« Stop! It's Poison. Don't drinking ! » the familiar voiced exclaimed as he came back in the room
« What on earth is wrong with him » I said mostly to myself.
Merlin run to Arthur and grab the chalice from his hand.
« What »? The King asked
« Merlin, what are you doing? » Arthur asked him absolutely stunned
« Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison. » he explained
« This is an outrage! » The King of Mercia lost his patience and wield his sword, all of the knights both from Camelot and Mercia followed.
« Ordered your men to put down their swords. You're out numbered. » The King instructed Bayard
« I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged. »
« On what grounds do you base this accusation? » the King asked Merlin
« I'll handle this. » Arthur replied walking toward Merlin « Merlin, you idiot, we've been at the sloe gin again? » wow that something I never thought I would see, Arthur defending Merlin that's something...
« Unless you want to be strung up, you'll tell me why you think it's poisoned now. » the King ordered and Bly blood ran cold, you better be telling the truth Merlin for both of our sakes.
« He was seen lacing it. » he replied
« By whom? »
« I can't say »
« I won't listen to this anymore. » The King of Mercia said
« Pass me the goblet. » The king asked arthur, who passed him the goblet
« If you're telling the truth... » Uther started
« I am » Bayard cut him off
« Then you have nothing to fear, do you? » He continued. Bayard put his sword back into its shelf and make sign of his hand to pass him the goblet. « No, if this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself. » The King replied and hand the goblet to Merlin « He'll drink it
« NO! » I said but was ignored and held back by Gaius. « Gaius let me go » I said
« But if it is poisoned , he'll die. » Arthur being the only one to say something
« Then we'll know he was telling the truth.. » he replied as Merlin took the goblet in his hand
« And what if he lives? » Bayard asked
« Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will. »
« Uther, please, he's just a boy; he doesn't know what he's saying. » Gaius finally interrupted
« Then you should have schooled him better. » Uther replied coldly.
« I 'll do it » I said freeing myself from Gaius but was stop by a firm grip on my arm, Arthur...
« Absolutely not. Merlin apologise. This is a mistake. I'll drink it. »
« No no no, no. It's all right. » he said holding up the goblet in front of him , and started to drink. Please don't be poisoned I thought. But even if it was not poisoned what will happened, What will Bayard do?
« It's fine »I didn't know what to do, of course I was more than happy that he was alive, but he was now in Bayard's hands.
« He's all yours » the king said , but a few second later Merlin started to gasped.
« Merlin? » I asked walking toward him but before I was on his level he fall on the floor « Merlin! » Both Arthur and I were next to him on the floor. My eyes started to water. The role were now inverse. Not even a month ago I was the one who were dying.
« It's poisoned. Guards, seize them! » the guards of Camelot encircled Bayard and his knights ready to put them in the dungeon
« Merlin do you hear me? » Gaius asked crouching down beside us « We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. We need to identify the poison. » He continued, as Arthur took both of Merlin's arms and I grab the goblet.
We quickly went to Gaius chamber, Arthur first with Merlin on his shoulder, followed by Gaius, Gwen and I.
« Lay him on the bed quickly » Gaius instructed « He's struggling to breathe » he explained, adding another source of stress for me « Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel. »
« Is he going to be alright? » Arthur asked, I was glad that he was also worried for Merlin. Even if they both said how horrible it was, they create a bond, and a strong one.
« He's burning up. »
« You can heal him, can't you Gaius? » Gwen asked
« I won't know until I can identify the poison. Pass me the goblet. » and I quickly obliged, but something was off, How Merlin had know that the goblet was poisoned?. Gaius took the goblet from my hand and start to inspected it.
« Ahh. There's something stuck on the inside. »
« What is it? » Arthur asked as Gwen start tabbing the wet clothe on Merlin's forehead. Gaius pulled out something out of the goblet, A thin transparent leaf.
« Looks like a flower petal of some kind. » I replied
« His brow's on fire. » Gwen said
« Keep him cool. It'll help control his fever » Gaius replied
« I think know where the book we need is » I said to both of them, walking toward the large library, and slowly climbing the ladder, I grabbed the book that I needed, I read it a few months back when it was raining outside and I couldn't really do anything since I'even had already finish all the dresses for Lydia. I was so quickly in my movement that I missed the last step of the ladder, practically falling backward but was caught before I could touche the ground. When I looked up, It was Arthur who caught me. But remembering the situation we were in, i let a small thank and handed the books to Gaius at the right page.
« Ahh the petal come from the mortaeus flower. It says that someone poisoned by the mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the forest of baloch. The flower grows on the roots of the mortaeus tree. » Gaius read
« That doesn't look particularly friendly. » Arthur said pointing to the illustration of a creature in the corner of the page. Of course there as to be some creature. What couldn't it be easy?
« A cokatrices... it guards the forest. His venom is potent. A single drop would mean a certain death. »
« Why couldn't it be guarded by butterflies, why is it always some poisonous creature » I mumbled under my breath
« Few who have crossed the mountains of isgard in search of the mortaeus flower have made it back alive. » Gaius said ignoring my comment. Both Arthur and I looked at each other a silence conversation between the two us, he knows I will go there
« Sounds like fun » he said
« Arthur, it's too dangerous. »
« Not if I'm coming with him » I said both of men looked in my direction, not in surprise but scolding knowing there is no way I would back down
« No you're not- «
« I can't let you have all the fun can I. It's not negotiable. I'm coming with you »
« If I don't get- « Arthur started
« If WE don't » I corrected him, Arthur looked at me sighing
« If we don't get the antidote what happens to Merlin ? » Arthur asked Gaius
« The mortaeus induce a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days but not for much longer. Eventually he will die. » Gaius explained
« Not on my watch » I said
« You're not coming » Arthur said strictly to me, leaving the room
« You bet » I said after he left
-
After the Prince left the physician's chamber he quickly took the direction of the throne room where his father would most likely be, to convince him to let him go search for the antidote.
But it won't be easy
« What's the point of having people to taste for you if you're going to get killed anyway? » Uther asked frustrated to his son
« I won't fail no matter what you think. » The Prince tried to argued
« Arthur, you are my only son and heir. I con't risk losing you for the sake of some serving boy. »
« Because his life is worthless.? »
« No because it's worth less than yours. » he exclaimed
« I can save him. Let me take some men. » Arthur started
« No »
« We'll find the antidote and bring it back. » he continued even after his father refusal. He couldn't let his servant die. He grew quite fond of him even if you'll never heard him say it. But he also couldn't and wouldn't imagine the face of his dear friend if her brother went to die.
« No » the King still refused
« Why not? » he asked frustrated at his father stubbornness
« Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a king. I'm not going to let you jeopardise the. Futur of this kingdom over some fool's errand. »
« It's not a fool errand. Gaius says that if we can... » he tried to explained but was shortly cut off
« Gaius says? That's exactly what makes it so... »
« Please father. He saved my life. His sister saved my life. I can't stand by and watch him die » he begged, wich wasn't something you'll see everyday.
« Then don't look. This boy won't be the last to die on your behalf, you're going to be King, It's something you'll have to get used to. »
« I can't accept that. »
« You're not going! » the king exclaimed one more time
« You can't stop me » Arthur calmly said
« Damn it, Arthur! That's an end to it You're not leaving this castle tonight! » and with that the king left Arthur in the middle of the corridor pondering to the options he have. Going and disobeying his father, or listen to his king and let his friend die...
