Alaia Skyhawk: Well this is going to be a fairly short sub-ep in terms of events, 2-3 scenes per chapter. But beyond the filling of some obvious plot-holes from the show, and a lead-in for the next episode, there's not really a lot for me to cover in this one. The next sub-ep will be better.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: The Burdens of Duty (Merlin OST)

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

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Chapter 16: A Hard Lesson Learnt ~Part 1~

During his evening chores the laughter from the midday meal with Gaius wore off, his thoughts once again returning to how his foolish actions had done more harm than good. Yes, the city was recovering now, but it had almost cost him the life of a friend.

Merlin carried his laden tray towards the kitchens, mounded as it was with two days worth of plates and bits of leftover food. Seriously, which servant had been taking Arthur his meals during the past four days? If he was completely honest with himself, he would bet the mess with the plates had been deliberate. Even in the midst of a plague, while he was helping Gaius seek a cure, some servant who didn't like him had decided to make sure there would be something to welcome him back. It was childish and pathetic considering how serious things had been, but it didn't surprise him. He was starting to catch on to how castle gossip and intrigue moved about, and how certain types of people think.

He shook his head, thinking about a few of the mutters he'd heard just a while ago when he'd taken a large pile of Arthur's dirty clothing down to the laundry rooms. The plague was over, the status quo restored, and now instead of being Gaius' respected assistant in a crisis he was back to being Arthur's manservant... With all the muttering behind his back that that entailed.

He left the tray at the kitchens, although he did go to the trouble of scraping all the food scraps from the plates into the slop-bin. He heard a couple of other comments on his way out the doors, but they were lost among the general racket of that arrangement of rooms. On a normal day he wouldn't even care what people said, and today he cared even less with all that was on his mind.

He found himself standing at the edge of the central courtyard, looking to where the pyre had now been dismantled and taken away. In that instant a rather morbid thought came to mind, as he wondered what it would have been like to be stood atop it and burned. It was enough to make him shudder, and enough remind him again of the reason for his troubled thoughts.

Merlin headed out though the castle gates, his intention being to go to the tavern and see if a few mugs of cider would stop his mind dwelling on all the things that had gone wrong or could have gone wrong. He was almost there by the time he remembered he didn't have any money with him, and so he changed direction to head somewhere else in the waning light.

It didn't take long to reach Gwen's house, the growing shadows gathered around him when he looked through one of the windows to check on her. Morgana had given her today and tomorrow off, to recover from the ordeal of her time in the castle dungeons. Now she sat inside her house, talking to her father about something. When she glanced towards the window he quickly backed away, turning to leave only to stop when the door of the house opened and she called out after him.

"Merlin."

He turned, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket and avoiding her gaze.

"I just came to check you were all right."

She smiled, touched by his concern.

"I'm fine." She gestured towards the inside of the house. "Come in. I've got rose-hip tea brewing if you'd like some."

Merlin backed up a step, shaking his head.

"No, really, it's ok."

Another figure came to the door, Tom peering out past his daughter.

"Come in, lad. I wanted to talk to you anyway. Come on, I insist you at least let us show you some hospitality."

Merlin hesitated, before giving into the inevitable and nodding.

"Ok..."

He walked up to the door, letting the father and daughter usher him inside and seat him at the table. Gwen immediately went to the hearth to check the kettle of tea, while Tom placed himself opposite their guest and regarded him with gratitude.

"I never got the chance before, but I wanted tell you just how much it means to me that you saved my daughter. Even when everyone was condemning her, you never once doubted she was innocent." He looked over to where Gwen was stood. "For a moment I truly thought I'd lost her, until word came that the real source of the plague had been found and destroyed. I understand that the city has you to thank for that."

Merlin felt very uncomfortable sat there under Tom's regard, fixing his gaze on his hands.

"Well it was Gaius more than me. It was his idea to go check the spring that supplies the wells."

"But it was you who led Arthur to it and helped him slay that beast. Without your determination, that might not have happened in time to save Gwen." Tom sighed, seeming distant. "I just wish I knew who it was that cured me."

Merlin had to force himself to remain composed.

"To tell them off for getting Gwen arrested?"

"No... To thank them for saving my life."

Merlin stared at him, shocked.

"But, because of them Gwen was almost executed."

The woman in question came back to the table, kettle and three mugs in hand. She started to pour the tea, glancing at Merlin as she did so.

"What dad's saying is that he knows whoever did it was just trying to help. Me getting arrested was an accident. Whoever put that poultice under his pillow, probably didn't mean for that to happen. Besides, everything worked out all right... Will work out all right."

Merlin frowned, catching the undertone to her voice.

"Is something wrong?"

Tom accepted his drink from his daughter, frowning slightly before taking a sip from it.

"There's a stigma hanging over this house right now. The neighbours all think Gwen sought out a sorcerer for a cure, and while I don't doubt many would be willing to do that in the same situation, they're still acting as though we're to be avoided. If it keeps up, it could hurt my business."

Gwen seated herself, reaching out and placing a hand on her father's arm.

"I'm sure it'll be fine. They'll forget after a while."

Once again Merlin felt the surge of guilt return, remaining quiet until he'd finished his drink. When he was done he rose to his feet, sighing as he did so.

"Thank you for the tea, I appreciate it. And... I'll have a word with Arthur, and see if I can talk him into helping clear your names. It's worth a try."

Gwen started to shake her head.

"Oh no, Merlin, you've done more than enough for us already. If not for you, I'd be dead."

Merlin forced himself to put on a smile, while inside the guilt was still raging. If not for him, her life wouldn't have been in danger at all.

"I want to do it anyway. What else are friends for?" He nodded to Tom before facing her once last time. "I need to get going, or Gaius will wonder where I am. I'll see you tomorrow Gwen."

He left the house, breaking into a run as soon as he was out of sight of her home. Why did they have to be so grateful? It had been hard enough coming to terms with the consequences of what he'd done, without him feeling even worse about it. He felt like such a hypocrite, sitting there listening to their praise while at the same time knowing he was the cause of their misfortune. He needed to make this right, and this time he wasn't going to try use magic to take a short-cut.

He was still subdued when he arrived back at Gaius' chambers, the physician looking up from where he worked and frowning a little.

"Where have you been? I was starting to wonder where you were."

Merlin's expression was apologetic.

"Sorry, I just went to see how Gwen was doing."

He headed for the main table, sitting down to pick at the food placed there for him. Meanwhile Gaius set down his pen.

"So how was she?"

Merlin sighed, still picking at the food. He didn't exactly feel hungry right now.

"Her neighbours and the rest of the people in town are avoiding her and Tom, because they think she sought out magic to cure him." He gritted his teeth. "She's going thought this because of me. I thought that once people knew she didn't cause the plague, everything would be all right."

Gaius got up and came over, seating himself opposite his ward.

"Unfortunately it doesn't work like that. The damage is done, and now you can see the true cost of your actions. There will be nothing for it but to hope the rumours will fade."

Merlin looked at him, expression bleak.

"I just wish I was free to help people without having to worry about the law. It's not fair. To think that because of it, there are going to be times I'll have to sit and do nothing when I could." He shook his head, cursing himself. "It's all because I left that stupid poultice behind. If I'd gone back for it, then she wouldn't have been arrested. Everyone down there thinks she bought it off a sorcerer, and what if the king remembers it and has her arrested again?"

Gaius patted him on the arm.

"There's nothing we can do. Certainly you can't say where it really came from. Without another explanation, people are going to assume she did indeed purchase it."

Merlin frowned, making himself eat before pausing mid-mouthful as he got an idea. Maybe that would work, to get Arthur to help clear Gwen's name. He quickly finished his food, giving his mentor a wan smile.

"I think I might know how to fix this. I need to talk to Arthur in the morning."

He headed for his room, Gaius calling out after him.

"And how will that help?"

Merlin glanced back at him, his smile tinged with sadness.

"By making everyone think my act of mercy was someone else's act of malice... I don't think Gwen's father will want to thank the one who cured him anymore..."

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Alaia Skyhawk: Yep, major OMG that plot hole is ENORMOUS! Seriously, hello? Uther? You and everyone else conveniently forgot that Gwen supposedly cured her father with magic, or at least bought something magical to do it. Both break the law!

On another note, poor Merlin. His idea will be explained in full next chapter.