A/N: Wow, two updates in a day. Go me!! I thought, after I had written the last chapter, I would actually start to study, but by that time, half the day was gone, so I thought...what the heck, more Merlin. :D So here it is!!

Chapter 10- Resolutions

Arthur stood there staring at Gwen. She looked in shock at where Merlin had just disappeared.

Arthur approached her, slowly.

"Gwen, are you all right?"

She looked though she had only just noticed him. She nodded weakly.

"How much did you hear?"

"All of it," she admitted. She looked as though she was going to faint. Arthur strode towards her, took the tray from her hands and guided her to a chair.

She sat there in silence. She did not look at him, rather seemed to be lost her in own thoughts. Arthur allowed her a few moments to think it over, and began eating absent-mindedly from the tray. He had to have some food in his stomach before he could even begin to try and figure out what had just happened.

Then, Gwen turned on him angrily:

"How can you eat at a time like this?"

Arthur was taken aback.

"I'm hungry that's why," he answered her.. "And anyway, it was you who told me to eat in the first place."

She could not think of an answer to this and continued her silence.

Arthur also thought over what had happened. He did not know what to make of what had just happened. His first instinct was to trust Merlin, as he always did. But something held him back. He could not just blindly believe him now, after everything that had happened.

Still, Arthur seemed to trust him. After all, Merlin had come back, he had put his life in danger to come back and warn him, that must mean he was trustworthy.

But Merlin had refused to name the Druid whose power he had been sharing, surely that was suspicious? The two times-for that was just typical clumsy Merlin- that he had come close to naming her he had stopped himself. Why?

All Arthur knew was that the mysterious Druids name began with "Mor", but that wasn't particularly helpful. Could it be Morgause? Somehow he didn't think so. He could not see Merlin allying with her, he knew what she had put Arthur through, unless...that was why he was concealing it. There was also Morgana, but Arthur put this thought out of consideration immediately, there was no way Morgana was a sorceress. Then there was Mordred, but Merlin had said the Druid was female.

Then, again, Arthur thought to himself, it wouldn't be the first time Merlin had been particularly unobservant.

Arthur sighed, and tried to forget about the Druid girl. What did it matter who she was? He needed to make sense of the message.

Gwen then looked up at him.

"What are you going to do?"

"I honestly don't know. I want so much to believe Merlin, I've spent the last three weeks missing him like crazy, despite the fact he was a terrible servant, but when I saw him again, all the old doubts came back to the surface."

"You should not doubt him," said Gwen immediately. "Merlin risked a great deal by coming back here, what he says must be true, how can you not believe that? He could have been caught."

"Maybe, but execution doesn't seem to be a problem for Merlin does it?" Arthur laughed without humour. "Perhaps this is some ploy if his. Perhaps he has allied with Cendred and he's trying to trick me. Perhaps even now he is laughing at me."

"You don't believe that, do you?"

Arthur looked at her. Her questioning brown eyes seemed to stare right through him.

"No, I don't. I believe what he said is true. It's his motives I question."

"What do you mean?" Gwen looked confused. "Surely there is no doubt that Merlin has good written in his heart?"

"Perhaps not. But why was he in Camelot? If he was a sorcerer, why on earth did he come to Camelot of all places? Even he's not that stupid. Why did he stay in Camelot? Why did he continue to be my manservant after the ways I treated him on occasion? Why has he always cared so much about protecting me? If he was born with magic, as Gaius says, why would he risk coming back here to save a kingdom that persecutes him and his kind? Surely this war would make his life a hell of a lot easier?"

Gwen listened to this in silence.

"I cannot answer your questions. Perhaps, in time, Merlin will. He will not abandon you. I don't know what his reasons were, but I trust they were honourable. Merlin did more for you than you know. He truly cared about you, and counted you amongst his friends, he often said to me he was certain that one day you would make a great king of Camelot, despite your "prattishness. His word not mine," she added upon seeing Arthur's amused face. "Don't you remember how often Merlin happened to turn up when something bad was happening? He always tried to help others, no matter who they are."

Arthur thought this through, it was all true. He made a mental note to kill Merlin the next time he saw him for calling him a prat again.

"How can you be so sure of all of this?" Arthur was determined to find out why she was so sure of everything she did.

"Because, Arthur, I only ever see the good in people. It is my greatest weakness to be so trusting, yet I do not have it without reason."

Arthur looked fondly at her.

"I do not see it as a weakness Gwen. I see it as your greatest asset. You saw the good in me, when all any one else saw was a spoiled prince."

Gwen blushed, and looked embarrassedly down at her feet. There was an uncomfortable silence for a couple of moments before Gwen tried to change the subject.

"You remember when that plague struck Camelot and my father was affected?"

Arthur nodded with a grimace, he also remembered how Gwen had come to being executed.

"We never did find out who placed that poultice under my father's pillow, we never knew who had really cured him."

Arthur felt as though he had been hit by a hammer. It was so obvious, why had he not thought of it before? Merlin had even admitted to the entire court he was the sorcerer! How had he been so blind?

Gwen smiled at the sudden realisation that came across Arthur's face.

"The time Merlin had been poisoned, and you were away searching for that flower, Merlin had mumbled some strange words in his sleep. Gaius said they were just the result of his fever, that he was delirious, but they sounded like real words, like sentences, like a spell."

A sudden image of a glowing light coming to save him from those caves filled Arthur's mind. He felt a sense of awe; how had Merlin done that whilst miles away, unconscious and dying?

"Also, the wind in Ealdor, the one that saved us all. Will admitted that it was him, but do you remember the look on Merlin's face? Will was just covering for Merlin, he obviously knew his secret, and wanted to keep it for Merlin's sake."

Arthur did remember. He also remembered he had chastised Merlin for not informing him of Will's power. He remembered too, the conversation Merlin had tried to have with Arthur before the fighting began. Merlin was going to tell him, that was what he had been trying to say.

"Merlin has always known things we didn't. He knew Lady Katrina's real identity before anyone. He knew how to break spells that fell upon us all. If it wasn't for him, you'd now either be dead, or married to Lady Vivian."

Arthur shuddered at that memory.

"An even when he was discovered, did he hurt anyone? No. He could have fought, whilst being led to the dungeons. He could have killed Uther before he left, he could have killed us all. He did not. Instead he left without harming anyone. Even the winds that he conjured were safe. The debris from the courtyard flew everywhere, but something magical prevented it from hitting anyone. Even then Merlin did everything in his power to protect those around him."

Arthur had to admit she was right. Everything she said made sense.

"Now, what are you going to do. Will you take Merlin's advice, or ignore it and suffer?"

Gwen looked at him with determination, straight into his eyes, unlike any other servant would have done. She spoke like a queen.

Arthur considered for the briefest of moments.

"I'm going to my father. It's about time he knew what we were dealing with."

Gwen nodded and smiled in approval.

Merlin began to panic as he looked down at Morgana, lying there weak and helpless. Why had she not listened to him? Why had she insisted on carrying on further than her limits?

Merlin looked her over. She was still alive, which was a relief. However, she was cold, and completely still, aside from the erratic movements of her chest.

Her eyes were closed, and her eyelids seemed to be fluttering in her sleep.

He hoped, fervently, hoped that this was just the result of too much magic. She wasn't going to die. Her body had just shut down, so it could regain the magic she had lost. He hoped that in a few days, she would recover, like when he had arrived.

But Merlin didn't take any chances. He carried her as best he could and carried her back to the village, to take her to the Healers there.

His going was slow, due to Morgana's weight, and the sun had fully risen by the time the village came into sight.

Several Druids, already awoken, saw Morgana lying in his arms, pointed and cried out.

Merlin could see how suspicious this would look, after all, it had been common knowledge he and Morgana had not seen eye to eye. Fyrmest and the two remaining Elders came running up, evidently just roused from their sleep by the villagers.

"Emrys what happened?" Cried Fyrmest as soon as he was close enough.

"She used too much of her magic, she's weak, but I think she'll be all right, she just needs to rest."

Fyrmest looked closely at Morgana, before conceding to his judgement.

"I believe you're right. But what happened? How could she use her magic? Why are you not using your own instead of carrying her?"

"I can't use my magic, " Merlin, spoke in a low voice. Many Druids were coming closer, he did not want to panic them by letting them know the one they all looked up to was powerless.

Shock streaked across the faces of the Elders.

"You'd better come inside, we must discuss this in private." Fyrmest sounded scared, something Merlin had never heard in his voice before. It alarmed him.

"What about Morgana?"

Fyrmest beckoned to a Druid behind him.

The Druid came forward and took Morgana out of Merlin's arms. Merlin recognised him as the village Healer. Merlin had often visited him, he always seemed to have a knack for getting into trouble.

Merlin watched as the Healer took Morgana away, worrying about her, despite the fact he knew she would recover in time.

Fyrmest, Lyft and Brim, then guided him into the largest house at the top of the village which was used as a council area.

As soon as they enetered, Fyrmest cast a spell on the door.

"Frēod."

He turned to face the others.

"Now we shall not be overheard."

He came and sat down on the benches, looked around him and said:

"Where is Byrne? He should also be here."

Merlin flinched.

"Ah, yes...perhaps I'd better open with that. Ummm...how can I make this easy? Byrne has betrayed you. He has allied with King Cendred and is at this very moment proabably marching on Camelot to destroy it and bring magic back to the kingdom, preferably over the dead bodies of Arthur, Uther, and pretty much every other person in the kingdom."

The Druids stared at him in shock for a moment, before anger filled their features.

"Tell us everything Emrys." Lyft spoke with his mind, anger ringing through his voice.

Merlin then recounted everything that had happened since Morgana had taken him into the forest. The looks of betrayal hurt and anger increased on their faces as each word was spoken, but they remained silent.

When he had finished, a pensive feeling reverberated around them.

"We should have known this was coming, it should have been obvious! Brim was the first to speak. "I have never trusted Byrne, and I have told you countless times, Fyrmest."

"Placing blame will not help us now, Brim. We must decide on what to do."

Then Lyft spoke:

"What to do? I should think we do nothing. Byrne is by far the strongest of all of us, what can we do? If we try to stop him there will be unnecessary bloodshed."

Merlin could not believe he was hearing this.

"What do you mean unnecessary bloodshed? There will be bloodshed on both sides, no matter what we do. Innocent people in Camelot are going to die and you're just going to sit there and do nothing?"

"It is the way of the world Emrys. The weakest will always fall, the rabbit must die for the eagle's gain. We cannot change the balance of the world. I have nothing to do with Camelot. Those people are nothing to me, I regret their loss, but it would not affect us here. We might even benefit if Byrne is successful and magic is brought back;we would not be hunted as we are now. It is not our business to interfere, and neither is it your Emrys."

"It's completely my business! Arthur will be one of the first ones targeted! It is my destiny to protect him! I am the one who will eventually bring back magic, I cannot do that if Arthur dies. If we do nothing, everyone will suffer, the innocent in Camelot now, and the innocent ones here in years to come. We must stop him!"

Merlin was completely disgusted at what Lyft was saying. He had never been particularly close to Lyft, who always believed himself lofty and superior to everyone else, but he would never have suspected him of this. Didn't he realise what would happen if Arthur dies?

"I am on Emrys' side. We cannot allow anyone to suffer because we were too weak or blind to see what Byrne was up to. We must join Arthur and help to overcome Cendred."

Merlin looked around at Brim, relief and gratitude pouring out of him in waves.

"But Brim, will Arthur, or Uther for that matter, accept the help of sorcerers? I for one find it unlikely."

Fyrmest looked dismayed at such thought. Merlin knew he wanted to help, but he was being the voice of reason here, he knew they couldn't just rush out and fight.

"As do I." Lyft seemed satisfied. But Merlin refused to let that be an end to the matter.

"I don't agree. Arthur may be a bit of an idiot, but he knows when to accept help when he needs it. He may be proud, but he is not above accepting our help when his kingdom is in trouble. He has shown before that he cares deeply for the suffering of his people. Uther, I admit though, will be more difficult to persuade, though perhaps Arthur could make him see sense."

Merlin knew that to be a false hope. Uther would never be induced to accept the help of Druids.

"Emrys is right, we must help them, whether they welcome our help or not. Arthur might be persuaded, and if Uther is not...then we fight anyway. Perhaps then we can show to him we are not against him, perhaps that way we can end our persecution."

Merlin stared at Brim, grinning. This was why he had always liked him.

"Perhaps, but this mission is very dangerous. How many of our people can be persuaded to fight for a king who had ruined their lives? It is not in our nature to fight, many will be unwilling to help. Many will die, Byrne is more powerful than we know, especially more so if he has been feeding off of Morgana's magic. He may be impossible to defeat."

Fyrmest seemed to be in great torment. Merlin knew that he had suffered personally at the hands of Uther, it must cost a great deal for him to consider helping him, yet Merlin knew Fyrmest would not abandon innocents to die.

Merlin thought for a moment.

"That may be so, but we must try anyway," Merlin stated simply. "Fire may be a strong element, but it always burns briefly and then is no more. The other elements are enduring, they are always present; trees are always growing, rivers always flow and the wind always blows. Also, Earth, Water and Air can quench fire, but nothing can stop them."

Merlin was actually quite impressed with what he had said. It was the most philosophical thing he has ever come out with. He wished Arthur had been able to hear it.

Fyrmest looked at him for a long moment.

"It seems my own riddles and metaphors have rubbed off on you Emrys." Fyrmest smiled proudly. "You are quite correct."

He stood up and the others followed suit.

"This is a huge decision, we cannot make it without consulting everyone else. Only they can make their own choice over what path to follow, whether to remain in the slow-moving river, or venture out into the unknown turbulent waters of the sea."

Lyft and Brim nodded and left the room to go outside, where a large number of Druids had gathered, anxious for news.

Merlin made to follow them both, but Fyrmest held out an arm to stop him.

"You have learned much since you have came to us Emrys, just be wary that you do not stumble on your way. A horse must be broken in before you can ride it into battle. You must know yourself completely before you make any rash decisions based on your new knowledge. Remember truly who you are, Merlin."

Merlin blinked at the use of his birth name.

Fyrmest smiled.

"You often complain of Arthur's recklessness, but you are often like that yourself. You are more like each other than you know."

Fyrmest smiled once more and left the house.

Merlin stood there for a couple of seconds, mildly insulted at being compared to Arthur of all people, but then as he thought about it, Fyrmest wasn't completely wrong.

He only frowned slightly, before he ducked through the door frame and out into the centre of the village, where the fate of Camelot was about to be decided.

A/N: Please review but don't tell me to update soon because I actually WILL and I really should be doing school work!! Then again...my first exam is English, and this is sort of English...right????