"Clouded" (Rose)
Whatever I did to myself has worked up to this point, but as time goes on, becoming more clouded with every breath, I cannot seem to judge things properly. Everywhere I turn, there are people sprawled out on the ground, asleep ... I hope. I am literally just stumbling around the place. I'm not even quite sure where I am right now ... Everything is blurry, and I am so tired ...
No. No, no, no. I can't do this. I have to get help. I have to tell someone about the spell. I cannot fall asleep. I will not fall prey to this curse.
I won't.
"More Unpleasant Discoveries" (Merlin)
We dismount at the arch of the gates, finding guards just... lying there. Arthur walks over, kneels, and grabs on by the shirt. "Are they dead?" I gulp a little.
"No," he answers simply, "They're breathing."
"What's happened to them?" This is not making any sense.
"I don't know," he sounds as clueless as I feel.
We jog into the courtyard to see our favorite redhead. "Rose!" I call out, running to her, and supporting her as she swoons, and certainly not from either one of us. Her hairline is sweaty and her eyelids are heavy. "What's wrong?"
"What's going on?" Arthur questions, as he's looking at the scene around us- more sleeping soldiers.
The girl stumbles as she puts the greatest of efforts forward to explain, "Everyone... Everyone is asleep. They won't wake ... I tried. I cannot find Gaius," she looks at me, teary eyed, "And you were gone. I didn't know what to do. T-the woman," she all but falls over.
"What woman?" I ask urgently, a warning setting off in my brain. The clopping of hooves on the pavement distracts us as a horse and cart appear. Arthur steps forward and steadies the beast, moving on to examine the driver. I stay put, holding Rose up, knowing she must've used magic to stay awake thus far. I pick her up, figuring I can kill two birds with one stone by bringing her to our chambers to rest before saying, "I'll get Gaius," and hurrying to do so.
I dash up the stairs and get to the door, turning back around in alarm, "Arthur!" He follows us without delay, leaving behind the unfettered horse. He comes to my side and takes in the new surroundings. "They're all fast asleep, just like she said," I glance at the girl in my arms, "It must be some kind of sickness."
"Where's my father?" he charges up the steps. I go after him, able to keep up fine. He isn't in the throne room, which is the first place we check. "Where is he?" he grows more frustrated, as he does when he panics. We leave and head for Gaius's quarters.
Before we go through the door, Rose requests that I set her down, stubbornly insisting that she can manage. When I do, Arthur opens the door, only to find the physician knocked out on his worktable with his face in a book. "Gaius!" I rush forward and try to rouse him.
"No," Rose mumbles in defeat, "I should've gotten here sooner."
"It must be the work of magic," I conclude.
"We have to find my father," Arthur makes his way out the door.
We begin to search through the rooms, with Rose keeping up just fine, seeming a little perkier now, but not enough to question, which is a smart move. In Morgana's room, we find Gwen on the floor. Arthur does the courteous thing and places her on the bed, tenderly moving a strand of her messy brown curls from her peaceful face. Rose grips the sleeve of my jacket, "Merlin," giving me a look of alert and then motioning to the curtain. It promptly moves, causing both Arthur and I to focus our attention on it.
The prince drawing his sword moves in to investigate, stalking slowly towards it. Someone is hiding and we all know it. I have a feeling that at least one of us knows who it is. Arthur yanks it away with a war-sounding grunt, grabbing the wrist of Morgana who screams in the face of Arthur's blade. "It's me!" he tells the struggling, frightened woman, "It's me, Morgana! What's happened?"
"I didn't know it was you," her voice high and shaky.
"Calm down, Morgana," he attempts to pacify her, "Just tell me what happened."
"People were complaining, saying they weren't feeling well," she hurriedly recalls.
"And what then?" Arthur gently urges her on.
"They started falling asleep," she says, working herself up again, "Everyone, everywhere I went."
"Was someone here?" he asks, keeping it smooth and relaxed. She shakes her head rapidly. "Then why were you hiding?"
"I told you- I didn't know who you were," she reiterates.
He blinks a few times, "Where's my father?"
"I don't know."
"Arthur, she's distressed," I interject before he gets out of hand with concern.
"She was awake, then she must've seen something," he presses.
"I didn't see anything," she says again.
"You saw people getting sick. What did you do?"
"What could I do?"
"Morgana, I don't understand!" he exclaims. "Why is it that you're the only person awake," he looks over at Rose, "Fully awake."
The lady has no answer, but I'm thinking the not-so-awake one does. If she weren't channeling all her strength on standing on her own two feet, I could ask her without their knowledge, but that just won't work right now. Plus, if there are more unpleasant discoveries ahead, I may faint all by myself.