Hey guys, here's the next update, hope you like it :) Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you are awesome!
And an extra thanks to Paralelsky for beta-ing!
o}O{o
"No!" Morgana's scream was loud in the ceremonial hall, cutting above Uther's orders to seize Bayard and his men. Arthur didn't hear them though, a loud buzzing was in his ears as he crashed to his knees beside of the fallen Mordred. He had known. The boy had known. And Arthur couldn't get the fear in Mordred's startlingly blue eyes out of head.
He looked smaller than he actually was, lying on the floor, and Arthur glanced at Gaius when the physician hurried to the boy. Morgana was next and hovered worriedly over Mordred, clutching his hand in her own.
Gaius peeled back Mordred's eyelid and called to the boy. "Mordred! Can you hear me?"
There was no response to everyone's concern. Gaius speedily turned to Arthur. "We have to get him back to my chambers." He stood up and hurried for the exit. "Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison."
The prince was quick to haul Mordred into his arms and speed after Gaius, glad of something to do. Morgana ran after him and Gwen snatched the chalice from the floor. Arthur could feel the heat radiating from Mordred's pale skin and he disliked how the boy weighed so little- he was worried that his servant could not handle being poisoned. Mordred was just a child.
Arthur's fears were courted by the laboured breaths coming from Mordred's lips. Morgana tried to call out to the boy as they walked but he gave no response. The prince arrived at the physician's chambers several paces ahead of the others and hastily kicked the door open as his arms were under Mordred's back and knees. It banged loudly off the wall behind, but no one noticed.
"Lay him on the bed quickly; he's struggling to breathe," Gaius ordered Arthur. The prince was going to the bed anyway and he set Mordred down gently. "Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel," he said to the maidservant on his way to his unconscious ward.
Gwen hurried to do as she was bidden, and Morgana rushed to the foot of the bed.
"Will he be alright?" Both she and Arthur demanded.
Before Gaius could answer, the door to the back room opened slowly, and Merlin poked his head through.
"Morgana," Gaius uttered quietly as he felt Mordred's brow.
The lady glanced at Mordred before hurrying to the back room. Merlin caught sight of Mordred and he gaped with confusion. "It's alright, Merlin," Morgana soothed, "come, let's go into your room."
Merlin resisted her for a moment before Gaius sharply ordered the boy to go. He looked back with large eyes, but allowed Morgana to usher him into the room and shut the door behind them.
"Gaius," Arthur pressed. He had not got up from kneeling beside the bed.
"He's burning up," Gaius reported and grabbed the soaked cloth that Gwen rushed back to give him. Arthur could see that for himself- the boy was pale and sweating, and hot to the touch.
"You can cure him, can't you Gaius?" Gwen asked him worriedly.
"I won't know until I identify the poison," Gaius answered. That wasn't what Arthur wanted to hear and he glared at the cloth that Gaius pressed onto Mordred's burning brow. The boy had a pained expression on his face which sent bolts of guilt and anger through his gut. "Pass me the goblet," Gaius said to Gwen.
The maidservant hurried and grabbed the chalice and quickly passed it to the physician. Gaius stood up to examine it and Gwen took his place beside the young boy.
Gaius peered into the chalice frowning. "Ah. There's something stuck on the inside."
Arthur stood up at once. "What is it?"
He strode to Gaius as the old man answered. "It looks like a flower petal of some kind."
Gwen spoke up with worry thickening her voice. "His brow is on fire!"
"Keep him cool, it'll help control his fever," Gaius advised. He set down the chalice and marched to a bookcase. Arthur glanced at him before inspecting the goblet as Gaius leafed through a thick book. The physician soon found the page he wanted and Arthur put the chalice down to go peer over Gaius' shoulder.
"The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower," Gaius informed and then pointed to a passage. "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." He turned the page and said, "The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."
Arthur pored over the pages and his light eyes focused on an illustration of a winged lizard with a forked tongue. He pointed to it and looked at Gaius. "That's not particularly friendly," he noted.
Gaius answered while Arthur stared and thought. "A Cockatrice. It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death." Arthur looked back to Mordred as Gaius continued. The child was struggling to breathe and Arthur could see the sweat glistening on his face from where he stood. "Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive."
Arthur paced away to think and brushed a hand across his chin. Mordred turned his head in discomfort but no matter how gentle Morgana's maidservant was, the boy remained in pain. "Sounds like fun," he announced and headed for the doorway.
"Arthur, it's too dangerous," Gaius said to him.
The prince stopped in front him and leaned in. "If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Mordred?" he asked.
Gaius grimaced. "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."
The prince gazed down at his struggling servant and did not need to hear more. He strode out the chambers with his mind set. The image of Mordred struggling to breathe on the bed burned itself to the back of his eyelids, waiting for every time he blinked. Each step Arthur climbed sent his anger flaring up. Mordred was only a child and still his father forced him to drink the damn wine. And Mordred drank it. Arthur walked faster upon remembering the fear in Mordred's eyes as he looked at Arthur. He had been scared.
He went to his room first and hurried into his chainmail first. After grabbing his sword Arthur set out to find his father. On his way to the king's chambers, Arthur ran into Uther in the Red Ribbon Corridor as everyone called it. Crimson Pendragon banners lined the hall all the way down one side of the corridor.
The prince immediately stated his request to his father but Uther wasn't having it. The king strode down the hall, and his heavy steps thudded on the tiled floor.
"What's the point of having people to taste for you if you're going to get yourself killed anyway?" he questioned his son.
Arthur let his anger touch his tone as he replied. "I won't fail, no matter what you think."
"Arthur, you are my only son and heir," Uther replied long-sufferingly, "I can't risk losing you for the sake of some serving boy."
"Oh, because his life's worthless?" Arthur demanded in a raised voice.
His father stopped in front of him and turned. "No, because it's worth less than yours," he answered impatiently.
"I can save him," Arthur insisted, angry at his father's indifference towards a child's life. "Let me take some men."
"No," Uther said and looked away down the corridor for patience.
"We'll find the antidote and bring it back," Arthur told him, his own frayed patience slipping.
"No"
"Why not?!" Arthur burst out and waved his arm.
"Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a king," Uther instantly replied, "I'm not going to let you jeopardise the future of this kingdom over some fool's errand."
The prince's pride was slapped by his father's words. "It's not a fool's errand," he maintained, "Gaius says that if we can get the antidote-"
"-Oh, Gaius says?" Uther interrupted loudly, his voice resonating off the halls. "That's exactly what makes it so."
Uther turned away but stopped with a loud sigh at Arthur's continued appeal. "Please, Father. He saved my life. I can't stand by and watch him die."
"Then don't look," the king said ruthlessly and Arthur had to turn his head away in incredulity. "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."
Arthur shook his head. "I can't accept that. He's only a child."
"You're not going," Uther decided.
"You can't stop me," Arthur said.
"Damn it, Arthur!" the king yelled, "that's an end to it. You're not leaving this castle tonight." He made his gaze be felt by his son before turning away and marching down the corridor.
Arthur watched him go heatedly and glared at the nearby candle bracket. He turned on his heel and stomped down the corridor but not to his room. Uther expected him to listen like a good little boy, but Arthur was a man almost of age to become a knight. Mordred was a boy. And Arthur couldn't stand by while Mordred fought for his short life.
Arthur didn't know why, but he kept remembering the look on Mordred's face when he tasted the wine. The boy hadn't liked it, and Arthur would be damned if he did not allow Mordred to grow to. He'd be damned if he let a child die.
o}O{o
Merlin was scared and felt ill as he looked down at Mordred. The older boy was lying on his back on Gaius' bed, his pale face twisted in discomfort and his open mouth trying to gasp in air. He didn't understand - Gaius had said that Mordred was very sick but he had been sick before and Merlin had not felt so scared then. He wished he knew what was happening.
Merlin held the older boy's hand tight as his chest strained with breathing. Gaius was furiously cutting up some sort of pale root to use in a potion and Gwen was dabbing Mordred's sweating brow with a damp cloth. Merlin glanced to the door that Morgana fled moments ago, declaring her intention of urging Arthur along to the Forest of Balor.
Mordred turned his head and groaned, causing Merlin to jerk his hand away. The younger boy felt hot just from touching Mordred and he reluctantly refrained from grabbing his hand again, fearful of making him sicker.
"It's alright," Gwen soothed, "he'll be alright, you'll see, Merlin."
Merlin did not look at her, only at Mordred even when his eyes blurred with tears. He hastily brushed them away with the back of his hand. He wanted Mordred to wake up and be better.
Gaius hurried over and poured a thick potion into Mordred's mouth, stroking his throat to get him to swallow. Tears trickled out Merlin's eyes at seeing his big brother not even twitch at the treatment.
But Mordred calmed slightly and Merlin looked to Gaius for answers. However the physician was not paying attention to him, and was surveying Mordred with his grey eyes.
The old man made to stand up but then looked to Merlin. "Merlin," he said gently, "I think you should go to sleep. You can't-"
Merlin shook his head frantically and avoided Gaius' gaze. The physician sighed and Merlin thought he was going to try again. He was right, but this time his fear for Mordred materialized in fire. Merlin looked up angrily at the talking physician and his eyes flashed gold.
Gaius shouted in alarm as the hem of his robes started to smoke and he hurriedly stamped the flames out. Merlin was horrified at what he'd done and suddenly felt overwhelmed. Tears cascaded from his eyes and he started to sob uncontrollably. Suddenly Gaius had him in his arms and was hugging him tightly. Merlin latched onto him and cried harder. Gwen looked on sympathetically as Gaius tried to sooth the boy.
Merlin did not hear much of what Gaius was saying but was comforted anyway and allowed the physician to set him down. He was too scared to return to Morded's side so he clung onto Gaius' robes as the old man went to search through his book, and was allowed to sit on Gaius' lap as the physician read.
The door burst open a few minutes later but Merlin was too scared for Mordred to be worried over who was at the door. He just stared at Mordred as Gaius stood up with Merlin in his arms again.
"Selwyn!" Gaius gasped. Merlin blinked but did not turn and only saw the tall druid when he knelt beside Mordred's bedside across from Gwen.
"I saw what happened," Selwyn informed him without a greeting. He spared a glance for Merlin before turning his eyes back to the unconscious boy. "Have you found the poison?"
Merlin gasped at the information and both Gaius and Gwen glared at Selwyn though the maidservant was more alarmed than angry.
Before Gaius could reprimand him, Selwyn snapped, "You can't coddle him the rest of his life, Gaius. Now what was the poison?"
Gaius grinded his teeth and gave Merlin a comforting squeeze to calm his tears, but replied to the druid's question. "A petal from the Mortaeus flower was in the wine." He brought Merlin over to Selwyn and set him down so he could go back to his books. Despite Selwyn's harsh words, he let Merlin cling to his arm.
The druid turned back to Mordred and placed his arm over the boy's chest. "Éaðe þæt ádl," he whispered.
Gwen gasped and Gaius barked, "Selwyn!"
"I can't cure him but I can ease his suffering somewhat," he said. He then looked to Gwen and stared until she relaxed. The maidservant did not mention the magic but she did not glance back up at him.
"You're a druid?" she asked as she wiped Mordred's brow again.
"Yes," he answered her.
"Selwyn you can't be here," Gaius told him. Merlin tightened his hold on Selwyn, not wanting him to leave.
The red haired man looked coldly back at Gaius but stood up despite Merlin's distress. "Someone needs to go get the cure."
Gaius nodded but the door burst open again.
"Arthur's gone! I think he went to the-" Morgana ran in but stopped when she noticed Selwyn and eyed him suspiciously.
She looked at Mordred before glancing to Merlin who was clinging to Selwyn's leg. "Who are you?" she demanded.
The druid knelt back beside Mordred and replied calmly. "My name is Selwyn. I'm here to help."
The king's ward closed the door and scanned Selwyn's robes. She caught Gwen's eye before turning back to the man with her chin slightly raised. "You're a druid."
"I am," he replied simply, "and I'd appreciate it if you would not tell the king of my presence."
Morgana nodded and went to take Gwen's place. The maidservant touched her arm and stepped aside, allowing Morgana some comfort by tending to Mordred.
No one spoke afterwards and Merlin held on to Selwyn's arm like it was the only thing keeping Mordred breathing.
o}O{o
Pale grey light filtered dully through the sheer drapes of Morgana's bedroom windows and the rain drove down outside. The lady herself was fastening pins to her hair and willing the king pacing angrily in front of the door way to go away. Uther nearly always went to her to vent about Arthur and today was no different.
"I expressly ordered Arthur not to go!" he seethed.
Morgana rolled her eyes. "I'd say it worked like a charm, too."
The king jabbed a finger at her and growled, "Not another word."
"My lips are sealed," she agreed with a sharp edge to her tone. Her fingers secured the last hair pin in her raven hair and she stood up gratefully. She would have fled the room to go see Mordred but Uther was still keen on ranting.
"I should've put him under lock and key," Uther went on.
Morgana narrowed her light eyes in response. "You can't chain him up every time he disagrees with you," she admonished.
"Just you watch me!" he snapped, "I will not be disobeyed! Especially by my own son!"
"No. Of course you won't." The king's ward shifted her weight in impatience and looked irritably out the window; thereby missing the shrewd look Uther sent her.
He walked closer to her and Morgana was forced to look at him. "You knew about this, didn't you?" Uther accused, "Morgana. Don't lie to me."
Morgana clamped her teeth around the lashing she wanted to give the king for making Mordred drink the wine. But she wanted to see the sick boy and the quickest way to that was to be polite. "Arthur's old enough to make decisions for himself," she said carefully.
"He's just a boy," Uther ground out.
"Mordred is just a boy," Morgana snapped, "and have you seen your son recently?" That made Uther pause and she went on before the king could question her mention of Mordred. "You have to let him make his own mind up."
Uther's eyes hardened. "Even if it means letting him go to his death?"
Morgana's face was set and her patience had run out. "You can't protect him forever. Arthur will be fine." With that she walked past the king and out the door. Uther did not call her back and even if he did she would have feigned deafness. She picked up her pace and tried not to think how much worse Mordred could be this morning.
o}O{o
Morning had not brought any respite for Mordred as no one dared to hope. The boy was still pale, sweating, and struggling to breathe. Gwen wiped his burning brow with a damp cloth while across from her Morgana picked at her nails anxiously. Selwyn could no longer stay still and was pacing around the bed, shooting glances at Mordred and Gaius who was trying to get Merlin to eat.
The young child did not even look at the food and ignored everything that was said to him. Gaius was saved from his endeavour by Gwen who called out to him. "He's getting hotter," she called urgently.
Gaius came over and walked by Selwyn who stopped pacing to stand at the head of the bed. The physician sat down beside Gwen and grabbed Mordred's wrist. His hand was small and thin in Gaius' own and he frowned. The soft beats beneath his fingers was not as strong as was normal. "His pulse is weaker," Gaius said unhappily.
"Can't you do something?" Morgana asked him for the countless time. Gaius sighed sadly and shook his head, causing Morgana to avert her scared eyes. Now that Gaius wasn't there to watch him, Merlin traipsed back to them to stand near Morgana. She tried to reach for him but Merlin huddled in on himself and took a step away from her. The physician laid Mordred's arm back on the bed and noticed something odd the same time Selwyn did. Gaius was quicker and seized the boy's arm again.
"What is it?" Both Gwen and Morgana asked worriedly.
Selwyn immediately took Gaius' place when the physician hurried away from the bedside to consult an open book on the table. Gwen got up to go after him and gave the wet cloth to Morgana who stayed where she was.
"This is isn't right," Selwyn muttered. As Gaius began to speak the druid turned toward him with a grave expression. He noted that the physician looked at Merlin before talking directly to Selwyn.
"Something's increased the flower's potency. It warns that the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation," he informed them.
Across from Selwyn, Morgana paled and Merlin looked up confused. The druid leant closer to Mordred and splayed his fingers over the boy's chest, closing his eyes in concentration and muttering under his breath.
"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer," Gwen said to Gaius.
"What does that mean for Mordred?" Morgana demanded of the physician.
It was Selwyn who answered instead of Gaius. The red haired man stood up slowly and his face was drawn. "Nothing good."
Morgana swallowed and her eyes became cold. "If it wasn't Bayard, then who did this?"
Selwyn looked to her and blinked when he thought a wave of gold flashed in her pale eyes.
"It can't have been," Gaius suddenly exclaimed in dismayed realization and all eyes swivelled to him. "She wouldn't dare come here."
He turned to Selwyn and the druid confirmed his fears. "It is her touch."
Gaius immediately regarded Gwen. "What happened to that girl?"
"Which girl?" she asked.
"Just before Mordred burst into the hall he followed one of Bayard's serving girls outside."
Gwen's features cleared with recognition. "She had dark hair. Very beautiful."
"I remember her," Morgana put in.
"Find her. Quickly," Gaius ordered Gwen.
Selwyn though shook his head. "She's long gone by now."
Gwen exchanged a worried glance with Morgana and suggested an idea to Gaius. "Well, we should tell King Uther. Maybe he could send riders out after her."
The physician shook his head. "Selwyn is right. But it's impossible to know where, though... Oh no."
"What?" Morgana asked impatiently.
"She'll be going to the Forest of Balor," Selwyn told them with a frown, "the only place to find the antidote."
"Arthur could be walking into a trap," Gaius said solemnly. At his words, the rain picked up outside and drummed angrily on the castle. Merlin barrelled into Morgana and held on tight.
"Not alone," Selwyn stated. Before anyone could ask his meaning, a sudden wind blew around him and whisked him away and out of the castle.
o}O{o
The physician's chambers disappeared and Selwyn stepped out of the gale into a deep forest. The air was cool and smelled strongly of pine. Light mists lingered against the trees and the fallen leaves were covering the ground like a patchwork carpet. The druid eyed the shadows before heading towards the caves where the Mortaeus flower would be.
His footfalls crunched through the dead leaves and he listened to the eerie sounds through the trees. Hisses and screeches from crows warned him off his path but these creatures were no worse than the ones in the Darkling woods. Only the Cockatrice posed a real danger, but not to him.
The trees began to thin into a small clearing where the damp dirt ground was revealed and Selwyn pressed on without changing pace. He soon laid eyes on the back of a pale figure in a red dress, sitting on a fallen tree. She was crying which caused the druid's eyes to narrow in scorn. The sorceress was not aware the man approaching was him.
"You only have tears to greet me with after all these years?" He stopped and asked her in a quiet voice.
Nimueh jumped up and stared at him. She looked different than when he last saw her. Her face, hair and eyes were unfamiliar and she appeared younger than him, but Selwyn recognized her.
"Hello, dear sister," he greeted softly.
o}O{o
Éaðe þæt ádl- ease the pain
Thank you for reading, I'm really grateful for you guys :)
BAM! What do you think of that twist? I'm curious since I'm giving an OC a bigger role, so please tell me if you mind or not.
See you with an update at the end of the month!