Lupine Secrets Exposed

Though they had not plotted this together, Merlin and Ganieda soon reminded Gaius that they were family. Both warlocks were up, washed and dressed before their uncle, in order to make sure that the physician could not make any excuse as to not give them answers they wanted and needed. It probably should not have taken Gaius by surprise as much as it did when he groggily sat up and yawned, only to almost fall out of bed when he saw that his sisters' children were making breakfast and looking at him rather expectantly.

Gaius gave a resigned sigh as soon as he saw their faces, shaking his head despondently but fondly. "You are not even going to wait until after breakfast, are you?"
"I take it that means you have had some suspicions confirmed, Gaius," Merlin stated knowingly as he bought over some tea for his guardian. "So, come on – don't be shy, Gaius, hold nothing back. Who are our three new Knights and should we be worried about them?"

For a moment, Gaius considered not conceding and insisting they have some breakfast first. But as he sipped his tea and continued to study his niece and nephew, he knew that with their determined faces, he would not be able to get away with half-baked excuses. But that did not mean he could not buy himself some time.

Gaius sipped his tea a couple of more times, sitting up, before he answered them. "I remember Lord Meliant, Lord Lucan and Lord Wulfric Tanas rather well, during their time at Uther's court. They had been amongst Uther's inner circle from the beginning, since he conquered Camelot and won it out of the hands of King Vortigern. All three were impressive men, in their own ways. Meliant secured alliances in Welsh territories for Uther. Lord Lucan introduced Uther to Lord Godwin. As for Wulfric Tanas, he was a skilled warrior. All three of them were remarkably jealous of the former King's friendship with Gorlois too. Though their loyalty to the Crown was never questioned, there had been … rumours."

Gaius knew he was pausing for dramatic effect; Ganieda immediately took her uncle's bait.

"What kind of rumours?" she pressed eagerly.

"Nothing that could ever be proven. However, there were strange occurrences. Sightings of wolves close to Camelot, when most wolves never dared to come near the citadel walls. Stags and boars that appeared in the Royal kitchens with no explanation," Gaius answered carefully. "Also, they were stronger than most people, faster than most people and had, seemingly, enhanced senses."

The cousins exchanged a look between them.

"How is this significant, Gaius?" Merlin continued.

Gaius looked at Merlin with a knowing look the warlock knew all too well. "Do you remember Edwin?"

Merlin scoffed. The man with half his face burned as a child after he tried to rescue his parents from the flames and had spent his entire life plotting revenge on Uther. The man who had tried to sway him to the Dark. Edwin was a man Merlin would not forget in a hurry.

"Of course I do. Why? What has Edwin got to do with them?"

"Do you remember that Uther killed his parents and I turned a blind eye? Well, I was not the person who handed Gregor and Jaden's names to Uther. They were simply put on the same list as Alice was. It was Lord Tanas who was put in charge of that list and found out his parents," Gaius revealed, Merlin raising his eyebrows in surprise. "He found them by claiming he could 'smell the black magic in them'."

"Smell the black magic?" Ganieda repeated in disbelief. "Is that even possible or was Lord Tanas using some sort of metaphor?"

"That is what everyone else said and thought," Gaius continued carefully.

"But you were not convinced?" Merlin guessed quite quickly, judging from Gaius's tone.

"No, I wasn't," Gaius agreed. "But I did not dare say anything to Uther about his favourites. After all, my word counted very little back then."

"He would not have believed you anyway," Merlin stated. His eyes narrowed a little and a small grin started to etch on his face. "So, what did you think they were, Gaius?"
Gaius did not immediately answer. He gave his apprentice a pointed look. "You must promise me not to do anything foolish."

"Me?" Merlin attempted to look and sound innocent. "When have I done anything foolish…?"

Gaius really did give him a pointed look at this point. "I mean it, Merlin, these boys' families are not to be trifled with."

"Gaius, I am not going to do anything to them unless they are a threat to Arthur," Merlin reassured, really fighting the urge to roll his eyes. "Ganieda and I can take their teasing and pathetic attempts at intimidation."

Gaius sighed. "Very well," he answered softly. "Though there was never any tangible evidence, I always harboured a suspicion that they are werewolves."

For a moment, one could have heard a feather drop to the floor. Ganieda almost burned breakfast in her shock.

"Sorry … Werewolves …?" Merlin repeated almost in a squeak. "Gaius, if that is a joke, what did I say about making jokes, because that isn't funny."

"I take it that you had that suspicion confirmed last night?" Ganieda added as she poured the porridge into bowls.

"That, and what you have been telling me," Gaius confirmed. The physician started to get out of bed. "Werewolves are creatures of magic, people who are able to assume the shape of a wolf due to a spell, or a magical artefact. Some transformations have been known to be linked to the Moon, but not all."

"How dangerous are they?" Merlin immediately wanted to know. "As dangerous as a Bastet?"

He really did not want a repeat of what happened with Freya …

"No, far less. Unless they are controlled by a sorcerer with malicious intent, or under the influence of the disease known as Lunar Mania, werewolves are able to retain their human wits and know right from wrong," Gaius informed, revealing an entry in his bestiary to the two eager warlocks. "They have heightened physiology and senses-"

"-which explains the strength, the speed and the ability to smell magic," Ganieda immediately deduced. Then, realisation hit her. "Good gods, that is why Biclarel, Marrok and Melion felt so weird to us and took such an interest in us! They sense the magic in us, and our magic senses the curse in them!"

Merlin's gears had been whirring at the exact same time. "And I am willing to bet a few tankards of mead that the thing that binds Melion's wolf form, is his ring! That is why I could hear it humming."

Both warlocks looked a little bit too giddy for Gaius's liking.

"Be that as it may, continue to be wary of them," he warned his niece and nephew. "Those three may not be enemies of Camelot but werewolves can have a very nasty temper, whether they are in possession of their human mind or not. They do have the ability to transmit their curse to another; do not vex them more than you have been already."

Merlin and Ganieda huffed in sync, feeling already chastised before they could even cause any chaos. The warlocks decided to concentrate on breakfast; a good thing too because soon there was knocking at the door.

"Merlin, I hope you have eaten because the princess demands your presence!" Gwaine's annoyingly jovial tones ran around the room. "His Stroppiness is making me late for patrol and if I am late again, Leon will have my backside for breakfast!"

"Ganieda, Queen Accolon requires your presence!" Mordred added.

Please hurry; Ettare is set to have a bit of a meltdown, the Druid Knight confessed telepathically.

The warlocks were up on their feet in seconds, exchanging a look, while Gaius watched on in amusement.

I swear, if Arthur is stuck in his shirt again, I will kick him, Merlin grumbled, causing Mordred and Ganieda to both snort.

Merlin, he is the King, Mordred tried to point out.

Yes. King Cabbage Head who gets stuck in his clothes!

Merlin!

You cannot say that I am wrong, Mordred.

The Knight did not argue. As Merlin and Ganieda rushed to do their duties, Gaius watched them leave with a fond look, hoping to the gods that three werewolves in Camelot would not put the two warlocks in danger.

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"I can't believe we are stuck on patrol!"

"Melion, quit your whinging and keep your eyes open. We have potential bandits, Saxons and Morgana supporters to watch out for," Marrok pointed out crisply as he continued to survey the trees above.

"As if any of them would be actually stupid enough to come close enough to Camelot's walls in broad daylight," Melion sneered.

"It needs to be done. One can never say never," Biclarel answered primly.

This was the three Werewolf Knights' first patrol, and Melion had been in a rather stroppy mood since Sir Leon knocked on their doors. Indeed, the young knight had to be effectively dragged out of bed by his old friends the make him get a move on and not get Melion into trouble with the king. It was not all that surprising, considering the fact that Melion had always hated going on patrols with his father and their men.

Melion was not a morning knight, but with Gorlagon in Camelot, Arthur did not need any extra stress.

Melion huffed; even his horse Argantha gave him an unimpressed look now and again. "I don't like this, given … everything."

"Neither do I, but we have other duties to uphold, as you fully well know," Biclarel remarked in a tone full of authority. "Besides, it is good to have some fresh air. Gives one a bit more perspective; enjoying the beauty of nature while fulfilling one's duty!"

"Always the bloody poet, Biclarel," Melion commented jovially.

"Well, you have to have more than simple good looks to court the ladies," Biclarel reminded him playfully.

"What is needed to court ladies?!"

The three Werewolf Knights chuckled softly as Gwaine pulled up his horse alongside them with a grin. Of course Camelot's resident womaniser overheard them!

"Nothing you know not already, Sir Gwaine," Biclarel responded with a grin. "I was just giving Melion some much needed pointers on how to get on a lady's good side."

Gwaine lit up even more. "So, someone has caught your eyes already, Sir Melion? That was quick. Who is it? Oh, don't tell me it's Ganieda! I would mind your words around Merlin in the future then."

Melion blanched at the suggestion while Marrok, Biclarel and a few eavesdropping knights started to chuckle at his expense. However, once he had recovered from his shock, Melion's lips curled into a rather unpleasant sneer. "Why would my head be turned by a simple peasant girl with nothing to her name, Sir Gwaine?"

The usual jovial knight's countenance more than darkened a little. Marrok pinched the bridge of his nose while Biclarel cuffed Melion around the head. Quite hard.
Melion was soon rubbing the back of his head, glaring at his friend.

"Careful, Sir Melion, before your not-so-charming pride ensures no other noblewoman will want you either," Gwaine warned in a tone that was more menacing than anything that his fellow knights had ever heard. Tristan too looked visibly annoyed. Bedivere, Kai and Percival's eyes were kind of bugging out of their sockets. "They would sooner go for Percival or Mordred before considering you, otherwise."

"They would even go for Merlin," Caradoc could not resist adding.

Percival did not particularly like the tone of his fellow knight. "Would you like to learn to fly, Caradoc?"

"Dear brother of mine, I meant nothing by it!" the knight quickly reassured. "Merlin is friendly, loyal, generous, has a brilliant sense of humour and has a lot of courage. He is noble in all but name and status. I am not besmirching him; indeed, I am more surprised that he has not been snapped up yet!"

"Merlin has never been with a girl?" Marrok did sound rather surprised. He too had assumed that the King's manservant would have the pick of any commoner.

"Not that we know of. Gwaine tries to get him to catch the eye of the ladies on the rare occasion Merlin does come to the tavern, but it doesn't seem like he is interested," Kai could not help but dish out a little gossip.

"I always thought that perhaps Merlin did have someone and his heart simply has not healed properly yet," Bedivere added. "I saw that look in my cousin once. Merlin's eyes remind me of him."

Biclarel and Marrok exchanged a look between them. It seemed that their hidden warlock was a man of many mysteries, and his own friends liked to theorise about him and his private life behind his back! Little wonder that Merlin's patience with them had run out.

Leon was starting to become a little irritated by his brothers-in-arms' behaviour as well. "I think that is enough surmising about Merlin and we should all start concentrating a little more on the duty at hand."

Gwaine practically rolled his eyes at him. "Come on, Leon. You know as well as I do that you are just as curious about Merlin's lack of love life as I am! Who knows – maybe the arrival of his cousin will change that. I don't think Ganieda likes the idea of her cousin being alone in the world."

"Oh Gwaine, stop being so dramatic," Kai snorted. "Merlin isn't alone. He has Gaius, Arthur, Guinevere and us. Ganieda arriving in Camelot only adds to the numbers."

"Kai, that is not what I meant and you know it!"

Leon's jaw clenched even more. "That is enough! The next one to bring up inappropriate topics surrounding Merlin, Ganieda or anyone else will be helping them to muck out the stables!"

A few of the brazen ones – Kai, Caradoc, Gwaine – looked set to back-chat; fortunately, in the eyes of Biclarel and Marrok, the Knights of Camelot were soon distracted. The relief did not last long, however, considering what soon had them distracted.

"Found something!"

"Leon, over here!"

The Knights froze and hurried in the direction of the calls from the guards they had sent out to fan the area. Swords had been drawn and crossbows had been readied, prepared for some kind of confrontation. However, they were soon all rather disappointed when they came into a small clearing, to find the guards around a boar carcass.
A rather familiar boar carcass to Biclarel, Marrok and Melion; all three froze momentarily when they saw it. Bugger; it seemed that they had been hunting a little too close to Camelot last night. Fortunately for them, their reactions were not noted in the slightest by the other Knights, because they were too busy shaking their heads at the guards.

"A dead boar? Really, Marcus?" Gwaine chuckled. "On how many hunts have you been exactly? You think that the King has one less piggy to hunt with his guest is worth noting? This is nothing-"

"Not the boar, Gwaine!" the guard snapped, flushing a little under his helmet. He was pointing his spear at something in the earth. "That!"

The Knights all looked down; the Werewolf Knights were cursing their own recklessness. Paw prints, more than one set of very distinct lupine paw prints. The other Knights all frowned and shook their head in disbelief.

"Either we are dealing with some very big dogs, or these were made by wolves," Percival commented, sounding rather grave.

"Morgana?" Gwaine immediately guessed, much to the surprise of Biclarel, Marrok and Melion.

"Why would it be Morgana?" Marrok asked with genuine curiosity.

"Because Morgana had wolves. She used them to find us and capture us when we went to Ismere," Gwaine replied, his eyes and tone turning quite dark. "The buggers were quite nasty. Enhanced with magic."

"Yep, but I can't say for certain if these were made by Morgana's wolves. These paw prints – they're bigger than normal," Percival pointed out.

"Maybe Morgana grew wolves with magic?" Melion attempted to joke.

Tristan did not find it that funny. He gave the young knight a cold look. "It won't be so amusing when you find yourself standing in front of that witch, Melion. Her powers are not to be trifled with. The King himself will attest to it."

"Of course," Melion responded coolly. "Sorry. Silly joke."

Leon regained authority with a cough to clear his throat. "We will inform Arthur that there have been wolves in the area. Until we have further evidence, we will not say Morgana is involved. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," came the chorus from the rest of the Knights. They were more than happy to not bring up that dangerous topic that was the last High Priestess unless they were given no other option.

Biclarel, Marrok and Melion felt relief flood them; they exchanged a look between them as they silently promised to be a whole lot more careful in the future when it came to their nightly hunts and runs. Especially now that they knew that the King's half-sister had magical wolves under her command.

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Ganieda had made an internal vow by the late morning to make Merlin a very nice bath that evening. She had thought that she had finally understood why Merlin sometimes sounded so exhausted and agitated in his letters when it came to his duties, but now Ganieda realised that her cousin had been rather gracious in his descriptions and underselling just how taxing it was to look after some of Camelot's most high-profile guests.

She had desperately wanted to be jealous when Merlin, after getting Arthur and Guinevere ready for a set of undoubtedly heated negotiations with Gorlagon and then accompanying the Kings on a rather extensive city tour, got to spend time being the servant for the young princes and princess. But seeing Merlin give the young visiting Royals horse-back rides, pretending to be a dragon for them to slay and juggling for them, made Ganieda – and any other witnesses – smile so much that she could not muster up any envy.

If anyone deserved to look after the easiest guests at Camelot, it was Merlin.

But the warlock did find herself wanting to silence Cook for a few hours and find a quiet corner of the castle to sleep before Queen Accolon required her presence instead of Ettare again. Ganieda had nothing inherently against Gorlagon's wife, except for the fact that the Queen made Ganieda's fortress go up by an extra fifty to one hundred bricks.

The moment the woman entered a room, the warlock felt her magic hum as though preparing to protect her from some kind of threat. Not that the Queen seemed to notice anything. She always had that serene, gracious smile on her face. One that was eerily reminiscent of Queen Guinevere's smile.

Almost too nice to be genuine.

It was one of the reasons Ganieda was more than happy to run those silly herb errands Cook made her run when she wasn't told to dice, slice, stir or keep an eye on the laundry that was sometimes precariously placed near the food. But that did not mean a limit had not been reached. After all, she was not entirely accustomed to servant life, and it seemed that people forgot that in their haste.

Currently Ganieda was carrying the fresh sheets, cloak and a few dresses belonging to Queen Accolon and the fresh sheets for King Gorlagon's room, already planning on sneaking away to the physician's chambers until she was missed. Already, the warlock thought she could feel the bones in her body scream for some kind of mercy.
First, she dealt with the Queen's laundry since that would require the most sorting and work, and then she went to the King's chambers to change the sheets. That was when Ganieda wished she had gone to take her nap a whole lot earlier. Because the moment the warlock walked into the room, she sensed that there was something supernatural going on. The source of it – a plant.

No doubt the same plant Merlin had tried to unpack and apparently got barked at by King Gorlagon. Ganieda frowned, trying to ignore the mad humming that her magic was doing as she approached the boxed-up plant. She could not help but wonder what kind it was, and more importantly, what kind of magic was attached to it?
Because it had to be one powerful enchantment to immediately call to the magic inside her and Merlin.

Now and again, Ganieda looked over her shoulder and kept her ears perked for the sound of any footsteps heading towards the chambers. The warlock edged closer and closer to this quite literal forbidden fruit as the humming only got louder. Her ears were practically ringing as she quietly, carefully unhatched the top of the strange wooden crate that stood close to King Gorlagon's bed. With the sound of her heartbeat growing louder than the humming of the magic, Ganieda lifted the top of and peered inside.
To her disbelief, inside nestled a box full of dirt and soil. Growing from it was a strange plant; one that not even Ganieda had ever seen before and her knowledge of botany rivalled that of Gaius. It was vibrant green with orange and purple flowers and the humming from it was overbearing but not for a single moment could Ganieda look away from it.

The warlock tentatively reached out her hand, intended on trying to get a read from this mysterious fauna.

"I would not do that, if I were you."

Internally cursing, Ganieda whirled around and soon stood there with her eyes wide and feeling like a deer caught in the crossfires of a hunting party. All the while, Queen Accolon stood there with a small smile. The warlock really had no idea if she was about to find herself in the stocks or not.

"M-my Lady," she curtsied as soon as she was able to shake herself out of her stupor. "F-forgive me, I was just changing the King's sheets and I saw the crate-"

"-and got curious. Yes, I am afraid that is an affliction we all share," the Queen finished with a deceptively calm tone. Her eyes turned slightly cold as it turned onto the plant. "I should have you punished for your presumption, but considering you have managed to do what few have dared to endeavour, and I have an admiration for those with audacity, I should really give you the rest of the day off."

"My Lady?" Ganieda really had no idea what to think right now.

A look of amusement danced in Accolon's eyes.

"Very few have laid eyes on my husband's greatest treasure. Indeed, that plant has more guards than even our eldest son does and he is heir to the throne!" the Queen explained, her jovial tone rather strained. "I am sure you heard that he had some rather dulcet tones for your cousin when he tried to free the plant from its home."

"He … he did not really mention it, my Lady," the warlock answered truthfully. "Merlin is not really one to report the behaviour of the King's guests unless they really do something offensive or illegal."

"So, he is the honourable sort," the Queen chuckled softly and then regarded Ganieda a little more curiously. "What sort are you, Ganieda?"

Why do I have a feeling that I am being assessed…?

Ganieda really tried not to gulp. "I am the honest sort," was her rather blunt answer. "My Lady," she quickly added in case she sounded a little too impertinent.

The Queen, however, did not seem to be too offended. She simply nodded thoughtfully. "Well, that does not surprise me," she stated softly. "Now, I think it best that we do not exercise too much honesty in this case and do not say a word to my husband about this minor transgression. I would rather not cause a diplomatic incident between Gorlagon and Arthur, but I will have to order you never to touch this plant again, Ganieda."

"Yes, my Lady," Ganieda was all too happy to comply. Anything to get her out of the room.

"And you have the rest of the day to yourself," the Queen added before the warlock could entirely escape the room. "Your friend Ettare can look after me tonight."

"Thank you, my Lady."

"Enjoy your evening, Ganieda."

Amused; the Queen sounded very amused as Ganieda nigh on bolted out of the room. All the while, the warlock's ears had been ringing with the hum of magic and for some reason, Ganieda knew that it wasn't just because of the plant. Her magic did not like Queen Accolon either.

Queen Accolon … was it possible …

No, surely not …

Had Gorlagon married a witch?

Ganieda? What's the matter?

The warlock slowed down when she heard Mordred's voice in her head. Ganieda had not realised in her haste that she had been legging from one corridor to the other, and people were concerned. She turned around to see Mordred coming through the doorway she had just legged through, concern etched all over his young countenance.

I need to talk to Merlin, she answered honestly.

Emrys is not back with the children yet. What's going on?

Funny business. Magical funny business.

This answer made the Druidic Knight frown even more. Ganieda sighed to herself.

King Gorlagon's forbidden crate? It has a plant in it; one that is enchanted.

Mordred's eyes widened. Are you certain?

I know magic when I sense it. My head was pounding with the sensation. And there is something else. Something that may get me landed in the cells.

Mordred's countenance took on a look that Ganieda was all too familiar with, thanks to Hunith. Resignation.

What have you done?

It is nothing I have done, Sir Mordred. It is something I suspect.

Ganieda swallowed a little. Queen Accolon is one of our kind.

Ganieda was quietly concerned for Mordred's eyes as they more than bugged out of his sockets.

Are you certain, Ganieda?

My magic doesn't normally start humming for no reason, Sir Mordred!

Mordred flushed in embarrassment. Indeed. Sorry. I had to ask; I would not know as I have not been near her all too long, but I believe you.

You're forgiven. Come on, we are finding Merlin. Now.

I do not think that he wants me there …

Nonsense. Do not let my cousin intimidate you, Mordred. Merlin is sometimes a bit of a grumpy pants.

And has a habit of listening to certain meddling dragon's way of doing things too much for Ganieda's liking! Mordred smiled at Ganieda gratefully for that comment, which she already considered a win. The warlock and the Druid Knight hurried the rest of the way down into the courtyard, just as Merlin was returning with Gorlagon's children, the youngest prince on his back while the Crown Prince and his sister duelled.

"I will be the one to rescue our brother!"

"I have always been better with the sword, Clarion!"

Ganieda could not force the smile off her countenance at seeing the happy Royal children and Merlin looking so paternal. Mordred, however, gave her a gentle nudge, reminding her that she needed to stay focused. She shot him a grateful look before opening the Link between her and her cousin.

Merlin, you are probably going to hate me for this but I know for certain that my visions may have been right.

That caught Merlin's attention immediately. His attention shifted immediately away from Clarion and Caelia and he met Ganieda's gaze full on.

Please tell me you did not do something stupid …

Who? Me?

Ganieda could not help but answer with the characteristically jovial tone that practically ran in the family. I did not mean to do it – I was just doing the last of my chores. I wanted to nap … But my magic couldn't ignore Gorlagon's little secret.

Merlin's eyes widened. You got near it?

One better. I got a good look at the plant itself. It is nothing like I have ever seen before, and it's enchanted.

Enchanted? Are you sure?

Ganieda gave him a very unimpressed look. I want to kick you.

Sorry,

Merlin flushed in embarrassment, which actually made Mordred grin a little at seeing this all-powerful sorcerer look sheepish at doubting his cousin. But it would explain why King Gorlagon does not want anyone near it. Especially here. Arthur would not like that plant here at all.

There is something else,

Ganieda continued and sighed. I am pretty certain the Queen has magic.

Merlin pinched the bridge of his nose at this point. Of course she did; it was just Camelot's luck to get a visiting King with a magical plant and a sorceress for a wife! Merlin was a little more than tempted to actually go to the tavern tonight and get himself a rather stiff drink. Judging from Mordred's face, the Druid already knew everything.
Damn it.

Ganieda, I am going to ask you to do something you definitely won't like.

Judging by her countenance, said warlock already did not like where this was going.

Leave this to me.

Oh boy.

Merlin …

No. You will have to trust me on this, you as well, Mordred.

Merlin looked and sounded more serious than either of them had heard. You will not put yourselves in unnecessary danger; I will look into the plant and Queen Accolon and get back to both of you. Arthur and Camelot's safety is my responsibility, whether you like it or not.

Ganieda could not argue; Mordred looked like he wanted to but decided not to fight Emrys on this just yet. It was not usual for the warlock to dish out any kind of order. Plus, with the arrival of Leon's patrol there was no room for any further debate, because Merlin, Ganieda and Mordred were joined quickly by Leon, Gwaine, Percival and Tristan.

"Merlin! Ganieda! Mordred! Did you come to welcome us home?" Gwaine called jovially with a beaming smile as he dismounted his horse.

"Of course! We were utterly melancholy without you," Ganieda shot back with a grin, causing the Knights to chuckle. Gwaine smirked.

"How was patrol?" Mordred quickly moved the subject on as Percival took over Merlin's job at entertaining the children.

"No sign of any Saxons, nor any overt sign of Morgana," Leon reported and then sighed, "but we did find presence of wolves. We do not know whether they are just normal wolves, or if they are perhaps Morgana's."

Merlin and Ganieda shot each other a covet glance before their eyes landed on the Werewolf Knights, who were watching the group of Knights and secret warlocks with mixed glances. It seemed that those three had not been all that careful recently …

"I wouldn't tell Arthur about the wolves unless it is absolutely necessary," Merlin commented. "If Arthur thinks Morgana is here to ruin peace talks with Rheged then it may hamper his hunt with King Gorlagon, and we all know how the King likes his hunts."

"That is what we thought too," Tristan nodded in agreement.

"Though, I would make sure that there are more Knights and guards on the hunt," Ganieda pointed out. "Given the times we live in, I do not think the King nor King Gorlagon could protest at further efforts to protect them both."

Leon brightened considerably at that. "Quick thinking, Ganieda. I will add some extra men to the hunt immediately."

Ganieda could not help but grin, pleased that the Knight had taken her suggestion.

"Sooooo … Merlin, Ganieda … will you both join us at the tavern? For some food and drink?" Gwaine asked cautiously, nervously. "We all would love to have you there and spend some time trying to grovel to Merlin a little more."

The warlocks snorted in unison. Merlin looked to Ganieda for some strength, but he could already see the answer in her eyes. Put them out of their misery, just a little bit. Especially since the Knights had truly been making an effort to show that they were really sorry this time, and were likely not going to make the same mistake again.

"OK," the words left Merlin's mouth before he could stop himself. The Knights all lit up in seconds, which made Ganieda coo softly. Prince Clarion and Princess Caelia were watching the interaction with fascination from Percival's arms; they had just been "captured by the giant".

"Really?" Gwaine looked like he could barely believe his luck.

"Really," Merlin confirmed, almost rolling his eyes.

"Great! We will pick you both up at eight," Leon stated with a wry grin.

"Sir Percival, are you sure that Merlin is a servant?" they all heard Princess Caelia attempt to whisper to her captor.

"Yes, Your Highness. Why do you ask?" Percival asked warmly.

"Because the Knights are acting like shy suitors trying to court a princess," came the rather blunt answer from the young Royal.

That sent more than half of the Knights into guffaws and protests. Percival nigh on roared with laughter while Merlin turned beetroot in the face. The Werewolf Knights had no idea how to react to the scene before them.

Prince Clarion shook his head at his sister. "Look at what you have done now, Caelia! You have killed the Knights of Camelot. Now King Arthur will be angry! Father is going to curb your privileges."

Caelia pouted, looking ever so slightly worried at that prospect.

Indeed, it was this scene that both Arthur and Gorlagon came across; while the King of Camelot looked like a father who was on the verge of scolding his unruly children, there was a rare look of perplexion and then amusement that spread across the countenance of the stern King of Rheged.

Especially when his children tried to explain the situation.

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Queen Guinevere had felt her patience truly tested ever since the arrival of King Gorlagon and Queen Accolon. Though her fool of her husband and the cursed man who neurotically guarded his precious plant spent most of their waking moments together, debating and discussing and conversing, leaving her with enough moments to herself, Guinevere could not seem to find a moment alone with Accolon at all.

It was almost as though the Queen of Rheged enjoyed appearing and disappearing into thin air and she could not be found unless she wished it. It was most inconvenient and Guinevere felt her jaws clench on more than one occasion. Not even Ettare gave her any useful information on the visiting Queen.

Guinevere had contemplated interrogating Ganieda but decided against it, just in case if the girl proved to be as troublingly sharp as Merlin and would tell him or Gaius or anyone of the Queen's odd questions. No, Guinevere knew that a much more cunning hand was needed in this case.

Therefore, Guinevere kept as close of an eye as she was able to on the Rhegedian Royal heirs. After all, Accolon was a mother; she probably did not get to spend much time as Queen with her children and thus Guinevere assumed that Accolon would pop up around the precocious little brats.

Funnily enough, she did not. The princes and the princess were only in the company of either Merlin or George, who really did struggle to keep up with them. It would have amused Guinevere to witness in any other context. However, there was too much at stake in this case and thus it did not.

What kind of mother avoids her own children? Guinevere could not help but think for a moment.

Perhaps she is avoiding you and Arthur …?

It would explain why Accolon took most of her dinners in her chambers. Why the Queen of Rheged never seemed to be too comfortable near her or Arthur. After all, many still only saw her as a servant who had no right to sit on the throne …

It made Guinevere scoff to herself coldly.

As Mother Night blanketed Camelot in her cloak and the stars came out once more, Guinevere put on her favourite cloak and decided to take a walk. Arthur did not protest when she had told him of her intentions. Indeed, he seemed rather relieved that he could simply get an early night's sleep and not perform his marital duties first.
Guinevere had been relieved too; she was getting tired of having to pretend to enjoy it.

The Queen forced herself to focus on the problem at hand and find a solution on how to corner the visiting Queen and get her to do what Morgana wanted her to do. Because deals were always made, but traitors blow hot and cold. Guinevere was not simply content to sit back and watch and wait for Accolon to get rid of her husband.

I think Morgana may have over-estimated the ambition of this one, Guinevere found herself grumbling.

However, it seemed that perhaps the Triple Goddess was on her side this evening. For when the Queen of Camelot turned right in order to leave the Royal wing and join the main body of the castle, she really had to restrain her jubilation at seeing the figure of Queen Accolon, heading her way. The visiting Queen Consort was dressed for bed, with a shawl around her and her countenance was contorted in thought.

Well, here is your chance …

Guinevere maintained her mask of indifference as she headed towards Accolon. The Queen of Rheged did not seem to notice that she was heading in the direction of the woman she had been so desperate to avoid and Guinevere was rather determined to make sure that Her Highness would only realise until it was too late, and could not escape so easily this time.

"Nice evening for a walk, is it not?"

The Queen of Camelot timed her greeting perfectly. Accolon was far enough away from her to not arouse suspicion, but most importantly, the Queen of Rheged was close enough that she could not simply snub Guinevere's presence or ignore her, no matter how much Accolon may wish to do so.

And the secret witch Queen herself knew it, and internally kicked herself when she realised that she had indeed ran into King Arthur's common born Consort and could not simply make an excuse to escape from her presence so easily. Accolon had spied several guards who could see them, and would be able to report to King Arthur any uncourteous and treasonous behaviour.

Accolon had already seen enough of the King to know that he was not Uther Pendragon, but she really did not wish to draw unnecessary attention onto herself.

"Queen Guinevere," Queen Accolon forced herself to greet the former servant graciously, dipping only a miniscule curtsey. "Yes, it is. The evenings in Camelot are far warmer than the ones back home so I thought I would make the most of it."

"Well, I am a strong advocate for a good walk, no matter what the weather. Though, in colder temperatures and with snow, I do recommend boots and gloves," Guinevere joked lightly as she prowled a little closer to Accolon.

The Queen of Rheged took two steps back as she did so.

"Indeed," Accolon responded coolly, her eyes not so subtly sizing the other Queen up. "I cannot go for long ones, however. My Lord Husband always expects me back at a certain time. Speaking of which-"

Guinevere knew an excuse to escape when she saw one; her lips turned up into a little sneer.

"Speaking of which, why have you not taken up the advice of our mutual friend yet?" she asked with venomous sweetness. At her words, Accolon turned grey and her eyes widened. Guinevere smirked ever so slightly. "Had I been in your position, I would have acted already."

At those words, Accolon's jaws set and her eyes turned cold. "You have little right to judge me," she sneered back. "After all, what would a serving girl know what it takes to be Queen? You haven't even produced an heir for your Kingdom."

Guinevere sneered. "I would, if it would further the cause," she hissed. "But it does not, so I see no point in giving my dear husband another obstacle to put in the way of the rightful Queen."

Accolon could hardly believe her ears. She had heard the sickening tales of how the King of Camelot snubbed noble and Royal women alike, only to settle for a servant girl who at one point had been banished for betraying him. And here the same peasant girl was, plotting with Morgana against her own husband.

Though, there was something in the Queen of Camelot's eyes that made the Royal witch frown. Something that she saw regularly in her own eyes – cold, calculated hatred and determination. Not something Accolon had expected to see in the eyes of Guinevere Pendragon. But there was something … not right about the hatred. It was almost, not natural. Not like Accolon's own.

No … the hatred, the treason and the determination had been put inside Guinevere by something else, and Accolon already had a suspicion as to what it was. It seemed that Morgana was far more powerful than the Queen of Rheged already knew. Powerful enough to perform one of the Old Religion's most Dark and dangerous rites.

Accolon found herself smirking at the puppet Queen. "You are not loyal to husband, my Lady?"

"I am as loyal to mine as you are," Guinevere sneered with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Our mutual friend gave you a way to deal with your particular problem, my Lady. Do not waste it."

Accolon raised an eyebrow. "How much do you know?" she demanded suspiciously.

"I know enough," Guinevere responded simply, shrugging rather elegantly. She cocked her head at the Queen of Rheged. "Enough to know that our husbands' dealings are almost concluded and their treaty will be sealed imminently."

Accolon hummed. "Yes. It is a pity that Rheged needs Camelot's charity."

"But does Rheged need its current king?" Guinevere could not help but push at the other Queen's buttons a little more. Accolon tried to keep her countenance throughout the Queen's stoking of her internal fires. "Is it not time for a regime change? With a king who is much more … manageable than the old, moody Gorlagon?"

The Queen of Rheged was clever enough not to give any overt signs that she concurred wholeheartedly with Morgana's puppet. She simply gave Guinevere an aloof look before she continued on her way, not even bothering to give the enchanted Queen so much as a respectful head bow. Guinevere turned to watch Accolon leave with a dark look in her eyes, burrow furrowed deeply.

Neither of them noticed, however, that they indeed had been watched, minutely. Biclarel, Marrok and Melion – all three who had also been invited to join Merlin, Ganieda and their fellow Knights at the local tavern – had been on their way to have an evening off to try and make a better relationship with the Knights and two strange servants. Seeing the Queen of Camelot and the Queen of Rheged together in a clearly not so friendly confrontation, had stopped the three Werewolf Knights in their tracks.
They had kept themselves away in the shadows and had dared not draw too close to the Queens, but their super-heightened hearing caught enough of the conversation for all three of them to be extremely concerned.

"Can we now agree that we may have enough to go to the King with?" Melion hissed as they made their escape.

"You do realise we would have to explain why we were there, how we were able to hear anything or even how we even know that the Queens are in league with Morgana?" Marrok reminded him, giving him a pointed look. "We might just hand ourselves over to be turned into nice fur coats!"

"We cannot be as reckless as our fathers were," Biclarel agreed. "We need to handle this much more carefully. Without incriminating what we are. We need cast iron proof of treason and sedition. Something that cannot be denied by anyone."

"Brilliant," Melion sighed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "How do you propose we do that?"

"I am not entirely sure," Biclarel admitted, "but I think it is time we had a conversation with Merlin and Ganieda ourselves."

Marrok and Melion knew what that meant; they exchanged a look of anticipation but a hint of excitement.

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Accolon would never admit it to herself, but Guinevere's words unearthed the rest of her growing need to be rid of her husband. She supposed she was indeed lucky; Accolon had at her disposal a means to get rid of Gorlagon without the need to spend too much blood. After all, the hunting party would do that job for her. The Queen of Rheged finished the rest of her evening stroll, two sides of her battling for supremacy over her will.

When she returned, she saw George and Ettare attending to her children – Merlin and Ganieda had been given a well-deserved night off and apparently had gone to the tavern with some of the Knights of Camelot. When Accolon had been told about this earlier that evening, she had expected herself to grimace at the idea of nobility and the peasantry fraternising with each other but instead, she smiled.

In her mind, at least, Merlin and Ganieda were exceptions to the rule.

After watching the children read to George and Ettare before bed, Accolon noticed the door to Gorlagon's chambers was ajar and that her husband had not retired yet. This made the Queen frown a little, and dare to enter his rooms without so much as knocking. The King barely registered her presence, as always.
He was too preoccupied with his stupid plant, caressing its petals and leaves with a tenderness Accolon never had from him. This made her jaws set for a moment before the Queen forced herself to smile.

"You are not retired yet, my Lord."

"Clearly," came the usual cold, sardonic answer from Gorlagon. He did not even turn around to acknowledge her. Accolon found her anger beginning to rise. "For what reason do you disturb me, wife? Do you wish for me to return to your bed? You made it abundantly clear after an heir and a spare, you do not wish for my presence."

Accolon stepped closer, the door closing behind her. The Queen's eyes did not leave the plant for a single moment.

"I always thought I would be humiliated by whomever you took as a mistress," the Queen truly started to voice what was on her mind for the first time in years. She paid no interest to her husband as she prowled forward towards the offending fauna. "But instead, I find myself always playing second fiddle … to a stupid plant."

Gorlagon bristled at her words, his eyes darkening dangerously. "Be careful, Accolon, before I lose my temper," he growled.

Accolon's cold smile only carved itself further onto her countenance. She felt everything had now reached an inevitable point of no return, and the Queen knew she could not falter now. "That might have frightened me once upon a time, husband. But alas, that time has long been gone, and I will no longer stand for this humiliation."

The King saw red. Gorlagon raised his hand to strike his lippy Queen, but Accolon was not going to allow him to hit his mark. With a flash of gold in her eyes, the Queen sent her husband flying back. Gorlagon went flying back and landed with a nasty thud against a nearby wall. The King was stunned, groaning in pain, gripping his head. Accolon giggled coldly as she turned to the plant and hewed a thick root from the accursed plant of which she had been jealous.

"It seems you never really took the trouble to get to know your own wife, my Lord," she stated silkily as she prowled forward, root dancing between her fingers.

"You … you have magic …" Gorlagon could only growl in reply.

"Yes, I do," Accolon smirked. "How lonely it is, to hide yourself away from a man who would have you killed for something you are born with, and then has a secret of his own that he has to hide from everyone else, lest they turn him into a fur coat."

These words made the King of Rheged pale considerably, his eyes widening in disbelief at what he was hearing. "No," he whispered. "No, tis impossible! You cannot know-"

"Oh but I do, my love," Accolon hissed. "Because your secret is not as closely guarded as you think. But I think we have had a long enough conversation. Tis time to give you exactly what you deserve, Gorlagon."

Taking full advantage of her husband's dazed state, the Queen struck her husband over the head a total of seven to nine times, chanting as she did so. The problem was, in her eagerness and own blind rage, Accolon made a rather crucial mistake. She had meant to say, "turn into a wolf with the mind of a wolf." That was not what came out of the Queen's mouth. No; she commanded the magic to turn Gorlagon "into a wolf with the mind of a man."

Gorlagon could feel his ire burn bright as the magic he so feared cocooned itself around him and awoke the curse embedded in his being. As the King of Rheged felt his bones break and change, a snout growing from his face, his skin sprout jet black fur, his hands and feet turning into claws and his eyes turning lupine, he was surprised when he felt his mind remain as clear as it had always been.

Very soon, Accolon found herself in the presence of an enormous, intimidating wolf that was glaring at her with undisguised hatred, accompanied clearly by vengeance. Before the Werewolf King could seize his moment to attempt to rip his Queen's throat out for her treason, the door to the chambers suddenly flew open.

"My Lady, Sire, is everything all right-"

Ettare had come in, concerned about the noises she had heard coming from the Royal chambers and had risked her neck and job to check on the King and Queen. A risk the servant would soon pay the price for. Ettare's eyes widened at seeing the giant wolf in the room with no King Gorlagon in sight and the Queen boxing the lupine creature in.
For a moment, Gorlagon smirked at Accolon in triumph. There was surely no possible way that she could talk her way out of this. However, his witch wife was far more cunning and vindictive than Gorlagon could ever have imagined. Before he or the serving girl could react, Accolon's eyes bled gold once more and Ettare went flying back, slamming her head and neck back in a way that made Gorlagon wince. He watched as the Queen used her magic to simulate wolf claw marks on the girl and then started to scream at the top of her lungs.

"HEEEEEELP! HEEEEELP MEEEE! WOLF! WOOOOLF! GUARDS!"

Gorlagon's eyes widened in horror as well as anger. With a growl, the Werewolf King – who had finally gotten control of his senses and his movements – fled out of his chambers, desperately fleeing from the cacophony of plated footsteps that he knew would spell his doom. Especially since he could not argue for himself. The King of Rheged fled through the corridors of the labyrinthine palace hiding in empty rooms in regular intervals as he was forced to descend deeper into the darker depths of the castle.
Meanwhile, as her husband was fleeing for his life, Accolon executed the second stage of her plan while Rhegedian knights as well as the Knights of Camelot were rushing left, right and centre to try and find a wolf that had broken into the castle, somehow without being detected. The damn fools …

The Queen of Rheged entered the chambers of her children. George, who had been dutifully tucking each Royal into bed, straightened as soon as he noticed her presence, eyes widening considerably. The normally composed young man swallowed. "My Lady? Is all well? What is this about a wolf?" he asked, voice edged with concern.
Accolon almost smiled apologetically. "The Knights will handle the matter," she answered in an eerily controlled tone. "I wish for you to take my children and hide them. Hide them in a place where they cannot be tracked so easily. I will not have my children mauled in their beds."

Something really did not sit right with George, nor did it with the children. Clarion and Caelia exchanged a look between them, while their youngest brother just looked between the adults with confusion. George, for the first time in his life, contemplated questioning the Queen of Rheged – it seemed that Merlin's influence really was starting to get to him – but the dutiful servant won out. George gathered up the youngest prince while Clarion and Caelia wrapped themselves in their blankets and followed him out of their chambers.

Clarion and Caelia looked back at their mother a couple of times in fear and anxiety before turning back to George.

"Where are you taking us?" Princess Caelia wanted to know.

"The kitchens. Very few dare to venture down there. If that is not safe enough, the crypts," George replied, swallowing nervously, keeping a sharp eye out for anything that looked remotely huge, hairy and wolf-like.

"Can you even fight?" Clarion asked incredulously, taking in George's rather scrawny appearance.

George sniffed a little. "I will do what I need to in order to protect you, Your Highness. You can count on that."

"How did the wolf even get into Camelot? Surely it would have been seen?" Caelia continued to muse out loud.

"One would think so, Your Highness. Perhaps the guards have been drinking too much," George huffed. It would not be the first time that had occurred.

None of the children dared to answer. By the time George had found them a good place inside of the castle cellar where the food and drink reserves were kept, the warning bell was tolling, waking up the castle residents and causing a considerable degree of alarm in Merlin, Ganieda, Marrok, Biclarel and Melion.

When the news spread of a giant wolf inside the walls of Camelot, the warlocks and the Werewolf Knights found their eyes meeting during the chaos. A silent agreement passed between them – they needed to talk sooner rather than later.

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Accolon has done it – she has awoken her husband's werewolf curse in the walls of Camelot itself. Poor Ettare … she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught in a game that was bigger than she was …

What will happen to Gorlagon? Will this create a temporary alliance between Merlin, his cousin and the Werewolf Knights? Will the other Knights try and prove that they are truly sorry and help with this supernatural problem?

And most importantly, will Arthur know or will he be kept in the dark about what happened? Stay tuned to find out!

I don't know about you, but I am getting pumped already!

Kingmaker'sUmbreon

P.S. I also want to announce something. I have decided that my Merlin fanfics will be written as though they would be forty-minute episodes for the series. I am planning on making an anthology of Merlin fics based on actual Arthuriana. I think build up between episodes/stories is the best way to go.