Chapter 4 [Physicians' Chambers—A Third of an Hourglass Turn Later]
Gawain and Arthur carried Merlin into the chamber. Concern kept their eyes fixed on the patient. Each wanted to know why their friend had collapsed. They knew of the previous head wound. Still, they swore that Merlin seemed perfectly normal.
And yet Merlin lay semi-conscious in his bed.
Gwen, Rodor and Mithian waited at the bottom of the chamber's stairs. Each knew that Gaius was the only trained healer between Whitgate, Tintagel's capital and there. They debated over what to do.
"Merlin's resting. With Gaius gone to Tintagel, he was our main physician." Arthur shook his head. "What happened?"
"You know Merlin." Gawain frowned. "He won't stop. Back at the camp, I found Gaius and him talking when I came with the wood. Merlin and I took off after the rest of you." He glanced up the stairs. "Whatever Gaius gave him must've worn off."
"Perhaps Master Wyngate could help him? Sire, we could take him in a wagon back to Whitgate. Maybe we could move one of the feather mattresses and some pillows?" Mithian bit her lip. She walked over to the bookcase. "Britomart has taught me some things about basic herbs. Do we have rosemary and lavender?"
"I remember Gaius used those herbs for Morgana's head trauma." Gwen agreed. "See if you can find the lavender, Princess." She grabbed the rosemary bottle.
"Do we know how much to give him of each? Queen Guinevere, Daughter, we need a healer." Rodor rubbed his forehead.
"He is almost unconscious, Father." Mithian took several deep breaths. "We have to get his brain inflammation down." Her hand knocked a book off of the table. "Now I am being clumsy!" She raised an eyebrow at her own actions. She picked it up. "This is Gaius' herbal remedy text!"
"Better. Let's have some sort of plan." Gawain paced about the area. "Anything else I can get?"
"Nay. Just stay with us." Gwen peered over Mithian's shoulder. "Is there anything?"
"I am looking at head wounds. Merlin had a bad one." Mithian exhaled sharply. "Why does he overdo his work?"
"He was fine after that! Even this morning, I did not see anything!" Arthur threw his hands up.
Even if you did, you would not stop yourself, Arthur. Mithian snorted but kept her response to herself. Her eyes busied themselves with the text. Her face brightened. "Here! Milady, we need turmeric and peppermint as well!"
Gwen nodded. She handed the requested bottles to Mithian one at a time. "Are there measurements?"
"There are." Mithian wiped her forehead with her handkerchief. "Two sprigs of rosemary, two pinches of lavender, a bit of garlic, three pinches of turmeric and a squeeze of peppermint oil." She shook her head. "Whatever a squeeze is."
"I have garlic." Rodor handed his daughter the bottle.
"Thank you, Sire." Worry ate at Mithian. Still, she remembered how Britomart had taught her to cut the garlic for maximum juice. She mashed the bulb piece against the blade's side and dumped that in the bowl. The other ingredients went in. Water flowed into the bowl. Then she mashed the whole mixture together.
"I will remember to praise Britomart for this, Daughter." Rodor rubbed her shoulder.
"Thank you. She will appreciate that." Mithian smiled for her servant's benefit. Of course, she would like to be a knight. Maybe you can dub her yourself one day, Mithian. She pressed and turned the pestle in her hand. Her wrist turned and turned. Desperation fought back stiffness and aches in her hands. You can do this! This is for Merlin!
The thin watery mush remained from her efforts in the bowl.
"I hope this is what it's supposed to look like." Mithian checked the remedy again. "This is what the book says."
"It is." Gwen stepped back to Arthur's side. She mouthed a silent prayer.
Why does Merlin not have any sense? We could have had someone else help against Odin! Really? Arthur slapped the table.
"Britomart? Hey! Was she the red haired maid with you on your first visit?" Gawain recalled.
Mithian coughed. "Why, you do remember her! She still talks about you, Sir Gawain." She turned to her father. "A lout attacked her in the local tavern. Sir Gawain fought him. She wanted to thank you once again. She also remembers your belching and need for a bath." She arched her eyebrow.
"She knows all right." Arthur batted his hand in front of his face.
"Fine! Pick on a guy when his friend's lying in bed!" Gawain clenched his teeth. "That girl needles, picks and gets under your skin. Nag, nag, nag!" He made a face. "Glad she's got some talent."
"She will surprise." Mithian picked the bowl up. She glanced toward Merlin's bedchamber. Nerves stabbed at her heart.
"She sounds perfect for you, Gawain." Gwen smirked. Purpose glinted in her eye.
"Not for me. She would put me in an early grave that one." Gawain made a face and a strangling noise.
"Why? Perhaps you know you shouldn't be at the tavern overly much, Sir Gawain?" Mithian arched an eyebrow at him. "It is too bad. You just do not understand." She shook her head.
"I do not get what? That Brit's crazy about me? She can get in line. There are lots of girls for me." Gawain shrugged.
"Merlin's in the tavern a great deal. Maybe you can get on him about his trips there, Princess?" Arthur grinned.
"Now that I cannot see. I imagine he does an occasional ale. But any more than that? Nay." Mithian shook the notion off. Of course, she'd do more than get on Merlin about his trips to the Rising Sun if she had her way. "Maybe he could use some time off once this is over?"
"Time off?" Panic stabbed at Arthur's mind. The castle needed straightening. Patients needed help. Armor needed polishing. George needed to be avoided. "Now wait!"
"Nay, Arthur. You know you keep giving him things to do. Merlin volunteers for enough on his own." Gwen cleared her throat.
"Hey do not look at me for help." Gawain smiled. "Lady's got you both pegged." He opened the door to Merlin's bedchamber again. "Let's get that into him, Mith."
Mithian raised the eyebrow a few more inches. Annoyance flicked in her glare and cleared her throat. "Perhaps I might have you come as well, Sir Gawain?"
"Now you're talking!" Gawain visualized an easy fortnight wandering about Nemeth. He'd visit every tavern in Whitgate first. Then he'd prowl for more conquests, drinks and good times. He could needle Merlin about this deal with Mithian. "I helped Merlin save the day. Least I should get some drinks out of that."
"That is the least we can do." Mithian rubbed her forehead. Merlin, if you get through this, we will have to get Gawain to have an ale with Britomart. She straightened Merlin's hair and neckerchief. "I will not have you looking sloppy, Merlin."
"Now you're dressing him. Careful, Princess. Arthur might get on you about that." Gawain insinuated half-seriously. Granted, he noticed Arousal's signs during that troubled rescue from the tomb and near-defeat against Odin and Morgana.
"He can try. Why, Sir Gawain! Are we looking for a woman to help you stay neat?" Mithian let her eyes meet his.
"Will you stop it with that maid already? Geez!" Gawain focused on their suffering friend. "Merlin's there."
Her lips puckered like they'd eaten a really sour apple. "I KNOW THAT!" She trembled. "He's my friend too! All right?"
"I guess. A royal who lets a servant yak all over her and does not think about the stocks." Gawain whistled. "Yeah. I'd say you're a really good friend."
"You are pushing your luck." Crimson flushed Mithian's face. She mixed the mixture with her fingers. "Hold his mouth open if you're done pushing comments out with yours."
"Yeah you're her mistress all right." Gawain rolled his eyes. "All other stuff aside…let's just get Merlin back." He held his friend's mouth open.
"That is my intention, Sir Gawain. Unless of course, you would like to declare yourself Camelot's new Court Physician? I think you know who I'd put in charge of your training in that regard!" Irritation added an edge to her voice.
He held Merlin's mouth open. "Let's just make sure he doesn't choke."
She shook her head. She put small fingerfuls of the mixture into Merlin's mouth. After he'd swallowed one, she repeated the procedure. When every bit of mix was gone, she poured the liquid into his mouth as well. "That should do it." Her eyes looked over the suffering patient's face. She dabbed his forehead with her handkerchief. Worry ate at her.
Gawain shook his head. He saw Merlin lying unconscious at the camp in his mind's eye. Gaius scrambled to find a cure. He went to find firewood. Then he found his friend awake upon his return. "Should've known that was too easy."
"Master Gaius' cure should have worked. Merlin, however, cannot rest or stop helping others." She squeezed Merlin's hand in hers. "If I have my way, he would rest for the next week if not two weeks."
"Not here in Camelot. Even if Merlin lets up, Arthur won't stop either." Gawain shook that notion off.
"I was serious about Merlin getting time off, Sir Gawain." She huffed a tight breath. I hope that helps you, Merlin. She muttered a quick prayer.
"Any sign?" Gwen stepped into the bedchamber.
"Give the stuff a chance." Gawain rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm staying with him."
"I will as well." Mithian saw her father stiffening in response. "Father, I cannot simply leave Merlin like this." She sighed.
Arthur cleared his throat. "Princess Mithian, I sent Sirs Mordred, Elyan and Leon to find Gaius. We will bring him back. Your father and you need to be with your people."
"He is right, Daughter." Experience and Anticipation both weighed on his mind. "I know you feel responsible. You have done more than anyone could reasonably expect of you. You tried to help me. You wanted to warn everyone. You found a cure. It needs time."
"Perhaps we could send Merlin back with them?" Gwen looked Merlin over. She noticed the color returning to his cheeks.
"Gwen, Merlin will be all right in a couple of days. Just wait. He'll be back up in no time," Arthur disagreed. Dread over dealing with George irritated him.
"Arthur, we need someone to report on how Nemeth is doing. Merlin would be the right man for the job." Gwen glanced toward Mithian.
"Aye. Father and I could take him on short rides to visit our subjects." Mithian walked toward the door. "Milady, perhaps we could make another dose? I believe the text called for another one just prior to dawn." She walked down the stairs and over to where the book in question still sat. She flipped to the page. "Every six turns of the hourglass," she read from the vellum page.
"Gawain, get your bed roll. You are going to be here tonight." Arthur looked back at Merlin. Despite his rebuffs and comments, he wondered about the state of his household over the next fortnight. He could almost hear Uther say 'you have George, stop your simpering and get on with it.' He knew that neither he nor Gwen would be sleeping much that night.
Scrutiny bore down both there and in other places….