Season 1 Episode 12.

Story 12: Hidden

Chapter 15: The Sins of the Father

Gia looked towards Lancelot expectantly. Lancelot sighed. "I must apologize on behalf of Gia. She cannot speak. It is one of the reasons our wedding has been delayed. The other is that she cannot walk," Lancelot explained quietly. "Merlin says that he can repair the damage in her legs and vocal chords so that she can walk and talk again."

Gia smiled at Merlin affectionately. Arthur and Gwen stared at Merlin. It seemed that he had made a promise to everyone that he had ever met. It was one of the reasons Gwen loved him so much. He couldn't resist the urge to help someone in need.

"It happened only a week after Lilya was born," Lancelot said. His eyes got a far off look. "It was a little over two years ago. We had been staying in a village on the outskirts of Camelot, Gilling. Gia's village had been less then welcoming of the fact that we had had a child out of wedlock." Lancelot blushed. "It's not something I'm entirely proud of, but I wouldn't change a thing. I have the most perfect daughter in the world because of it."

"Some knights from Camelot raided our village. They had their orders from Uther. They were searching for a sorcerer that they believed was hiding in the city. No one knew of a sorcerer and we told them that, but they were relentless. There was a little boy that got in their way. He didn't know better, he just wanted to see what they were doing. They had tried to harm him, but Gia got in their way. She was 'punished' according to your laws for interfering with an investigation," Lancelot explained angrily. Lilya squirmed in his arms a little bit as she woke up. She looked around unhappily.

Without asking, Lancelot handed Lilya to Merlin. Merlin bounced her a little bit and Lilya rested her head against his shoulder. She looked so comfortable in his hold. Merlin walked back to Gwen's side.

"Gia spent nearly two weeks under the care of the physician in Gilling. I was told that she wouldn't survive the injuries she had. I wrote to Uther begging for help and I got a reply that said that it was our fault for interfering. We had nowhere to turn to, so we turned to our king and he denied us help. I was angry, but it was harder on Gia. Uther practically said she deserved to die in his response. Uther was Gia's last hope. It was then that I found Merlin sneaking out to the woods. I told him what had happened and he arranged for Gaius to examine Gia. We've been staying in Ealdor ever since," Lancelot explained. "Merlin's village has been very helpful. Merlin even gifted us with enchanted parchment. Whatever Gia writes will disappear after a moment. It gives her the chance to communicate without having to constantly purchase parchment."

"You've known about this for two years?" Gwen asked, turning to Merlin. She was fuming. He had promised her no more secrets.

"I honestly forgot," Merlin told her guiltily. "With everything that had happened and everything that I had to tell you about Arthur and Morgana, it slipped my mind. And then when I remembered I couldn't exactly tell you because Lancelot was helping me find Elyan."

Gwen huffed and looked away from him. She knew she would forgive him, but he wouldn't get off the hook so easily. He had promised her no more secrets.

Gia started to write again. "Don't be so hard on him. He is a good man," she wrote.

Gwen smiled. "He is a good man," she agreed. She squeezed Merlin's hand. "He's just a good man in a whole lot of trouble for keeping secrets from his fiancé."

Gia smiled wider. "I've found it's difficult to stay mad at him when he has so much good in him," she wrote. "When I found out he was from Camelot, I tried to throw a lantern at him. He didn't even blame me."

Gwen chuckled. "I'm sorry about what happened to you," she said seriously.

"As am I," Arthur said speaking for the first time. "I knew of the raid in Gilling. We had reports of a sorcerer residing there. My men were sent out to investigate. I was ordered not to go as I had other matters to attend to. I had no idea that my men had hurt any of the villagers. The report that was submitted to me stated that it was a routine sweep and that they had randomly questioned villagers but hadn't gained any new information. I don't know if my father knew of what they had done at the time, but I had no idea. And I am especially sorry for my father's harsh response. I can only imagine that his pride would not allow him to take responsibility for the wrong our knights committed."

Gia didn't take her eyes off of Arthur. It was clear she didn't trust him. "I know this can in no way undo the harm that has been done to you, but I would like to offer you a lifetime of comfort. Anything you desire, I would be happy to give you," Arthur told her. It pained him to know what his knights had done. He would personally speak with the knights that went on that raid. He was sure it was on record somewhere.

"You cannot buy my forgiveness Pendragon," Gia wrote.

"That was not my intention," Arthur told her sincerely. "A grievous wrong has befallen you and it is because of the men that I have trained. Men that I should have been responsible for. I can in no way fix what happened, but I hope to try. Lancelot saved Camelot once. He managed to slay a griffin that had bested many people."

Lancelot and Merlin exchanged guilty looks. "Please don't tell me that it was you Merlin," Arthur said. He hadn't missed their silent exchange. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Just once, he would like to find out that something he had held to be true wasn't wrong. Just once. Is that too much to ask for? "Please say you had nothing to do with the griffin."

"I would say that Sire, but you directly ordered me not to lie to you after you found out about my magic," Merlin pointed out. "Lancelot did the hard part. I only did the part where I enchanted the spear so it could actually pierce the griffin."

Arthur groaned. "I'm always the last one to find out about things," he said grumpily.

"Tell me about it," Gwen agreed.

Arthur shook his head. "I forgot what I was talking about," Arthur admitted sheepishly. "But this isn't my way of buying your forgiveness. It's my way of ensuring that you can live comfortably after my kingdom has wronged you. I do not blame you if you despise me, but I hope you will accept my offer."

Gia frowned slightly. She turned towards Merlin. Merlin smiled at her smugly. He knew Arthur had convinced her. "You were right," she wrote. "He is different."