"Merlin, I know you want to keep an eye on me, but is this really necessary?" Lira complained as they worked around each other in Arthur and Guinevere's room.

Arthur had humoured Merlin and hired Lira as his "co-servant." Now things were running less than smoothly as they kept bumping into each other in the suddenly small room.

Merlin had to admit; maybe this wasn't his best idea.

"I suppose you're right, we could find you somewhere else to work." Merlin answered.

"I'm going to go get breakfast; you get to tell the King!" Lira said, running out the door before Merlin could protest.

Arthur came through the curtain that separated the bedroom from the rest of the room.

"You know Gaius could never have too many helpers..." Arthur said.

"Wha-oh..." Merlin's confusion turned to understanding. "You don't mind?"

"Not at all, she's a great girl but I think one servant is enough." Arthur laughed.

Lira came back in with the food and set it on the table.

"Merlin told me of your plans to leave us, you may finish out the day and then you will be dismissed from my service." Arthur said, sitting before his plate of food. Gwen came from the bedroom and sat at her place.

"Lira, I'd like to help you find a place to work, since you're leaving here." She said.

"My Lady, that really is not necessary-"

"I insist, we can go around the castle and in town until we find the work that suits you best." Gwen insisted, leaving no room for argument.

"Thank you, my lady." Lira smiled lightly.

They went out into town later that morning, asking around the castle if anyone was looking for more assistance. They didn't find anything.

"Well, what do you like to do? How did you spend your time in Ealdor?" Gwen asked.

"I've spent the past few years travelling with my father, but when I was in Ealdor I would help with the wash and cook. I did a great deal of hunting whilst travelling, but I don't think I'll be hunting for my food here." She laughed

"What about Gaius? Could you be his apprentice?"

"I would probably poison the entire castle on accident! I can tie a tourniquet or set a bone but medicines... are not my forte." Lira laughed

"Let's try the town, maybe we can find something nearby." Gwen suggested, and they made their way out of the castle.

"Merlin! Where are you?" Arthur roared as he searched for his manservant.

"I'm in here," came a quiet voice from Sir Elyan's chambers.

"What on earth are you doing in there?" Arthur questioned as he pushed the door open. Elyan was lying in bed, tangled up in the sheets from a rough night's sleep.

"It's midday sire, he hasn't woken. Neither have Mordred, Leon, or Percival." Merlin had a worried tone of voice.

"Gwaine?"

"Gwaine hardly sleeps at all, sire, he's probably off eating someone else's lunch." Merlin rolled his eyes.

"You're sure they're asleep?" Arthur went to Elyan's bedside opposite Merlin.

"Positive, they're breathing deeply, sometimes grunting or twitching like they're having a nightmare, and their pulse is steady." Merlin told the young King everything he knew.

"Go get Gaius." Arthur ordered.

Merlin nodded and left Arthur.

"Please, you have to help!" the woman cried as she led Lira and Gwen to her home.

Inside, there were probably about seven men and boys sleeping on every surface. Two other women were sitting worriedly by the sides of two men.

"Our sons and husbands haven't woken in two days!" one woman cried. There were three men and four boys, probably aging from around six to Liras age.

"They just went to sleep and wouldn't wake up." The other sobbed into her husband's still rising and falling chest.

"They're still breathing, it is just sleep." Lira said quietly, standing beside one of the boys.

"What do you suppose it could be? The water supply? The food?"

"Can't be, these women are fine and they've been drinking the same water and eating the same food. It's only attacking the men. It has to be magic." She put two and two together.

"We must tell Arthur," Gwen said, turning to the woman "we'll be back, with help."

"Arthur! Something's happening to the men in town!" Gwen rushed up the palace steps to her husband.

"I know, some of the knights and servants are falling ill also... Gwen, I'm afraid Elyan has whatever disease this is." He pulled her into his chest.

When they broke apart and Gwen entered the castle, he looked to Lira.

"What did you two find in town?" He questioned.

"We found a few women whose sons and husbands have been sleeping for days. So far it seems only men have been getting this sleeping sickness. It has to be magic." She explained.

"Your brother went to get Gaius, let's go see what he says." Arthur went back in and Lira followed.

In the room, Gaius was inspecting all the knights and servants, now all lined up next to each other on tables in the throne room.

"They're all sleeping, all men, and all appear to be having nightmares." Gaius concluded, "This was the work of magic, sire."

"Thank you Gaius. How do you say we prevent this from happening?" The regent asked.

"The only thing I can think of is to not sleep." Gaius said grimly.

"I could do that, I suppose." Gwaine laughed. He still looked refreshed, even though he hadn't slept the night before.

"What about curing them?" Merlin asked.

"I'll need to take a look in my books; there may be a tincture or brew that will cure this." He gathered together his things and left the room, Merlin and Lira followed.

"Gaius will know what to do, he always does." Arthur assured Gwen, who was sitting by her brother's side, holding his hand.

"I found it! It's a mixture of hale, vervain and valerian, made into a tincture."Merlin read from the book, "Do you have those things?"

"I have hale and valerian, but vervain is found in the Darkling woods. You'll need to travel far to acquire it." Gaius sighed.

"I'll go tell Arthur..." Merlin mumbled before the King came through the door.

"Have you found anything?" he asked.

"We found a tincture that will wake them, but vervain, a key ingredient, is only found in the Darkling woods." Gaius explained.

"We ride before nightfall, prepare the horses." He told Merlin.

"Sire, if I may, I don't think that's a very good idea." Lira spoke up.

"And why, Lira, do you think that?" Arthur looked over at her, just noticing her presence.

"All the men in Camelot are falling under this spell. You can't stay awake forever and eventually you will die out there, from exhaustion or this sleeping sickness." Lira spoke confidently.

"She has a point, sire." Gaius told him.

"I see her point, but how else will we cure everyone? I must at least try." He said, rubbing his eyes with his hands. He was already growing tired.

"I can go."

"Lira, no-" Merlin interjected.

"I know these woods better than any of you, I've spent months at a time in the wilderness and I won't fall under this spell." Lira insisted.

"I think she's right, sire. She's been preparing for a moment like this for years." Gaius spoke up.

"You can't go alone, I'll send Gwaine with you. If he does fall asleep, which I doubt will happen, leave him. Prepare a small dose of the tincture and give it to him once you've gotten the vervain. Gaius, prepare the other ingredients and send them with her. This better work." Arthur said before leaving the room.

Lira grinned across the room, but Merlin wasn't smiling. He strode across the room and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Stay safe, and don't do anything stupid." He told her.

"I won't, I promise."