"N-no it's-" Arthur started but Gaius cut him off with a shake of his head and a frienly smile.
"You look just like your mother. I'm surprised yougot this far but King Uther hid every picture of her away after she died" Gaius explained as he gathered together his medicinal hebrs and spices with a knowing face.
All of a sudden; Merlin's eyes flickered gold an another large tremor ran through Merlin's body like a sword welieded by a viscous knight running through a sad and hungry peasant who have the audacity to beg for additional food in the height of a winter famine. He collapsed to his knees again, saved only from falling to the stone ground by Arthur's strong arms.
"Merlin!" he cried in fear, the magic man was pale and sweaty. He looked ill.
"Arthiur…." Croked Merlin, voice horse like a frog.
"I'm okay. I thought I heard something out of the door. I tried to use my magic to extend my heraing." he explained, Arthur quirked an eyebrow in amusement before his expression gave way to a concerned one as Merlin cried out in pain again.
"You have to stop this Merlin, you know it's not just you any more. You can' t be reckless , like you were when you were just some outlaw living in a treehouse" he expressed passionatenly, one hand holding Merlin's other hand gripping the bench on which he perched on.
"I'm sorry, honey" gasped Merlin, gasping for the air.
"It'll be okay, baby. Just remember you're not alone. You'll never be alone again." Said Arthur, stroking Merlin's sweating brow and kissing it gently. It pained him to see his mate in such agonies, but he had to be strong, he knew, for the wizzard.
Gaisu had made himself busy while the two men spake, pittering around and making coffee for them all. He calmly handed the streaming hot mug to Arthur, whose left had curled about it, other hand still in Merlin's hand.
"Drink things," said Gaius. Arthur looked at the liquid with a suspisous gaze , but MErlin was thrilled to see it.
"Coffee!" He gasped overjoyed, and took the mug from Gaius joyfully. "I've only had it once before and it was amazing" h reassured Arthur. As he's spent his life in small villiages he had never seen or drank coffee before, and he was suscpicious of it's colour. Dark brown watewr was not supposed to be drunk. Gaius made go ahead motion with his hands. Arthur glared at him but went ahead and drank.
The taste was bitter and suprisongly delicious, Arthur took another gulp while Gaius helped Merlin drink his. Feeling stronger because of the coffee, the young faced warlock sat up and snugled himself in his boyfriend's arms, snug in an embrace as Gaius cleared his throat to explain what was happening
"You mus stop to using your magic, my boy, every time you do you become weaker. Uther got mand about magic after his son was taken, and he and his trusted servant, Ralph, have found away to stop all magic. That is why you are sick. The spell is killing people with magic eventually. You are Emnyrs a creature of magic, and so you suffer more than most from this cruel spel, it is worse than it would be if you were safe in Ealdor because you're so much gloser. The spell is increasing in size and soon it will get rid of all magic in the country, and then the world" Gaius was very grave about this and Merlin and Arthur were gripped by the horroror of the implications.
"It is also causing disruptions in magic; the world is in balance and as the magic is drained away things are becomingn unbalanced and changing. Magical things keep happening without anyone doing them, the weather is effected, holes in the magic fabric of the worlds keep appearing and taking people to random places." Gaius shook his head sadly.
"That's how we got here!" Merlin cried remembering the golden light that brought them to this place.
"Why that's fascinating my boy!" Gaius said intruiged. While he had heard stories of these portals of magic light none had showed up in Camelot because of the spell that stopped all magic.
"Because you couldn't resist tocuhing the interesting magic!" muttered Arthur gently in a mocking tone, chiding his partner lightly. Merlin smirked and nudged him inthe ribs playfully.
"It was very pretty!" he protested as Arthur's hands slid down to his narrow hips and the blacksmith leant in to give him a small nip on the mouth, both men grinning. In the moment, Gaius cleared his throat loudly, causing both men's heads to whip around and Merlin's pale skin to blush as fuchsia as a delicate flower.
"If no one can stop him, all the magic will be gone and all magic users will die." Gaius explained. There was a shocked silence. Arthur couldn't believe it: after all the years alone he would lose his soulmate if no one could stop the mad king - his very father - before it was to late.
"No" Arthur said firmly. He shook his head, jaw clenched tightly in resolution. He stood up and behan to pace the small room, with the younger warlock and older man watching him like a caged beast. "That cannot be allowed to come to pass. I will stop him"
"But arhur what can you do?" Merln asked gently, and Arthur could see defeat and acceptance in his azure eyes, hed only just found something to live for. Arthur stopped his footsteps, suddenly feeling the weight of his heritage hanging around his neck, a metaphorcial mill stone lain across his broad and well defined pectoral muscles that threatened to drag him down. The ghost of the crown he didn't want was felt heavily upon his golden head. He leant on the rickety wooden table with his head bent down. He knew in his heart and soul what he had to do.
"I may hate him but I am his son. It is my duty to right his wrongs"
"Arthur-" gains was cut off and the door opened. The three men looked up to see a face at the crack in the door which quickly vanished with a gasp. Arthur's entire being flinched in sjhock and he shared an alarmed look with his inky-locked lover before he hurried towarss the solid oak door that guarded Gaius's chamber, dead set on following the figure with the rodentlike face and dark glistening eyes who had bee listening on their conversation. But Gaius laid a hand on his left forearms stopping him.
"Gaius! I have to go after him! He heard everything, he knows who I am!" Arthur hissed at him eyes wild, but the old man shook his head.
"It's not good, my lord," said Gaius sadly. He knew that face, the weasley eyes and streaked hair could only have been Ralph, the kings manservent and he was the one controlling the spell at Uther'sr equest.
"Why not? Who was that?" asked Arthur.
"Raplh: he is Uther's most trusted servent. He will be going to the king now to tell him you have been brought here by your captive" explained Gaius gesturing at Merlin whom still sat at the table, his face as white as a sheet of paper.
"Then he'll tell the King what he heard! How could you stop me? He'll have Merlin killed in a horrible way!" barked Arthur in a jolt of anger. Merlin tremled in pain and illness, brave despite his fear for himself and for his soulate, as Arthur softly gathered him on his chest.
"because there is nothing you could do to stop him. You wouldn't have killed him: that's not who you are." Gaisu said and Arthur sat on lthe bench heavily: defeated. He could not argue, it was true. He wasn't a murderer; like his father. Merlin wrapped his arms around him and he leaned into him, comforted but still scared for them both.
"What can we do, Gaius," asked Merlin, with his anxieties calmed a little by the stronghold of his soulmate. The old physician sighed deep and low. He turned his back to the two younger men for a moment before answering in his rational accent, his old shoulders sagging in defeat.
"I'm afraid there's not much to be done here. You must escape Camel-" he started, but As he said he words, the world creaked and cracked, a sound like htre fabric of the world tearing washeard, and with first a spot of light, then a beam which then widening through the air to create a roughly-shaped oval, and another small golden shining portal appeared in the air before them, not large enough to fit through. Gaius stared at it in astonished wander.
"Why this is amazing!" He said "Merlin it must be your magic! Because there is no magic left in Camelot excpet you, your magic is causing these instabilities in the balance! That must be what's causing your sickness."
"Do you think it's draining my magic from me?" queried Merlin, voice quavering in concern as worry wound it's way around his heart, like a draon curled around its precious cargo of eggs: dragon eggs.
"Perhaps. It's best if you leave as soon as possible." Gauis suggestiong tacturnly.
"But how? We came here through one of these portals, I have no freaking clue how to get back!" expunged the warmlock hurriedly.
"I have some maps that will help, they will show your way home." Gaius explained as he rummages in his drawers, pu;lled out reefs od papers, old and worn, folded in crinkles.
"Hey I think the portal is getting bigger..." Arthur said, pointing his index finger of his right hand at the enlargening golden glow while his left hand coile around Merlins waist to get his attention tiwards the worm hole. Merlin and Gaius looked up from the maps theyt were lookign down at beforehand.
"Arthur your right! We can go through it to escape!" say Merin brihtly hope shimmering in his once feverish eytes like stars that illuminated the darkest of calear and crisp winter nights, Arthutr thought.
"We don't even know where it goes" Arthur said rationally to his boyfriend, But Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Anywhere is better thn here! Merlin replied pulling himself to his feet.
"It's still too small though we won't fit" expounded Arthur: the whole was only small still, no larger than a child.
Suddenly they heard the clatter of footsteps approaching the door; Ralph was coming with the royal knights and they were almost out of time.
"C'mon c'mon stupid portal! Grow!" Merlin shouted and stamped his foot, his eyes flashed bright gold and the portal doubled in size - enought room to fit a horse through! The door crashed open and Ralph spilled into the room, followed but six royal knoights in full armour carrying swords that they aimed at Merlin.
"Arrest Gaius and this warlock! This is the lost prince Arthur and his captive, brought to Camelot to mock us! The king will be glad to see your head on a spike!" he spat out, pointing angrily at them and baring sharp little teeth. Arthur grimaced.
"And I would LOVE to meet him but really we must go!" Merlin said with a cheeky wink at the king's servant, who snarled at him in rage.
"Go quickly! The portal already becomes unstable." exclaimed the old doctor pushing at them franctinally.
"But you're coming with us?" asked Merlin in angst.
"My boys, I cannot. But go now. I will hold them off." Gaius said nobly as the knights advsnced on him. "Now Go!" urged Gaius. Merlin turned back to the portal and grabbed Arthur's arm.
"Tell the king I'll see him in hell!" Arthur screamed, and then Merlin pulled them both into the golden light and in a flash they landed on the soft ground of a grassy meadow, and the wormhole was nowhere to be seen.