The response to this is amazing already! Thanks to all who favorited and followed the story it's always fun to see :).
As for the extremely depressing news that is circulating...Season 5 will be the last season but I have to agree with Mediatrix, maybe contacting the BBC could do something. I'm thinking that there are enough nationalities that watch it, maybe we could actually do something. Personally this is the only show I watch because everything else seems so worthless, it's either reality tv or has a ridiculously weak plot. It seems like whether I find a show to watch, it always ends too soon.
Also the bits with Gwen I'm taking from the episode to make sure I'm keeping it close to the actual story, I've altered them a bit but I want to keep mostly true to the story in that instance.
I was originally planning this to be a two-shot but I'm thinking I might have to stretch it a little past that. Unfortunately, I have some homework I have to do first, this is to give you something to say thank you for the reviews. Enjoy!
The queen was furious. Arthur had gone to find that troublesome manservant. Gwen knew it was unlikely that he would find him alive, Morgana's potions worked effectively and he was in the Valley of the Fallen Kings, not somewhere Arthur should think to go, but still she was annoyed there might be a chance. Deciding to continue on with her plan, she arranged to meet with the Sarrum, ensuring she would catch his attention quickly.
"I watched your men practice today. I was impressed with their skill."
"Well the men of Armata are born with swords in their hands, I'm only sorry your husband could not have been a part of the display of swordsmanship."
"Yes, well, my husband decided there were more important matters to attend. I can't help but believe Camelot would benefit from a leader with your dedication to the sword. Maybe your men could teach him a thing or two about it, like fighting or possibly dying by the sword." This caught his attention. Motioning to his guards, the Sarrum dismissed them back to the room.
"I must have misheard you."
"I don't think so."
"Are you not happy with your husband?"
"I'd be happy if he died tomorrow, if someone could arrange that I could assure you they would be richly rewarded."
His dumbfounded expression was rather laughable, "I'm not sure I believe you."
She could feel the pieces of her plan falling into place, now all that was left was to hammer out the details, she knew they man was greedy and she was about to use that trait to her advantage. "Meet me outside the king's suite tonight, we can speak openly there."
Turning and walking away, Gwen could feel the smile creep to her lips, she would entice the Sarrum, he would kill her boorish husband for her and Morgana would gain what is rightfully her's. All she had to do was sell a portion of Camelot's lands, lands Morgana could easily gain back once they were ruling the kingdom.
Merlin had choked, that's what the grating cough was. Arthur had turned him gently to the side when he realized Merlin did not have the strength to do it himself. He bit back tears as Merlin retched, hoping for the soldiers and that boy to return quickly. They had been gone for a few hours as it was. What Arthur hadn't realized was that they had come back shortly before and were attending to the tincture while he was tending to his friend. While he waited he focused on keeping Merlin cool, dabbing at the sweat that had beaded on his forehead.
It wasn't until Daegal came over to them clutching a curled leaf in his hand that Arthur realized their salvation was at hand. The boy was walking almost hesitantly, as if afraid Arthur would run him through with the slightest provocation. He wasn't too far off, but there was no way Arthur would take the risk when the boy was carrying the treatment. As soon as the leaf was offered, Arthur snatched it from his hand and reached out to support Merlin's head. His friend awoke with the movement and focused on the leaf, realization floating through his expression. Arthur helped him to drink the tincture and reached for his water skin to help wash it down. But Merlin pushed it away. Grasping Arthur's hand and laying it across his chest, he mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like "My heart" and Arthur felt his grip increase around his arm, surprisingly strong for what he had gone through. Then the grip tightened again, almost painful this time. Merlin looked up at him, took a breath and when his head dropped down, Arthur felt him start to convulse. His whole body shook and a painful cry left his lips as the antidote did what it was supposed to do, or at least what he assumed it was supposed to do. Arthur held him all the while, tasting salt the whole time. Eventually the shaking stopped, Merlin's hands went limp, and Arthur felt his body relax. The problem was as his head lolled to the side, Arthur could not longer feel the beating of his heart.
"No" he whispered before laying his head against the chest of his friend, he couldn't be dead, it wasn't possible, Merlin could not be dead at Morgana's hand. A faint flutter rewarded his efforts and he spent a moment ensuring he actually heard the beating. When he was satisfied, he sat back on his haunches. Merlin was still alive, they just had to wait to see if he would wake, he didn't want to risk moving him again until he knew he could do so without causing him pain. Tucking the cloak back around his shoulders, he sat in his spot with the cloth, dabbing his friend's forehead, well aware he had tears drying on his cheeks, tears he did nothing to wipe away even as Leon and Percival came to check on their friend.
It was nearly nightfall when Merlin awoke. Arthur had never left his side and so was the first face he saw when he finally opened his eyes. It sounded almost like Arthur whispered a "thank the gods" but it wasn't loud enough for him to be sure.
"Merlin, are you alright?"
To be honest, he was still weak, the poison was in his veins, he could feel it, but thankfully the pain was gone. However, he didn't want to worry Arthur more than he already had,
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me." It was a command, he could hear it in the King's voice, he wanted the actual truth. "I won't watch that again, Merlin. Tell me honestly, are you alright?"
Merlin sighed, Arthur was like a dog with a bone and he was not going to release it until he gave him something more elaborate.
"I can still feel the poison but it's lessening. It will work its way out of my system..." He felt Arthur's eyes on him, a doubting look plastered on his face, "I promise Arthur, it is not a big deal anymore. But we should be returning to Camelot." And he made a move to stand, only to feel Arthur's hand on his shoulder forcing him back down.
"Merlin, you almost died this afternoon, we do not need to run back at this point. We can wait a few more moments. No one is going to hand the kingdom over to Sarrum if you rest a bit longer."
Merlin snorted at Arthur's choice of doom, that's exactly what he was afraid of.
"I want to talk about this Daegal boy before we do anything."
"He knows something, Arthur. Morgana decided to kill me now..." Merlin could not help but notice the shiver that ran through is friend, Arthur had been truly worried, "for a reason and I fear its because she is planning another attempt on your life."
"You think she told him something of her plans?" Arthur couldn't believe that Morgana would trust this boy with what she was planning to do, no matter what price she paid him.
"I think Morgana has become reckless in her desperation, she might have let something slip, but it is still best to ask, if she didn't we don't lose anything."
Arthur sighed, Merlin was right and he knew it. As he stood up he noticed his friend was shivering, the cloak had fallen from his shoulders earlier and Merlin hadn't seemed to notice, so before he went to find Daegal he reached down to pull the cloak back around his shoulders. Receiving a thankful look from him friend.
