AN: Hooray, three of my favorite readers are "here"! Gingeraffealene, you called it about Merlin. Anyone who cares to read, enjoy the growing nuttiness!

Elyan let the smile drop from his face as soon as the stranger had gone. "Gaius, are you busy?" he asked. "We have a...problem, and Lord Agravaine would like your input."

"Of course, I'll come immediately." Gaius reached for his medical bag. "Is it a medical concern?"

Elyan hesitated uncharacteristically. "You'd better just come and see."

Gaius gave him a quizzical look, but obediently packed his things. As they walked, Elyan explained a little more. "Three of the guards failed to report for their assignments today. When found, they were acting...oddly. When it was discovered that they all worked together yesterday, Lord Agravaine decided to investigate. They are reliable men, for the most part, Gaius." He shook his head and trailed off.

Gaius frowned. His curiosity was piqued. In the throne room, Agravaine was questioning three men. "Ah, Gaius," he called, relief evident in his voice. "I'm glad you're here. Did Elyan explain things to you?"

"He just said that three guards who worked together yesterday did not report for duty today and were acting out of character."

All three men started to protest, but Agravaine quelled them with a wave of his hand. He indicated a man with dirt on his hands and knees. "Precisely. John here was found in the castle gardens...gardening."

"Aye, and I have to give back. My flowers need me!" The man stepped forward aggressively enough that the guards -- the ones actually doing their job -- held him back.

Agravaine ignored him and pointed to a second man, who was clutching some books to his chest. "Timon has been stealing books and writing materials and scribbling in the books. And I do mean scribbling, as he can neither read nor write."

"I can too!" howled the book hoarder. "I am a scribe and I was scribing all of Camelot's important information."

"May I see?" asked Gaius in a calm voice that belied his confusion. He held out his hand patiently until Timon reluctantly gave him the top book. Inside, there was in fact scribbling everywhere that there hadn't already been words.

"And, ahem, Louis here," Agravaine cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, he apparently put on his mother's dress and went to the apothecary to purchase cosmetics."

The tall, gangly man in a cheap, ill-fitting dress stuck his rather large nose in the air. Gaius noted that his feet and hairy shins were bare. "Everyone deserves to feel beautiful," Louis announced.

Gaius made eye contact with Agravaine, seeing his own confusion and disbelief reflected on the other man's face. "I...um...I'll need to examine them for other symptoms before I can give you any answers. Have them brought to my chambers so we can do this somewhat discreetly."

"Do it," Agravaine instructed the working guards. As Gaius turned to follow, brain spinning, Agravaine caught his sleeve. Under his breath, he asked, "What is this, Gaius? An illness? An enchantment?"

"I'm not sure. I'll get some answers. As soon as I know anything, I will inform you at once, my lord."

Agravaine let go and nodded. "Be certain you do."

As they left, Agravaine sat down and ran a hand over his mouth. He thought about the cryptic message a young peasant had given him in the market the before. The man had stood next him, examining some cloth. "I have a message for you, my lord, from our lady."

Agravaine had frozen but not looking up, and kept his voice just as low as the other man had, his tone carefully neutral. "Oh?"

"She says that you may fall ill, but not to be concerned, as it will not harm you. Simply take to your bed and when it has passed, Camelot will have a queen." The boy had bobbed his head differentially and walked away, leaving behind the cloth he'd been holding. Agravaine had turned it over to see Morgana's stylized tree crest and had stuffed it in his pocket hastily.

Now, he pondered the message again and fingered the cloth still in his pocket. Was this madness the illness referenced in the message? He couldn't be sure. He'd have to wait for Gaius' findings. With Arthur gone and not sure if he himself were infected, he could hardly risk leaving Camelot.

As he pondered, one of the guards stationed at the door took off his helmet and sword belt and laid them carefully on the floor. Shrugging out of his chain mail, he added it to the pile as Agravaine, the nobles present and the remaining guard stared.

"A man of the cloth should not wear such things," he said with great equanimity, and walked out.

Agravaine tugged at his hair. Hurry up, Gaius, he thought.