Another's Favor by ebhg

Rating: T

Pairings: Merthian/Arwen

Spoilers: Series 1-4 and up to episode 4 of Series 5.

Disclaimer: Merlin belongs to BBC.

A/N: Thank you once again for all of your fabulous reviews. They make me happy:) This chapter was fun to write.


Searching for a Cure

Gaius was surprised when his door burst open and an unconscious Mordred was carried in on the shoulders of four knights. The physician scrambled to straighten the patient's bed for the young knight to be laid upon, grateful that he had just that morning allowed Sir Caridoc to be moved to his own rooms to recuperate.

"What are his injuries?" Gaius asked after the knights laid Mordred down. He was unable to readily ascertain what was the matter with the unconscious man. He had good coloring, easy breathing, steady pulse, no fever and only one area of his clothing bore signs of an injury. Upon further inspection, though, Gaius could find no evidence of a wound. He could, however, sense Merlin's rather distinctive magical signature. What Merlin had been thinking, using magic to heal such a wound whilst on a quest with the King, Gaius couldn't fathom. Yet again the physician wondered how his ward still had a head on his shoulders.

With no forthcoming answer from the gathered knights, Gaius looked up at them questioningly. The men looked to one another searchingly, then the most senior of them merely shrugged his shoulders, much to the elderly man's annoyance.

"We know only that the king was insistent that Sir Mordred remain unconscious," the knight answered. Gaius raised an eyebrow incredulously. That was no help at all; was he a physician or a nursemaid, Gaius wondered dryly.

"You may go," the physician replied, dismissing the knights with an irritated wave of his hand. He had no need of watchful eyes while he did things that could potentially be described as illegal. Once they had cleared the room, Gaius got to work, rolling Mordred onto his side and inspecting the healed injury once more. Merlin's healing spells were certainly improving, Gaius mused, pleased to see the pink line of scar tissue fully intact and well-knitted. Laying the young knight back down, Gaius pressed a hand to Mordred's forehead, closing his eyes and reaching out to study the magical residues on the boy.

It was a certain aspect of magic that, while he had some natural talent in, he had spent a significant number of years developing. Being able to instinctively sense whether there was an enchantment on any particular item or person was a valuable skill for a physician, especially one who was forced to use magic on the sly.

Gaius chuckled to himself as he identified Merlin's unique signature again and again. The young warlock had healed the boy surely enough, but he'd also kept the knight unconscious through repeated application of a sleeping spell. Gaius frowned then as he probed deeper, searching beyond Merlin's light, impishly playful magical residue and finding a terrible shadow over Mordred's mind. The physician tore his hand away and gasped at the twisted feel of it. The signature was not an unfamiliar one, but it was one that broke his heart to feel tainted as it was by such darkness.

Morgana.

Feeling her aura, so black and twisted, beside Merlin's light and playful one, left Gaius with a sense of utter sadness. Not for the first time, the elderly man felt a feeling of utter failure. He sat heavily beside the patient's cot, his eyes burning as he attempted to keep his tears at bay. He'd foolishly tried for so long to shield Morgana from such influences by keeping her ignorant to the power that was inherent in her. Only now did Gaius truly understand what the cost of that sheltering had been. Merlin truly was the light to Morgana's darkness; sensing their signatures side by side had made Gaius realize that the dragon's words were never more true.

The longer Gaius pondered the conflicting magical signatures, the more he realized that Mordred's own had seemed hidden. Reaching out again, Gaius placed his hand over his patient's brow, closing his eyes against the feeling of failure that flared when he brushed past Morgana's shadow upon the lad. He probed deeper and deeper, his brow furrowing further with every second he spent searching.

There was very little of the young man's personality left, much as Merlin's sense of duty and identity had been buried under the black effects of the formorroh. Gaius searched his memory, recalling a tutor he'd had many years before on the Isle of the Blessed. This particular mentor had described several different forms of control that were used by the High Priestesses who had allowed their power to corrupt them. Among the methods were certain rituals using mandrake roots.

"And we've already seen Morgause's fondness for that particular plant. No doubt she taught her sister all of its varied uses," Gaius murmured angrily to himself, turning around to seek a book that he knew was around his cluttered stacks somewhere.

Just as he found the tome on the highest, most tucked-away shelf, the door to his chambers was flung open and Arthur entered with Guinevere, his round table knights, Merlin and Mithian on his heels. Gaius hurriedly tucked the blatantly magical book in his hands back into the crevice he'd found it crammed into and made his way down the rickety steps.

"Make sure that door is locked," Arthur ordered once everyone was inside. Merlin nodded and was swift to comply.

"What is going on?" Gaius demanded when he finally made it down to the ground. "You've all come in here like the secret to life is about to be revealed! You've sent me an unconscious man who has not got so much as a scratch with no explanation other than to keep him asleep!" Gaius looked meaningfully at Merlin as he mentioned the sleeping patient, a gesture the king did not miss. "Do you take me for a nursemaid, Sire?

"Of course not," Arthur assured. "It is a rather long and interesting story, Gaius. Complicated, one might say. You see, we've had some rather startling revelations in the last few days, but I'm fairly sure that you will not be so shocked as we were," Arthur said shrewdly.

"Arthur?" Guinevere asked, just as confused as Gaius was.

"I think you especially will understand how very shocked I was, Guinevere, to discover that my First Advisor has been keeping a very big secret," Arthur began. "One that I really ought to have realized a long time ago, seeing as it has been staring me in the face ever since Merlin walked into Camelot."

Gaius' withered face instantly paled and he sat at his work bench heavily. The physician's eyes traveled from face to face around the room, finally settling on his ward's with an anguished expression.

"I am sorry you have been left in the dark so long, Sire," Gaius finally said. "But you must understand, I only wanted to protect him."

Gwen only looked more confused. Mithian, however, boldly stepped in front of her husband, sheltering him with her body. Her eyes roved the room determinedly, as though daring anyone to attempt to lay a hand on Merlin. Gwen did not miss the princess' actions, though neither did she understand them.

"Arthur, please just tell me what's going on," the queen said, growing frustrated at the realization that she seemed to be the only one in still in the dark.

"He's trying to make me say it, Gwen. It's only right that I should be the one to tell you," Merlin explained. Mithian held her breath, waiting for the proverbial axe to fall.

"Tell me what?" Guinevere said, laughing in breathless exasperation. Merlin took a deep breath, preparing himself.

"I have magic," he blurted out quickly, as though the words did not want to leave his mouth.

"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed out of habit, his eyes sweeping the room for any objections. Mithian, too, eyed each of the knights and the king and queen in turn. As she waited for their reaction, she stepped back even further, pressing her back into Merlin's chest and gripping the fabric of his tunic as though he would run away if she released him.

"It's alright, Gaius, everyone here knows now," Merlin murmured, his eyes never leaving the queen's.

"Merlin?" Gwen asked, completely taken aback. "Magic?"

The warlock nodded. "I always have."

"Even when we first met?" the queen asked Merlin, narrowing her eyes as their first meeting ran through her head. "That's why you said you were in disguise?"

Merlin chuckled nervously, nodding in confirmation. Gwen looked at Merlin dubiously, wondering if Arthur and Merlin were trying to trick her for some reason. Recognizing Guinevere's expression for what it was, Merlin held out his hand, to prove to the queen that he was telling the truth. Wordlessly, he conjured a glowing orb in his palm. The swirling ball of light shifted through every color imaginable.

"It's beautiful," Gwen breathed, transfixed by the sight of it even as Arthur's mouth went dry.

"Go back," he ordered, though Merlin looked at him in confusion.

"What?"

"Go back, make it blue again," Arthur ordered impatiently. Merlin's brow furrowed, but he looked down at the little orb in his hand and concentrated, turning it a dark blue.

"No, that's too dark, make it lighter. Almost white, but still blue."

Merlin concentrated again and gradually the blue ball pulsated and shone with a familiar white-blue light. Arthur's face shifted through a series of emotions that Merlin had rarely ever seen the king show in private, let alone to a room full of people.

"That was you?! How?" Arthur asked shakily. Merlin only looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, unsure of how the rather unassuming ball of light had affected Arthur so significantly.

"I watched him conjure it while fevered under the poison. He spoke aloud as though he could see you. It was remarkable," Gaius confirmed, shocking both king and warlock.

"Then it wasn't gibberish he was speaking?!" Gwen asked, remembering the strange words Merlin had uttered as he struggled under the poison. Gaius looked sheepishly at the queen.

"No, it was in fact the Old Tongue," the physician admitted.

"You were dying, Merlin. Poisoned, lying there in that bed," Arthur said in a daze, pointing to the patient's cot. "And yet you still managed to save my life?"

Merlin shrugged, honestly not remembering a moment of what they were speaking of.

"Poisoned? Dying?!" Mithian asked, looking at Merlin questioningly.

"I don't really remember much of that incident," he admitted.

"When you were drunk a few weeks ago, you said that something strange had happened a long time ago, but that it was alright because you had just died," Mithian said, her eyes pointedly flicking over to Guinevere for just a moment. "Just how many times have you nearly died?!"

"Er..." Merlin hesitated. "Maybe two or three times?"

"A year," Arthur filled in.

"No, a half-year," Gaius interjected wryly.

"That is not true!" Merlin protested exasperatedly.

"You said yourself you would have died at least two times without the dragon's intervention," Arthur reasoned. "Then there's the poisoning-"

"Technically he did die then, his heart stopped and he wasn't breathing for a moment before the antidote finally did the job," Gaius interjected.

"Don't forget the Dorocha," Gwaine added.

"Or the mace wound to the chest when he was kidnapped by the bandits in the Valley of the Fallen Kings," Percival chimed in.

"Wait, wait wait," Merlin interrupted. "How exactly did this turn into pick on Merlin time?"

"When isn't it pick on Merlin time?" Arthur asked playfully, though Merlin narrowed his eyes and huffed at the king.

"You're conveniently forgetting all the times you've been seriously injured or nearly killed," Merlin protested, holding up his hands as he began to tick them off. "Vengeful witches, the afanc, the griffin, Sophia, the questing beast, the troll, the dragon, the goblin, bandits, immortal armies, poisoned arrows, love spells, I don't have enough fingers to count them all! It's a wonder you've any brains left with as many times as you've been cracked over the head and knocked unconscious! How else do you think I've gotten away with so much magic over the years?! I was nearly always able to wait until whatever you were fighting knocked you out so that I could step in and finish them off. I've been doing it under your nose since the moment we met! I'm actually not very surprised that it took you this long to put two and two together! Maybe those knocks to the head did more than I thought!" Merlin ranted, though Arthur looked increasingly indignant with each word Merlin uttered.

"Are you quite finished?" Arthur asked, glaring at Gwaine and Percival when the two of them failed to hide their snickering successfully.

"Merlin, mate, I've never seen you so riled," Gwaine snorted.

"It has been known to happen on occasion," Gaius said with mock solemnity, giving Merlin an innocently uplifted eyebrow when the warlock narrowed his eyes at his surrogate father.

"I'm guessing this particular quest was very eye-opening?" Guinevere asked. Although there was definitely more openness between Merlin and Arthur, they were every bit as antagonistic towards one another as they were before. Arthur sighed, sobering as he turned to his wife.

"It really is a very long story, Guinevere, but suffice it to say, my opinion of magic has changed. Rather drastically, one might say. I now believe that, as Merlin told me a few nights ago, there is a place for magic in Camelot so long as it is used for the right purposes."

At the king's words, Gaius put his face in his hands and leaned his elbows on his knees, a great burden lifting from his aged shoulders. He nearly wept for the joy of it when he looked towards his foster son and saw the happiness and relief on Merlin's face as the warlock and princess looked at one another tenderly.

"For what purpose is magic to be used, then?" Gwen asked, looking at her friend questioningly. Merlin broke away from his wife's gaze and smiled tentatively at Gwen, hoping that she would be just as open to the idea as Arthur had been.

"It has long been my privilege to help Arthur in realizing his destiny to unite Albion," Merlin said, his voice straining past the lump in his throat. His utter relief and gratitude overwhelmed the warlock, leaving him unable to say more. Arthur smiled comfortingly at Guinevere and took over when he saw that Merlin could not explain any further.

"Surprisingly enough, as it turns out, Guinevere, Merlin has been protecting me and Camelot with his magic since he first arrived," he said, then the king looked straight into Merlin's eyes, though he still addressed Guinevere. "Magic can be used for good; I have seen it heal two otherwise doomed men and I'm sure that Gaius and Merlin could tell us of many other beneficial uses of their gifts. I have no quarrel with Merlin for his magic and someday soon, I hope to make it possible for Merlin and others like him to live in Camelot without fear."

Merlin nodded gratefully at his friend and king; Arthur returned the gesture and turned back to his wife. Guinevere smiled at her husband before moving into his arms and hugging him proudly. Then Gwen looked over at her best friend and smiled at the sight of Merlin's obvious emotional state. The thin man was looking into Mithian's eyes again, unshed tears welling up and threatening to spill over as the both of them chuckled and wiped at one another's grateful tears in unspoken relief. Then Mithian grabbed Merlin in an ecstatic embrace, kissing him with utter abandon as her euphoria at Merlin's new-found freedom replaced her worry and alarm.

Gaius smiled proudly and pointedly looked away from the man he saw as his son, until things began to rattle on the table.

"Merlin," the physician said warningly, holding a steadying hand out to his fragile equipment.

"Sorry," Merlin muttered, pressing his forehead to Mithian's and closing his eyes to steady himself. The vibrating jars and rattling vials stilled once more.

"Merlin having magic is obviously not a surprise for Mithian. She's an experienced hand at magic by now, including quakes, tremors and all manner of strange occurrences," Gwaine said rakishly, breaking a blushing Merlin and Mithian apart as the other knights chuckled at their expense. Arthur cleared his throat, calming the humor and lightheartedness of those gathered.

"Unfortunately, we have other pressing matters at hand," Arthur said, looking sadly at Mordred. "Gaius? What do you know about the Teine Diaga?"

Gaius' eyes widened and he looked ruefully up at the shelf he'd just tucked his book away in.

"It's interesting that you should ask that, Sire. Before you entered, I was searching for a book that would help us understand mandrakes and their uses better. It's just up there," Gaius said, pointing to the stairway and standing up to retrieve it.

"Gaius, which book is it?" Merlin asked before his elderly mentor could take a step.

"It's a small book of magic that has a comprehensive section on mandrake roots. The Láre Stæfa Léactún, Merlin. It's tucked up on the highest shelf in a small crevice, you'll have to-"

Gaius went silent and sighed in irritation when Merlin merely held out a hand and called, "Cume oþ mec Láre Stæfa Léactún."

The book instantly flew into Merlin's outstretched hand and the warlock held it out in front of him. He said nothing, but his eyes flashed and the book opened upon his upturned palms, the pages flying rapidly until it fell on a certain page. Merlin scanned it quickly, screwing up his face in frustration and shaking his head. With another flash of his eyes, the pages flew once again before settling on another section further into the book.

"That's not it either, though I'll definitely have to come back to that and read it a little closer," Merlin muttered to himself as he marked the page, unaware that Arthur was looking at him with the same befuddled expression he'd had when the king had seen Merlin juggle for the first time. Mithian was smiling in amusement at her husband and his boyish enthusiasm as he scanned through more of the text, the pages flying by as he willed the book to show him what he was searching for.

"Here!" Merlin exclaimed, pointing excitedly to a spot on the page and looking up at those gathered in the room, noticing their astonishment for the first time. "What?" he asked, eyeing their stunned faces in confusion.

"I don't feel so bad for you anymore, having to do so much research for Gaius, and all," Gwaine said, the other knights nodding in agreement.

"The Teine Diaga," Merlin said, ignoring Gwaine's chuckles. "It is very similar to the formorroh, actually," the warlock mused, moving to show the page to Gaius.

"Yes, so it would seem," the physician agreed, looking over at Mordred regretfully before rising to scan the page for himself. "But there's no mother beast to slay in this particular situation, so how do we reverse it?"

"Formorroh? Isn't that what you called that snake in Merlin's neck?" Gwen asked, her eyes widening worriedly.

"Snake in his neck?!" Arthur exclaimed.

"Another long story," Merlin muttered, still reading over the page in his hands. "Morgana was trying to control me, but don't worry, we took care of it."

Arthur looked at Merlin in astonishment.

"And Guinevere knew about it?!"

"It was before we were married, when Merlin went missing those few days before you found him in the bog," Gwen answered.

"It sounds as though there are a lot of long stories that will someday need to be told," the king said firmly.

"Someday," Merlin agreed, and then held the book out to Gaius. "This book describes the Teine Diaga as a dark ritual using mandrake roots, but there's nothing here about how to break such an enchantment."

"In many dark enchantments such as this, the one who is afflicted must be cleansed through a healing ritual," Gaius offered.

"Cleansed? The dryad we met-" Merlin began.

"Dryad?!" Gaius exclaimed. "You met a Dryad? And it spoke to you?"

"Yes, it was quite fascinating actually, I was able to help heal her-"

"Back to the topic at hand," Arthur interrupted, causing Gaius to look at Merlin significantly.

"You will tell me later," the physician insisted, smiling when Merlin nodded happily and resumed his story.

"Lowri, the dryad, said we needed powerful healing waters," Merlin explained.

"Healing waters?" Gaius asked, his brow furrowing as he scoured his memory for such places.

"Yes, that's what she said. Do you know of such a place?" Merlin asked.

"The Lake of Avalon is said to hold immense healing powers, but you would have to bargain with the Sidhe," Gaius said.

"Even if we're quite friendly with the Lady of the Lake?" Merlin asked, causing Gaius to raise an eyebrow. The physician realized then that marrying Mithian must have healed Merlin's long-held heartache over the cursed druid girl. As a rule, Merlin rarely mentioned the young woman now bound to the Lake of Avalon, let alone knowing her in front of so many.

"I'm afraid that it is the Sidhe who hold the healing power there. From what you've told me, the Lady of the Lake is merely the gatekeeper to the realm of Avalon. She unfortunately would have little influence over who the Sidhe deigned to heal."

Merlin frowned in consternation.

"I doubt the Sidhe would work with me, considering I blew up one of their elders and ruined their plans with the changeling the last time I interacted with them," Merlin said.

"Blew up an elder?" Arthur asked incredulously. Merlin winced at the king's tone.

"To be fair, said elder was trying to do the same to Merlin," Gaius interjected, though Merlin turned to look solemnly at Arthur.

"It's a long story, but the short of it is that if I hadn't, you'd have married Princess Elena and she wouldn't have been your bride for long before she was overtaken by the Sidhe within her in order to kill you for the throne."

"What?!" Arthur asked, his voice rising at least half an octave. "There's a Sidhe in Princess Elena?!"

"I told you, it's a long story," Merlin answered, turning back to the book he was leafing through. "But don't worry, Gaius and I got the Sidhe out of her. Elena's just fine, now."

Arthur's mouth gaped open at Merlin's casual reassurance.

"So Avalon is out of the question. What other healing waters are there?" Mithian asked, pulling them back on track. Gaius pursed his lips in thought.

"I'm sure I've got a book somewhere describing such places," the physician said, looking around at the various cluttered shelves around the room. Merlin scanned the room as well before holding out his hand.

"Cume oþ mec bócum of cýþþe gehælednesum æwielmum!"

Nearly two-dozen books instantly flew from various places around the room, hurtling towards Merlin. The warlock quickly held up a fist, halting the books in mid-air before directing them with a gesture to land in three relatively neat stacks on Gaius' work surface.

"I hope you weren't too general with that," Gaius said, the both of them immediately setting upon the piles and falling easily into their much-practiced routine as though they didn't have a gobsmacked audience watching.

"Well, it's better than the time I asked for books covering love spells, that was a disaster," Merlin muttered.

"Yes, that was rather humorous," Gaius chuckled, combing through the first book he had grabbed before hurriedly putting it aside.

"Can we help?" Mithian asked, coming beside them and looking down at the dusty texts. Gwen, Arthur and the knights all crowded around the warlock and the physician, offering their assistance as well by taking a book and gingerly opening them.

Merlin said nothing, but continued magically flipping through his book with an anticipatory grin on his face. A second later he was rewarded.

"What language is this? It looks like a bunch of gibberish," Arthur complained.

"So does this one," Gwaine added. The expected chorus of agreement sounded around the table. Merlin looked over at the king's book and winced dramatically.

"Bad luck, Arthur, you've gotten the Goblin text. Nasty one that is, it took me six months to figure out what it said."

"Are you telling me that you can read this?" Arthur asked, looking incredulously between the book and the warlock. Merlin shrugged.

"A bit."

"You needn't concern yourself with that one, Sire," Gaius said as he searched through a book of his own. "If it is in Goblin, it is probably a way to put a curse on healing waters."

"That is true," Merlin nodded, putting his book aside and pulling another one out to flip through with magic. Arthur sighed in exasperation and dropped the book back onto the table before reaching for another.

"What's this one then?" Gwaine asked, holding out his book.

"Ah, that's the old tongue," Merlin answered, looking at the book in the knight's hands and flipping through it with a flare of his eyes. Gwaine nearly dropped it when it began moving on its own, but Merlin set aside his own book and grabbed Gwaine's when he saw a brief mention worth investigating.

"Did you find something?" Arthur asked, noticing Merlin's enthusiasm.

"Gaius? What do you know about the Cauldron of Arianrhod?" Merlin asked.

"The Cauldron! Of course! I've not heard its mention in many years. I had forgotten it existed."

"Care to tell us, then?" Arthur asked. Gaius fixed the king with a look that said, I would, if you would stop interrupting me. Arthur had the grace to look apologetic and gestured wordlessly for Gaius to continue.

"It was said to be the dwelling place of the White Goddess. Supposedly, it is a place of healing. That may be just what we're looking for," Gaius answered, moving beside Merlin and reading over the warlock's shoulder.

"Now we just need to know what exactly needs to be done to break the Teine Diaga," Merlin said. Gaius moved around the worktable and studied the spines of several books on a low shelf before scowling and moving to another.

"I am afraid my copies of any text that would help us were seized many years ago. We should go see Geoffrey," Gaius said, though Merlin groaned.

"What are the chances that even he would still possess a book that could explain how to reverse such a dark magical ritual?"

"I see your point. It is rather unlikely. Perhaps you'd best, ah, talk to a source more knowledgeable?" Gaius said evasively.

"It's alright, Gaius, they know about the dragon."

"What?! I don't know about the dragon!" Gwen protested.

"Ah, yes, that was our other great surprise, Guinevere. Merlin, amazingly enough, is also a dragonlord. He called the beast to heal him after managing to get himself shot by a crossbow bolt," Arthur explained.

"Shot by a crossbow bolt?!" Gaius exclaimed, marching back over to his foster-son. "Where? Show me."

"Gaius, it's nothing, I'm fine, Kilgharrah healed me," Merlin argued, but Mithian stepped aside and pointed to the hole in Merlin's shirt that was still crusted over with dried blood.

"You mean to tell me that isn't Mordred's blood?! Merlin! That is a lot of blood! It's no wonder you're so pale, sit down right this instant, I'm going to get you a restorative draught."

Merlin's face fell at the prospect of one of Gaius' tonics.

"Honestly, Gaius, I'm fine, I don't need anything."

"You will sit down and you will take this or I'll make everyone of the knights in this room hold you down."

"As if they could hold me," Merlin argued. Gaius turned back to his former ward and raised his eyebrow in the way that only Gaius could.

"Fine," Merlin grumbled taking a seat beside Gaius' table and scowling at the snickers and chuckles that the knights and Arthur were rather ineffective at suppressing.

"We need time to rest and prepare to take the journey to wherever this Cauldron is," Arthur said, sobering everyone instantly. "You have two days to figure out how to remove this curse on Mordred."

"We can't keep him asleep for that long," Gaius protested. Arthur frowned in thought.

"I am fairly certain that he can't use his magic. We could keep him confined to his quarters until we know what to do," Merlin suggested.

"Leon, can you arrange that?" Arthur asked, and then looked at the other knights. "Take it in turns among the four of you to guard his door."

Percival moved forward and slung Mordred over his shoulder once more.

"He'll probably wake up on his own in an hour or two," Merlin said, looking ruefully out the window at the rapidly darkening sky.

"And you should go rest," Gaius insisted as he handed Merlin his restorative draught while giving him a stern look. Merlin was tempted to protest, but the expression on Mithian's face silenced him.

"Rest it is, then," the warlock conceded, gulping the foul tasting potion in one go and grimacing at the aftertaste. Though Merlin wanted to object on a matter of principle, he had to admit, a bed sounded pretty good right about then.


Gwen had known for many years that there was more to Merlin than his clumsy nature and sharp retorts let on. She had often seen the wisdom behind the thin man's advice to Arthur and there was no mistaking the shrewd look in Merlin's eyes. Nor the burdened expression the young man wore when he thought no one was looking. But Gwen had been paying attention, or so she had thought.

It was mainly for those reasons that Guinevere had not been surprised by Rodor's offer of Mithian's hand to the then manservant. Since his official appointment as Arthur's first advisor, Merlin had only grown stronger in each of those qualities that recommended him for the position. Gwen had mentioned to Mithian just a week previous that it seemed that Merlin had been born to be at Arthur's right hand. Mithian's knowing smile and wistful agreement certainly made more sense now, what with the evening's revelations.

Magic.

Merlin was a sorcerer.

"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Arthur asked, weaving his fingers through hers as they entered the corridor outside their rooms.

"It is quite shocking, isn't it?" Gwen mused, lowering her voice to the smallest whisper. "Though to be honest, I feel rather foolish for not having realized years ago that Merlin was a sorcerer."

"I thought the same," Arthur admitted softly, guiding Guinevere into their chambers and shutting the door tightly behind them. "Especially when I recalled how he admitted to being the sorcerer who healed your father of the water-plague."

"He did do that, didn't he?" Gwen said, laughing humorlessly. "All the handmaids were in a dither over it for a month; everyone thought that Merlin and I were courting."

"They did?!" Arthur asked in surprise.

"You were the one who told everyone that Merlin was a fool in love with me," Gwen argued. Arthur grimaced.

"I did, didn't I?"

"You did," Gwen agreed, smiling at Arthur demurely.

"Then I'm very glad that Merlin was just a fool, and not a fool in love," Arthur murmured, leaning closer to Guinevere's waiting lips and claiming them with his own.

"Let's not talk about Merlin any more right now," Gwen chuckled, guiding Arthur deeper into their chambers and their waiting bed.

"Who?" Arthur asked playfully. Guinevere smiled, playing along as Arthur leaned in for another kiss.

"I've no idea."


Merlin was grateful that, despite the fact that Gaius insisted the warlock rest, the physician hadn't slipped a sedative into the restorative draught. Mithian walked wordlessly beside him as they made their way to their chambers, both of her hands tucked around his arm as though she was the only thing keeping him from disappearing. Slipping silently into their chambers, Merlin raised an eyebrow when Mithian latched the door shut and immediately turned the key in the lock.

"I'm sure no one is going to disturb us," Merlin chuckled, though his humor faded when he saw the anxiousness on Mithian's face. "Are you alright?" he murmured softly, rubbing the backs of his fingers across the apple of her cheek. Mithian leaned into the touch, then grabbed his hand pressed her lips to his palm.

"I almost lost you," Mithian whispered, looking up into Merlin's eyes as tears welled in her own.

"Hey, hey, hey," Merlin whispered, pulling his wife into his chest as she tried to swallow a sob. "I'm still here, I'm alrig-"

Merlin's words were cut off as Mithian's lips crashed onto his, her anxiousness fueling her desire. Merlin pulled away and looked firmly into Mithian's eyes once more.

"I was caught off guard with the arrow," Merlin said. "I've not been injured nearly as many times as Arthur would have you believe. Not half as many as his royal dollop-head has been."

Mithian laughed, despite the tears that were now spilling down her cheeks.

"Honestly, I'll be fine. You don't need to worry so much about me," Merlin reassured her.

"I will always worry about you, Merlin. That's what women do for the men they love."

"As long as I can worry about you too," Merlin chuckled, and Mithian kissed him again. This time, Merlin did not pull away; instead he pulled her closer.


Early the next morning, Merlin lay beside Mithian on their bed, his mind already whirling with the need to speak with Kilgharrah.

"Take me with you," Mithian said suddenly, startling Merlin from his mental planning.

"What?" he asked.

"When you leave, take me with you."

"How did you know I planned on going out to call for Kilgharrah?"

"I didn't. I mean, that's not what I meant, but I'll gladly go with you to speak with him again."

"What did you mean, then?" Merlin asked, though he was afraid he already knew the answer.

"When you leave to take Mordred to the Cauldron, I'm coming with you," Mithian said, her eyes flashing in determination.

"It's too dangerous," Merlin answered.

"Any more dangerous than being Morgana's captive? Or leading Arthur into a trap?" Mithian asked.

"It is possible," Merlin said. Mithian scoffed, sitting up to lean over Merlin on her elbow.

"We've only been married a week and you've been gone half that time, nearly leaving me a widow! You cannot leave me behind again. When I felt the dread and pain that I did when you were shot, I knew that you were in trouble. I felt so helpless here, safe in our bed, when I knew you were most likely dying."

"Tell me more about this feeling you had," Merlin asked, his curiosity piqued now that they were in the privacy of their chambers.

"It was definitely the night you were shot," Mithian began. "I was here in bed, and I was nearly knocked breathless by the sudden and utter sense of dread that I felt. I was just fine one minute and sobbing the next, and there was such a pain in my chest, it was as though I could feel your pain."

"I'm at a loss as to explain why," Merlin said, reaching up to tuck an errant strand of hair back behind Mithian's ear.

"Perhaps when we speak with Kilgharrah, he'll have an explanation for it."

"Maybe he will. But I can't really call him during the day and… I'm under strict physician's orders to rest," Merlin said with false innocence. Mithian instantly caught on.

"It would be a crime to let you out of this bed," she agreed with mock solemnity.

"I wouldn't want to make a criminal out of you," Merlin replied, his lips fighting the upward turn of a grin.

"Perish the thought! Though I have already committed treason for you," Mithian chuckled. Merlin just laughed delightedly and pulled her to the bed, rolling her beneath him and lowering his lips to hers.


"We're skulking around in the dark again," Mithian whispered conspiratorially as they wound their way through the trees an hour after sunset.

"I'm making a criminal of you after all?"

"I suppose it could be interpreted that way, though I didn't think breaking the law could be so very fun," Mithian replied.

"Can you really say that we are breaking the law, still? Since Arthur knows now?"

"It is still on the law books, is it not?"

"Semantics," Merlin argued.

"Until we can walk out the gates and tell the guard, 'Don't wait up, we're just going to talk to the dragon,' I think it's safe to say that we're breaking the law."

"You are the expert; I will take your word for it," Merlin chuckled. Soon they were emerging from the trees into the clearing where Merlin usually called Kilgharrah. Mithian hung back while Merlin moved into the center of the clearing and called for the dragon with a roar to the heavens.

"That was just as impressive the second time," Mithian said coyly.

"You're going to inflate my head saying that," Merlin chuckled.

"No more than you inflate mine every time you call me beautiful," Mithian replied.

"Ahh, but that is the truth," Merlin argued.

"So is what I said," Mithian said. "Someday soon, you will see yourself clearly. It is now my mission in life."

"Perhaps it is better that I stay humble," Merlin reasoned.

"There's a difference between humble and self-deprecating, Merlin. Guess which one you are?"

"Humble?" Merlin asked facetiously, enjoying the smirk on Mithian's face as she played along.

"You are that, but more often than not, you are very self-deprecating."

"Sorry. I don't mean to be. I suppose it comes with believing yourself to be a monster for the better part of your life."

"You were never a monster, Merlin."

"Do you two ever stop talking?" Kilgharrah rumbled as he landed heavily in the clearing, interrupting their discussion.

"Kilgharrah!" Merlin exclaimed, his cheeks reddening even as Mithian giggled.

"What is it you need this time, young warlock?"

"I need to know how to reverse the Teine Diaga," Merlin answered, immediately sobering. Kilgharrah's eyes narrowed.

"You hope to cleanse the druid boy?" Kilgharrah asked.

"That is Arthur's wish," Merlin replied.

"Why did you heal the boy? Yet again you've foolishly let another opportunity to rid Camelot of a dangerous threat pass by."

"How is mercy and kindness foolish?" Mithian interjected, displeased with the apathy Kilgharrah showed for a human's life.

"Mordred has had his destiny foretold for just as long as Merlin and Arthur's has been. Allowing him to live only threatens the future of Albion."

"So by that logic, killing Mordred will change his prophesied destiny, for he cannot be dead and destined to kill Arthur. How then is it not possible to change his future through kindness and mercy? Is it not possible that repeatedly trying to kill him or showing no value for his life is what turns Mordred against Arthur in the first place?" Mithian argued heatedly, causing Kilgharrah to blink in befuddlement and Merlin to look at her in surprise and pleasure.

"You did it. You managed to silence Kilgharrah. I knew there was a good reason to marry you," Merlin chuckled. Mithian smiled at her husband.

"You mean other than my criminal inclinations?"

"Your argument has merit, Princess Mithian," Kilgharrah allowed begrudgingly, interrupting the warlock and his wife before they could flirt any further. "Indeed I believe it was a good thing that Merlin has taken you as his mate."

"Kilgharrah! That sounds so..." Merlin trailed off.

"Instinctual? Natural?" the dragon ventured.

"I was thinking crude. Though heartless would work as well."

"Yet again I must caution you not to ascribe human emotions to me."

"So long as you don't ascribe dragon emotions to me," Merlin answered.

"Very well. I will endeavor to remember that you are not a dragon."

"You're just mocking me now."

"The Teine Diaga," Kilgharrah replied, ignoring Merlin's protest.

"We've found that we'll need to take Mordred to the Cauldron of Arianrhod. But beyond that we aren't sure what must be done."

"This is a particularly difficult enchantment to break," Kilgharrah began. "The use of multiple mandrake roots causes the mind to break down, allowing for another, stronger will to take control. The mind of the person under the Teine Diaga is buried, deep within, unless it was shattered completely before the ritual was completed.

"In order to cleanse Mordred, you must take him to the Cauldron and he must enter the waters. However, he must do so of his own free will, otherwise the binding will not be broken. You must call upon the White Goddess, young warlock, and request her healing upon the boy. Only then will the Teine Diaga be broken."

"Thank you," Merlin said, thinking over what the dragon had told them.

"Be cautious, Merlin," Kilgharrah warned, surprising the warlock at the use of his given name. "Morgana will not allow Mordred to be cleansed without a fight. She is now a powerful seer, no doubt she will know of any action you intend to take.

"We'll be ready for her," Merlin promised.

"I hope that is true, young warlock," Kilgharrah rumbled, then opened his wings as though to take flight.

"Wait!" Merlin called, causing Kilgharrah to settle back down.

"What is it now, young warlock?" the dragon said irritatedly. Merlin looked to Mithian for a moment, and then turned back to Kilgharrah.

"Mithian felt it when I was injured the other night," Merlin began.

"How so?" Kilgharrah asked, looking to Mithian once again and narrowing his eyes.

"I felt an overwhelming sense of dread and pain. I knew instinctively that Merlin was in danger, just as I knew that he was alright when morning came."

Kilgharrah's eyes widened in a way that Merlin had never seen before.

"This is truly unusual," the dragon answered, studying Mithian. Kilgharrah narrowed his eyes and bent his head lower, as though to smell the human pair more closely. His eyes widened again a moment later, and Kilgharrah pulled back, eyeing Merlin speculatively.

"You've given her magic?" the dragon asked incredulously.

"What?" Merlin asked, utterly confused.

"Have you at any time granted her a gift of power?"

"I wouldn't say power, but I have given her a burst of energy, before. Similar to how I helped the dryad heal, but different."

"How so?" the dragon asked.

"With the dryad, I just sort of gave her a burst of magic. I did something similar to Mithian just before we were betrothed, but it did feel a bit different. I felt much more connected to Mithian afterwards."

"A large part of learning magic lies in learning how to bend the power to one's will, Merlin. In the average sorcerer, the power is not inherent to them. They are pulling the magic from the world around them. For a sorcerer to completely subvert such power to their will is impossible. You, however, young warlock, do not have magic as you humans say. You are a creature of magic; in essence, you are magic, just as I am. Magic follows your will gladly. As such, I believe that you unintentionally gifted your mate with some of your magic."

"I have his magic?" Mithian asked in surprise. "Could I use it?"

"No, Princess Mithian. The power granted to you is not great; merely a raindrop compared to the sea. But it has left you tied together in such a way that I believe will have long-reaching effects that neither of you will be able to fathom any time soon," Kilgharrah said mysteriously and then took off before Merlin could stop him.

"What does that mean?" Mithian asked, looking at her husband with wide-eyed confusion.

"I have no idea, though I suppose we'll know in time," Merlin said. "But we do know what we need to do for Mordred. Let's get back to the citadel."


A/N: Hee hee! Writing Merlin telling off a stuffy noble was very satisfying, but letting Mithian tell off Kilgharrah? Priceless! ;)