A/N Another character gets added here and you'll find that's the pattern of the next couple of chapters too - giving you a nice little "who's next?" game to play.
Chapter 3
"How did you protect yourself from the cold?" Gwen pushed when Merlin didn't answer her straight away.
"I've a shield, a bubble of sorts, keeping the warmth in." He said it quietly, carelessly, his mind obviously miles away.
"So? Can you do that for me?" she asked.
"I think I can remember the spell?"
"But … how did you cast it on yourself if you can't remember it?"
"I didn't. Well, I did … but it sort of happened whilst I was asleep."
"Sorry?"
"My magic is a bit different ... a bit unusual."
"What do you mean? Merlin?" He looked at her properly and this time the fear was more evident. For the first time she'd seen through his 'disguise' and it unnerved her.
"I've been running through all sorts of plans in my head since this started. I've no idea if or when an attack is going to happen and I don't know if I have enough magic to stop it all by myself. It might not even be an attack. If this spell remains in place then there is no king, no future King Arthur … the people of Camelot no longer need be afraid of Uther and magic could return, just as the sorcerer probably wants but … somehow I don't think that's the case. I doubt this type of spell can simply run indefinitely."
"So, what are you saying?"
"I do need some help, and that means I do need to try to shield someone - or a couple of people - and I'm not entirely sure if that will work so … I suppose, if you're willing I can try it on you and find out. See if it protects you. See how hard it is to keep your shield and mine working at the same time. See if I can keep three up …"
"Arthur?" She asked hopefully. Merlin pulled a face.
"Not my first choice. How would I explain all of this to him? How could I use magic to defend us? No, it will have to be Gaius as he already knows and can be of help researching."
"Yes, I suppose you're right." She was disappointed and he understood that. Right now, he'd really like to have Arthur beside him too, giving him tactical advice but … now was not the time.
"Anyway. I think you're right about this shield. If it doesn't work, at least you won't freeze whilst you're out here and, if it starts to fail, you'll be close enough to the tunnel entrance to come back out. Yes." He looked at her again and noticed her swallow slightly. He grinned. "Changing your mind?" The fear flickered in her eyes and then abruptly disappeared. Merlin suspected she'd just thought about Arthur.
"No. Do what you have to." She stood tall, her shoulders back, looking just like the Lady that she now was, and Merlin smiled at her confidence whilst telling himself off for noticing just how low cut her dress was now that she had relaxed her shawl. He lifted a hand towards her, chanted the words of the spell and pushed his magic out towards her and deep into her heart."
"Ooh." She swayed slight and put a hand to her chest.
"What?"
"Feels all warm ..." Merlin smiled again, focused on that warmth and pulled it back out slowly creating a similar shield to his own. He experimented with it a little; pulling his concentration away from her and seeing if it would stay. It wavered slightly and he sighed, disappointed. Holding her shield was not going to be instinctive as he'd hoped. He would have to keep one part of his mind on her constantly and that could be dangerous.
"Gwen. If anything happens to me in there, your shield will fail. Everyone in there is frozen but I don't think they're dead – I think the spell kept them alive as it started to work. However, I'm not sure what will happen to you if your shield suddenly disappears in there. It's quite possible you'll just freeze... die..."
"Because I wasn't in there when the enchantment was cast?"
"Yes but then, unless I can undo this spell, the others might as well be dead anyway. If the enchantment can't be undone that they're all going to be like that forever."
"All the more reason for me to be there with you. Knowing you, you'd probably just fall over your own feet and knock yourself out anyway." She looked up at him with a frown. "Or is that just part of your act?"
He winced, "No, that's just me." He grinned at her then and was relieved to see a ghost of a smile in return. "However, saying that, it is very icy in there so we both need to be careful not to slip." He moved to the gates and quickly released the locks with his magic again. He felt Gwen stiffen next to him.
"How much can you do with this?" she asked.
"Quite a bit, but I'm still learning. I do need to re-lock these gates though. Uther secured them like this for a reason."
"So, what now?"
Merlin realised how much of a relief it was to have another share his secret. "First we need to check there is no-one coming to attack us and then I need to do a bit of reading."
As they made their way through the tunnel, Merlin found himself constantly glancing at his friend to make sure she was still alright. They were now definitely back in the enchanted part of the castle; obvious by the sparkling ice walls and light covering of snow on the floor. Gwen just nodded back, looking nervous but determined and the pair made their way up through the undercroft, past the frozen guards outside the prison cells, and up the long flight of stairs into the Palace itself.
Her shield continued to hold and the pair quickly made their way up to Gaius' chambers. Gwen gasped as she saw the old man, sprinkled white with ice and, like Merlin had before, hurried to his side.
"Oh, but that's awful. Are they all like that?"
"I'm afraid so."
"How do you know they're not dead?" she asked.
Merlin pointed to the spider in it's web. "Tested it out on him … shame really." Gwen smiled at his obvious compassion for such a tiny creature.
"So?" She asked as Merlin studied Gaius carefully.
"I'm thinking about it. I'd better check my spell book." He quickly moved up the stairs and Gwen followed, watching as he lifted up a loose floorboard under his bed and took out a large, beautiful book from it's depths. He sat on his bed with it and flicked through the pages quickly, with the confidence of one used to such study.
"I'm still finding all of this so strange," she admitted. He looked up at her, surprised at the comment.
"Sorry … again. I've been doing this for years – had magic since I was a small child – had this book since I arrived here. It's not been easy but ..." He smiled at her. "I'm glad that you know Gwen. I've hated keeping it a secret for so long."
"When are you going to tell Arthur?" He pulled a face and turned back to his book, deliberately ignoring her. "Merlin?"
"I don't think he's ready."
"But, I assume you didn't think I was ready either?" The hurt in her voice was obvious.
"It wasn't that simple. I didn't want to make things awkward for you." He looked up at her then. "Will you keep my secret Gwen? Or would you feel obliged to tell Arthur?" She frowned and shook her head slightly. "How will you feel keeping something so big from someone you love?" She coloured. "How will he feel when he realises that you knew but didn't tell him?"
"Merlin!"
"Well, that's why I didn't tell you and, for that reason, I am sorry you found out, even though having you here is going to be a great help to me." He turned back to the book and studied it, occasionally shaking his head as he rapidly flicking through the pages. Eventually he tapped a page enthusiastically. "Yes, that's more like it. That should work better than trying to create an individual shield for everyone but … where? That's the question."
"Merlin?"
"What? Oh sorry." For a moment he'd been so engrossed he'd forgotten she was there. "Let's move into the other room." The pair moved back down the stairs and Merlin's eyes flicked around the general clutter until his eyes fell on the object he wanted. "Anything will do – I just need a focus for this spell - something that can keep working even when I'm not here." He'd picked up a strange metal rabbit mask with numerous holes in his ears and held it up to Gwen. "What do you think?" he asked with a grin.
"Hideous!" she exclaimed and he laughed loudly.
"My sentiments exactly. Right so ..." He looked around the room, moved a chair as close to the centre as he could, bit his lower lip, held out a hand and started to chant a long, complex spell. His eyes glowed gold and the mask followed shortly after. A few golden sparkles travelled up and down the metal for a while before apparently returning to it's normal state. Merlin said another few words, placed both palms together over the mask and slowly moved them apart – looking back and forth at both walls as he did. Apparently satisfied he nodded and let his arms drop.
"That looked very impressive and, to be honest, a little scary," said Gwen. Merlin gave another sheepish grin.
"Well, I think it worked … but I don't fancy dropping either of our shields yet, just in case." He picked up a water jug and tipped it towards Gwen so she could see the solid ice in it's depths. Then he cast the warming spell over it, poured a small amount onto a plate and then moved the water around studying it closely.
"It's not freezing," Gwen observed in an excited voice.
"No, and a small amount like this probably should have started to by now." He waited a few more seconds before nodding confidently.
"You've done it? Reversed the spell?"
"What! No. I love how much faith you have in me Gwen but I'm not that good. I've just created a shield around this room. I probably could push it out further: I suspect I'm going to have to at some point but … this didn't need that much power. So, now for the real test …"
He closed his eyes, concentrated and muttered two short words. Gwen saw a little flash of gold shimmer all around his body and then it was gone. She realised too late the gamble he had just taken.
"Merlin?" she asked as she saw him suddenly shiver.
"Goodness, that's cold."
"What? Quickly re-do it!"
"No, not that cold just … this shield isn't quite as cosy as the personal one … see?" Gwen suddenly shuddered as she felt the protective blanket around her disappear. She nodded her understanding; the room just felt like it would on a typical winter day. Cold, but not unbearably so.
"Why is Gaius still frozen?"
"Because he's basically solid ice and, even if it were hot in here it would take a while for him to thaw. Never mind … it's not a problem now, I can just use the same spell on him as I did on the spider. Saying that, it is still a bit cold in here for him, can you set the fire, Gwen and start to heat up some water?"
"Yes, of course." She started to move towards the fireplace.
"Oh Gwen, I am sorry ..." he suddenly apologised, one hand over his mouth.
"What?"
"I really should remember that you're not a servant any more."
"Don't be silly. Anyway, who else is going to do these things?" She suddenly grinned wickedly. "Unless you want to go and get Sara and put a shield around her?"
He looked at her suspiciously. "That maid you were assigned? Why?"
"Don't say you haven't noticed the way she is around you because she's even more obvious about it than ..." Sshe paused, her lips twisting slightly with embarrassment.
"Than who?"
"She really likes you," said Gwen trying to get the conversation back on track.
Merlin gave a small grunt and turned back to contemplate Gaius. Gwen laughed delightedly at his embarrassment.
"I really do need to concentrate here … my lady," he replied, grinning at the sudden silence that accompanied that comment: Two could play at that game. He stayed where he was, raised both palms towards the old man and muttered the spell. There was rather more of him than there was of the spider though so he held it there for a while, concentrating hard to ensure that he was warming him up thoroughly and evenly.
Gaius suddenly sat bolt upright with a cry of surprise.
"What? Merlin? I was having this dream ... it was … What's happening?"
"Magic, what else," said Merlin with a grin. Gaius suddenly saw Gwen.
"Merlin!" he hissed.
"It's alright, she knows." He winced.
"She does? Was that wise?"
"Any luck with that fire, Gwen?"
"No, it's too cold. I don't suppose you can ..?"
"Of course." He went over and lit it quickly and easily with magic. He grinned broadly at both Gwen and Gaius, delighted that he could now openly use his magic in front of another close friend.
"Are you cold, Gaius?" asked Gwen kindly.
"No, not now. I dreamt that I was freezing though … quite literally."
"You were, the whole of Camelot is still frozen," said Merlin and he quickly told him what had happened.
~o~0~o~
Gaius kept trying to ask Merlin more questions but the young warlock knew that time was ticking away and there were still a great many things that needed doing.
"I need you to research this spell," he interrupted. "I need to find out if it required a source here in Camelot, like the sleeping spell, or if it's been cast from outside. Once we know how it was done, I stand some chance of undoing it."
"This shield is holding well enough, couldn't you just extend it out even further?" his mentor asked.
"I could and I might have to but, I'd rather keep my magic for other things at the moment. Look, I've been away from the battlements for too long – I must go and check that there's no army here yet."
"You're going out there?" Gaius asked, obviously concerned.
"With my shield, yes."
"Shall I come again?" asked Gwen.
"No, you stay here, it'll be easier for me to move quickly without having to worry about you and I'll start shielding others one at a time and bring them back to this room."
"This shield will hold without you?" she asked.
"Yes, just make sure you don't move that mask around too much."
Merlin paused at the doorway and quickly cast the spell to create his own personal shield – this time whilst conscious. He had barely closed the door behind him when he felt a powerful, magical push and almost slipped on the floor in surprise. At first he thought that it indicated another sorcerer using a strong spell, or that he'd sensed the source of the enchantment but, as he felt a second strong push, he suddenly recognised it.
Someone was trying to get through the magical barrier he'd put on the gatehouse.
~o~0~o~
A/N Thank you for your lovely reviews. I'm really pleased that so many of you now have this on alert and delighted that it is interesting you. My original inspiration for this story was an Advent Calendar challenge on another site. I thought I might be able to do twenty-five short chapters but quickly chickened out, not confident enough I'd be able to keep it up.
Please R&R and speculate.
Edited 19/5/12