Anne's POV
"What should we do about Gwen?" Merlin asks as he and Anne lie awake in their bed one night.
"I think we need to tell Arthur," Anne says. "He needs to know that something is wrong with Gwen, he deserves to know. She's his wife!"
"Yes, but how do we tell him his wife tried to kill him?" He looks at her. Anne sighs. "He wouldn't believe us."
"We need to catch her in the act." Anne muses. "We need Arthur to see her meeting with Morgana and Amelia."
"But she might not anymore." Merlin murmurs. "If she knows that we suspect it's her, which she probably does now, she'll be more inclined to try and not meet with them or communicate in another way."
"Then we have to catch her making an attempt on Arthur's life again?" Anne frowns. "I don't like that idea."
"Nor me." Merlin agrees, thinking. "We need catch her in the act that way Arthur can't refute it."
Anne nods. "Good idea. We'll bide our time. She'll drop her guard and then we can catch her."
—
After their conversation, Anne and Merlin both keep an extra eye on Gwen, waiting. Eventually, it pays off when Anne spots Gwen readying herself to leave the Castle. Merlin is the one to sort out retrieving Arthur and arrives by the stairs, at which Anne had seen Gwen slip through to get to the tunnels and the Crypt under the Castle, with the disgruntled King who blinks in surprise at seeing her.
"Anne?" He asks stupidly.
"Arthur," Anne replies, her tone all blasé.
"Wha—"
"We need to hurry up. We're falling behind." Anne says to Merlin, cutting off Arthur. Merlin nods in agreement and begins to move down the stairs.
"Falling behind?" The King echoes.
"Yes, falling behind," Merlin says forcefully. He turns to Arthur expectantly. Anne puts her hands on her hips and taps her foot expectantly because they really need to go now. "Come on!"
They charge down the stairs and Arthur huffs behind them before following for a few moments it's quiet but then Arthur starts talking again.
"Anne, Merlin, where are we going?" Arthur asks, probably now clocking that their path leads down, towards the crypts and the networks of empty tunnels that lead out of the Castle into the Lower Town.
"Silence!" Anne snaps. They really can't risk Gwen hearing them and the whole plan falling apart.
"Merlin, you are forgetting yourself." Arthur retorts. Anne rolls her eyes because, really?
"Think of it as a hunt," Merlin suggests, a brilliant smile suddenly all over his face. "As you said, it requires stealth, speed and an agile mind."
"We're not on a hunt now, Merlin."
"No, we're on a hunt of a different kind." Merlin retorts. "And you're scaring away the prey. Come on or are you too out of shape to keep up with us?"
Arthur recognises the insult "I'm not fat, Merlin!"
"Sure, tell that to your belts." Anne quips.
"Anne!"
They are deep down under the castle. The air is cold and draughty here. Arthur has these corridors patrolled regularly to make sure that nobody got into the Castle that had no business being here. To make sure Morgana and Amelia cannot get in. The sisters are aware of these tunnels too and who knows how many times they've potentially used it.
It must be one of those patrols that they are closing in on, Anne reckons when she sees the light of torches ahead. But one of the gates to the tunnel that leads to the Lower Town is open. Anne smiles in triumph, knowing it shouldn't be and this means they're heading in the right direction.
Arthur sees this too. His hand lingers near his sword, but he doesn't draw it yet. Voices are drifting down the corridor.
"It's not where I thought to have found you, Your Highness." Percival.
And the voice that answers him is familiar as well. "One does not always wish to be Your Highness, Percival. I miss the old town with its streets and its people."
"Merlin!" Arthur hisses. "What are we doing here?"
"Hush," Anne says, pressing a finger to her lips to make sure Arthur does as he is told. Not that Arthur seems to have any intention of obliging her.
Instead, he turns on Merlin. "Merlin, your interest in Guinevere is starting to become unhealthy." He growls. "Leave her be."
Anne winces at that, thinking of how they hadn't been exactly subtle in their keeping an eye on Gwen, particularly Merlin who's around the couple the most. Anne doesn't reply to his words and joins Merlin in using their favourite tactic of pretending to be deaf.
"I understand," they hear Percival say in the silence that falls between them.
"I'm not sure Arthur would," Gwen confesses.
Despite his clear anger about what they are doing here, Arthur frowns, hurt.
"I won't mention it," Percival replies.
Anne wonders whether it's a good or a bad thing that they've not told Percival about what's going on with Gwen. The Knight, ever since they last took Camelot back from Morgana and Amelia disappeared, had seemed less inclined to be involved in it all.
There are footsteps and Arthur, before Anne can stop him, steps away from the wall, donning what Merlin calls his King's face. Anne stays hidden next to Merlin.
"My lord!" Percival looks startled when he finds his King where he had not suspected.
"Is all well?" Arthur calmly asks.
"All is well, My Lord," Percival confirms.
"Very well, then," Arthur responds. "Be on your way."
Fortunately, Percival respects Arthur too much to question his judgment. He disappears and does not look back.
Which is just as well, because the King of Camelot seems to decide this is the right time to tell Anne and Merlin off. "What do you think you are doing?" He asks sharply.
"I asked you to trust us." Merlin reminds him.
Apparently, this is too much for Arthur. "Merlin, if Guinevere wants to visit the Lower Town, she is well within her rights..."
Anne and Merlin share a look at the beginning of his rant and don't move for a few seconds, leaving Arthur under the impression that they're listening to him and then, just as Arthur gets into it, they dive past him into the corridor Percival had just emerged from. Arthur curses behind them.
Arthur ends up deciding to run after them, bellowing after them to get their sorry arses back here right now. They ignore him and continue running and Arthur continues to yell after them. Hopefully, Gwen is far enough ahead of them that she won't hear Arthur yelling.
Anne is relieved that as they adventure further into the forest, Gwen is up ahead and unworried as she approaches a clearing and comes to a stop. They come to a standstill behind a tree when Arthur finally catches up with them. He's no longer yelling or angry, likely under the impression that Gwen has gone to the Lower Town just as she said and they're clearly no longer following her and had rather used the tunnel to follow somebody else.
Even better is that he lowers his voice when he hisses, "What do you think you're doing?"
Anne hisses another quick command to be silent and Merlin points at a clearing a little way ahead. Arthur does as he was bid, though likely more out of curiosity than out of a genuine desire to honour their wishes, and then he startles as he looks towards the clearing and sees Gwen standing there, alone, waiting and not waiting where she had told Percival.
It is only a few more moments and then a hooded figure approaches Gwen. Anne hopes it's Morgana but then her heart drops when the figure speaks.
"You're late."
Anne sees Arthur freeze as he recognises the voice. Amelia.
—
Amelia's POV
"I'm sorry." Gwen apologises.
Amelia lowers her hood, looking at Gwen inquisitively. "Was there a problem?"
"Nothing I could not handle," Gwen remarks calmly, which relaxes Amelia.
She nods. "Good. Did you get what we asked for?"
Gwen hands her a scroll. "It wasn't easy. It details the route the levy collection will take, the names of the Knights, their arms, and the day they depart."
"You've done well, Gwen." Amelia compliments. "Morgana will be pleased."
"How can it further our cause?"
"Well, the—" She hears something to the left of her. Her head snaps towards it but all she sees are trees and bushes.
"What is it?" Gwen asks worriedly.
"Not sure. I thought I heard something. Were you followed?"
"Not that I am aware of."
"Hmmm..."
Amelia frowns as her eyes flicker around them, still trying to find the source but there's nothing. Morgana had trusted her to meet Gwen on her own and she hopes she hasn't messed it up. Amelia would hate for her sister to be disappointed in her.
—
Anne's POV
Merlin and Anne are in the Physician's chambers, trying to pour over as many magic books as they can in the short amount of time they have because who knows how long Arthur will be able to keep pretending nothing's wrong before Gwen gets suspicious. It broke Anne's heart to see how Arthur's heart had shattered to see his wife had betrayed him albeit outside of her own control. He had nearly been ready to storm over and attack either Amelia and/or Gwen but Anne and Merlin had been able to stop him.
"This is starting to feel hopeless," Merlin sighs, rubbing his eyes.
They've been at this for weeks now before they'd told Arthur the truth and it's been a struggle as the enchantment Gwen is under is unlike any they've seen before.
"We have to keep trying." Anne insists even though the words in front of her are beginning to blur.
"Why did we promise to help Gwen?" Merlin sighs. "I have no idea what to do. Is there really no remedy?" The last question is aimed at Gaius who's been quietly pondering.
"If Gwen has suffered what I suspect then no, I fear not." The Physician replies. That gets their attention.
"You know what happened to her?" Anne asks eagerly.
"When I was young, I heard about an ancient ritual of the Old Religion called the Teine Diaga."
"Teine Diaga?" Merlin echoes.
"The sacred fire," Gaius explains. "The ritual used the mandrake root to bring unimaginable terror to the victim. Their screams could be heard twenty leagues away. When it was finally over, their will was no longer their own. They were slaves of the High Priestesses for eternity."
How could Amelia do this to Gwen?
"Who performed this ritual? Where?" Merlin questions intently.
"I've told you all I know. Such mysteries were revealed only to a handful of female initiates. As a boy, I was privy only to rumours." Gaius replies regretfully.
"There must be someone who can help." Anne groans.
"I can only think of three people who truly know the Old Ways. Two are Morgana Pendragon and Amelia Hallewell. The other is the Dochraid." Gaius tells them. "But be warned, Merlin. The Dochraid cannot be trusted. She must never know your true identity."
Anne and Merlin share a look. Seems Dragoon the Great is going out for another spin.
—
Merlin returns from visiting the Dochraid with good news and bad news.
Good news, they now know where to go to save Gwen. The Cauldron of Arianrhod is where they need to take her before summoning the White Goddess herself. Bad news, they need Gwen to be conscious when she enters, which needs to be willing choice, otherwise they could lose her. So that means getting Arthur involved and they're under more pressure than ever given that Gwen's nothing but an empty vessel and once her purpose is served, she will die.
Anne, Merlin, Arthur and Gaius gather in a private corner in the corridor near the Armoury.
"This tincture of Belladonna, what are its effects?" Arthur asks.
The Belladonna is one phase of their plan to save Gwen as it'll hopefully keep her unconscious until the time is right.
"The patient is rendered into a deep sleep," Gaius answers.
This alarms Arthur. "Patient?!"
"It is generally used for the badly wounded."
"How long does it last?"
"A few hours. It has to be administered several times a day to provide a continuous sleep." Gaius answers.
"But for no more than three days." Merlin supplies.
"It is true, Sire." Gaius agrees. "The tincture should not be taken for an extended period."
"Or?"
Gaius hesitates so Anne answers as delicately as she can, "The body will not tolerate it."
"Thank you, Anne," Arthur murmurs.
"Three days is time enough to ride to the Cauldron of Arianrhod," Gaius adds.
"You've done the journey yourself, have you?" Arthur asks.
"I cannot claim to—"
"Any mishap, any unexpected circumstance will—"
"There is no reason to suspect that all will not go well," Gaius argues.
"Arthur," Anne prompts gently, "you must remember, if we do nothing, Gwen is already taken from you."
Arthur sighs, turning to his servant, "Merlin?" Arthur and Merlin exchange a glance and Merlin gives a slight encouraging nod. "Summoning this Goddess, will it require magic?"
"Yes," Anne answers and she can see how reluctant Arthur is. "Arthur, I know sorcery failed you before but this sorcery can only be fought by more sorcery."
"I'll be breaking my own decrees." Arthur counters.
"To save your Queen, to save your wife." Gaius insists.
"Very well. It's decided. There'll be a Sorcerer." Arthur accepts. "Can he be trusted?"
Gaius glances towards Merlin before answering, "Upon my life."
"You assured me so once before, Gaius, but my father couldn't be saved by the hands of such a man."
"This Sorcerer will be entirely different," Gaius argues.
"How can you be sure?" Arthur asks doubtfully.
"Because, Sire, this time I have chosen... a woman."
Wait what?
—
Arthur, Gaius, Anne and Gwen are eating in the Royal Chambers ready to enact the first phase of their plan. Merlin is at the sideboard, pouring the Belladonna into a pitcher that he'll serve Gwen having served everyone else as he happened to, after serving Arthur, Gaius and Anne, 'ran out' of wine and needed to refill, i.e. drug Gwen.
He moves back to the table where the others are discussing the documents and attempts to pour the wine. "Wine, my Lady?"
"Not tonight thanks, Merlin." Gwen quickly answers.
Merlin looks at Anne, Arthur and Gaius for help and thankfully Arthur is quick to come up with a solution, which is raising his glass.
"A toast." He announces.
Anne and Gaius also raise there's as well as Gwen but she looks at her husband, baffled. "My Lord?"
"A toast to..." But that seems to be how far Arthur's initial plan went and he hesitates. "A toast to the Queen." He finishes.
Anne and Gaius flash false smiles in Gwen's direction though the hollow Queen is still confused but thankfully not suspicious.
"Me? What have I done?" She asks, smiling but Anne can see the lack of warmth in it.
"Just being yourself, Your Highness," Gaius adds.
"You're very kind, Gaius, but shouldn't it rather be to Camelot?" Gwen argues as Merlin finally pours her some wine. There's a flutter of fake chuckles at her words.
"Modest as always, Gwen." Anne couldn't help but quip snidely.
They all raise their goblets, chiming to "To Camelot" before they all take a sip. As soon as Gwen does so, they start to stare at Gwen, waiting for the Belladonna to take effect. For a moment, Gwen seems unaffected, which is concerning and Anne begins to worry.
Gwen looks at Arthur. "You haven't eaten, My Lord."
"No, I hav—"
Arthur is cut off when Gwen suddenly slumps forward and would've whacked her head on the table if it wasn't for Merlin's quick acting of pushing a plate of soft bread under her head.
With Gwen now fully unconscious, they all spring into action. Anne and Merlin dart into the Antechamber to grab the wheelbarrow and cloth. They hurriedly bring them out and Arthur looks at the small wheelbarrow in disbelief.
"She's still a Queen!" He complains.
Anne rolls her eyes. "Oh, she'll be fine! She's unconscious."
"It was the best I could do," Merlin adds.
"We have to hurry, Sire." Gaits warns.
Arthur and Merlin transfer Gwen from her chair onto the wheelbarrow. Once she's on, Anne drapes the cloth over her body to conceal her.
"There. No one will know." Merlin huffs.
Anne scrunches up her face, not sure but she knows it'll have to do.
"Gaius, you're sure this is going to work?" Arthur questions as he opens the door for them.
"You'll be amazed at how much licence old age lends you, Sire," Gaius remarks as he leaves, turning to Anne and Merlin to urge them along as he does so.
Merlin steers Gwen out of the room with Anne hovering worriedly behind him.
"Merlin, if you drop her..." Arthur begins to warn.
"I know. I lose my head." Merlin quips as they leave, heading to the Darkling Woods.
Once they meet in the Darkling Woods, Anne, Merlin and Arthur are off to the Cauldron of Arianrhod with an unconscious Gwen. Gaius is staying to keep an eye on things while both the King and Queen are away.
—
Amelia's POV
Mordred, Merlin, Anne and Arthur, who are carrying Gwen, walk through the mountain pass, heading towards the Cauldron. Banners flutter either side to lead the way.
Amelia's jaw clenches angrily when as she watches the scene below. Anne and Merlin of all people should know how much of a disrespect this is to bring Arthur of all people to such a sacred place or maybe they really have strayed too far from the Old Religion.
But then Amelia lets out an amused snigger and smirk as she thinks how this group had really thought that they could slip under her and Morgana's noses and undermine them. What the little group down below hadn't counted on was the Dochraid sending them a warning to what's going on. Did they really think that they were that clever?
Morgana had sent Amelia to deal with it, warning her that she shouldn't dare to let her down as she'd done before. Amelia winces as she shifts, memories flashing through her mind.
She's broken from her thoughts by Aithusa bumping her head into Amelia's elbow, cooing softly to indicate her curiosity. Amelia smiles softly at the young Dragon stroking her head causing her companion to purr softly.
"You know what to do Aithusa," Amelia instructs.
Aithusa nods and takes flight. She lets out a screech as she swoops down towards the group walking below and blows fire towards them. Arthur swings Gwen from harm's way and leads the others out of sight between some boulders though Amelia can see Merlin lingering for a moment, looking out towards the upper rocks before joining them.
Aithusa swoops around and dives again. Amelia finds it difficult to see what's occurring but when Aithusa swoops around for a third time, Merlin appears and she hears a familiar chanting.
"Nun de ge dei s'eikein kai emois epe'essin hepesthai!"
Aithusa freezes, daring not to do another attack and flies away. Amelia growls in annoyance and anger. How dare Merlin think to control and oppress poor Aithusa like that!
She storms down to the path below, ready to confront Merlin. Once she's down, she has a better view and sees just Mordred and Merlin trying to flee.
Amelia smirks. Oh, I don't think so…
She lifts up a hand and flings them through the air. It doesn't keep Merlin down for long and he's up again, running away. Amelia's ready to follow but then she makes the mistake of looking down and sees Mordred's unconscious body. Her heart breaks and she worries she's hurt him badly.
Amelia cautiously approaches him, crouching down to see if he's okay. She slowly strokes her fingers across his face. Thankfully it only takes a moment before he opens his eyes.
His eyes immediately land on Amelia and narrows his eyes suspiciously. "Why don't you kill me?"
"My argument's not with you, Mordred. How could it be? We're one of a kind." Amelia reassures him softly.
Mordred pulls himself to his feet and backs away from her. "Never." His tone's hard and wary.
Amelia feels her eyes well up with hurt but swallows it down. "You wear the uniform well but we both know what lies beneath." She laughs wetly, almost deliriously. "Do you think Arthur would tolerate you for one minute if he knew the truth? One of his Knights, a Sorcerer."
"One day he will know. One day we will be accepted." Mordred retorts.
Amelia rolls her eyes at him. "Your naïveté would be charming if it wasn't so dangerous."
Mordred almost smirks. "I thought you believed in the world Merlin and Anne are trying to create with Arthur."
"I grew up, Mordred, and so should you," Amelia warns hotly. "Don't be the naïve, stupid little child I was."
"If that's the case, then why have you not told Morgana who Merlin and Anne really are?" Mordred remarks.
Amelia blinks dumbly, her brain short-circuits.
She– she can't—
"Amelia, please let me help you. Please tell me what happened." Mordred pleads.
Amelia wobbles for a moment but then Morgana's face and words flash in her mind, reminding her that she shouldn't be so weak. She draws herself up and shakes her head at Mordred. "I'm not going to let you stop me, Mordred." Amelia raises her hand, ready to knock him out.
"You would strike one of your own?" Mordred questions.
His words hit her causing her to freeze.
"I am not strong enough to defeat you, Amelia, but know this. Such hatred as yours can never triumph. I hope one day you will find the love and compassion which used to fill your heart." Mordred declares.
Amelia feels the tears now spilling onto her cheeks, she drops her hand. Hatred? No, that can't be right. Morgana's not, she can't be—
She's so absorbed in her thoughts that she doesn't notice Mordred raising his hand till it's too late and Amelia is thrown backwards, hitting the ground just as everything goes black.
—
Anne's POV
Anne and Arthur wait worriedly by the Cauldron. Partly because they don't know what's happened to Mordred. Merlin had turned up on his own and persuaded a reluctant Arthur that they needed to do this while they had the chance. Anne feels uncomfortable with once again just abandoning Mordred.
And they're also partly worried because Gwen could wake at any moment and they can't risk dousing her any more than they have.
They startle at the sound of someone running towards them. Anne and Arthur look up to see Mordred running towards them.
"Mordred!" Anne cries in startled surprise.
Arthur laughs happily, running to meet him. "I thought we'd lost you." Arthur and Mordred clasp arms.
"So did I," Mordred responds.
"How did you escape?"
"Even she is no match for a Knight of the Round Table."
Anne narrows her eyes at Mordred. "She?"
"Amelia."
Anne freezes and her head snaps to the hill that sits above them as if expecting Amelia to appear.
"Seriously, Mordred." Arthur persists.
"Arthur." Anne cuts in, seeing Mordred clearly can't give an Arthur-appropriate answer. "He's well, that's what matters." Arthur reluctantly agrees and turns away and Anne rounds on Mordred. "What happened?"
"I knocked her unconscious. With magic. We should have enough time to do this before she wakes." Mordred explains.
Anne opens her mouth to speak but then she hears footsteps and sees, well, she sees her husband but this time, he's an old woman. Anne gawps at him while Arthur and Mordred stare, taking in the new arrival.
"Now it makes sense. Merlin said she had trouble getting clothes." Arthur murmurs, referring to Merlin's earlier excuse when Arthur caught sight of Merlin's dress for the disguise.
"Who are you? What business have you in this sacred place?" Merlin asks in a higher pitch. Christ.
"Are you the Dolma, ancient sorceress of the Cauldron of Arianrhod?" Arthur asks.
Merlin extends his hands and inclines his head. "Who else would I be?"
Anne hears Mordred and Arthur begin to mutter amongst themselves but Anne honestly can't concentrate and instead is trying not to stare at Merlin too much or she might lose it and give the whole game away.
It is only when Arthur begins to unsheathe his sword does she clues back into the conversation. "What have you done with my servant?"
"Arthur, is that really necessary?" Anne cuts in hurriedly. She can't have Arthur unintentionally murdering her husband.
"Are you not worried?" Arthur questions.
"I am but I'm sure he's fine." She insists.
"How can you be sure?" He asks doubtfully.
"I guarantee the boy is well and will be returned to you once when we have concluded our business." Merlin interrupts.
Arthur re-sheathes his sword. "You know why we're here."
"Nothing is hidden from... the Dolma. Now hurry, before your Queen awakes. Set her by the pool." Merlin indicates elaborately towards the Cauldron.
Arthur looks at Anne curiously at her snort but does as he's told. Gwen is placed at the edge of the Cauldron. Merlin examines her before explaining to Arthur what needs to be done. Arthur listens seriously, determined to save his wife.
Merlin kneels next to Gwen, holding a hand over her. "Gielde ic thec thissa meowlessawole, gyden aeblaece."
Anne watches as her husband's eyes flash gold before he stands and backs away with Arthur's help. Arthur kneels in Merlin's place as Gwen begins to stir.
Gwen then jolts awake and looks around, startled. "Where am I? What have you done to me?!" She looks at them, horrified. Anne sees her takes in disguised Merlin, Mordred and Anne herself.
"You've been asleep for a long time." Arthur tries to reach out to her.
"Get away from me!" Gwen scrambles to her feet, trying to run away.
Arthur caught her wrist and turned her to him, taking her other hand, holding her gently by both arms despite her struggles. Arthur tries to reason with her but she still struggles to free herself from Arthur's grasp but he will not release her. Arthur begins to drag Gwen towards the Cauldron as she struggles.
"No! It must be of her own will!" Merlin reminds him.
Arthur pulls Gwen closer to him, they are face to face. Anne gnaws her lip anxiously as she watches.
"Do you remember when I asked you to marry me? Do you remember what you said? You said, "With all my heart." That's what you said, Guinevere. That was no subterfuge. No trickery."
And that was all he needed, to see her trying to break through. Gwen stops struggling and stares at Arthur.
"With all my heart." Arthur walks backwards, towards the lake. "With all my heart."
Gwen's breath hitches. "With all my heart..." she murmurs softly.
Anne smiles as she watches Gwen walk towards the lake and take Arthur's hand. He gently leads her into the waters, till the water is up to her waist. Arthur kisses her hand and steps back out of the lake.
"Yfel gaest, ga thu fram thisselichaman!" Merlin calls, his hands held out at the water. "Bith hire mod eft freo. Ar ond heofonutungol sceal thurhswithan!" His eyes flash gold and Gwen is surrounded in a pure white light that nearly blinds them all, before it slowly fades.
Once it has dissipated, Gwen turns to smile at Arthur, extending his hand to him. Arthur wades towards her and embraces her. Anne shares a smile with Merlin as they both exhale in relief. They have Gwen back.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia groans as she sits up, holding her head. She looks around her confused as she stares at the rock terrain around her.
Wha—
She rubs her aching head, trying to recall what happened. Then it hits her. She sits up suddenly, which does nothing for her head.
Amelia groans before she lets out a quiet sob before it turns into another and another before they then just become louder and louder as they rack through her body.
Oh God, what has she done?
She let them get away. She was weak. She was weak and stupid and now they've turned Gwen back onto their side. Morgana won't forgive her for this.