Chapter 4 - The Burning of Guinevere
[The Next Morning]
As per the law in Camelot, all citizens must attend executions. Though the crowd gathered in the courtyard rivaled even the one on that fateful Festival of Fools, it was eerily silent. The stage had been removed, and in its place was a pyre. Lined up in rows behind the pyre were the Druids, shackled together, along with Arthur. Gaius had shut the doors to the church, unwilling to watch such a cruel display of power as he was held at bay by the waiting knights at the bottom of his steps. Everyone looked drawn and solemn but for Uther.
Tied to the pyre was Guinevere, who stood tall and strong, glaring at Uther for all her worth. He gave her a smug look before turning to address the people.
"The prisoner Guinevere has been found guilty of the crime of witchcraft! The sentence: death!" Uther paused, expecting cheers, but none came.
He leaned close to Guinevere to whisper. "The time has come, Druid. You stand upon the brink of the abyss. Yet even now, it is not too late. I can save you from the flames of this world, and the next." He licked his lips. "Choose me, or the fire."
Guinevere spat in his face.
Uther recoiled, swiping his eyes clear them of the saliva. Angry, he turned back to people. "The Druid Guinevere has refused to recant. This evil witch has put the soul of every citizen of Camelot in mortal danger..."
Uther's voice floated upwards, eventually reaching Merlin's ears in the bell tower. The young man sported a bruised cheek and split lip, head drooping toward his chest. Tears fell relentlessly from his lashes, but he was unable to wipe them away. The heavy iron chains that rooted him to his place between the two balcony pillars prevented any movement to free himself.
"Come on, Merlin!" Will urged. "Fight!"
"Your friends are down there," Lancelot said.
"It's all my fault," Merlin sobbed.
Freya cupped his cheeks in her hands, kneeling in front of him with an urgent expression. "You have to break these chains!"
"I can't," Merlin choked. "I tried. Magic won't work on them. Besides, what difference would it make?!"
Lancelot knelt on Merlin's right side. "You can't let Uther win!"
"He already has."
Will glared scornfully down at Merlin. "So you're giving up? That's it?"
Freya tipped his chin up so that he would look into her eyes. "These chains aren't what's holding you back, Merlin."
Merlin jerked his head away, scrunching his eyes closed. "Leave me alone."
After a moment of silence, Merlin slowly reopened his eyes. His friends were gone. Below, in the courtyard, Merlin could see Guinevere standing on the pyre. Uther, only a few steps away from her, was holding a flaming torch. Tiny flecks of gold appeared like embers in his blue irises.
"...for justice," Uther's faraway voice filtered into Merlin's ears even as his blood pounded in them, his breaths coming hard and fast. "For Camelot, and for her own salvation! It is my shameful duty to send this poor girl back to where she belongs!"
With that, Uther touched the torch to the kindling riddled throughout the pyre, lighting it ablaze.
"NO!" Merlin roared, face contorting in rage.
His eyes flared a gold so bright and intense that it rivaled the sunshine, his power unleashing in monumental proportions. With a building scream, the very structure of the Camelot Palace itself began to shake, trembling from the power of the mighty Emrys. The bells above him rang softly, but then more loudly as the church heaved to and fro.
The pillars on either side of Merlin cracked ominously, pieces of stone crumbling and growing in size, unleashing a heavy amount of dust. The iron chains that bound Merlin glowed as brightly as his eyes, blinding those below who searched out the source of the earthquake. Then the chains disintegrated, small sparks bursting and fading midair.
Finally freed, Merlin stood, fists clenched at his sides.
"Do what's right!"
"Merlin!"
"You can't let Uther win!"
"Fight!"
Arthur gaped up at the bell tower, which had finally ceased shaking. In the wake of the destruction stood a lone figure. Despite how far away he was, Arthur recognized him immediately. "Merlin..." he breathed in awe.
Guinevere's harsh, choking coughs snapped him out of his trance. He redirected his attention to the pyre, where the Druid girl was writhing, eyes flickering even through the hazy smoke. She was unable to free herself, however, not possessing the sheer power Merlin had.
"Merlin!" Arthur bellowed.
But Merlin was already in motion. He had leapt from the balcony, the wind resistance of his plummet doing little to slow him. The warlock landed lightly on the head of a statue, then jumped forward -
Only he suddenly disappeared without a trace, and reappeared beside Uther.
The king stumbled back in shock, but mostly fear.
Merlin did not have eyes for him, however. He doused the flames with a calm sweep of his arm, clearing the smoke away with another sweep in the opposite direction. Guinevere wheezed, struggling to focus on Merlin through her streaming eyes.
Uther had finally recovered as Merlin stepped up to untie the Druid. He pulled his sword and raised it over his head, snarling in the back of his throat as he charged the boy's back. Arthur shouted a warning, but again Merlin had not needed it. With Guinevere safely in his arms, Merlin summoned a whirlwind, pushing Uther backwards and transporting him back to the bell tower with his friend.
He turned to glare at the king, eyes still glowing. Using magic to multiply his strength, Merlin shifted the unconscious Guinevere so that he could hoist her into the air above his head.
"Sanctuary!" he bellowed.
The crowd began to cheer, whooping and jumping for joy. No one more so than Arthur and his fellow prisoners.
"Sanctuary!" Merlin screamed. "Sanctuary!"
By then Uther had gotten back up to his feet, fury evident in every line of his face. "Seize the cathedral!" he ordered.
Merlin lowered Guinevere as the knights obeyed, turning to take her into the safety of the church. He took her to his bed and gently laid her down. At last, his eyes returned to their normal blue hue.
"Don't worry," he smiled down at her. "You'll be safe here."
Guinevere did not reply. Her face was smooth and clear of discomfort. He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, then left her to sleep.
Merlin reappeared at the balcony. He saw that most of the citizens had fled Uther's wrath. The Druid prisoners, shackled as they were, could not escape. A shout, followed by a dull thud, drew his attention. Merlin bent over the railing to glimpse a view of a battering ram wielded by a group of knights. Uther was supervising, shouting obscenities each time the door held.
He grinned, then turned and raced up the ladder.
"Hullo, Leon," he greeted, approaching the triplets. "Percival, Elyan. Today's the today."
They began to ring, their combined voices tolling loudly under the influence of his magic. Then he let Elyan loose, and it swung free from its latch. It clanged against the edge of the window, then fell.
There were several shouts of surprise and pain, and Elyan sang a victory din.
Leon went next, though he had less success because the knights below spotted him coming. He managed to nab a few, though. Merlin, still ringing Percival, stuck his head out, bracing his weight on the sill. Knights were pointing up at him and shouting. The battering ram had been abandoned in their panic. Uther was in perfect position.
The king blanched as he saw Percival, the last of the triplet bells, falling fast. He threw himself toward the oaken doors, narrowly avoiding the huge projectile, bounced and rolled away to join its brothers. He cast a glare up, which turned into a sneer. The ram had smashed a rather large hole through the wood already. He could easily widen it with his own hands.
"Hi there."
The knight suddenly choked, fingers scrabbling at the chains Arthur wrapped mercilessly against his throat. Out of air, the knight went limp, and Arthur made quick work of collecting his keys. After freeing himself, he passed the keys to the Druid beside him and jumped up onto the podium Uther had been using.
"Citizens of Camelot!" he rallied for attention. "Uther has persecuted our people, ransacked our city! Now he has declared war on Camelot herself! Will we allow that?!"
"No!" shouted the remainders of the citizens and the Druids.
"We must take matters into our own hands! For Camelot!"
"For Camelot!" was the answering war cry.
All at once, several things happened: One of the stronger Druids used his magic to unlock the rest of the prisoners' manacles; knights suddenly found that they were being attacked by angry citizens and magic users alike; and Arthur looked up to see Merlin, from his balcony, casting magic on the statue that he had minutes ago used to jump down from.
The statue was of the chief saint of their religion: Cornelius Sigan. When he had lived, he could work any miracle. He could change day to night, turn the tides, and even laid the foundations for Camelot herself.
And, as Arthur watched, Saint Sigan, a forty-foot stone giant, moved.
Uther hardly felt the splinters in his hands. His wild gaze locked onto the stairs that he knew led up to the bell tower. He made toward it.
"Uther!" barked Gaius, appearing, as he often did, and blocking the stairway as Uther barrelled toward him. "Have you gone mad? I will not tolerate this attack on -"
"Silence, you old fool!" Uther hissed venomously, shoving Gaius to the floor. The old man cried out as a brittle bone in his arm snapped under his weight. Uther gave pause in the doorway to glare coldly down at him. "The sorcerer and I have unfinished business to attend to. And this time, you will not interfere."
Gaius panted raggedly, eyes fluttered closed as he blacked out where he lay.
Uther continued upwards, taking a moment to shut the door and bolt it from the inside, ensuring that no one would follow.
Upstairs, Merlin jubilantly skidded to a halt at Guinevere's bedside. "We've done it!" he told her. "Guinevere, we've beaten them back! We've won!"
Guinevere did not respond, showed no indication that she had heard him.
"Guinevere?" he repeated breathlessly, brow creasing. "Wake up! Come and see. You're safe now."
He paused, waiting for her response. When still none was forthcoming, he placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her gently.
Then vigorously.
Then violently.
Then, with a shuddering gasp, Merlin snatched his hand back. "Oh, no," he uttered, pressing his knuckles to his mouth as his tears ran anew.
Hearing a familiar step behind him, Merlin swallowed his grief and turned his head slightly. "You killed her," he stated quietly.
"It was my duty," Uther replied simply, calmly, "horrible as it was. I hope you can forgive me. There, there, Merlin, I know it hurts. But now, the time has come to end your suffering."
Behind Merlin, Uther raised a sharp dagger, preparing to stab him to kill. Merlin's face twisted, eyes locked on the shadow of his murdering master splayed on the wall in front of him. With a ferocious snarl, Merlin whipped around and shoved Uther with his bare hands, the magic sparking at his fingertips adding tremendous force.
Dropping the knife with a clatter, Uther flew back and crumpled in a heap in the far corner, windless. The king, hand wrapped around his chest, painstakingly pushed himself into a sitting position. As he looked up, he saw Merlin, eyes glowing, the rotating knife levitating a few inches beside his outstretched hand.
"Now, now, Merlin, listen to me!"
"No, you listen!" shouted Merlin emotionally. "All my life you have told me that I am a dark, evil creature. But now, I see that the only thing dark and cruel is people like you!"
The blade torpedoed towards Uther, who had no chance nor means of protecting himself. It landed with a sharp thwack! Uther gasped harshly, then choked on his breath.
Merlin turned away, his gaze softening as he laid his eyes on Guinevere, his first real friend. "I'm not going to kill you," he said sternly. "I am better than you, Uther."
Uther exhaled shakily, frozen in his place in the corner. The knife still quivered, the tip embedded deep into the wood a mere inch from Uther's right shoulder.
The warlock knelt once more beside Guinevere. He was determined to save her, but how? He placed a hand over her still chest, feeling no heartbeat. Merlin pressed his other hand over his own breast. His heart pounded fast, but strong. There had to be something he could do.
His eyes fluttered closed, and he tilted his head back.
"Please," he whispered. "I don't know what to do. Please help me...!"
Far below, in the hall of statues, a feminine voice answered. "Libban...! Libban...! Libban...!"
Merlin's eyes snapped open, irises gold. Somehow, someway, his prayer had been answered. In a deep, powerful voice he hadn't known he'd possessed, he spoke a single word: "Libban."
LIVE.
"Merlin?"
He gasped, magic receding once more. Merlin doubled over, heart pounding erratically in his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head to clear it of the dizziness, smiling weakly at Guinevere.
"Guinevere!" he breathed.
"Are you all right?" she asked, pushing herself into a sitting position.
Merlin laughed giddily and flung himself at her, wrapping her tightly in his arms. She seemed confused, but, never one to turn down a hug, returned the embrace.
"She lives!" Uther hissed. "Impossible!"
As the two young ones were enveloped in their hug, Uther stealthily yanked the weapon from the wall and stood, knees wobbling. He staggered forward, raising the knife. Only when his shadow fell over her face did Guinevere open her eyes, mouth opening in an 'o' of surprise.
"Merlin!"
He moved too late, sluggish and exhausted from his exertion when saving Guinevere. Uther plunged the blade down into his back.
Merlin screamed, voice cracking, arching his back. Guinevere cried out as well, but before she could do anything, Uther had pulled the knife free and raised it again. The metal, stained crimson, glinted in the light. The warlock collapsed forward into Guinevere's arms, shirt quickly turning red.
Guinevere pushed Merlin aside and threw herself forward as Uther attacked again, tackling him around his knees. Uther went down hard, losing his grip on the knife once more.
While he was disoriented, Guinevere rushed to Merlin's side. "Merlin, get up!" she cried, tugging his arm urgently.
Merlin moaned, eyes rolling.
"Get up! Get up!"
Uther was reaching for the knife again, and blocking their escape. Guinevere turned to the balcony, then glanced at Merlin's state. He was their only hope.
"Merlin, please!"
At last, Merlin responded, holding her hand in a vice-like grip. He was pale and shaking from the pain, and his right arm didn't seem to work correctly, but he was awake. Guinevere cast another look to Uther to see that he was on his feet again, looking more crazed by the minute.
"Balcony," Merlin gasped, struggling to get up.
Guinevere took most of his weight and hurried him to the railing across the room.
"Leaving so soon?" cackled Uther behind them, following.
"Hold on," Merlin mumbled.
Guinevere helped him up onto the mason work, then wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. He only had one arm to work with this time. Merlin's eyes turned gold, but they were a thousandfold duller than before.
They dropped together, but Merlin gasped and grabbed back onto the rail at the last second. He'd forgotten that he'd made Saint Sigan fall forward, breaking up most of the fighting. No one had been crushed but Sigan - He was made of stone, after all.
But he regretted it now that his go-to landing place was gone, leaving nothing but a three-hundred foot drop beneath them. He was too weak to slow their descent enough that they would not get hurt.
Uther appeared, grinning maliciously. He raised the knife.
With a brief flare of molten gold, Merlin sent Uther sprawling back once more. His grip slipped slightly, and he tightened his hold. He could feel Guinevere's worried and terrified eyes on him.
Merlin couldn't seem to think straight.
"Up there!" cried a distant voice below.
Merlin's head spun. "Guinevere," he gasped out. "S-sorry, but...You have to...climb back up...I can't..."
Guinevere quickly complied. "Hold on, Merlin!" she whispered, reaching for the railing.
Uther pulled himself up slowly and painfully, the knife lost. He bared his teeth at Merlin. "I should have known," he growled ferally, "that you'd risk your life to save that Druid witch. Just as your own mother died trying to save you."
Merlin's eyes widened. "What...?"
Guinevere, while Uther was distracted, clambered back to safety.
"Now," Uther continued, "I'm going to do what I should have done twenty years ago!"
Merlin braced himself for the hit the mad king was about to deliver, but Guinevere rescued him once more, grabbing his fist with both hands. Uther let out a frustrated scream and tried to push her away, but she clung fast, gold burning beneath her long lashes. As they struggled, Uther lost his balance, and the girl gave one final push.
He tumbled over the railing, arms pinwheeling. He fell.
Guinevere immediately grabbed onto Merlin's arm, intending to pull him up. They both cried out, she in alarm, he in pain, as a sudden weight dragged him down. Uther had latched onto Merlin's ankle, saving himself from certain doom.
"Let...go!" Merlin groaned, throwing his head back.
"Merlin, hold on!"
Uther had no intention of releasing his ward. He grinned, knowing that even if he died, he'd be taking the creature he so hated along with him. His smile faded as he felt something slip, and it wasn't his hand.
Merlin's boot was sliding off.
"Merlin!" Guinevere strained. She was struggling with the weight of two men then, since Merlin had fainted from blood loss. She was well on her way to pitching head-first over the railing, as her upper body was doubled over it. The stone dug painfully into her hips, but she refused to let go.
Uther made a grab for Merlin's other foot, hoping that that one was more secure. But as he swung himself, the boot came off, and for a split second Uther felt weightless. Then he was falling, the image of Guinevere desperately clinging to Merlin, of all people, the last thing he ever saw.
Guinevere could have sobbed in relief once Uther had finally fallen. Without his weight, she thought she might be able to pull the unconscious Merlin up. But then he began to slip.
She gasped, realizing that her palms were slick with sweat.
"No, no," she uttered, white-knuckling his arm. She was sure to leave bruises, but if it saved him she didn't care. "Merlin! Merlin!"
He was unresponsive.
He slipped out of her grasp, leaving her empty hands stretching for him as he fell.
"Merlin!"
"Up there!"
Arthur ceased his fighting and looked up to where a knight had pointed. His jaw dropped upon seeing Merlin and Guinevere hanging from the balcony. Guinevere appeared to be trying to get back onto the landing, but Merlin was not helping her. His right arm dangled uselessly at his side, the sleeve dyed a startling red. Just as Guinevere managed to grab hold of the architecture and swing herself off of Merlin's shoulders, Uther appeared.
His friends were in trouble.
The knight, sheathing his sword, sprinted toward the Palace. He jumped over several of the boulders - all that was left of Saint Sigan after his nasty fall - and forced his way in through the same hole Uther had used. Arthur immediately made for the stairs that led to the bell tower, but he slammed into the locked door, banging his head hard enough to leave a bruise.
He yanked and shoved, rattling the handle, but it was locked. Arthur took a few steps back to get a running start.
"Other...stairs," wheezed an elderly voice.
Arthur jolted in surprise, then looked down to see Gaius, lying on the marble floor. He hurried to his side. "Are you all right?"
Gaius nodded, waving away his concern. "Merlin," he said. "Stairs, back there." He pointed off to another corridor. "Save...Merlin...!"
"I will," Arthur promised, pushing himself up. He left the old man, taking off in the direction he'd indicated. He ran as fast as he could, nearly missing the stairs in his haste. The knight skidded to a halt and stumbled back, taking the steps three at a time.
He was completely unaware that he had taken the wrong stairs.
When Arthur reached the landing and burst through the door, expecting to find more stairs leading up, he was both shocked and devastated to see that he was three floors beneath where he need to be - with no other way up.
"Damn it!" he cursed, running his fingers through his soaked hair, gasping lungfuls of air.
"Merlin!"
Arthur jumped over to the railing that overlooked the courtyard and twisted his body so that he could crane his neck upwards. He was directly beneath a dangling Merlin, who was twenty-four feet up. Guinevere, as far as the knight could, was hanging onto him, which meant that Uther must have been defeated.
He risked a glance down, and, sure enough, the broken body of Uther lay crumpled in the courtyard. His blood stained the stones Saint Sigan. What was left of him, anyway.
Guinevere screamed Merlin's name again. Arthur noted the shrill change in her tone and whipped his head up again, just in time to register that Merlin was falling - fast.
"Merlin!" he cried out in much the same manner as Guinevere.
There wasn't much a chance of it working, but Arthur knew he had to try.
Bracing his feet, Arthur outstretched his arms.
And Merlin, having fallen alongside the building, fell right into them.
As soon as he felt Merlin, Arthur snapped his muscles taut, catching him. But Merlin's momentum and weight nearly took his arms out of his sockets, and bent Arthur nearly double. Groaning loudly, Arthur clung to the skinny warlock with all his strength, then straightened his back with another pained grunt.
His muscles, particularly the ones around his still-healing arrow wound, screamed as he pulled Merlin to safety.
The young man chose that particular moment to wake up, moaning lowly from the pain.
"You idiot," Arthur gasped, dumping him onto the floor and then flopping down beside him. He heaved for breath for a few minutes. "You don't get to complain...I saved your arse."
Merlin's face screwed up as he bit back a pained cry. His only comfort was that the cold marble beneath him was beginning to numb his fiery wound. "Prat."
"Clotpole."
"That's...my word."
"Shut up, Merlin."
"Guinevere," he said.
"She can find her way down here," Arthur said flippantly, groaning at as his muscles gave a nasty twinge. "Oh, Saint Gorlois!"
"I need Gaius," Merlin whimpered, his arm tingling.
"Gaius can't come right now."
"Oh...I need Saint Alice, then...Arthur, you talk funny, you know."
"I do not! Shut up, Merlin!"
After a moment of lying in companionable silence, Arthur forced himself up with a pained groan, then reached down and pulled Merlin to his feet. They supported each other as best they could and began the long descent back to the ground level.
Guinevere fumbled with the latch at the base of the stairs, then finally burst into the main chamber of the church. She didn't know how Arthur had known to get to the balcony below them, but she was ever so glad he did. If he hadn't...The Druid girl shook her head to clear it of the image of Uther's broken body far below them.
As she turned, wondering which way to go, a familiar bleat echoed.
"Morgana?"
Guinevere expected the little goat to come to her, as she usually did, but this time she didn't. Her chocolate eyes spied Gaius' still form lying a few feet away at the feet of Ygraine. Morgana was lying at his side, legs tucked underneath her. She picked up her head from where it was resting on the physician's shoulder, bleating again.
"Oh, no!" she gasped, hurrying over. "Gaius?"
The old man stirred. "Ah," he smiled weakly, "Guinevere."
"Gaius, are you hurt?" she asked, hands hovering.
"Broken arm," he grunted. "But never mind me." His blue eyes glanced over her shoulder, filling with worry when he saw that she was the only arrival. "Where is Merlin?"
"He's alive," Guinevere said quickly. "He's with Arthur. He's safe."
"And Uther?"
"Dead."
Gaius sighed and shook his head. "I feared it would come to this. The king had always been rather unstable."
Guinevere nodded. "Here, I'll find something to set your arm."
"Thank you, my dear."
"Morgana, stay here."
The goat did as she was told, laying her head comfortingly on Gaius' shoulder again. Guinevere wandered away quickly, hoping to help Gaius and then go find the boys. Though she knew Arthur had managed to save him, she wasn't sure that he would be able to do anything for Merlin's wound. Arthur could have been wounded as well, considering the destruction she'd seen down in the square.
She'd missed a lot after she'd fainted from the smoke.
Guinevere finally spotted something that might be of use. One of the many pews had been crushed by a statue - which had fallen during Merlin's display of power - and some of the wood had broken cleanly. They were also of the perfect length for setting Gaius' arm, so she happily gathered them and returned to his side.
If she had known anything about the old man's religion, she would have noticed that the fallen statue was Alice, the patron Saint of healing.
"Here we are, Gaius," she said, kneeling at his side. She tore some strips of cloth from the hem of her outermost skirt, despite his protests to use his robes. Guinevere then carefully aligned two of the pegs to straighten out the bone, and Gaius held one in place as she wound the fabric around. She used magic to tie it off tightly.
"Well done," Gaius said gratefully.
"Guinevere!"
She snapped her gaze up, relief filling her eyes. "Arthur! Merlin!"
They grinned largely at her. Both were exhausted, but happy to come out more or less in one piece.
"Merlin, my boy!" Gaius faltered at the sight of Merlin's right arm. The blood flow had mostly stemmed, but there was still a lot of it.
"I'm all right," Merlin reassured him weakly. "Gaius! Gaius, I've missed you."
"And I you, Merlin," Gaius said, raising his good arm as Arthur deposited the weary warlock beside him. "Now let's have a look at that wound."
As the physician fussed over Merlin, Guinevere tended to Arthur. "Are you all right?"
"Been better," Arthur admitted, rolling his stiff shoulders. "Merlin's a lot heavier than he looks."
She smiled. "Thank you, Arthur. If you hadn't been there...he would have..."
Guinevere ducked her head, hiding her tearful eyes from him. But Arthur tipped her chin back up and brushed a curly lock of hair from her face. "But he didn't," he said.
The Druid girl threw her arms around Arthur's neck and pulled him close, pressing her lips against his. His eyes widened for a second, but after his initial astonishment, he kissed her back, heat rising in his cheeks.
Merlin, despite wincing from Gaius' ministrations, beamed as he watched them. Morgana shook her head at the display, ears flapping, and nuzzled up to Merlin. He petted her absently, occasionally hissing as Gaius tried to fix the damage Uther had done.
"Gaius," he said thoughtfully, watching as the pair broke apart and joined hands.
"Yes, Merlin?"
"I'm sorry I ruined your church."
Gaius chuckled dryly. "Yes, well, you're going to help me fix it, aren't you?"
"Of course!" Merlin said, brightening a little. "Only, I was wondering, Gaius, since Uther is gone...Who is my master now?"
Gaius' hand disappeared from Merlin's back, and the old physician rounded Merlin's side to gaze at him solemnly. "No one is your master, Merlin. You are your own man. No one controls you any longer."
Merlin's brows knitted together. "But what do I do now? Who's going to ring the bells?"
"Well," Gaius said slowly. "You could do it, if you wanted."
"Oh," Merlin grinned, "yes, I would like that very much, Gaius. I love the bells!"
"Then it's settled," Gaius said. "And now that you're your own man, my boy, you can come and go as you please. And you'll be earning your keep, so long as you ring those bells for me."
"And can I come and see you every day, Gaius?"
"I would like that very much, Merlin."
The young man smiled so widely that he felt his face might break.
Guinevere, having finished speaking with Arthur, came over with him. "How is he, Gaius?"
"He'll live," Gaius answered. "All he really needs is rest. The stab was not very deep - Or, it was, but Merlin's always been a quick healer on account of his magic. The reason he's so very tired is that his magic is still stitching him back together."
Arthur snorted, arrow wound still burning. "Lucky."
"Thank you, Merlin," Guinevere said. "For everything."
"Oh, no," Merlin shook his head. "It wasn't all me. I had help bringing you back to life, you know."
The other three fell silent in shock.
"Back...to life?" Arthur asked weakly, shooting a glance toward Guinevere, who looked utterly confused.
"Whatever do you mean, my boy?" Gaius prompted.
"Well," Merlin said, shifting uncomfortably, "when I brought you inside after I saved you from the pyre, I thought you were sleeping. But when I tried to wake you, you weren't breathing, and your heart was still.
"I tried to heal you, but I had no idea what to do, you know. I've never used my magic so much before I met you! But then someone helped me - a woman. She said, 'libban'."
Guinevere placed a hand over her heart, reeling. She slowly turned to the pregnant statue, daring to wonder. "Ygraine..." she breathed.
Gaius smiled. "Ygraine became a saint for a reason. She helps all who ask for it."
She smiled, breast swelling with gratitude. Without giving it a thought, she clasped her hands and bowed her head toward Ygraine, thanking her silently.
"Who's going to rule Camelot?" Merlin asked, popping up over Arthur's shoulder. He squinted at the calligraphy, trying to make out Arthur's hand, but he had only been taught to read print and so he gave up.
Arthur finished the word he was writing with a flourish, then huffed and jerked his shoulder to get Merlin off of him. "We don't know, Merlin. Uther had no heir, and there is no next of kin. The council is probably going to appoint a Regent. Probably Gaius."
Merlin oggled, turning to look over his shoulder at his mentor, who was reshelving several dusty tomes with his good arm. "Gaius is going to be king?!"
"Regent, you idiot. There's a difference."
"I think you should be the king, Arthur."
Realizing that Merlin was not going to leave him be so that he could write to his mother and sister, Nimueh and Morgause, Arthur dropped his quill into the inkwell. "And why do you say that, Merlin?"
"Well, because you're a strong leader," Merlin listed off, raising his eyes as he thought, "you're good with a sword, people listen to you, you have a horse named George, you're kind, you're the senior knight -"
"Was the senior knight," Arthur corrected.
"Well, when Gaius is Regent, I'll just ask him to make you a knight again! And then Gaius can crown you king, and Camelot will live happily ever after."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I don't know what fairy tales you've been reading -"
"Something about a hunchback in Paris or some-"
"But I'm not going to be king, Merlin. I have to go home eventually," Arthur finished, taking up his writing utensil again.
Merlin was silent for a moment. "You don't like it here?"
Arthur paused. "I do like it here," he replied gently. "But my mother and sister, and all my friends - They're waiting for me at home."
"Oh...Where is your home, Arthur?"
"Across the sea."
"Oh. So that's why you talk funny."
"I do not talk funny, Merlin!"
"Oh, but you're from across the sea, you know."
"Shut up, Merlin!"
"What about Guinevere?"
Arthur paused again. "Well," he said slowly, "I thought perhaps that she'd come with me."
"Across the sea?"
"Yes."
"Oh...I see."
Chewing his cheek, Arthur dared to turn around. He regretted to see the hurt expression on Merlin's open face. The knight cleared his throat. "But, well, I'll still be here a while yet. So we have time together, and all."
A small smile crept across Merlin's face, but his eyes still beseeched his stay.
Arthur sighed heavily. "All right, I'll think about it, Merlin!"
The dark-haired warlock grinned. "Prat."
"Idiot."
"Dollophead."
"Clotpole."
"That's my word!"
"Honestly, Merlin, go bother someone else!" Arthur shooed him away, anxious to get back to his letter. Merlin chortled and flounced away to continue helping Gaius. Having lost his train of thought thanks to a certain busybody, Arthur reread what he had written:
Dearest Mother and Sister:
Camelot is a beautiful place. The people here are kind and welcoming, and though there are a few problematic and unfair laws, as a whole the system is good. And you'll be glad to know that I have been praying regularly at the Camelot Palace. I feel practically at home here.
I've met a wonderful girl here as well. Her name is Guinevere, and we have fallen in love. She has agreed to marry me, but it may be a while before we have the ceremony. We will be sure to invite the both of you once everything is settled.
Unfortunately, only a few days after my arrival, King Uther had taken ill and passed away. The church leader, Gaius, will be appointed Regent, and from there it will be decided who will be king. Gaius, as well as a few citizens of Camelot, has expressed his desire that I offer my service and take the throne.
If I do this, then I will remain in Camelot. But I have yet to decide what I wish to do.
I have made a new friend, as well. He is a commoner, but he is the bravest man I have ever had the fortune to meet. Never tell him I wrote that, if you should meet him. He's got a large enough head as it is. Don't even read this letter aloud; his humongous ears could pick it up from all the way across the waves.
Arthur nodded at his work, and leaned forward to pick up where he left off. The letter was nearly finished, anyway. There was no need to worry his family by recounting all the horrors of the last week.
My friend's name is Merlin.
I hope to hear back from you both soon. I have a busy day ahead of me.
With love, Arthur.
END.
A/N: Sorry for this one being so far behind the others! I had some internet troubles...
Anyway, thanks so much for reading! I really enjoyed writing this story, and I hope you liked it. I really appreciate you guys.