Love in the Time of Dragons
'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.
'Is that going to happen every time?' asked Merlin groaning.
'Apparently so,' Gwaine snickered.
A woman rides into Camelot on a cart pulled by a brown horse. As she rides into Camelot she looks around in obvious joy.
'Alice,' murmured Gaius.
In a lower class home where a rough wooden table and low set bed can be seen a door is opened. The woman from the cart walks in carrying a leather satchel. She sets the satchel down on the table and opens the satchel revealing a wooden chest in it.
'Gebiede ic þone feorhberend þære ealdaþ æ!' enchanted the woman revealing herself to be a sorceress.
'Good or evil?' asked Gwaine.
'Evil,' Arthur said.
'Good,' Gaius said softly.
'Possessed,' Merlin corrected.
'She was possessed?' Arthur asked.
'Indeed,' Merlin agreed.
The box that was empty now had a creature in it. The creature is greyish with bright gold eyes. The creature has giant ears and hands curling around the edge of the box. It leaps out of the box and snarls causing the woman to sit down nervously. The creature leaps into the woman – Alice's – lap.
'What the hell is that?' demanded Arthur.
'A manticore,' Merlin said quickly glancing at Gaius worryingly.
'Calm yourself, my pretty,' Alice says but the manitcore continues to hiss at her. 'We're home now,' the woman assured the creature causing the manticore to smile slightly.
'What are they planning?' asked Gwaine.
'She's the woman who was arrested for poisoning the king,' Gwen said softly.
'And then escaped,' Arthur said darkly.
'It wasn't her fault,' Merlin said quickly glancing at Gaius. 'She was possessed.'
In the council chambers Arthur and Uther are sitting at a long table. The king and the prince both have sheets of parchment in their hands. Gaius with Merlin slightly behind him are at the other end of the table.
'Gaius, there have been disturbing rumours from outlying villages,' Uther said as Arthur passed Uther another piece of parchment.
'Sire?' asked Gaius.
'Someone, some kind of physician is offering treatments,' Uther said placing the parchment down on the table staring Gaius straight in the eyes. I fear magic may have been used,' Uther informed Gaius.
'What is it that makes you suspicious?' asked Gaius.
'There are reports of miracle cures. A boy thrown from a horse, a farmhand mauled by a boar. All hopeless cases it seems, and yet each and every one has made a full recovery,' Uther said.
'Surely that's a good thing,' frowned Gwaine.
'Not for Uther,' Merlin said bitterly. 'Uther's completely unreasonable about magic. Doesn't matter if it's being used to save or maim it's all punishable by death except when his family is involved.'
'Merlin,' Arthur said warningly.
'It's true,' Merlin snapped back. 'I've lived my whole life out of fear of what would I do if the wrong person found out I have had magic. Don't expect me to feel kind about Uther!'
'Arthur,' Gwen said placing a hand on Arthur's wrist before he could retort. 'You cannot expect Merlin to agree with the way your father treats magic user – or – or those who have been associated with magic users even by accident…' Gwen said her voice thickening as she thought about her father's fate.
'It's very hard for me to comment, Sire. I'd have to examine the patients myself,' Gaius said.
'You didn't want to turn in a magic user,' Arthur murmured.
'Unless they're threatening Camelot I try to keep their secret,' agreed Gaius.
'That won't be necessary, as a new case has arisen here in Camelot,' Uther informs his physician.
'Who?' asked Gaius.
'The innkeeper. He's returned to work,' Arthur says as Uther takes a drink from his goblet.
'That's not possible. The condition was critical, I saw him only days ago,' Gaius replied.
'I take it was magic responsible for his healing,' Arthur said.
'Of course,' Merlin said simply, 'but we weren't about to turn in one of our own who was doing no harm!'
'So you agree that magic must be involved,' Uther said.
'Well, I couldn't say for sure,' Gaius said reluctantly.
'Then go to the tavern and find out,' Uther ordered.
'You got ordered to go to the tavern,' Gwaine said. 'Alas. If we were all so lucky.'
'No one in the right mind would order you to go to the tavern,' snorted Leon.
'We'd not see you again until the innkeeper kicked you out – again!' laughed Elyan.
'If sorcery is at work here, we must act quickly,' Uther declares as he dips his quill in ink.
'Yes, Sire. I'll see to it right away,' Gaius agrees as he and Merlin turn to leave.
Merlin and Gaius stride through the market of lower Camelot. Gaius looks grim and Merlin looks unhappy. There is a Camelot knight walking in the other direction and a woman holding a wicker basket in front of them.
'It's unbelievable. Uther has no problem turning to magic if his family are threatened,' Merlin scowled.
'Nobles,' scowled Gwaine. 'Hypocrites. He'd do anything to save Morgana from death but if someone else does the same….'
'Keep your voice down, Merlin,' Gaius warns.
'Oh, he is such a hypocrite,' Merlin continued.
At this point Gaius stopped and turned around to face his young charge, 'he's also the King. So, if you value your head,' Gaius pointed at Merlin, use it,' Gaius warns.
'He is right,' Arthur said quietly. 'My father would not be happy with his secrets being aired.'
Gaius then turned and walked into the Rising Sun Tavern. Merlin followed his mentor in. Above the doorway is a charm made of wood, crystal and feathers. Merlin looks up at as they enter obviously sensing the magic within the object.
'That was the magic,' Arthur said quietly.
'Light,' Merlin said. 'Healing magic always is!'
'Welcome,' a booming voice said placing the tray down on the table. 'Gaius,' the innkeeper said with a nervous laugh. 'What a pleasant surprise.'
'Evoric,' Gaius greeted the innkeeper.
'What can I get you?' asked Evoric.
'Nothing. I just dropped in to see how you're doing,' Gaius replied.
'Much improved, as you can see,' Evoric said.
'Indeed. Remarkable recovery,' Gaius suggested.
'All thanks to you, Gaius,' Evoric said.
'Even in the days I was freely able to use magic I was never powerful enough to use magic as powerful as the magic that was used to heal Evoric,' Gaius said quietly.
Gaius laughed, 'I think not. Evoric, I am, of course, delighted that you're well again, but I must ask you, from whom did you obtain your remedy?'
'Don't know what you're talking about,' Evoric said nervously.
'He could hardly admit to having turned to magic to save his life,' Arthur frowned at this his and Morgana's life had been saved repeatedly by magic yet if someone else did that they would have been killed.
'Now, you mustn't be afraid. I'm not the King, after all,' Gaius said gently.
'Thank goodness,' Merlin muttered, 'or I would have been dead a long time ago.'
'My wife, she was desperate. I was slipping away,' Evoric explained.
'Go on,' Gaius urged.
'She met a woman, a healer, in the lower town and she gave her a cure,' explained Evoric.
'Well, can I see it? Interesting,' murmured Gaius.
Evoric glanced around nervously but turned nonetheless to the shelves. He brought back a small bottle. Gaius took the little bottle. He shook what was left of it into his leather covered hand. Sparkling blue dust fell into his hands.
'Definitely magic,' murmured Hunith.
'Am I in some kind of trouble?' asked Evoric.
'Did he know it was magic?' asked Arthur.
'I think he suspected it,' Gaius said softly, 'but he didn't know for sure. His wife, Aigneis may have known or she may not have. It is perfectly possible that Alice had pretended to be a normal healer.'
'No, not at all. You've been most helpful,' Gaius assured the man.
Gaius and Merlin turn back around to leave the tavern. Evoric watches them going slightly nervously. Merlin again looks up to the door where the purple crystals shine as he walks under them.
'Why the crystals too?' asked Hunith.
'The injury was serious,' Gaius explained. 'It will continue healing Evoric until he is fully healed.'
Uther is standing facing the wall with one hand leaning on his throne. There is light streaming in through the stained glass windows in front of the king. Gaius and Merlin stand in front of the throne.
'What was the nature of this treatment?' Uther asks.
'Hogwart and fenugreek,' Gaius explained.
Gwaine snorts, 'that's what I think too.'
Uther turns around 'excuse me?' Uther asks clearly thinking it to be an insult.
'Herbs, Sire. Whoever prescribed them was highly skilled. Their grasp of the five principles of herbal conjoinment was...' Gaius began.
Uther cut the physician short, 'what about the boy and the labourer? Surely they were beyond the help of such remedies?'
'Not necessarily, Sire. A physician's art can achieve great things,' Gaius replied.
'Not miracles,' Hunith said quietly.
'Thankfully the king did not know that,' Gaius said quietly.
'But not miracles. The innkeeper was fatally ill, you said so yourself,' Uther said.
'Yes, that was indeed my diagnosis. But my knowledge isn't perfect,' Merlin looks sideway at Gaius as the physician speaks. 'There are many branches of my craft are yet mysteries to me. I could not heal the innkeeper. Someone else could,' Gaius said.
'Gaius if you can use that excuse why can't I?' asked Merlin. 'You can get the credit for it.'
'Uther is well aware of my past,' sighed Gaius. 'If too many of my patients miraculously survived I would be thrown back under suspicion. Never mind Alice was always a far better healer than I ever was. And I am well aware that healing isn't your area of expertise.'
Merlin grimaced, 'I can learn.'
Uther walks around to the front of his throne 'are you absolutely satisfied that no magic was involved?' Uther checked.
'Entirely, Sire,' Gaius assured his ward.
'Thank you, Gaius. You've set my mind at rest,' Uther said turning back around.
'My Lord,' Gaius bowed and Merlin copies and they walk out of the room.
In the physician's chambers Gaius and Merlin are sitting down for dinner. Gaius is carving up a ham whilst Merlin takes the plates out. There is a small wooden bowl of tomatoes to the side of the table.
'I think it's great, what you did,' Merlin says as he places a knife and fork on Gaius' plate, 'protecting the innkeeper like that,' Merlin said quietly.
'What do you mean?' Gaius asked.
'He was a sick man. It was a matter of life and death. Magic was his only hope,' Merlin said.
Gaius sighed, 'unfortunately in too many of these cases I cannot do anything even if I have the knowledge to help them.'
'That has to change,' Arthur said.
Merlin smiled, 'I'm glad you think that. Magic can benefit everyone if used properly.'
'But he didn't use magic,' Gaius said simply.
'The potion was enchanted, I saw it with my own eyes. We both did.'
'What you saw, Merlin, was a release of gaseous pressure. Entirely normal in a preparation of that kind,' Gaius said.
Hunith laughed, 'you're not going to try and keep the truth from Merlin.'
'There's no need for one,' Merlin said. 'I'm the last person who would turn Alice in.'
'But what about the totem?' asked Merlin.
'What totem?' asked Gaius.
'The totem in the innkeeper's doorway bore the marks of the Old Religion,' Merlin pointed out.
'Nonsense. You're obviously tired, Merlin. I recommend you get some sleep,' Gaius takes the uneaten ham away.
'I don't think Merlin is going to believe that,' snorted Arthur.
'I didn't,' Merlin agreed.
'Well, can...' Merlin began.
Later that night Merlin is sleeping in the physician chambers with a heavy tome on his chest and a lit candle to his side. Merlin wakes up because he hears the door open. Merlin sits up and goes down the main area of the physicians' chamber where he arrives just in time to see Gaius closing the door behind him. Merlin crosses his arms looking very confused at his mentors actions so Merlin follows Gaius.
'Did you have to follow him,' sighed Hunith.
'I was worried about him,' Merlin said.
'He could have got a late night patient,' pointed out Gwen. 'It's happened before.'
'Yeah, but Gaius had been acting very oddly that day,' Merlin said. 'I thought he might have been enchanted or something.'
Outside in the town Gaius is walking down the streets as Merlin follows behind hiding in the empty stalls. Merlin watches Gaius chap on a door and then glances around causing Merlin to duck. Alice answers the doors.
'Gaius?' asked Alice surprised.
'Alice,' Gaius said softly.
'Oh,' Alice said.
Alice smiles and hugs Gaius giving him a peck on the cheek as Merlin watches from behind the stalls. Gaius smiles as he pats her on the back. The guards come causing Alice and Gaius go inside her house and Merlin to run back to the castle.
Gaius and Alice enter Alice's quarters.
'How did you know I was in Camelot?' asked Alice softly.
'I recognised your work. Your healing magic was always equal to none,' Gaius said.
'Oh, Gaius, you've lost none of your charm,' smiled Alice.
'And you've lost none of your skill. You saved the innkeeper's life,' Gaius said.
'I did what I could, as I know you did,' Alice replied.
'But my humble potion was not enough, it seems,' Gaius said.
'All I could really do was ease his passing,' Gaius sighed sadly.
'Look at you, always so solemn, so serious,' smiled Alice.
'And you always teasing me,' Gaius laughed.
'I missed you,' Alice said sadly.
'What caused you to part?' Gwen asked gently. 'You don't have to answer it. It just seems you were so in love….'
'I was offered leniency in the Great Purge due to my services to the king,' Gaius said quietly. 'Not every healer was as lucky,' Gaius sighed.
'And I you,' Gaius replied.
'Twenty years and here we are back in Camelot together again,' Alice says approaching Gaius. 'It almost seems as though nothing has changed,' Alice said.
'And some things never will,' Gaius said gravely.
'Uther,' Merlin scowled.
'Merlin,' Gaius said warningly.
'Uther,' Alice said grimly.
'It's not safe for you here. He suspects that magic is at work in Camelot,' Gaius warned.
'I bought her some time but it would only be a matter of time before it was discovered,' Gaius sighed.
'But he doesn't know for sure,' Alice said.
'Not yet. But if you stay, he will find you,' Gaius warned.
'But Gaius, healing is my only gift. It is my living. I must buy food, I must pay rent,' Alice said.
'But why here? The dangers are too great,' warned Gaius.
'Why do so many magic-users chose to live in Camelot of all places?' asked Gwen frowning. 'Merlin, Gaius, Morgana, and now Alice. They would be safer far away.'
'And who would look after Arthur if I was not there,' Merlin said simply.
'I'm safe enough here,' Gaius said.
'And Morgana has to be here if she is to destroy Camelot,' Merlin said darkly. 'And Alice was being controlled by the manticore!'
'Because I wanted to see you again,' Alice said softly and they embrace tightly.
Gaius lets go of Alice suddenly, 'dawn is almost upon us. I must get back,' Gaius said softly.
'You were there awhile,' smirked Gwaine.
'Shut up Gwaine,' grimaced Merlin.
'You will come back tomorrow? Please?' begged Alice.
'Of course,' Gaius promises.
Gaius opens the door whilst still looking at Alice. He slips out of Alice's home and closes the door behind him. Growling comes from behind Alice. Alice turns around to see the manticore on the table.
'You have done well. The physician is vital to our plan,' growled the manticore.
'Please,' begged Alice approaching the manticore, 'must we use him this way?' questioned Alice.
'I've told you before, Uther trusts him,' the manticore said moving towards Alice. 'He alone can get us close enough to the King,' the manticore informs her.
'I take it there was another assassination attempt on Uther,' Gwaine said.
'If it's not Uther, it's Arthur,' Merlin snorted.
'But he will be blamed for everything that happens,' Alice said desperately.
'And you will not. How perfect,' the manticore replied.
'But his punishment will be terrible,' Alice said desperately.
'Death,' Merlin said. 'For trying to poison the king and that's if the magical aspect wasn't revealed.'
'Which is why you told me,' sighed Arthur.
'What did he tell you?' asked Gwaine curiously.
'Not much,' Arthur replied. 'Just that Gaius hadn't worked alone in making the potions. That there was a woman who had helped Gaius,' Arthur said then paused. 'Then Merlin said that there was no way that Gaius would have tried to kill my father so it had to be Gaius' lady friend.'
'I had to make it sound like Gaius was deceived by a woman he liked,' Merlin said, 'so that he wouldn't be complicit in the attempted murder!'
The Manticore hisses and her eyes turn black. Alice closes her eyes as she comes back to herself.
'Possession,' sighed Gaius with a grimace.
'You must put aside your feelings and do what needs to be done,' ordered the manticore.
Alice nods, 'yes,' agreed Alice in a whisper.
Back in the physician's chambers Gaius opens a note that Alice gave him long ago with a lock of her hair.
'Gaius, what was the situation that she gave you a lock of her hair?' asked Gwaine amused.
'It could have been so he could track her if need be or part of a communication spell,' Merlin said.
Gaius reads the letter:
For my beloved Gaius,
You make me so happy. Words cannot describe how much I care for you. The times we have spent together recently have meant so much to me. I am so happy we are engaged. I so look forward to marrying you, Gaius.
The next morning in the physician's chambers Gaius is mixing up remedies. Merlin stands watching his mentor with his arms crossed. There is a shrewd look on Merlin's face.
'Did you go out last night?' Merlin asked.
'You know he did,' Gwaine said amused.
Gaius turned to look at his ward vials still in his hands, 'yes. I had to get some herbs,' Gaius lied turning back to his bench as he mixed the potion in his hand.
'Well it's better than the tavern excuse,' Gwen said amused. 'It's something that Gaius actually does.'
'Hey it fooled Arthur,' Merlin defended.
'Don't remind me,' muttered Arthur.
'Herbs?' Merlin asks raising an eyebrow sounding disbelieving.
Gaius turned around to face his ward, 'a...a new supplier,' Gaius said turning back to his work, 'just arrived,' lied Gaius badly.
'And you call me a bad liar,' snorted Merlin.
'Merlin, you are a bad liar!' Arthur said.
'Right,' Merlin said still sounding disbelieving. There was a pause then Merlin asks casually, 'do your suppliers normally kiss you?'
'Merlin,' Hunith shook her head. 'Have I completely failed to teach you any form of manners?'
'Yes,' Arthur agreed readily.
Gaius turned to face Merlin, 'you followed me. How dare you?' Gaius said quietly outraged.
'I was worried about you,' Merlin said, 'and I left as soon as I realised that you were just out to meet a lady friend,' Merlin grinned, 'without a chaperone I may add.'
'Gaius, it was the middle of the night, I was worried. I thought you might be in some sort of trouble,' Merlin protested.
'There's nothing wrong,' Gaius said turning back to his work.
Merlin smirked approaching Gaius, 'what's her name?'
Gaius turned to glance at a smirking Merlin before he turned straight faced back to his work, 'Alice. She's an old friend. Well, more than a friend, if truth be told,' Gaius admitted.
'I think Merlin could see that,' grinned Gwaine.
'What do you mean?' asked Merlin grinning looking happy for his mentor.
'Or not,' Arthur said. 'Merlin, you really are an idiot sometimes.'
'Hey I'd never heard Gaius mention a woman before,' Merlin said. 'Then suddenly Gaius is sneaking out for midnight rendezvous with a woman I'd never seen before.'
'We were once engaged to be married,' Gaius admitted.
'Then the great purge happened,' sighed Gaius sadly. 'I could only get her out of Camelot.'
'When was this?' asked Merlin looking shocked.
'More years ago than I care to remember,' Gaius said as he mixed his potions. 'I had just been made physician to the King when I met her,' Gaius said placing his potion on the table. 'It was like finding a kindred spirit, we had so much in common. Our love of science, or healing, and of magic.'
'Magic?' Merlin asked immediately interested.
'I was just a novice,' Gaius admitted nodding.
'Alice tried to teach me what she could,' Gaius admitted, 'but I never had much skill in magic.'
'But Alice's power and ability was uncanny. She had the gift,' Gaius said causing Merlin to grin. 'Soon she had mastered every aspect of sorcery, healing above all. It was wonderful to behold, Merlin.
'There's been few I've seen to have mastered magic as quickly as she did,' Gaius admitted. 'You are probably the only one.'
She saved a great many lives,' Gaius said.
'Good for her,' smiled Gwen.
'It was Alice that cured the innkeeper,' Merlin understood.
'Indeed. There was a time when her skills were famous in Camelot,' Gaius reminisced.
'So what happened?' Merlin asked.
'Uther declared war on magic. Overnight her world was turned upside-down,' Gaius sighed.
'Everyone's was,' sighed Gaius.
'The Great Purge,' Merlin said grimly.
'Uther drew up a list of everyone suspected of using magic. One by one, they were hunted down and executed. As a close friend of the King, I was permitted to see this list. Alice's name was on it,' Gaius sighed.
'What did you do?' asked Merlin quietly.
'The only thing I could do. I struck her name off,' Gaius said.
'I nor anyone else could dissuade Uther of his relentless pursuit for vengeance,' sighed Gaius.
'Against people who had nothing to do with Ygraine's death,' Merlin said grimly
'Gaius, if you'd been caught...' Merlin trailed off.
'Father would have killed you,' sighed Arthur.
'I know, but it bought her time. Just enough to get out of Camelot, to escape,' Gaius said.
'But you...you stayed behind,' Merlin said quietly.
'I know if I'd had the chance…' Merlin trailed off.
'You'd have left,' Gwen said softly a sad smile on her face. 'I know. I think I'd have done the same.'
'I was scared. I felt I had no choice. I thought I'd never see her again. But now here she is, after all these years. I feel we've been given a second chance,' Gaius smiled.
'Only for it to be ripped from us again,' Gaius sighed.
In Alice's chambers Gaius has come over. Gaius gives Alice a hunk of meat on a platter. Alice takes the platter and places it on the table behind her. The table that has been resident to the manticore.
'You have a kind heart. You always did,' Alice says.
'It's the least I could do,' Gaius replies.
'Will you stay? Please say you will,' Alice says walking around the table to where Gaius is standing.
'You're my only appointment for this morning. I made sure of that,' Gaius replied picking up the totem.
'I just had to make sure that if anyone needed me immediately to get Merlin to fetch me,' Gaius said.
'You recognise them?' asked Alice.
'Of course. It's a totem of healing,' Gaius replied.
'What is it?' asked Merlin. 'You've never taught me much healing.'
'Oh, come, Gaius. Is that the best you can do? Have you forgotten all that we learned together?' Alice asked taking the seat.
'Let us see,' Gaius said taking his own seat opposite Alice. 'It's a Sorcerer's Chime to give it its proper name. Each crystal bears an elemental sign of the Old Religion. When enchanted, the crystals resonate, their music giving succour to the ailing and the sick,' Gaius said.
'You've forgotten nothing,' smiles Alice.
'I remember everything. All that we saw, all that we did, each and every day we spent together. I remember the day you left,' Gaius admitted.
Alice places a hand on Gaius', 'let's not dwell on that. We found each other again. Isn't that all that matters?' Alice questioned.
Gaius nods in reply and places his free hand over Alice's hand. Alice looks slightly sadden thinking of what she and the manticore are planning. Meanwhile Gaius smiles blissful in his naivety about the manticore's plan.
Arthur is mounted on a horse with a lance in his right hand. The horse whinnies and stamps it's right foot obviously preparing for a charge. At the opposite end of the track Merlin stands holding a small hoop above his head. Arthur charges bringing forward his lance at which Merlin flinches. Arthur catches the hoop with the lance. Merlin stands glancing side to side looking surprise that he's still alive.
'Don't look so surprised,' Arthur said.
Next, Merlin crouches behind a black shield with a yellow dragon on it looking terrified. Arthur pounds it with a mace. Merlin flinches back with every hit that the young prince directs at the shield.
'Arthur,' scolded Gwen.
Gwaine glared, 'how is that helping your training? Beating up a weapon less, untrained peasant!'
'Come on, Merlin! Put your back into it!' Arthur orders stopping the beating.
Merlin peaks his head out from behind the shield, warily in case Arthur continue his relentless attack on his shield 'sorry, Sire. I'm just a bit...' Merlin began but Arthur hits shield again.
Arthur shakes his head, 'pathetic,' Arthur said turning away from the servant. 'You're pretending to be a battle hardened warrior, not a...daffodil,' Arthur said.
'But I'm not a battle hardened warrior,' muttered Merlin.
'Sorry, Sire. Just a bit tired, that's all,' Merlin tried.
'Maybe that will teach you not to follow me,' Gaius said.
'I was worried about you!' Merlin repeated.
'Fair enough,' Arthur said.
Gwen positive beamed, 'that was good of you.'
Merlin snorted at Arthur's uncomfortable look, 'do you really think that Arthur is going to just let me off.'
Merlin stands up looking surprised while Arthur fetches a large mallet, 'maybe this'll perk you up!'
'Arthur,' frowned Gwen. 'You really have to start treating Merlin nicer.'
'It's not like Merlin couldn't defend himself,' Arthur pointed out.
'Only if I wanted to be executed,' Merlin retorted.
Merlin looks horrified at Arthur's latest pan for training.
Merlin returns to physician's chambers. Merlin comes in from work looking tired and more than a little bit annoyed. Merlin shuts the door behind him coming into Gaius' chambers looking furious.
'Ah, Merlin, I'd like you to meet Alice,' Gaius smiled.
'Merlin,' Alice says holding at her hand that Merlin takes and shakes, 'it's a pleasure to meet you. Gaius speaks very highly of you.'
'Did she know about Merlin?' asked Hunith.
Gaius shook his head, 'it wasn't my place to say.'
Merlin smiles at Gaius looking surprised, 'you too.'
'Of course I do,' Gaius said.
'Alice will be staying with us for a while,' Gaius said.
'Great,' Merlin said.
'That's alright with you?' asked Alice.
'Of course. I'll make up the spare bed,' Merlin said.
So you won't mind if she uses your room?' asked Gaius.
'It wouldn't be the first time,' Merlin shrugged.
Merlin looks unhappy but nods, 'be my guest.'
Gaius gestures Alice to Merlin's bedroom where the sorceress goes. Gaius looks very happy at the latest turn of events. Merlin smiles but does not look happy about losing his bed.
That night in the physician's chambers Merlin is trying to sleep on the floor. Merlin turns over trying to find a softer part of the floor. Gaius meanwhile snores loudly. Merlin hears Alice talking in his room causing Merlin to frown and sit up.
'… that is his name, isn't it? It's …'
Merlin listens and hears snatches of conversation. Merlin gets up leaving Gaius snoring in his bed. Merlin walks to his the closed door of his bedroom. Merlin can see light filtering through the cracks in his doors.
'So he does not suspect?' the manticore asked.
'No, nothing,' Alice says.
'Then you must work hard to keep it that way,' the manticore says.
'Shame Merlin now knows,' Arthur said.
'Keeping anything from Merlin is impossible,' Gaius shook his head stuck between fondness and exasperation. 'Merlin is too nosey for his own good.'
'It's good that I am,' Merlin said, 'or both you and the king would be dead!'
Merlin approaches the door looking through the crack in the door to see who Alice is talking to. Alice is at the small table in Merlin's room. Alice has a small bottle out and dripped. From his position Merlin is unable to see the manticore.
'Yes. Yes,' Alice agreed immediately.
'It's too late now that Merlin knows it will only be a matter of time before Gaius does too,' Arthur said.
'If only he believed me,' muttered Merlin.
Then the manticore comes into Merlin's vision, 'you are doing well,' Merlin's eyes widened as he takes in the sight of the creature. 'Take some of my venom. Do not fail me.'
The creature warns Alice. Alice – hand shaking – brings her bottle to the scorpion like tail of the manticore. Alice brings her other shaking hand to the tail where she carefully squeezes a few drops of venom into the bottle.
'Be careful not to hurt yourself. That's it,' the manticore said then hisses as if sensing Merlin who drops down to the floor to try and conceal his presence.
Hunith groaned at the latest trouble her son had got into. She was glad that Merlin didn't tell her everything that he and Arthur got into. Of course, she heard enough stories to know that a lot of trouble happened in Camelot but Merlin's role had never been discussed.
'The manticore knows,' Hunith sighed.
The next day Merlin and Gaius walking in the market in the lower town. Merlin has a small satchel on. There is a woman drawing water from a well behind them and the stalls are full of vegetables from the farms around Camelot.
'When you first knew Alice, what kinds of magic did she practice?' Merlin asked.
'Is this really the place to be discussing magic?' asked Arthur.
'No,' Gaius agreed. 'If the wrong person overheard us and reported to Uther we could both be executed?'
'Then why were you talking about magic in the open?' demanded Arthur. 'If my father had found out…'
'Because I didn't want Alice to overhear our conversation,' Merlin retorted.
'All kinds. It was a time of experimentation, learning,' Gaius said reminiscing as they stopped at one of the stalls.
'Right,' Merlin said not sounding happy. 'What about dark magic?' Merlin asked seriously.
'I daresay,' Gaius said turning around and moving to the next stall. 'But those days are long gone,' Gaius said.
'What if they aren't? Last night there was some kind of creature in your room,' Merlin said.
'Creature?' asked Gaius.
'I've never seen anything like it. It had the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion,' Merlin said.
'Oh, come on, Merlin. You must've been dreaming,' Gaius said stopping where they had been previously walking.
'Why does nobody ever believe Merlin sighed, 'even Gaius who knows I have more knowledge and instinct to this kind of thing than most people?'
'Merlin,' Hunith said softly. 'It wasn't that Gaius didn't trust you. It was that he didn't want to believe that Alice was dabbling in dark magic.'
'No, I saw it with my own eyes and I could feel its power. It was magic like nothing I've ever felt before,' Merlin said.
'What utter nonsense,' Gaius dismissed.
'If you don't believe me, Gaius, I can prove it. Come on,' Merlin said.
Gaius raised his eyebrow in the way that only Gaius can. Then Merlin took off on a run.
In Merlin's room a hand presumably Merlin's reaches under the bed to grasp at the old box that the manticore had been summoned from.
'This is it,' Merlin said placing the box on his bed.
'Merlin, put that back. This has gone far enough,' Gaius said not sounding at all happy.
'Oh, it's in there. I know it is,' Merlin said resting an ear on the metal box.
'Ridiculous,' Gaius goes to open it.
'Gaius, no!' Merlin shouts the box is empty.
'Where is it gone?' Arthur said nervously.
'I hope you're satisfied, Merlin,' Gaius said gruffly.
Gwen looked amused, 'I would think that you of all people would know that Merlin isn't satisfied until he stops the latest threat coming after Camelot.'
Merlin stares at the empty box in surprise. Then Merlin places his head under the bed to check if the creature is there. Meanwhile Gaius storms out furious with his ward. Merlin pulls himself back out from under the bed staring down at the stairs.
'You're lucky the manticore wasn't there,' Arthur said grimly. 'It could have killed you had it been there.'
Merlin strides through the library where Geoffrey of Monmouth is sitting with parchment in his hands.
'Morning,' Merlin says.
Merlin continues striding past Geoffrey without any other comment who stares at him in surprise. In a darkened corner of the library Merlin runs a finger over leather bound tomes. Merlin finds the tome he's looking for and pulls it out of the bookcase. Merlin opens the book and raises his eyebrows.
'Geoffrey will know something's up with your attitude,' sighed Gaius.
Gaius makes potion with Alice's help.
'Hemlock,' Gaius says and Alice passes him a large greenish bottle that Gaius adds to his pot. 'Nightshade,' Gaius says as Alice passes him another bottle which he shakes a bit into his pot. 'Bo...' Gaius begins but Alice already has it ready for him which Gaius takes but stops to look at Alice.
Alice laughs, 'oh, Gaius. It's just like old times,' Alice shrugs.
'Except one of you is possessed,' Gwen frowned.
'We always made a good team, did we not?' Gaius asked.
'Yeah,' Alice smiled.
'I wish Merlin had your skills. I fear he finds the physician's craft boring,' Gaius shook his head.
Merlin blushed a little, 'just a bit.'
'Well, never mind, you've got me to help you now, haven't you?' Alice smiled.
Gaius smiled and nodded, 'indeed, I have,' Gaius said turning back to his potion. 'Now where's the valerian?' Gaius asks mixing the concoction.
'Valerian?' Alice asks turning away and walking to the shelves. 'For an injury, I presume?' Alice asks taking a round glass bottle off the shelf.
'Perfectly correct. I prescribe it to Uther for an old battle wound,' explained Gaius.
Alice's eyes flash open at this as a plan takes route in her mind, he takes it daily?' asks Alice trying to be casual about it.
'Of course,' Gaius said.
Arthur groaned, 'and now she knows how to poison my father.'
'It can't have been hard to slip a bit of the manticore's venom into the potion,' agreed Merlin.
Alice turns around with the bottle of valerian in her hand. Alice smiling walks over to Gaius who smiling takes it from Alice. The two share a loving look staring into one another's eyes. Gaius then turns back to his work.
In the corner of the library Merlin flips through the book in his hands. He stops at a page turning his head slightly. Then there is the sound of a throat clearing as Geoffrey has come up behind Merlin.
'Can I help you?' Geoffrey asked.
'Is he always like that?' asked Gwaine.
'Yes,' Merlin said.
'Geoffrey is very protective of his books,' Gaius said. 'Always has been. He got even worse after Uther burnt or removed many tomes about magic.'
'No,' Merlin shook his head turning his head back to the book before looking up at Geoffrey. 'Yes.'
'Well make up your mind,' laughed Gwaine.
'I wonder, do you know anything about this creature?' Merlin asked showing Geoffrey a drawing of Alice's creature.
'Ah, now that is the manticore,' Geoffrey said.
'A manticore?' asked Merlin.
'Nasty looking beast, isn't it,' agreed Geoffrey.
'Yeah, you can say that again,' Merlin agreed.
'I believe it was first referred to almost a thousand years ago,' Geoffrey said causing Merlin to frown. The Ancients lived in fear of it, trembled at its very name,' Geoffrey said causing Merlin to cross his arms.
'I don't blame them,' muttered Merlin.
'I've never even heard of it,' Merlin admitted.
'I'm not surprised. 'Cause as far as I'm aware, the manticore is a legend, figment of the imagination,' Geoffrey said.
'Or not,' snorted Gwen.
'Why is everything that was just a legend turn out to be true in Camelot?' asked Gwaine.
'Because I'm Emrys and Arthur's the Once and Future King,' Merlin shrugged. 'We're legend as it is so we're going to attract apparently mythical beasts!'
'Are you sure?' asked Merlin.
'Oh, yes. So, erm,' Geoffrey said handing the book back to Merlin. 'If you were hoping to see one, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed,' Geoffrey turns and walks away leaving Merlin to shake his head.
'Bit late for that,' Merlin muttered darkly.
In the physician's chambers Gaius shakes the little bottle of potion for Uther's wound. Alice stands a little to his side.
'Now it's ready to go to the King,' Gaius said still shaking the bottle.
'Fascinating. Gaius, you said you had a rare form of mountain balm. I should like to compare it with my own, if I may?' Alice asks.
'Why does that sound like an excuse?' asked Merlin causing everyone to look at them. 'What? I'm used to making up excuses on the spot to cover up magic. You think I can't spot when someone else is doing the same?'
'Certainly,' Gaius said handing the bottle to Alice and turning to search for the mountain balm. 'Now, where did I put it?' Gaius looks around.
'Perhaps with the second order palliatives?' suggested Alice as she goes to pour the venom now that Gaius has his back turned but Merlin enters and she drops both bottles.
'Thank goodness you arrived when you did,' Huntih said.
'But she got the venom into the potion in the end anyway,' Merlin said grimly.
'Of course,' Gaius agreed.
'I'm so sorry, Gaius,' Alice said dropping to her knees and starting to clean it up.
'Don't worry. Merlin will clear it up, won't you, Merlin?' Gaius asks of his ward approaching the site of the spillage.
'No, no! I can do it,' Alice is quick to reassure Gaius.
Alice continues to clean hurriedly in case someone finds what was left there. Merlin approaches the healer looking suspicious.
Merlin sneaks to the library at night after the moon had risen. Merlin sneaks passed a patrol of guards. Merlin sneaks in to the Hall of Records where Geoffrey is asleep on a stack of books. Merlin hits something and Geoffrey wakes.
Arthur sighed, 'what's the point of having a patrol when every magic user seems to be able to sneak past anyway.' Merlin flinched, 'I was mainly talking about Morgana.'
'What's that? Who's there?' Geoffrey asks.
Geoffrey looks around for the intruder. Geoffrey happens to glance in Merlin's direction. Merlin shakes his head. Merlin looks directly at where Geoffrey is. Merlin's eyes glow golden as he magically floats the objects on Geoffrey's desk. Geoffrey clasps a hand to his chest as he looks around in shock.
'You are lucky you didn't kill him, Merlin,' Gwen said. 'At his age a shock like that easily could.'
Merlin looked guilty, 'I er didn't think of that.'
Merlin whispers, 'no one. You're dreaming,' Merlin whispers causing Geoffrey to smile and reach out for the objects. 'Now go back to sleep.'
In response to Merlin's spell Geoffrey nods his head. Merlin puts his head back down to his desk and snores. Merlin rolls his eyes and goes to sit with a bunch of books as Geoffrey snores in the background. Merlin sits looking bored but suddenly sits up, finding Alice's box on one of the pages.
'What is the box?' asked Hunith.
'Complicated magic,' Merlin replied.
The next morning Gaius is walking down a castle corridor holding a basket of herbs. Merlin runs down the corridor to catch up with the old sorcerer. Gaius does not look happy with the young warlock.
'Gaius, I need to talk to you about Alice,' Merlin said.
'Merlin, this must stop,' Gaius said.
'There's a reason the box was empty. It isn't a container, it's a portal, a gateway for the manticore,' Merlin explained.
'See complicated,' Merlin said to his mother.
'This must stop now,' Gaius said.
'No, Alice is up to something, and whatever it is, it isn't good,' Merlin said.
'You're wrong, Merlin. Alice is the kindest and most compassionate person I've ever known,' Gaius said.
'No. You're wrong, you're just blinded by your feelings for her,' Merlin said.
Gwen winced, 'that's not the best thing to say even if you are right.'
'I know,' Merlin smiled sadly. 'I'm just glad that Alice got out.'
'I can see perfectly well, Merlin. And what I can see is that you cannot bear for me to be happy. I cannot begin to guess why that should be, but it saddens me. More than I can say,' Gaius snaps.
Gaius walks off in the opposite direction from Merlin. Merlin watches as his mentor walks off with a sad look on his face.
Gaius returns to physician's chambers where Alice is still present. Alice looks up when she hears the door open.
'Gaius,' smiled Alice walking over to Gaius, 'there you are. I was beginning to wonder where you'd got to. What's wrong?'
'It's nothing. A disagreement with Merlin, that's all,' Gaius said.
'And she of course knows – or at least suspects – that I know about the manticore,' Merlin said grimly.
'Was it about me? You mustn't worry. He's probably a bit jealous, that's all,' Alice said.
'Sure that's the reason,' snorted Merlin.
'Jealous?' asked Gaius.
'Well, it's only to be expected. The poor lad's had you all to himself. He's bound to be a bit hostile for a while,' Alice explained.
'Very hostile, if truth be told,' Gaius admitted.
'Oh, he'll soon get used to having me around,' Alice reassured Gaius.
'I'm sure you're right,' sighed Gaius.
'I wouldn't have minded her if it wasn't the manticore,' Merlin said.
'I know,' Gaius said, 'and I understand.'
'Listen, why don't you sit yourself down for a while and take a break,' Alice said.
'I must prepare Uther's medicine,' Gaius said pointing.
'Well, I can take care of that. You showed me how, remember?' Alice pointed out.
'So that's how the poisoning happened,' Arthur said.
'Thank you,' Gaius smiled nodding.
Gaius turned away from the workbench while Alice turned towards the workbench. Alice placed the basket of herbs on the workbench. Alice looked at the watchers with a very dark look on her face.
A pair of leather clad feat are running through the grass. Merlin is running in the training yard with a target on his back.
'Arthur,' sighed Gwen looking furious. 'You do not treat servants like that!'
'I'm starting to see why before Merlin none of your servants lasted more than a week,' Leon commented.
'I'm not surprised if you treated them like me,' Merlin said.
'Run!' Arthur calls.
Merlin continues to run panting slightly with the combined exertion of keeping the target up and running. Arthur aims the polearm concentrating. Arthur hits the target with a polearm, knocking Merlin down.
'You're meant to bob, Merlin, weave. You might as well be a barn door,' Arthur says removing the polearm and helps Merlin up.
'Yes, Sire,' Merlin replied not looking at Arthur.
'For goodness sake, what is your problem?' demanded Arthur digging his polearm into the ground.
'I'm not used to Merlin being such a bootlicker,' grimaced Arthur.
'Nothing,' Merlin lied.
'You really are a terrible liar,' Arthur shook his head.
'Yet you never noticed,' laughed Merlin.
'Right. Well, either you tell me, or we go back to the lance and hoops,' Arthur said.
'Gaius and me, we...had a bit of a falling out,' Merlin admitted as he bent down to pick something up missing his prince's incredulous look.
'What?' asked Merlin.
'I hadn't expected that to be what was bothering you,' Arthur admitted.
'Look, I row with my father all the time. You should do what I do, just lie low and wait till he comes to his senses. It'll soon blow over,' Arthur tried to reassure his friend.
'That was actually nice of you,' Gwaine said.
'But given the circumstances I don't think it will happen here,' Hunith said sadly. 'Not until Alice's duplicity is proved.'
'What I want to know is when Uther ever backs down?' Merlin asked. 'You two are both as stubborn as one another!'
'No, I don't think so, somehow,' Merlin said pulling the target over his shoulder.
'Oh, cheer up, will you?' Arthur says and punches Merlin in the arm.
'How is punching him in the arm supposed to make Merlin feel better?' asked Gwen.
'It's a knight thing,' Merlin shrugged.
'How is punching me in the arm meant to cheer me up?' asked Merlin looking at Arthur in shock.
Arthur looks confused, 'it works with the knights.'
'See,' Merlin said.
'Well, they're thick, aren't they?' Merlin replied.
'Hey,' a cacophony of male voices said.
'You get cheered up by getting punched,' Merlin said as though that proved his point.
'I'm a knight,' Arthur said.
'There you go, then,' Merlin said nodding.
'Merlin,' Hunith said wishing her son had learnt manner. 'Sire I'm sorry.'
'Arthur prefers that to a bootlicker,' smiled Gwen. 'As much as they like to pretend they hate each other,' Gwen shook her head.
Arthur punches him again and walks away leaving Merlin to stare after him in confusion.
'You really have to work on your comforting,' Gwaine said amused.
In the physician's chambers Gaius flicks a page of his book. Meanwhile Alice waves a bottle of Uther's medicine over a steaming pot. Gaius hearing the bubbling of the pot glances up from his book at Alice.
'You gave me this book, do you remember?' Gaius asks.
'It was on your birthday, wasn't it?' Alice asks not looking up from the potion.
Gaius looks up at Alice, 'or was it when I was made court physician?'
'Have a look inside. I'm sure there's an inscription,' Alice said as she adds the manticore venom to the potion.
Arthur scowled, 'so that's the poison added and you were right there!'
'It wasn't Gaius' fault!' Merlin said.
'He was just fooled by a pretty lady,' grinned Gwaine. 'It happens to the best of us!'
'It happens to you twice in one night,' laughed Merlin.
Gwaine laughed, 'shut up Merlin.'
Gaius checks the inside of the front cover of the book, 'you're quite right, of course. My 50th birthday.'
'Here we are. All done,' Alice says.
Alice places the vial that had contained the venom on the bench beside her gently so as to not alert Gaius to it. Alice then screws the metal lid on the poisoned potion. Gaius put his book down and gets up as Alice shakes the potion and hands Gaius the potion.
'Wonderful. Thank you,' Gaius smiles.
'Hurry now. You wouldn't want to keep your King waiting,' Alice says watching Gaius go with a sad look.
Gaius picks up his bag, 'really, Alice, I can't imagine how I survived without you,' Gaius says placing the bottle in his bag and turning to leave.
In Uther's chambers Gaius carries the little bottle of poisoned potion to the king.
'Ah, Gaius, you have my medicine,' Uther says.
'Or your poison,' Gwaine said.
'I do, Sire,' Gaius agreed.
'To my very good health,' Uther toasts Gaius and drinks it.
Merlin winced, 'that's probably the worst line to say when you are drinking poison.'
'He didn't know it was poison,' Arthur scowled. 'Or he wouldn't have drunken it!'
'I know,' Merlin said. 'It was just ironic!'
That night Gaius and Alice eating in the physician's chambers. Alice takes a sip of her soup. There is one empty bowl that had likely been meant for Merlin who had not turned up for dinner. Alice places a comforting hand on Gaius'.
'Where were you?' asked Arthur.
'Trying to figure out how to make Gaius believe me,' Merlin said. 'I knew that if I went back there we would argue about Alice again.'
Merlin sits on some courtyard steps. Merlin looks up to the sky as warning bells begin to sound. Merlin looks around sharply upon hearing the warning bells grimly.
'You realised it was Alice before you knew what had happened,' Arthur said.
'I knew it was either Alice or Morgana,' Merlin said. 'We couldn't be unluckier enough to have three enemies in Camelot at one time! Either way it was bad and as I hadn't caught wind of any magic off Morgana I guessed it was Alice as I knew for sure she was planning something I guessed it was Morgana.
Back in the physician's chambers Gaius and Alice look around as they hear the sound of warning bells.
Uther lies unconscious on the floor in his chambers. Arthur kneels over the king trying to wake him by slapping him.
'Father!' Arthur says sounding desperate.
Arthur continues to lightly slap his father trying to wake the king up but is unsuccessful. Then Gaius enters. Arthur turns and stands up facing the old man who comes walking calmly in used to emergencies.
'I found him this way. I...I can't rouse him,' Arthur says leading Gaius towards his father as quick as Arthur is able to.
Gaius drops to his knees and checks his pulse looking up at Arthur, 'the King's alive, but his pulse is weak,' Gaius says standing up and leading Arthur away from his father.
'What's wrong with him?' Arthur asked upset.
'Please, I must examine him. Seal off the King's quarters,' Gaius ordered.
'Did you suspect it was Alice?' asked Merlin.
'Not then,' sighed Gaius. 'Only when I saw the empty bottle did I realise that you had been right. I should have listened. Maybe we could have helped her.'
Gaius pushes Arthur away from the still body of Uther towards the door. Gaius returns to Uther as Merlin enters at a run seeing Uther collapsed on the floor. Merlin drops to the floor and as soon as he does Uther gasps and his eyes shoot open, but they're completely black.
'Why did your presence make his eyes go black?' asked Arthur.
'I don't think it was my presence,' Merlin said. 'I just happened to be there.'
'I think it was because of the connection to the manticore,' Gaius frowned. 'It sensed a magic powerful enough to defeat it so reacted in defence of it's host.'
'What is that?' Merlin demanded.
'Magic,' laughed Gwaine.
'Well I knew that,' Merlin rolled his eyes.
'Hush, Merlin,' Gaius hushed.
Uther turns his head sleepily and closes his eyes. Gaius uncovers Uther's hand which he finds the empty bottle in the King's hand. Gaius picks it up looking horrified realising what it means. Gaius sniffs it whilst Merlin looks on grim.
Merlin and Gaius exit the room where Arthur and the guards are speaking outside. Arthur sends off the guard who walks the opposite direction from the other three. Arthur approaches Gaius and Merlin.
'That was when I realised Merlin had been right,' Gaius said.
'But you still didn't say anything,' Arthur said.
'I didn't want her to be hurt,' Gaius said.
'Even at cost of your own life,' Merlin sighed.
'Well?' Arthur asked.
'I am afraid I cannot yet determine the cause of your father's illness,' Gaius replied criss-crossing his fingers.
'Well, he's been poisoned, hasn't he?' Arthur asks.
'I cannot say at this stage,' Gaius says.
'Just look at him, Gaius. What else could it be?' demands Arthur.
'We must not jump to hasty conclusions, Sire. Please watch over him till I return,' Gaius requests.
Arthur goes into Uther's room leaving Gaius and Arthur quickly. Gaius walks down the steps at a casual pace. Merlin runs after Gaius into the corridor outside the king's chambers.
'I don't think we need any more information,' Merlin said.
'It was Alice,' agrees Arthur.
Gaius sighed, 'I know I was just trying to protect her.'
'Since when are you the expert in such matters?' snapped Gaius.
'If magic is involved Merlin is always aware,' Lancelot said grimly.
'Oh, you don't need to be a physician to see what's happened,' Merlin retorted.
'Gaius,' Hunith says. 'He has a point.'
'Merlin!' Gaius says.
'Gaius, he's been poisoned,' Merlin says as Gaius turns around stopping in the middle of the corridor, 'and I think we both know who did it,' Merlin said.
'What exactly are you implying?' Gaius retorts.
'It was Alice. It had to be. She's been helping you with the potions. She's had every opportunity to corrupt his medicine,' Merlin replies.
'As she did,' Arthur said grimly.
'Merlin, you have no proof of any of this,' Merlin said.
'Since when has that ever stopped Merlin before,' Arthur said amused.
'Not that anyone ever believes me,' Merlin said. 'Anyway I saw the potions bottle you picked up. Just because I can't detect poison in it without the aid of a spell doesn't mean I can't put two and two together!'
'How else did he ingest the poison? There is no other explanation,' Merlin said.
Gaius stopped, 'of course there is,' Gaius said but he didn't sound like he really believed it himself.
'Oh, come on, Gaius! I understand why you're protecting her. Really, I do. But in your heart of hearts, you must know what I'm saying is true,' Merlin said.
Merlin sighed, 'I didn't want to believe that Freya was the basset…'he trailed off.
'All I know is that the King is gravely ill,' Arthur points towards Uther's chambers, 'and that you're place is by Arthur's side!' Gaius snaps.
'His place as a citizen of Camelot is to protect the king,' Arthur said.
Merlin looks sad as he watches Gaius turn around and walk away. Merlin takes a breath stealing himself for what he know he has to do. Merlin turns and begins to walk back to the king's chambers.
Arthur is sitting by his father's bedside in the king's chambers. Uther is still unconscious but is now wearing a white night top and is tucked up under red sheets. Arthur's arms are just over the king's bed.
'It doesn't make any sense. His food,' Arthur says hitting his palm with the side of his right hand for emphasis, 'and wine are tasted each and every meal,' Arthur says emphasising his point with his hands. 'It's brought here under armed guard,' Arthur says looking up at a grim faced Merlin. 'No one can interfere with it in any way. So, it can't be his food and drink,' Arthur said rubbing his hands together. 'The only other thing he's had is...Gaius's remedy,' Arthur says looking up at Merlin.
'Do you see why I had to tell him,' Merlin said. 'I couldn't let you get charged with treason! I'd seen you almost executed once before I couldn't bear to see it happen again!'
'I know, Merlin,' sighed Gaius.
'Arthur, I think I know what happened. I thin...I know who did this,' Merlin admits.
Alice sits by the table where Gaius had left her to attend to the king. Alice stands up when she hears the door to physician's chambers open. Gaius enters and shuts the door. Gaius does not look happy.
'What's going on?' Alice asked.
'Like you don't know,' snorted Merlin.
'The King has been poisoned. It appears that someone has tampered with his medicine,' Gaius says.
'But surely you don't think it was me?' Alice asks weakly.
'Who else could it be,' Gwaine snorted.
'Don't lie to me, Alice. Please,' Gaius begged pain in his voice.
'Gaius, I, I...' Alice begins approaching Gaius but her eyes go black.
'Possession,' Arthur said grimly.
'Alice!' Gaius says softly.
The manticore's hold over Alice is released as her eyes go back to light green. Just then Arthur enters the room with two grim faced guards behind him.
'You're under arrest for high treason. Take her away,' Arthur orders.
One of the guards' march forward grabbing Alice by the arm and dragging her past Gaius. Alice looks back at Gaius with desperation as she is taken away. At the door the other guard grabs her other arm and take her away. Arthur leaves and Merlin walks in.
Gwen sighed sadly, 'this isn't going to be a fun conversation.'
'I had no choice. It was either her or you, Gaius,' Merlin said.
'You know he's right, Gaius,' Hunith said kindly.
Gaius doesn't say anything turning away from Merlin but then turns back to Merlin 'it wasn't your choice to make,' Gaius says turning away to sit on the bench where he turns to clasp his hands and lowers his head.
'Do you realise you both turned the other women in,' Percival said.
'I never thought of that,' Merlin murmured pain in his eyes. 'I was just trying to protect Gaius.'
'And I couldn't let more innocent people die,' Gaius said glancing sadly at Merlin.
Arthur questioning Alice in the dungeons. Alice is in her cell standing by the metal bars of her door. Arthur is on the other side of the metal bars arms crossed. Merlin is standing further behind Arthur.
'Do you admit to using magic?' Arthur demands.
'Yes,' Alice says.
'Admit to poisoning the King?' Arthur demands.
'Yes, yes, but it forced me to do it,' Alice says causing Merlin with a pain look on his face to look up.
'I thought you didn't like her,' Arthur said.
'I did,' Merlin said. 'If she hadn't been possessed by a manticore I would be very happy to have her stay permanently. And I couldn't bare Gaius to be so … so … much in pain.'
'It, it made me,' Alice said.
Leon winced, 'that's sounds like an excuse more than anything.'
'Why would she try to excuse herself?' asked Merlin. 'She's freely professed to using magic which is Camelot is considered as bad as trying to kill the king!'
'I didn't think about that,' admitted Arthur.
'Who forced you?' Arthur demanded.
'The creature. The creature,' Alice said.
Leon winced, 'sounds even more like an excuse!'
'You're lying! There's no creature. You're just trying to save your own skin,' Arthur shouted.
'No, no,' Alice cried shaking her head.
'Please, my father is dying. If you have a single shred of goodness within you, you will tell me how to cure him,' begged Alice.
'She is a good woman,' Gaius said.
'She just played with thing she did not understand,' Merlin said quietly. 'And we've all done that at some point.'
'Have you?' asked Arthur.
Merlin raised his eyebrow in a very Gaius like manner, 'I toyed with the powers of life and death when I brought Gaius back. It wasn't till after I had done so that I realised that if things had gone wrong,' Merlin shivered. 'Let's just say that trying to play god can have consequences.'
'You don't have to tell me that,' Arthur said darkly.
'I don't know,' Alice says.
Arthur's face changes immediately from pleading to fury. Arthur angrily hits the cell doors causing them to rattle and Alice to gasp. Arthur then storms off.
'I don't know! I'm so sorry,' Alice says her hands wrapping around the bars to her cell. 'The manticore...'
Alice begins speaking but as soon as she mentions the manticore her eyes turn black and she seems to start choking. Merlin watches as it releases her revealing green eyes underneath. Merlin turns away from her.
'The possession seems to be painful,' Arthur said.
'She must be fighting it,' murmured Merlin.
In Uther's chambers Gaius is tending to Uther. Uther looks like he's sleeping propped up by thick cushions and pillows and covered by red blankets. Merlin enters to speak and approaches a very sad looking Gaius.
'Your oldest friend dying and Alice about to be sentenced to death,' Hunith said quietly.
'How is he?' Merlin asked.
'He's fading. He won't last the day,' Gaius replied and the two turned to look at the sleeping king.
'Gaius...' Merlin began hesitantly.
'It's alright, Merlin. I understand. You were only trying to save me from harm. Thank you. But I don't believe Alice wanted this,' Gaius said.
'She didn't,' agreed Merlin.
'I know she didn't. The poison is from the manticore, the creature that was in Alice's room,' Merlin said.
Merlin and Gaius enter the physician's chambers. Gaius is shaking a leather piece of cloth as Merlin follow him.
'We cannot counteract the manticore's venom. It's too deadly, by far,' Gaius said.
'Not even Merlin?' asked Arthur.
'Even if I could I wouldn't know how,' Merlin replied.
'So what can we do?' asked Merlin.
'We can kill the manticore,' Gaius says turning back to Merlin. 'The poison is imbued with its magic,' Gaius says picking up a book on a stool.
'And of course the book you need just happens to be there,' snorted Arthur.
'I had been researching it after Alice was arrested,' Gaius said.
'With the manticore dead, it will lose its potency,' Gaius said.
'How do I kill it?' asked Merlin.
'You can't. You don't have the power. It's a creature of the Old Religion. But maybe there's another way, if I can remember,' Gaius says taking another book. 'Here,' Gaius says showing Merlin a page in the book with a diagram of the manticore on it. 'The manticore cannot live in this world long. It's life source is an ancient evil that exists in the spirit world,' Gaius explains.
'I said the box was complicated,' Merlin repeated.
'We know, Merlin,' Gwen rolled her eyes.
'So if we can trap it in this world...' Merlin said.
'We can kill it,' Arthur grinned when everyone stared at him. 'You can kill it.'
'Exactly. If we were to summon the creature and you kept it at bay long enough, perhaps I could break the box,' Gaius said.
'That's not going to be easy,' frowned Percival.
'The gateway,' Merlin said.
'If the gateway is destroyed, then the creature's connection with its life source will be destroyed with it,' Gaius explained.
'And the manticore will die?' Merlin asked.
'I believe so,' Gaius replied.
'You don't sound sure,' Arthur said.
'I wasn't,' admitted Gaius. 'Manticores have long been delegated to only legends! And never has one been beaten. I could only guess.'
'You bet by father's life on a guess!' Arthur shouted outraged.
'It was either that or do nothing,' Merlin said, 'and then Uther would die!'
'Gaius, the box is enchanted. It would need magic to destroy it,' Merlin pointed out.
'Just make sure it isn't like when you attempted to fight Edwin,' Gwen smiled slightly.
'I am aware of that,' Gaius replied.
'Do you think you can? Command such magic?' asked Merlin.
'There was a time when I could. Let us hope I haven't forgotten,' Gaius replied.
The box is sitting on a work bench in the physician's chambers. Merlin and Gaius approach the box.
'Are you ready?' asked Gaius.
Merlin nods silently, 'what if this doesn't work?'
'Then we're going to have a very angry manticore on our hands,' Gaius replied opening the box which appeared to be empty.
'That does not sound pleasant,' laughed Gwaine.
'Well it worked,' Merlin said.
'Cume her, pin scinnlæcan!' Merlin incanted eyes turning bright gold.
'What did that mean?' asked Percival.
'Come here, anguish of a witch,' Merlin said simply
'Why did you use those words?' asked Elyan.
'They seemed right,' shrugged Merlin.
'Merlin has a connection to magic that no human has ever had,' Gaius said quietly. 'I am sure that there is a reason for those words but as the truth of the manticore's creation has been lost to time I know not what!'
The box still appears empty. Gaius and Merlin appear warily into unwilling to approach it any closer than they already are. The sound of the manticore growling comes from inside the box. The manticore comes out and attacks Merlin who flinches back and catches it in his arms whilst keeping it away from his face. Merlin falls to the floor but still has a hold of the manticore.
'Merlin!' cries Hunith.
'Gaius!' cries Merlin.
'Ado pas sawolduru!' Gaius incants eyes briefly flashing gold, 'Ada pas sawoldooroo!'
'It had been a long time since I used magic,' Gaius admitted.
'Gaius! Gaius, it's now or never!' Merlin shouted.
'Adee þas sawle duru!' Gaius incants.
Gaius' eyes once more flashing gold but this time the spell works as the box explodes. The manticore turns his attention away from Merlin and leaps at Gaius. Apparently destroying the box didn't work.
'I thought you said it worked,' frowned Arthur.
'It will, sire,' assured Gaius.
'Gaius!' Merlin cries.
Gaius stares as the manticore continues it's attack on him without moving. Just before it reaches Gaius the manticore fries in the air. Merlin pants slightly from the exertion of fighting with the manticore. Gaius takes the seat by him appearing to be in shock.
'Not too bad for a has-been,' laughed Merlin.
'Merlin,' Hunith scolded.
'Not too bad yourself,' Gaius says slightly breathlessly and they both laugh and Gaius breathes out holding his heart.
'You're in shock,' Gwen said.
'Probably,' agreed Merlin.
In Uther's chambers Uther is now awake. Uther has a goblet of wine in his hands and is leaning against the headboard of the bed just about to take a drink. Arthur is standing to his side looking relieved that his father is better.
'I am fortunate, indeed, that you found an antidote, Gaius,' Uther says.
'Antidote?' asked Elyan.
'We had to say something as to why Uther was suddenly awake,' Merlin said. 'An antidote seemed to best option. It isn't like that excuse hasn't worked before,' Merlin glanced at Arthur thinking of the Questing Beast.
'It will take time, My Lord, but you will make a full recovery,' Gaius said.
'What of the woman?' questioned Uther.
'We have her in the cells, Sire. She awaits your judgment,' Arthur said.
'She won't have to wait long. She's sentenced to death. We'll execute her in the morning,' Uther said.
'Not even so much as a trial,' Gwaine said disgusted.
'She escaped,' Arthur said. 'I suppose that was you,' Arthur wasn't upset he would have done the same had Gwen been in that position.
'Yes, Father,' Arthur said.
'You really have to stop doing exactly what your father says,' Gwaine said.
'Sire, if I may,' Gaius said.
'Yes, Gaius,' Uther said.
'It seems this woman was in the thrall of some kind of creature. Perhaps, in the light of that, her sentence might be-'Gaius began.
'You of all people should know that my father very rarely rescinds a sentence,' Arthur said, 'especially where magic is concerned.'
'I had to try,' Gaius said simply.
'I know,' Arthur said.
'She practiced magic, Gaius. There are no circumstances under which that is acceptable. Her judgment stands,' Uther said harshly.
'Except to save your daughter's life,' Merlin said bitterly.
Gaius bows not looking happy but not saying anything to Uther either. Gaius then turns to leave. Merlin watches Gaius leave out of the corner of his eyes and then follows his mentors lead by bowing and exiting the king's chambers. Uther takes a drink out of his goblet as Gaius leaves.
In the dungeons Gaius sits with Alice in her cell.
'I'm sorry, Alice. There was nothing I could do,' Gaius shakes his head.
Alice shakes hers, 'don't. I knew what my sentence would be. Uther will never change.'
'No he won't,' Merlin agreed, 'but Arthur will. I hope,' Merlin adds on the end.
'I will,' agreed Arthur. 'Your life has shown me so much of magic that I don't think I'll ever to believe again the lie that all magic is evil.'
Merlin grinned, 'thank you Arthur.'
Gaius looks down then glances back up at Alice, 'no,' Gaius agreed.
'I hoped that I could learn from it .That, that I could harness its magic for the good, for healing, but it was too strong for me,' Alice said.
'That is why you don't mess with ancient magic,' Merlin said, 'because it's dangerous and there are always consequences!'
Gaius nodded, 'at least you are rid of it now,' Gaius said quietly.
'Yes. And it's far better to die free than to live as a slave,' Alice said.
Gaius nodded, 'I can only hope that's true.'
'Gaius, before I go, I want you to know something. I never forgot you. Since we parted all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I have not thought of you,' Alice said.
Gaius looks down and then back at Alice, 'I fear I abandoned you, Alice,' Gaius admitted.
'You saved her,' Gwen said quietly.
'I could have gone with her,' Gaius said quietly.
'No,' Alice disagreed.
'I left you all alone,' Gaius said taking Alice's hand in his.
'You stayed behind to protect me. I know that. You saved my life. And there's no greater gift that I could've hoped for. And you've achieved great things here in Camelot, whereas...I...' Alice trailed off.
'Alice,' Gaius sighed.
'I've disgraced myself. After everything I've done, you would have every right to hate me,' Alice said.
'Love doesn't work that way,' Merlin said quietly.
'Hate you? I could never hate you. I've treasured these past days. I love you, Alice. I love you, and I always will,' Gaius said.
'As I will you, Gaius. I don't...I don't want to leave you, my love,' Alice cries in his arms.
'Don't be afraid. Please,' begged Gaius.
Gaius putting Sorcerer's Chimes into a box in physician's chambers when the warning bells sound. Gaius doesn't react to the sound of the bells just closes the box. Merlin comes running down the stairs.
'Something's happened,' Merlin said urgently.
'I thought it was more trouble,' Merlin said. 'There's always something at Camelot!'
'Perhaps one of the prisoners has escaped,' Gaius suggested.
'Perhaps,' Merlin snorted.
'How is that possible? I wonder. The dungeons are so secure,' Merlin said.
Gwaine snorted, 'secure? How many people escape from the dungeons daily?' he demanded.
'I really couldn't say,' Gaius replied a smile twitching at the corner of his lips.
'You could've gone with her,' Merlin said quietly.
'But I was needed here,' Gaius said quietly.
'I could've done. But then, who'd look after you?' asked Gaius.
'Me?' Merlin laughs, 'I don't need looking after. I can fend for myself.'
'Ah. Well, in that case, you won't be wanting any of this, then,' Gaius says unveiling a hunk of meat.
'Well, maybe just a slice,' Merlin laughs.
'Morgana was quiet,' commented Leon.
'I know,' Merlin said. 'I'm just glad she didn't get involved.'
'I would have expected her to gloat over father dying,' Arthur said bitterly.