"- the truth!"

"But you need proof! We can't just tell Gaius -"

"Why won't you just listen -"

"I am listening to you! I'm just - Mordred!"

Arthur frowned when the younger warlock burst out of his chambers and went storming past him. "Mor-"

"Don't you start," he growled before turning a corner.

"Mordred!" Merlin called, coming out of the door.

"I see your talk went well," Arthur said.

Merlin threw his hands in the air and went back into Arthur's chambers. When Arthur followed, he started ranting, "He's got it in his head that Alice is up to something, but all he's got is a few passages from some books on legends, nothing concrete. I keep trying to explain that we need proof, like we always do, but he's got it in his head that I don't believe him. It's not that I don't. I'm trying to hear him out and help him, I just… He won't listen!"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Calm down, this will all blow over soon."

"I don't know," Merlin sighed, deflating.

The prince frowned and shifted awkwardly before walking up to the boy and playfully punching him in the arm. "Oh, cheer up, will you?"

"How is punching me in the arm meant to cheer me up?" he huffed, rubbing his arm.

Arthur's brow furrowed. "It works with the knights."

"Well, they're thick, aren't they?"

"I'm a knight," Arthur huffed.

Merlin looked him over, eyebrows raising as he gave a nod and turned away. "There you go, then."

Arthur picked him up and tossed him on the bed.

He got a pillow to the face in retaliation.

He jumped onto the bed, pulling Merlin into a headlock and digging his knuckles into his hair.

"Ow! Ah!"

"Still think I'm thick?"

"No! No! No, no, no, no!"

Arthur let him squirm free, only to pin him to the bed.

"Prat," Merlin huffed.

"Idiot," Arthur chirped back before leaning down to kiss him.

He kissed back easily, but, as always, when Arthur tried to deepen it, Merlin pulled back. This time in the form of turning his head and saying, "I have chores I need to do."

"Since I'm the one who gives you chores," Arthur hummed, nuzzling his neck. "I say you don't."

"I'm serious," Merlin said, squirming.

"Come o-"

"Get. Off."

Arthur frowned and rolled off the boy.

Sitting up, Merlin ducked his head. "Sorry."

Arthur studied him for a moment before a cold stone settled in his stomach. "Merlin, if you don't want to kiss m-"

"No!" Merlin shouted, turning to him. He blushed. "I mean, I do. I just… don't see why it needs to go beyond that. What's wrong with what we've done so far?"

He looked so worried and self-conscious that Arthur found himself saying, "Nothing."

"Good, great. Glad that's settled," Merlin said and then he was gone before anything else could be said.

Arthur stared at the door. He wanted to believe Merlin, but then why wouldn't he want more? He and Guinevere had snogged plenty of times. Merlin had to know that, considering how many times he'd walked in on them due to his inability to knock. So it couldn't be Guinevere holding him back. Was it Freya?

One way to find out.

Freya was making the bed of some lord or another when he found her.

She glanced up when he came in, then turned back to the sheets she was tucking in. "Hello, Arthur."

"Hello. Can I ask you a question about Merlin?"

"Sure."

"Have you and Merlin ever gone farther than kissing? Like snogging or anything."

She didn't answer until she'd finished with the sheets. Then she turned to him with a knowing smile. "You tried something and he ran off?"

"Yes," he sighed. Maybe it wasn't just him after all.

She nodded. "He did that when I tried to kiss his neck."

"Do you know why? He just rambled something about not seeing the point of going further and then ran off."

"That's more than I got out of him," she shrugged. "I'm not about to push him. I figure when he's ready for more, he'll initiate it."

"That's it? You don't want to know why?"

"Of course I do, but I'm not going to force him to tell me. You saw him, did he look like he wanted to talk about it?"

"No," he admitted. "I just… What if we did something wrong?"

She watched for a moment. "I thought about that," she said softly. "I thought I'd pushed him into something he didn't want and that he'd leave soon.

"But he's still here, isn't he?" she continued, voice firmer. "We still cuddle. We kiss, even if it's just a brush of lips and nothing more. And we kiss a lot. I know you do too. He loves us and he wants us, he just doesn't want anything more than that. It's not us, it's him. I'm not blaming him or anything; he has a right to place boundaries. I'm just saying we shouldn't blame ourselves either."

He nodded. He wanted more, but she was right. He wasn't about to force Merlin into something he was uncomfortable with. He could only hope that one day Merlin would talk to them about it. Until then, he would take what Merlin was willing to give. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

"Are you alright, Merlin?" Alice asked as she set a bowl of stew in front of him.

"Yes, sorry, it's just… Mordred and I got into a fight, and then Arthur and I..." he sighed and shook his head. "Things are just piling up."

She smiled and took his hand to squeeze it. "You're all young. You'll figure this out in the end."

Merlin stared at her hand then looked up with a forced smile. "I hope so."

They ate for a few moments, Alice and Gaius discussing medicine with Merlin half-listening, then the warning bells started ringing. Merlin stood up just as a guard came in.

"The prince has requested your immediate assistance in the King's Chambers," he told Gaius.

Merlin glanced at his uncle, then ran to grab the medical bag as Gaius stood and said goodbye to Alice. Together they rushed through the castle until they reached Arthur.

Uther was on the floor next to his bed, still fully clothed. The prince knelt over him, gently slapping his face.

"Father!" he called then looked up at them. He stood up and came to Gaius to hurry him along. "I found him this way. I-I can't rouse him."

Gaius knelt and felt his pulse. "The King's alive, but his pulse is weak."

"What's wrong with him?" Arthur asked and Merlin pulled him away so he wouldn't crowd Gaius.

"Give him space," he said, squeezing the prince's arm.

Arthur set his hand over Merlin's for half a second before pulling away.

"Seal off the king's quarters," Gaius said, not noticing their actions as he checked over Uther.

Arthur nodded and ran out.

Merlin knelt next to Gaius and opened the bag. "Wha-"

Uther's eyes shot open with a gasp and the two reared back when they saw his eyes were pure black.

"What is that?"

"Hush, Merlin."

Uther rolled his head to the side and his eyes closed.

Frowning, Gaius grabbed the king's arm, only to reveal a bottle under his hand. He picked it up and sniffed it.

"That's the bottle you use for his medicine, isn't it?"

"It is," he said, closing it and sticking it in the bag.

Merlin opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Gaius finished his investigation and they left the chambers.

Arthur was waiting for them in the hall. "Well?"

"I am afraid I cannot yet determine the cause of your father's illness," Gaius declared.

"Well, he's been poisoned, hasn't he?"

"I cannot say at this stage."

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

"We must not jump to hasty conclusions, Sire. Please watch over him till I return."

Arthur met Merlin's eyes as he passed them.

The warlock waited until they were away from the guards, then said, "I don't think we need any more information."

"Since when are you the expert in such matters?" Gaius tisked.

Merlin stepped in front of him. "I-I know it's hard to admit, Gaius, and I wish it weren't true, but he's been poisoned and I think we both know who did it."

"What exactly are you implying?"

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

"Merlin, you have no proof of any of this," Gaius said, sounding angry and Merlin ducked his head.

"How else did he ingest the poison? There is no other explanation."

"Of course there is."

"I'm so sorry, Gaius. 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."

"All I know is that the King is gravely ill and that your place is by Arthur's side!"

Merlin sighed as Gaius pushed past him. He returned to Uther's chambers to see that the guards had helped Arthur place the king in bed. Arthur knelt next to his father as the guards left.

"Mordred was right," Merlin said softly, coming to Arthur's side and setting his hands on his shoulders.

Arthur nodded. "It couldn't have been his food or drink, which only leaves Gaius's remedy, and I know he wouldn't betray the king."

"Gaius refuses to see reason. I tried to talk to him and he sent me off."

Arthur squeezed his hand. "I have to arrest her. Stay with my father."

"I should be th-"

"Gaius will blame you. Stay." He stood up and turned to Merlin. Whispering, he added, "See if there's anything you can do. I know you don't care for my father, but…"

Merlin bumped their foreheads together. "He's your father. I'm awful at healing spells, but I'll try."

"Thank you." Arthur gave him a quick kiss and pulled away. "Get Mordred and Freya caught up."

Arthur took a deep breath, then threw open the doors to the Physician's Chambers.

Gaius and Alice were standing facing each other but turned towards him at his entrance.

"You're under arrest for high treason. Take her away," he said and the guards came forward to drag her out. "I'm sorry, Gaius, but poison is the only thing that makes sense. She's the only one that had the opportunity."

Gaius stepped forward, but Arthur stopped him from saying anything.

"I really am sorry, Gaius, but you're too biased on this and I received word days ago that she might be up to something. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt before for your sake, but I can't take any chances now."

"I-I understand, Sire. But I think there might be more to this."

"You can plead her case at her trial," Arthur said then left.

Mordred met him on the way to the dungeons, looking smug.

"Don't say it. I just had to arrest her right in front of Gaius."

He deflated. "I didn't want to hurt Gaius."

"I know."

They came to Alice's cell and Mordred stayed back as Arthur approached her.

"Do you admit to using magic?" he asked.

"Yes," she said quickly.

"Admit to poisoning the King?"

"Yes, yes, but it forced me to do it. I-it made me."

Arthur glanced back at Mordred. "Who forced you?"

"The creature. The creature."

"What creature?"

She shook her head. "I-I can't say."

Arthur scowled and slammed his fist against the bars. "If you were forced, then tell me how to cure my father."

"I don't know. I don't know! I'm so sorry. The manticore -" she cut off in a gurgle and Arthur jumped back as her eyes went black.

"She's ensorcelled," Mordred whispered.

"Is there anything you can tell me?" Arthur asked as her eyes returned to normal.

Shaking, she bowed her head.

Arthur nodded and left. "Ensorcelled?"

"Turned into a thrall by a magical creature," Mordred said. "She must obey and can't betray her master. That's why she was so afraid of it."

They made it up to his father's chambers to see Gaius and Merlin standing over the bed. "Gaius -"

"It's alright, Sire. You did what you had to do," the old man sighed.

"How is he?"

Merlin gave him a sympathetic expression as Gaius said, "He's fading. He won't last the day."

"I've spoken to Alice. She admitted to poisoning him, but she can't tell me anything. She's been ensorcelled by a manticore."

"A manticore?" Gaius asked, sounding shocked.

"You know of it? Can you do something?"

The physician shook his head. "I cannot counteract the manticore's venom. It's too deadly, by far."

"There's nothing that can be done?"

Gaius thought for a moment. "The poison is imbued with the manticore's magic. If you were to kill it, the poison would lose its potency."

"How do I kill it?" Arthur asked, hand going to his sword.

"You can't. You don't have the power. It's a creature of the Old Religion. But maybe there's another way. If I can remember… There was something in my books."

"We'll go look," Arthur said, grabbing Merlin and shoving him towards the door. "Do what you can for my father until then."

"I've got it!" Freya said, showing them a book with a drawing of the manticore. "It says it can't live in this world for long. It's connected to the spirit world."

"So we just need to trap it here until it dies," Arthur said.

"We could bring it here, then destroy the box," Mordred pointed out. "It wouldn't be able to return without it. We'll need magic to destroy it though."

Arthur nodded. "I'll fetch a net. Freya and I can hold it while you two destroy the box."

"Are you sure that's safe?" Merlin asked, glancing between the two. "If it stings you…"

"We'll be careful," Freya said, taking his hand.

"Besides, Gaius said the venom will stop working when it dies, so we'll be fine even if it does sting us," Arthur shrugged. At Merlin's wide-eyed gaze, he added, "Not that it will. Stop worrying, you girl's petticoat."

"It is fortunate, indeed, that you destroyed the cursed box, Arthur," Uther said, accepting a glass of water from Arthur.

"It will take time, My Lord, but you will make a full recovery," Gaius said.

"What of the woman?"

"We have her in the cells, Sire. She awaits your judgment. Ho-" Arthur started but was cut off by his father.

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

"Father, it appears she was under the control of the beast. She had no intention of doing anything she has done, in light of that -"

"It matters not. She practiced magic. There are no circumstances under which that is acceptable."

"No circumstances?" Arthur asked with ice in his voice and Uther shot him a look.

"Her judgment stands. That is my final word."

Arthur met his eyes for a moment then bowed his head. "Yes, Father," he said before stomping out.

Arthur drew circles on Merlin's hip as he listened to the boy. Once he was done, the prince said, "I figured Gaius was the one to help her escape, but I'm surprised he didn't go with her."

Merlin sighed into his shoulder. "He said he didn't want to leave me. Said someone needed to keep an eye on me."

"He's not wrong," Arthur chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead when he looked up to pout.

Merlin snorted and rolled over onto him.

As they kissed, one of Arthur's hands continued its circles while the other settled on the back of Merlin's neck. When Merlin tried to deepen the kiss, he gave a pleased hum and allowed it until he realized how stiff the boy felt. He pulled back, his hand slipping to Merlin's shoulder to stop him from following.

Merlin frowned. "I thought you wanted this."

"But you don't."

"I-I…"

Arthur gave him a peck. "It's okay. You don't need to force yourself into something for me. I'm willing to wait until you're ready."

"And… what if I'm never ready?" Merlin whispered.

Arthur rubbed his back and held back a frown. He wanted to ask so much. "It won't change a thing."

After a few moments of studying his face, Merlin gave a teary smile and pressed their foreheads together. "Thank you."

"Of course. I…" Arthur felt the words get caught in his throat.

Looking into his eyes, Merlin chuckled and kissed him. "I love you too, prat."