Uther and Arthur sat in the council chamber, and Uther had asked Krysia to join them as they read reports. In part, he found her presence comforting after so many years of her being ever-present. In part that he tried not to think about, he did like it appreciate the beauty of her presence. Today she was wearing a rich purple that one might have thought more suited to Morgana, but despite Krysia's pale coloring, she did wear the gown well. She was considering a map when Gaius and Arthur's servant entered, as requested. She was surprised to see them, and brightened at their presence.

"Gaius," Uther said, "there have been disturbing rumors from outlying villages."

"Sire?" Gaius said.

"Someone, some kind of physician is offering treatments. I fear magic may have been used."

Krysia frowned and said, "With reports from so far away, how can we suspect magic? What kind of reports?"

"There are reports of miracle cures," Uther said. "A boy thrown from a horse, a farmhand mauled by a boar. All hopeless cases it seems, and yet each and every one had made a full recovery."

He continued to notate the grain reports, and Gaius said, "It's very hard for me to comment, sire. I'd have to examine the patients myself."

"That won't be necessary, as a new case has arisen here in Camelot."

"Has there?" Krysia said, seeming alarmed.

"The innkeeper," Arthur said. "He's returned to work."

Gaius and Krysia looked at each other, startled.

"That's not possible," Gaius said. "The condition was critical, I saw him only days ago."

Uther set down the grain report and said, "So you agree that magic must be involved."

Gaius hesitated, and Krysia said, "Even with proximity, sire, one must examine the patient."

Uther hummed, then said, "Then go to the tavern and find out, Gaius. If sorcery is at work here, we must act quickly."

"Yes, sire," Gaius said, bowing. "I'll see to it right away."

He and the servant bowed, and Krysia mad to stand, but Uther frowned at her, and she hesitated, then sat back in her chair again.

When Gaius and the servant were gone, Uther said, "Krysia, I understand that you are eager to solve puzzles, but this is one I think it would be wise for you to stay away from, don't you?"

"Yes, sire," she said, frowning slightly.

She was restless, and Uther knew that mentions of magic must be peculiar and uncomfortable for her since learning of her own history, but nothing beyond what was naturally to be expected. Once Gaius got to the bottom of it, they could all breathe again

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Leon went to deliver a report to the king just as he and Arthur were breaking for midday, and he was surprised to find Krysia with them, looking a bit distant. She was twisting her hands absently in the outer robe of her dress as she removed herself from the table, and she brightened at the sight of him, which he tried not to feel too flattered about.

"My lady," he said, bowing. He wanted to kiss her hand, but he had a feeling the king wouldn't like it. "How are you this day?"

"I'm…" she hesitated. "I'm fine."

He forced a smile and said, "Sleeping well?"

"Yes, of course," she said. "How was the patrol?"

"Uneventful," he said. "The best kind of patrol."

He could sense that Arthur was waiting impatiently for the report, so he reluctantly took his leave of her and gave over the report to the king, and when he turned around, she had already left. That concern wouldn't leave, even in her absence.

The king did a cursory review of the report, then left to go to his own midday meal in his chambers, and Arthur lingered.

"She looks lovely today," Arthur said in a teasing voice.

"Yes, sire," Leon said. "She looks lovely every day. I must see to the recovery of the injured mare."

Arthur clearly wanted to continue to tease him, but Leon couldn't afford to give the space for that.

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Krysia was seated in the chamber reading Leon's admittedly dry report when Merlin and Gaius returned, standing in the center of the council chamber. Uther was pacing the front of the room, eagerly waiting some news of what he was sure must be sorcery. Krysia had to admit, it did seem he must be right.

"What was the nature of this treatment?" Uther said.

"Hogwart and fenugreek," Gaius said.

Uther turned, startled, and Krysia didn't miss the surprise from Merlin as well. Whatever they'd seen, it certainly wasn't what Gaius was describing without a blink.

"Excuse me?" Uther said, startled.

"They're herbs, sire," Krysia said softly. He looked at her with frustration.

"Indeed," Gaius said. "Whoever prescribed them was highly skilled. Their grasp of the five principles of herbal conjoinment was—"

"What about the boy and the laborer?" Uther said. "Surely they were beyond the help of such remedies."

"Not necessarily, sire," Gaius said. "A physician's art can achieve great things."

Krysia said, again softly, "You said that Evoric would surely die, Gaius."

Uther gestured to her, looking at Gaius, prompting Gaius to answer her point.

"Yes," Gaius said in his most measured voice, "that was indeed my diagnosis. But my knowledge isn't perfect. There are many branches of my craft that are yet mysteries to me. I could not heal the innkeeper. Someone else could."

Krysia held her breath, not believing a word, and wondering what sorcerer he was so eager to protect.

"Are you absolutely satisfied that no magic was involved?" Uther said.

"Entirely, sire," Gaius said.

Uther hesitated, turning to Krysia, and she wondered whether he was searching her for knowledge or expecting her analysis. If Gaius was insisting there was no magic, she wasn't eager to point out his lies, especially when they had saved her own life not long ago.

"There is no one better suited to make the assessment, sire," Krysia said.

Uther nodded, and Krysia let out a small breath of relief when he turned to Gaius, nodding his dismissal.

"My lord," Gaius said, bowing first to Uther, then to Krysia before he left. Merlin did the same, but when he met Krysia's eye, she could tell that he, too, was suspicious. He would come to her if he needed help, but she had a feeling he could handle this one his own, whatever it was.

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Gwaine settled to the crackling of his fire and the sounds of a forest and night. He pulled out the last of the ale in his flask and the belt Merlin had given him in the Forest of Engred. It still clung to that slight floral scent of her, of her hair, and he held it to his face and inhaled so deeply that it made him dizzy.

If he held his breath long enough, he could almost believe she was with him, that he was burying his face in her hair, and just lingering before kissing every party of her. When he let go of the breath, the ache of her absence returned, and he folded the belt, holding it out a little and admiring the workmanship of the delicate stitching. Someone's hands labored many long and possibly painful hours so that Krysia could wear this small scrap of fabric.

And now it was his.

If he was lucky, he could return it to her, soon. He imagined wrapping it around her waist, tying it off himself, and kissing up her torso to her lips.

She could have anything in the five kingdoms that she wanted now, and he just had those dreams to hold onto that she would still want him, when he did finally make his way back to her.

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Uther stretched, smiling out the window at the sight of Krysia walking with her maid, adorned in her red and gold dress. He couldn't help smiling when she wore it, although he knew it surely had little to do with him.

There was a knock, and Uther told the knocker to enter, turning away from the window reluctantly.

"Ah, Gaius," Uther said, his reluctance fading. "You have my medicine."

"I do, sire," Gaius said.

"To my very good health," Uther said, holding up the vial before drinking it in one.

He set the vial aside, and he said, "Krysia, does she seem happy to you?"

"Happy, sire?" Gaius said. He seemed to hesitate. "I believe the Lady Krysia misses her work. She is not one who will be content to sit and wait and amuse herself with menial hobbies. She needs to feel useful. Perhaps if you gave her a more formal position at court."

"Yes," Uther said, frowning, recalling how strong Zosia became as a member of the council. He had given her that role as his betrothed, his future queen. When she was no longer, her willingness to challenge him was both appreciated and frustrating.

Uther wasn't sure which concerned him more, the idea of Krysia challenging him or another suggestion of the benefits of her potentially becoming queen.

/-/

Gwaine stretched, kissed the belt, and returned it to his pocket, preparing to go forward in his day. He should cross into Cenred's kingdom before nightfall. He wondered how long he would circle the borders of Camelot, unable to get closer to her.

/-/

Krysia saw Arthur walking quickly toward his father's quarters, and she brushed aside the strangeness of it until several minutes and a few corridors later she heard the warning bell sound. She rushed up to Uther's chambers, and she startled at the sight of Uther on the floor, Arthur trying to stir him.

"Arthur, what's happened?" she said. She knelt beside him. "Was he like this when you found him, or did he collapse while you were here?"

"The former," he said. "Father." He shook his father's shoulders. "Father, please wake."

Krysia reached for Uther's pulse, but she could hardly feel it to count the beats. Gaius came in, and he looked alarmed.

"I found him this way," Arthur said. "I…I can't rouse him."

Gaius knelt beside Krysia, and she made way for him to feel.

"The king's alive," he said, "but his pulse is weak."

"What's wrong with him?" Arthur said.

"He'll need space to work, Arthur," Krysia said. "If you could seal off the quarters, put a guard at the ends of the corridor."

Arthur nodded, passing Merlin entering as he left.

Uther gasped suddenly, his eyes shooting open, completely black. Krysia startled, moving back from him, too stunned to speak.

"What is that?" Merlin said.

"Hush, Merlin," Gaius said firmly. Krysia stayed still and silent, and she had a feeling it may have been a bad idea to leave Merlin to solve the puzzle on his own.

Uther's eyes closed again, and Gaius found an empty bottle in the king's hand and smelled it.

They went into the corridor, and Arthur was there waiting, pacing the corridor.

"Well?" he said.

Gaius hesitated, and Krysia said, "Hey may need more time to get to the source of the problem, Arthur."

"Well, he's been poisoned, hasn't he?" Arthur said.

"I cannot say at this stage," Gaius said.

Krysia felt he certainly could say, but for some reason he was hesitating, and she had a feeling it was the same reason she lied about the innkeeper being healed by herbs.

"Just look at him, Gaius," Arthur said. "What else could it be."

Krysia shifted and said, "You should stay with him while Gaius examines the situation further, Arthur. I'll come back with something to make him more comfortable."

Arthur hesitated, but he did go into the room, and Gaius took off. Merlin followed, and Krysia followed closely after. They were down a new corridor when Merlin said, "I don't think we need any more information."

"Since when are you the expert in such matters?" Gaius said, surprisingly harshly.

Merlin answered back, just as harsh, "Oh, you don't need to be a physician to see what's happened.

"Merlin, why—?" Krysia began, but he talked over her.

"Gaius, he's been poisoned, and I think we both know who did it."

They all stopped in the corridor, and Krysia felt like she'd stumbled into something caustic.

"What exactly are you implying?" Gaius demanded.

"It was Alice," Merlin said. "It had to be. She's been helping you with the potions. She's had every opportunity to corrupt his medicine."

"Alice?" Krysia said. "Who's Alice? How can you be sure?"

"His girlfriend," Merlin said, "How else did he ingest the poison, Gaius? There is no other explanation."

Krysia was a little hung up on the idea of Gaius with a girlfriend, but Gaius wasn't disputing the point, so she tried to set it aside.

"Of course there is," Gaius said.

"Oh, come on, Gaius!" Merlin cried. "I understand why you're protecting her. Really, I do. But in your heart of hearts, you must know what I'm saying is true."

There was a strong silence, and Krysia whispered, "Gaius, are you sure you know of another answer?"

Gaius's jaw twitched and he said, "All I know is that the king is gravely ill and that your place, both of you, is by Arthur's side!"

He swept away, leaving them standing in silence in the corridor. Krysia held her breath for a long moment before Merlin said, "You believe me, don't you?"

"I do," Krysia whispered, "but I also owe Gaius my life, and I have to trust that whatever's going on, he'll do the right thing."

Merlin sighed, squeezed her hand, and returned to Uther's chambers.

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Leon was surprised to see Krysia sweep up the corridor toward the kitchens like she was in a great hurry. He paused her and asked if he could help her with something.

"Help?" she said absently. "Yes, there's been…Well, could you help me carry some water and towels to the king's chambers?"

"Of course."

He helped her gather the materials and carried the water for her, trying to keep up with her pace without spilling any water.

She was in her element like this, he mused as he followed her. She took to a crisis like a horse to galloping or a bird to flight. Her insecurities and nervousness and tiredness and aimlessness always fell away, and she would command the situation with all the confidence of a Pendragon. Of a queen, he thought with some bitterness, wondering if perhaps she wouldn't be best off with Arthur, should she not marry Gwaine.

Not that she and Arthur were especially suited, but they were fond of each other, and she would be a formidable queen.

No, best not to think of that. He set the water down where she indicated, and Arthur barely lifted his head when they entered. Leon chanced an opportunity to kiss her hand before he left, and he was pleased and surprised to see her expression lift into a small smile at the gesture.

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"It doesn't make any sense," Arthur said, watching his father, who had been moved to the bed while Krysia was gathering water. "His food and wine are tasted each and every meal. It's brought here under armed guard. No one can interfere with it in any way. So it can't be his food and drink. The only other thing he's had is…Gaius's remedy."

Arthur looked painfully thoughtful, and Merlin and Krysia exchanged a startled look, and Krysia knew what Merlin would do before he spoke. She hated that he had to, but if it was this woman or Gaius…

"Arthur," Merlin said, "I think I know what happened. I think…I know who did this."

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Krysia hated the stiffness in the room as she tended to Uther personally, something she wouldn't allow any of the other servants to do. She slept at his bedside, she wiped his brow, and she watched and waited for any sign, good or ill, applying herbs under Gaius's instructions, but there was no change but a steady weakening.

When she was alone, it was fine, but now Gaius and Merlin were there, examining Uther, and she waited in silence for the air to clear between them, which Alice's imprisonment hadn't done.

"How is he?" Merlin finally asked.

"He's fading," Gaius said. "He won't last the day."

Krysia could barely breathe to inhale a steadying breath. She wasn't sure why, especially with all the trouble Uther had always caused her, with all he had taken from her, but she did feel a grief at the idea of him dying.

"Gaius," Merlin whispered.

"It's alright, Merlin," Gaius said. "I understand. You were only trying to save me from harm. Thank you. But I don't believe Alice wanted this."

"I know she didn't," Merlin said urgently. "The poison is from the manticore, the creature that was in Alice's room."

"Manticore?" Krysia said. "What do we do?"

/-/

They reconvened in Gaius's chambers, where they could speak freely, and Krysia had left Enid to look over Uther, the only person she could trust to follow her instructions exactly.

"What are the options?" Krysia said, pacing, trying to ignore the strange rustling of her dress a she walked.

She hated silk.

"We cannot counteract the manticore's venom," Gaius said. "It's too deadly by far."

"So what can we do?" Merlin said.

"We can kill the manticore," Gaius said. "The poison is imbued with its magic. With the manticore dead, it will lose its potency."

"But Gaius," Krysia said, "neither of you surely has the power to kill it. I…can I?"

"You can't," Gaius said darkly. "You don't have the power, either. It's a creature of the Old Religion, beyond even the reaches of the High Priestesses. But maybe there's another way, if I can remember."

He flipped through his book, then pressed his finger on a page

"Here," he said. "The manticore cannot live in this world long. Its life source is an ancient evil that exists in the spirit world."

Merlin frowned and said, "So if we can trap it in this world…"

"Exactly," Gaius said. "If we were to summon the creature and you kept it at bay long enough, perhaps I could break the box."

"Destroy the gateway," Krysia said.

Gaius nodded and said, "If the gateway is destroyed, then the creature's connection with its life source will be destroyed with it."

"And the manticore will die?" Merlin said.

"I believe so," Gaius said.

Krysia shook her head and said, "The box is enchanted. It's bound to be a powerful enchantment. It will require magic to destroy it, even if we can keep the manticore at bay."

"I am aware of that," Gaius said.

"Do you think you can do it?" Merlin said. "Command such magic?"

"There was a time when I could," Gaius said. "Let us hope I haven't forgotten."

They approached the box, and Krysia tried to steady her breathing. It wouldn't do to be afraid of the creature, because fear caused paralysis, and paralysis meant death with something like a manticore.

"Is everyone ready?" Krysia said.

"What if this doesn't work?" Merlin said.

Gaius hummed, then said, "Then we're going to have a very angry manticore on her hands."

Merlin winced, but he summoned the manticore, which jumped out of the box, immediately attacking Merlin. Krysia tried to stun the creature with a few bolts of magic, but it was highly resistant.

"Gaius, now would be great," she said.

Gaius tried the incantation a few times, without result, and Krysia work to stun the manticore only seemed to enrage the thing, which Merlin didn't seem to appreciate.

"Gaius!" Merlin cried. "Gaius, it's now or never!"

Gaius tried again, managing to explode the box just as the manticore leapt at him.

"Gaius!" Krysia cried, and she gasped as the manticore seemed to burn and disintegrate in the air. She shivered.

"Not too bad for a has-been," Merlin said.

"Not too bad yourselves," Gaius said, his voice lightly faint.

Krysia sat on the bench and exhaled, thrilled and exhausted.

/-/

Uther tried to focus his gaze on Gaius as he discussed his condition, his recovery, and the situation, but he kept seeing Krysia shift in the corner of the room, and he was drawn to her beauty. To wake up to the sight of her had been more pleasant than he might have expected, so beautiful she had been, feeling his pulse and checking his eyes as he regained consciousness. She'd been close enough that he could smell the beautifully floral scent of her, feel the warmth of her, so close that if he'd had the strength to lean up, he could have kissed her.

No, best not think of that.

"I am fortunate indeed, that you found an antidote, Gaius," Uther said.

"He says you will have a full recovery, sire," Krysia said, "but that you will need to rest. Isn't that right, Gaius?"

Gaius nodded, and Uther couldn't help smiling at how familiar the firmness in her voice was.

"Of course, my lady," he said. "And what of the woman?"

"We have her in the cells, sire," Arthur said. "She awaits your judgment."

"She won't have to wait long," Uther said. "She's sentenced to death. We'll execute her in the morning."

"Sire," Krysia said, looking pained.

Arthur bowed and left, but Krysia hesitated, horrified, and Gaius, too, lingered.

"Sire, if I may," Gaius said.

"Yes, Gaius."

"It seems this woman was in the thrall of some kind of creature," Gaius said. "Perhaps, in light of that, her sentence might be—"

"Please," Krysia whispered.

Uther hesitated but a moment, seeing the distress in Krysia's face. She could not be allowed to see any sense in which magic was acceptable, no slope to slide down. He could not be forced to sentence her to death, no matter what. He must be firm, perhaps even firmer than he had been.

"She practiced magic, Gaius," Uther said. "There are no circumstances under which that is acceptable. Her judgment stands."

Gaius and the servant bowed and left, and Krysia was about to do the same, but Uther said her name, holding out a hand to her. She hesitated a moment, then came to sit beside him, taking his hand in both of hers. They were so warm, softening with the time away from being a servant.

"I will rely on you during my recovery, my lady," he said.

"Of course, sire," Krysia said. "I will be here to aid you whenever—"

"No, no, servants can do that," he said, squeezing lightly at her hand. "I will rely on you to assist Arthur, to see that the council continues to work, to judge what can be done without me and what must be brought to me here. I trust your judgment in these matters."

"Of course, sire," she said, and he thought perhaps her neck had gone a bit pink. But perhaps his eyes were still recovering.

"You're very beautiful," he said, before he could stop himself.

She looked a bit startled, stammered out her thanks, and then hesitated, like she wasn't sure what to say or do.

That was not like Zosia, who had always been fully aware of her beauty. There was a different attractiveness to this shyness, and he sat up slightly.

"You'll dine with me tonight?" he said.

She looked a bit puzzled, but she nodded and said, "Yes, sire."

He kissed her hand, and he let her know that she was dismissed. He watched her retreat, enjoying the lacing on the back of her dress as she left, the sway of her gown, the bounce of the curls in her hair.

Perhaps Morgana was right. Perhaps there was more than one way to salvage the claims to Krysia's lands.

A/N:

Krysia's going to get more responsibility…but will it be a case of "be careful what you wish for?"

We shall see!

Also, I'm planning to update the first part of the story by end of day, Camelot: Forged from Ashes. If you're interested in young Uther and some of the foreshadowing that may unlock a massive reveal for this story (something I've hinted at very, very lightly), I encourage you to follow along with the other parts of the story. I'd love to get y'all's thoughts!

-C