Season 2, Episode 7

Story 20: Behind the Scenes

Chapter 2: Proof

Proof. That's what he was still thinking about when Gwen came to visit him to tell him that Aredian was interrogating Morgana again. Gwen didn't know about Morgana's magic, but anyone with eyes could see how nervous Morgana had been since the witch finder arrived.

Merlin internally cursed Aredian with every fiber of his being. "Yeah," Merlin said angrily. "That's what he does. He breaks you down and in the end you confess whether you're guilty or not."

"What do you mean?" Gwen asked him confused.

"Gaius was set up. Aredian planted that Amulet," Merlin explained quickly.

"But why would he do such a thing?" Gwen asked horrified.

"Aredian is paid to catch sorcerers. Maybe he doesn't care whether someone is guilty or not. Maybe he gets confessions by lying, by planting evidence, just as long as he gets a confession, he gets his money," Merlin said, his eyes widening as he spoke. He hadn't realized until he started saying it exactly how true his words were.

"But even if this is true, what can we do without proof?" Gwen asked. Her voice was taking on a hysterical tone. She was terrified for Morgana and for Gaius.

"Get some," Merlin said quietly.

It took them all night to gather, and in Merlin's case, plant the proof that they needed to prove Gaius's innocence. When Merlin finally got back to Gaius's chambers, he felt like he could sleep where he stood. That was, until he noticed Gwen's expression. Gwen looked at him frantically. "Merlin! Where have you been?" Gwen asked.

"It's done. Everything's in place," Merlin assured her.

"But it's too late!" Gwen said hysterically. "Gaius has already left the dungeons!"

"Then…" Merlin paused. They couldn't be too late. Gaius couldn't die. "Then we'll have to delay the execution."

"How?" Gwen asked.

"Arthur," Merlin said. He hadn't listened to Merlin earlier, but maybe if Merlin told him that he now had proof… "I'll speak to Arthur."

"No. Leave Arthur to me," Gwen said strongly.

Merlin didn't give it a second thought. "Okay," he agreed quietly.

Merlin and Gwen fought through the assembled crowd. It was sick to see how many people were willing to forget all the good that Gaius had done. They seemed to forget that he had treated them and their families. Gaius never turned his back on those in need. It didn't seem fair that they were all turning their backs on him now.

When Gwen finally could see Arthur, she began shouting his name. "Arthur! Arthur!" Arthur turned to look at her. "Arthur, you've got to stop this!"

"I can't Gwen. You know I can't," Arthur told her.

"Merlin has proof that Gaius is innocent," Gwen told him.

"My father's already passed sentence," Arthur said quietly. "There's nothing I can do." This was hurting Arthur as much as it was hurting her. Gaius was his friend.

"You can do the right thing, Arthur Pendragon," Gwen said harshly. "You can show some faith in a loyal friend, or you can stand by and watch an innocent man die!"

"Guinevere…" Arthur started to say.

"You did it once before to my father; are you really willing to let it happen again? And you can stop looking at me like that, I know I'm only a servant! I thought you were a prince, so start behaving like one!" Gwen chastised.

For a moment, both Merlin and Arthur stared at Gwen. Merlin's stare was one of awe. Few people were willing to speak to the prince like that.

Arthur studied Gwen for a long moment. If he went against his father's orders, the king would be furious. Arthur turned his head and saw Aredian prepare to light the pyre. In that moment, he knew he had to choose between doing the right thing and going along with what his father wanted.

Arthur closed his eyes. He couldn't live his whole life trying to make his father proud. He knew what the right thing to do was and for once, he felt like his father's wrath might be worth it. "Wait!" he shouted.

Arthur saw Aredian's face darken, but he listened to Arthur. A few minutes later, Gwen and Merlin were addressing the king.

Merlin glanced at Morgana. She looked tired as if she hadn't slept at all last night. That made two of them. When Merlin declared that he had proof, he saw hope spread across her features. When Arthur interceded and gave the orders to search Aredian's chambers, a look of smug glee spread across Merlin's face. Morgana shot him a confused look and he returned it with a confident smile.

"You're wasting your time," Aredian said confidently. He knew that anything that could prove his guilt was well hidden.

The guards ignored him. "The cupboard over there," Arthur said.

Merlin watched eagerly. He knew exactly what was going to happen. Sure enough, as a guard opened the door to the small cupboard, dozens of amulets tumbled out. Right underneath the amulets were several bottles of the Belladonna.

"These things don't belong to me!" Aredian insisted. "This is a trick!" Aredian coughed to clear his throat. His cough was really becoming unbearable. "That boy plots against me!"

Aredian was overcome with a coughing fit. Morgana glanced at Merlin, wondering if they should try to help him, but Merlin was watching with that same knowing smile he had been wearing the entire time they searched Aredian's chambers.

After several more hacking coughs, Aredian spit out a toad.

Morgana almost laughed. Almost. Merlin was a genius sometimes. A reckless genius, but a genius all the same.

"Sorcerer!" Uther said shocked.

Before Morgana knew what was happening, she was being held in front of Aredian like a shield and a dagger was being held to her neck.

Merlin's smile disappeared. He never took his eyes off of Morgana. He was trying to tell her that she would be okay; that he wouldn't let her get hurt.

"Aredian," Uther said cautiously. "Think carefully about what you're doing. You will never escape from Camelot alive."

"I will if you value the life of your ward," Aredian declared maliciously.

"Forbaernan," Merlin whispered.

The handle of the dagger Aredian was holding, glowed hot, causing him to drop it. Merlin had expected Aredian to let Morgana go out of shock of suddenly being burnt. What he hadn't anticipated was that Aredian would start to fall backwards and that he would latch onto the only thing that was within reach.

Merlin watch with horror as Morgana and Aredian toppled out the window.

"Morgana!" Merlin shouted, running towards the window.

He wasn't thinking, he was just doing. He couldn't lose her. "Inbringe cume mec!" Merlin shouted. Merlin had never concentrated on anything so much in his life. He was rewarded when just a moment later, Morgana was floating back into Aredian's chambers. Merlin hadn't tried to spare Aredian and he winced when he heard the cracking sound of bone and flesh hitting the ground.

The moment Morgana's feet hit the ground, she threw her arms around Merlin. She was shaking. "You saved me," she said softly.

"I could never let you die," Merlin assured her. He kissed her forehead gently. She was safe.

A gasp alerted them to the fact that they had an audience. Uther was looking at both of them as if they were vile and unclean. Arthur looked at them as if he didn't know what to think. The guards had neutral expressions on their face.

"Arrest him," Uther ordered.

"No!" Morgana shouted stepping in front of Merlin protectively.

"Don't you dare," Merlin said, stepping in front of her.

"They won't kill me," Morgana said confidently, stepping in front of Merlin.

"You don't know that," Merlin insisted, once again pushing in front of her. Morgana ducked under his arm in front of him.

Arthur watched, his mouth agape. This was the strangest thing that had ever happened.

"Morgana, step aside," Uther told her.

"I won't let you kill him," Morgana warned.

"Why do you care? He's just a servant," Uther spat. "He will die for his crimes."

She stood up to her full height and looked Uther right in the eye. "He is not just a servant. Not to me. I love him," Morgana said strongly.

"That's ridiculous. You are being enchanted!" Uther shouted.

"No," Morgana said, her voice low and angry. "You are so petrified by magic; you refuse to see that it can be a blessing instead of a curse. My feelings for Merlin are true."

"Guards!" Uther called. "Restrain the Lady Morgana and arrest the boy. He will be executed at dawn."

At first Morgana fought against the knight that restrained her, but after Merlin was dragged out of the room, the fight left her.

"You are a cruel man Uther Pendragon. You will not be forgiven for this," Morgana warned.

Uther shot her a disgusted look. "Once he is killed, his influence over you will be gone. Then you will thank me," he told her. Uther walked out without another word.

The guard that had been holding Morgana, released her and followed Uther as he left. That left Morgana and Arthur alone.

"You knew?" Arthur asked when he found his voice. "You knew Merlin studies magic."

"Yes," Morgana told Arthur seriously. "I've known for a long time."

"How could you not tell me?" Arthur asked furiously.

"What difference would it make?" Morgana asked him bitterly. "His magic doesn't change who he is. He is still loyal to you first and foremost. You have no idea how much it guilts him that he cannot be completely honest with you."

"Then he should have told me," Arthur said stubbornly.

Morgana shook her head. Merlin had said he would protect her, but she hadn't realized this would be the price of her freedom. "Arthur, I need your help. I need you to help me get Merlin out of Camelot," Morgana begged.

"Why should I help him?" Arthur asked. Part of him knew that he wouldn't let Merlin die, but he was still too furious to acknowledge that part. "He studies magic."

"I cannot lose him," Morgana said desperately. "Either you help me break him out, or you need to execute us side by side."

"You've done nothing wrong," Arthur pointed out.

Arthur could have sworn that Morgana's eyes flashed gold, but he was distracted when suddenly cold water was being poured over his head.

"I have officially done you more harm than Merlin ever has. This decision is yours and yours alone," Morgana told him.

She didn't regret what she had just done. She knew in her heart that a life without Merlin wasn't a life worth living.

Arthur stared at her for several minutes. He had known Merlin for three years, but he had known Morgana his whole life. It would be completely unbearable for him to have to watch her die. "I'll help you," he croaked.

"Thank you," Morgana said with a smile. She started to leave.

"Where are you going?" Arthur asked her shocked.

"I have to go pack," Morgana said with a shrug.

"Pack?" Arthur asked uncertainly.

"You can't expect me to stay here. The only reason that Uther hasn't found out about my magic is because Merlin has worked so hard to help me control it. I owe this to him," Morgana told Arthur seriously. "If Gwen were in this situation, do you mean to tell me that you wouldn't go with her." When Arthur opened his mouth to argue, Morgana continued. "Don't look at me like that. I know how you feel about her."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "My father will never let you leave," Arthur pointed out.

"He will if he knows I have magic," Morgana argued.

"Are you insane? He will have you killed!" Arthur said incredulously.

"Yes," Morgana said with a small smile. "After he has me locked in jail for the night."

Arthur stared at Morgana. He finally understood what she was doing. "You're going to escape with him," he whispered. "You don't want me to help him. You want me to help both of you."

Morgana nodded. "If I don't reveal to Uther that I have magic, he will think Merlin has kidnapped me. He will never stop looking for us. But if I reveal to him that I have magic and we leave his kingdom, he cannot follow us," Morgana whispered.

Arthur closed his eyes. He'd thought stopping Gaius' education had been difficult, but it was nothing compared to the choice he was facing. This was undoubtably the hardest decision he'd ever had to make. This wasn't just about going against his father's orders. Arthur would have to break two sorcerers out of prison. Not only was it highly dangerous, but Arthur didn't doubt that Uther would be furious with him when he found out that he helped them escape.

Arthur let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He knew it all came down to a choice. A choice between right and wrong, between being his own person and being his father, choosing between his friends and his duty to his kingdom. It wasn't a decision Arthur had ever anticipated he would have to make.

"Just… just give me a few minutes," Arthur muttered before he ran back to his chambers. He had every intention of going back to his chambers, likely to frantically pace while he figured out what he should do, but then he passed the narrow hallway that led to the dungeons that Merlin was imprisoned in.

At first, Arthur walked right past it, but then he stopped. There were so many questions swirling around in his head, but they weren't questions he had the answers to. If he was being honest with himself, they weren't questions Morgana had the answers to either. Only Merlin could help him.

Arthur found himself backtracking and turning towards the cells. None of his knights questioned him as he walked down. They didn't need to. They'd become as fond of Merlin as Arthur had and understood that Arthur would need some closure.

For a while, Arthur played with the keys on his belt. He could see Merlin from where he stood, but he knew Merlin couldn't see him.

It was time for some answers.