Chapter 10 - Camelot
Many people from the outlying villages had arrived in Camelot. They were waiting for news of their menfolk who had gone to war for their king. They had heard rumours of Lot's attacks and that the king had not yet returned. As they approached the citadel they discovered that the queen herself was helping the wounded. There was no shortage of volunteers to apply poultices and bandages and many of their children ran errands.
Gwen was exhausted, she felt sick and faint as she had not eaten since breakfast early that morning.
"Your majesty," said one of the nurses as she passed her a cup of water.
"Thank you, Helena," Gwen said taking the water and sitting down on a stool. She wiped her face on a damp cloth.
"You should rest a while, my lady, we have enough volunteers at the moment," she said.
"Has there been word from Gaius yet?" she asked.
"Not yet but the making of such antidotes takes time. The poultices seem to be slowing the effect of the poison, though many are still unconscious they are not yet dying," she replied.
"If you can manage I will go and find Gaius," Gwen said getting up, she faltered and nearly fell, Helena held her steady.
"You should eat something, Gwen. It will do us no good if you become sick as well," Helena said as she looked at her with concern.
"I will eat as soon as I have spoken to Gaius," Gwen replied as she squeezed Helena's arm and smiled at her.
"I will make sure you do, my lady," Helena said with a smile as Gwen left the infirmary.
Gwen made her way straight to Gaius's chambers. The door was open, she knocked and entered. There were books and pieces of parchment everywhere. Gaius was sitting at his desk, almost hidden behind a pile of books. There was a wounded man on the bed behind the screen but she couldn't see his face. Gaius looked up from the book he was reading as she entered. He looked exhausted and his eyes were blood shot. He stood as she walked towards the desk and moved the books from a chair so she could sit down.
"Who is behind the screen?" she asked.
"Sir Oswald, he was injured by one of the poisoned arrow. I have prepared an antidote but although it slows the effect of the poison it does not stop it. He is still alive but unconscious and I don't think I can save him."
"Have you identified the poison?" she asked sitting down.
"I have but I fear that there is sorcery at work, the poison itself is not deadly, not unless an enchantment was used in its preparation," he said returning to his seat.
"Do you think this is Morgana's doing?" she asked.
"No, I don't think the enchantment is very strong, if Morgana was involved the men would be dead," he replied.
"I thought the arrows were fired by Lot's men. Lot isn't a sorcerer," she said glancing over at the screen that hid Sir Oswald.
"No, but his brother Cenred was in league with Morgause and Lot will use sorcery if it suits his purpose. He has used sorcery before. Do you remember Sefa's father Ruadan?" he asked drawing Gwen's attention back to him.
"Yes I remember him," she said.
"He used to work for Lot, his brother Alain is also a sorcerer and has been Lot's adviser for years." Gaius sighed and stood up. He walked towards a table where he had been preparing the antidote.
"There must be something we can do," Gwen said looking at all the books scattered around the room.
"Only sorcery can be used to fight sorcery," he replied.
"What will happen to them if the antidote doesn't work Gaius?" she asked.
"They will die," he said looking at his prepared potion.
"You don't think it will work, do you?" she asked rising from her seat so she could join him at the workbench.
"I fear that it will not work without magic," he said holding up the bottle of potion he had prepared.
"And how many will die if it doesn't work?" she asked quietly as she stood next to him.
"There are at least two hundred that we know of with arrow wounds and if Sir Robyn is right and they are lying in wait to attack our patrols it could be a lot more," he said.
"There must be something we can do Gaius," Gwen said looking up towards Merlin's room.
"The only sorcerer that could help is not here," he said following her gaze then looking away, there were tears in his eyes.
"I miss him too," Gwen said squeezing his arm. "Arthur told me you once practiced sorcery and you have helped Merlin. Is there nothing you can do?"
"With magic my lady?" he asked looking around the room. He walked towards the door and closed it.
"Yes Gaius, with magic," she said returning to her seat at the cluttered desk.
"Magic is forbidden in Camelot, as you know only too well Gwen," he said feigning ignorance, as he sat down at his desk still holding the antidote.
"I know that Gaius, but we cannot let them die if there is anything that can save them."
"I don't know if I have the power to break the enchantment," he said getting back up to check that Sir Oswald was still unconscious and not able to hear their conversation.
"Will you try?" she asked coming to stand at his side.
"You are my Queen I will do whatever you ask."
"Thank you Gaius," she said smiling at him.
"I will do what I can but it may be beyond my power to heal them. I certainly cannot heal them all I do not have the strength."
"Do what you can Gaius but for now keep this between us," she said giving him a hug before turning to leave the room.
"As you wish my lady," he said with a smile.
"I'm going to get something to eat then I'll return to the infirmary. Let me know as soon as there is any news," she said before opening the door and closing it quietly behind her.