Krysia felt a chill over her spine when she returned to Gaius's chambers, but she was alone. She lit a candle, settled in with her dinner, and waited for Gaius and Merlin to return from whatever errand they'd been called to. She normally didn't mind having a bit of time to herself, but the shiver that was running across her back didn't quit, and every small sound in the corridor or out the window reminded her that something was not quite right.

When Gaius and Merlin returned, Merlin was pensive and solemn, and Gaius looked exhausted, and Krysia was still finishing her vegetables.

"What happened?" Krysia whispered when Merlin went to bed without even greeting her.

Gaius frowned at the door to Merlin and Krysia's room, then said, "There was a bounty hunter coming into town. Merlin was distressed by a poor girl in a cage."

Krysia hummed and continued eating her vegetables. She understood perfectly how he felt. There was no good way to see such things, and she'd long since taken to avoiding the town if she knew such things were coming through. Leon often gave her warning, when he was aware.

"I suppose he'll get used to it one day," Gaius said, "as you have."

"One never gets used to such a thing," Krysia said, not looking up from her food. "And you know Merlin. He feels everyone else's pain. It's his greatest strength and his most dangerous weakness. He'll never get used to it, even if it kills him."

/-/

Krysia loved serving full council sessions. She loved to hear what was going on for the kingdom, she loved how gracious and kind many of the top council members were, and she loved the smell of the parchment and ink.

She was listening to a discussion of taxation of the nearer villages when the doors to the council chamber opened and some knights led in a man Krysia could only suppose was the bounty hunter Gaius had mentioned last night.

"Ah, Halig," Uther said. "You've come bearing gifts?"

"Yes, Sire," Halig said. "A druid girl. But she escaped last night here in Camelot."

"Well, don't worry," Uther said. "We'll soon find her. Have some guards help with the search."

One of the knights bowed and exited to alert Leon that the guards would be redistributed.

"You need to warn them, Sire," Halig said. "The girl is dangerous. The informer told me she was cursed."

Uther, who had previously been leisurely about the whole thing, paused and looked far more serious.

"How so?" he said.

"He didn't know, but he said even the druids were frightened of her. They cast her out of their camp."

"It's against all the druids believe to reject those in need of care," Gaius said.

Krysia, too startled to hold her tongue, said, "What kind of curse might cause the druids to reject someone?"

"I dread to think," Gaius said.

Uther stood and said, "Set up sentries on all the gates."

"We should search the lower town, Sire," Halig said. "Someone may be harboring her."

"You think she had help?" Gaius said.

Krysia tried not to react, thinking of the mood Merlin had been in the night before. If he was found to be harboring the girl, even Arthur couldn't protect him.

"I saw two figures running away," Halig said.

To the other knight, Uther said, "Give Halig all the help he needs. I want this girl and her accomplice found."

/-/

Krysia followed Uther, Arthur, and Gaius to the Lower Town, to the site of some discovered corpses. Leon was nearby, and she had the feeling he was watching her. Every time she looked over her shoulder, he was pointedly looking somewhere else.

"What did it, Gaius?" Krysia said softly.

He hummed, then straightened and said, "I think they've been killed by some kind of wild animal."

"Have you been able to track the creature?" Uther said to Arthur.

"That's the strange thing," Arthur said, "'cause the ground is soft. Obviously a bear or wolf would leave some mark. But there are no tracks."

"Then what are these?" Gaius said.

Krysia leaned down and said, "These are human footprints. Fairly small ones as well."

"But they're leading away from the bodies," Gaius said. "Did someone escape the attack?"

"No one's come forward," Arthur said.

"Could the person who made these be responsible?" Uther said.

"I don't believe so," Gaius said. "These wounds could only've been inflicted by a beast of considerable size."

Uther let out a frustrated sound, and he frowned at the footprints.

"Sire?" Krysia said.

"If this was done by neither a man nor beast," he said, "there's only one other explanation. It must be the work of a magical creature."

Krysia thought of the girl, the one even the druids feared. It tickled something in the back of her mind, something she thought she'd read but couldn't quite recall. Whatever it was, she knew she had to have a conversation with Merlin.

/-/

Krysia was inspecting the silverware for the king's dinner when she was startled by a hand on her shoulder. She jumped, brandishing the fork, and apologizing immediately when she realized it was Uther.

"It's nothing," he said, actually smiling. "I should have announced myself. Take the evening off, Krysia."

She stood, puzzled, still holding the fork.

"Sire?"

"I want you to take the evening off," he said. His smile tightened. "I know you are inclined to staying later than required, and you've certainly earned it."

She stared up at him and set down the fork, realizing what he was doing. He thought she might be attacked by the creature if she kept her usual hours, and he knew she was too stubborn to change her hours just by being warned to be careful.

"I do know what you're doing, sire," she said.

"I have no doubt," he said, "as your shrewdness knows no bounds, but I insist. I'll insist as your king if I have to."

A strange expression came over him, as if he was surprised by his own words, and troubled by them. The strange coldness on the back of her spine had returned, and she bowed her head lightly.

"As you wish, sire," she said. "I'll re-assign the servants for the evening. Is there anything you require before I—"

"No," he said. "No, but if you're itching to do more work, I am sure Gaius always has tasks that can be done in the security of his chambers."

She couldn't help smiling as she nodded and left. Her smile faded as she walked, feeling that he was watching her, but she didn't dare turn around.

Gaius was surprised to see her, and he was making soup for dinner. Krysia took over the stirring to free him up for other tasks, and when he settled at his bench, he finally asked what had happened.

"Uther thinks I'm too stubborn for my own safety," she said, sprinkling a bit of flour to thicken the soup.

"He is not wrong," Gaius said. "A night off your extended duties is likely healthy, regardless. He's retaining you for longer and longer hours, which cannot be safe."

"You think he's suspicious?" Krysia said. "Why give me so much freedom if he's starting to wonder?"

Gaius hesitated, and Krysia had a feeling if he told her all he knew, she would have a full and clear picture of the dangers and advantages that lay before her.

"He has always been fond of you," Gaius said finally. "And you have become a young woman now. It is only right that he no longer treats you as a child. Just be careful."

Merlin arrived back just as Krysia was ladling the soup into bowls, and he was humming mindlessly as he entered. Krysia and Gaius exchanged a puzzled look.

"Will you stop that?" Gaius said.

"What?" Merlin said.

"Sit down and eat your soup."

Krysia set down the bowls, and they all sat together, Krysia and Merlin on one side of the table, Gaius on the other. Merlin continued to hum, and Krysia focused on eating her soup, wondering how long it would take Gaius to comment on it.

"Merlin," Gaius finally said.

"Sorry," Merlin said.

"What's gotten into you?" Krysia said.

"Nothing," Merlin said brightly. "I feel great."

"Good," Gaius said. "Then you can get on with some chores."

"Chores?" Merlin said, puzzled.

"Yes, Merlin," Krysia said. "Chores. The things you avoid like the plague, but all of us have to do at some point."

"Sorry," Merlin said, setting down his unused spoon. "I'm going out."

He was most of the way to the door when Gaius said, "Well what time will you be back?"

"Er, well don't wait up for me," Merlin said with that same obnoxious brightness. "I might be late."

When the door closed behind him, Gaius and Krysia stared at each other over the table. The chill ran over Krysia's spine again.

"What do you suppose he's up to?" Gaius said.

"I'm not sure," Krysia said, picking up a bit of meat with her spoon. "Knowing how daft he is, though, and given all the current dangers, I'm afraid it could be something quite…damaging."

"You think he's involved with the missing girl."

"Don't you?"

Gaius hummed, but he didn't have a quick answer.

/-/

Krysia knew what was happening when she followed Uther to the lower town, where Gaius and Arthur were already waiting. There was another body on the ground, and she thought the question didn't even bear asking, but she understood Uther's frustration required it.

"The beast has struck again?" he said.

"I'm afraid so," Gaius said. "The wounds match those of the previous victims."

Arthur said, "The man who saw it spoke of a huge black cat with wings."

"I was right," Uther said grimly. "This is not the work of a natural creature."

Krysia surveyed the scene quickly and said, "There's no tracks, then?"

"Just human footprints again," Arthur said.

Gaius looked pensive, and Uther prompted him.

"Can you identify this monster?"

"I will need more time to investigate," Gaius said.

"Oh, come on," Uther said. "You always have theories in these matters."

"This time, sire," Gaius said, "I prefer to wait until I'm certain."

"I don't know that we have time, Gaius," Krysia said. "A death a night is a steep toll."

"I'll report back to you before the day's out, sire," Gaius said. "If you'll grant me Krysia's aide—"

"Of course," Uther said. "She's yours for as long as you need her. I anxiously await your report."

/-/

Krysia and Gaius arrived back at his quarters, and he stood still for a moment. Krysia turned to ask what was wrong, and he looked at her with the most solemn expression she could ever remember.

"I need you to get your book," he said softly.

Given everything he had and hadn't said, Krysia knew this was not the time to question or delay. She retrieved her aunt's book and fed it a drop of her blood, laying it out on the table between them. Gaius leaned so he could see without casting shadow, and he directed her to keep flipping through until he asked her to stop.

"There," he said, pointing to a picture.

Krysia smoothed the pages and looked at the picture, which was certainly a large cat, dark and baleful in the image, with wide wings. Krysia was so focused on the melancholy in the picture, she hadn't even looked at the words around it. The disappointed sound Gaius made beside her was enough to know that it wasn't good.

"I feared as much," he said.

"What is it?" Krysia whispered.

"There is nothing to fix it," Gaius said. "At least nothing the High Priestesses knew, which is to say—"

"Nothing we'd have time to learn, even if it were possible," Krysia said, closing the book. "Gaius, I think Merlin—"

"Is in love with her?" he said. "Yes, I fear you may be right."

They waited in silence, and Krysia didn't dare once ask why they weren't going to the king. She understood without Gaius speaking that their odd little family needed to take care of each other first. They would have done as much for her. She had to do as much for Merlin.

The day wound into late afternoon, and the smell of the evening, that heaviness in the air, was just beginning to settle. Merlin then entered, and he was clearly startled to see them both sitting there, waiting.

"Gaius," Merlin said, "I was just…"

"Merlin, sit down," Gaius said. "I want to talk to you."

Merlin looked to Krysia, who said nothing. He didn't sit but stared at them.

"Is everything alright?" he said. "You both look worried."

Krysia traced a finger over the embossing of the cover of her book and said, "There were two more deaths today. The beast struck again."

"Do you know what it is yet?" he said.

Gaius stood and said, "Once more there were no tracks around the bodies, but human footprints were leading away from them."

"Right," Merlin said slowly.

"It doesn't seem to add up. The footprints would indicate a human was responsible, but the wounds inflicted are definitely the work of some kind of beast."

Krysia stared at Merlin, who had gone very still, like a cornered animal.

"A puzzle, isn't it?" she whispered.

"Yes," Gaius said softly. "Until I remembered what Halig said about the druid girl, that she's cursed."

Merlin's eyes widened, so small he likely didn't notice it, and his shoulders tightened.

"What's that go to do with the monster?"

"The ancient chronicles speak of a heinous curse. It dooms its victim to turn at the stroke of midnight into a vicious, bloodthirsty beast. The writers of old called this creature a Bastet: a monster of nightmare that inhabits the twilight world between the living and the dead. Merlin, I want the truth. Did you release the druid girl from the cage?"

"Of course not!" Merlin said, without hesitation, but almost too quickly.

Krysia felt the cold along her spine again, and she stood now, resting her hand on the book.

"You used to hesitate before you lied," she whispered. "Are you sure this is what you want, Merlin?"

Merlin's jaw jutted out and he said, "I did what was right."

"You know the creature and the girl are one and the same," Gaius said.

"You're wrong. Freya is just a girl."

"Merlin, please think about what we're saying," Gaius said. "You know it is the truth. Where is she now?"

Merlin shook his head, his eyes filling with tears.

Krysia whispered, "She'll be somewhere in the castle, of course. Where you can hide her in a convenient place where the knights would never think to look."

Gaius drew himself to his full height and said, "She's killed already, and she'll kill again. She can't stop herself."

"Please, Gaius," Merlin said, but Gaius was walking out the door. "Where are you going?"

"To Uther," Gaius said.

"I'm begging you!" Merlin said. "Just give me some time to get her out of the city, please."

Gaius shook his head, and Merlin turned to Krysia horrified.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," she said. "But Gaius is right. There is no more time."

/-/

They returned that evening to find Merlin on his bed, staring at the foot of the bed with his knees pulled up to his chest. Gaius hesitated before entering the room, but Krysia went to sit beside Merlin, who did not move when she sat.

"I had no choice, Merlin," Gaius said gently. "Uther had to be told."

"They won't find her," Merlin said. His voice was thick and scratchy, and although his eyes were dry, it was clear he'd been crying. "She's gone."

"I'm sorry," Gaius said. "I do understand how you must feel, Merlin."

"You could never understand," Merlin said tightly. "Do you know how it feels to be a monster? To be afraid of who you are?"

Gaius was startled by the harsh tone Merlin used, but Krysia put a gentle hand on Merlin's arm.

"It isn't the same, Merlin," she said. "I know what you're saying, but there is a difference between feeling wrongfully hunted and being quite literally cursed."

Merlin shrugged off her and said, "Whatever she is, and whatever she's done, she doesn't deserve to die. I just hope she's somewhere safe. Somewhere far away."

Krysia's hum was drowned out by the sounding of the warning bell.

"That's her, isn't it?" Merlin said, jumping to his feet before either of them could answer.

Krysia followed as quickly behind Merlin as she could, not sure why when there was nothing she could do. Gaius called both of their names, but neither paused or acknowledged him in any way. Krysia ran until her legs were sore and her lungs burned, out of the castle, into the square. She heard the clock chime, and as they arrived in the square, the knights were trying to battle the creature she had seen in the book.

When the creature saw Merlin, it froze, wounded. Instead of attacking Arthur or Merlin, it stared at Merlin with the same baleful expression Krysia had seen in her book. She understood why Merlin didn't want them to do what must be done: what sort of hell was it to live this life?

The creature flew away, and Merlin began to run again. Krysia took a few deep breaths and guessed where he must be going based on his path. It was exactly where she would have hidden someone, had she ever needed to: the tunnels under the citadel. There were plenty of places no one would think to look, far away from prying eyes, places Krysia and Merlin knew well.

She paused long enough to take stock of the fallen knights, who all appeared alive if unconscious, and noting that apart from Arthur, none were her friends before she hurried off after him, still not sure what she planned to do when she found him.

A/N:

I wasn't sure if this was going to be one chapter or two, and it could have gone either way, but I guess it's going to be two!

To the Guest reviewer:

Leon definitely does realize he's torturing himself, but much like many of us have experienced while in love, being aware doesn't mean you know how to stop, or want to stop.

To Midori Yuki:

I love that you love this! I love your outlining of the various feels you're getting from the various threads of plot.

I have a pre-announcement for everyone, and it's that something really big is coming, and it's in the works, and there will be a real announcement later. I don't know how much later (depends on how much time I have to plan the really big thing), but if you like the winding threads of story and messy kind-of love triangles (that totally aren't real love triangles, because that implies that the point of the triangle wants both things equally…maybe scalene love triangles?), you're going to adore this announcement, coming soon.

-C