CHAPTER 11: THE MARK OF NIMUEH PART 2
I hope you like it so far! Sorry for the hiatus. Anyways, enjoy and favorite, follow, and review.
NARRATOR'S P.O.V
"Knock! Knock!" Meryln spoke while carrying a tray of food for the prince.
"Meryln?" Arthur immediately opened the door as soon as he heard her voice. "What are you doing here? I thought you are helping Gaius?"
"I was, but Gaius insisted to make tonics for those infected. He cannot do that while he's out and about."
"That's good to hear." He was relieved to know that she will not be at risk of the infection.
"Why, Prince Arthur, I didn't know you care about me." She teased while putting his tray down the table.
"More than you know." He mentally answered.
"Anyways, here is your lunch."
"Have you eaten?" He regretted having asked that. He was too obvious.
"Actually…" she pondered. "No." she chuckled. "It's been a long day so far."
"Then join me." He pointed at the chair in front of him, inviting her to join him.
"What?" she raised her brow. "Oh no!" she approached him and held his cheeks.
"What are you doing?" he froze at her touch.
"You're infected aren't you? Maybe it's one of the symptoms. I should inform Gaius."
"What?" Yes! Of course! This might be a symptom. Why would a prince, like him, fall in love with a lowly servant like Meryln? "Really?"
"No!" she laughed. "I don't think that's really a symptom. Maybe, I'm right about you after all."
"Right about me?"
"I'm right about you being kind."
"What? Don't count on it." He raised his voice while turning around. He hid a smile. "Fine! Don't eat. I'm just showing you what a prince eats. This once in a lifetime chance isn't really going to be offered twice."
"For once, I thought you've changed. Then, you say something like that." She smiled and went out of the prince's room.
"Nice going, Arthur. You turned her away again."
After a while, he was left with a chicken thigh, some grapes, cheese, and some wine.
"Hey again." Meryln showed up again holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Please, you didn't have to." Arthur was at it again.
"These aren't for you." She smirked while his face turned red.
"Who are those for then? Morgana?"
"I already gave her some. This is for someone else."
"Why did you come back then?" he was irritated knowing that the bouquet was meant for someone else.
She put the bouquet down the table and fished something out of her left sleeve.
"Now this…" she approached him and awkwardly tied a scarf around his neck. "is for you."
"What is that smell?"
"Lavender."
"What is this for?"
"Ten years ago back in Ealdor, there was a plague. Hundreds of people died, maybe more. My father and brother informed me that the smell of those who perished were so atrocious, that no one dared touch or even get near them. As a result, no one ever did really help clean up the bodies."
"My mother, who dries herbs in her spare time hung lavender and other fragrant flowers around our rooms. Then, the princess thought of a plan to help those that can help clean up the bodies. She sewed lavender and other fragrant flowers into scarves, so those who can help won't be bothered about the smell."
"I hope this helps you and your soldiers." She handed him other scarves and with this, Arthur's feeling grew stronger.
"Uhmm… thank you. I saved you some food. You really shouldn't skip meals, especially since Gaius needs you."
"Thank you."
"Meryln?" she turned around as she picked up the bouquet from the table. Arthur picked a purple daisy and tucked it behind her ear. "This suits you." He smiled and left her alone in the room, before she sees him blush.
Meryln's plan worked—the lavender one that is. The deceased were covered in lavender oil, rose oil, and chamomile extract to hide the smell before they were burned—to counter any risk of infection.
That night, Meryln was busy studying the spell book that Gaius gave her. Finally, she had her answer.
"Gaius!" she shouted and the poor physician jumped out of his chair out of fright.
"Meryln! You should know better than to scare an old fool! You gave me a fright!" Gaius dropped the book he was reading.
"My apologies." She smiled and the physician gestured for her to come closer. "This, is an Afanc. Look, the Afanc's victims also have protruding blue veins and pale skin and they die after the twenty-four-hour mark."
"Yes, but these people attack. According to the book, the affected victims do not attack."
"Well, there's only one way to know about it. The water reserves from the caves." The princess smiled and Gaius knew exactly what was going on.
"No, I will not risk your safety. Now, I need your help with these potions. Put that book away for now. If someone is to see that, you and I are in big trouble."
The princess agreed with Gaius. Having a magical book in Camelot is risky, but it's far riskier under the circumstances. With her royal documents and jewelries, she hid the book in the hidden storage on the floor, under her bed.
"Over there." Arthur points at the physician's bookshelves. "Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in the city."
"What for?" The physician raised his brow at the prince.
"But why would you search here?"
Arthur acknowledged the physician's reasoning. Surely, the sorcerer would be smart enough to avoid the royal physician, right?
"I am just doing my job." Arthur turned around and watched as Merlyn stopped and did a little curtsy, which he particularly didn't like. It only proved that she and he are not destined to be together.
"Are all these books and papers?" Arthur tried to look away from Meryln and diverted his attention at the absurd number of books and papers that were falling from the upper level of the chamber.
"My life's work. You are welcome to read them, if you'd like." Gaius taunted the prince. He clearly didn't like seeing his life's work being scattered throughout the floor.
"What is that room up there?"
"Mine." Meryln answered and watched as Arthur's cheeks turn pink from embarrassment. She wondered what kind of inappropriate things did he imagine to get that hue on his cheeks.
"May we check there?" he was being polite for once. She nodded at him. Merlyn turned to the physician and nodded at him, reassuring him that the book is safe.
When the soldiers were done searching the room, the prince invited himself in the room and the calming scent of lavender and chamomile welcomed him. He roamed his eyes around the room and found the room small, but had an elegant style to it. Most peasants don't even bother with a desk but Meryln had a desk that clearly had candle wax spread throughout the upper left side of the table. It was a sign that she liked to read or write. Her cupboard, was clean and organized.
"Merlyn?" he called out to her. With this, Meryln's stomach dropped.
"Did he discover it?" she wondered and nervously walked upstairs.
"You've got a lovely room." He smiled at her. She was relieved and gave him the most beautiful smile.
"Thank you."
"But as a servant, you've got some expensive clothes hanging in your cupboard."
"The princess of Ealdor gave those to me. It didn't fit her anymore." She lied. She didn't exactly own cheap clothes, so her "old" clothes was her only resort.
"I see. I'll let you and Gaius alone."
When the prince and his soldiers were gone, Gaius noticed at how the prince gave the princess a smile. He noted that it was not just a passing smile, but a loving smile. It was the kind of smile that a man gives a woman when he is in love. He observed that the princess was smiling to herself while mixing potions and he was confident that the two are in love with each other.
"Why don't we go to the caves and finish this? This is clearly getting out of control." He suggested and Meryln couldn't contain her happiness and gave the old man a peck on the cheek.
"I'll get my cloak before you change your mind."
While getting her cloak from her room, Gwen came barging in the physician's chamber in hysterics.
"GAIUS!" the old physician knew something was amiss.
"Gwen, have you got the sickness?" He asked, truly worried.
"My father." She managed to get out in between crying. "Please, Gaius, he's all I have."
"My dear, I wish I could help you, but I've got no cure." He replied, defeated.
"I am begging you."
"I wish there was something—anything. But so far, any remedies aren't enough." He held her hand and looked down. "I'm sorry Gwen." It was all he could utter. Her father was a good friend, but there isn't anything he could do now.
Merlyn, heard everything and decided to open her door.
"Meryln! Please, I'm begging you to help my father." Gwen ran to the princess and at the foot of the steps, kneeled with her hand clasped together. "Please, you're the only one that could cure him."
"Gwen, you're not suggesting…" she reached the foot of the stairs and helped her friend get up by holding her shoulders.
"Yes… with magic." She whispered and the physician's eyes almost popped after hearing the servant girl's suggested.
"Guinevere, I know that your father's situation is dire but for you to suggest her to use her gifts is preposterous!" the physician's voice rang loudly. "She is a princess, for crying out loud. If she gets caught using magic, Uther will punish her and there will be war." The old physician reminded Gwen.
Gwen, defeated, ran out of the room.
"There must be something we can do." Meryln sighed.
"Let's go down the tunnels and check to see if our theory is correct." Gaius wished there was something he could do.
When they reached the underground preserves, they didn't see anything unusual.
"Take this and get a sample." Gaius handed the princess a small vial and pointed at the water from the pool. She was nervous, but what's the worst that could happen while getting a water sample?
She reached for the pool and when she was done, she turned to Gaius and smiled when she got the sample.
"AH!" a demonic growl roared throughout the cave and Gaius could only watch in horror as a creature dragged the princess down into the pool.
"Princess!" he shouted and watched as she struggled with the creature. It was only a few moments later when the creature came flying out of the pool. Its head hit the cave walls and was knocked unconscious.
"AGH!" the princess gasped for air and looked at Gaius, then to the creature. "That is definitely an Afanc."
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