Alaia Skyhawk: And here's part two... Merlin is not going to be a happy bunny...
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: Hear Our Prayer (Yuki Kajiura)
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A
~(-)~
Chapter 74: Le Morte D'Arthur ~Part 2~
The door of the physician's chambers clattered open, Gaius glancing at it long enough to see Merlin enter. He then returned his attention to the potion he had just finished mixing.
"Merlin, I need you to take this to Arthur. It's to ease his passing."
The young warlock barely looked at him, instead busying himself with gathering together a small bag of travel supplies.
"No, we have to save him."
Gaius pausing in his work, frowning.
"You've already tried."
Merlin finished wrapping a chunk of bread, now moving towards where he'd left his water canteen at some point.
"The beast comes from the Old Religion, the cure must come from there as well."
"There are not many left with such an art."
His ward returned to the table, placing the container beside the wrapped bread.
"You said yourself that the Old Religion is still alive. There's an island beyond the White Mountains-"
"No."
Merlin blinked at the sudden and vehement interruption, his unsaid words drifting from his lips as his mentor strode over to him.
"...The Isle of the Blessed. You know it?"
Gaius went quiet, bowing his head in admittance.
"It was said to be the centre of the Old Religion; the focus of its power."
Merlin felt a sense of anger rising, anger at not being trusted enough to be told. If Gaius had known about the island, then surely he'd known help could be sought there. He'd been ready to stand back and watch Arthur die rather than mention it.
"Why did you keep this from me?"
Gaius regarded him solemnly.
"Because it was too dangerous, Merlin."
"It's our only chance!" He picked up the bread and canteen, storming towards his room to get a bag to put them in. "I have to find it."
His mentor's voice now verged on a shout.
"And what will you ask?"
"For Arthur to be saved."
Gaius watched him, rising fear for his ward evident in his manner.
"The Questing Beast has chosen Arthur. That means the Old Religion has decided his fate."
"Then I'll convince them to change their minds."
Merlin's growled words pushed Gaius over the edge, and this time he did shout.
"It's not that simple!" Merlin flinched, staring at him in hurt, and Gaius sighed. "The High Priest has the power to Mirror Life and Death, but there will be a price to pay. They will demand a life in return... Merlin, please. I beg of you."
Merlin simply stared back, his mind made up.
"I'm sorry, Gaius... Whatever the price is, I will pay it gladly."
He grabbed his bag and left the room, Gaius watching him go. He was just an old man, a withered old sorcerer whose magic couldn't begin to compare to his ward's. He was powerless to stop him from going, short of committing a steep betrayal of Merlin's trust and asking the king to bar the young man from leaving... Something Uther would not do if Merlin stated he was going to try and find a cure for Arthur.
Instead he stood there, feeling helpless, until he came to a decision of his own. He quickly found a pair of items from among his possessions, hurrying down to the stables to find Merlin just finishing saddling his horse.
The old man handed over the first, an old map clearly showing the Isle. If he could not stop Merlin from going, he could at least support him in his decision.
"Here, you'll need a map... And I'm going to give you this."
He passed over a smaller item, a tiny bundle of cloth wrapped around something, and Merlin accepted it.
"What is it?"
Gaius smiled sadly as the warlock unwrapped what was within.
"My mother gave it to me. It's a rabbit's foot."
Merlin looked down at it, the foot on its cord still in perfect condition despite the number of years it must have been. He then regarded his mentor.
"To keep you safe."
Gaius sighed, becoming a little flustered.
"Well it was said to protect you from evil spirits. It's rubbish, I don't believe in superstition." He reached towards it. "I don't know why I gave it to y-."
"No." Merlin pulled it closer to him and out of Gaius' reach, smiling at him for the thought behind the gesture. "I want it. Thank you." He pocketed it, then grabbing the front of his horse's saddle and pulling himself up. "You've got to keep Arthur alive until I get back. I'll ride as fast as Bitan lets me."
He kicked the horse into a trot, guiding the gelding towards the gate that bypassed the town, Gaius watching him go.
As soon as Merlin was out of sight, he returned inside the castle and went to Arthur's chambers, standing at the door listening as Arthur moaned in nightmares and delirium, and Uther gently hushed him with soft words and a touch of his hand to his son's brow. So many people dearly wished for the prince to recover, was it really so surprising the lengths that Merlin was willing to go to see that happen?
The physician entered the room, approaching the king and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You should go rest, Sire. I will keep watch over him."
Uther turned and looked up at him, nodding, clearly having been fighting tears.
"Thank you, Gaius. Let me know if his condition changes."
"Yes, Sire."
The king left the room, Gaius watching him go, before he placed himself in the chair beside the bed and settled down to wait. If Merlin rode as hard as he expected, despite the distance to the Isle, he would be back sometime after noon tomorrow.
It was some time later that Gwen entered the room, finding a sleeping prince and a sleeping physician. Gaius had dozed off in his chair, the stresses of the past day clearly having exhausted him. She knocked to wake him, speaking as he jolted to awareness.
"Gaius, you should get some rest."
The physician looked to Arthur.
"He must not be left alone."
The maid urged him up out of his chair and towards the door.
"I will nurse him." Knowing nothing he said would deter her, Gaius nodded and left, Gwen then lifting the cloth from Arthur's brow to dampen it again. She then sat on the edge of the bed, using it to gently wipe the fevered sweat from his face. "You're not going to die, Arthur. I'm telling you, because I know that one day you will be king." She paused, a flicker of pain in her eyes. "A greater king than your father could ever be. It's what keeps me going." She lowered her hand, her voice and expression urging him. "You are going to live to be the man I've seen inside you, Arthur. I can see a Camelot that is fair and just. I can see a king that the people will love, and be proud to call their sovereign. For the love of Camelot, you have to live."
Gwen took hold of his hand, clutching it tight and willing for him to heed her words. A prayer mirrored in the hearts of the people who had gathered in the courtyard outside, stood in candle vigil as dusk fell.
~(-)~
The dawn light barely pierced the mists among the trees, Bitan echoing his rider's wariness in his snorts and whickering. Merlin didn't blame him, needing only the barest level of meditation to sense the ley lines that intersected somewhere not too far ahead. It was like heading towards the centre of a vast, spoked wheel, almost a dozen ley all coming together, and it made the whole area shiver with power and magic.
Merlin kept the horse going with a whispered reassurance in the Old Tongue, aware that the gelding was also tired. He'd stopped to rest only during the darkest part of the night, and only for three or four hours, lighting the path the rest of the time using his magic. His body was craving sleep, but his heart and head urged him onwards. He could not stop until he'd gotten what he'd come for, and taken it back to Camelot.
The trees began to give way to further mists, the path opening up onto the shore of a lake. It was cloaked in fog like ethereal veils, the spires and towers of a half-ruined castle visible near its centre. Close by, at the lake's edge, he could also see a narrow and battered wooden dock. A single oar-less boat resting in the water beside it, untethered and yet remaining in place.
If he'd had any doubts of magic being in evidence here, that boat alone was proof enough that there was.
Merlin dismounted at the end of the dock, tying Bitan to the post there and for the first time not trusting that a command from him would keep him there. The horse was nervous, or maybe he was contributing to it. Normally just having him close by was enough for the gelding to barely flick an ear at anything, like he trusted him to keep him safe. It's sort of hard to remain calm, when the one you depend on is terrified.
He forced himself away from those thoughts, heading out along the wooden pier and stepping down into the boat, the bell hung on the bow clanging mournfully as the vessel rocked. With no oars to use to propel it, it was obvious there was only one way to use it to reach the island.
"Astyre."
It set into motion at his command, Merlin sitting down within it watching the waters drift past and the castle come more fully into view. He might have thought it was Uther who had ruined this place, but something inside him said it had been this way for a lot longer than Uther had existed. Like a reminder that even in a place that looked dead, you would also find life. A contradiction and a lesson, one reflecting the power at the heart of the Old Religion.
The sense of ancient magic grew stronger, the boat reaching the island and floating along a walled canal. When it finally stopped, beside an opening leading to a stairway, it was with great caution that he climbed out and ascended them. But for all his thoughts about what he might find, he did not expect what he saw.
It was an old courtyard, floored with grass and dominated by a circle of stones the height of a man, an elaborately carved altar stood at their centre. The world seemed to have gone silent in this place, like time had stood still, and turning his back on the altar Merlin called out.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Merlin..."
The woman's voice from behind him made him turn, turn and see that where before there had been no one, there now stood a figure of terrible familiarity. She eyed him almost with amusement, long dark hair hanging in loose locks, cold blue eyes set into her face of flawless beauty. That her red dress was tattered meant nothing, in fact it was more like she reflected the same lesson as the ruins did. The pristine and the flawed, the new and the old, that to have one you also needed the other.
He stared, eyes narrowing.
"You."
She smiled at his reaction.
"Do you know who I am?"
Merlin nodded.
"Nimueh." Her smile widened in affirmation, and he started to shake his head in denial. "You can't be who the dragon meant."
Nimueh regarded him, curious.
"And why is that?"
"You tried to kill me."
Nimueh sighed, placing a hand on the edge of the altar.
"That was before I understood your importance. Once I knew, I made sure not to harm you or the prince in my quest for Uther's head."
Merlin glared.
"And what about the wraith? That thing would have killed him? How is that not trying to harm Arthur?"
Nimueh shook her head at his ignorance.
"You underestimate me, Merlin. The threat to Arthur was an illusion, one to force Uther to take up the challenge. He would never have come forth and fought otherwise, you know him well enough to know that I am right in that regard." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Although I will admit that I underestimated you as well that day. I had no idea the Great Dragon trusted you enough to have aided you in making that weapon. But, that is not your reason for being here. You accuse me of trying to kill the prince, and while it is true I did try once, I would never do so again. He is not destined to die at my hand, and now it seems I will be his salvation."
Merlin gritted his teeth, wishing right now that it were anyone but her he had to ask this of.
"So you know what I've come to ask. Will you do it?"
She watched him, solemn.
"I do not have the power to Mirror life itself, and not give something in return. To save a life there must be a death, the balance of the world must be restored."
Merlin held himself straight, taking a deep breath.
"I willingly give my life for Arthur's."
Her amused smile became almost a smirk.
"How brave you are, Merlin, if only it were that simple... But, if you are sure, then come forward, but be aware that once the bargain is struck it cannot be undone."
Merlin took a step towards her, certain.
"Whatever it is I have to do, I will do it. His life is worth a hundred of mine."
She reached over the altar, a large silver goblet appearing in her grasp, one that she held out towards him.
"The Cup of Life; blessed by centuries of powerful sorcerers, so that it contains the very secret of life itself. If Arthur drinks water from the Cup, he will live." Merlin joined her at the altar, accepting the cup when it was passed to him, Nimueh then raising her hands to the sky. "Tidrenas!"
Both of them looked up, the clouds above unleashing a torrent of rain, before it stopped and she took the now filled cup from him. She poured the water within it into an ornate silver vial the shape of a dagger sheath, holding it out to him. "The bargain is struck... I hope it pleases you."
She grabbed his wrist as she said it, the look in her eyes making him wary once again as he accepted the vial.
"...Thank you."
The words were grudging, but she did not seem offended as he walked away to return to the boat. In fact her smile only widened, as her eyes drifted to a barely visible bulge in his jacket pocket.
"A mother's wish to protect her son, a symbol of that desire... Who am I to argue with such earnest love?"
~(-)~
Little heed was paid to the servant who charged into the stables late the following day, more attention paid to the fact the gelding was sweated through than to any urgency from the rider.
Merlin quickly settled Bitan, brushing him down swiftly to evade any fuss from the stablehands, but at the same time aware that precious moments were trickling away. He left the horse munching its way through a well-earned scoop of grain and net of hay, sprinting through the castle as fast as he could afterwards without drawing unnecessary attention.
When he burst into Gaius' chambers holding the silver vial, the old man ceased in what he was doing.
"Merlin."
The warlock hurried over to him, handing him the vial.
"We need to give this to Arthur. It's water drawn from the Cup of Life; if he drinks it, Arthur will recover. Please hurry."
He started to shoo his mentor towards the door, only for Gaius to turn and regard him in concern.
"What price did you pay to redeem his life? Who's life did you bargain?"
Merlin had a flicker of guilt in his eyes, both of them didn't need him to answer to know.
"We don't have time. Don't worry, Gaius, everything is going to be all right."
For a moment the physician felt an almost irresistible desire to tip the contents of the vial to the floor, but if he betrayed Merlin in such a fashion, he knew his ward would never forgive him. He could only submit to the warlock, when he was bustled from the room and led to Arthur's chambers. Once again he could only concede that if he did not want to risk sending Merlin into some outburst of insane and grief-stricken magic, he had no choice but to do as he wished. He remembered the destruction at the canyon in the woods, destruction caused by the outpouring of pain at the death of Will. Arthur had become a far closer and important friend to Merlin than Will had been, and to lose him now after going through so much...
What level of destruction that would wreak, didn't bear thinking about.
It was a grim-faced and still reluctant physician who poured the water in the vial past the prince's lips a few minutes later, Arthur's head cradled by the manservant who had gone to these lengths to save him.
That was when the door had opened to reveal the king, Uther startled to see Gaius giving a remedy to the supposedly beyond help Arthur. Merlin beat a hasty retreat and left them to talk, left his mentor telling the king the blatant lie that the water was actually a tincture said to be a cure for poisonous bites. He didn't want to linger in the room, not when he had no idea when or how the price of that water would be asked of him.
He didn't want to put Gaius in an awkward situation should he suddenly drop dead...
Outside in the hallway, when he least expected it, a hand lashed out from an alcove and brought him to a halt, Morgana's terrified and haunted gaze pinning him to where he stood.
"Merlin, this is just the beginning... Just the beginning."
He felt a chill pass through him, knowing that look in her eyes. Her visions, she'd seen something in her nightmares, and for a moment he had to wonder if she'd seen him die.
Merlin pulled away from her sharply, as though stepping back from the strike of a snake, and hurried away from her trying to calm his pounding heart. He returned to the Gaius' chambers, pacing back and forth there as agonising hours passed. Soon dusk began to creep over the city and castle, the wait pushing him to the verge of rushing out again in anxiety until Gaius finally returned.
Entering the room, he saw the question in Merlin's eyes and answered it.
"The prince lives."
Relief, unutterable relief and joy flooded through him, Merlin breaking into a smile even as he ran his hands through his hair in some attempt not to explode from it. And then he sat, his smile fading as a knowing look passed between them. Arthur's life had been saved, and the balance would demand the payment for it.
Merlin made himself smile again, this time in apology, before quietly retreating to his room. He wasn't going to say anything, the thought of it was too painful and would be cruel to his mentor. It wouldn't be fair to make Gaius listen to him saying goodbye.
~(-)~
"I thought we'd lost you."
"Don't worry, Father, I'm not going to die." Arthur smiled at the king from where he lay, Uther's hand on his shoulder as he returned it. The past two days, they were like a dream. Locked into realm from which there had been no escape, icy claws pulling him to oblivion until something came and forced them to let go. Something warm and comforting, like the touch of his father's hand. "I think maybe there's someone watching over me, keeping me from harm."
The king continued to smile, his joy at this miracle still too strong for him to do anything otherwise.
"Maybe you're right. On your long journey to become king, you will need an guardian angel." He paused, before heading for the door. "I will inform the court that their prince lives."
He left the room, passing Gwen just as she entered with fresh cloths and a basin of water. His smile was enough to make her hesitate in puzzlement at why he should be so happy, until she saw that Arthur was awake and watching her.
She stared at him, her frown changing to a smile.
"I knew it. I said you'd be all right."
Gwen turned, dipping the first of the cloths into the basin, while behind her Arthur raised a hand and gestured towards her back.
"I can remember you talking to me."
She hesitated, evasive.
"You can?"
Arthur nodded, frowning as he searched his memory of it.
"You stroked my forehead."
"I was just tending to your fever."
"You never lost faith."
Gwen kept her back to him, trying not to become flustered.
"I was just talking."
Arthur looked to her once more.
"Tell me again what you said?"
She bit her lip.
"I don't remember."
Arthur started to smile, knowing that she was embarrassed.
"Yes you do."
"No, I don't."
His smile widened.
"Come on, something about 'the man I am inside'."
She was starting to become a little exasperated now, from the hint of laughter in his tone. She picked the basin up and turned, trying to be firm.
"No, I never said that."
"Guinevere..."
She averted her eyes, a hint of a blush colouring her cheeks as she quickly made an excuse to leave.
"I have to get these washed, Sire."
She hurried from the room, Arthur still smiling as he watched her go. She might have been embarrassed that he remembered her words, but he felt touched that she'd uttered them at all. If she thought he would make such a great king, one the people would love and be proud to serve, then he had all the more reason to recover.
But while Arthur lay starting to think about that future, in another room in a tower the other side of the castle, Merlin sat on the edge of his bed in nervous silence thinking only about the past. Outside the clouds overhead were rumbling with thunder, back and forth as though a giant were pacing about in the sky to mirror his desire to pace back and forth in his room.
Merlin just remained there, the rabbit's foot in his grasp, waiting, until he forced himself to blow out his candles and lie down. Arthur lived, and so now he waited...
Waited to die...
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Alaia Skyhawk: Man, that end was super angsty, but man is Merlin going to be pissed when he wakes up in the morning and finds... well, you know. Also, you may have noticed I've played the significance of the rabbit's foot more. When you see it in the episode it seems almost like a pointless addition thrown in as an excuse for one cute father/son moment between Gaius and Merlin. So much of the symbolism, and how it might have actually influenced what happened, was either never shown or is so small it was lost amongst everything else.