Merlin frightens. He is terribly sick and his head is sore with a muffled feeling. He sits upright in bed. His complexion is unnaturally pale. He jumps out of bed and reels into the room of Gaius. Just in time he manages to grip a bucket. Then, he vomits into it already. He reels and collapses. Pale and helpless he is sitting on the stairs. With trembling hands he holds the bucket tight and vomits again. As Gaius enters the room, he finds his protégé almost fainted and powerless sitting on the ground. He already is up since a medical emergency had woken him. Horrified, he looks down at Merlin. "Merlin? Merlin, are you alright?" Merlin, who had closed his eyes, opens them and looks into the face of his mentor.
He shakes his head and vomits one more time. Worried Gaius goes besides him onto the knees and feels Merlin's forehead. "You have no fever. And there are no other signs of a cold." Merlin whispers. "This is not a sickness. This was a new distortion of magic, this was another human sacrifice. I've felt the last distortion of magic as powerful. I can hardly describe this immense power this time. I thought this last time, it would tear me apart. I thought it's not getting worse. I was wrong." Gaius stands up and pulls Merlin with him. Holding him, he leads Merlin back to his bed. The young sorcerer lies down immediately. The exhaustion is almost superhuman. Exhausted, he closes his eyes and falls asleep immediately. Gaius sits down worried in front of his bed and holds his hand. Whatever is going on here, he doesn't like it at all.
When Arthur enters the room, Merlin still sleeps. Even from a distance, he calls for his servant. "Merlin, where are you? I'm waiting. You have already overslept again! Let that not be habit!" He passes through Gaius room and walks upstairs the small stairs into Merlin's room. Little enthusiastic he looks down at his sleeping servant. But when he sees Gaius worried face, his expression immediately changes. "Gaius? What's going on? What is it this time?" Gaius shakes his head. "I don't know. Merlin is terribly exhausted. Something has robbed him all of his energy. He needs to rest. I'm sorry. I'm afraid you will have to do without him." Arthur sighs. "Oh, great. When will he feel better?" Gaius pauses briefly. "As soon as he has slept and ate something. But it will certainly be noon before he is back on his feet."
Arthur nods. "I can't wait for him. Let me know when he feels better. In the meantime I go without him on patrol." Gaius looks up at his king. "Do you think this a good idea? You shouldn't leave the castle without Merlin. Think of Mordred .. " Now the King smiles. "Gaius, I can take care of myself. And if it calms you, I take Sir Percival, Sir Leon and Sir Galahad with me. " He pauses and looks down at his pale friend. "But the patrol is important. It gives the public safety. We stay nearby." Gaius sighs. "Be careful." Arthur nods. Then he leaves the room.