Gaius

— Hello Gaius, are you busy? I need to talk about something very important with you — Arthur said seriously, entering the room, locking the door behind him and sitting at the table

Gaius, seeing this, could only relate it to what had just happened with Merlin... Surely Arthur has found out about his magic...This would be a very bad conversation

— About Merlin?

— Merlin? No, it has nothing to do with him... Although now that you mention it, have you seen it? He left my chambers somewhat... Affected

— Affected?

— Yes, because of the content of this letter — Arthur replied, showing the letter in his hand — a letter my mother wrote me before she died — he added, handing it to Gaius to read.

A few minutes later Gaius put the letter on the table and covered his face with both hands. He didn't know about the existence of that letter, but it explained a lot of things.

Taking a deep breath, Gaius lowered his hands to face Arthur.

— Is it true then, do I have a brother?

— Yes Sire, it's true... Your mother had twins — answered Gaius and then looked down — I'm very sorry Arthur, but I promised your mother never to reveal her secret, and until this day I hadn't... Your father must not know

— He is the King, Gaius... He is his son! he must know

— No, he should never know... You didn't read what your mother wrote, her last wish was that we hide it from your father

— Why? Why shouldn't my father know of the existence of his own son...

— Before explaining that, you must understand the beginning of all this... Your father loved your mother, very much... But there was a problem, your father needed an heir and your mother could not conceive

— Don't tell me that what Morgause said was true

— Only in part... Seeing that your father was desperate, Nimueh agreed to perform the spell that gave you life. She warned Uther that the spell would claim someone's life in return, and Uther agreed anyway, not knowing whose life it would be taken from.

— My mother's...

— Exactly... As soon as you were born your mother began to feel very weak, nothing I tried worked... It was a matter of time before she died. As soon as Uther knew this would happen, he started blaming Nimueh and all the sorcerersi for what would happen... Saying that they had done it on purpose just to harm the kingdom. That very night the Purge began, even before your mother passed away.

— It's basically the same thing that Morgause told me — Arthur said very angry

— No, your father didn't know that it would cost your mother's life... And his reaction was wrong, but it was entirely guided by his great sorrow.

— That doesn't justify it, Gaius

— Of course not... But in his defense, there were many sorcerers who were using magic for bad purposes... But not all of them...

— Ok, I understand the beginning, now tell me... Why didn't my mother want him to know about my brother?

— As you know, labor can last several hours, and during labor only the midwife and I are allowed in the room, so your father decided to go hunting to calm his nerves.

— Typical...

— This is why when he returned you were already born, and your mother already showed signs of being in very poor health. As soon as I reported this to Uther, he freaked out and immediately went to the council to begin the attacks on Nimueh and her people, not even going to check on you or your mother.

— I'm not surprised...

— I went back to the Queen, and when I told her about what Uther was doing, she made the immediate decision to hide your brother.

— Why?

— Because your brother was born with magic... The first time he opened his eyes, they shone a beautiful gold... And every time you or your mother touched him, something in the room began to float

— But... Shouldn't one study magic? I didn't know that someone could be born with it

— The vast majority must study it, and practice it for many years... But there are a few who are born with it... Generally it begins to manifest when they are between 10-16 years old... When they are angry or scared they have overflows of magic... But your brother is special, he could move things around him just a few hours after he was born

— If my father had found out...

— Your mother knew him very well, and as soon as she knew how angry he was, she knew that your brother would be in danger living in Camelot, and that it was best to keep it a secret. She made me swear to it, and asked me to find someone who could take care of him... someone that could love him like a real mother.

— You did it, didn't you? Did you find someone? Do you know where he is now?

— An old friend of mine was visiting me at the time... she was the perfect candidate, she was kind, caring, young and even lived in another kingdom... So I took her to meet the Queen

— And what happened?

— The Queen talked with her and explained the situation. As soon as she saw you two she was fascinated with the idea of being able to protect your brother and become her mother... Even if she had to do it alone, since she was not married. That same night I helped them out of Camelot

— Thank you Gaius, for saving my brother... Do you know where she lives now? I would like to thank her. Do you know if my brother is okay?

Gaius sighed heavily before answering, there was no point in hiding the truth anymore.

— She lives in Ealdor, but your brother no longer lives with her... He has been living here in Camelot for a few years — said Gaius — Right now I don't know where your brother is... But I don't think he is well, at least not emotionally

Arthur looked at Gaius carefully, his words were generating an idea little by little in his brain... If he put together everything that Gaius had said with what happened a few minutes ago in his room... everything fit... Not only that , if he also added these last years of his life, everything made sense, absolutely everything

— Gaius, where is Merlin?

— I don't know Sire... he came in here, very shocked... he went to his room and a few minutes later he ran out with his backpack on his shoulder. He didn't say anything to me, and I thought he just had an argument with you.

— He didn't know anything about this, did he?

— No, neither I nor Hunith have said a single word to him about it

— Then how could he figure it out so fast? How did he know the letter was about him?

— I'm not sure... Perhaps the best thing is to write to Hunith, so that she comes to talk to him...

— No, I will send Leon to bring her, it will be faster

— It would be much better if we could send Lancelot... He knows about Merlin's magic

Hearing this, Arthur felt a little jealous about it. Merlin had entrusted his secret to Lancelot, and not to him.

— Don't judge Merlin sire, he has wanted to tell you from the beginning, but he didn't want you to have to lie to your father about it... And he didn't want you to hate him for having magic

— I don't hate him... Maybe disappointed that he didn't trust in me... But I understand why he did it...

— He didn't tell Lancelot, he found out when he saw him perform a spell...

— Why it does not surprise me...

— Aren't you upset that he has magic?

— Of course not... You said it, he was born with it... And if there is someone that I'm sure isn't evil, that's Merlin...

— He will be very happy to hear that you accept him Arthur

— I'd better find him soon then

— Remember that your father can't know about him, so Leon mustn't know why he is bringing Hunith either.

— I know, everything will be very discreet... Including my search for Merlin, I don't want to alert my father in any way. Do you have any idea where he might have gone?

— No, not really... But I don't think he went to Ealdor to face Hunith... he must still be trying to process everything that happened

— Fine... Don't worry, I'll find him and bring him home... And I'll keep him safe.