[Location: Camelot — Gaius's Chambers, Morning]
Sunlight cut through the tall, narrow windows of the royal physician's quarters, spilling across scrolls and vials. Dust motes danced in the golden light, caught between the smell of dried herbs and hot wax.
Gaius moved carefully through the room, half-focused on a potion simmering over a small flame. His attention, however, kept drifting toward the young man pacing by the table.
"Merlin," Gaius said finally, "if you keep wearing a trench in my floor, I'll start charging you for repairs."
Merlin stopped mid-step, frowning. "Something's wrong. I can feel it."
"That's not new," Gaius said mildly, "you've felt that way every time Uther bans another color of robe or someone sneezes too loud in the court."
Merlin didn't smile. His eyes were fixed on the floor, thoughts racing. "No, this is different. Magic. It's been… flickering. Like a pulse under the castle. Stronger these last few nights."
Gaius's hand stilled over the bubbling potion. "You're sure?"
Merlin nodded. "It's faint, but I felt it near the lower halls when I was fetching supplies. It's not the usual wards or old runes — this is something alive. Someone's practicing magic under the castle."
The old physician exhaled slowly, the weight of years pressing into the silence. "If that's true, Merlin, then someone's being very careless — or very bold."
Merlin hesitated, then added, "I think it's him."
"Ren?"
Merlin nodded. "He's been acting distant. Avoiding me, sneaking out at night. And there's something strange about his magic — it doesn't feel like ours. Even when he's suppressing it, there's this… vibration."
Gaius rubbed his temple. "He's not a fool. If he's using magic this openly, he's desperate for something."
"Or someone's teaching him."
The older man looked up sharply. "Who?"
"I don't know yet." Merlin's eyes hardened. "But I'm going to find out."
Before Gaius could stop him, the younger sorcerer was already halfway to the door.
"Merlin!"
He turned back.
"Be careful," Gaius said quietly. "There are things moving in this castle older than either of us. And not all of them will welcome curiosity."
Merlin gave a half-smile. "Since when have I ever been careful?"
The door closed behind him, leaving the faint echo of his boots down the corridor.
Gaius sighed and turned to the window, looking out over the city below.
Camelot looked peaceful — banners fluttering, the training yard full of clashing steel — but he could feel it too now, faintly. A hum just at the edge of hearing.
The same hum that had preceded war once, long ago.
He muttered to himself, "The wind always shifts before the storm."
[Location: Camelot — Morgana's Chambers, Later That Night]
Morgana sat by the window, her candle burning low. The city beyond was quiet — a rare peace she'd come to distrust.
Ren was late. He'd promised to meet her before dawn, to decide whether they'd go to the druid's circle.
Her gaze drifted toward the lower courtyard. The guards were doubling shifts again — Uther must've sensed unrest.
She tightened her cloak, pushing back the unease that had settled in her chest. If they were going to do this, they'd have to move fast.
Then, from the shadows outside, a flicker of movement — and Ren stepped into the moonlight, his expression unreadable.
"You're late," she said.
He shrugged lightly. "Had to make sure no one was following me."
Morgana studied him a moment. "Merlin's suspicious, isn't he?"
Ren didn't answer, which told her everything.
"Then we'll have to be careful," she said, standing. "Uther's no fool — if Merlin starts asking questions, it won't take long before the king starts looking for answers."
Ren nodded. "Then we move tonight."
The candle's flame guttered in the sudden draft as he turned toward the door.
"Ren," she called softly.
He paused.
"Are you sure this is worth the risk?"
His reply came quiet but certain. "If I don't learn to control what's inside me… there won't be a 'risk' left to take."
And with that, the two slipped into the corridor, the castle asleep above them — unaware that before dawn, Camelot's forbidden woods would once again know the touch of druid fire.