Amelia's POV

Amelia lingers outside the Council Chambers as she listens to what Arthur, Uther, Merlin, and Gaius are talking about. She had been with Merlin and Gaius when Uther had sent for them and was curious as it seemed very serious. Knowing she wouldn't be allowed in, she went to one of the doors to the room and pressed herself against the door to listen in. If Morgana finds her, she can lie and say that she's trying to find information that would be useful to their 'plans'.

"Gaius, there have been disturbing rumours from outlying Villages," Uther says.

"Sire?"

"Someone, some kind of Physician is offering treatments. I fear magic may have been used." Amelia pulls a face at Uther's words, hypocrite. He didn't mind using magic when Morgana was dying, did he?

"What is it that makes you suspicious?" Gaius asks. Amelia shakes off her anger so that she can focus on the conversation.

"There are reports of miracle cures? A boy thrown from a horse, a farmhand mauled by a boar. All hopeless cases it seems, and yet each and everyone has made a full recovery." Uther explains. It does sound suspicious. How dare someone try to help others with magic? (Note the sarcasm.)

"It's very hard for me to comment, Sire. I'd have to examine the patients myself." Gaius evades.

"That won't be necessary," Uther dismisses, "as a new case has arisen here in Camelot."

"Who?"

"The Innkeeper. He's returned to work." Arthur says.

"That's not possible. The condition was critical, I saw him only days ago." Gaius argues.

"So, you agree that magic must be involved?" Uther asks pointedly.

"Well, I couldn't say for sure."

"Then go to the Tavern and find out." Uther orders. "If sorcery is at work here, we must act quickly."

"Yes, Sire. I'll see to it right away."

—

Amelia pulls Anne along with her to Gaius' Chambers to wait for said man and Merlin to return. Amelia had given Anne the rundown of what's going on. Merlin and Gaius eventually return.

"Well? Did you see the Innkeeper?" Amelia immediately questions as soon as they step inside.

Merlin looks at her surprised. "How did you—"

Amelia raises an eyebrow. "You're not the only one that sneaks about."

Anne rolls her eyes. "Anyway, the Innkeeper?"

"Gaius was great, he protected the Innkeeper, lied to Uther," Merlin tells them.

Amelia smiles, pleased. "Really?"

Gaius looks at Merlin confused. "What are you going on about Merlin?"

Merlin looks at him questioningly but continues, "He was a sick man. It was a matter of life and death. Magic was his only hope."

"But he didn't use magic." Gaius dismisses. Amelia's eyes flicker between the two. What's going on?

"The potion was enchanted; I saw it with my own eyes. We both did." Merlin persists.

"What you saw, Merlin, was a release of gaseous pressure. Entirely normal in a preparation of that kind." Gaius counters. Amelia looks to Anne who is frowning at the two. Why is Gaius lying?

"But what about the totem?"

"What totem?"

"The totem in the Innkeeper's doorway bore the marks of the Old Religion," Merlin explains.

"Nonsense. You're obviously tired, Merlin. I recommend you get some sleep." Gaius then walks off to the other side of the room. Merlin, Anne, and Amelia all look at each other in confusion.

—

Amelia and Anne gather with Merlin and Gaius in the latter's Chambers.

"Did you go out last night?" Merlin asks. Amelia looks at him questioningly and Anne looks equally confused.

"Yes. I had to get some herbs." Gaius replies.

"Herbs?" Merlin looks unconvinced and Amelia wonders why.

"A... a new supplier just arrived," Gaius explains. Now Amelia herself is unconvinced.

"Right… do your suppliers normally kiss you?" Merlin suddenly asks.

Amelia splutters. "Kiss?!" What's this?!

Gaius looks affronted, turning to the three of them. "You followed me. How dare you?"

"Gaius, it was the middle of the night, I was worried. I thought you might be in some sort of trouble." Merlin insists.

"There's nothing wrong," Gaius murmurs turning around back to the table.

A teasing smile appears on Anne's face. "What's their name?"

"Alice." Gaius answers. Merlin mouths the name to himself. "She's an old friend. Well, more than a friend, if truth be told." Gaius continues to confess.

"What do you mean?" Amelia asks with a smirk, a nice one.

Gaius turns. "We were once engaged to be married."

The other three in the room gape in shock. Gaius was engaged?!

"When was this?" Merlin questions as Gaius turns back to his work.

"More years ago than I care to remember." He puts down his work and sits on the bench and they sit opposite. "I had just been made Physician to the King when I met her. It was like finding a kindred spirit, we had so much in common." Anne and Merlin share a soft smile. "Our love of science, or healing, and of magic."

"Magic?" Anne mutters.

Gaius nods. "I was just a novice, but Alice's power and ability was uncanny. She had the gift. Soon she had mastered every aspect of sorcery, healing above all. It was wonderful to behold. She saved a great many lives." He tells the three sorcerers who can't help but smile when hearing about Gaius' past romance.

"It was Alice that cured the Innkeeper," Merlin concludes.

"Indeed. There was a time when her skills were famous in Camelot."

"So, what happened?" Merlin asks.

"Uther declared war on magic. Overnight her world was turned upside-down."

"The Great Purge," Amelia says solemnly.

"Uther drew up a list of everyone suspected of using magic. One by one, they were hunted down and executed." Amelia shakes her head in disgust. "As a close friend of the King, I was permitted to see this list. Alice's name was on it."

"What did you do?" Anne asks inquisitively.

"The only thing I could do. I struck her name off." Gaius responds.

Amelia looks at him wide eyed. "Gaius, if you'd been caught..."

"I know," Gaius admits, "but it bought her time. Just enough to get out of Camelot, to escape."

"But you... you stayed behind." Merlin murmurs.

"I was scared. I felt I had no choice. I thought I'd never see her again. But now here she is, after all these years. I feel we've been given a second chance." Gaius says softly.

—

Later on, Amelia finds herself helping Anne in getting Merlin back to his Chamber. Arthur had been particularly hard on the manservant during training.

"What if he had hit my head?" Merlin asks as they make their way.

"He'd probably say that there wouldn't be much difference in the regular you and the you that was hit over the head with a mallet," Amelia answers as they get to the door. Amelia lets go as she reaches for the doorknob while Merlin leans against Anne and the wall. Anne chuckles at her remark.

Merlin opens his mouth to argue but then pauses. "You're probably right."

Amelia nods as she opens the door and grabs his arms and pulls him towards her. "Come on." She says as she and Anne lead him inside.

"Ah, Merlin, Amelia, Anne," Gaius greets as he stands in his Chambers and Amelia looks on in surprise as a woman close to Gaius' age emerges from behind him. "I'd like you to meet Alice."

Merlin seems to forget his pain and saunters over to Alice with a smile and clasps her offered hand in greeting.

"It's a pleasure to meet you three. Gaius speaks very highly of all of you." Alice says as Amelia and Anne also greet her by clasping her hand.

"You too," Anne says warmly.

"When he finally did mention you." Amelia remarks with a teasing smile. Merlin and Anne simultaneously give her a warning look, which Amelia ignores.

"Alice will be staying with us for a while," Gaius says awkwardly.

"Great," Merlin says genuinely.

"That's alright with you?" Alice asks hesitantly.

"Of course." Merlin insists. "I'll make up the spare bed."

"So, you won't mind if she uses your room?" Gaits questions.

Merlin's face falters a bit. "Be my guest." Alice and Gaius walk off to the side of the room.

"You can stay at mine if you want," Anne suggests when seeing Merlin looking a bit disgruntled at the idea of giving up his Chamber.

Merlin looks at her in alarm. "In your bed?!" Amelia snorts at the awkwardness.

"What? Er, n-no, no." Anne hurriedly replies. She looks to Amelia for help but Amelia just stands there and smiles. "I mean yes, erm, only if you're comfortable."

Merlin smiles at her softly. "I'll be fine here."

—

Merlin had confessed to Gaius, Amelia, and Anne that Alice might be practising dark magic and says he can prove it so they follow him to his Chamber where Alice is staying in.

Merlin pulls out the box from under the bed from where the creature Merlin had seen emerged from. "This is it."

"Merlin, put that back. This has gone far enough." Gaius hisses.

Merlin instead leans an ear on it. "Oh, it's in there. I know it is."

"Ridiculous." Gaius goes to open it.

"Gaius, no!" Anne exclaims in alarm but when the Physician opens it, the box is empty.

"I hope you're satisfied, Merlin." Gaius snaps.

—

Merlin insists he's telling the truth and Amelia and Anne assure him they believe him. So, they go to Library. They pass Geoffrey of Monmouth as they enter.

"Morning," Merlin calls over his shoulder as he charges past.

Amelia smiles apologetically as she follows.

They are flipping through books when they are interrupted by a cough. Amelia looks up to see Geoffrey looking at them expectingly. "Can I help you?"

"No." Merlin dismisses.

Anne rolls her eyes. "Yes, please ignore him." She shows Geoffrey the page of her book. "Do you know anything about this creature?"

"Ah, now that is the Manticore." Geoffrey acknowledges.

"A Manticore?" Amelia questions. Merlin now watches in interest.

"Nasty looking beast, isn't it."

"Yeah, you can say that again," Merlin mutters, probably thinking of what he had seen.

"I believe it was first referred to almost a thousand years ago." Geoffrey continues to explain. "The Ancients lived in fear of it, trembled at its very name."

Anne frowns. "We've never even heard of it."

"I'm not surprised. 'Cause as far as I'm aware, the Manticore is a legend, figment of the imagination." Geoffrey tells them.

"Are you sure?" Merlin persists.

"Oh, yes. So, erm… if you were hoping to see one, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed." Geoffrey walks away. Too late for that.

—

Merlin had seen Alice trying sneakily to do something before he caught her. So soon the three of them are heading to the Library after closing.

Geoffrey is asleep on a stack of books. Merlin hits something and Geoffrey wakes with a start. They dart behind a bookcase to stay hidden.

"What's that? Who's there?"

With a flash of his eyes, Merlin floats the objects on Geoffrey's desk. "No one. You're dreaming." Merlin whispers. Amelia tries not to burst out laughing at the happy look on Geoffrey's face. "Now go back to sleep." Geoffrey nods, puts his head back down on his desk, and snores. Merlin puts the objects back down.

Amelia rolls her eyes and pulls the two over to a corner. They sit with a bunch of books, eventually finding Alice's box on one of the pages.

—

Next morning Amelia, Merlin, and Anne find Gaius in a corridor.

"Gaius, we need to talk to you about Alice," Merlin says.

"Merlin, this must stop," Gaius tells him.

"There's a reason the box was empty. It isn't a container, it's a portal, a gateway for the Manticore." Amelia persists.

Gaius sighs. "Not you too. This must stop now." He orders harshly.

Anne shakes her head. "No, Alice is up to something, and whatever it is, it isn't good."

"You're wrong, Anne," Gaius argues. "Alice is the kindest and most compassionate person I've ever known."

"No. You're wrong, you're just blinded by your feelings for her." Merlin counters.

Gaius looks affronted by the accusation. "I can see perfectly well, Merlin. And what I can see is that none of you can bear for me to be happy. I cannot begin to guess why that should be, but it saddens me. More than I can say." He walks away.

Amelia feels tearful at Gaius' words. How can he say that?

—

It's nighttime when the warning bell sounds. Amelia sees commotion near Uther's Chambers. She rushes over to see what's going on to find the King on the floor with Arthur kneeling beside him and trying to wake him.

"Arthur?"

Arthur turns around with a frantic expression, he looks on the verge of tears. "Amelia… I-I can't wake him."

Despite her misgivings about Uther, Amelia feels sorrowful at seeing Arthur in such a state and crouches by Uther to have a look. The King is unconscious so Amelia grabs his shoulders and gives him a slight shake. "Uther!" She gives a few shakes but he doesn't rouse. Amelia checks his pulse and sees that it's weak.

Amelia hears someone enter and turns to see that it is Gaius.

Arthur gets up to rush over to the Physician. "I found him this way. I... we can't rouse him."

"He still seems to be breathing, but his pulse is weak," Amelia reports to Gaius as he kneels next to her. She decides it's best to move past Gaius' hurtful words from earlier.

"Seems so," Gaius replies.

"What's wrong with him?" Arthur asks as Gaius gets up and begins pushing Arthur out of the room.

"Please, I must examine him. Seal off the King's quarters." Arthur leaves and Merlin and Anne enter. Uther then gasps and his eyes shoot open, but they're completely black. The four of them real back in shock.

"What is that?" Merlin questions.

"Hush, Merlin," Gaius murmurs.

Uther calms and slowly closes his eyes. Gaius finds the empty bottle in the King's hand and gives it a sniff.

—

They exit the Chambers where Arthur and the Guards are waiting.

"Well?" Arthur demands.

"I am afraid I cannot yet determine the cause of your father's illness," Gaius replies. Amelia knows well enough by now that when Gaius says this, he's hiding something.

"Well, he's been poisoned, hasn't he?" Arthur concludes.

Poison. Amelia shares a look with Anne and Merlin and knows the three of them are on the same line of thought on who has done this.

"I cannot say at this stage."

Arthur doesn't fall for it. "Just look at him, Gaius. What else could it be?"

"We must not jump to hasty conclusions, Sire. Please watch over him till I return."

Arthur isn't pleased but goes into Uther's Chambers, Gaius leaves and Merlin, Anne, and Amelia follow him into the Phoenix Corridor.

"I don't think we need any more information." Merlin declares.

"Since when are you the expert in such matters?" Gaius retorts.

Amelia rolls her eyes. "Gaius, you don't need to be a Physician to see what's happened."

"Amelia!"

"Gaius, he's been poisoned, and I think we all know who did it." Anne interrupts.

"What exactly are you implying?" Gaius asks curtly.

"It was Alice. It had to be. She's been helping you with the potions. She's had every opportunity to corrupt his medicine." Merlin argues.

"Merlin, you have no proof of any of this."

"How else did he ingest the poison?" Anne counters. "There is no other explanation."

"Of course there is."

"Oh, come on, Gaius!" Merlin cries.

"We understand why you're protecting her. Really, we do. But in your heart of hearts, you must know what we're saying is true." Amelia pleads.

"All I know is that the King is gravely ill and that Merlin's place is by Arthur's side!" Gaius counters before walking away.

—

Merlin and Anne had gone to Arthur's side while Amelia goes to Morgana's, knowing how needy her sister will be at this time to have someone who 'thinks' like her to talk gleefully to.

Amelia's older half sister immediately turns on her when she comes across her in the corridor near their Chambers. "I heard Uther is gravely ill. Is it true?"

Amelia nods. "It appears he's been poisoned. He won't last long."

Morgana grins. "Excellent. Perhaps Uther will die without us lifting a finger."

Amelia shares a dark smirk with Morgana. She hadn't thought about that. This way the man she hates will die and she won't have it on her guilty conscious for causing Arthur pain but then she remembers Merlin's concern that Alice was up to something with Uther's medicine. Amelia feels a dread pool at the bottom of her stomach when she realises that Gaius might go down for the crime. She can't let that happen.

Her worried look is noticed by Morgana. "Amelia, sister, what is it?"

Amelia glances around and quickly comes up with a lie. "We shouldn't talk about these things, being so out in the open. We need to be careful."

Morgana nods. "Yes, of course. We must hope for the King's speedy recovery." The look on her face does not match her words.

—

Amelia goes to find Merlin and Anne to share her worries about the danger Gaius is in but instead finds Alice being dragged to the Dungeons by some Guards.

Amelia, Anne, and Merlin join Arthur as he questions Alice in the Dungeons. The Prince of Camelot stands in front of the bars that cover Alice's Cell.

"Do you admit to using magic?" He asks.

"Yes." Alice quickly and quietly replies.

"Admit to poisoning the King?"

"Yes, yes, but it forced me to do it. It, it made me." Alice argues. Creature… The Manticore made her do this?

"Who forced you?"

"The creature. The creature."

"You're lying! There's no creature. You're just trying to save your own skin." Arthur snaps.

"No, no."

Arthur calms and leans towards her. "Please, my father is dying. If you have a single shred of goodness within you, you will tell me how to cure him."

"I don't know." Arthur angrily hits the Cell doors and storms off. "I don't know! I'm so sorry. The Manticore..." Alice's words are then cut off by the sound of her choking. Amelia watches in shock as her eyes turn black.

—

They go to Gaius in Uther's Chambers, standing next to the man's bed. Merlin had confessed to being the one who had gotten Alice arrested.

"How is he?" Anne softly asks.

"He's fading. He won't last the day." Gaius answers.

"Gaius..." Merlin begins to apologise.

"It's alright, Merlin." Gaius interrupts. "I understand. You were only trying to save me from harm. Thank you. But I don't believe Alice wanted this."

"We know that now," Amelia reassures him. "The poison is from the Manticore, the creature that was in Alice's Chamber."

—

They hurry to Gaius' Chambers to discuss further on what they should do. Amelia isn't exactly pleased by this but she knows they need to save Alice from the Manticore plus it doesn't look good if Arthur's father is killed by magic.

"We cannot counteract the Manticore's venom. It's too deadly, by far." Gaius tells them.

"So, what can we do?" Merlin asks.

"We can kill the Manticore. The poison is imbued with its magic. With the Manticore dead, it will lose its potency." Gaius explains, picking up a book to flick through and putting it down.

"How do we kill it?" Anne questions.

"You can't." Gaius corrects. "None of you have the power. It's a creature of the Old Religion. But maybe there's another way, if I can remember." He picks up another book to flick through before landing on a page and shows them. "Here. The Manticore cannot live in this world long. Its life source is an ancient evil that exists in the spirit world."

"So, if we can trap it in this world..." Amelia summarises.

"Exactly. If we were to summon the creature and you kept it at bay long enough perhaps Anne or Amelia could break the box."

"The gateway," Merlin says.

"If the gateway is destroyed, then the creature's connection with its life source will be destroyed with it." Gaius finishes.

"And the Manticore will die?" Amelia asks.

"I believe so."

"Perhaps Amelia should do it. There's no better time to strengthen her magic." Anne suggests.

Amelia shakes her head. "The box is enchanted. I don't think I'd have the strength."

Anne disagrees, "You can. Gaius and I will help you."

—

After some tutelage, they approach the box.

"Are you ready?" Gaius asks.

"What if this doesn't work?" Merlin asks.

"Then we're going to have a very angry Manticore on our hands." They slowly open the box and all step back. They all turn to Merlin.

He takes a breath and chants, "Cume her, pin scinnlæcan!" The Manticore comes out and almost immediately attacks Merlin, who catches it in time before it can reach his face but falls to the crowd as he wrestles with it. Anne lunges forward to close the box. "Amelia!"

Amelia takes a breath herself and turns to the box. "Adee þas sawle duru!" But nothing happens. She tries again with more power behind her words. "Adee þas sawle duru!" Nothing happens.

"Amelia!" Merlin yells, only just avoiding the Manticore's scorpion like tail. "Amelia, it's now or never!"

"I can't do this!" Amelia cries tearfully. She is so useless!

"Yes, you can!" Anne urges.

Amelia nods and tries again. "Adee þas sawle duru!" She feels the power of her words rush out of her and towards the box, which explodes.

The angry Manticore leaps at Amelia, who only realises it's coming towards her when Merlin yells, "Amelia!" But before it can reach her, the Manticore fries. They all deflate in relief.

"Not too bad for a newbie." Merlin remarks to Amelia, who is gasping from exhaustion after that big spell. Anne lunges at him as he lays on the floor and kisses him on the cheek.

Amelia laughs. "Not too bad yourself." Gaius gives her a congratulatory pat on the back.

—

Uther has no mercy and sentence, Alice to death the next day.

However, the next morning, Amelia hears the warning bells sound.

"What's happened?" She asks Anne not daring to hope.

"A little bird told me that a prisoner may have escaped the Dungeons," Anne replies with a knowing smile.

A similar smile stretches across Amelia's face. "Mmm… shocker. I thought those Cells were impenetrable."

"Seems you were mistaken."

The two of them begin sniggering.

—

A/N: Felt like Morgana should have a scene in there because she'd be jumping around at the thought Uther may be dying.