CHAPTER TEN: We have, I fear, confused power with greatness

Merlin stared at her as the magic fizzled over him. "What just happened?"

She smiled, but it was a dark smile. There was no warmth or happiness behind that evil grin. "Like Arthur, You have forgotten the one you love."

He squinted at her, his mind whirring. There was a pause. "No, I haven't." And her grin was gone, just like that. He smiled then, caught in a conversation with himself. "Nope. Freya, Morgana, Gwen." He checked them off mentally "They are all candidates but no-one's missing."

"But -" She dropped her hands to her side, looking furious now. "- It worked with Arthur!"

"Wait -" He said, holding a hand out. He paused, and looked at her, his arm bending back into him a bit. "Who's Arthur?"

She stared. "Your master?"

He held the pose for a bit, then he couldn't help it but grin. "Kidding! You would have done me a favour if I had forgotten him. Still, better luck next time. DROS GWTHIO!" He yelled, eyes flashing gold as the princess was flung off her feet.

There was just enough time for his arm to fall back to his side and his eyes to flicker back to blue before the guards burst into the room.

"You are under arrest!"

They hauled Princess Rosaline off the floor and locked her arms behind her back. She was still conscious, but barely so. A guard viciously yanked Merlin's arms behind his back, bending him back. A dark, hellish voice whispered into his ear "Think how the prince is going to react when he finds his precious little servant is a Sorcerer."

~o~

Gwen had left into the night, not caring about safety or sleep. The whole experience with Alderfil had left fuel for her mind to burn, to twist and splinter every word he made in the hope to make some sense out of them. She had committed the tea recipe to memory and gone over the conversation so many times she wished someone else was there to confirm the little details she struggled to remember. She let out a frustrated groan, and drew the horse on further.

She was in Ealdor now, the little village was much more of a comfort than Llanchad had ever been. She recognised the housing layout even in the dark, and felt a twinge of guilt she hadn't visited since the bandits so many moons ago. She teased the horse into a trot, trying to keep its footfalls as quiet as possible as she cut through the silent village. It was the dead of night now.

However, someone was awake. Hunith held the white stem of the candle high as she approached the figure on the horse. Her nightdress flapped around her ankles in a playful breeze. The figure turned and she let out a gasp.

"Gwen?"

"Hunith!" Gwen gasped, launching herself off the horse and into the Merlin's mother's arms. Hunith grinned and patted the girl's back with her spare hand. She held the candle aloft and away from their hair. "I'm so sorry if I woke you." Gwen apologised, passionately, staring up at the older woman with unabashed guilt.

"Nonsense Gwen. But do come in before you wake the rest of the village." Hunith offered, stepping back from Gwen. "Tether your horse by the side, come in and have a drink."

"I couldn't take advantage of your hospitality, I was just passing through." Gwen replied, genuinely.

"Either way, you shouldn't be travailing in the night. It's dangerous. I insist you stay." Hunith reprimanded firmly, leading the girl in by the crook of her elbow.

Gwen gave into the steering easily, more than grateful to see a friendly face. They stepped into the little hut Hunith called home and Gwen felt a wave of nostalgia. She hadn't known Merlin through his childhood, but it suddenly seemed so probable to see the little boy tearing around the place.

"So -" Hunith was putting a kettle on and securing blankets at the same time, flush with that silly need to be overly hospitable. "- what brings you over here? Is everything okay back at Camelot?"

Gwen crossed over to the small kitchen area, leaving her bag at the door "Yeah -" she mulled, helping with the tea despite Hunith's complaints, "Everything is fine at home. Merlin's fine." She clarified.

The older woman wasn't convinced. She looked at Gwen long and hard, debating whether to question the girl further or leave it there. She looked back down into her tea. "That's good to know."

"I shouldn't keep you up… I'll just finish this and go…" Gwen stammered, holding onto the mug.

Hunith smiled, warmly. "Don't be silly, Gwen. You are staying. I wouldn't sleep knowing you were out there alone."

Gwen watched her warily, the candle light flickering over the older womans face. She swallowed tightly and nodded. Hunith smiled, and pulled her into a warm hug. Gwen smiled into her arms, a feeling of serenity taking her over for the first time in a long while.

"Thank you" Gwen choked on the wave of emotion approving of this decision. Hunith nodded and drew back.

She smiled softly at Gwen, and squeezed her hands. "Now. We both need some sleep. I'll set up Merlin's bed for you and we can talk in the morning."

~o~

The cell was three stone walls, and bars. There was no window or natural light present so there was no gauge of time passing. The floor was littered with animal straw and the porous fibres were stained with blood. It took a moment for Merlin to figure out where he was. He must have fallen asleep at some point, because a breakfast tray was pushed through the bars.

"So, you're the princes' manservant." He looked up to the voice, and realised he was not alone. King Carmen was sat opposite him, with an ease that firmly suggested he was used to life in Uther's cells. He was rested against the wall opposite Merlin, one leg drawn up and the other out straight. Food was forgotten.

Merlin nodded, blindly, not sure what he was supposed to say to the demoted royal sitting opposite him.

"It must be hard." The king added, watching the young man curiously.

Merlin wondered if he where talking about their current predicament or looking after Arthur. He settled for the latter. "It is."

"You seem very dedicated to your job" Carmen observed, drawing his knees up and folding his legs together. "It must be hard being accused of sorcery."

Merlin turned to look at him then, a light smile on his face. "You would know. You're being accused of sorcery too."

Carmen returned his smile. "True. But you have worked for the Prince for -" his eyes flickered over the warlock as if his mere physical appearance could tell him all "- so many years? This accusation could mean the end of your career, and all careers after that." He shifted soundlessly "I, on the other hand, have a way out; I have my kingdom behind me."

Merlin mulled over his words, and shrugged nonchalantly. Now his attention was turned on this King, curiosity hitting him once more.

The king nodded. "Unless, of course, you are a sorcerer." Merlin immediately tensed, and stared at him. Carmen laughed lightly. "I don't know what happened between you and my daughter before you got thrown in here, but I'm not a fool."

"Only a fool would discuss something like this in a Camelot cell."

Carmen's eyebrows raised, but the King said nothing.

Merlin realised his mistake and bowed his head quickly. "My apologies, sire. My tongue got away from me." His voice was dry with tired deference.

Carmen shook it aside. "It's quite all right. I can understand your predicament."

Merlin resisted the urge to snort.

The two men sat in companionable silence. Merlin's temper fizzled away to meaningless thoughts, questions of whether Arthur would want his chambers cleaned again, or Gaius would want some more herbs or something. His thoughts finally rested on Gwen, and he realised with a twinge of guilt he must have slept through the night. He wondered where she was, and if she was okay. He wondered if she had found Alderfil yet. He sighed, and tried to swallow down the mild fear that bubbled up in him for her.

Carmen, like so many before him, was burdened with the challenge of unravelling the enigma that was Merlin. He was a servant. Well versed and with a strong presence, but still a servant. It occurred to Carmen that he was hiding something. Whether it was something like magic or something like a penny taken from a begging pot he didn't know. But he didn't like to stare. The more he looked the more questions erupted in his mind and the more he tried to decipher this man from looks alone, which wasn't healthy or justified. He would have to get him to talk.

"You know, magic has always been welcomed in my realm." He chances, watching the man for reaction. "If you were to be sentenced to death now I would be happy to smuggle you out."

Merlin stared. "Why would you do that? You don't know if I'm even a sorcerer or not."

It was Carmen's turn to shrug. "I disagree with Camelot's sorcerer policy. Sorcerer or not, you've been treated poorly and I would like to offer you a chance to start again." he baited, watching the other man carefully. "You would be welcomed. There might even be a position in our court for you."

For a moment, the other man's face was open with hope, a shine returning to his eyes as the image played in his mind. Then, from outside the cells, there was a very angry voice.

"Oh for lord's sake! I train you to catch sorcerers, not my manservant!"

Merlin's face crashed in on itself and was once more the spitting image of a tired servant. He looked towards the cell bars wistfully. "I'm afraid my loyalties lie here."


And hurray hurray! I reached chapter ten! I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed and subscribed to story alerts, it's really driven me forward with this fic.

... And so, Gwen could go back to Alderfil and get Arthur erased from her memory, and Merlin could go to King Carmen's land-of-we-like-sorcerers (i really can't find a decent name for this place, i've been dodging the bullet for too long) and it'd all be very sad.

I have been considering a bitter sweet ending to this fic...