Anne's POV
It's all been a bit too much recently and Anne as found that both she and Merlin aren't really having much alone time together. After finding out about Amelia and the arrival of Mordred, along with Merlin being busy with working for Arthur and Gaius and Anne with helping Gwen (neither of them could quite trust Yrene, Gwen's new maid after what happened with Sefa) as well as them both looking after the children. And Anne really needs it.
Anne had hoped that they could perhaps have the day together today but then Merlin had to go on a hunting trip with Arthur for a couple of days. But when they return, they come with an interesting object.
Arthur hands Gaius an object wrapped in a cloth as Merlin and Anne watch on in the Physician's Chambers. Gaius unwraps it to reveal a small horn made of bone, with metal detailing.
Gaius analyses it. "The Horn of Cathbhadh. When Uther attacked the Isle of the Blessed, the Horn of Cathbhadh was smuggled to safety before the temple fell. It hasn't been heard of since."
"The old woman said it could be used to open a door to the spirit world." Arthur tells them. Anne frowns curiously at him.
"I have seen it with my own eyes. Long before the time of the Great Purge, I took part in such ceremonies." Gaius explains. "Each year at Beltane, the High Priestesses would gather at the Great Stones of Nemeton and summon the spirits of their ancestors. It holds powerful magic." Gaius returns the Horn to Arthur. "You must keep it safe." Gaius looks knowingly at Merlin.
Arthur stares at the Horn in a daze.
"Arthur?" Anne prompts.
Arthur shakes himself out of it. "I'll make sure it goes into the Vault." He quickly leaves the room.
—
Anne and Merlin still couldn't spend some time alone together because it was the anniversary of Arthur becoming King which calls for the usual feast.
The Banquet Hall is full of Knights and various Courtiers as they feast. There is music, talking, and laughing. Arthur sits next to Gwen, at the top of the table, looking pensive and stoic, in contrast to the jovial atmosphere of the feast. Anne knows why he's like this, it's the anniversary of his father dying not long after Arthur's birthday. Honestly, Anne is relieved and she knows Merlin is too. To not be constantly looking over their shoulders, fearing any misstep will reveal who they are is gone. She wishes Amelia was here to enjoy it.
The only one remotely pulling a similar face to Arthur is Percival who is always subdued at events these days. He had long since stopped helping Anne and Merlin with joining in on the secret Camelot protection team. The man has been mourning the loss of his wife ever since Morgana took her but there had always been this hope that she would come back but now the hope is gone. Anne doesn't know what was said, but she knows that Percival had spoken to Amelia at Ismere and had confessed that he had a daughter but had said nothing else.
Anne is relieved to hear that Amelia and Percival's child is alive. She had worried they had been lost after hearing Gwen and Merlin's descriptions of how badly injured Amelia was.
Leon stands. "To the King!" He toasts.
Everyone stands, joining the toast. "The King!"
This brings out a slight smile from Arthur, who waves them away. They all take their seats once more. Anne watches as Arthur says something to Gwen and leaves the feast.
—
Anne lights the final candle on the table. Gwaine and Elyan volunteered to watch the kids for an evening, and even though the last time she had let any of the Knights babysit, Faye was smacking anything and everyone with a wooden sword for days, Anne knows they can at least handle things for one night.
Anne had spent the whole day making their meal from scratch, even dressing her best. She blows out the match when she hears the door to their Chambers open.
Merlin walks in, and he frowns at the sight of the set-up. He pauses, then holds up a finger. "Did I miss an anniversary?" He asks, an extremely nervous look on his face.
"What? No." Anne hurriedly relies. "I thought it'd be nice to have a fancy meal with just the two of us. We haven't spent much time together recently and I thought it would be nice."
Relieved that he is not in trouble, Merlin picks up a tomato from the salad. "Where are the kids?"
Anne winces. "With Gwaine and Elyan."
He chokes. "You left a baby and a toddler with those two?"
"No one else was available!" Anne defends. "Look, we finally have a night to ourselves. Don't you think we should make the most of it?" She wraps her arms around him, hopeful.
Merlin sighs. "I wish we could, but I can't." He presses a kiss to the corner of her mouth and slides out of her arms. Anne's arms flop to her side as he wanders over to the wardrobe, leaving her standing by the table, dumbfounded. "Arthur needs to go somewhere."
"What?" Anne questions. "Where?"
"I don't know." Merlin replies as he opens the wardrobe. "He wouldn't say." He pulls out some supplies and shuts the doors. "He was acting really secretive about it too."
"Well, you can still sit and eat!" Anne argues. She doesn't want all this hard work to be for nothing.
"Can't, Arthur wants to leave now." Merlin says.
"So, I guess this is all just going to go to waste?" Anne huffs.
Merlin pauses in his frantic packing. "Oh, not to waste, I promise." He reassures her. He shoves everything into the bags, comes over to the table, picks up a piece of chicken, and pops it in his mouth. He chews a few times then offers a thumbs-up before pecking Anne's lips. "It was delicious. I'll see you when I get back."
"Bye…" Anne mumbles as he walks away.
He steps out the door but soon ducks his head back into the room, holding on to the door.
Anne frowns in confusion. "What is it? Did you forget something?"
"Yeah." He says, smiling. "I forgot to tell you that I love you."
His words bring an instant smile to Anne's face. "I love you too."
—
Merlin doesn't explain where he and Arthur had gone but Anne can tell there's something off about the two of them and that Merlin doesn't want to talk about it. She simply accepts the flowers he gives her, knowing if it's big, he'll tell her.
Anne feels off the entire day since their return and the day after. It's almost as if an unnatural presence has entered the Castle. She would find herself walking through the corridors and feel an ominous wind come through, disturbing the candles. Anne would look around, unsettled, but notice nothing.
Apparently, that's not the only strange occurrence that's been happening.
"The doors... burst open on their own?" Anne asks as she pulls a shirt over Faye's head. Anne and Merlin are in the Nursery, helping them get ready for bed. Anne had heard whispers earlier in the day about something strange happening during a meeting today, but she hadn't gotten the full details.
"Yes." Merlin replies as he fights Euwen's wiggly limbs as he tries to dress him for bed.
"Mama, no!" Faye protests, tugging on the tunic.
"You told Mama that you wanted to wear this shirt." Anne reminds her though she wonders why she's arguing with a three-year-old.
Faye shakes her head. "No no no!"
"Come on, darling." Anne pleads. She runs her fingers through her daughter's soft locks. "Just for tonight, okay? Mama's very tired."
"No, no, no!" She whines.
Anne barely represses a groan as she takes Faye's tunic off her and sits her down. "Stay here while Mama gets a new shirt."
Thankfully she obeys and instead watches as Merlin tucks Euwen into his cot. "It wasn't the wind, either. No wind is that powerful."
Anne digs around the drawers, turning every so often to suggest a new tunic to Faye. "I mean, that's not that unusual." She argues. "We've had stranger things happen." Once she finally picks one, Anne moves back to her.
"That's not all." Merlin continues. He leans over and presses a kiss to Euwen's forehead. "The candelabra fell from the ceiling."
Anne is just putting Faye's head through the hole as he says this, and her hands freeze. Merlin comes over and tugs the shirt the rest of the way down.
"That's strange." Anne admits.
"Exactly." Merlin says. He tucks his hands under Faye's arms and picks her up. Anne pulls back the blankets, and Merlin sets her down gently in the bed. They both pull the blanket up to her chin. Anne plants a kiss on Faye's cheek, then goes over and kisses Euwen's forehead.
They say goodnight and blow out the candles before leaving the room. They close the door and wait for a few moments to hear their even breathing before leaving back to their Chambers just around the corner.
Anne turns back to their conversation as they make their way down the hall. "What do you think it was?"
"I have no idea." Merlin says, rubbing his face with his hands.
Anne makes a sympathetic noise rubbing his arm when suddenly they hear a distant cry. They run to the Armoury to find a bleeding Percival clutching his shoulder.
"Percival?!" Anne exclaims worriedly as she and Merlin rush over to him. "What happened?" She notes an axe lying on the ground next to him. A bloody axe.
"An axe fell from the rack in the Armoury." Percival explains, groaning.
Merlin slips straight into training. With a quick murmur of "Forclyccan duguð folcgewinn", the bleeding stops but it's still a bad wound. Merlin grabs a bundle of cloth and ties it tightly around the Knight's wound. "Let's get you to Gaius."
—
Gaius is bandaging Percival's shoulder. "I'm surprised that a falling axe would cause such a deep wound."
"Not as surprised as I was." Percival remarks. "Luckily two sorcerers were nearby to help." He flashes a small grin at the two to which they return. It's nice to have Percival with them once more, bringing back memories of them all plotting and planning in Gaius' Chambers, the only one missing is Amelia.
"It's just lucky that you weren't more seriously injured." Anne says. She takes a seat across from Percival as Merlin steps in to help Gaius.
"It's strange..." Percival murmurs.
"What's that?" Merlin questions.
"Just before it happened. I sensed something, like there was someone there watching me." Percival explains. "I'm sure it was just my mind playing tricks on me."
Gaius finishes wrapping the wound and holds out a poultice to him. "Apply a second poultice in the morning. And no training."
"Thank you, Gaius." Percival says with a slight smile. Merlin helps Percival into his sleeveless gambeson, and he leaves.
It is silent for a bit as Gaius rolls up the remaining gauze while Merlin tidies the Chambers.
Finally, Gaius breaks the silence, "Is there something wrong, Merlin?"
Merlin pauses, then looks over his shoulder at Gaius. When he doesn't say anything, Gaius prompts, "Merlin, I have the distinct impression that there is something you are not telling me."
"No," Merlin scoffs. "Why do you say that?"
Anne winces. "Oh, love even you know that wasn't convincing."
Merlin looks between the two of them and relents. "We went to the Stones of Nemeton."
What?!
Gaius glares at him. "Merlin, I warned you of the dangers…"
"I tried to stop him!" Merlin defends. "He was insistent!"
"Is this what Arthur was being so secretive about?" Anne asks.
"Yes." Merlin replies, but then quickly adds, "But I swear I didn't know where we were going until we got there. He desperately wanted to speak to his father."
Anne sighs. "The anniversary of Arthur's coronation just passed." Anne breathes, putting the pieces together. "He must have missed Uther so much he was desperate to do anything to see him."
"Exactly." Merlin says, but it's clear he wants to say more.
"What is it, Merlin?" Gaius questions.
"It's just, the whole candelabra situation, I in the corridor outside the Council Chambers, I could sense something. It was like Percival said—a presence of some kind." Merlin explains.
Anne's eyes widen in realisation. "I felt that too, multiple times. I have felt like there's something that's entered the Castle ever since the two of you left."
"In the days of the Old Religion, the priestesses trained for years before entering into the spirit world." Gaius moves to a table to sit down; Anne and Merlin sit across from him. "It was fraught with danger. There was one thing they were schooled never do. As the Veil closed, they were never to look back at the spirit."
"What happened if they did?" Anne questions.
"They'd release the spirit into this world."
"Arthur must have looked back." Merlin realises.
This is not good. "What can we do?" Anne asks.
"You must force Uther's spirit back to the other world before it can do anymore harm." Gaius explains, flicking through his books.
"How do we do that?" Merlin questions.
"You must use the Horn of Cathbhadh to reopen the veil between the worlds. Only then can Uther's spirit pass over." Sounds simple enough.
Merlin shrugs. "Easy. I'll fetch the Horn. I know where Arthur's hidden it."
But Gaius shakes his head. "It's not as simple as that. Only the person who summoned the spirit can force it from this world."
"Arthur…" Anne murmurs.
—
Uther has struck again.
Anne helps Gaius treat an unconscious Gwen, who lies on Merlin's old bed. Merlin and Arthur look on. Gwen had somehow gotten trapped in the Kitchens, and the room was then set on fire. Anne had been walking by when Merlin, who had gone to speak to Arthur, passed by with Gwen in his arms, and Anne followed them the rest of the way to the Gaius' Chambers.
"You know it was Uther." Merlin murmurs to Arthur.
"We don't know what happened." Arthur insists weakly.
"So, Gwen mysteriously ended up locked in the kitchens, which mysteriously caught fire." Merlin states dubiously. "You told yourself Uther disapproved of your marriage to Gwen."
"He wouldn't do that." Arthur persists.
"I know how difficult it is for you." Merlin starts as Anne and Gaius finally draw themselves away from Gwen.
"How is she?" Arthur asks.
"The smoke has entered her lungs, but over time it will heal." Gaius explains. "We gave her a sleeping draught. She was lucky to escape with her life."
Arthur shakes his head in disbelief. "I always knew my father could be cruel, but why would he have done that that Guinevere? He knows how much I love her."
Anne scoffs, tearing her gaze away from Gwen long enough to look at Arthur. "Like Uther's respected your feelings for Gwen in the past." She quirks a brow. "Remember when he tried to have her banished because you dared to love her?"
Arthur's face darkens at her words, and just as Gaius is about to leave the room, Arthur holds out a hand to stop him. "Gaius," with a resolved sigh, he asks, "What do you know about ghosts?"
—
Anne stays behind to help Gaius brew the potion that will allow them to see Uther's spirit.
When Anne and Gaius enter Arthur's Chambers, no one is in the main area. Odd. They move through to find Arthur and Merlin peeking into a cupboard, but they must've been quiet as when Arthur and Merlin both turn, they jump out of their skin at the sight of them.
"Seen any ghosts?" Anne remarks with a grin but she receives some unimpressed looks, and her smile drops. "No?" She awkwardly nods her head over to the table. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
A moment later, they sit at Arthur's table. Gaius places three vials of potion before them. Anne glances at her own dubiously. This part she's not looking forward to.
"The potion will allow you to see Uther in his spirit form." Gaius tells them. "Once you are in his presence, you must blow the Horn. It's the only way you can force him to go back to the Spirit World."
Arthur examines the potion while Merlin pops the cork and sniffs it, then recoils.
"Is it safe?" The former asks.
Gaius opens his mouth but hesitates, sharing an unsure look with Anne, who grimaces. "I can't say I'm entirely sure."
"Drink and find out." Anne remarks. "That's my motto."
Arthur rolls his eyes at her, but he turns his attention back to Merlin. Anne, Merlin, and Arthur make 'cheers' gestures. Merlin brings the vial to his lips and Anne does the same but they both pause when they notice that Arthur is not doing the same.
"What are you waiting for?" Merlin asks.
"To see if it's safe." The King replies.
"So, if we don't die, you'll take yours."
"Precisely. Get on with it."
Anne downs it and oh god, it's horrific. She quickly swallows it down, her face pinching together to keep herself from outwardly reacting. Anne can see Merlin is holding back a grimace and trying his best not to gag.
Arthur frowns suspiciously as the two of them shrug at him. "Well, at least we know it doesn't kill you instantly." He remarks. He tips his vial into his mouth and immediately moans. "Eurgh!" He spits, setting the vial down. "That– oh. That is the foulest thing I've ever tasted."
"Sorry about that." Anne says with fake pleasantry, coughing and gagging slightly. "Did we forget to tell you about that part?" She laughs, but at Arthur's souring glare, she sobers up.
—
The three of them begin their hunt for Uther. Arthur carries a torch through the dark corridors with Anne and Merlin trailing after him.
Naturally, there are some false starts, one being Merlin mistaking a shadow for the dead King causing Arthur to smack Merlin in the head. The second is that they've come across Leon with no explanation of why there sneaking through the Castle corridors in the middle of the night.
Leon looks startled as he takes them in. "Anne. Arthur. Merlin."
"Leon." The three of them say simultaneously.
"Is everything alright, my lord?" Leon questions.
"It's perfectly fine." Arthur replies awkwardly. "We're... Anne, tell Leon what we're doing."
"Uh, we're, um, we were just... Merlin and I are teaching him some poetry?" Anne splutters out. She's definitely sounded surer in her life.
"Poetry?" Leon questions incredulously.
"I love poetry." Arthur reluctantly replies.
Merlin awkwardly laughs. "We were as surprised as you are. He can't get enough of it!"
"I'll leave you to your poetry, then, my lord." Leon leaves looking back at them strangely.
Once he's gone, Arthur turns on Anne. "Poetry? That's the best you could come up with?"
"What did you want me to say?!" Anne hisses. "You put me on the spot!"
"I don't know. Something that didn't make me sound like a love-struck girl." Arthur retorts. Then his head snaps to something behind Anne and Merlin. They turn and see nothing.
"What was that?" Merlin questions.
"It was my father."
—
Merlin has gone to check the Storeroom while Anne and Arthur continue to slink down the corridors when the ominous wind suddenly gusts around them. Arthur's torch then goes out and Anne hears footsteps approach.
"Merlin? Merlin, is that you?" Anne whispers as loud as she dares, hoping it's her husband and not the spirit of Uther but there's no reply from Merlin.
"Father?" Arthur utters.
Then there's the feeling of someone walking behind them. Anne and Arthur turn but find no one. Arthur tosses aside his now useless torch and takes the bone-carved Horn out of his soft leather belt.
"Where did he go?" Anne whispers as they creep along the corridors, finding themselves outside the Council Chambers.
"I don't know." Arthur whispers back, opening the Council Chambers door. "Maybe in—"
Anne doesn't hear the end of his sentence as Arthur cuts himself off when the doors slam shut behind them and lock. Then she finds herself being sent flying backwards across the room and into the wall causing everything to go black. The last thing she hears is Arthur yelling, "Anne!"
—
Merlin's POV
Merlin, after being able to get himself out of the Storeroom after being trapped, follows the noise to find himself entering the Council Chambers from a back door. He enters to find Uther's spirit looming over the prone bodies of Arthur and Anne.
He feels rage boil up inside him. "Get away from them, Uther." He spits, stopping the spirit in his tracks. "You've caused enough harm. You don't belong here. You must return to the other world."
"This is my Kingdom. You think you can drive me from it?" Uther growls, and he turns around to face Merlin. "You are nothing but a serving boy."
Merlin almost scoffs as he tries to rain in his emotions, speaking a truth he can't believe he's uttering to Uther's face. "I am much more than that."
Uther tosses a bench – which, if it wasn't for the situation, Merlin would laugh at as it's so close to magic – at Merlin, who deflects it using magic. The bench crashes against a wall, then to the floor. Merlin stares at Uther, a challenge.
The look of utter shock and disbelief glitters over Uther's face. "You have magic."
"I was born with it!" Merlin declares almost tearfully.
"I made you Arthur's servant." Uther realises. "You are a sorcerer."
"Even while you were King, there was magic at the heart of Camelot." Merlin declares, feeling almost gleeful.
Uther angrily strides towards him. "I will not allow you and your kind to poison my Kingdom!"
"You're wrong. You're wrong, about so much." Merlin says causing Uther to pause. "Arthur is a better and more worthy King than you ever were."
Uther roars. Merlin quickly uses magic to push him away. Uther goes flying through the door.
—
Anne's POV
Anne feels someone shaking her. "Anne, Anne!"
She groans awake, her body aching. Anne looks up to find Arthur, who has a bruise forming at his temple, looking at her in relief.
"What happened?" She questions. She looks around to find a broken bench lying by a wall and a shield lying not too far away from them.
"My father." Arthur replies shortly as he helps her stand.
There are some loud noises in the distance. Arthur and Anne's heads snap towards it.
"Merlin…" Anne murmurs worriedly.
Arthur and Anne hurriedly go in search of Merlin. They reach the Armoury to find Merlin pinned to the wall by a pair of spears snagging his jacket. Uther stands in front of him with a sword in hand.
"It will give me great pleasure killing you." Uther declares angrily.
Arthur and Anne quickly run in. "Father!" The former yells, raising the Horn above his head.
Uther turns and panics at the sight of the Horn. "Arthur... no. Please. Whatever I have done, I've done for Camelot."
"You've had your turn. Now it's mine." Arthur raises the Horn to his lips, and—
"Merlin has—" Uther tries but it's too late.
Arthur blows the Horn causing Uther to discorporate. Merlin slumps in relief while Arthur looks at the spot where his father once stood, looking upset. Anne ignores this and sprints over to Merlin, wrapping him up in a relieved but awkward hug due to the spears.
—
"I can't believe Uther found out about you." Anne says, linking her arm with Merlin's as they walk back to their Chambers.
"Well, he is dead. I didn't have anything to lose." Merlin shrugs casually but Anne can see that he's happy but also emotionally drained.
"Still." Anne argues. "Do you think Arthur will be alright?"
"He'll be fine. I think he's with Gwen now." Merlin replies.
"At least it looks like he's made peace with Uther's legacy." Anne says as they step into their Chambers. "Who knows how much longer that would have hung over his head."
"I know." Merlin says. He collapses onto their bed with a groan, and Anne giggles as she joins him. Merlin wraps his arm around her and hugs her to his side. Anne sighs in content and nestles herself into his chest, breathing in his scent deeply.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia watches the two through the water that sits in a basin. She sees how happy and at peace they are. She splashes the water angrily, disrupting the image as tears well up in her eyes. Amelia wipes them away furiously.
She is in her new room in the Fortress where she and Morgana have set up with their Saxons. It's definitely warmer than Ismere was.
"My Lady?"
Amelia turns to see it's Beroun, the leader of the band of Saxons who follow Amelia and Morgana. Amelia smiles slightly at the sight of him. The Saxon had always been nice to her and loyal. While he's loyal to both sisters, he has often helped Amelia sneak this and that past her sister.
"Beroun, what can I do for you?"
"Your sister requests your presence in the Throne room, she needs your thoughts on the final plans for invading Nemeth with." Beroun explains. "King Odin is with her."
Amelia nods. Of course. Another plan to capture Arthur so that Morgana could gain the throne of Camelot. This time by utilising the hatred Odin has for Arthur for killing his son.
"I'll be there shortly."
Beroun nods and leaves. Amelia grabs the basin and tips the water into the unlit fireplace. She should really stop watching her old family and friends, it only causes her pain just like Morgana told her it would. She really needs to leave that world behind. It's not her life anymore, her life is with her daughter and Morgana. They won't betray her.
—
A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.