Chapter 14-Innocent Accused
Hey guys, finally have my laptop back! My life can begin again :D. I have managed to write out about 75% of the rest of this story so only a few more chapters to write then I can publish like a manic until I'm finished. I am currently on break from uni for the Summer and haven't managed to get a job yet so this is my main aim at the moment. Not however going to make any promises (as whenever I do that on here I tend to break them :( ) anyway enough of me going on and on. I don't own Merlin but Elizabeth, Laudine and Kay are all my characters. Enjoy...
I was standing in the same place I had been the previous day, this time however Aredian was the one speaking with three so called 'witnesses' behind him, "Speak, do not be afraid," he encouraged them.
The first woman who I recognised from one of the market stalls in the lower town stepped forward, "I...I was drawing water from the well, Sire, when I saw them, faces in the water. Terrible faces, like people who were drowned, screaming. Screaming."
I looked over at Merlin immediately, watching as he shook his head slowly. It was clear that he hadn't done anything this time.
The second woman moved up to speak, "A goblin dancing on the coals. It was dancing in the flames, and it spoke, Sire. My heart near stopped for fear of it."
I had to stop myself from stepping forward and pointing out how stupid all this was, "As you've heard, My Lord, the incident in the woods was only the beginning, hmm?" Aredian continued looking far too confident in himself.
The final woman spoke up, her voice shaking violently, "There was a sorcerer, Sire, in the square. There were creatures jumping right out of his mouth."
"What manner of creature?" Aredian asked smirking at me as he did.
"Toads, Sire. Great green, slimy things as big as your fist," the woman cried out.
I took a deep breath remembering that I couldn't yell at him in front of the count, "The sorcerer laughs in your face. Even now magic flourishes on the streets of Camelot."
Uther shook his head, "I can scarcely believe it."
Aredian smirked again, "Yet it is the truth, My Lord. Fortunately I've utilised every facet of my craft to bring this matter to a swift resolution."
"You have a suspect?" I questioned forgetting myself for a second.
Aredian turned his full attention to me, "Oh, I do, My lady. I regret to say, they stand among us in this very room. My methods are infallible, my findings incontestable! The facts point to one person and one person alone. The boy, Merlin!" he pointed at him.
"Merlin? You can't be serious," Arthur argued.
Gaius joined in, "This is outrageous! You have no evidence!"
"The tools of magic cannot be hidden from me. I am certain that a thorough search of the boy's chamber will deliver us all we need," Aredian shot back.
"Merlin?" Uther turned to face him.
He looked at me in worry, "I have nothing to hide from him."
"Very well. Guards, restrain the boy," Uther said.
I held my hand up before the guards could move, "He was my servent Sire. I know this is your land but he was and still is unless I am mistaken my property," Uther looked at me for a moment before nodding, "You will take him to the dungeon where no one will lay a finger on him until we have certain proof."
"Let the search begin," Uther nodded.
We made our way to Gaius's chamber in silence. By the time we arrived they were already ransacking the chambers, "Will you please be careful," I snapped at one of the guards when a vase went flying across the room.
He nodded at me before getting back to his work, Aredian was still smiling next to me, "Comb every inch. The sorcerer is a master of concealment."
"There's nothing here, Aredian!" I yelled out.
"I'll be the judge of that. Over there behind this tapestry. In there, upend that stool. Be sure to check for hollow legs. In there within those powder jars," he pointed at the things as he spoke. I could see he was trying to set Merlin up, which meant something may have been hidden in the room by him.
Leon broke one of the powder jars and found a bracelet inside, "Here."
Aredian walked over smugly, "An amulet of enchantment. Were you aware, physician, that your assistant kept instruments of sorcery?"
"No," Gaius said quietly.
"Well, our work is done. I must inform the King," Aredian said walking away.
I gave Gaius a look of pure desperation, "Aredian! I know for certain that that amulet does not belong to Merlin," Gaius called after him.
"Oh? Well who does it belong to, then?" Aredian turned back.
"It belongs to me," Gaius confessed.
I stayed in the chamber while Arthur went to collect Merlin from the cells. When he walked back into the room he looked close to tears, "I'm sorry Merlin. I'm so sorry," I whispered walking over to my friend and hugging him gently.
"They destroyed everything," Merlin said quietly.
"No Aredian did, and we will make sure that he pays for this. We will get Gaius out," I promised him remembering the time a long time ago when I had made the same promise to Sir Kay about Laudine.
"What happened?" Merlin questioned as he pulled up on the overturned chairs to sit on.
"They found an Amuelt in a jar. Aredian went to tell the King but Gaius confessed it was his," I informed him.
Before Merlin could respond there was a knock on the door, I turned to see Laudine standing there, "The King wishes you to dine with him, Arthur and Aredian," she told me trying to keep her voice steady.
"Okay," I nodded before looking around the room, "Get Kay and come and help clean this mess up. Gaius will want his chambers back to normal when we get him back."
To say the dinner was awkward would have been the understatement of a lifetime. I sat in silence eating my dinner and avoiding Arthur's concerned gaze and Aredian triumphant one.
"Gaius served me with unfailing dedication. Without his knowledge, his wisdom, I would not be sitting here today," Uther pointed out.
Aredian smirked, "You show great faith in him, Sire. Great faith, indeed, considering he was known to practice sorcery."
"Gaius?" Arthur questioned, "You are mistaken."
"No, Arthur. He speaks the truth. I'm well aware of his past, but I have every reason to believe he's turned his back on sorcery," Uther said certainly.
"Until now," Aredian shot back.
I opened my mouth before I could stop myself, "We don't know anything for certain. The amulet that you found could just be a stupid mistake. It wouldn't be the first time you had made one of those."
"Or maybe he's fallen back into old habits," Aredian said.
"We must give him the benefit of the doubt, surely?" Arthur said agreeing with me.
"Why? Anyway, there's a sure way to establish his guilt," Aredian pointed out.
"You mean to torture him? Waterboard? Starvation? Pain?" I snarled at him remembering how bad Laudine was when we got her back and that was only three days.
"I know your methods are effective, Aredian, but Gaius is an old man. He could not withstand such treatment," Uther said shockingly agreeing with me.
"It's the only way to rid your mind of doubt," Aredian argued back.
"I'm sorry my Lord but are you really going to allow this mad man to torture an old man, a friend even?" I pointed out.
"If you don't like it maybe you should go back to your own Kingdom," Aredian said harshly.
"And maybe you should go back to whichever hole you dragged your worthless body out of," I snapped at him feeling my anger get the better of me.
"Enough!" Uther yelled, "You forget Aredian that Elizabeth is a Princess who is under my protection and Elizabeth you should remember your manners."
"I apologize My Lord," I whispered, "The stress of the day, it has made me lose my head. I think I shall go to sleep."
Uther nodded his head clearly dismissing me. I got up and made my way out of the hall and towards my room. I was momentary distracted by seeing Merlin walk passed. I followed him down into the Dragon's cave, "What is wrong, young warlock? You look so pale," Kilgharrah said stretching his wings.
"I did a stupid thing. Stupid, stupid thing. And now Gaius is going to pay for it," Merlin confessed.
"Maybe you should ask your guardian for help, after all she is with us now," Kilgharrah said looking to where I was hiding in the shadows. I took a deep breath and walked out into the moonlight.
"I saw you walking down here," I explained to Merlin.
"Tell me what has happened," Kilgharrah ordered settling down.
"A witch finder has come. He's arrested Gaius for sorcery, but I am the sorcerer," Merlin whispered.
"Yes, I suppose you are," Kilgharrah said being no help at all.
"Well, I'm going to confess. It's the only way to save him," Merlin told us both.
"That won't work," I informed Merlin.
"Why not?" He asked.
"The Witch finder will just kill you both," I told him honestly.
"But it's my fault! Don't you understand?" Merlin yelled out in anger.
Kilgharrah snarled, "All too well, young warlock. But understand this: if you were to die, you would endanger the lives of all those that rely upon you."
"Well, there must be something I can do. There must be. Please help me," Merlin begged.
"Merlin, I see you are distressed by this, but I cannot help you because I do not know how to," Kilgharrah said coldly.
"You won't help because you believe Gaius to be a traitor at least have the decency not to lie to us," I snapped at him.
Kilgharrah didn't bother answer me instead just flying off into the darkness of the cave.
It was the next day before we were once again brought before the court. Aredian threw Gaius down onto his knees before the court, "Confess!"
"I...I am a sorcerer, Sire. I am responsible for conjuring the smoke. I'm guilty of practicing magic in Camelot, the goblin, the faces in the well, I...I am the sorcerer who conjured the toad from his mouth," Gaius said softly looking at Merlin for the whole speech.
I felt a tear fall down my cheek as Uther stood up, "You've betrayed me, Gaius. Betrayed your friends. And above all, you've betrayed yourself. By the laws of Camelot, I must sentence you to death."
"The sorcerer will be purged of his magic by means of fire! He shall be burnt at the stake tomorrow at dawn! Bear witness and heed this lesson!" Aredian smirked at me the whole time.
The guards dragged Gaius out of the room as Merlin charged towards Aredian, "You're a liar."
I jumped up at the same time as Arthur restraining him. Arthur dragged him out of the room, "I will deal with this."
I stared hard at Aredian, "You will pay for your lies. I will make you pay," I whispered harshly before following Arthur and Merlin out of the doors and towards the dungeons.
I arrived in time to see Merlin take a swing at Arthur who then went back to restraining him, "I know you're upset. I know you're angry. It's alright. I'm not throwing you in jail."
"Arthur let go of him!" I snapped when we were out of hearing range, Arthur let go immediately, "What are you doing?" I asked him.
"I'm breaking the law," Arthur said opening up Gaius's cell, "I can only give you a few minutes," Arthur told Merlin.
"Thank you for this," I whispered to Arthur as we stepped out of the prison.
"I can't stop the execution you know that," Arthur answered pulling me into a hug.
I nodded, "But you don't believe it do you?"
"I don't know what to believe anymore," Arthur confessed.
"Remember what Gaius has done for you, for all of us. The times that we owe him our lives, then look in your heart. That's the answer," I said kissing him lightly on the cheek.
Arthur nodded before walking off leaving me to I stand outside the dungeons waiting for Merlin to come out, when he did he looked angrier than I had seen him before, "Aredian placed the amulet."
"I thought as much," I whispered back, taking his arm and dragging him into one of the thousands of empty rooms in the castle, "He probably wanted to get you and not Gaius."
"Why?" Merlin questioned.
"Because it's what he does. He pushes and pushes until he can get a confession. Every extra sorcerer is more money. He won't stop after Gaius, he will aim for Morgana, Laudine, Kay, you and me. I should have stopped him last time I had the chance," I muttered.
"What happened?" Merlin asked.
"I could never get enough proof on him to stick that is why my father just sent him away and didn't have him executed. What we need is something that is undeniable," I explained. Merlin nodded before running, "Where are you going?"
Merlin stopped just before he hit the door and turned to face me, "I'll get some."
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Artistic-Blue-Eyes
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