Almost over! Just an epilogue left after this. For a while there I thought this would really become tragic but I managed to turn it back in the direction of my initial aim for a mostly okay end. Again, thank you guys for all your support - with all my work, not just this one. I love you all and hope to see you again 3
It had been one week since they'd replaced the potion with the herbal tea and thus far there had been no measurable difference. Merlin had surreptitiously probed at the tangles in Gaius' brain after he fell asleep one evening (and it took all his strength to hold his magic back from doing more) and it seemed they had settled. They weren't exactly improving, but there was the occasional offshoot of new "thread" connecting the walled off parts of the brain. Alice thought these may be the new memories Gaius had created to explain things that didn't make sense in his current mental place – such as Gwen's existence and status. Whatever the case, the tangles themselves were getting no worse.
They'd tried a few nights without the calming poultice to see if Gaius would sleep as well without it but two violent outbursts in one morning put an end to that experiment.
Merlin began to feel an odd sort of peace creep over him; an acceptance that Gaius wasn't going to get better. Was it so wrong to feel relieved when – after more than a month of worry, working himself to exhaustion covering for Gaius and trying to find a cure – he realized there was nothing more he could do?
It seemed Arthur had come to the same conclusion as he'd been fairly radiating pity for the past few days just as Gwen had done ever since he'd been in recovery himself.
Thus it was that Merlin gathered himself along with Arthur's breakfast and started one of the hardest conversations of his life.
"I think we need to make Gaius retire."
After spending the better part of the day in discussion with Arthur, Gwen, and Alice (when she had time) the group had devised a scenario by which Gaius might be convinced to step down. They would put it to the test that evening over a group dinner.
It was during these discussions that Merlin learned of Gaius and Alice's current relationship. It stunned him that he hadn't even thought to ask.
Somehow Gaius had come to remember that he and Alice were engaged and, through some combination of knowledge and false perception, concluded that she was still young (since they had been about the same age). There were occasions where he did not recognize her due to this, but for the most part it seemed to work for him.
This plan would hinge on Gaius recalling their connection and the plans they had made in the past - or at least deciding to follow her lead.
Hoping the elder couldn't sense the tension running through the four of them, the conspirators sat down to dinner and struck up a friendly conversation about future plans. If Gaius thought it odd that Uther would sit at table with a servant he said nothing of it.
Determining Gaius was in good spirits, Arthur moved forward with the plan.
"Alice, I hear you might be reopening your shop in the lower town?"
Alice put her hand atop Gaius', giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Well, Sire, Gaius and I had talked about it but it hasn't come up for some time."
Gaius smiled at her and settled his other hand atop Alice's.
"I would love to serve the townspeople more closely, but I have a duty to the court as well."
Arthur pretended to give the situation some thought before answering.
"I can see no better way for you to serve Camelot than to serve her people. You have my blessing if you wish to do this."
Gaius' eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Sire, I- I will have to give it some thought. Perhaps after we are wed..."
Arthur pinned Merlin with a meaningful gaze and the servant cleared his throat, clutching his knees under the table as he delivered his part of the script.
"And when will that be? You've kept Alice waiting for quite some time now." He tried to keep his tone light and teasing but it came out with a slightly accusational feel.
Luckily Gaius responded with guilt instead of anger.
"Yes... well... Alice and I will speak of this tonight." He locked gazes with his love and the two of them fell into silence, apparently employing some sort of psychic lover's connection.
Guinevere, deciding to rescue her boys from the discomfort they felt in this situation, rose from the table and gathered the dishes.
"We'll leave you to it, then. Thank you for the lovely meal and the company."
"Of course," Gaius replied, not fully looking away from Alice, "the pleasure was ours."
The three made a hasty retreat.