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Gwen and Gaius were glued to the bedsides of Arthur and Merlin. From what Gaius had researched on such curses, they only had two days left, at the most, until the curse would kill them. By all calculations, Gwaine and Leon would hopefully be back in Camelot before daybreak.
There was enough time, if they were lucky.
"What if they don't return in time?" Gwen said, meekly. Both her hands were wrapped around Arthur's hand, her eyes swimming with tears. "Can – " Gwen lowered her voice. "Can't Merlin heal himself? And heal Arthur?"
Gwen had been skittish around the subject of magic over the past few days, but during the long hours when Arthur and Merlin were unconscious, she began to ask questions. As Gaius retold the many stories of Merlin's stay in Camelot, Gwen became more and more upset.
"He's done all of these wonderful things for Arthur, and gets no credit!" She had exclaimed. "All the while, fearing for his life!"
And now, she was staring at Gaius, hope and despair warring for dominance on her face.
"I'm afraid that Merlin is bound by the curse. If he had seen it coming, he might have been able to block it, but… It's too late for his magic to be of use to him now."
Gwen turned to look at Arthur, and then at Merlin.
"Merlin has been a kind and true friend to me since he arrived here, and Arthur…" She broke off with a quiet sob. "I can't lose them."
Gaius hadn't told Gwen that he was to die to save her lover and her friend. He hadn't wanted to burden her with even more sadness.
"You won't," Gaius said kindly, placing a hand on the young woman's shoulder.
Morgana was blazing with fury. She had been close – so close! Her cloak had hid her face from any on-lookers in the castle's corridors. Sir Agathon led the way, peering around corners and drawing Morgana closer and closer to Gaius's chambers, where Agathon knew the king to be resting.
Her powers had been mounting. When she got to Arthur's bedside – disposing of Gaius, and whoever else stood in her way – she would synch the spell, speed along the process. There was no way she would allow the knights Gwaine and Leon to succeed in their errand.
And she had been so close! It had been something in Agathon's eyes that had ruined them – some serving boy had suspected something from the anxious expression on Agathon's face, and had gotten a look at Morgana's face under her hood. The boy had scurried off before either Morgana or Agathon could act.
A few tense minutes later, the bells began to ring over Camelot.
Camelot loomed in the distance. Leon and Gwaine were more than a little exhausted, having ridden almost non-stop from the Isle of the Blessed to reach home. It had paid off. They were less than an hour away, now, and by Gaius's estimations, they had made in home with time to spare.
As they eased their horses to a slower pace, Leon felt his heart clench in fear. Once Gaius used the vial of water to heal Arthur and Merlin… what would it feel like to die?
"We're in time," Gwaine said, relief coloring his tone. Leon smiled, too. He was scared to die, but Arthur's life would always mean more to him than his own. "How long do you think it will take for them to heal?" Gwaine continued. "I mean – Gaius makes this potion, gives it to them, and they jump up, healed?"
The road sloped downward, approaching the outer walls of the castle. Leon considered this for a moment.
"They've been bedridden – I would imagine that it would take a few days for them to recover from their body's weakened states – "
"Shhh!" Gwaine said. "Can you hear that?"
Leon listened. Then, he heard. "Bells – Bells! Camelot is under attack!"
Author's Note: If you are interested in a sneak-peak of another Merlin fic I'm working on, all you gotta do is leave a review! (Involuntary rhyming).