Chapter 7

Merlin had not slept a wink. The events of the night kept playing themselves again and again in his mind. No matter what he did, he could hear Alvarr and Naomi's conversation. Naomi is Gwen's mother.

The next morning, Gaius looked up, startled and worried by Merlin's appearance. "Merlin! You look like you've seen a ghost!" Merlin merely nodded as he didn't quite trust himself to speak.

Gaius was patient and didn't ask any questions, but instead trusted that Merlin would tell him whatever it was that was troubling him when he was ready.

The two ate breakfast in silence, and Gaius was dismayed to see that Merlin barely touched his food. He must be getting sick, he thought, but didn't say anything.

When they were done, Merlin got up and was about to leave to head to Arthur's for his morning chores when Gaius called him back. "You're not well, Merlin. I'll send a message to Arthur explaining so that you can get some rest."

"I'm not ill." said Merlin sharply. Gaius stepped back, surprised by Merlin's tone. He nodded wordlessly and then went back to his work. Merlin didn't move. He felt guilty for speaking that way to a man who had cared for him ever since he came to Camelot. "I'm sorry." he said and then once again turned to leave.

"Merlin." He turned back to see Gaius looking at him. "It's alright. If something is bothering you, you can tell me."

The warlock sighed and went and sat down. "It's like this. I saw Jasmina sneak out of the castle last night and I followed her."

Gaius quit what he was doing, he was most interested in what Merlin had to say. "And you learned something unpleasant?"

"Well," said Merlin uncertain where to begin. "I found that out that her really name is not Jasmina, but Naomi." So, Merlin told him everything he had seen and heard.

Gaius was no less shocked than Merlin had been. "Gwen's mother?" Merlin nodded. "I can hardly believe it."

"Had you never met her before?" asked Merlin. The old man shook his head.

"I only met Gwen when she came to the castle to be Morgana's maid. By that time, Gwen believed her mother to be dead."

"What should I do Gaius?" asked Merlin. It was something that he had been agonizing over since the previous night. He already had a pretty good guess what Gaius would say, but he was afraid to do it.

"If I were you, I'd tell Gwen the truth." Merlin sighed. So much for hoping that it would be something more simple.

"You're right. I just wish there was another way." Gaius smiled at him encouragingly.

Without another word, Merlin left the room and went off in search of Gwen. She was usually at the castle at this time helping in the kitchen, but Merlin couldn't find her anywhere. He even ran to her house to see if she was still home. She wasn't.

He finally had to ask if anyone had seen her and then was told that she had been sent off on an errand and should be back in an hour or two. Great, thought Merlin. He hated putting this off but it was not to be helped. Plus, he was already late for Arthur. Again.

"Say," said the servant who told Merlin about Gwen, "did you hear the news?" Without giving Merlin a chance to reply, the woman continued, "Apparently, that woman that came the night before last? What was her name? Oh, yes, Jasmina! Well," here she dropped her voice into a conspiratorial whisper, "she's really in league with that man Alvarr. One of the guards claims he saw with him last night. The king had her arrested this morning and thrown in the dungeons."

The woman walked off, not noticing Merlin's look of horror and fear. If she had been seen with Alvarr, that would mean that she would be executed as a traitor! There was only one person that could convice the king otherwise. Arthur.

Merlin ran to Arthur's room where the prince was apparently still waiting for him. In actuality, Arthur hadn't been paying much attention to the time and had not noticed that Merlin was late. He had been preoccupied with seeing the pretty face of Gwen in his mind.

Only when Merlin barged into the room and interrupted his thinking did Arthur realize how late it was. "Really, Merlin." he said in exasperation. "You are getting to be quite lazy. If you're not careful, I may have to fire you again."

"I am sorry, Arthur," said Merlin gasping for breathing, "but there is something very important I have to tell you."

"Oh, really?" said Arthur who was not in the least bit interested in whatever Merlin might find to be important. "Well, it will have to wait. You are dreadfully behind on chores, Merlin. My armor needs polishing as usual, and then my room needs cleaning, and my-"

"No, it cannot wait!" snapped Merlin impatiently. Arthur stared at him in disbelief. This was the first time that he could ever recall anyone daring to interrupt him, and in that tone! "How dare..."

"Arthur," said Merlin desperately interrupting again, "it is about that woman. Jasmina. I found out why she looks familiar."

Arthur wouldn't have admitted to anyone, least of all to Merlin, but his servant had now caught his attention. "Did you?" he asked, pretending he wasn't curious to know.

"Yes," said Merlin, "she's..." he took a deep breath, sure that what she was about to say would send Arthur into shock. "She's Gwen's mother."

Arthur who had just sat down on his bed at that very moment, fell to the floor. He quickly got to his feet and stared at Merlin. It was clear that this was not what he had expected. "Gwen's mother?"

Merlin nodded. "It all make sense now. Think about it, Arthur! Gwen is a younger version of her mother. They look the same. They even have the same smile!"

Arthur couldn't deny the truth of what Merlin was saying, but he still couldn't believe it. "But...how...how did you figure that out?"

Merlin explained Gaius's suspicions and then he told him all about last night. "And now," said Merlin, "I was going to tell Gwen, but she's out on an errand, and I've just learned that a guard had seen with Alvarr as well, and your father's had her arrested! You know what means, Arthur. We'll be executed for treason! You have to talk to him."

Arthur nodded. "I will at once." He had long ago learned that Merlin would never had made something like this up. Not only was this the right thing to do, but the woman was the mother of the love of his life! Darling Gwen had already lost one parent and she might soon lose another. Not if I can help it, thought Arthur with grim determination.