A/N: Sorry this took so long. Real life got in the way and I couldn't get to it until today. Again I apologize. Hope you like it. :)
Chapter 10
"We believe this poor kitchen worker to be the start of our troubles here in Corona," Rapunzel said as they entered the patient's room.
"I really must insist for your own well-being that you stay back in the doctor's office," Merlin told her.
"I've already exposed myself to him. It is too late for precautions now," the Princess shook her head. Eugene chuckled at her phrasing and Amelia tried to hold it in.
"You've been exposed, got you," Merlin gave them a look which only resulted in Amelia turning away and Eugene gagging on his own laughter.
"Maturity levels people," Doctor Caldwell chuckled at the two who were obviously picturing the Princess naked. Only one of which would have actually seen her naked but the other having been a servant most of her life probably had a good idea what was going on. Rapunzel on the other hand was a tad clueless and she and Merlin left the two to their giggles.
"So what exactly is going on?" She asked once they closed the door to the patient's room. Merlin not wanting to have to explain, skipped her improper phrasing, and moved onto the sick man.
"Well the virus is something that was intended to be spread to the troops. First from the kitchen in the King's food, then onto the King who would spread it to the men he met with on commanding the troops. Once the commanders had it, they'd spread it to those whom they directly commanded who would spread it to the ones beneath them and so on; eventually infecting the entire military force of Corona. At that point Malik would swoop in with his armies and dragons and take over," the wizard shook his head.
"Dragons?" Rapunzel couldn't believe it to be true.
"They swore their allegiance to Malik after he promised them safety in his kingdom. Well it wasn't actually his kingdom. They helped him steal it. Now he intends to expand and Corona was next on the list," Merlin explained as he investigated the sick man's condition.
"Something is odd here," he commented as he looked the man over.
"How so?" The Princess asked, getting a little nervous.
"The energy coming off of him; I expected to find nothing but evil due to the spell cast on this poor man but there's something else there," it was at this point, Rapunzel hoped she could keep her secret just that a secret.
"Someone in this kingdom has magical powers," Merlin finally spit it out.
"I can assure you, if they do, I don't know who it is," the brunette said.
"Don't take this the wrong way but you're a terrible liar," the wizard smirked.
"What do you mean?" She swallowed hard.
"Well it's either the doctors or yourself, seeing as they are the only ones who have been tending to this man," Merlin pointed out. Rapunzel had left out the part about the burns and had hoped that it would be enough to protect her but things were headed south.
"We'll worry about the magical person later. Right now I need you to hold him down. The spell I'm about to cast may hurt," the wizard told her. She nodded and put her hands on his shoulders. Then speaking in a foreign language, that Rapunzel did not understand, Merlin cast the spell. The man shook violently and moaned.
"Hey what's going on in there?" Eugene's voice came through the door and they both ignored it as the man thrashed about. Merlin kept uttering the words and the man continued to thrash until the wizard's voice rose to a fever pitch and he shouted. The last word left his lips and the man opened his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Merlin asked, hoping his magic had done the trick, as he tested the man's forehead.
"Where am I?" Rafe wanted to know.
"Safe in Corona," Rapunzel told him.
"Where's Susan?" He asked.
"She's safe here too," the Princess reassured him.
"How are you feeling?" Merlin pressed again.
"Tired," Rafe nodded and went to sleep.
"Hmmm…." The wizard puzzled.
To Be Continued…