Forty-nine bodies lay in the courtyard, each covered by a sheet. In two days there were so many deaths and I was starting to get scared that we would never find the source, never mind a cure. The next morning a new victim was brought to us and there was something different. So far there hadn't been any women affected by it but this victim was not only a woman but a courtier.

"What's different about this victim?" I hated questions, especially when I'd just gotten up.

"She's a woman and a courtier."

"Which means?"

"Well, courtiers very rarely go into the lower town."

"So what does that mean?"

"That she doesn't really speak to townspeople, so it's unlikely the disease is spread by contact."

"Good. Anything else?"

"Well they'd probably eat different food, they don't breathe the same air and so the only thing they have in common is… the water! The disease is spread by water!"

"Exactly! Merlin, I'll make a physician of you yet."

"Keep trying Gaius, that's not likely to happen before I die," I smirked over at him causing him to roll his eyes.

"Drama queen. Now I need you to go and fetch some." He passed me the bucket and I hurried to the well.

As I slowly filled the bucket I saw a flash of red out of the corner of my eye and as I turned to look I noticed the back of Gwen running into the castle.

"Gwen? GWEN!" I could barely make out the sound of sobbing as she continued on and I stopped filling my bucket to chase after her with what I already had. She was heading to my chambers, I watched as she burst through the door and her sobbing grew louder once she'd entered. Was she sick? I was only seconds behind her so managed to catch most of what was said;

"… My father, please Gaius, he's all I have." She was sobbing so hard she could barely make out the words.

"Gwen, I have no cure." Gaius' eyes were full of pity as he looked at the helpless girl before him.

"I am BEGGING you." My eyes found his and he shook his head ever so slightly as I begged him with my eyes too.

"I wish there was something, anything, but so far the remedies beyond what I can achieve." Gwen's legs almost gave out and I rushed forward as though to catch her but she managed to right herself and run back out before I could say anything to her. A part of me wanted to follow but I knew that nothing I could say would make it better for her and so instead I turned my attention to Gaius.

"There must be something we can do." Even if I couldn't use magick, there had to be something, anything. He reached for the bucket and I released it to him.

"Let's hope this can provide some answers." That won't do any good to people that have contracted the disease already, as Gaius already said, the victims die within twenty-four hours.

"That'll be too late for Gwen's father!"

"I fear you may be right." His voice was so matter of fact; no pity, no sorrow, only a hard edge that told me not to even bother bringing up my own abilities again. I watched as he stuffed some sort of flower in a tube with the water before turning my back and rushing upstairs.

I lay awake for hours, pretending to be asleep when Gaius came up to check on me, only when the sound of Gaius' snoring echoes through our chambers did I finally sit up and flick through my spell book, finally settling on a spell for a healing poultice. It was a small incantation with very few ingredients needed, those that it did require I knew I would be able to find downstairs, providing I did it quietly enough not to wake Gaius. I recited the incantation in my head until I knew I had it memorised before hurriedly shoving on my boots, and draping my black robe around my shoulders before tiptoeing downstairs to Gaius' cabinet. He was in a deep sleep and usually, it took a lot to wake him but I wasn't taking any chances. As quietly as was possible I collected a few sprigs of febrifuge, Saint John's wart and angelica root. I ground them slowly in Gaius' pestle and mortar so as not to make any noise before stashing them in a small poultice pouch and sneaking out the door.

I waited behind corners and doorways, waiting for the guards to pass me by. If I got caught out now I would be under suspicion and if they found the poultice on me I was as good as dead.

"Over there!" Shit! I ducked behind a closed stall and peered around to see guards poking through bales of hay and glancing in every shadow, there was nowhere to run and if they caught me… well. I looked around, searching for anything to distract them. A guard came closer and I recognized him as one of the Knights that had been searching my chamber, somehow I doubted he would be so nice if he saw me now.

"Asterian Fectan." A wooden door creaked and moved slightly from an invisible force, and as the guard went to investigate it, it bounced open, knocking him unconscious. I felt bad but not nearly as much as I would have if I had been caught. I hurried away before anyone else could see me.

Finally, I made it to the Blacksmith's house and looking through the window I could see him fast asleep in his bed, with the small figure of Gwen sleeping, sat up on the floor, with her arms and head resting on the bed, beside him. I opened the door slowly before making my way towards the top of the bed, wincing at every creak the old floorboards made. At least if I was spotted here I could tell Gwen I wanted to check on her but I wouldn't get another chance to save her father and so I did the best I could, letting out a sigh of relief when I made it without anyone waking. I placed the poultice under the Blacksmith's pillow, stepped a few paces backwards before muttering the incantation;

"Unferemah Stah Cama."

I rushed back outside but stayed by the window to make sure it had worked, thankful anew for the still burning fire in their hearth, making it easy to see. The blacksmith stirred, and as he began to sit up Gwen awoke too.

"Father? I can't believe it, you – " She was cut off by a relieved sob and I felt my cheeks grow tight at my own smile. I watched as Gwen and her father held each other close, wishing I had known that with my own father but not once begrudging her for hers.

The next morning, I found Gwen in Morgana's chambers, alone, smiling so brightly I knew I had done the right thing, it grew even more when she noticed me.

"How's your father? Feeling better?"

"Yeah, it's incredible! It's a miracle." Her eyes filled slightly at the relief and I wished I could spend more time with her but Gaius needed me, I just wanted to make certain it had worked.

"His skin's clear? Back to normal?"

"Yes." She was nodding enthusiastically and I went to leave, pleased that she was happy again.

"Great!" I called back to her, already halfway out the door. She shouted after me when I turned my back to go.

"You don't seem surprised?" Crap!

"No, no, no, I am. It's a miracle." I hated having to lie to her but it was safer for both of us that way.

"How did you know he was well?" Her eyes looked confused and slightly suspicious. I struggled to come up with a believable answer.

"I… Because you're smiling." Ha. Good one. If her father was still ill, no chance would she seem so carefree.

"That's really weird because I haven't told anyone, but you know. How could you know?" Seriously? So much for my good excuse. How to play this? Laugh it off? That's worked in the past. I let my face turn serious.

"Alright… I'll tell you… I'm psychic." She started laughing, and I smiled back.

"No, you're not."

"It's true." I chuckled with her.

"Alright. What am I thinking?" Not hard to guess with her disbelieving smile.

"That I'm not psychic."

"You're strange." I watched as her face changed from humour to worry. "I don't mean that in a nasty way… you're just… funny. I like that." I put my hand on her shoulder, she was such a sweet girl, maybe that's why I couldn't help but want to help her. She was what I wanted to be; sweet, friendly, innocent.

"I'm pleased for you." I meant it with all my heart and I'm sure she could see that because she placed her hand on mine.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"I don't know. Just, for asking?"

"I didn't like to see you upset." I realised I'd stayed a lot longer than I should have and removed my hand before she started asking how I knew again. "I have to… get on." She smiled and waved awkwardly as I left, pleased with myself for helping her. She deserved it.

Gaius and I were walking through the castle corridors when I heard a huge commotion coming from the main corridor ahead, as I hurried forward my eyes got wider as I saw Arthur storming past me, two guards behind him, each holding one of Gwen's arms. What on earth…

"I'm innocent! Let me go! Please! I swear!" No! I chased after them, Gwen looked behind at the sound of my running feet. "Merlin! Merlin, please help me! Why won't you listen to me?" I was about to ask Arthur what was happening when Gaius grabbed my arm and forced me to walk in the opposite direction, I was too shocked to do much more than follow where he was leading.

"Merlin! Please!" Gaius dragged me forward again as I slowed down at Gwen's cry for help. He practically threw me into an empty study.

"What have you done?"

"What?" I was confused by his shout; my mind was still chasing Gweneviere.

"I warned you! Oh, I understand you thought you were doing good." It sank in with me then exactly what was going on. I think a part of me already knew but I hadn't wanted to believe it.

"I couldn't let her father die, knowing that I could cure him!" I tried to defend myself knowing all along that I'd made a mistake.

"Didn't you think it might look suspicious? The curing of one man?" My mind struggled to come up with an idea of what to do.

"Well, then… all I have to do is… I'll cure everyone! No one will ever have to know it was magick."

"It's too late! They think Gwen's a sorceress! They think she caused the disease!" What? Why? She didn't… She couldn't!

"But she didn't!" I went to run out of the room, to where I didn't know, but Gaius stopped me again.

"And how are you going to prove that?" I don't know, I really, really don't know. All I could do right now was find out what was happening to Gwen and so I headed to the throne room. I understood why Gaius said I couldn't cure everyone, they had already arrested Gwen and if others started to miraculously recover… they'd still think it was her, that she was saving others in order to save herself. But that didn't mean I could stand around and do nothing!