The Fires of Idirsholas
"I'm a herder from the northern plains, Sire. Three nights back, we were camped beneath the walls of Idirsholas," Joseph said, standing before the whole court in the council chamber.
"I'm not sure I would've chosen such a place," Uther says, smiling slightly.
"Good pasture is scarce at this time of year, sire," Joseph explains.
"And what is it you have to tell me?" Uther asks.
"While we were there, we, we saw smoke rising from the citadel," Joseph recounts.
"And did you see anything else?" Gaius asks, glancing to Uther.
"No," Joseph says, shaking his head.
"Did you go inside?" Uther asks.
"No. Nobody has stepped over that threshold for 300 years! You must know the legend, sire," Joseph says.
"When the fires of Idirsholas burn, the Knights of Medhir will ride again," Gaius states.
"See to it this man is fed and has a bed for the night," Uther instructs, a knight showing Joseph the way. "Take a ride out there."
"Why?" Arthur asks.
"So we can put people's minds at rest," Uther answers.
"Surely this is superstitious nonsense?" Arthur asks.
"Gather the guard and do as I say," Uther tells him, silencing his questions on the matter. Evaine frowned, glancing to Morgana.
"What is the legend?" she asks, the two walking from the room.
"300 years ago, some of Camelot's knights were seduced by a sorcerer's call. One by one they succumbed to her power. At her command, they became a brutal force that left death and destruction everywhere they went. It was only after the sorceress herself was killed that the knights finally stopped," Morgana explains, and Evaine shivers at the legend. "It's only a story," Morgana tells her, reassuring her.
XXXXXX
Evaine sits at Gaius' table, rolling her neck and trying to keep her eyes open.
"I fear this contagion is spreading. You're the fifth person I've seen today," Gaius says, looking in his cupboards to find a remedy.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Evaine says, hiding a yawn. Gaius accidentally knocks a potion to the floor.
"Damn," he mutters, bending down to pick it up but standing quickly. "I'll pick that up later. I think I might need a little something myself. If I can ever find what it is I'm looking for," he adds, his eyes blinking to stay awake.
"See to yourself, Gaius. Others will need your help more than they will need mine," she says, smiling softly as she wipes her brow. Gaius doesn't seem to her, and she moves to leave, managing to bump into Leon.
"Evaine?" Leon asks, looking just as ill as she. She smiles warily, before her eyes flutter shut, falling to the ground.
XXXXXX
Merlin and Arthur dismount their horses at the city entrance, noticing the guards lying unconscious on the ground.
"Are they dead?" Merlin asks.
"No. They're breathing," Arthur answers.
"What's happened to them?"
"I don't know," Arthur mutters, standing and jogging to the courtyard, where dozens of guards and knights are strewn about, in the same state. "What's going on?" They hear a noise, turning to see a horse coming into the courtyard, the driver unconscious as well.
"I'll get Gaius," Merlin says, running up the steps to the palace. "Arthur!" he shouts, coming back to the door. Arthur runs inside, seeing everyone passed out on the steps. "They're all fast asleep. Must be some kind of sickness."
"Where's my father?" Arthur asks, and the two run to the council chamber to find it empty. "Where is he?!" They enter Gaius' chambers, seeing him asleep at his work table.
"It must be the work of magic," Merlin states.
"We have to find my father!" Arthur says, the two running back out, passing a few corridors to see Evaine on the floor. Arthur pauses, lifting her up and carrying her to Morgana's chambers and laying her on the bed. He moves a strand of hair out her face, Arthur watching her until they both hear a noise in the silent castle.
Arthur stands, seeing the curtain move and withdraws his sword, pulling the person out, Morgana screaming.
"It's me! It's me, Morgana! What's happened?" Arthur asks.
"I didn't know it was you!" Morgana says, gasping.
"Calm down, Morgana. Just tell me what happened," Arthur says,
"People were complaining, saying they weren't feeling well," Morgana said, her voice still shaking as she glances at Evaine.
"And what then?"
"They started falling asleep. Everyone, everywhere I went," she tells him.
"Was someone here?" Arthur asks, and Morgana shakes her head. "Then why were you hiding?"
"I told you, I didn't know who you were," she repeats.
"Where's my father?" Arthur asks.
"I don't know," Morgana tells him.
"Arthur, she's distressed," Merlin says.
"If she was awake then she must have seen something," Arthur says, still looking at Morgana.
"I didn't see anything," she repeats.
"You saw people getting sick, what did you do?" Arthur asks.
"What could I do?" Morgana asks.
"Morgana, I don't understand. Why is it that you're the only person awake?" Arthur asks, pointing out the fact.
XXXXXX
"Morgana, we need the remedy that Gaius gave you," Arthur says, panting as he leans against the council chamber doors beside Merlin.
"I don't have it," Morgana says, her eyes wide.
"I know that. But you must remember what it was? What was in it? Come on Morgana we can't keep going for much longer! Think!" Arthur shouts.
"I'm sorry I-"
"It doesn't matter we can't get it now anyway we're trapped," Merlin says, panting.
"There has to be something we can do. Unless we can rid ourselves of this sickness I don't see how were going to hold out," Arthur says.
"We have to destroy the source of the magic," Merlin says.
"Which is?" Arthur asks.
Merlin glances at Morgana, before shaking his head. "I don't know."
"Our only chance is to get out of Camelot. Help me with my father. You cut the blanket up and we'll lower him into the cart," Arthur tells Morgana.
"Arthur-!"
"Morgana please just do as I say. I'll fetch the cart 'round to the window," Arthur says, leaning against the doors with Merlin.
"You're going out there? I'll come with you," Merlin says.
"No. No, you stay. You protect my father," he says.
"You won't reach the cart alone. It's suicide," Merlin tells him.
"We have no choice," Arthur says, shaking his head.
"How you feeling?" Merlin asks.
"Not bad."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, you?" Arthur asks, his eyes closing.
"Never better."
"Get me a pillow, could you," Arthur says.
"Don't mess around. Arthur you... Arthur? You need to stay awake," Merlin shouts, but Arthur is falling asleep. Merlin smacks him around the face hard, waking him up.
"Merlin!" Arthur shouts.
"That's better!" Merlin says.
"If you ever do that again..."
"Well, don't fall asleep, then!" Merlin tells him. Arthur takes the water skin from him, splashing his face with it. They move back from the door, hearing the undead knights growling outside.
"That your knees again?" Arthur asks, fully awake as he and Merlin unbar the door. "If I need a servant in the next life..."
"Don't ask me," Merlin tells him. Arthur laughs, unsheathing his sword and slipping outside. Merlin re-bars it quickly.
"He's not going to survive out there," Morgana says, standing behind Merlin.
"I know."
"We've got to do something," she says.
"I know," Merlin repeated, knowing what he had to do. They remove the cloth used to drag Uther, moving it to the centre of the room. "Here. You tear this up. I'll make some rope," Merlin instructs, turning and poisoning the water skin with hemlock as Morgana does so. "Here, have some water."
"I'm not thirsty," she says.
"If we get out of here, you may not get another chance to drink," Merlin tells her.
"If we get out of here," she repeats. Merlin pretends to drink from it, passing it to her.
"Here."
"I'm fine," she says.
"No, you have some before I finish it," he tells her.
"Thank you," Morgana says softly, taking a sip. Merlin turns from her, tears falling as she begins to struggle to breath. He wipes his eyes, turning to face her. Merlin kneels down, holding her as she gasps, her body shutting down from the poison. Morgause bursts in, breaking the doors down.
"What has he done to you?" Morgause asks softly, holding onto Morgana as Merlin stands.
"I had to."
"You poisoned her!" Morgause shouts.
"You gave me no choice," Merlin argues back.
"Tell me what you used and I can save her," she begs.
"First, stop the attack!"
"You're nothing but a simple servant! You don't tell me what to do!" she shouts back.
"If you want to know what poison it is, you will undo the magic that drives the knights!"
"Tell me the poison or you'll die!" Morgause tells him.
"Then she'll die with me. I don't want this any more than you, but you give me no choice. Stop the knights and you can save her," Merlin says.
"Astýre ús þanonweard! Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft," Morgause chants, the sound of Arthur fighting fading away. Merlin hands Morgause the hemlock bottle, as Arthur and the other knights run in.
"What have you done with my father?" Arthur demands.
"He's safe!" Merlin assures, just as Uther wakes up.
"Morgana!" Arthur shouts, trying to wake her up.
"Keep away from her! Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard!" Morgause chants one more, the two disappearing in a tower of wind.
XXXXXX
Evaine stands at Morgana's window, as Uther stands at her vanity, looking at her jewellery. Evaine turns, smiling softly as Arthur enters.
"I couldn't find you. Are you alright?" he asks his father.
"Is there still no sign of her?" Uther asks.
"We've looked, Father," Arthur says.
"Morgause must not be allowed to get away with this," Uther says, turning to face Arthur.
"Yes, Father," Arthur answers. He begins to leave, but Uther stops him.
"Arthur. I haven't had a chance to say thank you," he says.
"I failed, Father. I should have protected Morgana," Arthur says, not meeting his father's eyes.
"No. That was my duty. Her loss will forever my on my conscience, not yours," Uther says, turning his back once more.
"She loved you, sire. No matter where she is, she will survive, and you will find her," Evaine says, placing her arm on Uther's. He smiles gratefully to her, patting her hand.
