Season 1 Episode 12.

Story 12: Hidden

Chapter 2: The Maidservant

Gwen stood there for a long time, thoughts swirling around her head until she saw Merlin move. Her eyes followed him as if the more she studied him, the more she would understand exactly what he was. Merlin was walking towards a tree where Gwen could vaguely make out a shadowy figure. Gwen hoped it was Tauren. If it wasn't him, it was no doubt some other sorcerer. Gwen wasn't sure how much more she could handle.

The man stepped out of the shadows and sure enough it was Tauren. Tauren noticed Merlin and took a step towards him confidently. "Acwele," Merlin said again. Before the energy could hit him, Tauren pulled out a stone and used it to collect the power from Merlin's spell. He sent it right back to Merlin.

Watching Merlin fall to the ground snapped Gwen out of her haze. She forced herself to stay rooted until Tauren had left. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. That blast of energy had killed the other two men. She had to pray it wouldn't do the same for him. She cared about Merlin far too much to lose him. No matter what she tried, he stayed oblivious to her feelings. Whether that was because he was truly oblivious or he didn't reciprocate her feelings she didn't know. But she couldn't bear for him to die. "Merlin!" She called after Tauren was out of earshot. She ran to where Merlin was lying. He looked so pale. "Merlin!"

Merlin didn't move when she called his name. Gwen crouched down and brought her hand near his nose. She let out a sigh of relief when she felt spurts of warm air on her hand. He was still breathing. He was alive!

Gwen knew she should be frightened because Merlin was a sorcerer, but she wasn't. Perhaps it was because Morgana constantly complained about how she felt Uther's treatment of anyone who had magic was cruel, but Gwen didn't think Merlin would hurt her. He may have killed two men, but it was so he could save Uther and stop Morgana from doing something she may regret.

Gwen knelt by Merlin and shook him lightly. "Merlin," she called, hoping he would wake up. There was still no movement. Gwen closed her eyes trying to think about what Gaius had always done to awaken those who had been knocked out. Water! Cold water.

Gwen hoped some water would wake him up. She didn't know what else to try. She took her waterskin and poured it over Merlin. He sat up gasping. "What the hell was that?" He asked, looking around him. He remembered what Tauren had done. He brought his hand to his head. It was throbbing. He wasn't entirely surprised. He had just been hit by a burst of energy.

When Merlin noticed Gwen, he looked at her confused. "What are you doing here?" He asked her. Then he went pale. Had she followed him? How much had she seen? "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough, but we can talk about that later. You must save Uther from Tauren. Neither he nor Morgana have the power to combat him," Gwen told him. "And you do. You can save him."

Merlin nodded as he stumbled to his feet. He nearly fell, but Gwen steadied him.

"Are you alright?" Gwen asked him anxiously.

Merlin nodded. "I'm fine. Just a little dizzy," he told her.

Merlin heard the faint sounds of a scuffle. He ran towards the sound and he could hear Gwen behind him. When Merlin saw Tauren, he was wrestling with the king. Tauren held a dagger, but Uther was weaponless. There was a sword on the ground, but it was too far away from them. Uther would never be able to reach it.

Merlin watched as each fought for dominance. Without a weapon, he knew Uther wouldn't have a prayer of defeating Tauren. Merlin waited until it was inevitable that Tauren would kill the king. He had hoped that some miracle would help Uther so he wouldn't have to use magic, but it wasn't meant to be. Tauren was hovering over the king, his arm outstretched with a dagger.

"Acwele seo magdp," Merlin whispered. The last thing he needed was someone noticing him.

Just like that, Tauren died. He collapsed on Uther. Merlin turned to Gwen. "We need to get out of here," Merlin told her. If they were seen, Uther would have them killed. As it was, it was dangerous for them to be this close to them, particularly for Gwen. If Merlin was seen, Arthur might be able to spin some lie to spare him, but Gwen would be shown no mercy.

Uther pushed Tauren off of him and stared at the body. "He's dead," he said confused. "But he has no mortal wounds." Uther could not understand what had happened. One moment Tauren had been alive, the next dead.

There was only one possibility. Sorcery had been used. Perhaps Tauren had killed himself to spare himself a more painful death, but Uther didn't think that was the case. He hadn't heard Tauren say anything.

"I don't know how my lord," Morgana said frightened. She didn't know how Tauren could have just died. It was like magic, but Tauren was the only one here that had magic. Morgana was still frazzled by what had happened. She had been so eager for Uther's death and she hadn't realized until it was upon them how much she didn't want it.

Uther looked around, searching for anything suspicious, and saw two figures disappearing into the woods. He recognized the female. It was Morgana's maidservant. Uther cursed himself. He knew he should have had the girl restrained. She was dangerous. This wasn't the first time that Uther had suspected her of sorcery. Now he had proof.

"It is not safe here," Uther said quietly. He was worried the maidservant might come back and try to do more harm. Morgana was too precious to him for any ill will to befall her. "We must return."

Uther and Morgana were quiet as they returned to Camelot. Morgana was quiet as she contemplated Uther's earlier words. He had admitted he was wrong which was unprecedented for the king. She felt honored that she was one of the few capable of getting through to him.

Uther was quiet as he considered the maidservant. Part of being king was doing what was right even if it might hurt those closest to him. He knew Guinevere was there to avenge her father's death. She must have asked Tauren for help and then killed him when she knew he had no hope for success. It was just like a sorcerer to betray their own kind. There was no sense of loyalty in a sorcerer. Only evil.

Uther knew this would hurt Morgana, but he needed to do what was best for his kingdom. If he allowed a sorceress to reside at the heart of Camelot, her evil and corruption would spread like a disease until she has poisoned every decent man and woman in Camelot. Morgana's maidservant had magic and she couldn't be allowed to live.