As the last of the cup trickled down my throat, I plucked up the courage to look at Arthur. If I was going to die, I didn't want my last sight to be Bayard's eyes. I wanted it to be Arthur's. He looked so afraid, afraid for me. My heart swelled with longing as I waited for something to happen. Nothing did. Kara was wrong. I looked back as I heard Bayard snigger; fear pouring from me at the thoughts of what he would do to me now. Death would not come quickly for me, his eyes made that quite clear. I turned back to the King and Arthur; my heart pounding, my throat closing from the fear.

"It's fine."

"She's all yours." Uther sat back down, dismissing me. Arthur did not. He was still looking at me, his eyes flickering between so many different emotions that I couldn't place them fast enough. They were making me dizzy. Or was that the lack of oxygen? I coughed slightly trying to loosen the lump of fear clogging my throat, when that didn't work I rubbed at it. It hurt. I made a whimpering noise at the pain. This wasn't just fear… at least not now… I couldn't breathe. It was hot. So hot. The hall was spinning and Arthur, Arthur was the only thing that stood still in all the madness. It was him I looked at as my legs began to crumble, his arms I felt catch me when my eyes had shut and my legs completely gave way. And then. There was nothing.

Arthur Point of View

Merlin! No! I caught her in my arms as she fell to the floor.

"It's poison." I heard my father's disbelief. It didn't last long. "Guards! Get him!" I didn't even look up as I felt the guards close in on Bayard, I had eyes only for the sweet, strong, beautiful girl that lay dying in my arms. The girl who had been willing to die. For me. I wanted Bayard dead for what he had done to her! To Hell with the consequences! I cradled her body to mine, I couldn't shake myself out of the shock enough to do anything but rock her. I could feel her heart beating frantically against mine as it tried to fight the poison making its way around her body. Gaius took her from my arms and placed her flat on the floor to examine her as Morgana knelt beside me, her hands reaching out to the poor serving girl who had put her own life on the line for me, again. I very nearly pushed them away, to tell them to leave us but the more rational part of me knew they were trying to help. So I let Gaius move her. Even though it was killing me to see her lying there in the dust in that ridiculous outfit I'd made her wear. It had been selfish of me to put her in that, after not liking the way Bayard's guards had looked at her this morning. Hell, I'd barely been able to stand my own men looking at her and now… now she might die in it. She might die… To bring myself back to the present I watched Gaius, saw how fast he was to react, the gentleness with which he brushed her hair back.

"Merlin? Can you hear me?" His voice was thick, he loved her, like his own. The girl he thought of as a daughter lay dying. Because of me. Because I couldn't protect her. I'd failed. "Get her back to my chambers," Gaius ordered me and I lifted her back into my arms without a moment's hesitation, her head resting on my chest. I leant down and buried my face in her hair briefly. I caught the look Gaius gave me but chose to ignore it. What did I care what people thought anymore? "Gwen, bring the goblet, I need to identify the poison." I hadn't noticed her behind me but I could see she'd been just as quick to react as Gaius, Morgana and I were. Look, Merlin. Open your eyes and see. See how much you're cared about. How much you're loved. I practically ran to Gaius' chambers, finally realising how precious time was. Gaius could save her but he'd need all the help he could get. He moved fast for an old man. "Lay her on the bed. Quickly, she's struggling to breathe." I laid her down as gently as I could, moving her neck back to try and allow a clearer passageway. Her skin was roasting. "Gwen, get me some water and a towel," Gaius ordered and I found I couldn't be silent any longer.

"Is she going to be alright?" I begged.

"She's burning up." Gaius' voice was matter of fact. Now he'd gotten his emotions under control, he was all physician.

"You can cure her, can't you Gaius?" Gwen was pleading too as she placed the towel in Gaius' hands and the water bucket beside the bed. I didn't know where Morgana had gone, no doubt my father had forced her to stay close by so the guards could intervene if Bayard attempted to make a move.

"I won't know until I can identify the poison. Pass me that goblet." He laid a damp towel on Merlin's brow before standing and taking the goblet Gwen offered. I watched as he examined it from all angles, his eyes lit up briefly.

"Ah. There's something stuck on the inside." I stood from Merlin's bedside, making my way over to Gaius.

"What is it?" My voice was finally back under control, I was calm and collected again. I needed to be. If I was to help Gaius then I needed a clear head. Gaius was picking away at the inside of the cup with some tweezers.

"Looks like a flower petal of some kind." He lifted it up into the light to get a better view. I had never seen a flower like it but I'd never really looked at flowers too closely in the past, anyway.

"Her brows on fire!" Gwen cried.

"Keep her cool, it will help control her fever," Gaius responded without taking his eyes off the flower. I picked up the goblet to examine it as Gaius began to check his books, I feared that if I looked back at Merlin all semblance of calm would vanish from within me.

"Ah." Gaius had found it almost immediately. I dropped the goblet and began to read over Gaius' shoulder. "It 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. This can only be found deep in the caves, beneath the forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree." There were multiple illustrations in the book also, one was of a large, vicious-looking, lizard-like creature. I pointed it out to Gaius.

"That's what protecting this Mortaeus tree?" I asked.

"A Cockatrice. 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." Gaius looked up at me, disbelief and grief betraying his thoughts. He didn't think I would save her. Or he didn't think I could. Gwen was looking at me too; begging me with her eyes to save Merlin. Looking at the fragile girl lying on the bed, who was usually so full of life would have made up my mind without the guilt of the others that cared for her looking up at me. I pushed off from the wall I was unknowingly leaning on and made for the door.

"Sounds like fun."

"Arthur, it's too dangerous." I turned back to Gaius, briefly.

"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" I asked, already knowing the answer. He bowed his head but not before I could see the pain that flashed across it.

"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. She may hold out for four, maybe even five days but not for much longer. Eventually, she will die." Then I had no choice. She made a small, whimpering noise in the back of her throat as though in response to what Gaius had said. I wasted no more time. Without another word, I left the physicians chambers. Now I just had to convince my Father.

My father was seconds away from forbidding me from going to Balor. I had to make him understand how important this was to me, without him realizing how important she was to me.

"What is the point in having people to taste for you if you're going to get yourself killed anyway?" He asked, exasperated with my inability to see things through his eyes.

"I won't fail! No matter what you think!" He had no idea how much I would risk in order to save her. I would not fail her. I couldn't. Not again. Not when I could make things right.

"Arthur, you are my only son and heir, I can't risk losing you for the sake of some servant!" She wasn't just some servant. Why couldn't he see that?

"What? Because her life's worthless?" I asked. I knew he didn't care a great deal about those that served us but this was low, even for him.

"No. Because her life's worth less than yours." Maybe to him…

"I can save her. Let me take some men."

"No." He interrupted

"We'll find the antidote and bring it back." I continued, not willing to listen to his dissuasions.

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a King. I'm not going to let you jeopardize the kingdom over some fool's errand." Saving Merlin is NOT a fool's errand.

"It's not a fool's errand. Gaius says if we can –" I knew bringing Gaius into it was a bad idea the second I said his name. My father's face told me I was right.

"Gaius!? That's exactly what makes it so."

"Please, father," I begged. He may not understand how much I cared for Merlin, which was likely a good thing, but he knew I wasn't the type to sit back and let other's suffer on my behalf. "She saved my life." I tried one last time, knowing it was useless even before he spoke. "I can't stand by and watch her die." It would kill me. A part of me started to wonder if it was more than me breaking my word as to why I felt the need to prove myself to her. If it was more than the fact she'd saved my life multiple times. If that look she'd given me this morning in my room really was what at the time I'd hoped it was. I couldn't let it be more than that. I was the Prince. She was a servant. Which was exactly the point my father had been trying to drive into me all this time.

"Then don't look." I blinked at him in surprise. How could he be so callous? He sighed, as If he realised how harsh his last sentence had been. "This girl won't be the last to die on your behalf. You're going to be King. It's something you'll have to get used to." Sending Knights out to fight battles was different. They chose that life. Merlin hadn't. She'd been practically forced into being my maidservant and all the times she'd saved me since then… it was because she was good. Not because I asked her to, or because she signed up for it but because she truly felt as though her life held no meaning. I wasn't the only one whose life she'd sacrificed her own for. She'd almost succeeded in trading her life for Gwen's after all. That was why I couldn't let her die. If the world lost her, it would be losing one of the best people the world had to offer.

"I cannot accept that." I had always fought with my men, never have I shied from battle. My men knew that. As did my father. I would never just send people out to die for me. Not when I could help.

"You're not going!"

"You can't stop me." I realised.

"Dammit, Arthur! That's the end to it! You're not leaving this castle tonight!" I watched him walk away. I knew that nothing else I could say would make him change his mind. I headed to my chambers. I needed to think.

My chambers didn't help. As soon as I walked in I remembered being so close to Merlin this morning. Arguing with her. Touching her. The way her eyes blazed when she was mad and how they darkened when she was… whatever she was after that. How her little nose turned up at the smell of my dirty laundry.

I threw my sword onto the table and leant my hands above the fireplace, feeling it warm my body even though my insides felt frozen. What was I going to do?

"Say what you like about the food but you can't beat our feasts for entertainment." I hadn't even noticed Morgana's entrance until she spoke. Her eyes were sad even if her words held humour. I felt bad, I'd left her in the middle of that and not for one second wondered how she was feeling. She cared for Merlin too.

"Morgana. I'm sorry. I should have made sure you were alright."

"Disappointed actually. I was looking forward to clumping a couple round the head with a ladle." Normally her words would make me laugh but not today. Not for a long time if Merlin died.

"I'm sure the guards could have handled Bayard and his men."

"Yeah. But why let the boys have all the fun?" She smirked. She seemed so like Merlin at that moment, and look where it had gotten her.

"Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous." She rolled her eyes in response. I wondered if that was where Merlin had picked up her bad habits, before remembering she'd been like that her very second day in Camelot, dressed as a boy. How had I not noticed that?

"Spare me the lecture. I've already had it from Uther." Join the club.

"If it's any consolation, you aren't the only one."

"Not that I listen to him. Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right and damn the consequences." Morgana's voice was slightly choked and I knew if I turned to look she'd have tears in her eyes. She was so strong but the moment she felt helpless… she broke. She'd of made a good Knight if she'd been born a man.

"You think I should go." I wasn't asking but she answered anyway.

"It doesn't matter what I think." She was smiling, she knew she'd won the battle even if I did have to get it all out there before I committed myself to it.

"If I don't come back who'll be the next King of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake." The only thing my father had been right about. She raised her eyebrow, irritation clear in those green eyes I knew so well.

"And what kind of King would Camelot want? One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" She held my sword out to me. "Or one who does what his father tells him to?" She smirked as I grabbed my sword. Maybe the reason I cared so much for Merlin was that she reminded me so much of Morgana. She knew when to let me vent and when to give me a shove in the right direction or when to just call me out on my bullshit. Morgana knew. As did Merlin. I didn't want a servant that would just bow down and do whatever I told them. I wanted the fire that Merlin threw at me with every opportunity.

I rode straight through the guards that tried to stop me leaving the castle gates that very night, caring little that they would go straight to my father. Uther was wrong and Morgana had been right. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Merlin Point of View

Voices. Gaius and Gwen. Where was Arthur? I'd heard him a moment ago. Or was it a moment? Time held no meaning in this blackness, all I could do was occasionally tune in to what was going on around me, my eyes refusing to open no matter how much I willed them and why was it so damned HOT!? Was I in Hell? Was that what this was?

"She's getting hotter." No. Gwen wouldn't be in Hell so I mustn't be either. Right? Arthur… where was Arthur? I was delirious, I could feel my lips moving but I hadn't a clue what was coming out, it was like they were in a foreign language they were so impossible to understand in my foggy mind. I heard other words come from Gwen and Gaius but just as with my own mumblings they didn't make sense. Gods help me. I felt Gaius pick up my arm, drop it, then lift it again whilst muttering with Gwen about something else, I finally managed to make sense of some of the words now that my own mouth was still.

"This can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage."

"What does that mean?" Asked, Gwen. Gaius dropped my arm again and began rustling. Reading?

"It says here that once the rash appears, death will follow within two days."

"You said she had four days."

"Something's increased the flowers potency." More rustling following as Gaius flipped pages, or at least I'm guessing that was what he was doing. I couldn't see anything and I could barely comprehend what he was even saying. All I knew was that I didn't have long left of this. Not long left to suffer. Please, Arthur. Sit with me. Talk to me. Touch me. I want you near when I finally go. I want to leave this life, remembering you. "It warns that the effect of the Mortaeus flower will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flowers preparation." Magick? That doesn't make sense. Actually, nothing made much sense to me at the moment but still.

"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer." Uttered Gwen, confusion evident in her voice.

"No. He isn't." Agreed Gaius

"Then who did this?" Who indeed? Who else would want Arthur dead? The suspects were endless but all faceless.

"It can't have been." Can't have been what? Spit it out, Gaius, I didn't have it in me to focus much longer, the heat was building, my mind already fuzzing again but I forced it to go silent again, knowing it would rise again soon. Very soon. And I would be lost, for who knew how long? "She wouldn't dare come here. Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"What happened to that girl?" Me? I'm here… are you forgetting me already? What is going on?!

"What girl?"

"Just before Merlin burst into the hall one of Bayard's serving girls took her outside." Kara? What did she have to do with any of this?

"She had dark hair. Very beautiful."

"Find her. Quickly." It can't have been… surely… I hadn't liked her but to kill Arthur, well to kill me whilst targeting Arthur? But no… if that were the case why would she have warned me? The fuzziness was back and I could fight it off no longer. I returned to the darkness, to silence, to pre-death. My mumblings began anew and I was lost to them.

I won my mind back much quicker this time, as though a force wanted me to hear what more Gaius had to say. It started with the door banging open, or at least that's what my ears told me. I still could not open my eyes, or control my own mouth but it wasn't mumbling any more. That was a good sign.

"Let me guess. She wasn't there." She got away. Good, I think. But how?

"No one has seen her since the banquet." It had been Gwen whose entrance woke me from the nothingness. I briefly wondered if Kara had left the same moment I did. She must have known what was coming and fled before she could be caught up in it any more than she already was. Has she made it back to Mercia yet? Has she told them of Bayard's plan backfiring? Are we at war? "Who is she, Gaius?" She? Oh, Kara.

"Not who she claims to be." What does that mean?

"But you know, don't you." It wasn't a question. Gwen knew. Gaius knew. I just wish I knew what the Hell they were on about?!

"Kara." Why does everything come back to that girl?! What could she possibly have to do with any of this! She was terrified. Well, she seemed terrified. But surely anyone that scared for her own life… a handmaiden… it hit me then. No normal handmaiden would ever put their own life on the line for that of a Prince. None except me, that is. Kara had played me and Gaius knew it. "No. That's not her name. Not her real name anyway."

"Then who is she?" Yeah, who the bloody hell is she!?

"A powerful sorceress."

"Well, we should tell Uther. Maybe he could send riders out after her." If she was this powerful sorcerer like Gaius claimed, Uther would never find her.

"No. She'll be long gone. It's impossible to know where though…" If she was trying to kill Arthur then she'd still be close by, waiting for another opportunity… I still couldn't understand why she'd warned me though. "Oh no." Uttered Gaius.

"What?"

"She knows the only place an antidote will be found is the forest of Balor. Arthur could be walking into a trap." No! Not Arthur! She would NOT harm him! I would kill her first! I felt myself growing stronger, my heart beating faster. My eyes opened.

I wasn't in Gaius' chambers. I was in the woods. I could see Arthur. He was walking towards me, leading his horse. He was safe.

"Arthur?! Arthur!" He didn't hear me. How? I was shouting loud enough to wake the birds, I started to walk towards him and noticed that my feet did not move the ground with all its leaves and twigs. What is going on? Was I dead? Or is this Magick? Am I being allowed to watch this without interacting? Why? What could I do? "Arthur?" He still did not hear me, even though now he was right by my side. I settled for walking alongside him, watching over him though I knew that I couldn't physically intervene. The black head of a serpentine creature poked its head from beneath a log, its tongue scenting the air. It was going to attack. I tried to move Arthur out of the way but I went straight through him, he was completely oblivious to the hidden creature poised to attack. I bent low, eye to eye with the black snake. Its head was nearly the size of my own but it too, could not see me.

"Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean." The snake backed away, fear filling its mind, though there was nothing he could see to cause it. I was pleased with myself, in the knowledge that even though I could not touch this land, for my body was not there, I could still manipulate it with my Magick. I may get Arthur out of this alive, yet. I walked on beside Arthur, letting him unknowingly lead me through the misty trees. A woman's sob broke the silence. Was this the trap Gaius had warned of? Arthur rushed forward, oblivious to my caution. I had no choice but to follow. As soon as I could see the figure I knew it was her. That dark hair was impossible to forget, her clothes were changed –ripped and torn – a scratch clear on her arm.

"Hello?" Arthur called out as I silently glared at Kara from above her, I had moved ahead so I could see into her eyes, see the truth that she had kept secret. See what she really was. She let out another sob in response to Arthur's presence and I felt my lip curl up in disgust, they were so obviously faked. How could Arthur not see that? Of course, he wouldn't. He wasn't just the Prince, he was also a Knight, rescuing damsels in distress was his speciality. After all, I was the reason he was in these most feared woods after all. "Are you alright?" He asked, bending down beside her. She played her part well, moving slightly away from him as though afraid. She knew the game, it was just a pity that Arthur didn't. An almighty hiss caused me to spin around as Arthur jumped back to his feet and Kara let out a little yelp in faked terror. A huge, lizard-like creature came lumbering over the mound ahead, wings spread behind him although he looked too heavy to truly fly; it was probably more for balance. Like a chicken. "Stay back," Arthur ordered and I did as he said before remembering he wasn't talking to me. The idiot. She was in no danger, now that I could see better I noticed the glazed look in the creature's eyes –she was the one controlling it. If I hadn't been sure already, the evil glint in her eye and the delighted smile would have convinced me. Arthur, of course, couldn't see this as by now he'd placed himself between her and the creature, his sole attention on the beast in front of him. He drew his sword, swinging it in practice and placing his feet shoulder width apart for balance. I came up beside him; knowing that if Kara –this almighty Sorceress –couldn't see me, then no one would. I watched Arthur as he continued to swing his sword in practised manoeuvres, the look on his face one of pure concentration and not a twinge of fear. He looked so handsome at that moment, so brave, I could see what the Dragon had meant. Arthur would be a great King. All I had to do was make sure he survived long enough to accept the crown. I squared my shoulders and faced the creature; ready to use any Magick I needed to. Bring it on, Beastie. Arthur started with great, sweeping motions as though trying to scare it off, he had no idea that the beast could feel no fear whilst under Kara's control. However, when it reared back and lunged through the air for his neck he began to realise how deadly the creature was, that no sword tricks were going to put it off. Arthur dropped to the ground, using his momentum to roll underneath the creature's body before standing up and turning around again in the same motion. I smirked at Kara, even knowing she couldn't see me. Don't count my boy out too soon, little witch. I strolled right through the beast to stand at Arthur's side again and when he threw his sword through the air toward the creature's exposed stomach, I made sure it was the blade that hit its mark, not the hilt. It died where it fell; Arthur's sword protruding from its chest. Kara's face dropped with it, her earlier glee forgotten. She noticed Arthur's eyes on her and stumbled back, away from him. Back to playing her little game. Arthur kept moving toward her, his hand out.

"It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt you. Who did that to you?" He asked, motioning toward the bruised and scratched up arm she made a show of clutching.

"My… my master." She whispered. "I ran away from him but then I got lost… please don't leave me!" Oh, give it a rest! You're laying it on way too thick! One minute you're afraid, then he's your hero, next you'll be trying to kill him again! I really wanted to slap her and I silently debated throwing her through a tree with my Magick. Of course, Arthur would be on guard then and no doubt she'd become aware that someone was watching her and she'd just kill him quickly. I had to bide my time… I couldn't let my hatred for her get in the way of my mission to protect Arthur. He was my priority. She would get what was coming to her but not now. Not yet.

"I won't." Idiot! Why can't you see it, Arthur? "I'm not going to."

"You can take me away from here?" Oh, now you're playing the seductress? Seriously? Don't you ever give up?

"Not yet. There's something I have to do first." The look on her face was priceless. She couldn't believe Arthur had passed on her beauty in order to go after a cure for me. My smile grew as I stared at my Prince. I'd follow him anywhere for that alone. Her face changed again to helpful, willing and slightly wise. Here we go again. Another role for the perfect actress.

"Why have you come to the caves?" She asked.

"I'm looking for something." Arthur may have believed her, may even be willing to look out for her, but he was not forthcoming with more information, he didn't trust her. Not completely. "It can only be found here." Was all he said as an explanation.

"What is it?" She asked, all wide-eyed and innocent. He barely even looked at her, not bothering to answer her question. My smile was growing ever bigger by the second. Hers souring at him not paying enough attention to her. "I know this place. I could help you." Arthur looked doubtful but conceded to her questioning. She knew why he was here, it wouldn't have mattered if he'd told her or not. Still, I had liked him not giving her what she wanted.

"It's a type of flower that only grows inside the cave. It's very rare." He raised his eyebrow, not expecting her to know. In fact, he'd already begun walking toward the cave, only passing a foot away from her. I stiffened, waiting for her to attack but of course, she didn't. She was sneakier than that.

"The Mortaeus flower? I know where they are. I'll show you." Arthur pulled a face at his horse, no doubt confused by her rapidly changing emotional state and at how seconds ago she'd been afraid of him but now was willing to walk through a creepy, dangerous cave without a second thought. I knew him though. He may not trust her but he would do anything if he felt it was his best option and right now? She was his best hope of finding the cure for me in time. Walk away, Arthur. Leave this place and don't look back. I'm not worth it.