The Crystal Cave
'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,' Kilgarrah says as Merlin's eyes flash gold.
'Is this going to happen every time?' asked Gwaine.
'Apparently,' Leon replied.
Merlin and Arthur are in a deep, dark forest. They are running from bandits in the woods. They duck behind some rocks.
'Can't we have one day without trouble?' asked Hunith.
'We do,' Merlin said.
'It doesn't show those days,' Arthur said.
'Are they still after us?' asked Merlin.
'I told you we'd outrun them,' Arthur said confidently.
'Don't jinx it,' groaned Gwen.
'You sure?' asked Merlin.
'Why is it you never trust me, Merlin?' asked Arthur.
'Because I know you,' Merlin said seriously.
The bandits then run at them from the opposite direction. Both Arthur and Merlin run from them.
'Come on, this way,' Arthur directed the other man.
'Where are we going?!' Merlin asked n alarm.
'Trust me!' Arthur replied.
'Something bad always happens when you say that,' groaned Merlin.
Merlin senses something and stops running.
'What can you sense?' asked Arthur.
'Dark magic,' Merlin replied darkly.
'They do say it's cursed,' Arthur admitted.
'Arthur!' Merlin called out in reaction.
'What are you doing?' demanded Arthur.
'You did just stop running from the bandits,' Arthur said.
Arthur grabs Merlin's arm and pulls him past two large statues of men.
'The Valley of the Fallen Kings,' Merlin said grimly.
'Come on!' Arthur called.
Merlin and Arthur descend stone steps.
'What is this place?' asked Merlin nervously.
'The Valley of the Fallen Kings,' Arthur replied.
'Is it cursed?' asked Merlin.
'Yes,' Gaius said grimly. 'The High Priestesses of the Old Religion cursed the Valley of the Fallen Kings after the purge in an effort to protect the Crystal Cave. Non-magic users will be warned off from the Valley painfully whilst sensitive magic users will feel the dark curse but it will not harm them.'
'The Crystal Cave?' asked Arthur.
'The place where magic began,' explained Merlin.
'No. Not unless you're superstitious,' Arthur told him.
'It is,' Merlin said convinced.
'It's a myth. They'll never follow us in here. They won't dare. Trust me,' Arthur said.
'That doesn't exactly make me feel very confident,' Merlin muttered darkly.
'If you say that one more time,' mutters Merlin.
The bandits chase them through the valley. Arthur gets hit by an arrow and falls down.
'Or not,' Leon said.
'What was that?' asked Arthur.
'An arrow,' Merlin says grimly and puts Arthur's arm around his shoulder.
'An arrow? Oh, good. For a moment I thought it was something terrible,'Arthur said and passes out.
Merlin watches as the bandits pass over his hiding place. Merlin takes an herbal pouch off of a fire and places it on Arthur's forehead.
'Healing spells are always my weakness,' Merlin said.
'Come on. Dollophead. I need you to recover,' Merlin begged.
Merlin turns Arthur over and places his hand on the arrow wound.
'Þurhhæle dolgbenn,' Merlin incants but nothing happens.
'What useless spell was that?' demanded Arthur.
'Heal thoroughly the wound,' Gaius replied. 'It's good for small wounds but large ones like the one you obtained it doesn't work.'
'Listen to me, clotpole,' Merlin called the prince.
'I'm dying and you still call me a clotpole,' Arthur said sounding insulted.
'I don't care if you die. There are plenty of other princes. You're not the only pompous, supercilious...condescending, royal...imbecile I could work for. The world is full of them. But I'm gonna give you one more chance,' Merlin turns Arthur over again and places his hand on the wound. 'Licsar ge staðol nu,' again nothing happens.
'That should work,' frowned Gaius.
'Could the presence of the curse affect my magic?' asked Merlin.
'Possibly,' Gaius agreed.
'But you saved me?' Arthur frowned.
'Not me,' Merlin said.
Merlin cries as he washes Arthur's blood off his hand.
'Tell me, why are you so sad?' an old man asks appearing from nowhere.
'Where did he come from?' Gwen asked surprised.
'It's my friend. He's dying and I can't help him,' Merlin cried.
'Didn't you ask where he'd come from?' asked Gwen.
'His magic felt benign,' Merlin replied.
'Then do not waste your tears. For I can tell you that the time for him to die is not yet upon us,' the old man said.
The old sorcerer and Merlin walk to Arthur.
'Don't be afraid. My name is Talieson,' Talieson said.
'I'm Merlin,' Merlin introduces himself.
'I know who you are. The moment of our meeting has been written for many, many years. You are Emrys,' Talieson said as he turns Arthur over and places his hand the wound. 'Wel cene hole.'
'How does his magic work when yours doesn't?' asked Arthur.
'He's a part of the magic of the Valley of the Fallen Kings,' Merlin explained.
Arthur's colour improves. He stirs, but doesn't wake.
'Arthur?' Merlin asked.
'He is sleeping. Within hours he will be fully recovered,' Talieson promises.
'You sure?' asked Merlin.
'If my memory serves me well,' Talieson agrees.
'What do you mean?' asked Merlin.
'He makes me look young,' Gaius said.
'How old is he?' asked Arthur.
'Old,' Merlin replied.
'I want to show you something, Merlin,' Talieson said.
'What?' asked Merlin.
'You must wait and see,' Talieson said.
'That's not suspicious at all,' Arthur groaned.
Merlin follows Talieson.
'Where are we going? Why have you brought me here?' demanded Merlin.
'In good time, you will discover all,' Talieson told him.
The two sorcerers entered the cave. Merlin looks around to see the numerous crystals seeming to grow out of the walls. It was clear that Merlin could feel the very power of the cave.
'What is this place?' Merlin asked softly.
'This is where magic began. It is the Crystal Cave,' Talieson said.
In a crystal, Merlin sees Queen Morgana in the council room and Old Merlin.
'It's like the Crystal of Neahtid,' Hunith commented.
'The Crystal of Neahtid comes from the Crystal Cave,' Gaius explains.
'That explains a lot,' agreed Hunith.
'What is it you see?' asked Talieson.
'Images. Flashes. I've seen something like this before in the Crystal of Neahtid,' admitted Merlin.
'What you see here is exactly the same, for the Crystal of Neahtid was hewn from this very cave. Look into them, Emrys. Really look. Much will be revealed,' Talieson advised.
'It would be useful to have insight into the future,' Arthur said.
'It's painful,' Merlin said sharply.
Gwen nodded, 'the amount of times I saw Morgana suffer before...' she trailed off but they all knew that she was talking about when Morgana was still loyal to Camelot.
Merlin turns to look, but jerks away.
'No! Take me out of here. How do I get back to Arthur?' Merlin begged.
'The future is hidden to all but a very few, Emrys. You are one such person,' Talieson said.
'I'm honoured,' Merlin said darkly.
'No! I've been through this before,' Merlin said.
'And I caused it to happen anyway,' sighed Merlin.
'Perhaps there is a reason you were brought here at this moment in time,' Talieson suggested.
'What reason?' Merlin asked suspiciously.
'Only the crystals can tell you. They contain futures that are not yet born. The secrets they reveal, Emrys, are unique to you, and you alone. Look into them, Emrys. Really look. Use what you see for good,' instructed the old Seer.
Merlin walks down into the cave and looks into the crystals. Merlin sees Morgana stroking a rearing horse. Then Morgana is unsheathing an ornate dagger.
Arthur's eyes widened, 'that's the one I gave to her for her birthday.'
'I know,' Merlin said grimly.
Morgana was walking down a corridor in her red cloak. There was red liquid dripping from someone's fingers. Merlin himself was yelling near a blaze of fire. There red-cloaked Morgana pulling the dagger from her belt in Uther's Chambers, raising it to strike, and Uther's shocked awakened expression.
'She's not going to try and kill father again?' groaned Arthur.
'She's always plotting,' Merlin replied.
'What's that?' asked Merlin as he holds his head as if in pain. 'What was that?!' he asks again but Talieson is gone.
'Where's he gone?' asked Arthur.
'He's not really alive,' Merlin explained.
Merlin sits in a catatonic state back in the woods when he gets hit with a bag.
'You look like a startled stoat,' Arthur said.
'Arthur be nice, he's worried,' Gwen scolded.
'I didn't know that,' Arthur muttered.
'Yeah?' Merlin asked. 'Well, at least I don't look like a bone idle...' Merlin paused looking for the right word, 'toad,' Merlin decided on. 'Let's go.'
'You're saying I look like a toad?' asked Arthur.
'You don't disagree about being bone idle,' Merlin's eyes twinkled.
'Merlin,' Gaius scolded Merlin sharply.
'Yeah. And maybe one day you'll magically transform into a handsome prince. Since magic's outlawed, that'll probably never happen. Come on, let's go,' Merlin ordered.
'Merlin,' Arthur said warningly. 'I'm the one who gives the orders, remember?'
'Yeah,' Merlin said briskly. 'You ready? Let's go.'
-
Merlin marches through a field, Arthur following behind.
'I don't understand. You said I had an arrow in my back. How come all I can feel is a slight bruise?' asked Arthur.
'Don't know,' Merlin lied.
'You really are a bad liar,' Gwen said.
'I know,' Merlin admitted.
'Merlin,' Arthur warned and Merlin looks back at him. 'Something happen you're not telling me about?' asked Arthur.
'No,' Merlin said shortly.
'The Princess isn't that much of an idiot,' snorted Gwaine.
'Come on. I'm missing your usual prattle,' Arthur said.
'Just admit it your worried,' grinned Gwaine.
'Certainly making up for it,' Merlin replied.
'He's got you there,' Gwaine agreed.
'Still haven't answered my question,' Arthur said.
The arrow didn't pierce your armour, and when you fell, you knocked yourself out.
'Typical make me look like an idiot,' Arthur said looking offended.
'I had to tell you something,' Merlin pointed out.
Arthur looks confused, trying to remember, 'all right. I don't normally say things like this, but...you did a good job back there.'
'Wow, Merlin, a compliment,' Gwaine grinned. 'When does that happen?'
'Hey, I compliment Merlin from time to time,' Arthur said.
'Then return it with an insult directly after it,' Merlin pointed out.
'I don't think Merlin's going to reveal the truth with a bit of sweet talk,' Gwaine warned.
'D'you hear what I just said? All right. Maybe I should give you some kind of reward,' suggested Arthur.
'Or bribes,' Gwaine added.
'What do you want?' asked Arthur.
'Some peace and quiet,' Merlin muttered.
The room burst into laughter from everyone except Merlin and Arthur.
In the Council chambers Uther and Arthur are discussing the bandits whilst Merlin and Gwen serve.
'The bandits probably have a stronghold somewhere in the White Mountains. How we escaped, I'll never know. Although, some credit must go to my servant, Merlin,' Arthur said.
'One of the few times I've actually received any credit,' Merlin shook his head, 'and the one time I didn't actually do anything!'
Gwen gives Merlin a friendly nudge.
'Dispatch a patrol. I want these men caught and brought to justice,' Uther ordered.
'Immediately, Father,' Arthur responded.
Uther, Arthur, and the court begin to exit.
'For a moment, we feared you might miss Lady Morgana's birthday,' Uther said.
'And Morgana attempting to kill father – again,' Arthur shook his head sadly the pain of betrayal in his blue eyes.
'It'd take more than a bunch of thieves to keep me from such a feast,' Arthur replied.
'Tomorrow promises to be quite a night,' Uther said.
In the physician's chambers Merlin and Gaius discuss Merlin's experiences.
'Gaius, I can't get these visions out of my head,' Merlin admitted.
'You are extremely lucky to have seen the Crystal Cave. Even before the Great Purge wizards would talk about it with reverence,' Gaius informed him.
'That man who led me there, who is he?' asked Merlin.
'Who was he?' Gaius corrects. 'He died, I'd say, about 300 years ago. Talieson was a seer to the great kings of old. It is said that the Crystal Cave was a source of his prophecies.'
'But he told me...He said there was a reason I was brought there at this moment in time. Why? It must mean the events I saw are imminent. Morgana is going to kill Uther,' Merlin said.
'Isn't she always,' Merlin muttered darkly.
'Merlin, you must be careful. The Crystals are treacherous. What you saw may not be all that it seemed,' warned Gaius.
'You were right,' sighed Merlin.
'So I do nothing?' asked Merlin.
'If I had she'd never know she was an heir to the throne even illegitimate,' Merlin sighed.
'There is nothing to suggest that what you saw is imminent, is there?' asked Gaius.
'That was Arthur,' snorted Merlin.
'No,' admitted Merlin.
'So, I wouldn't let it put you off your soup,' Gaius said.
'No, you're right,' Merlin said relieved.
'Come on, eat up,' Gaius told him.
'What is it?' asked Merlin.
'Sometimes it's best not to know,' warned Gaius.
'It couldn't be that bad?' asked Arthur sounding disgusted.
'You clearly have never lived a peasant's diet,' Lancelot said.
In Arthur's chambers Merlin enters with breakfast while Arthur is pulling on his boots.
'You're up,' Merlin said in surprise.
'It's Morgana's birthday. I have to get her a present,' Arthur explained.
'Of course give your would be murderer a present,' snorted Merlin.
'I didn't know,' Arthur pointed out.
'What are you getting her?' asked Merlin.
'Ah, it's a secret,' Arthur replied.
'Come on, you can tell me,' Merlin said.
'A dagger,' Arthur revealed.
'I'm sure Merlin loved that,' snorted Elyan, 'considering he'd seen Morgana revealing a new dagger.'
In the palace main square Merlin rushes down the steps and sees Morgana stroking a rearing white horse. The vision is reflected in his eye.
'The first vision,' Lancelot frowned.
In the physician's chambers Merlin rushes in.
'It's happening. The future I saw, it's started,' Merlin said.
'Calm down, Merlin,' Gaius tried to console the young man.
'I just saw Morgana struggling with a horse exactly as she was in the crystals,' Merlin explained.
'Are you certain?' asked Gaius sharply.
'It was the same image,' Merlin replied.
'But she's always riding. It's not unusual to see her with a horse,' Gaius pointed out.
'That's true enough,' Gwen admitted. 'She taught me to ride when I first started to serve her,' Gwen smiled at the memory tainted by Morgana's later betrayal.
'It's not the only thing. Arthur's present for Morgana, he's told me it's a dagger,' Merlin added.
'A dagger? Merlin, I think you're overreacting. It could be any dagger. As for the sight of Morgana with a horse...' Gaius trailed off.
'It was the same,' Merlin insisted.
'It's hardly a rare sight. Certainly not one to be trusted as a harbinger of doom,' warned Gaius.
In Arthur's chamber Merlin enters.
'Ah, Merlin. Have you done my clothes for the feast?' asked Arthur.
'Argh, no,' Merlin admitted.
'The day you do anything on time…' Arthur groaned.
'Hey I was too busy worrying about your psychotic sister,' retorted Merlin.
'No. No. Well, what have you been doing?' demanded Arthur.
'Erm…' Merlin trailed off.
'Hmm? Right. Well, you can start by pressing my robe,' Arthur throws a robe at Merlin. 'And, er, cleaning my shirts,' Arthur throws shirts at Merlin. 'And, er, ooh, polishing my boots,' Arthur throws boots at Merlin.
'Are you just trying to find him work?' asked Gwen un-amused.
Arthur closes a box on the table and Merlin stares at it.
'Ah, Morgana's present. What do you think?' askedArthur and he takes a plain dagger out of the box and holds it up for Merlin to see.
'It's not the same,' Gwen said in relief.
'I shouldn't have said anything,' groaned Merlin.
'Beautiful, isn't it? Feel the balance, feel the sharpness of the blade,' Arthur says lovingly.
'You do remember it's for Morgana not you,' Elyan said.
Merlin takes it and laughs in relief, 'yeah. It's just what every woman wants, isn't it?'
'Morgana would like it,' Gwen said sadly. 'She always resented people who thought her weaker than men.'
'What do you mean?' asked Arthur.
'Well, I'm no expert, but don't women normally go for pretty things? Like, maybe, jewellery?' suggested Merlin as he Merlin hands the dagger back to a bemused looking Arthur.
'Why did I open my mouth?' groaned Merlin.
In the physician's chambers Merlin is getting ready for the feast.
'How do I look?' asked Merlin as he spins around for Gaius to look him over.
'Same as you always do,' Gaius replied.
'Complimentary, uncle,' Hunith shook her head.
'Handsome,' Merlin suggested.
Arthur snorted, 'yeah right.'
'You've brightened up,' Gaius suggested.
'I've seen Morgana's present,' Merlin explained.
'It would have solved a lot of trouble if you hadn't changed,' Merlin said.
'And whose fault is that?' demanded Arthur.
'I know,' agreed Merlin.
'The dagger?' asked Gaius.
'It's very plain. Bit boring,' Merlin said.
'What happened to it?' asked Elyan.
'I kept it,' shrugged Arthur. 'You can never have too many daggers,' Arthur said causing Merlin to snort.
'And not like the one you saw?' asked Gaius.
'No, that was sumptuous, ornate. I'd probably disappointed if I were Morgana,' Merlin laughs.
'Good. So now you can stop worrying,' Gaius suggested.
'Oh, I have. I'm going to continue as if I'd never even met Talieson. I'm going to enjoy this feast like everyone else,' Merlin said.
'Until Morgana reveals her dagger,' Merlin said.
'Even if it's for Morgana,' Gaius said.
'It's still a feast,' Merlin replied.
That evening in the Palace Hall nobles raise glasses for a toast.
'To Lady Morgana,' the gathered nobles all toast.
Uther pats a box in front of Morgana. She opens it and lets Uther put the necklace on for her. Arthur nods a knight over, who presents a box to Morgana.
'Happy birthday,' Arthur said.
'Arthur,' Morgana smiles.
Morgana opens the box and pulls out a sumptuous dagger.
Merlin groaned, 'I wish I had never spoken.'
'I wish the same thing every day,' Arthur replied.
Morgana removes sheath and the vision is reflected in Merlin's eye.
Arthur sighed, 'the next vision.'
The nobles applaud.
'It's not often you're right, Merlin, but this is one of those rare occasions. Girls do like pretty things,' Arthur pats Merlin on the back.
'That must have made Merlin feel great,' Elyan said.
'Thanks,' Arthur said.
'The only time I didn't want Arthur to thank me,' Merlin said.
Later in the physician's chambers Gaius and Merlin are once more talking.
'Don't you see, it's started. It's coming true,' Merlin said.
'It certainly seems that way,' Gwen worried her lip.
'We can't be certain about that,' Gaius said.
'Why are you so set upon denying it?' asked Gwen.
'I've seen too many mistakes made where prophecies are concerned,' sighed Gaius.
Merlin flinched thinking of how he had let both Morgana and Mordred down because of his belief in the prophecy.
'We have to stop her,' Merlin said.
'How? We don't know when this is going to happen. We don't even know if it will,' Gaius pointed out.
'We have to watch her,' Merlin said.
'Night and day?' asked Gaius.
'That's impossible with two people who have jobs to do,' Percival said.
'I know,' Merlin said.
'I was shown these visions for a reason,' Merlin said.
'To teach you about prophecies,' Gaius said.
'This is madness,' Gaius decreed.
'We'll take it in turns. She cannot be left alone,' Merlin said.
Merlin hides behind curtain in the corridor outside Morgana's chambers.
'Don't let yourself be caught,' groaned Gwen. 'It will look like your spying on Morgana.'
In Morgana's chambers Gwen brings Morgana's gifts to where she's sitting at her dressing table.
'You got some lovely presents. Mainly hairbrushes,' Gwen admitted.
'I usually get weapons,' Arthur said.
'Your male,' Gwen said.
Gwen reads the note on a hand mirror, 'who's King Gromause?'
'That's an anagram for Morgause,' Gaius said grimly.
Morgana shrugs, 'at least he doesn't think my hair needs brushing.'
'It's so pretty,' Gwen said.
Morgana grabs one of her gifts, a gold embroidered cloth, 'here, I want you to have this.'
'Me?! No...' Gwen protested.
Morgana hands Gwen the cloth and takes the mirror, 'it's a thank you.
Gwen sighs at the pleasurable surprise, 'thank you. '
Merlin watches Gwen exit Morgana's chambers.
'You didn't notice him?' asked Arthur.
'I would have wanted to know what he was doing if I had,' Gwen pointed out.
Morgana breathes on the mirror to fog it up. Note reads: "Sister, come to the darkling woods at midnight. Morgause.".
Merlin watches Morgana exit her chamber in a red cloak. Morgana puts the dagger in her belt and walks down the corridor. Merlin magically closes the door she's approaching. A torch falls towards Morgana, she steps backwards and falls down some stairs.
'It was you?' Arthur said shocked.
Merlin nods, 'I felt awful. I didn't want to kill her.'
In the physician's chambers Gaius and Gwen enter. Arthur enters carrying Morgana.
'I need water and bandages,' Gaius said surveying his charge.
'I'll get that,' Gwen rushed off to get the supplie.
'And yarrow; we need to stop the bleeding,' Gaius calls after her as he clears a table for Arthur to put Morgana down. 'She's having problems breathing.'
'Dianthus?' asked Merlin.
'You've learnt so much in these short years,' smiled Hunith.
'Yes,' agreed Gaius, 'and a preparation of pulmonaria.'
Merlin pauses in confusion.
'Or not,' muttered Arthur.
'Lungwort,' Gaius explained, 'Merlin. Quarter of an ounce, ground fine, and mixed with violet,' Gaius described.
'How could this have happened?' asked Arthur.
Merlin flinched, 'sorry.'
Arthur shook his head, 'you were trying to protect father.'
'Arthur, I need room here,' Gaius said.
'And you didn't want to answer any awkward questions,' Hunith added.
'Yes. Of course. Erm...anything you need, just tell me,' Arthur leaves.]
Later Gaius sews Morgana's head by candlelight.
'Will she be alright?' asked Gwen.
'We've done the best we can. I can heal her skin, Gwen, but the skull...the cranium is broken. She's bleeding inside,' Gaius explained.
Later in Merlin's chambers Gaius enters and sits on the bed next to him.
'I had to stop the future. I had to stop Morgana killing Uther. I didn't mean to do it like this,' Merlin said.
'It wasn't your fault, Merlin,' Gaius reassured him.
'I've prevented something much worse from happening. I just...wish it could have been some other way,' Merlin admitted.
The next day Uther strokes Morgana's hair as Gaius watches over them.
'He really does love her,' Gwen sighed. 'Why couldn't she see that.'
'Hatred and fear had blinded her to the truth,' Gaius said.
'I don't think Uther could execute her even now after everything,' Merlin admitted.
Outside Morgana's chambers Merlin walks past and hears sniffling. He sees Gwen crying in Arthur's arms.
Gwen smiled sadly, 'I'm sorry that couldn't have helped anything.'
In Arthur's chambers Merlin broods in a chair. Arthur enters and looks over the armour laid out on the table.
'Sword belt, Merlin. Where's my sword belt?' demanded Arthur and Merlin fetches the sword belt. 'What the hell's it doing over there?' demanded Arthur and he grabs the sword belt, but can't get it untangled.
'It's twisted, here,' Merlin reaches out to take the sword belt, but Arthur keeps struggling with it. 'Here,' Merlin holds his hand out and Arthur hands it over and Merlin untwists the belt and puts it down. 'I'm sorry about Morgana. If Gaius could do something, he would.'
'After all we went through to rescue her, for her to survive all that...' Arthur trailed off.
Arthur winced knowing now that Merlin wasn't the best person to confide in about this.
'I know,' Merlin said softly.
'To lose her now, like this...I've grown up with her, she's like a sister to me,' Arthur admitted.
'More than like,' Gwaine muttered.
'I didn't know that,' Arthur retorted.
'I'd sacrifice my place on the throne for her to see another sunrise,' Arthur said.
In the physician's chambers Uther strokes Morgana's hair and Gaius stands next to him. Merlin listens in his chamber.
'Merlin,' Gwen shook her head. 'You're too nosey for your own good.'
'He was always getting in trouble when he was a child for listening into conversations he had not business listening to,' Hunith smiled.
'So beautiful,' Uther sighed.
'Yes, Sire,' Gaius agreed.
'I cannot watch her die, Gaius,' Uther said.
'I wish there was something I could do,' Gaius said.
'No, you don't understand. I cannot lose her. No matter what happens, she cannot die,' Uther begged.
'He really loves her doesn't he,' Gwen sighed.
'I will do everything I can, Sire,' Gaius assured him.
'No, Gaius. Whatever it takes. Whatever, I don't care. You must save her,' Uther said.
'If I knew a way...' Gaius trailed off.
'You're not understanding me, Gaius. Cure her. I don't care what remedy you use. In all these books there must be something. Something in the Old Religion?' suggested Uther.
'He's not suggesting what I think he's suggesting?' asked Gwen shocked she'd almost been executed for the same thing.
'Are you suggesting?' Gaius whispered.
'Sorcery, yes,' Uther said.
'Bloody hypocrite,' muttered Merlin darkly.
'I know she's dear to you, Sire, but surely you're not going to risk everything for Morgana?' asked Gaius.
'Gaius, you don't understand. There's something you should know. Something I've told no one. Morgana is my daughter. It was while Gorlois was away,' Uther admitted.
Morgana's finger twitches and her eyes move under her eyelids.
'That's how she found out?' asked Arthur.
'Yeah,' Merlin said grimly.
'He was fighting on the northern plains. Her mother, Vivien, grew lonely,' explained Uther.
'I understand, Sire,' Gaius told the king.
'I've said enough. The people must never know who Morgana really is, for Arthur's sake,' Uther said.
'I'll bet she loved that,' snorted Lancelot.
'She tried to kill Uther in response,' Merlin informed them.
'Of course she did,' Arthur muttered darkly.
'I assure you, Sire, your secret is safe with me,' Gaius promises the king before he enters Merlin's Chamber.
'It explains everything. No wonder he spend a year looking for her,' Merlin said.
'It certainly explained a lot,' agreed Leon.
'Now we know why she can do no wrong,' Gaius agreed.
The next day in Uther's chambers Merlin enters while Uther's stares out the window.
'Sire. This is from Gaius. He thought it might...help ease your mind,' Merlin places the bottle on the desk, waits, bows, and turns to leave.
'You are Gaius's boy,' Uther said.
'He is my guardian,' agreed Merlin.
'You're like a son to him,' Uther said.
'Yes,' Merlin agreed.
'I see the way he cares for you. You feel your child's every joy, and their pain. You watch their failings and you see your own. All you want is for their happiness, for them to escape the sufferings of life. Wh-why has this happened? I woul- I would do anything. Anyth...' Uther could no longer go on.
'Is that why you saved her?' asked Arthur.
'I couldn't bear everyone's grief,' Merlin sighed.
Uther breaks down crying and Merlin leaves.
Merlin stands in the pouring rain, watching Arthur slash a training dummy.
Merlin enters the physician's chambers once more. Gaius and Gwen sit watching over Morgana.
'Her breath is leaving her. She'll be gone by morning,' Gaius said.
Gwen cries. Merlin enters his room and waits for nightfall to ride out of Camelot where he goes to the clearing he uses to speak to Kilgarrah. Merlin waits for Kilgharrah in the clearing.
'You summoned me, young warlock? And to what do I owe the pleasure this time?' asked Kilgarrah.
Merlin sighed guiltily, 'I shouldn't have done that.'
'What?' asked Arthur.
'I've been to the Crystal Cave. I saw Morgana make an attempt on Uther's life,' Merlin informs the dragon.
'It does not surprise me,' Kilgarrah replies.
'Well, I stopped her,' Merlin said.
'To change the future is no simple matter, Merlin. To do so is fraught with danger,' warned the dragon.
'Tell me about it,' muttered Merlin.
'I know, and as a result of my actions, Morgana is dying,' Merlin said.
'Then you should rejoice!' Kilgarrah told him.
'I don't think Kilgarrah really gets human emotions,' Merlin said.
'I want you to help me to save her,' Merlin said.
'Merlin, have you learnt nothing?' asked Kilgarrah.
'I did not mean to kill her. All I wanted was to avoid the future that would've unfolded, to prevent Uther's death, to prevent Camelot being torn apart,' Merlin said.
'I will not cure her!' Kilgarrah told them.
'She is Uther's daughter,' pointed out Merlin.
'Yes,' Kilgarrah said.
'He knew?' Arthur asked shocked.
'Dragon's are very wise creatures with advanced telepathy and a connection to Magic and Fate. Between his telepath abilities and Morgana's fate and magic it does not surprise me that he knows about her parentage,' Gaius said.
'You knew. Why didn't you tell me?' demanded Merlin.
'It makes no difference,' Kilgarrah replied.
'Well, whatever she was about to do, I stopped her. There's no need for people to suffer,' Merlin said.
'The witch must die, as she should have done long ago. I will not save her,' Kilgarrah said.
'I am a dragonlord! You cannot refuse me!' Merlin said.
Merlin winced guiltily, 'I should not have taken his free will from him. It's … cruel.'
'You had no choice,' Gwen said. 'You couldn't stand and watch us suffer.'
'Yeah,' sighed Merlin, 'and look how that turned out Morgana and Morgause took over Camelot and gods know how many innocent people died in that.'
'That is nobody's fault but Morgana's,' Gaius said.
'I set her on that path,' Merlin said.
'She was already on that path,' Arthur said. 'If anyone set her on the path of darkness it was father.'
'How dare you treat me such! How dare you abuse your power!' roared Kilgarrah.
'I command you,' Merlin said.
'Very well. But I warn you, the evil that will follow is of your doing, and yours alone,' warned the dragon.
Merlin sighed once again.
'It was not your fault,' Arthur said angrily.
Kilgharrah breathes magic on Merlin and leaves andrides back to Camelot.
Merlin enters the physician's chambers where Gwen sits with Morgana.
'I'll sit with her. Why don't you go and get some sleep? You must be exhausted,' Merlin suggested.
'And the fact that it allowed you to heal Morgana had nothing to do with it?' asked Arthur drily.
'If she wakes up...'Gwen trailed off.
'When,' corrected Arthur.
'I'll call you,' Merlin agreed.
'Did you?' asked Arthur.
'Yes,' Merlin said at once.
'Thank you,' Gwen said as she get up and leaves.
'Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare mid þam sundorcræftas þære ealdaþ æ!' Merlin incants.
Morgana begins breathing normally and her colour improves.
In the lower town Gaius picks up a jar from someone the next morning.
In the physician's chambers Uther cradles Morgana.
'I never thought...'Uther stops talking when he sees Gaius. 'It's truly a miracle.'
Outside in the corridor Uther follows Gaius out of the chamber.
'Thank you, Gaius. I knew you would not fail me,' Gaius said.
'And once again someone else gets the credit for Merlin's work,' Lancelot frowned.
'Something I have no reason to be proud of considering who it is,' Merlin said, 'and it was Kilgarrah who should get the credit.'
'I assure you, Sire, I did nothing,' Gaius said truthfully.
'Of course, I understand. I won't ask any questions. But I will not forget this, Gaius,' Uther said.
'I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing,' Lancelot said darkly, 'considering Uther's opinion of magic.'
In the palace courtyard Gaius finds Merlin sitting on a ledge and sits next to him.
'I couldn't watch everyone's grief,' Merlin admitted.
'I know. But you're playing with things that are beyond you,' warned Gaius.
'Tell me about it,' muttered Merlin.
In Morgana's chambers Gwen props Morgana up in bed with pillows.
'Thank you, Gwen,' Morgana thanked her servant.
Gwen turns and bows to Uther before leaving. Uther goes to Morgana, who reaches out her hands to him.
'I could never let you die. I think I somehow willed you to live,' Uther said.
'Is that what you call requesting the use of magic?' snorted Arthur.
'Bloody hypocrite,' agreed Merlin.
'You've always been so good to me. I'm grateful,' Morgana said.
'You've a funny way of showing it,' Arthur said.
'You and Arthur, you mean everything to me,' Uther told his secret daughter.
'Here is Uther speaking from the heart whilst Morgana plots his death,' Merlin said in disgust.
'I know I could have no better guardian. Being so close to death has made me realise how important you...and Arthur are to me. How close we are to each other,' Morgana said.
'I wish,' Arthur said bitterly.
'Yes,' Uther agreed.
'You're like a father to me,' Morgana admitted.
'Maybe once,' agreed Merlin, 'but not anymore.
'Yes,' agreed Uther.
'I wish the people knew that,' Morgana sighed.
'They do,' Uther said.
'Not really,' Morgana said.
'Of course they do,' Uther said.
'In the eyes of the people I am no more than your ward, a guest,' Morgana said.
'What matters is what we feel. That's what's important, not what the people think. I must let you rest,' Uther pulls away and leaves Morgana seething.
'Do you think she'd have changed had Uther accepted her?' asked Merlin softly.
'I don't know,' admitted Gaius.
A thunderstorm brews at night. Morgause enters the castle and kills a serving boy. The boy drops a pitcher full of wine.
Morgause and Morgana meet on an upper balcony.
'Are our guards really that bad?' asked Arthur.
Merlin snorted, 'you have no idea. True it's useful for me but not so much in keeping Morgana and her allies out.'
'Morgause,' Morgana greeted.
'Sister. I waited for you the other night. What happened? Something is wrong,' Morgause said.
'There is much to tell you, Morgause,' Morgana replied.
'What is it?' asked Morgause.
'I overheard Uther,' Morgana admitted.
'What?' asked Morgause.
'Uther is my father. I am his daughter,' Morgana said in disgust.
'You weren't like that two seconds ago,' Arthur said darkly.
'That was before he rejected her,' Merlin said quietly.
'Uther?' asked Morgause.
'He's been lying to me all these years,' Morgana said clearly upset.
'At least he was there for you,' Merlin said softly.
'But this is glorious news,' Morgause said.
'She's not comforting her sister,' Hunith tutted. 'All she can see is the benefit to her cause.'
'He disowned me. He wants people to think that he's the perfect king. It's more important to him than his own flesh and blood,' Morgana said bitterly.
'But don't you see? This is wonderful! You have a legitimate claim to his throne,' Morgause said.
'No, Sister. You don't understand. He must pay for this,' Morgana said.
The warning bells sound.
'Did you realise that Morgause was here?' asked Hunith.
Merlin shook his head, 'we found the serving boy. I thought it was Morgana.'
'You must go,' Morgana told her sister.
'No, I don't want to leave you like this,' Morgause said.
'You must or they will find you here,' Morgana told her.
'Do not do anything rash, Morgana. Promise me!'Morgause begged as he kisses her on the cheek, but Morgana pulls away from it.
'We must bide our time,'Morgause told his sister as she leaves.
'Until Morgana can take the throne,' Leon said bitterly remember the horror of Camelot with the witch queen in control.
In the central corridor Arthur crouches over the fallen serving boy, he gets up as Merlin and Gaius approach and addresses a guard.
'We need to seal the drawbridge, search the grounds. I'll inform the King,' Arthur said.
Morgause moves about the castle. Merlin looks at the serving boy and sees the image from one of his visions.
'The next vision,' sighed Leon.
'Merlin, what's the matter?' asked Gaius.
'That was the next image I saw in the crystal. I haven't stopped anything,' Merlin said.
Gwen prepares Morgana's bed while Morgana broods at her vanity table.
'Have they found the intruder?' asked Morgana.
'Not yet. Looks like it's going to be a bad night,' Gwen said looking out the window.
'The storm caused a fire and the windows in father's chambers to been blown off,' Arthur agreed.
'That wasn't the storm,' Gaius said grimly.
'Yes,' agreed Morgana as a thunderclap sounded.
Merlin runs through the castle's corridor.
In Morgana's chambers Merlin runs in as Morgana puts the sumptuous dagger in her belt.
'What are you doing here?' demanded Morgana.
'Arthur sent me to look after you. He's worried about the intruder,' Merlin replied.
'I don't need you,' Morgana said.
'He was quite insistent,' Merlin replied.
Morgana moves to shove Merlin out of the way. Merlin catches her arm and holds on.
Morgana gasps, 'get out of my way!' she hisses.
Morgana's eyes glow and she throws him against the wall, knocking him out and setting her curtains on fire. Morgana walks through the corridors while guards search the castle grounds. Merlin wakes and yells.
In Uther's chambers Morgana pulls dagger and prepares to strike Uther in his sleep. Merlin bursts in unseen and blasts windows inward, throwing Morgana against the wall as Uther wakes.
'What's going on?' asked Uther.
'Your daughter tried to kill you,' Hunith said sadly.
'Er...there was a fire, and I was scared,' Morgana pretended.
'Morgana was rarely scared of anything,' Gaius shook his head.
Morgana steps towards Uther and kicks the fallen dagger under the bed.
'I wanted to be with you. You're the only person I feel safe with,' Morgana said.
'She was good at manipulating people even before her sister turned her against Camelot and her family,' sighed Gaius.
Uther hugs her and Merlin scoffs quietly behind the curtain.
Merlin and Gaius are back in their shared chambers.
'You saved the King's life,' Gaius said.
'Only just. I thought I could alter the future, but instead I caused it. I made it happen,' Merlin said.
'What you did was dangerous, even for someone as gifted as you. But what's done is done. There are more important things for us to worry about. I fear that Morgana knows the truth,' Gaius.
'About what?' asked Merlin.
'Her parentage,' Gwen said.
'What else?' asked Arthur.
'She could have discovered my magic,' Merlin explained. 'I had used magic beside her and I know she can sense magic being used although not to the same extent as I can.'
'She knows the King is her father. That explains why she acted so suddenly. Arthur must be careful,' Gaius warned.
'Why?' asked Merlin confused.
'She now has a claim to the throne,' Percival said grimly.
'I know,' Merlin said quietly.
'Morgana is of royal blood. If Uther were to die, Arthur is all that stands between her and the throne of Camelot,' Gaius said ominously.