"Morgana you look as beautiful as ever." Camilla said as she walked into her room so they could walk down to the feast together.
"Camilla you don't look bad yourself." Morgana replied with a smile.
"Glad you think so, took long enough to get ready." Camilla complained. "Shall we go down?"
"Let's." Morgana said and so they walked down to the hall for the feast.
"How are you sleeping?" Camilla asked as they walked. "Gwen and I are concerned that the dreams have started again."
"Nothing to worry over Camilla, I know you're looking out for me but I am fine." Morgana put on a brave face. "And besides they haven't been too recent."
"I'm glad to hear it. You know if you ever need someone to talk to about it, just to get it off your chest I'm here."
"You act as if you are older than me." Morgana teased. "Thank you for the offer but I really should be saying it to you."
"What Camilla acting as if she's our mother? Never." Arthur said with mocking in his voice as he came around a corner quickly falling into step with them.
"Arthur you look very handsome tonight." Morgana commented.
"Why thank both of you are looking...nice." Arthur gave his half compliment causing the two girls just to roll their eyes at him and share a smile.
"Arthur where is..." Before he could answer her question it was already answered as Merlin rounded the corner Arthur just came from.
Camilla had never laughed so hard.
"Ha ha ha." Merlin said sarcastically as he walked straight past them and into the banquet hall which was just ahead.
"Really Arthur? The official servant robes?" Camilla asked after her laughter had died down.
"If I have to suffer through these boring speeches then I need someone to suffer worse than me." He defended himself.
"But the hat? Really?" Morgana asked with a smile of her own.
Arthur merely shrugged before he led the way into the hall. Uther looked up when he saw them entered and motioned for them to come join him at the head table.
Soon everyone was there and the peace treaty was signed.
As it was signed though Camilla's eyes drifted to Merlin. He was stood next to Gwen when he looked up and caught the eye of a servant from Mercia. Camilla followed his gaze and saw who he was looking at.
She was truly beautiful but there was something about her that Camilla recognised, something in her eyes, but every time she thought she had it went to the back of her mind.
The two rulers clasped one another's arms and the room erupted in applause.
"People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them." Bayard said as a servant brought forth a heavy looking box which was opened to reveal three different chalices. Each Pendragon was present with one which each took gracefully. "As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, to your son, Arthur, and to your daughter, Camilla, in the hope that our friendship may last. Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war."
"And may the differences from our past remain there." Bayard continued. "To your health, Uther." At this everyone stood up for the toast. "Arthur. Camilla. The Lady Morgana. The people of Camelot."
"And to fallen warriors on both sides." Uther finished before finally everyone went to take a drink.
"STOP!" Merlin screamed as he ran into the hall, when did he even leave Camilla thought. He ran up to Arthur and snatched his chalice off him. "It's poisoned! Don't drink it."
"What?" Uther asked outraged.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur asked sounding annoyed himself.
"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison." Merlin told the room loud enough that even the guards outside could probably hear it.
"This is an outrage!" Bayard drew his sword at the insult which caused all his men to do also. Like a chain reaction soon everyone with a weapon in the room had it. Camilla found her hand ready to leap to her calf in case she needed to whip the small dagger there, out and be used. It was just a precaution she always had and it made her feel safe.
"Order your men to put down their swords." Her father demanded. More guards rushed in and the number of reds heavily outweighed the blue. "You are outnumbered."
"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" Bayard raged not putting his sword down.
"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" Uther then turned to Merlin and asked.
"I'll handle this." Arthur said trying to diffuse the situation. He walked around the table and placed an arm around Merlin's shoulders. "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the sloe gin again?"
"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me twhy you think it's poisoned now." Uther warned Merlin as he shrugged Arthur off
"He was seen lacing it." Merlin said.
"By whom?"
"I can't say."
"I won't listen to this anymore." Bayard was not a happy man.
"Pass me the goblet." Uther demanded and Merlin did so. "If you're telling the truth..."
"I am." Bayard interrupted.
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Her father carried on as if nothing had been said. Bayard sheathed his sword and reached for the goblet but at the last minute Uther changed his mind. "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Ignoring Bayard's snort, Uther turned to Merlin and presented him with the chalice. "He'll drink it."
"But if it is poisoned, he'll die!" Arthur argued.
"Then we'll know he was telling the truth." Her father replied. Camilla was not happy at this turn of event. How could Uther possibly make Merlin do such as thing? If he was right then he should be rewarded for saving Arthur's life not forced to endure poison. Believe it or not Camilla was quite fond of Merlin and would rather not see him die.
"And what if he lives?" Bayard asked.
"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will." Uther explained.
"Uther, please! He's just a boy, he doesn't know what he's saying!" Gaius pleaded.
"Then you should've schooled him better." Her father replied.
"Father please." Camilla tried next but her father didn't even look at her.
"Merlin, apologise. This is a mistake. I'll drink it." Arthur attempted but he was cut off by Merlin.
"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright." Merlin said as he stepped away from Arthur. He turned away from him to look Bayard straight in the face before giving him a nod. He turned back round again so he was facing Uther.
Then Merlin drank.
Camilla could feel herself holding her breath.
Merlin finished and just looked at her with confused eyes before turning to Bayard. "It's fine."
"He's all yours." Uther waved his hand and all swords were sheathed but Camilla was still distressed. Merlin was likely to be-
Camilla looked up to the chocking sound Merlin was making as he struggled to breathe. Merlin thought his throat was on fire as he clawed at the lump forming there. Soon the fire was unbearable and Merlin collapsed to the floor.
"It's poisoned. Guards seize him!" Camilla was vaguely aware of her father shouting but she had already rushed forward to help Merlin.
"Merlin. Can you hear me?" Gaius asked as he too rushed forward along with Arthur and Gwen. "We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison."
They walked silently as they hurried down the corridors of the castle to Gaius's chambers but it seemed to take too long.
"Lay him on the bed quickly; he's struggling to breathe. Gwen, fetch me some water, Camilla a towel." Gaius ordered. Both girls got to work.
"Is he gonna be alright?" Arthur asked as he laid him down on the patient bed.
"Gaius he's burning up and he's brow on fire." Camilla said as he felt Merlin's forehead. "Gwen you need to keep the fever down." Camilla told the serving girl who nodded and began to pat Merlin's forehead with a damp cloth. During this time Arthur and Gaius had moved over to his books and Camilla joined them.
"Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower." Gaius explained. "It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."
"That's not particularly friendly." Arthur said as he pointed a winged lizard on the page.
"A Cockatrice." Gaius told them. "It guards the forests, i venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive."
"Sounds like fun."
"Arthur, it's too dangerous."
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" Arthur asked.
"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death . He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually he will die."
Arthur nodded his head before walking out the room and Camilla had a feint idea of what he's about to do.
"Look after him, I expect to return to him still alive." Camilla said.
"My lady you cannot even think—"
"I cannot let my brother do this task alone. I care for Merlin and I'll be damned if I have to wait around here not being able to do anything." Camilla told Gaius cutting him off.
"Be careful." Gaius said and which Camilla nodded at him. She gave one last look to Merlin before she left the room.
"See I knew whatever father said to you wouldn't matter." Camilla said as she passed the reins over to Arthur for his horse.
"Why are dressed in your riding gear and have a sword strapped to your side?" Arthur asked not impressed.
"I care for Merlin as much as you do." Camilla said simply as she mounted her own horse. As she waited for Arthur she had time to prepare both of them. "Besides you would get lost by yourself."
"I assume father has no idea." Arthur said as he mounted also.
"Hasn't even spoken to me about the feast yet, I avoided the whole danger conversation he had with Morgana and yourself." Camilla smirked at him which Arthur smirked back. She kicked her horse into action and the two siblings rode out of Camelot.
"Arthur." Camilla whispered as they walked through the forest. She turned around to look at him but he was gone.
The sound of a beast roaring met her ears.
Camilla ran then drawing her own sword ready to find Arthur, when she did though she watched as he flung his sword and killed the beast. She rushed down towards him completely ignoring the other person.
"Arthur are you alright?" She asked checking for any injuries.
"I am fine Camilla." Arthur reassured her before turning back to the other person who Camilla only just realised was there. He stepped towards the girl causing her to step back. "It's alright. We're not going to hurt you. Who did that to you?"
"My master." She said. There was something about her that seemed vaguely familiar, it was in the eyes. She looked at Camilla and Camilla looked at her both sizing the other up. Arthur was as clueless as always. "I ran away from him, but then I got lost. Please don't leave me."
"We won't. We're not going to." Arthur reassured her.
"You can take me away from here?" She asked. Camilla was getting a bad feeling.
"Not yet. There's something I have to do first." Her brother said as he looked towards the cave mouth, wait I? Camilla thought.
"We have to do first." Camilla corrected him sending him a look.
"Why have you come to the caves?" The girl asked seeming to take pleasure in the little rift.
"We're looking for something." Arthur emphasising the 'we're' for her benefit. "It can only be found here."
"What is it?" Now she was curious seemingly over the fact she had ran away from her master. "I know this place; I could help you."
"It's a type of flower that only grows inside the cave. It's very rare." He told her.
"The Mortaeus flower?" She asked. "I know where they are. I'll show you."
She started to lead the way but Camilla quickly pulled Arthur to the side so she could talk to him.
"Arthur does this not seem a little convenient to you?" She asked her brother. "A girl sat out the side the cave that wants to leave the forest and also claims is lost, happens to know where one of the rarest flowers in the land is kept. Does that not seem suspicious to you at all?"
"Camilla if we started accusing everyone who offered us help of plotting against us we would get nowhere. " Arthur argued.
"You didn't answer my question." She told him.
"I hope nothing's wrong. If I'm causing a problem I'll leave." The girl said in that pathetic voice. It irritated Camilla and wished the girl would go. She hated to turn down a person in need but there was just something about her.
"No nothing's wrong." Arthur said staring at Camilla daring her to say otherwise. Camilla just clenched her jaw and breathed heavily controlling her temper. Satisfied she would say nothing he walked his horse over to the mouth of the cave where the girl now stood. Camilla copied his actions and tied up her own horse next to his. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Into the caves." Camilla told her brother.
"Oh no you're not." Arthur told her. "I have responsibility not only as your brother but as a knight of Camelot to protect the princess."
"Arthur I have come this far I am not going to be sat out here waiting idly. Merlin's life is at stake and the more we argue over this the closer he is to death." Camilla tried to reason.
"Camilla I shouldn't have let you leave the castle in the first place, I already know father will punish me for that alone but I will not risk my sister getting hurt in these caves. It's too dangerous."
"So you rather I sat out here with the cockatrices. I don't think so."
"It's safer out here than in there." He told her, both voices getting louder and angrier with each line. Both just looked at each other before Arthur spoke quietly. "Please."
"Be quick." She relented. Arthur gave her a nod before walking into the caves with the stranger. As the girl turned away Camilla thought she saw a smirk tattooed on her lips.
Camilla tended to the horses making sure they had water but as she did so her mind started to think. Twice now she had experienced that weird feeling of knowing someone but not truly remembering. Coincidence?
Wait the serving girl at the palace had dark hair like the girl who just walked into the caves with Arthur. In fact they looked-
"ARTHUR!" Camilla shouted as she pulled out her sword ready to storm into the caves after her brother. Before she reached the cave mouth though a cockatrice blocked her path.
She took several steps back in surprise before Camilla steeling herself waiting for it to attack. It stood on its hind legs and hissed flaring it wing type things. It roared and screamed stomping the Earth for it had found its dinner.
It lunged and Camilla rolled at of the way grateful she was wearing her riding outfit and not her usual dress. It came back around again and this time she slashed at it causing it to step backwards but not without her clipping its body. While it retreated Camilla stepped and stabbed into its leg giving it a heavy lip as blood started to flow.
It went on the attack again and this type Camilla barely had chance to get of the way but in the process she dropped her sword.
She went for her dagger which she threw and pieced the creature in the eye but it still kept coming. Camilla became backed up against a tree and closed her eyes waiting for the killer blow when it did not come though she opened one eye to see the cockatrice retreating in fear.
A ball of white light pushed the creature back until eventually it ran off leaving Camilla alone and safe. She watched the ball almost turn to her before hurrying into the caves. Camilla must have hit her head or something.
She retrieved her sword and dagger and went to go into the caves again when the girl from before blocked her path.
"What have you done with Arthur?" Camilla pointed her sword at her ready to strike.
"I have shown him where the flower is." She shrugged, all shyness and fear from before gone from her voice and eyes.
"Stand aside or I will run you through." Camilla threatened trying to hide her fear for Arthur from her voice.
"Aw baby Pendragon trying to act like her father and brother." The stranger seemed to feel no fear of a sword being pointed at her. "They would have killed me by now though. Must be from your mother's side of the family." Camilla remained silent. "I wonder if you scream and beg like she did."
Then it hit her.
The look in her eyes.
"It's you." Camilla breathed.
"See you finally recognised me Camilla, took you long enough." Camilla lunged but with a flash of gold in her eye she was sent flying backwards dropping her sword in the process. Camilla stood back up as quickly as she could, pulling out her dagger. She only laughed at the princess waggling her finger at her. "Now now princess we must keep that temper under check."
"Nimueh." Camilla said her name as she went for her blinded by her anger and hate but once again the sorcerer sent her flying and this time her head hit the ground making a solid thump.
"Fingers crossed that cockatrice doesn't come back for more." Nimueh said as Camilla's eyes began to close.
Camilla shot up with the feel of the ice cold water hitting her face.
She looked up to see Arthur towering above her already handing her the reins to her horse.
"Did you get it?" Camilla asked as she stood up.
"Of course but not thanks to our friend." He said. "Are you hurt?"
"Nothing worse than usual, just a hit to the head." Camilla shrugged.
"Sorry Camilla, you were right." Arthur admitted.
"Of course I was. I'm your sister." She said as they began to walk quickly to the edge of the forest. They walked in silence conserving their breath for the pace they were walking at.
When they eventually reached the gates of Camelot they were met by guards.
"What are you doing?" Arthur asked.
"Let us pass." Camilla ordered but she was ignored.
"Sorry my lady and lord but you are under arrest by order of the king." The lead guard told them.
"How dare you disobey my orders and risk your life for a mere servant boy!" Her father stormed into her room and raged. Unlike Arthur, Camilla was being kept under lock and key in her chambers. She stood staring out of the window not looking at the king.
"You never told me not to go." She said calmly.
"You are a princess of Camelot. You do not go around riding after a fool's errand for the life of someone's less than yours." Her father continued.
"Well we did father." Camilla turned around at this point. "Don't make out journey in vain though. Please let Merlin have the cure, he deserves it. He risked his life for Arthur drinking that chalice, how are we supposed to inspire loyalty in the people if we treat our servants like this?"
"You talk of him as if you are friends." Her father commented with somewhat disgust.
"Is that so bad?" Camilla shouted at him.
"How dare you talk to me in such a tone?! What has gotten into you Camilla?" Her father roared. Camilla only looked at him before turning around to look back outside the window but that quick glance told Uther the answer. "So it was her."
Camilla nodded her head.
"This is why—"
"Save the lecture father I have heard it before." Camilla told him. "I thought she was dead."
"She should be." Uther told her quietly but he could see how distressed his daughter was. "Camilla I made a promise to you all those years ago and I intend to keep it."
Camilla simply nodded her head again.
"But because of your actions you will be punished, kept in the room under lock and key until I see fit to release you, just be grateful you are not in the dungeons with your brother." Her father told her before leaving the room.
"Was he really that bad while we were gone?" Camilla asked Morgana as they sat in her room just chatting. Because Camilla had shouted at her father he had decided to prolong her stay in her room so while Arthur was out and about to do as he pleased she found herself still stuck in the room. Morgana visited often but her father seemed to request Morgana's presence more so she did not come as much as the pair would like.
"Oh you should have heard him." Morgana complained.
"I can imagine thank you very much." The two girls laughed
"How are you by the way? You seemed pretty shaken up when you got back." Morgana asked.
"I was but not for what you think." Camilla said and before Morgana could ask what she meant there was a knock at the door. "Come in."
The door opened and there stood a healthy looking Merlin with a broad grin on his face. Camilla jumped up and without thinking hugged him.
The princess of Camelot hugged Arthur's man servant.
"I thought you were dead." Camilla whispered into his neck as her head rested on his shoulder and her arms wrapped around his neck. Instantly Merlin froze but then wrapped his arms around her waist accepting the embrace.
"Well I'm not." Merlin said causing both to chuckle.
"Hump-hump." A cough was heard behind the two and both immediately pulled away. Morgana looked at the pair sending a look to Camilla. Merlin on the other hand looked to the floor and was blushing a deep red. "I believe Uther has requested my presence for lunch, I will be seeing both of you later."
The two watched in silence as Morgana left the room and closed the door behind her.
"You're alive." Camilla turned to Merlin as soon as Morgana was gone.
"I am." Merlin replied. "Thank you for that by the way."
"It was my brother who got the flower. How did you get the antidote?" She asked. "Arthur was locked in a cell."
"He smuggled it through Gwen. Thank you anyway though, you didn't have to go with him. I am after all only a servant."
"Never think like that Merlin no matter what anyone says. You are worth the exact same as me or any other person in this realm."
Camilla just smiled seeing Merlin alive and healthy in front of her.
"My lady I have your lunch." Edith called from the servant door.
"Bring it through." She said and Edith came with a plate with way too much food for Camilla on it. "Thank you Edith, you may go if you want I know you've been helping Gwen catch up on her chores."
"Thank you my lady." Edith gave a curtsey before leaving the same way she came.
"I'll...uh...let you eat your lunch." Merlin said but before he reached the door, Camilla stopped him.
"How busy are you Merlin?"
"Not very." He turned around to say with a confused look.
"Then stay and have lunch with me. I know Gaius isn't the best cook in the world and when you're recovering from an illness good food helps a lot. Also it gets rather lonely always eating my food alone and cook gives me way too much food, I think she means this plate to go to Arthur."
Merlin looked at her for a moment than glanced towards the door before turning around to join her at the table.
"How can I refuse a princess?" Merlin asked her causing both to smile.