Merlin led Sam, Dean, and Cas into Gaius' room, and they were all relieved to see that he was simply mixing some kind of medicine together rather than with an actual patient. "Merlin, would you mind closing that door I..." He looked up and noticed that their three new friends were in his chambers.
Merlin closed the door and motioned for Dean to sit at the table. "Do you mind if we ask you to dress my wounds?" Dean asked.
"Yes, and I can tell that perhaps your celestial friend needs new clothes."
Without saying a word Cas hovered his hand over the cut and torn pieces of clothe and they were put back together as if they never happened. Then he placed a hand on Sam and Dean so they could speak normally. "Really Cas, you could've fixed my clothes this whole time?" Dean questioned as he to his shirt off so that Gaius could get to work on his wounds.
"Cas?" Merlin asked.
"It's a nickname he gave me. It's a shortened version of my name and I have grown quite fond of it, and to answer your question, yes, Dean...I could've fixed your clothes but you never asked."
"Alright, fair enough I suppose."
Gaius came towards Dean with a wash cloth ready, honey, water, bandages, thread, and needle when he noticed the strange marking on his chest. "What is this marking, young man? I have never seen its like."
"It's an anti-demon possession tattoo. It keeps me from getting possessed by a demon. Sam has one too. We know a lot of different symbols like this that keep different types of creatures at bay, but this one is important because if we don't have it on our skin then we can be possessed and they can use us to do whatever they want...and we witness every bit of it."
"You have many scars young man. Most of them are strange...and look to be almost deadly when you would've received your wounds."
"Yeah, you're probably right. However, my brother and I have taken care of each other. We've never been to a physician like this until now. I mean there were a couple of times that we had no choice, either there was a...deadly accident, or a monster got us and we were unconscious...then yeah, we would end up in a hospital, but as for mending wounds, wounded muscles, broken bones, out of place limbs...we've handled ourselves. Then, Cas showed up and it was so much easier to maintain the wounds because they would just be gone. No scar or anything."
"Then why not just have him heal you?" Merlin wondered.
"Because then either Cas, your physician or worse...you would be suspected of sorcery, and I would rather deal with the pain than risk that."
"That's actually quick thinking, Dean." Cas mentioned as he took a seat next to Dean.
"It happens every now and then." Dean scoffed.
after about twenty minutes Dean was all bandaged up and was amazed by Gaius' work. "I wouldn't mind learning just how you did that."
"Why would you be interested, young man? You have a celestial being at your side."
"Because I don't want to always have to rely on his healing power. I hate to say it, but there were times when we weren't there for each other, and it was..."
"It was chaotic." Cas finished.
"Yeah...that's a good word for it. So, if I find myself or if Sam finds himself in a situation where this would come in handy, I would rather be prepared than anything."
"I would wish for the same thing, Dean. I think it would be good of you to learn this."
"Well...is that alright, Gaius?" Sam asked.
"I don't think I have a choice here do I?"
"Of course you have a choice." Cas answered. "If you say no, we will not bother you about it. We are not forcing you or Merlin to do anything. We would never."
"That's good to know." Gaius admitted with a grin.
"Gaius...since I am supposed to be with them from afternoon and through the evening I was thinking I could take them to see...him."
"You truly wish to take them to see him? Do you realize what may happen?"
"I do, but I have some questions...I witnessed something today that made me shocked and confused. Besides, he would be able to help them with their hunt."
"Even if I told you no, you would probably do it anyway wouldn't you?"
"Probably, but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask."
"Merlin, if you think it's best, and that it will help then I see no reason why not. I just ask one thing. Don't get caught."
"Me? Get caught? What ever would give you that idea?"
The look Gaius gave him told Dean and Sam that he had every reason to suspect that Merlin may make a rash decision and get caught doing something he wasn't supposed to, and considering he was Merlin, that could mean any number of things. "Merlin..." Sam started. "If there is a risk we may get caught...who exactly will we be meeting?"
"Oh...just an old friend of mine. I think he'll like you."
"Well...I guess we're leaving tonight then?" Dean asked, and Merlin nodded. "We could tell them that we're going to have a look around the surrounding areas for the witch. I'm sure Uther wouldn't object to that, and then we can just go at night when everyone is asleep."
"What is it about this time period that makes you so strategic, Dean?" Cas quipped.
"What is it about this time period that makes you show so much emotion, Assbutt?"
"Hey that's my word!"
"And it suits you just fine." Almost immediately after he spoke, Dean noticed that Merlin and Gaius gave each other a look that was mixed with astonishment and confusion. They also looked at each other like they knew something that they didn't and it involved them. "Are you two alright?"
"Yup just fine. I can't wait for you to meet my friend."
oOoOoOoOoOo
It must've been two or three in the morning when they finally left the castle, and after a while of horseback riding they finally made it to a clearing quite a ways from the castle. "Alright..." Merlin said as he got off his horse. "Thankfully your idea worked and we said that we don't want to be disturbed, so that way no one will see me doing this...just...it may be a bit much."
"I've seen Cas' wings. That was a bit much, and they were just shadows. Go ahead."
"Alright..." Merlin sighed out and began speaking in an ancient tongue which held so much authority, Dean could only compare it to the way Cas could speak with authority without doing much. "He should be coming now."
"What the hell was that?" Sam asked.
"My friend...he um...well..."
The large flapping of wings could be heard and Dean's jaw dropped as a real dragon landed in front of them. "What is it now, young warlock?" The dragon asked incredulously.
"I have brought friends who know of me and my magic...there are...two of them have some similarities to Arthur and myself. Also...they need help to fight a witch and a...demon."
Dean, Sam, and Cas stepped forward and suddenly the dragon laughed. "Similarities indeed! Well...if it isn't Castiel, angel of the lord. You are very far from home and as I understood it, your involvement in mortal matters was supposed to be limited. Then, again, you were always different weren't you?"
"Well, as I'm sure you can tell Kilgarah, I am not from this time. In my time things have changed quite a bit. However, Merlin is right. We need help hunting down a witch and a demon. They wish to take control of Merlin in our time."
"Excuse me...but how do you two know each other!?" Dean asked.
"I would like to know the same thing."
"I used to sneak away from days of training and the constant fighting of my brothers...and I would come see Kilghara."
"Yes, and delightful conversations we would have. Tell me, have you figured out what the young warlock means by you and Dean Winchester have similarities to him and Arthur?"
"No...I can't say that I do." Cas answered honestly.
The dragon laughed again. "Well, let me be blunt about this..."
"You're actually going to give a straight answer for once?" Merlin asked as he threw his hands up in the air.
"Yes. Now, Castiel...You are more alike to Merlin than you think and Dean, you are more alike to Arthur than you think."
"I am an angel...I am not alike to Merlin at all."
"You forget, Castiel. I can see through to a person's heart, and on occasion their soul as well. Now, I don't know what has happened, and I'm sure I don't wish to know, but something happened for you to turn human more than once, and in that happening you gained a soul. So now, you are an angel with a soul. The only one of your kind as far as I am aware, and it is why you are able to not only have emotions but are able to express them as well. Your soul is your own just as everyone's soul is their own, However..."
"My soul is similar to Merlin's...and Dean's is similar to Arthur's..."
"And just like Merlin and Arthur, the two of you are two sides of the same coin. One can never truly hate that which makes them whole. Their souls are and will be connected for all time. Just as yours and his soul will be connected through all time. However, it doesn't stop just there."
"Kilgarah, what are you saying?" Merlin asked as he felt like he was getting information, but he wasn't able to grasp it.
"I'm saying, young warlock, that Dean and Castiel are basically soul copies of you and Arthur. It seems that Castiel's destiny with Dean Winchester is not so different from your destiny with Arthur if I am reading their souls right. Except, his destiny is to guide, nurture, protect, and fight along side Dean in order to keep the world safe. Dean's role is to be a great protector of man from terrible creatures that for now hide in shadow but closer to his time, reveal themselves and harm the innocent."
"What about Sam?" Dean asked.
"Sam Winchester also has a soul copy. You know him, Merlin. His name is Gwaine. Although, at the moment Sam doesn't drink near as much ale or mead as Gwaine does. My, this is all so remarkable."
"So wait..." Merlin started as he looked back and forth at Cas and Kilgarah. "Their souls are similar to mine and Arthur's?"
"Exactly, but they are also uniquely different. Now, what is it about a witch and a demon that you need my help with?"
"Well, Kilgarah..." Dean started. "Castiel says that in our time there are a witch and demon working together to try and summon Merlin and take over his magic. He says the spell has great promise, and that they have been traveling through time to get certain artifacts to do so. Now they are coming here to get the cup of life, a piece of Excalibur, and a strand of Merlin's hair."
"That would indeed be problematic, but I fail to see where I fit into this mission of yours."
"We were wondering if you wouldn't mind helping us track them down and kill them." Sam stated, still in shock at the fact that there was a dragon in front of him, and that they were talking to it, while standing next to Merlin in the time of Arthurian legend.
"Very well, I will help you. Do you know who this witch and demon are?"
"Unfortunately no." Cas answered with regret in his voice. "What I do know is that they have traveled to this time and are likely on the move now. They likely have several magical items on them. Certainly more than the average person."
"That shouldn't be too difficult to look into. I must ask though, what will you do if we are attacked by those who do not align with your interests while you're here?"
"We will help in any way we can." Dean answered honestly.
The dragon hummed appreciatively and nodded his head. "I appreciate the honesty, young man. I believe you will hold to your word, so I shall hold to mine. You have my word that I will do what I can to assist you in finding your criminals. However, their fate is up to you, not me."
"Understood." Dean answered and was slightly taken back when the dragon suddenly took off. Once he was gone, everything the dragon had said about him and Cas being similar to Arthur and Merlin suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. He clutched his chest and looked at Cas for help. "Cas...?"
"What's wrong, Dean?" He asked as he tried to observe if there was any topical injury, and when he only found the ones he gave him yesterday his brow furrowed in confusion and worry.
"Everything the dragon...everything the dragon said about my soul being like Arthur's and yours being like Merlin's...was he telling the truth?"
"He often times speaks in annoying riddles, but I have never once heard him lie. I also didn't sense he was lying."
"That explains what Arthur and I saw when you two were sparring yesterday." Merlin stated with wide eyes as he continued to stare at Cas. 'To think, an angel has a soul similar to mine...and I thought my life couldn't get any stranger.'
"I apologize for making your life stranger, Merlin."
"H-How did you..."
"Cas...I told you not to do that. Some people find it a bit unsettling."
"I apologize, Dean, but he was thinking it so loud I couldn't help but hear it."
"Y-You can hear my thoughts?"
"Yes. I apologize."
"It's alright. Really, it is. I can speak with the druids with my mind, I just didn't know you could hear my thoughts."
"That's interesting to know." Cas stated with a smile. "I believe we should get back to the castle before people start wondering where Merlin is." Cas crabbed onto Merlin and Dean, and Dean grabbed on to Cas' arm.
Once they appeared in Dean and Sam's room, they quickly surveyed the area to make sure no one saw them and they were glad that no one did. Cas let go of Dean and Merlin, and Sam let go of Sam, but there was still a shocked Merlin. "Merlin are you alright?" Sam asked.
"W-We were in the forest, and now...we...how...?"
"I flew us here. Dean calls it 'Zapping' but truly I just flew in here."
"Huh... interesting. Well, um...do either of you need anything at the moment?"
"No, get some rest Merlin." Sam said and gave a knowing smile to their new friend as he smiled and left.