Authors notes: Thank you to dmitchell1974, A., LilyoftheValley4, KnightGuardian and Allegra for your great reviews and support. Enjoy this chapter!
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Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Arthur was still running when he saw Lancelot fall to his knees, defenceless and vulnerable. He ran faster than he had in his whole life but it was not enough and the bastard struck the knight down.
Arthur killed the man who had stabbed Lancelot without thinking about it. He didn't watch him fall, instead slumping to his knees beside his best friend. Lancelot wasn't looking at him but at somewhere in the distance.
"LANCELOT!" the Roman screamed and then time sped up again. The blood was pumping out much too fast and covered Arthur's hands as he tried to keep it in his friend's body.
"Lancelot. Don't you dare die on me!" he snapped as he looked around for some help. Tristan and Bors were charging towards them knocking woads out of the way as they went.
Turning back he saw Lancelot was looking at him.
"That's it. You are going to be fine."
Arthur felt Tristan and Bors arrive but his eyes never left his friends. The knight smiled and turned away again before closing his eyes.
"NO!"
Tristan had joined Arthur beside Lancelot and pushed a piece of cloth under Arthur's hands.
"Arthur we need to move him."
The Roman didn't move. Bors grabbed Arthur and moved him backwards aware that there wasn't time to force the man to see sense. Tristan quickly continued to apply pressure adjusting his position as the huge knight gathered up his comrade. They hurried towards the fort with Arthur following blindly behind. In fact he practically ran into Merlin who appeared right in front of him, only his ingrained battle instincts prevented the collision.
"What do you want?" Arthur said in no mood for conversation.
"To speak with you Arthur." The woad said calmly.
"Now is not a good time."
"That is where you are wrong. Now is the best time unless you want your knight to die."
Arthur lunged at the man but was stopped by the sword points of several woads.
"Speak." He spat.
"We have been watching the fort and we know what happened to the one you call Lancelot. He was given a poison and I have the cure."
"So… what? You are going to hold us to ransom? What do you want?"
"I am not a cruel man. Give it to him and then we will meet again."
Merlin held out a corked pot.
"Why should I trust you? How do I know it is not a poison?"
Merlin shrugged.
"Look at your hands Arthur I don't think you have time to question it."
Arthur glanced at his hands heavily stained with Lancelot's blood. He snatched the pot.
"If this kills him nothing will keep you safe." Arthur promised and then turned and ran into the fortress.
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Crassus neatly tied off the last stitch on the knight Galahad's head. The lad would have a nasty headache and feel as if the whole world was moving when he awoke but otherwise he would be fine.
"He will be fine just grumpy when he wakes up." He said to Gawain who was sat anxiously next to the bed. The knight smiled slightly and nodded his thanks.
Crassus got up and stretched before heading for his next patient. Luckily when Lancelot had gone out to fight most of those in the cellars had emerged. Now he had more than enough helpers and a few native healers. At the moment casualties were only trickling in, once the battle was over then they would be inundated unless of course they lost.
He was about to go to a Roman who was swaying dangerously on his pallet and had to be continually grabbed and stabilised by his comrade when the doors banged open. For a second he thought that this was the end but then he recognised the figures. The knights, Bors and Tristan, were carrying something or rather someone. He would bet his tavern money for the next month that it was Lancelot. He was not disappointed.
"Over here." He called indicating an empty pallet. With a gentleness that surprised Crassus Bors placed the injured knight carefully down without dislodging Tristan.
"What happened?"
"He took a sword thrust to the chest."
Crassus nodded and requested that the cloth be lifted up so he could examine the wound. It was a clean thrust but it was deep and very close to the heart. Considering the knight's other injuries he was surprised he was alive.
He set to work calling for assistance and a wide variety of medical implements and herbs. He was about to start cleaning the wound to make sure there was no foreign material in it to cause infections when the door banged open again. Glaring at the cause Arthur strode across the room.
"The cure." he said presenting the jar to Crassus.
"As far as I know there is no cure for a stab wound that comes in a pot." He said sceptically as he prodded the wound, he couldn't see anything and it really needed to be closed quickly so after a quick further inspection he got ready to stitch it closed.
"The poison. Its for the poison he was given." Arthur explained testily. Crassus grabbed the pot and placed it by the bed. He grabbed a needle and threaded it.
"He shouldn't wake up but just in case be ready to hold him down."
Then he began moving extremely quickly demonstrating his great skills as a physician.
Lancelot didn't wake; his body was so exhausted that nothing would have woken him. He was on the threshold of death.
Crassus wrapped the wound tightly as Bors held him upright before laying him back gently.
"Aren't you going to give it to him?" Arthur demanded.
Crassus rose to his feet and faced Arthur.
"I need to mix it with water for it to become a paste. However you should not get your hopes up. He was critically ill before he received this sword wound and I hold out little hope that he will live to see tomorrow."
Arthur looked like he had been punched in the stomach. He staggered slightly and held onto the wall for support.
"What happened to him?" he whispered. A new voice in the conversation spoke up. It was Jols who was lying on the pallet nearest them.
"He accompanied Julio out to try and defend the fort. They were grossly outnumbered and were swiftly overwhelmed. Julio ordered a retreat; Lancelot didn't make it within the walls. The woads captured and tortured him. They stormed the fort and demanded Lancelot tell them where the civilians were hiding. He didn't and they beat him."
"That was when he was poisoned? What did this poison do to him?" Arthur questioned as he sat down on the pallet.
"It caused extreme pain but prevented his body from lapsing into unconsciousness."
"How did he manage to lead out those men?" Tristan asked.
"I gave him something that numbed his body. He realised he was going to die. He wanted to go out on his feet." Crassus stated daring anyone to challenge his decision.
"You idiot." Arthur muttered almost fondly as he smoothed some of Lancelot's unruly hair off of his forehead. For a few minutes there was silence.
"Where did you get the potion?" Crassus asked.
"Merlin." Arthur said rising to his feet.
"And you took it?" Bors said disbelievingly.
"Why would he give you a cure?" Tristan asked at the same time.
Arthur shrugged.
"I don't know but what would he have to gain by giving us a poison, killing Lancelot would not be of massive gain."
"Unless they know what his death would do to you." Tristan whispered. Arthur glanced at him but refrained from commenting.
"I don't know his reasons but it could have something to do with this rogue group that we were fighting. He wants to meet with me later."
"Do you think that is wise?" Crassus asked.
"Do we have a choice? We are hardly in a position to defend ourselves. He could attack and destroy us with very little trouble but he hasn't."
"Yet." Bors muttered.
"I take that as a positive sign." Arthur responded and he signed returning to the pallet.
"Bors, Tristan I want a casualty count and then defensive preparations need to be put in place quickly just in case."
The knights nodded and after a last look at Lancelot they left.
"You think he will die?" Arthur asked sounding very tired as he watched from Lancelot's side as Crassus made the paste.
"He's cheated death many times, though I fear that death may be too strong to resist this time…Hold him up." Crassus said and Arthur manoeuvred himself into position. Crassus applied the paste to the inside of Lancelot's mouth and then quickly checked the bandages. The knight felt very warm to the touch and Crassus realised fever had set in.
"You need to bathe him with cool water." He stated to Arthur as they resettled the knight. "I will be back soon but I have to see to other patients."
Arthur nodded and he clasped Lancelot's hand hoping to provide his friend with some comfort. The knight however remained still as the fever raged his battered body.
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