The Witch-Finder
'I think we should be heading to bed,' Hunith said looking tiredly even though there was an orange glow outside.
They all trail up the stairs to find rooms. Hunith and Gwen shared the first room where there were two beds. In the next room there was a double bed and a single bed that (Gaius slept on the single bed with Lancelot and Merlin sleeping at opposite ends of the double). In the next room there was just a double bed that there reagent claimed. In the final bed there were two beds that seemed to have another two stacked on top of the first two. Leon and Percival got the bottom ones whilst Gwaine daringly climbed on to of Percival's bed. Elyan warily, following Gwaine's example, went on the bed on top of Leon's.
The next morning Gwen and Hunith were the first up so were the ones to make the breakfast of bread, cheese, and ham. Merlin and Gaius joined them and brought it into the main room with all the seats. So when the knights and Arthur joined them the breakfast was all ready.
Arthur wearing baggy trousers and a dark jacket claimed a place on the long seat directly opposite the box with moving pictures. When Gwen came in she sat beside him looking very different and a little awkward in the clothes she had found in the cupboard; dark tight fitting trousers, a white shirt and a black waist coat. Arthur thought she looked beautiful
'Best thing in the cupboard I think it was meant for men,' she shrugged.
When Lancelot in blue, loose strangely textured trousers, a white vest and jacket came in her gaped at Gwen but didn't know what to say knowing that she would never be his. Elyan in a black jacket and trousers and bright blue t-shirt had decided to sit as close to his sister as possible not wanting the two boys to take advantage of his sister. Percival sat beside his brother in arms. Leon in old trousers and a baggy jumper over a neat shirt sat beside the other two knights. Gwaine dressed all in grey had claimed the only lone seat. Gaius a blue shirt and black trousers had decided to get very close to the box having bad eye sight. Hunith sat beside her uncle, dressed in a dark brown shirt and black blouse. Merlin sat beside her, munching on some bread looking very different in a black top and rough, blue trousers. Whilst eating they began watching the next part of Merlin's life.
'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 begins.
Merlin collecting firewood with other peasants. Merlin sits down sadly on hillside overlooking Camelot, 'Hors, beride þá heofonum,' and turns smoke into a shape of a running horse, fades back to smoke.
'Merlin!' Hunith shouts, 'do you know how stupid that was what if you'd been caught!' Hunith seems to be going hysterical.
'I know,' Merlin looked slightly guilty, 'I shouldn't have done it,' he agreed. 'But magic is a part of me to turn it off when I just want to me; magic and all. None of you can understand how hard that is!'
Hunith relents, 'I know but I just don't want to hear about your death.'
A woman runs to him and grabs him, 'did you see it? The smoke, did you see it?' the woman cries.
Hunith groans.
'No, I saw nothing,' Merlin lied.
'Well, that's believable,' snorts Arthur.
'Are you blind?' she cries.
'Sometimes I wonder,' Arthur grins.
'You were right here! It was magic, I tell you. There's sorcery here. We must tell the King,' she runs off.
'No! Wait!' Merlin calls.
In the throne room Cathryn stands before Uther, 'tt was sorcery you saw, you're certain of it?' the king is asking.
'Yes, Sire,' nods the servant.
'And you swear this before your King?' the king asks.
'I swear it,' Cathryn swears.
'Perhaps your eyes deceived you, a trick of the light,' Arthur suggests.
'No it was magic,' Arthur agrees.
'The smoke was alive, I tell you. I feared for my life,' the servant said.
Merlin rolled his eyes, 'there was shapes in the smoke. It was a trick no harm could come from it.'
'I thank you for bringing this to my attention. Your loyalty will not go unrewarded,' the king says.
'Thank you, Sire,' Cathryn bows.
A knight escorts the serving woman out.
'It cannot continue,' the king decrees.
'I will hunt down those responsible, Father. I promise they will not escape unpunished,' vowed the prince.
Merlin grinned, 'well I did.'
'No. Stronger methods are called for. Send for the Witchfinder,' orders the king.
Merlin and Gaius pale.
The courtiers gasp at the king's demands.
'Sire, is it necessary to resort to such measures?' Gaius questions.
'I didn't want him near Merlin,' Gaius said.
'The Witchfinder is a trusted ally, Gaius. His help will be invaluable,' Uther says.
'Of course,' Gaius said.
In the physician's chambers Gaius is furious.
'How many times, Merlin?' demands Gaius. 'How many times must I drive it into that thick skull of yours that your magic is a secret to be guarded with your life? What were you thinking?' he shouts.
'I...I wasn't thinking,' Merlin admits.
'Do you ever?' asks Arthur.
'Well think, boy, think!' orders Gaius.
'It was just a bit of fun,' Merlin said.
'It was magic and it was seen,' Gaius reminds him.
'You're right. I'm sorry,' apologizes Merlin.
'You must hide the book. Anything that can connect you to sorcery in any way,' Gaius said.
'I always do,' Merlin said.
'What? Now?' Merlin asked nervously.
'Yes, now, Merlin. The man that Uther has sent for, I know him,' Gaius said.
'The Witchfinder?' asked Merlin.
Merlin and Gaius are pale once more.
'Hmm, some know him by that name. I know him as Aredian. He is a force to be reckoned with,' warned Gaius.
'He didn't have magic, did he?' Leon asks.
Merlin grins guiltily.
'But I'm not a witch. Look. No dress or anything,' Merlin said.
There is laughter at this.
'But you did steal Morgana's dress,' grinned Arthur. 'Want to play dress up?'
Merlin winced knowing exactly why he'd stolen the dress, 'it wasn't for me,' snapped Merlin.
Gaius is not amused.
'I'll get the book,' Merlin said quickly.
Aredian shows up in the Square at night with a large horse-drawn cage. A guard approaches him.
'I am expected,' the witchfinder says scarily.
Morgana watches from her window looking terrified.
'She was terrified,' Gwen said.
'I don't blame her,' muttered Merlin.
'Is that him?' Gwen comes up to the window too.
'Yes,' she says fear in her eyes.
'What's that cage for?' asked Gwen.
'People like me,' scowled Merlin.
'It hardly bears thinking about,' Morgana tells the maid.
Aredian looks up at her window seeing Morgana who gasps in fear.
'It's kind of obvious she's got something to hide,' Arthur said.
'The witchfinder was terrifying,' Merlin shudders.
Arthur and Uther enter move forward into the council chabers.
'So where's he been all this time?' asked Arthur.
'Framing other people,' scowled Merlin.
'In foreign lands. Wherever the pursuit of sorcery takes him,' the king answers.
Merlin scowled.
'He does all this in your name?' Arthur asks incredulous.
'No,' Gaius said, 'he does it for himself.'
'Why?' asked Merlin. 'What does he have against magic people?'
'He doesn't,' Gaius said, 'he cares only about getting paid!'
'The Witchfinder serves no one. He's a law unto himself,' Uther said.
'Making him very dangerous,' Gaius adds.
'Do you smell it? Do you smell it, Uther?' asks the witchfinder.
'Aredian,' Uther greets warily.
'It's all around us, the foul stench of sorcery. It's infected your great city like a contagion,' the witchfinder says.
'And that's before Morgana joins Morgause,' frowns Merlin.
'I welcome you to Camelot, Aredian. Thank you for making such haste to be here,' the King of Camelot thanks his ally.
'Well, let's hope I'm not too late, hmm? For every hour counts in the war against sorcery. Unchecked, it spreads like a disease,' warns the witchfinder.
'Sorcery is not a disease,' Merlin all but shouts.
'I know that now,' Arthur tells the angry warlock wary not to do anything to completely throw Emrys off the handle knowing how scarily powerful he could be.
'It seeks out the young and the old,' the witchfinder says.
'That's true,' Arthur looked at the two magic users.
'The weak and the able, the fair and the foul of heart alike,' adds the witchfinder.
'See even Aredian agrees that the fair and the foul of heart have equal chances to be sorcerers,' Merlin said.
'You've grown lazy, Uther. You've grown idle,' the witchfinder tells the king.
'I wouldn't say that,' Gaius frowned.
'Your once noble Camelot is rotten to the core,' he adds.
'Is not,' Arthur looked insulted.
'You stand on the brink of dark oblivion,' warns the witchfinder.
'Only because you make sorcerers so scared that they attack only to find a better life for themselves,' Merlin says.
'I am at your disposal, Aredian. The knights will aid you in any way they can,' the Crown prince offers.
'You must be Arthur,' Aredian says.
'I must be,' agrees Arthur.
'You're a great warrior. The finest this kingdom has ever known,' compliments Aredian.
'Thank you,' Arthur accepts the compliment.
'So you won't be offended when I say that I shall have no need of you or your knights. The subtle craft of sorcery can only be fought by yet subtler means, methods honed over decades of study, methods known only to myself,' the witchfinder says.
'Torture,' Gaius shudders, 'where you would confess to anything to avoid more pain.'
Merlin looks guilty, 'Gaius I'm so sorry,' he said.
'It wasn't your fault,' Gaius said.
'We are grateful for your help,' Uther thanks the man.
'But gratitude alone can't keep a man alive. You must put food in his belly,' Aredian says.
'I will pay your price, Aredian, whatever it may be,' agrees the king.
'I will bid you goodnight,' Aredian leaves.
'Aredian, when do you begin?' asked Arthur.
'I've already begun,' Aredian says.
Aredian peers at Gaius and Merlin from around a corner as they walk down the street.
'Stay away from my son,' warns Hunith.
'Gaius, isn't it? I never forget a face,' Aredian greets.
'He knew you used to practice magic,' Arthur says.
'Which is why I had no wish to be near him,' Gaius agrees.
'Nor I, Aredian,' Gaius replies.
'A physician now, I hear. You always did have a thirst for knowledge,' comments the witchfinder.
'Like magic,' Percival understands.
'Scientific knowledge,' agrees Gaius.
'Of course,' the witchfinder says quickly.
'My assistant, Merlin,' he introduces his apprentice.
'Merlin,' Aredian greets.
'May your investigation prove fruitful, Aredian. However, you'll have to excuse us, we have work to do,' Gaius turns to leave.
'Naturally. Merlin? I have a few questions I would like you to answer. Please be at my chambers in an hour,' asks Gaius.
'Oh no,' moaned Hunith.
In Aredian's chambers Merlin is seated opposite the witchfinder, 'you are aware, then, that sorcery has been practiced in the vicinity of Camelot?' he asks.
'Oh I think Merlin somehow knows,' Gwaine said.
'Yes. I mean...apparently,' Merlin stutters.
'He's onto you,' frowned Percival.
'No, no, it cannot be denied. There was a witness,' Aredian reminds the boy.
'Yes, I know,' Merlin agrees.
'Do you also know that the woman has named you as a witness?' asked the witchfinder.
'But-'Merlin starts.
'I've already spoken to her. She was quite clear on the matter,' Aredian said.
'But I wasn't a witness,' Merlin said.
'Oh weren't you?' Arthur raised an eyebrow.
'Well I wasn't about to say "yes I was a witness I incanted the image of a horse in the smoke. Hope you don't mind see you around"' Merlin raised an eyebrow. 'I would be dead in a second!'
'Oh, sorry. Perhaps I misheard. Do you deny that you were present at the time of the incident?' asks the witchfinder.
'No, I, I was there,' Merlin said.
'Well, so you saw it, the horse conjured from the smoke?' asks Aredian.
'I saw the smoke, but...it was only smoke. I saw nothing else,' Merlin lies.
'Are you saying that she lies?' asks the witchfinder.
'No that's Merlin,' muttered Arthur.
'I had to,' Merlin said.
'It would be better you said you saw it but had no idea how it happened,' Gaius said.
'I didn't say that. I said I didn't see what she saw,' Merlin said.
'Hmm. Well, how can that be, I wonder? How can one person see something and the other not?' asked the witchfinder.
'I can't explain it,' Merlin said.
'I'm at a loss as to explain it myself. Unless it was you, who performed the magic,' he stared at the warlock.
Hunith paled, 'oh no,' she moaned. 'I should never have sent you to Camelot!'
'It wasn't,' Merlin lied.
'More lies,' Arthur said.
'Can you prove that it wasn't?' asked Aredian.
'Can you prove that it was?' asks Lancelot.
'No,' Merlin said.
'Hmm. That'll be all,' the witchfinder dismisses the warlock.
Hunith breathed a sigh of relief; it was over!
Merlin gets up to leave.
'For now,' he adds.
Hunith groans.
Aredian presents three women before the court.
'Speak, do not be afraid,' instructs the witchfinder.
'They were scared of him,' Gwen said.
'For good reason,' nods Gaius.
'I...I was drawing water from the well, Sire, when I saw them: faces in the water. Terrible faces, like people who were drowned, screaming. Screaming,' shudders Beatrice.
'I haven't done anything, I promise,' Merlin whispers to Gaius.
'I know,' Gaius said, 'but that wasn't the best time to say as such.'
'Tell them what you saw,' the witchfinder says to the next woman.
'A goblin dancing on the coals. it was dancing in the flames, and it spoke, Sire. My heart near stopped for fear of it,' Annie said.
'As you've heard, My Lord, the incident in the woods was only the beginning,' the witchfinder said.
Merlin rolled his eyes, 'liar.'
'There was a sorcerer, Sire, in the square. There were creatures jumping right out of his mouth,' Rowena said.
'And why would any sorcerer bother do anything like that?' asked Merlin.
'And what manner of creature?' the witchfinder asks.
'Toads, Sire. Great green, slimy things as big as your fist,' the girl says.
'The sorcerer laughs in your face. Even now magic flourishes on the streets of Camelot,' the witchfinder declares.
'I can scarcely believe it,' Uther says.
'Yet it is the truth, My Lord. Fortunately I've utilised every facet of my craft to bring this matter to a swift resolution,' the witchfinder says.
'The sorcerer? You have a suspect?' demands the king.
'Oh, I do, My Lord. I regret to say, they stand among us in this very room. My methods are infallible, my findings incontestable! The facts point to one person and one person alone: the boy, Merlin!' he points at the warlock.
'No!' cried Hunith.
'Mum, its okay I'm fine,' Merlin pats his mother on the hand.
'Merlin? You can't be serious,' Arthur said incredulous.
'He was right,' Arthur said.
'This is outrageous! You have no evidence!' Gaius says.
'The tools of magic cannot be hidden from me. I am certain that a thorough search of the boy's chamber will deliver us all we need,' the witchfinder says.
'Merlin?' asked Uther.
'I have nothing to hide from him,' Merlin says.
Arthur snorts, 'yeah right.'
'Very well. Guards, restrain the boy. Let the search begin,' orders the king.
'I hated that,' Merlin said.
Guards smash Gaius's possessions in their search for magical objects in the physician's chambers.
'Careful, please! That's my life's work!' the physician says.
'Comb every inch. The sorcerer is a master of concealment,' warns the witchfinder.
'There's nothing here, Aredian!' Arthur said.
'I'll be the judge of that. Over there behind this tapestry. In there, upend that stool. Be sure to check for hollow legs. In there within those powder jars,' orders Aredian.
Leon breaks one and finds a bracelet inside.
'Sorry,' Leon said.
'Here!' Leon calls.
'An amulet of enchantment. Were you aware, physician, that your assistant kept instruments of sorcery?' asks the witchfinder.
'He knew but not that,' Merlin said.
'No,' Gaius shakes his head.
'Well, our work is done. I must inform the King,' the witchfinder says.
'Aredian! I know for certain that that amulet does not belong to Merlin,' Gaius said.
'Oh? Well who does it belong to, then?' asks the witchfinder.
'It belongs to me,' Gaius lied.
'What?' Hunith asks, 'how could you be so stupid?' she demands.
'It didn't belong to either of them,' Gwen said.
Arthur opens Merlin's cell.
'You're free to go,' Arthur informed him.
A guard escorts Merlin out, Merlin passes Gaius being escorted in.
'Gaius? What's going on?' Merlin looks at his mentor.
'Say nothing, Merlin. Do nothing. Promise me!' Gaius said.
Merlin returns to his and Gaius' chambers to find the place ransacked.
Uther and Arthur eat dinner with Aredian.
'Gaius served me with unfailing dedication. Without his knowledge, his wisdom, I would not be sitting here today,' Uther said.
'And yet he was still going to have Gaius executed,' Merlin glared at the box.
'You show great faith in him, Sire. Great faith, indeed, considering he was known to practice sorcery,' reminds the witchfinder.
'Gaius? You are mistaken,' Arthur shook his head.
'No, Arthur. He speaks the truth. I'm well aware of his past, but I have every reason to believe he's turned his back on sorcery,' the king said.
'Or not,' grinned Gwaine.
'Until now,' Aredian said.
'We don't know that. And this amulet you found, it could just be a stupid mistake,' Arthur said.
'Finally someone with common sense,' smiles Gwen.
'Or maybe he's fallen back into old habits,' suggests the witchfinder.
'We must give him the benefit of the doubt, surely?' Arthur says.
'Why? Anyway, there's a sure way to establish his guilt,' the witchfinder says quietly.
Gaius winces and Merlin glares.
'I know your methods are effective, Aredian,' Uther says.
'In other words people take death over torture,' Merlin glared.
'But Gaius is an old man. He could not withstand such treatment,' Uther says.
'It's the only way to rid your mind of doubt,' the witchfinder says.
In the palace dungeons Aredian throws water on Gaius, 'what time is it?' Gaius wakes with a start.
'Time for you to confess,' the witchfinder says.
'The amulet was a relic from the past, a keepsake,' Gaius lies.
'It wasn't his,' Merlin growls.
'But such artefacts are banned on pain of death. Surely, you must know this?' asks the witchfinder.
'Doesn't everyone?' asks Merlin.
'I was wrong to have kept it. I'm grievously sorry for it,' Gaius says.
'Well that's a good start. It's an excellent start, but not nearly enough, I'm afraid,' the witchfinder warns.
'Aredian-'Gaius begins.
'Guards,' the witchfinder calls.
The guards throw Gaius in his cell and then they repeatedly throw questions him.
'Was your conscience clear when you practiced magic in the days of the Great Purge?' demanded the witchfinder.
'I have not used magic for many years,' Gaius said.
'Yes you have,' smiled Hunith, 'to create the potion to save Merlin's life.'
'Well I wasn't about to tell the witchfinder that,' the old man replied.
'...that your assistant kept instruments of sorcery?' the witchfinder continues.
'It belongs to me,' Gaius denied.
'So if someone else were to practice magic?' questions the witchfinder.
'No,' Gaius said.
'You're an enemy of this kingdom, you're an enemy of your king!' the king's ally declares.
'No. My conscience is clear. I'd like a drink of water, please,' asks the physician.
'And you shall have one, when you've confessed,' Aredian tells the old man.
'Then I shall die of thirst, Aredian,' the physician informs the man.
Aredian shrugs.
Merlin growled at this.
Merlin sees Gaius being dragged out of his cell. Merlin goes to the Dragon's Cave, 'what is wrong, young warlock? You look so pale,' Kilgharrah comments.
'I think he does care for you,' Gwen said.
'I'm sure he does,' smiles Hunith thinking how Kilgharrah and Balinor had been friends of sorts before the purge.
'I did a stupid thing. Stupid, stupid thing. And now Gaius is going to pay for it,' Merlin cried.
'Gaius means nothing to me,' Kilgharrah said.
'And I thought we were friends,' sighed Gaius.
'But he means a great deal to me!' Merlin shouts.
'Very well. Tell me what has happened,' Kilgharrah said.
'You needed someone to talk to,' Hunith says.
Merlin nods, 'Kilgharrah seemed to be the only on I could talk to, honestly.'
'A witch finder has come. He's arrested Gaius for sorcery, but I am the sorcerer,' Merlin said.
'I am as well,' Gaius reminded him.
'I am the one, who brought Aredian here,' Merlin argues.
'Yes, I suppose you are,' Kilgharrah agrees.
'Well, I'm going to confess. It's the only way to save him,' Merlin said.
'No,' Gaius and Hunith say together.
'It wouldn't do any good anyway,' Arthur says, 'then Gaius would be executed for sheltering a sorcerer.'
'I didn't think of that,' Merlin admitted.
'Then your stupidity continues,' the Great Dragon says.
'I won't sacrifice a friend to save myself!' Merlin shouts.
'Bravely spoken, but Gaius is already doomed. If you confess, the witch finder will just burn you both,' Kilgharrah says.
Arthur nods in agreement.
'But it's my fault! Don't you understand?' Merlin shouts.
'All too well, young warlock. But understand this: if you were to die, you would endanger the lives of all those that rely upon you,' warned the dragon.
'Well, there must be something I can do. There must be. Please help me,' begged Merlin.
'Merlin, I see you are distressed by this, but I cannot help you because I do not know how to,' Kilgharrah sighs.
'I can't just stand by and watch Gaius die! I can't!' Merlin shouts.
'I am sorry,' Kilgharrah answers and flies off.
Aredian interrogates Gaius once again in the dungeons.
'You're a traitor! You're an impostor! Sorcery is your only master,' Aredian is saying.
'I serve only my King,' Gaius answers.
'Ha! In what way have you served him? You've lied to him. You've broken his laws. You've betrayed his trust,' Aredian claims.
'But saved Camelot countless of times,' Lancelot says.
'I've saved his life. I've treated his ward. I've protected his only son,' the physician said.
'You've treated his ward?' asks Aredian.
'I don't think you should have said that,' Hunith said.
Gaius shook his head, 'I know I put him onto her scent.'
'I have striven to help all those in need. It is a physician's duty to do so,' the physician replied.
'The Lady Morgana?' asked Aredian.
'Among others,' Gaius agrees.
'For what malady does she receive this treatment?' asked Aredian.
'She...she suffers from nightmares,' admits the physician.
'I see,' Aredian said.
'I think he does,' agrees Merlin.
'And as I said, I feel it is my duty to attend to the needs-'the physician starts.
'Yes, yes. You seem very keen to change the subject, Gaius. Perhaps I should question her myself,' suggests the witchfinder.
Gaius sees Morgana being led into Aredian's dungeon chambers, 'there's no need to be concerned, My Lady. I won't detain you long. There's just a small detail I wish to clarify. Now, it's true, is it not, that you have received treatment for nightmares?' questions the witchfinder.
Morgana nods looking terrified.
'She really was going through hell being stuck here,' Arthur sighed.
'We all were,' sighed Gaius.
'And it was Gaius, the court physician, who administered these treatments? These potions?' asks Aredian.
'Yes,' Morgana whispers looking shaken.
'I'm sorry, could you speak up?' Aredian asks again.
'Yes,' Morgana still looking terrified raises her voice.
'Thank you. Now, you may go,' dismisses Aredian.
Morgana smiles in relief and gets up to leave as quick as she can.
'You don't happen to know what was in these potions, I suppose?' questions the witchfinder.
'Not magic,' Gaius said, 'simple science.'
'Oh, no,' Morgana shakes her head.
'No. No, of course not. You're not a physician, after all. So, for all you know, these potions could have been magical, your dreams the product of an enchanted elixir,' suggested the witchfinder.
'Oh, I had these dreams before Gaius started treating me,' seer replied.
'But these dreams, have they got better or worse since Gaius began treating you?' asked Aredian.
'Worse,' Gaius said.
'Only because her magic is maturing,' Merlin said.
'Worse,' Morgana admits.
'As I thought. Thank you. You've been most helpful,' Aredian answers.
Aredian pokes Gaius in his cell.
'Gaius. Are you prepared to confess?' asks the witchfinder.
'I'd rather die of thirst,' Gaius said.
'Good. And die you shall. But not alone, I'm pleased to say. You shall have company,' the witchfinder says.
'What?' Gaius looks shocked.
'Merlin and the Lady Morgana are to join you in the flames,' informs the witchfinder.
Hunith paled.
'I don't think father could ever kill Morgana, even now,' Arthur said.
'No. This is a trick,' Gaius shakes his head.
Aredian shakes head, 'mm-Mmm. You've corrupted them, Gaius,' the witchfinder says.
'Hardly,' Merlin said, 'I had magic before I met Gaius and Morgana had visions before she was treated by Gaius.'
'And they must answer to their king. Unless...' Aredian trailed off.
'Unless what?' Gaius asks.
Aredian throws Gaius to his knees before the court.
'Confess! Confess!' the witchfinder orders.
'I...I am a sorcerer, Sire. I am responsible for conjuring the smoke. I'm guilty of practicing magic in Camelot, the goblin, the faces in the well, I...I am the sorcerer who conjured the toad from his mouth,' Gaius lies.
There is a silence as Merlin tenses up, 'you confessed to save me,' Merlin said.
'You've betrayed me, Gaius. Betrayed your friends. And above all, you've betrayed yourself. By the laws of Camelot, I must sentence you to death,' the King doesn't seem happy about this.
'The sorcerer will be purged of his magic by means of fire! He shall be burnt at the stake tomorrow at dawn! Bear witness and heed this lesson!' the witch finder says.
The guards drag Gaius out of the room as Merlin charges at Aredian.
'You're a liar,' Merlin shouts.
'True,' Arthur nods.
Arthur gets up and restrains him, dragging him from the room.
'Thank you, Arthur,' smiled Gaius, 'you stopped him from doing something stupid which could have cost him his life.'
'I understood why he was upset,' Arthur shrugged, 'and I knew what a dangerous man the witchfinder was.'
'Guards!' the king calls.
'You're a liar!' Merlin shouts again.
'I'll deal with this,' Arthur tells the guards.
Arthur takes Merlin to the Dungeons and lets him go, Merlin takes a swing at him, but Arthur grabs his arm and twists it behind his back, 'argh!' Merlin yells.
'I take back what I said,' Hunith frowned.
'I know you're upset. I know you're angry. It's alright. I'm not throwing you in jail,' the prince assured his friend.
'Oh, sorry,' Hunith said.
Arthur shook his head, 'it's fine.'
'Then what are you doing?' Merlin demands.
Arthur lets his friend go.
'I'm breaking the law,' Arthur admits.
'Tut, tut, princess, going against your father's wishes,' grinned Gwaine.
Arthur open's the door to Gaius' cell for Merlin to talk to Gaius.
'I can only give you a few minutes,' warned Arthur.
'They wouldn't let me see you, there was nothing I could do,' Merlin said.
'I know. I understand,' Gaius assured his ward.
'I can't believe it. I can't believe Uther would do this to you,' Merlin said angrily.
'He had no choice. Once Aredian had found the amulet...' Gaius trailed off.
'I didn't even know you had such a thing,' Merlin said.
'I didn't,' Gaius said.
'It isn't mine,' Gaius frowned.
'Why did you say it was?' asked Merlin.
'I thought it was yours,' Gaius said.
'I know,' Merlin nods.
'I was trying to protect you,' Gaius said.
'I don't know what to say,' Merlin shakes his head.
'It's alright, Merlin. You don't have to say anything,' Gaius assured the boy.
'Yeah, I do. The amulet isn't mine either,' Merlin said.
'Then how did it get there?' asked Gaius.
'It was planted,' growled Merlin.
'Aredian,' Merlin said.
'Aredian?' asked Gaius.
'There's no other explanation,' Merlin said.
'But why?' Gaius asked.
'Money,' frowned Gwaine.
'It doesn't matter why. All that matters is, if I can prove he planted it, you're saved,' Merlin said.
'No. You must let this go,' Gaius said.
'Don't you know Merlin?' asked Lancelot, 'when someone he loves is in danger he'll never give up.'
Gaius nods.
'No, you're falsely accused. I have a chance to prove that. I must take that chance,' Merlin said.
'No, Merlin. You must not,' Gaius said.
'I don't understand. Do you want to die?' Merlin asks.
'No. But neither do I want you to die. And die you surely will if you get too close to Aredian. He will trap you, Merlin. He will manipulate you, and without ever meaning to, you will incriminate yourself. You must let this go,' Gaius sighed.
'I must let you go?' Merlin asks.
'To do otherwise would be an act of suicide,' Gaius said.
'But it's Merlin who can do the impossible,' grins Gwaine.
Merlin watches out the window from the physician's as the guards build a pyre in the Square.
Aredian visits Gaius in his cell.
'Ah, Gaius. Well, I hope you've found some relief now that your ordeal is over,' Aredian said.
'Which you caused,' muttered Merlin.
'Your concern is touching, Aredian. Now will you please get out of my sight,' Gaius snaps.
'Ha! Of course. I just thought you'd want to hear the news, that's all,' Aredian sneered.
'What news?' asks Gaius.
'My investigations have begun,' the witchfinder informed the man on death roll.
'Begun? But you already extracted my confession,' Gaius said.
'Indeed. Which just leaves Merlin and the Lady Morgana,' the witchfinder said.
'But we struck a bargain,' Gaius said.
'Did you really think a man like that would keep to it?' asked Lancelot.
'I shouldn't have,' agreed Gaius.
'Oh, I don't bargain with sorcerer's,' the witchfinder informed the sorcerer and chuckles darkly.
Morgana watches the pyre being built in the Square from her window as Aredian appears behind her.
Gwen bursts into Gaius' chambers.
'Merlin? He won't let go! He won't stop!' Gwen said
Merlin turns to his friend.
'What happened?' the warlock asks.
'The Witchfinder's questioning Morgana again. I'm worried, Merlin. She's close to breaking point,' Gwen said.
'No wonder she hates us all when she's been treated like this,' Arthur sighed.
'Yeah, that's what he does. He breaks you down and in the end you confess whether you're guilty or not,' Merlin agreed bitterly.
'What do you mean?' asked Gwen.
'Gaius was set up. Aredian planted that amulet,' Merlin said.
'But why would he do such a thing?' asks Gwen.
'Aredian is paid to catch sorcerers. Maybe he doesn't care whether someone is guilty or not. Maybe he gets confessions by lying, by planting evidence, just as long as he gets a confession, he gets his money,' Merlin explained.
'Good deduction,' nods Percival.
'But even if this is true, what can we do without proof?' asked Gwen.
'Get some,' Merlin said simply.
Merlin snoops around Aredian's chambers.
'Be careful,' warned Gaius.
'Tospringe,' Merlin's spell unlocks a cupboard and he finds flower petals. Merlin hears someone coming and remakes the bed with a spell, 'dæfte þæt bedd.'
Aredian enters and Aredian notices something is off, but looks in the wrong hiding spot behind a curtain whilst Merlin is under the bed.
Gwen and Merlin flip through books in the physician's chambers.
'This is hopeless!' Gwen complained.
'Keep looking,' Merlin continued flicking through the pages of his book.
'We don't even know if this flower means anything,' Gwen said.
'Too much can cause hallucinations,' the physician.
'Plus why would Aredian keep flowers in his room,' Percival said.
'No we don't, but it's all we've got. Here. Belladonna,' Merlin pointed at the book.
'"For the alleviation of ulcers, allergies, and muscular inflammation..." This is hopeless, Merlin,' Gwen complained.
'No, wait. Listen, "Under certain conditions, a tincture of the flower can produce hallucinations,"' Merlin read from the book.
'The faces in the well, the frogs from the sorcerer's mouth, the goblin,' Percival understood.
Merlin nods, 'hallucinations,' grinned Merlin.
'So?' asked Gwen.
Merlin scoffed, 'Aredian's witnesses. It wasn't magic they were seeing, it was visions.'
'It makes sense, if he's faking the evidence. But how can we prove it?' asks Gwen.
'No, Aredian's too clever to have given the tincture to them directly. The witnesses, they must've got it from someone else,' Merlin said.
'They could've been getting it from anyone,' Gwen said desperately.
'Is there anything, anything at all that these people had in common?' asked Merlin.
'They were all women?' asked Gwen.
'No, that doesn't tell us anything,' Merlin said.
'Yes, it does. What's the one thing only women would buy? Things to make them look beautiful,' Gwen said.
Gwen and Merlin run through the Lower Town at night and knock on a door, and older man steps out.
'Gwen?' asks the apothecary owner.
'I take it you use products like that,' grinned Elian.
'I am a woman,' Gwen said.
'And she wants to impress the princess,' grinned Gwaine.
Gwen and Merlin step inside.
'Do you sell a tincture of Belladonna?' asks Gwen.
'What's this all about?' the apothecary owner asks.
'Please, it's important,' Gwen said urgently.
'Well, I, I think I've got some somewhere, but what you'd be wanting with eye drops in the middle of the night, I really don't want to know,' the apothecary owner shakes his head.
'Eye drops,' Gwen said.
'Yes. Women use them to make their eyes more beautiful,' explained the apothecary owner.
'Where did you get this?' asked Merlin.
'Well, my usual suppliers,' answers the man.
'Sure you didn't get it from someone else?' Merlin double checks.
'Of course I'm sure. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to get some sleep,' the apothecary owner says.
'It was Aredian who gave you the Belladonna, wasn't it?' Gwen said.
'Don't know what you're talking about,' the owner lies.
'I think he does,' Gwaine said.
'But you know that Gaius is going to be executed tomorrow, don't you?' Merlin said suddenly.
'That has nothing to do with me,' the apothecary owner says.
'That has everything to do with you! Aredian's witnesses saw visions . Visions produced by the Belladonna in these eye drops! If we can prove this, we have a chance of saving Gaius,' Merlin said desperately.
'He forced me to sell it. He, he said he'd kill me if I said anything to anyone,' the man looks scared.
'He probably would,' agrees Gaius grimly.
'It was him? It was Aredian?' Gwen asks.
'Yes, it was him,' agrees the man.
'Thank you,' Gwen says.
'Thank you,' Merlin repeats the sentiment.
In the physician's chambers Merlin grabs the tincture and Belladonna petals from the side, 'that's it. We've got everything we need,' Merlin said.
'But is it enough?' asks Gwen.
'We've got a witness as well. Surely that's enough?' Merlin asks.
'It's still just our word against Aredian's!' points out Gwen.
'Gwen, we don't have a choice! By dawn tomorrow Gaius will be dead,' Merlin says desperately.
'Merlin, we've only got one chance at this. We've got to give Uther something he cannot deny. Something not even Aredian can talk his way out of,' Gwen said.
'What did you do?' asked Lancelot.
'I'll be as quick as I can,' Merlin rushed off.
Merlin sneaks into Aredian's room and raises a hand to the cupboard, 'hlyste min níehst bebod,' Merlin whispers.
'Now your planting evidence,' Arthur said.
'I didn't have much choice,' Merlin said. 'Anyway it saved Gaius' life.'
'Thank,' Gaius smiled, 'even if you did ignore my advice.'
'I'd do it again to save your life,' Merlin said.
Merlin approaches Aredian and reaches a hand over Aredian's throat.
'Ceolwærc,' Merlin whispers.
'The frog in his throat,' Leon said.
Merlin grinned proudly.
'Aren't you sorry?' asked Lancelot.
'For Aredian?' asked Merlin, 'no!'
Gaius sees sunlight enter his cell. Gwen sees the sunrise from the Physician's Chambers.
'Come on, Merlin. Come on,' Gwen pleaded.
Aredian gets ready in the morning, trying to clear his throat. He fetches Gaius from the Dungeons.
'Good morning, Gaius,' Aredian greets.
'I'd hardly call it good,' Percival says coolly.
Merlin runs into the physician's chambers.
'Merlin! Where have you been?' demands Gwen.
'It's done. Everything's in place,' Merlin said.
'But it's too late! Gaius has already left the dungeons!' Gwen cried.
Hunith pales, 'is it always this closely cut?'
Merlin nods, 'pretty much.'
'Then...then we'll have to delay the execution,' Merlin said desperately.
'How?' Gwen asks.
'Arthur. I'll speak to Arthur,' Merlin decides.
'You're far fairer than your father,' Merlin said.
Everybody nodded at this. Arthur didn't know what to say he'd always thought his father was such a brilliant king and had done everything to impress him and worried he was a disappointment but seeing this he was coming to realise his father wasn't as wonderful as he thought.
'No. Leave Arthur to me,' Gwen said.
'Using your feminine charms,' grinned Gwaine.
Gwen rolled her eyes.
Aredian escorts Gaius to the pyre in the square in the horse-drawn cage. Uther watches Gaius as he's brought out, but leaves before Aredian opens the cage and drags Gaius to the pyre.
'He can't watch Gaius die,' Arthur said.
Gaius is being heckled.
'Easy there! Show some respect!' orders the Crown Prince.
'Sorry. Excuse me. Excuse me. Sorry. I must get through. Sorry. Excuse me. Arthur! Arthur! Arthur, you've got to stop this,' Gwen begs her future husband.
'I can't, Gwen. You know I can't,' Arthur didn't look happy about this.
'Merlin has proof that Gaius is innocent,' Gwen said urgently.
'My father's already past sentence. There's nothing I can do,' the prince sighed.
'You can do the right thing, Arthur Pendragon! You can show some faith in a loyal friend, or you can stand by and watch an innocent man die!' Gwen shouts.
'See that's why I think Gwen is good for you,' grinned Merlin.
'I don't need your permission, Merlin,' Arthur said.
'I can still give my opinion,' Merlin grinned.
'Guinevere-'Arthur begins.
'You did it once before to my father; are you really willing to let it happen again? And you can stop looking at me like that, I know I'm only a servant! I thought you were a prince, so start behaving like one!' Gwen rants.
'Ouch,' laughed Gwaine.
Aredian lowers the torch to light the pyre.
'Wait!' the Crown prince steps in.
The courtiers, Merlin, Gwen, Aredian and the king stand around in the throne room.
'Sire, the witnesses saw nothing but hallucinations induced by the Belladonna in these eye drops,' Merlin informs the hall.
'And you bought this Belladonna from this man?' asks the king.
The witnesses all nod.
'Where did you get it from? Don't be afraid, no harm will come to you here,' assured the king.
'The Witchfinder. He gave them to me,' the apothecary owner assures them.
'Did he tell you what it was for?' asks Uther.
'No. Only that if I did not sell it, he'd have me burnt at the stake,' the man says.
'He probably could,' Gaius adds grimly.
'Well we know he plants false information,' Merlin said. 'He could easily do that for him, too.'
'How do you answer to these accusations?' the king asks the witchfinder.
'They're absurd. The boy has clearly concocted these lies in the hope of saving his master,' Aredian denies.
'Then you won't mind if we search your chamber, will you?' Merlin asks.
'Silence! You have no authority here!' the king orders.
'Father...let's settle this once and for all. If what Merlin says is wrong, he must bear the consequences. But if there is some truth in what he says...' he trails off.
'I have nothing to hide,' Aredian says.
Aredian, Merlin, Arthur, Uther, and Morgana watch the guards search Aredian's rooms, 'you're wasting your time,' Aredian assures them.
'The cupboard over there,' the prince directs his guard.
Dozens of amulets drop out, and a stash of Belladonna tincture is inside.
Merlin grins at his handy work.
'These things don't belong to me!' the witchfinder his shocked. 'This is a trick!' Aredian coughs, 'that boy plots against me!'
'That he does,' Hunith said proudly.
'And he plots against Gaius,' Merlin adds.
Aredian tries to clear throat and spits out a toad.
'That was a shock in a half,' Arthur muttered.
Merlin grinned, 'it was funny though.'
'Sorcerer!' cries the king.
Aredian grabs a dagger and the Lady Morgana.
'Aredian, think carefully about what you're doing. You will never escape from Camelot alive,' warns the King of Camelot.
'I will if you value the life of your ward,' warns the man.
'Forbærnan,' Merlin whispers.
The handle of the dagger heats up and Aredian drops it, freeing Morgana. Aredian trips backward over a box and falls out the window.
'That was why he fell out the window,' Arthur understood.
Gaius cleans the mess that the guards made of his chambers when Uther enters. 'Gaius, I'm glad I found you here.'
'Where else would I be?' asked Gaius, 'I was reinstated as Court Physician!'
'As am I, My Lord. It thought I'd never see these chambers again,' Gaius admits.
'If anything was damaged in the search, I'll be only too glad to replace it,' the king says.
'That doesn't take away the fact that he almost had Gaius executed,' scowled Merlin.
'Indeed not,' agreed Gaius.
'You're very kind, My Lord,' Gaius continues to clean his chambers.
'Aredian. I can still scarcely believe that he was a sorcerer,' Uther shakes his head.
'Because he wasn't,' Percival points out and Merlin grins guiltily.
'Indeed. Is there some reason you wish to see me?' asks Gaius a little sharp.
'Yes. I, er...I wanted to say I'm sorry if you suffered at his hands,' Uther apologizes.
'But I did not suffer at his hands, Uther. I suffered at yours. He worked for you, My Lord. He was merely following your orders,' Gaius pointed out.
'But I was deceived,' Uther denied.
'No. You were deceived long before Aredian, for you deceived yourself. You see foes where there are friends, you see sorcerers where there are but servants. I am not the first to be wrongly accused in your war against magic, and not all have been as lucky as I,' Gaius said.
'Not everyone has Merlin,' Gaius said.
'I assure you, Gaius, every measure will be taken to ensure that nothing like this will happen again,' Uther promised.
'I hope that is true, for all our sakes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do,' Gaius said.
Gaius serves Merlin and himself dinner at their table the physician's chambers look much cleaner, 'what I don't understand is how you knew he'd concealed the evidence in his chamber,' Gaius pointed out.
'Just a hunch, really,' Merlin grinned.
'I see. And the toad,' Gaius raised his eyebrow.
'That I, er...ahem, I, er...can't explain,' Merlin stuttered.
'I can hardly explain it myself. Unless, of course, you put it there,' Gaius said.
'Never try to out lie Uncle Gaius it is impossible,' Hunith said.
'Tell me about it,' Merlin rolled his eyes.
'OK, Gaius, fair enough. I promise I will never save your life again,' Merlin said.
'Okay, okay, when he put it like that it was very ungrateful,' Gaius said.
'Promise?' Gaius asked.
'Absolutely,' Merlin lied.
Merlin and Gaius laugh.
'Honestly, Merlin, the toad was a step too far,' Gaius said.
'Gaius has a point,' Percival said.
'It was funny,' grinned Gwaine.
'And illegal,' adds Arthur.
'We've been through this, Arthur, I'm illegal!' Merlin frowned.
'You should've seen the look on his face,' Merlin laughs.
Gaius joins in Merlin's laughter.