Gwen watched sympathetically as Gwaine was thrown back in to his cell. It had been a couple of days since she'd been taken and Hengist had been making Gwaine fight for their food. Luckily Gwaine fought well.
"Are you okay?" she asked. Gwen moved over to the bars that separated their cells to have a closer look at his wounds. "It's deep."
"I'll live." Gwaine panted. He shoved a half-hearted smile on his face as his eyes closed.
She didn't make a sound as Gwaine fell asleep. He would need his rest if they wanted to eat dinner tonight. Instead, Gwen looked out the hole and into the night. She knew Merlin and Lance would be coming but she still hoped they wouldn't. The place was a fortress. Even with Merlin's magic there were too many guards patrolling the forests and scouts further out.
Merlin. She had thought about him ever since she'd been taken. Just moments before she had been kidnapped her thoughts had been clouded with doubt about their relationship. It felt like they didn't belong, that it wasn't quite right. He'd never said "I love you" and neither had she. That thought alone was enough to tell her that maybe they shouldn't be together. But then, who was there to tell them they couldn't make it work? That they couldn't push through it? She had heard plenty of stories about how love overcomes all.
Would it overcome doubt?
Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, and Lancelot stared in shock at the heavily fortified and guarded fortress. They'd gotten here last night and had spent hours watching patrols and guard shift changes. It seemed impossible to take this on with just power and numbers alone. So Arthur had opted to use strategy instead of brute strength.
"That's your plan?" Morgana questioned. Merlin placed a soft hand on her shoulder and gestured for her to quiet down. The patrols were everywhere.
"Yes, I think it will work," Arthur answered.
"Wait, you think it will work?" Morgana seemed more frantic than before which did not bode well for their element of surprise. "That's it, we're dead." The Princess threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Thank you for your faith, dear sister," Arthur retorted. "Look, it's simple. We ambush a patrol, take their clothes and walk back into the tower. Then we just ask someone where the prisoners are." Merlin thought this was a terrible plan. Unfortunately, they didn't have another one.
"Okay, it'll have to do," he interrupted. "We'll wait until tonight for better cover and carry out Arthur's plan." Merlin and Lance turned away from the castle and started to walk back to where they'd made camp. They had found a cave not too far from the fortress and decided that it would be best to stay out of sight there.
Merlin had been very conflicted during the journey to rescue Gwen. He'd tried to decide whether or not Gwen was worth Arthur and Morgana finding out about his magic. He realised she was, so he moved on to wondering where he'd have to run after Arthur declared him an enemy of Camelot. He could go back to Ealdor but that would lead them to his mother and he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. For now he'd have to hope he could free Gwen and keep his magic secret from the royals.
Even Merlin knew how farfetched that sounded.
Darkness had almost fallen. The four of them stayed close for warmth. They couldn't build a fire because it would surely attract the unwanted attention. Arthur and Morgana hadn't spoken to him much after he had accused Agravaine. Arthur had actually shut him out altogether and Morgana hadn't let their conversations last more than a few minutes.
"Do you really believe Agravaine is behind all this?" Morgana's voice rang out. Merlin turned to look at her with a sure expression and nodded. "I believe you."
"What? Morgana how could you possibly believe him?" Arthur protested. They could see the light from the torches leading the patrols so if they wanted to talk about this now they'd have to be quiet.
"I dreamt something strange," Morgana whispered. "I saw flashes of images. Some I remember, others I don't. I dreamt of your kiss with Gwen by the lake. I also saw Agravaine and he was smiling. It looked evil, so unlike him but it just felt right." Merlin stared at her in shock.
"It was just a dream, Morgana. It wasn't real; probably just your mind comprehending what Merlin told you back in Camelot," Arthur reasoned but Merlin had already figured that she'd dreamt it way before then.
"No, I dreamt it two months ago. It was the night before Merlin and Gwen had their first kiss." Merlin knew that wasn't possible. It couldn't be. Was it magic?
"That's not possibl," Lance breathed. "It's not, is it?" He turned to Merlin but he could only shrug helplessly.
"Do you think the Cloak would know what to do about my dreams?" Merlin didn't know how to answer, since that was him. However, she and Arthur could not know that. It would be detrimental to him, Lance, Gwen and Gaius.
"He'd probably kill you first," Arthur snorted. Merlin found himself gripping the quarter staff he was given in Camelot quite tightly. He couldn't use his own because that would link him to the Cloak. Fortunately no one had ever seen the symbol on the staff whilst the Cloak wielded it.
"Why do you say that?" Merlin retorted through gritted teeth. Lance had already gripped Merlin's forearm to stop him from doing anything stupid.
"He's a sorcerer. Easy deduction really." That made Merlin's blood boil more than anything.
"Says the man who leads patrols on innocent, unarmed and peaceful druids." Merlin raised his voice, which earned him a glare from Lancelot and Morgana.
"Magic corrupts, Merlin." He stated like it was an obvious fact. "I was saving those people from their own destruction." Merlin's hands trembled and he stuck them in his pockets.
"Your eyes are flickering gold," Lance whispered into Merlin's ear. Merlin quickly stared at the cave floor whilst taking deep, heavy breaths. Arthur couldn't really believe that, could he?
"Tell me, outside of what your father told you, what do you really know of magic?" Merlin questioned. "Isn't the fact that the Cloak goes out every night to protect the people of the streets enough evidence to suggest that magic isn't evil?"
"He has an ulterior motive."
"Just leave it," Lancelot whispered. Merlin nodded and forced a smile onto his face. Hopefully Arthur would interpret that as an agreement to what he had said and stop talking before Merlin lost all control.
It wouldn't be long now. They'd leave the cave, ambush the nearby patrol, and walk into the castle. Then they would save Gwen.
It would be fine.
"Good evening, Guinevere." The maid scoffed at Hengist, who towered over her from behind the bars. "Not in the mood to talk?" She looked away and saw Gwaine still sleeping. "That's too bad." He chuckled and her cell opened.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked.
"To the group imprisonment cell," he called from over his shoulder. "Don't worr,y you won't be alone."
They must have found Merlin and Lance. Gwen began to cry as she was led away to her new cell. Tears slipped down her cheeks and despair began attacking her heart. They'd all be killed and then no one would find them.
"You're such a clotpole!" Merlin shouted. The plan had been working; they were inside and no one knew their identities. But Arthur and his massive ego had to go and punch a soldier because he mocked the King. Now they were being dragged to God knows where.
"I had to defend my father," Arthur stated. He had started to fight the men that restrained him but one threat to Morgana shut him up fast.
"Merlin, calm down. It's not his fault," Lancelot tried to reason with him, but he himself did not sound convinced Arthur's actions were warranted.
They were thrown into a prison cell and shackled to the wall but Merlin noticed one spare left.
"Greetings, gentleman, and Lady, of course." Hengist. The disgusting piece of filth sauntered in and Merlin felt his magic at his fingertips. He couldn't let it go though. Arthur and Morgana would know and that would be bad for everyone.
"Hengist," Lance spat.
"Hello, Lancey. It's the Prince and Princess also; I wasn't expecting such a fine catch." Hengist turned to Morgana and trailed his fat finger down her cheek.
"Get off me, you oaf!" Morgana screamed as she tried to break free of her shackles.
"You should be nicer to me, I might even tell you who the Cloak is." He looked pointedly at Merlin and the servant could do nothing but glare back.
"Who is he?" Arthur demanded. He tried to free himself from his shackles but they were solid metal. They couldn't get out of them without a key or the aid of magic.
"Not yet. We need to get everyone together first." Gwen fell inside and stumbled to the floor. They all shouted in rage as she was shackled to the wall as well. "Shut it or she dies." He held a knife to Gwen's throat and Merlin had real trouble holding in his magic.
"So," Merlin began. Everyone was silent and looking his way. "What's it like being Agravaine's lap dog?" he questioned. Merlin saw the reaction easily on his face. "Yes, I know your boss." Merlin was grinned from ear to ear now. "Want to confirm it for everyone here?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hengist stated. "Please get comfortable because you'll be down here for a while." He and his guards left and the room became silent with questions that screamed out into nothingness.
"See?" Arthur looked at Merlin with a hardened glare. "Agravaine isn't responsible." Merlin knew Arthur had seen the reaction; he had hunter's senses.
"Don't be thick Arthur," Morgana moaned. "You saw it, I saw it, we all saw it. Agravaine is against us." Arthur didn't say anything and instead began staring the other way.
"Are you okay, Gwen?" Lance asked from across the room.
"I'm fine." She looked to all four of them then down at the floor. "You shouldn't have come for me."
"Yes, we should," the four of them said in unison.
"I am just a maid-"
"You are our friend," Merlin said.
"Look – Merlin, I don't know how to say this, dangling from shackles and all but-"
"Hey, don't worry, I understand." Merlin smiled.
"Wait, you do?" Gwen looked hopeful, maybe this would make what she wanted to say easier.
"Yes, you're scared but we'll get out, don't worry." Gwen turned her face so Merlin couldn't see the horrified expression on her face. To tell the truth, she was scared. But being trapped under ground with no way out, Gwen realised she didn't really love Merlin, not romantically.
"No, Merlin, I am scared but I want to tell you that…" As she scanned the room she could see that Morgana, Lancelot and even Arthur had realised what she was about to do. Only Merlin, who smiled with slight confusion, crushed her right now.
"Tell me what?" Merlin asked.
"Merlin, don't be thick," Arthur said, but Gwen could see even he felt pained by Merlin's obliviousness.
"Merlin… I don't love you, I thought I did but I was wrong." Silence hung in the air, suspended in infinite time.
"What? But what we have? Everything we said to each other!" Merlin shouted all of a sudden.
"What we've said to each other? It's been two months and we haven't said "I love you" yet. This doesn't feel right. I love you like a brother and I think that you are meant for another." Merlin's fists scrunched as he fell back against the wall. He had to control his magic.
Silence hung over them as each settled into their own thoughts. They thought about the people they were leaving behind in Camelot. So many knew each of them and now they were stuck here because of Agravaine.
How could it get any worse?
"Hello again." Hengist's large form stepped out from the entrance. "You haven't forgotten about me now have you? We have some secrets to spill." His mad grin was chilling but Merlin refused to flinch as the man came closer to him.
"I do not care for your secrets Hengist," Morgana responded. "I don't care who the Cloak or Knight Blade is. They have protected the city for seven months and I can tell you for sure they will continue to do so." Merlin didn't feel as sure as Morgana seemed to be, but if it did come down to it he'd use magic. They would not die for him.
"I think you might care a little." He waved his knife in the air teasingly. He smoothed it down the side of Lancelot's cheeks. "What if the Cloak was in this room right now?"
"Well, he isn't," Gwen protested.
"But he is!" Hengist declared. "And you know it." Merlin grimaced as the two royals stared at Gwen.
"Gwen?" Morgana's voice sounded from next to her. "Do you know who the Cloak is?" Gwen didn't move or speak but it was clear Morgana had her answer. "Don't tell him," she stated and Merlin felt grateful to Morgana.
"Oh why not? You'll only be confirming what I already know." Hengist trailed the knife along the wall beside her head.
"Why do you need her to confirm it if you already know?" Lance interjected.
"Because it's so much more fun this way." His triumphant grin made Merlin's blood boil. He could do nothing. He was helpless for the first time in five months, helpless and vulnerable. "Who is the Cloak, Guinevere?" He trailed the knife slowly down her cheek and Gwen's sobs had seemed magnified by ten as they watched in tense anticipation.
"I don't know," she whispered hoarsely.
"Really?" Hengist pulled back, angered by her defiance. He turned and shoved the knife into Lancelot's leg. He gasped out in agony and groaned as the knife came out of his flesh. They all stared in shock at the impulsive move. "How about now?"
"Leave him alone. He has nothing to do with this. He's just a smithy," Morgana pleaded, but by the look on Hengist's face he wasn't going to stop.
"Is he really? I was told that Lancey here," he tapped Lancelot's cheek with the side of his knife, "is Knight Blade."
"You were obviously told wrong," Merlin said.
"You would say that. You and the Cloak are rather close, or so I've heard." Merlin stared angrily at the man in front of him. "Almost like you're the same person," he whispered just loud enough for all of them to hear.
"That's ridiculous," Merlin shouted. "I know nothing of the Cloak." He glanced between Lance and Gwen.
"I think you're lying," Hengist sneered.
"I think you're delusional. Go run back to Agravaine!" Merlin swung his leg up and around and kicked him hard in the face. Hengist grabbed the side of his own face and Merlin smirked as he saw a trail of blood run from his nose.
"That's it! Cloak or not you will pay for that." Hengist bolted toward him and in one swift moment the knife entered his stomach.
Merlin gasped as the steel drove into his stomach. Gwen's and Morgana's screams went silent as unbelievable pain encompassed all his senses. Even the shouts and threats of death to Hengist all blended together as just random noise. He could feel his magic responding but still kept it at bay, not trusting himself to use it without being seen.
His vision blurred as two whirlwinds appeared in the cell. He tried to stay awake, to keep his eyes open and he felt two bodies either side of him keeping him from falling as his shackles broke. Then everything faded to black…
Merlin didn't know where he was. He couldn't see anything. He gazed around, trying to find some sort of indication of a place, and a flicker of light flashed before him. He followed it cautiously and readied his magic to defend himself.
"Do not be afraid, young warlock." He recognised that voice. It was the voice that sometimes spoke in his mind at night.
"Who are you?" Merlin questioned.
"One day you will know me much better. But for now you know me as Kilgharrah."
"Where am I?" Merlin asked. He had an inkling but wanted to be sure.
"You're dead."
"Don't sugar-coat it or anything." He smiled a little.
"You do not have to choose death, young warlock." His voice sounded the same as it always had been. Loud, gruff and powerful with unspoken wisdom intertwined in his carefully chosen words.
"Why do you call me that, 'young warlock,' I mean?"
"That is what you are. You were born of magic and are very young." Merlin was seventeen. He didn't think he was 'very young', but he had more important things to ask.
"What did you mean, I 'don't have to choose death?' Death isn't a choice. It just happens."
"You aren't quite dead." That was a relief. "You are merely close to it."
"Oh – only close to it, am I? That's reassuring," Merlin retorted.
"It should be. You are part of a bigger world than that of a vigilante. But that persona will come to define a part of you one day. To be part of that bigger world you must live," Kilgharrah stated.
"I doubt I am really needed for a 'bigger world'. I'm no one special." Kilgharrah chuckled.
"You will understand some day, young warlock."
"What is this 'bigger world'?" Merlin enquired.
"You are not ready to know that yet. Would you not rather concentrate on not dying?" He had a point.
"Fine, how do I not die then?"
"It's quite simple. You must think of those most loved by you and hold onto them like a rope pulling you from death."
"Just think about those I love, right?" Kilgharrah made an affirmative sound and Merlin breathed – or not breathed, he wasn't sure – in heavily.
He closed his eyes slowly and his brow furrowed as he pictured all those knew and loved like no other. The first person who came to mind was his mother, he thought about how she worried about him and how she loved him unconditionally. He thought of his childhood friend, Will, the one who always protected him from the children who would try to hurt him because of his magic. Then Gaius, like the uncle he never had. Morgana and Gwen, the friends he never had and Arthur, a man he respected a lot despite his views on magic, installed in him by his tyrant father. Finally, he thought about Lancelot, possibly his closest and best friend in the entirety of the five kingdoms.
Just as Merlin felt himself pull away from the darkness he heard fleeting words that just managed to reach his ears.
"Protect him…Protect him…Protect him…" He still didn't know who 'him' was.
Merlin's eyes scrunched shut as light attempted to open his eyelids. They fluttered slightly as they tried to open. When they finally did, he saw he was in a tent and not alone. Lancelot was right next to him, sleeping on another bed. Another man on Merlin's also slept. He saw the stranger had picked up a few scars of his own. Merlin put a hand to his chest to find his shirt gone.
What if Arthur or Morgana saw his scars and bruises? How could he possibly try to excuse that? They must've worked it out.
He jumped as someone – two familiar someones – came into the tent. The movement caused him to groan and the two druids whom he had saved with Lancelot pushed him back onto his bed.
"You're awake. That's good," the elder said.
"Where am I? Where are Arthur, Morgana and Gwen?" He started to look around frantically but the druids held him down.
"They are outside of the camp," the younger said. He was no more than ten at the most. They were in a druid camp? "They weren't comfortable inside." Of course Arthur and Morgana weren't.
"Did they see my scars? Do they know? They can't know. They'll hate me." Merlin pled as he grabbed onto the end of their sleeves.
"They have no knowledge of anything. Just go back to sleep, Merlin. We will watch over you." They got up to leave but Merlin suddenly remembered something important.
"Where's Freya?"
"She has moved on to a different camp. They reside in Nemeth. Do not worry - the King there does not hunt us and recently neither has Camelot, but I think you know why that is." Merlin nodded wordlessly. He lay back down on his bed and allowed sleep to claim him.
When he next woke he lay on the back of a horse. He glanced up to see Arthur's smiling face and Merlin couldn't help but smile back before he dropped back out of consciousness.
When he woke up next he was in the physicians chambers.
"You're awake!" A female voice exclaimed. Two arms wrapped him up and he instantly felt his whole body relax as he allowed the action to comfort him. "I was so worried." She pulled away to reveal…Morgana?
"Where's Gwen?" he asked on instinct.
"She's gone home." Realisation dawned on him. What they had said to each other in the prison cell, how they had ended it. He could hardly believe it. He thought they would grow old together but she thought differently.
"Right. That makes sense." He rubbed his head slowly but stilled as he felt her hand wrap around his.
"What Hengist said in the cells -"
"Lies. All lies, Agravaine thinks the Cloak is me because he knows I'm not around in the evening," Merlin interrupted.
"What do we do about him?" Morgana asked. Honestly, this was a whole new side of Morgana he had never seen. She looked lost, vulnerable and nervous by the way she never met his eye. It felt strange to say the least.
"What does Arthur think?"
"He hasn't come out of his room since we got back." Merlin figured Arthur was just trying to rationalise everything to fit with what he knew.
"We can't let Agravaine know that you know about him. He could move his plans forward to make sure he isn't stopped by anyone – even the Cloak." They looked at each other in worry both very aware of what could happen if someone with criminal connections like Agravaine came to the throne.
"So what is it? What do we do?" Morgana was frantic. Her people were in danger from Arthur's uncle.
"Well, for now, nothing can change in yours or Arthur's behaviour. Agravaine will suspect that you have figured it out, but if you both keep up pretences then you should throw him off," Merlin explained.
"What about the Cloak? You seem to know a lot about magic." Morgana eyed him warily.
"Why would you say that?" Merlin replied tugging on a loose thread on his sleeve.
"I saw the anger in your eyes in the cave, before we were going to save Gwen. When Arthur explained how he thought he was saving the magic users he killed."
Merlin bit back a retort. "Do you believe that?" he said.
"No, I think Arthur has been manipulated by his father for far too long. I see the Cloak for whom he is." Morgana stood tall, every bit the Princess that she was.
"And whom, may I ask, is that?" The young sorcerer replied, clearly intrigued in her answer.
"He is a hero," Morgana said with a smile. "Not just to those with magic but to the people on the street. Have you seen how the people react, Merlin? The purge of magic has been going on for twenty years! Yet most of the people do not run in fear of him, they welcome him and they support him because even they can see. They can put their prejudices aside and see he is doing good. The Cloak gives people hope for a better day, one where Agravaine is gone. The Cloak is a hero."
"I'm sure if he were here he'd be very grateful for your words Morgana." Merlin looked away as a small smile came to his lips.
"Yes, I'd like to think so too. Anyway, what do you think the Cloak will do?" Merlin sat and thought; his eyebrows scrunched up as he tried to come up with a suitable reply.
"I think he will continue to protect the city from Agravaine's thugs. Then when the time is right and the Cloak manages to figure out Agravaine's plans, he will stop him and save the kingdom." Merlin nodded to himself, liking the idea of such an achievement.
"You have a lot of faith in the Cloak, Merlin," she quipped. "It's rather cute." Merlin's cheeks reddened.
"Thank you, milady." An awkward silence arose, neither really knowing what to say at this moment.
"I should be going." Merlin felt her hand leave his and his whole body seemed to grow cold but he had no idea why. "Get better soon." She waved lightly at him as she opened the door and he returned it.
"Morgana," he called out to her. She swiftly turned and smiled kindly at him. "Thank you for staying with me."
"You're welcome." He thought he saw a blush but that couldn't be right. A Princess blushed because of him? No. That just wasn't possible.
Then she was gone and Merlin was alone.