In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young girl. Her name: Merlynn.
-0-
Merlynn had been very busy over the last few days, King Bayard was visiting Camelot and so naturally the entire kingdom was in uproar getting organised for the treaty signing. On the plus side Arthur had gotten her a new dress that was red, since she couldn't be a Camelot servant and wear the other kingdoms colours to such an important event.
Merlynn passed Gaius in the Upper Corridor while carrying a heavy bag. She was complaining about her horrid work load.
"Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?" She sulked at her uncle.
Gaius smiled at her, it was slightly condescending. "You're a servant, Merlin. It's what you do."
"My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside." She complained. Her arms felt stretched and uncomfortable.
"It's character building." Her uncle informed her. "As the old proverb says, hard work breeds... a harder soul."
Merlynn looked at him knowingly. "There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up." She accused him.
An affronted look appeared across his face as if he was truly insulted. "No. I didn't."
Their discussion was interrupted as a young serving girl fell right in front of Merlynn.
"Sorry." She told them as she gathered her things.
"It's alright. Let me give you a hand with that." Merlynn assured her as she knelt down and helped her pick up the cushions that she had dropped. She looks up at the serving girl, and is faced with a pretty young woman with impossibly blue eyes. They both finished gathering her things and stood up.
"Hi. I'm Merlynn." She introduced herself.
They shook hands.
"Cara." The woman introduced. "You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honour."
Merlynn gave her a smile. "Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, someone's got to keep the place running." She joked making Cara laugh.
"Thank you, Merlynn." Cara said.
"Hmm?" Merlynn asked confused. Cara pointed at her chest, and when Merlynn looked down she realised that she was still holding one of Cara's cushions.
"Oh, right. Yeah. Er, no problem." Merlynn muttered, blushing as she handed the cushion over.
"It was nice meeting you." Cara smiled and she walked away.
Merlynn was rubbing her face in embarrassment when Gaius' voice cut through her thoughts.
"Shouldn't you be busy running the place?" He asked her joking making her glare at him as he laughed.
-0-
Later on Merlynn was in Arthur's chambers. She set down Arthur's clothes for the feast but then reeled backwards from his red jacket, covering her face.
"When's the last time these were cleaned?" She asked him, holding the jacket away from her face.
Arthur shrugged at her. "Last year some time. Before the Feast of Beltane."
Merlynn raised her eyebrows at him in question. "Did it end in a food fight?" She asked rhetorically and was surprised when she actually got an answer.
"Don't all feasts?" He asked her as he checked that his jacket still fit.
Merlynn shrugged and replied slightly bitterly, "I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me."
Arthur smirked at her. "Not after tonight they won't be."
Merlynn's eyes darted up to meet his, she let out a hopeful smile. "I'm going to be at the banquet?" She said excitedly.
Arthur winced at his phrasing. "Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry." He commented as he slipped off the red jacket. "If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it. Be sure to polish the buttons. Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?"
Merlynn looked up at him in confusion. "Won't this do?" She asked, gesturing to the red dress that he had bought her for this event.
"No." Arthur smirked at her. "Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot." He retrieved something from behind his changing screen.
Arthur holds them up for Merlynn to see. Her face immediately fell, and she looked at him in shock.
"You can't be serious." She told him. He just smiled and nodded at her.
-0-
Merlynn twisted and turned in her room, wearing the outfit that Arthur had so graciously given her. She kept looking down at it wondering if it would look better from a different angle, all the while Will was watching from his place on her bed, with his head resting on his paws. She turned to him.
"It's not that bad... right?" She asked the dog. His response was to cover his eyes with his paws. Merlynn rolled her eyes. "Yeah thats what I thought." She allowed herself to fall back on her bed, groaning in complaint. Will allowed his head to flop onto her belly.
-0-
Merlynn was stood in the hall wearing a red wrap around that had the golden pendragon logo on the front and the outfit also included a big hat that had bright green feathers sticking out of the top. She had never hated Arthur so much.
Bayard was signing the treaty, when Arthur turned to her. She shot him a glare, but he just chuckled at her. Gwen who was stood next to Merlynn chuckled looking at Merlynn's feathered hat.
"Nice hat." She told her mock seriously.
Merlynn nodded at her sarcastically. "Thanks."
Merlynn gets sick of the feathers falling into her eyes when she catches Cara's eye and takes off the hat.
Gwen notices her gaze. "Who's that?" She asked.
"One of Bayard's servants, and maybe a possible friend." Merlynn didn't seen the slightly jealous look that Gwen shoots her.
Uther finished signing the treaty and grasps arms with Bayard. The crowd applauds and Gwen leaves Merlynn's side.
Bayard begins his speech. "People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them." As he speaks a serving girl brings in a box with two goblets inside. "As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last."
Cara suddenly appears by Merlynn's side, a face full of worry and fear.
"Merlynn, I need to speak to you." She whispered, a voice full of desperation.
"The wounds we received in battle..." Bayard continued.
"What is it?" Merlynn asked her.
"Not here, please. I don't know who else to tell." Cara begged.
Merlynn left with Cara, following her into the corridor.
Cara looked at her earnestly. "It wasn't until I saw him give the goblet to Arthur that I realised..."
"Whoa, slow down. Start from the beginning." Merlynn told her.
"Two days ago, I was bringing Bayard his evening meal. We're supposed to knock. He didn't expect me to walk in..." Cara looked at her, clearly upset about something.
Merlynn looked at her confused. "So what are you trying to say?"
"If he knows I said anything, he will kill me." Cara said in distress.
Merlynn grabbed her shoulders and looked at her deadly serious. "I would not let that happen to you, I promise. Please tell me what you saw."
Cara hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Bayard is no friend of Camelot. He craves the kingdom for himself."
"Cara...Tell me. What has Bayard done with the goblet?" Merlynn asked scared of what the answer may be.
"He believes that if he kills Arthur, Uther's spirit will be broken and Camelot will fall."
"What has he done with the goblet?" Merlynn asked desperately. If anything happened to Arthur, she would... she couldn't even think of a world that Arthur wasn't in. It was a horrible thought that would break her if she continued to think about it.
"I saw him putting something in it." Cara whispered.
"What?" Merlynn demanded. Cara needed to hurry up and tell her otherwise Arthur could already be dead.
"I shouldn't! He'll kill me!" Cara cried fearfully.
"Please, tell me! Was it poison?" Merlynn asked her fearfully.
Cara nodded, causing Merlynn to take off running back to the Hall. She arrived back into the room in time to hear Uther finishing the toast.
"And to fallen warriors on both sides." Everyone rose their goblets to drink, when Merlynn finally reached their side.
"Stop!" She yelled running up to Arthur's side, ignoring all of the strange looks she was receiving from the guests. "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" She quickly snatched the cup from Arthur hand holding it away from him. The whole room was silent.
"What?" The king demanded.
Arthur looked at her in confusion and shock. "Merlynn, what are you doing?"
Merlynn turned to the him and announced. "Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison."
"This is an outrage!" Bayard called as he and his men draw their swords. The knights of Camelot reacted to the threat and also drew their swords, and more guards rushed in pointing their weapons at the foreign king and his men.
"Order your men to put down their swords." Uther ordered. "You are outnumbered."
Bayard kept his sword pointed at Merlynn. "I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!"
Uther leaned towards Merlynn, and asked her deadly calm, "On what grounds do you base this accusation?"
"I'll handle this." Arthur told his father skirting around the table and walking towards his servant. "Merlynn, you idiot. Have we been at the slow gin again?" He snarled at her. He grabbed her and took the goblet from her. He was starting to pull her from the room when Uther's voice stopped him.
"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned, now!" Merlynn wasn't stupid enough to deny the King.
"He was seen lacing it." She told him.
"By whom?" He demanded. Merlynn was quiet for a moment. She had promised Cara that she wouldn't let anything happen to her. It was this promise that prompted her answer.
"I can't say." She told him looking down.
Bayard was growing impatient. "I won't listen to this anymore."
"Pass me the goblet." Uther told his son, who promptly obeyed. Uther now holding the goblet walked around the table and looked at Bayard. "If you're telling the truth..."
"I am." Bayard confirmed.
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Uther questioned holding out the goblet to him.
Bayard promptly sheathed his sword and held out his hand for the goblet, showing no fear.
Uther pulled the goblet out of his reach. "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." He told the king. He then held the goblet out to Merlynn.
"She'll drink it." He declared. Merlynn looked at him wide eyed, slowly taking the goblet from his hand. Could she do this? Could she willingly and knowingly drink poison?
While Merlynn was dealing with her inner turmoil, Arthur was arguing in her defense. "But if it is poisoned, she'll die!" He argued with his father.
Uther seemed completely unfazed considering that he was condemning a loyal girl to her death. "Then we'll know she was telling the truth."
"And what if she lives?" Bayard asked.
"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with her as you will." Uther informed him. Merlynn wasn't sure which she would prefer, to drink poison and die, or likely die at the hand of King Bayard.
"Uther, please! She's just a girl! She doesn't know what she's saying!" Gaius called as he walked forward wanting to defend his niece.
"Then you should've schooled her better." Uther told his friend emotionlessly.
"Merlynn, apologies. This is a mistake. I'll drink it." Arthur declared, and he tried to take the goblet from her, but she just pulled it out of reach. Yes, she decided. She could willingly, and knowingly drink poison... for him. Only for him. Always for him.
"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright." She assured him sending him a kind if pained smile.
Her hand was shaking as she toasted to Bayard and Arthur, then drank as the entire room watched, Gwen even taking a few steps forward in her anxiety. Merlynn lowered the goblet and waited for the effects of the pain to start. But after a couple of seconds nothing happened. She looked down at the cup in shock.
"It's fine." She muttered brokenly in shock and confusion. Arthur, Gwen, Gaius and Morgana all let out a breath of relief that she was ok. Whereas Uther just rolled his eyes.
"She's all yours." He told Bayard. As he spoke Merlynn felt an uncomfortable burn beginning in her throat. She coughed trying to get rid of the sensation. But suddenly she couldn't breath, she couldn't... she couldn't... She managed to look up and lock eyes with Arthur, just before she collapsed to the ground the world going dark around her. Arthur quickly ran to her side as Uther ordered the guards to seize Bayard and his men. But the sound was muffled, as Arthur looked at his unconscious servant. He began to shake her shoulders trying to get her to wake up. But she didn't respond, she just continued to lay there as she panted and her forehead started to glisten with sweat. Arthur was soon joined by Gaius who checked her vitals.
"Merlynn. Can you hear me?" Receiving no response from the poor girl on the floor he turned to Arthur. "We have to get her back to my chambers." He then turned to Gwen who had also ran over. "Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison."
Arthur scooped Merlynn up into his arms, her head resting on his chest. "Stay with me Merlynn." He ordered her as he carried her to Gaius' chambers as Gaius and Gwen followed with the goblet. As he burst into the room Gaius called out his instructions.
"Lay her on the bed quickly; she's struggling to breathe. Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel." He told the girl while he puled off the robe that Arthur had made her wear, he then pulled the red outer layer of her dress off leaving her in just her chemise. He didn't concern himself with Arthur, Merlynn needed him more.
"Is she going to be alright?" Arthur called out desperately as he kneeled down beside his servant, stroking his hand down the side of her face as she panted, clearly very uncomfortable. They all paused when they heard a bark from her room. Will could sense his mistress' distress.
"She's burning up." The physician commented as he examined her.
Gwen had gathered the things Gaius had requested and was now wiping Merlynn's face down with a damp cloth. "You can cure her, can't you Gaius?" She asked desperately.
"I won't know until I can identify the poison." He told her seriously. "Pass me the goblet." He told Gwen, who did so promptly.
"Ah. There's something stuck on the inside." Gaius commented as he examined the inside of the goblet, he peeled a petal off of the rim.
"What is it?" Arthur asked approaching him.
"It looks like a flower petal of some kind." Gaius informed him.
"Her brow's on fire." Gwen told them as she continued to pat it with the wet cloth.
"Keep her cool; it'll help control her fever." Gaius ordered her as he opened up one of his books and started looking through it. They were all ignoring the constant barking, they knew that Will would only get in the way at this moment.
"Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree." Gaius read from the book. Arthur, who was looking over his shoulder, pointed at the drawing of a creature.
"That's not particularly friendly." He commented.
"A Cockatrice." Gaius informed him. "It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive." Arthur pressed his thumb to his lips as he looked at Merlynn, who was panting and whimpering in pain. That was all he needed to make his decision.
"Sounds like fun." He remarked, starting to leave when Gaius' voice stopped him.
"Arthur, it's too dangerous." He told the Prince.
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlynn?" Arthur asked him. Gaius' face fell as he told Arthur.
"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. She may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually she will die." Arthur just started for the door, but stopped on his way to brush his fingers across Merlynn's cheek.
"I will save you." He told her earnestly, and he then headed for the door not looking back at the others as he left.
-0-
Arthur was stood in his chambers in all of his chainmail. He had been already to go and save Merlynn but his father had soon put a stop to that. Now Morgana was stood in front of him trying to convince him to go anyway.
"Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous." He replied to her comment about fighting Bayard's men herself.
Morgana just rolled her eyes at him. "Spare me the lecture, I've already had it from Uther."
Arthur sighed tiredly. "If it's any consolation, you weren't the only one."
"Not that I listen to him." Morgana told him, she then looked at him deadly serious. "Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences." At her words, Arthurs mind traveled to a conversation he had with Merlynn a few weeks ago, during the time that the plague was running through the city.
"I was doing what I felt was right." She told him.
"By offering your head instead of hers?! You idiot, he would have been more likely to execute you both!" He told her.
"Damn the consequences!" She yelled at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Now because of you my friend is gonna die! Forgive me if I don't stand back and watch!" The tears leaked from her eyes. On instinct Arthur reached up to brush them away. But Merlynn swatted his hand away and rushed to her chambers, leaving Arthur standing there alone in the corridor.
Arthur shook his head out of the memory before he looked at her. "You think I should go?"
Morgana smiled at him gently. "It doesn't matter what I think."
"If I don't make it back, who will be the next king of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake." He told her.
Morgana rolled her eyes at him. "And what kind of king would Camelot want?" She asked. "One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" She drew Arthur's sword. "Or one who does what his father tells him to?" Morgana asks as she presents Arthur with his sword.
-0-
Arthur had left against his fathers orders. Gwen and Gaius were tending to Merlynn. They had released Will from her room, and he was now laying on the ground with his head resting on the bed next to her side. He refused to leave and was determined to stay by his mistresses side.
"She's getting hotter." Gwen told Gaius, frightened for her friend.
In a delirious state Merlynn began to mutter,
"Him. Liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf."
"What language is that?" Gwen asked not recognising the words that Merlynn was muttering.
Gaius glanced at her before coming up with a quick excuse. "None. The fever's taken hold. None of those words are her own." He then leant over her and pressed his hand to the inside of her wrist. "Her pulse is weaker." He commented. He then noticed a circular rash on Merlynn's arm.
"What is it?" Gwen asked looking down at her arm.
"That can't be right." Gaius said worriedly. "The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage." He then rushed over to his books to re-read the entry.
"What does that mean?" Gwen asked worriedly.
Gaius checked his book with a magnifying glass.
"It says here that 'once a rash appears, death will follow within two days.'" Gaius read to Gwen.
Gwen looked up at him in shock. "You said she had four days."
"Something's increased the flower's potency. It warns that 'the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation.'"
"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer." She commented confused.
"No he isn't." Gaius confirmed.
"Then who did this?"
"It can't have been." Gaius muttered to himself as he looked off, thinking about something. "She wouldn't dare come here. Unless..." He trailed off.
"Unless what?" Gwen questioned.
Gaius quickly turned to her. "What happened to that girl?" He asked her.
Gwen looked at him confused. "Which girl?"
"Just before Merlynn burst into the hall one of Bayard's serving girls took her outside." He told her.
Gwen thought for a second before remembering. "She had dark hair. Very beautiful." She told him.
"Find her. Quickly." He told her. Gwen nodded and ran down to the dungeons. Gaius glanced down at Merlynn as began talking again.
"Arthur... swa..." She muttered. Gaius was shushing her soothingly when Gwen burst back into the room, he looked at her knowingly.
"Let me guess, she wasn't there." He asked.
Gwen shook her head. "No one has seen her since the banquet. Who is she?" She asked him.
"Not who she claims to be." Gaius told her.
Gwen looked at him knowingly. "But you know, don't you?"
Gaius nodded. "Cara. Though, that's not her name. Not her real name, anyway."
"Then who is she?" Gwen asked.
"A powerful sorceress." Gaius told her.
"Well, we should tell Uther. Maybe he could send riders out after her." Gwen tried.
Gaius just shook his head. "No, she'll be long gone. It's impossible to know where, though." He then came to a horrible realisation. "Oh, no."
"What?" Gwen asked worriedly.
"She knows the only place an antidote can be found is the Forest of Balor. Arthur could be walking into a trap." As if she had heard him Merlynn suddenly started muttering again.
"Arthur. Arthur." She called out desperately.
-0-
"Arthur, it...it's a trap. It's a trap." She was still muttering later on the next day.
"Her fever's getting worse, isn't it?" Gwen said, as Merlynn became more and more restless.
"The poison's setting in." Gaius said sadly.
"eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume." Merlynn muttered. Gaius looked at her worriedly.
"Shh. Could you fetch me some more Wolfbane?" He asked Gwen, he had to get rid of her.
"Yes, of course." Gwen told him, rushing from the room.
"Merlin, you must fight it." He told her.
"Arthur. It's too dark. Too dark." She suddenly cried out. Her face twisted in fear. "Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum."
Gaius then noticed something glowing under the bed sheets. "Merlynn?" He questioned confused. He then folded the bed sheet down and saw that there was a glowing ball of light in her hand.
"What are you doing?" Gaius muttered in shock.
-0-
In the caves Arthur was hanging off of a ledge having been tricked by Nimueh. He looked up to see a beautiful blue orb of light floating down towards him. It was obviously magic.
"Come on, then! What are you waiting for?! Finish me off!" He yelled at the light, waiting for it to kill him. But it did no such thing, it simply hovered near him. Now able to see what he is doing he managed to pull himself onto the ledge. The light moves higher, but Arthur spots the Mortaeus flower on the wall.
"Leave them, Arthur." He hears a voice whisper. The voice was breathy and distant but he couldn't help but feel that he had heard it before.
The spiders below Arthur screech and begin to crawl up toward Arthur.
"Go. Save yourself. Follow the light." The voice begs again.
Arthur climbs to the flower he tries to reach for it. He manages to skim it with is fingertips, but doesn't manage to pull it free. He grit his teeth. He had to do this. He had to save Merlynn. So with all his might he stretched and finally managed to grip the flower, pulling it free and he quickly placed it in the pouch on his belt. The spiders keep coming forcing Arthur to race to the top, which he does after pulling his gloves off so he can grip better. The light followed him as he scales up the wall.
"Faster. Go faster. Follow the light! Move. Climb." The gentle voice bid him. Back in Gaius' chambers, Gaius was being forced to hold Merlynn down as she writhed and shouted for Arthur to move.
Arthur reached the top. He looked at the light that hovered in front of him.
"Thank-you." He told it earnestly. And as it slowly faded from his sight, he could swear he heard one more word before it disappeared.
"Always."
-0-
"You disobeyed me!" Uther shouted as Arthur stood his ground in the dungeons.
"Of course I did, a woman's life was at stake." He said determinedly. "Do not let Merlynn die because of something I did." He begged his father.
Uther looked at his son in suspicion."Why do you care so much? The girl is just a servant."
Arthur looked at him seriously, pointing at the ceiling knowing that Merlynn was above him somewhere. "She knew the danger she was putting herself in, and she knew what would happen if she drank from that goblet, but she did it anyway. She saved my life." He told him. Why couldn't his father see. That she was the most loyal servant Arthur had ever had. "There's more. There was a woman at the mountain. She knew I was there for the flower. I don't think it was Bayard who tried to poison me."
Uther scoffed at his son. "Of course it was."
Arthur ignored his father, Merlynn was dying right now, he needed to stop arguing with his father and help her. He pulled out the flower, holding it delicately, as if it was made of glass. It was Merlynn's only lifeline.
He looked at his father, more serious then Uther had ever seen him. "Gaius knows what to do with it." Uther takes the flower from his son's hand. "Put me in the stocks for a week, a month even, I don't care. Just make sure it gets to him. I'm begging you. Make sure it gets to Merlynn." His voice broke over the last word. Merlynn had somehow managed to impact his life so much, and he hadn't even noticed.
Uther looked at his son. It was clear that he cared for his servant. That wasn't good. Arthur couldn't afford for Arthur to get to close to Merlynn, sure it was friendship and loyalty now but that could change, and there relationship could become romantic or sexual and that would just cause lots of problems. No their bond couldn't grow. With that thought in his mind, he crushed the flower in his fist. Arthur ran forward eyes wide as he saw Merlynn's one chance be destroyed.
"NO!" He cried out. He looked at his father in shock. He had just killed Merlynn.
"You have to learn there's a right and a wrong way of doing things. I'll see you're let out in a week. Then you can find yourself another servant." Uther snarled at his son in anger. As he exited the cell, he dropped the flower just outside Arthur's cell door. The guards lock the door and Arthur quickly throws himself to the floor trying to reach the flower just out of reach. He had to do this... for Merlynn. He managed to clasp it in his hand, and quickly pulled his arm back through the gate and threw himself back against the end wall of his cell. He cradled the flower in his hand as he allowed a tear to fall down his cheek, he had failed her. He would never forgive his father for this...never.
-0-
"She hasn't got much longer. Has Arthur got the flower?" Gaius asked Gwen.
"I don't know. Uther won't allow anyone to see him." She told him, she then looked down at Merlynn, who now lay motionless except for her very slowly rising chest. "Is there nothing we can do to help?" She cried desperately.
Gaius shook his head. "Only the leaf of the Mortaeus flower can save her."
"And we have to find out if Arthur has it. I could sneak into the dungeon." She suggested.
"That would be very dangerous." Gaius warned her.
"I've got to. Merlynn will die if I don't." She cried. They both then glanced at Merlynn who was struggling to breath and was as pale as death.
"Be careful." He told Gwen.
-0-
Later Gwen burst through the doors of the chambers after having gone and gotten the flower from Arthur.
"Have you got the Mortaeus?" Gaius questioned her.
"Here." She handed it to him.
"Her breathing's much worse. We have to hurry." He told her, beginning to mix a remedy.
Gwen sits down next to Merlynn's sickbed, when Gaius suddenly stopped.
"Why have you stopped?" She asked him confused and alarmed.
"The poison was created using magic. We may need magic to make an antidote." Gaius informed her.
"But we can't. It's forbidden. Even if we could."
Gaius nodded at her. "I'll try and make it work without it. Oh, I need some fresh water." He hands her a bowl and she runs off. Gaius lifts the bowl he's holding to eye level.
"Sythan..." He began, he paused and looked around, nervous to be practicing magic again. But he had to do this... for Merlynn. For his niece.
"Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum."
The potion sizzled and foamed for a moment before clearing showing that his spell had worked. Gwen ran back in and hands him the bowl of water before rushing back to Merlynn's side.
Gaius quickly pours the potion into a small cup and goes to Merlynn's side.
"Hold her nose." He ordered Gwen. She pinched Merlin's nose as Gaius poured the potion into Merlynn's mouth. "Swallow, Merlynn. Swallow it." He begged his niece. But they watched in shock as her chest stopped moving completely.
Gwen looked down at her alarmed. "She's stopped breathing. What's happening? Gaius?"
Gaius puts his head to Merlynn's chest. After a couple of seconds he raised his head and looked down at her, disbelief covering his face.
"Her heart has stopped." He told her.
"She's dead?" She questioned brokenly looking down at her friend.
Gaius shook his head in denial. "She can't be. She can't be. It was her destiny."
Gaius stood up, he just... he couldn't believe it.
Gwen began crying. "It's my fault. If I'd have got here sooner. If I'd have been quicker."
Gwen got up and cried in Gaius's arms, who embraced her.
"No, no. It was me. I should've looked after her better. It's my fault." He soothed her. How was he going to tell his half-sister that her daughter was dead.
Will was whimpering by his mistresses, he pushed himself up and began to nuzzle her face. Gwen and Gaius were so upset that they didn't notice that she was beginning to twitch. She looked up at her uncle and grimaced at what she was seeing.
"That's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be her grandfather." She told her uncle. They both quickly separated and looked down at her, she looked tired and weak, but she was alive.
"Merlynn. You're alive." Gaius cried at his niece.
Merlynn smiled jokingly at him. "No. I'm the ghost come back to haunt you." She teased him.
Gwen launched forward and wrapped her arms around her friend, causing her to wince in pain at the sudden assault. This made Gwen quickly pull back. "Sorry, I'm just...I thought you were dead."
Merlynn smiled at her. "It's fine. It's more than fine. ...erm...what happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine." She said confused.
-0-
It was a few days later and Merlynn was still weak but was quickly recovering. She was eating with Gaius when Arthur walked in.
He smiled looking down at her. "Still alive, then?" He teased.
Merlynn smiled back at him. "Oh. Yeah, just about. I understand I have you to thank for that."
Arthur shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, well, it was nothing. A half decent servant is hard to come by." This made her roll her eyes and chuckle. "I was only dropping by to make sure you're alright. I expect you to be back to work tomorrow."
"Oh yeah, yeah of course, er, bright and early." She assured him.
Arthur nodded at her and turned to leave when her voice stopped him.
"Arthur." He turned back to her. She smiled sincerely at him. "Thank you. What you did... you were very brave."
Arthur looked at her with a face full of tenderness. "You too." He told her. "Get some rest." He then left.
"Arthur may give you a hard time, but at heart he's a man of honour. There aren't many who'd have risk what he did for a servant." Gaius told her.
"It all would've been for nothing if you didn't know how to make the antidote." She told him.
"Eat your dinner." He said smiling down at her fondly.
"I still don't understand why she went to all the trouble of framing Bayard. She could've just kept quiet and killed Arthur." She said to Gaius, hoping he could make sense of it.
"But destroying Arthur and Camelot wasn't all she was after." Merlynn looked at him confused. "She knew you would be forced to drink that wine. It was you she wanted to kill. Seems someone else knows you're destined for great things, Merlynn." She looked off in the distance, thinking about the woman that she felt was going to create a lot of trouble for her.