Alaia Skyhawk: Hmm, adding new Merlin bits to this one is proving a bit hard, so I'm going to add new Arthur bits instead :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A

~(-)~

Chapter 14: The Mark of Nimueh ~Part 2~

'I want you to impose a curfew. No one is to be allowed on the streets after the Great Bell... And cordon off the lower town.'

'Why?'

'Because that's where most of the victims are. Let's isolate it, and stop this disease from spreading.'

'What about the people who live there?'

'Don't you think I haven't considered it? ...What else can I do? I have to protect the rest of this city.'

Arthur walked out of the council chambers, frowning at his orders. If this plague were due to sorcery, then how would cutting innocent civilians off from access to Gaius help? If it were already magic on this scale, then what was to say the sorcerer wouldn't just cause the illness to spread to the castle and the upper town anyway?

For some reason this just didn't sit right with him, not at all. It felt like abandoning those people just to protect the nobles and rich merchants who were better off than them.

He stopped when he crossed paths with one of the knights, remaining grim faced as he spoke.

"I want you to inform the city guard that the lower town is to be cordoned off, and a curfew instated. No one, save at mine or my father's instructions, are to be permitted through."

The knight bowed.

"Yes, Sire."

The knight walked away, leaving Arthur where he stood. The prince couldn't help himself but walk to the nearby window, looking down into the castle courtyard where the covered corpses of nearly fifty civilians lay. He'd already searched the town, found no sign of any sorcerer, which meant they were fighting something from outside the walls. This was the first time in all his life that he had felt so helpless.

How could he fight something he couldn't see? Stop someone he couldn't find? Would it really be so bad if the people did turn to magic to cure this, to buy them time to find the culprit, the source?

He frowned, shaking his head. But to think like that was treason against the laws of Camelot, laws that he had to uphold.

~(-)~

Merlin walked into Gaius' chambers, pausing in confusion at what he saw. The body of the first victim was gone, just as well really considering the growing stench of rot, and had been replaced by that of a woman in fine clothing and jewellery.

The physician saw him, waving him over.

"Merlin, tell me. What's different about this victim?"

The warlock did as told, looking down at her a bit uncertain.

"Um...she's a woman."

The response to that from the physician was rather flat.

"Sometimes I wonder whether your magical talents were given to the right person. Anything else?"

Gaius had his eyebrows raised, making it obvious he knew the answer but wanted his ward to work it out for himself.

Merlin mused over his answer, looking at her again.

"She's a courtier." Gaius smiled nodding, but Merlin just looked confused. "How does that help us?"

Gaius' expression said he'd had a breakthrough, something that might help them.

"Courtiers seldom go down to the lower town. So what does that mean?"

Merlin frowned a little.

"That she hasn't spoken to any townspeople."

"Yes, it suggests that the disease is not spread by contact."

"They probably ate different food."

"Good, anything else?"

"Um. I doubt they breathe the same air."

"So what's the only thing they do share?"

The two of them looked at each other, the elder waiting for the younger to tell him the answer he'd led him to. Merlin hesitating as he started to say it.

"Water? ...You think the disease is spread through water?"

Gaius nodded to his ward in approval, before turning to pick up a nearby bucket.

"Merlin, you're a prodigy. Go to the pump where the people get their water, and fill that. Get it back here quickly."

The warlock did as he was told, hurrying out of the castle with the bucket in hand. Maybe Gaius was right, science would lead them to a cure. If the plague was spread through the water, then all they needed to do was fix the water and everyone would be all right.

He reached the pump, putting the bucket under the spout and setting about working the handle. He'd barely finished filling it when he heard the sound of distressed sobbing coming his way, turning to see Gwen run past with tears in her eyes.

"Gwen!" He picked up the filled bucket and chased after her into the castle. "Gwen!"

She didn't stop at his calls, and he was forced to slow his pace so he wouldn't spill the potentially deadly water he carried. She arrived at Gaius' chambers well before him, already speaking to the physician when he came through the door.

"I am begging you!"

"I wish there was something. Anything. But so far a remedy has been beyond what I can achieve... I'm sorry Gwen, there's nothing I can do to help your father."

Gwen seemed to crumble under those words, running from the room with tears streaming down her face. The sight of her stricken expression tore at Merlin. He'd never known his father, but he knew how he would fell if it were his mother who were ill.

He turned to Gaius, approaching him with the bucket of water.

"There must be something we can do."

The physician accepted it from him, his expression grim.

"I'll do my best. Let's hope that this can provide some answers."

Merlin watched as his mentor filled a small glass vial with some of the water, inwardly wishing the man would seem to work a little bit faster.

"That'll be too late for Gwen's father."

"I fear you may be right"

Gaius didn't look at him, instead concentrating on sticking the sprig of flowers that Merlin had left in here into it. Knowing that nothing he said would speed things up, Merlin turned away and went into his room, closing the door behind him.

He stayed there, brooding, unless called out to help with something. It didn't seem fair to just sit here when he knew he could do something.

It was late into the night when he could stand it no more, the sounds of Gaius' snoring making it clear the man was oblivious to the world right now. Merlin took that as his cue, getting his spellbook out and searching for something that would cure the sickness. Gathering the required herbs from his mentor's shelves was a simple task, as was putting them into a cloth bag and tying it shut... Now all he had to do was go to Gwen's house and use it.

Getting out of the castle proved to be rather easier than he'd expected, only requiring him to hide in a shadowed alcove until a patrol had passed the gates and moved on. It was trickier in the town, the patrols passing far more frequently and poking spears into hiding places as they went.

During one close call he'd ended up making the guard approaching where he was, trip over and fall against a stack of crates. The resulting noise distracted the rest of the patrol, who laughed at little at their fellow's clumsiness oblivious to the warlock who ducked out of hiding and down an alley nearby.

It was a relief to reach Gwen's house, and also to find she was asleep where sat asleep and leaning against her father's bed at his side. Her hand was clasped around her father's as Merlin crept into the house, the warlock wincing when her floor squeaked at his progress to the bed.

He cautiously tucked the poultice under Tom's pillow, backing up a few steps before whispering.

"Pu fornimest ald fram guman..."

A gold mist seemed to seep out from the skin of Gwen's father, sinking beneath his pillow to be gathered by the poultice. Merlin retreated out of the house, watching at the window as Tom began to stir, his movements waking his daughter who reacted in relief and joy at this miracle.

Merlin smiled at the sight and crept away through the streets, Gwen's smile at seeing her father wake being all the thanks he needed. It felt wonderful to know he'd done something good with his magic.

~(-)~

That joy was a little short-lived, when faced with passing through the castle courtyard the next morning. There were double the number of bodies there now, and already a mass grave was being dug outside the city walls to deal with them. To see Gwen's smiling face when he'd passed by Morgana's chambers had further rewarded him for his actions, but seeing this afterwards was a grim reminder that there was still much to do.

Equally grim was the meeting in the council chambers, happening at that moment, where both Uther and his son looked upon the vial of water now containing once purple flowers that were now leached white.

When Uther went to pick it up for closer inspection, Gaius' quick words stopped him

"Don't touch it!" The king withdrew his hand, the physician explaining why he had come. "I had this in the water for no more than a few hours. During that time, those flowers have turned pale just as has been happening to the victims of the disease."

Uther frowned.

"Where's the water from?"

"The pump from where the people take their daily supply... As you know, all water in the city comes from the same underground spring, which means all of the wells will also be contaminated."

Arthur was also frowning, looking away from the bleached flowers and to the physician.

"Then we need to stop the people from using them."

Gaius shook his head.

"This city cannot survive without water. If we close the wells, as soon as the emergency supplies are gone people will be forced to go to the river... A mile from here, out into the woods. It would cripple the city, trade, everything."

Those words hit hard with Uther, who turned to pace away in agitation.

"We need to find that sorcerer."

Arthur watched him, subdued.

"I don't believe they are inside Camelot."

"Then extend the search to the villages!"

Arthur frowned once again.

"We've started, but I can't search the entire kingdom."

"And I can't stand by and watch our people die..."

That was something both of them agreed with, Arthur nodding in acceptance and leaving the room. He would search for as long as he had to, even if it truly was futile.

His mind was still dwelling on those thoughts when he led a new search out into the city, so distracted that he almost missed the murmurs of gossip he heard from a group of commoners nearby.

"What are you talking about?"

His voice silenced them, one woman among them hesitating answering him.

"Tom, Sire, the blacksmith... He was ill, yet now word says he is at his forge, as if he never had the plague at all."

Arthur paused for a moment at hearing those words, before changing his direction and waving for the guards with him to follow. It didn't take long to reach forge in question, nor was it mistakable given the gathering of people muttering nearby. They all watched the man who stood there hammering away at a piece of red-hot iron, and Arthur pushed his way past them to approach him with a disbelieving frown.

"The story is that you were sick."

The blacksmith paused in his work, hesitating when he realised it was the prince who stood before him. He just shook his head, unable to explain it.

"Not anymore."

Arthur eyed him, unable to see any sign that this man had suffered from the strange plague. Had he really?

"Perhaps you were suffering from some other ailment."

The shake of the head was more affirmed this time, Tom certain of his words.

"You're joking... I felt like death itself. Not enough strength in me to stir the air."

"Then what happened?"

The blacksmith frowned.

"I don't no, just suddenly it was gone. I feel fitter than I did before."

The thoughts were churning through Arthur's head, trying to fathom how this could be possible.

"That's remarkable... Was anybody with you when all this happened?"

"Just my daughter, Gwen."

Gwen... That name stuck in the prince's head, as he turned and walked away. Gwen was Morgana's maid, a servant of the royal household for almost ten years. She couldn't possibly... But no, he had to follow this up.

Arthur got directions to the house belonging to the blacksmith and his daughter, entering it and setting his men to search it. Cupboards were opened, their contents checked, blankets moved aside on beds and pillows overturned... And that's when they found it.

The prince grimly accepted the object handed to him, a cloth pouch filled with herbs that glowed with what was unmistakably magic.

It was all that he needed to see, to send him striding back to the castle with the pouch in hand. He sent one of the guards to take it to the king, while he headed for Morgana's chambers with the remaining two in tow.

Gwen turned when they burst in through the door, having been holding the vase of flowers she picked while trying to figure out why they'd turned utterly white. Her expression changed to one of shock at the prince's following words.

"Seize her." The guards grabbed her by the arms, leading her towards the door as the words of condemnation continued from Arthur's lips. "Guinevere. I'm arresting you for crimes in contravention to the laws of Camelot. That you did practice enchantments."

Hearing the scuffle, Morgana entered from the second of the two adjoining rooms.

"Gwen?"

Gwen tried to face her, still being dragged towards the door.

"I haven't done anything! Help me please!"

Morgana turned to frown at Arthur, demanding an explanation.

"What are you doing?"

He was already heading for the door as he answered.

"We found a magic poultice in her house."

"That's ridiculous!"

He glanced back.

"How else do you explain her father's recovery?"

Morgana stared at him, shaking her head.

"She's innocent! I know she's innocent."

At her tone of accusation, Arthur gritted his teeth. He knew Gwen was loyal to her, was her friend, but that didn't change what he had to do, and his voice was scolding as he replied.

"What can I do? ...I can't turn a blind eye."

He strode out of the room, catching up with the guards and taking the lead towards the council chambers. Gwen's frantic pleas, professing her innocence, echoed through the passages. He could hear the terror in them, but he couldn't waver. Not even when Merlin and Gaius came into view, the expression of the former changing to horror as she begged him to help her, could make the prince cease this march of damnation.

Gaius grabbed Merlin by the shoulder when the warlock tried to follow, dragging him away and back to his chambers. He practically shoved the young man through the door before slamming it closed behind them.

"What have you done? ...I warned you! Oh. I understand. You thought you were doing some good!"

The physician was raging, both fear for his ward and anger at Merlin's stupidity in his voice.

Merlin didn't flinch under that stare, but he was certainly worked up.

"I couldn't let her father die, knowing I could cure him."

Gaius took a step towards him, waving a finger at him.

"Didn't you think it might look a bit suspicious, the curing of one man?"

"Well. Then all I have to do is... I'll cure everyone. No-one will ever have to know it was magic."

Gaius sighed in resignation, the boy clearly didn't get it.

"It's too late. They think Gwen's a sorceress, that she caused the disease."

"But she didn't!"

He could see it now, the realisation starting to sink in. Merlin's almost desperate statement tinged by the worry now visible in his eyes. He went to open the door, Gaius stopping him with a demand.

"And how are you going to prove that?"

Merlin said nothing, just turning away and racing down the stairs outside. Gaius let him go, knowing that right now his ward had some hard truths to come to terms with... Including the one that in his act of mercy had resulted in a friend condemned to death.

For Merlin it certainly didn't get any better, as he caught up to Arthur and followed him into the council chambers. Gwen's continuing pleas tore at him, and he could only curse himself when the reason for her arrest was revealed to be the poultice he had stupidly not gone back for. He couldn't bring himself to look at her as Uther sentenced her to death, standing behind one of the pillars that lined the chamber while her cries pierced his heart. This was his fault... It was all his fault.

He forced himself to move, to follow the rest of the people out when they left. Once he was gone, only the king, Arthur, and Morgana remained in the room.

Arthur seemed similarly shaken, his thoughts conflicted. He'd asked himself before if would it really be so bad if the people did turn to magic to cure this, and he found himself asking it again... What if that was all Gwen had done... Turned to magic out of a desperate desire to save her father's life. She had no reason to hate Camelot, no motive, nothing to give evidence that she could be capable of all this.

His thoughts on that matter were then interrupted, by Morgana speaking to the king, trying to reason with him.

"I know Gwen. She's my maidservant, not an enchantress."

Uther turned to face her, his expression set.

"Have you ever seen an enchantress? Believe me, they bear no sign, no mark. There is no sense of evil in the eye."

"I've seen the way the girl works. Her fingers are worn, her nails are broken. If she was a sorceress, why would she do this?" Morgana voice was now pleading, changing to anger and reprimand as she continued. "Why would she kneel on a cold stone floor morning after morning, when she could make these things happen with a snap of her fingers? ...Like an idle king."

The reaction from the king was instant, his face taking on an angry scowl to match his voice.

"You have no right to..."

"You have no right to cast a judgement on that girl..."

"I have a responsibility to take care of this kingdom!" His shout silenced her, and he continued in a quieter tone. "I take no pleasure in this."

Morgana eyes still pleaded, begged for him to listen.

"You're sentencing the wrong person."

Watching the confrontation, Arthur felt his own doubts being added to by Morgana's sincere words... She knew Gwen better than anyone.

"She's right Father. You hear the word 'magic', and you no longer listen."

"You saw it for yourself. She used enchantments."

Uther seemed unperturbed by Arthur's support of Morgana, the prince walking forward to stand beside her as he too tried to reason with him.

"Yes, maybe, but to save her dying father... That doesn't make her guilty of creating a plague." He was now frowning, voicing his doubts. "One's the act of kindness, of love, the other of evil. I don't believe evil is in this girl's heart."

Uther now stood beside the throne, a hand resting upon it as he quietly answered to that.

"I have witnessed what witchcraft can do. I've suffered at its hand. I cannot take that chance... If there's the slightest doubt about this girl, she must die or the whole kingdom may perish."

Arthur watched as his father seated himself, unwilling to accept that his words were falling on deaf ears.

"I understand that, Father."

Uther just looked at him.

"One day you may become king... Then you will understand, that such decisions must be made. There are dark forces that threaten this kingdom."

Arthur fought back a sigh, and the urge to curse.

"I know... Witchcraft is an evil, Father, but so is injustice. Yes, I am yet to be king, and I don't know what kind of king I will be. But... I do have a sense of the kind of Camelot I wish to live in. It is one where the punishment fits the crime."

Uther, who had seemingly been ignoring him son up to that point, turned to look at him and stood up.

"I fear you are right." He set off towards the rear door of the chamber, his following words like a hammer blow to any hope his son might have had that he listen. "She has played with fire... and sadly she must die by fire."

Arthur could only stand there after that was said, unable to move or to look at Morgana when she left. In trying to change the fate of a possibly innocent woman, all he'd manage to do was gain her the most horrifying death imaginable... It was a guilt that was hard to bear.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: I changed how Merlin distracted the patrol, since if a guard had really been smacked in the face with a door you'd think a fuss would be raised about it. Far as I know, no alarm bells were ringing afterwards lol XD

As for Arthur, his troubled thoughts were written all over his face in that scene after Gwen was sentenced (When you could actually see it anyway), and it was really interesting to write what he could have been thinking. He really did seem guilty when Morgana walked out past him.