Chapter 4

Truth and Gryphons

Maera sat at the window once again pretending to mend some clothes while actually trying to figure out more of the song, when Morgana came into the room trailing a distraught Gwen, "I can't believe the audacity," Morgana was going off on something clearly whatever it was had upset Gwen as well. Maera looked over at the other girl questioningly

"Lancelot was arrested this morning," Gwen began and before Maera could ask Morgana answered, "because he got himself knighted without being a real noble" one of Maera's eyebrows raised a fraction as she wondered.

"that's against the rules right?" she asked and Morgana gave her a look that said it all. "yes, its one of the Many rules king Uther manages to keep going, although really its an old one merely tradition now." Maera gave up on trying to find out more about the mysterious song for now and settled in for a long conversation/rant from the lady about the unjust way her king ran the kingdom.

She was just catching the last bits of the song again when she heard the screech, loud and very close. She looked up out the window of the hallway she had been standing in when the song caught her attention. Something large and grey/gold flashed past towards the courtyard. 'it couldn't be' she thought as she rushed down the hall panicked, if the monster had reached them then it was going to kill somebody and they still hadn't figured out how to kill it. She practically flew down the steps her blue and white skirts flaring around her calves and hair flying behind her, she took the last few steps in a single bound and rounded the corner coming to a sudden stop as she saw the scene before her.

The knights were all huddled together in the center of the courtyard and the creature was flying just above them about to land. She also saw merlin on the other side of the courtyard looking at the creature just as terrified as she was. The creature attacked raking its claws across the knights shields as Arthur stabbed at it with a spear, just as she thought he was about to make a fatal blow the spear shattered and the beast took to the sky again this time fleeing from view.

She stood there in the door a bit in shock for a while, this monster was beyond their current skill we would need something much stronger to defeat it, 'why do I feel the need to see it defeated though?' she asked herself in her mind and almost immediately answered herself, 'because its evil and killed many people.'

She didn't realize she had been standing staring at the sky where the creature had flown off until she heard a familiar voice calling her name, she blinked and turned her gaze in front of her where the prince stood looking concerned.

"are you alright Maera?" he questioned holding out a hand to her as if to steady her and she felt her face heat up exponentially, "oh.. No… I mean yes.. I'm fine your highness." she managed to stutter out and give a wobbly curtsy before looking back up at the princes face and noting the look of relief on his face. "good, that beast was terrifying enough for a knight let alone a woman, why don't you head back inside then just to be safe until we know it isn't coming back." he said and she almost got indignant. 'oh because a woman cant handle things men could?' she thought with a sniff but didn't say anything as she turned and went back up the stairs and down the hall towards Morgana's chambers where she had been heading before the attack. Albeit with quite a bit more on her mind, she needed to talk to Gaius and soon.

A short time later she finally made it to see Gaius under the pretext that she was picking up more of Morgana's sleeping draft. She opened the door and saw merlin sitting at the table quickly hide something and Gaius turn to look busy with something on the table. 'hmmm… what are those two up to?' she thought quickly before her purpose over took her, "Gaius, I need help with something," she said as she closed the door. "that creature … " she got out before noticing the look pass between the other two, her brow furrowed "you know something, spill" she said as she sat at the table and Merlin uncovered his book.

"the creature is called a Gryphon and it can only be killed by an enchanted weapon…" he said as he pointed to a picture in the book. "well damn, that actually makes sense, merlin you were there you saw how Arthurs spear just shattered when he hit the cre- gryphon," she said, "it would make sense that the weapon would have to be magic, but it makes it just that much more difficult."

Gaius sighed "Merlin you can do it I believe in you and you know it is your destiny to save him." Maera was confused for a bit but shrugged it off. "I don't know what you have to do but If I can help in any way I will," she told him.

Gaius looked thoughtful for a minute and then said "actually I do believe there is something you can do. If you don't mind me saying but you seem to be able to magnify merlin's power, I've seen it before when he was poisoned. You remember?"

She did but it was one of those first memories so it was difficult to recall, she remembered sitting by merlin's side and holding onto his hand and then the dream that had happened after.

Gaius took her hand and placed it on top of Merlin's and she felt a slight spark of energy jump between them when they touched. Her eyes widened a bit as she stared at their hands then looked up at Merlin who was also looking at her like he had gotten zapped as well.

"I guess its worth a try, go ahead with what you were trying Merlin and I'll try to help" she focused on trying to do anything that would magnify power but she wasn't sure what she was supposed to be doing aside from the initial spark nothing seemed to be happening and they gave up finally as they herd the knights start to saddle up to depart to defeat the gryphon once again. Both of them rushed out to stop them.

They reached the courtyard to late as the knights and prince mounted and were starting to leave. Maera shouted out to Arthur but he merely looked back and gave her a half-hearted smile before turning and continuing. 'damn him, they are all going to die out there!' she thought desperately and then was tugged off by merlin as he caught sight of something. "wha.. Merlin!" she said but then stopped herself as she saw what he did, Lancelot was out of the dungeon and wearing plain armor just about to mount a horse, they hurried to his side and merlin pulled out another horse starting to saddle it "we're coming with you" he told the mounted Lancelot who looked at Merlin like he was crazy, "you're joking seriously," he said but frowned when merlin reached down from the horses back to help Maera up behind him. "its dangerous I don't think…" he started but was quelled when Maera sent him a glare from her place behind merlin "I'm coming and that's that, now lets go before those numbskulls get themselves all killed.

When they reached the battleground however she almost feared they were too late but merlin jumped down out of the saddle and found Arthur still alive, although just barely. They breathed a small sigh of relief and Maera began to slide down from the horse when it startled and bolted she was thrown off and into merlin who went down under her and they heard what had startled the horse, a loud screech sounded as the gryphon reared just forty feet away from where they lay tangled up trying to get up then they heard the whinny of Lancelot's horse as he reared and showed the lance he had armed. Maera looked at Merlin and whispered "its now or never"

she pushed him up to his feat as Lancelot started his charge and knelt by his side her hand in his as he chanted the words of the spell focusing on the lance. Nothing happened until Lancelot passed them and Maera felt a surge of energy as Merlin's eyes flashed and the tip of the lance started to glow with a blue fire which quickly spread along the length of the weapon which was thrust perfectly into the gryphon's chest.

Maera's eyes widened and she let out a sigh of relief. "you did it," she said almost inaudibly as merlin lifted her up,

"we did it," he corrected with a smile and his arms found themselves around her in a crushing hug that she returned joyfully.

Back at the castle Merlin and Maera stood in the hall waiting to hear what the king would say about Lancelot now that he had saved the kingdom, they were sorely disappointed as he came out quite quickly and there was shouting heard from the great hall between the King and Arthur. Maera smiled at him comfortingly "it'll be alright they will reinstate you, they have to, you defeated the gryphon," she said and Merlin nodded as Lancelot looked at them, "but I didn't, you did," he said and both of them gulped "what do you mean?" Merlin asked as Maera bit her lip slightly. "I heard you," he repeated the words that merlin had been saying and Maera shushed him quickly and slightly panicked but Lancelot put his hand on either of their shoulders, "don't worry, your secret's safe with me. But I cannot take the credit for what I did not do. There'll be no more lies, no more deceit."

the shouting got more intense in the other room and Lancelot frowned "this is wrong" he said before he started pushing his way through the guards and into the room, showing the king face to face with his son.

"let me speak" he said and the king waved the guards away allowing the man to speak. "Forgive me, Sire. I've come to bid you farewell" Arthur looked as if he was confused and asked what Lancelot was talking about.

"I lied to you both and now there is conflict between you. I cannot bear that burden, as you should not bear mine. I must start again, far from here. Then maybe one day fate shall grant me another chance to prove myself a worthy knight of Camelot." he replied giving a small bow but Arthur wasn't finished. "you've already proven that to us" he insisted and Maera looked on from the doorway where she and Merlin had watched in silence.

Lancelot only replied that he still needed to prove it to himself and bowed again to the king and to the prince before turning and leaving giving Merlin and Maera a small smile on the way out the door.

Maera sat once again in the window watching as Lancelot rode out of the castle and on his way, she didn't hear Morgana call her name multiple times before Gwen put a hand on her arm. "Lancelot?" she asked and Maera nodded before turning "sorry" Morgana just smiled understandingly

"come on then Girls We've a busy day ahead."

"yes, My Lady" Gwen and Maera said in unison.

And another chapter and I didn't take months and months to update! I'm getting better at this I swear!