As Promised, part nine already done and up rather quickly. thanks for the reviews and such. I hope you like this one just as much. Enjoy!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Part Nine

Arthur stared hungrily at his steaming plate of food. Lunch. For once it wasn't one of Merlin's skimpy meals nor one of the questionable looking ones. It was a real meal. Merlin had been working rather slowly, but this mean certainly made up for his slow movements and clumsiness. He had worked up quite an appetite that day and was just about to dig into his sumptuous meal when a knock came at his door.

"Enter," he said annoyed as he prepared to dig in again.

The door opened and Gwen entered.

"Hello Gwen," Merlin said cheerfully although something seemed a bit off... Probably nothing, Arthur thought. He had been saying that to himself a lot as Merlin seemed more clumsy and daft than usual.

Arthur too was happy to see Gwen, but he wanted to eat! "What can I do for you Gwen?" Arthur asked trying to sound as happy as possible.

"Actually it's Gaius," Gwen said with a worried expression. Arthur put down his utensils. Eating could wait he supposed. Whenever Gwen was worried, Arthur knew to listen.

"Go on," he said as he stood up albeit somewhat reluctantly.

"He has requested that you come and see him. Immediately," Gwen said slowly, yet firmly.

Both Arthur and Merlin looked at Gwen seriously. Arthur wanted to argue and say Gaius could wait, but the look on her face...Not to mention what Gaius would do to him if he made him wait. Who knew, it might be important.

"Come along Merlin," he said as he followed Gwen out the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gaius looked up from his papers as Arthur, Gwen, and Merlin entered his chambers. He had been double checking just to make sure, but there could be no mistake.

"Sire," he said as he stood up.

"What's all this about Gaius," Arthur asked.

"I'm afraid I have bad news sire," Gaius said slowly.

Arthur frowned, but motioned for him to continue.

"I'm afraid I was looking through my list of supplies, and I found one of my bottles is missing." Gaius said seriously.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You mean to say you brought me all the way down here to tell me someone stole a bottle from you."

"No sire, it wasn't just any bottle. It was a bottle of Oleander."

Merlin's eyes widened. "Did you eat anything sire?" Merlin asked immediately.

"I never had the chance," Arthur said.

"Do you feel alright?" Merlin continued.

"What are you going on about? What is Oleander?" Arthur asked annoyed.

"It's a poison," Merlin answered.

Arthur now understood. "You think someone might be trying to poison me?" Arthur asked both Merlin and Gaius.

Merlin started to nod his head, but Gaius shook his. "No sire, I'm afraid someone may be trying to kill Merlin."

Gwen, Arthur and Meriln all narrowed their eyes in confusion. Gaius looked pointedly at Merlin. Merlin noticed and looked down at his hand. Of course, Merlin thought to himself. The knife was laced with Oleander. He was trying to poison me!

Suddenly Merlin became aware of this fact and noticed the symptoms he had. The dizziness, his shortness of breath that had come on shortly after his disorientation and weakness. It seemed so obvious now.

"Why would anyone want to kill Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"I thought the answer would be quite obvious," Gaius said glumly.

Arthur shook his head at his own stupidity. "His magic."

Gaius just nodded.

Gwen had been told by Elyan all the events that had happened and was fully aware of Merlin's magic. "Who would try to kill him?" Gwen asked fearful for her friend.

Gaius looked down. "I don't know," Gaius lied clasping his hand together in front of him. He couldn't tell Arthur about Agravaine. He either wouldn't believe him or it would just make things worse. The damage was already done.

Merlin suddenly felt very tired, dizziness accompanying him now with every movement.

"What are the symptoms?" Gwen asked.

"Well the usual, but first would be dizziness, weak pulse, drowsiness..." Gaius trailed off as he noticed Merlin's lids slowly drooping as he swayed where he stood.

"Sire," Gaius said suddenly. "would you please catch him so he doesn't crack his head open."

Arthur looked at Gaius like he had three heads since Merlin was... oh, nope... Merlin collapsed. Arthur barely managed to catch him in time and place him on a nearby patients bed.

Arthur was rather alarmed by his servant and friend collapsing, but Gaius stood calmly.

"The poison?" Arthur asked as Gwen fetched a bucket of water since that always seems to help. Gaius just nodded in affirmation.

"Why do you even have poison?" Arthur asked.

"Mixed with other things, they can be very helpful, even life saving. Oleander can be good for the heart with certain herbs as well as can relieve headaches and colds and sometimes skin diseases," Gaius explained. "I keep track of all potential poisons just in case something such as this were to happen. In case someone were to steal my poisons in hope to poison you or in this case Merlin. If I can find out what was missing I can find a cure."

"That's why you're so calm. You can cure Merlin," Arthur said a little uncertainly.

"Indeed sire. And since I already know what the poison is, all I need do is prepare the antidote. It shouldn't take more than a couple hours."

"What if Merlin doesn't have hours?" Arthur asked, worry skyrocketing through him again.

"Unless he has been exposed to copious amounts of Oleander, which he hasn't since it was a rather small bottle, he won't die for another...five hours. According to the rate his symptoms have come. It's a slow acting poison, we have time."

Arthur nodded in understanding, but still didn't like the fact that his friend had been poisoned. This is nearly becoming a daily occurrence, he thought to himself.

"Get on it then," Arthur said trying to sound like he wasn't worried. He would stop worrying when his friend had been cured.

Gaius wordlessly began bustling around the room gathering the supplies he would need. Arthur watched him for a moment before looking at Merlin. He looked so weak and vulnerable. He wanted to stay, but could think of no reason to. So it was with reluctance he left to go eat a lunch he no longer wanted.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Merlin opened his eyes to find Gaius leaning over him.

"Welcome back my boy," Gaius said cheerfully. Well as cheerfully as Gaius can get after seeing his surrogate son poisoned and dying. He had managed to create the antidote rather effortlessly, though it took longer than he would have liked.

Merlin sat up and immediately regretted it. His head pounded painfully inside his skull and he let Gaius gently lower him back down.

"How are you feeling?" Gaius asked, back in physician mode.

"Like one of Arthur's training dummies," Merlin said closing his eyes and willing the headache away.

"That should go away in a few hours or so,"

"What happened?" Merlin asked not remembering anything after arriving in Gaius's chambers with Arthur and Gwen.

"Agravaine poisoned you with that knife you told me about. I found one of my poisons, Oleander, to be missing. Now I've given you the antidote. You should be fine."

Merlin just nodded.

The door opened and Gwen entered.

"He's awake," Gaius told her.

"Oh thank goodness," she said. "Is he alright?" she asked as she noticed how still he was remaining.

"Just a bit of a headache. Why don't you go and tell Arthur. I'm sure he would like to know."

Gwen nodded and left quietly.

"Does Arthur know it was Agravaine?" Merlin asked as soon as Gwen was gone.

"No," Gaius said shortly.

Merlin just nodded. He wasn't sure he wanted him to know anyway. He knew it would hurt his friend to know that another he trusted was two faced.

"As soon as this headache's gone, I'm going to have a little chat with Agravaine," Merlin said more to himself than to Gaius.

"What do you hope to accomplish in doing that?" Gaius asked worriedly. He didn't want Merlin to go anywhere near that man again. Not after this.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling he is going to try to kill me again. Maybe I can convince him otherwise."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hope you liked it. I'm sorry if any information about poison is wrong. I'm obviously not an expert, but I did my best. Part ten is already done as well and should be up in a few days. It's a little shorter, but oh well. life goes on. Thanks for reading!