AN:

I don't even have an excuse for not updating. I'm just a bad person.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin in any way, shape, or form! I do own Elizabeth Malinor and any other characters I make up!

Enjoy!

"You're an idiot."

"I know."

"No, I mean, you're really stupid."

"I know."

"I mean, you've messed up a bunch of times, but I haven't seen you mess up so bad."

"Don't you think I know that?"

"This is the biggest screw up I've ever seen you do-"

Merlin threw his arms up in the air exasperatedly. "Don't you think I know that?"

I huffed. I'll give him that.

Apparently, Merlin had been out looking for firewood when he made an image out of smoke using his magic. He had been caught (well, sort of) by a woman, and the woman went straight to Uther and reported that she had seen magic being done.

So Uther had sent for this guy called the Witchfinder. The fearful look on Morgana's face told me not to trust him, and I didn't. Just the name sounded sketchy.

"We're just lucky that she hadn't actually see you do it," I brought up.

He nodded. "I know."

"What do you think this Witchfinder will do?" I asked.

Merlin looked over at me, a bit of fear in his eyes. "I don't know."

The Witchfinder had arrived the same night, though I didn't see him until the next day. I was walking along the hall, Gwen following behind me, when I nearly crashed into him.

"Oh my goodness," I breathed, my hand going to my chest. I slipped into my Medieval speak. "How dreadfully clumsy of me. I apologize, I should have been watching where I was going."

"It's quite all right, Ms. Malinor," The Witchfinder said. "I am Aredian."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," I told him, though it wasn't really a pleasure. "If you'll excuse me, my maid and I have a few matters to take care of."

Aredian bowed slightly. "Of course, my Lady. I hope to see you again."

"As do I," I said, and then Gwen and I left.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I turned to Gwen as we walked away, and I made sure we were out of earshot. "That guy gives me the creeps."

"My Lady, you're probably just thinking things," She assured me.

"I am not," I told her. "Trust me, Gwen. That guy is bad news."

"Eat," I commanded Merlin.

He shook his head, pushing the plate away from him. "No. There is no way I can eat right now."

In the few days that Aredian's been here, there were more sights of magic being performed, but Merlin swore up and down it wasn't him. I believed him. He wouldn't be so stupid as to try doing magic when there was a bloody witchfinder in the kingdom.

Aredian apparently scrounged up enough evidence about who the sorcerer was. And he accused Merlin.

According to Arthur, Aredian and his men had found a magical amulet in one of the jars in Gaius and Merlin's chambers, but Gaius, being Gaius, took the fall and Merlin was pardoned.

We came back here, only to find the place entirely destroyed. I helped Merlin clear up some stuff, and then I went to the kitchens and brought us back some food. Really good food, too, since it was from the Royal kitchens.

It didn't sit well in my stomach that Gaius was in the dungeons, but I knew that he'd be upset if we stopped living just because of it. "Merlin, you need to eat something. Starving yourself isn't going to help anyone, especially not Gaius."

"But don't you see, Lizzie?" Merlin asked. "Gaius is in the dungeons because of a stupid mistake that I made."

"And that's all it was," I told him. "A mistake. Besides, I know Uther. He's not going to let anything serious happen to Gaius."

"How can you be so sure?" He inquired. "This is Uther, and Magic. It doesn't matter who it is. You can't tell me that if you went up to him right now and told him that you think you have magic, that he wouldn't arrest you on the spot."

I looked down at my plate and swirled my potatoes around. He was right. I couldn't say that. Not after having spent a night in the dungeons myself.

"This is all my fault," He groaned as he leaned his head on the table.

I reached over and grabbed his hand, giving it a light squeeze. "Merlin, I promise, we're going to clear Gaius's name and get him out of Aredian's hands."

He looked back up at me. "How?"

I shrugged. "It's us. We'll figure something out."

Aredian questioned Gaius for days. I didn't want to know what they were doing to him, but I sneaked down to the dungeons once with Merlin, and poor Gaius looked like he was writhing away.

Merlin went to speak with Kilgharrah to hopefully get some help. I didn't go with him, because, let's be honest. When had Kilgharrah actually ever helped us?

I was laying down on my bed when there was a knock on my door. I sat up and walked over to the door. I opened it, and Aredian stood on the other side with Sir Leon.

"Aredian," I greeted. "Sir Leon. Can I help you with something?"

"As a matter of fact, Elizabeth, you can," Aredian said. "I would like to ask you a few questions."

"Questions?" I repeated. "What about?"

"Gaius."

At first, I had flat out refused to speak to Aredian. I didn't have to speak to him if I didn't want to.

But then Uther told me that I had to do it, and I said I wouldn't do it until Gaius got something to eat. When I saw him, he was all skin and bones.

I watched as a servant presented Gaius with two pieces of bread, some cheese, and some water. He gave me a worried glance as I followed the guards and Aredian into a room.

"There's no need to be concerned, My Lady," Aredian said as he hung up some sort of instrument. "I won't detain you long. There's just a small detail I wish to clarify."

"Let's hope that you do not detain me long," I said, not letting my nervousness show. "The Lady Morgana is expecting me for tea later, and she is not a patient woman."

"Of course," He said as he made his way over to his desk. "Now, it's true, is it not, that you have received treatment for nightmares?" He asked as he sat down.

I nodded. "It is."

"And it was Gaius, the court physician, these treatments, these potions?" He went on as he dipped the tip of a feather into ink, writing down on the parchment in front of him.

"It is," I repeated firmly.

He nodded. "Now, you may go."

Was that really it? I shrugged as I gave him a goodbye smile. As I turned around to walk away, Aredian called out, "You don't happen to know what was in these potions, I suppose?"

"No," I answered. Why would he want to know that?

"No, of course not. You're not a physician, after all," Aredian agreed.

I turned around to try and leave again, but Aredian stopped me again. "So, for all you know, these potions could have been magical, your dreams the product of an enchanted elixir?"

What a horrible accusation against Gaius! Gaius would never do anything to hurt me like that. Seriously, those dreams are a bitch.

"I've been having these dreams since before Gaius started treating me," I said, and it was apparently true. Morgana and I started showing the same symptoms around the same time.

"But these dreams, have they got better or worse since Gaius started treating you?" He asked.

How was I supposed to know? I was dropped here at age 22. "I'm not entirely sure which one," I gently fibbed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't like keeping Morgana waiting."

I turned and left before he could ask anything else. Like I was going to be the reason something happened to Gaius.

Note to self-no more being questioned by creepy guys, no matter how much Uther insisted.

Gaius was roughly shoved to the ground in front of us, and it was taking everything I had not to run over to him and punch Aredian in the face. Gaius was an old man, for God's sake!

"Confess!" Aredian harshly said. "Confess!"

Uther was sitting in his throne, Arthur at his left, Morgana on his right, and me beside Morgana. I looked over at Merlin, who looked like he was trying his best not to cry.

Gaius looked over at Merlin too, before looking back to Uther. "I am a sorcerer, Sire. I am responsible for conjuring the smoke. I'm guilty of practising magic in Camelot. The goblin, the faces in the well. I...I am the sorcerer who conjured the toad from his mouth."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out Gaius's voice. There is no way Gaius would be confessing all of this stuff, not unless he was being threatened with something far worse than death.

I opened my eyes again as Uther stood up. "You betrayed me, Gaius."

My jaw dropped, but I quickly closed it. Was Uther seriously believing this? Seriously?

"But above all, you've betrayed yourself," Uther continued. "By the laws of Camelot, I must sentence you..."

Don't finish that sentence, Uther Pendragon.

"...To death."

He finished the sentence!

I moved to stand up to give Uther a piece of my mind, but before I could, Morgana grabbed my wrist and kept me down.

"The sorcerer will be purged of his magic by means of fire!" Aredian declared. "He shall be burned at the stake tomorrow at dawn."

Two guards reached down and grabbed Gaius. "Bear witness and heed this lesson!" Aredian continued as they led Gaius away.

I looked over to Merlin, who looked like it was taking everything in him not to cry. I felt the exact same way, though for him, it was worse. He felt the guilt of starting all of this in the first place.

That's when he did his idiot thing.

Merlin fiercely walked over to Aredian. "You're a liar," He started.

I wanted to go over to him, but Morgana kept me in my seat. Fortunately, Arthur went over to Merlin and grabbed him before he could do anything stupid, pushing him back as Merlin yelled, "You're a liar!"

I couldn't take it. I pushed myself out of my chair and stomped out of the room, glaring at Aredian the whole time.

TBC...

Oh man, I think this is the shortest chapter of the story! I am so sorry about that! just wanted something up!

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