The days passed and Merlin found it harder and harder to broach the subject of the Disir with Arthur. He saw him deep in thought at times, and several times around the round table Arthur paused as if wanting to bring it up, only to speak about something else instead. At those moments, Arthur avoided Merlin's gaze, and eluded all attempts at conversation afterwards.

On their way back from an errand in the lower town, Merlin brought up the subject of the Disir with Gaius.

"He's stalling," Gaius declared as they walked back to their chambers.

"He needs to act."

"That is doubtless the truth, Merlin, and yet Arthur can't bring himself to do it."

"He must. How can I get him to understand that?"

Outside their door, Gaius shushed him. They stepped into the room and found Bri bending over the work bench, grinding something into powder. She looked up briefly and smiled at Gaius. To Merlin she gave a curt and uncomfortable glance.

Merlin started cleaning up some of Gaius' things ho hide his frustration. For a week he'd tried speaking to her yet she'd kept him at arm's length, observing him like he was some sort of creature.

"It's almost finished," Bri said to Gaius, stepping back from the bench in invitation for Gaius to inspect her work.

"Let me see," Gaius said coming closer for an examination.

"Here, I can clean that for you," Merlin offered.

"I can clean it myself," she replied not looking at him.

"Very well done," Gaius exclaimed. "You've got the makings of a great Physician. Your mother would be proud."

Bri's beaming smile melted away and her face turned parchment white.

"My mother?" she whispered. "How would you know about my mother? I've never told you anything about her."

Caught by surprise, Gaius exchanged a panicked glance with Merlin. Bri noticed their exchange, and looked confused between them. She turned on Merlin.

"This is your doing!" she said, her voice a panicked whisper. "You're always watching me. How is it that he knows this about my mother?"

Merlin shook his head, trying to dispel her fears.

"It's not like that," he tried.

"What is it like?" she asked, gathering her strength and squaring her shoulders.

Despite the hole he'd dug himself in, Merlin couldn't help admiring her courage. Her eyes blazed with anger. There was more feeling in them than he'd seen from her since he'd returned in time. This was a different Bri; one whole and not broken. As different as night from day, she'd once told him.

"Gaius knew your mother," Merlin said, thinking fast. "Years ago."

Bri watched him a moment, then shook her head vigorously.

"No, that's a lie. My mother would have told me if she'd met a physician like Gaius. Besides Gaius told me himself he hasn't set foot on Odin's lands where my family lived." She watched Merlin closely. "Don't lie to me."

"It's true," Merlin tried, but weakly.

"Don't lie. I can tell. There is something about you, something that you hide. The others, they're blind to it, but I see it."

Merlin ran his hands through his hair. There was one way to go, where he kept up the lie and would lose her trust forever. There was another, and it was risky and probably stupid. Perhaps the most stupid thing he'd ever done.

"It was you," he whispered. "You've told me about your mother."

Bri's eyes widened.

"Me?"

"Merlin!" Gaius bit out a warning.

"Yes, you."

Bri laughed. "I've never done such a thing. I would remember."

"When you were a child, your mother told you of a place, a lost place in the grey mountains."

"Merlin, stop this!" Gaius warned again.

"No, Gaius, let me finish." Merlin took a step towards Bri who was holding herself still, as if caught in a spell. "A crater where there rains grew a lake and no man had set foot on its steep shore. It was a place where dragons went to drink and gain the sight of the ages past and ages to come. It was a place where the hinges of time were loose, and your mother told you that if a man could make his way there, he could slip into time where the lake waters took him. If he held power, he could decide his own road."

He kept his eyes on hers and he saw her tremble like a leaf.

"Those are her words. I've never told this to a living soul."

"You told it to me," Merlin said taking another step forward.

"When?"

"Half a year from now."

"In the future?"

"That future is gone."

That future had held months of agony for Bri, Arthur dead at Mordred's hand, and a heartbroken version of himself. Merlin shook his head to dispel the images.

"If he held power," she recited as if in a trance. "That means that you ..."

Whatever words she was going to say didn't make it past her lips. At that moment there was a knock at the door and Guinevere entered.

"There you are!" she exclaimed finding her new protégé. "I've been looking all over for you."

Guinevere, much more perceptive than her husband, felt the heavy silence in the room and paused, her brows knitting together.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Merlin, hardly able to speak, stared at Bri. He was entirely at her mercy. She could destroy him with one word. He knew the time to tell Arthur the truth was drawing close, but if he found out like this, through someone else's accusation, he might never trust him again, or permit magic in Camelot.

Gaius was the first to recover.

"Not at all, my Lady, Bri was just finishing up her work."

Bri snapped out of her trance and smiled at Guinevere.

"I apologize, my Lady, I forgot the time." She brushed her hands on her skirt and looked around her. "I have not cleaned up yet."

"I will do that for you," Merlin said.

She threw him one inscrutable look, wiped her hands on her apron before taking it off and hanging in on the hook by the door. Guinevere watched Merlin and Gaius for a moment more, her head tilted to the side as if she was on the cusp of an important observation, then turned around and followed Bri out.

"Of all the reckless, stupid things to do, Merlin, this takes the cake!" Gaius exclaimed as soon as they were alone. "She'll go straight to the King. You'll be arrested in minutes."

Merlin stood staring at the closed door. He shook his head.

"No, Gaius, she wouldn't do that."

"How can you be sure?"

"I know her, Gaius," Merlin said and this time he believed every word. "I know her. But something has to be done, Gaius."

"And what is that, Merlin?"

"I have to tell Arthur. And I need to do it soon."

...

Seated between Sir Leon and Gwaine at dinner, Bri forced herself to pay attention to the conversation.

"You are quiet tonight, my lady," Gwaine said after getting very few responses from her.

"Forgive me, I have much on my mind this evening, Sir Gwaine." Her eyes met Guinevere's across the table. The queen was watching her with concern. Merlin, pouring wine into the King's goblet didn't raise his eyes, but Bri could feel his attention on her like the vibrations on the sting of a tight bow.

"Sir Gwaine," Bri started, "you must know how grateful I am to you for rescuing me."

"My lady, pray do not mention it again. I have only done what I knew to be right. I am most happy to have been of service."

Bri moistened her lips. "But how did you know, Sir Gwaine? How did you know to reach the tower? It is after all on Odin's lands outside of Camelot's domain."

Generous with the credit, Gwaine smiled and looked towards Merlin. "It was Merlin. He heard of it from an old woman, a traveler, and he came to me at once."

Bri looked again at Merlin who stood awkwardly to the right of Arthur's chair. She saw his cheeks darken and his eyes met hers briefly.

"Who was this old woman, Merlin?" Bri asked, her voice sounding much more confident than she felt.

Merlin hesitated. "S-she wasn't old, but she'd been crippled," he started looking Bri in the eye. "She'd escaped the tower herself after ..., after being imprisoned in it for months."

Bri's face had gone parchment white. The others around the table were silent.

"I see," she said, still looking at Merlin. "I owe you thanks, Merlin. And to the woman you met." She saw Merlin glance down at his feet.

"It was well done, Merlin," Arthur exclaimed rising from his seat and clasping Merlin's shoulder. "For once." He added this with a smirk. He took up his goblet and raised it. "To the most bumbling, clumsy and mutton-headed servant I ever had. To Merlin!"

"To Merlin!" echoed the knights around the table, glad to break the heavy silence.

Merlin swallowed hard and nodded. The jokes, he knew them all. But unmistakable behind their facade was Arthur's genuine friendship and affection. Merlin could see it deep beneath all the banter, and it was enough. It may even be the last time he saw it, for after he confessed his powers to Arthur, he didn't know whether their friendship would survive a second time. The first time, Arthur had been wounded and helpless in his hands. This time, it would be Merlin who would be at Arthur's mercy.

He looked up and found Bri watching him and the others, her face thoughtful. True to Merlin's instincts, she had not revealed his secret.

"By tomorrow night, Sarrum of Amata will be our guest in Camelot," Arthur continued, still standing at the head of the table. The clatter of utensils on plates and chatter of voices quieted. The knights watched him silently. "By the time he leaves in another week's time, it is my hope that we would have signed a treaty that would bring lasting peace between our two kingdoms. We may not like Amata's methods, or ever be close friends with him," he paused at the chuckles that erupted around the table, "but there will be no more bloodshed between our people."

"Hear, hear!" Sir Leon shouted, raising his goblet, and the knights followed suit. Without meaning to, Merlin's gaze rested on young Mordred as he sat beside Sir Leon. Mordred watched Arthur with admiration and affection and Merlin thought bitterly of how that all would change.