Once the griffin was out of sight, everyone had made their way to the Council Chambers, Merlyn running ahead to get to Gaius. Arthur had explained what happened to his father, omitting Merlyn's actions – only knights of Camelot could defend the city; his father would not be pleased if a servant never mind a woman did such a job. Swiftly enough, the king and Arthur came into the Council Chamber to find Gaius and Merlyn waiting.
"You said your knights were the best in the land. You proved that today" Uther praised. Arthur looked tired and shook his head. His knights did no such thing, had Merlyn not come along with the fire they would have been in trouble.
"All I know is it's still out there" Arthur said.
"Let's not wait for it. The kingdom has been menaced by this creature for too long. We finish this now" the king ordered. Merlyn frowned as did Arthur, neither thought it would be that simple.
"Sire, if I may" Gaius interjected.
"Gaius?"
"I've been researching this creature, Sire. I believe it to be a griffin" Gaius explained carefully, he knew how Uther reacted to the word magic.
"A griffin? What's in a name?" Uther asked.
"The griffin is a creature of magic" Gaius said. Arthur immediately looked towards Merlyn, who was stood with an extremely worried expression on her face. What was going on?
"I don't have time for this, physician" Uther stated anger building in his voice.
"It is born of magic, Sire, and it can only be killed by magic" Gaius finished. Arthur now understood Merlyn's expression. Once again Camelot's future depended on Merlyn; he couldn't defeat the creature, his knights couldn't, only she could and had to defeat the creature. It frustrated him to no end that he couldn't help and he knew he couldn't.
"You are mistaken. It's a creature of flesh and blood like any other. Arthur proved that today" Uther retaliated. Arthur immediately shook his head.
"I'm not so sure, Father. I think there may be some truth in what he says" Arthur argued. He didn't want to take his men out to fight a creature they couldn't kill. It would be a waste of life.
"What truth? You said you injured it" Uther pressed, his harsh gaze resting on his son.
"The griffin was unharmed, Sire. Our weapons seemed useless against it" Arthur said, "yes, one weapon pierced its eye, the blade went straight in but didn't kill it. The ... griffin acted as if it had just received a scratch nothing more." Uther only rolled his eyes at his son.
"Nonsense" he said, Arthur sighed, how many people were going to die for his stubbornness? "No, it's tasted our steel once; the next time will be its last. When will your knights be ready to ride again?"
"An hour. Maybe two" Arthur replied, his gaze resting back on Merlyn and Gaius helplessly. If Gaius was right ... Merlyn was everyone's only hope.
"Good. We finish this tonight" Uther finished, leaving the room swiftly, his crown gleaming on his head. Merlyn and Gaius shared a look. She was in trouble.
~8~
Merlyn and Gaius hurried back into their chambers. Merlyn was beyond frustrated and angry and worried and ... she had to calm down. Merlyn knew the pressure that was building up on her. Her magic was the only thing that could kill it but she knew that her magic was not powerful enough, was it? Her mind flashed back to when the griffin first attacked her, her magic had been powerless then. How the hell was she supposed to kill it? Was she really the only witch around who could do something?!
"If Arthur rides out against that griffin, he'll die, won't he?" Merlyn said.
"Yes I believe so" Gaius answered. The pair knew what was needed to be done but fear and panic was setting in for Merlyn.
"Then he must be stopped. Uther must see reason" Merlyn said, fear for Arthur's safety at the forefront of her mind, this griffin ate people! She did not want to think about it munching down on Arthur.
"Where magic is concerned, our King is blind to reason. And yet" Gaius replied, slowly making his way over to Merlyn who was anxiously biting her nails "... magic is our only hope." Merlyn knew immediately what Gaius was getting at.
"You're not suggesting..."
"It is your destiny, Merlyn. The true purpose of your magic" Gaius replied, though there was no joy in his face, Merlyn could tell that he hated sending her out to do such things (or she would have noticed had she paid attention).
"You saw it, Gaius. I can't go up against that thing. I tried, I lost!" Merlyn argued, fear clear in her eyes. Gaius did not like seeing Merlyn in such a state but what could he do?
"But if you do not, then Arthur will surely perish" Gaius pressed carefully but strongly.
"No ... this is madness. I have been in Camelot for closing on a year now and I have nearly died more times than I care to count. It might surprise you but I like living" Merlyn ranted, "I don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way."
"This is the only way" Gaius replied. Merlyn's mouth swiftly opened without much thought running into what she was saying
"Do you even care what happens to me? Oh, just do this, Merlyn. Do that, Merlyn. Go and kill the griffin, Merlyn. I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire –"
"Merlyn!" Gaius scolded, Merlyn immediately fell quiet, "Merlyn, you are the only thing I care about in all this world. I would give my life for you without a thought. But for what? I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny. You know." Stupid destiny...
"I'm sorry" Merlyn apologised; Gaius nodded and hugged her tight. Merlyn sighed as she rested her head on the physician's shoulder. "What happens if I can't save Arthur? I don't know how to kill a griffin."
"Well we have two hours to find a way."
~8~
Arthur was more than frustrated about his situation, about everyone's situation. He needed good knights, he needed skilled knights and he had one ... that was just out of his reach because of his father. Arthur had to face the griffin that night, a creature he knew he couldn't kill so he would never get a chance to help this man again. And anyway if his father found out he would probably be dead – can't punish a dead guy. Arthur charged his way through the dungeons directly to one particular cell. He gestured for the cell to be opened and the guard to leave. As Arthur entered the cell the man inside quickly scrambled to his feet.
"I should've known. How could I have been so stupid?! You don't sound like a knight; you don't even look like a knight!" Arthur exploded, releasing some of his anger about the entire situation.
"I'm sorry" Lancelot automatically responded his head bowed in respect.
"I'm sorry, too. Because, damn it Lancelot, you fight like a knight" Arthur finished, "And I need ... Camelot needs..." They both knew what he was speaking about.
"The creature?" Lancelot asked.
"We could not kill it. I've never faced its like" Arthur admitted, the weight of Camelot on his shoulders.
"I faced it myself, Sire. Some days past. I struck it full square. I wondered how it endured" Lancelot said. Arthur looked at the man with great thought. Arthur most likely would not see the morning ... but someone had to know the truth even if his father would not allow it, maybe then someone could do something. The prince was not particularly happy over the position falling to Merlyn but if she too failed...
"There are those that believe this creature, this ... griffin, is a creature of magic, that only magic can destroy it" Arthur explained.
"Do you believe this?" Lancelot questioned, Arthur turned his back on the knight, keeping his face hidden.
"It doesn't matter what I believe. The use of magic is not permitted. The knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone" Arthur could only hope it was enough.
"Sire."
"There's a horse waiting outside" Arthur started, this man deserved a better life, his friend had to flee, "Lancelot, take it and never return to this place."
"No. No, please ... It's not my freedom I seek. I only wish to serve with honour" Lancelot begged.
"I know." And that truth grated on Arthur. Lancelot would have been one of the best knights.
"Then let me ride with you, Sire" Lancelot pressed.
"I cannot. My father knows nothing of this. I release you myself, but I can do no more" Arthur said before he walked out of the way of the cell door and turned away from Lancelot giving the man the opportunity to leave, "Now go before I change my mind."
~8~
Merlyn and Gaius were searching through Merlyn's spell tome for a spell that would be powerful enough to kill a griffin, or at least make a mortal weapon powerful enough to get through its skin. As time went on Merlyn began to feel more and more desperate. Night was so going to fall; Arthur and his knights would be riding soon. She didn't have time for this. She groaned as she buried her hands in her hair and pulled on the strands lightly in frustration. Suddenly, Gaius called over.
"Here." Merlyn dashed to her feet and read the spell he had found. It was to enchant a weapon. As her eyes read the information she felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She had never cast something so powerful before. "You must do this for Arthur."
"Stupid prat, always trying to get himself killed" Merlyn muttered.
"Here" Gaius said as he handed her an old rusty blade. "Try. You have it within you. I know you do." Though Gaius' words normally filled her with courage, she felt as courageous as a mouse.
"Bregdan anweald gafeluec" Merlyn chanted. Gaius and Merlyn stared intently at the blade but nothing happened. Not even a hint of a change. The spell said something about blue flames appearing on the blade. There were certainly no blue flames on this blade.
"Don't worry, Merlyn, we have plenty of time."
~8~
The time had finally come, night had fallen and his knights were ready. Arthur just prayed that by some miracle he would see the sun rise again. He stood and studied every face of every man. How many of them would come back? Arthur would fight; it was his duty ... his only hope, though he hated to admit it, was Merlyn.
"It's time" he announced. His men all nodded their heads in understanding. Leon was waiting at the front of the line, his eyes determined. Arthur gave the man a look the other knight understood, this was not going to end well. Immediately, the prince began walking and the knights followed in suit. They would fight till the very end...
~8~
"Bregdan anweald gafeluec"
"Bregdan anweald gafeluec"
"Bregdan anweald gafeluec"
Suddenly, in anger Merlyn turned and threw the rusty blade as hard as she could straight into the wooden closet door. It embedded its way straight into the door. She couldn't do it! She had been saying the spell over and over again but still nothing had happened to the bloody dagger.
"Don't worry, Merlyn. I know you're trying" Gaius reassured as he watched the witch collapse onto the steps up to her bedroom. She sat and buried her head in her hands. There was so much pressure on her.
"I'm failing. And if Arthur dies because I'm not good enough –"
"Merlyn!" She was suddenly interrupted but not by Gaius. Merlyn's head shot up to see Gwen running towards her in a panic. "Arthur and the knights have left and Lancelot's riding out to kill the griffin!"
"They left?! He's what?! I – Gah!" Merlyn stumbled over her words. Lancelot's noble quality was going to kill him, the same noble quality that had sent Arthur out after the griffin as well. "Men are stupid I swear!" Merlyn muttered as she raced passed Gaius and Gwen ignoring Gaius' call.
Her hair whipped out behind her as her feet slammed against the floor. They pounded as loud as her heart as she raced through the castle to the Royal Stables. Merlyn was even more gratefully for Major, the horse Arthur had kindly given her. Even though Merlyn pounced into the stables scaring some of the other horses, Major only turned his head at the noise his eyes sharp on her.
"Hey, boy, let's go find your old owner shall we?" she asked as she patted the horse's neck. Major huffed in response.