A Remedy to Cure all Ills

„How is Morgana?" For some reason I expected us to be in her chambers, just like when Merlin was sick. But that was not the case.
"She is still out of order, Gaius says her body has a complete shut-down." He was standing by the window, watching the blue sky.
"Gaius is right. Something infected her brain." I was standing at his bedside, leaning against one pillar.
"Yes, but he has no idea what!" Arthur turned around and started pacing.
"You're making me anxious." I couldn't repress that comment and he immediately stopped, giving me an annoyed look.
"Merlin is driving me crazy."
"He is worried. So are you." Arthur mumbled something under his breath and ran his fingers through his hair.
"What do you think of Edwin Muirden?"

He looked at me. "Who?"
"The physician you met in the courtyard today. The one who claims he has-"
"A remedy to cure all ills... Yes I remember him. What about him?"
I tilted my head. "You should already have figured out that every time I visit you... something happens."
"Like the sickness or magical attacks, yes, I've noticed. Is this why you came? Because of him?"
I nodded. Arthur frowned. "What is about him? He didn't seem very dangerous."
I shrugged. "I am actually not sure how much you actually noticed on your own. This episode involves mainly Gaius and Merlin. Maybe I have a bit more to show you this time."
He opened his mouth but closed it again. Then he folded his arms and shook his head. I grinned a bit. It was a bit more obvious what was going on behind his forehead to me now. I came closer, grinning. "Ready?"
"Ready for-" But I already threw the water in his face.

"I hear Lady Morgana is feeling better?"
Arthur was sitting in his armchair, looking up when I appeared at the window. "Yes. Muirden, he cured her." He was talking slow, hesitant, like he was not sure what to say.
"Yet you do not seem to be very fond of him." I sat on table, legs in the air, close to Arthur.
"I was. Until I found myself here again and remembered your words. Now I am... wary."
"And you should be. Do you want to see how he cured her?" I had a bowl of water in lap and Arthur got up, a bit hesitantly but he came close enough to see the surface.

Muirden had sent everybody out, being alone with Morgana. He had tweezers and some cloth ready in his hands when he bowed over her and tilted her head. Guinevere came in, while he was gesturing over Morganas head. He noticed her company and sent her out to get some water. Gwen did as told and he turned to the bed again. He continued his gestures over Morganas face, whispering some magic words. When he got up he held a small insect with the tweezers which wriggled in his grip. He used the cloth to catch the blood now leaving Morganas ear where the beetle came out. He put it in a small wooden box which inside was not visible from our angle. Then he closed the box.

"He used magic to get a bug out of her head?" It sounded like a question and Arthur lifted his head to look at me. I blushed a bit, he came pretty close to see inside the bowl and leaned with his hands left and right to my body. He probably did not even notice he was doing it, but I surely did.
"A bug he planted there, yes." Our heads almost touched when I nodded and now he seemed to realize our position. He quickly moved back, putting his chair between us. I decided not to say anything.
"Now father offered him to stay... that is not good."
"And he saw Merlin using magic."
"What? How could he be so stupid?"
I had to laugh. It was the first time that Arthur sounded with me just like in my visions. And of course doing so he would refer to Merlin. Arthur was irritated by my laugh but didn't say anything.
"Merlin is lonely. He has this great power he is not allowed to use or he must fear death. Now is there this new guy, with magic of his own, someone just like him. Merlin wants to trust someone."

Arthur got quiet. I waited for him to say something. Eventually he did, but not what I expected.
"I hate that I can't do anything. And that I have to take your word for the truth. I have no way of knowing if anything you say or show me is the truth. Sure, it lines up with everything I remember, but you taught me that I can't be so sure in that department either. I get tossed around between you, Merlin and other danger with magic powers, like Muirden or that Nimueh. And I can't do a damn thing. Without you, I wouldn't even know!" He got louder during his speech, almost screaming the last sentence. His breath was heavy and he stared at me with blue fire in his eyes.
"I am-"
"No! Do not say you are sorry because you're not! You are doing what you think is right, even though it will drive me crazy." I was unsure how serious his statement was so I simply remained silent, waiting for him to cool down.
When that seemed to be the case I asked: "Do you still want me to stop?"
He sat down, looking tired. "What?"
"Do you still want to get rid of me? The memory erase and power games in here aside, do you want me to stop so you wouldn't know any more than what you actually hear and see?"
He stared at me in growing silence. Then, in a tiny whisper: "I don't know."
I nodded and threw the bowl at him.

"I am really quite fond of that coat."
Arthur turned around, he wore the object of my desire. He was pacing through the room with long, slow steps.
"What am I suppose to do?", he suddenly asked.
I blinked. "I'm sorry?" "If I allow this to simply play out, Muirden will become the new court physician. Without anyone knowing who he is and what he wants."
"Gaius knows", I stated and he glared at me.
"He does?"
I nodded. "Gaius found out that he already met Muirden. When he was a little kid."
Arthur sat down on his chair. "Muirden lived here?"
"Until his parents died in the flames Uther used to purge the town."
"His scars...", Arthur muttered, looking a bit horrified.
"Yes. He tried to save his parents who had magic."
"So he came here for revenge? On my father for burning his parents?" He considered my silence as agreeing. "Then I can't even blame him."
I shrugged. "According to Gaius his parents were not good people. With dark magic. But I actually can't see the past. All I know about the things that happened is back then because someone in my visions of the future talked about the past."
"Then why is he not interfering?"
"What do you think?"

Arthur thought about it and when his face became cold I knew he found the right reason. "Because Muirden threatened Merlin."
I gave him a sad smile. "He gave Gaius a choice. Merlin or the king."
Arthur ran his fingers through his hair, his gaze looking through me. "And what will he do?"
I was silent. He repeated himself more pressing. I continued with my emotionless smile, shrugging lightly. His angry sigh filled the silence that build up.
"You won't tell me. Of course you won't. Then what would you do in my place?"
I was unsure if he was just trying to gain more info or if he was really interested in my advice. I decided to play it save. "The only thing you can do. Let it all play out." He wanted to interrupt me but I quickly continued: "I do not tell you all of this so you can interfere. You are not meant to interfere. You are actually not even meant to know. But she was not okay with that."

"Your strange entity."
I nodded. "In my head I call her 'The Editor'."
Arthur frowned. "Why?"
"Because she has influence through me. She is slightly changing the outcome without disrupting the product. Like an editor."
Arthur tilted his head understandingly.
"And that is also a reason why you can't interfere. She has the script and uses me to change a few things. But if I let you change a whole chapter, the complete story plays out differently. Do you understand?" He was still a bit grumpy but nodded. I took a breath.
"Good. Then lets end the night here so you can see how it all plays out."
"Do you always have to use water? Or shove me?"
I was taking a step towards him and shrugged. "I have to give your body some kind of shock. Water, falling or pain are the most reliable to do the trick."
Arthur sighed. "Fine. What about a warning then?"
"Do you really think a warning would be good, if you need a shock?" I didn't let him answer and used a needle I pulled from my hair to suddenly stab him in the arm. His loud "Ouch!" made me grin.

"You see? Everything played out fine." Arthur was only wearing trousers and a shirt, not even boots. I tried not to be irritated by that.
"Yes, I suppose it did. Although I am not sure how, as always. I was trying to find Edwin but I couldn't. When I returned my father was getting better and Gaius was there explaining Muirden has been behind everything."
"Not a lot of details, hm? Do you want to know more?" I gestured towards the large mirror standing beside his bed. Arthur turned around and leaned against the table while I made myself comfortable on his bed.

Muirden returned to his chambers after dealing with Uther. Gaius voice made him turn around.
"I will not allow you to kill Uther."
"You never had a problem letting people die before", Muirden answered calmly.
"Your parents were practicing dark magic. Just like you." Gaius came closer.
"And how do you propose to stop me?" Gaius lifted his arm and said some magic words, but nothing happened.
"Hm, I think you meant..." Muirden corrected him and Gaius flew back against a pillar. "You've forgotten everything, Gaius. Getting to old. I have a cure though." He used his magic again and a ring of flames appeared around Gaius, holding and threatening him.

Arthur flinched a tiny bit as he saw himself, approaching Merlin and sending him after Muirden. Gaius stood up, leaning against the pillar, still trapped by the fire. The door opened and Merlin appeared. He took a second to understand the situation and turned to Muirden.
"What are you doing?"
"He was trying to kill the king, I couldn't let him", Gaius answered.
"I can rule the kingdom now. With you at my side we could be all powerful", Muirden offered.
"Release him!", Merlin demanded.
"Your loss Merlin." Muirden looked at an axe on the wall, making it fly towards his enemy. Merlin leaned back, his eyes turned gold and the axe stopped, floating in midair while Muirden was still trying to kill Merlin with it. He even used the magic language but with the second flash of Merlins eyes, the axe turned back hitting Muirden right in the chest, who had no chance to even react. The fire around Gaius vanished.
"Are you alright?", Merlin asked a bit tense.
"Yes... thank you Merlin", Gaius answered, looking very stressed.

I made a gesture towards the mirror and fast forwarding we saw how Merlin took the wooden box, Gaius explaining what those insects were and both next to Uthers bed unsure how to get the beetle out. Merlin layed his hands on Uthers ears and whispered something. When he pulled back he showed Gaius the magic insect in his palm and both seemed very relieved.

The mirror cleared up and I looked at Arthur, still staring at the surface.
"How did he do that?"
I frowned. "Do what?"
Arthur turned to me gesturing. "Muirden tried to kill him, he almost did with this axe but Merlin overcame him. Without saying a word, just like that!"
I smiled. "There are the ones who say Merlin is the greatest warlock to ever walk the earth."
Arthur almost gulped. "Merlin? This Merlin, our Merlin, seriously?"
I grinned. "He has incredible power. And it will only grow with time."
Arthur started pacing again, from his bed towards the table to his wardrobe and back. "What if Merlin loses control over this power?"
"That is very unlikely. And even if. Every inch of his body is programmed to protect the ones close to him. Gaius, Gwen... and you."

"Me?" He stopped.
"Of course you. Your destiny is inseparable intertwined with his. And he knows that. Believe me, Merlin will become your closest friend and ally. There will be legends over the two of you."
"Seriously?" His face was priceless. A mix of surprise, disbelieving and scepticism.
I grinned. Very bright. "You'll see. But until then... let's call it a night, shall we?" I got up from the bed and approached him. He took a few steps back and lifted his arm.
"Hey, one moment. You won't stab me again, will you?"
"Oh, did that hurt?"
"Yes!" He looked irritated and my grin got even brighter. That did not happen quite a while. Seemed like his desire to lie was a lot greater when it came to defend his manhood.
"Don't worry. I will mix it up a little, you will never know what it's going to be." And I ended the connection before he could answer.

A bit shorter this time, but I can already promise you will love the next one!