A/N review responses and final notes at the bottom.
Arthur found himself standing next to a corpse in the streets of Camelot as Gaius knelt over the man while Merlin stood off to the side looking vaguely disturbed. He sighed he could already tell he wouldn't like where this was going.
Gaius worked steadily and Merlin took a tentative step forward. Honestly for this powerful sorcerer he was far too squeamish. Didn't sorcerers work with dead things and potions and all the dead things that you put into potions?
"Aren't you scared?"
"Of what?"
"That you might catch whatever it is."
Gaius snorted.
"I'm the court physician, Merlin. This is part of my job. Most of the time there's nothing really to be scared of."
Gaius flipped the man over and Arthur's heart sunk. The dead man stared up at them through dead white eyes and Merlin took a step back. Arthur didn't blame him, the corpse was disturbing, and it was more disturbing because he remembered this.
"You were saying?"
"People mustn't see this. They'll panic."
Merlin nodded and was quick to find a sheet and cover the poor unfortunate man. The scene changed and Arthur now found himself in Gaius's chambers where Gaius was examining the man with a magnifying glass. Or at least he thought it was a magnifying glass. He really wasn't sure what it was.
"I've never seen anything like this before."
"Do you think it could be some kind of plague?"
"No. I fear that something like this could never come from nature. But who has this kind of power?"
"You think it's caused by magic?"
There was silence then, a silence that was interrupted by his own voice.
"Merlin!"
Merlin and Gaius shared a look then and Merlin hurried to the door, only for it to swing open in his face, his younger self looked – he looked annoyed and glancing at the sunlight coming through the window Arthur could guess at what.
He laughed because if his younger self thought this was bad – well, wait till he saw the stunts that Merlin would –
Arthur stopped himself there. Because once he got out of this spell nothing would be different.
"Erm...I'm on my way. Sorry I'm late."
His younger self sighed, before speaking, his tone dry, "Don't worry. I'm getting used to it." Then his eyes found the flower at Merlin's neck and he raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, er...Gwen, she gave it to me."
"Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now."
"Okay."
The door swung shut and Merlin spun on his heel, his feet already leading him back to the table where the man lay and where Gaius was.
"Gaius…"
"I heard."
Merlin's brow furrowed.
"Wait, why couldn't he just tell you himself?"
"Because that's the way it is. You're a servant."
"Wha...if he knew who I was, what I've done..."
Gaius sighed then.
"You'd be a dead servant. Right, get this covered up."
"Hey, I'm not your servant!"
Arthur snorted.
"No, you're my dogsbody. Come on, hurry up."
Merlin sighed and threw a sheet over the man before following an already retreating Gaius out of the door, and when the scene didn't dissolve Arthur followed behind, he sighed at the sight that awaited him. Knowing that everything turned out alright didn't dissolve the horror at seeing the corpse nor did it change anything.
"What's happened to him?"
Gaius knelt next to the man and held his forefingers to the man's pulse point before pulling back with a disappointed sigh.
"I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today. "
His father looked irritated at that.
"Why didn't you report it to me?"
"I was attempting to find the cause."
"What did you conclude?"
"I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one. "
His father snorted dismissively at that and turned away from the man pacing the length of the room before rounding back to Gaius, who was still knelt next to the man. His father cleared his throat and spoke.
"What are you concealing from me?"
Gaius sighed, pushing himself to his feet.
"Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours, and its spreading fast. "
His father nodded.
"What is the cause?"
Gaius sighed again.
"I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery."
And just like every time sorcery was mentioned his father's face lit up like a candle with fury. Arthur sighed.
"We must find who did this."
His younger self nodded.
"I will, father."
The king strode towards him then and bent so that his younger self would be the only one to hear his words. It didn't matter; Arthur remembered them just as well.
"Conduct door to door searches. Increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates. And lend the physician your servant."
His younger self looked confused at that.
"Merlin? But..."
"I'm going to need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, this city will be wiped out. This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer, and quickly."
Finally after a long moment his younger self nodded just like he remembered doing.
"Yes, father."
The scene changed. They were back in Gaius's chambers now, Merlin was leaned against a table as Gaius carried a flask with a – questionable substance, he wasn't really sure what it was, from the examining table to a lighted candle.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach."
Yes, he was quite glad he was off conducting searches then instead of stuck here with Gaius.
"Will that tell you who did it?"
Gaius shook his head.
"No, but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind."
Merlin looked confused at that.
"Why would someone use magic like that?"
Gaius didn't look up though when he did speak his voice was harsh, probably harsher then he intended, Arthur concluded.
"Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends."
Merlin looked worried then and he shook his head fast, and Arthur sighed because he could see in his mental eye only to clearly Merlin with a wound on his shoulder from Arthur's own mace, questioning if he was a monster.
"But not all magic is bad. I know it isn't."
Gaius looked up then catching Merlin's eye.
"It's neither good nor bad. It's how you use it."
And then the door burst open startling both Gaius and Merlin. His younger self strode in followed by several guards who began to leaf through Gaius's papers and books.
"Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town."
"What for?"
"A sorcerer."
Arthur wondered why he didn't notice back then the way that Gaius almost subconsciously stepped in front of Merlin.
"But why would he be here?"
"I'm just doing my job."
"We've nothing to hide. Go on then, search."
Arthur nodded as his eyes swept around the room.
"All these books and papers?"
"My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish."
His younger self looked, well – he looked as disinterested at such a thought as Merlin looked when we was trying to explain to him how he was supposed to act. Gaius certainly was clever. He'd give him that. Still –
"What's this room up here?"
"Er, it's mine."
Gaius stepped in front of Merlin again then, shielding the young man almost completely from view. "And what do you expect to find in there?"
His younger self didn't even seem to notice instead he strode across the room, up the stairs, and into the tiny store room that had been converted to Merlin's bedroom.
"What've you done with the magic book I gave you?"
Arthur groaned as the scene changed because he could see how close he had probably come to discovering Merlin because he couldn't keep his bedroom neat and things that needed to be hidden hidden. The scene reappeared as the door fell shut and Gaius looked at a – at a Merlin that didn't look as concerned as he probably should. (1)
"We have to hide that book."
Merlin shook his head a small excited smile lighting up his face and Arthur groaned already seeing where this was headed, because in all the years he had known Merlin he had always known Merlin wasn't one for sitting around and doing nothing.
"No. We must use it. "
Gaius scoffed like a reasonable person would. But he could already see Merlin wasn't going to give up easily. Stubborn, idiotic, fool he was.
"Don't be stupid."
"If I have this-this legacy then what is it for? You keep telling me it's not for playing tricks."
"You want to practice magic when the King is hunting for sorcerers? Are you mad? Merlin, your life is destined for more important things."
"But if I don't practice, then how will I get to be this great warlock?!"
Gaius looked at Merlin with something that could only be described as pity and Arthur was reminded of Hunith writing a letter to someone in Camelot, struggling with the idea that she would have to tell her child that he had to hide for the rest of his life.
"What should I do Anette? How do I raise a child telling him that he has to hide what he is without making it seem like it's something to be ashamed of? How do I look him in the eye and tell him he has to hide who he is until the day he dies?"
"There will come a time when your skills will be recognized."
Merlin looked outraged at that.
"When?! How long do I have to wait?"
"Patience is a virtue, Merlin."
"Sitting by and doing nothing, that's a virtue?"
Gaius laid a hand on Merlin's shoulder then and the younger man flinched.
"Your time will come."
"I could cure that man we saw."
"I know it's tempting to use the way you find easiest, Merlin..."
"It is when it would save a life."
Arthur sighed. Was this the kind of decision every sorcerer was faced with? The good and the bad? Do I use the powers I have, or do I sit back because I know that if I'm discovered that by the laws of the land – no matter where I live – I will be killed?
"It's no good just saving one person. We have to discover how this illness is spreading."
"Arthur is out there right now looking for the sorcerer!"
Gaius sighed then, looking old and weary and he wondered if he already had an inkling of who could cast such a spell.
"A sorcerer who's powerful enough to do this will never be found searching the town."
Merlin looked stricken at that.
"So what can we do? "
"Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all."
The scene changed. Another body was on the table this time a young woman dressed in silk, woven gold around her neck. A courtier then. Gaius stood next to the table a perplexed and grave look on his face while Merlin stood beside him nervously wringing his hands.
"What's different about this victim?"
"Er…she's a woman."
Arthur slapped his hand over his face because really that was – really one of the stupidest things Merlin had ever said. Gaius apparently shared his opinion; he looked equally as unimpressed as Arthur himself felt at Merlin's rather – dim proclamation.
"Sometimes I do wonder whether your magical talents were given to the right person. Anything else."
"Erm…she's a courtier."
Gaius nodded then.
"Ah."
"How does that help us?"
"Courtiers seldom go down to the lower town. So what does that mean?"
"Erm….that – that she hasn't spoken to any townspeople?"
Gaius looked pained.
"Yes, it suggests that the disease is not spread by contact."
"Oh, and they probably ate different food."
"Good, anything else?"
"Erm…I doubt they breathe the same air."
Arthur snorted.
"So what's the only thing they do share?"
"Water. Water? You think the disease is spread through water?"
Gaius sighed his eyes rolling back into his head for a moment before he nodded – his next remark making Arthur snort in laughter as he handed Merlin a bucket.
"Merlin, you're a prodigy."
The scene changed as all humor faded from Arthur's face at the sight that was before him. He only remembered that he couldn't touch the people in these memories when his hand passed through his distraught queen's shoulder.
"You have the sickness?"
Gwen shakes her head.
"My father! Please, Gaius, he's all I have."
"Gwen, I-I have no cure."
"I am begging you!"
"I wish there was something, anything, but so far the remedy is beyond what I can achieve."
Gaius took her other hand in his.
"I'm sorry Gwen."
She shakes her head tears falling from her dark eyes and staining her cheeks; she shook herself out of Gaius's hold, turned, and ran. Gaius sighed and Merlin stepped forward. He almost followed Gwen but he remembered his Queen was safe at home – this wasn't her tale, this was Merlin's.
"There must be something we can do!"
Gaius took the water from Merlin.
"My best. Let's hope that this can provide some answers."
"But that'll be too late for Gwen's father!"
"I fear you may be right."
Merlin looked outraged and Arthur's stomach sunk. The scene changed. Merlin as Merlin ducked into Morgana's old chambers as Gwen collected cloths while humming.
"How's your father? Is he feeling better?"
"Yeah, it's incredible. It's a miracle."
"His skin's clear, back to normal?"
"Yes."
Merlin grinned.
"Great!"
Gwen looked perplexed.
"No, no, I am, It's a miracle."
"But how did you know he was well?"
"Er, because you're smiling."
"That really weird because I haven't told anyone, but you know. How could you know?"
"Yeah, alright, you finally found out, I'll tell you. I'm psychic."
Gwen giggled.
"No you're not."
"It's true."
"Alright what am I thinking?"
"That I'm not psychic."
The scene changed as Arthur's foreboding grew. He sighed when he saw Gaius's outraged face, so his Queen had been arrested already then, by her future king no less, he sighed as he took in Merlin's shocked face, he had to remind himself that despite this things did turn out okay.
"What have you done?!"
"What?"
"I warned you! Oh, I understand. You thought you were doing good."
"I couldn't let her father die knowing I could cure him!"
"Didn't you think it might look a bit suspicious, the curing of one man?"
"Well then, all I have to do is...I'll cure everyone! No one will ever have to know it was magic."
"It's too late they think Gwen's a sorceress! They think she caused the disease!"
"But she didn't!"
Merlin turned and rushed towards the door.
"Oh, and how are you going to prove that?!"
Merlin stopped for a moment before he was gone. The scene changed. He was back in Gaius's chambers where a red eyed Merlin sat at a table across from Gaius. Both men looked understandably sorrow and Arthur sighed.
"I thought I was doing good, that curing Gwen's father would help her. I thought I was saving a life. It seemed so simple…"
Merlin hung his head.
"An easy solution is like a light in a storm, Merlin. Rush for it at your peril, for it may not always lead you to a safe harbor."
Merlin sighed.
"I can see that now."
"How many times have I warned you about the responsibilities of being a warlock?"
Merlin sighed his eyes not leaving the tabletop as he stood.
"I must see her."
Arthur followed Merlin down to the dungeons where the guards had placed his queen passing a sobbing Morgana on the way, Arthur had to remind himself that the sobbing woman would become a monster to get himself not to stop and try and do something despite knowing that it would be useless.
Merlin stopped outside the door to the cell and swallowed his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed. He cleared his throat once and then spoke.
"Gwen."
His queen rushed forward then.
"Thank you."
Merlin swallowed.
"What for?"
"For coming to see me."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Well…"
"It's alright. Don't worry about me. There's no point crying about it. I mean…I mean, I'm not saying that you were going to cry about me. Obviously I don't think that."
Merlin looked down.
"Oh Gwen. I can't have this happen."
"Please, one thing. You – you don't have to, but…"
"What?"
"Remember me."
Merlin swallowed.
"You're not going to die. I'm not going to let this happen."
And in that moment Arthur saw a decision made and he – he couldn't help but feel grateful to Merlin for trying. The scene changed. Arthur found himself back in Gaius's chambers as a scared and annoyed looking Gaius led Merlin back in.
"Arthur's the idiot."
Gaius sighed.
"No. He was right to do what he did, and, thankfully, he saved you from your own stupidity."
Merlin threw his hands up in the air.
"What else could I do? It's my fault Gwen's going to die!"
"Yes, but you don't prove her innocence by offering to jump into the flames. Yo do it by finding out what's causing the disease!"
"Well whatever it is, one thing's for sure: Arthur isn't going to find it. He thinks he is so sharp! But even when I told him I was a sorcerer, he still couldn't see it!"
"Sometimes they're pretty hard to spot."
"Well, maybe I should go around wearing a pointy hat."
Arthur snorted.
"I don't think you'll find one big enough anyway, forget that. If we're goingto save Gwen, we have to find out what's contaminating the water."
Arthur sighed as the scene changed as a severely shaken up Merlin and a grave Gaius poured over a book.
"Here. It was an Afanc."
"A…a what?"
"A beast born of clay, and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerer. Now we have to find a way to defeat it. But where?"
They both turned to a shelf full of books. Merlin groaned.
"That could take days. Gwen'll be dead by then!"
"Have you got a better idea?"
Arthur sighed as the scene changed because he had a feeling where Merlin would find out. At least he wasn't shocked when the giant head of the Great Dragon popped up in front of Merlin who at this point didn't even looked shocked.
"I need to know how to defeat an afanc."
"Yes, I suppose you do."
"Will you help me?"
"Trust the elements that are at your command."
Merlin looked puzzled.
"Elements? But what is it I have to do?"
"You cannot do this alone. You are but one side of a coin. Arthur is the other."
Arthur sighed clearly the dragon was no help, not that he was expecting it to be.
"I-I don't understand. Just tell me what it is I have to do."
Arthur sighed as the scene changed to the interior of Gaius's chambers where Merlin was hopelessly looking through the shelves of books.
"Merlin, what are you doing?"
"Looking for a book."
"You going to tell me which one?"
"A book of elements."
Gaius looked perplexed.
"Elements?"
"Yes. Which one would I find them in?"
"Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process."
Merlin sighed.
"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."
"What about the other two?"
Gaius was quiet for a moment before his eyes widened and a slow grin began to creap onto his face as he turned back towards Merlin his eyes dancing in excitement.
"Well, perhaps they will destroy it. You want fire. Wind and fire. How did you find this out?"
"Erm...I just knew, you know? One of my powers."
Gaius looked doubtful.
"What else do your powers tell you?"
"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously."
Arthur snorted.
"And who's the other side?"
"I think that might be Arthur."
Gaius seemed to be about to say something but he was interrupted as the door swung open with a bang as a red rimmed eyed Morgana came sweeping in a cloak of rich blue velvet around her shoulders. He had almost forgotten this side of the witch. The one that cared.
"They're bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Gwen's innocence."
Gaius looked up.
"We're trying."
Morgana stepped forward then her face crumpling.
"Please, just tell me what I can do to help."
"We need Arthur."
She looked perplexed.
"Arthur?"
"There's a monster, an Afanc, in the water supply. That's what's causing the plague."
"Well, we must tell Uther."
Gaius shook his head.
"The Afanc's a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther wouldn't save Gwen. He'd just blame her for conjuring it."
"So what are we to do?"
"We need to destroy it. Then the plague will stop and Uther may see sense."
She nodded understanding filling her green eyes.
"And that's why you need Arthur."
"He's our best chance. But he won't want to disobey the King."
Morgana nodded then.
"Leave that to me."
The scene changed into one that Arthur remembered. He followed behind himself, Morgana and Merlin as they made their way down through the dank tunnel that led to the kingdoms main water supply. He sighed as the witch smirked at his younger self.
"Scared I'll show you up?"
"Father will slam us both in chains if he knew I'd endangered you."
Morgana merely scoffed.
"Well good thing he doesn't know about it then."
His younger self stepped closer to her then, his hand landing on her shoulder.
"I'm telling you, Morgana, turn back. You could get hurt."
She smiled then, a tender look that he remembers only seeing rarely flashing across her face. Was this the woman that would enslave the people of Camelot? Was this the woman that was so full of magic that it had corrupted her?
Because right now, looking at her, he couldn't see it.
"You could too – " then as if to cover for herself " – if you don't get out of my way."
"How are we going to find it?"
There was a distant growl and Merlin shifted closer to the other two who looked just as shaken by the sound. "I just hope we do before it finds us." They reached the water source relatively quickly and his younger self was quick to take charge.
"Spread out."
They split up then only to rush back together at Morgana's scream, the beast was in front of her, his younger self made a swipe for it, but just as fast as it had come it disappeared back into the long shadows.
"Where is it?"
"I think it's gone that way."
They nodded and Arthur followed them again stopping to stand behind Merlin. The beast came into full view then, all black and grotesque and dripping, just as he remembered, his younger self took a swing at it but the beast merely swept the sword from his hands along with Morgana's torch.
The beast growled then and advanced on his younger self, he remembered the smell of the putred breath and he remembers the feeling of wrongness that seemed to carpet the creature. He remembered being terrified and having no clue what to do until – "
"Arthur, use the torch!"
His younger self swung the torch as the beast cowered and from his spot behind Merlin he heard the spell that ended the beast's life along with the disillusion that this had only been his victory. No, it had been all of theirs; he wondered why he had never seen that. He wondered why he had never heard Merlin.
"Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan."
The beast was covered in flames and just like that it was over. The scene changed. He found himself in Gaius's chambers as Merlin and Gaius sat at the table eating – well he wasn't sure what they were eating exactly.
"This fish didn't come from the water, did it?"
Gaius sighed then, his brow furrowing.
"Well, where else is it going to come from? The water's fine now. That's not your worry. This is the work of a very powerful sorcerer. I only hope you didn't come to her attention."
"Doubt it. Well no one else seems to appreciate my skills. I just want someone to see me for who I am."
Gaius sighed then.
"One day, Merlin. One day."
Merlin looked perplexed.
"One day what?"
Gaius smiled, humor lighting up his eyes.
"One day people won't believe what an idiot you were."
Merlin's reply was dry.
"Thanks."
Arthur's laughter still hadn't faded as the scene changed.
A/N:
1: i believe at this point Merlin isn't as cautious as he should be, i actually don't think he learns true caution until the witchfinder incident.
Can you believe the resent episode's? Poor Gwen's been brainwashed. Poor Merlin is in a pickle (i really want a pickle now lol) and Arthur was almost killed. Oh dear. Also sorry for the wait, i had a huge paper due on the holocaust for both my global history and english honors class and it kind of took over my life, i actually only finished it earlier. Also i hope this chapter wasn't to dialogue heavy.
Now onto reviews!
EveBB: I'm glad you liked it. Yes i actually really do enjoy writing that.
Medchan: I honestly have mixed feeling's towards Uther, i don't like the things he's done but the part of me that could hate him is really overcome by the part of me that pities him because he let hate overcome his sense of reasoning and it led to his downfall. I actually only ever started shipping them after she turned into what she is now, but never as a happy good relationship. The only way they work for me is in the tragic what could have been way or if they're reincarnated. I'm actually working on a fic with that idea. (shameless self promoting i know, I'm terrible)
Spinnerofdark: I totally agree. You find out in the next chapter.
Nameless Secret Keeper: Thanks, i'll correct that. Thank you and sorry for the wait!
04: I plan on doing all the seasons although because of resent developments I'm not sure i can. I agree with you there, half the fun of suspense is the suspense.
Ruby890: Thanks. I hope it was! Sigans, oh god i can't wait for that one as for the questing beast and a whole bunch.
Nebriniel Peredhil: Boy i hope i copied that over correctly. Thank you so much!
Angeleyenc: i'm sorry for the wait!
Karreana: Thank you, i'm sorry for the wait!
1983Sarah: I got really excited and thought I'd found a Labyrinth fan until i realized that it was released in 86. Oh well the year you were born i'm thinking? Yes i'm glad Gwen and Gwaine are both willing to put their trust in Merlin, even though the original draft they didn't. But that would have been too cruel of me plus i felt like Gwaine would never betray Merlin, he's just to loyal and Gwen - well her character is much more open then Arthur's and i figured her reaction would be more tolerant. I hope i didn't disappoint you!
JayJay-san: Thank you and thank you for the suggestion of were i could watch Merlin.
Nameless Secret Keeper: Good i'm glad, i was a little worried about my explanations being not very good! Sorry for the wait!
Angeleyenc: Yes Gwaine is just amazing XD sorry for the wait!
TheImpossiblePen: Thanks. Yeah it was terrifying but everyone's okay and i couldn't be more thankful. Yes it did thank you!
saroura92: Sorry but i promised to do every single episode i could. I hope I made it interesting. I hated it so much as well!
Ruby890: Merlin was an idiot but i can see his reasoning as well. Still...i just didn't like it. I don't but Youtube works ( i found someone else who puts the episodes up) thanks for the suggestions!
Kitkat: thanks for the suggestions!