A/N: Thank you Buckhunter and GuestM for reviewing!

Chapter 3

The eggs broke open almost in unison, spilling out baby lindworms no bigger than garden snakes. They immediately went for the pile of carcasses to devour, so Lancelot and Arthur slowly and unobtrusively backed up down the tunnel to return to the cave-in.

"Hello!" Arthur shouted. "Can anyone hear us?"

Lancelot pressed his ear against the rock but still couldn't hear anything on the other side. He ran his hands over the rubble, trying to find a notch anywhere that he could work a piece loose. Arthur did the same, starting on the opposite end.

"Here," he called, finding one.

Lancelot hurried over to help pry the rock free. They both strained, barely getting it to shift. But as soon as it did, the rocks above it began to tremble and silt rained down on their heads. They scrambled away as a few fist-size chunks came tumbling down where they'd been standing, but thankfully they hadn't triggered another collapse.

This left them in a dire predicament, though: trapped in a narrow shaft with a bunch of monstrous lindworms just down the tunnel from them. At least the huge pile of dead meat should keep them occupied for a while.

A soft hiss prickled Lancelot's ears and he stiffened. Slowly turning around, he found the lindworms slithering toward them, eyes alight with hunger.

"Arthur."

They drew their swords and began hacking at the encroaching snakes, their blades able to behead them much more easily than their mother. But there were so many and Lancelot couldn't keep track of them all. He felt something sharp pierce his ankle, and then liquid fire pumped into his muscle. He cried out and staggered, almost stepping on the lindworm that had bitten him. Swinging his sword, he sliced it in two, but more snakes came at him from the other direction, and he suffered multiple bites on his legs.

Baby snakes were more venomous than adults, and the pain of each bite was excruciating. Lancelot almost tripped and fell into the morass but managed to catch himself on the wall. He could feel the fire coursing up his legs and his reflexes slowing.

Arthur grunted and nearly pitched face first into the snakes, but Lancelot lunged to catch him. They both almost went down, and Lancelot flung them sideways against the rocks to keep themselves propped up. Lancelot's muscles spasmed, and his sword fell from his jerking hand. It was unfortunate one of them wasn't also carrying one of those essence of weasel vials.

Lancelot's head swam, his vision going spotty. But he could see the lindworms backing off. They weren't retreating, though. More like…waiting. Lancelot suspected they preferred to feast on dead flesh.

Which wouldn't be long now, he thought distantly, as he and Arthur both slid to the ground as the venom overtook them.

"Arthur!" Merlin yelled through the rocks. "Lancelot! If you can hear us, we're getting closer!"

There was no response. Merlin exchanged a worried look with the others as Percival continued to excavate a path through the rubble. He was covered in grit and his arms nicked and scraped, but he kept at it doggedly.

"M-lin," a faint voice echoed from the other side.

"Lancelot!" he exclaimed. "Are you and Arthur all right?"

"Bay-baby lind-worms."

Merlin frowned. What?

"Baby lindworms?" Elyan repeated incredulously.

Merlin's eyes widened as he realized Lancelot didn't sound weird because the rocks had muffled his voice, but because he and Arthur were in real trouble.

"Get against the wall!" he yelled. "Your left!" He waved urgently for Percival to stop and back up. Then Merlin raised his hand toward the rocks on the other end and uttered a spell, blasting straight through them. Which was dangerous and he prayed he hadn't hurt Arthur or Lancelot further, but they were out of time.

Merlin barreled through the dust and haze, waving his arm trying to see. Movement on the ground caught his attention, and he spotted dozens of tiny snakes twisting back and forth to escape the rubble. Merlin instantly cast a fireball spell that engulfed them, turning them into charred sticks. He whipped his gaze around in search of more, but it looked like he'd gotten them all.

"Merlin!" Leon yelled.

He turned to see Leon and Percival bent over Arthur and Lancelot, both of whom were unconscious and shivering with the same sickly pallor Gwaine had had. Leon was pulling up Arthur's trouser leg to reveal several purplish puncture marks from snake bites. Lancelot no doubt had the same, and Merlin's heart leaped into his throat.

He frantically pulled out the two remaining vials of the antidote and uncorked one, which he hurriedly poured down Arthur's throat. Arthur coughed and spluttered, but he'd gotten most of it, which Merlin hoped was enough. He then did the same to Lancelot.

Merlin rocked back on his haunches. He knew the antidote needed time to work, and Gwaine had still been ill when they'd left, so Merlin didn't even know for sure whether it'd be enough, and Lancelot and Arthur had received multiple bites instead of the usual one that was deadly on its own…

"We need to get them back to Gaius," he said. Maybe he and Lily had made more of the antidote, just in case.

Percival took Lancelot's arm and slung him up over his shoulder, while Leon and Elyan pulled Arthur up between them, and they started carrying them out of the cave. Merlin hung back, scanning the area for any more baby lindworms. But just to be safe, once the others were completely out, he used his magic to bring down the ceiling again and seal the tunnel. Twice, for good measure. If any of the offspring had survived, they wouldn't be getting out.

They didn't make a detour back to the village to tell them they were safe. Merlin figured they could send word later, after he made sure neither Arthur nor Lancelot were going to die from this misadventure.

Thankfully, by the time they arrived back at Camelot, both Lancelot and Arthur were beginning to stir, proving the antidote had, in fact, worked. They were still very ill, though, so they all went immediately to Gaius.

"Good lord," the court physician uttered when they crowded inside and eased the two patients onto the floor, since Gwaine was still on the cot. But Merlin noticed he was sitting up at least, so the antidote had saved him as well.

"There were baby lindworms," Leon explained. "They were both bitten several times."

Gaius frowned as he knelt down to examine the bites and check their pupils. "Were you able to administer the antidote?" he asked urgently.

"Yes," Merlin replied. "I just…I don't know if it was enough."

Gaius hummed as he finished his examination. "I believe it was," he concluded. "They just need a lot of rest. As Gwaine can attest to. Take them up to their chambers and I'll be up soon to treat the bites."

"I'll move to my room and Lancelot can stay here," Gwaine spoke up, still looking pale and sickly but much better than before, not to mention lucid. "Since Lily's got her hands full with the babies."

"Good idea," Gaius agreed.

Leon and Elyan hefted Arthur up again and headed out, while Gwaine shifted over to the bench and Percival moved Lancelot to the cot. Gaius grabbed his supplies and set to cleaning the bite wounds and applying some salve. He then left to go do the same for Arthur.

With Lancelot tended and resting, Merlin turned to Gwaine. "I'll help you upstairs."

Gwaine grunted in appreciation as he slung an arm over Merlin's shoulders to brace himself as he got to his feet. "So, what all happened?" he asked as they shuffled down the corridor.

Merlin had recounted the tale in full by the time they reached Gwaine's room, given their very slow pace. "At least we slew the lindworm," he finished, pushing the door open and using magic to light all the candles.

"I missed all the fun," Gwaine grumbled.

"Oh yes, loads of fun," Merlin replied sarcastically. "Three people got poisoned and nearly died."

"But we didn't," Gwaine pointed out cheekily.

Merlin rolled his eyes and plopped Gwaine onto the bed, then pulled the blankets out from under him so he could lay back. "I'll check on you later," he said after tucking him in. He had three patients to split his time between.

Gwaine threw an arm over his eyes and hummed.

"And Gwaine. I'm glad you're okay."

Gwaine's mouth quirked upward. "Thanks, Merlin."

Gwen sat in a chair by the bed, watching Arthur sleep. He was wrung out from the toll the venom had taken on his body, but the shivers and cold sweat were gone, showing he was on the mend. Gaius said he just needed rest and would fully recover.

He shifted in his sleep, then gradually came awake. He blinked blearily at the bed canopy before lolling his head to the side and smiling at Gwen. "Hey."

"Hey," she replied with a return smile. "How are you feeling?"

He groaned. "Wretched. But I'm told I'll live."

"You had better."

His expression turned remorseful and he reached out to take her hand. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

Gwen squeezed back. "I'm just glad you all made it home safe."

The door opened as Merlin came in to deliver some more of Gaius's tonics to help the recovery process. Arthur groaned at the sight of them.

"Do I really need that stuff?" he whined.

"If you want to be back on your feet sooner rather than later," Merlin replied glibly.

"They taste terrible."

"You're feeling terrible, so what's the difference?"

Arthur scowled, which proved he was starting to feel a bit better.

"Do as the court physician says," Gwen told him.

"Merlin isn't the court physician," Arthur grumbled.

"But I come bearing his instructions," Merlin said and shoved a vial under Arthur's face. "Come on now."

Arthur glowered as he knocked back the draught, scrunching his face up in disgust. "How are Lancelot and Gwaine?"

"Gwaine's ahead of you on the recovery but not yet back to duty," Merlin answered. "Lancelot's resting, just like you."

Arthur nodded and dropped his head back against the pillow and closed his eyes.

Merlin headed out.

Gwen bit her lip in a moment of indecisiveness. "I'll be right back," she told Arthur and hurried after their court sorcerer.

"Merlin!" she called, stalling him before he could round the corner.

"Yes?"

Gwen closed the distance to him, then looked around nervously. The corridor was empty. "I wanted to ask you…about…well, Arthur almost died."

Merlin quirked a confused brow at her. "Gwen, what are you trying to ask me?"

She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. "About using magic to help me get pregnant."

His eyes widened incredulously. "Wha- have you lost your mind?" he hissed. "Magic like that comes at a cost. We all know that from what Uther did with Arthur's mother."

"I know," she said desperately. "And normally I wouldn't ask. But Arthur could have died without an heir, and I just…" Her shoulders slumped. "You're right, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm just…" She brought her arms up to hug herself. "I'm worried there's something wrong with me."

Merlin gave her a sympathetic look. "I'd be happy to look into non magical ways to help you conceive a child, Gwen. Or even fertility potions. Just…not the other thing."

Gwen nodded. "Thank you. Oh, and don't mention any of this to Arthur."

Merlin smiled and reached out to touch her shoulder. "I won't," he promised.

She relaxed. "You've always been a good friend, Merlin."

"Can I ask Lily for help? If there are herbs, she might be able to make them work more potently."

"Yes, that'd be good," she agreed. She knew Lily would also keep her confidence.

With that, Gwen collected herself and returned to her husband.

Lancelot lay on the cot in Gaius's chambers, staring at the ceiling. He was at that point where he was too tired to do much but not tired enough to sleep the day away, which left him utterly bored. He was debating trying to get up and do something, even though he knew his keepers wouldn't approve. But they were currently on their rounds checking on their other patients, so he had some time to himself.

But then the door opened and Lily poked her head in. Her face lit up when he looked her way.

"Good, you're awake," she said and pushed the door open wider.

Lancelot's face split into a grin at the sight of Rhys and Rhedyn in hers and Percival's arms. He propped himself up into a sitting position, and Percival passed him his daughter. Lancelot gazed down at her precious face, overcome with delight.

Lily climbed onto the cot next to him, Rhys nestled in her arms. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. Albeit more slowly than I would like," he admitted.

"I wish I could have been down here more to nurse you back to health."

Lancelot shook his head. "You must have been overwhelmed without me to help with the twins."

"Percival's been helping," she said, smiling at the giant teddy bear of a knight. "And if you're ready to make the transition back upstairs, he's ready to help you make the trek."

Lancelot smiled widely. "I have missed you all." He looked down at his daughter again.

Lily reached over to run her fingers through his hair. "We've missed you too. So, ready?"

Lancelot nodded and carefully settled Rhedyn into Lily's other arm so she had both babies tucked securely against her. Then Percival reached down to help Lancelot to his feet. There was still a prevalent weakness in his muscles, but he was determined to make it upstairs to be with his family again.