Arthur had left the night's feast early—most knights had left early, in fact, for the Melee was on the morrow. Now Arthur stood at his window, half-undressed, staring out into the night.
"I'm sorry," Merlin said. He'd gathered the firewood and lit the fire—without magic—lost in his own thoughts. He stared into the flames before him.
"For disobeying me, or for letting Malduc escape?" Arthur spoke to the window. Throughout Camelot, guards were patrolling, on the lookout for a sorcerer who could look like anybody.
"I didn't—" Merlin started to explain, but his words fell—he'd thought through all the ways he could have captured Malduc, all the things he could've done differently. He stood. "I'm sorry," he said again.
"We told the guards to look for the crystals, not Malduc's face," Arthur said.
"That's a good idea," Merlin said. "The Melee's still tomorrow."
"We won't allow a sorcerer to ruin our plans."
"Sounds like Uther."
"My father's furious." Arthur stepped away from the window. "I don't blame you for Malduc, Merlin. You said he was at Gwen's house—you were supposed to protect her and Morgana, to stay with them. In case."
"Oh."
"Who would've been better?" Arthur went to his bed and pulled down the blankets, Merlin running over to do it for him.
"It's fine, Merlin. I can do things. Go. Get some sleep."
Awkwardly—disheartened—Merlin left. When he returned to Gaius's chambers, he found Gaius cleaning his tools as he stood at his worktable. Phials of tinctures, jars of ointment, scattered herbs, decanters, and scales surrounded his worn, old bag. Gwaine sat at the dining table reading what looked, from the doorway, like a book of Roman poetry. He wore a simple tunic and trousers, and when he leaned back in his chair to put his feet on the table, Gaius grunted a warning; Gwaine dropped his feet, glanced up at Gaius, and saw Merlin.
"I didn't hear you come in," Gwaine said.
"Door was open," Merlin said, shutting it behind him. "What's that?" He pointed to a sword lying on the table in front of Gwaine.
"This blunt old thing?" Gwaine said.
"Uther sent it," Gaius said.
"So you're fighting tomorrow," Merlin said.
"Mustn't disappoint," Gwaine said.
"I'm sure you can bear your burden," Gaius said.
"Your title really helped expose Dagr and Ebor," Merlin observed.
"As much as their sorcerer double-crossing them?" Gwaine asked. "We couldn't have asked for better timing."
"According to Sir Lamorack, they've been railing against Malduc non-stop," Gaius gave Merlin a knowing, grateful look.
"Guess that says something about trusting sorcerers," Merlin tried to make a joke.
"Sorcerers like Malduc, maybe," Gwaine commented. "But Uther will rule as he sees fit, I suppose." Gwaine stood and blew out the candles on the table.
"What about you?" Merlin asked. "Are you staying long?"
"Camelot was never on my route," Gwaine said. "I'm leaving as soon as courtesy allows me."
"So you'll just keep traveling," Merlin said.
"Seems I still need to learn how to see people," Gwaine said, saluting Merlin. "Good night."
Merlin and Gaius waited as Gwaine closed Merlin's door.
"Merlin, you need to be extra careful," Gaius said quietly. "With Malduc—and Pelleas—at large, Uther will be especially vigilant."
"Yeah," Merlin nodded. "For my own safety, I have to appease Uther."
"Merlin," Gaius admonished. "Don't make the same mistake Uther does, of seeing only the magic—these men are criminals—Malduc uses magic for his own gain, and kills for convenience sake."
"I know, Gaius." Merlin wanted to pick a fight—he wanted to avoid all fights—he wanted to sleep. "I feel like I'm losing a war," he said.
"Malduc got away," Gaius said. "You lost a battle—that's not the war. You'll win in the end, you always do," he patted Merlin's shoulder.
And Merlin was comforted. Gaius was right. Another encounter with Malduc was certain, and the next time, he would be ready.
EPILOGUE
Morgana awoke with a start, clutching her bedsheets. Sweat prickled her face and a tear escaped from the corner of her eye. She had trouble breathing. Her visions blended into each other, fading into incoherent scraps.
She was no wiser, no more knowledgeable than before.
She wasn't alone.
Elayne lounged in chair against the table, wearing a simple red dress, bare feet, and her hair braided over her shoulder.
"You keep hating Uther while trying to dream," Elayne said sadly.
"You're here," Morgana said, trying not to see Elayne's resignation as judgment.
"No," a subtle shake of her head. "I'm projecting. You just see me."
"Oh. Neat." Morgana swallowed her envy, forcing herself to not cry.
"Light a candle," Elayne said. "Or find a pretty rock—something to stare at until the only thing in your mind is what you want to know."
"That will control my visions?" Morgana swung her legs over the side of her bed.
"It will help bring them under control. They won't be nightmares anymore. But you won't be able to dictate what you see, if that's what you mean."
"You know it isn't."
"I'm sorry, Morgana." And Elayne was gone, her disappearance so immediate that Morgana had to blink to steady herself.
Nothing more than a scrap.
She would take it.
--end-
END NOTES: I've done everything I can to prevent my stories from becoming inaccessible to the casual reader; everything you need to know in each story is given in that story.
But I do have multiple recurring original characters: Malduc's first appearance was in 3.2 "Tristan & Isolde." Elayne was introduced in 3.3 "Enemy Lines" and showed up again in "The Cauldron of Ceridwen." Ettare's predicament happened in 3.8 "The Errant Ones." Cadoc, Madoc, and Taran have been sprinkled, or sometimes foregrounded, throughout my series; likewise, I've been slowly fleshing out Camelot's Council since about mid-way through.
As for the Cameliard Cycle (as I think of it), where Merlin & Arthur plotlines occur in the Kingdom of Cameliard, that's stories 3 through 8.
For anyone who's curious.