Chapter 6: Secrets in the Night

Juliana sat in a chair by the fireplace, wrapped in a thick blanket and drinking a cup of tea. Gwen sat next to her, offering the kind of support and comfort that only a close friend can. When she had returned with Merlin, Gwen had taken her back to her rooms, started a fire, and listened as she recounted her terrifying tale. Arthur appeared shortly after, concern and fear darkening his normally joyful face. Merlin had told him that her horse had been cursed, enchanted to run her off the cliff and to her death. Arthur was determined to find the wizard or witch responsible for her accident, but she insisted that he leave it alone. It took two cups of tea and a talk out in the hallway with just him and Gwen to finally convince him to not set out on a witch hunt. However, he conceded only on the condition that Juliana not leave the palace without a squadron of knights following her.

Now, Juliana was just with Gwen, and she was heartsick over the loss of her horse.

"Gwen, I don't want to think about what happened today any more. Can we talk about something else?" Juliana asked. Gwen looked up from her basket sewing, and nodded with a smile.

"Of course, Juliana. What would you like to talk about?" Gwen asked with a smile. Juliana's eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam, and she immediately knew where Juliana's questions would be going.

"What's going on with you and Arthur?" Juliana asked with a giggle.

"What? Nothing is going on…" Gwen weakly began.

"Please. I've known both of you long enough to see that something is going on between you. He can hardly take his eyes off of you when you're in the same room, and when you aren't, he keeps glancing at the door waiting for you to come in. It's quite adorable, actually. Especially coming from the boy who once told me he would never marry because then he would have to hold hands with his wife." Juliana stated. Gwen blushed, and she knew she had her friend beat.

"Is it really that obvious?" Gwen asked.

"Not to everyone. Just me. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Merlin knew what was going on as well." Juliana said smugly.

"Speaking of Merlin, what's going on there?" Gwen asked Juliana. Now it was Juliana's turn to blush.

"I don't know Gwen. I keep feeling like there might be something, but then he pulls away. Today I thought we might actually have been flirting too…" Juliana's thoughts zoomed back to the meadow when she had landed on top of him after rolling down that hill, and how he looked at her with an expression full of awe as he tucked a curl behind her ear.

"Men are sometimes hard to read," Gwen began, "But I know Merlin. He doesn't flirt and not realize it. If you felt like he was flirting, that means he probably was."

Juliana sighed. "Well, it doesn't really matter. As long as you and Arthur have to hide your relationship, I'm sure we would have to do the same."

"We're working on that." Gwen muttered. Suddenly Juliana giggled as she remembered something else from that eventful afternoon. "What is it, Juliana?"

"Well, whether it's acceptable or not, I'll be dancing with Merlin at my ball. What can I do? A bet's a bet." Juliana stated with a wicked gleam in her eyes and an innocent smile on her face.

Agravaine was once again in that dimly lit clearing, this time with even worse news to deliver to Morgana. He had broken the news that Merlin had somehow saved Juliana gently, but Morgana was not taking it as well as he'd hoped.

"Of course Merlin saved her. Somehow that idiot is always in the middle of everything." Morgana grumbled.

"To be fair, my lady, he can't be that much of an idiot if he's always able to foil your plans." Agravaine stated. Morgana glared at him, and he shrunk back down in fear.

"Regardless, Juliana must be destroyed. Until she is eliminated, there is no point in trying to destroy Arthur." Morgana snapped. She had to be rid of Juliana, and the sooner this newest complication could be dismissed, the better.

"My lady, although your last plan was genius, I can't help but wonder if a more direct approach would be more successful." Agravaine suggested.

"What did you have in mind?" Morgana asked.

"Juliana loves sparring with the knights, and she doesn't like to wear any armor. She trusts them all too much. Why don't you just cast a spell on their weapons? Make it so they have perfect aim unless they're aimed at her. She'll be eliminated, and it will still be an accident! No one can blame a knight for injuring a woman who won't wear any armor."

Something cruel and cold flashed across Morgana's eyes, and she smiled. "Why Agravaine, you have just earned the right to live another day."

Across the forest, Merlin was depending on the moonlight to guide the path to the meeting place between him and his old friend. Merlin had questions, and there was only one being he knew of who could possibly offer him with some answers. As he stepped into the moonlit meadow, his friend was already sitting and waiting, steam steadily rising from his nostrils.

"Hello, Merlin." Kilgharrah greeted him.

"Kilgharrah." Merlin gruffly responded, approaching the great beast. Although it had been some time since the great dragon had terrorized the city of Camelot, Merlin was still a bit wary around him.

"So, I gather you've had an interesting day today."

"Look, I don't have time for games tonight. Something has happened, although I'm sure you already know about it-," Merlin was cut off by Kilgharrah.

"Ah yes, Lady Juliana. I was wondering when she would come up. A bit of a peculiar subject, isn't she?" he asked. Merlin thought about her, the young royal who would rather do a servant's work, the unknowing witch, the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen; all he could do was nod.

"There is far more to Juliana than you can even imagine, Merlin. Juliana is the final piece to your destiny."

Merlin spluttered, "My…my destiny? But I thought my destiny was to protect Arthur!"

"Oh, it is." Kilgharrah chortled, "But for better or for worse, you cannot achieve your destiny without her."

"What do you mean?"

"Juliana isn't just a witch, Merlin. She is a very powerful witch, and she is destined to work alongside you to protect Arthur. With her, you will lead Camelot into a golden age for centuries to come. Without her…, Camelot will still have its day of glory, but it will end in tragedy. Heartache will come to all, but especially to you."

Merlin was confused, and he knew it was plainly displayed on his face. "How can you know this?"

Kilgharrah looked off into the distance. "There are several different ways that history can be written, Merlin. The choices people make shape the world that we live in, as well as the future ahead of us. Sometimes, the fate of an entire nation can rest on the shoulders of one individual."

"Right, Arthur." Merlin said. Kilgharrah shook his head.

"No, Merlin. Juliana. Dark forces are at work right now to end Juliana's life because she is the ultimate deciding factor in the fate of Arthur, and the fate of Camelot itself. If you can protect her and help her reach her destiny, you will ultimately save him, too."

"But, how can I protect her?" Merlin cried.

"Unfortunately, that's all I can tell you now. Be wary, and trust few. If Juliana dies, Arthur's tomb is sealed, as well as Camelot's fate. But if she lives, together you can change the world." Kilgharrah flew off as he finished his speech. Merlin was now more confused than ever, but he felt sure of one thing. The only way he would be able to protect Juliana would be to stop being so charmed by her. If he hadn't been so busy flirting, he might have been able to notice the enchantment on her horse. Although it pained him, he needed to protect Juliana. No matter the cost.

So what did you guys think of the chapter? Do you think Merlin is making the right decision in trying to put his feelings for Juliana aside to better protect her? What about Morgana and Agravaine's plan? If you want to voice your opinions, go for it! I love getting feedback from readers.

Also, as a disclaimer, I don't own any of the characters of BBC's Merlin. I do own Juliana, but any other characters are totally their property.