Krysia and Gaius were tending Merlin when Gwen returned, distressed.
"Let me guess," Gaius said as he continued to inspect the rash, "she wasn't there."
"No one has seen her since the banquet," Gwen confirmed, moving closer to help Krysia cool Merlin's brow. "Who is she?"
"She's certainly not a servant of Bayard," Krysia said dryly, tempted to cool the water once more with magic but too afraid to do so with Gwen in the room.
"But you know who she is, don't you, Gaius?" Gwen pressed.
"Cara," Gaius said, still looking at the rash. "Though, that's not her name. Not her real name, anyway."
"Who is she?" Krysia pressed.
"A powerful sorceress," Gaius muttered, as though that ended the matter, but Gwen, at least, didn't seem to think the matter was finished at all.
"Well, we should tell Uther," she pressed. "Maybe he could send out riders after her."
Krysia shook her head, finding a fresh cloth.
"Even an unskilled rider would be far away by now," she said, carrying some fresh rags back to where Merlin was spread out. "There's no way of knowing where she went or…or…"
She dropped the cloth into the bowl and looked at Gaius, who seemed to realize it at the moment she did.
"What?" Gwen asked, looking between Krysia and Gaius.
"She knows the only place the antidote can be found is the Forest of Balor," Gaius explained. "Arthur could be walking into a trap."
"Arthur," Merlin muttered in his unconsciousness and Krysia could feel her stomach twist. "Arthur."
They sent Gwen after water and Krysia whispered, "I should go after him, I should help him."
"You do your mother's memory no service in trying to battle a sorceress with twice your strength," Gaius chided. "You can do more for Merlin from here."
Krysia didn't believe him, but she was too afraid to find out if he was right, and so she simply stayed at Merlin's side. He continued to mutter in his unconsciousness, and she could not get the feeling of dread out of her stomach.
Not twenty minutes later, Merlin mumbled, "Arthur, it...it's a trap. It's a trap."
Krysia gripped the bucket she'd been handed by Gwen, trying not to panic.
"His fever's getting worse, isn't it?" Gwen said sadly.
"Yes," Krysia sighed, trying to calm herself. "The poison is beginning to take over."
Merlin whispered again.
"Eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume."
Krysia did her best not to look up at Gaius and ask what he was saying.
"Shh," Gaius said soothingly, brushing some hair off Merlin's sticky forehead. He turned to Gwen. "Could you fetch me some more Wolfsbane?"
"We'll both go," Krysia said, feeling the need for air, and Gaius nodded.
As she closed the door behind herself and Gwen, Krysia heard Gaius saying, "Merlin, you must fight it."
/-/
When Gwen and Krysia learned of Arthur's return, they thought it would mean the flower had been retrieved for Merlin, that he would see them soon with the cure. They were surprised to find that they and Gaius were still waiting.
"He hasn't got much longer," Gaius said anxiously. "Has Arthur got the flower?"
"We can't be sure," Krysia sighed, pacing. "Leon said that Uther isn't allowing anyone to see him. Is there anything we can do?"
"Only the leaf of the Mortaeus flower can save him," Gaius said, brushing his fingers against Merlin's sweaty brow.
"And we've got to find out if Arthur has it," Gwen said, looking down at Merlin. Then she looked up at Krysia with determination in her brown eyes. "We could sneak into the dungeon."
"And get our heads chopped off for our efforts?" Krysia said, stunned. Directly defying Uther was not on her to-do list.
"We've got to," Gwen insisted. "Merlin will die if we don't."
Krysia watched as Merlin struggled to breathe and she sighed, capitulating with a nod.
"Be careful," Gaius cautioned as the two girls made for the door.
They gathered together a tray of dinner and made their way down to the dungeons.
"I hope nobody's fed him yet," Krysia hissed.
"You just said nobody had," Gwen said, rolling her eyes. "It'll be fine."
They reached the guard, who looked down at them with a frown.
"Food for Arthur," Krysia said in her boldest voice, the one she used for ordering the servants.
The door was unlocked and Arthur, who was sitting on the floor, motioned to the table and said, "Put it over there."
Gwen did as ordered, setting the tray on the table, and the girls turned to leave when Arthur said, "Wait!" They turned back to find that he had pushed away the tray and sat back on the floor. "I couldn't possibly eat this," he snapped. "The state it's in, I'm not sure it's fit for anyone."
Krysia looked at the tray to find the flower there and she smiled slightly. Without a word she nodded at him and picked up the tray and the girls left the cell.
"Krysia! Wait!" the guard called, and she froze, turning to look at him. Her heart raced as he picked over the plate. He then took a piece of bread and winked at her. "Waste not, want not, eh? We're not all as precious as our Royal Highness."
Krysia turned to leave as another girl came with a fresh tray.
"Food for Prince Arthur."
"Stay where you are!" the guard said sharply, but Gwen had already grabbed the flower and Krysia dropped the tray, the two girls running back to Gaius as fast as they could.
As soon as they arrived, closing the door behind them, Gwen asked, "How is he?"
"Have you got the Mortaeus?" Gaius asked, looking up at them.
"Gwen has it," Krysia said, gesturing, and Gwen handed the flower to Gaius. Gwen then sat beside Merlin as Gaius began crushing the leaf.
"His breathing's much worse," Gaius said as he worked. "We have to hurry."
And then suddenly, he paused, looking at Krysia, and she knew what he was going to ask of her.
"Why have you stopped?" Gwen demanded, and Krysia felt her throat tighten.
"He was poisoned with magic," Krysia explained. "The antidote might require magic as well."
"But we can't," Gwen said simply. "It's forbidden. Even if we could."
"I'll try and make it work without it," Gaius said. "Oh, and I'll need some fresh water."
He handed Gwen a bowl and the girl rushed out. He then held up the crushed leaf in front of Krysia.
"Gaius, I can't."
"If you don't," Gaius said solemnly, "he will die. I am too out of practice, Krysia. It has to be you."
Her hands shook as she touched the bowl, swallowing. Gaius would never ask her to use magic unless it was necessary, but it still made her whole body tremble.
"Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum."
The potion bubbled and foamed for a moment before it calmed. Gwen rushed back in a moment later with the bowl of water in hand, handing it to Krysia before returning to Merlin's side.
"Thank you," Gaius said, pouring the potion into a cup. "Hold his nose," he told Gwen as he approached Merlin, and she did so, pinching it as Gaius held the cup up to Merlin's lips. Krysia closed her eyes for a moment and hoped that she had not failed.
"Swallow it," she whispered as Gaius began to pour the potion into Merlin's mouth.
"He's stopped breathing," Gwen said nervously. "What's happening? Gaius?"
Krysia, too, stopped breathing as Gaius put his head to Merlin's chest, listening.
"His heart's stopped," Gaius said softly.
And Krysia's heart stopped for a moment, too.
"Dead?" she breathed, moving a bit closer, feeling sick to her stomach.
"He can't be," Gaius murmured. "He can't be. It was his destiny." Gaius stood up and Krysia sank into a seat on the bench.
"It's my fault," Gwen gasped. "If I'd gotten here sooner, if I'd been quicker…"
"No," Krysia croaked, closing her eyes as she added Merlin's face to the list of people who were dead because of her. "No, it was my fault." Her voice broke and Gaius sat beside her, pulling her head against his shoulder and cradling her as she cried. She hadn't even realized how fond she'd become of Merlin until he was dead.
"That's disgusting," Merlin rasped. "You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be her grandfather."
Krysia's head jerked up to see a very pale Merlin watching them.
"Merlin!" Gaius cried, surprised. "You're alive!"
"But," Krysia spluttered. "But…"
She had saved him.
Gwen rushed forward and kissed Merlin, looking surprised that she had done so.
"Sorry," she said quickly, "I'm just…. I thought you were dead."
"It's fine," Merlin assured her. "It's more than fine…. erm…. What happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine."
/-/
Krysia was not sure how Gaius had talked Uther down from war with Mercia and convinced him that Bayard was innocent, but thankfully it occurred and Krysia found herself leading a party to deliver a tapestry to Bayard in his quarters as he prepared to leave Camelot the following day.
"Here is the tapestry Uther has declared as a gift to you, my lord," Krysia said, gesturing to where the servants stood, carrying the tapestry.
"Very good," Bayard said, ordering the men to take the tapestry to where his party was packing for his return to Mercia, and when Krysia moved to follow them and ensure the carrying out of the order, she was surprised that Bayard motioned for her to stay. He closed the door and Krysia felt a sudden urge to run.
"I know your secret, my lady," Bayard said softly, turning back to face her with a smirk turning at the corner of his lips.
She struggled not to take a step backward and give away her hand.
"I am afraid I know not what you mean, my lord," she said softly, and he smiled all the more proud, taking a step toward her and taking a loose strand of her hair in his gloved hand.
"I would recognize the daughter of Lady Zosia anywhere, in any clothes," he said softly. "She would not marry me in spite of my constant and aggressive attempts of courtship. She would not leave Camelot." He smiled at her, dropping the hair, but not his hand, which hovered by her face. "I'm amazed that Uther has not recognized you. You look out of place in these rags, my lady. You belong in silks and ermine, covered in jewels, a rival in beauty and grace to every queen and princess in the land."
"I don't know," she began, hoping to hide behind her amnesia, but Bayard anticipated her move.
"You know who you are, Krysia," he whispered. "It shows in your eyes, in the way you carry yourself, in the finery of your features - for anyone who is looking."
Krysia could feel her heart racing, could just imagine all the ways Uther might kill her for her childhood crimes and her treachery all the years since.
"You'll have me killed?" Krysia whispered, turning away and recalling the execution she had seen on the day Merlin came to Camelot. That was going to be her, just as she had long feared.
Bayard smiled at her and touched her hair again.
"I have no intention to condemn you to death," he murmured. "I have already asked Uther to purchase you, although he is very reluctant to part with you. I have leverage now, though, with his treatment of me. I could take you away a servant and reveal you in Mercia. My son found you very pretty, and I know I could marry you to him. I could make you a queen."
Her head was spinning. She half-recalled the face of Bayard's son. He was handsome.
But he was not the man in her dream. She closed her eyes, attempting to call forth the image of that dream.
She couldn't be certain, but her heart told her that it was in Camelot.
"My place," she said firmly, "is here in Camelot, my lord. I apologise," she continued quickly when his face darkened.
"There is no need to apology, Lady Krysia," he whispered, eyes still dark as he lifted her hand to his lips, lingering in the act as he stared at her. "I will say nothing of your true identity to anyone, lady. I swear on my honor as a knight to protect your secret, even to my grave. Know, though, that as long as I live, you will ever have a friend in Mercia. If ever you need or want to leave Camelot, my hospitality still stands."
"My thanks," she said, stunned. "I...I have matters to attend…"
"Of course."
Bayard kissed her hand once more before he let her leave. Krysia's head still spun as she ran down the hall to Gaius's chambers.
She slid inside, quickly telling Merlin and Gaius everything that had just happened, Merlin's eyes growing wide the more she explained.
"He wanted me to go with him to Mercia, to unveil my secrets and to marry his son," Krysia whispered, brushing hair out of her eyes. "He basically said he would make me a queen."
Merlin raised his eyebrows.
"Why are you staying?" he asked.
Krysia shrugged, thinking about her time with the dragon, thinking about the man she had seen in her dreams. This man, her future, was not the son of Bayard. She knew Merlin would take being noble to being a servant any day, but Krysia had spent time doing both and she rather appreciated being able to pass unseen.
"I belong here," she said firmly.
Merlin seemed to understand her hidden meaning, but Gaius seemed troubled by her tale.
"He could tell Uther," he began, concerned.
But Krysia knew he would not. She might not like the man, but she could see that he had loved her mother, and that he would protect Krysia's secret for the sake of the memory of her lady mother.
"He won't," she said, ignoring the uneasy expression on Gaius's face. "I have things to see to, Gaius. Do you have any errands you want me to run?"
Gaius told her that no, he did not, and she nodded, going off about her day.
That evening, they were sitting around the table, eating dinner, when Arthur entered the physician's chambers looking rather serious.
"Still alive, then?" he said in his stoic way he put on when he didn't want to appear sentimental. Krysia just smirked into her drink.
"Oh," Merlin said. "Yeah, just about. I understand I have you to thank for that."
"Yeah, well, it was nothing," Arthur lied. "A half-decent servant is hard to come by. I was only dropping by to make sure you're all right. I expect you to be back to work tomorrow."
Before Merlin had a chance to stick his foot in things, Krysia nodded and smiled, quickly saying, "Oh, he'll be there, Arthur. And he'll be early if I have anything to say about it."
Arthur nodded at her and then turned to leave, but Merlin said, "Arthur," and he paused. "Thank you."
"You too," Arthur said softly. "Get some rest."
And then he left them there, closing the door behind him.
"Arthur may give you a hard time," Gaius said softly, "but at heart he's a man of honor. There aren't many who'd have risked what he did for a servant."
"And to think that if I hadn't risked the same that it would have all been for naught," Krysia sighed, pouring herself more water. She still began to shake when thinking of doing the spell, despite the success of the antidote.
"Eat your dinner," Gaius chided. Krysia and Merlin shared a smirk and turned back to their food.
"I still don't understand why she went to all the trouble of framing Bayard," Merlin said thoughtfully. "She could have just kept quiet and killed Arthur."
"But destroying Arthur and Camelot wasn't all she was after," Gaius explained. "She knew you would be forced to drink that wine, and that if you were to be saved that Krysia would have to use magic. It was you two that she wanted to kill. Seems someone else knows you're destined for great things."
Krysia pushed aside her dinner, muttering that she was tired, and quickly crawled into bed, feeling both nauseous and weak as she trembled under her blankets. A powerful sorceress wanted her dead. She closed her eyes and saw the face of the man again, and she shivered once more.
Destiny was a heavy burden.
Maybe an hour later, Krysia was still staring at the ceiling. Merlin opened the door and gave her a sad smile, climbing into bed.
"Feels surprisingly good, this thing," he said with a hollow laugh. "You know, after nearly dying."
She gave him a half-smile in the near-darkness that she couldn't be sure he could see.
"Are you afraid?" he finally asked.
She just looked at his shadow from across the room as he pulled his covers up to his chest.
"Yes," she said after a moment. "Yes, I'm afraid. But I'm always afraid, Merlin. It's not a bad thing for you to learn. It's kept me alive for years."
Merlin shifted onto his side, looking up in her direction.
"Then why didn't you go with Bayard?"
"I told you-"
"You need to be here. Is it something to do with your destiny? Does it have to be here? Did you talk to the dragon again?"
Krysia sighed, deciding after quick consideration that a half-truth was best.
"I've been having dreams," she explained. "About the man I'm supposed to have these children with. And…and I'm certain they're in Camelot. This is where I meet him, this is where the children are born. How can any of that happen if I got off to Mercia under the understanding that I marry the son of Bayard and become the future queen of Mercia?"
Merlin was silent for a moment. Then he said slowly, "Are dreams like this common? Have you talked to Gaius?"
Krysia could feel herself blush.
Why was it that he could be practical and sensible at the worst possible times?
"No and no," she whispered. "And you'd better not tell him, either."
After another, shorter silence, Merlin whispered back, "Not a word."