IDOM
I really have to thank my sister for this chapter actually. I knew what I wanted to write, but she was the one who, when expressing her surprise at my dedication for giving out 11 chapters so far, motivated me to give more. Thanks to you, sis!
Also, a thank you to Musalmanath Morgana as well for keeping a watch on what i typed, acting as not only a beta but also as usual, a great friend. Thanks to you too!
Gaius could only stare in horror as they brought Merlin to him, and when they stood not far from the cave which they had exited from to where Gaius and Gwen sat, he took in the stab wound at Merlin's side. One quick glance had the physician rushing his hand towards his ward's neck, hastily feeling for a pulse.
Behind him, Gwen stood tensely with her hands to her mouth, leaning her head on Arthur's shoulder as he tersely wrapped his arm around her waist.
"He's alive," Gaius breathed out. Gwen had also let a sigh of relief, but Gaius hadn't finished.
"But only just," immediately, Gwen's worried eyes finally tore away from Merlin to look at Gaius, this time waiting for the physician to continue.
"He's been poisoned m'lord," Gwen gasped, and Arthur positively paled.
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.
"The stab wound in his side," Gaius pointed to the part of Merlin's bare torso that had been bandaged. "I suspect the weapon had been already dipped in poison. Even with proper supplies, I'd still need the source of the poison…" Gaius immediately turned shrewd eyes onto Arthur. "The weapon!"
Arthur blanched at the abrupt sentence, prompting Gaius to elaborate.
"The weapon that stabbed him, it most likely still has the remnants of the poison. Do you have it?" Arthur's eyes widened in realization, and he started to move towards the cave rapidly, disappearing from view. Dark silence descended upon the group, the only noise of Gwaine's pacing, the knight unable to do much of anything else, and Elyan's terse movements as he chipped away at a piece of wood with a small pocket knife while Percival stood quietly as always while leaning against a tree.
The silence was disrupted however, when Arthur came jogging back out of the cave, the dagger held in his hands, distaste clearly written on his face at the sight of the blood still dripping from the blade.
The blood of his friend.
He would have cleaned it himself, had he not been worried about wiping the poison away as well, and the very thought of the poison made him gingerly yet quickly hand over the dagger to Gaius.
Gaius looked down at the dagger, but he shook his head with a sigh.
"There's still nothing much I can do, Arthur. Not without the proper herbs and equipment I need…" Gaius paused, looking forlorn. "And they're all back at Camelot."
Arthur staggered back, and Gaius flinched ever so slightly when Gwaine turned around and punched a tree with a shout, making the physician to fix the rogue with a glare.
Silence reigned the forest, not even the sounds of animals audible, as if they all held their breaths.
"Then we make our way to Camelot."
Everyone turned to Arthur, who now stood straightened again, his resolve strengthened.
"Arthur-" Gwen said, looking like she was about to protest which made the king cut her off.
"How long will he- how long does he have, Gaius?" Arthur asked, looking at Merlin first before turning towards Gaius.
Gaius inhaled deeply, probing around the stab wound at Merlin's side, eliciting a groan from the servant. They all tensed at the wounded sound.
"Two, three days at most sire," Gaius let out. Arthur nodded.
"We don't know how it'll be at Camelot, most likely Vivienne will still have guards around the castle…"
"If you killed Morgause, shouldn't the spell have died with her?" Gwaine asked, frowning.
Arthur sighed.
"I don't think so, Merlin was saying all this stuff about only weakening the spell…" he trailed off doubtfully, and thankfully Gaius spoke up.
"She wouldn't have died," he said. drawing everyone's attention. "Unlike a true shade, she is most likely weakened. What with Morgause adding her own magic to Vivienne's, I suppose the Lady Vivienne is still powerful enough, let alone alive," Gaius clarified.
Arthur nodded, his forehead creasing in thought.
"Right then," He eventually spoke up. "If Vivienne is not yet dead, and still has magic, we won't be able to defeat her, not when we need Merlin to get treated first. We make sure Merlin is safe before we can overthrow Vivienne and take back Camelot," Arthur said firmly, everyone's attention solely on him, their minds aware of Merlin at the background nonetheless.
"Are you proposing we sneak in, princess?" Gwaine asked, skeptically.
"We don't have any other choice," Gwen said. "It's our only way if we were to get Merlin to safety. After that, I suppose we would be able to take action." Gwaine nodded, but before he could say anything, a twig snapped in the distance and immediately, all the knights tensed, crouching down into a fighting stance as they unsheathed their sword, Gwaine and Arthur making their way so as to have Gaius, Gwen, Merlin in the middle and behind them. They didn't have to wait long for whomever made the sound however, as Leon came jogging out of the treeline, and immediately all the knights relaxed, straightening their poses and letting their swords fall to their sides.
"Sire," Leon nodded towards Arthur, but made his way forward to whisper something into the King's ears. A brief moment later, and Arthur had straightened to the point where his back was ramrod straight, his mouth pursed into a thin line.
When Leon backed away, he turned to Gaius.
"We will start to Camelot in the eve and work till nightfall," Arthur said, glancing at the afternoon sun.
"First… I am going to go overlook Morgana's funeral," Arthur said straight-faced. Gwen paled, her eyes watering as she held her clasped hands to her mouth, while Gaius leaned back in surprise, but he quickly recovered from the shock.
"Of course, sire," Gaius nodded.
Arthur nodded once, brief and short, and was about to turn away with Leon in front of him when Gwen spoke up.
"Wait!" They paused, Arthur looking back at her.
"I'm coming with you," Gwen said, a tone of finality in her voice and Arthur nodded again, waiting for Gwen to pause and stroke Merlin's hand worriedly before quickly catching up with Arthur. Together, the trio made their way into the woods as the rest were left behind waiting.
:D Review please? they make my day!
