As Anna and Gwaine strolled arm-in-arm through the town, Gwaine told her about his family.

"And then there's my sister," he said darkly.

"What's she like?"

Gwaine opened his mouth to describe her in the usual terms—'a toad'—and then realized Anna probably wouldn't like that. "She's awful," he said. "When we were thrown out of the castle and traveling around, all she would do was complain. She kept taking things out on our mother. It wasn't Mama's fault that sonofabitch kicked us out. And it wasn't her fault we didn't have money for nice clothes or food and sometimes had to work at the manor houses we stayed at." He took a deep breath. "She got engaged and went to live with her fiancé's family—and almost entirely stopped talking to us. It broke our mother's heart. So when she died, I didn't even bother to tell Florie where I was going. I just left."

"Is that the last time you saw her?" He nodded. "How old was she?"

He calculated for a moment. "Eighteen."

"Gwaine." She stopped in her tracks and he stopped too, confused. "Are you telling me you're judging an adult woman based on what she was like as a teenager?"

He blinked at her. "Yes. I suppose I am," he said at last.

"Nobody deserves to be judged by what they do at that age," she stated categorically, walking on. "You said you were very poor?"

"Yes?"

"And she was probably interested in boys—boys of a certain class—and didn't want them to know how poor you were."

He frowned, remembering how Florie would disappear for a few hours, wearing her nicest dress, and then refuse to tell her mother where she had been. "Maybe."

After a moment Anna suggested, "Perhaps, when this is all over, you could find her. See how she is. Maybe she's sorry now for the way she behaved. Maybe she misses you. You could go visit Annis's kingdom."

"We," he said, smiling down at her. "We could visit."

She smiled and took his hand. "We."

000

They had stayed up too late the night before celebrating their victory with the soldiers to have time to talk, so Arthur, Merlin and Gwen met in Arthur's room that evening to talk. Merlin filled Gwen in on the things he had told Arthur the night before.

"So it was the dragon who told you to poison Morgana," Gwen clarified.

"Yes. When I first found out that Morgana had magic, Kilgharrah told me it was better if she never learned the true extent of her powers. But I didn't listen. I encouraged her to seek out the Druids. And when Morgana fell and was at death's door, the Dragon didn't want to help me save her—he said if she died Arthur's doom would never come on him. Kilgharrah also told me, when Mordred first came to Morgana, to let the boy die. He said that Mordred would one day kill Arthur."

Gwen and Arthur both looked horrified. "But Mordred loves Arthur," Gwen objected. "He would never harm him!"

"Not now." Merlin explained about the ultimatum of the Disir. "But when you legalized magic, it changed everything. The Dís said their judgment no longer hung over Camelot—that Mordred would not be the instrument of your doom."

"So a destiny can change," Gwen said quietly.

"Yes. But that's the only thing the Dragon has ever told me that didn't come true," Merlin pointed out. "When Morgana learned that she had magic… things didn't turn out so well."

"Are you sorry?" Arthur asked. "That you didn't kill her when you had the chance?"

Merlin thought for a moment. "No," he said at last. "I wish she hadn't caused as much harm as she has—but that was her decision. I felt that letting her die when I could save her would be wrong—it would be like murder. To die in battle is one thing; to murder is another." He thought for a moment. "Kilgharrah doesn't know everything. It turned out well in Mordred's case—he's no longer a threat. Perhaps Morgana may someday be the same. I think there's some good in her yet."

They were all silent for awhile. "There's one thing you haven't told us yet," Arthur said at last. "What did you mean when you said I was Emrys?"

"That's what the Druids call me," Merlin explained, turning a little pink. "There is a prophecy about me. I don't know all of us, but it is said that Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King, will unite the land of Albion. My job as Emrys is to keep you safe so that you can do it. Kilgharrah said that without me, you will never succeed: there will be no Albion."

He looked up at Arthur in a little trepidation, but Arthur and Gwen were grinning at each other. "Well, judging from the number of times you saved my life while I was conveniently unconscious," Arthur said, clapping Merlin on the back, "I think you've fulfilled your destiny already." Merlin grinned. "So why is Morgana so afraid of you?"

"She's afraid of Emrys. She doesn't know I'm him. When Agravaine was working for her, she was desperate to find out who I was."

"And if she does find out?"

"It will be a repeat of the time she poisoned me. She'll make sure to get me out of the way first."

"And then you won't be able to help us when she attacks." Arthur nodded. "Luckily, only the knights knew that you possessed Anna. We'll tell them all to keep it a secret and hope word never gets back to her."

There was a knock at the door, and Geoffrey and Gaius entered. "We have come to report on the information we found on Elïavrés, also known as the Gaul," Geoffrey announced.

Arthur waved them to chairs. "Please."

"Most of what we have on his life after he came to Albion is rumor. For the most part, he chooses to act through others. He has been a shadowy power behind three, possibly four thrones, all of which came to ruin," Geoffrey said, spreading out the papers and books he had brought, and opening one tome in particular. "The fullest account we have of his doings is from the first kingdom he destroyed: that of Caradoc, king of Gwent."

Gaius jumped in with the air of someone trying to stop Geoffrey from going into too much detail. "There is a particularly nasty part at the beginning where he places a spell on Caradoc which causes the king to—ahem—confuse various animals with his wife in the bedroom. Meanwhile, Elïavrés had an affair with Caradoc's queen. Caradoc raised their son, Freichfras, as his own. When Freichfras discovered the truth, he went after Elïavrés."

Geoffrey cleared his throat with a look that communicated his annoyance that Gaius had taken over as the historian in this little conference. "In the fight, Elïavrés summoned a serpent that wrapped itself about Freichfras's arm, crippling him and draining away his life's energy." He pulled out another book. "There are other cases of such spells. I refer first to the Life of Tatheus, which states—"

"Suffice it to say," Gaius finished, "Freichfras barely managed to escape with his life. His arm was crippled ever after, and he suffered from such ill health that after Caradoc died, Freichfras himself, the only potential heir to the throne of Gwent, died two years later. After that, Elïavrés disappears from the records except as a shadowy figure. He learned his lesson, and seems to have exerted his power more subtly, preferring to protect himself through secrecy and insidious influence. The fact that he has aligned himself with Morgana indicates that he considers her a considerable force—though it is likely he will ultimately betray her. But probably not until after he helps her conquer Camelot. If she wins, that is," he corrected himself quickly.

"Meanwhile, his power is nothing to sniff at," Geoffrey added, glaring at Gaius out of the corner of his eye. "The incident with Caradoc and the animals is an example of the kind of sick pleasure he takes in cruelty, and from all accounts, his magical abilities are… quite impressive. The fact that he has something to teach Morgana demonstrates that."

Arthur shook his head. "Thank you, gentlemen. I imagine Morgana and the Gaul are raising an army for the next onslaught. I would suggest that we do the same."

TBC


AN: Sorry, this chapter was all talking heads. More action in chapter 64!