Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter nine: A remedy to cure all ills and The gates of Avalon.
Gwen sat down beside Isolde, it was late afternoon and they had all sat down to eat, Taliesin had so kindly summoned for them, from the castle kitchens of course. Gwen couldn't help but wonder how Gaius was, he hadn't returned yet. And who was Alice? She was sure she had heard the name somewhere before. Tristan sits down beside Isolde, Gwen glances round trying to spot Arthur. Arthur and the knights were sitting on the ground, with their backs against the wall of the cave. Between Arthur and Gwaine was a gap where no doubt Merlin would have sat. Gwen sighs slightly and Isolde grips her arm. Taliesin suddenly appeared before them, a sad look on his face.
"Your friend, Merlin, has gone missing." He informs.
Everyone was on their feet in seconds.
"We must go and look for him, then." Gwaine exclaimed.
Taliesin shakes his head. "People are already looking for him…. mainly assassins."
"There are assassins after Merlin?" Percival asks, slightly shocked everyone he knew loved Merlin.
"Why?" Elyan asks. "I mean we don't know about his magic so how could anyone else?"
"Merlin has fought many people. He has made a lot of enemies over his years in Camelot. Not all who seek to kill him are human." Taliesin answers. "He has magic. Even if someone does try and kill him, he'll be able to defend himself."
Not everyone looks convinced, but slowly they sit back down.
"Right," Taliesin smiles slightly. "We have two more stories for today. Then we'll start again tomorrow. And I will inform you if your friend is found."
Everyone nodes, hoping that hearing the stories will take their minds off the fact Merlin had gone missing.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Our story starts in an old room full of physicians equipment, a hooded figure uses magic to light some candles and begins sorting through bottles. Finally he picks up a box, runes covering the lid. He sets the box down and opens it, it is full of black beetles. He picks a beetle out and places it in a flower. Later that day Gwen carries the same flowers into Morgana's room, explaining they were a gift from someone. Later that night the hooded person stands in the court yard and mutters a spell. In Morgana's room the beetle awakens and climes out the flower and into her ear. The hooded figure then turns and leaves.
"A couple of days later Gaius examines Morgana while Uthur watches. But Gaius cannot work out what is causing Morgana's illness. At the entrance to the royal wing of the castle Gwen and Merlin wait for Gaius, after Gwen leaves Gaius tells Merlin she is all but dead, he doesn't know what's causing it or how to cure it. Merlin offers to use magic but Gaius tells him it is too much of a risk and sends him off to collect herbs."
Gwaine sighs as he hears Merlin's name. "If he is this all powerful warlock, how can he go missing? I mean who could have kidnapped him?"
Arthur sighs. "He goes missing in the castle all the time. I suppose he can just use magic to hide himself, if he doesn't want to be found."
Gwen shakes her head. "He doesn't use magic to hide. He just goes where no one else goes."
Percival nodes. "He goes up to the tallest tower and sits on the battlements when he's in a bad mood. I only know because Lancelot told me where to find him once. It has an amazing view of the city and forest."
"Meanwhile in the court yard, the hooded figure is waiting. Half his face is scared, it looks like it had been caused by fire. He speaks with Arthur and tells him his name is Edwin, he says he has a remedy that can cure all ills. Arthur doesn't really believe him and refuses to let him speak with the king. Later that night Arthur and Merlin talk, well Merlin talks and Arthur just gets annoyed. The following morning there is still no change in Morgana's condition. So Arthur tells Uthur about Edwin and how he has a remedy to cure all ills. So Edwin is sent for. Uthur then greats Edwin and they talk, before Edwin sets out to cure Morgana. But Gaius is sure he's meet Edwin before and is a bit wary of him. And Arthur gives Edwin Merlin to help out.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Edwin is surprised in the level of knowledge Merlin has and tells him he is too smart to be a servant. Merlin picks up the box with the beetles in it, but Edwin quickly grabs it from him. After Edwin gets everyone to leave the room, him sets about removing the bug from Morgana's ear. Behind him Gwen enters the room, before he can do anything. After getting the bug out Morgana's ear, he tells the king what he has found and how he has cured the lady Morgana. Whilst Gaius and Merlin share a look. Uthur goes up to Morgana's room to find her awake and pretty much back to normal.
"Later that day Gaius and Edwin speak, Gaius still can't get over the feeling he had meet Edwin before. Not long after that Edwin speaks with the king who, asks Edwin to stay. As a reward for curing the lady Morgana, he offers him the chance to dine with him. Meanwhile Gaius goes to see Geoffrey and asks for a book recording all those who died in the great purge. Meanwhile Merlin goes into Edwin room and finds the box of beetles he reads out the runes on the lid and opens it to find all the bugs crawling around. Edwin appears behind Merlin, causing him to jumps and knock over a jar of powder. Merlin hands Edwin the box and he opens it, mutters a spell and the bugs go still. He then works out Merlin has magic."
"That can't be good." Elyan mutters. "What if someone finds out someone is using magic and Edwin blames Merlin."
Gwen shakes her head. "Edwin was to clever to get caught."
"Later that night Geoffrey brings Gaius the book he asked for. Meanwhile Uthur is dining with Edwin, where he slowly convinces the king that Gaius could have been wrong on more than one thing. The following morning Merlin wakes up to find Gaius had been awake all night reading the records. Merlin then heads out to gather herbs. While Gaius goes and tells Edwin what he knows. Gaius goes to tell Uthur about Edwin, who blackmails him saying he'll tell about Merlin too. Not long after Merlin walks in.
"Poor Gaius," Gwen gasps. "He was forced to choose between Merlin or the king."
Tristan smiles slightly. "From what I have seen and heard, Gaius would choose Merlin every time."
Isolde nodes. "They are more like father and son, than uncle and nephew."
"Later Edwin speaks with the king and tells him about the mistakes he had found in Gaius's work. Morgana tries to defend Gaius, but Uthur will not listen. Later that night, after Merlin is asleep Gaius goes down to see the great dragon. They talk for a while and then Gaius leaves. The following day Uthur forces Gaius to retire. Gaius goes to tell Uthur who Edwin really is, but changes his mind when Edwin appears out of the shadows.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"When Merlin finds out Gaius is leaving, Merlin offers to go with him. But Gaius tells him he must stay in Camelot. Not long after Merlin speaks with Arthur, who tells him about Gaius's other mistakes. But Merlin knew he didn't make any mistakes. Uthur and Edwin walk through halls talking, where Edwin tells Uthur he would like to try a new painkiller for the king shoulder. Down in the lower Gaius is leaving, when Gwen comes up to him. She tells him she thinks Edwin is evil and he should do something about it. But Gaius still leaves."
Leon sighs. "Camelot wouldn't be the same if Merlin and Gaius never returned."
Gwaine looks at Leon. "You think they might not return?"
"Why should they? They both have magic. They both know all of us know. To return to Camelot would get them killed, the use of magic is punished by death remember."
"Well it's a stupid law!" Gwaine exclaims.
"The law is there to protect the people of this land." Arthur quickly speaks up. "Magic is evil. Merlin and Gaius are just lucky it hasn't corrupted them yet."
"You really believe that?" Percival asks.
Arthur doesn't answer at first. "Both my parents were killed by magic, look what happened to Morgana. She was the kindest person I know."
"What about the druids?" Elyon asks. "I've never seen them hurt anyone."
"Later that same night Edwin knocks out the king and places a beetle in the kings ear. Out in the forest Gaius changes his mind and sets about returning to Camelot. Returning to his room Edwin is confronted by Gaius, who throws a spell at him. But Gaius got the spell wrong and Edwin throws him back and encircles him in a ring of fire. Elsewhere in the castle Arthur tells Merlin to find Edwin. Merlin quickly runs of and does so. Finding Gaius trapped, Edwin uses magic and throws an axe and Merlin who stops it and throws it back, killing Edwin."
Everyone grimaces, they all knew how Merlin hated killing things. They were lucky that Merlin would do anything to save anyone of them.
"Gaius and Merlin find the beetles and quickly make their way to the king. Knowing only magic can save Uthur, Merlin uses magic to save the king. With the king recovered Gaius becomes the court physician and a free citizen of Camelot."
"Merlin used magic on the king?" Gwaine asks in disbelief.
"Merlin saved his life," Leon mutters. "Even though he could have been killed for doing it."
Arthur just sighs, he didn't know what to think. On one hand he had all that magic had done to harm the kingdom and on the other he had Merlin... Merlin who would never hurt a soul unless he had to... A person who hated hunting and would always speak up for what he thought was right... A loyal friend and someone you could trust with your life... But then Merlin had gone and lied to him for years. All magic Arthur had seen had been used for evil, even Merlin had used it to kill people, a person who would never have killed without it.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Our next story starts with the lady Morgana having a dream of Arthur drowning in a lake, with a pretty girl, dressed in fine silk watching. Morgana wakes with a start. Elsewhere Arthur and Merlin are out hunting. Suddenly they hear screams echoing through the trees, the two of them rush off to help. While Arthur fights the bandits Merlin watches, as a bandit sneaks up behind Arthur Merlin uses his magic to drop a tree branch on them, killing them. The final bandit runs away and Arthur quickly goes over to talk to the people he and Merlin have just saved. The girl, is the girl from Morgana's dream."
"I get the feeling this isn't going to end well." Elyan mutters.
Gwaine nodes. "I think the girl is going to kill Arthur…. Well try to before Merlin bursts in and saves the day."
Percival nodes. "I wounded how many times Merlin has saved all of us. I mean he saved Isolde life within a couple of days of knowing her."
Leon nodes. "Looks like our good luck is really Merlin."
"Back in Camelot Uthur greats the new guests, who claim to be royals from another kingdom forced from their home by raiders. Lord Aulfric and his daughter lady Sophia. In Arthur chamber, Arthur is telling Merlin to find a room for Sophia and her father. As Merlin helps Sophia with her things, Morgana appears walking along the corridor and sees Sophia, the girl from her dream. Morgana grabs Merlin's arm and tells him she can't stay here. But Merlin can do nothing, he can't go against the kings orders.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Morgana quickly makes her way to see Gaius and tells him about her dream. He tells her she has nothing to be worried about, it was just a dream. But as Morgana leaves Gaius tells her not to tell Uthur about it. Later that night in the woods the bandit that escaped waits by a small camp fire, only a couple of second later Aulfric appears. The bandit draws their sword and demands a higher payment due to the fact his friends all died. So Aulfric blasts him with his staff. Back in Camelot, Morgana has the same dream again. As Arthur plans to take Sophia out for a ride, he gets Merlin to lie to the king about where he has gone, landing Merlin it the stocks."
"You made Merlin lie to the king just so you could go for a ride with Sophia?" Leon asks. "You do relies if Uthur had been a bad mood he would have had Merlin whipped." He remembered the lie Merlin had used, the king had told him before the patrol had started.
Arthur doesn't meet Leon's eye.
"Morgana watches Arthur and Sophia ride out of Camelot as she tells Gwen about her dream, knowing she couldn't tell Uthur for fear that her dreams were to closely linked to magic. Morgana decides she is going to have to try and stop Sophia from killing Arthur herself. Out in the wood Sophia begins to cast an enchantment on Arthur but is disturbed as a patrol of guards tries to shoot her with a cross bow. Only for her to be saved by Arthur."
"So Arthur saved the life of the women who's going to try and kill him." Gwaine laughs. "Now I know why Merlin calls you a dollop head."
"Dollop head?" Tristan asks.
"Yeah," Gwaine answers. "When Merlin isn't calling Arthur a prat, he's calling him an dollop head."
Isolde smirks. "Merlin calls the king of Camelot a prat?"
Everyone nodes and grins apart from Arthur who looks annoyed.
"Back in Camelot Merlin just gets in from his time in the stocks. After Merlin explains why he was in the stocks, Gaius goes to Aulfric and Sophia's room. Where he finds Aulfric's staff. As he looks at it, Aulfric enters the room and yells at him, whilst doing so his eyes change red. Gaius quickly leaves. Down in the court yard Arthur and Sophia as just returning from their trip. Sophia quickly heads back towards her room, but meets Morgana on the way. Who tells her, she will stop Sophia from what she plans to do.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Sophia returns to her room and tells her father their plan didn't work, he warns her that they do not have much time, Gaius knows who they are. She also tells him of Morgana and how she knows too. Meanwhile Morgana talks to Arthur, trying and failing to warn him of what Sophia plans to do. The following day Arthur gets Merlin to cover for him again. So once more Merlin finds himself in the stocks."
Everyone looks at Arthur, and shake their heads.
"Out in the forest Sophia finishes casting her spell. Back in Camelot Merlin has just made it back from the stocks. Gaius is waiting for him, he tells Merlin that he believes Morgana is a seer and her dreams are about to come true."
"What is a 'seer'?" Gwen asks.
"A seer is a person who can see visions of the future," Taliesin answers. "Most people like your friend Merlin come here and use the crystals to see the future. But seers do not need to do that. Most seers also have magic."
Gwen nodes. "So Merlin has used this cave to see the future?"
Taliesin nodes. "But not through choice, the crystals forced him to watch the future even though he didn't want to. It was a unpleasant and painful experience for Merlin, the magic here is strong and those who try to stop it can get hurt."
"Meanwhile Sophia is strengthen the spell on Arthur, knowing that people are going to try and stop them. Sophia informs her father that Arthur is ready. Aulfric then leaves the city, but unknown to him Merlin is following him. Merlin follows Aulfric all the way to the lake of Avalon, where he watches as he speaks with the Side. Merlin know knows they plan to sacrifice Arthur to gain passage back to Avalon.
"Back in Gaius chamber Gaius tells Merlin what he saw was the land of Avalon, no mortal has ever lied eyes on it and lived, you only see it, moments before death. Merlin isn't to bothered by that he is more worried about what they are going to do with Arthur and how the can stop them. Meanwhile the prince speaks with his father about marrying Sophia, the king refuses to give his blessing. He threatens to have them killed if Arthur does not do as he says. After Arthur leaves the hall Morgana tries to warn Uthur, but he doesn't listen. "
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Meanwhile Merlin tries to stop Arthur from leaving, but before he can Aulfric and Sophia appear. When Merlin tries to prove he is telling the truth, Aulfric blasts Merlin into a wall and he falls to the found unmoving. Not long after Morgana watches Arthur, Aulfric and Sophia leave and goes to Gaius for help. Knowing only Merlin can stop them now, he goes to find Merlin. Arthur is getting closer and closer to the lake."
"That must have hurt." Gwaine mutters.
Taliesin nodes. "Not many know this but that blast killed him, but only for a couple of seconds. Much like the poison did."
"So Merlin really does die for Arthur."
"Gaius finds Merlin still passed out, but he quickly wakes up. Merlin runs through the forest as fast as he can towards the lake. Ahead of him, Sophia is leading Arthur out into the water. Merlin arrives at the lake seconds after Arthur vanishes under the water. He picks up Sophia staff and uses it to kill both her and her father. He quickly makes his way into the water and pulls Arthur out. Back in Camelot Arthur finally wakes up, after explaining to Arthur, Merlin knocked him out with a lump of wood, Merlin is once again blamed for not telling the king where Arthur was, ending in the stocks."
Gwaine laughs. "Like Merlin would have needed a lump of wood to knock you out."
"Shut up, Gwaine."
"So," Taliesin says. "That is us done for today. Do you wish to return to Camelot or stay here for the night."
"We will stay." Gwen answers for everyone. "The people know we were going and planned to be gone for up to a week."
Taliesin nodes. "Then I bid you good night."
He vanishes into thin air, leaving them standing as bed rolls appear at their feet.
"I wonder if they have found Merlin yet?" Isolde asks.
"It's going to be a cold night, so I hope they have." Tristan answers.
Hey, hope you liked that. Please feel free to tell me if you think I am adding in to many people in, the last couple of chapter Alice, Gill and Daegal have all shown up. Let me know if there is anything you think I can do better, until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.