Alaia Skyhawk: Day off work, bored, so I'm posting early XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: "Questions and Responsibility"

~(-)~

Chapter 27: Lancelot ~Part 3~

No one stopped him from going down to the dungeons, not with him being Arthur's servant, and not with the prisoner in question being guilty of that type of crime. They were pretty disinterested all told, except for a couple who Merlin knew would be admiring Lancelot for his audacity.

Merlin arrived at the door of the cell, leaning on his and speaking with regret.

"I don't know what to say to you, Lancelot."

The man inside the cell looked at him, but did not move from where he sat against the wall.

"You are not to blame."

Merlin sighed.

"Yes, I am. I pushed you. I made you lie."

Lancelot shook his head.

"No, the choice was mine. My punishment is mine to bear, and mine to bear alone."

"I wish there was something I could do."

The guilt was still there on Merlin's face, the swordsman sighing.

"There is... You can stop blaming yourself. Now go on, go, before Gaius starts to wonder where you are."

Merlin left, however reluctantly, walking back to Gaius' chambers without a shred of enthusiasm. He fully expected to be chewed out by the physician as soon as he got back.

As soon as he got back he headed to sit in one of the chairs near the wall, Gaius glancing over at him.

"Merlin."

"Whatever you do, don't say 'I told you so'."

Gaius frowned a little.

"I've no wish to gloat, Merlin. What's done is done... Here, come and take a look at this." He pointed to the book he had out in front of him, covering the picture on the right when Merlin came over. "I've realised my mistake. I've been looking for the creature in the wrong place, in the records of all known living things in the kingdom. And then I thought, what about creatures only recorded in legend, in myth... And I discovered this."

He lifted his hand from the page, allowing Merlin to see the picture. The reaction from the warlock was immediate.

"That is it! That's the monster!"

The two of them looked at each other, but before another word was said the alarm bells began to ring. Both of them hurried to the window, able to see something fly overhead and towards the castle courtyard.

Both of them darted out the door, Gaius had to speak to the king.

~(-)~

Arthur had forced himself to remain calm, grabbing a spear and shield from a nearby guard. They had guessed the creature would head for Camelot, but knowing that was no preparation for the sight or size of the thing... It was exactly as the victims had described it. It had circled above them, waiting, and then dove down to strike. Men were knocked from their feet, sent tumbling, and even when he'd struck it with full force it had done nothing.

Less than nothing, instead of harming the creature, all he'd managed to do was break his spear. He'd been knocked to the ground then, only a torch thrown to him by a guard saving him. The creature had then flown off, and he now had to face the stern words of his father.

"You said your knights were the best in the land... They proved that today."

The disapproval in the king's tone, the sarcasm in the latter statement, both were humiliating for him to hear as they marched into the council chambers.

"All I know is, it's still out there."

"Let's not wait for it. The kingdom has been menaced by this creature for too long. We finish this now."

Gaius walked towards them, from where he had waited for their arrival, his words interrupting their conversation.

"Sire, if I may."

Uther turned to face him.

"Gaius."

The physician remained solemn, Merlin stood at his shoulder.

"I've been researching the creature, Sire. I believe it to be a griffin."

Uther frowned a little.

"A griffin? What's in a name?"

Gaius explained.

"The griffin is a creature of magic."

There was moment of silence, Uther's tone and expression turning cold.

"I don't have time for this, physician."

"It's is born of magic, Sire... and it can only be killed by magic."

Uther started towards him.

"You are mistaken. It's a creature of flesh and blood like any other. Arthur proved that today."

Beside him, Arthur was not so certain of those words, speaking up and shaking his head.

"I'm not so sure, Father. I think there may be some truth in what he says."

"What truth?"

"The griffin was unharmed, Sire. Our weapons seemed useless against it."

Gaius and Merlin exchanged a knowing glance, while Uther remained unconvinced.

"Useless, I think not. No, it's tasted our steel once, and the next will be its last. When will your knights be ready to ride again?"

Arthur hesitated, before taking a deep breath.

"An hour, maybe two."

Uther directed a look towards Gaius.

"Good, we finish this tonight."

Arthur was less quick to leave the room, turning to Gaius before finally walking out.

As for Merlin and the physician, they made their way back to Gaius' chambers in silence. The latter solemn, and the former concerned. When they arrived, secure in that no one would hear, Merlin voiced those worries.

"Is it true? The griffin can only be killed by magic?"

Gaius' expression was grim.

"Yes, Merlin. I'm certain of it. If Arthur rides out against it, he'll die."

"Then he must be stopped. Uther must see reason."

The physician shook his head.

"Where magic is concerned, our king is blind to reason." He clasped his hands, taking a few steps towards his ward. "And yet... magic is our only hope."

Merlin frowned at him for a long moment, before starting to point to himself.

"You're not suggesting..."

Gaius nodded. He knew who Merlin was, knew he was meant to face challenges like this. It was something he wanted to be able to protect him from, but at the same time knew he could not.

"It is your destiny, Merlin. The true purpose of your magic."

There was fear in Merlin's eyes.

"You saw it, Gaius. I can't go up against that thing."

"But if you do not, then Arthur will surely perish."

Merlin stared at him, before starting to pace in agitation.

"No, no no, this is madness. I don't have magic that powerful, there must be another way. When I hit it before I didn't even scratch it!"

Gaius remained solemn and serious.

"This is the only way."

"Do you even care what happens to me?" Merlin started to pace again. "Oh just do this, Merlin. Do that, Merlin. Go and kill the griffin, Merlin. I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire."

"Merlin." The warlock stopped his tirade, only now seeing the fear for his welfare in Gaius' eyes as the physician spoke. "Merlin, you are the only thing I care about in all this world. I would give my life for you without a thought." He paused, the seriousness returning. "But for what? I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny. You know."

Silence fell between them, before Merlin spoke in a small voice.

"Sorry."

Gaius sighed.

"I don't know what else I can say."

Merlin took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"Then I'll say it for you... We have two hours to find a way to kill that thing."

~(-)~

The cell door slammed open, Lancelot jumping to his feet when Arthur entered. For the prince, this talk had already been delayed once by the arrival of the griffin, but he would not delay it again. He was angry, frustrated... and deeply disappointed. He could have done with having Lancelot at his side for what was to come.

But he did not let that show, not right away. No, all he showed at this first moment was his anger.

"I should have known. How could I have been so stupid? You don't sound like a knight, you don't even look like a knight!"

He turned his back, the frustration he hadn't wanted to show, surfacing, while behind him Lancelot bowed his head.

"I'm sorry."

Arthur sighed.

"I'm sorry too... " He faced the man again, seeing the surprise at those words. "Because, Lancelot, you fight like a knight. And I need... Camelot needs."

Lancelot understood his dilemma.

"The creature?"

Arthur was solemn.

"We could not kill it. I've never faced its like."

Lancelot nodded.

"I've faced it myself, Sire, some days past. I struck it full square... I wondered how it endured."

Arthur reacted in slight surprise at those words, but could see that Lancelot was being sincere... So it was not only he who had witness how useless weapons seemed to be against it.

"There are those that believe this creature... this griffin... is a creature of magic. That only magic can destroy it."

"Do you believe this?"

Arthur turned away.

"It doesn't matter what I believe. The use of magic is not permitted. The Knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone." When Lancelot went to speak, Arthur interrupted him. "There's a horse waiting outside."

Lancelot started to smile.

"Thank you, Sire."

"Lancelot." Arthur looked at him. "Take it and never return to this place."

The swordsman started to shake his head, approaching the prince.

"No. Please, it is not my freedom I seek. I wish only to serve with honour."

"I know..."

"Then let me ride with you, Sire."

"I cannot." Arthur sighed, wishing this could be some other way. "My father knows nothing of this. I release you myself, but I can do no more. Now go before I change my mind."

Lancelot started to walk out, hesitating before doing as commanded. Hearing that hesitation, Arthur wanted to curse. If ever there were a man worthy of being a knight, it was him. Even after being condemned, he still wished to serve.

But unbeknownst to him, Lancelot had other ideas, as he indeed collected the horse left for him, but instead led it straight to the home of a certain blacksmith's daughter.

~(-)~

Merlin watched as Gaius turned through the pages of the spellbook, searching for something that would work against the griffin. He had paused at one or two during the past half hour, shaking his head after a moment before continuing on. It was making his ward increasingly anxious, until finally he stopped at a page where a picture of weapons wreathed in power lay above an inscription.

"There." He pointed to it. "You must do this for Arthur."

Merlin took a closer look at the page, frowning and starting to shake his head.

"I've never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful."

"But nothing less will kill it." Gaius picked up a nearby knife. "Here, try. You have it within you. I know you do."

He passed it to Merlin, placing a hand on the young warlock's shoulders as the youth raised the blade and focused his gaze on it.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluc."

Both of them stared at it for a long moment, waiting for something to happen, before Gaius sighed and patted Merlin on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Merlin. You've plenty of time."

~(-)~

There was a knock on her door, Gwen rising to her feet when it opened and Lancelot came in.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, My Lady."

"Lancelot? What are you doing here?"

His manner was urgent.

"I have no time to explain. I need to borrow weapons, armour, the best you have. Arthur stands in mortal peril, must do what I can to protect him. It's my duty, knight or not."

She frowned a little.

"You really believe that, don't you."

He nodded.

"Yes, My Lady."

"Lancelot." She shook her head ever so slightly. "I don't believe I've ever met your like before."

He took a step towards her.

"Guinevere, if I should not return."

"Don't go, Lancelot. Please."

There was genuine concern for him in her voice, concern that perhaps went just a touch further than that which one would give for a friend. It touched him, made him with to hesitate for a moment, but by his honour he would not.

"But go, I must."

Reluctantly she began to nod, before hurrying out of the house and into the forge alongside it. She returned with chainmail and armour, laying it out on the table ready to start putting it on him. Both of them regarding each other until the he moved towards it and fate forced their hand. They could not wait or hesitate any longer.

~(-)~

"Bregdan anweald gafeluc... Bregdan anweald gafeluc!"

Merlin cursed as nothing continued to happen, sitting on the steps to his room while muttering in frustration.

Gaius watched him from where he sat, trying to reassure him. His ward had been trying for close to an hour.

"Don't worry, Merlin. I know you're trying."

"And I'm failing." Merlin gritted his teeth. "And if Arthur dies because I'm not good enough."

"Merlin..."

"Merlin!" The door of the chamber burst open, Gwen entering almost frantically. "Lancelot's riding out to kill the griffin!"

Merlin dropped the knife he held, rising to his feet.

"He's what?"

Without another word he dashed out of the chamber, ignoring Gaius when the physician called out after him. He couldn't let Lancelot go out alone, it would be suicide.

He followed the clue of it being Gwen who'd come, to figure that the swordsman must be at or hear her home. He was... Checking the saddle of the horse he had with him, and he frowned when he saw Merlin approach.

"What are you doing here?"

Merlin stopped beside him, catching his breath.

"I'm coming with you."

Lancelot shook his head.

"No, you're not."

"Just try and stop me."

Lancelot turned to face him fully.

"Merlin, you're not a soldier."

The warlock didn't budge so much as an inch, staring him down.

"You said it yourself, he needs all the help he can get... I'm the only one who can kill that thing, and I need for you to trust me."

Lancelot frowned a little.

"You would risk your life for him? Risk him discovering your..."

Merlin nodded.

"I would... Because it's my duty to protect him, and I believe him to be worthprotecting."

They regarded each other for a moment, before Lancelot nodded.

"Fine, so what comes next in this plan of yours."

There was no smile on Merlin's face this time, this time he was deathly serious.

"You have a horse, so now let's get you a lance."

Lancelot followed him to the castle stables, where Merlin quickly prepared his horse and took a lance from the rack of them kept here for easy access. Arthur's horse was already gone, meaning he and the knights had already left. They would have to hurry to catch up to them.

They rode out of the city, following the fresh trail in the damp earth of the road. It did not take long for the sounds of battle to reach their ears, but those sounds grew silent before they reached them.

Merlin quickly dismounted when they reached the band of knights, Lancelot following suit, but the warlock's main concern at this moment was Arthur.

It took only a moment to find him laid unconscious against a rock, Lancelot joining Merlin at his side.

"Well?"

Merlin nodded.

"He's alive."

They were interrupted by the sound of the griffin screeching, both of them looking up in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of flame beyond the fog. And then the griffin winged into view, landing to shriek at them in aggression.

Lancelot headed for his horse, accepting the lance when Merlin passed it to him.

"I'm counting on you, Merlin. I trust you."

He lowered the visor of his helm, kicking the horse into motion to gain distance for the charge, while behind him Merlin took a deep breath.

"Right, Merlin... It's now or never." He focused his will on the lance, not letting his eyes leave it when Lancelot sent his horse towards the griffin, his voice rising in volume with each repeat of the spell. "Bregdan anweald gafeluc... Bregdan anweald gafeluc!" He held a hand out towards it, feeling the shift of something inside him. "Bregdan anweald gafeluc!"

A thrill went through him, as far ahead he saw the azure power that suddenly wreathed the lance, Lancelot bearing down on the charging griffin and striking it into the beast with all the force he could muster.

It let out an agonised shriek when the enchanted lance ripped through it, tumbling to a stop on the ground to lie there with the lance embedded in its remained.

Merlin let out a whoop of victory, laughing in elation as Lancelot stopped his horse and turned to face him. But then he heard a groan and realised Arthur was starting to stir, and just as quickly as he'd been willing to come, Merlin hurried away into the darkness.

Arthur winced as he got to his feet, for a moment wondering where the griffin was, before he saw it's utterly still remained and the man who had apparently slain it.

"Lancelot?" He looked between the two again, in joyful disbelief. "You did it... You killed it, Lancelot!"

Arthur turned, rousing those of his knights that he could, leaving them to tend the rest while he had their saviour ride back into the city with him. He wanted to cheer, to shout of his praises, that desire was in him when he arrived at the council chambers where his father waited for him to return. But his joy was short-lived, the king's fury at finding Lancelot released overshadowing all else.

That was where Merlin found the swordsman, waiting outside the council chambers.

"Well what are they doing?"

"Deciding my fate."

Merlin walked closer to him, allowing him to lower his voice so the guards by the nearby door would not hear him.

"They'll restore your knight hood. They have to, you killed the griffin."

Lancelot murmured back.

"But we both know that I didn't... You did. Without you it would have been impossible, and so I cannot take credit for that which I did not do. There will be no more lies. No more deceit."

Merlin lowered his head in thought.

"So what are you going to do?"

"The only thing I cando."

~(-)~

Inside the chambers the conversation was far less calm, both Pendragons facing each other down in a contest of wills.

"You had no right to release him!"

Arthur did not flinch at his father's words, he held no regret for his actions.

"I confess it, Sire. I released him and I'll take the consequences. But surely Lancelot's actions change that!"

Uther glared at this son, fury in ever part of his demeanour.

"His actions change nothing. He broke the Code!"

"He lay down his life for me!" Arthur stared his father down. "He served with honour."

The resoluteness of his son's words made Uther pause.

"I see you feel strongly about this, Arthur." He seemed to think for a moment, turning away before facing him again. "Under the circumstances, a pardon perhaps."

Arthur shook his head.

"No, that's not good enough." He headed towards his father, not happy. "You must restore Lancelot to his rightful place... as a Knight of Camelot."

"Never..." Uther's response to that was deathly quiet. "The law is the law, the Code bends for no man."

Arthur felt a surge of frustration inside him.

"Then the Code is wrong!"

Utter silence followed those words, but before a reply could be made the doors of the chamber burst open and Lancelot strode in as Uther frowned.

"What is this?"

Lancelot was seized by the guards from the door, calling out to the king.

"Let me speak!"

"Wait!" Uther's word stopped the guards from dragging further. "I'll hear him."

The guards let go of Lancelot, who bowed his head in respect to the king.

"Forgive me, Sire... I have come to bid you farewell."

Arthur stared at him.

"What is this, Lancelot?"

The swordsman was solemn, dignified.

"I lied to you both, and now there is conflict between you. I cannot bear that burden, as you should not bear mine... I must start again, far from here. And maybe, one day, fate shall grant me another chance to prove myself a worthy Knight of Camelot."

Arthur took a step towards him, while behind him his father had gone strangely quiet.

"But... Lancelot, you've already proved that to us."

Lancelot stood there, resolute.

"But I must prove it to myself." He bowed to them both. "Your Highness... Prince Arthur."

He turned and walked out, Arthur staring after him while behind him the king could only watch and understand now why his son had been so moved. The Code bent for no man, but Lancelot had the heart of a true knight.

Arthur walked out after him, catching up and raising a hand when Lancelot moved to speak.

"Look, if you will not accept my efforts to restore your knighthood, then at least allow me to reward you in another way. I assume you borrowed the armour."

Lancelot nodded.

"Yes, from Guinevere. She let me use it."

Arthur nodded.

"Then I shall see to it her father is paid, and you can keep it. It is a small reward for all you have done, but..."

Lancelot interrupted him.

"It is more than enough, Sire. And I truly hope that one day, I can return here and serve you again."

This time Arthur did not follow, although he did notice Merlin slink by. What were the chances that the servant had known all along that Lancelot wasn't a noble. Quite high, but he did not blame him. Merlin would have seen the strength of Lancelot's heart as well. He'd seen it, respected it, and tried to help him achieve a dream.

~(-)~

The two of them stood on one of the small corner towers of the outer wall, watching Lancelot ride away in the dawn light. Of the two of them, it was Merlin who spoke.

"Perhaps you were right, Gaius. Perhaps I should never have got involved."

The physician turned to him, shaking his head.

"No, Merlin, I was wrong. Lancelot needed you, and you needed Lancelot. Your destinies were entwined."

Merlin looked out beyond the walls, to where the man in question was almost out of view.

"Do you think he'll ever return?"

"That I cannot say."

Merlin smiled.

"'Til next time then... Sir Lancelot."

They turned away, heading to re-enter the castle, Gaius putting a hand on his ward's shoulder.

"Well then, are you doing anything for Arthur this morning besides your usual chores?"

Merlin frowned at him.

"No... Why?"

"In that case you can go get some herbs for me."

Merlin stopped in his tracks, staring after him.

"Now that's just not fair. I save Camelot, get no credit for it, and then you send me out to do all your leg work."

Gaius glanced back at him, amused.

"Well I'm sure Arthur could find something for you to do... I believe his stables may need mucking out if the staff down there haven't already done it."

Merlin shook his head, walking after him when Gaius resumed heading inside.

"All right, all right! I'll go get the herbs... It makes me wonder how you ever managed without me."

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Hehehe, with a small lead-in to the sub-ep right at the end. This sub-ep is going to be fun to write :)