Chapter Ten
Arthur seemed a bit inundated by all that was required to organize his new court. But one of the very first things he did eased everything that followed. "Your Majesty, I simply cannot accept this," Gregor protested. "I'm not-"
"You know this court, this kingdom better than anyone else living," Arthur interrupted. "And when I suggested to Queen Annis that I make you Lord Steward, she eagerly agreed."
"I think she secretly had planned on it," Gwen added, a gentle, understanding smile on her lips.
Annis's promotion seemed to quiet most of Gregor's protests, even if he did seem slightly ill at ease, unused to so much attention and deference aimed his way. But, as the days flew by, he slipped into his role naturally, giving me the feeling that Annis had quietly been grooming him for the position for quite a while.
After nearly a month of getting to know this new court, Arthur declared that we would be leaving the next morning for Camelot. "Good people of Caerleon, it has been my distinct honor to come to know you as I have this past month," he began, facing all the nobles who had come to the feast. "You have been welcoming to myself and my queen, as well as our friends accompanying us. I look forward to working with you in the future, to the betterment of Caerleon, and to Camelot as a whole. Now, eat up!"
As Gwen wasn't feeling well, though she hid it with ease, I stayed by her side while Arthur spoke to his new subjects. A few more daring men had approached us, but their enthusiasm dimmed when I didn't respond to their flirtations. None of them held my attention, and I felt the need to stay with my friend.
It was, however, vastly entertaining to watch the single ladies of the court flirting desperately with our knights. It was as if each lady suddenly remembered that we were leaving the next morning, and each one had hopes of being swept off her feet and brought to Camelot. None of them seemed to be succeeding, though the boys all enjoyed the attention. Even Merlin and Percival, the shyest around the fairer sex, preened a bit, albeit awkwardly.
"Gwaine had better watch out for that one," Gwen murmured to me, indicating the lady who had somehow managed to monopolize Gwaine's attention for quite a while. "I think she's trying to get him drunk."
I watched for a few moments, but when I saw the woman gesture for yet another cup for my friend, I stood. "I think I'll go have a conversation with her," I told Gwen, who grinned up at me.
"Just be nice," she teased.
"I can't promise that."
As I walked across the great hall, people obscured my sight of Gwaine and the girl. It didn't help that several stopped me to talk, and I had to pretend to be polite, when really, I wanted to scream. Who knew what that girl could do to my friend?
I caught sight of them just at the door. She seemed to be holding him up, supporting his weight as they careened toward the exit. "Aw, Sir Gwaine, I was hoping to find you," I said loudly, forcing lightness into my tone that I most assuredly did not feel.
"Anna," he sighed, grinning happily at me. His whole body lurched toward me, but the girl kept a surprisingly tight hold on him.
"Lady Anna, Sir Gwaine is feeling a bit under the weather," she simpered. "I'll take him to his chamber to sleep it off. There's no need for you to worry."
"But as he's my friend, I do worry," I argued. "Why don't we call Sir Percival to take Sir Gwaine? It wouldn't be seemly for a lady to do so."
The girl's smile twisted, but there was nothing she could do to further argue, especially as I held the higher rank. "I'll help Gwaine, while you go find Sir Percival," I further instructed.
With a grimace, she transferred him to me, then turned back to the crowd without another word. Gwaine happily wrapped his arms around me, nuzzling my cheek with his nose. "I think she got me drunk, Anna," he sighed into my ear.
"I think you're right," I replied, sighing as well and trying to ignore the scent of wine on his breath.
"No, I think she put something in my cup," he said insistently. It was a bit at odds with his happy tone, but something made me turn to look at him. "I only had three cups of wine," he continued, a bit of anger creeping out. "Very watered wine."
Even as we spoke, Gwaine straightened a bit, pulling his head from my shoulder. Though he didn't release me from his hold. "She put something in my wine, Anna," he said, utterly serious now. He then cursed, bringing a hand to his head. "Whatever it was, I think it's trying to kill me now."
I stared at him in frozen horror for a moment, until a passing servant caught my eye. "Get Merlin," I ordered him. "Bring him to us outside these doors."
The boy immediately sprang to obey, and I guided Gwaine through the doors. He leaned heavily on me, causing me to curse my tiny height. "Come along, Sir Giant," I gently teased, leading him toward a bench along the wall.
Gwaine groaned a chuckle. "It's not my fault you're the size of a pixie," he gasped out.
We made it to the bench, and we both sort of collapsed onto it. His arm was still around my shoulders, making it easier for him to bury his head in my neck as another groan made itself known. "I feel as if a very small person is kicking around inside my head," he mumbled.
I slipped my hands into his hair, rubbing lightly at his scalp. "Merlin will be here soon, and he'll know what to do," I promised, feeling terribly helpless.
Several long moments passed while we waited for Merlin. I continued to rub Gwaine's head, but I wasn't even sure if it helped. A mixture of fury and panic swirled around inside me, but I tried to keep it hidden, for Gwaine's sake.
Merlin arrived, with Leon on his heels. "What happened, Anna?" he asked me, worry seeping through his serious mask.
"Some… lady," I spat the word, "put something in Gwaine's drinks. I don't know what it was. He was acting drunk for a moment, but now-"
"Now it feels as if a small dwarf is trying to mine inside my skull," Gwaine moaned, pulling back to squint at Merlin for a moment, before burrowing back into my neck.
"Who was it?" Merlin asked anxiously. "I need to find out what she put into his drink, need to know how to counter it."
"She's wearing a violet-colored dress, has hair about my color, just a bit taller than me," I replied.
"Not as pretty as you," Gwaine assured quietly. So quietly that I was sure the others hadn't heard.
Leon frowned. "I know who it was. I thought she was merely flirting with Gwaine, but now… I'll get her. You two help Gwaine up to Merlin's chambers, and I'll meet you there."
Between Merlin and me, we managed to drag Gwaine up the flight of stairs and into Merlin's rooms. We got him settled onto the bed, but he latched onto me, not letting me stand up fully. "Don't leave me, Anna," he pleaded jokingly, but I could see the sincerity in his eyes. "What you were doing earlier helped."
How could I turn him down after that? So, I settled next to him again, letting him wrap himself around me, and began to stroke his head once more. He groaned in relief, resting his head on my shoulder.
It wasn't long before Leon arrived, pulling the so-called lady behind him. "Now, tell Merlin what you put in Gwaine's drink," he growled, shutting the door behind him. And shutting the girl in with all of us.
"It's not going to hurt him," she pouted defiantly, then gasped when Gwaine straightened to glare at her.
"I feel like a fairy is kicking around inside my head, with knives attached to her every limb," he spat, then allowed me to tug him back to my shoulder.
"It wasn't supposed to hurt him," she babbled, hands flitting nervously now. "It was just supposed to make him relaxed, not do this!"
"Make him relaxed so you could do what?" I screeched, then lowered my tone when I felt Gwaine flinching. "What was your plan after that?"
"I just wanted to marry a knight!" she cried, stamping her foot. "Camelot's knights are famed throughout Albion for their good looks and riches. I just wanted one for myself!"
"I might kill her," I ground out, wanting to strangle the girl. She poisoned my friend so she could trap him into marrying her, and now she dares to act like she's the injured party?
"After we figure out what she gave Gwaine," Merlin reminded. "Now, what did you give Sir Gwaine?"
The girl fished out a vial from the front of her bodice, handing it to Merlin shakily. She told him about where she got it, but I ignored them once Gwaine started shaking. I wrapped him in blankets as best I could, but as he still wouldn't let me go, it was awkward at best. "Merlin, please tell me you know how to help him," I pleaded, looking at my friend hopefully.
"I think so," he replied, spreading his herbs across the table to find just the right ones. He furiously mixed and cut and strained, until he had a thick, gloopy brown concoction he was holding under Gwaine's nose. "It won't taste pleasant, but it will help," he assured.
"If it'll stop the mad fairy in my head, cheers," Gwaine said, tipping the cup into his mouth. He downed it all in one go, grimacing at the taste.
We all waited breathlessly for a moment to see if it worked. His pain-soaked grimace eased, then he straightened a bit. "Thanks, mate," he smiled at Merlin. And then keeled over, taking me with him.
"Merlin!" I cried anxiously, trying to disentangle myself. "What happened?"
"It's alright," Merlin promised. "He'll sleep off the rest of the effects of the potion and be his normal cheerful, annoying self in the morning."
A soft snore escaped Gwaine, almost as if he were assuring me of Merlin's words. I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief, then kissed his cheek softly. "You'd better wake up in the morning, prat," I whispered, before wriggling out of his arms. After I was upright once more, I glared at the girl. "Now, I think it's time to speak to Arthur." It was incredibly satisfying to see her pale at that.
AN: I know it's been forever, but my muse has kinda curled up and died, for everything. But here's a new chapter, and I hope you like it! I wasn't planning on anything that happened in this chapter, but I go where my characters lead. Thanks for reading, and a big thanks to those of you who've reviewed!