation, she puts her hand on his shoulder, "Don't be so hard on yourself. Even you can't save everyone. Death is as much a part of it as life itself. Where has your optimism gone."

"Why can't I just be a normal person like everyone else around me?" Mary says nothing for a brief moment and Merlin looks at her from the side, "You see...not even the smartest girl in Camelot can give me an answer to that." A small smile flits across his lips.

Mary looks at him seriously with her deep blue eyes, "Nice to see your smile. All I know is that you are needed just as you are. I have learned that much from Gaius and the Druids. Even if it's not clear at the moment where your path will take you...I..." She hesitates briefly, "I trust you and believe in you and your magic."

Merlin looks at her in surprise, "When was the last time we talked like this?" Mary shrugs and takes her hand off his shoulder. Merlin says, "I don't remember either...but I missed it."

Mary gets up and walks back to the rest area. There she leans against one of the trees. Arthur comes to her and gives her his knight's cloak to keep her warm. Gratefully, she accepts it.