Alaia Skyhawk:
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: N/A
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A
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Chapter 13: The Mark of Nimueh ~Part 1~
Graceful hands moulded the clay they held, eyes focused on this work from within a face as fair as any ever seen. But that was where the woman's beauty ended, for as entrancing as she was to the eye, her expression belied the darkness within as she placed the completed creature into a large egg and latched it shut... murmuring words of sorcery over it so that the beast of clay's earthen heart began to beat.
She lowered the egg into the font of water before her, watching it sink from sight in the knowledge that her power would carry to where she bid... The source of Camelot's water...
~(-)~
"So do you have to do this often?"
"No, not particularly."
The Court Physician and his ward walked through the streets of the lower town, the latter pulling a hand-cart borrowed from the castle stables. Word had been sent of a man dropping dead in the street, and they were off to collect him and ascertain the cause of death. From how calm Gaius seemed about the matter, he probably thought it was something as simple as a heart attack.
The people of the town watched them pass, most unaware of what had happened, but as they neared the site of the corpse the people turned as they arrived as if held here by some morbid fascination. One disapproving glance from Gaius sent them all on their way, his expression saying they should have more respect for the dead. They scattered quickly, allowing the physician to turn his attention to the man laid face-down on the ground nearby.
He knelt down beside him, taking hold of a wrist to check for a pulse while Merlin looked on nervously.
"Aren't you scared?"
Gaius paused in his work to look up at him.
"Of what?"
"You might catch whatever it is"
Gaius shook his head.
"I'm the court physician, Merlin. It's my job." He then lowered his voice, making sure no others would hear. "Besides, the fact I was once a sorcerer protects me from catching many of these things. Most of the time there's nothing to be scared of."
He reached down to roll the dead man over, going rigid with shock at what it revealed. The man's face was utterly white, veined in blue, with equally white eyes staring out at them.
Merlin was just as shocked.
"You were saying?"
Gaius quickly pointed to the blanket they had in their cart, urging Merlin to get it.
"People mustn't see this. They'll panic."
Merlin retrieved it as asked, the two of them covering and wrapping the man in it. They then manhandled the body into the cart, each taking a handle and heading back to the castle at the casual pace that Gaius set. To hurry would draw attention, right now they needed people to think this was just a normal death. On their way back to the castle, a few people approached them to say they had loved ones who were ill, each mention of a strange pallor causing the physician's expression to turn grim.
He sent them on their way, promising he would come check on the ill as soon as he was able, before glancing at his ward with concern.
Merlin frowned, just as worried.
"Do you think it's the same thing as him."
"It sounds like it, although I sincerely hope not."
They reached the castle gates, passing through with the cart getting barely a glance from the guards. It clear sailing, or would have been if not for a voice calling out behind them.
"Hello, Merlin!" Gwen caught up with them, holding a bunch of flowers, her attention turning to the cart when she stopped. "What are you doing?"
Merlin moved from his position at the front of the cart, going to the back so he could block her view in the guise of pushing it.
"Um, just moving something."
"Looks heavy."
He glanced over his shoulder, turning to face her while Gaius made sure no one else took interest in the cart.
"It's nothing really." He noticed the flowers, jumping at the chance to change the subject. "Someone got you flowers?"
She shook her head, smiling.
"Oh no. Would you like one? A purple one? Purple suits you... Not that I'm saying that red doesn't suit you."
Merlin accepted the sprig of purple lilac she handed to him, quickly stuffing it into his neck scarf.
"Thanks, well , um... see you"
"Bye."
He smiled and turned back to the cart, him and Gaius leaving her stood there oblivious to its macabre cargo.
Gwen continued on her way, passing through the castle and heading to Morgana's chambers. The king's ward smiled happily when her maid gave the flowers to her, the two of them unawares of the horrors soon to grip the city.
~(-)~
Merlin stood at his mentor's shoulder, the elderly man leaning close to the corpse they'd carried here to his chambers and peering at it through a magnifying glass.
"I've never seen anything like this before."
Merlin was looking concerned, eyeing the dead man nervously.
"Is it some kind of plague?"
"No, I fear that something like this could never come from nature." Gaius frowned. "But who has this kind of power?"
His ward reacted in surprise.
"You think it's caused by magic?"
"Merlin!"
Arthur's shout from outside the door interrupted them, causing him to rush over and open it before he could come in and plaster an apologetic smile on his face.
"I'm on my way. Sorry I'm late"
Arthur folded his arms across his chest, his expression flat.
"Don't worry, I'm getting used to it."
He looked down, the sprig of purple flowers tucked into Merlin's neckscarf catching his eye. Merlin noticed them too, hastily removing them.
"Oh. Um, Gwen, she gave it to me."
Arthur turned, walking away and descending the stairs.
"Tell Gaius my father wants to see him in the council chambers, now."
"Ok" Merlin turned to look back into the room. "Gaius"
"I heard."
"Why couldn't he tell you himself?"
Gaius set down his magnifying glass, eyeing his ward reprovingly.
"Because that's the way it is, you're his servant."
"If he knew who I was and what I'd done for hi..."
Gaius interrupted him, reaching for the nearby blanket.
"You'd be a dead servant. Right get this covered up"
Merlin stared at him.
"Hey, I'm not your servant."
Gaius handed him one edge of the covering.
"No, you're my dogsbody. Come on. Hurry up."
Gaius picked up his bag of medicines and they hurried from the room, a hint of worry in the backs of their minds about what this summoning could be about. That worry became a sinking feeling of dread when they entered the council chambers, to be greeted by the sight of a number of members of the court gathered around the body of a dead servant.
Gaius knelt down beside him to take a closer look, although with the clearly visible pallor and blue veining he hardly needed it to know the cause of death.
Uther watched him from where he stood in front of his throne, clearly as unnerved as the rest of the nobles present.
"What's happened to him?"
Gaius looked up at him.
"I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today. And from the initial mentions of those who knew the first victim, he only fell ill yesterday. I've also had mentions from people approaching me on my way back here, of what I believe may be other cases. I won't know for certain until I go see them."
The king frowned.
"Why didn't you report it to me?"
Gaius stood up, solemn.
"I had only just returned with the first victim, Sire, and was attempting to find the cause."
"And what did you conclude?"
"I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one."
Uther frown deepened. He knew when his physician was being evasive.
"What are you concealing from me?"
Gaius grimaced a little.
"Sire, I've seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in twenty-four hours and it would appear it's spreading fast."
"So what is the cause?"
The was a moment of hesitation, before Gaius answered him grimly.
"I think I should say the cause, the most likely cause... Is sorcery."
The reaction from the king was instant, as he waved his son to his side. Arthur's expression was one of almost disbelief, for besides the two recent attempts on his life never had he encountered sorcery and certainly not anything on as savage a scale as this.
"You must find who did this."
"I will, Father"
"Conduct door-to-door searches, increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates and lend the physician your servant."
Arthur paused in surprise.
"Merlin?"
The king remained grim.
"He needs all the help we can give him... If Gaius is right, believe me, this city will be wiped out... This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer, and quickly."
He walked away, Arthur nodding in understanding.
"Yes Father." He looked to Merlin, still frowning. "I'm guessing this was why you were late."
Merlin nodded.
"After we found the first victim, I knew it was more important to help Gaius find out why he died."
The prince regarded him for a long moment, and then sighed.
"It's good to know you have the sense to pick the right priorities. Do everything Gaius tells you to, and keep me informed of any progress."
"Yes, Sire."
Merlin stood there while Gaius directed two guards to remove the body from the council chambers, watching Arthur leave. The prince had looked shaken by this, and the thought of this plague being created by magic just made Merlin angry inside. Things like this wouldn't change anything, they just proved Uther right in the eyes of his people... Proved his claim that all magic was evil.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, Gaius leading him from the room. The physician could tell what was on his ward's mind, murmuring to him as they headed out of the castle to follow up and check on the other possible victims.
"I know this is hard, Merlin, but unfortunately Uther has created many enemies for himself among the surviving parts of the magical community. I fear his celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Purge has angered them, and stirred up all this. The embers of animosity were already there, but now it seems they have been wafted up into a blaze by his lack of regret for his actions."
"And can you blame them." Merlin kept his voice low, wary of others nearby. "I never saw the Purge, I was born after it, but it's still been a shadow over me my whole life. I never realised it until I came here and heard about it, because mother never mentioned it to me, but I know now why she insisted so much that I always hide my abilities. I never chose to be what I am, but I'm condemned for it anyway. It's not fair, and it's not right."
Gaius sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know, but so long as Uther is king, or unless he has a change of heart, things will remain like this. We just have to hope that Arthur will be different."
Merlin went quiet, thoughtful.
"...Yeah, maybe."
The following tour of the lower town only worsened Merlin's frustration, when checks revealed six more civilians close to death from the disease and a number of others infected with it. When they'd passed one such on their way back to the castle, Gaius had insisted nothing could be done for him, and had scolded his ward when curing him with magic was suggested. Now was not the time for magic, not with Uther searching for signs of it... Already they had seen Arthur out in the streets directing that search.
Merlin remained in a grim mood with him once they were back at his chambers, sullenly passing things when asked to or holding things when needed. He only began to show real interest when after retreating to his room for a while he came out to find Gaius examining something he had in a glass vial.
"What are you doing?"
Gaius replied, holding the liquid in the vial over a candle to heat it.
"Examining the contents of that man's stomach."
Merlin came over, curious.
"Will that tell you who did it?"
The physician shook his head with a grimace.
"No, but maybe how it's spread. One thing I do know... This is magic of the darkest kind."
Merlin shook his head.
"Why would someone use magic like that?"
Gaius set down the vial, turning to face him.
"Magic corrupts... Those who use it for their own ends, without care, can become twisted by it."
Merlin frowned.
"But not all magic is bad, I know it isn't."
Gaius glanced at him again, still working with the contents of the vial.
"It's neither good nor bad, it's how you use it. In the early days of magic, only the Druids and the Dragonlords were privy to its secrets, but in time they decided to trust others outside their number with that knowledge... And while magic did indeed help a great many, created an age of prosperity, it also caused a lot of harm as well at the hands of those who abused it."
He might have spoken further, but for the door of the chamber bursting open and several guards along with Prince Arthur striding in.
He directed them to search the room, before Arthur spoke to the physician.
"Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town."
"What for?"
"The sorcerer."
Gaius sounded indignant, for all that he knew there was one sorcerer stood right beside him.
"Why would he be here?"
The prince had the grace to look at least a little apologetic.
"I'm just doing my job."
The physician scowled, not looking best pleased.
"We have nothing to hide. Go on then, search."
Merlin stood there when Gaius glanced at him, trying not to look nervous. Arthur raised a query about some of the stacks of papers and books, turning away from them almost in disgust when Gaius informed him they were his life's work dedicated to the understanding of science. All seemed to be going quite well until he pointed to the room up the stairs at the back.
"What's this room up here?"
Merlin had to force himself not to gulp.
"It's mine"
"What do you expect to find in there?"
At Gaius' protest, Arthur did his best to look reasonable.
"I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments."
He went up the stairs and entered the room, Gaius turning to Merlin to whisper urgently
"What have you done with the magic book I gave you?"
Merlin flinched, remembering he'd been reading it before coming back out... It was sat on the floor beside his bed in full view!
"Merlin, come here... Look what I found." Both Merlin and Gaius froze, the former hesitantly going up the stairs. Inside the room, Arthur looked at him when he entered. "I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard."
The warlock felt his heart stop pounding quite so much, when he smiled sheepishly while Arthur closed the cupboard door and walked towards the table below the window. Arthur's comment was quite valid, the room was a complete mess, with things left lying around everywhere. And luckily that allowed Merlin to use his magic while the prince's back was turned, to flick his nightshirt off the end of his bed and over the book on the floor.
Arthur remained oblivious to the silent bit of magic, turning and looking under the bed before deciding he'd seen enough. He descended the steps back into the main chamber, speaking to Gaius as the guards filed out at his signal.
"How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?"
Gaius answered him, annoyed.
"Depends on how many interruptions I get."
"Of course. I'm sorry."
Arthur nodded once in apology and followed his men out, Gaius closing the door behind them before letting out a sigh of relief and turning to his ward.
"We have to hide that book."
Merlin shook his head.
"No, we must use it. You keep telling me my magic isn't for playing stupid tricks. Well if it's not meant for things like this, then what is it for?"
Gaius shook his head.
"You want to practice magic when the king is hunting for sorcerers? Are you mad?" He turned away, picking a spoon up from one of his tables. "Merlin, your life is destined for much greater things."
His ward clenched his fists, frustration written in his expression when he began to pace.
"But if I don't practice then how am I supposed to become this great warlock you keep saying I could be?"
Gaius pointed at him with the spoon.
"There will come a time when your skills will be recognised."
"When? How long do I have to wait?"
"Patience is a virtue, Merlin."
Merlin gave him a long look.
"Sitting by and doing nothing is a virtue?"
"Your time will come."
Merlin started to scowl at those words, his frustration boiling to the surface.
"I could cure that man we saw!"
Gaius set down the spoon, shaking his head.
"I know it's tempting to use the way you find easiest, Merlin..."
"It is when it will save a life!"
"It's no good just saving one person. We have to discover how this illness is spreading!"
Merlin pointed in the direction of the town.
"Arthur is out there right now looking for the sorcerer."
"A sorcerer who is powerful enough to do this will never be found searching the town."
Merlin seemed to deflate at that, although his emotions were still evident. His willingness to resort to magic so quickly was extremely concerning for Gaius... Who knew from past examples that young but powerful sorcerers, lacking in such discipline, were almost always the ones who turned bad. He did not want that happening to his ward.
Merlin though, seemed to still have sense enough to listen to his mentor.
"So what can we do?"
Gaius felt a touch of relief at that question, answering it solemnly.
"Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all."
Neither of them were aware of the eyes that watched them, the sorceress who was the creator of this plague watching them though the image she'd called up in the basin of the stone font before her. Let them strive... They would all die in the end.
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Alaia Skyhawk: (Shivers) Kinda creepy writing Gaius concerned that Merlin could go corrupt because of his magic, but we all know those thoughts must have crossed his mind at some point in the early days.