Treason Below Stairs
Author: sidhe_faerie
Title: Treason Below Stairs
Rating: PG
Pairing/s:
Character/s: Merlin, Gwen, Leon, Lily the maid.
Summary: Someone in Camelot wants to kill the Queen.
Warnings: near death, illness
Word Count: 521
Prompt: 600. Poison
Author's Notes:
Treason Below Stairs
Merlin sat in his chambers reading over a thick volume on herbal remedies. It had been quiet for days. No one had so much as a splinter.
Many years have passed since Arthur's death. Merlin was now the Court Physician of Queen Guinevere’s court and her advisor on all things magick. Practicing magick was now legal in Camelot.
It was nearly midday when Leon burst through the door.
“Merlin, the Queen requires your presence.” Leon looked nervous.
Merlin grabbed his medicine bag. “What's happened? Is the Queen unwell?”
“Not her but her maid.” Leon waved him out the door. “Hurry Merlin.”
Merlin frowned and rushed to the royal chambers. He entered without knocking and sat his bag on the table.
Gwen's maid, Lily was laying on the bed as white as the sheet she was laying on.
“Merlin, she just fell ill all of sudden.” Gwen moved over to let Merlin look at the maid.
Merlin looked at the maid’s eyes and in her mouth. “Did she eat or drink anything?”
“Yes. She had some of the meat pie that had been sent up for my midday meal.” Gwen looked over at the table. “I didn't want it so I told her that she could have some.”
Merlin went over to the table and sniffed the meat pie. “Poison. I'll need fresh water and a bucket.” He pulled a few cold coals from the hearth. He crushed them and mixed them with water. “Leon, hold her head. I need to get this in her to dilute the poison.”
Gwen watched as Leon held Lily as Merlin forced the liquid into her.
A few minutes later, Lily was sick. Merlin held the bucket for her until her stomach was empty.
“Leon, go down to the kitchen and see if they've hired anyone new.” Merlin pointed to the table. “Find out who made that meat pie and take them to the cells.”
Gwen nodded at Leon in dismissal.
Leon bowed and left the room.
“Why do you think it was someone new, Merlin?” Gwen asked.
“The cook knows you don't like meat pie. You eat lighter during the day as well. Arthur was the one that ate meat pies.”
“So you do believe the poison was meant for me.” Gwen wet a cloth and mopped Lily's head.
“Yes. You need to be cautious. Have someone taste your food and keep Leon close and double the guards.” Merlin reached out and took Gwen’s hand. “If something were to happen to you, Arthur would haunt me.”
Gwen smiled. “We both would.”
Merlin sighed. He looked at Lily again. “I think I got to her in time. Let her rest. I'll check her later.”
Leon came back into the room. “My lady, I found the culprit. She's in the cells now. Two other people have been poisoned. Sir Frederick and Lady Mildred.”
“I better go. I'll be back later.” Merlin picked up his bag and whispered to Leon. “Stay here with the Queen. I can handle those two on my own.”
Leon nodded. “You don't have to tell me twice.”
Merlin bowed and left the room.
Title: Treason Below Stairs
Rating: PG
Pairing/s:
Character/s: Merlin, Gwen, Leon, Lily the maid.
Summary: Someone in Camelot wants to kill the Queen.
Warnings: near death, illness
Word Count: 521
Prompt: 600. Poison
Author's Notes:
Treason Below Stairs
Merlin sat in his chambers reading over a thick volume on herbal remedies. It had been quiet for days. No one had so much as a splinter.
Many years have passed since Arthur's death. Merlin was now the Court Physician of Queen Guinevere’s court and her advisor on all things magick. Practicing magick was now legal in Camelot.
It was nearly midday when Leon burst through the door.
“Merlin, the Queen requires your presence.” Leon looked nervous.
Merlin grabbed his medicine bag. “What's happened? Is the Queen unwell?”
“Not her but her maid.” Leon waved him out the door. “Hurry Merlin.”
Merlin frowned and rushed to the royal chambers. He entered without knocking and sat his bag on the table.
Gwen's maid, Lily was laying on the bed as white as the sheet she was laying on.
“Merlin, she just fell ill all of sudden.” Gwen moved over to let Merlin look at the maid.
Merlin looked at the maid’s eyes and in her mouth. “Did she eat or drink anything?”
“Yes. She had some of the meat pie that had been sent up for my midday meal.” Gwen looked over at the table. “I didn't want it so I told her that she could have some.”
Merlin went over to the table and sniffed the meat pie. “Poison. I'll need fresh water and a bucket.” He pulled a few cold coals from the hearth. He crushed them and mixed them with water. “Leon, hold her head. I need to get this in her to dilute the poison.”
Gwen watched as Leon held Lily as Merlin forced the liquid into her.
A few minutes later, Lily was sick. Merlin held the bucket for her until her stomach was empty.
“Leon, go down to the kitchen and see if they've hired anyone new.” Merlin pointed to the table. “Find out who made that meat pie and take them to the cells.”
Gwen nodded at Leon in dismissal.
Leon bowed and left the room.
“Why do you think it was someone new, Merlin?” Gwen asked.
“The cook knows you don't like meat pie. You eat lighter during the day as well. Arthur was the one that ate meat pies.”
“So you do believe the poison was meant for me.” Gwen wet a cloth and mopped Lily's head.
“Yes. You need to be cautious. Have someone taste your food and keep Leon close and double the guards.” Merlin reached out and took Gwen’s hand. “If something were to happen to you, Arthur would haunt me.”
Gwen smiled. “We both would.”
Merlin sighed. He looked at Lily again. “I think I got to her in time. Let her rest. I'll check her later.”
Leon came back into the room. “My lady, I found the culprit. She's in the cells now. Two other people have been poisoned. Sir Frederick and Lady Mildred.”
“I better go. I'll be back later.” Merlin picked up his bag and whispered to Leon. “Stay here with the Queen. I can handle those two on my own.”
Leon nodded. “You don't have to tell me twice.”
Merlin bowed and left the room.