Marie was nervous. She couldn't pinpoint it. Her ears tickled, and it was a sure mark that something was going to happen and soon. Since childhood she had learned to trust the feeling and when she walked in the laundry, she began to be sure. Shophie was again being theatrical.

"They said that he's dying." Shophie sobbed. It wasn't hard to guess who she meant. Every servant spoke about it.

"Who says that, darling?" Lilie seemed distant.

"Everyone." Shophie cried and now Lilie turned to see her.

"Don't believe everything that you hear." Her voice was hard and Shophie backed a bit.

"But he is ill."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that he is dying."

"I saw him. I think he is dying." Marie said suddenly. Lilie looked at him with disappointment.

"How did you see him?" Lilie asked. Marie moved nervously.

"I had to help Gaius last night because Emlyn, Gaius' new apprentice, wasn't there. And I saw Merlin. He was hardly breathing."

"Now you stop that. Both of you. " Lilie commanded and turned to do her job. "It is this damn heat. And the cold nights. It makes people nervous."

"I don't want him to die." Shophie whispered. Marie walked to her and hugged her. "I'm sure that Gaius will come up with something."

"Enough of this!" Lilie snapped. "Marie, do me a favor and go to the kitchen and get some food."

"Alright." Marie turned and left. When she was near the kitchen entrance she noticed Emlyn speaking with some man.

"Mark?" Marie realized suddenly and hurried forward. "Mark!"

The man looked at her with surprise. "Marie? You are here? Here?"

"I should be asking you that. How are you here, in Camelot?" Marie hissed and they fell silent when some other servants passed them. Mark grabbed her hand and drew her closer.

"I came to help Emlyn, but we have hit a dead end. Marie, listen, we have to help Merlin. You know him?" He whispered.

Marie frowned. "Of course I know him. Everyone knows him." Marie studied her cousin. "He is dying, isn't he?"

Mark sighed. "Yes. And the reason is… I can't say it in here. I'll just say that Iseldir sentme a message. He said that we have to go after a man with a scar over his lips. Dark hair, noble birth. He is the key so that we can save Merlin."

"Do you know anyone like that? There is a lot of people and I haven't seen many of them yet." Emlyn asked.

"Neither do I but… The scar over his lips… Yes, it's Sir Anthony." Marie remembered him. She had seen him once and she really didn't like him. To him, servants were the lowest people on Earth.

"We have to tell Gaius." Mark decided. "We can't hide this from him anymore. And we can't do anything if this is about the noble man. Do you think that Gaius is back from his rounds?"

"I think so." Emlyn nodded and Marie stared after where they left. Then, she followed.