Alaia Skyhawk: I have to say I feel really sorry for Gwen in this one. This is one of just a couple of eps that really made me want to maim Uther, although that feeling faded with this one when he admits near the end that he made a mistake. However, that doesn't undo the fact that I don't blame Morgana for this being the first wedge between her and Uther. Not after the way Gwen screams when she sees her father dead (Kudos to Angel Coulby for her awesome acting in that scene. It still gives me shivers no matter how many times I see it).
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: N/A
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A
~(-)~
Chapter 68: To Kill The King ~Part 2~
A dungeon cell unlocked, the shouts of a guard triggering the toll of the alarm bells.
'He has just proven his guilt. You will kill him on sight.'
A prince trying to bid for reason.
'But the trial."
A king who did not want to listen.
'The trial was a formality. I want him dead, and an end to it.'
...The grief-stricken screams of denial, from a daughter upon seeing the covered corpse of her father being taken away on a cart to be burned...
Arthur stood upon the battlements above the courtyard, Gwen's cries echoing despairingly from below. He could see that Morgana's window was open, the noblewoman probably watching her maid's outpouring of sorrow. In some ways he hoped this was a lesson for her, to better consider her actions, but in other and stronger ways he understood why she'd done what she had.
He touched the ring of keys on his belt, a ring that been missing one until he'd retrieved it from the guard that had found it in the door of Tom's cell. He knew Morgana had been down to see him, and knew with almost total certainty that she had stolen it and given it to him at that time. He'd seen it himself, his father's refusal to accept that perhaps the blacksmith's involvement with Tauren had been by mistake, without knowing the man was a sorcerer. Tom had been condemned, and Morgana had done the only thing she thought she could to give him a chance to live. It had been a fool's hope, but at least it was one that had spared Tom a public execution. The other men and women who were to be executed today would have no such reprieve.
Arthur turned away and headed for the doorway back into the castle, his face set into a grim frown at the thought of those additional deaths. Merlin had been right yesterday, that unknowingly renting a room to a sorcerer was hardly a crime worthy of execution. Give them a few lashes, maybe, or make them pay a fine or do unpaid labour for time, but death? Death didn't bring understanding and acceptance of laws, it only sowed fear of them.
However, fear of the law was one thing Morgana clearly lacked, when his descent to the main level of the castle was interrupted by the sight of her being dragged, shouting and protesting, in the direction of the dungeons with his father following behind.
Arthur pressed himself against the wall around the corner from them, keeping out of the way, and sighed at her stupidity. It was another mess he'd have to clear up, but he wasn't even going to try until tomorrow morning. He knew that almost frozen expression on his father's face, the one that displayed sheer fury but without there actually being any visible anger. Instead he set off to do something more constructive, perhaps to make up for his own inability to gain Tom a true and just trial.
He headed for one of the clerk's offices, specifically the clerk that dealt with the management of the houses in the city that were owned by the castle. The man raised his head to look at the prince in surprise, rising hastily to his feet.
"What can I do for you, My Lord?"
Arthur looked around at the plethora of record books stacked about the room's shelves, before pinning his gaze on the nervous clerk.
"I want an alteration to be made as to the status of the house presently occupied by Guinevere, the Lady Morgana's maid."
~(-)~
He kept glancing up the steps to his room, to the woman seated on his bed in numb silence, while he hesitated between standing here and going up them to check on her.
Merlin took a step forward, only to turn around and walk away again. What was he supposed to say to her? Gwen had just lost her father, Tom killed in an attempt to escape, and he couldn't help but feel guilty he hadn't been able to do anything to stop it.
A couple of spells to knock out the guards, one to unlock the cell, and a quick trip out through the crypts and Tom would have been away with a fighting chance. But instead he'd died, killed trying to leave the dungeons by the one route the blacksmith had known... The route that was practically suicide once the bells were ringing.
Merlin sighed, hanging his head. Gaius had gone off to commandeer Tom's body for Gwen's sake, so a more respectful end could be given to him than he would get otherwise. An open funeral would still be impossible, given the circumstances of his death but a discrete pyre outside the city walls would be easy to arrange with the physician's help.
Eventually he plucked up the courage to climb the steps to his room, closing the door behind him and moving closer to regard the silent Gwen with sympathy.
"You all right?"
It was a stupid question, he knew it, but it would get her to admit her feelings. If she could voice them, he knew it would probably help.
Gwen remained quiet for a few moments, her eyes still distant when she eventually replied with a shake of her head.
"I just don't understand why tried to escape. His trial was this morning."
Merlin sighed.
"What he was thinking, we can only guess. He must have had his reasons to risk it. Reasons maybe not to put faith in the trial. I don't think he'd have done it otherwise, and risk hurting you."
She bit her lip at that, to stop it trembling. That was when the quiet knock came on the door, and it opened revealing none other than the Prince of Camelot.
Gwen immediately rose to her feet, bowing her head a little. She looked understandably nervous, considering what her father had been accused of.
"Sire."
Arthur hesitated for a moment, noticing her anxious expression, before walking further into the room and speaking to her.
"Guinevere... I want you to know that your job is safe. And, your home is yours for life. I guarantee you that." He paused, somewhat awkward. "I um... I know that under the circumstances it's not much, but um... Anything you want, anything you need, all you have to do is ask." He glanced at Merlin as he said that, the servant nodding as well turning it into a promise from the both of them. Gwen remained silent, though, the air in the room tense in anticipation of her reaction to the offer. When nothing was said, Arthur moved to leave with one final utterance. "I'm sorry."
That seemed to spur her, to hear the prince apologise to her for what had happened, even if it hadn't been his doing. Finally she spoke, quiet.
"Thank you, Sire."
Arthur left, and soon after Merlin ushered her to the spot he and Gaius had agreed to outside the city walls. The physician was already there, waiting beside a small and hastily built pyre. One that had been soaked with oil to ensure it burned and did it's job quickly before anyone became curious enough to come looking.
Gwen brought a hand to her mouth when she saw the wrapped form on top of it, and Merlin put his arm around her shoulders in support as he explained.
"Gaius went to stop them burning him with the rest of those they executed today. We didn't say anything because we weren't sure he'd be able to get him without a fuss being raised. We agreed that if he didn't come back within an hour of going, he had him and would be waiting here for us."
The two of them reached the side of the pyre, Gwen looking between him and Gaius with tears welling up in her eyes. Then she turned and hugged Merlin close, pressing her face into the front of his jacket as she broke down into sobs of both grief and gratitude. He awkwardly hugged her in return, stroking her hair until she'd composed herself enough to watch Gaius light the pyre.
Merlin also felt tears dampen his cheeks as the flames rose, acknowledging Tom's end. He'd been a good man, and hadn't deserved what had happened to him. Seeing his body now burning to ash, the warlock knew and promised to himself he'd do everything he could to look after Gwen for him now that he was gone. As her friend, he'd make sure she knew she never had to face things alone.
They stood there until the pyre had burned down to embers and ashes, only now Merlin leaving Gwen's side to shovel dirt over those remains and quench the last of the fire. The sky was almost dark by the time they went back inside the city walls, Gwen choosing to part ways with them.
She stopped at the split in the road between castle gate and upper town, smiling at the both of them.
"Thank you for what you did today. I appreciate it."
Gaius nodded in acceptance of the thanks, Merlin beside him.
"Just remember that if you ever find yourself in need, you can come to either of us. We'll help you through this."
She gave both of them a hug, still smiling as she then set off for home.
"I know, and thank you."
She continued down the street, it being late enough that no one was about. She hadn't been in her house since yesterday morning, and she felt some relief to see the laundry she'd left hanging out was still there. To have had it stolen in her absence would have been something she couldn't have faced just now.
Going to her door, she unhooked the latch so it could swing free, then turning and pulled down the first item of clothing from the line.
A hand slammed over her mouth, an arm pinning hers to her sides as she was dragged backwards. A terrified look over her shoulder revealed a man in a hooded cloaks, his words hissing into her ear in urgency.
"I want the stone! Where is it?"
He lifted his hand from her mouth a little so she could answer, Gwen shaking her head and her eyes wide.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know anything..."
Her words were cut off by his hand clamping back into place, and he murmured with intent.
"Listen to me. In two days time, I will be at the edge of the Darkling Woods at dawn. You find the stone, you bring it to me, or you will die... Do I make myself clear."
When he got her terrified nod in reply, he let go of her and shoved her away, disappearing into the night's shadows while she sat sprawled and shaking on the ground. For a moment she considered going to Gaius and Merlin, but cast the thought aside. She wouldn't put them in danger, but she couldn't stay here.
She grabbed the last of the laundry and took it inside, before leaving and heading back to the castle. Normally she never used the tiny antechamber of Morgana's rooms, for the most part she only kept in there the dresses that needed more room to hang. But tonight she went there and silently crept to it without checking if Morgana were in bed, curling up on the tiny mattress within as though trying to hide from an unforgiving and frightening world.
~(-)~
"Merlin, come and take a look at this. I've been doing some research and found this."
Those words greeted the warlock as he descended the steps from his room, the dawn sunlight streaming in through the windows revealing a far brighter day than he felt inside. He went to the table where Gaius was sitting, looking over his shoulder as the old man pointed to a drawing and frowning a little as he read the name above it.
"The Mage Stone?"
Gaius nodded.
"Wonder of the ancients, lost for a thousand years or more."
Merlin raised his eyebrows at that, impressed.
"What does it do?"
Gaius had that look in his eye, like he knew he'd found something significant.
"It could give the bearer the power of transformation."
Merlin twitched at that, catching the implication.
"The gold. The power of alchemy."
"Exactly. I believe it was the Mage Stone you sensed the night of Tom's arrest."
Merlin stood straight again, thoughtful.
"Of course. Gwen said her father saw Tauren had some kind of stone." He started to pace. "I sensed it again, the morning before yesterday. Not like it was doing anything, just... almost like it had twitched or something. I think it's still in Camelot. Maybe Tauren lost it somehow when he fled, because I don't think he'd be stupid enough to have been here in broad daylight with all the searches going on."
Gaius started to frown.
"I hope not, and if he has lost it then we need to be on our guard. If someone picks it up, there's no telling what he'd do to them to get it back."
Hearing the local rooster crowing again outside, Merlin grimaced and headed to the door.
"I might try looking for it later, but it depends on how many chores Arthur loads me with." He glanced at his mentor. "He was pretty annoyed with how late I was with his supper last night, but then helping Gwen was worth it."
He disappeared through the door, Gaius returning to his reading.
~(-)~
Silent and sullen she sat there, her expensive blue dress torn in places from her struggle with the guards, her wrists rubbed raw by the shackles that held her bound. It had been a long and cold day and night down here, with nothing but a narrow stream of light cast down upon the straw strewn floor of the large cell. The chamber was designed to hold more than a dozen prisoners rather than just one, and it was far enough away from the more regularly used cells to keep her out of sight and out of mind of the guards. When Uther had warned her to mind her tongue or he'd have her restrained, maybe she shouldn't have dared him to try it, but she found she didn't care. The hate his callous actions had spawned, in ordering the death of Tom, prevented her from regretting it. Right now all she really wanted was to make him pay for his cruelty, and his lack of regard for the blacksmith's innocence.
Morgana laughed to herself, coldly, at how quickly respect could turn to disdain, but then she'd always been like that with her guardian. Respecting him in matters where what he did made sense to her, and rebelling when she disagreed. At times she'd gotten away with it, at times it had gained her verbal threats of punishment, but this was the first time he'd actually followed through with it.
And she found she wasn't surprised.
The door of the cell opened, and seeing her captor's son walking in she laughed again to herself. Looking at her shackles before eyeing him with sarcasm.
"You... How proud you must be, son of the mighty Uther. You must look up to him." Silence greeted her words, and she smirked. "Does the king's little helper bring a message, or have you just come to gloat?"
Arthur regarded her solemnly, half-turning his head to the door behind him and speaking calmly.
"Guards."
She lurched to her feet, backing towards the rear wall of the cell dragging her chains with her when two guards entered and advanced towards her.
"Get away from me you cowards."
She stopped when Arthur spoke again, his expression still unreadable.
"You are free to go." She looked at him, surprised as she was released from the shackles, and immediately set towards the door. His voice them make her pause. "Morgana..."
She stopped but didn't turn.
"Yes?"
He did, looking at her in warning. It had taken a lot of talking to get his father to agree to this. A lot of talking.
"I swore to him that you'd never challenge his authority again. I swore that you had learnt your lesson... Tread carefully." Her eyes met his, blue on blue. "Next time I may not be able to help you."
Rubbing at her abraded wrists, Morgana nodded after a moment and looked away.
"Thank you... You're a better man than your father. Always were."
She didn't see the troubled expression on Arthur's face, her mind more on how she could possibly get back at the king. Her mind was still on it when she entered her chambers, Gwen rising to her feet when she did and hurrying towards her in concern.
"My Lady, where have you been? I was worried."
"Gwen." Morgana kept her hands over her wrists, trying to hide the marks there and hurrying past her maid. "I didn't expect to see you here."
The attempt failed, Gwen's concern clear as she stopped beside her.
"What happened to you."
"Nothing. Well, nothing a hot bath wouldn't fix." Her mistress tried to make light of it, turning putting on a smile to try reassure her. She spoke again when it was clear that Gwen wasn't convinced, the smile fading. "I spent the night in the dungeon."
Gwen started to shake her head.
"Uther..."
"He doesn't like to be challenged."
"It wasn't about my father, was it?"
Morgana, who had been about to move to the dressing screen, stopped in her tracks. Her concern for her maid was clear.
"You have enough to deal with without being worried about such things."
"You shouldn't have done that." Gwen looked at the bruises. "Not on my behalf. If anything happened to you I couldn't bear it."
Morgana's tone became firm, urging.
"You need to go home, Gwen. Get some rest. Please."
The maid started to shake her head, reminded pain at her father's death, tinged by a glimmer of something else.
"I'm fine, My Lady."
When Morgana stared at her, Gwen moved away and busied herself picking up a pair of hairbrushes from the table, the lady speaking when she passed her.
"I insist... Gwen? ...Gwen?"
Gwen stopped when Morgana's hand touched her shoulder, a shuddering sob of fear escaping her.
"I can't go home."
Morgana squeezed her shoulder gently, in support.
"It's understandable, to feel so alone."
Gwen pulled free of her grasp, moving away, a single quiet word reaching her mistress's ears.
"...Tauren."
"Tauren?"
Morgana hurried after her, concerned, and Gwen explained.
"He attacked me, threatened me. He was looking for some kind of stone."
"Stone?"
Gwen's eyes were full of frantic fear.
"He said if I didn't bring it to him he'd kill me. He's waiting for me in the Darkling Woods. I have to do something. If I don't get the stone to him by dawn tomorrow" Morgana's expression hardened, and she headed for the door, Gwen calling out after her. "What are you going to do?"
Morgana looked back.
"I'm going to send the guards, of course. It won't be you that Tauren meets, it will be the Knights of Camelot."
She left the room, but halted and ducked into the first alcove she came to. Her eyes were darkened with anger, her expression set into a frown of controlled fury. If anyone could help her make Uther pay, it was Tauren, and Gwen had just told her exactly where she could find him. But not only that...
...The stone he wanted was certainly the one she had found two days ago at Tom's forge, when she'd gone there looking for Gwen before finding out she had stayed with Merlin and Gaius. The stone she would now return to him in good faith when she made her proposal of alliance.
~(-)~
The shiver in his mind jolted him awake, just as it had the night of Tom's arrest. He was out of his bed in the blinking of an eye, pulling on clothing as quietly and quickly as he could.
It was closer this time, much closer. Definitely inside the castle.
Merlin hurried silently down the steps from his room, snaking his way across the outer chamber and to the door without disturbing the snoring physician in his bed there. He'd said he'd try find the stone if he got the chance and the time, and this was that even if it meant losing sleep. He didn't want to feel helpless like he had with Tom, he wanted to make a difference and stop what Tauren was planning.
He didn't feel the shiver again, cursing as he neared the central courtyard and looked out of an overlooking window. That chance glance revealed movement, a figure in a cloak sneaking out through the gates.
Merlin broke into a run to the ground floor, racing across the courtyard as fast as secrecy would allow, and praying he'd catch up to the figure. At one point when they turned to look behind them, and he was forced to duck into the shadows, he at last saw who it was. Morgana, sneaking out of the city an hour before dawn... and turning south towards the Darkling Woods, the most dangerous section of forest close to the city. Dangerous unless you were a skilled warrior or skilled with magic.
Which was exactly what Tauren was.
He muttered to himself under his breath, hoping she wasn't doing what he thought she might be. But he couldn't stop her, to try would mean either admitting he'd been awake and snooping around close enough to her rooms or the courtyard to have seen her by chance, or admitting he'd sensed the stone he was sure she was carrying and it had woken him. Somehow neither of those seemed a good idea.
Dawn was just breaking when they reached the edge of the Darkling Woods, the only part of them that could really be considered safe by any stretch of the imagination. Morgana followed the clearest available trail through the undergrowth, progressing slowly and tentatively until Merlin saw what she didn't see until a moment later.
He ducked into cover behind a tree, as Tauren and three other men came out of hiding and surrounded Morgana. He was considering stepping in to save her when, when the sorcerer's words revealed he'd threatened Gwen and told her to come here, and he drew his sword and pressed it to Morgana's chest. But then that idea ceased when five totally unexpected words passed her lips.
'I want Uther dead too.'
He ducked back into hiding, barely able to believe it, but then he glanced out again and saw the hate in her eyes as she struck her bargain with Tauren and went on her way.
Merlin hurried away as well, circling wide of her but going at a much quicker pace. He needed to get back to the city, preferably before anyone noticed he was gone. For the first time in months he sped his time up, using it to sprint to the castle in a matter of minutes what would have taken him half-an hour at a steady run. He didn't care about the headache when he stopped, nor did he care about retching his guts out as consequence. All he wanted was for no one to know he'd been gone, so no one would question him and take away his time to think.
Think about stopping Morgana getting Uther killed... or if he even wanted to.
~(-)~
Alaia Skyhawk: A few alternate PoV here, some added lines, and one scene I really think the show should have had. If they could give Will a funeral, then why not Tom? Even if it had only been a few seconds of Gwen with Merlin and Gaius beside a pyre, the impact would have been enormous. Still, it means that I got to add it.