Chapter Twenty-Four, Dragra the Great

The next day Merlyn could barely stand to look or go out into the square as a pyre was being built for Gwen's execution. Despite George tending to Arthur that morning Merlyn headed straight to Arthur's chambers with little Hope in her arms.
"We need to find a way to smuggle Gwen out of Camelot." Merlyn said with no preamble, striding to Arthur, who stood on the far side of the chamber, with purpose.
"My father has me under constant watch. And I will not endanger yours or Hope's lives like that." Arthur said sternly but sadly. "Besides, there are guards outside and below in the square. But, I can't watch her die, Merlyn. Why is Morgana doing this?" His voice broke as tears filled his eyes.

Despite her magic warning her against it, Merlyn carefully and hesitantly handed Hope to Arthur who carefully brought her to his chest as a smile adorned his features as he allowed Hope to play with his fingers.
"Thank you, Merlyn." Arthur said gratefully, knowing the effort and the trust she had just installed in him after what had happened a few days ago.

***

While Hope was with Gwaine having some Daddy-Daughter time Merlyn went to visit Gwen in the dungeons, taking her some food.
"I thought you might be hungry." Merlyn said, as she was allowed into Gwen's cell.
"I can't even think of eating." Gwen sighed. "How is Arthur? How's Hope? Will you - I mean you don't have to - but could you remember me and tell Hope how much I love my niece." Gwen rambled tearfully, bringing tears to Merlyn's eyes.
"She's good and with Gwaine, you will get to tell her yourself as she grows, Gwen." Merlyn said firmly, her voice breaking a little. "Arthur wants me to let you know that he will do everything he can to convince Uther that you're innocent, and that he won't stop until you're released." Merlyn assured, as Gwen turned away to hide her tears.

"You and I both know that Uther will not change his mind, Merlyn." Gwen said resigned. "When I am gone, will you take care of him for me, Merlyn?" She choked with tears.
"You can't give up hope. There is still time." Merlyn said, trying to remain optimistic.
"To do what?" Gwen demanded.
"We need to find the person who really planted the poultice. Do you have any idea who it might have been?" Merlyn asked desperately, she knew who it was along with her husband, uncle and Arthur, but she wanted to know if Gwen had noticed something that they'd missed. "What is it?" Merlyn asked, when realisation crossed Gwen's face.

Gwen looked at the guards nervously before turning her back to them so they didn't know what she was saying.
"After I was sentenced to death, I was being led out. I looked back. I swear, Morgana was smiling. You probably think I'm mad." Gwen said sadly but her tone was begging her friend to believe her.
"Of course not." Merlyn whispered, as the guard returned as their time was up. "I don't doubt what you saw, at all."
"I can no longer trust her." Gwen whispered hurriedly. "I've started to wonder if it wasn't a coincidence that Uther and Morgana found us in the woods. Be careful Merlyn for Hope's sake. She needs her mother." Gwen begged. Merlyn nodded, hugged Gwen and quickly left before the guard got impatient.

***

"What is it, love?" Gwaine asked, noticing Merlyn's troubled expression as she entered their chambers.
"I just went to visit Gwen." She said morosely, kissing her daughter's forehead and Gwaine's lips before she settled next to him on the bed to nurse Hope.
"How is she?" Gwaine asked, pulling his troubled wife into his arms so she sat between his legs resting against his chest with his arms around her waist.
"About as well as you can expect. Though, she mentioned she saw Morgana smirking as she was sentenced to death."
"Confirming our thoughts: that she was behind all this." Gwaine finished, pulling his wife and daughter closer as he lovingly kissed her temple.

"We'll let Gaius know once Hope has finished, my Merlyn bird. She's already been changed."
"Thank you. How was your Daddy-daughter day?" Merlyn asked.
"It was amazing. We had lots of cuddles in bed while she floated her teddies around us and once she was settled we went to see Uncle Gaius and Uncle Leon, took a walk through the market as she napped in my arms then came back here." Gwaine explained.
"Sounds perfect." Merlyn said with a wide smile, glancing at her suckling daughter and gently running a finger down her cheek before staring up at her doting husband.

"Oh, it was. Although, it would've been much better if my darling wife had joined us." Gwaine said with his cheeky smirk, that made Merlyn's insides flutter and her heart beat faster.
"Hmm. Would it, now?" Merlyn teased.
"Yes, it would." Gwaine declared, kissing Merlyn passionately.

***

"Morgana?" Gaius asked, shocked but not really surprised. Merlyn had just filled her uncle in on everything as she paced with Hope in her arms while Gwaine watched his wife with concern. Knowing all this stress wasn't good for her; as she had her own magic-hormone- control issue to deal with, Hope's magic, serving Arthur, caring for their daughter and, now this on top. "But Uther will never believe gnat Morgana is responsible." Gaius stated.
"Perhaps Arthur will talk him round." Gwaine suggested, although as he said it, he wasn't all that confident in his statement.
"Uther thinks Arthur's enchanted. Anything that Arthur does is only going to strengthen that belief." Gaius countered. "I fear that's not going to save Gwen."

"If we can't expose the true Sorceress, then we must invent one." Merlyn said slowly, as an idea dawned on her. Possibly a terrible one.
"What?" Gwaine and Gaius asked, confused but also curious.
"What if a Sorceress was caught planting an identical poultice in Arthur's chambers?" Merlyn suggested, rocking her precious daughter soothingly in her arms. "Uther would have no choice but to release Gwen."
"NO! Absolutely not!" Gwaine shouted, figuring out his wife's plan.
"And who would be the Sorceress stupid enough to get caught doing such a thing?" Gaius questioned, hiding Gwaine was wrong.

"Me." Merlyn replied, running to her old chambers with Gwaine and Gaius behind her. She had left all her magical belongings in this room; hidden. Setting Hope gently into the cot at the foot of the bed, Merlyn dived underneath the bed and retrieved one of her spell books from beneath the floorboards. Once in hand, she perched on the bed - with Gwaine besides her holding her close, and Gaius stood at the foot of the bed - quickly flicking through the large tome. Looking up briefly she explained her plan.

"See, if I disguise myself, it won't matter if I'm caught. I can use magic to escape and then change myself back. And I won't be leaving any of you." She explained, looking from the worried frowns on the faces of her husband and her uncle, to the sleeping form of her daughter.
"No matter how you disguise yourself, I fear Arthur will recognise you. And he won't be pleased." Gaius stated.
"It's a huge risk Merlyn bird, I don't want to lose my wife and Hope can't lose her mother." Gwaine said, concerned.
"You won't I promise." Merlyn said, pausing in collecting ingredients to kiss Gwaine loving on the lips.

"And he won't recognise me if I'm eighty years old." Merlyn answered Gaius.
"An Ageing spell?" Gaius gasped. "Merlyn, my dear girl, Ageing spells are notoriously difficult and unpredictable, and your magic still hasn't fully settled yet from your hormones." He said worried for his niece who was like a daughter to him. "If the spell doesn't hold, you'll be exposed."
"And if I don't do something, Gwen's going to die." Merlyn argued.
"None of us want Gwen to die, my love, but why must it be at the expense of your life?" Gwaine asked sadly, if anything happened to Merlyn he didn't know what he'd do.

"I am not going to let that happen. But, how can I look Arthur in the face when I didn't at least try everything? How can I look our daughter in the eyes when she's older?" Merlyn asked firmly. "Gaius, can you make a poultice identical to the one found in Arthur's chambers, please?"
"I believe so." Gaius muttered, not at all happy with this plan.
"Okay." Merlyn said, kissing Hope and Gwaine in what they all hoped wasn't the last time before she got to work grounding some herbs. While Gaius left the room to make the poultice, Gwaine with Hope followed behind him to give Merlyn some peace to cast her spell.

Standing over a large, black iron bowl, Merlyn poured some blue powder into her hands as she started chanting; her eyes flaring gold.
"Miht dagena, bepecce me. Adeaglie bisne gast min freondum ond min freondum." As she completed the spell and poured the remaining powder into the bowl it caught alight in a purplish flame; completing the spell.

Meanwhile, in the main room there was a thick tense silence upon the air as Gaius made the identical poultice, and Gwaine paced around the room anxiously while holding Hope close, softly humming to his sleeping daughter. While he silently prayed to the Old Religion to protect his wife and allow her ruse to work.
"Gwaine, calm down. I'm sure everything will work out just fine." Gaius assured, although he wasn't fully sure even he believed his own words.
As Gwaine went to open his mouth they heard the door open and slow footsteps coming down the small steps. Standing up they were both shocked at Merlyn's appearance. No longer did eighteen year old Merlyn stand before them. No, an eighty year old Merlyn in a white Healers dress and over robes (which Alice had left behind), with white hair in a braid stood before them. Looking completely unlike herself.

"Gwaine, Gaius, you both know me better than anyone. Would you recognise me?" Merlyn asked in a soft but slightly raspy voice. Gwaine and Gaius both peered very closely at the new Merlyn - or at old Merlyn - before speaking together.
"There's something of you, in the eyes."
"But perhaps it's because we know it's you." Gaius finished. Not having seen the final result Merlyn turned around to face the mirror and was astounded at what she saw.
"I can't believe one day I'll actually look like this." Merlyn gasped shocked. "Ooh." She gasped in pain, as pain resonated from practically everywhere.

"What is it?" Gwaine exclaimed alarmed, looking at his wife fearfully. "Gaius!"
"I'm okay, Gwaine. I just ache all over." Merlyn replied, grimacing in pain.
"Well, now you know how I feel." Gaius commented. "You'll be needing this." He added, handing over the poultice. 
"Good luck, love." Gwaine wished, picking up his wife's wizened hand and placed a tender kiss to her knuckles.

***

On Merlyn's way to Arthur's chambers - with the aid of the Shide staff - she almost ran into Arthur, Leon and Thomas who were standing outside Arthur's chambers talking; causing Merlyn to hide in an alcove. Once Leon and Thomas had left Merlyn walked towards the chambers knowing Arthur had seen her and was hesitantly approaching. Hearing Arthur enter, Merlyn stood over his bed with her back to him, poultice in hand chanting nonsense.

"Who are you? And what are you doing in, here?" Arthur demanded, hand hovering over his sword but he didn't draw it. Keeping his promise to himself and to Merlyn. Merlyn slowly turned around to face Arthur.
"I am... Dragra the Great." Merlyn informed.
"Wait... please don't tell me it's you, Merlyn." Arthur asked resignedly.
"I do not know this Merlyn, you speak of." Merlyn or rather Dragra said, leaning back as Arthur peered closer at her eyes. "You have caught me red handed." She continued, holding up the poultice.
"It is!" Arthur cried. "Merlyn, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" He hissed.

Merlyn sighed. Sort of wishing Arthur didn't know about magic or Morgana, at least in this instant.
"How did you know it was me?" She asked slightly annoyed.
"Well, for starters, I know Morgana was behind the poultice, and I know about magic. Now, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Arthur asked, annoyed.
"I'm trying to save Gwen." Merlyn hissed.
"What, by jumping into the flames? I don't want that and neither would Gwen!" Arthur argued. "What about Gaius? Hope? And Gwaine?"

"I'm not planning on leaving them. I would've escaped and turned back into myself." Merlyn explained exasperatedly.
"So, your brilliant plan was for me to capture you, take you to my father who'd have you locked up and escape from a guarded cell?" Arthur demanded.
"No, I would've escaped before I was captured." Merlyn stated, rolling her eyes.

In the end Merlyn was able to convince Arthur to go along with it, albeit reluctantly, and they came up with a plan where Dragra had attacked Arthur, almost knocking him out, allowing Merlyn to escape and Arthur to call the guards. Running from Arthur's chambers Dragra hid in a small room, pulling the door to, as she cast the counter spell.
"Edniwe min geoguo!" Dragra enchanted, her eyes glowing gold but her magic chose that time to play up and react to her hormones that still raged and were unaffected by the spell. "No." Dragra gasped, when she still saw her white hair bound in its braid.
"She went this way!" Arthur shouted, causing Dragra to take off running, panting with exertion.

Gaining some ground ahead of them Dragra hid in an alcove by a window and tried the spell again; only for it to fail once more. Dragra exclaimed in frustration as she could hear the pounding feet of Arthur and the two guards quickly gaining on her as their feet slapped hard on the flagstone floor. Looking out she gasped when they came into sight.
"There she is." Arthur shouted, he hated he had to capture his sister and reluctantly threw a dagger to pin her long sleeve to the wooden door as she tried to escape. "Seize her." He ordered.

Arthur could only watch on helplessly as Merlyn tried to pull the dagger free as the guards wrapped their arms around Merlyn's restraining her as they headed towards the Council chambers. Unbeknownst to the guards Arthur sent Merlyn an apologetic look. Hating what he was about to do; Arthur announced his presence to his father and therefore the entire Council.
"Father."
"Arthur." Uther returned, barely glancing at him. "Who is this?" He asked, finally looking up from the documents in his hands.

"She is the Sorceress. I found her placing this under my pillow." Arthur informed, handing Uther the poultice. Out of the corner of their eyes Arthur and Merlyn could see Morgana watching raptly but looking startled.
"Is this true?" Uther asked Dragra.
"Yes." Dragra replied.
"What did you hope to achieve with this enchantment?" Uther asked.
"If Prince Arthur were to fall in love and abdicate the throne for a lowly serving girl it would bring strife and shame to Camelot." Dragra informed.

"Have I wronged you in some way, old woman?" Uther asked.
"You have wronged so many people in so many ways. You're blinded by your hatred of magic. You have tortured and executed innocent people. You, Uther Pendragon, are a stupid, arrogant, old tyrant!" Dragra shouted, walking closer to the table as she let out all of the pent up rage she's felt for the past few years. Arthur, who was shocked at how much rage Merlyn had towards his father - not that he could blame her- but she was always so kind, gently grabbed her arm.

"You will hold your tongue." Arthur ordered, playing the part.
"And you." Dragra snarled. "Oh, I've heard how you hardly stand up for what's right! You're a spoiled arrogant brat!"
"The serving girl, is she your accomplice?" Uther asked, once the guards had grabbed Dragra and she'd stopped shouting.
"No, I enchanted her too. The girl is entirely innocent."
"Release the girl." Uther said reluctantly. "Tomorrow at dawn, you will take her place on the pyre. Take her away."

As Dragra was taken away Morgana and Gaius followed them out of the Council Chambers.
"Do you know that woman, Gaius?" Morgana asked.
"I've never seen her before." Gaius replied. "Why? Is something troubling you, Morgana? I would have thought you'd be relieved that the true culprit has been found."
"Of course I am." Morgana said unconvincingly.

Once Dragra was in her cell she couldn't help but release a few tears as she had a clear view of the pyre through the small window. After Gaius left Morgana he had the job of filling Gwaine in on what had happened, who naturally threw a fit, screaming and ranting when the door suddenly opened and in stepped Arthur.

"Gaius, what happened? Gwaine, I promise you, I won't let Merlyn die." Arthur promised the upset Knight, who held his daughter close as she cried. Awakened by his shouts as tears poured down Gwaine's own face.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. Shh, Shh. It's okay, Hope. It's okay, Daddy's got you. You're safe my little dragon mage." Gwaine soothed his daughter, before answering Arthur once she was calm.
"Thank you Arthur. Gaius, do we know what happened?" He asked desperately.
"No, I don't. But I intend to find out." Gaius said as he left.

***

Entering the dungeons Gaius made a beeline for Merlyn (Dragra)'s cell.
"Merlyn, what happened?" Gaius asked in a whisper.
"I can't break the spell, Gaius." Merlyn said, upset. "You were right about my hormones."
"You will have to try again." Gaius urged desperately.
"I've tried, and I've tried, and I've tried."
"Please try again. Uther will have you burned at the stake."

"There must be another way to break the spell." Dragra asked.
"There's only one thing I can think of."
"What is it?" She asked desperately.
"In the book of Galah, there's an antidote that can undo such Ageing spells." Gaius explained.
"How long will it take to make this antidote?" Dragra asked, a pit in her stomach.
"Longer than I fear you have. Try to buy yourself some time and I'll ask Arthur to do the same." Gaius replied, trying to offer some reassurance before he hurried off back to his chambers.

After a quick explanation while he got Gwaine and Arthur to get the things he needed; Gwaine and Gaius worked tirelessly through the night to make the potion in between Gwaine caring for Hope who was restless as she missed her mother and didn't like the goats milk she was fed as a substitute to her mother's milk.
Finally, as the sun rose the potion was at the correct colour blue that it needed to be. Rushing out of the chambers - with Hope strapped to Gwaine's chest - they headed towards the dungeons, only they were too late as Arthur and some guards were leading her towards the square.
"Gaius!" Gwaine exclaimed, fearing he was about to lose his soulmate.
"Don't worry. We'll have to improvise. Hurry, now." Gaius ordered, as they ran towards the square pushing their way through to hear the front so Merlyn would be able to see them.

As Uther was giving his speech Dragra turned back to look behind her and spotted Gwaine with Hope and Gaius.
'I love you.' Gwaine mouthed, tears pouring down his face. (Another crystal vision).
'I love you too.' Merlyn mouthed back, she then turned her attention to Gaius who patted his clasped hands signalling to her that he had the potion. Taking her chance she ran towards Gaius subtly taking the potion while the villagers screamed.
"A curse upon you all! I will have my revenge!" She shouted, looking directly up at Uther as guards caught her again.
"Are you all right, Gaius?" Arthur asked.
"I'm fine Arthur." Gaius assured, the Crown Prince nodded and looked to his friend who had a hand upon Hope's head.
"She's fine." Gwaine assured.

As Dragra was being led towards the pyre, she cast a spell causing the pure to explode in a massive ball of fire causing everyone to dive back.
"Intend lieg, intend lieg!" Dragra enchanted, and while everyone was distracted she escaped running into the Castle and into an alcove where she could drink the potion, and change back into herself. Smiling happily she headed towards her and Gwaine's chambers where she changed back into her white and navy dress.

Hearing the door open she smiled and stepped out from behind the screen.
"Gwaine!" Merlyn called happily, running towards him.
"Merlyn bird!" Gwaine exclaimed, overjoyed to see his wife like old or younger self and in one piece. Mindful of their daughter strapped to his chest he wrapped his arms around and kissed her passionately. "I was terrified I'd lose you." Gwaine said, when they parted, their heads against each other.

"I will never leave you, my love. Nor our daughter." Merlyn assured, her cerulean eyes darkening. "Though I can make it up to you." She said, looking up through her sooty lashes causing Gwaine to groan.
"You, my love, are a minx." Gwaine growled, kissing her passionately and full of the fear, loss and lust he'd felt.
"I love you my little dragon." Merlyn whispered, placing Hope into her cot, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, Gwaine pressing his own kiss to his daughter's brow once Merlyn had stepped back. Assured that their daughter was safe; Gwaine picked Merlyn up and carried her to their bed where they spent the day reacquainting themselves with each other and their bodies. 

————————————————————————

Spell translations:

* Spell: Miht dagena, bepecce me. Adeaglie bisne gast min freondum ond min feondum.
Literal translation: Power/might of days, cover/protect/conceal me. Fails/decays/dies/destroys/ becomes torpid and callous this breath/soul/spirit/life to my friends and enemies.
Possible meaning: Power of the days, conceal me. This spirit becomes torpid and callous to my friends and enemies.

* Spell: Edniwe min geoguo!
Literal translation: Renew/make new/restore my youth.
Possible meaning: Restore my youth!

* Spell: Intend lieg, intend lieg!
Literal translation: Persecutor/attacking/pursuing flame/lightning, persecutor/attacking/pursuing flame/lightning.
Possible meaning: Fire, attack! Fire, attack!

Merlyn as Dragra the Great (pretend she has grey hair. It let me age her face not her hair)