Chapter Twenty, The Damage of the Crystal

"Merlyn!" Gwaine shouted, ceasing his pacing in the courtyard and running over to her, sweeping her arm into his arms. A frown marred his features when he felt how tense she was in his arms even though she held on to him tightly. Looking up he raised an eyebrow at Arthur who just looked lost and confused.
"Are you both alright, Sir?" Sir Leon asked worriedly.
"We're fine thanks to Merlyn." Arthur replied, only to sigh when that still did not get a reaction out of his love. "What about you two?"
"Sir Anghard was injured but Gaius says he should make a full recovery." Sir Leon explained, as Gwaine was too preoccupied with checking over Merlyn like a big brother would.
"Good. Good." Arthur said, nodding his head. "I gather father will have organised a Council meeting for when we arrive?"

"Yes, Sire." Sir Leon agreed, leading the way to the Chambers and filling Arthur in on everything after they got separated. Once everyone had arrived and Uther had started the Council meeting Arthur explained what had happened to him and Merlyn (leaving out Merlyn using magic obviously), when they got separated from the Knights to a very tense Uther and Council members.
"The bandits probably have a stronghold somewhere in the White Mountains." Arthur explained. "We only escaped thanks to Merlyn. I had been injured and she nursed me back to health, or at least until I was fit enough to make the walk back from the Valley of the Fallen Kings."
Gwen nudged Merlyn, a wide smile on her face, feeling proud of her friend, only to frown when she showed no reaction. Something had happened to Merlyn and she dreaded to think what it could be.

"Dispatch a patrol." Uther ordered, showing no sign of praising Merlyn, to Arthur's fury. "I want these men caught and brought to justice."
"Of course, father." Arthur agreed in a tight voice.
"For a moment we feared you might miss Lady Morgana's birthday." Uther said, slapping Arthur on the shoulder as he and Morgana walked up to Arthur dismissing the Council.
"It'll take more than a bunch of thieves to keep me from such a feast." Arthur commented.
"Tomorrow promises to be quite a night." Uther agreed.

Once Gaius, Gwaine and Merlyn reached their chambers, along with Arthur a few minutes later. Merlyn had a nice hot bath to clean up and to hopefully relax while Gwaine helped Gaius prepare their dinner and Arthur filled them in on what he could, determinedly keeping his back to the screen that shielded a bathing Merlyn from his view. But once Merlyn was dressed again and sat at the table with Arthur, Gaius and Gwaine she just played with her food while pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Merlyn, whatever is the matter?" Gaius asked, concerned with her despondent behaviour.

"Gaius, I can't get these visions out of my head." Merlyn groaned, once she had finished telling them what had truly happened in the Valley of the Fallen Kings.
"My dear girl, you are extremely lucky to have seen the Crystal Cave. Long before the Great Purge, wizards, witches, and the like would talk about it with reverence." Gaius explained softly.
"That man who led Merlyn there, and who healed me, who is he?" Arthur asked curiously, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to offer her some form of comfort.

"Who was he?" Gaius corrected. "He died, I'd say, about 300 years ago. Taliesin was a Seer to the Great Kings of Old. It has been said that the Crystal Cave was the source of his power and of his prophecies."
"But, but he told me... he told me there was a reason why I had been brought there at this precise moment in time." Merlyn said, shocked. "Why? It just means the event I saw will come to pass... Morgana is going to kill Uther."
"Merlyn, promise me that you'll be careful." Gaius begged. "You know all too well that the crystals are treacherous. It is possible that what you saw may not be all that it seemed to be."
"So what do I do?" Merlyn asked. "Do nothing?"
"She's right. We can't do nothing, Gaius!" Arthur exclaimed.

"No." Gwaine assured. "If you've dealt with the Crystals before we can plan and keep an eye out."
"Gwaine's right, Arthur, Merlyn. There is nothing to suggest that what you saw is imminent, is there?"
"No." Merlyn said, calming down now.
"So, I wouldn't let it stress you out so much and I certainly wouldn't let it put you off your soup as I know you. While Arthur was injured you didn't take care of yourself did you?" Gaius asked shrewdly. When Merlyn shook her head he, Arthur and Gwaine all sighed as Gwaine pressed a kiss to her temple in a sibling fashion and Arthur a kiss to her other temple in a loving fashion. "You need to take better care of yourself, my dear girl." Gaius said sternly.

***

The next morning after changing into an emerald green dress and being made to eat some breakfast, Merlyn left to fetch Arthur his breakfast only to find he was already dressed for a change.
"Is the world ending?" Merlyn jokes, causing Arthur to let out a sigh of relief. "You're already up and dressed."
"It's Morgana's birthday. I have to get her a present. No matter if I don't want to." Arthur replied, as he pulled his boots on. "I'm glad you're feeling better now though, Merlyn. You had me worried for a moment there."
"Thanks. So, what are you getting her?" Merlyn asked curiously, as she set the platter down on his desk.
"Some jewellery." Arthur replied, causing relief to seep into Merlyn's bones.

Feeling like she needed a walk to clear her mind Merlyn left the castle at a fast pace and was on her way across the courtyard when she spotted Morgana in the purple dress struggling with her white horse exactly like it was in the Crystal Cave. Merlyn froze her eyes fixed upon the sight before her as her breathing started coming in fast, short breaths, her magic swirling beneath her skin. Merlyn tore off towards her chambers as fast as she could before she lost control of her magic in front of everyone.
"It's happening!" Merlyn exclaimed loudly, as she burst through the door. "The future I saw. It's already started. What're we going to do?!"
"Calm down, Merlyn." Gaius said soothingly.
"I just saw Morgana struggling with a horse exactly like she was in the Crystals. The same dress, the same people in the square. Everything!"

"Morgana's always riding. It's not unusual to see her with a horse. And certainly isn't a prelude to her killing the King. Now, just take a slow deep breath and calm down, my dear girl before you lose control of your magic." Gaius instructed, as Merlyn sat in front of him taking slow deep breaths. "Good. Now drink this. It should help." Gaius said, setting a Calming Potion and a cup of tea in front of her. "Merlyn, listen to me. Just because the image of the Great Dragon attacking Camelot came true does not mean everything you see in the Crystals will come to pass."

"Okay. Thanks, Gaius." Merlyn said gratefully.
"Now, drink up and you best get back to work before Arthur strings you up no matter how much he loves you." Gaius jokes, stroking her hair soothingly before he returns to his side of the table and his papers. Once Merlyn was calm enough to return to work she headed back to Arthur's chambers to find him sitting at the table hunched over a small chest.
"Ah, Merlyn. Have you done my clothes for the feast?" Arthur asked, as she entered. When she failed to answer he slammed the lid of the chest closed and started chucking his clothes at her while giving her the list she needed to do by this evening's feast.

"Morgana's present." Arthur said, patting the lid when he saw where Merlyn was looking. "What do you think?" He asked turning the box to Merlyn to open, when she did she was left feeling rather confused.
"I thought you were getting her jewellery?" Merlyn asked, causing a look of confusion to pass over Arthur's face.
"What?" He asked, spinning the box to face him revealing a plain and dull looking dagger. "Urgh! I don't believe it! Now I've got to find something else!" Arthur sighed aggravated, snatching up the box and running out of the room.

Only come tonight, Merlyn is going to wish she didn't say anything. As she had just unknowingly, set things on a confirmed path to the vision she saw within the Crystals. As instead of giving Arthur the jewellery he'd ordered the teller gave Arthur an ornate dagger instead.