Chapter Eight: Murder

Arthur's face lit up, faces turned towards the doors and the room broke into silence, before gradually turning into mutters and whispers.

The young knight smiled and the king stood up to greet him.

The king took him firmly by the hand, pulling him close into a hug and patting him on the back.
"You're alive!" the king laughed, "you must tell us what happened." and gestured him to take a seat.

The knight looked around at the large amount of people gathered in the great hall. He didn't want to tell all in front of a huge crowd, but felt he had no choice. He took a seat and began to tell of what had happened.

"I was with you, the king and Merlin, out in the forest. We had gone to look for dry wood to make a fire, when we stopped, I heard the king shout something but before I knew it, I wasn't in the forest any more. I'm not sure how I got there, but.." the knight paused, look up to meet the king's eyes, "It was Morgana."

The room broke out into mutters again, but the king pressed on for Mordred to continue, "what did she do to you?"

"I'm not sure exactly. It was some sort of sorcery. And she told me, when I woke up, that I had been unconscious for some time, a few days I think. She gave me food and water but other than that I didn't see her, or anybody else for another few days. Food was pushed in occasionally, but other than that it was darkness."

The king patted him on the arm, "I'm glad you're safe Mordred. But, how did you manage to return?"

"That's the thing. I don't know."

The king looked at him confused, Merlin sharing the same look from the background.
"I think she must have used Sorcery again, but I don't know why she chose to let me go. I just woke up in the forest, not far from where I had vanished from, so I came straight back to Camelot, to the castle, and into here."

The king looked worried for the knight, not knowing what had happened to him, but Merlin took a different perspective. Why had Morgana let him go? And why take him in the first place?

"You must be starving, eat, drink" the king gestured to the many plates and goblets that filled the table, "then when you are full you may go rest."

"Sire, don't you think he should see Gaius first." Merlin interjected.

Arthur laughed, "let the boy eat first."

Merlin ran down to Gaius. "He's back. Mordred's back." Merlin said in a rushed, out of breath panic.

"Surely this is good news Merlin?"

"It is. Sort of. He's been with Morgana all this time, and hardly remembers a thing. There's heavy sorcery involved Gaius."

"Where is he now?"

"With the king, eating."

"Bring him to me. I'll check him over."

With this Merlin sped back up to the great hall which was now full again of loud talking and laughter.

The king was sat talking to the young knight so Merlin walked up behind them and stood there.

"Yes?" the king said sarcastic as he looked up and Merlin.

"I'm just waiting for Mordred to finish, so I can take him down to Gaius."

"The boy doesn't need a bodyguard Merlin."

Merlin took a step back and gave Arthur a 'happy now?' sort of look, and the king resumed his conversations.

A little while later Merlin felt himself being tapped on the shoulder. He had wondered off into his thoughts. It was Mordred, who smiled at him "I'm ready now."

Merlin nodded and they walked down together.

"He missed you, you know?"

"Huh?"

"Arthur. He missed you. We all did."

Mordred smiled, he was glad to be back.

Gaius checked the knight over, asking him lots of bizarre questions before coming to the awaited conclusion. "You're fine. It amazes me, but Morgana left nothing, not even a scratch on you. Once you've eaten and slept a bit more, I should think of nothing that would stop you from rejoining the knights."

Mordred's face morphed into a huge smile. He had been so worried Morgana had left some sort of large spell on him, that at one point on his journey back, he had thought about not returning to Camelot, but he was glad he had.

"You've been very lucky. Nobody can know why Morgana did what she did, but you're fine, and well." the old man turned to Merlin, "you can take Mordred back to his chamber now."

Within a week Mordred was back training with the knights, he spirits lifted by Gaius' news that he was clear of dark magic. But not everyone in the grounds of Camelot was so sure of his safety.

"It still makes no sense Gaius. Why would Morgana take him, only to let him go again."

"Merlin, we can not know. He seems fine, he's rejoined his duties with a joyful spirit, and so should you."

"That's what we thought when Gwen was taken. She returned, seeming fine, only to attempt to kill the king, on too many occasions!"

"But she didn't, Arthur is still alive. And the curse was lifted. All is, and has been, well."

"Arthur almost died. And I wasn't there to help. I should have known, I saw the signs."

"And do you see the signs in Mordred?"

"No." Merlin sighed. He had to be honest. He hadn't seen anything to suspect Mordred, but that didn't mean he had to like the circumstances.

Another few days past and Merlin was keeping a particularly close eye on Mordred, waiting for anything, any sign that he wasn't quiet himself.

There was something. It was probably nothing, Merlin thought to himself, but Mordred hadn't really spoken to Merlin at all since his arrival. Before they would go out to the woods almost every day to talk, but now there was nothing. But as Merlin thought to himself, it was probably nothing.

The day had been a particularly busy one, not for any specific reason, just one of those days, and Merlin had decided to finally retire for the night, only to find Gaius still awake, rummaging through large, old books. It was very late, way past the normal time Gaius went to sleep.

"What is it Gaius?"

"I think I missed something."

"What?"

"I was about to fall asleep when it popped into my head."

"What did? What popped?"

"Morgana must be using very powerful magic indeed."

"Gaius, you're making no sense."

Gaius grabbed Merlin my the shoulders pushing him into the seat adjacent to his.

"I fear Morgana has strengthened her powers. I was thinking, you were right, it really is far too strange for her to just let the boy go. I spent days thinking of what she could have done, and all along, it was sort of simple." he paused and held out a tiny bottle filled with a dark green mixture, "I've had this a long, long time. It causes the drinker to fall into a deep sleep, and simply by whispering in their ear, you can tell them exactly it is you want them to do, and when they awaken, they will go about doing it, but acting completely as themselves."

Merlin stared at him, dumbstruck by the news, "you think Mordred has taken this?"

"I'm certain."

"What can we do?"

"Stop him from doing what Morgana has asked of him. I can create an antidote but it'll take a while."

"How long?"

"A few days at least. It needs time to brew."

"That's too long. I'm going to stop him now!"

Merlin ran out and up the stairs to the knight's quarters.

He burst into Mordred's room. It was empty. The sheets were drawn back, and the door left open. Merlin ran as fast as he could to Arthur's chambers, hoping he could get there in time. He slammed open the doors, waking Arthur up, and startling the young knight who stood by the king's bed, sword drawn.