Season 2!
—
Amelia's POV
Everything is mostly back to normal but Amelia knows it won't for long. Soon she is getting even less sleep than she already is when Uther orders men to dig in the Caverns underneath the Castle to find some materials or whatever and it is disturbing everyone's sleep. Though Amelia, as well as Morgana, are used to a lack of sleep already so it really is not a massive disturbance to her already terrible sleep schedule.
One night the banging finally ends and it is only the next day when she follows Merlin down to the Caverns, does she learn of what had caused her to finally have some hours of sleep.
The diggers had found a Tomb but one man suddenly slumped dead soon afterwards. Naturally, the rest freaked out and fled.
When she enters the Tomb, there is a man laid out by a raised coffin made from stone with an ornate monument of an unknown man lying on top with a large glowing blue gem in the middle of the chest. Amelia glances round the rest of the Tomb to see that whoever is buried here was very rich judging by all the riches that surrounds the edges of the room containing said person.
"How do you think he died? Gaius?" Merlin asks, crouching over the man who had died.
"Hmm?" Gaius asks, not paying attention. It is almost as if he is lost in thought.
"Do you know whose Tomb it is?" Merlin probes, standing up.
"Not sure," Gaius says but Amelia feels like he is lying about what he actually knows. She sees that he is staring at a stone crow, which seems to be staring at them. Amelia shakes her head realising how ridiculous she is being.
"Do you think it might be cursed?" The atmosphere seems to also be getting to Merlin.
"Finding out who's Tomb this is will help," Amelia says.
Gaius then steps on the stone slabs surrounding the base of the stone coffin, likely to have a closer look. A dart shoots out of one of the stone crows at Gaius. Merlin magics a plate between the dart and Gaius just in time as the dart hits the plate.
Gaius gapes in surprise before turning to Merlin. "You just saved my life. Thank you."
"Are you alright?" Amelia asks Gaius who nods.
She then hears Uther as does Merlin as he drops the plate as it had still been hovering in mid air. It rolls towards the entrance as Uther enters talking to Arthur, who is behind him. "...guarded at all times." The plate stops at Uther's feet as does Merlin, who was following it. "Idiot."
Arthur turns to Merlin. "Were you born clumsy or do you work at it?"
"It's just one of my many gifts." Merlins answers.
"Well, this is quite a find. You see, Gaius, I was right." So that is why Uther thought it was a brilliant idea to keep everybody awake. "There is treasure to be found under Camelot. Which of my predecessors do I have to thank for all this?" Gaius does not respond, again distracted. "Gaius?"
"Uh, I'd have to look into it, Sire." This means he already knows but does not want to say till he is absolutely sure. This means he is clearly worried about what it means.
"How did he die?" Uther asks, now turning to the dead digger.
"He seems to have unwittingly triggered a trap here," Gaius answers, gesturing towards it.
"To deter grave robbers." Arthur guesses.
"Well, there's plenty in here people would want to steal." Uther turns to Arthur. "Have them secure the Tomb. Guarding it is your responsibility, Arthur."
"Yes, Father." Arthur seems to do everything anyway.
"Maybe a gift for one of your birthdays Amelia." Uther jokes towards her. She gives him a small smile.
—
It is the next day that Merlin storms into Gaius' Chambers, where Amelia is chatting with Anne and Gaius about the inscription he had found in the Tomb, looking sad.
"What's wrong?" Anne asks, albeit a bit awkwardly. The two have been a bit awkward ever since the questing beast episode but Amelia can't figure out why and Anne refuses to tell her. They seem to have not fallen out as neither seems irritated with each other but it is something.
"I saved Arthur's life, someone else got the credit. Just the usual." Merlin mutters, not really looking at her. "What are you doing?" Merlin walks over to behind where Gaius is sitting.
"I found this inscription on the sceptre." Merlin looks over Gaius' shoulder to read the unknown language on the piece of paper he holds.
"What language is that?" Merlin asks.
"He does not know." Amelia answers. "Sigan would have known many languages." She needs to find her notes on this.
"Sigan?" Merlin questions.
"It's his Tomb," Gaius says.
"Who's he?" Merlin questions again.
"Merlin, he was the most powerful sorcerer to have lived," Anne tells him ominously, though it is allowed in this situation.
"Really?" Merlin asks in shock.
"You didn't grow up in Camelot, but for those of us that did, Cornelius Sigan was a figure of nightmare." Gaius says. Amelia vaguely remembers him but not much, her previous head injury probably does not help much.
"Why?" Merlins asks still confused.
"Sigan's powers. He could change day into night, turn the tides, and legend has it, his spells helped build Camelot itself." Anne explains.
"What happened?"
"In the end, he grew too powerful and the King at that time ordered his execution," Gaius says.
"If he's dead, why are you so worried?" He still is not getting it.
"Sigan couldn't bear the thought that his wealth and power would die with him, so he became obsessed with finding a way to defeat death itself." Gaius declares.
"You think he might have succeeded?" Merlin asks worriedly.
"Well, let's cheers to hoping that he did not," Amelia says only slightly sarcastically as the situation is actually serious.
—
So turns out Uther thinks it is all superstitious nonsense and will not listen to sealing up the Tomb. Surprise surprise.
Also, younger Amelia had not written anything about this adventure, either she could not remember enough to write anything down or did not think it important. Let's hope that this has nothing life altering?
Amelia rushes to Morgana's Chambers the next morning after hearing she had a nightmare as this could be linked to Sigan.
Once she enters, Morgana is sitting on her bed above the covers looking exhausted.
"Wow," her voice causes Morgana to turn to her, "you are looking extra pale today. Almost like you hardly exist." Her comment causes an up turn of Morgana's mouth. Well, at least she got her to smile a bit.
"You are not going to ask me how I am, are you?" Morgana jokingly asks. Another achievement is Morgana making a joke.
"Nah, bit pointless that is and you and I both know that I know how annoying it is when someone asks." Amelia jokingly tells her, sitting on the bed next to her. "What happened though?"
But before Morgana can answer, there is a knock on the door and a "My Lady?"
Gaius.
Morgana calls her consent for him to enter and he enters and begins his assessment.
"What was this dream about?" He asks.
"A bird." Morgana her mood had seemed to have drooped since he arrived.
"What kind of bird?"
"A raven."
"A raven?" Amelia raises her eyebrows in surprise. She is sure that Sigan has ravens protecting his Tomb.
"It was terrifying, Gaius. What do you think it means?" Morgana begs.
"Probably nothing."
Amelia scoffs, which causes Gaius to give her a look.
"It's happening again, isn't it?" Morgana says in a watery voice sounding like she does not believe him. Not that Amelia blames her. Amelia moves to the other side of the bed and begins stroking her shoulder in comfort.
"Morgana, one raven doesn't mean that your nightmares are returning. Are you taking the sleeping draughts I prepared for you?" Morgana nods. "I'll get Gwen to give you something stronger."
"Like a blow to the head? I'm sure she wants to." Morgana remarks.
Gaius then leaves and Morgana turns to her. "Something is happening isn't it?"
Amelia chews her lip. "Maybe, if you are dreaming it. But now we know we can be extra vigilant. We can do something. Yeah?"
Morgana nods looking slightly more relieved. Clearly things are happening if Morgana is dreaming about it.
—
The next morning Amelia is startled when she hears the warning bell start going.
She rushes towards Gaius' Chambers hoping to get some answers.
"What is it? What's happening? Is it Sigan?" She immediately asks as soon as she sees Gaius.
"I'm afraid so. The inscription said, "He who breaks my heart completes my work." And that blue heart that was glowing is now empty. I fear his soul has been released." He says.
"You think he has completed his dream of immortality?" Amelia asks with wide eyes.
"Yes. And now I fear he has now been able to inhabit a body."
"But how did they get in? Only Arthur has the keys!" Amelia exclaims. This is very bad.
"They must have had access. Merlin says only him and a man called Cedric."
"Oh no. He must have been the one then! Merlin has been complaining about how he keeps making him look bad. He must have been trying to get close to Arthur to get the key." Amelia realises.
"Seems so. Now we are all in mortal danger."
—
That mortal danger came soon as that night, Amelia hears screaming from the Square outside. She opens a window and leans out to see what is happening but quickly she has to duck her head inside as something large flies past her window. Once it has passed, she pokes her head out once again and sees large flying creatures flying about and people running around screaming. This must be the work of Sigan.
Amelia immediately runs to where she knows Gaius will have set up a Temporary Ward to deal with the wounded. Once she arrives, she begins to work with Morgana in directing and organising the wounded.
"You shouldn't be doing this," Gaius says to Morgana.
"It's exactly what I should be doing." She instantly responds.
"You need rest, Morgana." Gaius cautions.
Amelia huffs at that and Morgana seems to agree, "And I'm likely to get it with all this going on."
Gaius looks to Amelia for help but she gives a look as if to say, 'It's Morgana. I can't stop her.'
—
After a while, an injured Arthur enters with Gwen directing him.
"Is he alright?" She asks Gwen who has moved away and has begun to collect bandages and rags.
"Yes. I just need to stop the bleeding." Gwen reassures her.
Amelia goes back over to Arthur with Gwen and begins helping her to treat Arthur.
"Now I know you cannot help it," Amelia begins with a serious voice, "but try not to act like a baby please."
Arthur huffs a laugh but soon winces. "Try not to make me laugh and we will both be fine." He says. Amelia gives him a smile.
Uther himself does not take long before he is rushing over to Arthur. "Arthur."
"It's nothing," Arthur tells him. Nothing! She's tying a bandage around him!
"Have we driven the creatures out?" Uther instead asks, now realising that Arthur is not in immediate danger.
"They have control of the Lower Town. The Market has been all but destroyed." Arthur reports.
"How many dead?"
"Too many to number."
"I'm sealing the Citadel." Amelia looks up at Uther in surprise.
"You can't," Arthur says in similar disbelief.
"I have no choice. I have to protect those who have a chance. If I don't, we will all fall." Arthur gets up despite Amelia's attempts to keep him down. "Where are you going?"
"There are people trapped on the Drawbridge," Arthur says.
"I forbid you," Uther says.
"I'm not leaving them to die." Arthur walks away. And this is why Arthur will be the better King, he does not just give up.
"It's suicide!" Uther grabs his arm.
"It's my duty to Camelot! And to myself!" Arthur then walks out with a group of Soldiers following him.
Amelia looks around and spots Gaius and Anne whispering in the corner, she walks closer and sees they are talking to Merlin, who is hidden in the shadows.
"Merlin!" She says in surprise. Last she heard was that Arthur had put him in the Cells for the night as he had once again not believed Merlin when he tried to tell them that Cedric is Sigan.
Merlin nods to her. "I have to help Arthur."
"Merlin, Sigan's power is far beyond yours," Gaius warns him.
"I don't have a choice."
"But Sigan has achieved immortality and you have not. He'll kill you!" Anne exclaims.
"But there must be a way," Merlin says insists.
"There is only one alive who is old enough to give us the answers we need," Gaius says. Oh no, Amelia knows who he is going to say.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asks, having not clicked with what he meant.
"The Great Dragon."
Anne pulls a face while Amelia herself shifts uncomfortably. Merlin retreats back as if the words hurt him. "You knew that...that I used to visit him."
"Yes, Merlin, of course I knew. You're a creature of magic, just as he is. I hoped that he could help you." Gaius says.
"He helps no one but himself." Anne spits.
"For Arthur's sake you must go to him now."
"They kind of told him that he'll never see them again," Amelia says.
"We have no choice," Gaius says. Amelia hates to admit that he has a point.
—
Amelia enters Kilgharrah's Cave with Merlin and Anne. Rocks fall from the ceiling.
"Hello?! Hello?! Please, I need your help!" Merlin begs.
Kilgharrah then flies down and perches on his rock. "You told me I would not see you again." He says angrily, leaning forward.
"We are not here for ourselves, we are here for Arthur," Anne says.
"Arthur's path lies with all of yours. Two of you have made it clear that you do not walk in step with me." Kilgharrah still sounds angry.
"You cannot want Cornelius Sigan to win," Amelia says desperately. Kilgharrah seems to soften slightly when he looks at her. "You're not evil."
"At least Sigan knows where his loyalties lie. These two have shown that they do not." He gestures his large head towards Anne and Merlin.
"So you will let Camelot fall?" Merlin says knowingly.
"I did not say that." Kilgharrah no longer sounding as angry.
"Then you will help us?" Anne asks.
"To defeat Sigan, you will need a spell more powerful than anything you know."
"Please, I have to try," Merlin begs.
"Very well. But you must give me something in return." Oh no.
"What?" Amelia asks worriedly.
"A promise."
"A promise?" Merlin asks.
"That one day you will free me." Amelia vaguely remembers from her notes something about when Kilgharrah is initially free, that it'll cause all sorts of disaster.
"If I release you, what will you do?" Merlin is right to doubt him.
"That is not your concern." It kind of is.
"I don't trust you!" Again Merlin is right.
"Nevertheless, you must promise, or Camelot will fall." Kilgharrah knows he has them.
At this moment more rock falls from the ceiling. "I promise. Now, please, give me the spell." Merlin says desperately.
"Close your eyes and open your mind." Merlin does so and Kilgharrah breathes on him. Merlin opens his eyes and Amelia can see a flash of gold. "Few men have ever been gifted such knowledge. Use it wisely."
"I will," Merlin says, sounding breathless.
"You made a promise, young warlock, and one day I shall keep you to it," Kilgharrah tells them just before they leave.
—
Anne's POV
Amelia hurries to the Temporary Ward while Anne goes with Merlin to confront Sigan.
They enter the Square to see Arthur lying on the floor unconscious and one of the creatures flying towards him.
"Astrice!" Merlin yells and the creature explodes into pieces. Merlin and Anne rush over to check on Arthur. Anne's shoulders sag in relief when Arthur makes a noise and moves his head. She then hears a voice.
"Who would've believed it? You, a sorcerer, and a powerful one." Anne looks to see Sigan in Cedric's body emerge from the smoke.
"I won't let you hurt him," Merlin calls determinedly.
"And you're going to stop me?" Sigan's voice is full of cocky arrogance.
Anne stands. "He'll stop you." She says as Merlin stands behind her.
"He does not deserve your loyalty. He treats you like a slave." Sigan says trying to persuade Merlin. Anne keeps back believing that Merlin can do this. To be there in case Sigan gets to him.
"That's not true." Merlin's voice makes her doubt slightly whether he is going through with defeating Sigan.
"He cast you aside without a moment's thought." Sigan continues.
"That doesn't matter," Merlin says, standing his ground.
"But it must hurt so much to be so put upon, so overlooked, when all the while you have such power." Anne does not like how Sigan is poking at Merlin's insecurities. How dare he.
"That's the way it has to be." Merlin counters.
"Does it? You're young, Merlin. Look inside yourself. You have yet to discover your true power. I can help you. Think, Merlin. To have the world appreciate your greatness. To have Arthur know you for what you are." Sigan says persuasively.
"That can never be."
"It can, if you join me. Together we can rule over this land. Arthur will tremble at your voice, he will kneel at your feet." Anne cannot help but smile slightly. She knows that Sigan had gone wrong there. He clearly does not know Merlin at all.
"I don't want that," Merlin says, sounding more sure than ever.
"You'd rather be a servant?" Sigan says in disbelief.
"Better to serve a good man than to rule with an evil one." Merlin's voice sounding stronger as he speaks.
"So be it. If you will not join me, I will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will." Oh, dear.
Cedric's body begins convulsing slightly and choking. His head tilts back then looking directly at her and Merlin reaching out to them with his hand before collapsing to the floor, looking like he is dead.
Before Anne can begin to think about feeling sorry for Cedric, a stream of blue smoke comes out of Cedric's open mouth and begins trailing towards Merlin. It begins wrapping around his feet and this is when Merlin begins to chant.
"Ic þín sáwol hér beléac, abide þæt ic þé álíese!" At his last word, the smoke enters his nostrils and he falls to the ground. His head begins to jerk and his eyes open and turn black.
Anne gapes at him in worry but after a few moments, she hears a gasp. She looks over to see Merlin's eyes once again blue as he stands. She watches him in worry as she does not know whether the spell has worked but then she looks down to the jewel clasped in his hand and sees that it is now swirling and glowing blue once again. It had worked! She feels her face break into a smile.
She then hears Gaius and Amelia's voices calling out their names. Merlin begins walking through the mist with a serious look on his face towards Gaius and Amelia, who are watching in concern, and once he gets in front of them, he smiles and holds up the jewel with Sigan's soul trapped inside. Anne steps up behind him with her own smile.
This causes Gaius and Amelia to simultaneously let out sighs of relief and both of their faces break out into smiles before walking towards them.
"Well done, my boy," Gaius says happily before hugging Merlin.
Amelia meanwhile launches herself at Anne. Anne cannot help but let out a laugh of surprise and happiness. "Are you alright?" Amelia asks her once she has been let go.
"Yeah," Anne says smiling. Before she turns to join in with Merlin and Gaius' hug and feels Amelia do the same.