The truth of Alex
As Alexia entered the room, she found him sitting on the bed." I know what you are going to do." Alexia said. Merlin looked up at her.
" Me?" He asked.
" No!" He said, obviously lying.
" I know you Merlin. And don't worry I will help you. But Merlin think about it. We have to cure many other too. If only Gwen's father is cured, she will be accused of sorcery." Alexia said.
Merlin looked at her surprised.
" I... I never thought about it." He said. Alexia smiled and nodded.
Later that night, Merlin checked on snoring Gaius before signalling Alexia. They pulled out the magic book and looking for a spell. They then sneaked out of the room and past the guards.
"What about over...in there?" A guard asked.
"Certainly, sir." Another guard replied.
Guards poked spears into haystacks and checked corners. When a guard approached their hiding spot, Merlin focused on the door across the alley from him and chanted under his breath, "Onstyrian, onbregdan!".
The door across the street creaked open, to the notice of the guard. The guard sneaked closer with a big smile on his face before the door swung wildly open, hitting him square in the face.
Alexia gasped a bit, but Merlin placed his hand on her mouth.
" Hush!" He said.
Alexia just nodded.
Merlin and Alexia headed to Gwen's house. When they looked in the window, Gwen and Tom were sleeping, with Gwen laying against her father's bed. Merlin and Alexia sneaked in and put a poultice under Tom's pillow.
"Þu fornimst adl fram guman!" Merlin whispered softly, trying not to wake up the two people. A white mist appeared around Tom's head, and his skin immediately cleared and darkened.
Merlin and Alexia exited and watched them from outside the door. Tom woke up and touched Gwen's head, which was resting on his bedside.
"Father?" Gwen asked tiredly.
"Gwen."
"What's happened? I can't believe it!" Gwen squealed excitedly, throwing her arms around her father for a big hug.
Merlin and Alexia smiled.
" Come on!" She whispered.
Merlin nodded.
" You can cover the right ones, I am going for the left ones." Merlin told her. Alexia nodded.
And they did their job.
Next morning about fifty people were fit and back to work.
Alexia and Merlin were smiling brightly.
Nimueh continued watching in her stone basin.
In the council chambers, Arthur reached for glass vial with the tainted water and the now dead flower in it.
"Don't touch it." Gaius warned. "I had this in the water for no more than a few hours."
"Where's the water from?" Arthur asked.
"The pump from where the people take their daily supply." Gaius informed them.
"We have to stop the people from using it." Arthur said; Uther remained silent.
"The city cannot survive without water." Gaius pointed out.
"We have to find this sorcerer!" Uther nearly snarled.
"I don't believe that they're inside Camelot." Arthur said.
"Then extend the search to the villages!" Uther ordered.
"We've started, but I can't search the entire kingdom."
"And I can't stand by and watch our people dying." Uther said, an angry look in his eye
Arthur nodded and exited.
Alexia was looking at the books to find some kind of hint where she can point it out. It will help her without disclosing.
Merlin entered Morgana's chambers to find Gwen humming as she gathered Morgana's clothes.
"How's your father? Is he feeling better?" Merlin asked, catching Gwen's attention.
"Yeah, it's incredible. It's a miracle." Gwen smiled.
"His skin's clear, back to normal?" Merlin questioned.
"Yes." Gwen nodded.
"Great." Merlin beamed as he turns to leave.
"You don't seem surprised." Gwen noticed, stepping closer.
"No, no, I am. It's a miracle." Merlin lied badly.
"But how did you know he was well?" Gwen questioned, looking curious.
The door closed behind him as Merlin searched for a plausible answer. "Er...because you're smiling."
"That's really weird because I haven't told anyone, but you know. How could you know?" Gwen fixed him with a questioning gaze, trying to read him.
"Yeah." Merlin nodded. "Alright. You finally found out, I'll tell you."
Merlin swallowed loudly before stating, "I'm psychic."
Gwen laughed, "No you're not."
"It's true." Merlin insisted.
"Alright, what am I thinking?" Gwen asked.
"That I'm not psychic." Merlin guessed.
"You're strange." Merlin's look quickly sent her backtracking. "I, I don't mean that in a nasty way. You're just funny. I like that." Gwen smiled.
Merlin shrugged and looked at the floor before saying, "Erm, er, I 'm pleased for you."
"Thank you."
"What for?" Merlin asked, looking confused.
"Don't know, just for asking." Gwen shrugged.
"I didn't like to see you upset." The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Merlin motioned towards the door. "I have to...get on."
Merlin waved awkwardly, and Gwen waved back. Merlin turned and left without looking back, and Gwen smiled before going back to work.
Tom was working at his forge, townspeople watching him, when Arthur approached with guards.
"The story is you were sick." Arthur asked, sounding like he didn't believe what he was saying.
"Not anymore."
"Perhaps you were suffering from some other ailment?" Arthur suggested.
"Oh, you're joking." Tom scoffed. "I felt like death itself, not enough strength in me to stir the air."
"Then...what happened?" Arthur asked, still confused.
"Oh, I don't know." Tom shrugged. "Suddenly it was gone. I'm fitter than I was before."
" Oh hello Jones!" Tom said waving at the passing man who waved back.
" Even he was ill. And see, he is perfectly fine now." Tom said.
Arthur looked confused.
As he went back to castle, he saw many people who were diagnosed with illness and now were perfectly fine.
" Father!" Arthur bowed as he entered the court room.
" Father, something strange happened, about forty to fifty people have recovered from there illness." Arthur told his father.
" And they didn't recieve any treatment from Gaius." Arthur completed.
Uther looked at him in worry.
" It can be only possible with Sorcery. Search their houses." He ordered.
Arthur nodded and bowed.
Arthur and guards searched through Gwen and Tom's house, looking everywhere, when guard found glowing poultice still sitting under Tom's pillow.
And many other poultice were found in different houses.
Arthur reached castle with the findings.
" You were right father. It's Sorcery." He said.
Uther grew worried.
" Arrest all those who have adopted to means of Sorcery for the cure. And find this Sorcerer, who is using magic." Uther ordered.
Arthur furrowed his brows.
" But father, if sorcery is saving our people, we must allow it." Arthur's argued.
Uther looked at him like he grew some other head.
" What are you saying? You mean that I must forget all that happened before twenty years, just seeing this petty use of magic to cure some people? Magic corrupts. And it won't be even long when the sorcerer will attack us. Arrest those who have been cured by sorcery. They have committed treason by turning to magic." Uther said.
Arthur frowned.
" But.."
" Are you questioning my judgement? Don't forget I am your king." Uther yelled.
Arthur nodded and bowed. He then left the chambers.
Alexia and Merlin were sitting in the chambers when Gaius entered the room.
"What've you done?" Gaius asked them.
"What?" Merlin said, looking slightly panicked.
"I warned you! Oh, I understand. You thought you were doing good."
"I couldn't let her father die knowing I could cure him." Merlin replied.
" And Gaius we did right. See, even Gwen is happy. We treated fifty people yesterday. We can do more today night. No one will ever know." Alexia said.
" Are you out of your mind Alexia? You want to cure people when king wants a sorcerer to kill." Gaius exclaimed.
" And what you did yesterday, has already shown it's worst effects." He told them.
Alexia and Merlin frowned.
" What do you mean?" Merlin asked.
" The king has ordered to arrest all those who were cured magically." Gaius told them.
" What!" Alexia asked shocked.
" How can he do this?" She exclaimed.
" They are his people who returned from death. Instead of thanking Sorcery, he wants to arrest all those who were cured? How can someone be such a tyrant?" Alexia yelled.
Merlin and Gaius both looked shocked at her out burst.
" How can Uther be so heartless?" Alexia exclaimed.
" Alexia!" Merlin said.
" Merlin! We have to save them." Alexia said determined.
" I know! But how?" Merlin asked.
" Let's destroy the source." She said.
" From where water is supplied?" She asked.
The three of them head to the underground entrance to the water supply.
From her cave, Nimueh watched them in her stone basin.
Merlin carried a torch as the trio came upon an underground cistern. "The water from here supplies the whole town. Take a sample." Gaius asked, taking the torch.
Merlin took a sample bottle and held it down in the water for a moment, before bringing it back up and capping it.
"Let's take it back and examine it." Gaius said as they turn to go.
Behind them, an Afanc reared up out of the water and screeched, startling them before disappearing back under the water.
"What the hell was that?" Merlin asked, horrified, when Gaius took their arms and they left.
Back in the chambers, Gaius, Alexia and Merlin looked through a book."Here." Gaius said, picking up the book and holding it up to show Merlin and Alexia the page. "It was an Afanc."
"An...a what?" Merlin asked, confused.
"A beast born of clay, and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerer." Gaius read, skimming his finger along the page. "Now we have to find a way to defeat it. But where?" Gaius wondered, looking at the many shelves of books all over the room.
"That could take days." Merlin stated, also looking at the number of books.
Gaius stood up.
" There is nothing else." He said and went to take a book out.
" Merlin!" Alexia whispered.
Merlin looked at her.
" The dragon." She whispered again.
Merlin flashed a smile.
" How could I forget!" He said smiling.
" You go! I will handle Gaius." She whispered.
Merlin nodded and sneaked out.
Merlin entered the dragon's cave and looked around. "Hello?" He called
"Hello." The dragon landed on the rock in front of Merlin. "The great warlock returns, as I knew he would."
"I need to know how to defeat an Afanc." Merlin asked immediately.
"Yes, I suppose you do." The dragon said amusedly.
"Will you help me?" Merlin asked
The dragon looked him over for a moment before stating vaguely, "Trust the elements that are at your command."
"Elements? But what is it I have to do?" Merlin asked, still confused.
"You cannot do this alone. You are but one side of a coin. Arthur is the other." The dragon said.
"I- I don't understand. Just tell me what it is I have to do." Merlin begged.
The dragon simply stood up and began to fly off.
"No! Please, help me!" Merlin called
The dragon looked back towards the small warlock. "I have." The dragon laughed as he flew out of sight.
"Oh, yeah, right. Thanks." Merlin said. sarcastically.
He reached back at the chambers.
Alexia was there searching through the books.
" Where is Gaius?" He asked.
" He has gone to Uther. So what did he tell?" Alexia asked.
" As always cryptic answers. Trust the elements who are at my command." He told her.
Alexia gave a thoughtful look.
" I read in a book that afanc is a creature made of earth and water. Probably the other two elements, fire and wind can kill it." Alexia said.
Merlin looked at her in surprised.
" Alexia! You are the best." He said jumping in happiness.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Merlin opened the door to find Morgana.
" lady Morgana!" Merlin and Alexia said.
" The king decided to execute all those who were treated with magic. It is now giving me a headache." Morgana confessed.
Alexia's eyes widened.
" What? But what have they done?" She asked.
" According to him, they turned to magic, and it's treason." Morgana said.
" Gwen is crying.. Her father is one of them." Morgana said with sadness covering her face.
" We have to do something." Alexia said.
"Please, just tell me what I can do to help." Morgana offered.
"We need Arthur." Merlin stated.
"Arthur?" Morgana asked, looking confused.
"There's a monster, an Afanc, in the water supply. That's what's causing the plague." Merlin revealed.
"Well, we must tell Uther." Morgana stated.
Merlin and Alexia shook their heads. "The Afanc's a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save them." Alexia pointed out reasonably.
"So, what are we to do?"
"We need to destroy it." Merlin said. "Then the plague will stop and Uther may see sense."
"And that's why you need Arthur." Morgana said, finally understanding.
"He's our best chance." Morgana nodded, looking thoughtful. "But he won't want to disobey the King." Merlin said, looking at Morgana.
Morgana looked between the two of them before saying, "Leave that to me." She turned and headed for the door.
Alexia and Merlin looked at each other.
Suddenly the door opened again and Gaius entered.
" Was that Morgana?" Gaius asked.
Merlin and Alexia nodded.
" What are you two doing?" He asked.
" We are going kill the afanc. He will be killed by fire and wind. Since it was conjured by water and earth." Merlin said.
"How did you find this out?"
"Erm... Some help from Alexia and some, you know? One of my powers." Merlin said, looking sheepish.
"What else do your powers tell you?" Gaius asked in bewilderment.
"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously." Merlin said in a chipper voice.
"And who's the other side?"
"I think that might be Arthur." Merlin said, lowering his voice significantly.
" Gaius I think we must leave." Alexia said sternly.
Gaius nodded. Alexia exited the room
Gaius gave Merlin the keys to the water supply tunnels and Merlin followed out after her.
In Arthur's chambers, Arthur entered the room to find Morgana standing there.
" Uh! What are you doing here?" He asked.
" Nothing, I was just thinking how many innocents are going to lose there lives." She said.
Arthur raised his brow.
" You know Merlin and Alex are trying to save them." Morgan said.
Arthur looked at her.
" They are quite compassionate and kind hearted persons." She said looking out of the window.
Arthur shook his head.
"Sadly the age of gallantry seems to be dead. You look around and all you see are small men, not big enough to fill their armor." Arthur rolled his eyes, knowing what she is trying to do. "There's not one of them that' s able to stand up for what is right."
Arthur smirked at her obvious manipulations.
" What do you want Morgana?" He asked.
Morgana and Arthur walked into the Square where Merlin and Alexia are already waiting to meet them. Arthur drew his sword with a shing. They opened tunnel door and Arthur lighted a torch before they descended into the underground cavern.
"You'd better be right about this, Merlin, Alex." Arthur muttered. Alexia rolled her eyes.
They heard low growl coming from the creature, and Morgana gasped in fright.
Arthur turned back to look at her. "You should stay here."
"I'm coming with you." Morgana said, putting a brave face on.
"No." Arthur tried to order.
"Scared I'll show you up?" Morgana taunted
"Father will slam us all in chains if he knew I'd endangered you." Arthur reminded her.
"Well good thing he doesn't know about it then."
"I'm telling you, Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt."
" I agree with Arthur. Lady Morgana, Alex, you both shall return." Merlin said.
Alexia deadpanned.
" Merlin, I think you are talking about lady Morgana here. I am perfectly able to protect myself." Alexia said.
Merlin gave her a look, while Alexia gave him a death glare.
Morgana just smirked and continued forward.
Alexia followed her.
Merlin looked on, amused, and Arthur rolled his eyes in response before they all continue on.
"How are we going to find it?" Morgana murmured to Arthur.
"I just hope we do before it finds us." Merlin replied.
Arthur turned around at a noise behind them. "Stop."
"What?" Merlin immediately asked.
Arthur looked down the tunnels, but saw nothing there. "It's just a shadow." He said, turning back around.
They kept moving, and the Afanc creeped out of shadows behind them. When they reach the water source, Arthur looked around and ordered, "Spread out."
They all split up, heading down different corridors. Arthur heard a growl behind him and slowly turned to see the Afanc swipe at him from behind, and then disappeared. Morgana rushed to him.
"What is it? Are you alright?" Morgana asked
"Yeah." Arthur assured her.
"Did you see it?" Merlin asked
"Yes."
"What did it look like?" Alexia asked
"It-it's quick." Arthur stuttered, not having seen it long enough to remember for sure. Alexia saw something and made her way towards it, not realising that she was now seperated from the group.
The Afanc came up in front of Morgana, and she screamed in fright. Arthur lunged after it, but it disappeared again.
"Where is it?" Arthur asked, looking in all directions.
"I think it's gone this way!" Merlin yelled, looking down a tunnel to their right.
They walk down the tunnel. Suddenly they heard a scream.
" Alexia!" Merlin muttered. Morgana and Arthur looked at him confused. He rushed towards the source while Arthur and Morgana followed him.
They saw the afanc trying to attack Alexia who was now lying there in pain.
Arthur approached it to fight while the other two stayed back. Arthur swung at it and lost his sword. In the scuffle, it also swiped away Morgana's torch. Arthur moved in front of her protectively, and circled it with torch.
"Arthur, use the torch!" Merlin yelled at him.
Arthur swung the torch at the monster a few times, forcing it back.
Behind him Merlin began to chant softly, "Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan se wideor!"
Wind whistled through the cavern halls, mixing with the flames of the torch and blowing them into the Afanc, incinerating it.
In her cave, Nimueh watched in her stone basin as he creature was destroyed.
"Merlin. Mah!" She yelled, splashing the water in anger.
Arthur panted while Merlin ran to Alexia who was lying there panting in pain.
" Alexia! Alexia! Don't close your eyes." He said tapping her cheek.
" I am fine Merlin. The afanc is dead. Camelot is safe. Stop crying you idiot." She said with a pained chuckle.
" Shut up! Let me take you to Gaius." He said and turned to Arthur and saw there confused and shocked looks.
" I can explain you about it. But we need to take her to Gaius first." Merlin said.
Arthur was reluctant but Morgana came forward.
She tried to help her get to her feet.
Alexia glanced at Arthur and then at floor.
As she took a step, she grunted in pain.
Arthur looked at her. He placed his sword back and turned to her picking her up.
" We have to get her to Gaius." He muttered and started moving.
They quickly reached the physician. Entering without any knock.
" Merlin!" Gaius said. His eyes then fell on limp body of Alexia.
" Alex!" He said in surprise.
" Lay him on bed." Arthur raised a brow but complied.
" What happened to him?" Gaius asked.
" She was..." Merlin started.
" Merlin!" Gaius said reminding him of the other two.
" We know Gaius." Morgana said.
Gaius looked at them, considering for a moment and then nodded.
" Afanc attacked her." Merlin told him.
" If you know, then I will request you to leave. Except lady Morgana." Gaius said.
Merlin looked at Alexia and nodded.
Arthur also gave a nod and they left.
" You knew?" Arthur asked as they exited the room.
Merlin nodded.
Arthur sighed. How could he have missed it? Valiant said she was a girl. But he never believed him.
" Why all this?" He asked frustrated.
" There are her reasons Arthur and perfectly valid ones." He told him.
Arthur raised a brow. And this time Merlin sighed.
" You can ask her when she will be fine." He said.
After two hours, Alexia woke up. She was hearing some noise.
" Give her a chance to explain Arthur. There has to be a reason." She heard Morgana. Alexia was confused but regardless opened her eyes and tried to sit. A strong pain erupted from her stomach area.
Alexia groaned.
Merlin quickly ran to her.
" Alexia! You are awake." He said, helping her to sit.
" What happened?" She asked and glanced at Arthur and Morgana.
" Afanc? It's dead right?" She asked again, this time looking at Merlin. Merlin nodded. Alexia smiled a bit.
" Alexia they know." He said motioning towards Arthur and Morgana.
" I, by mistake, called you Alexia when I heard your scream." He told her guiltily.
Alexia gave a pained chuckle.
" You truly can't keep a secret Merlin, can you?" She asked in a joking manner.
" So you are Alexia, not Alex." Morgana said.
Alexia nodded.
" So why were you hiding?" She asked. At this Arthur too looked at her in question.
Alexia looked down.
Merlin held her hand.
"I was not exactly safe like that." She said softly.
Arthur frowned.
Morgana was also confused a bit.
" When I found her for the first time, she was... She was not in a good condition. Her condition was far from good, not even fine. She was even scared of me first." He said giving her hand a squeeze. Alexia just closed her eyes remembering the incident.
" Ugh!" She groaned when the picture returned.
" Its not easy. I still have nightmares of that night. How I was begging them to leave me. How they just laughed at my pleas. I had to jump from the cliff to save myself." She said. " But then, when I spent a day as a boy, it was so easy. No stares, no fear, nothing. I felt free. I felt that freedom. So I decided to stay like this." Alexia confessed in a shaky voice.
" But why in Camelot? You are safe here. Nobody can do any harm." Arthur said. Alexia scoffed.
" It not true. Just for one night, I decided to remove my hat, and it was my worst decision." She said remembering Valiant.
Merlin moved to wrap her arms around her.
Arthur's eyes widened.
" You mean, in Camelot too..." Arthur asked.
Alexia nodded.
" Who is that person?" Arthur asked through gritted teeth.
" Was." Alexia corrected.
Arthur frowned.
" Was? It means he is dead?" Morgana asked.
" Valiant." Merlin replied.
Arthur understood, and now he felt a bit proud, that he killed him.
Morgana wiped her tear, which unknowingly made way and sat beside Alexia.
" Alexia, don't worry. From now on, you don't need to live your life in fear. We are always going to stay with you. I can't say about Arthur, but me and Merlin are there." She said with a smirk.
Alexia gave her a small teared smiled.
" Hey! That's my manservant, no actually maid servant." Arthur protested.
Merlin laughed.
" You can now return to your true self Alexia. Don't worry about father, I will handle him." Arthur said.
Alexia nodded gratefully.
" I must leave now." He said.
" And Merlin! I think you know your duties. So complete them, as you have to do it alone now. Alexia needs rest. So she will be resting." Arthur said and went out.
Merlin groaned.
Alexia chuckled.
" So now I have another friend to talk to." Morgana said with a smile.
Alexia smiled back.
" Rest Alexia! You need it." She said giving her a last parting hug and went out.
Merlin smiled at Alexia.
" What you did was very brave." He told her.
Alexia smiled back at him.
" Thanks Merlin." She said.
" Why?" He asked confused.
" For everything." She said and moved forward planting a kiss on his cheek.
" I am going to sleep." She said laying back on her bed. While Merlin sat there shocked about the kiss.
He smiled a bit and went out.
The day passed happily, as Gaius showed Uther that it was work of Nimueh and all the prisoners were released. Gwen was also happy and everything was fine.