A/N: Another chapter, because I love you all so much ^_~

Gaius stared at the blood, castigating himself internally. Why hadn't he asked for comfrey? The wounds would have been sealed almost immediately! Though there was no guarantee they wouldn't have broken open just as well with the way they'd been moving Merlin about... No time for regrets now. Get to work.

"I'll have to use the yarrow."

"What? But didn't you say that would raise his fever?"

The two elder men turned to the youngest, having half-forgotten his presence despite his active role in the proceedings.

"Gaius, is this true?"

"Yes, his temperature will worsen- but this will help him sweat out the fever. Yarrow has many beneficial traits that will aid Merlin right now."

The king nodded slowly, trusting his physician's word.
"What do I do?"

"You, Sire, get that rest I recommended earlier. Your help has been invaluable, but there is nothing to be done yet tonight that cannot be done by a servant just as well as yourself. You will need to have your wits about you to discover what has happened here."

Arthur scowled at the reminder.
"Do you think they did it on purpose?"

"Well, I hardly met Lord Faltare, but Holbert... I'm not really certain. Ironically enough, his initial blood-letting probably did help Merlin- but then he made everything worse by giving him more of that blasted wine," white hair shook along with the elder's head. "As much as I dislike the man and his methods I cannot say whether or not he had any ill intent."

The monarch was disappointed, but lowered his head in acceptance.
"Right. I'll be going, then. You'll send word if-"

"I will keep you informed, Sire."

"Good," Arthur took one last look at his best friend before exiting the infirmary, stopping to consult the knights posted there. "Has there been word from Sir Kerrill- and has Merlin's escort returned?"

"Yes, Sire. Sir Kerrill is waiting outside your chambers to report. Lord Merlin's escort returned just before sundown and joined the investigation efforts."

More likely they'd been trying to avoid his disapproval.

"Should they return, instruct them to report to Kerrill before retiring for the evening."

The knight bowed his understanding as Arthur turned away, marching down the corridor with purpose in his step.

Kerrill caught sight of him as soon as he rounded the corner a short ways from the guest quarters and called out. Arthur dismissed the servant who had led him there, beckoning his subordinate through the door.

"Come inside and I'll hear your report."

Arthur settled into a chair, not bothering to give Kerrill leave to sit- the knight was even more strict about propriety than Leon. Well, he'd grow out of that- probably.

"So? What did you learn?"

"The staff all tell the same story, Sire. The food was prepared and tasted in the kitchens before being delivered to the feast. The wine comes from casks in the cellar and is produced less than a league from here in the family's vineyard using a special recipe that includes a plant called betony. Supposedly it has some health benefits."

The king's expression hardened, causing Kerrill to hesitate, but he gestured for the knight to continue.

"It seems Lord Faltare has a habit of serving this wine to guests, knowing most will find the taste unpalatable. A second pitcher of wine was prepared for Lord Merlin holding a traditional vintage should he prove unable to stomach the first. Both were tasted before being brought to the feast hall. By all accounts Lord Merlin did not like the house wine, but he continued to drink it so the other was not offered. After he had taken several mouthfuls, however, he succumbed to a coughing fit and fell unconscious shortly thereafter. Those questioned knew little of what happened after that point as the physician has not had any aid but that of his assistants aside from occasional deliveries of water and other simple duties."

The monarch nodded distractedly. "Thank you, Sir Kerrill. You may retire for the evening."

"Sire," the knight bowed and took his leave.

Arthur moved to the wash basin and splashed his face with the cool water, roughly scrubbing it dry so his face was left pink.

So the wine is served to everyone...

It seemed more information only bred more uncertainty.

A soft knock sounded.
"Enter!"

Sir Moran, part of the royal escort and also the knight Arthur had put in charge of investigating Holbert, closed the door behind him and bowed.

"Sire."

"Moran," he greeted, "report."

The knights' findings had been limited. It seems Holbert rarely treats patients outside the nobility as he demands exorbitant payment from all but his patron. Lord Faltare's family had had nothing but good things to say about the man, despite his frequent usage of leeches and treatments that sounded bizarre and questionable to Arthur's ears. All in all it sounded as if Holbert had treated Merlin the same as anyone else, if not better- in his own twisted way of doing things.

After Moran left the king stared into the fireplace, watching the logs slowly burn down into nothing.

What was he going to do?