Chapter 51 A/N I don't own Merlin. Finally, cannot believe it took me fifty-one chapters to get to the fourth episode! I'm starting to rethink the whole series in just one 'book', might just finish the first season in this and then do four more with each season. Also, since it's sort of a crossover in my other fic, I'll probably have to put that one to rest for a while-though probably not because sometimes Harry Potter can be SO demanding- and things will eventually get confusing for me.
"Morning Gaius!" Cassie said happily as she walked into his chambers the following morning. "I was on my way to Morgana's, do you have any more of the sleeping draught. She took the last of hers a few days ago and I forgot to tell you when I saw you yesterday."
"Yes, I finished some more last night. Figured she'd want it. I was going to send Merlin with it later, but Arthur's asked him to aid in the preparations." Gaius said, nodding to the boy who turned bright red.
"I'd offer to help, but I don't really want to. Thanks for this Gaius! See you later!" Cassie called back, laughing at Merlin's spluttering.
"My Lady." Gwen greeted with a smile when she opened the door.
"You did say breakfast, yes?" Cassie said, looking into the room curiously.
"Yes, we did. Come in, I've yet to go down to get breakfast, Morgana's had a rough night. And I'm needed to help in the preparations for King Bayard, but I'd rather stay."
"Yeah, Merlin's going to be complaining all day to Gaius about the 'preparations.'" Cassie said with a laugh. "I've brought some more sleeping draught."
"Thanks, Cassie." Morgana said brightly when she walked into the main chamber.
"My pleasure." Cassie said with a smile, taking the brush from the dressing table and brushing Morgana's hair.
"You don't have to do that anymore, you know." Morgana said, taking Cassie's hand gently and stopping her.
"I know. But it's soothing. And I used to love when my sisters or my mother brushed my hair. Especially after a rough night." Cassie replied, gently passing the brush through her friend's silky black hair.
"Could you go for breakfast, Gwen?" Morgana asked as Cassie continued to brush her hair.
"Just for two, my Lady. I have other duties to see to today. With King Bayard's visit and all."
"Of course, Gwen." Morgana said with a smile as she watched her maidservant finish making the bed.
"So what was the nightmare about this time?" Cassie asked softly as she set the brush down and plaited Morgana's hair.
"It wasn't a nightmare."
"But Gwen said you had a bad night."
"I didn't. I just didn't sleep well. There's a difference. Not every sleepless night is because of the nightmares."
"Was it your mystery boy, then?" Cassie asked, a wide smile on her face. "Because that certainly narrows it down to the knights that went to my wedding." she continued, teasing lightly.
"He wasn't here, if that's what you're thinking."
"Oh, tell me everything!" Cassie said, sitting down across from Morgana and looking at her expectantly.
"It was just a dream." Morgana said, quieting down when Gwen opened the door and changing the subject. "So what are you going to wear tonight?"
"Well, I've this dark blue dress I've been dying to wear that will look wonderful with the ruby jewelry you gifted me. What are you wearing?"
"Gwen and I were going to decide later. She's wearing the dress you gifted her last month."
"Oh, I love it, Cassie! I don't care how many times I wear it, it's beautiful. And that lavender color is really pretty."
"Flattering too. Really makes you look so beautiful, and your green eyes look so pretty in it. And, I'm sure you will catch Merlin's eye. The boy has got to wake up and see the beautiful girl right in front of him." Cassie said indignantly, not missing Morgana's look at her words.
"Will you be getting ready here, or in your chambers?" Morgana asked, changing the subject quickly.
"I think tonight I'll get ready in my chambers, 'Gana. It might take me longer, but that will just have to do." Cassie said, her cheeks tingeing with pink at the thought.
"I think you'll be ready in half the time if only to spend more time in Owaine's embrace." Morgana said, smiling cheekily.
"I think I'll go before you two begin your verbal sparring." Gwen said, stopping Cassie from speaking and curtsying quickly, leaving the room in a fit of giggles.
"Morgana, we had a deal, you wouldn't tease and I would pry. Since you teased, now I really must pry." Cassie said, a smirk on her face. "Tell me everything. It was Merlin, wasn't it?"
"Y-you can't say anything to Gwen. I still can't believe I did it. Especially knowing she likes him so much. It'll break her heart! I feel like such a bad friend!" Morgana said, feeling horrible for betraying her best friend and giving a small smile when she moved to sit next to her.
"I won't, I swear. What actually happened? I didn't think Merlin had it in him. Or that he'd ever done 'it' before."
"I don't know if he had or not, but as I said, we were pretty drunk and after we left the marital corridor, we went into the first empty room we found. He wasn't there when I woke up, but it's more than likely because Arthur had him do something."
"Well have you spoken?"
"When? We're always with someone, and if Arthur or Uther found out, they'd have his head on a pike." Morgana said, her eyes wide with worry.
"There's always my chambers in the physician's tower. To talk. Not that other business. Uther would have my head if he found out." Cassie said, squeezing her friend's hand gently. "Is he really that big though? He's so scrawny!"
"Bigger than you'd imagine. And there's more muscle than I would have thought!"
"Well, I just have to throw your words right back at you, 'Gana; tell me EVERYTHING!"
"Okay." Morgana said, turning on her couch and looking at her friend in nervous excitement. "Well, you know how the consummation ceremony and everything. After we left, Merlin and I, well I really was very drunk, and I stumbled a little and he was there to catch me with his strong hands. And he's really much stronger than I would have thought, beneath those baggy clothes and everything. And I looked in his eyes and I have no clue what overtook me, because I just pushed him against the wall and kissed him. And then when we broke apart I grabbed his hand and ran into the first room I found and-"
"Morgana, you're rambling. Slow down, It's still hard for me sometimes." Cassie said.
"Sorry. Well we went into the first room we found and I pushed him against the door and kissed him like I'd never kissed another man before. It was so passionate and full of...lust."
"Well, that's saying something, from what I've learnt about you, my friend."
"Do you want to hear or not?" Morgana snapped, her cheeks flushing, whether from excitement or embarrassment Cassie couldn't tell.
"Yes."
"So we were kissing and that's when all sense of restraint just went out the window so to speak and I quite literally tore his tunic off and ran my hands down his chiseled body but when I went to take off his trousers his strong hands stopped mine and he gently pushed me over to the bed while he undid the laces on my dress and let it fall down my body and after we were on the bed kissing for so long the anticipation was palpable he finally took his trousers down and just before he entered me he looked into my eyes to make sure I was alright with it. Oh, Cassie, he was so sweet and tender. I'm glad he was my first, even if I completely betrayed one of my oldest friends. I felt like I was flying, it was so good."
"I know what you mean. I could barely hold myself back from crying out in front of everyone."
"You didn't hold yourself back, Cassie. And neither did I. I swear, that just may have been the best night of my life."
"So do you like him? Because I'm sure Gwe-"
"I don't know. My body likes him, it really likes him. But my heart tells me I shouldn't feel anything for him. I don't want to hurt Gwen. And I don't know if I could ever tell her about this. And if anyone else were to find out and it somehow got to the King's attention..."
"'Gana. If you truly like him, then you should tell her. But you need to talk to him. About what happened. You know you do."
"You're right. Tonight, after the feast. Uther'll be too drunk to know anything anyways. Y-you don't mind if we use your chambers, do you. I doubt Gaius wou-"
"'Gana, I've told you already you are free to use them to talk. No funny business." Cassie said sweetly, squeezing her hand. "Besides, you are partly the reason why Owaine and I ever got together. Remember your pilgrimage, we had our first kiss and we really got to know each other so much better away from the eyes of Camelot."
"Yeah, if it was up to you, you'd still be courting." Morgana teased lightheartedly.
"I like to think not." Cassie replied, slightly hurt at her insinuation.
"Well, you wouldn't be married just yet."
"I guess I really am rather slow." Cassie admitted, smiling sheepishly. "I just don't know how to be spontaneous. Not really."
"You are joking, right?"
"I'm not! I flirted with him, but I never had the guts to kiss him, and when I finally did how long did it take me to feel comfortable enough to do anything else?" Cassie said matter-of-factly.
"You know, now that you say it, you do play things too safe, Cassie."
"I guess I do. I'll get word to Merlin, make sure he knows you'll be waiting for him tonight. I have to do my rounds, anyway."
"You're still going to see patients?"
"Yeah, gives me something to do other than gossip. I may be gossip hungry, but even I can't go at it all day. Besides, it makes me feel like I'm doing something and not just closed off to everyone else."
"True. There's only so much you can do before you start feeling bored. Bye Cassie."
"Bye 'Gana." Cassie said, knowing she was going to tease Merin all day from what she just learned.
"Cassie! What are you doing here, you're not a servant anymore."
"I never was, Merlin. Besides, I need to speak with you."
"Oh, well, I was on my way to Arthur's chambers. Prepare for the feast and everything."
"Right, well, I'll talk to you on the way then." Cassie said, chatting away happily with him and helping him with some of the clothes he held. "Hello, Arthur!"
"My Lady. You realize you don't have to help the idiot, right?" Arthur asked in jest.
"Oh, I know. But I wanted to talk to him." Cassie said, walking into his chambers and setting the clothes down on the table then going to sit in one of the chairs. "I was telling him about one of the last feasts I went to in Hispania."
"Right. Carry on."
"Okay, so as I was saying there my brother is, about ten drinks in, and the King suddenly gets up and proclaims him the entertainment, waving away some of the dancers. And so, obviously, my brother has to get a dance partner and he goes to my other brother's wife instead of his-they looked really similar-and started dancing with her, except he could barely tell up from down so it was really her trying to hold him up and all of the guests just died laughing. When he woke up in the morning he was wearing one of the servants' dresses, oh it was hilarious."
"Did all servants go to the feasts?" Arthur asked, not bothering to hide his amusement.
"My brother wasn't a servant. He was a soldier." Cassie said, hating the necessity to lie. "General, really, but whenever he got that drunk, my mother referred to him as the 'drunken soldier' and not what his station merited. It was really funny when she wasn't angry at me. She could be scary."
"My mother's the same! I love her to bits, and most of the time she's the gentlest soul, but when she gets angry, she gets angry."
"Right?!" Cassie agreed, giggling when Merlin let out a snort of disgust and moved away from the table where the clothes were.
"When's the last time these were cleaned?" he asked, covering his face at the foul smell.
"Last year sometime, before the Feast of Beltane." Arthur answered, nonplussed.
"Did it end in a food fight?" Merlin asked with a grimace as he went over to put the jacket on Arthur.
"Don't all feasts?" Arthur replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me." Merlin said as he straightened out the collar on the jacket and ignored Cassie's giggles.
"Get enough drink in them and they do. It reminds me of another feast when I was I think thirteen winters, it ended with the King covered head to toe in food the Queen threw at him. Hilarious."
"Not after tonight they won't be." Arthur said, fiddling with the sleeve of his jacket and chuckling at the mental image of his father covered in food.
"I'm gonna be at the banquet?" Merlin asked excitedly, stopping what he was doing and looking at Arthur.
"Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry."
"Ergo, the food fights." Cassie piped in as Arthur shrugged off his jacket.
"If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it." he said, folding the jacket in half and handing it to Merlin. "Be sure to polish the buttons."
"What's Bayard like?" Cassie asked.
"He's an excellent swordsman, and a man of his word. But he's so dry, especially when he's making toasts. Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight, Merlin?" Arthur asked, walking behind the screen and reaching for something.
"Won't this do?"
"Oh, please tell me it'll be the ceremonial robes." Cassie said with a wide grin at the same time Merlin spoke.
"No, Cassie's right. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot." Arthur answered after walking back out and catching Cassie's eye, mirth dancing in both their eyes. Cassie's giggles just intensified as Merlin looked at her proudly and his grin was wiped away when Arthur held them up.
"You can't be serious?" Merlin asked the grinning prince, ignoring Cassie altogether as she fell on the floor laughing.
"Oh I haven't laughed this much in days!" Cassie said happily as she and Merlin walked out of Arthur's chambers, her cheeks hurting slightly from all the smiling.
"Did you ever have to wear this?"
"Oh, yeah. Before Owaine and I started courting I went to the King's birthday celebration to fill Gaius' cup. We all wore it. It's traditional for the servants of Camelot to wear them." Cassie said, keeping her face straight at the genius prank Arthur had come up with. "Oh, before I forget! Can I have a word with you after the feast in my chambers. The ones in the Physician's Tower, not my shared chambers with Owaine." Cassie said, a blush creeping up her neck.
"Yeah, sure. What's with the blush. And why not just talk to me now?" Merlin asked, torn between teasing her and being confused.
"I'm not blushing, you're blushing!" Cassie said, poking his cheek playfully. "Besides, it's a delicate matter I'd rather prying ears not hear."
"I'm not blushing, Cassie."
"Are too. Whatever, I'm having lunch with Owaine in a bit, see you!"
"Yeah, bye Cassie." Merlin said, slightly confused, but getting increasingly used to her antics.
"My love? What's so funny?" Owaine asked when she entered their chambers.
"Oh, the best prank! Well, the best prank Arthur could think up, but still…Just wait." Cassie said excitedly, kissing him quickly before sitting down to lunch with him.
"Guess I'll have to wait and see, then."
"Oh, it'll be glorious!" Cassie said with a wide smile.
"You getting ready here or with your friends today?"
"Here. Thought we might get ready together. You don't have to go back to knight's duties yet?"
"Not for a few hours. You? Midwife duties?"
"I forgot about them, honestly. I was laughing too hard."
"Are you really hungry?"
"It can wait. I can always heat it up later." Cassie said, looking at his lips hungrily.
"Are you sure reading minds isn't something you can do?" Owaine asked, picking her up and throwing her onto the bed as he threw his tunic off.
"Completely positive. Though not for lack of trying. I used to hate not knowing what anyone thought about me. Guess I grew a thick skin after I found out exactly what that was." Cassie said, working the laces on his trousers while Owaine kissed the thin skin of her neck.
"What did they think about you?" he asked, stopping and looking into her eyes.
"That I was a freak. I mean, people knew some with magic, but they lived in the small villages and fields, farming and doing all that. Especially because I was so young when I got my magic. Most people don't show magic when they're three. At least that's what Edurne said." Cassie answered, looking into his eyes, her hands resting on his hips
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"It never came up, and I don't feel that way here, because no one knows about my…talent here."
"I do." he said, kissing her nose with a smile. "I know you, hopefully all of you. And whatever I don't know I plan on finding out."
"I'll tell you whenever I remember. I've told almost all of it, anyway." Cassie said with a laugh, resuming her work and pulling his trousers off.
"Someone's very task oriented today." Owaine mumbled with a smirk while he breathed in the scent of her skin.
"As I will be every day for the rest of our lives, my Knight." Cassie said, wrapping her legs around his hips and pushing him in with her heels.
"As you wish, my Queen." he whispered, breathing hard against her neck.
"We're going to be late." Cassie giggled breathlessly hours later.
"Why don't we skip the feast? Stay in bed?"
"Oh, I'd love to do that, my wonderful husband. But, alas, it might be construed as an insult. And he's here to sign a peace treaty." Cassie said, kissing him tenderly on the lips and smiling at him lovingly.
"You're right." Owaine said with a long sigh, sitting up and throwing his legs over the edge of the bed. "Let's get ready now."
"You know, I never really thought that much about this before, but I can't imagine a day going by without being in your embrace, my Knight." she said, slipping into the blue silk dress with golden embellishments and reaching behind her back to tie the laces.
"Let me help you, Cass." Owaine said with a chuckle at her impatient huffing. "I agree. With the 'go a day without you' not the other thing. I did think about you 'lying in my embrace' constantly since I laid eyes on you. But I know I will never spend another minute without you in my heart." he told her, brushing her hair over to one side and kissing her neck softly.
"If you give me a love bite just before this feast, I will kill you, Owaine." Cassie warned with a giggle.
"Don't worry, the only love bites you'll be getting are ones that aren't visible to anyone other than you or me." Owaine replied cheekily.
"How do I look?" Cassie asked, twirling around. "In the dress, I haven't done my hair or makeup yet."
"You look beautiful. As always. And you don't need to do your hair or makeup to look so." Owaine said, straightening his tunic before motioning for Cassie to help him with his chain mail.
"You certainly look the part now, my Knight." Cassie told him with a soft smile as she fastened the cloak over his shoulders.
"Will you do my makeup now?" Owaine asked teasingly, batting his eyelashes at her.
"Well, I can make you look the Court Jester if that's what you want. You would make the perfect pair with Merlin tonight." Cassie said with a soft giggle as she applied kohl carefully on her lower lid.
"You know, you could just do the one eye and look like that oriental bear that hangs off trees." Owaine said with a wide smile as he poured some wine and took a sip.
"Well, I would, but I don't want to look like a bear. And they have both eyes, not just the one, I've seen the paintings from the silk road." Cassie said, tilting her head and shooting him a sweet smile.
"Okay, your loss. We would have made quite the trio." Owaine commented, lifting his eyebrows and taking another sip of wine, his eyes dancing with mirth.
"Come on, you." Cassie said giggling, fastening her dagger to her hips, taking him by the hand and dragging him out the door, her heels clapping on the stone floor with every step.
"Is that the prank you and Prince Arthur pulled on him?" Owaine asked, masking his laugh with a cough.
"Yup." Cassie said, grinning cheekily and winking when Merlin caught her eye and glared at her with a pink tinge on his cheeks.
"It's starting, go stand by Ellie. I have to take a seat at the table." Owaine said, squeezing her hand and going to sit between his brother and Sir Bruin.
"Hi, Ellie! You look beautiful tonight." Cassie greeted with a wide smile, noticing how Gwen whispered to Merlin and looked at him as if he were a complete fool.
"And you still look like a blushing bride, sister. I wonder how long that will last." Ellie replied cheekily, kissing her in greeting and turning to face the visiting entourage.
"Hopefully it'll last for the rest of my life." Cassie whispered to her with a coy smile, looking as King Bayard signed the treaty and clapping along with everyone else.
"People of Camelot," Bayard started to say as Gwen walked over to stand beside Gaius, her annoyance and jealousy clear on her face. "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. As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last." he said, taking two goblets from a box a serving girl brought forward. "The wounds we received in battle were great, the lives lost a tremendous amount, and those lives were lost to a good cause, the protection of our respective Kingdoms. Tonight, we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look for a future free from the toils of war, from the suffering and hunger war brings upon anyone, and from the hurt it seeds for years. May we look to our future generations to continue this peace, and to learn from our mistakes. And may the differences of our past remain there. To your health, Uther." he said, raising his goblet and waiting for everyone to stand for the toast. "Arthur." he said, inclining his head in the Prince's direction. "The Lady Morgana." he said, stopping Arthur from drinking and making him wait. "The people of Camelot." he said, turning to address the Knights seated at the table.
"And to fallen warriors on both sides." Uther cut in, once again stopping an annoyed Arthur from drinking, and looking expectantly at King Bayard who bowed deeply.
"Arthur was right, his speeches are endless." Cassie whispered to Lady Ellie, trying hard to stifle her giggles before taking a sip of wine.
"Stop! It's poisoned, don't drink it!" Merlin yelled, running into the room and taking the goblet from Arthur, eliciting a soft gasp from Cassie.
"What." Uther demanded, looking right at the manservant while Cassie tried to figure out just what was going on.
"Merlin! What are you doing?" Arthur asked, looking at him as he demanded an answer.
"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison." Merlin said, looking right at the accused which sent a shiver of worry down Cassie's spine as she watched the events unfold, slowly moving closer to the royals' table as she felt a dangerous prickling under her skin.
"This is an outrage!" Bayard cried, drawing his sword and all the knights following suit.
"Order your men to put down their swords. You are outnumbered." Uther demanded as the guards all raced in with lancets pointed at the visiting entourage.
"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" he cried indignantly,
"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" Uther asked dangerously.
"I'll handle this!" Arthur cried, looking at his manservant annoyed as he skirted the table. "Merlin! You idiot! Have you been at the sloe gin again?" he said, grabbing the goblet from Merlin's hand and pushing him away from Bayard.
"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think it's poisoned now." Uther demanded slowly, a steely look in his eye as he looked into Merlin's that made Cassie want to run to protect her friend.
"He was seen lacing it." Merlin answered not looking away from his eyes, determined.
"By whom?" Uther demanded, the festivities done for the night as Cassie tried very hard to keep her magic from reacting.
"I can't say." Merlin said, breaking eye contact.
"I won't listen to this anymore." Bayard said, tired of the games the boy was playing.
"Pass me the goblet." Uther ordered his son, walking around the table and coming up in front of Bayard, eyes never leaving the goblet in his hand. "If you're telling the truth…"
"I am." Bayard replied honestly, matching Uther's gaze.
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" he demanded, watching Bayard sheath his sword with calculating eyes and reach for the goblet.
"No, if this does prove to be poisoned I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Uther said, ignoring the look of disbelief that crossed Bayards face and slowly turning to give Merlin the goblet. "He'll drink it."
"But if it's poisoned he'll die!" Arthur cried, saying exactly what Cassie was thinking, just with a few less choice words.
"Then we'll know he was telling the truth." Uther said, never moving his eyes from Merlin's face.
"No!" Cassie breathed quietly enough that only Gaius and Gwen could hear now that she was next to them.
"And what if he lives?" Bayard demanded as Uther handed Merlin the cup.
"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will." Uther said clearly, turning back to face him.
"Uther please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!" Gaius cried in defense of his nephew from behind Morgana.
"Then you should've schooled him better." Uther replied drily, walking back to his throne while Arthur spoke.
"Merlin, apologise. This is a mistake! I'll drink it." he said, reaching for the goblet.
"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright." Merlin said, not letting Arthur take the goblet and toasting King Bayard and King Uther with a determined glint in his eye.
"Por favor, no esté envenenado!" Cassie muttered as she took a few steps closer, grabbing Morgana's hand for comfort and squeezing it. "¡Por favor, por favor, por favor!" she kept saying under her breath as she watched him down the goblet and lower his arm, looking back to Bayard.
"It's fine." he said after nothing happened, Morgana squeezing Cassie's hand once before sitting down as Uther did.
"He's all yours." Uther said, waving his hand dismissively as Gwen and Cassie let out a breath of relief.
Bayard relaxed his stance, smirking and moving to walk forward when Merlin began to choke, his face scrunching in discomfort as his hand flew to his throat. He fell to the floor unconscious, the goblet clattering in the eerily silent hall.
"It's poisoned. Guards seize him!" Uther cried, standing up and drawing his sword once more as everyone else reacted.
"Merlin!" Cassie breathed, holding her dagger protectively by Morgana's side as Gwen, Gaius, and Arthur rushed to check Merlin over, watching as they muttered among themselves and carried Merlin out of the room.
"Take them to the cells!" Uther demanded as even more guards rushed into the room to secure all the men and women in Bayard's entourage.
"Go to your chambers, Morgana. Take two guards. Now!" Uther commanded her. Cassie grabbed her hand and steered her out of the room, much to her dismay as she wanted to stay and 'clump a couple around the head with a ladle' as she vocally elucidated.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Cassie asked, worrying her lower lip and twisting her pinky as she paced the length of Morgana's chambers.
"I don't know Cass." Morgana admitted, walking in front of her and putting her hands on either of the smaller girl's shoulders.
"You should go be with them. He's your friend. And you're a healer. I'm sure Gaius needs all the help he can get."
"I know, I should have gone with them when they left, but I couldn't. I was just so scared, it's like I couldn't leave your side." Cassie whispered as tears fell down her face.
"Cassie, go. I'm fine, and he needs you far more than I do. Go." Morgana said, wiping away her friend's tears and pushing her gently towards the door.
"Yeah, you're right. I'll go." Cassie said, giving her a shaky smile and opening the door "You're sure you-"
"I'm positive. He's one of your closest friends, and Gwen's going to need you more than I do." Morgana said, turning her back around and pushing her out the door gently.
"Stay safe, 'Gana." Cassie said, looking at her seriously and turning to hasten down the corridors to the Physician's Tower.
"That's not particularly friendly." Cassie heard Arthur say as she approached the open door of Gaius' chambers, making her slow her steps as she wasn't sure what he was talking about.
"A Cockatrice. 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."
"Sounds like fun." Arthur said after a pregnant pause.
"Arthur, it's too dangerous."
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" Arthur asked as Cassie appeared in the doorway, sparing her a quick look before turning back to Gaius.
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." Gaus said, looking at his ward sadly and cementing the plan forming in Cassie's mind.
"Where are the Mountains of Isgaard?" Cassie asked, taking Gwen's hand and watching while she cooled Merlin's brow.
"I know what you're thinking and you're not going." Gaius said firmly while Arthur stormed out of the room.
"I'm sorry Gaius, but I am." Cassie said, taking Gwen's place when she got up and left to check on Morgana, although clearly it was to give the two their privacy.
"Cassie, please. I can't lose you too." he said softly, sitting down wearily to read the book he'd opened for Arthur.
"You won't lose me, Gaius. Or Merlin. I'll bring back the antidote. I will. But I'll need a map. I don't know these lands."
"All the more reason not to go."
"Gaius, I'm going with or without your help." Cassie said, looking down at Merlin's pained face determinedly.
"Here. The caves where the flower should be. I'm sure Arthur won't be able to convince Uther to take a small company of knights." he relented, sighing deeply and taking out a map of the lands.
"Look, I don't care if I'm going alone or if I go with twenty knights. Merlin's like family to me. As are you. And I would do anything if it meant I don't lose more family." Cassie said impatiently, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I'm going. And nothing can stop me. Nothing and no one."
"Beware of the cockatrice. It-"
"I heard you tell Arthur. Here, keep him alive until I get back. I won't take the chance that Arthur's ordered to stay." Cassie said, handing Gaius the wet cloth and standing up, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before racing out the door and down to the noble's wing.
"Cassie! How's Merlin?" Owaine asked, taking her into his arms the moment she stepped through the door.
"Dying." Cassie breathed out, allowing herself a moment to cry into his chest.
"I'm so sorry. I know how much he means to you." Owaine whispered, kissing the top of her head and tightening his hold around her.
"I have to change." Cassie sniffled, stepping out of his hug and locking the door with a glow of her eyes, taking the dagger from its holster on her hip and drawing blood from her thumb. "Be min æðeling, geopene ond forþgelæde."
"What are you looking for?"
"Clothes. What I wore when I'd train in Hispania. Hopefully it still fits, I haven't worn it in over a year." Cassie said, taking out a pair of black trousers and letting her dress slip to the floor around her ankles.
"Where are you going? Uther's not letting anyone leave." Owaine said, walking up to her and stopping her from putting a tunic on.
"The Forests of Balor. That's where the antidote is. And before you try, I'm not staying. I have to save Merlin." Cassie said, shrugging his hand off and putting on the long, blue tunic, tying the belt around the waist and securing her dagger on it.
"Then I'm going with you."
"You just said that Uther w-"
"I also promised you I'd never leave your side."
"He'll have your title, your knighthood. Owaine, I couldn't care less about you being a noble, but being a knight is what you've always wanted. I won't let you lose it because of me. Stay here. Protect them, I'll be fine. Remember?" Cassie said, using her magic to unlock the door and leaning up on the tips of her toes to kiss him.
"Come see me the second you get back. I won't be able to rest until you do." Owaine conceded, kissing her back passionately. "Take my sword. I'll grab another from the armory."
"Ok. I love you, Owaine." Cassie said, cupping his cheek gently before taking the sword from him, tying it to her belt and stuffing the map Gaius had given her in her medical bag.
"Stay safe my love." he said, stopping her from leaving and kissing her one last time.
"I will, my Knight." Cassie said softly, turning and running to the stables to saddle the horse, riding hard south from the city.