The Curse of Cornelius Sigan
'In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin,' Kilgharrah intoned once again.
'Kilgharrah is still saying that even after you swore never to free him?' asked Gaius.
'Apparently,' shrugged Merlin.
One night Merlin is working in Arthur's chambers, 'Merlin. Merlin!' Arthur was shouting.
'Yes, Sire?' asked Merlin.
'Are you deaf?' Arthur demands.
'I wish,' Merlin muttered.
'I want you to go down there and tell them to stop,' ordered the prince.
'But they're working under the King's orders,' Merlin reminds him.
'Yeah. And you're working under mine,' the king's son retorts.
'It was your father, who hired me,' Merlin reminded his friend.
Arthur frowned but didn't say anything.
In Cornelius Sigan's tomb Merlin and Gaius are investigating.
'Hello?' Merlin calls.
'How do you think he died? Gaius?' asks Merlin.
'Hmm?' Gaius murmured.
'Do you know whose tomb it is?' asked Merlin.
'Not sure,' Gaius admitted.
'Do you think it might be cursed?' Merlin asked.
'How did you know that?' asked Leon.
'I sensed it,' shrugged Merlin.
'We really have to listen to your instincts,' muttered Arthur.
'You just saved my life. Thank you,' Gaius said.
'...guarded at all times. Idiot,' Arthur said.
'Were you born clumsy or do you work at it?' asked Arthur.
'Work at it,' grinned Merlin.
'It's just one of my many gifts,' Merlin grinned.
'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?' asked Uther.
'Uh, I'd have to look into it, Sire,' Gaius said quickly.
'How did he die?' asked Uther.
'He seems to have unwittingly triggered a trap here,' explains Gaius.
'To deter grave robbers?' asked Arthur.
'What else for,' said Merlin. 'And he calls me an idiot.'
'Well there's plenty in here people would want to steal. Have them secure the tomb. Guarding it is your responsibility, Arthur,' the king orders.
'Yes, Father,' Arthur agrees.
In the Tavern that night Cedric is talking to a guard, 'so this jewel, what size would you say it was?' asked the thief.
'About that size,' Tom demonstrated with his fists.
'My word, really? About that size, you say? Well, I never. Here you are. Drink up. And, uh, this tomb. I bet they got that locked up nice and safe, haven't they?' he asks.
'Of course we do,' said Arthur proudly.
'He still got into it,' Merlin reminded the proud prince.
Arthur looked slightly annoyed with this reminder.
'Tighter than the King's coffers,' nodded Tom.
'Yeah. Must be a way in, though,' Cedric agreed.
'Only with the keys,' Tom said.
'Right, right, right. And who's got the keys?' asked Cedric.
'You must think I'm stupid. I'm not telling you that,' Tom said outraged.
'Course not. No, a bright lad like you knows what that sort of information's worth. No, we don't want everyone to see. Believe me, this place is full of thieves and finger-smiths.
'You'd know,' muttered Arthur.
Put it inside your tunic. And, uh, careful of that fellow over there,' Cedric nodded to behind him.
'Which one?' asked Tom/
'Far end of the bar. See him? He keeps on watching you,' Cedric told the guard.
'Yeah, yeah, yeah. With, with the beard,' Tom nods.
'No, no. That one,' Cedric nods his head at another man.
'Ah, I got my eye on him. Thank you,' Tom says gratefully.
'So who's got the keys?' asked Cedric.
'Only the Prince. But don't get your hopes up. He keeps them in his private chambers, and there's only one person allowed in there: his servant,' Tom said.
'And Merlin would never betray you!' Lancelot said.
Arthur looked slightly guilty at what he had done.
In the main square Arthur and Merlin are walking.
'Hurry up, Merlin,' orders the prince.
'Sorry,' Merlin rushes to join his master.
'Merlin!' Arthur says as the girth falls off.
'I don't understand,' Merlin said.
'Well, there's a surprise,' snapped Arthur.
'I did that girth up myself,' Merlin was saying.
'Well, I think that might have been the problem!' Arthur says exasperated.
'It wasn't my fault,' Merlin retorts.
'Would you like me to fit the girth properly for you, Sire,' Cedric says sleazily.
'Sleazy little, job stealing, thieving b-'Merlin began.
'Merlin,' said Hunith.
Merlin muttered mutinously but didn't say anything.
'Thank you,' Arthur said.
'It's an honour to be of service to the Prince,' Cedric said.
'Suck up,' Merlin muttered.
'An honour. Do you hear that Merlin?' Arthur said his ego being nursed.
'Please tell me you don't fall for that,' sighed Gwen.
'Pride's my greatest weakness,' muttered Arthur.
'Allow me the honour of brushing your clothes down,' Cedric sucks up.
'Allow me honour of kissing your feet, sire,' Merlin muttered.
Arthur whispers, 'the honour.'
'Anything else I can do for you, sir?' Cedric asks.
'Well, you can give Merlin here a kick up the backside,' Arthur says.
Merlin looks irritate.
Cedric chuckles, 'I wouldn't wish to deprive you of the pleasure, sir.'
Merlin grumbled.
'Ha! What's your name?' Arthur laughs.
'Cedric. I've come to Camelot in search of work,' Cedric lied.
'Good. You can be a beater on the hunt. We're short of a man or two,' Arthur said.
'You're too kind, Sire,' Cedric bowed.
'Here. You'll need a beater. Oh, sorry,' Merlin "accidentally" hit the beater with him.
In the forest the knights, Arthur, Cedric and Merlin are hunting. The boar comes towards them and is about to attack Arthur.
'Flíe 'fǽgð,' Merlin whispers.
'It was you,' Arthur said, 'sorry.'
Merlin shrugged.
'What does that mean?' asked Arthur.
'Fly, imminent death,' Merlin replied.
'Who threw that?' Arthur looked around.
Cedric looked around as no one took the credit he ahemed.
'Was it you? You just saved my life,' Arthur said in shock.
Merlin's eyes flashed.
'Honestly, Sire, it was nothing,' Cedric lied.
'It certainly wasn't,' muttered Merlin, 'since you did nothing.'
'I shall be forever indebted to you. You must be rewarded,' Arthur said.
'No, couldn't possibly,' Cedric said humbly.
'Come on. What do you wish for?' asked Arthur.
'I desire only one thing, Sire,' Cedric said.
'The keys,' Merlin said.
'Anything,' Arthur said.
'A position in the royal household,' Cedric said.
'Good. Consider it done. Ha-ha!' Arthur smiled/
'You can have that back,' Cedric through the beater back at Merlin.
'Oof!' Merlin said in surprise.
'Oh, sorry,' Cedric said fakely.
In Gaius' chambers Merlin walks in looking upset.
'What's wrong?' asked Merlin's uncle.
'I saved Arthur's life, someone else got the credit. Just the usual. What are you doing?' Merlin said sadly.
'Sorry,' said Arthur.
'Don't be I'm used to it,' Merlin said.
'I found this inscription on the sceptre,' Gaius said.
'What language is that?' Merlin asked having a look at the book.
'I don't know. Sigan would have known many languages,' sighed Gaius.
'Sigan?' asked Merlin.
'It's his tomb,' Gaius explained.
'Who's he?' asked Merlin.
'Merlin, he was the most powerful sorcerer to have lived,' Gaius said.
'Before Merlin came along,' smiled Gaius.
'Really?' asked Merlin.
'You didn't grow up in Camelot, but for those of us that did, Cornelius Sigan was a figure of nightmare,' Gaius explained.
Gwen, Elyon, Arthur, and Leon nodded.
'Why?' asked Merlin.
'Sigan's powers. He could change day into night,
'But you did that with Nimueh,' said Arthur frowning.
Merlin nodded.
turn the tides, and legend has it, his spells helped build Camelot itself,' Gaius said.
'What happened?' asked Merlin.
'In the end he grew to powerful and the king at that time ordered his execution,' Gaius said.
'If he's dead, why are you so worried?' asked Merlin.
'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,' Gaius said grimly.
'You think he might have succeeded?' asked Merlin.
'Let's hope not, for all our sakes,' Gaius said.
In the council chambers Gaius enters to talk to the king.
'Gaius. What is it you want?' asked the king.
'To seal up the burial chamber and all its contents,' the old man said simply.
'He should have listened to you,' Leon said.
'Don't be ridiculous,' the king said.
'The insignia on this ring belongs to Cornelius Sigan. I believe it to be hid tomb. In the Old Religion, the name Sigan means raven,' Gaius explained.
'No wonder the riches are so great,' Uther said.
'Then you are aware of the legends, Sire?' asked Gaius carefully.
'Yes. I have always enjoyed the tale of the arrogant sorcerer who came to an untimely end,' Uther said coolly.
Merlin frowned at that.
'According to the story, Sigan cursed Camelot. He said he would return and raze the city to the ground,' Gaius added.
'Which he almost did,' added Arthur.
'Gaius, you have long been my ally in the war against sorcery. You, more than anyone, should not give in to these irrational fears,' Uther advised.
'Hark who's talking,' said Merlin, 'how many innocents have you killed to appease your guilt!'
'Thank you, Sire,' Gaius nodded.
'And Gaius. Do not spread panic amongst my people. This is foolish superstition, nothing more,' Uther said as Gaius left.
In Morgana's chambers Morgana is in her bed having a nightmare.
'What has she seen?' murmured Gwen.
'Ah!' Gwen screams, 'Gwen? Gwen!' she called for her then friend.
'My Lady? My Lady, what's the matter? It's alright, it's alright. I'm here. I'm here. There's nothing to be frightened of. Shh, shh, shh,' Gwen comforted the seer.
In Arthur's chamber Merlin is serving Arthur lunch, 'is that lunch?' asked Arthur.
'No, it's breakfas...' Merlin began.
'This is lovely, Cedric,' said the prince.
'Sorry,' said Arthur again.
'It's fine,' Merlin said in such a way that it wasn't fine at all.
'Is there anything else that you need doing, Sire?' Merlin asked bitterly.
'No, I think Cedric's got it all covered,' Arthur said.
'Oh, I regret, Sire, there is one thing I failed to do. Uh, muck out your horses,' Cedric said quickly.
'Off you go,' Arthur ordered.
'I'll get the door for you,' Cedric said snidely.
In Morgana's chamber Gaius is treating the seer for her latest nightmare.
'What was this dream about?' asked Gaius.
'A bird,' Morgana shivered.
'A bird?' asked Gwaine incredulously.
'What kind of bird?' asked Gaius.
'A raven,' Morgana shivered.
'Sigan,' Merlin said.
'A raven?' asked Gaius.
'It was terrifying, Gaius,' shuddered the seer. 'What do you think it means?'
'Probably nothing,' Gaius assured her.
'Or that Sigan is about to escape,' Merlin said.
'It's happening again, isn't it?' Morgana asked fearfully.
'Morgana, one raven doesn't mean that your nightmares are returning. Are you taking the sleeping draughts I prepared for you? I'll get Gwen to give you something stronger,' Gaius assured the seer.
'Like a blow to the head? I'm sure she wants to,' muttered Morgana.
'Not then,' murmured Gwen sadly.
In the stables Merlin is mucking out the stables when Cedric lowers smoked ball of knock out gas which Merlin doesn't realise and falls over in a pile of horse manure. Cedric then enters.
'Go on. Go and have some fun. Go on. Go and have some fun,' Cedric encourages the horses.
'And you blamed me,' Merlin muttered bitterly.
'Sorry,' Arthur said.
'It's alright,' sighed Merlin.
'No it's not!' Arthur said, 'you always do everything for me and I treat you like an idiot I'll try to be a better friend from now on.'
'Thanks Arthur,' Merlin smiled.
'Sire!' a guard shouts.
'Sire!' Merlin says shakily getting to his feet with horse poo all over his face.
'What are you doing?' asked the prince.
'Nothing,' Merlin stutters.
'I can see that,' Arthur states.
'I wasn't sleeping. I was, I was just bending down,' Merlin excuses himself.
'Looking for something?' asked Arthur.
'Yes,' Merlin jumps on the excuse.
'Perhaps we're looking for the same thing,' suggests Arthur.
'What?' asked Merlin.
'Oh, I don't know, the horses!' snaps the prince.
'The hor-ses,' stutters Merlin. 'Oh!' Merlin looks around.
'One mistake I can understand. Everyone has a bad day now and then, but this is one thing after another!' snaps the prince.
'It wasn't him,' Gwen snaps.
'I-I don't know what happened!' Merlin stutters.
'Cedric,' Merlin in the present said.
'Sire. Please, Sire, don't be too hard on him. He's a good servant, he just...he's tired,' suggests Cedric.
'I was drugged,' Merlin stressed.
'I am not,' Merlin said outraged.
'Maybe...maybe if he had the evening off...' Cedric suggested.
'I was such a fool,' groaned Arthur.
'I don't want the evening off,' Merlin retorted.
'A good night's rest,' suggested Cedric.
'I did not fall asleep!' Merlin retorted.
'I'm more than willing to take over his duties tonight,' Cedric said.
'Of course you are,' Merlin muttered.
'Perhaps you're right,' Arthur agrees.
'No!' Merlin cries.
'Shut up, Merlin,' Arthur snaps.
'Can't you see what he's trying to do? He's trying to get rid of me, and if you weren't such a clotpole you'd see that!' Arthur said.
'Your right but insulting Arthur is the wrong way to go about it,' Percival said.
'A what?' Arthur asked.
'Clot pole. He, he said clot pole,' Cedric doesn't hesitate to answer.
'Cedric's right. He can look after me tonight. You can go home and think about whether you want to be my servant or not,' Arthur agreed.
'But-'Merlin begins.
'Go!' Arthur orders.
Merlin walks into Gaius' chambers, 'what's that on your face?' Gaius notices Merlin's state.
'Nothing,' Merlin sighed sounding depressed.
'What's wrong?' Gaius asked.
'Nothing,' Merlin said.
'Here,' Gaius hands the boy a towel.
'I'm not an idiot,' Merlin said suddenly.
Arthur winced.
'What happened?' Gaius sighed.
'I just want Arthur to trust me. And to see me for who I really am,' Merlin admitted.
'He does now,' adds Gwen.
Merlin smiled at that.
'One day he will,' Gaius said.
'I was right,' Gaius said.
'Aren't you always?' asked Hunith with a laugh.
'When? Everything I do is for him and he just thinks I'm an idiot,' Merlin said.
'Not everyone thinks you're an idiot. Although, looking at you now...' he trails off. 'Now is not the time to be questioning these things, Merlin. I believe that you and Arthur are destined for greatness, and that your calling is to serve and protect him.'
'It's hard,' Merlin admitted.
'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 quoted.
'What does it mean?' asked Merlin.
'Do you remember the stone in the tomb, how it glowed?' asked Gaius.
'Do I?' Merlin replied.
'Yeah. I've never seen a jewel like it,' Merlin said.
'That's because it's not a jewel, it's the soul of Cornelius Sigan,' Gaius informed them.
'You think he's alive?' asked Merlin.
'His soul is. But in order to truly live, a soul needs a body,' Gaius said.
'So, if the stone is removed from its setting, then the heart is broken and the soul released?' asked Merlin.
'That's what I fear,' Gaius said.
In Arthur's chamber Arthur is just settling down for bed.
'I'll be right outside in the anteroom should you need anything,' Cedric informs them.
'That'll be all, Cedric,' Arthur bids the thief goodnight.
'Sleep well, Sire,' Cedric said taking the keys.
That night in Cornelius Sigan's tomb Cedric is thieving, 'oh, yes. Oh, yes! Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Ha. Hello ladies.'
He cuts the blue heart out of the tomb and a blue light enters him.
The next day Arthur finds that the tomb has been broken into.
'Sound the warning bell,' the prince orders.
'Merlin, whoever did this got more than they bargained for,' Gaius informed him.
'I don't understand how they got in. The gate's not even damaged,' Merlin realised.
'They must've used a key,' Gaius understood.
'Arthur's got the only key,' Merlin said.
'Where does he keep it?' asked Gaius.
'On his belt with the others,' Merlin shrugged.
'Does he ever take it off?' asked Gaius.
'Only when he's asleep. He keeps it next to his bed,' replied Merlin.
'Who had access to his chambers last night?' asked Gaius.
'Just me. And...Cedric,' Merlin said in realisation.
In Arthur's chambers Merlin confronts Arthur.
'Cedric is possessed by an evil spirit,' Merlin said.
'He's not going to believe you,' Hunith sighed.
'I should have,' sighed Arthur, 'would have saved a lot of trouble!'
'What?' Arthur asked sharply.
'He tried to steal the jewel, but it wasn't a jewel, it was a soul of an ancient sorcerer, Sigan,' Merlin explained.
'Merlin, have you been on the cider?' Arthur questioned.
'Sorry,' Arthur said again.
'Please, listen to me. Camelot is in mortal danger. Sigan is using Cedric's body to take his revenge,' Merlin tried again.
'This nonsense isn't helping you keep your job,' Arthur reminded him.
'It's not nonsense,' Gwen shouted.
'You are not listening to me!' Merlin shouted.
'You're going to shout anyway? Cedric! Will you escort Merlin from the palace?' Arthur asked.
'Ah!' Sigan in Cedric's body popped up.
'Merlin,' Arthur said.
'Ah!' Merlin leaps at the sorcerer and the two roll around the floor fighting.
'This isn't helping your cause,' Hunith said.
'You've gone too far this time, Merlin! You can spend a few days cooling off in the cells! Guards!' Arthur calls.
'He's going to destroy Camelot!' Merlin shouts as he's drawn away.
On the drawbridge Sigan stands.
'I am returned. Ic cume eft to Camelot. swá þæt ic mæg min fæhþ awrecan! Nu 'ic lybbe ece and ic mæg rædan min burh!' he enchants.
'What does that mean?' asked Gwen, 'I remember it but what was he saying?' Gwen asked.
'I come again to Camelot! So that in revenge, I drive away my male-kinsman. Behold, with poison pain, I deliver a lesson to the male-kinsman of my castle,' Merlin replied.
'Ahhh!' screamed Gwen as she heard the curse and saw the gargoyles come to life.
In the council chambers the council is deliberating the appearance of the creatures.
'I don't know what this creature is, where it's come from,' Uther said.
'There's more than one, Father. We've had several reports. There's panic in the lower town. People are fleeing the city,' Arthur said.
'Then you must hunt these creatures down and kill them,' Uther ordered.
'Without magic,' snorted Merlin.
'Yes, Sire,' the prince agreed.
Later that night Uther and Gaius are in the council chamber talking.
'Have you seen what's happening?' asked Uther.
'It is as I warned you, Sire,' Gaius said.
'This cannot be Sigan,' Uther said in denial.
'It is his revenge, he has come back from the dead,' Gaius said.
'Then he will die again,' the king declared.
Merlin rolled his eyes.
'You do not understand, sir. You cannot kill a man who has conquered mortality,' the physician informed the king.
'Don't tell me what cannot be done. Camelot will not fall to a sorcerer while I'm King,' decreed the king.
'Unless it's your secret daughter,' Merlin muttered.
Arthur tensed.
'Sorry,' Merlin sighed, 'I shouldn't have said that. Morgana's a sore spot on us all.'
In dungeon's Merlin hears the noise of the fight, 'hello?' he calls.
In the main square Arthur and his knights fight the living gargoyles.
'Regroup! Low fight!' the prince orders.
In the dungeons Merlin is trying to break out, 'tóspringe!' he cries getting out of the dungeons with ease.
'No wonder we can't keep sorcerer's in prison,' Leon muttered. 'What does toe spring mean?'
'Tóspringe,' Merlin corrected, 'open quickly,' he answered.
On the temporary ward Gaius, Gwen and Morgana were treating the wounded.
'We need more bandages, Gwen,' Gaius shouted. 'You shouldn't be doing this,' Arthur ordered.
'It's exactly what I should be doing,' Morgana retorted imperiously.
'You need rest, Morgana,' Gaius reminded her.
'And I'm likely to get it with all this going on,' Morgana reminded them of the situation.
In the square Arthur looks surprised.
'Guinevere?' calls as he sees Gwen walking into the line of fire.
'Sire,' Gwen pants fear evident on her face.
'That thing could've killed you,' Arthur said.
'And it still might! Sorry, Sire,' she knocks him over.
'No. My pleasure,' Arthur grunts.
In the temporary ward Gwen is tending to Arthur.
'I'll get you something to stop the bleeding,' Gwen said.
'Guinevere. I wanted to say...just, uh...you always surprise me,' Arthur said.
'Is that it, Sire?' asked Gwen.
'That's it. Oh, and uh...thank you,' Arthur said.
'All the times I've saved your life and you've never thanked me,' Merlin muttered.
'He's not in love with you,' laughed Gwaine.
Later that night Uther and Arthur are in the temporary ward.
'Arthur,' Uther said looking at his son's injuries.
'It's nothing,' Arthur lied.
'Have we driven the creatures out?' asked the king.
'They have control of the lower town. The market has been all but destroyed,' the prince informed the king.
'How many dead?' Uther asked.
'Too many to number,' Arthur said grimly.
'I'm sealing the citadel,' the king decided.
'You can't,' Arthur argued.
'I have no choice. I have to protect those who have a chance. If I don't, we will all fall. Where are you going?' Uther demanded.
'There are people trapped on the drawbridge,' Arthur explained.
'I forbid you,' the king snapped.
'I'm not leaving them to die,' Arthur retorted.
'It's suicide!' Uther said.
'It's my duty to Camelot! And to myself!' Arthur finished.
Later Merlin enters the temporary ward where Gaius is treating the wounded.
'Gaius,' Merlin hisses.
'What are you doing here?' Gaius looked surprised.
'I thought he was still in the dungeons,' Gaius explained.
'You really thought bricks and mortar would hold me?' laughed Merlin.
'I have to help Arthur,' Merlin said.
'Is that the only reason why you escaped?' Arthur asked.
'And to help Camelot,' Merlin replied.
'Merlin, Sigan's power is far beyond yours,' Gaius said.
'Only because I'd only been training for under two years,' scowled Merlin.
'I don't have a choice,' Merlin said.
'But Sigan is immortal and you are not. If you face him, he will destroy you,' Gaius said.
'But there must be a way,' Merlin said.
'There is only one alive who is old enough to give us the answers we need,' Gaius said.
'What do you mean?' Merlin asked.
'The Great Dragon,' Gaius said simply.
'You knew that...that I used to visit him,' Merlin said surprised.
'Yes, Merlin, of course I knew. You're a creature of magic, just as he is. I hoped that he could help you,' Gaius agreed.
'He helps no one but himself,' Merlin said bitterly.
'For Arthur's sake you must go to him now,' Gaius ordered.
'I can't,' Merlin said.
'We have no choice,' Gaius reminded him.
On the drawbridge Arthur and his knights are there.
'Check for survivors. On me! Charge!' Arthur ordered.
In the dragon's cave Merlin runs in.
'Hello? Hello? Please, I need your help!' Merlin calls.
'You told me I would not see you again,' Kilgharrah reminds him.
'I'm not here for myself, I'm here for Arthur,' Merlin explained.
'Arthur's path lies with yours. You have made it clear that you do not walk in step with me,' Kilgharrah said.
'You cannot want Cornelius Sigan to win. You're not evil,' Merlin said.
'At least Sigan knows where his loyalties lie. You have shown that you do not,' Kilgharrah said.
'So you will let Camelot fall?' asked Merlin.
'I did not say that,' Kilgharrah said.
'Then you will help me?' asked Merlin.
'To defeat Sigan, you will need a spell more powerful than anything you know,' the great dragon informed them.
'Please, I have to try,' Merlin said.
'Very well. But you must give me something in return,' Kilgharrah said.
'What?' asked Merlin.
'A promise,' Kilgharrah said.
'I don't like the sound of this,' said Percival.
'A promise?' asked Merlin warily.
'That one day you will free me,' Kilgharrah asked.
'Uh oh,' Gwen said.
Arthur groaned.
Leon winced.
'If I release you, what will you do?' Merlin asked warily.
'Try to destroy Camelot,' muttered Arthur.
'That is not your concern,' the Great Dragon replied.
'I don't trust you!' Merlin shouts.
'For good reason,' muttered Arthur.
'He's not that bad,' Merlin defended his ancient friend.
'Nevertheless, you must promise, or Camelot will fall,' Kilgharrah reminds the secret protector of Camelot.
'I promise. Now, please, give me the spell,' Merlin said.
'Close your eyes and open your mind. Few men have ever been gifted such knowledge. Use it wisely,' Kilgharrah advised as he blew breath into the warlock.
'I will,' Merlin agrees.
'More power,' muttered Arthur.
'You made a promise, young warlock, and one day I shall keep you to it,' Kilgharrah said.
Arthur frowned, 'unfortunately.'
On the drawbridge the knights and Merlin are loosing.
'Arthur! Arthur! Retreat! Regroup in the square! Arthur? Arthur? Arthur?' shouts Sir Geraint.
'Save yourselves! That's an order!' Arthur orders.
'Retreat! Retreat!' Sir Geraint orders the others.
In the temporary ward Sir Geraint enters, 'seal the doors!' he orders.
'Where's Arthur? Where is he? You can't leave him out there, he'll be torn apart!' Uther shouted.
'You can't go out there, Sire! If you open that door, you will die! We will all die!' the knight said.
'No!' shouts the king.
In the square Merlin runs out to see an unconscious Arthur, 'astrice!' he cries as a creature attacks him.
'Could have used you earlier,' muttered Leon. 'What does this spell mean – it sounds familiar?'
'I strike,' Merlin said. 'And I used it when I was fighting Nimueh.'
'Oh,' Leon nodded.
Sigan had realised that, 'who would've believed it? You, a sorcerer, and a powerful one,' the sorcerer said surprised.
'Always the tone of surprise,' muttered Merlin.
'That's a good thing,' Hunith said grimly.
'But it makes sense now that I think,' Gwen said.
'I won't let you hurt him,' Merlin said strongly.
Sigan laughed, 'and you're going to stop me?' he questioned disbelievingly.
'I'll stop you,' Merlin repeated undaunted.
'He does not deserve your loyalty. He treats you like a slave,' Sigan said.
'Sorry,' Arthur said guiltily.
'It could be worse,' Merlin shrugged.
'Like what?' grimaced Gwaine he couldn't ever imagine doing something as mundane as the cleaning.
'He could be executed,' said Gaius.
Merlin nodded a look of fear entering his blue eyes.
'I won't execute you,' Merlin said.
'That's not true,' Merlin didn't seem convinced.
'He cast you aside without a moment's thought,' Sigan pointed out.
'Sorry,' Arthur said again.
Merlin shrugged.
'Why is he bringing all this up anyway?' asked Lancelot.
'That doesn't matter,' Merlin said but you could tell it hurt him.
'But it must hurt so much to be so put upon, so overlooked, when all the while you have such power,' Sigan said.
Merlin nodded sighing.
'That's the way it has to be,' Merlin said.
'Does it?' asked Sigan. 'You're young, Merlin. Look inside yourself. You have yet to discover your true power. I can help you. Think, Merlin. To have the world appreciate your greatness. To have Arthur know you for what you are.'
'I don't like where this is going,' muttered Hunith.
'That can never be,' Merlin said.
'It is now,' Arthur said.
'It can, if you join me,' Sigan suggested.
'No!' everyone but Merlin shouted.
Merlin avoided their eyes.
'Together we can rule over this land. Arthur will tremble at your voice, he will kneel at your feet.'
Merlin paused then he shook it off, 'I don't want that.'
'You considered that though,' Lancelot said surprised.
'I never said I was perfect,' Merlin replied.
'And Arthur had hurt you,' Hunith added.
'You'd rather be a servant?' Sigan asked in complete and utter confusion.
'Better to serve a good man that to rule with an evil one,' Merlin said.
'The philosophy I live on,' muttered Merlin.
'It's a good philosophy,' Gaius nodded.
'So be it. If you will not join me, I will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will,' Sigan decided.
Arthur gulped. 'Either one of you could raise Camelot to the ground,' Arthur said grimly. 'Together…' he shuddered, 'you could take the Five Kingdoms.'
'I'm aware,' Merlin said drily. 'I don't like thinking about what I could do if I was broken enough to.'
Sigan's soul left Cedric's body and came towards Merlin.
'Ic þín sáwol hér beléac, abide þæt ic þé álíese!' Merlin incanted.
'What does that mean?' asked Arthur.
'I shut in your noble soul, to remain behind after I liberate you,' Merlin said.
'I don't understand,' Gwen said, 'liberate.'
'And noble,' added Lancelot.
'The nobility is referring to his immortality,' Merlin said. 'And liberate means removing it from Cedric's body.'
Gaius sees Merlin standing in smoke and pauses unsure as to whether or not Merlin has defeated Sigan. Then Merlin grins his signature grin and shows the eerily blue glowing heart Merlin had trapped Sigan's soul in the heart once more.
'Merlin? Well done, my boy,' beamed the old man.
In the council chamber's Uther and Gaius are talking.
'We must learn our lessons from these terrible events, Gaius,' Uther said.
'Listen to Gaius and Merlin,' suggested Gwen.
'I don't think the Pendragons will ever learn that,' grinned Merlin.
'We're not that bad,' moaned Arthur.
'You really are,' Gwaine said cheekily.
'Indeed, Sire,' Gaius nods.
'They prove beyond doubt that I was right. Magic is evil. It is our greatest threat. I have grown complacent, Gaius,' Uther said.
'Hardly,' Merlin muttered bitterly.
'I wouldn't say that, Sire,' Gaius said quickly.
'We must renew our efforts. We must ensure that all sorcerers and their followers are eradicated from this kingdom,' Uther decreed.
Merlin scowled.
'Of course, Sire,' Gaius said not looking pleased.
Gaius was back in his chambers with Merlin.
'You know, you won't get any thanks, Merlin,' Gaius informs the warlock who once again saved Camelot.
'I never do,' Merlin sighed.
'You should,' Lancelot said.
'I'm not a complete idiot,' Merlin said.
'That's questionable,' Arthur grinned.
'There you go. It's not much, but you deserve something,' Gaius put food on the table.
'I've come to see Merlin. I've not forgotten about your lazy, insolent ways, or the fact that you called me a clotpole, but I do have to admit that there was some truth in your accusations against Cedric,' Arthur adds slightly regretfully.
'Does this mean you're admitting that in this occasion I was actually right?' Merlin asked grinning.
'Not exactly, no. It means that I have a knighthood to bestow first thing tomorrow and no one to clean my armour,' Arthur said.
'You really need to have someone teach you how to thank someone,' said Hunith giving a smile to the motherless prince.
'All that?' asked Merlin.
'Yep,' Arthur leaves them to it.
'Clotpole?' Gaius asks raising an eyebrow.
Merlin grins.