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jesterladyficTitle: When Your Tears Are Spent On Your Last Defense
by Jesterlady
Pairing: Arthur/Gwen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Merlin isn't satisfied with the end of 4x09, Lancelot Du Lac, and resolves to acquit his friends and reunite Arthur and Gwen.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. Some lines are from the show. The title is from a song by Marianas Trench.
A/N: I was literally fuming for hours, muttering things under my breath, and snapping at my family. It pissed me off so badly. One of the things that I had loved about the way the show handled the legend was with their telling of the love triangle between Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot. It was obvious Gwen cared for both men, she'd had relationships of a sort with both of them, but never at the same time. There was never a hint of infidelity. I am a hardcore Arwen shipper, but I truly love this version of Lancelot and felt badly for him, but still had nothing to shame the writers for until this episode. At first I was kinda impressed, thinking, 'oh, what a clever way to fit the betrayal into the show without it being an actual betrayal. Merlin will clear it all up and then the only reason we'll think something happened is cause of the distortion of time.' Except no, it didn't happen like that. Gwen was MALIGNED and Lancelot's honor BESMIRCHED! I am so upset about it. No one but Morgana will ever know that Gwen didn't do that of her own free will. Were those her natural feelings? Sure. But she obviously was not giving in to them and didn't have a idea to do so at all. Then I thought that maybe it will all get cleared up in a few episodes, make it suspenseful. And, yeah, they cleared it up, but without ever clearing Gwen's reputation. Both she and Arthur still think she betrayed him. That just makes me so mad. And especially with the little speech he gives Merlin about him not being able to trust her again and I actually thought that was amazing, but the problem is he goes back on it in four episodes, so it meant nothing. If he went back on it because he'd found out she was innocent that would be one thing, but there would have to be a whole lot more between them and time before it would have been right for him to take her back. Not just cause he missed her and was caught up in post-almost death bonding. I could go on about this a lot, but while no one was happier than I when Gwen was finally crowned Queen, I am deeply disappointed in how it happened.
So I had to write this fixing it and it really was just meant to be a little thing that got Merlin off his ass and fixing things like he's supposed to but then all of a sudden I got to implicate Agravaine and then magic came up and I swear Gwen found out about Merlin without me even knowing how. So, I hope you enjoy.
When Your Tears Are Spent On Your Last Defense
Part One:
Merlin wasn’t satisfied with the events of the night before. He was devastated, truth be told. His best friends and the people he cared about more than anything in the world were being torn apart by magic and hatred and he couldn’t understand how it had happened or what to do about it. It was his job, his destiny, to fix the evil done by magic and bring it back into the world, healthy and whole. But in this instance he was thwarted by lack of evidence, his own secret, and the fact that at least one of the people involved seemed to have performed their part without any magical influence.
But he knew Gwen, he knew her, and this wasn’t something she would do. He’d watched her over the years, been privy to as many of her secrets as Morgana, and he knew how much she’d wanted to marry Arthur. He knew how hard it had been for her to keep their relationship a secret, to have to watch Arthur being made to court visiting princesses, to feel like the manner of her birth was denying her happiness.
He also knew how much she had valued Lancelot, how guilty she had felt after his death, he’d felt the same guilt; but as soon as she and Arthur had become involved there had never been a single hint of indiscretion in either her or Lancelot. This entire situation didn’t make sense.
Merlin got off the steps and made for the door, determined to find out the truth. Gaius opened his mouth as Merlin walked past, but Merlin ignored him. He couldn’t stop now for any well-meant, but ultimately unwanted, advice.
Being the King’s servant did have some advantages because none of the guards stopped him when he brought Gwen some food in her cell. They unlocked the door and shut it behind him as he stepped in.
“Gwen,” he said softly, “I brought you some food.” She didn’t answer him. She was curled up in a ball, crying, her back toward him. He stepped closer, bending down, and put his hand on her shoulder. “Gwen, what happened?”
“You know what happened, Merlin!” she cried, shrinking away from him. “I betrayed Arthur.”
“No, Gwen, you wouldn’t do that. Lancelot wouldn’t do that. He’s- he’s not the same, so I have to think something happened to you as well.”
“Merlin, you’re kind,” she said, finally looking at him and he flinched from the pain in her eyes. “But you can’t fix this. What’s done is done.”
“Just tell me anyway,” Merlin said. “Just tell me why you agreed to meet him. Why you went into his tent after the joust?”
She looked at him as if confused, as if she didn’t know herself.
“I-I don’t…I don’t know. I was so glad to see him back, but it never occurred to me to do this, to have this happen. I love Arthur.”
“Nobody knows that better than me,” he said, “so tell me why.”
She swallowed and took a deep breath and fully turned toward him.
“I don’t know. He came to see me. To wish me well, he said, and he was Lancelot, he did not appear to be anything other than the man I knew, and I was unaffected. I did not feel any of my old feelings. He gave me a bracelet and then left. I thought that was the end of it but when I went to the jousts it just seemed like the feelings returned. And then I had to meet him, but I left before anything happened, and yet I just needed him and then Arthur-“ she cut herself off, putting her hand to her mouth. “It was like a dream. He was so angry and he would’ve killed Lancelot and I just couldn’t bear that. To have that happen because of me. I had to stop it, but the look on Arthur’s face, oh, Merlin, what have I done?”
She dissolved into tears and Merlin gathered her in his arms and held her, trying to make sense of her story. There was something not right about it. Something bigger in Morgana’s scheme that she was doing and he couldn’t figure it out. But he would because if there was one thing that was obvious, it was that something had happened to Gwen to return her natural love of Lancelot to her. So he thought about it while Gwen cried in his arms and then something in Merlin’s brain clicked.
“Gwen, the bracelet Lancelot gave you, where is it?”
She sat up, rubbing at her eyes, and looked confused.
“I took it off. I couldn’t bear to wear it anymore,” she said and pointed. “It’s in that corner there.”
Merlin scrambled to the corner and picked up the thin circular piece of metal he found lying in it. The instant he touched it his magical senses went crazy. He was pretty sure Gaius would yell at him for doing it but he slipped it on his wrists just to make sure. All of his memories of Lancelot rose to the forefront of his mind and he remembered the bravery, the nobility, the friendship of the knight, and suddenly he wanted to do everything he could for Lancelot, no matter the cost.
It was overwhelming, but not overpowering, and Merlin focused his attention for a minute or two and then took the bracelet off. The feelings disappeared immediately and Merlin looked at the bracelet in awe. It was a powerful enchantment, made all the more powerful for its delicacy.
“This is magic,” he said softly.
“What? How do you know?” Gwen asked.
He turned sharply and stared at her for a second.
“Uh, it’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“No,” she said, looking at him strangely.
“Well, considering what happened after you put it on it has to make the wearer want to please Lancelot.”
“But-“
“The King requires your presence,” said a guard from the door, gesturing to Gwen.
Merlin was relieved as he and Gwen looked up. He didn’t have time to explain and didn’t even think about what Arthur wanting Gwen to come to him might mean.
“Um, I’ll check and get back to you,” Merlin said, hurrying to the door.
“Merlin!” she said, sounding confused and a little angry.
“I will fix this, Gwen!” he called behind him.
He ran to his room but before he got there he was intercepted by Gwaine.
“Arthur’s passing his sentence,” Gwaine said. “I knew you’d want to be there.”
Merlin switched gears because he really did and how stupid did he have to be to not realize that was what Arthur was going to do when he summoned her. Though as much as he wanted to be there, he was pretty sure it was not going to be a pretty sentencing and he was anxious to get to work on his theory so that no matter what the sentence was he could fix it. He took up his place in the hall like the good servant he was but when Arthur entered and he was so quiet, Merlin knew he actually needed to be there at Arthur’s side.
He’d been so focused on fixing the situation and figuring out what had happened that he'd forgotten how much Arthur had to be hurting. And looking at Arthur he could tell this was one of the worst. Merlin could put this time in, to be here for Arthur, to let him know he wasn’t alone. Above all else, Merlin was devoted to helping Arthur, even when he didn’t deserve it.
Except that Arthur ordered everyone to leave, including Agravaine, for which Merlin was grateful because Agravaine was the biggest thorn in his Arthur Protecting Side and he hated to think what the man’s poisonous advice would be on this occasion. If he could figure out a way to implicate Agravaine in Morgana’s crime, then he would. He’d seen Agravaine with the Shade with his own eyes after all.
He dragged Gaius with him to their rooms and burst out his story.
“Merlin, what are you talking about? Enchanted bracelets, how can you be sure?”
“Gaius, I felt it. The bracelet’s enchanted to make the wearer feel strongly towards Lancelot.”
“And how do you know this?”
“I…might have…put it on.”
“Merlin! Of all the irresponsible, foolish things to do! What if you had been caught in its magic? You’re not immune to enchantments, you know. May I remind you how easy it was for Morgana to make you try and kill Arthur! Were it not for Gwen and-“
“Exactly, Gaius, were it not for Gwen. I cannot ignore the fact that she is my friend and she is innocent. The important thing is this proves that Gwen didn’t do this of her own volition!”
“But how can you prove that to Arthur without revealing your own magic? You can hardly tell him you’ve got a feeling about it.”
“No,” Merlin said, pacing up and down. “But I can tell him what Gwen told me. And then…then, you can confirm it!”
“Me? Are you trying to get me clapped in the stocks now?”
“No, but you can say I brought it to you and then you found it in one of your books.”
“Merlin, you appear to be forgetting the fact that it isn’t in one of my books.”
“Ah, but you forget, Gaius,” Merlin said, slapping a book on the table, “I am an excellent forger.”
“That got you into trouble last time,” Gaius warned, raising his eyebrow. “Magic isn’t to be used as a cure-all for your problems. There are consequences to using your powers.”
“I know that,” Merlin said, pleading with him to understand. “I’ve grown so much since then, haven’t I? I’m not doing this for myself; I’m doing this to save a kingdom.”
“And your friends.”
“And my friends. Don’t tell me this isn’t worth the risk,” Merlin said. “This is Arthur and Gwen we’re talking about. Besides, magic has already been used, Morgana’s magic, and if using my magic will counteract hers, I’m pretty sure that makes it okay.”
“That’s dangerous and arrogant thinking,” Gaius said, his eyebrow rising higher than ever. “Don’t let your personal feelings about this cloud your judgment. I don’t want this to happen any more than you do, but you must think.”
Merlin stopped moving and stood still, clenching the table, forcing himself to remain calm and not be overly emotional just as Gaius asked him to do. There was a moment of silence while he collected his thoughts and then spoke much more rationally.
“I have thought, Gaius, I do think. This is part of my destiny, to protect Arthur and to promote the best for Camelot. You know Gwen is that best. Don’t ask me to stand by and do nothing because I can’t.”
Gaius looked at him for a moment or two and then sighed.
“What do you want me to do?”
Merlin sighed in relief and smiled broadly.
“Just back me up to Arthur.”
“Well, you’d best get to it.”
“No,” Merlin said, standing straight and trying to think, “I can’t yet. That will save Gwen, but it won’t save Lancelot.”
“Merlin, that isn’t Lancelot.”
“You and I know that, but no one else does. How could I do that to him? How could I let the man who died for me be thought of as evil and branded as dishonorable? No, he kept my secret and he was noble to the last breath and his honor is at stake. We have to prove that’s not really him.”
“Merlin, sometimes I think you’ve got more of a stubborn code than the King,” Gaius said, looking at him, exasperated. “But you’re right.”
“You know I like it when people say those words to me,” Merlin said, cocking his head, flashing Gaius a smile.
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t get used to it if I were you,” Gaius told him. “Tell me, what’s your genius plan to save Lancelot?”
“Do you know anything about how to gain control over a Shade?”
Gaius thought for a moment, then turned and rummaged through one of the books they’d both been studying earlier.
“The only thing I can think…the text made mention of exposing the Shade to his true self.” Gaius stopped on a particular page. “Ah yes, ‘the Shade can only become truly alive again when it is exposed to its true self.’ I gather…teaching it love and giving it memories. I’m not sure how that would work. Almost certainly it would require you using your magic.”
“I’ll take it,” Merlin said. “I’m going to go and see Lancelot, you stay here and read up on Shades. We have to convince everyone he is one and come up with a good story for the bracelet.”
“Be careful, Merlin,” Gaius said.
“I always am,” Merlin said cheekily and ran for the dungeons.
He ducked behind a doorway when he saw Agravaine leaving the cells and quickly changed tactics. Agravaine was knee deep in everything Morgana was doing and he knew that no matter what he said to Arthur, Agravaine would somehow twist it and keep Arthur from believing him. Merlin couldn’t quite ignore the stab of hurt he felt over that. Arthur may be the best King Camelot had ever had, but he was still stuck in the past in matters of rank when it came to Merlin, though Merlin had been loyal and consistently right in his advice over the last six years. Still, Merlin supposed he played his part in keeping Arthur from taking him seriously, both by playing the fool and not revealing his true identity.
But that was a problem for another day. Merlin could feel the time of his revealing his magic bearing down on him. But it was not this day. This was a day to save from the shadows once more.
Merlin trailed after Agravaine until he saw him safely to the stables and galloping out of Camelot. Merlin would bet Arthur’s favorite sword that Agravaine was on his way to inform Morgana of what had happened. He thanked his lucky stars and hurried back to the dungeons.
This time the guards were more reluctant to let him through but he made up something about Arthur’s orders and hoped that wouldn’t come back to haunt him.
As he entered the cell Lancelot was in the process of lowering a letter into his mouth.
Merlin threw up his hand without even making sure the guards were completely gone and stopped Lancelot in mid-motion, freezing him in place. He crossed the room quickly and snatched away the letter. Scanning the contents which ordered Lancelot to kill himself by ingesting the poison in the seal of the letter, Merlin shuddered to think how close he’d been to being too late and how quickly Morgana disposed of evidence.
The Shade of Lancelot threw off Merlin’s magic as he had before and stepped toward him menacingly.
“You’re not Lancelot,” Merlin said, circling him warily.
“What makes you say that?”
“Lancelot is noble and good. What you’ve done is neither.”
“That’s a narrow view of the world you have there.”
“Lancelot wouldn’t think so.”
“Well, we’re at an impasse then.”
“Except you haven’t got what Lancelot had.”
“And what is that?”
“My friendship and my secrets,” Merlin said and ran forward, clasping his hands to the Shade’s head.
He had no idea what he was doing, but he had to try. He was going to have to hope his destiny and powers were stronger than his inexperience.
He concentrated. He concentrated as hard as he could on who he knew Lancelot to be. On the experiences they’d shared, on their friendship, on their confidences, on their adventures. He put forth his image of Lancelot’s nobility, his sense of morality, his self-sacrificial tendencies, his true love for Gwen, his fidelity to Arthur, his sense of honor, his pride in being a knight, his need to better himself. Merlin thrust his magic into every thought, every memory, every feeling, and hoped with all his being that it would be enough, that it could recall the real Lancelot.
As he connected to the Shade Merlin could see the black tendrils of memory that wound through his head, placed there, he guessed, by Morgana’s magic, and he shied away from contact, thinking instead to overwhelm those trigger points with his own memories of Lancelot.
Merlin felt his knees buckle as he poured so much of his own magic into the spell, but he held on as long as he could until he felt the Shade himself fall. He fell with him and when the haze of effort cleared from Merlin’s gaze he knew that he was looking at the true Lancelot.
“Merlin,” breathed out Lancelot, panting. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing,” Merlin said, breathing hard himself. “What are friends for?”
They rested there for a minute or two before a look of fear crossed Lancelot’s face.
“Gwen,” Lancelot said, standing up straight, and then fell back down.
“What’s wrong?” Merlin asked, fearing the worst.
“I think I’m meant to be dead,” Lancelot said wryly.
Merlin slung his arm under Lancelot’s shoulder and braced him.
“Something must have gone wrong.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Merlin,” Lancelot said, somehow seeing straight into Merlin’s head. “I would rather die than be used by Morgana’s foul magic. Now, how are we to save Gwen?”
“We’re going to prove that the bracelet you gave her was magic. But I need…I need to prove to Arthur that you were a Shade.”
“Think not of saving me, you’ve done that already,” Lancelot said. “You must save Gwen.”
“I’m going to do both,” Merlin said, determined, sick and tired of losing people. “Now, are you up to a little acting? Pretending to be a Shade?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’m going to tell Arthur of my suspicions, then ‘break’ the spell over you and destroy the bracelet.”
“Merlin, there are many holes in that plan.”
“Then I’d best fill them,” Merlin said, removing his arm from around Lancelot. When he let go, Lancelot fell again and Merlin crouched by him, feeling his pulse. It was faded. “We need to get you to Gaius,” he said, worried.
“Do not worry about me,” Lancelot said, staring him down. “Go and concoct your plan. I will do whatever is necessary to participate in your charade. We will save Gwen’s honor.”
Merlin dithered for a moment or two but he knew the best chance to get help for Lancelot was to get him acquitted.
“And yours,” Merlin said, standing and walking toward the door. “Be ready to follow my lead.”
“I will.”
Merlin hesitated outside the door, unsure if he should apprise Gwen of what was happening. He made a quick stop outside of her cell but she wasn’t inside. Fearful, he asked the guards where she was.
“She has been banished,” the guard told him.
“Banished?”
“To return on pain of death.”
Merlin stopped and thought a moment. He decided against going to Gwen’s house where she must surely be packing her things, because if this worked Arthur would bring her back to the castle anyway. And, though he felt bad about it, her remorse was her best defense. So he ran back to Gaius.
“Well?”
“It worked, he’s himself again,” Merlin said, really realizing it for the first time, understanding that his magic had worked the impossible.
“I fear that may be his undoing,” Gaius said, bringing out a heavy tome and letting it hit the table. “It seems that the breaking of the raiser’s hold on a Shade also breaks that person’s hold on the land of the living. Lancelot will die.”
Merlin sank down to the floor, his joy at what he’d done now tainted with a feeling of despair. He’d been so sure he was doing the right thing and now he was struggling not to feel like a murderer again, like he was somehow fated to be the bane of Lancelot.
“You were right, Gaius,” he murmured. “There are always consequences. Is there anything we can do?”
“I’m afraid not,” Gaius said gently. “Lancelot is going to die no matter what we do.”
“Then he shall die with honor,” Merlin said, brushing away a single tear, “protecting the honor of the woman he loves.” Gaius looked at him with his too penetrating gaze, but Merlin didn’t have time for that now. “I need to go to Arthur,” he said, “are we ready for that?”
“I think a simple glamour would suffice to make Lancelot appear as a Shade,” Gaius said, rummaging through his books again. “But it would be dangerous to do magic like that right in front of Arthur.”
“If I have to reveal myself I will,” Merlin said, brushing that aside, ignoring the way Gaius was looking at him. “So, we get Lancelot to look like a Shade, but if there’s a way…can we find some obscure ritual in a book somewhere that’s nonsense but seemingly makes a Shade show its true self? Obviously we can’t use the real one because it requires magic to activate it.”
“I think we could make something like that up,” Gaius said, musing for a moment. He grinned and picked something up from the table. “A circle of salt around a corpse was a frequently held superstition used in the days of the Old Religion. It was supposed to cut the body off from magic. Nonsense of course, but it will have a ring of truth to it in case Arthur gets too suspicious.”
“Perfect,” Merlin said. “You pour the salt and I’ll do the glamour. Then Arthur will see Lancelot didn’t do anything wrong.”
“And what of the bracelet and Gwen?” Gaius asked.
“Give me that book on ancient artifacts,” Merlin said. Gaius handed it to him without question. Merlin set it down and focused on a blank page toward the back. He placed the bracelet and his hand on it and thrust his magic onto the page. He grinned and straightened up. “There, instant verification.”
Gaius picked up the book and read the page before jerking his head around and staring at Merlin.
“The Bracelet of Amorous Intentions?” Gaius read incredulously. “Merlin, that’s utter horse dung. No one could possibly believe in that.”
“The more to be believed since it was actually recorded in a credible historical resource,” Merlin said, winking at him.
“You will be the death of me yet,” Gaius said, muttering as he scanned the entry Merlin had magick-ed into the pages.
“If my destiny is to save Camelot with magic, then I’d best practice,” Merlin said.
“I’m fairly certain making up silly names was not part of the deal,” Gaius said sternly.
Merlin chuckled, but he was mentally preparing himself for the hardest part of this whole dangerous game.
He had to convince Arthur there was magic involved and get him to give Lancelot and Gwen another hearing. Which had never worked out so well whenever he’d tried it in the past.
He walked the halls trying out openers in his mind. He was worried because Arthur didn’t listen to him at the best of times and was always the most closed minded when he was hurting. And this wound was one of the deepest Merlin had ever seen him receive. He prepared himself for much verbal and possibly physical abuse at the hands of his best friend and King before he reached Arthur’s chambers.
Before he went in he held his hand over the bracelet and murmured a few words. The magic on the bracelet was subtle; it would have to be for Gwen not to realize anything was happening to her until it was too late. The only reason Merlin had been able to sense it so well was because of his magic. And he had had to physically touch it in order to sense its magic. He thrust aside his anxiety about Morgana’s burgeoning powers and concentrated on augmenting the bracelet’s magic so anyone would be overwhelmed by it. He knew it would be the only proof Arthur would accept.
He didn’t knock but went straight in; Arthur was sitting on the end of his bed, moodily staring into nothing. The sheer pain on his face made Merlin’s heart ache.
“Learn to knock, Merlin,” Arthur said, without looking at him. “What is it?”
“I know you won’t want to hear this,” Merlin said, “but you have to.”
“You might be the only idiot I know who uses the word 'have' to a King,” Arthur said. “I’m not in the mood tonight. Get out.”
“No,” Merlin said, bracing himself.
“No?” Arthur said, looking over at him in surprise.
Merlin wasn't usually that curtly disobedient. He usually took a more winded route to insolence.
“I’m sworn to protect you,” Merlin said, “no matter what the danger. My place is at your side even if you don’t want me there.”
“Sometimes I think you think that you’re the one in charge around here,” Arthur said, going back to brooding, “but that would be crazy, right?”
“Whatever you say, Sire,” Merlin said. “Now hear me out.”
“Make it quick, Merlin. I’ve just canceled my wedding; your petty problems are not high on my list of priorities right now.”
“It wasn’t her fault.”
Arthur turned toward him, his face dangerous.
“What?”
“Gwen, it wasn’t her fault. Or Lancelot’s. That’s not Lancelot and Gwen was being controlled by Morgana.”
Arthur’s face softened a fraction.
“Merlin, I know you want to help, but that’s ridiculous. Even my father wasn’t as paranoid about magic as you are. It’s a nice thought, but I can’t…Merlin, I can’t.”
“I know that it hurts,” Merlin said, walking closer slowly. “I know it’s easier to lock yourself away and be wounded than to face truths you’d rather weren’t true.”
“I am facing the truth!” Arthur snapped, standing up. “I’m facing the truth that my knight and friend betrayed me, that the woman I love more than anything in the world would rather be with another man. Exactly what am I hiding from?”
Merlin paused for a second.
“The fact that maybe you were wrong.”
Arthur’s face tightened and Merlin wondered if, for once, he’d gone too far and Arthur would actually hit him in rage.
“Go away, Merlin, if you don’t, you will join Guinevere in her banishment.”
That was the worst thing Arthur could have ever said to him but Merlin ignored it like he always did. Because he had to.
“Gaius and I both saw proof that Lancelot isn’t really Lancelot. He’s a Shade.”
“A what?” Arthur asked, putting his hand to his temple and rubbing it wearily.
“A Shade. He’s being controlled and he’s controlling Gwen.”
“Merlin, you have the most idiotic notions. You’re always telling me these crazy magical theories.”
“And you never listen to me and then bad things happen!” Merlin said, letting his temper get the better of him. “Was Lady Catrina not a troll? Was Gaius not possessed by a goblin? Was Valiant not using magic to win his bouts? Tell me, Sire, did I imagine those things?”
“You’re treading on dangerous ground,” Arthur growled.
“So life as normal then,” Merlin shot back. “Now stop being a wounded prat and listen to me! You can still have Gwen if you’ll just open your thick skull for one second.”
“You have one second before I put you in the stocks for a month,” Arthur said, probably shocked into it more than anything.
“The Shade controlled Gwen with this bracelet,” Merlin said, holding it out.
Arthur eyed it.
“A love token, I didn’t need to see that, Merlin. Any other proof?”
“I went to Gwen and asked her why she would do this,” Merlin said. “She told me she didn’t know. That before he came to see her and gave her this bracelet she didn’t feel any resurgence of her feelings for him. Put the bracelet on, Arthur. I did. And I was convinced.”
Arthur glared at him for a few seconds and Merlin could see hope and fear warring on his face before he finally snatched the bracelet from him and put it on.
“You happy?” he said, after a second before a sudden, strange expression appeared on his face. He looked confused, then happy, then angry, then fearful. He seemed to struggle for a minute and Merlin prepared himself to have to rip the bracelet from him. But Arthur slowly slid it from his wrist and looked at Merlin. “I don’t understand.”
“Let me guess, you started remembering everything wonderful about Lancelot? How he saved your life, how he gave up everything for you? And you wanted to do the same?”
Arthur nodded, still confused.
“I-I would’ve betrayed myself.”
“Then imagine how Gwen must have felt,” Merlin said softly.
Arthur’s head snapped up and he stared at Merlin for a long moment.
“You’d better be right about this, Merlin,” he said.
“I promise you I am,” Merlin said. “I’ll put myself in the stocks for a month if I’m not.”
“Only the King can put someone in the stocks, Merlin,” Arthur said with a long-suffering air. “Will Gaius confirm your theories?”
“I went to Gaius immediately when I first had my suspicions about Lancelot. We thought the Shade might have been sent to kill you in the tournament but then this happened.”
“You thought there was someone trying to kill me and you just sat back and watched?”
“With every intention of diving in should the need arise,” Merlin said, smiling innocently.
Arthur glared at him.
“It’s your duty to report such things.”
“And that goes so well usually,” Merlin said.
Arthur didn’t seem able to refute the truth of that so he just smacked Merlin upside the head and ordered the guards to bring Lancelot up from his cell and summon Gwen to the throne room.
Part Two
by Jesterlady
Pairing: Arthur/Gwen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Merlin isn't satisfied with the end of 4x09, Lancelot Du Lac, and resolves to acquit his friends and reunite Arthur and Gwen.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. Some lines are from the show. The title is from a song by Marianas Trench.
A/N: I was literally fuming for hours, muttering things under my breath, and snapping at my family. It pissed me off so badly. One of the things that I had loved about the way the show handled the legend was with their telling of the love triangle between Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot. It was obvious Gwen cared for both men, she'd had relationships of a sort with both of them, but never at the same time. There was never a hint of infidelity. I am a hardcore Arwen shipper, but I truly love this version of Lancelot and felt badly for him, but still had nothing to shame the writers for until this episode. At first I was kinda impressed, thinking, 'oh, what a clever way to fit the betrayal into the show without it being an actual betrayal. Merlin will clear it all up and then the only reason we'll think something happened is cause of the distortion of time.' Except no, it didn't happen like that. Gwen was MALIGNED and Lancelot's honor BESMIRCHED! I am so upset about it. No one but Morgana will ever know that Gwen didn't do that of her own free will. Were those her natural feelings? Sure. But she obviously was not giving in to them and didn't have a idea to do so at all. Then I thought that maybe it will all get cleared up in a few episodes, make it suspenseful. And, yeah, they cleared it up, but without ever clearing Gwen's reputation. Both she and Arthur still think she betrayed him. That just makes me so mad. And especially with the little speech he gives Merlin about him not being able to trust her again and I actually thought that was amazing, but the problem is he goes back on it in four episodes, so it meant nothing. If he went back on it because he'd found out she was innocent that would be one thing, but there would have to be a whole lot more between them and time before it would have been right for him to take her back. Not just cause he missed her and was caught up in post-almost death bonding. I could go on about this a lot, but while no one was happier than I when Gwen was finally crowned Queen, I am deeply disappointed in how it happened.
So I had to write this fixing it and it really was just meant to be a little thing that got Merlin off his ass and fixing things like he's supposed to but then all of a sudden I got to implicate Agravaine and then magic came up and I swear Gwen found out about Merlin without me even knowing how. So, I hope you enjoy.
When Your Tears Are Spent On Your Last Defense
Part One:
Merlin wasn’t satisfied with the events of the night before. He was devastated, truth be told. His best friends and the people he cared about more than anything in the world were being torn apart by magic and hatred and he couldn’t understand how it had happened or what to do about it. It was his job, his destiny, to fix the evil done by magic and bring it back into the world, healthy and whole. But in this instance he was thwarted by lack of evidence, his own secret, and the fact that at least one of the people involved seemed to have performed their part without any magical influence.
But he knew Gwen, he knew her, and this wasn’t something she would do. He’d watched her over the years, been privy to as many of her secrets as Morgana, and he knew how much she’d wanted to marry Arthur. He knew how hard it had been for her to keep their relationship a secret, to have to watch Arthur being made to court visiting princesses, to feel like the manner of her birth was denying her happiness.
He also knew how much she had valued Lancelot, how guilty she had felt after his death, he’d felt the same guilt; but as soon as she and Arthur had become involved there had never been a single hint of indiscretion in either her or Lancelot. This entire situation didn’t make sense.
Merlin got off the steps and made for the door, determined to find out the truth. Gaius opened his mouth as Merlin walked past, but Merlin ignored him. He couldn’t stop now for any well-meant, but ultimately unwanted, advice.
Being the King’s servant did have some advantages because none of the guards stopped him when he brought Gwen some food in her cell. They unlocked the door and shut it behind him as he stepped in.
“Gwen,” he said softly, “I brought you some food.” She didn’t answer him. She was curled up in a ball, crying, her back toward him. He stepped closer, bending down, and put his hand on her shoulder. “Gwen, what happened?”
“You know what happened, Merlin!” she cried, shrinking away from him. “I betrayed Arthur.”
“No, Gwen, you wouldn’t do that. Lancelot wouldn’t do that. He’s- he’s not the same, so I have to think something happened to you as well.”
“Merlin, you’re kind,” she said, finally looking at him and he flinched from the pain in her eyes. “But you can’t fix this. What’s done is done.”
“Just tell me anyway,” Merlin said. “Just tell me why you agreed to meet him. Why you went into his tent after the joust?”
She looked at him as if confused, as if she didn’t know herself.
“I-I don’t…I don’t know. I was so glad to see him back, but it never occurred to me to do this, to have this happen. I love Arthur.”
“Nobody knows that better than me,” he said, “so tell me why.”
She swallowed and took a deep breath and fully turned toward him.
“I don’t know. He came to see me. To wish me well, he said, and he was Lancelot, he did not appear to be anything other than the man I knew, and I was unaffected. I did not feel any of my old feelings. He gave me a bracelet and then left. I thought that was the end of it but when I went to the jousts it just seemed like the feelings returned. And then I had to meet him, but I left before anything happened, and yet I just needed him and then Arthur-“ she cut herself off, putting her hand to her mouth. “It was like a dream. He was so angry and he would’ve killed Lancelot and I just couldn’t bear that. To have that happen because of me. I had to stop it, but the look on Arthur’s face, oh, Merlin, what have I done?”
She dissolved into tears and Merlin gathered her in his arms and held her, trying to make sense of her story. There was something not right about it. Something bigger in Morgana’s scheme that she was doing and he couldn’t figure it out. But he would because if there was one thing that was obvious, it was that something had happened to Gwen to return her natural love of Lancelot to her. So he thought about it while Gwen cried in his arms and then something in Merlin’s brain clicked.
“Gwen, the bracelet Lancelot gave you, where is it?”
She sat up, rubbing at her eyes, and looked confused.
“I took it off. I couldn’t bear to wear it anymore,” she said and pointed. “It’s in that corner there.”
Merlin scrambled to the corner and picked up the thin circular piece of metal he found lying in it. The instant he touched it his magical senses went crazy. He was pretty sure Gaius would yell at him for doing it but he slipped it on his wrists just to make sure. All of his memories of Lancelot rose to the forefront of his mind and he remembered the bravery, the nobility, the friendship of the knight, and suddenly he wanted to do everything he could for Lancelot, no matter the cost.
It was overwhelming, but not overpowering, and Merlin focused his attention for a minute or two and then took the bracelet off. The feelings disappeared immediately and Merlin looked at the bracelet in awe. It was a powerful enchantment, made all the more powerful for its delicacy.
“This is magic,” he said softly.
“What? How do you know?” Gwen asked.
He turned sharply and stared at her for a second.
“Uh, it’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“No,” she said, looking at him strangely.
“Well, considering what happened after you put it on it has to make the wearer want to please Lancelot.”
“But-“
“The King requires your presence,” said a guard from the door, gesturing to Gwen.
Merlin was relieved as he and Gwen looked up. He didn’t have time to explain and didn’t even think about what Arthur wanting Gwen to come to him might mean.
“Um, I’ll check and get back to you,” Merlin said, hurrying to the door.
“Merlin!” she said, sounding confused and a little angry.
“I will fix this, Gwen!” he called behind him.
He ran to his room but before he got there he was intercepted by Gwaine.
“Arthur’s passing his sentence,” Gwaine said. “I knew you’d want to be there.”
Merlin switched gears because he really did and how stupid did he have to be to not realize that was what Arthur was going to do when he summoned her. Though as much as he wanted to be there, he was pretty sure it was not going to be a pretty sentencing and he was anxious to get to work on his theory so that no matter what the sentence was he could fix it. He took up his place in the hall like the good servant he was but when Arthur entered and he was so quiet, Merlin knew he actually needed to be there at Arthur’s side.
He’d been so focused on fixing the situation and figuring out what had happened that he'd forgotten how much Arthur had to be hurting. And looking at Arthur he could tell this was one of the worst. Merlin could put this time in, to be here for Arthur, to let him know he wasn’t alone. Above all else, Merlin was devoted to helping Arthur, even when he didn’t deserve it.
Except that Arthur ordered everyone to leave, including Agravaine, for which Merlin was grateful because Agravaine was the biggest thorn in his Arthur Protecting Side and he hated to think what the man’s poisonous advice would be on this occasion. If he could figure out a way to implicate Agravaine in Morgana’s crime, then he would. He’d seen Agravaine with the Shade with his own eyes after all.
He dragged Gaius with him to their rooms and burst out his story.
“Merlin, what are you talking about? Enchanted bracelets, how can you be sure?”
“Gaius, I felt it. The bracelet’s enchanted to make the wearer feel strongly towards Lancelot.”
“And how do you know this?”
“I…might have…put it on.”
“Merlin! Of all the irresponsible, foolish things to do! What if you had been caught in its magic? You’re not immune to enchantments, you know. May I remind you how easy it was for Morgana to make you try and kill Arthur! Were it not for Gwen and-“
“Exactly, Gaius, were it not for Gwen. I cannot ignore the fact that she is my friend and she is innocent. The important thing is this proves that Gwen didn’t do this of her own volition!”
“But how can you prove that to Arthur without revealing your own magic? You can hardly tell him you’ve got a feeling about it.”
“No,” Merlin said, pacing up and down. “But I can tell him what Gwen told me. And then…then, you can confirm it!”
“Me? Are you trying to get me clapped in the stocks now?”
“No, but you can say I brought it to you and then you found it in one of your books.”
“Merlin, you appear to be forgetting the fact that it isn’t in one of my books.”
“Ah, but you forget, Gaius,” Merlin said, slapping a book on the table, “I am an excellent forger.”
“That got you into trouble last time,” Gaius warned, raising his eyebrow. “Magic isn’t to be used as a cure-all for your problems. There are consequences to using your powers.”
“I know that,” Merlin said, pleading with him to understand. “I’ve grown so much since then, haven’t I? I’m not doing this for myself; I’m doing this to save a kingdom.”
“And your friends.”
“And my friends. Don’t tell me this isn’t worth the risk,” Merlin said. “This is Arthur and Gwen we’re talking about. Besides, magic has already been used, Morgana’s magic, and if using my magic will counteract hers, I’m pretty sure that makes it okay.”
“That’s dangerous and arrogant thinking,” Gaius said, his eyebrow rising higher than ever. “Don’t let your personal feelings about this cloud your judgment. I don’t want this to happen any more than you do, but you must think.”
Merlin stopped moving and stood still, clenching the table, forcing himself to remain calm and not be overly emotional just as Gaius asked him to do. There was a moment of silence while he collected his thoughts and then spoke much more rationally.
“I have thought, Gaius, I do think. This is part of my destiny, to protect Arthur and to promote the best for Camelot. You know Gwen is that best. Don’t ask me to stand by and do nothing because I can’t.”
Gaius looked at him for a moment or two and then sighed.
“What do you want me to do?”
Merlin sighed in relief and smiled broadly.
“Just back me up to Arthur.”
“Well, you’d best get to it.”
“No,” Merlin said, standing straight and trying to think, “I can’t yet. That will save Gwen, but it won’t save Lancelot.”
“Merlin, that isn’t Lancelot.”
“You and I know that, but no one else does. How could I do that to him? How could I let the man who died for me be thought of as evil and branded as dishonorable? No, he kept my secret and he was noble to the last breath and his honor is at stake. We have to prove that’s not really him.”
“Merlin, sometimes I think you’ve got more of a stubborn code than the King,” Gaius said, looking at him, exasperated. “But you’re right.”
“You know I like it when people say those words to me,” Merlin said, cocking his head, flashing Gaius a smile.
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t get used to it if I were you,” Gaius told him. “Tell me, what’s your genius plan to save Lancelot?”
“Do you know anything about how to gain control over a Shade?”
Gaius thought for a moment, then turned and rummaged through one of the books they’d both been studying earlier.
“The only thing I can think…the text made mention of exposing the Shade to his true self.” Gaius stopped on a particular page. “Ah yes, ‘the Shade can only become truly alive again when it is exposed to its true self.’ I gather…teaching it love and giving it memories. I’m not sure how that would work. Almost certainly it would require you using your magic.”
“I’ll take it,” Merlin said. “I’m going to go and see Lancelot, you stay here and read up on Shades. We have to convince everyone he is one and come up with a good story for the bracelet.”
“Be careful, Merlin,” Gaius said.
“I always am,” Merlin said cheekily and ran for the dungeons.
He ducked behind a doorway when he saw Agravaine leaving the cells and quickly changed tactics. Agravaine was knee deep in everything Morgana was doing and he knew that no matter what he said to Arthur, Agravaine would somehow twist it and keep Arthur from believing him. Merlin couldn’t quite ignore the stab of hurt he felt over that. Arthur may be the best King Camelot had ever had, but he was still stuck in the past in matters of rank when it came to Merlin, though Merlin had been loyal and consistently right in his advice over the last six years. Still, Merlin supposed he played his part in keeping Arthur from taking him seriously, both by playing the fool and not revealing his true identity.
But that was a problem for another day. Merlin could feel the time of his revealing his magic bearing down on him. But it was not this day. This was a day to save from the shadows once more.
Merlin trailed after Agravaine until he saw him safely to the stables and galloping out of Camelot. Merlin would bet Arthur’s favorite sword that Agravaine was on his way to inform Morgana of what had happened. He thanked his lucky stars and hurried back to the dungeons.
This time the guards were more reluctant to let him through but he made up something about Arthur’s orders and hoped that wouldn’t come back to haunt him.
As he entered the cell Lancelot was in the process of lowering a letter into his mouth.
Merlin threw up his hand without even making sure the guards were completely gone and stopped Lancelot in mid-motion, freezing him in place. He crossed the room quickly and snatched away the letter. Scanning the contents which ordered Lancelot to kill himself by ingesting the poison in the seal of the letter, Merlin shuddered to think how close he’d been to being too late and how quickly Morgana disposed of evidence.
The Shade of Lancelot threw off Merlin’s magic as he had before and stepped toward him menacingly.
“You’re not Lancelot,” Merlin said, circling him warily.
“What makes you say that?”
“Lancelot is noble and good. What you’ve done is neither.”
“That’s a narrow view of the world you have there.”
“Lancelot wouldn’t think so.”
“Well, we’re at an impasse then.”
“Except you haven’t got what Lancelot had.”
“And what is that?”
“My friendship and my secrets,” Merlin said and ran forward, clasping his hands to the Shade’s head.
He had no idea what he was doing, but he had to try. He was going to have to hope his destiny and powers were stronger than his inexperience.
He concentrated. He concentrated as hard as he could on who he knew Lancelot to be. On the experiences they’d shared, on their friendship, on their confidences, on their adventures. He put forth his image of Lancelot’s nobility, his sense of morality, his self-sacrificial tendencies, his true love for Gwen, his fidelity to Arthur, his sense of honor, his pride in being a knight, his need to better himself. Merlin thrust his magic into every thought, every memory, every feeling, and hoped with all his being that it would be enough, that it could recall the real Lancelot.
As he connected to the Shade Merlin could see the black tendrils of memory that wound through his head, placed there, he guessed, by Morgana’s magic, and he shied away from contact, thinking instead to overwhelm those trigger points with his own memories of Lancelot.
Merlin felt his knees buckle as he poured so much of his own magic into the spell, but he held on as long as he could until he felt the Shade himself fall. He fell with him and when the haze of effort cleared from Merlin’s gaze he knew that he was looking at the true Lancelot.
“Merlin,” breathed out Lancelot, panting. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing,” Merlin said, breathing hard himself. “What are friends for?”
They rested there for a minute or two before a look of fear crossed Lancelot’s face.
“Gwen,” Lancelot said, standing up straight, and then fell back down.
“What’s wrong?” Merlin asked, fearing the worst.
“I think I’m meant to be dead,” Lancelot said wryly.
Merlin slung his arm under Lancelot’s shoulder and braced him.
“Something must have gone wrong.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Merlin,” Lancelot said, somehow seeing straight into Merlin’s head. “I would rather die than be used by Morgana’s foul magic. Now, how are we to save Gwen?”
“We’re going to prove that the bracelet you gave her was magic. But I need…I need to prove to Arthur that you were a Shade.”
“Think not of saving me, you’ve done that already,” Lancelot said. “You must save Gwen.”
“I’m going to do both,” Merlin said, determined, sick and tired of losing people. “Now, are you up to a little acting? Pretending to be a Shade?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’m going to tell Arthur of my suspicions, then ‘break’ the spell over you and destroy the bracelet.”
“Merlin, there are many holes in that plan.”
“Then I’d best fill them,” Merlin said, removing his arm from around Lancelot. When he let go, Lancelot fell again and Merlin crouched by him, feeling his pulse. It was faded. “We need to get you to Gaius,” he said, worried.
“Do not worry about me,” Lancelot said, staring him down. “Go and concoct your plan. I will do whatever is necessary to participate in your charade. We will save Gwen’s honor.”
Merlin dithered for a moment or two but he knew the best chance to get help for Lancelot was to get him acquitted.
“And yours,” Merlin said, standing and walking toward the door. “Be ready to follow my lead.”
“I will.”
Merlin hesitated outside the door, unsure if he should apprise Gwen of what was happening. He made a quick stop outside of her cell but she wasn’t inside. Fearful, he asked the guards where she was.
“She has been banished,” the guard told him.
“Banished?”
“To return on pain of death.”
Merlin stopped and thought a moment. He decided against going to Gwen’s house where she must surely be packing her things, because if this worked Arthur would bring her back to the castle anyway. And, though he felt bad about it, her remorse was her best defense. So he ran back to Gaius.
“Well?”
“It worked, he’s himself again,” Merlin said, really realizing it for the first time, understanding that his magic had worked the impossible.
“I fear that may be his undoing,” Gaius said, bringing out a heavy tome and letting it hit the table. “It seems that the breaking of the raiser’s hold on a Shade also breaks that person’s hold on the land of the living. Lancelot will die.”
Merlin sank down to the floor, his joy at what he’d done now tainted with a feeling of despair. He’d been so sure he was doing the right thing and now he was struggling not to feel like a murderer again, like he was somehow fated to be the bane of Lancelot.
“You were right, Gaius,” he murmured. “There are always consequences. Is there anything we can do?”
“I’m afraid not,” Gaius said gently. “Lancelot is going to die no matter what we do.”
“Then he shall die with honor,” Merlin said, brushing away a single tear, “protecting the honor of the woman he loves.” Gaius looked at him with his too penetrating gaze, but Merlin didn’t have time for that now. “I need to go to Arthur,” he said, “are we ready for that?”
“I think a simple glamour would suffice to make Lancelot appear as a Shade,” Gaius said, rummaging through his books again. “But it would be dangerous to do magic like that right in front of Arthur.”
“If I have to reveal myself I will,” Merlin said, brushing that aside, ignoring the way Gaius was looking at him. “So, we get Lancelot to look like a Shade, but if there’s a way…can we find some obscure ritual in a book somewhere that’s nonsense but seemingly makes a Shade show its true self? Obviously we can’t use the real one because it requires magic to activate it.”
“I think we could make something like that up,” Gaius said, musing for a moment. He grinned and picked something up from the table. “A circle of salt around a corpse was a frequently held superstition used in the days of the Old Religion. It was supposed to cut the body off from magic. Nonsense of course, but it will have a ring of truth to it in case Arthur gets too suspicious.”
“Perfect,” Merlin said. “You pour the salt and I’ll do the glamour. Then Arthur will see Lancelot didn’t do anything wrong.”
“And what of the bracelet and Gwen?” Gaius asked.
“Give me that book on ancient artifacts,” Merlin said. Gaius handed it to him without question. Merlin set it down and focused on a blank page toward the back. He placed the bracelet and his hand on it and thrust his magic onto the page. He grinned and straightened up. “There, instant verification.”
Gaius picked up the book and read the page before jerking his head around and staring at Merlin.
“The Bracelet of Amorous Intentions?” Gaius read incredulously. “Merlin, that’s utter horse dung. No one could possibly believe in that.”
“The more to be believed since it was actually recorded in a credible historical resource,” Merlin said, winking at him.
“You will be the death of me yet,” Gaius said, muttering as he scanned the entry Merlin had magick-ed into the pages.
“If my destiny is to save Camelot with magic, then I’d best practice,” Merlin said.
“I’m fairly certain making up silly names was not part of the deal,” Gaius said sternly.
Merlin chuckled, but he was mentally preparing himself for the hardest part of this whole dangerous game.
He had to convince Arthur there was magic involved and get him to give Lancelot and Gwen another hearing. Which had never worked out so well whenever he’d tried it in the past.
He walked the halls trying out openers in his mind. He was worried because Arthur didn’t listen to him at the best of times and was always the most closed minded when he was hurting. And this wound was one of the deepest Merlin had ever seen him receive. He prepared himself for much verbal and possibly physical abuse at the hands of his best friend and King before he reached Arthur’s chambers.
Before he went in he held his hand over the bracelet and murmured a few words. The magic on the bracelet was subtle; it would have to be for Gwen not to realize anything was happening to her until it was too late. The only reason Merlin had been able to sense it so well was because of his magic. And he had had to physically touch it in order to sense its magic. He thrust aside his anxiety about Morgana’s burgeoning powers and concentrated on augmenting the bracelet’s magic so anyone would be overwhelmed by it. He knew it would be the only proof Arthur would accept.
He didn’t knock but went straight in; Arthur was sitting on the end of his bed, moodily staring into nothing. The sheer pain on his face made Merlin’s heart ache.
“Learn to knock, Merlin,” Arthur said, without looking at him. “What is it?”
“I know you won’t want to hear this,” Merlin said, “but you have to.”
“You might be the only idiot I know who uses the word 'have' to a King,” Arthur said. “I’m not in the mood tonight. Get out.”
“No,” Merlin said, bracing himself.
“No?” Arthur said, looking over at him in surprise.
Merlin wasn't usually that curtly disobedient. He usually took a more winded route to insolence.
“I’m sworn to protect you,” Merlin said, “no matter what the danger. My place is at your side even if you don’t want me there.”
“Sometimes I think you think that you’re the one in charge around here,” Arthur said, going back to brooding, “but that would be crazy, right?”
“Whatever you say, Sire,” Merlin said. “Now hear me out.”
“Make it quick, Merlin. I’ve just canceled my wedding; your petty problems are not high on my list of priorities right now.”
“It wasn’t her fault.”
Arthur turned toward him, his face dangerous.
“What?”
“Gwen, it wasn’t her fault. Or Lancelot’s. That’s not Lancelot and Gwen was being controlled by Morgana.”
Arthur’s face softened a fraction.
“Merlin, I know you want to help, but that’s ridiculous. Even my father wasn’t as paranoid about magic as you are. It’s a nice thought, but I can’t…Merlin, I can’t.”
“I know that it hurts,” Merlin said, walking closer slowly. “I know it’s easier to lock yourself away and be wounded than to face truths you’d rather weren’t true.”
“I am facing the truth!” Arthur snapped, standing up. “I’m facing the truth that my knight and friend betrayed me, that the woman I love more than anything in the world would rather be with another man. Exactly what am I hiding from?”
Merlin paused for a second.
“The fact that maybe you were wrong.”
Arthur’s face tightened and Merlin wondered if, for once, he’d gone too far and Arthur would actually hit him in rage.
“Go away, Merlin, if you don’t, you will join Guinevere in her banishment.”
That was the worst thing Arthur could have ever said to him but Merlin ignored it like he always did. Because he had to.
“Gaius and I both saw proof that Lancelot isn’t really Lancelot. He’s a Shade.”
“A what?” Arthur asked, putting his hand to his temple and rubbing it wearily.
“A Shade. He’s being controlled and he’s controlling Gwen.”
“Merlin, you have the most idiotic notions. You’re always telling me these crazy magical theories.”
“And you never listen to me and then bad things happen!” Merlin said, letting his temper get the better of him. “Was Lady Catrina not a troll? Was Gaius not possessed by a goblin? Was Valiant not using magic to win his bouts? Tell me, Sire, did I imagine those things?”
“You’re treading on dangerous ground,” Arthur growled.
“So life as normal then,” Merlin shot back. “Now stop being a wounded prat and listen to me! You can still have Gwen if you’ll just open your thick skull for one second.”
“You have one second before I put you in the stocks for a month,” Arthur said, probably shocked into it more than anything.
“The Shade controlled Gwen with this bracelet,” Merlin said, holding it out.
Arthur eyed it.
“A love token, I didn’t need to see that, Merlin. Any other proof?”
“I went to Gwen and asked her why she would do this,” Merlin said. “She told me she didn’t know. That before he came to see her and gave her this bracelet she didn’t feel any resurgence of her feelings for him. Put the bracelet on, Arthur. I did. And I was convinced.”
Arthur glared at him for a few seconds and Merlin could see hope and fear warring on his face before he finally snatched the bracelet from him and put it on.
“You happy?” he said, after a second before a sudden, strange expression appeared on his face. He looked confused, then happy, then angry, then fearful. He seemed to struggle for a minute and Merlin prepared himself to have to rip the bracelet from him. But Arthur slowly slid it from his wrist and looked at Merlin. “I don’t understand.”
“Let me guess, you started remembering everything wonderful about Lancelot? How he saved your life, how he gave up everything for you? And you wanted to do the same?”
Arthur nodded, still confused.
“I-I would’ve betrayed myself.”
“Then imagine how Gwen must have felt,” Merlin said softly.
Arthur’s head snapped up and he stared at Merlin for a long moment.
“You’d better be right about this, Merlin,” he said.
“I promise you I am,” Merlin said. “I’ll put myself in the stocks for a month if I’m not.”
“Only the King can put someone in the stocks, Merlin,” Arthur said with a long-suffering air. “Will Gaius confirm your theories?”
“I went to Gaius immediately when I first had my suspicions about Lancelot. We thought the Shade might have been sent to kill you in the tournament but then this happened.”
“You thought there was someone trying to kill me and you just sat back and watched?”
“With every intention of diving in should the need arise,” Merlin said, smiling innocently.
Arthur glared at him.
“It’s your duty to report such things.”
“And that goes so well usually,” Merlin said.
Arthur didn’t seem able to refute the truth of that so he just smacked Merlin upside the head and ordered the guards to bring Lancelot up from his cell and summon Gwen to the throne room.
Part Two
