Chapter 9: The Poisoned Chalice 1x04
Amelia's POV
Today was a very tense day. Well it had been a tense few weeks as Camelot had been preparing for the arrival of Lord Bayard of Mercia. Camelot had been at war with them on and off and things had been very tense for many years and now Bayard was coming to sign a peace treaty.
In the throne room Morgana, Gwen, Anne and I were walking behind Arthur and Uther. We all walked very dramatically, with other courtiers, knights and servants, towards Bayard and his group, who had just entered and were walking towards us.
We all met in the middle and Uther spoke, "Camelot welcomes you, Lord Bayard of Mercia. The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and a beginning to a new friendship between our people." Uther and Bayard grasped arms.
I glanced over all of the new arrivals and I noticed a maid staring towards where Merlin stood. This caused something to niggle in my brain. She did not look familiar at all but I knew she must be significant. My notes said that when Bayard arrives, Nimueh poisons Merlin then tries to kill Arthur when he tries to save him but other than that I had not put anything else for this episode. I clearly put too much faith in my older self and I was thinking that nothing really needed to be changed and that I should let it go as it already did.
—
Third Person POV
Merlin passed Gaius and Anne in the Upper Corridor while carrying a heavy bag. "Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?" He huffed dropping the bag.
"You're a servant, Merlin. It's what you do." Gaius said amused at the sight.
"My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside." Merlin complained.
"It's character building." Anne said.
"Yes." Gaius said. "As the old proverb says, hard work breeds... a harder soul." He was clearly making that up on the spot.
Merlin looked at him knowingly. "There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up."
"No. I didn't." Gaius said. Anne noticed behind Merlin and Gaius a maid was walking determinedly towards them. The maid then fell in front of Merlin. Anne frowned thinking how faked that looked but the other two seemed to have not noticed the act.
"Sorry." She muttered demurely.
"It's alright." Merlin said feeling quite taken with her. She was very beautiful.
"Excuse me." She said bending to begin gathering her things again.
"Let me give you a hand with that." Merlin crouched down and caught the girl's eye. Anne analysed the scene sensing something was off. They stood up.
"Hi. I'm Merlin." He shook her hand. Anne couldn't help but slightly smile at the sight of Merlin being armoured by the girl. He looked quite sweet she thought.
"Cara." She greeted. "You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honour." She continued trying to butter him up.
"Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, someone's got to keep the place running." Merlin boasted.
"Thank you, Merlin." She said trying to get him to realise that he was still holding some of her things.
"Hmm?" Merlin said still staring at her clearly very besotted. He then snapped out of it and looked down at the pillow he picked up for her. "Oh, right. Yeah. Er, no problem." He hurriedly said handing it over.
"It was nice meeting you." She said walking away. Merlin continued to watch her leave.
"Shouldn't you be busy running the place?" Gaius asked sarcastically making Merlin realise that Gaius and Anne were still with him. Gaius laughed. Anne joined him trying to cover up the unease she felt.
Merlin gave them a look before picking up what he was carrying before.
—
Amelia's POV
"I feel like I should tell you something." Anne said that night as she was helping me prepare for the feast.
"What is it?" I asked having noticed the slight unease she had on her face but had been waiting for her to say something.
"It is one of the maids that Bayard has brought with him." She revealed. "There is something about her that does not feel right."
"Could it be your magic telling you this?" I asked.
"I suppose if she was using magic, I'm not sure." She answered.
"I've noticed a maid staring at Merlin earlier. Are we talking about the same one? The one with that has a blue scarf wrapped around her head?" I questioned.
"Maybe. I suggest we keep an eye on her." Anne decided.
"Yes of course." I said thinking about how this woman could possibly be Nimueh. I did not say anything as I would then have to explain how I knew and Anne knew that I had not had a nightmare the last couple nights so I could not use that excuse.
—
Later that evening we were all in the hall of ceremonies watching Bayard sign the treaty. Well I tried to but I couldn't help but slightly giggle at Merlin in his outfit from my place on Morgana's left. He was standing by Gwen and Anne who were also laughing at him. I then saw Merlin hurriedly take off his feathered hat, I followed his eye-line and saw that he was staring at the mysterious handmaiden. I thought back to what Anne said about having a funny feeling about her. Was this how Nimueh poisoned Merlin? By slipping into Bayard's entourage?
Uther then finished signing the treaty and grasped arms with Bayard. We all applauded.
"People of Camelot," Bayard began. Oh great this was the fun bit, the speeches. "for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them." A serving girl walked in, bringing in a box that revealed goblets inside. I frowned. Drink is quite a good way to poison someone, I thought.
"As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship," Bayard continued. "I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last." I was so focused on it I did not notice the maid approach Merlin and take him out of the room.
"Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war." Bayard spoke as the two goblets were handed out to Arthur and Uther.
Bayard eventually began his toast, "And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther." Every one stood with drinks in hand.
"Arthur." I could see Arthur nod then start to drink but he was stopped as Bayard continued.
"The Lady Morgana and Amelia." We both nod. Arthur waits this time.
"The people of Camelot." Arthur starts to drink again thinking the toast was finished.
"And to fallen warriors on both sides." Uther then said stopping Arthur again then after Uther had finished everyone started to drink.
"Stop!" Merlin cried running in. "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" Merlin runs up to Arthur and takes his goblet. Ah now I vaguely remember this. How could I forget this. I am brain dead.
"What?" Uther asked obviously thinking about how a mere servant dared to interrupt.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur asked him.
"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison." Merlin declared. Gotta admit he has confidence.
"This is an outrage!" Bayard shouted. Him and his men draw their swords and so do the knights of Camelot.
"Order your men to put down their swords." Uther ordered as Camelot guards rush in. "You are outnumbered."
"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" Can't blame him for being angry.
"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" Uther asked Merlin.
"I'll handle this." Arthur said skirting around the table. "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the slow gin again?" He grabbed Merlin and takes the goblet.
"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned now." Uther ordered.
"He was seen lacing it." Merlin answered.
"By whom?" Uther asked.
"I can't say." Merlin answered. I, at this moment, looked around for the maid and I saw her peeking round a door in the corner of the room; she was smirking at the scene. Oh god she is Nimueh, I realised. I can't stop this now.
"I won't listen to this anymore." Bayard then says.
"Pass me the goblet." Uther says to Arthur, who hands it to him. "If you're telling the truth..."
"I am." Bayard interrupts.
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Uther continued. Bayard sheathes his sword and reaches for the goblet.
"No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Uther says. Bayard snorts. Uther holds the goblet up to Merlin. "He'll drink it."
"But if it is poisoned, he'll die!" Arthur argued.
"Then we'll know he was telling the truth." Uther said not caring. Great detective work Uther, I thought.
"And what if he lives?" Bayard questions.
"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will." Uther answered.
"Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!" Gaius begged.
"Then you should've schooled him better."
"Merlin, apologise. This is a mistake. I'll drink it." Arthur says reaching for the goblet.
"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright." Merlin says pushing Arthur's hands away and putting the goblet out of his reach.
"Please Merlin." I begged trying to walk up to him but a guard stops me before I make fully around the table.
Merlin gives me a small smile before toasting to Bayard and Arthur, then drinks. I see Nimueh watching with glee. Gwen takes a few steps forward in her anxiety.
"It's fine." Merlin says after taking a sip.
"He's all yours." Uther says. As guards walk towards him, Merlin begins to choke and falls to the floor unconscious.
"It's poisoned. Guards seize him!" Camelot guards and knights rush forward to arrest Bayard and his entourage. Arthur, Anne, Gaius and Gwen crouch over Merlin. Morgana grabbed a butter knife and shoved a fork into my hand. Thank you Morgana I feel so safe.
"Merlin. Can you hear me? We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison." Gaius orders. Arthur picks up Merlin and Gwen grabs the goblet. I quickly rush after them, fork in hand, before anyone can stop me.
—
Arthur enters Gaius' chambers carrying Merlin with Gaius, Anne, Gwen and I following.
"Lay him on the bed quickly; he's struggling to breathe. Gwen, fetch me some water and Anne get a towel." Gaius ordered.
"Is he going to be alright?" Arthur asked worriedly sitting down by the bed Merlin now lay on as I hovered behind him, the others darted around doing various tasks.
"He's burning up." Gaius said not answering him sitting down on Merlin's other side.
"You can cure him, can't you Gaius?" Gwen asked as Anne handed him a towel.
"I won't know until I can identify the poison." Gaius answered putting the towel on Merlin's forehead. "Pass me the goblet."Gwen hands it to him."Ah. There's something stuck on the inside." He said standing up before walking over to a table nearby. Gwen took over his task.
"What is it?" I asked following with Arthur behind me. Anne took the seat Arthur had vacated.
"It looks like a flower petal of some kind." Gaius said taking out of the goblet and holding it up to get a better look.
"His brow's on fire." Gwen called to us.
"Keep him cool; it'll help control his fever." Gaius instructed her before pulling out a book and flicking through it to find what he was looking for. "Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."
"That's not particularly friendly." Arthur said pointing at a beast on the page.
"A Cockatrice." Gaius explained. "It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive." Isgaard sounds a bit Viking, I thought.
Arthur stepped away from the table. I could see he was debating on what to do. "Sounds like fun." He then decided.
"My lord, it's too dangerous." Anne suddenly said.
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" Arthur asked Gaius. He knew he needed to go.
"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually he will die." Gaius answered. Arthur then walked out of the chambers with me scurrying after him.
—
After telling Arthur that I would go with him no matter what he said, the next person we went to was Uther as Arthur insisted that we needed to despite me telling him that Uther would not listen. So there we were a change of clothes later walking down the red Ribbon corridor, trying, and failing, to persuade Uther to give permission for us to go.
"What's the point of having people to taste for you if you're going to get yourself killed anyway?" Uther asked.
"We won't fail, no matter what you think." Arthur insisted.
"Arthur, you are my only son and heir and Amelia you are my ward, you are in my care. I can't risk losing the both of you for the sake of some serving boy." Uther said.
"Oh, because his life's worthless?" I asked.
"No, because it's worth less than yours." Uther answered. Wow…
"We can save him. Let me take some men-" Arthur began.
"No." Uther interrupted.
Arthur continued as if he hadn't, "We'll find the antidote and bring it back-"
"No." Uther interrupted again.
"Why not?!" Arthur shouted.
"Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a king. I'm not going to let you jeopardise the future of this kingdom over some fool's errand." Uther said.
"It's not a fool's errand. Gaius says that if we can get the antidote..." I began to say.
"Oh, Gaius says? That's exactly what makes it so." Uther said sarcastically. To be honest I was not entirely sure what he meant by that.
"Please, Father. He saved my life. I can't stand by and watch him die." Arthur begged.
"Then don't look. This boy won't be the last to die on your behalf. You're going to be King. It's something you'll have to get used to." Uther said. Great parenting Uther.
"I can't accept that." Arthur said.
"Neither can I." I said in agreement.
"You're not going."Uther ordered.
"You can't stop me." Arthur said.
"Damn it, Arthur, that's an end to it! You're not leaving this castle tonight." Uther demanded. I opened my mouth and before I could say I was still going, he said, "Neither are you Amelia." I pursed my lips in annoyance.
—
Third Person POV
In Arthur's chambers, Arthur storms in, tosses his sword onto the table, and leans over the fireplace. Morgana enters.
"Say what you like about the food, but you can't beat our feast for entertainment." Morgana says.
Arthur turns to her. "Morgana, I'm sorry, I should have made sure you were alright."
"Disappointed actually. I was looking forward to clumping a couple around the head with a ladle." She said.
"I'm sure the guards could have handled Bayard and his men." Arthur tells her.
"Yeah, but why let the boys have all the fun?" Morgana remarked only half joking.
"Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous." Arthur lectured.
Morgana rolled her eyes. "Spare me the lecture, I've already had it from Uther."
"If it's any consolation, you weren't the only one." Arthur mutters in annoyance. "Amelia tell you about him not allowing us to go to save Merlin?"
"Amelia has already told me. I have you know that I do not always listen to Uther's lectures. Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences." Morgana says.
"You think I should go?" Arthur stated rather than questioned.
"It doesn't matter what I think." Morgana responds.
Arthur walked over to Morgana, "If I don't make it back, who will be the next king of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake." She must realise the risks, he thought.
"And what kind of king would Camelot want? One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" Morgana draws Arthur's sword. "Or one who does what his father tells him to?" Morgana presents Arthur with the sword. "Plus Amelia is already getting her horse." She says to add some extra persuasion.
"What?" Arthur exclaimed.
—
Amelia's POV
I was walking out of the stables with my horse and also my supplies that were already attached to the saddle, when I looked up and saw Arthur storming towards me.
"Coming along then?" I asked cheekily.
"I could not leave you to go by your self." He answered. "Have you forgotten about the Cockatrice?"
"No. Just felt that saving Merlin was more important than cowardice."
Arthur narrowed his eyes at me. "Just let me get my horse and we will be on our way."
"Good. We've already wasted enough time."
Before too long Arthur and I were riding across the drawbridge.
"Halt!" The guards exclaimed trying to stop us but we just rode past them out of Camelot.
—
Third Person POV
"He's getting hotter." Anne called to Gaius who was standing by the window in his chambers while Anne sat next to Merlin's bed trying to bring the temperature down.
"Him. Liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf." Merlin began to mutter. Anne looked to Gaius, who had just sat next to her, in alarm while Gaius glanced over to Gwen.
"What language is that?" Gwen questioned from the other side of the bed.
"None. The fever's taken hold. None of those words are his own." Gaius said to cover up Merlin's use of magic. "His pulse is weaker." While holding Merlin's left arm, Gaius finds a large circular rash on Merlin's arm.
"What is it?" Gwen asked having noticed that he seemed startled.
Gaius pulls down Merlin's sleeve to fully reveal the rash. "That can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage."
"What does that mean?" Gwen asked. Anne was beginning to frown, an expression she almost always seemed to have nowadays.
Gaius stood up, Gwen and Anne following, and walked towards a table to check his book with a magnifying glass. "It says here that "once a rash appears, death will follow within two days."" Anne and Gwen looked at him in alarm.
"You said he had four days. Has it been accelerated?" Anne asked thinking of the most obvious way someone could do that.
"Quite. Something's increased the flower's potency." Gaius agreed. "It warns that "the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation."" He read.
"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer." Gwen stated.
"No he isn't." Gaius said in deep thought.
"Then who did this?" Gwen questioned.
"That girl!" Anne exclaimed. Gaius and Gwen looked to her in question. "That serving girl from Bayard's group took Merlin outside just before he stormed in."
"She had dark hair. Very beautiful." Gwen murmured realising who Anne was talking about.
"Find her. Quickly." Gaius instructed. Anne and Gwen darted from the room.
Gaius moved to sit next to Merlin, who began muttering, "Arthur... swa..."
—
Amelia's POV
Arthur and I ride on our horses through the countryside and though the mountains, soon we approach a large forest.
—
Third Person POV
Back in Gaius' chambers, Merlin stirs restlessly while Gaius inspects Merlin's rash with is magnifying glass. Anne and Gwen enter. Gaius looked up, "Let me guess, she wasn't there."
"No one has seen her since the banquet. Who is she?" Gwen questioned.
"Not who she claims to be." Gaius vaguely answered.
"But you know, don't you?" Anne asked knowingly.
"Cara. Though, that's not her name. Not her real name, anyway." Gaius said.
"Then who is she?" Gwen asked.
"A powerful sorceress." Gaius finally said.
"Well, we should tell Uther. Maybe he could send riders out after her." Gwen said.
Anne shook her head. "I do not know whether that is wise." She said.
"It does not matter, she'll be long gone. It's impossible to know where, though." He said before realising, "Oh, no."
"What?" Anne asked wondering what he had just realised.
Gaius stands. "She knows the only place an antidote can be found is the Forest of Balor. Arthur could be walking into a trap."
"Arthur. Arthur." Merlin muttered causing the other three people in the room to look at him.
—
Amelia's POV
Once we entered the forest of Balor, both us dismounted our horses and began to lead them through the forest.
"Ugh…" I groaned. "Never going to get used to horses being my mode of transport."
"Well the only alternative we had was walking. Could not exactly bring a carriage with us." Arthur said. I didn't respond as I knew my list of things that would be easier and quicker would not make sense to him.
After walking a while we came to a clearing where we saw the back of a woman sitting on a fallen log crying. Arthur ties his horse to a branch and approaches her as she sits with bruises on her arms. I stood back feeling unsure. Was this Nimueh?
"Hello?" Arthur called out. "Are you alright?" He asked coming around in front of her. Then a roar happened causing the woman to scream. A Cockatrice comes over the slight hill towards us. Arthur stands up. "Arthur!" I exclaimed in worry now walking forward so that I was next to the woman.
Now that I was standing next to her, I noticed that she did not look like the serving girl at the castle but now looked more familiar. I was pretty sure this was Nimueh but I could not be certain as it had been so long since I had seen her face. I knew, due to my notes on the episode, that she would probably be there.
"Stay back." Arthur instructed. The Cockatrice lunges, Arthur rolls under it as it jumps, then throws his sword, killing it. Nimueh grimaces. Arthur looks at her and she gets up and backs away in pretend fear.
"It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you." Arthur said reassuringly. I stopped myself from saying anything. "Who did that to you?" Arthur points to her bruises.
"My master. I ran away from him, but then I got lost. Please don't leave me." Now that I knew she was faking, I could see right through her performance. Try a bit more Nimueh.
"I won't. I'm not going to." Arthur said. Try a bit more Nimueh. Though in second thought maybe not as she seemed to be fooling Arthur pretty well.
"You can take me away from here?" Nimueh pathetically begged as Arthur began to walk around her.
"Not yet." I spoke up. "There's something we have to do first." I gave Arthur a pointed look. Arthur looks at the cave mouth. What a coincidence that she was right in front of where we needed to go.
Nimueh noticed, "Why have you come to the caves?" Arthur walked over to our horses to untie them.
"We are looking for something. It can only be found here." Arthur answered.
"What is it? I know this place; I could help you." Nimueh said trying to sound innocent but was overly doing it. How convenient that she is here to help.
"It's a type of flower that only grows inside the cave. It's very rare." Arthur tells her. I sort of didn't want him to tell her but at the same time he needed to so we could find the flower in the first place.
Arthur walks over to us with the horses and hands me the reigns of mine. "The Mortaeus flower? I know where they are. I'll show you." Nimueh tells us. Arthur looked at me and I reluctantly nodded. He then followed Nimueh, who had begun walking away from us. I reluctantly followed them. Not long after that we all entered the cave with torches in each of our hands.
—
Third Person POV
In Gaius' chambers Merlin lay on the bed drenched in sweat. "Arthur, it...it's a trap. It's a trap."
"His fever's getting worse, isn't it?" Gwen said from Merlin's left looking at him with concern. There couldn't be any other reason to what he was saying she thought.
"The poison's setting in." Gaius said from the end of the bed.
Merlin began to chant again. "eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume."
Anne stroked a wet cloth on his forehead from her seat on Merlin's other side. "Shh." She did not want Gwen to get anymore suspicious especially with the look she has on her face.
"Could you fetch me some more Wolfbane?" Gaius asks Gwen hoping to distract her.
"Yes, of course." She says snapping out of her suspicious thoughts and left the room.
"Merlin, you must fight it." Gaius says to him.
"He will." Anne said stroking Merlin's arm in comfort with her free hand.
—
Amelia's POV
After walking through the caves, we reached the end of the tunnel to a part of the cave that opened up to a ledge with a long drop and a narrow ledge on the other side.
"There they are." Nimueh said pointing to the flowers on the wall across the large drop. I did not like how dark it seemed down there.
Arthur walked forward and looks down. "Keep back from the edge. Don't worry. We'll be out of here soon. Amelia you stay with her." I nodded. Arthur began walking across the part of the ledge that jutted out across most of the drop.
I then heard Nimueh begin to chant. "Eorthe, lyft, fyr, waeter, hiersumie me." The cave begins to shake. "Eorthe ac stanas hiersumie me. Ic can stanas tobrytan..." I lunge forward in an attempt to stop her but she just raised her hand and I flew back but thankfully not down the drop knocking me out.
Third Person POV
"What are you doing?!" Arthur cried looking over to Amelia in worry. He could see a cut on her forehead. Thankfully it was her torch that fell down the drop.
"...hiersumie me." Nimueh finished. Arthur drops his torch as the rock falls out beneath him. He jumps for the opposite ledge and catches it with his hands.
"I expected so much more." Nimueh says.
"Who are you?!" Arthur yells to her trying to keep his grip.
"The last face you'll ever see." Nimueh sates. A giant spider creeps up from the dark depths. "It seems we have a visitor." Arthur edges away from the spider, draws his sword and kills the spider while dangling from the ledge.
"Very good." Nimueh praised. "But he won't be the last. I'll let his friends finish you off, Arthur Pendragon. It's not your destiny to die at my hand. Nor is it the Lady Amelia's. Her past is more complicated then you realise." She leaves with the torch, leaving Arthur dangling from the ledge in the dark with Amelia laying unconscious on the other side of the drop.
"Who are you?!" Arthur yelled after her but he gets no answer.
—
"Arthur. It's too dark. Too dark. Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum." Merlin chanted from his bead.
"Something is glowing." Anne said. Gaius moved to the other side of the bed and sees the glowing coming from under the bed sheets.
"Merlin." Gaius said in surprise. He folds the bed sheet to see Merlin holds a glowing ball of light in his hand. "What are you doing?"
"He's helping Arthur." Anne realised. "That's why he has been chanting, he is trying to help him."
"Leave them, Arthur." Merlin says. "Go. Save yourself. Follow the light. Faster. Go faster. Follow the light! Move. Climb."
Back in the cave, Arthur is able to find and collect the flower after being guided by the light Merlin had sent. As soon as he collects the flower he climbs the rest of the way out of the cave through the entrance the light disappears through away from the many spiders climbing after him. The light then disappears from Merlin's hand.
—
Amelia's POV
I woke up not knowing how long I had been out but I realised that the whole cave had gone completely dark. I slowly got up staggering slightly as I felt dizzy and my vision blurred. I looked around as if I could see where Arthur was in this darkness when I suddenly heard the sound of scuttling not far from me. I then realised that it sounded like an large insect, probably spiders, and, despite my head hurting, I immediately ran through the cave to what I hoped was the entrance.
While running I kept on stumbling into the walls of the cave before I eventually found light and staggered out to find our horses where Arthur and I had left them. "Thank god I found you two." I said falling onto my horse's side.
I must have closed my eyes because I was suddenly startled by Arthur yelling my name. "Amelia!" He yelled walking up to me. "Thank god you made it out! I was going back in to save you!"
"Amelia?" He asked when I did not look at him. "Your head looks worse!"
"I feel a bit dizzy Arthur." I said before falling and everything going black. The last thing I hear is Arthur yelling.
—
Third Person POV
Arthur rides back to Camelot with Amelia balanced on his lap with her horse attached to the saddle on the horse he rode. He kept looking at her in concern. He had treated the wound on her head the best he could till he got her to Gaius.
Guards spot Arthur from the battlements. "Inform the King! Arthur has returned to Camelot!" One called Patrick ordered.
Arthur rides up to the drawbridge gate, however, guards block his way. "What are you doing? Let me pass." He said.
"I'm sorry, Sire. You're under arrest, by order of the King." Says Patrick.
Arthur sighed resigned, "Fine, but at least take the Lady Amelia to the physician."
"Of course Sire." Says Patrick nodding to one of the other guards to take her from Arthur.
—
In Gaius' chambers, Anne sat next to Amelia who had been placed on another bed in the room. Anne had been treating her while Gaius focused on Merlin.
At that moment, Gwen walked in. "He hasn't got much longer. Has Arthur got the flower?" Gaius asked.
"I don't know. Uther won't allow anyone to see him." Gwen said. "Is there nothing we can do to help?"
"Only the leaf of the Mortaeus flower can save him." Gaius tells her.
"And we have to find out if Arthur has it. I could sneak into the dungeon." Gwen said.
"That would be very dangerous."
"I've got to. Merlin will die if I don't." Gwen says determined. Merlin made a noise showing that he was struggling to breathe.
"Be careful." Gaius said knowing they had no other option. Gwen then left the room.
Suddenly Morgana burst in. "Amelia!" She cried seeing the woman she saw as a sister lying on one of the beds. She rushed over to her cradling her head in concern.
"She will be alright my lady." Anne reassures her.
—
Amelia's POV
I felt very groggy as I woke up and when I tried opening my eyes it was too bright and I had to immediately close my eyes with a groan.
"Amelia?" A voice asked. Was that Morgana. Where was I? The last thing I remembered was Arthur finding me in the forest.
I attempted to open my eyes again, finding it easier this time. I looked around noticed that other than Morgana, Anne was also looking at me. "Hi?" I said feeling awkward under their stares.
"Oh thank god!" Morgana cried lunging at me, giving me a very tight hug.
"I still need to breathe Morgana." I rasped.
"Oh sorry." She immediately said. She leant back and stroked my hair out of my face.
"Am I back in Camelot?" I asked. Recognising the room as Gaius' chambers.
"You are. Arthur brought you back. Gwen is finding out if he has the Mortaeus flower." Anne said.
"Why hasn't he brought it?" I asked confused. My mind felt a bit foggy.
"Uther arrested him." Morgana said with a roll of her eyes. I tried to remember why we were getting the flower in the first place but it hurt my head.
"Oh right." I said. "Why were we getting it again?" Anne and Morgana looked at each other with worry, but before they could answer me, I heard the sound of someone struggling to breathe. I looked over and saw that it was Merlin who had made the noise; he looked close to death. "Oh." I vaguely recalled Merlin poisoning himself now. I was beginning to get a bit worried now. How had I forgotten that?
—
Third Person POV
Later on Gwen comes rushing in holding the flower. By this point Morgana had Amelia moved to her own chamber so she could continue to rest there.
"How is he?" Gwen asked.
"Have you got the Mortaeus?" Gaius asks.
"Here." Gwen hands it to him.
"His breathing's much worse. We have to hurry." Anne says. Gwen sits down next to Merlin's sickbed as Gaius begins crushing the flower leaf. He suddenly stops after a few seconds.
"Why have you stopped?" Gwen asks having noticed his actions.
"The poison was created using magic. We may need magic to make an antidote." His eyes flickered to Anne's, who was looking at him with worry.
"But we can't. It's forbidden. Even if we could." Gwen reminds him. Not that he really needed it.
"I'll try and make it work without it. Oh, I need some fresh water." Gaius said to get her to leave the room. He hands her a bowl and she runs off. Gaius lifts the bowl he's holding.
"Sythan..." Gaius stops and looks around, nervous to be practicing magic again.
"Maybe I should do it." Anne says walking over to him. Gaius hands it to her and tells her what she needs to say. "Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum." Anne chants. The potion sizzles and foams for a moment. Gwen runs back in and hands him the bowl of water before rushing back to Merlin's side.
"Thank you." Gaius says to her. Gaius pours the potion into a small cup and goes to Merlin. "Hold his nose." Gwen pinches Merlin's nose as Gaius pours the potion into Merlin's mouth. "Swallow, Merlin. Swallow it."
After a moment, Merlin goes still. "He's stopped breathing. What's happening? Gaius?" Gwen asks.
Gaius puts his head to Merlin's chest. "His heart has stopped."
"He's dead?" Anne asks eyes beginning to water.
"He can't be. He can't be. It was his destiny." Gaius says standing up.
"It's my fault. If I'd have got here sooner. If I'd have been quicker." Gwen gets up and cries in Gaius' arms with Anne joining them.
"No, no. It was me. I should've looked after him better. It's my fault." Gaius says.
Suddenly a voice they thought they would never hear agin. "That's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be their grandfather."
They all broke away from each other to see Merlin trying to sit up. "Merlin. You're alive." Gaius cries with happiness.
"No. I'm the ghost come back to haunt you." Merlin remarked feeling very relived that he had not actually died. Gwen suddenly grabbed Merlin's face and kisses him with relief. Anne's eyebrows shot up in surprise; Anne knew Gwen had a slight crush on Merlin but she thought that Gwen would never have the confidence to outright kiss him.
"Sorry, I'm just...I thought you were dead." Gwen stammered.
"It's fine. It's more than fine. ...erm...what happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine." Merlin asked confused looking at the three people next to him.
"Well…I'm not sure where to begin." Anne said with a small smile causing to chuckle.
—
Amelia's POV
I was laying in my bed due to the fact I had been ordered to stay there to recover my health. I wanted to see Merlin but Gaius and Anne reassured me he is fine and alive. Everyone was already concerned about me because a few bits of my memory from the years I have been here was missing. While it was not a massive worry as they will probably come back but I was even concerned with the fact that when I tried to remember what happened next, I found I remembered even less than I did before even main plot points were slipping my mind now.
I obviously had not told anyone about this but I was very worried as I had hoped to change certain bits for the better. Now I might not be able to due to the fact that the notes I had made were vague at best.
—
So that happened. Anyway couple ideas? Let me know.