Chapter 2.5: Into the Darkness
A/N: New update, yaay! :D
- MysteryOfWordsDK
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The old Mr Gaius was a happy man the night Merlin returned home from the summer retreat. He was nearly done writing his book and now only needed a few more facts and legends to put in it. The question was simply which ones to take. Because his full attention was on this, he didn't notice the sadness in Merlin's eyes.
"Gaius, we have to talk," he said.
The old man put his things down, just now seeing what he hadn't before. "Dear boy, what's the matter?"
Merlin made a face and moved to the other side of the couch from Gaius. "I overheard a strange conversation," he began. "It leads me to believe Elly might be involved in magic. I know Maya has magic because she threatened me with it, telling me not to get in the way for my own safety. And that's not all; I've just discovered the Cup has been stolen."
Gaius' eyes became huge. "I beg your pardon?"
"It's them. I know it. They must have followed me, how else would they know to look for it there?" He began pacing around the room. Gaius tried to make him stop, but Merlin was too distressed to listen. "Why is all this happening, Gaius?"
Said man sat down, taking a deep breath. "I don't know, I'm afraid," he answered. "Did she say anything else that might help us to understand?"
Merlin nodded grimly. "Oh yes. She indicated that Arthur isn't the truthful heir to the throne and that she would make sure Elly gets what she deserves. She indicated there is a secret I don't know about... but that you do." He raised both eyebrows suggestively.
Gaius was taken aback. It took him a moment to figure out what to tell Merlin. He sighed. "I have sworn to keep the secret and not tell a soul, but it would seem I have no choice..."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked.
"I mean that Arthur is not the late king's only child. Princess Elizabeth is his sister."
Merlin's jaw dropped to the floor. "Excuse me?!"
"I have been at the palace for many years. Perhaps too many years. Long enough to know such things. Besides me, only one living member of the royal family knows – Charles. He still considers her to be his daughter, which she also is in all official records."
"Maya knows," Merlin inferred. "And I fear it's just a matter of time before she reveals the truth to Elly. Who knows how she is going to feel about that."
Gaius nodded. "Yes. Let's hope it doesn't make her too mad. And let's hope Arthur will never have to find out."
Merlin nodded, doubtful that this secret would stay secret for long. In fact, he was sure it wouldn't. He sat down in the couch then. "Gaius, can I talk to you about something else?"
The old man nodded. "Of course."
"I found another piece of writing," Merlin explained. "It talks of Mordred. The king's fate."
Gaius' face turned white and once he realized he did everything he could to hide it. "The king's fate?" he repeated.
"Yes, it was a warning, I think. Somehow I knew it was there, knew exactly where to look. How would I know that? And that's not the first time that's happened. I did the same thing with the cup. I just knew where to look."
This did anything but wipe away the sudden shock on Gaius' face. "My dear boy..." he said in a very small voice.
This time Merlin didn't let it pass that easily. "Gaius, what's wrong?"
The old man shook his head and flashed a very strained smile. "Well. It's nothing to worry about," he replied and got busy collecting his notes. Merlin had never seen him act so strangely before. Curiosity and pain went alongside each other as Merlin watched him fumble around.
Merlin crossed his arms. "Are you lying to me?" he asked in disbelief.
Gaius looked him deeply in the eye. "I can't tell you until I'm absolutely certain. I'm sorry, Merlin."
Merlin felt those words like a stab to the chest. He turned on his heel to march out of the room without another word.
"Merlin!" Gaius called.
"I have to keep an eye out for Arthur," Merlin answered coolly. "You'll understand." Then he left in anger. He didn't understand why Gaius would keep such a seemingly important secret from him. What could be so horrible that he couldn't know about it? Hadn't he always helped him in the past? Hadn't he just revealed perhaps the deepest and darkest secret in the royal family? The true bond between Arthur and Elly and perhaps also the key to their separate destinies. That was if Merlin acted his part well. If he protected Arthur against Maya, whoever she was and why she would see Arthur fall. Merlin still hadn't figured out her reason to hate him yet – but he would.
- - -
Somewhere in the palace McGwaine was on duty to patrol the aisles and halls of the palace and after doing a few rounds to make sure everything was in order, he took a detour. He had used any excuse he could find to spy on Maya and Elly. However, they had both been playing their parts well. No suspicious behaviour or strange meetings at nighttime. McGwaine was almost convinced nothing was really going on with them. Agent Thomas had even told him to step down the surveillance a bit. At least the boss, Watson, hadn't noticed anything. If he did, McGwaine would surely be out of a job tomorrow. Nevertheless, if it meant saving Arthur's life he figured he'd be able to live with his father's disappointment. He still felt a little stunned about the fact that he had seen Merlin do real magic. Then again he had been suspecting something of the sort was going on, so when he saw it he wasn't shocked, he was confirmed in his suspicions. It gave him motivation and a hope that he and Merlin had a chance of standing up to Maya and Elly should it go that far. Otherwise they would be up against a power source they couldn't meddle with. They would be chanceless like a sword against a gun and die first. McGwaine was willing to do almost anything for a friend and when it was Arthur a lot more was at stake than usual. He was important.
So McGwaine didn't yield from his duties. He had found nothing to report so far which had to be because he wasn't looking closely enough. He was going to find something. Anything. But these two ladies played the game well. Very good pretenders.
It wasn't until a certain night. McGwaine was not supposed to be patrolling the hallways at that hour, but he had not had the time to do so before now. This gave him the opportunity he had been waiting for. He saw Maya sneaking out of her rooms, fully dressed and in a hooded coat. She was meeting someone. McGwaine didn't hesitate to follow as he attempted to contact Merlin to let him know what was going on. Maya continued up, higher and higher, as high as the palace would allow. McGwaine knew instantly she was headed for the top balcony. He watched her turn a corner and lost sight of her. She had entered a small hallway with three doors. One lead to a staircase, another to a cupboard and the third was the way in. drawing his gun, McGwaine entered as silently as he could and searched the area, starting with the staircase – but he heard no footsteps.
Then a door slammed behind him. It was the entrance. McGwaine cursed under his breath and tried to force the door open, but little did it help. As soon as his hand touched the handle, the other doors slammed behind him, trapping him completely.
He had been tricked.
However, he wasn't the only one to detect something was off. Agent Percival Thomas had too drawn his gun and was following the sounds of footsteps and slamming doors to get to the source. He saw a woman ascend a staircase to reach the highest balcony at the palace. He had been a soldier once, so he knew how to shadow someone without their knowing. He used this skill perfectly and got to the open doors that led to the balcony. It was formed like a long pathway, hidden from view from almost any other spot in the entire building. It was the perfect spot for a secret meeting.
The curtains were blowing cunningly in the evening breeze as Agent Thomas approached with caution. He could hear not one, but two voices speaking hastily. There was a strange flash of light. Thomas gripped his gun tighter.
"Elly, stop. It is not safe here." The voice was almost begging, but somewhat stern.
"But I can't stop it!" the princess cried. "If I push it away, it makes me lash out and it gives me nightmares! I don't want it!" she was absolutely inconsolable.
Agent Thomas frowned. What was going on?
"I promise you will see differently soon. I am going to help you," the other voice promised. It had to be Maya. The curtain blew up slightly, revealing that it was indeed her. She turned her head. Thomas knew instantly he had been seen. There was nothing he could do. An invisible force field wrapped itself around him and dragged him out in plain sight to a surprised Elly and an angry looking Maya.
"What is your purpose for your--" Maya started to ask, but as soon as he was free of the invisible wrappings, the agent pointed his gun at them. Elly gasped. It all happened so fast. With a darkly calm expression Maya waved her hand and sent the agent over the balcony's edge.
And Agent Percival Thomas fell from the heights and into the darkness below.
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