In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young girl. Her name: Merlyn.
Due to construction in the lower part of the palace, I'm stuck sleeping in the servant's quarters adjacent to Arthur's chambers. I had gone to bed in my favorite white nightgown, which has a semi-low cut neckline that Morgana gave me, as soon as my head hit the pillow after a long day of chores.
"Merlyn. Merlyn!" I hear Arthur yelling for me and I sigh as I quickly get out of bed and grab a blue shawl, which I put on my shoulders, and my tan boots before hurrying into Arthur's chambers to see what he's yelling about, and I'm greeted to Arthur out of bed, shirtless. I blush as he catches me looking at him and I notice that he also has a blush on his cheeks and I see my shawl had fallen, revealing my nightgown, more specifically the low-cut neckline.
"Yes, Arthur?" I answer as I push my side fringe out of my face while wrapping the shawl in place around my shoulders.
"Are you deaf?" He questions, stretching his arm above his head and scratching the back of his neck, and I roll my eyes at his question.
"I wish." I mutter, looking down before rubbing my eyes tiredly and Arthur lowers his arm.
"I want you to go down there and tell them to stop." He instructs me and I gape at him, not wanting to go down in my nightgown to order them to stop.
"But they're working under the King's orders." I argue, not wanting to defy the king's orders.
"Yeah. And you're working under mine." He reminds me, as he climbs back into bed and I sigh as I tightly wrap the shawl around my shoulders and head down to where the workers are completing the renovations. I walk into the cavern and grab a torch from the wall, with one hand as I clutch my shawl to my chest with the other, in time to see all the workers run out of the tomb screaming. I make my way into the tomb they just exited and walk inside, where I immediately notice a coffin with a blue stone in a setting on the coffin lid. I see a man kneeling in front of the coffin, not moving from his spot, or saying anything.
"Hello?" I greet, as I touch his shoulder, causing the man to fall on his back, revealing a corpse with gray skin, dark gray veins in his face and blood red eyes, and I gasp as I jump back in surprise before I rush off to tell Arthur of the dead man in the tomb and he sends Gaius and I to examine the body.
"How do you think he died? Gaius?" I question as I kneel on the floor, having changed into a violet dress instead of a nightgown, and I look up to Gaius.
"Hmm?" He mumbles, not paying me attention as he stares at the blue crystal heart on the coffin lid.
"Do you know whose tomb it is?" I inquire, surmising that he has an idea based on his reaction, as I stand up and take a glance around the room.
"Not sure." He informs me, sounding as if he knows more than he's telling me but I decide to let him tell me when he's ready.
"Do you think it might be cursed?" I question, and Gaius turns to me before walking to examine the coffin, but he steps on a pressurized stone and it triggers an arrow to shoot out of the stone raven's mouth, straight at Gaius. I use my magic to bring a silver platter in front of his face right before the arrow would have impacted, causing it to hit the platter instead.
"You just saved my life. Thank you." Gaius tells me gratefully and I smile shyly at his thanks.
"...guarded at all times." I hear Uther giving orders and I can't help but fumble the platter, causing it to roll right in front of his feet and I wince before going to retrieve it. "Idiot." He comments and I wordlessly pick up the platter as he moves to the side and Arthur walks in.
"Were you born clumsy or do you work at it?" He whispers, reprimanding me for dropping the platter and I smirk at him.
"It's just one of my many gifts." I simply reply shrugging and he rolls his eyes, with a small smile on his face, before walking behind his father.
"Well this is quite a find. You see, Gaius, I was right. There is treasure to be found under Camelot. Which of my predecessors do I have to thank for all this? Gaius?" Uther asks, wondering whose tomb the workers stumbled across, walking over to the coffin and glancing at the blue crystal heart before looking up to Gaius.
"Uh, I'd have to look into it, Sire." Gaius informs him as he examines a small wooden chest.
"How did he die?" He questions, looking at the dead worker that I found when I came to tell the men to stop their construction, and Gaius looks down as well..
"He seems to have unwittingly triggered a trap here." Gaius answers him, and I wring my hands as I remember the arrow that almost killed Gaius.
"To deter grave robbers." Arthur adds.
"Well there's plenty in here people would want to steal. Have them secure the tomb. Guarding it is your responsibility, Arthur." Uther instructs, and I wring my hands, knowing that this is going to increase my amount of daily chores from now on.
"Yes, Father." Arthur answers obdiently as Uther leaves. The next day, Arthur has arranged a hunt so I dress in a white fitted tunic, dark brown trousers, tan jacket and tan boots with my hair in a loose braid. Arthur is standing by his horse as I'm carrying the supplies for the hunting trip down the palace stairs.
"Hurry up, Merlyn." He tells me impatiently and I sigh as I try to be quicker in my task.
"Sorry." I reply, biting my lip to deter me from saying anything that could get me thrown into the stocks. Again. He gets on the horse and immediately slides off, onto the ground, and his horse runs off.
"Merlyn!" He exclaims, irritated that he fell off the saddle and that his horse ran away and I wring my hands in confusion.
"I don't understand." I mumble, trying to figure out what happened to cause Arthur to fall off the saddle.
"Well, there's a surprise." He retorts and I roll my eyes at the remark and I turn to look at him.
"I did that girth up myself." I inform him, trying to explain that I was the only one that touched it, but I've been riding horses for years and I know how to properly saddle one.
"Well, I think that might have been the problem!" He bites out at me and I knit my brows at his sharp tone, since Arthur hasn't used that tone since the night I killed the snake from Valiant's shield.
"It wasn't my fault." I defend myself, careful to keep my voice cold and respectful, as I stare up at him and Arthur stares back, neither of us letting the other see us give in.
"Would you like me to fit the girth properly for you, Sire?" A man inquires as he brings back Arthur's horse and disrupts our staredown, causing us both to look at him.
"Thank you." Arthur replies, allowing the man to saddle the horse and the man finishes the task, which I notice is exactly the way I did moments before, and Arthur adjusts his jacket.
"It's an honor to be of service to the Prince." The man replies and I bite my lip as I instantly decide that I don't like him.
"An honor. Do you hear that Merlyn?" Arthur asks me, and I scoff quietly as I turn my head to look away from Arthur and back to the man.
"Allow me the honor of brushing your clothes down." The man offers, removing all dirt from Arthur jacket and I supress the urge to roll my eyes at his obvious attempts to impress Arthur.
"The honor." Arthur whispers, clearly trying to get a message across to me that I don't appreciate the honor of serving the Prince of Camelot.
"Anything else I can do for you, sir?" The bootkissing man asks Arthur and they both turn to look at me.
"Well, you can give Merlyn here a lesson on how to properly complete her tasks." Arthur chimes in and I turn to gape at him, annoyed that he is actually basking in the man's attempts to win him over, and the man chuckles as he looks me over in a suggestive way, which goes unnoticed by Arthur.
"I wouldn't wish to deprive you of the pleasure, sir." He retorts and to my irritation, and surprise, Arthur chuckles.
"Ha! What's your name?" He asks the man, and I turn to look at him as well.
"Cedric. I've come to Camelot in search of work." Cedric answers him and I raise an eyebrow at that comment, not believing anything he's said.
"Good. You can be a beater on the hunt. We're short of a man or two." Arthur suggests before walking away and I bite my lip as I realize that I'll have to keep an eye on Cedric while Arthur is, at least for now, impressed with him.
"You're too kind, Sire." Cedric calls after him before winking at me and I feel my eye twitch as I take a breath before I bend down and grab a beater before turning back to Cedric, who had his eyes on me, and I swallow back my disgust at being leered at by this stranger.
"Here. You'll need a beater." I explain before slamming the beater into his stomach, causing him to double over and groan. I put on an innocent smile as he looks up at me. "Oh, sorry." I respond in a voice lighter than mine before walking away to stand with the rest of the hunting party. As we walk through the forest, me carrying all of Arthur's supplies and having to dodge tree branches that Cedric pushes my way. Arthur suddenly stops the group as he hears a boar grunting further ahead, and signals for us to get into positions, which means for me to stand off to the side behind a few knights. After the Questing beast, I was to 'get out of his way' and not 'muck up the whole hunt' but I like to think he worries and wants me out of danger. Arthur throws his spear but it bounces off of the boar, which doesn't deter it as it charges forward, straight towards Arthur and my eyes widen as I notice Cedric standing beside Arthur shaking in fear. He drops his spear and falls over, causing me to roll my eyes before seeing a discarded spear.
"Flíe 'fǽgð." I chant quietly and the spear flies towards the boar, impaling itself in the animal's side, effectively saving Arthur's life again and I quietly sigh in relief that the prat is completely unharmed.
"Who threw that?" He demands and I wring my hands as I try to fumble with some excuse for how the boar was killed when I hear someone clear their throat and turn to see Cedric and I gape at him. "Was it you? You just saved my life." Arthur informs him and I frown at the uneasy feeling in my chest, along with the growing weariness of Cedric, considering he just took credit for killing the boar, and Arthur's reaction to it.
"Honestly, Sire, it was nothing." Cedric tries to downplay 'his' good deed and I angrily roll my eyes at the fact that he wormed his way into the hunt in the first place, and I'm now convinced he tampered with the saddle, and now he's taking credit for saving Arthur when he was close to feinting due to fear.
"I shall be forever indebted to you. You must be rewarded." Arthur continues, walking towards Cedric and I cross my arms as I watch the conversation, warily keeping an eye on Cedric, deciding he was up to something.
"No, I couldn't possibly.." Cedric argues, trying to appear modest in his act of saving the Crown Prince of Camelot.
"Come on. What do you wish for?" Arthur inquires, grasping onto Cedric's arm, and I wring my hands as I fight the urge to comment on my view of this matter.
"I desire only one thing, Sire." He explains, glancing quickly in my direction, no doubt feeling the glare I'm currently giving to the back of his head, and back to Arthur again, slightly nervous.
"Anything." Arthur promises, shaking his head as if to say no reward is to grand for him to grant.
"A position in the royal household." Cedric instantly replies, and if I wasn't suspicious, I would be now, because nobody would chose to be Arthur's servant, and I would know, having been 'rewarded' that position myself.
"Good. Consider it done. Ha-ha!" Arthur agrees, placing a hand on Cedric's shoulder before walking away, leaving me gaping and confused as to how that weasel managed to convince Arthur to give him a position.
"You can have that back." He remarks, whacking me on the backside with the beater as he follows Arthur.
"Oof!" I exclaim before glaring at him, and he gives me an innocent look.
"Oh, sorry." He calls back innocently and I bite my lip to supress the improper language that is on the tip of my tongue in regards to Cedric and his new position being won from my effort. Later I water back into Gaius's chambers, feeling underappreciated and with a troublesome feeling about Cedric.
"What's wrong?" Gaius asks me, setting the book he was reading down on his work table and turning to look at me.
"I saved Arthur's life, someone else got the credit. Just the usual." I inform him as I set my hunting bag on the table closest to the door. I walk over to where he is sitting and set my tan knapsack by the ladder. "What are you doing?" I inquire as I look at what he was reading before I came in.
"I found this inscription on the sceptre." He explains, and I lean over his shoulder, trying to read the inscription but it appears to be in a different language.
"What language is that?" I question, not recognizing it from anything I've read before, spells or otherwise.
"I don't know. Sigan would have known many languages." Gaius informs me as he examines the text and I knit my brows at the mention of this 'Sigan' person.
"Sigan?" I question, leaning back and looking at Gaius questioningly as he glances up from the parchment.
"It's his tomb." Gaius surmises and I look around before seeing a chair and I pull it over, sitting down next to Gaius.
"Who's he?" I inquire, and Gaius turns to look at me, looking surprised I don't know who 'Sigan' was.
"Merlyn, he was the most powerful sorcerer to have lived." Gaius explains and I raise a brow at that notion.
"Really?" I wonder, leaning forward to rest my arms on the table, thinking about how much power Sigan had to have in order to earn that moniker and what he must've been like with that kind of power.
"You didn't grow up in Camelot, but for those of us that did, Cornelius Sigan was a figure of nightmare." Gaius informs me and I nervously wring my hands as he talks.
"Why?" I question, fearing his response about the reason that Sigan was so feared by the people of Camelot.
"Sigan's powers. He could change day into night, turn the tides, and legend has it, his spells helped build Camelot itself." Gaius explains and I raise my brows at the things Sigan's magic allowed him to accomplish.
"What happened?" I ask him, wanting to know what happened to him if Gaius is fearful that the tomb might be his.
"In the end he grew to powerful and the king at that time ordered his execution." Gaius tells me and I look down, that being a strong fear of my own, before looking to Gaius again.
"If he's dead, why are you so worried?" I ask, knowing that Gaius's nervousness was because of Sigan.
"Sigan couldn't bear the thought that his wealth and power would die with him, so he became obsessed with finding a way to defeat death itself." He responds and I raise my brows at that and I realize something.
"You think he might have succeeded?" I wonder, a slight nervous tone in my voice after hearing about Sigan.
"Let's hope not, for all our sakes." Gaius replies cryptically and I frown, wringing my hands as I try not to picture what could happen to Camelot, and Arthur, if Sigan were to come back and if I could stop him. The next day, I dress in a pale blue dress, the color reminds me of Arthur's eyes, and my tan boots with a simple braided updo, and I head to the kitchens before hurrying to Arthur's chambers, letting myself in.
"Is that lunch?" He inquires and I raise my eyebrows questioningly as I step further into the room.
"No, it's breakfas…" I begin to explain, but trail off as I notice Arthur's already gotten breakfast.
"This is lovely, Cedric." Arthur compliments and I frown, and I catch Cedric wink at me as I set the platter on the far end of the table and I bite my lip.
"Is there anything else that you need doing, Sire?" I question, wanting to do something to one up Cedric and get him far away from Arthur because I have a lurking suspicion about him and Arthur gives me a confused look before shaking his head.
"No, I think Cedric's got it all covered." Arthur assures me and I look over at Cedric, narrowing my eyes at him and he turns to Arthur acting as if he just remembered something.
"Oh, I regret, Sire, there is one thing I failed to do. Uh, muck out your horses." Cedric explians and I feel my eye twitch as I level a glare at Cedric as he smirks, confident that he's taken my place as Arthur's servant.
"Off you go." Arthur instructs and I frown in disappointment as I realized that Arthur is too preoccupied in being spoiled to notice that Cedric is slowly taking my place.
"I'll get the door for you." Cedric offers with an arrogant smile as I turn to the door, before pausing in the doorway, casting one last look at Arthur before going to muck out the horses. As I'm working in the stables, I hear the door creak open and I just assume it's one of the stable hands, but I hear someone right behind me just before I feel something hit the back of my head and everything is blurry before I stumble and fall, everything going black. I come to, only to see Arthur standing above me and I quickly sit up, only to wince and touch my head, seeing blood on my fingers.
"What are you doing?" Arthur asks me, as he prepares to help me sit up and I wring my hands nervously.
"Nothing. I'm fine, honestly. I don't need your help." I argue, trying to push his hands away and sit up, but I get dizzy and fall back into his arms.
"I can see that." He replies sarcastically as he helps me sit on the bench a few feet from where I'd fallen.
"I wasn't sleeping. I was, I was just working and then something hit me in the back of my head and the next thing I knew, you were standing there..." I explain and he nods, glancing around the stables.
"Looking for something." He informs me and I give him a confused look before looking around the stables and I realize it immediately.
"The hor-ses. Oh!" I exclaim as I rush to sit up only to stumble into Arthur's arms after standing too quickly, and he helps me stand steadily, as I blush at my clumsiness.
"One mistake I can understand. Everyone has a bad day now and then, but this is one thing after another. Is everything alright, Merlyn?" He questions, a concerned look on his face and I feel reassured that he still seems to care about my well-being, even while he's been impressed with Cedric.
"I–I don't know what happened! The last thing I remember, the horses were tied up and the doors were latched shut. I-I don't..." I ramble, not understaning how the horses escaped and I was knocked unconcsious.
"Sire. Please, Sire, don't be too hard on her. She's a good servant, she just…she's tired." Cedric begs Arthur and I scoff, at the fact that he's trying to convince Arthur I feel asleep.
"I am not. Someone hit me. My head is bleeding, I was obviously attacked." I correct, showing them both the blood on my fingers from my head.
"Maybe…maybe if she had the evening off…" Cedric suggests and I look over at him with wide eyes before turning to Arthur.
"I don't want the evening off. I want to get back to my chores." I inform him, pleading him to listen to me and not Cedric.
"A good night's rest… time to rest her injury..." Cedric continues, and I can see that Arthur is listening, as he watches me with a careful gaze, as if to make sure I was alright, and I sigh.
"I did not fall asleep! I was knocked unconscious, and I'm fine. My head is completely fine." I insist, before feeling dizzy and stumble a bit before righting myself by placing my hand on the wall.
"I'm more than willing to take over her duties tonight." Cedric offers and I gape at him before looking over to Arthur, forcing him to look at me, and I silently beg him not to listen to Cedric.
"Perhaps you're right." Arthur states after a moment and I sigh as I surmise that he's too busy thinking about my well-being instead of how unusual it is for someone to try so hard to be a servant.
"No." I object, not wanting the night off because I don't want to leave Cedric alone with Arthur.
"Merlyn.." Arthur warns, telling me not to continue talking and I shake my head, not caring about the pain as I stand and walk over to him.
"Can't you see what he's trying to do? He's trying to get rid of me, and if you weren't too busy worrying about me, you'd see that!" I exclaim, not wanting him to force me away when I know Cedric is up to something suspicious.
"What? Merlyn.." Arthur starts, confused on my reaction to receiving a night off.
"I'm concerned she may have hit her head harder than she thinks. I was only suggesting taking the night off and seeing the physician for treatment, Sire." Cedric informs us and I glare at him.
"Cedric's right. He can look after me tonight. You can go home and have Gaius take a look at your injury, make sure it isn't severe. I'll check with him on if you can come back to work tomorrow." Arthur explains and I frown, not sure what else I can say when he becomes this protective of me, and not sure why he does, but also uneasy that Cedric picked up on it so quickly.
"But…" I begin to argue but Arthur gives me a look that leaves no room for arguing about treating my injury.
"Go." He instructs and I sigh before slowly making my way back to Gaius's chambers. I walk into Gaius's and close the door with a huff.
"What's that on your face?" He questions, and I know he's referring to the blood on my forehead.
"Nothing." I reply as I walk further into the room, heading towards the stairs.
"What's wrong?" Gaius asks, concerned and I sigh as I walk past him.
"Nothing." I mumble again as I hurry up to my chambers. Gaius comes up a short time later with a towel and some supplies to treat my wound.
"Here." He offers as he begins to wipe the blood off my face and checking my injury.
"I'm not an idiot." I inform him and he raises a brow at my defeated tone.
"What happened?" He inquires and I wring my hands, not sure how to explain the situation to him.
"I just want Arthur to trust me. And to see me for who I really am." I admit softly, wishing that my 'destiny' would hurry up and happen already instead of forcing me to wait.
"One day he will." Gaius reassures me and I sigh.
"When? Everything I do is for him and he just thinks I'm a damsel in distress, that needs protecting. He thinks I'm weak, Gaius." I inform him and he walks over, sitting on the bed next to me and taking my hands.
"Arthur doesn't think you're weak. Now is not the time to be questioning these things, Merlyn. I believe that you and Arthur are destined for greatness, and that your calling is to love and protect him." He informs me and I smile slightly.
"It's hard." I whisper, a tear slipping down my cheek.
"I know it's hard. But Camelot is in grave peril. I've translated the inscription. 'He who breaks my heart completes my work.'" Gaius explains and I knit my eyebrows in confusion.
"What does it mean?" I ask him, curious as to what the inscription actually means.
"Do you remember the stone in the tomb, how it glowed?" He questions and I remember the crystal blue heart and how it shined, the color similar to Arthur's eyes.
"Yeah. I've never seen a jewel like it." I admit, not understanding how the stone was involved.
"That's because it's not a jewel, it's the soul of Cornelius Sigan." Gaius reveals and I gape at him.
"You think he's alive?" I repeat, not believing that this Sigan managed to come back to life.
"His soul is. But in order to truly live, a soul needs a body." Gaius explains to me and I nod, realizing the extent of the danger we could possibly face.
"So, if the stone is removed from its setting, then the heart is broken and the soul released?" I surmise, wondering if that's what is going to happen.
"That's what I fear." Gaius agrees and we share a grave look. Sometime after I'd gone to bed, I'm startled awake by a raven cawing loudly and I feel a strong magical next morning, I quickly dress in a plum dress and tan boots with my bangs braided back and my curls loose, and we head down to Sigan's tomb because someone snuck into the tomb in the middle of the night. I look over at Arthur, who's wearing a red tunic and his red leather jacket, and he glances at me at the same moment and our eyes catch before I look away, my face heating under his gaze and I try to think of what to say to him after yesterday, feeling like a fool for once again needing Arthur to help me after being injured.
"Sound the warning bell." He instructs the guards before walking out of the tomb, before I could get out a word.
"Merlyn. Whoever did this got more than they bargained for." Gaius explains, trying to distract me from Arthur's avoidance of me, and I walk over to where he is standing, holding the blue crystal heart from before, now completely clear.
"I don't understand how they got in. The gate's not even damaged." I comment, trying to figure out how the robbers managed to break into the tomb.
"They must've used a key." Gaius infers and I shake my head at that suggestion.
"Arthur's got the only key." I argue, wringing my hands as a sinking feeling settles in my stomach.
"Where does he keep it?" Gaius questions and I continue to wring my hands anxiously.
"On his belt with the others." I reply, knowing that he keeps all of his keys on his belt.
"Does he ever take it off?" Gaius asks me and I nod.
"Only when he's asleep. He keeps it next to his bed." I inform him, since Arthur has a set nightly routine.
"Who had access to his chambers last night?" Gaius inquires finally and I let go of my hands once I realize the answer.
"Just me. And…Cedric." I tell him, both of us realizing the severity of what Cedric did. I walk into Arthur's chambers to see him sitting at his desk wearing a brown tunic and his brown leather jacket.
"Cedric is possessed by an evil spirit." I blurt out, not knowing how else to explain what's happening with Sigan and Arthur looks unconvinced.
"What?" He asks, confused and slightly amused, which causes me to sigh before continuing.
"He tried to steal the jewel, but it wasn't a jewel, it was a soul of an ancient sorcerer, Sigan." I explain and he raises a brow as his facial expression shifts from amusement to concern.
"Merlyn, is that head injury more severe than you told me?" He inquires, thinking I'm concussed and not thinking clearly and I wring my hands and I try to find the words to explain to him.
"Please, listen to me. Camelot is in mortal danger. Sigan is using Cedric's body to take his revenge." I repeat, trying to get Arthur to see reason and believe what I'm trying to tell him.
"This nonsense isn't helping you convince me that you're not unwell." He replies, now very concerned with my health as he stands and walks over to me.
"I'm perfectly fine, Arthur. You are not listening to me! He's going to destory Camelot!" I exclaim and Arthur sends me a disbelieving look, causing me to frown, knowing he won't just take my word for it without proof
"Cedric! Will you escort Merlyn to the physician's chamber so that she can rest her injury?" Arthur instructs him and 'Cedric' steps forward, grasping my arm and I jerk my arm out of his hand.
"Fine. I'm leaving. I won't take up any more of your time, Sire." I mutter, giving him a disappointed look before striding over to the door.
"Merlyn." Arthur calls after me and I turn to see him looking conflicted, and possibly apologetic and I shake my head.
"Sometimes, I just wish you'd trust me." I comment, flashing a sad smile before exiting and walking to Gaius's chambers and straight up to mine. Sigan releases magical creatures on Camelot and I decide to help treat the wounded along with Gwen and Morgana.
"We need more bandages, Merlyn." Gaius instructs me before turning to Morgana and pulling her slightly aside. I walk through the square, in search of clean bandages, when I notice Arthur and some other knights fighting a creature. I see Arthur be struck down by the creature and I flash back to the Questing Beast, causing me to hurry over to drag him out of the path of another creature.
"Merlyn?" Arthur questions, as he flips onto his stomach to stand up.
"Sire." I greet, and I notice him wince at the formal greeting I only use when I'm upset with him.
"That thing could've killed you." He reprimands as he stands up, but I notice the creature circling back.
"And it still might!" I excaim as I knock him to the ground, out of the creature's reach, and I accidentally land directly on top of him. "Sorry, Arthur." I mumble sofly, blushing heatedly at our position.
"No. My pleasure." He comments, a slight pink on his cheeks, which makes me blush all the more before I quickly stand and help him up as well. I lead him to the ward where we've been taking the wounded and I have him sit on a table, placing my hand on his chest for balance as I lightly examine his wound.
"I'll get you something to stop the bleeding." I inform him before stepping away to find some bandages.
"Merlyn. I wanted to say…just, uh…you always surprise me." He remarks and I smile shyly as I find myself glad that I can surprise him.
"Is that it, Arthur?" I question, wondering if he was going to say anything else.
"That's it. Oh, and uh…thank you." He comments with an apologetic smile and I nod, smiling at his unspoken apology for not trusting me, before I go fetch clean bandages to wrap his injury. After I finished treating Arthur, he hurries to find his father and I try to slip away to find Sigan, but I run into my mentor, who looks displeased at my attempts to leave.
"Gaius." I greet, knowing he knows what I am planning to do.
"Where are you going?" He questions and I sigh, wringing my hands.
"I have to help Arthur." I reply, confidence fused in my voice, showing I won't be talked out of my plans.
"Merlyn, Sigan's power is far beyond yours." Gaius argues and I let go of my hands with a sigh.
"I don't have a choice." I inform him, not knowing what else to do to stop him.
"But Sigan is immortal and you are not. If you face him, he will destroy you." Gaius reminds me and I frown.
"But there must be a way." I comment, not wanting to give up when Arthur, along with the whole of Camelot, are in danger.
"There is only one alive who is old enough to give us the answers we need." Gaius informs me cryptically and I knit my brows in confusion.
"What do you mean?" I question, not understanding why he's being so cryptic.
"The Great Dragon." He answers and I gape as I realize that Gaius knows about the Dragon.
"You knew that…that I used to visit him." I infer and Gaius nods, proving that my theory was right.
"Yes, Merlyn, of course I knew. You're a creature of magic, just as he is. I hoped that he could help you." Gauis explains and I scoff bitterly, having not forgiven the dragon for tricking me into almost murdering my mother.
"He helps no one but himself." I bite out, angry that he may be the only one that can help save Camelot.
"For Arthur's sake you must go to him now." Gaius reminds me, and I sigh, not believing that the dragon would help me after what I said when I last saw him.
"I can't." I reply quietly, although I know that if I have to talk to the dragon again in order to save Arthur I will without a second thought.
"We have no choice." Gaius explains and I sigh before quickly making my way to the dragon's cave, careful to have not been seen.
"Hello?! Hello?! Please, I need your help!" I call out desperately, hoping he would come despite our last encounter.
'You told me I would not see you again.'
"I'm not here for myself, I'm here for Arthur." I explain, hoping that might persuade him to help me stop Sigan.
'Arthur's path lies with yours. You have made it clear that you do not walk in step with me.'
"You cannot want Cornelius Sigan to win. You're not evil." I argue, trying to appeal to him to help me for the sake of stoping Sigan.
'At least Sigan knows where his loyalties lie. You have shown that you do not.'
"So you will let Camelot fall?" I ask him, fearing that I might not be able to save Arthur and fufill my important destiny.
'I did not say that.'
"Then you will help me?" I inquire, hoping I'm not too late to stop Sigan and undo the destruction he's causing.
'To defeat Sigan, you will need a spell more powerful than anything you know.'
"Please, I have to try." I beg, needing to save Camelot, and Arthur, before Sigan gets to him.
'Very well. But you must give me something in return.'
"What?" I inquire, weary of what the dragon might want in exchange for a favor this big.
'A promise.'
"A promise?" I repeat, not sure I heard him correctly.
'That one day you will free me.'
"If I release you, what will you do?" I question cautiously, not wanting to release him if his intentions are damaging.
'That is not your concern.'
"I don't trust you!" I exclaim, not wanting to set forth future destruction by releasing him.
'Nevertheless, you must promise, or Camelot will fall. Arthur will fall.'
"I promise. Now, please, give me the spell." I agree, hoping I haven't just made a selfish mistake by promising to set him free.
'Close your eyes and open your mind. Few have ever been gifted such knowledge. Use it wisely.'
"I will." I vow, before preparing to face Sigan and either defeat him or die trying.
'You made a promise, young witch, and one day I shall keep you to it.'
After getting the spell from the dragon, I make my way to the main square, seeing Arthur laying on the ground, unconscious and a creature flying directly towards him.
"Astrice!" I chant, my hand outstretched towards it and it explodes in a shower of stone before I run to Arthur, dropping to my knees as I check him over. He groans and I sigh quietly in relief that he's alive.
"Who would've believed it? You, a sorcereress, and a powerful one." Sigan remarks, as he walks out of the fog and I turn to face him, a determined look set on my face.
"I won't let you hurt him." I vow, my voice strong and cold, holding no sign of fear.
"And you're going to stop me?" He asks, unconvinced and I stand, walking to Arthur's left as I keep my gaze leveled on Sigan.
"I'll stop you." I agree, a confident smirk appearing on my face.
"He does not deserve your loyalty. Or you affections. He treats you like a slave." He comments and I shake my head, not agreeing with anything he's said.
"That's not true." I retort, glancing over at Arthur quickly before back at Sigan.
"He cast your warnings aside without a moment's thought." He continues and I shrug, trying to appear to not be affected by Arthur's disbelief of my warning.
"That doesn't matter." I reply, my voice sounding more confident than I truly felt.
"But it must hurt so much to be so put upon, so overlooked, when all the while you have such power." He infers, trying to seem like he understands me and I wring my hands.
"That's the way it has to be." I inform him, knowing that I have to pretend that I'm just a normal servant.
"Does it? You're young, Merlyn. Look inside yourself. You have yet to discover your true power. I can help you. Think, Merlyn. To have the world appreciate your greatness. To have Arthur know you for what you are." He explains and I shake my head at the impossible notions he's referring to.
"That can never be." I disagree softly, sadness creeping into my voice as I realize Arthur may never know me for all that I am.
"It can, if you join me. Together we can rule over this land. Arthur will tremble at your voice, he will kneel at your feet as you become Queen." He offers and I frown as I picture Arthur being truly scared of me and I shiver subconsciously.
"I don't want that. I never want him to fear me." I argue, rejecting his offer of joining him.
"You'd rather be a servant? Than a Queen?" He asks, soudning incredulous and I smirk.
"Better to serve a good man and love him from afar than to rule with an evil one. I'll be Arthur's queen, but only if he wishes for me to be." I assure him, preparing myself for a fight.
"So be it. If you will not join me, I will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will." He threatens before his soul leaves Cedric's body and I recall the spell that the dragon taught me.
"Ic þín sáwol hér beléac, abide þæt ic þé álíese!" I chant just as Sigan's soul reaches my nose and I collapse to the ground.
"Merlyn? Well done, my girl." Gaius exclaims as he walks into the square and I hold up the heart with Sigan's soul safely trapped in there once again and he hugs me before we head back to his chambers. Arthur comes to visit the next day while I'm wearing a dark red dress that's contrasted by my pale complexion and my tan boots with my hair in a simple updo while I'm sitting at the table during dinner. I stand and walk into the hallway with him as he stands there for a moment before clearing his throat.
"You were somewhat correct about Cedric." He comments and I chuckle slighty.
"Yes, well. You'll notice that I tend to be 'somewhat correct' about a lot of things. Maybe you should start trusting me." I reply and he chuckles before he sobers slightly.
"I want to thank you again for saving my life. I meant what I said, you always surprise me, Merlyn." He remarks and I blush before smiling softly.
"Then I'll just have to keep finding ways to surprise you, Arthur." I lightly joke and he smiles before heading off to train with the knights and once I shut the door I lean against it and think of the one secret I know will surely surprise him, and the one that could get me executed if his father finds out.
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