I couldn't leave on a nasty cliffhanger like that so here's another chapter for you.
Arthur stood up, and made his way out of Merlin's room.
Gwen whirled around, putting her hands, and the vial of poison behind her back.
"Arthur! I didn't expect to see you here," said Gwen innocently.
"Neither did I,"said Arthur seriously.
Arthur looked at her. His Gwen. But was she his Gwen anymore? Arthur wanted answers, but he knew she wasn't going to give them willingly. So he feigned innocence.
"I was just looking for my idiot of a servant to yell at him. I see you've come to check on Daegal?"
Gwen breathed a sigh of relief, Arthur was as dense as ever, and had provided her with the perfect cover. "Yes. I was hoping to hear about Merlin's wonderful stories, but it seems I am out of luck." She smiled, and Arthur noticed how the smile didn't reach her eyes, which gave a very different impression.
"Shall we go to bed, my lord?"
"You go. I have something to discuss with Merlin..." Gwen's facade slipped for a moment. Maybe he did suspect her of something?
"Regarding his sheer laziness these days. He certainly is the worst manservant. Ever."
The queen laughed. "He's not that bad." Arthur snorted. "Anyway, I bid you goodnight if I am asleep by the time your discussion with Merlin is complete." Nodding her head slightly, she turned around and headed out in the corridor, passing a very confused (and very stinky) Merlin on her way in the opposite direction.
Walking into the physician's, puzzled as to why the queen was down here, his confusion grew as he saw the king sitting in a stool next to Daegal.
"Sire?" Arthur turned to face him, a hurt expression on his face. "Arthur?" asked Merlin now as a friend, not servant.
"It's Gwen," choked out Arthur.
Merlin's expression darkened. "What about her?"
Arthur noticed the shift in mood of his manservant. "You know something?"
"I-"
"You knew something was wrong and you didn't think to tell me. That something was so... sowrong with my own wife?" Arthur had gotten up and was now nearly shouting in Merlin's face.
"You never would have believed me. You never believe me on such things." Merlin looked hurt. "How am I supposed to tell you, huh? Hey Arthur, your wife has been plotting to kill you for the past few weeks because she's in league with Morgana-"
"Morgana?" cried Arthur.
"It's true," said a new voice, very quietly. "I saw her when Morgana was planning to get rid of Merlin. She's the one that organised the assassin."
"So that's why she was trying to poison you."
"What?" asked Merlin and Daegal simultaneously.
Arthur sighed. "I came in here looking for you," explained Arthur, nodding his head towards Merlin, "and seeing that no one was here except for Daegal, who was sleeping, I hid in you room, intending to scare you."
"Thanks," grunted Merlin.
"Well, you haven't completed all your chores."
"Yes I have! I just finished mucking up the stables thank you very much."
"I can tell," said Arthur, crinkling his nose at the stench. Merlin sniffed his shirt and also cringed. He made his way to his room, taking his shirt off and flinging it onto a bucket to be washed. Arthur noted the numerous scars that covered his back and torso, and how thin he was, but that was another discussion for another time.
"You know I was joking when I was talking about the stables yesterday."
Merlin returned, with a fresh shirt on, looking confused. "Gwen told me you had demanded I do them."
"It must have been a diversion to keep you out of here while she poisoned Daegal," said Arthur solemnly, realising her ruse. "I saw her, Merlin. She-she looked terrifying." Arthur sat down, running his hands over his face. "It was only because I got up and played dumb that Daegal wasn't poisoned." Merlin saw the distraught look on his friend's face and came and put his hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Daegal looked at the king and Merlin, marvelling at their friendship, and at the former's actions which had saved his life. "Thank you, sire," said Daegal gratefully.
"I-I just can't believe it, Merlin. What happened?"
"Sire, it is not Gwen fault. She's been enchanted. Ever since the Dark Tower she's been controlled."
"I need to see it with my own eyes. I just..."
"I saw Gwen heading towards the lower town on my way here, and I suspect she goes to the Darkling Woods to meet with Morgana."
Arthur cringed at that last sentence. He wanted desperately to deny it, but he had to see it for himself. "We must go quickly," he said.
With that, the two men exited into the night.
And there's the lead up to 5x09, well, in my AU anyway. The show didn't explain much. Anyway, one more chapter to sort of set out Daegal's future and then I'm done.