TSitS - Llud's Poison
Title: The Sword in the Stone Series
Pairing: Pretty Gen. Kind of one-sided Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Arthur, hinted Gwen/Lancelot. It’s about as gay as the series is, which is pretty gay.
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC’s Merlin. If I did, I’d be pretty happy because I’d know Colin and Bradley personally.
Summary: The legend of Excalibur is not as simple as everyone thinks. Arthur pulls a sword from a stone, beginning a chain of events that will lead him to his destiny and the sorcerer prophesied to stand beside him.
Chapter Summary: The seer said one wizard would stand at Arthur's side. Just one. The only way to be absolutely certain you are "the one" is to get rid of the competition altogether. A mysterious illness has affected many of Camelot's citizens, and Merlin is no exception. Everyone with even a hint of magic in them is falling ill and dying with no clear reason as to why. Arthur sets forth to find a cure and save the kingdom.
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Part X - Llud's Poison
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A/N: Based very very loosely on Lludd and Llefelys, a Middle Welsh prose tale collected by Charlotte Guest.
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"You want to be known as the most powerful sorcerer in the world, correct?" Morgause asked silkily.
The man before her nodded hastily. "Of course. Definitely."
Morgause smiled. "Then you must become Prince Arthur's sorcerer. The famous seer Tethella has foreseen that the most powerful sorcerer that will ever live will be the one the future King chooses to keep at his side."
"Then I'll do that." The man agreed. "I'll head for Camelot right away and prove myself worthy to the prince!"
He made to walk away but Morgause caught him by the upper arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Wait."
"For what?" he grumbled. "Any minute now another sorcerer could cozy up next to him and take my place!"
Morgause shook her head, her smile never slipping. "No one with magic would dare go public in Camelot right now. Uther is still king. Magic is still forbidden. You must wait for Uther to die before you make your move."
The man glared at her. "And how long is that? It could be years before that tyrant finally dies! I can't wait that long!"
"That's why I am here to help you," Morgause explained calmly. "What would be the best way to ensure that you get the position of King Arthur Pendragon's Court Sorcerer?" The man just stared blankly at her for several seconds, so Morgause reached in her hip pouch and pulled out a little two-inch-tall vial of green powder. Her smile turned wicked. "You get rid of the competition."
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Merlin descended the steps into Gaius' workshop the next morning the same way he did every morning; late and not caring about it. He stopped at the table to get a drink of water, clearing his throat as he poured himself a cup. After taking a huge gulp, Merlin cleared his throat again and rubbed it with his free left hand while he set the cup down.
Gaius turned from where he was looking for a book to give him a somewhat concerned look. "Are you ill, Merlin?"
Merlin shook his head. "Nah. My throat just feels a bit off, that's all. I slept with my face in the magic book again, so it's probably just a bunch of dust," he assured his mentor. "Anyway, I'm late, so I'd best be off to fetch Arthur's breakfast."
With that, he ambled out the door. Gaius only spared him a moment's more concern before he too went about his business. The old man coughed once, softly, before pulling out the book he'd been looking for. Maybe he should dust his books….
Merlin didn't have time to fetch Arthur's breakfast. Only ten steps out of Gaius' door and Arthur was shoving him back inside and up the stairs again. "Arthur?"
"Forget breakfast, idiot," he started. "Lucky for you, I was woken early today by a messenger from my father, so I won't count this lateness against you. Is Gaius in?"
Merlin nodded just as they reached the door again. "Gaius, Arthur's here to see you," he announced upon entering.
"Ah, your highness," Gaius greeted. "What seems to be the matter?"
Arthur stood in his best princely manner with his arms crossed over his chest and his feet shoulder-width apart. "We learned early this morning that a woman collapsed in the market with an unknown illness."
"One woman?" Merlin asked, sitting on the edge of one of the table chairs. "Is the illness really serious?" Why else would Uther be worried about it?
Arthur shook his head. "So far the disease seems like a common one, except that the victims of it have fallen into a deep sleep of some sort only an hour or so after getting sick."
"Victims?" Gaius asked, mouth wide open. "How many are there?"
Arthur looked uncomfortable, turning to glance at the door instead of at his childhood physician. "Twelve people of varying ages have fallen ill in the main city alone. A messenger this morning informed us of at least nine other cases in the nearby villages." Gaius and Merlin both gasped in shock and horror. Arthur turned his head back to them. "Father is worried it may be contagious and wanted your opinion on what to do about it. Have you ever heard of anything like it, Gaius?"
Gaius shook his head absently, turning towards his books. "I can't say I have, sire. I'll do some research into the matter, but it'd be best if I had a subject….some infected by the disease…to examine. Can you arrange that at all?" he asked as he lifted an ancient looking tome from a stack of other ancient looking tomes and set it by itself in the center of the table before flipping it open and scanning a page.
Arthur nodded. "I'll do what I can." He walked as far as the door before turning around. "Oh, and Merlin…."
"Yes, sire?" Merlin asked.
"I'm hungry. Where's my breakfast?" he asked while he continued to walk out and down the stairs.
Merlin shook his head good-naturedly at the open air before him. "Do you see how he acts, Gaius? He's like a little child." It wasn't said to be mean, but as sort of a half-joke.
Gaius shrugged as he continued to skim pages. "It is simply his way of showing you he cares," he said by way of explanation. "However, if you don't get him breakfast soon, he may change his mind," he teased.
Merlin's eyes widened comically for about four seconds before he smiled and pushed himself out of the chair. "See ya, later, Gaius. Good luck in the research!" Just as he passed the doorway, he coughed again.
Gaius lifted his head from the book and blinked at the empty doorway once, twice, before shaking his head and returning to the research.
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Merlin was shining Arthur's boots while the Prince looked over some report or history of some sort that Geoffrey had given him to study about being King someday. Pulling his right arm in front of his face, Merlin coughed into the fabric near his elbow before continuing his work. Arthur glanced over at him briefly and then returned to his homework. A moment later, Merlin did the same thing again but sneezed into his elbow this time instead of coughing.
Arthur sighed heavily and turned to look at Merlin fully. "Look, I appreciate that you're here, doing your job…but if you're just going to infect my things with who knows what peasant's disease you've contracted….," he trailed off.
Merlin glared at him. "I'm fine," he insisted stiffly. "I got a lot of dust in my face last night, that's all. I'll get over it. It's not a peasant's disease."
Arthur opened his mouth to retort when suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Enter," he called instead.
A knight opened the door and took two steps inside. "Prince Arthur, sire," he began with a bow. "Your father wishes to see you immediately, in the physician's chambers."
Sitting up straight, Arthur asked, "What for?"
"Those with the illness, sire, they're beginning to die."
Merlin dropped a boot, catching Arthur's attention. "Stay here and finish your duties, Merlin. I'll be back soon to make sure you didn't screw them up."
"Of course," Merlin agreed. At his word, Arthur and the knight both left the room, leaving Merlin alone in the silence. It only lasted a moment before Merlin fell into a fit of coughs, and then began to shiver and sweat at the same time. He wiped his sleeve across his forehead and frowned at the dampness of it all. He swayed dangerously, even though he was already sitting down. "Oh no…"
Dropping the boot and polish, Merlin hurried from the room.
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"Are you certain you have no idea what this disease is, Gaius," Uther practically demanded. "Or any way of knowing how it's spreading?"
Arthur stood just to his father's right, watching as Gaius flipped through book after book while speaking with his father.
"No, sire," Gaius said apologetically. "All I can gather is that it is most likely an air borne illness." He looked to Arthur. "Did you ever get me a patient to examine?"
Arthur shook his head. "No, sorry. None of the families wanted to give up their sick once they heard people were dying. They want to spend their final moments together."
Gaius sighed, turning back to his books. "It may not be their final moments if I could simply have a look at them." He shut the book he was currently looking at and shrugged. "I guess I'll simply have to go make a visit to them myself then."
Something hit the door heavily and all three heads snapped up to see Merlin leaning against the door. "Gaius," he gasped out, taking an unsteady, shaky step into the room. He looked terrible: sweating and shaking and breathing hard. He coughed once into his fist. Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed halfway between the door and the three men all staring at him in shock.
Two seconds. That's how long it took Gaius to react. He called Merlin's name, hurrying over and kneeling next to the now unconscious young man. Arthur knelt on Merlin's other side while his father kept his distance.
"Help me get him onto the table," Gaius ordered. Arthur nodded and hefted Merlin up into his arms, taking the few steps necessary to reach the table, and then set him carefully down on the wooden surface there. Merlin was still breathing hard, sweating, and shaking; he was just now unconscious. Gaius looked him over once, placed his hand on Merlin's forehead and frowned. He grimly said, "Well….I asked for a patient. Hm?" He leaned down and examined Merlin's face. He hurried back to his desk to return a moment later with a little vial and a small metal stick with a flat end.
"What is it Gaius?" Uther asked, his voice showing his concern, though it wasn't for Merlin at all.
Gaius ran the metal along Merlin's cheek gently, scraping something off the skin there into the vial. He then lifted it up to the light and squinted. "A powder. It may have something to do with the disease. I'll get right on it." He moved over to his desk to begin testing the substance without another glance at the two royals in his room.
"I'll have supplies sent to the families of the infected," Arthur stated to his father. "Try to make them comfortable until either Gaius finds a cure or….," he trailed off, looking disgruntled.
Uther nodded. "Agreed." Merlin coughed dryly from the table beside Arthur. The prince looked down at him for a moment before turning and stalking from the room. Uther nodded. "Work quickly, Gaius," he said to the man who was barely paying attention to him before he too left the room.
Gaius coughed into his sleeve and then continued to work.
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"Good," Arthur said. "Feel free to send someone to the castle should you need anything else."
"Thank you, your highness," the elderly woman said with a bow before taking the provisions with her into the house, where her youngest granddaughter lay dying.
Arthur sighed, looking around the city. That was the last of the families that lived in Camelot itself but his troops were still out in the surrounding villages doing the same there. His attention was caught by a scout rushing through the street. The man, skinny and tall with almost no hair to speak of, caught sight of him and diverted his path. He stopped not two feet from Arthur's person and then quickly took another step back to look up at his face.
"My lord," he began, bowing and out of breath from his run. "I've come from the eastern border." He stood up straight again. "More than two dozen villagers have fallen ill in the last day with a strange illness. I need to speak with the king!"
Arthur frowned. "I'm sorry," he said. The man looked distraught at being ignored. "The illness has spread through all of Camelot," Arthur continued, and the man looked distraught at the severity of the situation. "Our best physician is working on a cure, but as it is I….we….cannot help you. I can offer food and other provisions for the families affected, to keep them comfortable in the days to come, but that's all I can do for now."
Arthur's genuine care shone through in that moment and the messenger bowed again in servility. "Of course. Thank you, sire."
"Go to the castle and speak with the guards there. Tell them I sent you and gather whatever you need. You can even borrow a wagon," Arthur told him, motioning to the knights standing by a door just inside the main keep.
"Thank you, my lord!" the man said with a smile before rushing toward the knights, his energy restored.
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Morgana stared out her bedroom window at the townspeople in the square; namely Arthur as he spoke to a messenger.
"Everything is going smoothly here?"
Morgana turned from the window to look at her sister standing in the corner. She didn't ask how Morgause had appeared there so suddenly. This was normal now. Morgana nodded.
"Yes. Over twenty people have fallen ill, just in the nearby villages." She frowned. "You'll be surprised though," she said, trailing off.
Morgause frowned as well, expecting the worst news. "What?"
Morgana turned to look out her window at a window several stories up: Merlin's bedroom window. "Merlin," she said. "It took a bit longer for him to fall, but the spell got to him just the same."
Morgause's frown twitched into a flickering grin. "Merlin…," she breathed out. "Of course. He always was a bit suspicious."
Morgana frowned deeper but said nothing more on the subject. "They'll all be dead by sundown tomorrow." She took a deep breath. "That simpleton you found is more powerful than I'd thought."
"Yes, well," Morgause began almost patronizingly. "Men will do anything for power…and glory. This one is no different."
"Why are we killing them all?" Morgana asked suddenly, giving Morgause a curious look.
Morgause tilted her head a bit. "Because every one of them has grown up in a world ruled by Uther Pendragon and his tyrannical purging of all things magical. None of them will ever be able to fully see beyond the dark nature of the Pendragon name. Only a new force, one that has not suffered by Uther's hands, can stand up and rule alongside Arthur in the new age."
Morgana nodded, looking back to the window. "That makes sense." When she looked back, Morgause was right beside her. "So neither of us are right for it, either."
Morgause's expression turned sorrowful and she lifted her right hand to run it easily through Morgana's hair. "No….We are both too scarred from his cruelty. But soon, no one will have reason to fear him ever again."
Morgana smiled.
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Uther and Arthur both entered Gaius' chambers together. "You found something?" Uther asked impatiently.
Gaius nodded. Merlin let out a heaving breath from his spot on the table under every blanket Gaius owned. The elderly man did his best to ignore how Merlin's condition was worsening.
"The powder is a form of poison," he began, motioning to a book laid open before him on the table. "It's called Llud's Poison. An ancient Kingdom was threatened by three terrible plagues. The first was the appearance of creatures called the Coraniaid. The king at that time, Llud, asked his brother who lived across the sea how to rid his kingdom of the plague. The answer he received was in the form of a poison; a poison which would kill the Coraniaid but would not harm anyone or anything besides." He stopped there to catch his breath for a few moments.
"And you believe what is causing all these people to fall ill is Llud's Poison?" Uther asked. Gaius nodded.
"A form of it, sire," he expanded.
"Then, what was the target?" Arthur asked. "There aren't any Coraniaids in Camelot, so what is the poison attacking?"
Gaius shrugged hopelessly. "I don't know. I suspect the poison was altered using magic. Perhaps the maker of this particular poison didn't have a set target, or wants to kill the poor, or simply….messed up," he tried to explain. He had a different idea in his mind: that the poison was killing those with magic. Many of the victims had come to him in the past with 'symptoms' that Gaius had recognized as latent magic that they never pursued.
Uther narrowed his eyes. "Once again magic threatens my kingdom," he practically breathed out. Merlin let out a wheeze from the other side of the room. Blinking once, forcefully, Uther focused back on Gaius. "Is there a cure?"
Gaius nodded and ran his finger along a page in the book before him. "It says here that an antidote can be made from the same bug used to make the original poison," he recited dutifully. "The bugs are common all over Camelot, apparently the King began breeding them after the Coraniaid were gone out of fear for their return. The antidote is relatively simple to produce. If you can get me the insects before sundown, I can have it made by tomorrow morning."
"Where would be the easiest place to gather the most of these….insects," Arthur asked, moving to see what they looked like in the illustration.
Gaius coughed, checked his book, then a map. "Just north of the city, in the Dackling Woods."
Arthur was out the door before his father could open his mouth to protest. Uther stared, baffled, at the slowly shutting door. "He's far too reckless to be King."
Gaius let out a breath. "He will make a fine King. He has a heart that can sympathize with the people."
"Well, that's not enough to rule a country by," Uther disagreed. "He'll be overrun by those who want power the moment the crown touches his head, and he won't know what to do."
Gaius knew what Uther meant even when he didn't say it. "No sorcerer will harm him, sire."
Uther turned an accusing stare in the physician's direction. "He cares too much about them."
"For the record, sire," Gaius began gently before motioning to Merlin on the table with his right hand. "He would do the same for Arthur."
Uther opened his mouth, a look of outrage on his face, but then Gwen burst through the door and he shut his lips tighter than the lock on his coffers.
"Gaius, I heard Merlin had the disease," Gwen nearly shouted. "Oh," she let out upon seeing the King there. She gave a quick curtsy. "My lord." Turning her attention to Gaius, she said, "Is Merlin going to be alright?"
Gaius nodded amiably. "Arthur is already on his way to gather the supplies I need for an antidote." Gwen looked over at Merlin worriedly and Gaius took that time to send Uther a pointed look. Uther looked taken aback by the action but simply stalked from the room without a word either way.
He'd lost Gaius somewhere along the way; his best friend and long time confidant. There were times he wished him back.
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"We have a problem," Morgana said as she entered the secret place in the woods where she met with Morgause. Morgause turned to her but didn't ask anything. Morgana answered anyway. "Arthur is preparing to leave the city to gather ingredients for Gaius…for a cure to the poison."
Morgause frowned. "Then we shall have to stop him, shan't we?" She turned to look off into the distance somewhere to her right. "We'll send Tanis. The fool has served his purpose anyhow. Let him die like the others."
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Arthur raced out of Camelot as fast as his horse would take him and headed north. He'd told his knights to take care of the sick while he was away and wouldn't let them say no. His people needed them more than he did. He was just catching a few measly bugs, his people were dying. His manservant was dying.
He rode full out nonstop until just before the Dackling Woods. Then, noticing his horse was getting tired, Arthur dismounted and instead led the horse on foot. The trees here were taller than in the rest of the forest around the city, but thinner too. He could hear the sound of the buzzing insects hidden by the trees and the underbrush and slowed his pace. He was the greatest hunter in the world. He could catch a few bugs.
A twig snapped to his left and Arthur stopped walking altogether to turn and face the new threat. A moment passed in complete silence and then a man walked from behind a tree. He wore a black cloak, like the druids did or like he had when hiding himself, but the hood was down to reveal his unshaven face. His hair was a light shade of brown except for his beard, which was darker. From what he could see of the clothes under the cloak, they were too big for the man, too baggy.
"My lord," the man gasped joyfully. "What an honor to meet you!"
Arthur narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Who are you?"
The man bowed overly low with a lot of flourish. "My name is Tanis. I wouldn't admit it before anyone other than yourself, my liege, but to you I cannot lie." He smiled up at Arthur. "I am a sorcerer, a practitioner of magic." Arthur tensed but the man didn't seem to notice as he stood upright. "I've come here to beseech you, lord…." He put his hands together as if praying to Arthur. "Please allow me to be your sorcerer when you are king."
Arthur stared at Tanis for several long moments, as if testing to see if he was about to claim this as a joke. When no comment was forthcoming from Tanis, Arthur decided to take up the challenge. "Um…Thank you…Tanis….For your enthusiasm, but I cannot accept.'
Tanis's smile dropped immediately. He looked hysterical. "What? Why?" It was almost a whine and Arthur had to force himself not to wince. "The seer Tethella said you needed a sorcerer at your side!"
Arthur gave a neutral expression, but one that hopefully held a bit of regret. He did feel sorry. Tanis seemed like a nice enough man, after all. "Tethella," he began, using the seer's name for the first time, "said my greatest asset would be the wizard who would stand beside me. She said I would know him when he showed himself. So, I'm sorry, Tanis…but it isn't you."
"But….you won't find another one," Tanis began in a low, jittery, and yet dangerous voice. "They'll all be gone. The poison-"
Arthur eyes hardened. "The poison?" he interrupted and Tanis was shocked into silence by the ice in Arthur's voice. "You unleashed the poison on Camelot?"
Tanis nodded hesitantly and Arthur drew his sword. "What are you doing?"
"You spread a disease across my kingdom, killing innocent men, women, and children. What were you trying to prove?" he demanded, though they both knew he didn't want an answer. "You are not my sorcerer. You are an enemy to my kingdom and its people."
Tanis just stared at Arthur for a bit, and then his eyes narrowed. "I did all this for you," he murmured. "You should have only the best at your side….I am the best."
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"Arthur."
Gaius looked over at his bed, where he and Gwen had moved Merlin so he could be more comfortable. Was he conscious? He walked over to where Merlin was and gently placed a hand on Merlin's forehead. It was burning hot. The poison was taking affect in Gaius too, reaching for his old and withered magic. He was beginning to sweat from his own fever so Merlin was probably hotter than even Gaius could tell right now.
"Merlin?"
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Arthur braced himself for the attack he knew was coming. Tanis couldn't be his sorcerer, so he was going to kill Arthur to ensure that no one else could either. Arthur wasn't sure how he would block a magical attack, since Tanis obviously couldn't take him physically, but he would try. He had people to save all across the country. He needed to save them. What kind of king would he be without his people? Realization filled Arthur's being and he finally understood the Fisher King's words.
"It doesn't matter how powerful you are," Arthur told Tanis. "If you lack compassion, you will always fall short."
Tanis frowned deeper and said a spell so fast and so soft that Arthur almost didn't catch it. Then suddenly the wind picked up and Arthur swore he saw blades. They came at him and he lifted his sword to block. It felt like metal against metal, a sword against a sword. Arthur pushed back, throwing the air back and away like he would another sword. Tanis held up his hands and tilted them in opposite directions. The air blades swung wide, coming at Arthur from both sides at once.
Arthur turned halfway to the right, prepared to block that side and then attempt the other while knowing he would probably fail. Suddenly there was a spark of blue light, the air struck it instead of Arthur, and then the air fell still around them.
"What?" Tanis gasped out loudly. He said swung his arms again, wildly, and several blades of air flew at Arthur simultaneously. Arthur had barely lifted his sword when the light flashed again, terminating the attack before it could land. "Who-," he cut himself off.
Arthur smirked and pointed his sword at Tanis. "That is my sorcerer…I think," he muttered the last bit to himself.
Tanis didn't move. In fact, he barely breathed. Prince Arthur's sorcerer was powerful. The other magic user wasn't anywhere near them and yet he'd negated Tanis's spell with ease. He wasn't the best. He wasn't Arthur's sorcerer.
Arthur continued louder, "I should take you back to Camelot and have you killed. You used your magic to poison my people. However…." Tanis jumped at the however. "If you help me gather the insects to make the antidote….I'll let you live. And you have to promise never to do this sort of thing ever again."
Tanis blinked at him for several minutes, and then nodded. "Yes….of course, sire….Whatever you want." He wasn't sure who he was more frightened of: Arthur and his father, or Arthur and his wizard. He was sure, however, that Arthur was far more merciful than he'd been told.
"Good," Arthur nodded shortly, lowering his sword. "Now hurry. I don't have much time."
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At dawn the next morning, riders went out in every direction from the city of Camelot, delivering the antidote to the Llud's Poison to every village. By the following evening, all those who had been sick were as good as new….well….nine people were known to be dead from the poison, but the majority of those affected were saved in time.
Arthur walked into Gaius's chambers and saw Merlin sitting with a cover wrapped around his shoulders and stopped. This was eerily similar to the last time Merlin was poisoned….
"Arthur."
Arthur practically jumped out of his skin turning to see who said his name. Gwen was behind him with flowers in what was obviously one of Morgana's vases. "Guinevere," he managed quietly.
"Are you here to see Merlin?" she asked conversationally, tilting her head a bit to the left.
Arthur scoffed. "No," he answered immediately. She gave him a look and he wilted. "Well…yes. I am."
Gwen smiled sweetly at him. "Then how about we go see him together?" Without really waiting for an answer, Gwen gently swept passed him and into Gaius' chambers. "Afternoon," she greeted easily.
Arthur followed her haltingly. "Afternoon," he repeated.
"Ah," Merlin flipped around and smiled at them both. "Hey!"
"I know it's not really your thing," Gwen was saying. "But Morgana and I thought maybe some flowers would brighten things up after all that's happened," she explained. "I picked them myself fresh this morning."
"Thanks, Gwen," Merlin said softly. Arthur shifted on his feet quietly and Merlin's eyes flicked to him. "How's Morgana doing?"
Gwen shrugged, fiddling with the arrangement of the flowers in the vase. "Better than usual. She didn't personally see any of those affected, and I think that helps. She cares about people," she finished softly.
There was silence for a few moments and then Merlin spoke up again. "Maybe you should go check on her."
"Yea," Gwen accepted almost immediately. "Yea, I should." She took two steps toward the door, stopped, and turned around to look at Merlin. "I'll come back, alright? Later." Merlin nodded and she turned to the door again. She made it to the door itself before she turned back again. "Have a nice afternoon, sire," she said in farewell to Arthur, with a blush, before hurrying out the door and down the hall.
Gaius looked between the door and the two men in the room for a moment, and then took a deep breath. "I'm going to check that the infected in town have all been given enough medicine. Merlin," he said sternly. "Don't do anything strenuous. You don't have your strength back yet," he ordered.
"Of course, Gaius," Merlin agreed easily with a nod. Gaius gave him a look just for the sake of doing it and then gathered his things and left the prince and his manservant alone in the room. Merlin cleared his throat. "So…"
Arthur looked wholly uncomfortable in the situation. "So the poison was caused by a sorcerer who wanted to fill the spot in the prophecy…of the wizard who stands beside me," he said for nothing better to do.
Merlin blinked at him a few times, processing. "Oh…Why would someone trying to get on your good side…poison your people?" he asked slowly. Did Arthur suspect him?
Arthur shrugged. "I have no idea. I also don't know how he picked his targets. Random people in different villages fell ill, people who had never met before."
Closing his eyes for a moment, Merlin shrugged. He opened his eyes again after a second. "What did you do to him?"
Arthur seemed shocked at the question, and the simplistic way it was asked. "I let him go." Merlin's eyes widened and Arthur drew himself up in a princely manner, as if defending himself from a silent invisible attack. "He couldn't hurt me, and he was…somehow…trying to help me….I think. He said he was the one for the job because he was the most powerful wizard out there." Arthur's tone turned nostalgic. "I told him that power wasn't enough. You need compassion, kindness, to rule properly."
Merlin smiled. It seemed Arthur had finally realized what the Fisher King had told him to be true. "That's why you'll make a great king," Merlin assured him. Arthur's eyes snapped up from the floor to look at Merlin. "You're the kindest man I know." Arthur raised an eyebrow and Merlin shrugged. "Well, apart from when you're a dollop head," he ended in a joking manner.
Arthur laughed. "And you're actually kind of helpful, regardless of the fact that you're the worst manservant I've ever had," he teased in kind. They grinned in similar good humor for about four seconds, and then Arthur cleared his throat and looked away. "I have duties to attend to," he deflected, then pointed a finger at Merlin almost menacingly. "And you'll have plenty to do yourself once you get back to work. So get some rest. It'll keep until you get to it."
Merlin just grinned at Arthur's back as the prince left Gaius's chambers, shutting the door behind him. "What a Once and Future King," he laughed out.
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Next Time: Val Sans Retour
Morgause and Morgana know Merlin's secret. Morgana uses her powers to capture Arthur and Merlin and send them to a magical realm of her own making: The Vale of No Return. While trapped there, Arthur and Merlin uncover the secrets that began it all, and what might be the end of everything. Can they escape the Vale, and will it be in time to stop Morgause? And what will Arthur say when he discovers Merlin's dark secret?
Pairing: Pretty Gen. Kind of one-sided Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Arthur, hinted Gwen/Lancelot. It’s about as gay as the series is, which is pretty gay.
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC’s Merlin. If I did, I’d be pretty happy because I’d know Colin and Bradley personally.
Summary: The legend of Excalibur is not as simple as everyone thinks. Arthur pulls a sword from a stone, beginning a chain of events that will lead him to his destiny and the sorcerer prophesied to stand beside him.
Chapter Summary: The seer said one wizard would stand at Arthur's side. Just one. The only way to be absolutely certain you are "the one" is to get rid of the competition altogether. A mysterious illness has affected many of Camelot's citizens, and Merlin is no exception. Everyone with even a hint of magic in them is falling ill and dying with no clear reason as to why. Arthur sets forth to find a cure and save the kingdom.
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Part X - Llud's Poison
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A/N: Based very very loosely on Lludd and Llefelys, a Middle Welsh prose tale collected by Charlotte Guest.
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"You want to be known as the most powerful sorcerer in the world, correct?" Morgause asked silkily.
The man before her nodded hastily. "Of course. Definitely."
Morgause smiled. "Then you must become Prince Arthur's sorcerer. The famous seer Tethella has foreseen that the most powerful sorcerer that will ever live will be the one the future King chooses to keep at his side."
"Then I'll do that." The man agreed. "I'll head for Camelot right away and prove myself worthy to the prince!"
He made to walk away but Morgause caught him by the upper arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Wait."
"For what?" he grumbled. "Any minute now another sorcerer could cozy up next to him and take my place!"
Morgause shook her head, her smile never slipping. "No one with magic would dare go public in Camelot right now. Uther is still king. Magic is still forbidden. You must wait for Uther to die before you make your move."
The man glared at her. "And how long is that? It could be years before that tyrant finally dies! I can't wait that long!"
"That's why I am here to help you," Morgause explained calmly. "What would be the best way to ensure that you get the position of King Arthur Pendragon's Court Sorcerer?" The man just stared blankly at her for several seconds, so Morgause reached in her hip pouch and pulled out a little two-inch-tall vial of green powder. Her smile turned wicked. "You get rid of the competition."
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Merlin descended the steps into Gaius' workshop the next morning the same way he did every morning; late and not caring about it. He stopped at the table to get a drink of water, clearing his throat as he poured himself a cup. After taking a huge gulp, Merlin cleared his throat again and rubbed it with his free left hand while he set the cup down.
Gaius turned from where he was looking for a book to give him a somewhat concerned look. "Are you ill, Merlin?"
Merlin shook his head. "Nah. My throat just feels a bit off, that's all. I slept with my face in the magic book again, so it's probably just a bunch of dust," he assured his mentor. "Anyway, I'm late, so I'd best be off to fetch Arthur's breakfast."
With that, he ambled out the door. Gaius only spared him a moment's more concern before he too went about his business. The old man coughed once, softly, before pulling out the book he'd been looking for. Maybe he should dust his books….
Merlin didn't have time to fetch Arthur's breakfast. Only ten steps out of Gaius' door and Arthur was shoving him back inside and up the stairs again. "Arthur?"
"Forget breakfast, idiot," he started. "Lucky for you, I was woken early today by a messenger from my father, so I won't count this lateness against you. Is Gaius in?"
Merlin nodded just as they reached the door again. "Gaius, Arthur's here to see you," he announced upon entering.
"Ah, your highness," Gaius greeted. "What seems to be the matter?"
Arthur stood in his best princely manner with his arms crossed over his chest and his feet shoulder-width apart. "We learned early this morning that a woman collapsed in the market with an unknown illness."
"One woman?" Merlin asked, sitting on the edge of one of the table chairs. "Is the illness really serious?" Why else would Uther be worried about it?
Arthur shook his head. "So far the disease seems like a common one, except that the victims of it have fallen into a deep sleep of some sort only an hour or so after getting sick."
"Victims?" Gaius asked, mouth wide open. "How many are there?"
Arthur looked uncomfortable, turning to glance at the door instead of at his childhood physician. "Twelve people of varying ages have fallen ill in the main city alone. A messenger this morning informed us of at least nine other cases in the nearby villages." Gaius and Merlin both gasped in shock and horror. Arthur turned his head back to them. "Father is worried it may be contagious and wanted your opinion on what to do about it. Have you ever heard of anything like it, Gaius?"
Gaius shook his head absently, turning towards his books. "I can't say I have, sire. I'll do some research into the matter, but it'd be best if I had a subject….some infected by the disease…to examine. Can you arrange that at all?" he asked as he lifted an ancient looking tome from a stack of other ancient looking tomes and set it by itself in the center of the table before flipping it open and scanning a page.
Arthur nodded. "I'll do what I can." He walked as far as the door before turning around. "Oh, and Merlin…."
"Yes, sire?" Merlin asked.
"I'm hungry. Where's my breakfast?" he asked while he continued to walk out and down the stairs.
Merlin shook his head good-naturedly at the open air before him. "Do you see how he acts, Gaius? He's like a little child." It wasn't said to be mean, but as sort of a half-joke.
Gaius shrugged as he continued to skim pages. "It is simply his way of showing you he cares," he said by way of explanation. "However, if you don't get him breakfast soon, he may change his mind," he teased.
Merlin's eyes widened comically for about four seconds before he smiled and pushed himself out of the chair. "See ya, later, Gaius. Good luck in the research!" Just as he passed the doorway, he coughed again.
Gaius lifted his head from the book and blinked at the empty doorway once, twice, before shaking his head and returning to the research.
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Merlin was shining Arthur's boots while the Prince looked over some report or history of some sort that Geoffrey had given him to study about being King someday. Pulling his right arm in front of his face, Merlin coughed into the fabric near his elbow before continuing his work. Arthur glanced over at him briefly and then returned to his homework. A moment later, Merlin did the same thing again but sneezed into his elbow this time instead of coughing.
Arthur sighed heavily and turned to look at Merlin fully. "Look, I appreciate that you're here, doing your job…but if you're just going to infect my things with who knows what peasant's disease you've contracted….," he trailed off.
Merlin glared at him. "I'm fine," he insisted stiffly. "I got a lot of dust in my face last night, that's all. I'll get over it. It's not a peasant's disease."
Arthur opened his mouth to retort when suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Enter," he called instead.
A knight opened the door and took two steps inside. "Prince Arthur, sire," he began with a bow. "Your father wishes to see you immediately, in the physician's chambers."
Sitting up straight, Arthur asked, "What for?"
"Those with the illness, sire, they're beginning to die."
Merlin dropped a boot, catching Arthur's attention. "Stay here and finish your duties, Merlin. I'll be back soon to make sure you didn't screw them up."
"Of course," Merlin agreed. At his word, Arthur and the knight both left the room, leaving Merlin alone in the silence. It only lasted a moment before Merlin fell into a fit of coughs, and then began to shiver and sweat at the same time. He wiped his sleeve across his forehead and frowned at the dampness of it all. He swayed dangerously, even though he was already sitting down. "Oh no…"
Dropping the boot and polish, Merlin hurried from the room.
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"Are you certain you have no idea what this disease is, Gaius," Uther practically demanded. "Or any way of knowing how it's spreading?"
Arthur stood just to his father's right, watching as Gaius flipped through book after book while speaking with his father.
"No, sire," Gaius said apologetically. "All I can gather is that it is most likely an air borne illness." He looked to Arthur. "Did you ever get me a patient to examine?"
Arthur shook his head. "No, sorry. None of the families wanted to give up their sick once they heard people were dying. They want to spend their final moments together."
Gaius sighed, turning back to his books. "It may not be their final moments if I could simply have a look at them." He shut the book he was currently looking at and shrugged. "I guess I'll simply have to go make a visit to them myself then."
Something hit the door heavily and all three heads snapped up to see Merlin leaning against the door. "Gaius," he gasped out, taking an unsteady, shaky step into the room. He looked terrible: sweating and shaking and breathing hard. He coughed once into his fist. Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed halfway between the door and the three men all staring at him in shock.
Two seconds. That's how long it took Gaius to react. He called Merlin's name, hurrying over and kneeling next to the now unconscious young man. Arthur knelt on Merlin's other side while his father kept his distance.
"Help me get him onto the table," Gaius ordered. Arthur nodded and hefted Merlin up into his arms, taking the few steps necessary to reach the table, and then set him carefully down on the wooden surface there. Merlin was still breathing hard, sweating, and shaking; he was just now unconscious. Gaius looked him over once, placed his hand on Merlin's forehead and frowned. He grimly said, "Well….I asked for a patient. Hm?" He leaned down and examined Merlin's face. He hurried back to his desk to return a moment later with a little vial and a small metal stick with a flat end.
"What is it Gaius?" Uther asked, his voice showing his concern, though it wasn't for Merlin at all.
Gaius ran the metal along Merlin's cheek gently, scraping something off the skin there into the vial. He then lifted it up to the light and squinted. "A powder. It may have something to do with the disease. I'll get right on it." He moved over to his desk to begin testing the substance without another glance at the two royals in his room.
"I'll have supplies sent to the families of the infected," Arthur stated to his father. "Try to make them comfortable until either Gaius finds a cure or….," he trailed off, looking disgruntled.
Uther nodded. "Agreed." Merlin coughed dryly from the table beside Arthur. The prince looked down at him for a moment before turning and stalking from the room. Uther nodded. "Work quickly, Gaius," he said to the man who was barely paying attention to him before he too left the room.
Gaius coughed into his sleeve and then continued to work.
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"Good," Arthur said. "Feel free to send someone to the castle should you need anything else."
"Thank you, your highness," the elderly woman said with a bow before taking the provisions with her into the house, where her youngest granddaughter lay dying.
Arthur sighed, looking around the city. That was the last of the families that lived in Camelot itself but his troops were still out in the surrounding villages doing the same there. His attention was caught by a scout rushing through the street. The man, skinny and tall with almost no hair to speak of, caught sight of him and diverted his path. He stopped not two feet from Arthur's person and then quickly took another step back to look up at his face.
"My lord," he began, bowing and out of breath from his run. "I've come from the eastern border." He stood up straight again. "More than two dozen villagers have fallen ill in the last day with a strange illness. I need to speak with the king!"
Arthur frowned. "I'm sorry," he said. The man looked distraught at being ignored. "The illness has spread through all of Camelot," Arthur continued, and the man looked distraught at the severity of the situation. "Our best physician is working on a cure, but as it is I….we….cannot help you. I can offer food and other provisions for the families affected, to keep them comfortable in the days to come, but that's all I can do for now."
Arthur's genuine care shone through in that moment and the messenger bowed again in servility. "Of course. Thank you, sire."
"Go to the castle and speak with the guards there. Tell them I sent you and gather whatever you need. You can even borrow a wagon," Arthur told him, motioning to the knights standing by a door just inside the main keep.
"Thank you, my lord!" the man said with a smile before rushing toward the knights, his energy restored.
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Morgana stared out her bedroom window at the townspeople in the square; namely Arthur as he spoke to a messenger.
"Everything is going smoothly here?"
Morgana turned from the window to look at her sister standing in the corner. She didn't ask how Morgause had appeared there so suddenly. This was normal now. Morgana nodded.
"Yes. Over twenty people have fallen ill, just in the nearby villages." She frowned. "You'll be surprised though," she said, trailing off.
Morgause frowned as well, expecting the worst news. "What?"
Morgana turned to look out her window at a window several stories up: Merlin's bedroom window. "Merlin," she said. "It took a bit longer for him to fall, but the spell got to him just the same."
Morgause's frown twitched into a flickering grin. "Merlin…," she breathed out. "Of course. He always was a bit suspicious."
Morgana frowned deeper but said nothing more on the subject. "They'll all be dead by sundown tomorrow." She took a deep breath. "That simpleton you found is more powerful than I'd thought."
"Yes, well," Morgause began almost patronizingly. "Men will do anything for power…and glory. This one is no different."
"Why are we killing them all?" Morgana asked suddenly, giving Morgause a curious look.
Morgause tilted her head a bit. "Because every one of them has grown up in a world ruled by Uther Pendragon and his tyrannical purging of all things magical. None of them will ever be able to fully see beyond the dark nature of the Pendragon name. Only a new force, one that has not suffered by Uther's hands, can stand up and rule alongside Arthur in the new age."
Morgana nodded, looking back to the window. "That makes sense." When she looked back, Morgause was right beside her. "So neither of us are right for it, either."
Morgause's expression turned sorrowful and she lifted her right hand to run it easily through Morgana's hair. "No….We are both too scarred from his cruelty. But soon, no one will have reason to fear him ever again."
Morgana smiled.
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Uther and Arthur both entered Gaius' chambers together. "You found something?" Uther asked impatiently.
Gaius nodded. Merlin let out a heaving breath from his spot on the table under every blanket Gaius owned. The elderly man did his best to ignore how Merlin's condition was worsening.
"The powder is a form of poison," he began, motioning to a book laid open before him on the table. "It's called Llud's Poison. An ancient Kingdom was threatened by three terrible plagues. The first was the appearance of creatures called the Coraniaid. The king at that time, Llud, asked his brother who lived across the sea how to rid his kingdom of the plague. The answer he received was in the form of a poison; a poison which would kill the Coraniaid but would not harm anyone or anything besides." He stopped there to catch his breath for a few moments.
"And you believe what is causing all these people to fall ill is Llud's Poison?" Uther asked. Gaius nodded.
"A form of it, sire," he expanded.
"Then, what was the target?" Arthur asked. "There aren't any Coraniaids in Camelot, so what is the poison attacking?"
Gaius shrugged hopelessly. "I don't know. I suspect the poison was altered using magic. Perhaps the maker of this particular poison didn't have a set target, or wants to kill the poor, or simply….messed up," he tried to explain. He had a different idea in his mind: that the poison was killing those with magic. Many of the victims had come to him in the past with 'symptoms' that Gaius had recognized as latent magic that they never pursued.
Uther narrowed his eyes. "Once again magic threatens my kingdom," he practically breathed out. Merlin let out a wheeze from the other side of the room. Blinking once, forcefully, Uther focused back on Gaius. "Is there a cure?"
Gaius nodded and ran his finger along a page in the book before him. "It says here that an antidote can be made from the same bug used to make the original poison," he recited dutifully. "The bugs are common all over Camelot, apparently the King began breeding them after the Coraniaid were gone out of fear for their return. The antidote is relatively simple to produce. If you can get me the insects before sundown, I can have it made by tomorrow morning."
"Where would be the easiest place to gather the most of these….insects," Arthur asked, moving to see what they looked like in the illustration.
Gaius coughed, checked his book, then a map. "Just north of the city, in the Dackling Woods."
Arthur was out the door before his father could open his mouth to protest. Uther stared, baffled, at the slowly shutting door. "He's far too reckless to be King."
Gaius let out a breath. "He will make a fine King. He has a heart that can sympathize with the people."
"Well, that's not enough to rule a country by," Uther disagreed. "He'll be overrun by those who want power the moment the crown touches his head, and he won't know what to do."
Gaius knew what Uther meant even when he didn't say it. "No sorcerer will harm him, sire."
Uther turned an accusing stare in the physician's direction. "He cares too much about them."
"For the record, sire," Gaius began gently before motioning to Merlin on the table with his right hand. "He would do the same for Arthur."
Uther opened his mouth, a look of outrage on his face, but then Gwen burst through the door and he shut his lips tighter than the lock on his coffers.
"Gaius, I heard Merlin had the disease," Gwen nearly shouted. "Oh," she let out upon seeing the King there. She gave a quick curtsy. "My lord." Turning her attention to Gaius, she said, "Is Merlin going to be alright?"
Gaius nodded amiably. "Arthur is already on his way to gather the supplies I need for an antidote." Gwen looked over at Merlin worriedly and Gaius took that time to send Uther a pointed look. Uther looked taken aback by the action but simply stalked from the room without a word either way.
He'd lost Gaius somewhere along the way; his best friend and long time confidant. There were times he wished him back.
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"We have a problem," Morgana said as she entered the secret place in the woods where she met with Morgause. Morgause turned to her but didn't ask anything. Morgana answered anyway. "Arthur is preparing to leave the city to gather ingredients for Gaius…for a cure to the poison."
Morgause frowned. "Then we shall have to stop him, shan't we?" She turned to look off into the distance somewhere to her right. "We'll send Tanis. The fool has served his purpose anyhow. Let him die like the others."
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Arthur raced out of Camelot as fast as his horse would take him and headed north. He'd told his knights to take care of the sick while he was away and wouldn't let them say no. His people needed them more than he did. He was just catching a few measly bugs, his people were dying. His manservant was dying.
He rode full out nonstop until just before the Dackling Woods. Then, noticing his horse was getting tired, Arthur dismounted and instead led the horse on foot. The trees here were taller than in the rest of the forest around the city, but thinner too. He could hear the sound of the buzzing insects hidden by the trees and the underbrush and slowed his pace. He was the greatest hunter in the world. He could catch a few bugs.
A twig snapped to his left and Arthur stopped walking altogether to turn and face the new threat. A moment passed in complete silence and then a man walked from behind a tree. He wore a black cloak, like the druids did or like he had when hiding himself, but the hood was down to reveal his unshaven face. His hair was a light shade of brown except for his beard, which was darker. From what he could see of the clothes under the cloak, they were too big for the man, too baggy.
"My lord," the man gasped joyfully. "What an honor to meet you!"
Arthur narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Who are you?"
The man bowed overly low with a lot of flourish. "My name is Tanis. I wouldn't admit it before anyone other than yourself, my liege, but to you I cannot lie." He smiled up at Arthur. "I am a sorcerer, a practitioner of magic." Arthur tensed but the man didn't seem to notice as he stood upright. "I've come here to beseech you, lord…." He put his hands together as if praying to Arthur. "Please allow me to be your sorcerer when you are king."
Arthur stared at Tanis for several long moments, as if testing to see if he was about to claim this as a joke. When no comment was forthcoming from Tanis, Arthur decided to take up the challenge. "Um…Thank you…Tanis….For your enthusiasm, but I cannot accept.'
Tanis's smile dropped immediately. He looked hysterical. "What? Why?" It was almost a whine and Arthur had to force himself not to wince. "The seer Tethella said you needed a sorcerer at your side!"
Arthur gave a neutral expression, but one that hopefully held a bit of regret. He did feel sorry. Tanis seemed like a nice enough man, after all. "Tethella," he began, using the seer's name for the first time, "said my greatest asset would be the wizard who would stand beside me. She said I would know him when he showed himself. So, I'm sorry, Tanis…but it isn't you."
"But….you won't find another one," Tanis began in a low, jittery, and yet dangerous voice. "They'll all be gone. The poison-"
Arthur eyes hardened. "The poison?" he interrupted and Tanis was shocked into silence by the ice in Arthur's voice. "You unleashed the poison on Camelot?"
Tanis nodded hesitantly and Arthur drew his sword. "What are you doing?"
"You spread a disease across my kingdom, killing innocent men, women, and children. What were you trying to prove?" he demanded, though they both knew he didn't want an answer. "You are not my sorcerer. You are an enemy to my kingdom and its people."
Tanis just stared at Arthur for a bit, and then his eyes narrowed. "I did all this for you," he murmured. "You should have only the best at your side….I am the best."
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"Arthur."
Gaius looked over at his bed, where he and Gwen had moved Merlin so he could be more comfortable. Was he conscious? He walked over to where Merlin was and gently placed a hand on Merlin's forehead. It was burning hot. The poison was taking affect in Gaius too, reaching for his old and withered magic. He was beginning to sweat from his own fever so Merlin was probably hotter than even Gaius could tell right now.
"Merlin?"
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Arthur braced himself for the attack he knew was coming. Tanis couldn't be his sorcerer, so he was going to kill Arthur to ensure that no one else could either. Arthur wasn't sure how he would block a magical attack, since Tanis obviously couldn't take him physically, but he would try. He had people to save all across the country. He needed to save them. What kind of king would he be without his people? Realization filled Arthur's being and he finally understood the Fisher King's words.
"It doesn't matter how powerful you are," Arthur told Tanis. "If you lack compassion, you will always fall short."
Tanis frowned deeper and said a spell so fast and so soft that Arthur almost didn't catch it. Then suddenly the wind picked up and Arthur swore he saw blades. They came at him and he lifted his sword to block. It felt like metal against metal, a sword against a sword. Arthur pushed back, throwing the air back and away like he would another sword. Tanis held up his hands and tilted them in opposite directions. The air blades swung wide, coming at Arthur from both sides at once.
Arthur turned halfway to the right, prepared to block that side and then attempt the other while knowing he would probably fail. Suddenly there was a spark of blue light, the air struck it instead of Arthur, and then the air fell still around them.
"What?" Tanis gasped out loudly. He said swung his arms again, wildly, and several blades of air flew at Arthur simultaneously. Arthur had barely lifted his sword when the light flashed again, terminating the attack before it could land. "Who-," he cut himself off.
Arthur smirked and pointed his sword at Tanis. "That is my sorcerer…I think," he muttered the last bit to himself.
Tanis didn't move. In fact, he barely breathed. Prince Arthur's sorcerer was powerful. The other magic user wasn't anywhere near them and yet he'd negated Tanis's spell with ease. He wasn't the best. He wasn't Arthur's sorcerer.
Arthur continued louder, "I should take you back to Camelot and have you killed. You used your magic to poison my people. However…." Tanis jumped at the however. "If you help me gather the insects to make the antidote….I'll let you live. And you have to promise never to do this sort of thing ever again."
Tanis blinked at him for several minutes, and then nodded. "Yes….of course, sire….Whatever you want." He wasn't sure who he was more frightened of: Arthur and his father, or Arthur and his wizard. He was sure, however, that Arthur was far more merciful than he'd been told.
"Good," Arthur nodded shortly, lowering his sword. "Now hurry. I don't have much time."
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At dawn the next morning, riders went out in every direction from the city of Camelot, delivering the antidote to the Llud's Poison to every village. By the following evening, all those who had been sick were as good as new….well….nine people were known to be dead from the poison, but the majority of those affected were saved in time.
Arthur walked into Gaius's chambers and saw Merlin sitting with a cover wrapped around his shoulders and stopped. This was eerily similar to the last time Merlin was poisoned….
"Arthur."
Arthur practically jumped out of his skin turning to see who said his name. Gwen was behind him with flowers in what was obviously one of Morgana's vases. "Guinevere," he managed quietly.
"Are you here to see Merlin?" she asked conversationally, tilting her head a bit to the left.
Arthur scoffed. "No," he answered immediately. She gave him a look and he wilted. "Well…yes. I am."
Gwen smiled sweetly at him. "Then how about we go see him together?" Without really waiting for an answer, Gwen gently swept passed him and into Gaius' chambers. "Afternoon," she greeted easily.
Arthur followed her haltingly. "Afternoon," he repeated.
"Ah," Merlin flipped around and smiled at them both. "Hey!"
"I know it's not really your thing," Gwen was saying. "But Morgana and I thought maybe some flowers would brighten things up after all that's happened," she explained. "I picked them myself fresh this morning."
"Thanks, Gwen," Merlin said softly. Arthur shifted on his feet quietly and Merlin's eyes flicked to him. "How's Morgana doing?"
Gwen shrugged, fiddling with the arrangement of the flowers in the vase. "Better than usual. She didn't personally see any of those affected, and I think that helps. She cares about people," she finished softly.
There was silence for a few moments and then Merlin spoke up again. "Maybe you should go check on her."
"Yea," Gwen accepted almost immediately. "Yea, I should." She took two steps toward the door, stopped, and turned around to look at Merlin. "I'll come back, alright? Later." Merlin nodded and she turned to the door again. She made it to the door itself before she turned back again. "Have a nice afternoon, sire," she said in farewell to Arthur, with a blush, before hurrying out the door and down the hall.
Gaius looked between the door and the two men in the room for a moment, and then took a deep breath. "I'm going to check that the infected in town have all been given enough medicine. Merlin," he said sternly. "Don't do anything strenuous. You don't have your strength back yet," he ordered.
"Of course, Gaius," Merlin agreed easily with a nod. Gaius gave him a look just for the sake of doing it and then gathered his things and left the prince and his manservant alone in the room. Merlin cleared his throat. "So…"
Arthur looked wholly uncomfortable in the situation. "So the poison was caused by a sorcerer who wanted to fill the spot in the prophecy…of the wizard who stands beside me," he said for nothing better to do.
Merlin blinked at him a few times, processing. "Oh…Why would someone trying to get on your good side…poison your people?" he asked slowly. Did Arthur suspect him?
Arthur shrugged. "I have no idea. I also don't know how he picked his targets. Random people in different villages fell ill, people who had never met before."
Closing his eyes for a moment, Merlin shrugged. He opened his eyes again after a second. "What did you do to him?"
Arthur seemed shocked at the question, and the simplistic way it was asked. "I let him go." Merlin's eyes widened and Arthur drew himself up in a princely manner, as if defending himself from a silent invisible attack. "He couldn't hurt me, and he was…somehow…trying to help me….I think. He said he was the one for the job because he was the most powerful wizard out there." Arthur's tone turned nostalgic. "I told him that power wasn't enough. You need compassion, kindness, to rule properly."
Merlin smiled. It seemed Arthur had finally realized what the Fisher King had told him to be true. "That's why you'll make a great king," Merlin assured him. Arthur's eyes snapped up from the floor to look at Merlin. "You're the kindest man I know." Arthur raised an eyebrow and Merlin shrugged. "Well, apart from when you're a dollop head," he ended in a joking manner.
Arthur laughed. "And you're actually kind of helpful, regardless of the fact that you're the worst manservant I've ever had," he teased in kind. They grinned in similar good humor for about four seconds, and then Arthur cleared his throat and looked away. "I have duties to attend to," he deflected, then pointed a finger at Merlin almost menacingly. "And you'll have plenty to do yourself once you get back to work. So get some rest. It'll keep until you get to it."
Merlin just grinned at Arthur's back as the prince left Gaius's chambers, shutting the door behind him. "What a Once and Future King," he laughed out.
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Next Time: Val Sans Retour
Morgause and Morgana know Merlin's secret. Morgana uses her powers to capture Arthur and Merlin and send them to a magical realm of her own making: The Vale of No Return. While trapped there, Arthur and Merlin uncover the secrets that began it all, and what might be the end of everything. Can they escape the Vale, and will it be in time to stop Morgause? And what will Arthur say when he discovers Merlin's dark secret?