A/N: Sorry it took a little longer to post this chapter. I had to do some major tweaking before I was happy with it. (On a side note, I edit and proof everything myself, so if you find any errors, please let me know.) And, again, thank you for all the positive feedback. I'm so glad you're enjoying my little tale!
After their encounter with the unicorns, Merlin and Branwen became nearly inseparable. When they were together, they had eyes only for each other. When they had to be apart, both of them were daydreamy and distracted.
Arthur wasn't entirely sure this was an improvement. He decided the two needed some focus and announced that they would both help train the knights in magical combat.
"Arthur, I really don't think that's a good idea."
The king looked indignant. "It's a fine idea, Merlin. My men need practice defending against magical attacks."
"But Arthur-"
"Merlin, my mind is made up. We begin tomorrow morning."
The warlock sighed, knowing better than to argue when Arthur took that tone. "Alright."
The next morning, the knights arrayed themselves against Merlin and Branwen.
"Sire, are you sure about this?" Leon asked, eyeing the unarmed pair uncertainly.
"Yes, I'm sure. Why is everyone questioning my judgment on this?" He pitched his voice to carry to the rest of the group, "Alright men, be ready for anything. The only instruction I've given to them is that there should be no serious injuries." He lifted his hand. "Ready?" His hand remained in the air for a tense moment, then dropped. The knights charged.
Their targets went to work. Merlin focused, allowing his will alone to power his spells, while Branwen shouted incantations.
It was over in a matter of minutes, and the two surveyed their handiwork.
Merlin had broken every single shield.
Branwen had apparently panicked a bit at the sight of Percival bearing down on them, since he and several nearby knights were wrapped tightly in vines that had erupted under their feet.
There was a group of knights trailing dreamily after strangely glowing butterflies, and another was held at bay by an enormous, semi-transparent horse that snorted blue flames at anyone that moved.
Gwaine had tried a solo sortie against the two, but Branwen had seen him. Now he was at the weapons rack, flirting extravagantly with a mace.
And in the middle of it all stood a stunned and speechless Arthur.
"Oops," Branwen whispered to Merlin, and they both let out a snort of laughter.
"I did try to warn him."
She nodded. "Do you think we overdid it?"
He looked around, surveying the chaos. "Nah." He grinned at her and they both broke into a fit of giggles.
"I can't believe you broke every shield. That's impressive."
"Thanks! I like the thing you've got going on with Gwaine."
She smiled impishly. "Well, the mace is quite attractive."
Another fit of laughter was cut short by Arthur stalking over to them. "You two," he growled.
"Yes, sire?" Merlin's voice cracked and nearly sent them over the edge again.
Arthur pointed at the warlock. "Don't 'sire' me." He gestured to the mess. "Fix this."
"Yes, Arthur," Merlin grinned.
"And don't tell me 'I told you so'."
"Even if it's true?"
The retort that Arthur was formulating was interrupted by a messenger who ran up to him. "The council is requesting your attendance immediately, sire." The air of grave urgency he carried was not lost on any of them.
Arthur nodded and thanked the boy, then instructed Merlin, "Send Leon, Elyan, Gwaine, and Percival to the council chamber as soon as they're," he looked helplessly at the men, "able."
Merlin's smile had evaporated. "Right."
The knights were released from the spells and sent on their way, the shields were repaired, and the grounds set to rights.
Once the training field was restored to its former condition, Merlin offered his arm to Branwen. "My lady?"
She took it with a coy tilt of her head. "My lord."
"Allow me to walk you home?"
She smiled. "You don't have to do that."
"It's on my way."
She laughed, "It is not on your way."
"It is today."
"Indeed?" She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Very well. That's quite chivalrous of you."
"I thought so."
She bumped him playfully. "You're such a brat."
"Oh, you know you love it."
She sighed dramatically. "I suppose I do."
When they arrived at the physician's chambers, they found Gaius frantically paging through his medical books. A woman was lying, still as death, on the pallet.
"Gaius, what's wrong?"
He turned to them, looking relieved. "I'm glad you're here. This woman is very ill, but I can't determine the cause. Merlin, would you hand me that book up there?"
While Merlin went to help, Branwen inspected the woman. The malady was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Rather than a fever, the woman's brow was cold to the touch. She was pale and, but for the slow rise and fall of her chest, appeared well and truly dead.
As Branwen's gaze traveled down the woman's form, looking for clues, her eyes caught on her bracelet. The design was unusual and Branwen moved closer to inspect it. The intricate markings etched in the surface drew her in and, almost without thinking, she reached out and touched it.
A shock of icy cold shot up her arm and through her body. It constricted her chest and set her heart pounding. Darkness gathered at the edges of her vision and began to creep inward. She gasped for breath and tried to pull away, but she couldn't lift her finger from the bracelet. She tried to think, to concentrate, but the cold slowed her thoughts. She fought against it and, finally, her mind found a solution. She whispered a few words and was suddenly stumbling backwards.
She found herself shivering in Merlin's arms. The look in his eyes bordered on panic.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded. "I think so."
Gaius' concerned face loomed behind Merlin's. "What happened?"
Branwen nodded toward the woman. "It's her bracelet. There's a curse on it."
"A curse? If that's the case, then I'm afraid I'm at a loss of how to help her."
"I can break it."
"Really?" Merlin asked. "How?"
She shrugged. "I'm a spellcrafter. Now that I know what the curse does, I can figure out how to undo it."
"Are you sure?" Gaius asked.
"I'm sure. I just need a little time to work it out."
At that moment, a messenger burst through the door.
"My Lord Sorcerer, the king requires your presence immediately."
"I'm coming." He cupped Branwen's face. "I have to go. Are you sure you're alright?"
She nodded and gave him a small, reassuring smile. He kissed her forehead and followed the messenger.
When he arrived, Arthur was deep in conversation with a patrol which, by all indications, had ridden for Camelot in a hurry. He went to Arthur's side.
"What is it? What's happened?"
Arthur was grim. "There's trouble in some or our outlying villages. Crops are failing and people and livestock are getting sick."
One of the patrolmen spoke up. ""The illness is strange, my lords. Those affected look dead, though they still live."
Merlin's eyes widened in recognition. "Arthur, Gaius has a patient like that right now."
"Show us."
When Merlin returned with Arthur and the patrolman in tow, they found the woman still on the pallet, and Branwen pacing the room, deep in thought.
The patrolman approached the cot and nodded. "This is exactly like what we've seen."
"Do we know what's causing it?" Arthur asked the room in general.
Merlin answered, "Branwen says the woman's bracelet is cursed. She was affected by it as well for a moment. She's working on a counterspell."
Arthur's eyes went to the pacing figure. "She can break the curse?"
"She believes so."
The patrolman looked more closely at the piece of jewelry. "One of the men had a bauble very much like that on a cord around his neck." His brow furrowed as he called up another memory. "And a woman had something like it in her hair."
That got Branwen's attention. "Wait. You mean there are more of these out there?"
"So it would seem, miss."
She sighed. "That's not good. This curse is more complicated than others I've seen. I've got something that should work, though."
Merlin wasn't sure he liked the sound of 'should' and he watched her carefully as her hand hovered over the bracelet and she began her incantation. It was long, and the trinket began to hiss and crackle halfway through, but Branwen took no notice. On the last syllable, her eyes flashed amber. The bracelet sparked in protest, then broke in half. Branwen collected the pieces as the woman's eyes fluttered open.
Gaius helped the woman sit up and looked her over carefully. "How are you feeling?"
The woman seemed mystified by her abrupt recovery. "I feel… fine."
"Where did you get that bracelet?" Arthur asked.
"It was a gift from my sister. She came to visit from the country."
"Is she still here?"
"No, sire. She went home this morning. She left the gift for me to find after she was gone."
"Did she harbor any ill will toward you?"
"Oh, no, sire. I'm sure she had no idea there was anything wrong with it."
Arthur nodded, satisfied with her answers. "It seems yours is not an isolated incident," he told her. "I'm sorry your gift was damaged. Unfortunately, we need to keep the pieces as evidence, but we can return them to you once this is resolved."
"That's very generous, sire, but please keep them. I doubt I'll want to see them again."
"Very well. You're free to go."
After the woman left, Arthur thanked and dismissed the patrolman, then turned to Merlin.
"We need to get to the bottom of this. Be ready to ride out at first light." His glance shifted to include Branwen. "Both of you."