Merlin and Gaius walked along the lower part of town. It was a calm warm morning. It was what people might call the calm before the storm.

They walked over to a small crowd of people. Gaius pushed through and all moved for him leaving Merlin to really squeeze past them all.

Once through he sort of wished he hasn't a body lies face down on the ground. Gaius coached down inspecting it. "Aren't you scared?"

He looked up to Merlin confused. "Of what?"

"That you might catch whatever it is." Merlin said gesturing to the man. Merlin could felt extremely anxious standing by a dead body. Especially one that's death was unclear beside some sort of disease.

Gaius smiled at the young man. "I'm the court physician, Merlin. This is part of my job. Most of the time there's nothing really to be scared of." Gaius explained rolling the corpse over.

They both gasped Merlin jumping back. The crowd around them had dispersed when they got there so they were alone beside those walking on the street. The man was whiter than snow and his eyes were rolled back displaying a sickly white eyed face.

Merlin gulped taking a step closer wishing he wasn't curious. He also wished he wasn't working with a physician so he would have to deal with that. "You were saying?" Merlin asked noticing Gaius's similar discomfort.

Gaining his composer Gaius looked around slightly frantic. "People mustn't see this. They will panic." Merlin nodded grabbing a clothes from someone's hung up laundry. He cover the man head hiding the sickness from all eyes. To say the least Merlin was glad it was not a pretty sight.
~~~~~~~~~~
Guinevere believed she was a happy lucky young woman for she lived with the most loving and kind father anyone could ask for.

Tom was a blacksmith. Not just any old blacksmith he was the best in the land and he was Gwen's father.

They both saw the world in the best of ways. They saw it in its lights not its dark. Today was definitely a day of light for them both.

Gwen had woken up early making an extra special sandwich for her father that morning. He woke up and they enjoyed a lighthearted breakfast before he had to be off to work.

"Dad, here's your sandwich." Gwen said handing it over.

Tom's eyes sparkled, Gwen's favorite sight to see. He grabbed it eagerly. "Ooh. Mmm, what's in it?"

"It's smoked pigeon. But I'd say there's more smoke than pigeon." Gwen teased returning his smile but with a billion times more beauty.

Tom laughed patting her shoulder proudly. "You're such a good girl to me."

If possible Gwen smiled brighter. She wanted nothing more than for her dad the be happy and proud of her and he was. "And I've done you some watercress soup tonight."

"Don't tell me, with more water in it than cress?" Tom grinned checking his materials. Gwen laughed pulling him into a tight hug.

She loved him with all of her heart and she would do anything to save him. All those who knew her knew it to be true. "I'll see you later."

Kissing her head and giving her one last tight hug he left with a smile and a 'goodbye'.
~~~~~~~~~
Gaius and Merlin pulled a wagon holding the corpse they had found. Merlin checked over his shoulder making sure he was covered completely.

They had reached the drawbridge and had only a couple meters to go.

A cheerful voice came from behind them. "What are you doing?" Merlin knew this voice smiling. He left Gaius to pull the wagon on his own waking to the back of the wagon smiling.

He glanced down at the body as Gwen went to lift the cloth. Quickly Merlin grabbed her hand electricity running through him. "Er... just moving something." Merlin said nervously. He looked down at her hand in his before letting go slowly unsure what speed to go that wouldn't come across harsh or creepy.

Oblivious to Merlin's small action she turned Merlin's attention back to the wagon. "Looks heavy."

"Earm, it's nothing really. Erm... did someone got you flowers?" Merlin replied wanting to draw the conversation away from the dead body.

Gwen looked down at flower giggling. She shook her head. "Oh! No. Would you like one? A purple one. Purple suits you. Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you." Gwen ranted pushing a piece of hair out of her face.

Merlin's face brightened softly. Gwen pulls out ad power handing it to Merlin. Once again as their hands touch it made Merlin shiver a little.

"Thanks. Well, er..." Merlin said searching for a place to put the flower so it wouldn't get ruined or lost. He looked a the ground frustrated, suddenly he noticed his favorite scarf around his neck and he carefully placed the steam inside the scarf securing it.

He looks up to see Gwen smiling. He gives her big smile back. He gestured towards the flower and she giggled to herself.

They stood there for a minute just staring into each others eyes. Gaius bumped Merlin with the back of his wagon.

Breaking eye contact he turns to the wagon eyes widening. He turns back to Gwen waving at the wagon. "Er... see you."

"Bye." Gwen says swaying last them. Merlin followed her until she was out of sight. Finally he pulled himself back to earth and helped Gaius bring the body to his chambers for examination.
~~~~~~~~~~
Morgana turned towards the door as smiley Gwen enters into the room. "You look happy." Morgana noted smiling at the girl.

Gwen skipped over to Morgana holding out a bouquet of little purple flowers. "I picked these for you."

Morgana took them smelling the sweet smell. "Oh, that's so sweet." she gushed giving Gwen a side huge.

Morgana searched for a vase to put them in. "Something to cheer you up. I know you're not sleeping well."

"You cheer me up." Morgana said her smile brighter than ever.

"Would you like me to put them in water for you?" Gwen offered taking the flowers back and placing them in a vase.
~~~~~~~~~~
Artura paced across her floor waiting for a very late Merlin. The doors were thrown open. She raced over mumbling, "Finally." However,it wasn't the person she was expecting. "Father."

"Come we have a serious problem." Uther urged. Artura nodded following behind him. "Where is your idiotic servant I need him to get Gaius for me."

Artura looked around. "He is doing something personal, I'll go find him and have him get Gaius for you." Artura promised.

Uther nodded, "Be quick about it."

Artura bowed racing off to Gaius's chambers guessing she would have to get them both herself.

"Merlin!" Artura shouted out side the door. She listened as someone scampered towards the door peeling it open a jar.

Merlin stuck his face out before slithering his way out of the room. "Erm... I'm on my way. Sorry I'm late."

"Don't worry. I'm getting used to it." Artura said rolling her eyes. She scanned him up and down searching for the reason to his happy bubbly attitude. She found it a light purple flower la yes on his scarf for the world to see.

Merlin's eyes followed hers eyeing the flower. "Oh, er... Gwen, she gave it to me." Merlin explained gesturing to the flower a small blush appearing.

She rolled her eyes again. "Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now." she ordered. She had a feeling he could hear her, but she was annoyed with Merlin so he got what he was asking for.

Merlin gives her a fake smile, "Okay." Merlin closed the door slowly.

Sighing Artura went down the stairs racing towards the council room curious as to what was so important that Gaius was needed.
~~~~~~~~~~
Everyone waited for Gaius avoiding looking at the dead man in the middle of the room. Artura stood near her father lost in thought.

Getting everyone's attention the door swinger open and in walked Gaius and Merlin. "What's happened to him?" Uther demanded.

Gaius walked over to the body shrugging a little. "I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today."

Uther's eyes widened. "Why didn't you report it to me?"

"I was attempting to find the cause." Gaius explained calmly.

Uther placed his hand on his hips expectantly. "What did you conclude?"

"I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one." Gaius sighed.

"What are you concealing from me?" Uther asked eyebrows pinched together.

Again Gaius sighed, "Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours, and it's spreading fast."

"What is the cause?"

Gaius fidgeted a little glancing around. "I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery." he whispered the last word as if to keep it a secret from all in the room.

Uther's eyes widened but he waved everyone off pulling Artura aside. "We must find who did this."

Giving an obedient nodded she vowed, "I will, Father."

He gave her a small smile. "Conduct door to door searches. Increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates. And lend the physician your servant."

Artura was taken back. Why Merlin of all people. "Merlin? But..." she began to protest. She needs his help practicing a new strike.

Uther cut her off explaining his reasoning. "We need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, this city will be wiped out. This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer, and quickly."

"Yes, Father." she bowed knowing the fight was over before she had even tried.
~~~~~~~~~~
Merlin watched Gaius anxiously as he worked. He had just seen a man he felt he could've saved, but Gaius had Merlin disregard the man and instead place their hope in science.

Gaius swirled a bottle over a flame. Merlin raises a brow curious. "What are you doing?"

He looked over at Merlin before raising the bottle a little explaining, "I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach."

Merlin face scrunched up a little uncomfortable. "Will that tell you who did it?" Merlin wanted to find who did it get rid of them and whatever else was behind it, he could stand to watch someone, especially someone close to him die.

Gaius shook his heading sighing, "No, but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind." They both shivered Merlin could not phantom why anyone would want to go down the path of using dark magic all the spells were terrible and gross.

"Why would someone use magic like that?" Merlin wondered aloud.

"Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends." Gaius explained frowning. He never liked dark magic that was why he was on Uther's side to get ride of magic in the beginning, however it saddened Gaius when Uther could not see the difference between the two styles of magic.

This frustrated Merlin however bad magic just didn't seem plausible to him "But not all magic is bad. I know it isn't." Merlin reasoned.

Gaius shrugged, "It's neither good nor bad. It's how you use it." Gaius hoped that Merlin would quickly realize magic was much like a blade. "Magic is as good and evil as a sword. For the real intentions lie with the holder. Some use magic or a sword to protect and bed and others use it to slay and destroy. Either way it's the person holding the weapon that creates the true character."
~~~~~~~~~~
The guards burst through Gaius's door not even bothering to knock. Artura sighed, but didn't say anything to them about it for there would be no point.

Instead she began pointing around the room for places that any sign of magic would probably be found. "Over there." she ordered before sheepishly turning to Gaius, "Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town."

Gaius raised his famous brow at her. "What for?"

Artura knew this man was busy and didn't want to bother him much so her answer was short and sweet, just like she hoped this search would be. "The sorcerer."

"But why would he be here?" Gaius asked confused.

Artura pinched her nose shrugging. "I'm just doing my job." She felt bad whenever something like this would happen, sadly it happened. She would never want someone to invade her privacy so likewise she didn't like invading others.

Lucky Artura wasn't the only one used to this sort of thing. Gaius nodded giving her a soft understanding smile. He gestured around the room, "We've nothing to hide. Go on, then. Search."

Artura nodded back wandering around the room. She loved this room it was always so chaoticaling organized. He had so many different things lying around so many different papers. "What's all these books and papers?" She asked lifting them up looking over to Gaius.

Gaius gave her a deadpan looked clearly annoyed. "My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish."

Artura grimaced shaking her head. She removed herself from the papers looking around somewhere.

She looked over to the door opposite to the entrance. She had always wanted to go here when she was little she felt it was Gaius's hidden secret room full of some sort of deep secret and know she could find out what really lies behind the door. "What's this room up here?"

"Er, it's mine." Merlin said. He had been so quiet Artura had failed to notice him up until now.

Artura nodded grabbing for the door a little sad since any secret Gaius could have had would no longer be inside there. "And what do you expect to find in there?" Gaius asked her as she entered.

Artura frowned shrugging, "I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments." Gaius and Merlin gave her a hesitant nodded. She didn't question there weirdness worried it would be a long annoying explanation.

The moment she stepped into the room she was almost positive a pig lived there. It was filthy and a complete disaster. Clothes were thrown everywhere looking like Merlin had had a mini tornado.

She searched for somewhere that could hold this mess. And she found the exact thing Merlin must have not known existed. "Merlin, come here. Look what I found."

She heard Merlin race in he looked so scarf and nervous he looked around the room for her. She stood in front of one of his walls. "I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard."

Merlin's eyes widened looking around the room almost as if he had just realized it was a mess. He gives her a nod and she searched the room further, but if he did have something to hide which she doubted the idiot did no one would find it in that sort of mess.

Artura was quick to leave the room the mess made her want to do some serious deep cleaning. She headed over to Gaius checking out his work. "How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?"

Gaius huffed in frustration raising his eyebrows once again. "It depends on how many interruptions I get."

Artura shifted to her other foot scratching her neck "Of course, I'm sorry." Artura nodded turning sharply towards her guards. "We're finished here." She left feeling bad for leaving Gaius's work area in a bigger mess than it started out to be. She blamed Merlin for the original mess since Gaius had always been a bit nicer of a mess.
~~~~~~~~~~
Once they could no longer hear the guards Gaius opened the door double checking to coast was clear before snapping around to Merlin. "We have to hide that book."

Merlin shook his head disagreeing "No. We must use it." He had almost forgotten about the book and how useful his magic could be.

"Don't be stupid." Gaius snorted giving Merlin a disapproving look.

Merlin paced agitated about his lack of being able to help people when he could easily help people. Maybe if he used magic in a good way people wouldn't view in such a terrible way. "If I have this legacy then what is it for? You keep telling me it's not for playing tricks." Merlin retorted his words reflecting his feelings.

Gaius closed his eyes trying to control the storm inside. "You want to practice magic when the King is hunting for sorcerers? Are you mad? Merlin, your life is destined for more important things." Gaius reasoned.

Merlin slammed a hand on the table next to Gaius staring at the old man seriously. "But if I don't practice, then how will I get to be this great warlock?!" He was told since he was little that if he wanted to be good at something practice was the key to success. Yet, now he was told not to practice and still also being told to become the greatest warlock the world had yet to see.

It all contradicted itself. The situation at hand was annoying and frustrating to both. "There will come a time when your skills will be recognised." Gaius reassured, but that wasn't the answer.

"When?! How long do I have to wait?" Merlin asked exasperated. 'How many lives will be lost before I can show the beauty of magic and I will live up to my destiny,' Merlin thought.

Lives had already been taken away because of magic and he had the magic to make it right and even so he was restrained and forced into his cage not allowed to show his face to the world.

Merlin was a monster in a cage only released when situations got bad enough. When he really should've been released before the situation could be even gone bad. He had a gift and it was meant to be used not held back waiting to break and become destructive. He didn't want to become like those corrupted, but sad to say he knew where they came from. They all looked in a cage inside themselves all ready to be set free and be able to spread their wings far and wide.

Gaius wished he could release to warlock trapped inside, but he also knew of the consequences Merlin and many others could not see. And so he had to teach Merlin how to...how to put on an illusion of someone he was not. He didn't want Merlin to completely lose himself, instead he wanted what people would probably view as the worst qualities hidden from the world. The world wasn't ready for them but he knew in time they would be and it all started with patience.

Merlin needed to learn patience at this difficult time. "Patience is a virtue, Merlin."

Merlin didn't see this as patience however he saw this as a wasted opportunity to help and save lives. "Sitting by and doing nothing, that's a virtue?"

"Your time will come."

Merlin ignored Gaius sticking to his argument. "I could cure that man we saw."

"I know it's tempting to use the way you find easiest, Merlin..." Gaius understood Merlin he truly did, but Merlin was often clouded by the view of doing what right no matter the risk and while this was often good. Gaius couldn't handle dealing with the consequences he was a coward.

"It is when it would save a life." Merlin could not...no would not stand for this he would do all he can to help these people. Sure they would hate him for who he was, but they were still people who loved and cared for someone and someone out there returned their feelings.

Gaius hated this conversation, he had given it to his mentor one to many times himself. And even so his mentor always won with logic and prevailed with science. "It's no good just saving one person. We have to discover how this illness is spreading."

Merlin was stubborn and strong (though he wasn't very strong physically). "Arthur is out there right now looking for the sorcerer!" Merlin guessed it was the sorcerer spreading the disease there was no other explanation.

"A sorcerer who's powerful enough to do this will never be found searching the town." Gaius admitted.

Sighing Merlin gave in. He lost this argument for know, but He would search for an answer the best he could. "So what can we do?"

Gaius turned back to his work frowning. "Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all."
~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
A.N: These episodes getting longer and longer. I actually don't really like this episode but it leads up to the next one so its important. I do like.the little Merlin and Gwen moment thought they were my ship at the beginning. Also sorry I keep going on little rants, I just feel I only right around the dialogue so I add little 'rants' in between to give it some space. Oh and if you didn't catch on Artura looks like the lady on the cover.

Issue #9: I'm not sure if I want Merlin, Morgana, or Gwen to find out first.

·Because Merlin and Artura would relate because they both fill caged up.

·Artura and Morgana are like siblings and then Morgana would be kinder and help Artura have a bit more girl time. However, even as a girl she still would have to put on this regal princess act around her.

·Artura and Gwen would also be fun because Gwen already knows a lot about her real self. Plus Gwen is so sweet and supportive and she would help the rude comments about Arthur go away. Artura could release her feelings a bit more around her.