The Lady of the Lake
'In a land of myth and time of magic the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy,' as Kilgharrah talks there's a close up of Merlin's eyes. 'His name,' Merlin's eyes go gold, 'Merlin!'
'We do know Merlin's name,' Percival commented.
On a rainy knight in Camelot a man comes in on horse drawing a cage behind him.
Merlin recognizes the man as the bounty hunter. Merlin tensed up knowing what was going to happen.
The bounty hunter checks the locks before leaving. There's a scared girl in the cage.
'The beast,' Leon realised.
'She's no beast!' Merlin shouted his magic filling the room and the windows shattering, 'er sorry,' Merlin said guiltily.
'You haven't done that in years!' Hunith notes frowning.
'I know,' sighed Merlin.
Gaius frowned at Merlin knowing how hard this was going to be for the heart broken warlock.
The girl backed into the cage away from the bounty hunter.
In a peasant home the physician is treating a man in his bed. Gaius turns to the man's wife as Merlin helps Gaius with his coat, 'if he's not better in the morning, let me know,' instructs the physician.
Merlin has finished getting his mentor's cloak on and the two leave.
Outside the Rising Sun Pub Freya suddenly pops up. Merlin jumps back in surprise, 'Gaius,' he calls.
'She's fallen prey to a bounty hunter,' Gaius said.
Merlin scowled at this, 'I can't believe that Uther pays for humans!'
'She's not human!' Arthur said.
'Only for one hour of the day,' Merlin retorts, 'for the rest of the day she's as human as everyone else!'
'You knew her?' asked Gwen.
Merlin closes his eyes and nods.
'Uther offers a handsome reward for anyone with magic,' Gaius turns to go.
Merlin and Hunith shudder at this.
'There must be something we can do,' Merlin said desperately.
'Merlin. Bounty hunters are dangerous men, they are not to be meddled with,' warned Gaius.
'I don't like turning a blind eye when innocent people die if I have a choice,' Merlin glared.
'I take it you don't listen,' Percival said.
'But she killed people,' Arthur said.
'Not purposefully,' Merlin snapped.
'You of all people should understand that,' Gaius turned to leave.
'Understand, yes,' agreed Merlin, 'understand that it could be me in that cage.'
Merlin and Freya stare at each other for a moment a connection between the two creatures of magic.
Merlin makes sure Gaius is asleep and sneaks out of their shared chambers. He goes to the pub and checks around where he sees Halig, the Bounty Hunter, eating chicken legs. When assured that the bounty hunter was distracted he went to where the girl was.
'It's okay I'm not going to hurt you,' Merlin promised then going to the front of the cage, 'tospringe,' the door burst open.
The captured girl didn't move looking scared.
'She looks terrified,' Hunith smiled, 'poor thing.'
Merlin nods.
Merlin climbs into the cage putting her hands on the girl's cuffed wrists he whispers, 'unspanne þás mægþ!' his eyes flash gold and the cuffs break.
Merlin takes Freya by the hand and pulls her out where they hide just as the Bounty Hunter comes out of the pub still with a piece of chicken in his mouth. His eyes fall on the cage and realising its empty runs up to the broken chains. Merlin and Freya remain hidden behind the bails of hay. Merlin looks up to the sign of the Rising Sun he whispers, 'ic bebeod this giesterntacen feollon,' Merlin's eyes flashed and he dragged the girl with him. Down an underground corridor Merlin hissed, 'bryne,' and a torch lit up. Merlin took the girl to a larger part of the corridor. Merlin took his jacket off and went to give it to her when she flinched back.
'Was she scared of everyone?' asked Percival.
Merlin nodded, 'she had been running and hiding for a long time.'
'Sorry,' Merlin said quickly, 'Sorry,' Merlin repeated. 'I just thought you might be cold.'
'Why did you do that?' asked the girl.
'Because that's Merlin,' Gwen smiled at her friend, 'it's who he is; he'd help anyone!'
'What?' asked Merlin.
'Help me,' Freya said.
'Because it could have been me in that cage,' asked Merlin. 'I'll be back in the morning with food and blankets,' Merlin promised.
'That's why my food went missing,' Arthur scowled.
'I think Merlin was trying to impress the girl,' grinned Gwaine.
Merlin didn't answer this.
'Will you be alright till then?' asked Merlin. 'My name is Merlin,' the warlock introduced himself.
'I'm Freya,' Freya smiled.
'That was the girl you loved,' Hunith remembered.
Merlin nodded sadly.
'And I killed her,' Arthur's eyes widened.
'You did what you thought best,' Merlin said no matter how it hurt me!'
Arthur frowned but didn't say anything.
'Freya,' Merlin smiled and held out the coat for the timid girl he waited and she took it. 'I'll see you in the morning, Freya,' Merlin was just leaving.
'Thank you,' the girl said suddenly wrapped up in Merlin's jacket.
Merlin comes back round the corner and smiles at the girl.
In the morning Merlin comes down pulling on a jacket.
'Have you got more than one of the same coat?' asked Arthur.
'They're warm,' shrugged Merlin.
He begins searching the room.
'What are you looking for?' asked Gaius.
'Food,' Merlin shrugs.
Under a pile of the physician's paper he finds a small lump of bread and in a cupboard a wrinkly apple. Not looking very happy with this.
Merlin is in Arthur's chambers where there is a large plate of food. Merlin replaces it with the apple and bread from Gaius' chambers.
'I still can't believe you stole my food,' scowled Arthur.
'Freya needed it more,' Merlin retorted.
'Doesn't she get enough from feasting on-'Arthur began.
'Arthur,' Gwen cut in.
Arthur quickly shut up.
He wraps Arthur's food in cloth then goes over to the window, 'breakfast!' Merlin calls.
Arthur blearily wakes up as Merlin is about to leave the Crown Prince sees his measly meal, 'oi! Where's the meat, cheese?' Arthur looks outraged.
'That's the new breakfast menu,' Merlin says.
'Sure it is,' laughed Gwen.
Arthur picks up the bread and apple, 'this isn't enough,' he claims.
'We've got to keep you in shape,' Merlin claims.
'I'm fighting fit,' Arthur retorts.
'We want to keep you that way,' Merlin said.
'Merlin!' Arthur throws the food at the door which Merlin is standing at. 'Is there somewhere you have to be?' the prince demands.
'Of course not,' the warlock lies.
'To see his girl,' grinned Gwaine.
'Good because I've got some chores for you,' Arthur said.
Merlin looked very unhappy about this.
Merlin is pouring water into a bathtub whilst Arthur changes behind a screen.
'The women shouldn't be watching this,' Elyan said looking at his sister.
'Make sure the waters hot enough,' orders the prince.
'It was far too hot,' Arthur frowned, 'how did you get it so hot.'
'Magic,' grinned Merlin.
Merlin feels the temperature of the water then looking around enchants, 'onhaet tha waeter,' Merlin said with a flash of gold in his eyes.
The bath began to bubble and steam.
'I think that may be too hot,' Gaius seemed amused.
Merlin grinned.
'Is it ready?' Arthur came wearing a towel around his waist.
'Thank goodness you were wearing a towel,' Elyan breathed.
'Yeah, freshly heated,' Merlin said.
Arthur places a foot in the water, 'ah!' he screams. 'You bumpkin; it's boiling!'
'Boiling?' asked Merlin shocked.
'Get your mind off Freya,' Hunith shook her head.
'You're half asleep today,' Arthur shouted angrily.
'He's daydreaming,' grinned Gwaine.
'Sorry, sire, I'll get you some cold,' Merlin said hurriedly.
'No I'll get you some,' Arthur grabbed a jug of water from the table and flung it over the servant's head.
Merlin looking soaked stood shocked.
'That woke you up?' Arthur put the jug back on the table.
'Raring to go,' Merlin said as he poured cold water in the tub.
In the council chambers; the king, the Court Physician are there when the Bounty Hunter enters with some knights Uther looks up, 'ah Halig you come bearing gifts?' asks the king.
'For you to destroy,' Merlin hissed.
'Yes, sire,' the man bowed with the knights. 'A druid girl, but she escaped last night in Camelot.'
'Or Merlin broke her out,' Gaius shook his head.
'Don't worry we'll find her soon,' assured the king not looking up from his writing. 'Have some guards help with the search.'
A few of the knights bow at this.
'You need to warn them sire,' the Bounty Hunter walks closer to the table. 'The girl is dangerous.'
'Only one hour a day,' Merlin fury shining gold in his eyes as there was a crackle in the air.
'When she kills people,' Arthur says.
'She can't control herself,' Merlin said.
'Arthur, leave it,' Gwen said.
'Even the druids were scared of her; they cast her out of their camp,' explained the Bounty Hunter.
'What?' Merlin looked hurt at this, 'but… they help people!'
'They would have had to make a choice between all the people and Freya,' Gaius said.
Merlin just glared at his mentor.
'It is against all druid believes to reject those who need care,' Gaius informed them.
'I can't believe they ignored that,' Merlin scowled.
'Why did they do such a thing?' asked Uther.
'I dread to think,' Gaius fixes the bounty hunter with a piercing blue stare.
'Set up sentries on all the gates,' orders the king.
'We should search the lower town, sire,' suggests the Bounty Hunter. 'Someone may be harboring her.'
'He saw you,' groaned Hunith.
'You think she had help?' asked Gaius.
'He'll know it was you,' Hunith warned.
'I suspected as much if trouble's afoot Merlin, Arthur or both are involved,' Gaius said.
'I saw two figures running away,' the Bounty Hunter explained.
'Did he know it was you?' Hunith asks.
'He suspected as much,' Merlin said, 'but he never got any proof.'
'Give Halig all the help he needs,' ordered the king. 'I want this girl and her accomplish found!'
'Freya was found,' Merlin sighed remembering the helpless feeling of her dying and being able to do nothing!
In the lower town the guards are going through the townsfolk. Halig stands behind the guards.
'Get in line!' a guard orders. 'Move along!' the guard orders when Halig shakes his head.
When it gets to Merlin's turn Halig once again shakes his head. Merlin walks away and Halig turns to watch the servant walking away.
'He recognizes you,' Percival said.
Merlin with a torch walks along the corridor to where Freya is sleeping under Merlin's jacket. Merlin puts the torch in a stand and takes out the food he'd stolen from Arthur watching the girl sleeping.
'Freya?' Merlin says quietly and reaches out to shake her awake.
Freya flinches back a look of complete fear on her face.
'She was scared of you,' Arthur said, 'no one's scared of you!'
'Despite the fact that I could destroy Camelot,' Merlin said.
'But you wouldn't,' Gaius said.
'She was scared of everyone,' Merlin said.
'It's okay, it's just me. And look,' Merlin opened the blanket and slid open with Arthur's food.
Freya began stuffing her face with food.
'And you say I don't have manners,' grimaced Arthur.
'She hadn't had anything to eat in a while!' Merlin retorted. 'Anyway I think it was sweet.'
Arthur guffawed at this and Gwaine laughed, 'does Merlin like girls with no table manners.'
'No I like her,' Merlin said, 'eager eating and all.'
While Freya continued to eat Merlin began placing candles away.
'It's good,' Freya said.
'Of course, it is,' Arthur muttered.
'Trust me it's fit for a prince,' Merlin said.
'Yes which you stole,' Arthur said.
Merlin used magic to turn on the lights to no reaction from the girl. Whilst Freya continued to munch on her food a symbol on her arm which Merlin saw, 'is that a druid symbol?' Merlin asked. 'Have you always been a druid?'
'Inquisitive as always,' Hunith smiled.
'I don't get much time to find out about my own kind,' Merlin said staring at the pretty druid with a kind of painful longing.
'Why are you asking me all these questions?' asked Freya.
'She's beginning to open up,' Percival noted.
Merlin nodded, 'she got more comfortable with me.'
'Sorry I didn't mean to,' Merlin said.
Freya continued to eat her food,' 'I'm sorry,' the druid girl said looking up at the magic boy.
'I understand,' Merlin said.
'You could never understand,' Freya said.
'She really did have a tragic story,' Gwen sighed.
'With a tragic end,' agreed Gaius.
'I know what it's like to keep secrets,' said Merlin.
'I've done that my whole life,' sighed Merlin.
'Does anyone know you have magic?' asked Freya.
'Yes,' everyone shouted.
'Then the only living people who knew were Lancelot, mother, Gaius and Mordred,' Merlin said, 'and only Gaius lives in Camelot.'
'Only you,' Merlin said.
'What does that make me?' asked Gaius.
'I think I did know,' Hunith said.
'And me,' agreed Lancelot.
'I know,' Merlin said.
'And one other person,' added Merlin.
'I only included Gaius who was the only one who was here,' Merlin said quickly to his friend and mother.
'He knows but I'm not sure he understands,' Merlin shrugged.
'You weren't born in the middle of the purge,' Merlin said.
Gaius nods in agreement.
'I wish I was like everyone else. But…' Freya trailed off.
'I don't think she's talking about magic,' Gaius frowned.
Merlin nods in agreement, 'but I thought she was. If I had listened better…' Merlin trailed off. 'Maybe she'd still be-'
Arthur interrupted the warlock.
'It was me who killed her not you,' Arthur said.
Merlin winced at this.
'I take it was you who made the gargoyle fall,' Arthur said.
'I didn't want either of you hurt,' Merlin replied.
'You always know deep down your not,' agreed Merlin. 'Magic doesn't have to be a curse; it can be a gift.'
'Not in her case,' Gaius said.
'It's not her fault,' Merlin said tensely.
Freya chewed and didn't say anything.
'Look,' Merlin looked towards the candles, 'hoppaþ nu swicae swá lig flíehan,' the flames of the candles float around in beautiful manner.
'That's beautiful,' breathed Gwen.
Hunith smiled proudly at her son.
'Beautiful,' breathed the girl.
Merlin continued to control the flames then put them back on their wicks. Merlin got up and turned to leave, 'I have to go someone might notice I'm missing,' Merlin said.
'At least your still be sensible,' Hunith said relieved.
'But I'll come back, I promise,' promised the warlock. 'And I'll bring some more food.'
Arthur frowned at this but decided to leave it knowing how tragic this relationship was going to be.
Merlin picked up the torch and left.
Merlin re-entered Gaius' chambers where Gaius was waiting, 'do you know anything about the girl?' asked the old man.
'What girl?' asked Merlin.
'Like you don't know,' snorted Arthur.
'The girl from the cage,' Gaius said. 'She escaped last night.'
'Good, I'm pleased,' Merlin said.
'Well you did save her life,' Lancelot said.
'They're out hunting for her,' Gaius informed him.
'Why can't they just let her be?' asked Merlin.
'Because that's not what Uther does,' Hunith sighed.
'Did you help her escape?' asked Gaius.
'Knew, Uncle Gaius, would find out about this. Nothing gets past him,' Hunith shook her head.
'No,' Merlin lied.
'Merlin,' Gaius said.
'You told me not to get involved,' Merlin said.
'You never do as I tell you to,' Gaius groaned.
Merlin grinned.
'You promise me you have nothing to do with this!' Gaius demanded.
'Yes,' Merlin lied.
'You're too good a liar,' Arthur groaned.
'I have been lying my whole life,' Merlin said.
Gaius stares at Merlin who briefly looks away from Gaius' eyes.
'I should have seen that,' Gaius muttered.
'But your eyes are old,' grinned Merlin.
'Hah, cheek,' laughed Gaius.
Arthur is in his chambers eating his lunch.
'Would you like some water with that?' asked Merlin.
'Mmm,' Arthur agreed.
Merlin came closer to the table and with a flash of golden eyes Arthur's knife fell to the floor. When Arthur bent down to retrieve his knife Merlin stole his other drumstick right off the plate. Arthur returned to the table, 'I had two drumsticks,' Arthur said.
'No you didn't,' Merlin said.
'Merlin, I had two drumsticks,' Arthur repeated.
'Which Merlin stole for his girl,' grinned Gwaine.
'Maybe it fell on the floor,' suggested Merlin.
Whilst Arthur wasn't looking Merlin magically stole the three sausages from the prince. When Arthur looked again and found his lunch missing he said, 'I had sausages.'
'You sure?' asked Merlin.
'Yes and so are you,' scowled Arthur.
'Oh come on Arthur we our all fools in love,' Gwen said.
Arthur sighed and nodded.
'They must have fallen under the table,' Merlin began to look under the table.
'Merlin!' Arthur said angry.
'You're always so grumpy without food,' Merlin said.
'Well don't steal his food then,' suggested Gaius with a smile.
'What?' asked Merlin. 'You can search me; I haven't taken them.'
'But if I searched the jug I would have found that you had taken them,' smirked Arthur.
'And you would have never have guessed since I was nowhere near the table,' Merlin said.
'He could have guessed your secret,' Hunith said worriedly.
'Nobody ever does,' Merlin sighed.
Lancelot raised his eyebrows.
'Well except Lancelot and Gaius,' Merlin smiled.
'Well where have they gone?' Arthur leaned towards his servant.
'Strange,' Merlin said.
'Very!' agreed Arthur.
'Are you sure you didn't eat them?' asked Merlin.
'I haven't had the chance!' Arthur said angrily.
Merlin looked at the plate then back to the prince with a knowing looking on his face.
Merlin is hurrying through the lower town when he literally ran into the Bounty Hunter.
'Oh no,' groaned Hunith.
'Thanks for that,' Merlin looked at Arthur.
'You're my servant it would look really bad for me if you were arrested,' shrugged Arthur.
He is then flung into a cell by some guards. Halig takes the jug from the warlock and tips it upside down making the stolen food fall out.
'What's that?' demanded Halig.
'It's just the prince's leftovers,' lied Merlin.
'Or stolen food,' grinned Gwaine.
'Does he know you steal his food?' asked the Bounty Hunter threateningly.
'I don't usually,' Merlin mumbled.
'Not exactly,' Merlin admitted.
'Where were you taking it?' asked the Bounty Hunter.
'Home, for my dinner,' Merlin lied.
'Really?' the bounty hunter didn't seem to believe him. 'The druid girl have you seen her?'
'No,' Merlin shook his head.
Halig pushed him into the seat.
'You weren't hurt?' asked Gaius remembering his own experience with torture.
Merlin shook his head, 'thanks to Arthur.'
'I think your lying,' the Bounty Hunter said.
'I'm not,' Merlin shouted.
'Even then you refused to give her up,' Lancelot said, 'I've said it once. I'll say it again; you're the bravest of us all!'
'Halig!' Arthur came in. 'What do you think your doing?'
'We caught the boy behaving suspiciously, sire,' Halig answered.
Merlin shook his head.
'Merlin?' asked Arthur.
'He could be harboring the girl. And he's going to tell us where,' the Bounty Hunter said.
'Never,' Merlin said, 'not as long as there's breath in my body!'
'No,' Arthur put a hand on Halig before he hit the man.
'Thank you,' Hunith smiled at the prince.
'Merlin is my servant and he has my complete trust,' Arthur said.
'And that's still true,' Arthur said, 'despite your lies I know you've only done what you've done in our best interest.'
Merlin nodded usually he would have grinned at this but not when his mind was so full of Freya.
'If you have a problem with him you come to me, do you understand?' asks the prince.
'Sire,' nods Halig leaving the room. 'Goodnight, Merlin, don't forget your dinner.'
'Thank you,' Merlin said.
Arthur looks down seeing his sausages.
'Your in trouble,' smirked Gwaine.
'Ah,' Merlin looks at Arthur.
'Are those my sausages?' Arthur asks.
Merlin nods, 'mmm.'
'You took them?' Arthur asks.
'To keep you in shape,' Merlin picks up the meat.
'Is insulting Arthur the best excuse?' sighed Hunith.
'It worked,' Merlin shrugged, 'don't knock it!'
'Well I'm knocking it,' Arthur said. 'I'm not fat!'
Merlin shrugged, 'of course, sire,' he wasn't in the mood for the usual banter.
'You really miss her?' asked Arthur.
Merlin nods.
Arthur sighed but had no idea what to say to his friend.
'Are you saying I'm fat?' Arthur demands.
'No. Well, not yet,' Merlin said quickly.
'I am not fat!' Arthur shouted.
'You see? It's working,' Merlin said.
Merlin walks down the corridor to where Freya's hidden. Merlin places the torch down bringing out the food, 'I'm sorry I took so long. You must be hungry. What is it?'
'Nothing,' Freya said.
'What was wrong with her?' asked Hunith.
'Close to midnight,' sighed Merlin.
'But you're upset,' Merlin pointed out.
'No,' Freya said softly.
'D'you think I wasn't coming? But I promised you I would,' Merlin reminded her.
'I scare most people away,' admits Freya.
'I'm not most people. How long had you been in that cage?' asked Merlin placing a candle in the corner of the room.
'A few days,' admitted Freya.
'And the Bounty Hunter?' asked Merlin.
'Halig,' the druid didn't look at Merlin.
'How did he find you?' asked Merlin.
'You can't always trust people,' Freya admits.
'That must be hard,' Arthur said.
'I know,' Merlin looked at his friend. 'That is why I left home.'
'And because Hunith told you to so,' Gaius said.
'Because Will knew,' Merlin said. 'And I felt out of place.'
'Where is home?' asked Hunith.
'Ealdor,' Merlin said. 'A few fields; a couple of cows; nothing special,' Merlin explained.
'My home was next to a lake, surrounded by the tallest mountains,' smiled Freya.
'That's the first time I've seen her genuinely happy,' Hunith said.
'She was homesick,' Merlin said.
'You understand that,' Gwen said.
'That's why we connected so well,' Merlin explained.
'In the winter the storms whipped the waters up into waves and you thought they were going to crash down and take away all the houses,' Freya smiled.
'Sounds terrifying,' Gwen said.
'But it was her home,' Merlin said.
Merlin smiled at this.
'But in the summer,' Freya too smiled, 'there were will flowers, and the light.'
'Sounds perfect,' Merlin said.
'It was,' Freya agreed.
'Was?' asked Merlin.
'My family died,' explained Freya her smile disappearing from her face.
'What happened to her family?' asked Percival.
'Was it her?' asked Arthur warily for any explosions.
'No a sorcerer attacked the village,' Merlin said. 'He killed her family.'
'Oh,' Percival nodded.
'Have you been on your own ever since?' asked Merlin.
Freya nods.
'You're not on your own anymore. I'm going to take care of you, I promise,' Merlin swore.
Merlin closed his eyes, 'I broke that promise,' Merlin said.
Hunith took her son her arms and held the heart broken man.
'You can't look after me, no one can,' Freya replied.
'She was so broken inside,' Merlin said.
'I don't think you understand,' Merlin took Freya by the hand, 'I've never known anyone like you,' he admits.
'That's the closest I ever came to confessing,' Merlin admitted, 'I wish I had told her.'
'I'm sure she knew,' smiled Gwen.
Merlin attempts to pull his hand away from Freya's but Freya pulls his hands to her.
'I really wish I could stay,' admits Merlin.
'You're leaving?' asks Freya.
'We have to be careful,' the warlock reminds her.
'You do,' agreed Gaius. 'Keep being careful.'
'I do until close to the end,' Merlin closed his eyes and Arthur winced.
'I'll be back in the morning,' promises Merlin. 'You know I'll be back?'
Freya nods.
In the lower town Uther, Arthur and Gaius inspect the body.
Merlin tensed up at the body knowing that it was Freya.
'Have you got any leads on the creature that attacked him?' asked the king.
'That's the strange thing there were no tracks leading away from the body,' Arthur said.
'How?' asked Percival.
Merlin tensed up and closed his eyes, 'the curse.'
'Then what are these?' asked Gaius pointing at human footprints.
'But they're human footprints,' Percival said.
'I know,' Gaius agreed looking at Merlin.
'Human footprints,' Arthur said not understanding Gaius' reaction to it.
'But they're leading away from the body,' Gaius said.
'Could the person who left these tracks be responsible for the attack?' asked Uther.
'I don't believe so these wounds could only be the work of a beast of considerable size,' Gaius said.
Arthur didn't seem to like where the conversation was going. Uther bent down and looked at the footprints, 'if this was the work of neither a man nor a beast there's only one other explanation. It must be the work of a magical creature,' Uther said.
Gaius and Arthur both looked worried.
'Did you know it was her then?' asked Merlin quietly.
Gaius shook his head, 'it was only later that day that I realised what she was.'
In the tunnels Merlin enters again with a giant roll of bread, 'I know, I'm late again. Sorry. But, er, this is going to be the best bread you have ever tasted. What do you want with it? Come on. You can have anything. Ham. Cheese,' Merlin suggested.
'Strawberries,' Freya said suddenly.
'Strawberries and bread?' asked Gwaine.
Merlin shrugged, 'strawberries were her favourite food,' sighed Merlin.
'Strawberries it is,' Merlin said and clears his throat and rubs hands together, 'blóstma,'Merlin opens his hands to reveal a red rose.
'How did you manage that?' chuckled Arthur.
'I used the word for flower as in for the raspberry blood to fire but it got muddled,' Merlin said.
'It was your own, erm, distraction that made the spell wrong,' Gaius informed them.
'That's not a strawberry,' Freya laughed.
'Er, it's the right colour,' Merlin looked embarrassed.
'Why are you so good to me?' asked Freya.
'Because he loves you,' Gwen smiled.
'Always,' agrees Merlin.
'Because I can't help it. I don't know. I like you. With you I can just be who I am. We don't have to hide anything. We don't have to worry,' Merlin attempted to explain.
'Merlin, please, listen to me. I'm not like you,' Freya said.
'Your not,' agreed Gaius.
'I still love her,' Merlin replied.
Suddenly the guards and the Bounty Hunter appears.
'They must've followed me,' pulling Freya behind a wall deeper into the tunnels.
'That was too close,' whispered Hunith.
'They're going to find me. I can't go back in that cage, I can't,' sobbed Freya as they both slid down the wall.
'She was terrified,' Merlin said, 'she always hated being cooped up.'
'She's like you,' Gaius shook his head.
'Shh. I won't let that happen. I promised you I'd look after you, and I will. No matter what. You really don't realise how special you are, do you?' he asked shaking his head.
Freya looked up at Merlin.
'You're not scared of me?' she asked her tears stopping.
'People were always scared of her,' sighed Merlin. 'She was so lonely!'
'Being different nothing to be scared of,' Merlin assured her.
'Unfortunately in her case it is,' Gaius said.
'Not her fault,' growled Merlin.
'I know,' Gaius assured her.
In Gaius' chambers Merlin walks about humming and drinking soup.
'Will you stop that?' demands Gaius.
'Oh lay of Merlin, Uncle, he's in love,' Hunith smiled, 'let him enjoy himself while it lasts.'
'Do you think that happens with all relationships?' asked Arthur.
'No but we know how this ends,' Hunith smiled sadly.
'What?' Merlin asked in a voice that showed he was not really concentrating.
'Sit down and eat your soup,' Gaius tells him.
Merlin sits down but continues to hum.
'Merlin,' Gaius turns to look at the boy.
'Sorry,' Merlin said quickly.
'What is wrong with you?' Gaius demands.
'Nothing. I feel great,' Merlin grinned.
'Love has that effect,' Hunith agreed remembering her courtship with Balinor.
'Good. Then you can get on with some chores,' ordered the old man.
'Chores?' asked Merlin.
'Unless you have something better to do,' Gaius said.
'I think he wants to spend more time with the druid girl,' grinned Gwaine.
'Sorry, I'm going out,' Merlin said.
'What happened to being careful?' asked Hunith.
Merlin shrugged.
'Well what time will you be back?' asked Gaius.
'Er, well don't wait up for me. I might be late,' Merlin left with a grin.
Gaius looks back to his work shocked.
'I've never seen Merlin like that,' Gaius said, 'never since either.'
'I don't think you'll ever see that again,' Merlin sighed, 'she was the only girl for me!'
In the tunnels Freya sounds surprised at Merlin's sudden appearance, 'what are you doing here?'
'I couldn't help it,' Merlin placed a candle and the food blanket down.
'It's dangerous,' Freya said softly.
'She had a really good heart,' sighed Arthur.
'I don't care,' Merlin said.
'You'll get both of you killed,' warned Hunith.
Merlin winced pain in her eyes.
'No, Merlin, you have to be careful,' repeated Freya.
'At least somebody has a head on their shoulders,' Gaius said.
'She's a good match for you,' added Arthur.
'Don't, Arthur, just don't,' Merlin's eyes were full of pain and loss.
'Oh,' Arthur's eyes widened, 'sorry I didn't mean,' he said quickly.
'Ugh, I'm fed up with being careful. I am fed up with all of this. So I've decided, we're going to get you out of here, out of Camelot,' Merlin said.
'She was leaving,' Arthur's eyes widened.
Merlin nodded.
'How?' asked Freya.
'I'll get you some clothes, disguise you,' Merlin he gestured to her clothes.
Freya looked sad.
'What's wrong?' asked Merlin.
'She'll miss you,' Hunith said. 'And you'll miss her.'
'I wasn't going to let her leave without me,' Merlin said sharply.
Everyone stared at him.
'It's just, I'm going to miss you,' Freya said sadly.
'No, you won't, because I'm going to come with you,' Merlin decided.
'You were going to leave everything for Freya?' asked Arthur.
Merlin nods, 'wouldn't you for Gwen?' Merlin countered.
Arthur nods in understanding.
'What?' asked Freya.
'He said he's going to leave with you,' grinned Gwaine.
'If only things had gone to plan,' sighed Merlin.
'I told you I'm going to look after you,' Merlin repeats.
'You can't. Don't say that,' Freya said.
'It's not what you want?' Merlin's face fell.
'She doesn't want to ruin your life,' Hunith remembered what Balinor had said when he left.
'Merlin, you have a good life here. My life is...I have to keep moving, always looking over my shoulder, people chasing me,' Freya said.
'Then we'll go somewhere no one knows us. Somewhere far away. You haven't given me your answer,' Merlin waits.
Freya smiles, 'I want that more than anything. Where will we go?' she asks.
'Somewhere with mountains,' Merlin remembered.
'You remembered,' Gwen said.
'A few fields,' smiles Freya.
'You two were so in love,' Gaius hadn't realised it until after she had died.
'Wild flowers,' Merlin adds.
'A couple of cows,' adds Freya.
'And a lake,' Merlin finishes.
'And a lake,' Freya agrees.
Merlin knocks on Morgana's door.
'So that's why you were wandering the corridor with Morgana's dress,' Arthur understood.
'Not moths,' Gwen grinned.
'Or playing dress up,' Merlin grimaced.
There was a silence and a whole chorus of laughter.
'Lady Morgana?' Merlin whispers looking around Morgana's chambers and Merlin enters. 'Lady Morgana?' Merlin repeats looks through Morgana's closet looking for a dress pulling out a dark blue dress and flickering it over himself.
'Sure you weren't playing dress up,' laughed Gwaine.
Merlin didn't answer.
Gwen entered wearing a pastel blue and golden dress. Merlin not noticing her a dark purple dress.
'Merlin?' asked Gwen.
'Shock of my life that was the last thing I expected to see when I walked in,' Gwen said.
'I'm sure there's an obvious explanation,' Gwen said.
'There is,' agrees Merlin.
'Which is?' asked Gwen.
'A working progress,' Gaius shook his head.
'Moths,' Merlin said.
'Moths?' asked Arthur.
'Moths?' Gwen said.
'I see why you two ended up together,' Elyan said.
'Yes. The castle's overrun with them,' Merlin said.
'Really?' asked Gaius, 'I never noticed that.'
Merlin again didn't answer; the others didn't understand.
'I don't think Merlin's in the mood for a joke,' Hunith looked around at them.
They had the good grace to look guilty.
'Really?' asked Gwen.
'I was just checking that they hadn't got in here as well,' Merlin lied.
'And have they?' asked Gwen.
Merlin took out a dark red dress, 'that's, that's totally infested. I have to burn it,' Merlin decided.
'It was Freya's colour,' Merlin gave a bittersweet smile.
'Burn it?' Gwen asked shocked.
'Yeah. And if we don't stop them, we'll all be walking around naked,' Merlin warned her.
In the corridor two guards turn as they see Merlin walking with the dress. Arthur then sees Merlin with the dress.
'What are you doing?' Arthur stops him.
'Stealing dresses for a druid girl said,' Gwaine said.
'Er, running an errand for Gaius,' Merlin said.
'I don't think I'd have any need for a dress,' Gaius shook his head.
'For Gaius?' asked Arthur slowly.
'Yes,' Merlin said.
Arthur looks at Merlin.
'Strange,' the prince said.
'Oh, I don't think it's for him,' Merlin smiled.
'Most certainly not,' agreed Gaius.
'It's only Leon who wears a dress,' grinned Gwen.
'As long as you do a decent day's work, Merlin, that's all I care about,' Arthur said.
'No, no. It's not for me,' Merlin said quickly.
'What a man does in his spare time is completely up to him,' Arthur said.
'I can't believe that's what you thought was going on,' Gwen shook her head.
'No, you- you've got this wrong,' Merlin shouted after the prince.
'Colour suits you, Merlin,' Arthur called back.
Merlin shakes his head.
That night the bell begins to toll as the guards warm themselves over a fire whilst an animal hunts them. One of the guards pull out is sword and cries out as he's mauled.
Merlin winces knowing who it was.
In the lower town Uther makes his was to where Gaius is inspecting another body.
'The beast has struck again?' asks Uther.
'I'm afraid so. The wounds match those of the previous victims,' Gaius agrees.
'The man who saw it spoke of a huge black cat with wings,' Arthur comes up to the two older men and the body.
'I was right. This is not the work of a natural creature,' Uther turned away from the body.
'Are there any tracks this time?' asked Gaius.
Arthur shakes his head, 'just human footprints again.'
'Can you identify this monster?' asked Uther.
Merlin tensed, 'she's human she just has a problem.'
'I know, Merlin,' sighed Gaius. 'But her "problem" causes her to uncontrollably kill people.'
'Not her fault,' Merlin growled.
'I will need more time to investigate,' Gaius told the king.
'Oh, come on. You always have theories in these matters,' Uther said.
'I didn't want it to be the girl that I knew Merlin had feelings for,' Gaius explained.
'This time, Sire, I prefer to wait till I'm certain,' Gaius waks away.
'There is no time to waste, Gaius,' the king says tensely.
'I'll report back to you before the day's out, Sire,' promises the Court Physician.
'As you did,' Merlin said bitterly.
'I had to,' Gaius sighed.
'I know,' Merlin agreed.
Merlin brings Freya the dress in the tunnel.
'It was not easy getting this,' Merlin shows the dark dress.
'It's beautiful,' Freya looks at the dress and takes it to hold it up to herself.
Merlin smiles, 'you look like a princess.'
'You really loved her,' Arthur said sadly knowing why Merlin had been so depressed in the weeks following.
Merlin nods, 'still do,' he closes his eyes.
'I'm not,' Freya folds the dress up.
'She is to me beastly nature and all,' Merlin sighed.
'I can't take this,' Freya hands the dress back.
Merlin takes the dress back as Freya turns into the alcove.
'Freya,' Merlin went to her. 'I don't understand.'
'She feels guilty over her curse,' Gaius sighed.
Merlin nods.
Freya turned to Merlin.
'You keep doing all this for me. I don't deserve it,' Freya turns away from Merlin.
'I want to,' Merlin moved closer. 'What's wrong?' he asked.
'She knows she killed, again,' sighed Gaius.
'The beast killed,' Merlin snaps.
'Nothing,' Freya lied still not looking at Merlin.
'Here,' Merlin handed it back to the baset. 'Please. You'll look wonderful in it,' Freya turns back to Merlin. 'We can leave tonight as soon as it gets dark and we'll be together,' Merlin smiles.
'Were you going to tell us?' asked Arthur.
'I was going to leave a note for Gaius' Merlin said, 'and let him make my excuses to you all.'
'We'll need supplies; food, water,' Freya looked up at Merlin.
'All right,' Merlin grinned.
'That made your day,' Arthur nodded.
'I'll try to get horses, and we'll need blankets, but that's all we'll need,' Merlin and Freya smile.
'Go on, go,' Freya smiles.
'I won't be long,' Merlin promises and leaves.
Freya stares after him, 'goodbye, Merlin.'
'She isn't going to wait for you,' sighed Hunith.
'She doesn't want to ruin the life I have here,' Merlin sighed.
That night in Merlin and Gaius' chambers, Merlin is packing when Gaius enters.
'Gaius, I was just-'Merlin begins.
'Merlin, sit down. I want to talk to you,' Gaius said.
'You're going to tell him,' sighed Hunith.
'I had to before I told the king,' Gaius said.
'Is everything alright? You look worried,' Merlin reluctantly sat down.
'The beast struck again last night. There are two more deaths in the lower town,' Gaius told him.
'Do you know what it is yet?' asked Merlin.
'Once more there were no tracks around the bodies, but human footprints were leading away from them,' Gaius explained.
'Right,' Merlin said carefully.
'It doesn't seem to add up. The footprints would indicate a human was responsible, but the wounds inflicted are definitely the work of some kind of beast,' Gaius frowned.
'Strange,' Merlin shook his head.
'Yes. Until I remembered what Halig said about the druid girl,' Gaius fixed Merlin with a piercing look.
'What's that got to do with the monster?' asked Merlin.
Merlin closed his eyes.
'She's curse,' Gaius told the warlock. 'The ancient chronicles speak of a heinous curse. It dooms its victim to turn at the stroke of midnight into a vicious, bloodthirsty beast,' Gaius explained.
Merlin winces at this.
'The writers of old called this creature a Bastet: a monster of nightmare that inhabits the twilight world between the living and the dead. Merlin, I want the truth. Did you release the druid girl from the cage?' asks Gaius.
'Of course not!' looks distraught.
'You didn't want to believe that,' Hunith sighed.
Merlin didn't answer knowing her death was coming up soon.
'I'm going to make lunch,' Merlin said.
Gaius nods, 'I'll tell you when it's done!'
'There was a time when you thought twice before lying to me,' Gaius told him.
'I did what was right,' Merlin said.
'You know the creature and the girl are one and the same,' Gaius said gently.
'You're wrong. Freya is just a girl,' Merlin cried.
'He really did love her,' Arthur felt more comfortable about talking about this than when Merlin was in the room.
'I don't think there will ever be anyone else for Merlin,' Gaius sighed.
'Merlin, please think about what I'm saying. You know it is the truth. Where is she now?' asks Gaius.
'He won't tell you,' Hunith warned.
'I know,' Gaius nods.
'No,' Merlin shakes his head. 'Where are you going?' Merlin asks as when Gaius begins to walk out.
'To Uther,' Gaius told the boy.
'You told,' Hunith said. 'Merlin loved her!'
'I didn't realise just how deep the relationship was,' sighed Gaius. 'But I would have done the same anyway she could kill!'
'I'm begging you! Just give me some time to get her out of the city, please,' Merlin begged tears in his eyes.
'I'm sorry. I can't let more innocent people die,' Gaius said.
Merlin picks up his bags and leaves.
Merlin runs down avoiding the guards. He runs down the tunnels.
'Freya. Freya!' Merlin calls only to find Freya gone.
'She's gone,' Gwen said.
Merlin is lying on his bed curled up looking like he had been crying.
Hunith gets up and leaves for the kitchen where Merlin is standing with a knife and crusty bread not moving.
'Merlin,' Hunith asks kindly.
'Mother,' the mother and son embrace.
'I know you loved her,' Hunith said.
'I still do,' Merlin said.
Hunith nods.
The two stood in the kitchen not saying anything just a mother comforting her heart broken son.
Gaius comes in, 'I had no choice, Merlin. Uther had to be told.'
'They won't find her,' Merlin told him.
'We did,' sighed Arthur feeling guilty that he had killed Merlin's love.
'She's gone,' Merlin admits.
'I'm sorry. I do understand how you must feel, Merlin,' Gaius comforts her.
'Not then,' Gaius said thinking of Alice and wishing he hadn't done so know that he knew what Merlin had felt.
'You could never understand. Do you know how it feels to be a monster? To be afraid of who you are?' asked Merlin.
'He sounds like Morgana,' frowned Leon.
'Freya's very different from you. She's dangerous,' Merlin said.
'He still loves her,'Gwen said. 'You don't choose who you fall for!'
'Whatever she is, and whatever she's done, she doesn't deserve to die. I just hope she's safe. Somewhere far away,' Merlin says.
Then the warning bells sound Merlin leaps out of bed and out the door.
'He's going to try and save her,' Lancelot said.
'I'd do the same,' Arthur said.
Freya has been noticed.
'There she is! Stop!' orders a guard.
Freya backs into a wall, 'please let me go.'
Halig advances on her with handcuffs, 'no one escapes from me,' the Bounty Hunter informed the Bastet.
The clock begins to chime. Freya begins screaming, transforming into Bastet. Arthur and the knights fight her in the square, Arthur wounds her. Merlin runs into the square, she sees him and stops attacking. Merlin makes the gargoyle fall down and the Bastet flies off instead of attacking.
'Merlin affected her even in her Bastet state,' Gaius' eyes widened he'd never heard of anything like that.
'Love is a powerful thing,' Gwen said.
Merlin finds Freya in Bastet form and strokes her head to the injured beast pur.
'Did she just purr?' asked Arthur.
'The sad thing is I think Merlin could calm her even in Bastet form,' sighed Gaius. 'I should have given Merlin a chance.'
The beast turns into a weeping and naked girl and he places his jacket over her pulling her hair away from her face.
Arthur winced knowing that she was dying.
'You're all right. You're safe now,' Merlin promises.
Freya is crying, 'you must hate me.'
'I don't think he ever could,' Gaius said.
'No,' Merlin's voice trembled.
'I'm a monster,' sobbed Freya. 'I tried to tell you.'
'I know,' Merlin replies, 'I'm going to make you better,' he promises.
'No, Merlin, the wounds too deep,' Freya shakes her head.
'She's right,' sighed Gaius.
'Please, go,' whispers the injured girl.
'Nope I'm not leaving you here,' hushed Merlin.
Merlin takes Freya to the Lake of Avalon, surrounded by mountains.
'Her dream home,' sighed Gwen.
'The Lake of Avalon,' nodded Gaius, 'between life and death.'
Merlin carrying Freya now in Morgana's dress places her on the ground. Freya looks around at the beautiful surroundings, 'you remembered,' she smiled.
'There must be something I can do, some way to save you,' Merlin cried.
'You've already saved me,' Freya's eyes are closed as she weakly tells him. 'You made me feel loved.'
'She was happy at the end,' Lancelot said.
'Thanks to Merlin,' Arthur said. 'He was so upset in the weeks following and I caused that.'
'It wasn't your fault, Arthur,' Gaius said, 'I led you to her.'
'And broke his heart,' Arthur said guilt heavy in his voice.
'One day, Merlin, I will repay you. I promise,' Freya promised she lays her head back dead.
Merlin holds her to him and cries heartbrokenly.
'Oh, Merlin,' sighed Gwen and Gaius.
Arthur looks awkward, 'I'm going to talk to him,' Arthur decided. Arthur entered the kitchen. 'Hi Merlin,' he said gently.
Hunith left the two boys.
'Merlin,' Arthur said, 'I just wanted you to know how sorry-'he begins.
'I never blamed you,' Merlin said, 'you were just trying to do what was best for your people.'
'You're too good,' Arthur said. 'She was happy at the end.'
'I know, she's finally at peace,' Merlin said.
'I think those few days were the happiest she'd felt since everything happened with her family,' Arthur told his friend.
'I saw her again,' Merlin smiled sadly.
'How?' asked Arthur.
'Complicated magic thanks to the Fisher King,' explained Merlin.
Arthur looks at Merlin but Merlin didn't seem ready to talk. Arthur patted him on the shoulder he wasn't going to hug him but he thought Merlin might need one.
Merlin places Freya in a boat, 'astyre,' the spell sends the boat out onto the lake. 'Wæcce on sæbát bælfýr mæst,' the spell ignites the boat.
Merlin enters his chambers where Gaius was sitting waiting for him, 'Merlin, I was so worried.'
'I'm sorry, Gaius,' Merlin sits down.
'Where's the girl?' asks Gaius.
'You could have been more comforting,' Hunith says, 'he needs comfort.'
'She's gone. She's dead,' Merlin said tears in his eyes.
'I'm sorry, Merlin. Truly, I am,' Gaius takes the boy in his arms.
'Thank you for looking after him,' Hnith said, 'and he needed that hug.'
'I know,' Gaius said, 'I felt bad for what I did.'
'So does Arthur,' Gwen said.
'Merlin won't blame either of you,' Lancelot hadn't heard of Freya and he knew almost all of Merlin's secrets but this wasn't something Merlin would ever talk about. It hurt him too much he understand. 'He'll blame himself about everything under the sun but he doesn't blame others.'
Hunith nods sadly.
Merlin cleans Arthur's boots, sitting on the floor of Arthur's chambers looking depressed.
'He was so strange over those few days,' Gwen said.
'He was grieving,' Leon now understood the cheerful servant's strange behaviour.
'Ah, Merlin. I'm looking for you,' Arthur comes in.
'Don't be a prat,' Gwaine scowled at the screen.
'Yeah, right, er, you're gonna ask me to polish your armour and to, er, wash your clothes and clean your room,' Merlin said monotonously.
Arthur sits down on the floor next to Merlin.
'I think he's going to comfort Merlin,' Gwen smiled, 'Arthur can be really sweet when he wants.'
'Only for you,' Elyan reminds his sister.
'Something's been upsetting you, hasn't it?' Arthur asked.
'It must be bad for Arthur to notice,' sighed Gwaine.
'Maybe,' Merlin agrees.
'Was it when I threw water over you?' asked Arthur.
'That's more likely to make Merlin laugh than become depressed,' Leon said.
'It wasn't very nice,' Merlin states.
'It was a bit unfair. Like when you called me fat,' Arthur said.
'Not the time,' groaned Gwen.
'Why was that unfair?' asked Merlin.
'Because I am not f-'Arthur begins.
'Arthur got him talking again,' Gaius said, 'Merlin was only answering in one word answers to me.'
Arthur puts Merlin in a headlock and rubs his hair with his knuckles.
'Ow! Ah!' Merlin complains.
'Still think I need to get in shape?' Arthur asks.
'No! No! No, no, no, no!' Merlin submits.
'That's better,' Arthur smiled.
'Thanks,' Merlin smiled.
'How did that make him happy?' asked Percival.
'Arthur was there for him,' shrugged Hunith.
'You are right, though. You need to polish my armour, wash my clothes, and clean my room,' Arthur agrees.