Amelia's POV
It's a busy day today and Amelia and Merlin take it upon themselves to charge into Arthur's rooms. The King is, of course, still asleep in bed.
Merlin opens Arthur's curtains, letting the light in. "Up you get!" He calls.
"What for?" Arthur groans, waking.
"A bath."
"Where's breakfast?"
"Say, 'Ah.'"
"Ah?" Merlin stuffs a roll in Arthur's mouth. "Merlin!" Comes the muffled cry before Arthur pulls the roll out of his mouth, spitting the crumbs out of his mouth.
Amelia saunters over to Arthur's desk with some documents. "Right, you need to set aside some practice time."
"Ah, wonderful. What for? Quarterstaff? Battle axe?" Arthur asks as he rolls over, lifting his upper body and resting it on his elbows.
"For your speech."
"Who to?"
"The Guild of Harness Polishers." Amelia gives him a look that indicates that she thinks he's an idiot for not knowing.
"The guild of who? I don't know anything about polishing." Arthur wines.
Amelia waves him off. "Doesn't matter because fortunately Merlin does."
Merlin holds up a really long scroll with a grin.
Arthur looks on in horror. "That'll take hours to learn."
Amelia points her pen at Arthur, grinning, unperturbed by his grumpiness. "You don't have hours." She turns back to the list in front of her. "First, you have to receive Odin's envoy."
"Do I have to give a speech?"
"No. You have to listen to one." Amelia says with horror as well as barely hidden amusement.
Arthur rolls his eyes, but Amelia ignores him. "Then you need to inspect the Guards, perform a freeman's ceremony, oh... and to be a judge."
"Preside over a trial?"
Merlin leans over Amelia's shoulder. "Ooh! A garland competition!" He exclaims teasingly.
Arthur glares at the grinning duo. "You're enjoying this!"
Amelia rolls her eyes. "Getting your lazy backside up? Yes, it's the highlight of my day."
Arthur rolls his eyes again and flops his head back on his pillow. "I never get any time to myself!" Arthur curls back into his covers.
Merlin rolls his eyes. "I know, it's almost like having to work."
Arthur doesn't move.
Amelia purses her lips. "Right, you asked for it." She turns to Merlin, gesturing to their oh-so-gracious King. "Merlin, get him up."
Merlin goes over to the bed and grabs Arthur, trying to drag him out of bed. Arthur struggles to stay under the covers. Amelia casually watches, arms crossed.
"No, come on. No, out of bed." Merlin says.
Arthur makes an odd squeal as Merlin forces him out of bed along with all his covers. Always the same.
"You're doing very well, Arthur." Merlin remarks to Arthur who's splayed out on the floor.
"I don't think so." Arthur grumbles.
Merlin fetches Arthur's shirt. "Everyone's saying it."
"I'm glad your friends at the Tavern approve." Arthur retorts.
Amelia rolls her eyes as she helps Merlin stand Arthur up. "Stop being silly. Despite your many faults, you're actually becoming a very good King."
"Thank you, dear cousin." Arthur says sarcastically. "And Merlin, you're still the worst servant I've ever known."
Merlin nods, grinning as he hands Arthur his shirt. There's a knock at the door.
"Enter." Arthur calls.
Agravaine enters. "Good morning, my lord. May I have a word?"
"Of course."
Agravaine glances at Amelia and Merlin. "Er, the matter I wish to discuss is a delicate one, sire. Perhaps it'd be better if we talked alone."
Merlin leaves but Amelia stays.
Agravaine looks annoyed at this. Good. "Could Lady Amelia possibly—"
Amelia narrows her eyes at him. "Why?" She asks sharply.
"It's an important matter involving the Kingdom."
"And then I should be included."
"You can go, Amelia." Arthur interrupts as he walks to his screen. Amelia glares at Agravaine's smug face and reluctantly leaves.
—
Amelia angrily storms into the Council Chambers where Arthur and Agravaine are. Once again, the three A's are reunited and Amelia couldn't be more displeased.
"What's this I hear about you interrogating Gaius?" She demands to know.
"There's a traitor in our midst. We need to find out who." The slimy snake calmly replies.
"Thank you Agravaine," Amelia says through clenched teeth, "but I was talking to my King." She turns to Arthur. "What are doing Arthur? This is Gaius. He's as loyal to you as they come."
"He might be consorting with sorcerers again. He knew the one we went to for my father." Arthur tells her.
Amelia flinches as the memories of that night come back to her, but she quickly swallows them down. "And because he couldn't help you've decided to turn on Gaius?"
"He was reluctant to answer on what his views are on the outlawing of sorcery and clearly lied about consorting with sorcerers. He may have fallen back into the dark arts." Agravaine replies this time.
"Do you have actual proof?"
"No, but I'm sure we'll find some."
Amelia glares at him before turning back to Arthur. "Gaius is your friend, our friend. If you mistreat him, you lose me, Merlin and Anne." She then turns and storms out of the room.
—
The warning bells sound and jolt Amelia awake that night. She finds herself standing in Gaius' Chambers along with Arthur, Merlin, Anne and Agravaine as Guards toss Gaius' possessions, breaking many of them, as usual.
"My lord, he was seen riding away from the City." Agravaine says.
"That can't be true." Merlin argues. Anne grips his arm in distress.
Leon enters. "Sire." He says to Agravaine. "You were right. A white stallion has been taken from the royal stables."
"Well, where would he be going? Why leave at this time of night?" Arthur questions.
"Well, I could hazard a guess, sire, but I think a thorough search of his belongings may well provide us with the truth." Agravaine replies.
Amelia glares at Agravaine, realising this is what he'd planned all along.
—
In the light of day, Amelia stands in the Council Chambers along with Merlin, Arthur and the slimy snake.
Arthur flips through the book titled Witchcraft, Sorcery & Magic that Agravaine had 'found', surrounded by multiple others, as he sits at the head of the table.
"And this was found in Gaius' Chambers?" Arthur asks.
"I am as disappointed as you, sire." Agravaine says. "Someone so close, so trusted. And it's not merely the discovery that he was a sorcerer, is it? It's... it's the lies. The lies and years of betrayal." Lying swine.
Amelia watches Arthur, increasingly angered by Agravaine's lies. Arthur drops the spell book on the table, upset.
"I know it's hard to believe, isn't it, sire? But we both saw him refuse to condemn magic. We both knew he was hiding something. And neither of us want to believe it, but... now, with this... hasty departure in the middle of the night? These are not the actions of an innocent man, sire. There can be no doubt. Gaius is the traitor."
Amelia can't take it anymore. "How could you say that?!" She cries.
"Amelia…" Arthur tries to interrupt.
Amelia ignores him. "This is Gaius we're going on about, how could you accuse him of betraying us?!"
"You cannot hide the evidence." Agravaine calmly replies, which angers Amelia further.
"The accuser usually has something to hide!"
"Amelia! That's enough." Arthur shouts causing Amelia to finally look at him. "Agravaine, leave us."
Agravaine bows. "As you wish, sire." Amelia watches as he exits and sees Merlin doing the same but with a glare as he leaves.
Amelia turns to Arthur, placing her hands on the table, leaning towards him. "Arthur. He's given his life to this Kingdom. He would never betray you."
"He's been consorting with sorcerers. He more or less admitted to it. Why run if you have nothing to hide?" Arthur questions.
Amelia opens her mouth to reply but Merlin interrupts her by blurting, "They're lies! Gaius would never run off in the night."
"Look, I know it's hard. But no break ins were reported. His possessions are missing. A horse has been stolen." Arthur argues.
"He would not leave without saying goodbye to me." Merlin looks away and stares in the opposite direction. Amelia's heart breaks at the sight of him.
Amelia turns back to Arthur. "Agravaine has made this story up."
"I shall ignore that last comment." Arthur says, shaking his head.
Amelia leans towards him again. "I know he's your uncle, but he's mine too and I can see through the lies. You can too."
"Amelia!" Arthur snaps. "I've had my heart broken enough already today. I don't want to lose anyone else." Arthur stands up briskly. "Gaius," Arthur holds up the magic book, "condemned himself." Arthur slaps the book on the table on his way out. "There's no more to be said."
—
Percival, Anne and Amelia are waiting in the latter's Chambers for Merlin. They're waiting for Merlin to search Agravaine's Chambers while he talks with the Guards and Knights about 'finding' Gaius.
The door opens and Merlin comes in looking rather cross. "He planted it!" He speaks. "I found books about sorcery in his Chambers."
"I knew it." Anne mutters angrily.
"I also found this." He hands them a small handkerchief, a red sort of soil rubbed on it. "I'm not sure how much use it'll be but this was coated on the bottom of his boots. It smelled odd to me, so I rubbed some off just before Agravaine entered."
"Percival." Amelia turns to him. "Ever seen dirt like this?" She hands it to him.
He sniffs it and pokes at the dirt, "No, but I bet I know who does. Gwaine."
—
They find Gwaine sitting on a bench in Gaius' Chambers when they enter.
"There you are! We've been looking for you." Amelia exclaims as soon as she sees him.
Gwaine flashes her a roughish grin. "I was here. Got bored of playing soldiers."
"We need your help." Anne cuts straight to the point as they all gather around the tables.
"With what?"
"What do you think?" Merlin asks snippily.
"Looking for Gaius."
"Do you know what this is?" Percival holds up the handkerchief.
"Might do." Gwaine reaches out his hand. "Let me see."
Percival holds it out and Gwaine takes it and smells it.
"That's iron ore. Where'd you find this?"
"That doesn't matter." Amelia dismisses. "Does it help us?"
"Iron ore's pretty rare in Camelot. In fact, I've only seen it once, on a patrol." Gwaine says.
"Where?"
"Er...ridge of Kemeray. They've been hewing iron from rocks there for hundreds of years."
—
Merlin, Amelia and Gwaine ride out of Camelot that night, towards the ridge. Anne doesn't come for obvious reasons and Percival holds back to keep an eye on things and any more than the trio will draw attention.
They enter the right mining shaft. Amelia looks down and sees the same iron ore on her boots. They walk through the Cave, searching for Gaius when a large man suddenly jumps out at them. Gwaine fights him but is knocked down. Merlin steps in and, with a flash of his eyes, the man flies forward and lands on Gwaine's sword. Amelia helps Gwaine to his feet.
Amelia, Gwaine and Merlin continue and come to a fork in their search.
"We should split up." Amelia says. "Covering more ground means finding Gaius quicker."
"Yeah." Gwaine murmurs in agreement.
Amelia and Merlin turn to go one way and Gwaine the other.
Merlin pauses. "Gwaine. If you find him, don't wait for us."
Gwaine looks unsurely at Amelia, who smiles reassuringly, before nodding.
—
Amelia sees the firelight ahead and pulls Merlin down, so they hide under a ridge just as a bald man in robes comes around the corner. He stops but doesn't look down to see Amelia and Merlin. When he leaves, they go where the man has just come from.
Amelia and Merlin come across another fork. Merlin indicates he'll go that way and Amelia nods, continuing the other way. It's only when Amelia hears Merlin cry out and feels something pull at her magic that she runs back the way she came.
She enters to find Merlin lying on his back on the ground. Amelia's breath catches in her throat when she sees it's Morgana standing before Merlin. Morgana pulls a dagger.
Amelia panics and just as Morgana throws the dagger towards Merlin, she leaps forward and throws herself in between them. Amelia stops the dagger by throwing out her hand. It stops just before her palm. Amelia uses her magic to throw it back to Morgana but stops it right before her sister's face and holds it there. She flickers her eyes over her shoulder to see Merlin standing, holding himself against some rock that lies in the middle of the room then turns her attention to her sister.
"Please don't, Morgana." Amelia pleads. "I don't want to fight you." She feels herself shaking. She hasn't spoken or been face-to-face with her sister in over a year.
Morgana's face is one of shock before she quickly recovers. "Sister, I should've known you were here. A traitor is never far away." She smirks, ignoring the dagger hovering in front of her face.
Amelia narrows her eyes at her. "I'm not the traitor Morgana." She rebuts. "That was all you."
Morgana glares. "You betrayed us! You turned away from your family!" She spits.
"You and Morgause were attacking my family." Amelia counters. "I couldn't help you in your hateful crusade."
"You protected Uther and Arthur! You turned against your people!" Morgana cries.
Amelia tries not to flinch at the mention of Uther. She grits her teeth and steals her resolve. "I never turned my back to my people, Morgana. That was you. You're the traitor to all magic users. Not I."
Morgana glares. "Get out of the way, Amelia. I'm not fighting you. Despite your treachery, you're my sister."
Amelia feels herself soften at the statement before shaking it off. She shakes her head, continuing to hold the dagger at her sister despite everything in her telling her not to harm the woman. "No, I'm not letting you harm Merlin. We want to know what you've done to Gaius."
Morgana shrugs. "Well, Gaius had some information I needed. The whereabouts of the sorcerers Emrys and Tarion. If he gave it to me willingly, his suffering would not be prolonged, but... if he did not..." Morgana smirks.
"If you have harmed him..." Merlin threatens from behind Amelia, drawing Morgana's attention back to him. Amelia narrows her eyes and slightly nudges the dagger closer to warn Morgana.
It is then that the bald man from earlier enters. Amelia continues to hold the dagger at Morgana but watches him cautiously.
"Alator this is my sister Amelia and Merlin, the most troublesome serving boy I've ever known." Morgana introduces.
Amelia watches as Alator seems surprised and looks more closely at Merlin.
"I take it your time with Gaius was fruitful?"
Alator looks at Morgana. "Gaius told me everything."
Amelia's stomach drops at that. Oh, no.
"So, you know who Emrys and Tarion are?"
"Indeed, I do." Alator walks forward, and Morgana looks like she wants to follow him, desperate for his answer, but she can't move as Amelia continues pointing the dagger directly at her face, nudging it closer.
Alator stops and looks Merlin in the eye. Merlin glares at him. "Not only do I know who Emrys and Tarion are, I know exactly where they are."
Morgana's eyes are wide with eagerness. "Then tell me."
Amelia holds her breath, ready to attack when Alator speaks the truth.
Alator looks at her. "Never." Alator aims his staff at her. "Forþ fleoge!"
Amelia watches in shock as Morgana screams as she's thrown backwards against a rock and collapses unconscious. Amelia immediately drops the dagger, turning to Merlin and Alator. The former backs away cautiously.
"Merlin, Amelia, I am Alator of the Catha. I am honoured to be of service." He declares.
"You have magic!" Merlin states.
Alator nods. "I understand the burden you carry. I have lived with it all my life. I have been shunned, persecuted, and sometimes even hunted in every corner of the Five Kingdoms. I understand what that feels like. You're not alone. From what Gaius told me, I do not have your great powers, Merlin, but I share your hopes. For I, and others like me, have dreamt of the world you seek to build. And we would gladly give our lives to help you do it."
Alator kneels to Merlin. Amelia and Merlin share a look of amazement.
—
"So, Morgana never found out about Merlin and Anne?" Percival asks after Amelia had finished explaining to him the whole story. Both of them lie on top of the blankets on Amelia's bed. Amelia is cradled in Percival's arms as he lies on his back.
"No, she didn't count on Alator's true loyalties." Amelia replies.
Percival lets out a hum. It's quiet then for a few moments as they simply bask in each other's company.
Percival then breaks the silence. "I know this is a bad time, but I knew I might back out of it if I wait any longer."
Amelia frowns in confusion, pulling herself up, leaning on her elbow so she can see Percival's face. "For what?" The Knight doesn't reply, simply chews his lip anxiously. Such lovely lips as well. Amelia shakes those thoughts away to focus on the conversation. "Percival, you're scaring me."
"Marry me." He whispers.
Amelia's stomach drops all the way into the pit of the Earth. "What?!" She exclaims before lowering her voice. "As in, marry marry? 'Be your wife' married?"
Percival nods. He tucks a stray strand of her long brown hair behind her ear. "Amelia, you're the strongest person I know and now knowing of your magic, you're even stronger in my eyes. Your loyalty and strength make you the most beautiful person I've ever met, and I love you more than anyone I know." He sits up, grabbing both of her hands and giving them a tight squeeze. "I believe we're meant to be." He cringes. "And that was horribly romantic but it's what I feel."
Amelia's heart beats wildly against her chest. She loves Percival, and she is sure of that, but being married to him? Like, actual marriage?
She sighs. "I can't believe we're doing this."
His face breaks out into a cute, nervous smile as he says, "So... you're saying... yes?"
Amelia laughs as she wraps her arms around his neck. The force of it causes Percival to tumble backwards and Amelia to land on top of him. "Of course, I'm saying yes!"
With that, Percival gives her a deep kiss and when they pull away, they share the biggest hug they have ever had.