"Struggling On" (Rose)
I have never felt so useless and stupid in my life. I'm lumbering along, not even able to get out an intelligible sentence. Every time we run, I have to run faster just to keep from scraping my face on the floor or tripping over myself. I am recharging in secret, but it's taking a lot of energy. However, I want to be able to speak a full sentence.
I plod along behind Arthur, well aware of the conversation that's started between Merlin and Morgana.
"Don't worry. I won't say anything," he guarantees her. I will make no such promise.
"About what?" she asks nonchalantly.
"The illness."
"That has nothing to do with me."
"No, of course not," he agrees, "But you have magic."
"You haven't told anyone that!" I hear panic well up in her throat.
"No," he assures as they halt while we press on, "And I won't tell Arthur, but ..."
That's all I catch as we make it to the next room. I shuffle through the door and see the king sitting at his table, slumped forward with his face on whatever documents he must have been approving and signing and doing kingly things like that. "Arthur," I force out, feeling much more capable, "He's here!"
"Found him!" he calls to the others.
I give Uther's shoulders a shake with no response, "He's not waking, either."
Arthur pulls him into an upwards position as I wipe my brow. "Father," he grabs his face.
"See, he's alright," Merlin plays the optimistic angle.
"He is not alright," Arthur shows him the king's face.
"He's just asleep," Merlin offsets. "All we have to do is find a cure- a way to wake them."
Arthur sets his hands on the furniture, clearly distressed, "Who could have done this?"
No one has anything to say to that, and even I can't be sure if this is connected to what occurred the night before. I need to get Merlin alone.
"You're the only one who's not been affected, Morgana. There must be a reason," Arthur deduces.
She looks to Merlin for a reply, but chooses to say, "I don't know."
"That's all you keep saying," Arthur sounds much more agitated now and insists, "You must know something!"
"No!" she argues, "They just fell asleep- one by one!"
"It's obvious," Merlin defends her, "When she started feeling sick, Gaius gave her a potion. Right?" he waits for her confirmation.
"When was she sick? She never said that," Arthur disputes. For once, I'm on Arthur's side. I'm not sure why Merlin is choosing to protect Morgana. I know, she's magic, but that doesn't mean she does no wrong. I mean- we've witnessed it firsthand.
"She was one of the last to be affected," he rationalizes, "Somehow the potion must've helped."
"What about everyone else?" Arthur asks, the fire gone from his eyes.
Without a cause, I come to their aid, "It was too late for us, Arthur."
"By then Gaius was too ill," Merlin supports my testimony, "He didn't have the chance to treat anyone else."
"I couldn't get to him in time to help at all. I'm sorry," I report.
"Go and see if you can find this potion," he motions to Merlin. "I'll search for signs of life in the lower town. Morgana, you stay here and look after my father. Keep him safe. Here," He gives her a sword, which makes me a little on edge, "Protect him with your life, you understand?" She nods.
"I'll assist Merlin," I delegate my own job. Arthur looks back at me, and then leaves without a second glance.
Morgana stares warily at Uther and sits down at the opposite side of the table. "Thank you for giving your account and understanding," she says softly to me with no idea I know her secrets.
"You're welcome," I say just above a whisper and take my leave.
"Clued In" (Merlin)
"Merlin," Rose calls, coming after me, "I must speak with you."
"Then speak," I say simply.
"Last night, Morgana snuck away. She met a woman in the woods, one with long blonde hair, and after they spoke of Morgana wanting Uther's reign to end, she put Morgana to sleep. She began circling around her and incanting some spell. Call me crazy, but I'm fairly certain this is her doing."
"This is what you were trying to tell me earlier," I construe, and she nods. "It was Morgause, it had to be."
"Who is Morgause?" she asks, unknowingly. I see it only fair to enlighten her, since she clued me in.
"She is a powerful sorceress. She must be the one controlling the Knights of Medhir. She's caused trouble in Camelot before. In a nutshell: she fought Arthur, spared him, allowed him to speak with his dead mother who then told him he was born of magic, and he responded by attempting to kill Uther. I stepped and told him it was all an illusion and Morgause tricked him, but that was a lie," I blabber.
"Oh my," she breathes out.
"I know," I concur, "It's a lot to take in, but right now, I could use your help in reviving Gaius."
"You know a spell to do that?"
"No," I shake my head and walk through the chamber door, "That's why I need your help."
"You get the book, and I'll take a peek to see if there's any medicine strong enough to work past the magic."
I go into our room and remove the floorboard my book of magic resides under. I flip through the pages and make my way back to where he sleeps.
"Here's the book," I set it open on the table in front of him, "Now for the waking spells."
Rose joins me and we both bend over the book in search of the right enchantment or breaking thereof. "Try these," she points to a few different rousing techniques.
I take the book in hand, stepping away and reading them over. I spin around on my heel, "Alright, Gaius," I say to his limp body, "This is going to wake you." I repeat the incantation and he sits up. "Gaius!" I cry in excitement and breathe out in relief.
"I don't think it worked, Merlin," Rose states.
I walk over to the unmoving physician with the huge cheesy grin on his face. "Gaius?" I attempt to stir him and even wave my hand in front of his face, but I get absolutely no reaction. "Alright," I concede. "Uh..." I turn a few more pages over, "Huh... We can try this!" I say in light of a new spell. I recite it and send the old man to the floor.
"Well, maybe not," I admit to the error there.
"There must be some spell that actually works and doesn't break his bones," Rose comments as I sigh.
"Oh, come on, Gaius," I beg, "I need you to wake up. I really need your help. Have you got anything?" I ask Rose as she searches through the herbal medicines.
"Working on it," she says.
"Ah!" I exclaim in victory, "Here we go."
"What?" she comes over to me. I cast the spell and water spills onto Gaius from nowhere. She laughs sleepily, "Well, that did it."
"Merlin!" Arthur makes us both jump, breaking our concentration, "Come quickly."
I cover the book of spells and we follow Arthur.