A/N: What's this? Another chapter? Why yes, it is :) Quite short this time, but I don't feel bad about that at all ^_~
Someone was slapping his face in a dreadfully inconsiderate manner, waking the invalid from his rest.
"I'm sorry, Merlin, but you need to drink."
Drink? No; no more of that wine. He turned his head, lips stubbornly closed.
"Merlin."
The familiar authority and disapproval in the tone made his eyes pop open. Gaius. When did he get here? Wait- was he here before? His memories were jumbled and confused. He thought he remembered Arthur's presence, but then he also had a vague recollection of Balinor hovering over him.
"Drink it, my boy."
Right. He opened his mouth obediently and an odd syrup slithered across his sickness-dulled tongue. The sweetness of elderberry jam was there, but also hints of one or two other things he couldn't fully discern at the moment.
"One more time," the physician coaxed, another spoon spilling liquid past his lips.
Ugh. The garlic and oil were bearable, but the vinegar that came along with them was revolting.
Why couldn't he give me this one first?
"And some water, then you can go back to sleep."
Sleep? Is that what he'd been doing? Well, he rather doubted he'd be able to now that he was feeling the cold and pain his body had been trying to tell him about since he'd awoken. His limbs felt heavy and a horrid feeling of having been drained stole over him. Probably literally, if his fevered memories of leeches and flashing knives could be trusted.
Another coughing fit delayed the water, which then felt almost painfully cold yet oddly soothing as it went down.
Gnarled fingers carded through his hair and he leaned into the comforting touch without noticing.
"Rest now; I'll be here when you wake."
Speech was a bit more than he could manage, so a pained whimper was all the response he gave.
"Oh, I'm sorry; of course you would- I'll be back shortly, m'boy."
The creaking of a stool and old bones preceded the clinking of bottles- and when had he closed his eyes? Nevermind, it was fine this way.
"Here, this will help."
The minty flavor of Gaius' least disgusting pain potion washed away the acidic aftertaste- though the meeting of the two had been decidedly less than pleasant- and a few moments of quiet crooning by his mentor saw the warlock falling into a healing sleep.
Seeing his ward was secure in the land of dreams he turned to Holbert's assistant, allowing the young man to finish catching his breath before interrogating him.
"Do you have any herb knowledge at all?" He tried not to be too rough on the lad. After all, it wasn't his fault his teacher was a complete buffoon.
"Y-yes, sir. I was 'prentice to a village healer afore coming 'ere."
The old man gave an internal sigh of relief.
"I need you to go out and collect some for me. What you've brought from the kitchen was good for the moment, but better can be found now that we have the time."
The boy nodded, listening attentively.
"You- what is your name, lad?"
"Ostley, sir."
"Ostley; take a knight and search for dandelions, stinging nettles, and linden. If you can't find the nettles or dandelions yarrow will do but it will raise his fever so best to find the others if you can. Do you know these plants?"
"All but the linden, sir."
"Ah," Gaius moved to the writing desk, shoving star charts onto the floor to reveal a blank parchment before dipping the quill in ink and drawing a simple outline on the page. "The leaves are serrated, see? They have soft white hairs on the underside, especially along the veins. The bark is dark grey, not particularly rough or smooth. Do you think you can find it from this?"
"Yes, sir," he took the illustration and a basket, pausing by the door. "I'll be quick."
Gaius nodded and Ostley was gone.
