A/N: I hope you'll excuse me for a bridging chapter ... but since you're reading a merlin fanfic you'll get my excitement ... I'm off to see Colin Morgan tomorrow at the Brisbane Supanova and I'm SOOOO EXCITED, far too excited to write much! I only just found out he was coming to Australia yesterday so this was a very last minute idea to go see him. :-)))))))))))))))

It was a long day.

Merlin decided to save the library and the Book of Gefrégea for later in the day. He knew he'd have to bring the druid book to Arthur, but Merlin wasn't going to try and sneak it past Geoffrey in broad daylight, such an escapade was better saved for the dark. And he wasn't planning to do exactly what Arthur had asked either - he had no intention of translating everything that the Book wrote about Emrys and the Once and Future King. He could not let Arthur suspect his secret, so wanted some time to think about what the book said and what he could let Arthur know.

So he planned to visit the library later, and concentrated on his usual chores during the morning. But by midday, Merlin was unbearably tired. After Arthur had left for his council meeting, Merlin had taken the breakfast plates back to the kitchen, then done some washing and cleaned the prince's room. But Merlin hadn't finished the cleaning when he found himself slumping against the cool stone wall in the prince's room, unusually exhausted. He rubbed his chest, it felt ... odd. He thought about it for a moment, a faint nagging sense of unease playing on his mind, but he couldn't narrow down what he should be concerned about, so he shrugged the feeling off.

His hands were itchy again too. He didn't think Arthur would be back for quite some time so he unwound the bandages covering his hands and peered at the membrane between his fingers. The thin film of skin was still there like it'd always been a part of him, and it didn't look like it was about to go away any time soon. He sighed and decided to leave the bandages off for a while, the itching went away when the skin wasn't covered, and if he kept his hands together no one would notice.

He leant against the wall, his head to the side, the cold press of the stone against his cheek was soothing. He was so hot, but also a little cold, and heavy-eyed and tired. He knew he'd have to get up again soon, not only did he still have some chores to finish, he didn't like leaving the dragon's egg for too long, while she was settled now, the little creature started whimpering every few hours and calling out to him, and Merlin found she hushed quickly if he was quick to respond; if he took his time, she tended to get too noisy and once or twice he had to command her to quieten down again. She was getting better at being soothed by mind speech, but she seemed to prefer it when he picked up the egg and spoke to her.

He wriggled against the wall, trying to find a more comfortable position. He felt so lethargic and sleepy. He decided to shut his eyes, just a moment wouldn't hurt. He had no intention of falling asleep, but he did. He woke with a jerk much later, dazed, and for a moment he didn't know where he was.

Dusk had fallen, Arthur's room was dim. Merlin didn't move for a minute, letting awareness come back to him in increments. He didn't realise what had woken him until he heard it again, the first call had been in his dreams but now the baby dragon was growing increasingly vocal.

He stood up on shaky legs, putting a hand on the wall to steady himself, and stumbled back to his room to deal with her. Gaius was out, he picked up the egg and sat down on the edge of the bed, and talked to her. She wanted to know about the outside world this time, he gave her descriptions of Camelot and the castle, and the people within it. He didn't know how interested she was in what he was saying, but the sound of his voice soothed the tiny creature, and she was content to be left to her own devices again, when he remembered his other plans.

He'd wanted to go to the library to find out more about the merman's daughter, and why Uther had her executed so a trip to the archives was in order. He warmed the baby's water and placed the egg back in it, then he rewrapped the bandages over his hands, heartily sick of them.

He had to hurry before Geoffrey shut for the day, he could always use his abilities to get in undetected later of course, but he didn't know where these types of records were kept, so he wanted to ask the librarian.

Geoffrey wasn't very pleased to be asked to show him the court's records of executions, but he reluctantly directed Merlin to the musty old pile of ledgers when Merlin uttered the magic words, Gaius wants to know.

Merlin peered at the huge pile of books and sighed, then settled down at the table to thumb through them. He found the book he wanted fairly quickly, the ledger for that year was the sixth tome from the top of the pile. He brushed the dust off the cover of the book with the back of his sleeve, but when he opened it he peered at it in dismay; the book hadn't been bound, and all the pages in it were loose sheets and it was clear they weren't in order when the first one was dated the seventh month of the year.

Geoffrey must have heard his groan, because he stuck his head around the corner and cleared his throat enquiringly.

Merlin held the top piece of parchment up and tried not to sound too annoyed. "The book's not in order."

Geoffrey frowned at him accusingly, like that was possibly Merlin's fault, but then his face cleared. "Ah, yes. That one fell off the table one day, I was always meaning to go through it and put it back in order." He looked suddenly happy. "But I'm sure Gaius would thank you if you did that for both of us."

Merlin managed a weak smile, and nodded, resigned. "Right." He sneezed. "I'll take it back to Gaius's chambers then."

Geoffrey's tone was stern. "Oh no, young man. That book cannot be taken from the library."

Merlin sneezed again, he really didn't want to stay in the library with Geoffrey breathing over his shoulder. He dredged up his most guileless expression. "But Geoffrey ... Gaius really wants to see it. He's so busy, I'm sure he'd be very grateful if I could bring it to him so he could read it this evening."

"Hmm." Geoffrey frowned again and eyed him suspiciously, Merlin wondered if he reserved that look just for him, he certainly saw it on the librarian's face often enough. Geoffrey grunted disapprovingly, but said slowly, "Very well. Gaius did give me a rather expensive jar of cream for my gout last week at very little cost." Then he scowled threateningly. "Take the book then, but if it comes back damaged I'll be holding you responsible."

The book could hardly become more damaged than it already was, but Merlin left the thought unsaid. He mumbled his thanks and lugged the tome up to Gaius's chambers, and found his mentor serving out dinner for the two of them. He checked on the dragon egg and spoke to the baby again before putting her carefully back in her bowl of water beside his bed, she was sleepy and not inclined to talk.

"Ah, Merlin." Gaius placed a bowl of grapes in the middle of their table as Merlin sat down. "Arthur just sent a message, he won't want you tonight, he's dining with his father and two of the nobles. He'll be late. You're not required to serve either."

Merlin was thankful. He scratched his bandages and placed the ledger down beside his plate and began to pick at his food.

Gaius quirked an eyebrow. "And he said something about saving the bedtime story for tomorrow."

"He did?" Merlin quickly hid a smile but didn't answer the question on Gaius's face.

His mentor didn't pursue it, he poured them both a goblet of water, and sat down at the table. "But Arthur did say he expects you when dawn breaks tomorrow, he's going back to Shalford."

"Already?" Merlin was surprised. "It's a bit early. The merman's ultimatum is later. He didn't have to go for another few days." He yawned, now that he was sitting down again the general feeling of exhaustion was creeping back again, the sleep he'd had earlier had hardly helped.

"Leon sent word about something, Arthur wants to ride out to meet him. Now, what have you got there?" Gaius pointed to the book.

Merlin swallowed a grape. "I told you about the merman, that he said Uther had killed his daughter. I thought I'd find out what happened, what she was accused of, that sort of thing."

Gaius carved the ham and placed a generous serving on Merlin's plate. "Yes, I thought it a little unusual when you mentioned it. Mermaids are shapeshifters, and extremely good at concealing their true nature when they have to, more so than a merman. They look exactly like a female human when they choose to take on that form. And if caught, they can easily charm their way out of situations, they're sirens, their songs enchant."

Merlin nodded and opened the book but Gaius batted his hand away. "Save it for later, Merlin. Geoffrey will skin you alive if you get food on it."

They finished their meal in silence, and Gaius took a seat on the bench beside him when he'd cleared away their plates. "So what are we looking at?"

Merlin opened the book. "It's a record of executions. The merman said Uther had her executed at the last Feast of St Valentine's Festival."

Gaius shuffled some of the loose parchment around. "That's held only every seven years, and the last one was held almost that long ago."

"Yes, that's why I could narrow down the date. It's all I have to go on, I don't even know her name. But there'll be something, somewhere in here." Merlin pointed to the mess of papers and yawned again. "But that means she was executed years ago, why do you think the merman has waited so long to do anything?"

Gaius was thoughtful. "That's something to ponder, Merlin. But perhaps he only discovered it. Remember, the merman is not seen in this lake regularly, the last sighting of him was a decade ago now."

"But how would he have known his daughter was killed when he'd said she was?"

"If the villagers were aware of her, they may have told him what happened."

"But why wouldn't they have told us that, when we talked to them after the children were taken?" That didn't make sense to Merlin, the villagers wanted their children found, they would have given Arthur every clue they could think of.

Gaius admitted, "I do not know."

Merlin went back to the pile in front of him. There were hundreds of loose pages. He glanced sideways at Gaius, he knew a much quicker way of sorting them out. "Er, Gaius, just move back a moment."

The physician quirked an eyebrow at him but leant back obediently, and Merlin muttered a few words under his breath. The pages twirled up into the air and when they settled again they were in order.

"Merlin!" Gaius coughed, dust was whirling everywhere. He blinked and wiped his eyes and said disapprovingly, "Next time tell me before you do something like that." He coughed again.

"Sorry." Merlin grinned at him, and muttered something else, his eyes glowed and the pages bound themselves to the spine of the book. "Much better."

Gaius shook his head. "And how are you going to explain that to Geoffrey?"

"Oh. Yeah." Merlin scratched his chin. "Maybe I'll take it off when we've read it."

"Maybe," Gaius said dryly. "Now, what can we find?"

They hunted through to the second month, when the Festival had been held. But there was nothing, not one record of magical beings captured, or executed. No records of new imprisonments of anyone except two men who'd been caught fighting to the death over the ownership of a chicken. There wasn't even any record of trials held or presided over by Uther after the third day of that month.

"This can't be right." Merlin was puzzled.

"He did say she was executed at the Festival?"

"Yes." Merlin was sure of it.

"Did your enchantment work properly? Are you sure you've put it in chronological order?"

"It worked, Gaius. That's an easy spell."

They looked at each other then Gaius held up a hand. "Wait. I think that month ... hold on." He stood up and walked across the room, going to the bookshelf and hunting through it. He picked up one of the books, flicked through it and put it down again, satisfied. "Yes, I thought so."

"What?" Merlin tipped his head up, watching.

"Uther wasn't in Camelot for most of February, Merlin. No trials were held. He was at a summit in Caerleon's kingdom for a few weeks. All the neighbouring kings went. I went with him, it was just before you came to Camelot."

Merlin was hopeful, perhaps there was an easy way to stop this creature if his daughter was unharmed. "So the merman's daughter may not have been executed by Uther? The merman was wrong?"

"Perhaps." Gaius added, "Or perhaps he got the date wrong."

Merlin sighed. He'd have to borrow more of these books. He just hoped the others were in better condition.

He scratched his bandaged hands again. It was going to be a long night.

A/N: Review, pretty please? Or share my excitement and let me know if there's anything you want me to ask Colin tomorrow and I'll try and do so. SOOOOO EXCITED!