Gaius was gone when I got back so I carried on searching through the mass of books he owned. I had been looking for at least two hours when he got back.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" What does it look like?

"Looking for a book."

"Are you going to tell me which one?" If I knew that I wouldn't still be searching.

"A book on elements."

"Elements?" I didn't have time to answer a bunch of obvious questions.

"Yes. Which one would I find them in?" Or, knowing Gaius, which hundred?

"Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process." Which hundred it is then. Science though, that wouldn't help me kill an Afanc, would it?

"But how would they help me kill the Afanc?"

"Well the Afanc is a creature made from earth and water, that's two of the four base elements."

"And the other two?" I saw revelation dawn in his eyes, only seconds after I realised it myself.

"Perhaps they would destroy it. You want fire. Wind and fire. How did you find this out?" Erm… Instinct?

"I… erm… I just knew, you know? Part of my powers." Well, I'm sure that at any other time I could have come up with a better explanation than that.

"What else do your powers tell you?" He knew I was lying. He must do but he was going along with it anyway. Thank goodness for small mercies.

"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously." I just had to slip that in there, Arthur was a prat and I was still fuming about him using women's problems to explain why I said I was a witch. Ass! How humiliating!

"And who's the other side?" He knew the answer to that before he asked, but I answered him anyway.

"I think that might be Arthur." The door burst open and Morgana stormed through, eyes only for me.

"They're bringing forward the execution." Damn it! "We have to prove Gwen's innocence!" What does she think I've been doing all day? Knitting? "Please, just tell me what I can do to help." Oh, so she knows I've been planning something. Smart girl. Well, if she's offering…

"We need Arthur." I'd so rather not ask him for anything myself right now.

"Arthur?"

"There's a monster. An Afanc. In the water supply. That's what's causing the plague." Her eyes grew wide at my words, she obviously hadn't expected that was the cause. Her eyes lit up.

"Then we must tell Uther." It wouldn't stop him… Gaius answered for me, saving me the dilemma of whether to tell the truth or lie again.

"The Afanc's a creature forged by magick, telling Uther wouldn't save Gwen, he'd just blame her for conjuring it." Thankfully Morgana had a good heart, and I knew she wouldn't do anything that might get her friends in trouble.

"So what are we to do?"

"We need to destroy it. Then the plague will stop and Uther… may see sense." Honestly, I didn't know what Uther would do but I had to hope that between Gaius, Morgana and Arthur, they could convince him.

"Then we do need Arthur."

"He's our best chance… but he won't want to disobey the King." Another reason why Morgana was better suited for the job than I was. He had trusted me enough to stand up to the King before but after how that played out… I doubted he would do it again. Not for me anyway.

"Leave that to me." She was gone before I could say another word. Not that I had anything more to add anyway.

I was waiting by the pyre, not sure what to expect but I was still surprised when Morgana surged toward me, Arthur by her side with his sword in hand. Morgana and I shared a secret smile, I wasn't sure what she'd said to convince him but whatever it was… it worked. I lead them back the way Gaius had taken me earlier on that day, talking quietly with Morgana about what to expect, Arthur didn't ask me any questions, in fact he didn't speak to me at all until we got deep into the tunnels, at which point he had taken the lead with a torch in one hand and his sword, still drawn, in the other.

"You'd better be right about this, Merlin." His tone was still angry, I wasn't sure why he was so pissed off, he could have replaced me easily if Uther had executed me. Maybe he was just angry anew at me having Morgana trick him into helping me again. I didn't bother answering, there wasn't any need because before I had even thought of what to say a growl reverberated throughout the tunnels, it was a good thing Arthur knew exactly where the water supply was because I couldn't get these tunnels straight in my head and following that growl would have been impossible with all the echoes. Arthur had stopped in his tracks, his head moving, following the sounds.

"You should stay here." I wasn't sure if it was me or Morgana he was talking to, probably both of us.

"We're coming with you," Morgana answered, saving me from making a fool of myself if Arthur's words hadn't been directed at me.

"No." This time he was looking at me.

"Scared I'll show you up?" I smirked, still embarrassed from his earlier comments in the throne room.

"Father will throw us all in chains if he knew we'd endangered you, Morgana." Arthur could kill me himself and Uther wouldn't bat an eyelid, but the Lady Morgana? There would be hell to pay and I'm pretty sure I'd be the one blamed. I shouldn't have got her involved. I should have just put my pride to the side and asked Arthur myself.

"Good thing he doesn't know about it, then." I knew there wasn't a chance Morgana would stay behind and leave the fighting to me and Arthur. Besides, I'd seen her with a sword and there was no denying that she could handle herself, the only problem? She didn't have a sword.

"I'm telling you, Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt."

"So could you. If you don't get out of my way." I could barely suppress my laughter, instead accidentally letting loose an unattractive snort. Morgana winked at me, Arthur glared. Why couldn't I be Morgana's servant instead? The tables had turned again, and this time it was Morgana leading us down the winding tunnels. Every time Arthur's eyes met mine, he glared and I tried not to roll my eyes and anger him further. From the looks of things, I was going to be in enough trouble as it was.

"How are we going to find it?" Morgana asked.

"Let's just hope we do. Before it finds us." I did not want that thing sneaking up on me, not with us only having torchlight and it being so dark in the spaces the light didn't hit. Every shadow took on the form of a monster in my fearful state. A growl sounded again, this time from behind us, all of us spun in sync to face in that direction.

"It's just an echo," Arthur muttered before carrying on, I stumbled to keep up, not wanting to be left alone with the shadows.

We finally made it to the water supply but nothing was there, the same pool, the same water, the same creepy lighting but no Afanc.

"Spread out." Really, Arthur? Morgana did as he said without a word so I was forced to do the same. I couldn't look afraid, not in front of Arthur. Funny how only a few hours ago I was more than willing to sacrifice my life and now, I desperately wanted to live it. Arthur began to head in the direction we had come, Morgana and I heading down two new tunnels, none of us ventured far, I had no torchlight and Morgana had no weapon. We couldn't afford to wander too far away from each other. The odd wall sconces weren't enough to keep the shadows at bay and I was moving my head from side to side so fast it was a wonder I didn't get whiplash. I heard a small commotion coming from the water supply and ran back, Morgana had reached Arthur before me.

"What is it, are you alright?" He seems shaken but otherwise unharmed.

"Did you see it?" I asked.

"Yes!" In the middle of danger and he was still angry with me. Jeez.

"What did it look like?" I wanted to make sure he had, in fact, seen the Afanc and that there wasn't some other nasty down here as well.

"It's quick." No shit. I worked that out when I didn't see it. I was looking at Arthur, waiting for more when Morgana screamed. We both rushed toward it but it disappeared again before we could reach it. Damn! Well, it was definitely the Afanc. How are you supposed to fight something you can't catch? Morgana had her back to the wall, her breathing erratic. She was frightened. I placed myself in front of her, hoping to protect her if it came forth again. Arthur was further forward; turning quickly, trying to catch a glimpse of it again.

"Where is it?!" I moved closer to Arthur whilst still keeping myself between Morgana and the closest tunnel entrance, hoping to see where it had gone. The growls kept coming and trying to pinpoint the sound was getting easier as my ears accustomed themselves to the echoes.

"This way!" I began to run toward the sounds, I knew I was right as the closer I got, the louder the growl did. I am literally running toward a monster, maybe Arthur's right, maybe I am an idiot. Before I could think much more on it, there was a tug from behind and suddenly Arthur was in front of me, obviously trying to put himself between me and the Afanc, being that he had a sword and the only weapon I had he didn't know about, it wasn't so surprising.

There it was! Stood right in front of us, almost the size of Arthur even with his humped back. His skin looked exactly like mud; the combination of earth and water. It absolutely stank. That had been in the water supply? Yuk! Arthur went straight for it, striking at it with his sword but the Afanc was too fast, for with every swing he managed to avoid it. Even if Arthur could hit it, the sword would do no damage. I already knew that.

"Arthur! Use the torch!" He didn't even second guess me, just started to lunge at it with fire instead of metal. Did that mean he trusted me? Finally! Well, time for me to add some air to this fight. I kept my body between the Afanc and Morgana, but far enough forward that she wouldn't hear me over the fight, in case it made a split second lunge our way.

"Lyft sy þe in bǽlwylm ac forhienan se wiðere!" Air rushed through the tunnels and caverns, coming between Arthur and his torch before carrying the fire through the air like a curtain, straight towards the Afanc. To anyone else, it would look like a lucky gust of wind from the already breezy tunnel system. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust back to dimmer lighting when it finally faded away but when they did I could see the creature slowly disintegrating into the stone floor, its final scream still echoing through the walls. We'd done it. Now all that was left to do was convince Uther to release Gwen.

"How did you know to use the torch?" Arthur shot out like an accusation, still not looking at me.

"Just common sense. The creature was made of mud so I figured fire would dry it out." Arthur just 'hmmed' in response and I rolled my eyes towards Morgana who snickered into her hand.

"Merlin? Merlin?!" I had nodded off, my head on the table after Gaius left to speak with the King. I was so exhausted from today's events and last night's wanderings that I was confused as to why Morgana was waking me up at first. "Uther's agreed to release Gwen! They're heading down to the Dungeon's now! Come on!" Without a moment's hesitation, I leapt from the chair, grabbed my robe and rushed out the door with Morgana hot on my heels. We got there just in time for Gwen's cell to be opened and her father rushed in ahead of us, holding Gwen close and rocking her side to side as they hugged. After her father released her she rushed over to where Morgana and I stood, she clutched Morgana's hand.

"Thank you." Gwen's father came up behind her, still keeping his hand on her at all times. I doubt he could believe she was being released any more than I could. Morgana shook her head and looked toward me.

"Don't thank me. It was more Merlin." Gwen looked at me in surprise, obviously not thinking I had the power to convince Uther to release her. She was right. I'd just gave him another alternative and left it to those he respected to finish the rest.

"Really?" Morgana was smiling from ear to ear.

"She's the real hero here." Gwen was shaking her head, happy tears flowing down her cheeks.

"I don't know what to say." There was nothing she needed to say, knowing she was going to be free and safe was enough for me. Besides, it was my fault she was in here anyway.

"I… I didn't do anything." Nothing that would make up for my beginning mistake but seeing Gwen and her father together and happy, both healthy, alive and free… well… It almost made me believe I had done the right thing after all. Gwen's father came over and clasped my shoulder, gratitude ebbing out of him.

"I'm grateful to you all." He looked back at his daughter, holding her close again. "Come on Gwen." They both rushed out of there, no doubt glad to finally be away from this awful place. I made to follow when Morgana called me back.

"Merlin?"

"I wanted to you to know; your secrets safe with me." My what? No. She can't know, I made sure I was far enough away for her not to hear me and she couldn't have seen my eyes. So…

"What secret?" Her expression grew serious. Oh, shit. The King's ward knows. I am so dead.

"Don't pretend. I saw you earlier."

"You did?" My voice was a squeak.

"I saw it with my own eyes."

"You did?" I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"I understand why you don't want anyone to know." Yeah, I kind of like having my neck attached to my shoulders.

"Well, obviously… I –" Her smile came back.

"I won't tell anyone." Her smile was huge and I couldn't believe it. I knew she didn't exactly share Uther's views but… "You don't mind me talking to you about it?" It would be so nice to finally talk to someone other than Gaius. To actually have a friend who I didn't have to hide things from.

"No… It's… Uh… You have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden." Her smile kept growing and I'm pretty sure my expression was a mirror image of hers.

"Well, you can continue to deny it but, uh, I think Arthur's a very lucky man." Wait? What? What does Arthur have to do with this?

"Arthur?" She placed a finger to her lips and winked with a secretive smile.

"It's our secret." I watched her as she walked off, still smiling away at something she had no idea about. Oh, Gods, she doesn't think..? Me and Arthur? I'm sure that would probably be illegal. Or at the very least, seriously frowned upon. Well, no more than practising magick but –come on! Me and Arthur?! As if!

Gaius and I were eating dinner, whilst I thought over Morgana's words when something suddenly occurred to me.

"This fish didn't come from the water, did it?" The idea of touching anything that had been contaminated by that… thing was… ugh.

"Well, where else is it going to come from?" The sea? That would be much more preferable. "The water's fine now, that's not your worry, this is the work of a very powerful sorcerer. I hope you didn't come to her attention." I snorted into my goblet.

"I doubt it." He raised an eyebrow in response. "Well, no one else seems to appreciate my skills, I just want someone to appreciate who I am." Gaius got up, taking his plate with him whilst I moaned about how unfair it was.

"One day, Merlin."

"One day, what?" I grumbled.

"One day people won't believe what an idiot you were."

"Thanks," I said, sarcasm heavy in my tone. Still, when Gaius started to laugh I couldn't help but join him. The stress of the last few days started to lift as I laughed, and I wished that it could last forever, even if it meant no one knowing what I could do.