The mark of Nimueh

In a dark and damp cave, a woman with dark hair and bright blue eye, wearing a blood red dress was standing before an ornate basin of water, forming a small creature out of clay with her hands.

When it is finished, she fastened it in a small egg, and chanted over it, "Berbay odothay arisan yeldo."

Once the spell was complete, the witch Nimueh placed the magic egg into the water. It travelled through a series of underground waterways until it popped up in a manmade cavern. Once there, the egg began to crack and a the mouth of a small creature appeared.

Back in her cave, Nimueh stood before her water basin, watching as citizens of Camelot gathered water from a pump.

"Diegol cnytte, gewitte me yst, aliese hine, to Camelot he cymþ." She chanted, running her fingers through the water.

In the middle of a street in the lower town, Gaius, Alexia and Merlin looked over corpse lying in the street.

"Aren't you scared?" Merlin asked when Gaius knelt down to examine the body.

"Of what?" Gaius asked, looking back up at his ward.

"That you might catch whatever it is." Merlin said, throwing a glance down at the body. Alexia looked at him in surprise. Surely he can be an idiot sometimes.

"I'm the court physician, Merlin. This is part of my job. Most of the time there's nothing really to be scared of." Gaius told him.

Gaius turned over corpse to reveal the face. The skin was white, with blue blood vessels showing through, and the eyes were pure white, with no pupil showing in them at all.

Alexia gasped in shock and suddenly a memory clicked her mind. This was the same disease. That she saw in the show. The afanc.

Gaius and Merlin looked at each other. "You were saying?" Merlin said softly, sounding slightly afraid.

"People mustn't see this. They'll panic." Gaius said, looking around for something to cover the body. Spying something, Merlin got up and grabbed a blanket off of a clothes line. Gaius and Alexia helped him to quickly cover the body from a couple of people walking by.

At their small cottage, Gwen and her father get ready for work.

"Dad, here's your sandwich." Gwen said, setting a small white and pink wrapped bundle on the table.

Tom smiled and brought it up to his nose to smell it. "Ooh. Mmm, what's in it?"

"It's smoked pigeon. But I'd say there's more smoke than pigeon." Gwen told him.

Tom laughed.

"You're such a good girl to me." He said, giving Gwen a smile.

Gwen picked up a bunch of wildflowers, before turning back to her father. "And I've done you some watercress soup tonight."

"Don't tell me, with more water in it than cress?" Tom guessed with a large smile.

Gwen laughed and reached her arms up for a hug.

"I'll see you later." Gwen said, letting go and heading for the door.

"K. Bye." Tom said after her.

Merlin and Alexia were wheeling the body over the castle drawbridge. The body was covered with the same blanket as earlier. As they enter the palace, Gwen approached carrying the flowers she had at home.

"What are you doing?" Gwen called curiously.

"Er...just moving something." Merlin moved back to make sure the body is completely hidden.

"Looks heavy." Gwen observed.

"Er, it's nothing really. Er...someone got you flowers?" Merlin noticed, trying to take her attention off of the cart.

Gwen looked down at the flowers like she's forgotten she's holding them. "Oh! No." Gwen giggled. "Would you like one?" Before he could respond, Gwen plucked one out of the bouquet. "A purple one. Purple suits you. Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you." She quickly backtracked. She turned to Alexia.

" And one for you too." She smiled at her. Alexia smiled back.

"Thanks. Well, er..." Looking around for somewhere to put it, Merlin finally settled for sticking the flower in his scarf. He holds his arms out in a 'ta-da' fashion.

"Aww."

"Er...see you." Merlin said, turning back to push the cart.

"Bye." Gwen said, waving after them.

" Someone truly has a crush now." Alexia teased. Merlin glared at her.

" What? She clearly likes you. You saw how she didn't even acknowledge me at first." Alexia teased him again.

" Alexia!" He whispered.

" Hmm." She replied.

" Shut up." He completed.

Alexia giggled.

Gwen entered Morgana's room with the flowers, smiling broadly as Morgana approached.

"You look happy." Morgana said in an upbeat voice, grinning.

"I picked these for you." Gwen said, holding out the flowers.

"Oh, that's so sweet." Morgana said as she took them.

"Something to cheer you up. I know you're not sleeping well." Gwen said smiling brightly.

Morgana looked a little less cheerful at the mention of her dreams, but she still had a smile for Gwen. "You cheer me up."

Gwen laughed, and then offered "Would you like me to put them in water for you?" Morgana turned.

Merlin and Gaius were studying the body of the dead man with a magnifying glass. While Alexia stood back thinking all those things which happened during this time.

"I've never seen anything like this before." Gaius said as he studied the body carefully.

"Do you think it could be some kind of plague?" Merlin said worriedly as he looked on.

"No. I fear that something like this could never come from nature. But who has this kind of power?" Gaius asked, straightening up and looking at Merlin.

" It's caused by magic, isn't it?" Alexia asked.

"Merlin! Alex!" Arthur's voice called out before Gaius can answer Alexia's question.

Merlin opened door to reveal a sleepy and annoyed looking Arthur.

"Erm... we're on my way. Sorry we're late." Merlin said, closing the door partway so that Arthur can't see the body behind him.

"Don't worry. I'm getting used to it." Arthur mumbled in a tired voice.

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the flower in Merlin's scarf. Merlin looked down at it and laughed.

"Oh, er...Gwen, she gave it to me." He explained, pulling it out of his scarf.

Arthur just shrugged and looked past Merlin to see Gaius and Alex. "Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now." Arthur said before turning and walking away.

"Okay." Merlin muttered, looking out to make sure Arthur actually left before closing the door. Turning back to his mentor, Merlin started, "Gaius..."

"I heard." Gaius cut him off.

"Wait, why couldn't he just tell you himself?" Merlin asked as he walked back to the examining table.

"'Cause that's the way it is. You're a servant."

"Wha...if he knew who I was, what I've done..." Merlin said, irritated.

"You'd be a dead servant." Alexia reminded him.

"Right!" Gaius exclaimed. "Get this covered up." He ordered.

"Hey, I'm not your servant." Merlin protested.

"No, you're my dogsbody. Come on, hurry up." Gaius said as Merlin covered the body with a sheet. Alexia laughed a bit.

In the council chambers, a servant lied dead from the same magical illness, a plate and cup of wine spilled beside him. Gaius knelt down to examine him.

"What's happened to him?" Uther asked. Arthur stood beside him looking down at the body, not saying a word.

"I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today." Gaius informed the king.

"Why didn't you report it to me?" Uther asked, obviously worried.

Gaius stood to face the king and prince. "I was attempting to find the cause."

"What did you conclude?" Uther asked, starting to pace in front of the throne. In the background, Merlin and Alexia stood still staring at the dead body.

"I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. A scientific process is a long one." Gaius hedged.

"What are you concealing from me?" Uther asked, going straight to the point.

"Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours, and it's spreading fast." Gaius answered.

"What is the cause?" Uther asked firmly.

Gaius paused for a moment before saying, "I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery."

Nervous mutters erupted from the courtiers as Uther pulled back with a disgusted look on his face. The king gave the dead servant another look before pulling Arthur aside.

"We must find who did this." Uther said firmly.

"I will, father." Arthur assured him, still looking at the dead body.

In a scared whisper, Uther continued, "Conduct door to door searches." In the background, Merlin and Gaius bend down to take care of the body. Alexia helped them. "Increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates. And lend the physician your servants."

"Merlin and Alex? But..." Arthur tries to argue.

"I'm going to need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, this city will be wiped out. This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer, and quickly." Uther finished desperately.

"Yes, father." Arthur said before walking out.

In the lower town, Arthur and guards began their search the city. Arthur talked to one of the townspeople, who pointed at a certain house. Arthur waved the guards over before kicking the door down. Merlin, Alexia and Gaius watched for a moment before turning and walking back through town.

As they walked, Merlin and Alexia saw a man sitting on the side of the road. His skin was white, and he was showing all the signs of the magical illness.

"Gaius?" Merlin said, kneeling beside the sick man. Gaius turned to look. "Gaius. He's still alive."

"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him." Gaius said professionally.

"But we haven't tried!" Alexia exclaimed, looking at Gaius.

"If we don't know what a disease is, then how can we cure him?"

"With magic." Merlin stated seriously.

Gaius pulled Merlin up to his feet. "Have a look." Gaius scolded, motioning towards where Arthur and the guards were standing. "They're suspicious of everyone. This is not the time to be using magic. Science will lead us to the source of the disease."

Back in their chambers, Gaius heated a vial of milky liquid over a flame.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asked as he watched.

"I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach." Gaius explained.

"Will that tell you who did it?" He asked. Alexia smacked his head.

" Ow!" He exclaimed.

"No, but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind." Gaius said harshly, adding a red liquid to the vial.

"Why would someone use magic like that?" Merlin questioned, looking honestly curious.

"Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends." Gaius tried to explain.

"But not all magic is bad. I know it isn't." Merlin argued

"It's neither good nor bad. It's how you use it." Gaius said, giving him an eyebrow.

Alexia was staring at the flames.

" I will be back in a moment." She said and ran out of the chambers. While moving to dungeons, she saw many people with sickness. That were dying.

She reached the tunnel.

" Hello!" Alexia called.

" So young witch is back." The great dragon said flying down, sitting in front of her.

" What shall I do?" She asked.

" I know what is causing this plague, but i can't kill it. Arthur and Merlin has to do it. But they haven't figured out yet." She exclaimed.

" You can't do anything young witch. Your powers are unique. Your knowledge can change everything." He warned.

" But people are dying!" Alexia yelled.

" I know young witch. But you have to help them indirectly. That is what for you are here." The great dragon said and started flying back.

Alexia stared at his retreating figure.

Meanwhile, Arthur and guards burst in through the door and began to spread out through the room.

"Over there." Arthur ordered the guard, and then turned to Gaius, "Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town."

"What for?" Gaius asked indignantly.

"A sorcerer." Arthur replied, taking a look around.

"But why would he be here?"

"I'm just doing my job." Arthur said as a way of apology.

"We've nothing to hide." Gaius said guiltily locking eyes with Merlin. "Go on, then. Search."

"All these books and papers?" Arthur asked, rifling through a stack of books on Gaius' worktable.

"My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish." Gaius said.

Grimacing at that idea, Arthur motioned up towards the back room. "What's this room up here?" He asked.

"Er, it's mine." Merlin replied. " I mean I and Alex stay over there." He said.

"And what do you expect to find in there?" Gaius asked.

"I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments." Arthur said, heading up the stairs.

"What've you done with the magic book I gave you?" Gaius whispered to Merlin.

Merlin looked up towards his room, worried, when Arthur called out, "Merlin, come here. Look what I found."

Merlin went in with a gulp.

"I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard." Arthur said patronizingly.

" Honestly, how can the other side be so clean when your is just like a trash bag?" Arthur glanced at the other half of the room.

" Oh yeah! The half which you are now messing with?" Merlin asked as Arthur searched through the room, flipping through some papers on the table.

Merlin spots the magic book as Arthur was heading towards it.

" Alex won't like the mess you are creating." He said trying to distract him. As Arthur looked at the other side, with a flash of his eyes, his bed sheet magically fell down and covered it. Arthur looked under the bed, but missed the book and then exited the room.

"How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?" Arthur asked Gaius.

"It depends on how many interruptions I get." Gaius said pointedly.

Arthur nodded. "Of course, I'm sorry." Motioning to the guards, he ordered, "We're finished here."

The guards all exited, as Arthur was about to leave, Alexia entered the room, her head turned towards the leaving gaurds, she failed to notice Arthur and bumped into him.

" Alex!" Arthur exclaimed irritation.

" Sorry!" Alexia replied in her normal voice. Her eyes widened as she realised. She quickly cleared her throat.

" Sorry sire!" She said in her manly voice.

Arthur raised a brow but shrugged it and left.

Alexia entered the room and closed the door behind them and turned back to other two.

" What was going on?" She asked.

" Arthur and gaurds were here for search." Gaius replied.

" For what?" Alexia asked.

" Perhaps... A sorcerer?" Merlin mocked.

Alexia's eyes widened.

" The book?" She asked.

" It's fine." He told her.

" You idiot. I have told hundred times to place it under floorboard after every lesson. But you... You never listen to me. How can you be..." Alexia scolded.

" Alexia Alexia calm down. It's fine." He cut her off.

" And by the way, what was that at door. You just revealed your secret." Merlin teased.

" It was shocking to see it. And... Well atleast my secret won't have my head chopped." Alexia said.

" Oh really! I thought we have same secret." Merlin retorted.

" Will you two shut up?" Gaius asked.

"We have to hide that book." He told them.

Merlin leaned in. "No. We must use it." He said with a small smile.

"Don't be stupid." Gaius scoffed

"If I have this legacy then what is it for? You keep telling me it's not for playing tricks." Merlin reminded him.

"You want to practice magic when the King is hunting for sorcerers?" Gaius whispered loudly. "Are you mad? Merlin, your life is destined for more important things."

" I don't know how you managed your head on your shoulders for so long." Alexia mused. Merlin gave her look.

"But if I don't practice, then how will I get to be this great warlock?" Merlin asked, frustrated.

"There will come a time when your skills will be recognized."

"When? How long do I have to wait?" Merlin exclaimed, throwing his arms up a bit.

"Your time will come." Gaius said, pointing the spoon in his hand at Merlin for emphasis.

"I could cure that man we saw." Merlin said, leaning on the table between them.

"I know it's tempting to use the way you find easiest, Merlin..." Gaius sighed, also leaning in on the table.

"It is when it would save a life." Merlin stated.

"It's no good just saving one person. We have to discover how this illness is spreading."

"Arthur is out there right now looking for the sorcerer!" Merlin yelled, pointing towards the door.

"A sorcerer who's powerful enough to do this will never be found searching the town." Gaius scoffed, throwing the spoon on the table with a clank.

"So what can we do?" Merlin asked in a defeated tone.

"Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all." Gaius said, picking up the vial to examine it once more.

" Gaius think about it. What can be the source of this illness. Like what is common in all those people who have been affected. Like food, or places, or, or water?" She said.

" Alexia you are a genius." Gaius exclaimed. Alexia blushed.

" Think about it," Gaius started.

" What is common in them?" He asked.

" They eat different food obviously, so food is not an option." Merlin said.

" What about any other thing which is common?" Gaius asked.

After few seconds Merlin replied,

" water!"

" Merlin, you are a prodigy." Gaius said handing him a bucket.

Back in her cave, Nimueh watched the Afanc in her stone basin; a woman drew water from the spout in the Lower Town. The final scene was the most grim: covered bodies are lined up in the courtyard.

Arthur entered the throne room where Uther was waiting for his report.

"We searched everywhere, the entire city." Arthur said, meeting his father in the middle.

"Nothing?" Uther asked in a disappointing tone.

"I don't know where else to look." Arthur sighed in a defeated tone.

"I want you to impose a curfew." Uther said, turning back towards the throne. "No one is to be allowed onto the streets after the great bell."

"Father." Arthur lowered his head respectfully.

"And cordon off the lower town."

"Why?" Arthur asked.

"Because that's where most of the victims are. Let's isolate it, stop this disease from spreading."

"What about the people who live there?"

Uther dropped a pitcher with a clank. "Don't you think I haven't considered it? What else can I do? I have to protect the rest of the city."

Arthur bowed and exited, while Uther looked like he is about to be sick.

In her house, Gwen tied her cloak in preparation to leave for work.

"It's time to get up, Dad." Gwen said. When her father said nothing, she called again, "Dad?"

Reaching over, Gwen turned him over in the bed to reveal his white face.

"Gwen." Tom moaned, sick with the plague. A cup of spilled water laid near the blacksmith's bed. Seeing her father's illness, Gwen panicked and ran to the castle crying, passing Merlin at the well.

"Gwen? Gwen!" Merlin called, grabbing the bucket of water and running after her.

Gwen threw opened the door to the physicians chambers and approached Gaius crying.

"Gwen!" Gaius called out, alarmed. Alexia dropped her book she was searching and looked at her.

"Gaius." Gwen whimpered.

"You have the sickness?" Gaius asked, looking alarmed.

Gwen shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "My father! Please, Gaius, he's all I have."

Looking apologetic, Gaius informed her, "Gwen, I have no cure."

"I am begging you!" Gwen cried.

"I wish there was something, anything, but so far the remedy is beyond what I can achieve."

Gaius took her hand and murmured, "I'm sorry, Gwen."

Gwen ran out of the room bawling.

"There must be something we can do." Merlin stated

"My best. Let's hope that this can provide some answers." Gaius said, picking up the bucket of water.

"But that'll be too late for Gwen's father." Merlin said

"I fear you may be right." Gaius said as he put some of the water in a jar, and placed Gwen's flower in it. Merlin looked thoughtful and goes to his room.

Alexia followed him.