Chapter 5

Arthur headed for Gaius' chambers, wanting to check how Merlin and Gaius were doing with their task of finding a way to break the enchantment.

Agravaine followed him silently down the first few corridors, but when Arthur turned down the corridor leading to the physician's chambers Agravaine suddenly stopped walking.

"I think it would be best if I went and found out where Morgana is," he said, "We should keep track of her whereabouts."

"It's too dangerous," Arthur replied.

"Sire, I insist," Agravaine said firmly, "I will go and keep an eye on Morgana while you check how Merlin and Gaius are getting along."

"No, if Morgana realizes that you are spying on her she would surely kill you. We should stick together."

Arthur continued walking towards the physician's chambers, but soon realized that Agravaine was not following him. He looked back at his uncle, who was standing at the end of the corridor looking lost, and gave him a stern look to remind him that Arthur was the king and they were going to do things his way.

Agravaine reluctantly joined him and they entered Gaius' chambers.

"Arthur, we…" Merlin started when Arthur entered the room, but stopped when he saw Agravaine.

"It's alright," said Arthur, "he knows."

"He knows what?" asked Merlin.

"That you are Emrys," Arthur replied, "but don't worry, he is ok with it and he has sworn not to tell anyone."

Merlin did not look happy at the news that Agravaine knew and accepted his true identity. In fact, he looked rather horrified. He was standing stock still with his mouth open, looking like someone had just whacked him in the face with a lance.

Arthur suddenly felt a little bit guilty for having shared Merlin's secret without his permission. Perhaps he shouldn't have done that. Merlin had been living in the shadows for his whole life and it must be very unnerving to find out that someone had learned who he really was.

Merlin glanced from Agravaine to Gaius, who gave him a stern look of warning. Merlin gave Gaius an imploring look and they then seemed to have a silent conversation using only their eyebrows.

"Have you found out how to break the enchantment?" Arthur interrupted. He didn't have time for whatever was going on between those two.

With a particularly harsh look from Gaius, Merlin appeared to concede whatever silent argument they had been having. He glanced at Agravaine before looking at Arthur and saying, "There is another matter we must deal with first."

"Which is?" asked Arthur, wondering what could possibly be more important.

"The lady Ygraine," said Merlin, gesturing to her body, which was still lying on Gaius' work bench.

Arthur was rather surprised that she hadn't been moved yet.

"The magic that summoned her as a shade is even now binding her to Morgana's will and preventing her from resting in peace," Merlin continued, "Her soul must be released from these bonds."

Arthur went to his mother. It broke his heart to think that she had been used by Morgana and was still unable to be at peace because of it.

"Can you do it?" he asked, looking back at Merlin.

"There is a spell," he replied, "but I thought you should be here when I perform it, as she will probably wake up for a short moment before returning to her rest."

Arthur nodded at Merlin and he came closer. It was a good thing that Agravaine was here now, since this was the only chance he would have to see his sister again. But when Arthur looked over to Agravaine, he found him still standing on the other side of the room looking terrified.

"Uncle?"

Agravaine just shook his head, appearing unable to speak. Arthur didn't understand his reluctance to come near. When Agravaine still did not approach even after some encouraging gestures by Arthur, Arthur turned back to Merlin. Merlin gave him a questioning look and he gestured for Merlin to continue and took a seat at his mother's side, holding her hand in his.

"Grith fæstne mid thisse tintregedan sawole!" Merlin said, placing his hand on Ygraine's forehead.

Ygraine's eyes flew open and she drew a deep breath.

"Arthur," she said in wonder.

"Mother."

"I am so proud of the man you have become, my son," she said looking up at him, "Promise me you will always be true to your heart, Arthur. Don't ever lose your capacity to love; it gives you a strength greater than any weapon."

"I promise, mother," said Arthur, his eyes filling with tears.

Ygraine then glanced to the side and said in a sad and disappointed voice, "Agravaine."

Arthur followed her gaze and saw his uncle backing away, shaking his head slowly and seemingly muttering something under his breath. He looked like a man caught out in a terrible crime.

Arthur looked back at his mother and she looked up at him and smiled again.

"I love you Arthur," she said and then her eyes closed and her body went limp.

Arthur allowed the tears that had formed to fall. His mother was at peace now. He had seen false images and of her before, but now he had finally been able to hear her real words to him and he would never forget this blessing.

He steeled his nerve and wiped his eyes, turning to the other in the room, who had respectfully allowed him his moment of grief in silence.

Agravaine was pale as a sheet and still looking extraordinarily guilty, though Arthur couldn't imagine why.

He turned his mind back to the matter at hand.

"Have you found out how to break the curse?"

"We have," said Gaius.

He picked a massive book up from his table and began reading, "The Amulet of Dhakira is a complex magic artifact and its use is governed by very specific rules. In order for it to cast its spell, a sorcerer must bind it to their soul, making themselves one with the amulet and then place it on the object around which they want to alter people's memories. The amulet then binds with the object over a time before activating and casting its spell. In this period the sorcerer is most vulnerable because they must stay outside the range of the spell, unable to protect the amulet. But if the amulet is destroyed, the sorcerer will also die."

Arthur nodded along. Gaius had told him all of this when they first found the amulet.

Gaius continued reading, "After the spell is activated, it requires a constant supply of energy from a living source in order to sustain itself. The sorcerer must therefore place the amulet around the neck of a living being, from which it will draw power. Some sorcerers may choose to use themselves as the carriers of the amulet, however wearing the amulet for an extended period of time will shorten the life span of the wearer. It is also possible to change whom the amulet draws power from, but the amulet can be removed from a person's neck only by the sorcerer to whom it is bound. The amulet's weakness therefore, is determined by its carrier, for only if the person wearing the amulet dies can it be destroyed while it is in their possession. Destroying the amulet will kill the sorcerer; however, since the amulet safeguards the sorcerer's soul, they cannot be killed while the amulet remains whole."

Gaius closed the book.

"So in essence, Sire," he summarized, "we need to find the person who has the amulet and kill them."

"Do you think Morgana has it?" Arthur asked.

"It is possible she would not want to trust it with anyone else, however I rather doubt she would want to keep it with her, as the book warns that it would slowly drain her life away."

"But who else could have it?"

"If she believes that no one who knew of the amulet would have escaped her enchantment, she may feel confident entrusting it to someone else. Wearing the amulet herself would also allow personal attacks on her to kill her, since killing her would destroy the amulet at the same time. Otherwise she could not be killed so long as no one knew to kill the person with the amulet. It could be in the hands of just about anyone she might have deemed suitable."

Arthur did not like the idea that they may have to kill whichever unfortunate soul Morgana had given the amulet to in order to break the curse but he decided to worry about that after they had located it.

"We need to find out who has the amulet," he said addressing his three companions.

"Why don't we split up and search?" suggested Agravaine.

"Very well," agreed Arthur, "check everyone you run across in the castle but be discrete. We will meet back here in one hour."

Agravaine grinned and nodded, heading for the door, but Merlin got there first, standing firmly between Agravaine and the exit.

"Merlin," Gaius warned.

"We can't let him go to Morgana," Merlin said to him.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Arthur asked.

"The traitor in Camelot – it was Agravaine all along," Merlin replied, glaring at the man in question.

It hurt Arthur's heart to hear Merlin make such an accusation. He had known that Merlin had never been fond of his uncle and had come close to suggesting this kind of thing in the past, but they needed to work together now. Merlin needed to put aside his unfounded suspicions.

"You are mistaken, Merlin," said Arthur warningly.

"Then why was he not affected by the amulet?"

"I was outside of the castle when the spell hit," said Agravaine smoothly.

"Doing what?" asked Merlin.

Arthur was about to forbid Merlin from further interrogating his uncle, but suddenly noticed a flash of something that looked like worry cross Agravaine's face before he replied, "I was going for a ride."

Arthur suddenly thought back to how Agravaine had looked inexplicably guilty moments ago when Ygraine had said his name with disappointment in her voice. Perhaps his uncle was hiding something.

"And why did you say that the Lady Ygraine was real?" Merlin continued.

"I believed her to be my sister, although as it turns out, I was wrong," Agravaine replied before addressing Arthur, "My Lord, must I be questioned in this way?"

Arthur turned to tell Merlin to stop. Even if Agravaine was hiding something, he was not a traitor to Camelot and did not deserve to be treated in this way. However, before he had a chance to say anything Merlin got one more question in.

"As a shade, the Lady Ygraine could know only things that Morgana told her. How did she convince you that she was real?"

Arthur frowned. He hadn't known that about shades. Agravaine had told him that Ygraine remembered everything from their childhood, but what would Morgana know of Ygraine and Agravaine's past together?

But Agravaine couldn't be the traitor working with Morgana. He just couldn't. Except, Arthur remembered, he had suspected Agravaine once before of being the traitor when all the evidence at the time had pointed to him. He had put the matter aside, believing he had been mistaken, but what if he had not been wrong at that time?

Arthur looked to his uncle to see how he would reply. Surely there was a simple explanation. However, Agravaine did not appear to have an answer for Merlin.

"Sire, please," he said, turning to Arthur, "This interrogation – it is not dignified."

Arthur wanted to trust his uncle, but Agravaine's deflection of the question was making him very suspicious.

"Answer the question, uncle," he said quietly.

"The shade of Ygraine told me things that I remembered from our childhood," Agravaine said, "Morgana must have heard of them from someone else. And I was so overwhelmed by seeing my sister again and so desperate for her to be real that I perhaps did not probe deep enough when I spoke to her."

Arthur nodded, it could be true. And they had to give Agravaine the benefit of the doubt. It would be unfair to accuse him of treachery when they had no solid evidence. Arthur looked at Merlin, expecting him to step aside. But Merlin still looked like he had no intention of letting Agravaine leave the room.

"I've seen him with Morgana!" he suddenly shouted, seeming to have reached a point of desperation, "He visits her in a hut in the woods!"

"My Lord," said Agravaine "These accusations are unfounded. He has no proof but his word."

"It's not just me!" said Merlin in frustration, turning to Gaius and saying, "Tell them Gaius!"

Arthur turned to Gaius in surprise. If he knew something of this then why hadn't he said anything?

"Sire," said Gaius, "When I was kidnapped last month, Lord Agravaine was with Morgana and the others who held me captive and was working with them."

Arthur felt his heart sink. So it was true then. Both Merlin and Gaius had seen Agravaine in the act of treachery. It was their word against his and with that and all the evidence that hinted towards Agravaine, Arthur could come to no other conclusion.

But why would his uncle betray him? Why would he betray his own sister? Then Arthur realized – Ygraine must have known. That was why she had such sadness and disappointment in her voice when she had said his name. Agravaine's fear and guilt when he had been confronted with the real Ygraine, despite the lack of any such thing when he had faced the shade – it all made sense.

Arthur drew his sword and pointed it at Agravaine, shaking with rage.

"Why?" he demanded.

"My Lord!" Agravaine protested, "Surely you don't believe any of this!"

"Do not try my patience, uncle," said Arthur, "I have had enough of your lies."

Agravaine looked around in fear. Merlin was blocking his path to the exit and Arthur was only several feet away with a sword. He looked like a trapped animal.

"Why have you been working for Morgana," Arthur repeated his question. He tried to keep his voice level. The feeling of betrayal was absolute but he supressed the anger because he needed to understand why his own uncle had done this.

"Because she too has suffered at the hands of Uther and she will tear down the kingdom of lies that he built on the blood of innocents!" Agravaine shouted, abandoning his pretences.

"Whatever happened between yourself and my father is no longer relevant. He is not the king anymore. Why work against me?" asked Arthur.

"No longer relevant?" Agravaine said incredulously, "When you – the prize for which Uther murdered my sister and brother – arrogantly continue to uphold his legacy!"

"What do you mean my father murdered your sister and brother?

Arthur knew nothing of his uncle Tristan, except that he died long before Arthur could remember. And he had long ago dismissed the claim that his father had been responsible for his mother's death. That has clearly been an invention of Morgause; a plot to bring the kingdom down.

"Tristan knew something!" said Agravaine, slowly backing away from Arthur, "When the news arrived at our estate that Ygraine had died in childbirth he swore vengeance against Uther for using her in some kind of magical ritual to produce an heir. I never heard the full story because Tristan never returned from his trip to Camelot to confront Uther. We gave permission when he asked for our sister's hand in marriage and he repaid us by tearing our family apart! I would rather die than see Uther's spawn – the cause of Ygraine's death – rule the kingdom that Morgana deserves more than anyone!"

Arthur froze. Agravaine's story sounded eerily similar to the claims that the illusion Morgause summoned of his mother had made. Could there be a grain of truth in it?

"But you heard what the Lady Ygraine said to Arthur just now," Merlin interjected, "Do you really think she would approve of you betraying her son?"

"Ygraine would never have understood!" Agravaine said, turning to face Merlin, "She was blinded by love for Uther and her son without realizing how she had been used! We should never have let her go to Camelot! Uther poisoned her mind!"

Agravaine turned back to face Arthur again, and then suddenly he swung around, aiming a dagger he had pulled from somewhere right between Merlin's eyes. Arthur's brain suddenly registered that he had been inching closer to Merlin and the door the whole time he had been speaking. Arthur leaped forward, but Merlin had already raised both his hands, his eyes were glowing gold and Agravaine was flying backwards. He crashed into the table and collapsed on the floor.

Gaius knelt down to check on him.

"Is he…" asked Arthur, not sure whether he was hoping Agravaine was dead or alive.

"He should be fine," Gaius replied, "But he'll be out cold for some time."

Arthur looked at Gaius and Merlin.

"Is what he said true?" he asked, directing the question mainly to Gaius.

Gaius looked down, avoiding his eyes.

"Sire, I swore to your father that I would never speak of these things," Gaius said.

Arthur's heart sunk, "So it is true?"

"When your parents were unable to conceive, Uther sent me to request help from a sorceress called Nimueh," Gaius explained, "She agreed to cast a spell that would allow them to have a child, but warned him that there would be a price to pay. In order to create a life there had to be a death to maintain the balance of the world. However, Uther never realized that the price would be paid by Ygraine. I don't know who he thought would die. Perhaps he had deluded himself, or simply did not want to ask. All I know is that when the queen died, Uther blamed Nimueh for tricking him and declared war on magic. Tristan blamed Uther and challenged him to single combat and Uther killed him in a fair fight."

So it was true. But his father hadn't known. It was some comfort to him that his father hadn't outright murdered either Ygraine or Tristan as he had feared, whatever poor choices he had made that had led to their deaths. But the guilt of being responsible for his mother's death that had haunted Arthur his whole life was more real than it had even been before. She hadn't just died in childbirth, her life had literally been taken as payment for his.

"So I really was the cause of my mother's death," said Arthur.

"Arthur, you had no say in that matter," Merlin said firmly, "And you heard your mother. She loves you. She knows everything that happened and she does not blame you, so you should not blame yourself."

Another thought occurred to Arthur.

"When Morgause summoned my mother…" he started.

"That was an illusion," said Merlin, anticipating Arthur's question, "Most of what she told you was true but it was a version of events told from Morgause's perspective."

Arthur nodded. He figured Merlin would know better than anyone. And then he remembered. Merlin – a sorcerer – had stopped him from killing Uther by convincing Arthur not to trust magic. That could not have been easy. Merlin would only have benefitted if Arthur had gone through with it. He was grateful, since Merlin's sacrifice had prevented him from doing something he would have forever regretted and from assuming the throne in blood and conflict. It would have likely destroyed the kingdom and Merlin, in his surprising wisdom, had seen that when even Arthur had not.

But he needed to put these matters aside for now. They had more pressing things to deal with.

"We need to find out where the amulet is," he said, getting back on track.

Merlin leaned over Agravaine and pulled his shirt back a bit, "Well Agravaine doesn't have it."

"We'll go with the original plan then," said Arthur, "Gaius, stay here and if Agravaine starts to wake up, give him something to knock him out again. Merlin and I will search for the amulet and meet back here."

Gaius and Merlin nodded their understanding and the three of them split up.

Arthur headed towards Morgana's chambers. He knew that she would most likely not be wearing the amulet herself, but he desperately hoped she would be. First of all, he had no idea who, other than herself or Agravaine, Morgana would think of entrusting the amulet to. Secondly, and more importantly, he could not think of anyone else that he could kill with an easy conscience, even to break a curse.

When he arrived at Morgana's door, Guinevere answered his knock.

"Is Morgana here?"

"No, but she should be retiring soon if you'd like to wait for her," Guinevere replied with a smile.

She held the door open as an invitation for Arthur to come in, which at any other time he would have accepted, glad for a few moments alone with her.

But Arthur just stared at her now in horror for a few seconds before muttering out a quick, "Sorry but I'm really busy right now," and turning and racing back towards Gaius' chambers.

He had just seen the Amulet of Dhakira – hanging around Guinevere's neck.

Notes:

I know Ygraine was awake for a lot longer that Lancelot was when Merlin did his soul-release spell in the show but it would have been sad if she didn't have time to say anything to Arthur. There's probably some random variation in soul-becoming-at-peace wake-up times anyways.

A large part of Agravaine's motivation to work for Morgana is that he is clearly infatuated with her. But he is probably in denial about that and even if he isn't, he certainly isn't going to tell Arthur that. What he said to Arthur about his motives is what he tells himself to justify his actions.

This is my least favourite chapter because there is so much hashing out of information and there isn't really anything original to add to Arthur finding out about Agravaine or the truth about his birth that hasn't been done before. But it was all stuff that needed to be said in order to get on with the story.