"Keep him cool. It'll help control his fever," Gaius advised to Gwen, who was placing wet clothes on Merlin's forehead.
Arthur looked upon Merlin with great concern. Had Merlin expected to die in Arthur's place? Was this Merlin's fate, dying in the hands of a sorceress? All of the orders Arthur had given to Merlin, all of the commands he pushed his servant to do, led up to this moment? It just didn't feel right. It felt too soon for him to just, die. Arthur didn't even know anything about him. All Arthur knew was that his servant could clean his clothes and armor decently and could really act like a complete girl. There was so much Arthur wanted to know, so much Arthur wanted to ask Merlin. What was so important for Merlin to give up his life now?
Arthur's thoughts were interrupted by the a big thump. Arthur turned towards the direction of the noise and found Gaius scanning an ancient book for the right page.
"Ah," Gaius said when he finally found the page. "The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here 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 Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."
"That's not particularly friendly," Arthur responded to the new piece of knowledge. At least he didn't have to barge into a town full of bandits. That wouldn't have ended very pleasantly.
"A Cockatrice," Gaius read from the book. "It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive."
"Sounds like fun," Arthur replied. He would do anything to save Merlin's life. Arthur remembered the last time he got to see his servant when he was healthy. He burst into the dining hall, claiming that the chalice Arthur was about to drink was poisoned. How foolish Arthur was to think that Merlin was only playing a cruel trick. Because of Arthur's pride and ignorance, Merlin was laying in bed, dying with every passing minute. He needed to save Merlin, and that was Arthur's final decision.
"Arthur, it's too dangerous," Gaius responded. Though Gaius was wise, Arthur still felt annoyed at his commentary on Arthur's desicion. Why couldn't he understand that Arthur had a debt to pay, even if it cost him his life?
"If I don't get the antidote," Arthur questioned. "What happens to Merlin?"
"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually he will die," Gauis answered.
By this point, Arthur knew what he need to do. He marched towards the door and gave one final glance towards Merlin. He was going to save Merlin, and nobody was going to stop him from doing it.