The Wanderer

by Byn Who

**REVISED** Marian Ragnell, a Wanderer, falls through time only to find herself in a land of knights, dragons, and Magic. Joined by Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table of legend, Marian embarks on fantastic adventures while navigating true love. Can she thwart a history that has already been told and save the life of the King? Will she give in to her feelings for Sir Gwaine?

2. Building Legends

The Wanderer

by BynWho

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfic for entertainment purposes only. All characters and plots from the BBC show Merlin belong to the BBC. All other characters and plots belong to BynWho. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: While Marian tries to find her place in Camelot, she is tested by adventure, meeting a legend, and facing off with Nimueh.

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Building Legends

Gaius dedicated several days to examining ancient tomes in his private library, hoping to find information about Marian's time travel. But his efforts were in vain. He left Marian in his chambers to go see Geoffrey of Monmouth, the court librarian.

"Gaius!" Geoffrey greeted his old friend. "What can I do for you today?"

"Well, I am interested in time."

Geoffrey looked at the physician sharply. He knew of Gaius's background. Honestly, they had all dabbled here or there in magic back in the day. But now, at least twenty years after the Great Purge, magic remained outlawed in Camelot. And usually, when Gaius needed help to find an answer, it had to do with magic.

"Time? In what manner?"

Gaius looked around the library and satisfied that no one else was around, he leaned closer to the librarian to whisper. "Specifically, journeys through time."

Geoffrey sputtered, taken aback by Gaius's unusual request. "I… I… uh… I don't know if I have anything on time journeys. No, I certainly don't. The king has sealed anything I would have."

"What about in Merridoc's Phylum?"

"Certainly not! Merridoc was unmasked as a fraud!"

"Nothing in Priestesses of Time, perhaps?"

"No, there is nothing about journeys in that—wait. What is it you're after, Gaius? Are you…" Geoffrey lowered his voice and leaned in close, "Are you planning on journeying through time?"

"Not I, Geoffrey. Though I have my suspicions about a recent visitor to our kingdom."

"The blonde woman?" Geoffrey asked. Though he was excited about the prospect of something new, the threat of Uther's vengeance was at the forefront of his mind.

"Yes, but please say nothing, Geoffrey. I need your word."

"In the interest of science… and by our mutual trust, I shall not divulge her secret."

Geoffrey walked behind his desk and pulled on a lever hidden deep in the bookshelf. A small door that Gaius had never noticed before popped open. The librarian reached into the small opening and pulled out three dusty, ancient books. He looked at them, his brow furrowed, before handing them over to the physician.

"These should help you with your investigation, Gaius. But you must promise to return them to me as soon as you have found what you need."

Gaius took the books and blew the dust from the spines, gasping in shock. He was holding the only known copies of The Life of Ambrosius, vols. I, II, III.

"Geoffrey! Wherever did you get these?" Gaius asked.

"A druid man, Nennius. They survived the Great Purge, and I've been hiding them ever since. If the king ever found out I had…" Geoffrey shook his head and swallowed hard.

Gaius understood. He, too, had kept things from Uther. For the good of Camelot, of course. "Yes…" Gaius said as he looked back at the books, eager to devour their contents.

"Let me know how it goes, will you? If she really is…"

"I will. Thank you, Geoffrey," Gaius promised. He left the library and headed back to his chambers to read.

Geoffrey released a long breath as he turned to shut the door to the secret compartment. His stomach turned as he thought of what he had just done. It wasn't every day that a librarian committed treason against the King of Camelot.

---

The castle was in an uproar due to the arrival of Mercia's king to establish a peace treaty between the two kingdoms. Which, of course, irritated Gaius to no end. All he wanted to do was pore over the incredibly rare books he'd borrowed from the library. Instead, he had to prepare for Bayard's arrival. Merlin had left to attend to his duties as Arthur's servant. And Marian, well… bless her, but she was practically useless. Gaius wasn't upset with her, but he needed more help than she could give.

"Hand me that vial of mugwort."

"This one?" Marian asked as she held up a glass vial of nightshade.

"We want to calm their stomach, Marian, not kill them."

"This?" She picked up a vial of hemlock.

"That's hemlock. Also deadly."

"Why in the world do you have so many poisonous plants?"

"They have other purposes than just ingesting them, you know."

She picked up a bottle of camomile.

"No, that one," Gaius said, trying to remain patient with her. "Over there. Do you see where I'm pointing?"

She huffed as she finally found the vial of mugwort.

Just as they finished, Merlin returned. "They're here. We're to go to the ceremonies hall."

Gaius followed Merlin to the door and stopped. "You too, Marian."

"Me? Why? Won't they be upset if servants are there or something?"

"You and Merlin are my apprentices, so you go where I go."

Merlin smiled at her as they followed Gaius. "Pretty exciting."

"Pretty terrifying, if you ask me."

"You'll be fine," Merlin said. "Just try to not get noticed. That's what I do." He stopped abruptly and smacked his forehead. "I forgot! I need to change. You go on, I'll catch up!"

---

It surprised Marian that she could attend the celebration. She didn't expect servants like herself to witness such a momentous occasion. But there she was, about to see literal history being made.

"Marian, over here," Gwen said as she waved at her. "Oh good! That dress fits perfectly!"

"You are amazing, Gwen! Has anyone ever told you that?" Marian beamed as she held her arms out and spun. "You only took my measurements once and look at this gorgeous dress! Absolutely perfect!"

Gwen blushed. "Oh, it was nothing. I'm pleased that you like it."

"Oh, I do! And the color is… is…" Marian trailed off as Merlin approached them. "Good god, man! What the hell are you wearing?"

Merlin took a steadying breath. "The official ceremonial garb of Camelot's servants. Or so I'm told."

He was wearing a brightly colored velvet tunic, complete with the Pendragon crest. He had a short cape clasped around his neck, and on top of his head sat the biggest, fluffiest hat Marian had ever seen. Three large, ornate feathers protruded from the top of the hat and fell into Merlin's face.

"Nice hat," Gwen teased.

"Thanks," he replied as he brushed the feathers from his face in vain.

Merlin glanced across the room, taking in every detail. There were Camelot and Mercian knights, servants from both kingdoms and next to Uther stood Lord Bayard, Mercia's ruler. He came to a halt as soon as he caught sight of Cara, a stunning Mercian handmaiden he had met earlier. Her piercing blue eyes and charming smile remained ingrained in his memory. When she looked over, Merlin snatched the monstrosity from his head.

Marian caught Merlin looking at the handmaiden. "Who's that?"

"Cara. I met her in the corridor this morning."

Gwen looked between Merlin and Cara, amused at the dumb face he was making. "She's pretty, isn't she? For a handmaiden, I mean."

"She's pretty for a princess, let alone a handmaiden."

Gwen looked sideways at him, her lips in a tight line. "Mmhm."

Marian closed her eyes and shook her head. "Men." She grabbed Gwen's hand and led her away over to Gaius, leaving Merlin to drool on his own.

After Uther and Bayard finished signing their treaty and grasped arms, the crowd burst into applause. Bayard positioned himself in the center of the room, ensuring all eyes were on him.

"People of Camelot, for a great many years, we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them."

A different Mercian handmaiden walked into the hall, brandishing a large ornate box. Bayard opened the box and pulled out two elegant, silver goblets.

"As a symbol of our goodwill and our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last."

Cara walked in the back toward Merlin. As she approached, Marian felt a strange familiarity, though she was certain they hadn't met before. Cara's bright blue eyes bore into her, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand. It seemed as though Cara could see into her thoughts. Marian held her breath as she passed and stood next to Merlin. He spoke to Cara briefly and then rushed off to the corridor, following her.

"The wounds we received in battle…" Bayard continued.

Marian couldn't concentrate on Bayard's words. Something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out what it was. Cara had something to do with it, she was sure. She'd felt fine until Cara had looked at her.

"Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war," Bayard droned on.

Why had Merlin followed her out? It wasn't like him to shirk his duties, no matter how ridiculous he found them. And what the fuck was it about that damn handmaiden? Marian couldn't get her out of her head. It was like Cara had a secret that she was supposed to know.

"And may the differences from our past remain there," Bayard finished. He lifted a chalice of wine and gestured to the king. "To your health, Uther."

Marian was knocked from her thoughts when everyone stood to toast.

Bayard turned and gestured to Arthur. "Arthur."

The prince brought the ceremonial goblet to his lips but didn't get to drink.

"The Lady Morgana. The people of Camelot."

Arthur brought the goblet back up to his lips but stopped and rolled his eyes as Uther added to the toast.

"And to fallen warriors on both sides."

Finally finished, everyone began to drink.

"Stop!" Merlin yelled as he burst into the hall. "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" He ran over to Arthur and grabbed the goblet from him.

Uther looked from Arthur to Bayard. "What?"

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur asked as he tried to grab the goblet.

"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison."

Bayard and his men drew their swords. "This is an outrage!"

Camelot's knights drew their weapons. Should they not back down, it was sure to be a bloodbath on both sides. Marian faced Gwen, who appeared equally frightened.

Uther's voice carried a warning as he instructed the Mercian men to sheathe their swords. More Camelot guards rushed into the hall, swords drawn. "You are outnumbered."

"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" Bayard yelled.

Uther turned to Merlin. "On what grounds do you base this accusation?"

"I'll handle this." Wary of Uther's temper, Arthur took the goblet. "Merlin, you idiot. Have you been at the sloe gin again?"

Merlin shook his head.

With his temper hanging on by a thread, Uther stared at Merlin, his eyes narrow. "Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think it's poisoned."

Merlin to a tiny step back, intimidated by the oncoming storm from Uther as he moved forward. "He was seen lacing it."

"By whom?"

"I can't say."

"I won't listen to this anymore!" Bayard yelled.

Cold as stone, Uther reached out to Arthur. "Pass me the goblet." He took the goblet and held it out to Bayard. "If you're telling the truth—"

"I am."

"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?"

Marian spotted Cara looking in from the corridor. Rather than the fearful look she expected, Cara looked almost… pleased. She nudged Gwen to get her attention, but Gwen was glued to the kings arguing over the goblet.

Bayard reached for it, but Uther pulled it back. "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." He held the goblet out to Merlin. "He'll drink it."

Arthur panicked. "But if it is poisoned, he'll die!"

"Then we'll know he was telling the truth."

"How can he be so callous?" Marian whispered.

Without taking her eyes off the scene before them, Gwen turned her head in her direction and whispered. "To them, we're nothing but property. Our lives don't matter."

"And what if he lives?" Bayard asked.

"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will," Uther said.

Gaius stepped up to the king. "Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!"

"Then you should've schooled him better."

"No! You can't!" Marian tried to step forward, but Gwen grabbed her arm and pulled her back as Uther gave her a look of warning.

"Merlin, apologize," Arthur said. "This is a mistake. I'll drink it."

"No, no. It's… it's alright," Merlin said. He held the goblet up and toasted Arthur before taking a long sip.

Cara was still in the doorway, watching and grinning. She met Marian's eyes and her grin widened. Marian shook her head, speaking in a low voice. "I don't—"

"It's fine," Merlin said after he'd finished drinking, looking at the chalice, confused.

Angry, Uther rolled his eyes and turned to Lord Bayard. "He's all yours."

Suddenly, Merlin winced and grabbed at his throat. After choking on his words, he fell to the floor unconscious, and the poisoned goblet rolled away.

Uther's face morphed from fear to anger. "It's poisoned! Guards seize him!"

As the guards of Camelot took Lord Bayard and the Mercians into custody, Arthur bent down to Merlin while Gaius, Gwen, and Marian rushed over to his side.

"Merlin? Can you hear me?" Gaius asked, patting his face. "We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison."

Arthur lifted Merlin as Gwen grabbed the goblet. Marian hesitated, scanning the room. Cara had disappeared.

---

"Lay him on the bed quickly—he's struggling to breathe," Gaius said. "Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel."

Arthur laid Merlin on the cot in the middle of the room. He looked down at his servant, his brow knitted. "Is he going to be alright?"

"He's burning up," Gaius said as he laid his hand on Merlin's brow.

Marian stood to the side, watching and feeling useless. She had just started studying with Gaius and knew very little about medicine in her time, let alone here. Pacing, she wracked her brain for anything that would help. Tylenol would help get his fever down. Aspirin even. But of course, those weren't available. A lukewarm bath, maybe? It could be too late by the time they set it up.

Prior to coming back in time, she had read something about natural remedies, but nothing seemed to stick. A fat lot of good that would do if she couldn't remember anything. The remedies may not have the same name or be available in Camelot. But a little something was tugging in the back of her brain about aspirin.

"You can cure him, can't you, Gaius?" Gwen asked while wringing her hands.

"I won't know until I can identify the poison. Pass me the goblet."

Gaius took the goblet from Gwen and grabbed a pair of tweezers from his table. Scratching on the inside of the cup, Gaius loosened a thin petal.

"Ah. There's something stuck on the inside," he said as he pulled the petal away from the cup.

"What is it?" Arthur asked.

"It looks like a flower petal of some kind."

Gwen sat next to Merlin and felt his head. "His brow's on fire."

Marian panicked. Aspirin… aspirin… it was naturally occurring, but from what? "Willow bark!" she burst out when it finally hit her. "It'll help with the fever and inflammation. Willow bark…" she trailed off, unsure.

"It certainly couldn't hurt," Gaius said. "I'm sorry to say that I hadn't thought of it first. Well done, Marian." He pulled willow bark from a jar in the cupboard and handed it to her, along with a stone mortar and pestle. "Crush that, and we'll make a potion."

As she got to work on the bark, Gaius pulled out a book and flipped through the pages. "Ah, the petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."

"That's not particularly friendly," Arthur said, pointing to a ferocious monster drawn in the book.

Gaius shook his head. "A cockatrice. It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean a certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive."

Arthur sighed. "Sounds like fun."

"Arthur, it's too dangerous."

"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?"

Gwen and Marian shared an anxious look. He was important to the future of Britain. It was his destiny to make sure Arthur became king. But who cares about history? If Merlin didn't make it, she would be devastated.

"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually, he will die."

Arthur turned to leave. "Then I have no choice."

"Arthur, wait!" Marian said. "I'll go with you."

"You?" Arthur laughed. "No offense, Marian, but what makes you think you'd be up for it?"

"I… I want to help."

"And what exactly would you be doing on this journey?"

"I could… I don't know, hold your horse?" She forced a smile, knowing full well there was nothing she could do.

He shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but the answer is no."

"Dammit, Arthur!"

Gaius and Gwen stopped what they were doing and stared at her. Arthur raised his eyebrows as she walked up to him.

"Merlin is my friend too," she said softly. "And it sounds like you'll need help with this cockatoo…"

"Cockatrice," Gaius corrected.

"Cockatrice. You'll need help with the cockatrice."

Arthur laid a hand on her shoulder. "Merlin is lucky to have such a loyal friend. Your heart is in the right place, Marian, but I'm afraid the answer is still no." She opened her mouth to protest, but he shushed her. "Your job will be to stay here and look after him until I return. You are to make sure he doesn't perish."

Arthur held out his arm, waiting for her to agree. She clasped it and shook it once.

"I understand, sire. Be careful."

---

For the next couple of days, Marian and Gwen took turns looking after Merlin, allowing Gaius to research and prepare.

"Gaius?" Marian said to get his attention. "You need to see this."

Gaius bent down to look at the spot on Merlin's arm that she had discovered.

"What is it?" Gwen asked as she peered over Gaius's shoulder.

"That can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage." He stood and walked over to the book lying on his work table.

"What does that mean?"

"It says here that once a rash appears, death will follow within two days."

"You said he had four days," Gwen panicked.

"Something's increased the flower's potency."

"But Bayard's no sorcerer."

"No, he isn't."

Marian looked at Gwen, knowing that she would understand. "That woman. The pretty one."

A look of confusion crossed Gaius's face.

"Just before Merlin accused Bayard, one of the Mercian serving girls took him outside," Gwen explained. "She had dark hair. Very beautiful."

"Bright blue eyes," Marian said.

Gaius turned away from them and began muttering to himself. "It can't have been. She wouldn't dare come here. Unless…"

"Unless what?" Gwen asked.

Gaius swallowed hard. They were all in danger if the woman was who he thought. "What happened to her? Find her! Quickly!"

Gwen nodded and left the physician's chambers.

Marian bit her lip, unsure if she had been imagining things. "Gaius, there's something else. When she walked past me, that handmaiden, I felt… I don't know. I felt like I knew her. Chills went down my spine."

"I believe that was Nimueh."

She flinched at the name. She knew it as well as she did Morgan le Fey.

"You've heard that name before, have you not?"

She nodded slowly. "She is no friend to Arthur or Merlin, Gaius. She's dangerous."

"That she is."

---

Having searched all night for Cara, Gwen returned to the physician's chambers. After being given the day off, she sat with Merlin. She was so worried about him. Gwen felt an immediate kinship with him when they met while he was in the stocks and praised him for standing up to Arthur.

With Merlin's fever getting worse, he began speaking nonsense.

"Gwen, can you get Wolfsbane? It may help with the fever," Gaius asked. She nodded and quickly left the room.

Marian sat next to Merlin to wipe the sweat from his face. "Gaius, what is it?"

"He's speaking the language of the Old Ways."

"Arthur," Merlin called out. "It's too dark. Too dark. Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum."

"Um… Gaius…"

A blue light shined from beneath the blanket. Gaius pulled the cloth back to reveal a bright blue orb hovering over the palm of Merlin's hand.

"Merlin," he gasped. "What are you doing?"

"Leave them, Arthur," Merlin spoke out loud. "Go. Save yourself. Follow the light."

Marian and Gaius watched as the magic orb hovered, speechless.

"Faster. Go faster. Follow the light! Move! Climb!"

Just as suddenly as it had appeared, the blue orb faded away.

"What the hell was that?"

"I do not know, Marian. I do not know."

---

When Arthur arrived back at the palace, the guards immediately escorted him to the dungeons for disobeying Uther. The king had ordered him to stay in the castle, even though Merlin was dying. Unfortunately, he hadn't had time to bring the life-saving Mortaeus flower to Gaius before being arrested. Realizing that time was running out, Gwen sneaked to the dungeon to get the flower for Gaius. Less than half an hour later, she returned to the physician's chambers, out of breath.

"How is he?" she asked.

"Have you got the Mortaeus?" Gaius asked.

Gwen nodded and handed the flower to Gaius. "Here."

"His breathing's much worse. We have to hurry," Gaius said as he plucked a leaf from the stem and began crushing it. He paused, looking up from his mortar and pestle.

"Why have you stopped?" Gwen asked in alarm.

"The poison was created using magic. We may need magic to make an antidote."

"But we can't. It's forbidden. Even if we could…"

"I'll try to make it work without it. Oh, I need some fresh water," Gaius said as he handed Gwen a bowl.

She ran from the room and hurried to the water pump outside the castle.

Gaius looked at Marian. "Do not mention what you are about to see. Understand?"

She nodded quickly.

Gaius held up the bowl with the Mortaeus leaf. "Sythan…" he began. He stopped and took a deep breath. He was out of practice for too long. Gaius squeezed his eyes shut and tried again. "Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum."

When he opened his eyes, they glowed. Marian jumped back in surprise. Her eyes were wide with awe, and the hair on her arms and neck stood. For the first time, she witnessed magic. When Gaius looked over at her, she gave him an encouraging smile.

The magic had ended by the time Gwen returned to the room and gave Gaius the water. He poured a small amount into a vial and added the Mortaeus leaf concoction.

"Hold his nose," he said, holding the vial to Merlin's lips.

Marian pinched Merlin's nose shut as Gaius poured the antidote into his mouth.

"Swallow, Merlin. Swallow it," he pleaded.

Gwen sat next to Merlin and gasped. "He's stopped breathing. What's happening? Gaius?" she asked, her voice wavering.

Gaius laid his hand on Merlin's chest, feeling for a heartbeat. "His heart has stopped."

"He's dead?"

"He can't be. He can't be. It was his destiny," Gaius muttered in shock.

"No, this isn't right. He lives. I know he does!" Marian said.

They had been too late.

Gwen stood and hugged Gaius for comfort. "It's my fault," Gwen cried. "If I'd have got here sooner… If I'd have been quicker…"

"No, no. It was me. I should've looked after him better. It's my fault," Gaius said.

Marian stood there in shock. He was gone. Merlin, the great wizard, her dear friend, was gone.

Suddenly, Merlin's chest moved. His eyes opened, and he looked up to see Gwen in Gaius's arms. "That's disgusting," he said, his voice raw. "You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be her grandfather."

Gaius let Gwen go in shock. "Merlin! You're alive!"

Merlin chuckled. "No, I'm the ghost come back to haunt you."

Elated, Gwen bent down and kissed him. It was a small kiss. Barely a peck on the lips. But it was enough that Gwen felt mortified. "Sorry, I'm just… I thought you were dead."

"It's fine. It's more than fine," he said before clearing his throat. "What happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine."

Marian hugged Merlin and smiled. "Arthur saved you."

"No," Merlin laughed. "What really happened?"

"It's true, Merlin. The prince is in the dungeon for disobeying Uther as we speak," Gaius said.

"Arthur? Arthur Pendragon?"

Gaius, Gwen, and Marian laughed.

---

Merlin sat at the table, waiting for supper. He'd spent the day dozing in his room, but still somehow sleepy. Sleepy was better than dead, though.

After being let out of the dungeon hours ago, Arthur entered the physician's chambers. When Merlin turned around to look, he gave him a small smile.

"Still alive, then?" Arthur asked.

"Oh. Yeah, just about. I understand I have you to thank for that."

"Yeah, well, it was nothing. A half-decent servant is hard to come by. I was only dropping by to make sure you're alright. I expect you to be back to work tomorrow."

"Oh yeah, yeah of course, er, bright and early."

"Well, that's that then."

"Arthur? Thank you."

"You too. Get some rest."

Arthur nearly ran into Marian as he turned to leave. She wobbled on her feet and only stayed standing because Arthur grabbed her elbow.

"Sorry, sire."

He nodded.

She scrunched her face as Arthur left.

"What's wrong?" Merlin asked.

"Nothing. It's… well, Arthur is pretty intimidating, isn't he?"

Merlin chuckled. "Yeah, a bit. But surely a woman of the future—who knows the future—isn't intimidated by a spoiled prince?"

"You're forgetting, Merlin, to me, Arthur was King Arthur. In the legends, he was everything good and noble. It's said that when England needs him most, he'll rise again. The legends refer to him as the Once and Future King."

"Are we talking about the same Arthur?"

Gaius gave Merlin a sharp look. One of those parental looks of disappointment. "Merlin. Arthur may give you a hard time, but at heart, he's a man of honor. There aren't many who'd have risked what he did for a servant."

"It all would've been for nothing if you didn't know how to make the antidote, though."

Marian stood and took the full bowls from Gaius as he brought their supper over.

"Well, if anything, Arthur's actions in the past few days should speak for themselves, don't you think?" Gaius asked while sitting down across from them.

"I don't understand the point of it all, though. Nimueh… what was she after?" Marian asked.

"Yeah," Merlin said with his mouth full of stew. "I still don't understand why she went to all the trouble of framing Bayard. She could've just kept quiet and killed Arthur."

"But destroying Arthur and Camelot wasn't all she was after. She knew you would be forced to drink that wine. It was you she wanted to kill. Seems someone else knows you're destined for great things, Merlin."

The three exchanged concerned looks.

"Speaking of Nimueh…" Gaius spoke up. "Marian, I've done more research on your situation. It is my guess that Nimueh is the one who brought you to Camelot."

"What? Why?"

"It's anyone's guess, but only a High Priestess would have the power to do so. I've found writings in a few… erm… books that I have that mention powerful time-traveling spells."

"Oh," she said, looking at Merlin. "Does this mean Merlin can send me back?"

"I don't…" Merlin started, his eyebrows raised.

"Merlin isn't as powerful as Nimueh yet. Perhaps someday."

---

Gwaine occupied a dark corner of the tavern at Stonedown, a not-so-quiet village at the border of Camelot and Carleon. Drowning his sorrows in a pint of ale, he sat in sullen silence, as the proximity of his home kingdom was too near for comfort. He finished his tankard of ale and motioned to the innkeeper for more.

His young life had seemed peaceful in Carleon. He and his sister lacked nothing, and his mother was content, despite her husband being away at war. Sir Lot of Lothian, the most feared knight in the five kingdoms, never allowed his men to be captured and never lost a battle. Gwaine never met his father, but he was proud to be the son of Sir Lot.

He set his half-empty tankard on the table and watched as people drank and sang and were way too merry for his liking. Ever since the death of his father pushed his family out of their home, he needed drink to find merriment.

"Should have stayed in Nemeth," he grumbled while raising the ale to his lips. He raised his hand to the barmaid for yet another pint. He'd be damned before he let memories get the better of him. Drinking his sorrows away usually worked, as well as winning the purse off some fool during a game of dice.

"Here you go, love," the barmaid said, placing the tankard in front of him.

He reached for his drink. "Thanks."

The barmaid caught his hand and maneuvered herself onto his lap. "Looks like you need more than a little drink, my sweet."

He swallowed hard, her barely covered breasts only a couple of inches from his face. "Ah, no thanks. I want to be alone."

The barmaid wiggled her bottom on his lap, getting the exact reaction she had hoped for. "Why don't you finish this up," she said, picking up the tankard and bringing it to his lips, letting him drink deeply. "Then we can go upstairs so I can relieve you of some of those coins in the most pleasurable way possible."

She rose from his lap, and on seeing something of his already rising, she grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the table. "I'll give you the ride of your life."

He snatched his hand away from her and pushed her back when she tried to press against him. "I said no," he brushed past her, stumbling on the stairs to his room. It cost a lot of coin for one night under a roof with a bed, so he wasn't about to waste any precious money on a couple of hours of meaningless fun.

Finally, making it to his room, he locked the door behind him, just in case. It wouldn't have been the first time a barmaid had gotten him too drunk to say no and run off with his purse afterward. He removed his bracers, jacket, and boots so he could wash in the water basin by the bed.

Clean and exhausted, he flopped down on the bed and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Rather than his usual dreams of fighting an army or wooing farmer's daughters, he dreamt of a princess. She was beautiful and wore a tight-fitting silk dress. He climbed a tower to rescue the beauty and when he reached her, he kissed her as he ran his fingers through her honey-blonde hair. Settling into the bed just a little bit more, Gwaine smiled as he saved the princess in his dreams.

---

A few weeks went by, allowing Marian to settle into a routine. Each morning she'd awaken with the sun, wash in a washbasin since baths were few and far between, brush her teeth using birch sticks and a chalk-salt mixture, brush and braid her hair, and then dress.

The chamber pot presented a challenge for her, though. Used to the convenience of toilets with seats, she had more difficulty tackling the task of relieving herself. Eventually, she got the hang of it and made emptying the pot part of her morning routine. If there was one thing she missed from her time, it was a modern bathroom with indoor plumbing.

After getting ready, she would have breakfast with her friends in the physician's chambers and discuss their plans for the day with Merlin. Then, after breakfast, Merlin would go see to the prince while she would stay behind and either study one of the medical books Gaius had lent her or try some more practical, hands-on learning with the physician.

She had already learned about some medical practices in the sixth century, like bleeding and leeches. She shuddered when she remembered Gaius's tour of the leech tank. The last time she saw Merlin clean it, there were leeches attached to his face and arms. Dealing with leeches was the last thing she wanted to do.

She was also getting used to her surroundings and the people of Camelot. On several occasions, she accompanied Gaius out to the town to deliver poultices, potions, and other remedies. The people in the lower town were kind and welcoming but persistent in selling their goods. Despite that, Marian enjoyed "window shopping" with Gwen or listening to stories about her and her brother as children from Tom, Gwen's father.

Before supper, Gaius approached her with a large book. "Marian, would you go to the herb garden and fetch some rosemary?"

"Sure! I love it down there. It's so peaceful."

"Well, I don't know if the herbs in this time are familiar to you, so you best take this." Gaius handed her a well-worn book titled Mother Bronwyn's Garden Wonders. "It's a sort of guide to herbs and other plants."

She took the book and carefully flipped through the pages. "Oh wow. Rosie would've loved to look through this! I've never even heard of most of them."

"Rosie?" Merlin asked.

"My grandma. She used to take me for weeks at a time to give my parents a break. Apparently, I was a lot to handle." She narrowed her eyes at Merlin when he laughed. "Anyway, she taught me a lot about gardening. Gave me my own plot and everything. We grew flowers and herbs and vegetables… anything we could get to grow, we planted in our gardens."

"Then you'd better hang on to that," Gaius said, pointing at the book. "You're going to need it if you're in charge of the herb garden."

"Oh, Gaius! Do you really mean it?" she asked as she jumped from her seat and ran over to hug him.

"Certainly!" he laughed as he returned her embrace. "It sounds like you'll enjoy it, and it'll give you something to do when things get slow around here."

She turned to Merlin. "You don't mind, do you? I don't want to step on any toes or anything."

"Be my guest," Merlin said as he shoveled a spoonful of stew into his mouth. "I'm rubbish with plants. Can't get anything to grow without magic."

Gaius rolled his eyes. "We certainly don't want you to use your magic in the middle of the palace grounds."

---

Later the next day, Merlin came rushing into the physician's chambers with a man limping beside him.

"Gaius!" Merlin called.

The physician and Marian both looked up from the potion they were working on, just as the man lost consciousness. She rushed over to help Merlin carry him to the cot at the side of the room. Despite being unconscious, the man gripped his side. Gaius moved his hand to the cot and lifted his tunic, revealing a bloody wound.

She bent down next to the man and felt his brow. "He's burning up."

Merlin ran over to the herb cupboard. "What do we need, Gaius?"

"Willow bark should do," he said, giving Marian a small smile. It had been her idea, after all. Merlin handed the bark to her, who then began crushing it.

Gaius grabbed a cloth and water and cleaned the wound. Once he was satisfied, he took the bark and combined it with a vial of fresh water. Merlin held the man's nose closed, and Gaius poured the concoction into his mouth.

"The wound itself is superficial. The fever will pass. He should be fine in the morning," Gaius said.

"Who is he?" Marian asked, staring down at him. He was very handsome, with long brown locks and tanned skin.

"He said he's called Lancelot. He saved me from this great, big, fierce… thing!" Merlin said.

She looked up sharply. "Lancelot?" she said, barely above a whisper.

"Do you know him?"

She glanced at Lancelot and nodded. "I know of him. He's very famous. The bravest of King Arthur's knights. He has a love affair with…" She stopped and looked up at them. "I… I probably shouldn't say. In case the story is wrong."

"He's a knight, then?" Merlin asked.

"In the legends he is. I can't believe I'm meeting the Lancelot! This is all too much!"

---

When Lancelot awoke, he tried to remember where he was. He remembered the presence of a beast and a young man wearing a scarf… Yes, that's right! The creature was after him, and Lancelot had chased it away, getting injured in the process. The young man—it was Merlin. Yes, Merlin was his name. Merlin had offered to bring him to Camelot to recover.

He looked around the room but didn't find his surroundings familiar. It seemed like the room belonged to an apothecary or wizard. He smiled when he saw a pretty young woman standing at one of the tables, measuring liquids.

Lancelot sat up. "Uh… hello?"

"Oh, you're awake!" She smiled as she ran over to his side and sat on the chair next to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and encouraged him to lie back. "You shouldn't exert yourself."She felt his brow for fever. Finding his skin cool to the touch, she stood. "Your fever is gone, but let Gaius check your wound," she said, pointing to his side.

"Who's Gaius?"

"The court physician. You're in Camelot."

Ignoring her advice, he sat up again.

"You really should rest."

He shook his head. "I've been idle for too long. I need to stand, I think."

Lancelot put his feet on the floor and stood. Wobbling, he leaned on the woman when she grabbed his arm.

"Thank you, my lady. I am Lancelot," he said, taking her hand and bowing to kiss her knuckle.

With an amused smile, she chuckled. "I'm not a lady, Lancelot. My name is Marian. I'm a healer apprentice."

Lancelot smiled back at her. "I see. Camelot is indeed a wondrous place if ladies can apprentice as healers. I am pleased to meet you, Marian."

She laughed as Merlin entered the chambers.

"Lancelot!"

"I'll go get Gaius," she said as she left them.

---

When she arrived at the physician's chambers with Gaius in tow, Marian found that Merlin had gone to speak to Arthur about Lancelot becoming a knight. Gaius kept quiet on the subject, but his arched eyebrow led her to believe that he disapproved.

"The wound is healing up nicely. I see no reason for you to stay in bed," Gaius said.

"Thank you, Gaius," Lancelot said. He stood and walked over to Marian. "Lady Marian."

"I'm not a lady, Lancelot," she laughed.

"Marian, then. Where do you come from? Your accent, I don't recognize it."

She looked at Gaius, who gave her an encouraging nod. "Oh, from beyond the Great Seas of Meredor." Satisfied that she got the name right, she grinned.

Lancelot raised his eyebrows. "Really? I've never met anyone from that far away. Did you spend a lot of time crossing the seas?"

She tried to think of the least troublesome answer. She did the best she could, given her unfamiliarity with sea travel in this time and region. "Uh… several months?"

"And your family? Did they travel with you?"

"I… uh… no. I traveled on my own."

"You must miss them?"

"Not really, I guess. I'm too occupied with everything here to think about it much."

Lancelot looked taken aback. "You don't think of your family?"

"Well, I miss my grandmother. And my brother. But they haven't been bor—uh… they died some time ago. I miss them more than I can say."

"I see. I am truly sorry for your loss."

She smiled at him. It was so weird for one of the most famous knights in history to console her. Truth be told, though, the past few weeks have been strange. Maybe even a bit unsettling. "Thank you."

"And no husband? Or betrothed?"

She barked out a laugh. "Certainly not!"

Confused by her reaction, Lancelot continued. "Really? I thought that a woman…" Marian raised her eyebrows at him, "…of your… age…" he trailed off at her look.

"A woman of my age what?"

"I… erm… I apologize, Marian. It isn't my place to say."

"Good grief, Lancelot, I'm only twenty-four! I have my whole life to live before getting tied down to one man for the rest of it!" she laughed. "You wouldn't consign me to a life of imprisonment before I've ever really lived, would you?"

"Marriage is imprisonment? Surely, there are advantages to being wed?"

"So says a man. Women are treated as property and servants in this time… uh… place. I have no wish to be a baby factory."

He didn't quite understand her language, but he got the point. He nodded at her. "I understand. It's uncommon for a woman to be single for so long."

"Well, Lancelot, you'll find that I'm not like other women."

He laughed. "Indeed, you are not, Marian," he said as he smiled at her. Camelot proved to be more progressive than he imagined. Perhaps a commoner like him could become a knight after all.

---

In the evening, Marian left the physician's chambers and went to work in her garden. Though Gaius had only just given it to her, she already had grand plans for it. First, though, she needed to distinguish a weed from a valuable plant. Thankfully, she had brought along Mother Bronwyn's Garden Wonders.

While working, she heard shouts from the training field up the hill and stopped to watch as Arthur tested a man aspiring to be a knight, quickly defeating him. She enjoyed watching the knights train. It certainly had nothing to do with the fact that they sometimes trained without shirts. Nope. Definitely not that.

She was having trouble seeing the book she had brought with her as the sun began to set, so she stood and decided that she would try again the next day. She was walking back to the physician's chambers for supper when she ran into Gwen.

"Good evening, Marian! How goes the garden?"

"It got too dark, so I can't do much else. How are you, Gwen? You look flushed."

Gwen looked at the ground and smiled. "No, I'm well. I promise. I just…" She looked around, and seeing no one else, she lowered her voice. "I met Lancelot today."

Marian gave her a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Really? What did you think of him, then?"

Gwen's face reddened more as she smiled. "I think he is very polite and kind," she said. "And… well, he is rather handsome, isn't he?"

Though he was handsome, Marian knew of his future. As much as she wanted to warn Gwen that loving Lancelot would be harmful to her health, as much as she wanted to tell her that she was destined to marry Arthur and that an affair with Lancelot would have disastrous outcomes, she didn't. The Lancelot and Guinevere romance was written long after the original legend, making Marian uncertain of its truth.

"I guess, yes. He's handsome enough. You like him, don't you?"

"I… I… no, he's not… erm… No. I don't," Gwen sputtered. "Why? Do you?" she asked, furrowing her brow. "Not that you can't. I didn't mean that. He's nice."

Marian laughed at how obvious Gwen was. "No, I don't," she replied, smiling. "You're right, he is a very nice man. And he is good-looking, but he's definitely not my type. No beard to start. And too good, too uptight, you know? I like my men to have a good sense of humor and to be a bit of a bastard, to be honest."

Gwen gasped. "Okay…" she laughed nervously. "Really, though?"

"Well, not someone who would mistreat me. Someone who doesn't mind breaking the rules," she said as she sighed. She wanted to say someone like Han Solo or James Dean but settled for just—a scoundrel.

---

Warning bells sounded as Marian was preparing her lunch. "What the hell?"

Merlin went to the window. "There's a lot of people coming through the gates. They look like villagers."

Gaius peered over Merlin's shoulder. "Grab supplies, you two. It looks like some of them are hurt."

She joined Gaius and Merlin in the stone courtyard to care for the injured. The villagers looked terrified, some of them unable to speak, while others were shouting in a panic.

Merlin took a crying woman to a crate in the courtyard to sit. "You're safe now, I promise."

While Gaius tended to other injuries, Marian found three small children huddled together. "Are any of you hurt?" she asked softly.

The smallest of them hid her face behind the others. The tallest one, a young boy, wrapped his arm around the little girl. "No, miss. We aren't hurt. But our mum…"

"Where's mummy?" the little one cried out. "I want my mummy!"

Marian knitted her brow and held her hand out to the girl. "Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry," she said as she pulled the girl into her arms and hugged her.

"Miss," the middle child said, getting Marian's attention. "Our mum went to find help, and we haven't seen her since. Can you help us?"

"Of course," she replied as she soothed the smallest. "What does she look like?"

The tallest looked up in thought. "She's got ginger hair…"

"Breha? Thomas? William?" A red-headed woman cried out as she ran toward them.

"Mummy!" The little girl, Breha, rushed toward her mother and into her arms, the boys soon following.

"Thomas! Breha, darling! William!" she cried as she knelt in front of the children and held them tight against her. She looked up at Marian and gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you, miss! I went for help, and in the chaos, I lost my dear babes!"

"Are you hurt?" Marian asked.

The mother shook her head and continued to hug her children. Smiling, Marian left the family reunion and went to Gaius's side.

Lancelot came out into the courtyard, his brow knitted in concern. "What happened to these people?"

Gaius looked up from his patient. "A winged monster attacked their village."

Merlin and Lancelot looked at each other. "It has to be the same beast that attacked us," Lancelot said.

---

Marian had gone to the market in town to purchase more glass vials for Gaius. She was on her way back to the physician's chambers when the warning bells sounded, and everyone in the stone courtyard panicked. In the chaos, she spun as a massive winged beast swooped into the crowd.

A man holding a large pole with water buckets on either end ran past her and turned suddenly, knocking her in the head. She fell to the ground just as the beast swooped back down. As she tried to stand to get away, several other panicked people ran into her, one running over her ankle as she fell.

"Fuck!" she cried out in pain. She tried to stand, but her ankle couldn't hold her weight, and she fell back down to the ground.

Arthur and his knights ran out into the middle of the courtyard—swords and shields at the ready.

"Defense!" Arthur called out to his men.

The knights circled him and knelt in a defending position with their shields raised. The beast hovered over them, looking between the knights, unable to decide which one to attack first. Marian lay helpless on the ground to the left of Arthur, capturing the attention of the beast.

Arthur turned to see her and panicked. "Marian! Move!"

She scrambled to her feet but was unable to stay upright. Crying out, she fell forward. The beast landed in front of her and lunged, screeching in victory. She covered her head and screamed in terror.

Arthur leapt to her, and grabbing her around the waist, rolled the two of them away from the beast's sharp beak. He stood, staring down the winged creature, daring it to get past him.

"Sire!" one of the knights called out.

Arthur looked over at his men and caught the spear thrown to him. He stabbed the beast in the chest but rather than piercing its flesh, the spear broke, as if he had hit stone.

The beast roared in anger and reared up, poised to strike them. A guard came barreling down the palace steps holding a lit torch, and tossed it over toward Arthur, missing by several feet. Marian reached out and grabbed the torch.

"Arthur! Catch!" she yelled as she heaved the torch his way.

Arthur caught it, waving it at the beast. As the flames touched it, the beast cried out again, but instead of attacking, it fled.

Arthur turned back to Marian. "Are you alright?"

"No," she answered, her voice strained with pain. "My foot… I can't stand."

He bent and picked her up easily enough. She was startled by his action, uncomfortable that the future King Arthur was holding her so close.

"Whoa! Wha—what are you doing?"

Arthur looked at her as if she had two heads. "I'm taking you to Gaius. You said you can't stand, so…" he said as he started to the palace steps.

"Thank you, Arthur. Shit, sorry! Sire. Shit! What is wrong with me? Fuck!" She smacked her face with her hand. "Goddammit." She had never been so embarrassed in her life.

Arthur laughed as he carried her into the palace. He was beginning to like this bizarre woman. He left Marian in Gaius's chambers and went to inform the king about the beast. Both Merlin and Gaius looked at her, eyebrows raised.

"What?" she asked as she sat on the nearest bench.

"The prince… Arthur…" Merlin said in a bit of a shock.

"Yes… Arthur…" she replied, encouraging him to continue.

"He just carried you into the palace."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "He did. And?"

"Like you were a damsel in distress," Merlin said, smirking at her.

"Oh no, you don't! It wasn't like that, Merlin!"

The young warlock burst into a fit of laughter.

"I was not a damsel in distress," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I just… hurt my ankle. I couldn't walk! Stop laughing!"

"You like him, don't you?"

"Not like that! Oh shut up, Merlin!"

Gaius knelt to examine Marian's ankle. "You'll need to stay off of it for at least a day. No more heroics," he said.

She saw his sly grin and sighed. "Not you too."

---

The trio tirelessly searched for a spell to slay the beast, going through book after book.

"So Uther had Lancelot thrown in the dungeon when he found out Lancelot wasn't who now?" Marian asked as she skimmed through a book.

Merlin didn't bother looking up. "Fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria."

"Which he isn't."

"He isn't."

"And you thought that would work?"

Merlin put his book down. He looked miserable. "I hoped it would. Lancelot deserves to be a knight."

Gaius held another book out to Merlin. "But that isn't how things are done, Merlin."

"I know."

"What is Uther going to do with him? He can't execute him." Marian's eyes grew wide at the look on Gaius's face. "Can he?"

"He certainly has the power to, but whether he will is anyone's guess." Gaius brought a book over to Merlin. "There," he said, pointing at a page. "You must do this for Arthur."

Merlin looked at the page and shook his head. "I've never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful."

"Nothing less will kill it." Gaius turned and picked up a large dagger. "Here," he said as he handed it to Merlin. "Try. You have it within you. I know you do."

Merlin took the dagger in his hand. His nostrils flared and his stare was intense. "Bregdan anweald gafeluec." Merlin's eyes glowed, but nothing happened. He looked at Gaius.

"Don't worry, Merlin. We have plenty of time."

"The most powerful wizard in the world. You can do this," Marian said.

Merlin tried again, but again, nothing happened.

"Don't worry, Merlin. I know you're trying," Gaius said.

"And I'm failing. And if Arthur dies because I'm not good enough…"

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Gwen ran in, out of breath.

"Merlin! Lancelot's riding out to kill the griffin!"

"He's what?" Merlin dropped the dagger and ran out of the door, following Gwen.

Gaius looked at Marian, helpless.

"He'll be okay, Gaius. I know he will."

"I hope you're right, Marian. For all our sakes."

---

A couple of hours later, the chamber door flew open, and Merlin walked in, smiling from ear to ear.

"I did it! The spell worked!"

"Thank god!" Gaius said as he embraced Merlin.

Marian hobbled over to Merlin and threw her arms around his neck. "I knew it!" Merlin picked her up and spun her around. "The most powerful wizard in the world!" she laughed.

"Merlin, where are Arthur and Lancelot?" Gaius asked.

Merlin's eyes widened. "Oh! They're in with the king! I had better go see how it turns out. Hopefully, Uther will reinstate Lancelot as a knight."

---

The next day, Gaius, Merlin, and Marian stood in a grassy courtyard at the battlements overlooking the city. They watched as Lancelot rode away from Camelot.

"I can't believe Lancelot turned down the knighthood. He deserved it after killing the griffin," Merlin said.

Gaius shook his head. "He said he needed to prove to himself that he was worthy."

"Yup. That sounds like the Lancelot I read about," Marian said, smiling.

Merlin sighed as he watched Lancelot leave through the gate. "Perhaps you were right, Gaius. Perhaps I should have never got involved."

Gaius shook his head. "No, Merlin, I was wrong. Lancelot needed you, and you needed Lancelot. Your destinies were entwined."

"Will he ever return?"

"That I cannot say."

Merlin and Gaius turned to Marian, both with their eyebrows raised.

"Alright, alright." She held up her hands in defeat. "I can't really say much, but I will say this. There is much more to Sir Lancelot than vanquishing a griffin.

Merlin grinned as he turned back to the city. "Until next time then, Sir Lancelot."

---

Marian walked through the field, brushing the tips of the wheat as she went by. The quiet was calming, though she felt her heart flutter. As she turned her face to the warmth of the sun, she heard hoofbeats behind her. Her stomach turned to butterflies as she spun to see who was coming. But she also felt fear. The knight on top of the horse jumped down, smiling at her. His dark hair blew in the wind and a neatly cut beard gave the knight a sexy, rugged look.

"Hello, beautiful," he greeted with a slight Irish accent.

The butterflies returned to her stomach, but the fear washed over her again. Something was wrong in the field. The knight held his hand out to her and just as she was about to take it, a crack of thunder echoed around them. She wanted to take his hand, to make the fear go away. As she reached out again, she felt his warm fingers on the palm of her hand. Suddenly, a flash of light blinded her and she no longer felt the knight's touch. She opened her eyes in a panic. The field vanished, the sun grew dim, and the knight was tied between two trees on the ground before her.

She knelt beside him, afraid that he was dead. When she placed her hands on either side of his face, he raised his head. The spark and playfulness from earlier were gone. His face was marred with dirt and sweat. His eyes were dulled with sadness and pain as he looked at her.

He whispered, his voice breaking. "… riding to Avalon."

Her vision was blurring with unshed tears. Watching this man die before her was breaking her heart. She'd never felt such despair. There was nothing she could do. She was useless. He needed comfort, to be saved, but she couldn't move.

"Too… late… I've failed."

The knight slumped over, the life draining from him.

Thunder crashed in her chest, escaping through her mouth as she wailed. She would know no other love as great as the love she felt for this man. Marian watched in horror as the knight slowly disappeared, leaving her alone, kneeling in the dirt.

A loud clap of thunder tore her from her dream. She sat up and drank water from the cup by her bed.

"Jesus," she said as she ran her hands over her face and felt tears. The dream had felt so real—even the heartache hadn't yet dissipated. It was familiar at first, the knight in the field. But the last part was brand new. Why, though? Why had the pain and despair appeared at the end of the dream she'd had since she was little?

The sun began its journey, cresting over the horizon, and signaled it was time to start the day. Unable to shake her dream, Marian got dressed and headed to the physician's chambers to tell Gaius about what she'd seen.

"It was just a dream, Marian. A terrifying one, but a dream nonetheless," Gaius said.

"It just felt so real, Gaius. I could feel his hand on mine, his face. My heart was breaking."

"Nightmares can be vivid, but that doesn't mean it's going to come true."

"But I've had this dream before. Well, the first part anyway."

"The mind is a complicated thing. Dreaming might be the only way to work things out." Gaius handed her a bundle of herbs. "Here. You can get started on this."

---

Merlin and Arthur returned from a hunting trip in the afternoon and went straight to the council chamber, passing Marian in a rush.

"Get Gaius, will you?" Merlin asked.

"Of course," she said before turning around and running to the physician's chambers.

Out of breath, she burst into the room. "Gaius… Merlin and Arthur… Come to the council chamber…"

Gaius put his tools down. "Is anyone hurt?"

"I don't know. But they were in a hurry."

"Then we'd better go."

---

"The creature you describe has all the characteristics of the Questing Beast," Gaius said after patiently listening to Merlin and Arthur as they recounted the afternoon.

Arthur frowned. "Surely that's a myth."

"According to the old books, the appearance of the Questing Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval."

There was no mirth in Uther's voice as he laughed. "Gaius, it's an old wives' tale."

"Did… did anyone die?" Marian asked.

Merlin nodded slowly. "Sir Bedevere."

She quietly gasped. Sir Bedevere was one of the more well-known Knights of the Round Table. He was entrusted with Excalibur and threw it back into the Lake of Avalon, to the Lady of the Lake, after King Arthur died.

"Look, whatever it is, it's spreading panic," Arthur said. "The people fear it will enter the city."

"Then we must kill it. Arthur, gather the guard together. You ride at dawn," Uther said.

With a nod, Arthur left the chamber, Merlin and Marian following.

"Arthur, don't you think it's a bit dangerous?" she asked once they couldn't be heard.

Arthur chuckled. "That's what we do, Marian."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, but Gaius said—"

"It's precisely what Gaius said that makes it my duty to protect the people."

"I get that. I really do. But if it's mythical or magical or whatever, do you really think a bunch of men will be able to kill it?"

Arthur turned to her, clearly annoyed. "The Knights of Camelot are hardly just a bunch of men."

Merlin stepped between them, hoping to deflect whatever argument was brewing. "I think she just meant that we need to find out how to kill it and that regular weapons might not work."

"You better hope they do," Arthur said as he turned and left.

"He's going to get himself killed, isn't he?" she asked as they made their way to the physician's chambers.

"I hope not. Let's go see if Gaius can find anything about this beast."

---

Gaius walked into the physician's chambers with an old book in his hand. "I found this in the library. I hope that it can give us some more information on the Questing Beast."

Merlin picked up a sword and brushed his fingers over the flat side of the blade. "Can we use an enchanted weapon, like what killed the Griffin?"

"The Questing Beast is not of the same make as the Griffin. Uther may not respect the Old Religion, but it is very real. To face a beast such as this, you must understand where it came from."

"What do you mean?"

"At the very heart of the Old Religion lies the magic of life and death itself. The Questing Beast carries that power. One bite, you die, and there is no cure."

Marian flipped through the pages of the book. "So magic is the only thing that will kill it?"

"I believe so," Gaius said.

"I see a bit of a problem in that plan, Gaius," she said.

"What is it?"

Merlin looked at them. "I can't use my magic in front of Arthur."

"You'll have to find a way, Merlin. If you do not, many others will die. Quite possibly Arthur."

She sat on the bench by the table.

"Fuck."

---

It was dawn. It was cold. And Marian was standing on the palace steps watching as Arthur made one of the stupidest decisions she'd seen. Going to protect the people was one thing. Doing it unprepared and without magic was another.

Arthur stood in front of his knights, with Merlin behind him. "You've seen the foe we face. It's a creature of nightmare, but you are the best knights in the realm. We can, and we will kill it before it harms another citizen of our kingdom."

Marian crossed her arms, still upset at Arthur's arrogance. Though Uther feared magic and the harm it would do to the kingdom, he didn't respect its power. And Arthur was just like his father.

Arthur drew his sword and held it in the air. "For the love of Camelot!"

The knights followed suit. "For the love of Camelot!"

Suddenly, Morgana burst from the palace, wearing nothing but her nightdress. "Arthur!"

"Morgana, what are you doing?"

She grabbed Arthur by the arms and struggled to pull him back to the palace. "You cannot face this!"

"Morgana, go back to bed. There is nothing to be afraid of."

"Please, Arthur. I have seen terrible things! You cannot go!"

Arthur frowned at Morgana. He'd never seen her this distraught, nor had she ever claimed to see the future.

Merlin leaned to Arthur so no one else could hear. "She probably had a bad dream, sire. I'll take her to see Gaius.

Morgana panicked and scrambled to hold her grip on Arthur. "No! I will not let you go!"

"Please, Merlin, get her inside."

"I've got her," Marian said as she wrapped her arm around Morgana's shoulder.

"No!" Morgana yelled.

"Merlin will take care of him, my lady. Let's get you inside."

"No!"

Arthur motioned to the guards to help get her inside.

"No!"

Once they were in the corridor, Marian turned Morgana to face her. "Come with me."

She led Morgana toward the physician's chambers but stopped to enter her room. She closed the door once they were inside and sat Morgana in the chair beside the fireplace. "Now, tell me what's happened," she said as she handed her a cup of water.

Morgana sipped it and then took a steadying breath. "I…" She hesitated.

"It's okay, my lady. You can trust me. I won't tell anyone, I swear it."

"I have nightmares. Nightmares that become real."

"And you had one last night?"

Morgana nodded.

"And it was about Arthur?"

"He's going to die, Marian."

She held Morgana's hand. "He won't die. He has his knights, and he has Merlin. And Gaius is here should anything happen."

"You don't understand. I have these dreams that show the future. What's the point if I can't do anything about it?" Morgana stood, working herself into agitation. "And no one believes me!"

Marian held Morgana's shoulders, trying to calm her down. "I believe you, Morgana."

"You do?"

It was all she could do to keep from telling Morgana the truth about her future. It wouldn't help her and it would likely make things worse, to tell the truth. She had to believe that Gaius was doing the right thing by keeping Morgana's magic a secret.

"I do." She swallowed her fears of Morgan le Fey and smiled softly at the frightened witch before her. "There's nothing we can do right now. Arthur is stubborn, but he has men with him who care for him."

"I can't—"

"Morgana, the best thing you can do is rest."

"Gaius is always telling me to rest, but he won't listen."

"I know he won't listen, but he's right, you do need to rest. You look like you haven't slept for days. Months even."

"I haven't." Morgana went to the door, but before she opened it, she turned back. "Marian? Do you think I have magic?"

"I don't know," she lied. As Morgana's face fell, Marian continued. "But if you do, we need to keep it from Uther."

"I'm frightened."

"You have every right to be. You have a friend in me, my lady. Should you need to talk, come to me, okay?"

"Thank you."

She blew out a sharp breath after Morgana left. She questioned whether Morgana's fate would mirror that of the legends, finding it unbelievable that such kindness could turn to evil. Perhaps all Morgan le Fey lacked was kindness. So, she promised herself she'd try her best to be a friend to Morgana and maybe, just maybe, the woman who set Arthur's undoing in motion will never come to be.

---

Just as dusk began to settle, the party who'd gone after the Questing Beast returned. Marian watched from her window as everyone dismounted, save Arthur. She heard the thick boots of the royal guards run past her door to the physician's chambers.

"Oh, no." She jumped to the side when they rushed back to the stairs carrying a stretcher. When she entered the chambers, Gaius was running around, collecting tinctures and potions and herbs.

"Arthur?" she asked.

"They said he was badly injured. I fear it was the beast."

"Shit! What can I do to help?"

"Go to the cupboard over there and look for a bezoar."

Marian looked through various jars with no bezoar in sight. She was about to give up when she spotted a box labeled toadstone. She looked inside the box and sure enough, there were a few shiny brown and black stones.

She turned to Gaius with wide eyes. "Toadstones are real?"

"Good thinking, Marian! Bring them here."

"But they're a myth."

"Toadstones are as real as unicorns. Fetch some of the cloth for bandages."

Suddenly, the door flew open and Merlin ran in, followed by guards carrying Arthur on the stretcher. He shoved everything off a table to make room.

"What's happened?" Gaius asked.

"Go get the king," Marian said to the guards, motioning for them to leave.

Gaius moved Arthur's chainmail so he could look at his shoulder. He looked up in shock. "He's been bitten."

"I tried to save him," Merlin said, on the verge of tears.

"You must tell the king."

"I sent the guards to fetch him, Gaius," Marian said as she placed a hand on Gaius's shoulder and looked at Arthur's wound.

Merlin paced the room. "There must be something you can do."

"I wish there was," Gaius said.

"I'll find a cure."

"Merlin!"

"Gaius, trust me!" Merlin ran up the steps to his room.

"Arthur?" Marian said as she bent low to the prince's face.

"Can you hear me, sire?" Gaius gently patted Arthur's cheek, hoping to get a reaction.

Merlin came back and put his book of magic on the table. "Here."

"The king will be here any moment!" Gaius shouted in a panic.

"He can't die. It is my destiny to protect him. We haven't done all the things we're meant to do."

"That is a lament of all men."

"Gaius, he's my friend."

Gaius looked between Merlin and Marian. Merlin was expectant while Marian nodded.

"Then save him," Gaius said.

Merlin's eyes glowed and the pages of the book flipped on their own. When the pages stopped, Merlin said the spell while he moved his hand above Arthur's chest. "Gestathole."

Nothing happened.

Again, his eyes glowed until the book went to another spell. "Thurhhaele."

And again, nothing happened.

Hope filled Merlin's eyes as he looked up. "Maybe the spells need time to take effect."

Gaius shook his head. "The bite of the Questing Beast is a death sentence that no magic can overturn."

Uther burst into the room, overwrought with fear. "Where is the prince? Where is my son?"

Merlin's eyes glowed once more and the book quietly closed before Uther could see.

"Arthur! Do something, Gaius!"

"I am trying, Your Majesty."

"Gaius will find a cure. He will not let him die," Merlin said, his voice full of confidence that should not be there.

Gaius was irritated with Merlin and fearful. "I will do everything in my power," he said, knowing that anything he tried would be in vain.

Uther picked Arthur up in tears. "I'll bear him to his chamber."

Marian followed the king with Gaius and Merlin, heading for the shortcut across the stone courtyard. Halfway through, Uther fell to his knees in despair. As four knights took the prince from his arms, Gaius and Marian helped the weeping king to stand.

---

Merlin walked into the physician's chambers with a bag and began to pack food.

"Marian, you must get this to Arthur to ease his passing," Gaius said as he handed her a small vial.

There was no way she was going to be the one to deliver Arthur's death. "But—"

Merlin interrupted her protest. "No. We have to save him."

"You've already tried," Gaius said, shaking his head.

"The beast comes from the Old Religion. The cure must come from there as well."

"There are not many left with such an art."

"You said yourself, the Old Religion is still alive, and there is an island beyond the White Mountains—"

"No!" Gaius shouted.

Merlin and Marian looked at him in shock.

"The Isle of the Blessed… You know it?" Merlin asked.

"It was said to be the center of the Old Religion, the focus of its power."

"Why did you keep this from me?"

"Because it was too dangerous, Merlin."

Merlin abandoned his bag and turned to Gaius in anger and frustration. "It's our only chance! I have to find it!"

"And once you are there, what will you ask?"

Merlin hesitated. He grabbed his bag and kept packing food. "For Arthur to be saved."

"The Questing Beast chose Arthur. That means the Old Religion has decided his fate."

"Then I will convince them to change their minds!" Merlin yelled. He winced at the sharpness of his voice.

"It is not that simple! The High Priestesses have the power to mirror life and death, but there will be a price to pay. They will demand a life in return. Merlin, please, I beg of you." When Merlin didn't stop, Gaius turned to Marian. "You convince him! Surely this isn't the history you know."

"Well—"

"Yes, what do you say, Marian?" Merlin asked.

"Well, uh… there was a Questing Beast that was an omen of the destruction of Arthur's kingdom, but it wasn't real."

"Why didn't you say so?" Gaius yelled, clearly angry at her.

"I didn't know! I only just remembered! It didn't kill Arthur, though!"

"Right," Merlin said. "I'm sorry, Gaius. Whatever the price is, I will pay it gladly."

---

Marian went with Merlin to saddle a horse. "Why are you not letting me go with you?"

"It's too dangerous."

"If it is, wouldn't you think two would be safer than one?"

Merlin tightened the saddle, then glanced at her. "If I don't make it back, then you have to do everything you can to keep Arthur alive."

"What can I do here? I don't have magic."

Merlin moved closer and kept his voice low. "There is a dragon below the castle. He… he talks."

"He's the one that told you about the Isle of the Blessed, isn't he?"

"Yeah. If I don't come back, you go down there and you talk to him. He'll know what to do."

"But how—"

"The entrance is below the dungeons. Please, Marian. Promise me. Arthur can't die."

"I promise."

"And don't tell Gaius. You and I are the only ones besides Uther, who know he's down there."

She hugged him. "When you get back and Arthur is well again, you have a lot of explaining to do."

Merlin smiled at her. "I look forward to it."

Gaius walked up just as they pulled back from their hug. "Here," he said, as he handed a rolled-up parchment to Merlin. "You'll need a map. And I'm going to give you this. My mother gave it to me.

Merlin unwrapped the cloth bundle that Gaius had placed in his hand.

"It's a rabbit's foot," Gaius said.

"For luck," she muttered as she smiled.

"To keep you safe," Merlin said.

Gaius nodded. "It was said to protect you from evil spirits. It's rubbish. I don't believe in superstition. I don't know why I gave it to you."

He reached to take the foot back, but Merlin held it close to his chest.

"No. I want it. Thank you." He looked at both Gaius and Marian. "You've got to keep Arthur alive until I get back."

And with that, Merlin rode away to meet Fate or Destiny or whichever spirits protect history.

---

Merlin returned a few days later. Gaius, with the help of Marian and Gwen, was able to keep Arthur alive, but just barely.

"Merlin!" Gaius said when Merlin walked through the door of the physician's chambers.

Merlin held out an ornate vial in the shape of a horn. "We need to give this to Arthur."

"What is it?"

"Water drawn from the Cup of Life. If Arthur drinks from it, he will recover. Please hurry."

Gaius's eyes were wide as he took the vial. He went to the door but stopped.

"What are you waiting for?"

"What price did you pay to redeem his life? Whose life did you bargain?"

Merlin shook his head, irritated that Gaius wouldn't just go. "We don't have time," he said as he brushed past and into the corridor.

"Merlin!"

"Don't worry, Gaius! Everything's going to be alright."

---

Marian jumped from her seat and hugged Merlin when they entered Arthur's chambers.

"You're back! Did you get anything?"

Merlin nodded. Just as he was about to mention the Cup of Life, Uther entered the room.

"What are you doing, physician? What are you giving him?" the king asked as Gaius held the vial to Arthur's lips and poured the liquid into his mouth.

Gaius hesitated. "It's a… It's a tincture made from the lobelia plant, an ancient remedy for poisonous bites."

"A cure?"

"We hope."

"Do you really think it will have some effect?"

"It's our last resort, sire. Perhaps you should allow him to rest."

"I will not leave him."

They headed to the door as Uther sat in the chair beside Arthur. Marian felt sorry for him. Yes, she hated the man, but for a parent to lose a child… it's an unbearable hell that you cannot escape.

---

Merlin and Marian stayed in the physician's chambers late into the night. Merlin paced as she sat by the fire, wringing her hands.

"Merlin?"

He stopped and turned to her.

"What was in the vial? What did you find on the Isle of the Blessed?"

"Nimueh."

"Oh god. What happened?"

"She gave me the vial."

"Okay…"

"She said it would heal Arthur."

"It can't have been that easy. Why did she help you?"

Merlin shrugged and went back to pacing before she stood in front of him.

"Merlin, please. What did you have to give her for the vial?"

"A life for a life."

Marian's eyes widened, but she didn't get the chance to ask him whose life he'd bargained for.

Gaius came through the door, looking grave. "The prince lives." He leaned back against the door and stared at Merlin.

She gave Gaius and Merlin a tight smile. "Thank god."

By Gaius's look, she knew Merlin's sacrifice for Arthur's life. It was his own.

---

Marian was kept up all night by the storms. It also didn't help that she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Yes, Arthur was safe, but now Nimueh would take Merlin's life? This wasn't the way it was meant to be. She understood Merlin's need to protect Arthur's life, but why didn't he realize that Arthur would always be in danger regardless of whether or not Merlin sacrificed himself?

Giving up on sleep, she dressed and headed to the physician's chambers to start the day. The door was already open when she arrived and Gaius was kneeling over a body covered in boils.

"Gaius? What—" She knelt down and looked at the face of the woman on the floor. Hunith, Merlin's mother. "Oh god!"

Merlin came down the stairs to his room with a spring in his step. "Gaius! I'm alive!" His face fell when he saw Gaius and Marian kneeling in the doorway. "What is it? What's happened?"

Gaius waved Merlin away without turning to look at him. "Merlin, stay there!"

"What's wrong?"

"No, don't!"

Merlin looked over Gaius's shoulder. "Mother!" He knelt next to Gaius and pushed his way to her face.

Hunith's voice was strangled with pain. "Merlin."

"What's happened to her?" Merlin asked as tears began to fall.

"She's gravely ill."

Merlin looked between Gaius and Marian. "Do something!"

"If I only could."

Merlin grabbed Hunith's hand, taking care to be gentle. "Please, Gaius!" When Gaius didn't answer, Merlin looked at Marian, desperate and pleading. "Marian, have you seen something like this? Is there something from the future that would help? An herb? Something? Anything?"

She shook her head. "I've never seen anything like this. I'm sorry."

"Merlin, this is no ordinary illness," Gaius said.

"This cannot happen."

"Who did you meet at the Isle of the Blessed?"

"Nimueh."

"Nimueh?" Gaius shouted, trying to rein in his temper.

"It was as you said. She demanded a price, but I bargained my life, not my mother's."

"Merlin, I wish there was something I could do."

Merlin took Hunith's hand once more. "I will make you better. I will."

Marian's heart broke at the sight of Merlin crying over his mother. Despite viewing Gaius as a father, Hunith was his only family. For most of his life, it was just them and no one else.

---

Merlin returned to the physician's chambers after seeing the Great Dragon. The damn dragon who had kept Merlin in the dark about the price of saving Arthur's life. The damn dragon who only cared about being let free with no thought of the cost to others. The Great Dragon could rot under the castle for all he cared.

"Where is she?" he asked.

Gaius was sitting beside Marian by the fireplace. "She's sleeping."

"I have to save her."

"You cannot."

"If the balance of the world needs a life, then Nimueh must take mine."

"No, Merlin," Gaius said.

"Yes. I will return to the island."

"You are young. Your gifts, your destiny, are far too precious to sacrifice."

"My destiny? This is my mother. My powers mean nothing if I cannot save her."

Tears fell freely as Merlin cleared his throat, barely able to talk. Marian put her arm around him. "There has to be another way, Merlin. Gaius is right, you are too important to sacrifice yourself."

"I don't care about your history, Marian! I don't care about what you think I should do or what my destiny is!"

She moved away from him and willed herself not to cry.

"I'm sorry," Merlin said to her. "I shouldn't have yelled at you."

She offered him a small smile. "It's okay, Merlin. You're worried for your mother. I didn't mean that you are only your destiny. You're also important to me, Merlin. You're my friend."

Merlin smiled sadly. "I'm going to miss you both. You're like family to me but—"

"It's your mother. I understand," she said.

"You cannot go," Gaius said.

"You have taught me so much. Taught me who I am. Taught me the purpose for my skills. Taught me that magic should only be used for great deeds. But most of all, you have always taught me to do what is right."

Gaius dropped his shoulders and looked, really looked, at his charge. Merlin had grown so much in the year he'd been in Camelot. Gaius had instilled respect for the power of magic in Merlin. Made him work to control his magic, to hide his magic, and to use it for good. So Gaius only had himself to blame when Merlin said he'd bargain his life to save Hunith's. He knew it was right, but letting him go wasn't any easier. "Merlin."

Merlin wiped his nose on his sleeve and got up. "I need to say goodbye to Arthur."

---

The next morning, Marian walked into the physician's chambers only to see Merlin becoming more and more distressed as he read a letter.

"Merlin?"

"No!"

"What's happened?"

Merlin shoved the note in her face and began frantically stuffing supplies into his bag as she read.

Dear Merlin,

My life is already near to its end. There has, for the most part, been very little purpose to it, very little that will be remembered. In contrast, Merlin, your life is destined for greatness. Live by the tenets I have taught you, and I believe you will, in time, become the greatest warlock ever. To have known you has been my greatest pleasure, and to sacrifice myself for you is but an honor. You are and always will be the son I never had.

"What the hell is he thinking?" she asked as she threw the letter onto the table.

"I'm going after him. Don't try to stop me."

"Of course, I'm not going to stop you. I'm going with you!"

"No, it's too dangerous."

She picked up a potion bottle and shoved it into his bag.

"You just try and stop me."

Merlin nodded, and they rushed from the room to the stables.

---

When Merlin and Marian reached the shore of the island, they saw clouds swarming above and heard the echoes of the ancient language of the Old Religion. They ran through the ruins until they came to a clearing. Nimueh was standing at the altar holding a silver goblet over her head and Gaius was slumped on the ground.

Merlin slid to a halt while Marian stayed back. "Stop!"

"Back again so soon, warlock?"

"What have you done?"

"Your mother is safe. Isn't that what you wanted?

"Have you killed him?"

"It was his wish."

"I bid my life for Arthur's, not my mother's, not Gaius's!"

"The Old Religion does not care who lives and who dies! Only that the balance of the world is restored. To save a life, a life must be taken. Gaius knew this. The Wanderer knows this as well, do you not, Marian Ragnell?"

Marian walked forward. "How do you know who I am?"

"I am the one who summoned you."

"For what? What purpose do I serve here?"

"I called for Uther's bane and the Fates sent me you."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Do you really think I'm going to do your dirty work and kill Uther?"

"It isn't you who will kill the king. But you are his bane, his undoing. Your presence has altered your history, and the future you knew is now gone."

"No. I won't do it. I won't change the legend."

"That is not up to you."

"You can't keep me here to do whatever it is that you want me to do. I refuse!"

Nimueh laughed as she held her hands out toward Marian. "That is where you are wrong, Wanderer."

Marian dashed towards Nimueh, uncertain of her next move.

Nimueh's eyes glowed and Marian was lifted from the ground, floating in place.

"For your boldness, I give you a path to your time."

"What do you mean a path?"

"You will love, and be loved in return. But love will be your undoing, for if you ever give in to it, you will fall through time and be parted for eternity. That is the curse you will endure for the rest of your life."

"I don't under—"

"Be warned, your life will be empty and worthless should you go back."

"Why are you doing this?"

Ignoring her, Nimueh's eyes once again turned to gold. "Strengthe ealdan aewfaestnesse, ic her heofonfýr! Ic de bebeod mid ealle strangesse! Edhwierfaþ þone idese bestepeþ duru þá dægtíde fíornsípes he haefth hie heort! Efencume ætgædre, eala gastas cræft ige!"

A bolt of lightning struck the altar, but there was no clap of thunder to follow.

Merlin turned to Marian and watched her fall when Nimueh finished the spell.

"What have you done?"

"I've looked into the future, Merlin. Uther's Camelot will perish and she will be its executioner."

"Why have you done this?"

"The Fates of the Old Religion demand it, Merlin."

"It's not the Old Religion that has done this. It's you."

"Come now. We are too valuable to each other to be enemies."

"No! I share nothing with you!"

"With my help, Arthur will become king."

"I will make Arthur king. But you will never see that day. Ástríce!"

Electricity and light shot from Merlin's hand toward Nimueh, but she easily caught it.

She moved her hand in a circle, seemingly building up power. "Your childish tricks are useless against me, Merlin. I am a priestess of the Old Religion. Forbærne!" Sparks grew into a fireball and flew toward Merlin. It hit the wall where he was standing a second earlier and exploded.

Nimueh conjured another fireball but waited before throwing it. "You, too, are a creature of the Old Religion, Merlin. You should join me."

"You think I would join forces with such a selfish and cruel magic? Never."

"So be it. Ácwele!"

The fire flew faster than the last, making it impossible for Merlin to escape. It hit his chest and hurled him to the ground. He groaned as smoke swirled from the hole in his shirt.

"Pity. Together, we could've ruled the world."

Merlin's eyes shot open as Nimueh walked away. He rose from the ground, his eyes full of fortitude, determination, and quite a lot of revenge. He glared at her back, and with his nostrils flaring, his face contorted in anger.

"You should not have killed my friend."

Nimueh turned and for one second she felt fear.

Merlin looked toward the sky, willing the clouds to turn black and thunder to sound. Without uttering a word, he raised his hand, and as if he was drawing his vengeance out of the clouds, he pulled lightning from the sky to strike Nimueh. Strike after strike, Nimueh's body twisted and buckled until she exploded in a cloud of dust. Her soul screamed in agony as it dissolved into The Nothingness.

Merlin ran to Gaius as the rain began to pour.

"Gaius! Gaius!"

Cradling his body, Merlin cried.

"No! No!"

He dropped his head to Gaius's should and rocked his old mentor, his friend, his father.

Gaius's face twitched with every drop of water. "Merlin."

Merlin looked up and laughed. "Gaius? Gaius, you're alive!"

With his voice soft, Gaius asked the question he was dreading. "What did you do?"

"Nimueh's dead. The balance of the world has been restored."

Gaius opened his eyes as far as he could manage and looked at Merlin with the pride only a father could feel. "You amaze me. You've mastered the power of life and death itself. We'll make a great warlock of you yet."

"So you believe in me now?"

"Well, I would do if… if you could stop this blasted rain."

Merlin laughed and sat back, relieved it was over. Suddenly, he sobered. "Oh no! Marian!"

"Marian? She came as well?"

Merlin jumped up and ran toward where her body lay on the ground. He shook her shoulder. "Marian?" When she didn't stir, he shook her harder. "Marian!"

"My head is full of rocks," she groaned.

Merlin sat back and smiled at her as she sat up.

"What happened?"

"Nimueh is dead."

"And Gaius?"

"I'm here," Gaius said as he used the altar to stand. "Let's go home."

---

They sat by the fire, having returned that evening. Merlin fixed hot tea for Gaius and Marian.

"So I am to understand that Nimueh did bring you here?" Gaius asked as he slowly sipped his tea.

"That's what she said," Marian replied.

"And somehow you will bring about Uther's end?"

"No, she said Uther's Camelot. Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean."

"Nimueh also cursed her," Merlin said, sitting down with his own tea.

Gaius arched his eyebrow. "What was the curse?"

"Basically, I'll fall in love and be loved, but if I give in to that love, we'll parted forever and I'll be sent back to my time to live out a lonely and miserable life."

Gaius lowered his cup and took a long look at her. "Best you not fall in love, then."

"Thanks, Gaius. That helps."

---

A very rough translation of Spells: (As pulled from the Merlin Wiki on merlin dot fandom dot com and oldenglishtranslator dot co dot uk)

Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum. – by gifts of treasure, and under his father's protection

Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum. - Boil first the found potion, or it would be useless. If not thoroughly cooked, it will be ruined afterwards. Joyless, protracted, he endured, conquered.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec. - Move the powerful javelin.

Strengthe ealdan aewfaestnesse, ic her heofonfýr! Ic de bebeod mid ealle strangesse! Edhwierfaþ þone idese bestepeþ duru þá dægtíde fíornsípes he haefth hie heort! Efencume ætgædre, eala gastas cræft ige! - By the power of the Old Religion, here I summon fire from heaven! I command you with all my power! Return this woman to enter the door of time away from he that holds her heart! Oh, spirits, assemble together your skills!

Ástríce – Strike

Ácwele – Die

Forbærne - Burn