Chapter 16: Tears Part V: Consequences

It had been an hour since Cenred's forces had retreated from Camelot. Arthur went to Aredian and asked, "When I destroyed Morgana's staff, why didn't she just, you know, kill us?" Aredian replied, "Oh, she most certainly tried. I recognized the spell she used, one that would fling us into a wall." Then Arthur asked, "Then how did we ..." Aredian answered before he could finish his question, "I, through my many tricks, am immune to magic. As for you, I'm not sure."

Arthur looked confused, but then Aredian asked, "What about that sword you took from Merlin?" Arthur said, "Excalibur?" unsheathing his brand new sword. Aredian was taken aback for a moment and said, "This is what protected you." Arthur immediately dropped the sword to the floor and asked, "Is it magical?"

Aredian had heard of these kinds of swords, for they were the most powerful in all of Albion. There was little consensus among magical scholars before they all died as to whether it was magical or not. However, such a weapon would be extremely beneficial to the fight against sorcery. So, the risk that it was actually magical is worth it. For if it could destroy magic, who cares if it is technically magical or not? This was a necessary strategic compromise of ideals, one he knew Arthur could never accept, but he could.

Aredian said, "No, it was forged in a dragon's breath. That gives it its incredible power. Any injury caused by it cannot be healed. It will protect you from magic. And you can fell any magical monster with it." Arthur smiled and picked his sword back up. With this new weapon, Merlin and Morgana would cower at his very sight. Aredian said, "Meet me at dawn in the court." Arthur replied, "Ok."

When he arrived in the morning, he saw Aredian drag Gaius in chains and lead him to the king. Uther said outragedly, "Why is he in restraints?" Aredian said, "Because he is a criminal and an aide to sorcery." Uther looked concerned, and Aredian continued, "He is the one who produced the potion to make you cry. I found it in his chambers. Tears can be used in a spell to drive a man insane."

Uther looked apprehensive as Aredian continued, "He is the only one with the opportunity to have enchanted you. He is the one who drove you insane." Uther looked broken and asked softly, "Is it true, Gaius?" Gaius knew that there was no point in denying it. There was too much evidence against him. So he said sadly, "Yes, sire."

Uther looked as if he was about to collapse, but instead he said in anger, "Why, Gaius? Why?" Gaius knew he was going to die anyway. He had been a coward for so long. That could not be his legacy. He would not allow that. He had to stand up for something, for magic, for all those who were killed in this needless war against sorcery, for Merlin, and even for Morgana.

He said, "Because I had to, old friend. Sorcery must be returned to the land. There is no other way. I couldn't watch you hunt down Merlin and Morgana. So I supported their efforts to free the land." Arthur scoffed at that statement and yelled loudly, "By betraying me, by betraying us all?" Gaius said coldly, "You, Arthur, are the one who betrayed us all. You murdered Hunith in cold blood."

Arthur retorted angrily, "She was an accomplice to sorcery." Gaius merely looked disappointed at Arthur and looked back at Uther and said, "I suppose this is the end, old friend. You will see I was right one day. Ygraine would spit in your face if she were still alive." Uther looked reluctant to say anything, but he forced himself to say, "Take him away. For treason, you are to be burned at the stake tomorrow at dawn."

As the guards took Gaius away, Aredian turned to his side and said, "Something's wrong." He then moved to see an old woman standing in the court. He approached her, and she recoiled at his very sight. Aredian looked very suspiciously at her and said, "You look old, but you don't seem old." Aredian then said, "Give me your hand." The old woman reluctantly extended her hand.

Aredian held it, brought out a long, pin-like, sharp piece of metal, and pierced her skin. She said nothing as a small amount of blood started leaking. Aredian smelled it and immediately jumped back and yelled, "She's a sorceress using an aging spell." All the guards extended their arms, and the "old" sorceress screeched, "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard" Then she disappeared. Even if he didn't manage to catch her, at least he'd gotten rid of an infiltrator.

Merlin and Morgana were drinking a few goblets of wine, sharing in their sorrow. Suddenly, Morgause appeared in front of them, in her aged form. She quickly used a spell to revert to her young self and said, "Aredian discovered me." Merlin said, "Well, that's unsurprising, considering he caught us in a single night." Morgana asked, "Did you at least get any useful information?"

Morgause said, "Only sorry news. Gaius has been exposed for aiding us. Hell be put on the pyre, come dawn." Merlin said, "No! I can't let that happen, not after what he's done for us all." Morgause asked, "You can't break into Camelot. Arthur has Excalibur. Its suicide." Merlin said, "There is one specific cell in the dungeons used for those charged with any crime linked to sorcery. I can teleport there."

Morgause asked, "And do what exactly? You won't have your magic for hours." Merlin angrily sighed, but Morgana asked, "What if I teleport Merlin along with myself there, and then he can teleport both me and Gaius back here?" Merlin looked brighter, almost confident, but Morgause said, "You can only teleport one other person beside yourself."

Merlin yelled, "Fine, then. I'll teleport Morgana to Gaius. And you'll take him back here." Morgana retorted, "And leave you there to die? Never!" Merlin said, "Damn it. I can't let him die, not without even saying goodbye. He sacrificed everything for me, only to end up with nothing but a death sentence." Morgana looked sad but said, "He wouldn't want you to die, you know that."

Morgause asked, "Can't you teach him the teleportation spell?" Merlin replied sadly, "He's not powerful enough to use such a spell." Morgause then said slowly, "You can still say goodbye, though." Merlin said, "You're right. I'll teleport myself and Morgana there in the middle of the night. And we can both say goodbye, as small comfort as that may be." Morgana held Merlin's hand, and he gave her a weak smile in response.

Arthur went to his father's chambers and said, "Father, you do now see that I was right?" Uther asked, "Right in one particular thing? I suppose so." Arthur looked annoyed and said, "No, that you should start taking this seriously. Merlin and Morgana are no joke. See what they have done." Uther retorted, "And see how they've failed." Arthur said, "That was only the case due to me and Aredian. Yet you keep ignoring our advice." He added sternly, "That will not happen again!"

Uther asked, "How dare you question my authority?" Arthur said, "Because you are a coward. We had Cenred's army dead to rights. If we attacked them as they were retreating, as Aredian and I suggested, their threat would've been permanently wiped out." Uther replied with more than a hint of anger, "Camelot is going through trying times. We cannot let impatience get the better of us." Arthur said angrily, "It's not impatience; it's tactics."

Uther angrily said, "Enough; you will not question my authority again." Arthur said even more angrily, "And why shouldn't I? You clearly are incapable of leading by strength." Uther said, "You know that is not true. I have led this kingdom since before you were even born. Yet, you still dared make yourself regent without my permission. I've been betrayed by my own daughter and now my oldest friend. If you do not wish to add to the list, bow and reaffirm your loyalty."

Arthur was furious. How dare his father demand this of him! Had he not proven his undying loyalty for the last 20 years? But all that was now over. If he wouldn't trust him, not only as his son but as his heir, why should he be loyal to him? No, he was loyal only to one thing and one thing only, the mission to build a free and just Camelot and rid Albion of the evil of sorcery.

However, he had no choice but to do as his father asked, for if he did not, he would almost certainly be disinherited. So he got on his knees and glared furiously at his father as he said, "I once again reaffirm my loyalty to you, my Lord, for as I long shall live." He would have the power he wanted, no needed, one day, even if that day is not today. And then he could progress on with his dream of uniting Albion. But, for now, it had to be delayed, and the blame even partially fell on him. He saved his father, after all, something he almost started to regret.

In the dead of night, Merlin teleported himself along with Morgana to the cell in which Gaius was held. Gaius immediately said, astonished, "Merlin! Morgana!" He looked at both of their sorry faces and asked, "Why are you here?" Merlin shed a tear as he said, "To say goodbye." He then added, "I'm sorry, Gaius, but I can't save you. I'm so sorry." Gaius said, "Oh, my dear boy!" and hugged him.

He then turned to hug Morgana as well. He then said, "Don't blame yourselves, both of you. I've nothing to fear. This is my redemption for my past cowardice." Merlin said, "I wish it didn't have to be this way." Gaius said, "And I wish I had stood up to Uther all those years ago. I was close to him. I could have prevented all this." Morgana said, "Now's not the time to dwell on regrets."

Gaius said, "Indeed, it is not. I know both of you will one day liberate Camelot, and even if I'm not around then, if my death played any role in advancing your cause, then I die glad." Merlin could not but cry hearing that. Gaius continued, "There is something you should have. Can you give me some paper?" Morgana immediately said, "Léaf," and paper formed in her hand, which she gave to Gaius.

Gaius used the little magic he had to enchant the piece of paper, saying, "Awyrcan min geþanc for Merlin" and then handed the paper to Merlin who took it and asked, "What did you do?" Gaius replied, "A simple enchantment. This paper will reveal information that will be crucial for you when you are ready to know it. It will contain something you will want to know."

As Merlin pondered the meaning of those words, Gaius said, "Dawn will soon approach. You should go." Gaius then fiercely hugged both Merlin and Morgana at once. Merlin said, "Goodbye Gaius, I will miss you." Morgana said, "Me too. Farewell." Gaius said solemnly, "Remember that I am proud of you both always. Goodbye, Merlin. Goodbye Morgana." Morgana couldn't take it anymore and said with tears in her eyes, "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard"

In the morning, Arthur and Aredian watched as Uther gave the order to light the flames. Arthur saw the man who had considered him so close and had loved him from the moment he was born die in agony. He had thought that he would be happy in this moment, just as he is happy when he imagines Merlin and Morgana on the pyre, but he wasn't. All he felt was a sense of loss, and dare he think it, even grief.

For a brief moment, he was disgusted with himself for what he was witnessing, for what he had brought about. But then a moment later, all the reasons for it came rushing to his mind, as if a brigade of apologists for his actions lived permanently in his head, and he was again disgusted with himself, except this time it was for daring to even think of grieving for a conspirator, a traitor, and an accomplice of sorcery.

He focused himself on his true purpose, on what he must do, and on the world he would bring about—a world of peace and justice without the evil of sorcery. He would stick true to that ideal to his dying day, he again reaffirmed.

A/N: I hate doing this to my favorite character from the show but it felt right for this story. I wasn't even planning it until beginning to write this chapter. Another thing I would like to mention is the complete set of restrictions for the teleportation spell. All these restrictions are mentioned within the fic. But I include this for future reference, both for myself and for any interested readers:

1. You are released of your magic for a few hours.

2. You have to imagine the place you're going to in your head meaning that you have to have been there at least once.

3. You can only teleport one person aside from yourself.

4. It is physically taxing so you can't just jump into a sword fight right after teleporting. (And we all saw what happened to Merlin when he tried last chapter)

5. You have to be a very powerful sorcerer to even attempt the spell.

I will try to stick to this list. While I promise to not break any of the existing rules, I do reserve the right to add rules to the list. If I do, I will include an updated list in the relevant chapter.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Please review if you have any thoughts, positive or negative.