Merlin: Fate Be Changed

Love in the Time of Dragons (Part 2)

  The innkeeper-- that was supposed to be bedridden and ill-- practically skipped as he made his way over to Gaius and his nephew with a smile of his face. "What can I get you?" he asked. Gaius was in awe. "N-nothing. I just dropped in to see how you're doing." "Much improved, as you can see," the man replied giddily. "Indeed. Remarkable recovery," Gaius nodded. As the two men talked, Merlin looked around at the tavern. "Yes, and all thanks to you," the innkeeper said.

  "I think not," Gaius countered. "Evoric, I am of course delighted that you're well again, but I must ask you: from who did you obtain your remedy?" The innkeeper swallowed thickly and shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about," he lied. "You mustn't be afraid. I'm not the king, after all," Gaius said smoothly. This time, Evoric took longer to answer than before. And when he finally did, his reply was, "My wife-- she was desperate. I was slipping away." Gaius nodded for him to continue.

  "Go on."

  "She met a woman, a healer, in the lower town and she gave her a cure," Evoric concluded.

  "May I see it?" The innkeeper nodded and went off to fetch it. When he returned Merlin and Gaius were waiting patiently, and the physician stretched out his hand. Once the vial was in his possession, he proceeded to sprinkle a small amount of the substance into his palm and analyzed it. The calm look on his face briefly warped into a look of disbelief before he regained his composure and handed the vial back to its owner.

  "Interesting," was all he said, as he turned to leave. "Am I in some kind of trouble?" Evoric called after the departing courtiers. Gaius looked back, "No, not at all. You've been most helpful." With that, Gaius and Merlin exited the tavern. However, Gaius seemed to have a new spring in his step.

***

  Back in the council room, Gaius stood before the king informing him of the treatment, but Merlin soon realized that he was lying. Uther remained unconvinced and continued to press, but after some hard convincing on Gaius's part the king relented and fell for his advisor's ploy.

  "Thank you, Gaius. You've set my mind at rest," Uther said. "My lord," Gaius bowed. Merlin repeated the same movements, before going to follow Gaius out of the chamber. Before Merlin could get too far, though, Uther called after him. Merlin and Gaius paused, gazing at each other in confusion. "I would like to have a word with you, Merlin. Alone," the king stated. Merlin gulped down nervously and when he looked back at Gaius he was gone. Great, he thought, heading back over to the king.

  "Y-Yes, Sire?"

  The king slowly turned to face the secret magician with a look of curiosity on his face. "You seem nervous," Uther acknowledged. Merlin somehow stood straighter than was humanly possible. "No, Sire. I just—I wasn't expecting for you to ask for me," Merlin quickly explained. Uther raised a hand for Merlin too quiet down. "Well, I normally wouldn't, but it would seem I must in order to get some information," he stated.

  "Might I ask what information you're referring to, My Lord?"

  Uther exhaled deeply. "My son." Merlin furrowed his brow in confusion. What does Arthur have to do with any of this? "Is something wrong with Arthur?" the wizard spoke carefully. The king returned his full attention to the serving boy, "Well, I was hoping you could answer that for me." "No, Sire. As far as I know, Arthur has been behaving normally," Merlin responded. "Are you certain, because he seems different?" Uther pressed.

  "No, your Grace. There is nothing out of the ordinary. I'm sorry, but I can't give the answers you seek," Merlin exhaled. Uther studied the boy for a moment before nodding. "You may go."

  The warlock wasted no time exiting out of the room through the large doors, completely unaware that the king's gaze trailed him as he left.

***

  Back in Gaius's chamber, the physician had just finished preparing lunch when his nephew burst through the door. Gaius immediately whirled around to face him, concern knitted through his eyebrows as he laid eyes on Merlin. "Merlin, what happened?" he asked. "What did the King want?"

  "I don't know, but it was weird," Merlin noted. "How so?" the physician inquired. "Well, for starters, he was asking me questions about Arthur; asking if he seemed different or something," Merlin explained.

  This puzzled Gaius. "Why would he be concerned if Arthur was different..." the physician came to a striking realization and narrowed his eyes at the young man. "Unless you boys have given him reason to doubt Arthur's mindset." The young warlock tilted his head in confusion. "Arthur knows your secret, Merlin," Gaius went on. Merlin gestured for him to continue. The old man exhaled sharply. "He realizes that not all people with magic are evil, yet his father continues to torment those who practice it," the physician griped.

  It was then that Gaius's words gave way to meaning and the realization made Merlin's breath falter. "Uther's growing suspicious of Arthur. He might try to find out what has happened," Merlin gulped. Gaius nodded gravely. "I think it would be best to have a talk with Arthur and soon," the man suggested.

  Merlin nodded shakily in response. "Now come. I have just the thing to brighten the mood," Gaius chimed. "And what might that be?" Merlin mumbled. Gaius smirked, before answering, "Lunch."

***

  The two men sat down at the table to eat when Merlin spoke. "I think it's great what you did, protecting the innkeeper like that," he said. Gaius looked up from his plate with a quirked eyebrow. "What do you mean?" "He was a sick man. It was a matter of life and death," Merlin reminded. "Magic was his only hope."

  Much to Merlin's surprise, however, Gaius scoffed in reply. "But he didn't use magic," Gaius countered. The young wizard gave the physician a curious look. "The potion was enchanted. I saw it with my own eyes; we both did," Merlin argued. "What you saw, Merlin, was a release of gaseous pressure— entirely normal in a preparation of that kind," the old sorcerer denied.

  Merlin was struggling to believe what was truth and what was not. He trusted Gaius's judgment, though, at the same time, he trusts in his own senses; and magic was there. Of that, Merlin had no doubt. But still... "What about the totem?"

  Gaius paused.

  "What totem?" he asked.

  "The totem in the innkeeper's doorway— it bore the marks of the Old Religion," Merlin pressed, growing increasingly frustrated with his uncle's dodgy attitude. "Nonsense," Gaius replied. "You're obviously tired Merlin. Especially, with Uther now on the prowl. I recommend you get some sleep." Without another word, the physician rose from his seat at the table and picked up the roasted chicken and took it back into the kitchen before Merlin could ask for some meat.

  Merlin stared after Gaius, deep in thought. There was definitely something that Gaius wasn't telling him. But make no mistake, Merlin would find it out. Whatever it took.