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The patrol returned as dusk approached.
Arthur dismounted his steed without a word and stormed off into the castle. The knights were left to deal with Sir Terrowin and his captive. Terrowin bounded off his horse gracefully and with a menacing smile. He was bleeding from Arthur's punches. Blood ran down from his nose into his mouth, staining his yellow teeth red. Bruises formed around his eye and a nasty cut bled from his brow. Despite his injuries, he looked happy, almost excited.
Elyan and Gwaine gingerly lowered the injured man from Terrowin's black horse. The man was slipping in and out of consciousness given his grievous injuries. His face was almost unrecognizable, just a combination of blood, bruising, and redness.
Leon looked away as Percival escorted Terrowin to the castle. He refused the offer of Gaius' medical care.
"Take that prisoner to the dungeons!" Terrowin ordered gleefully, "I will be back for him soon."
The knights supported the half-conscious Edmund in their arms and dragged the wounded man towards the jail. They resented Terrowin's cockiness and his ability to order them around.
Leon went to call Gaius as Elyan and Gwaine approached the barracks with the barely alive Edmund in tow.
"Gaius," Sir Leon entered the healer's home.
Gaius was cleaning his medical supplies and putting them back in order. He perked up when the knight entered.
"Sir Leon," Gaius responded, "What brings you here?"
"Your expertise is required," he bowed his head, "Camelot's fugitive has been captured, but has unfortunately sustained rather serious injuries."
Darkness dawned upon his gaze. Based on Merlin's account, the "fugitive" was his ally Edmund who had been seeking refuge in the woods since the incident. He did not know this mysterious Edmund, but Edmund knew Merlin's secret. Should he reveal Merlin's identity, then they were at a loss. Gaius quickly gathered his medical supplies and followed Sir Leon to the dungeons.
Gaius did not recognize the man in the cell, he hardly could recognize the being to be a man at all. He lay on his side, unconscious, bleeding, and broken.
Gaius pursed his lips and shook his head as he kneeled by the man's side. He had no doubt this was Terrowin's doing. Only so savage a man could inflict such pain and injury upon another human being.
The knights stood around him anxiously, yet Arthur was nowhere to be found.
"Terrowin said he shall return soon," Gwaine informed the healer, which made Gaius' skin prickle. His encounter with Terrowin earlier today haunted him.
The witch hunter knew Merlin's secret and left a calling card. Merlin was to perish soon, but when was unannounced.
He focused his attention on the man's injuries, slowly cleaning and dabbing away at the blood. He used various herbs and ointments to fight infection and wash out the wounds. It required care and precision as night took the sky and Gaius worked by candlelight.
Finally, Gaius finished. His robes and hands were stained with the man's blood. The knight stood vigil by his side, but they looked weary.
"You have all performed very bravely today," Gaius dipped his head, "I shall stay with this man and monitor his health. Return to your homes and rest."
They seemed reluctant to leave, but Gaius insisted. He wanted to spend some time alone with Edmund when he awoke, before anyone else could question him. Elyan, Gwaine, Leon, and Percival all exited the dungeons and returned to their respective dwellings as Gaius sat behind the jail cell gates, waiting for Edmund to regain consciousness.
Nearly two hours later, the man's eyes fluttered open. Gaius sat up, watching as Edmund groaned and slowly moved. His head shifted and his eyes found Gaius sitting before his cell.
"Edmund, correct?" Gaius asked in a hushed tone.
The injured man didn't respond out of caution. Gaius presented him with a cup of water which he accepted gratefully.
"My name is Gaius," the healer said, "a friend of Merlin. I cleaned your injuries as best as I could."
This seemed to relax him as he sat upright with difficulty. A tentative hand tried to feel the wounds on his face, but Gaius advised against it, "I know it's painful, but you must let them heal."
"Where am I?" Edmund spoke.
"Camelot," Gaius responded, "the dungeons to be specific."
Edmund closed his eyes for a moment, "My family-"
"Nobody knows of your identity as far as I know," Gaius reassured him, "your family should be safe for the night, but I promise to warn them come morning. I fear your identity or theirs shall be concealed for long."
"Thank you," Edmund croaked and paused, "Merlin…?"
"Alive," Gaius' tone hardened, "but barely. He was stabbed two nights ago and was brought to my doorstep on the brink of death."
"I know," tears welled in Edmund's bruised eyes, "I was the one who performed the deed."
A tense silence hung in the air. Gaius felt his skin prickle like ice.
"You stabbed Merlin?"
Edmund hung his head in shame, "Not by choice. My family was threatened by Terrowin. I had to protect them."
Gaius did not reply as Edmund continued.
"I-I tried to be gentle, I attempted to avoid any major organs," he gasped, "but it is a relief to hear that he has survived," Edmund shook his head, "Terrowin did not win."
"Merlin still hovers at the edge of death," Gaius replied curtly, "Terrowin may not have won, but Merlin experienced hours of pain."
"There is no apology I can say that will rectify my actions," Edmund looked ashamed, "but my family's lives stood in the balance. What was I to do?"
Gaius softened. Edmund was forced to perform such an action by Terrowin to protect his family. Most others would do the same, maybe even Gaius himself.
"I understand your predicament," Gaius spoke comfortingly, "and I emphatize with your pain. I belive now we have a common enemy."
Edmund's eyes hardened with anger, "That witch hunter must perish. I will wring his throat with my own hands!"
"Settle now," Gaius looked around to make sure none heard them, "the hour is late, Terrowin's seige will continue come morning. I will give warning to your family, Edmund, but you must be willing to cooperate."
"Anything," Edmund stood, "for you, Merlin, and my family. I shall do it."
"I fear Terrowin has knowledge of Merlin's secret," he said in a hushed voice.
"I can confirm that," Edmund nodded gravelly, "he has been targeting Merlin all along."
"All this time?" Gaius gasped, "So making Merlin his personal servant wasn't coincidental?"
"Not at all," Edmund revealed, "Terrowin has been planning this for quite some time."
Gaius was speechless with shock. How could Terrowin know of Merlin's magic? How long was this scheme in planning?
"I had a wife, son, and daughter," Edmund began, "we lived on a farm in the lower city, peaceful and happy. A few moons ago, my son went missing...we search all day and night for him to no avail. My wife and I were ready to relent, when I received a parcel in the post. I opened the package…." Edmund breathed heavily, trying to hold back tears.
Gaius closed his eyes, knowing exactly what Edmund meant. In that package there must have been evidence of his son, evidence from Terrowin that he was killed.
Edmund continued with a choking voice, "He-he was gone….the blood….oh, my poor wife…." he wiped tears from his eyes, "we were devastated. Who would do this to our innocent young boy? What monster was capable of this deed?"
Gaius did not need an answer. The man was currently resting high and mighty in his castle chambers wearing his obsidian armor.
"The next week, a letter arrived. The sender warned me that if I were to tell anyone of my actions from that point further, my wife and daughter would perish. I kept to a vow of silence in an effort to protect what remained of my family."
"What did the letter say?"
"The letter ordered me to head to the Eastern Plains come sunrise and to openly practice magic in the fields. He knew the knight patrol crossed paths there at sunrise and I was spotted. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and took shelter in the woods for a few long days and nights."
"Then Merlin found you," Gaius nodded, "Terrowin must have known you had magic from the start. His armor can identify any magical being he chooses."
Edmund dipped his head, "I had been in hiding for so many long years, I learned to live without my abilities. Then, when that devil ordered me to the Eastern Plains...my life fell apart."
"I am so sorry for your loss," Gaius said sincerely, "nobody should be put through such pain and suffering."
"Yet, that is not all," Edmund exhaled deeply, "Terrowin means to finish the final phase of his scheme. I was a coward hiding in the woods, allowing Terrowin to do his bidding, but no longer. I will put an end to his terror and have that fiend begging for mercy at my hands."
"Scheme?" Gaius felt his heart flutter, "What scheme?"
"Terrowin did not come to Camelot by accident. I was a pawn in his plan. He knew my actions would trigger Uther to blindly call for him with magic running rampant in his kingdom, but he always had his sights set on Merlin. I am not certain as to why or how Terrowin has targeted him, but I do know that Merlin is in danger."
"But-but if he wanted Merlin all this time, then why wait so long? Merlin has been by his side since the beginning of his search!"
"He had to rid himself of suspicion. He knew Merlin was already wary of him and would not use his magic openly, and, given his close relationship with Arthur, stealth was key. I was employed to kidnap Merlin when we first me and to assault him a few nights ago. Merlin was meant to die then and Terrowin was to escape any blame."
"Yet, Terrowin has the authority to publicly execute Merlin if he desired. Why did he not resort to that?"
"Prince Arthur," Edmund sighed, "Terrowin silently fears him and his growing authority over Uther. The King is aging and Arthur is next on the throne. If Merlin was to be executed publicly, he has the defense of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table behind him. Camelot would tear apart. Terrowin would be outnumbered miserably. When Terrowin searched your dwelling, he found a parchment from a spell book, confirming his entire mission to target Merlin. Then, I was instructed to follow and attack Merlin when given the chance. I found him in the woods alone and was forced to strike."
"My God," Gaius felt weary with this new knowledge, "Merlin is alive, and Terrowin warned me that he will bleed again."
"We must stop his schemes!" Edmund cried, "He must not succeed!"
"Yet, what do we have to stop him?"
"You have Merlin and I."
"You're suggesting sorcery?"
"That is the only way."
"But Terrowin-"
"-Will execute us either way. Magic is what we have as our tools. We must use it against him, the thing he most fears."
Gaius knew that Edmund was right. Terrowin had to be stopped, and this was the only way to do it. King Uther was blinded by the prospect of sorcery in his kingdom and would give anything for Terrowin to succeed. Arthur, unfortunately, had little power against his Father's set beliefs. This was their alternative, a dangerous one, but one they were forced to turn to.
"Alright," Gaius nodded, "I will return tomorrow, I must tend to Merlin and get him ready for what is to come. I only hope he is rested enough to eliminate this evil man.
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