"We know that you've used sorcery, in the form of a Deadly Sin, to fight Merlin. Tell us how to remedy it."
"Well done, Gaius. You're not as stupid as you look, even if you are a traitor to my kind. However, you're going to have to be diligent, and act with vigour, if you want to help your friend. For if you're not quick enough, he'll slowly dehydrate. And we wouldn't want that, would we?"
"Then tell us where to find the cure."
"I've told you quite enough already, if you listened well enough, old man." Gaius frowned in confusion for a moment, before his eyebrows raised in clarity. "What do you mean, sorcerer. You've told us nothing." Arthur demanded, but Gaius touched his arm lightly, and shook his head. "No, Arthur, he's right." he said, before turning and hurrying towards his chambers, a very confused prince in tow.
"What do you mean, Gaius. That man told us nothing of use." Arthur asked, as Gaius hurriedly searched his shelves for the book that he was looking for. "He did, Arthur, and I'll explain it later, but first, I need you to bring Merlin up to my chambers. This might take a while, and I don't want him freezing to death outside." Arthur frowned, but quickly left to obtain his servant, leaving Gaius to continue to search his bookshelves. At the same moment that he found the book he was looking for, Arthur returned, Merlin in his arms, and carefully set him down once more. The prince watched the delicate-looking boy breathing deeply and evenly on the bed, almost as if he were just sleeping.
"Now, Arthur, Warin hinted heavily that to combat the Sloth, we have to use Diligence, which is the corresponding Virtue. I remembered that in one of my older potions book, there is a remedy called 'Sollicitudinem', which I think might be the cure to this… illness. However, it takes quite a while to make, and involves some very complicated processes. I don't know if I can make it in time."
"You have to try, Gaius. For Merlin. We can't just let him die, not after all he's done for both of us." Arthur said earnestly. Gaius was suddenly glad that Merlin had managed to inspire such loyalty in the young prince. He smiled. "Of course. Now, I really can't ask you to do anything else. I'm sure that you have other duties to attend to."
"I'd really rather stay…"
"I'm afraid I'll have to insist, my lord. Your father won't be happy if I keep you here for too long. After all, Merlin is only a servant. However, if you happen to see Morgana, would you ask her if I can borrow Gwen."