Here's the next chapter! It wasnt as hard as i thought to make Cade a part of this, so i apologize for the wait! Hope you all enjoy it!


Chapter 48: Lamia Part 1

When the fourth case of sweating sickness occurred, Gaius had his hands full. Merlin and Cade were both excused in order to help him, when Arthur came in, talking of a village where something was happening to the villagers.

"This is the fourth case of sweating sickness I've seen today. In normal circumstances, I'd be happy to travel to this village to investigate, but –"

Arthur nodded. "Of course, I understand."

"Might I make a suggestion, sire?" Gaius asked. Arthur nodded, gesturing for him to continue. "Why not send Merlin and Cade in my place?" The siblings looked at Gaius, who looked at Arthur.

"Merlin and Caden?" Arthur asked.

"They both have knowledge of the healing arts. If the diagnosis is straightforward, they can prescribe a remedy, I'm sure. Plus with both of them there, more villagers can be treated at one time."

"And what if it isn't straightforward?" Arthur asked.

"Then they can bring their findings to me."

"Findings? Merlin can't find his own backside most of the time." Cade grabbed Merlin's arm when he started to say something. "And Caden is still a child." Cade's eye twitched at her being called a child.

"I think they're capable of much more than you imagine, sire." Gaius said.

Arthur pulled Gaius aside. "Do you really think they'll be able to… handle the responsibility?"

"Yes, sire, I do."


That evening, both Merlin and Cade were reading up on medicine as they ate their dinner. As Gaius cut some bread, Merlin spoke. "Do you really think we can do this, Gaius?"

"Yeah, I don't know about Merlin, but I've only ever just done the basic stuff you've told me." Cade added.

Gaius smiled. "I know you can do this."

"We're not physicians. We don't have anything like the knowledge you do." Merlin said.

"You've been working for me for many years, Merlin. And Cade is a very fast learner. I suspect you know more than you think you do."

"I just do what you tell me to do." Merlin said. "I don't have to make the decisions myself. These people will be putting their lives in our hands."

"I don't know if we're ready for that." Cade said.

"I put my life in your hands everyday as do Arthur and Gwen and all f Camelot, though they may not know it." Gaius said, smiling reassuringly at the siblings. "You both hold the fate of this kingdom in the balance."

"That's different." Cade said, crossing her arms. "That doesn't require a lifetime of learning, just –"

"Intelligence, courage, compassion." Merlin scoffed, but both of them were smiling now. Gaius continued. "All I know is… I have every faith in you both."


Later that evening as both Merlin and Cade packed, Gaius came in. "Before you go, you'll need this." He held out his medicine bag.

"Oh we can't take that, Gaius. That's your medicine bag." Merlin said.

"Don't worry. I've got plenty of spare supplies." Gaius said as Merlin took the bag.

"Thanks, Gaius." He said. Cade walked over to the old man and wrapped him in an enormous hug, which he happily returned.

When Cade pulled away, Gaius smiled at the two. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"As we'll ever be." Merlin answered. Gaius nodded, smiling.


The next day, Merlin and Cade along with Gwen and the villager girl, Mary, rode out with the knights. They rode through a forest where they soon stopped at the top of a hill. Mary pointed ahead of them.

"My village lies at the foot of those mountains." She said.

"With luck, we should be there by nightfall." Sir Leon said.

A little later, they rode into the village, the villagers gathering as they arrived. Mary dismounted and ran to a man Cade learned was named John, who greeted her with a hug. Gwen dismounted and hugged John as well. "John." She said. "It's good to see you. We came as quickly as we could."

John smiled. "Words cannot express our gratitude, Gwen." He looked up. "Where's Gaius?" he asked. Merlin and Cade came forward, Merlin speaking.

"I'm sorry. He was needed in Camelot, but we will help in any way that we can."

John looked at Gwen. "We're living in fear for our lives. We need a skilled physician, not a boy and a girl."

Elyan shot him an offended look. "Their names are Merlin and Cade."

"And Merlin was appointed acting physician by King Arthur himself." Gwen said. "And Cade is just as good as her brother."

"Where are they?" Cade asked. John pointed and she, Merlin and Gwen headed off in that direction.

When they got there, Merlin used a small mirror to check for breath. He sighed. "They're alive, but only just. How long have they been like this?"

"Two or three days. We've tried to feed them, keep them warm, but nothing seems to make any difference." John said.

"And you've no idea what happened to them?" Gwen asked.

John shook his head. "No. It just strikes suddenly, without warning."

"Well, we need to stimulate the blood flow." Merlin said. "Poultice of betulial should work and tincture of belladonna to stimulate the heart." He handed something to both Cade and Gwen, who nodded at his instructions.

"Will it kill them? Will it… bring them back?" John asked.

"We'll just have to see what the morning brings." Cade said. "Right now, we need hot water and plenty of blankets."

Gwen nodded and left with John. Merlin and Cade waited for the doors to close before the older sibling turned to one of the patients.

"Ic pe purhhaele pin licsare!" Merlin tried, his eyes flashing gold. Nothing happened. Cade sank to the floor next to the cot, trying the spell as well with the same result.

"So whatever this is, it's resistant to magic." She said. "Even ours." Merlin nodded.

"Something else is going on here and we need to find out what it is." He said, sighing and running a hand through his hair.


Later that evening, Merlin and Cade were reading over Merlin's medical notes when suddenly they heard a hissing noise outside. Gesturing for Cade to stay put, Merlin grabbed a fishing rod by the door and went to investigate.

After a tense moment with more and more hissing, he turned the corner of the house and jumped as he was startled by Gwaine.

"Gwaine!" He exclaimed.

"Sorry." Gwaine said. "Call of nature."

"I could've killed you!" Merlin exclaimed.

"With a fishing rod?" Gwaine questioned. "'Sir Gwaine was slain… with a fishing rod'?" Merlin only laughed. "That's the stuff of legends, eh?"

Merlin chuckled and feinted hitting Gwaine with the rod. Gwaine raised his hands in surrender. "Whoa-ho-ho!"

"What's going on out there!?" Cade called.

"Nothing, Cade, it's fine!" Merlin called back. The men gave one last chuckle before starting to walk back. Suddenly, Merlin heard the hissing again, but once again saw nothing, so he continued to follow Gwaine.


Like i said, Cade's role wasn't as difficult to figure out as i thought. If anything, her presence should help Merlin a bit.

Let me know what you guys thought!