Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
A Remedy to Cure All Ills
The king's niece returns from the Darkling Woods just before the sun rises. Only the servants and knights are awake, so no one pays her any mind… until she gets into the castle. As she walks down the corridor leading to her chambers, she passes Arthur walking in the opposite direction with Leon and Owain. The three of them were discussing something about their training with the other knights.
Usually, Estella would simply brushes past them, leaving them to stare in her wake, but she is in a rather mischievous mood. So, when she pasts the three men this time she 'accidentally' loses the ribbon that was in her hair and it flutters in the air falling on a window sill.
They don't even notice it at first. Owain and Leon simply notice her and they stop in their tracks. Arthur only a moment later, realizes the distraction and nearly rolls his eyes. Going back, he punches his two knights to get their attentions.
The two are jolted from their fantasies. "Sire…" they say at once, at the same time.
The prince's lips are set in a tight line. He's obviously not angry, but not very happy either. "I am aware that the Lady Estella is quite beautiful, but the king would have your heads if he caught you looking at her like that." The two look down with some semblance of shame, not saying anything. Arthur's face softens as well as his tone. "Besides, she's more likely to marry a rock than either of you."
This makes the woman turn and stroll back to the three knights. Her fair face is emotionless, but her eyes resemble silver daggers and they are just as sharp and cutting. "I resent that, Cousin."
Arthur had the decency to actually look apologetic (but he did fear his elder cousin and it really was only a joke). "I only speak the truth." She actually rolls her eyes at this as he assesses her attire. "Returning from another early morning stroll?"
While the cousins converse, Leon takes notice of her loose black hair and her ribbon missing. He glances around and spots it on the window sill. The knight retrieves it and chivalrously offers the piece of cloth to the king's niece.
"My Lady, I believe you dropped this." He says softly.
She gently takes her cerulean ribbon, softly brushing his fingers, which causes them to tingle. "Did I now?" Leon looks bashful from the undertone of her words. The woman smiles and quirks a delicate brow, "Well, would you like to help me put it back in my hair?"
Leon is at a loss for words at her brazenness as Owain glares at the exchange. Arthur, ignoring Owain, clears his throat. "I'm sure he would love to help, but we must get to training." The prince roughly shoves his men in the direction they were initiating heading. "Have a lovely day, cousin."
Chuckling lightly she says, "You as well, Arthur. Next time, though, I would appreciate it if you did not ruin my fun."
...
Gwen steps into her other mistress' chambers. "Look what's just arrived for you!" she announces.
Morgana looks up from her jewelry and sees the numerous lilies. "Who are they from?" Gwen hands her the flowers.
"I don't know. Maybe Arthur?" she hints.
The woman's delighted expression turns into an amused sneer, "How disappointing."
"Why, would you like them to be from?" Her maid asks.
She feigns actual contemplation. "I don't know, tall, dark stranger?" she suggests.
Gwen laughs softly as she takes the lilies and places them on the bedside table. Morgana could not refrain from glancing fondly at them.
Sir Owain drowsily opens his eyes to bright sunlight streaming into his room. He groans and stretches his arm to the other side of his bed. Feeling it empty and cold, he springs up and looks around.
He spots the woman who should be beside him standing at the window. Fully dressed and thoughtfully chewing on an apple, Lady Estella doesn't seem to notice that Owain had awoken (but she does, the past is simply haunting her, again).
The knight allows himself, for that moment, to fully appreciate the image of the noblewoman before him. Her tall, curvaceous body is garbed in a royal blue, velvet gown; around her slender neck is a sapphire necklace, and on her delicate wrist, a matching bracelet. Her long, luscious, ebony locks are pulled onto one shoulder, leaving visible the pale marks he had given her last night (and would be gone before the afternoon).
She speaks suddenly, making it clear that she is aware that he is awake and that she is peeved. "You took long, enough."
Owain puts on a lazy grin. "Well, I was recovering from the rigorous activities from the night."
Estella snorts in an extremely un-ladylike manner. "What rigorous activity?"
He points towards the marks on her neck. "I'm sure those will remind you."
She doesn't even flinch. "Well it was certainly pleasurable, but not much of a workout." The young man had the audacity to look offended. "Really, you are too confident in your abilities as a bed partner." Again, he does not speak, so she continues. "It seems you can't even handle me in bed, how do you think you can handle me on the battlefield?" (When she and Morgana spar with him and Leon, Morgana is always his partner and Estella Leon's).
"Because I am trained by the best," he answers arrogantly, regaining some assurance.
The woman rolls her eyes. "Well, I was trained beside the best. Therefore it is safe to assume that I am better than you." She went to his mirror to check her face, signaling that that discussion is over.
The young man sighs as something occurs to him. "Why is it that you always leave me in bed?"
She is taken aback for a second, but recovers quickly. "It's better than me being left." (He does not notice the melancholy in her eyes).
"A knight never leaves his Lady." He declares.
Estella turns with her eyes fierce and narrowed. "I'm not your Lady."
He slowly eyes her, "Well… what w-"
"Simply because I warm your bed at night, does not mean that I belong to you. And don't you forget who is in control and the more experienced," Her eyes flicker to the bruises that were left from her tying him up. "The first night you were… quite innocent, were you not?"
His face reddening says it all and he gulps at her unvoiced threat and the fire in those gray orbs of hers. She glances out the window. "You're going to be late for your training session."
This reminder that he had training made him spring from his bed. "Umm… When did you plan to come to me again?"
"Why does it matter? It is not as if you have other liaisons as I do." He looks up from his clothes and armor, clearly dismay. She quirks an elegant brow, "What, did you really think I didn't know about your lack of partners or is it because you are not the only one?" The young knight struggles to form coherent words, but could not for the life of think of what to say.
The woman sighs in exasperation. "I don't even- Never mind. I will not be returning." She heads to the door and opens it. Hearing heavy footsteps behind her, she turns and her eyebrows rise. Seeing Owain nearly run after completely naked made her snicker. "You may want to put on some pants." Realizing that he wasn't wearing anything the young man flushes. Estella shuts the door. "What is it?"
"What do you mean you're not returning?" he demands.
She rolls her eyes. "I told you, the king has finally deemed it safe enough for me to travel, so Lord Agravaine has sent my knights and they shall be escorting me back to Caerleon."
He doesn't dare to think what she seems to be implying. "But… when you return to Camelot-"
Estella's expression is clearly one of annoyance. "It doesn't mean I'm returning to you. Get yourself another woman if you're going to be lonely, I don't care." With that, she wrenches the door and slams it after stepping out. (Really, she didn't want to be so harsh, but this is what it would take for Owain to leave her be).
It's nearly two days since the lilies arrived for Morgana. Since the morning afterward, she hasn't rose from her slumber. Gaius did what he could with what he knew, but nothing he tried worked and this deepens the royal family's worry.
The king remains true to his friend, believing that the Court Physician would eventually find a cure. Estella, even while knowing that sorcery is the cause, cannot do anything. Never is there a time in which Morgana is left alone, so the king's niece sits back and watches with a clenched heart.
The prince tries to continue on as if nothing is wrong, but during his breaks in the day, when he would simply relax in his chambers, he visits Morgana. He does not really know what to think of the whole situation.
The only thing he knows is that he and Morgana fight and bicker and half the time she makes him want to pull his hair out... but the idea of a world without her is too terrible to contemplate. So he holds onto the knowledge that Morgana is strong and a fighter, rarely anything defeats her and (for him) this time is no different.
...
Arthur is informed that some visitor insists on meeting him. He has little sympathy to waste on a stranger – all he could think of is Morgana, but as the future king he must attend to all his duties (especially when his father is lax with his, but he doesn't blame the king).
Stepping into the courtyard, the prince skips any pleasantries and immediately questions the scar-faced man. "What's your business here?"
The man answers, "My name is Edwin Muirden and I have a remedy to cure all ills."
This knowledge has little impression on Arthur, "Is that so?"
"I beg an audience with the king." He tells the prince.
"Our court has a physician." He informs the stranger, continuing on his way to Morgana's chambers.
To his astonishment the man has the gall to speak of her. "I hear the Lady Morgana is gravely ill."
Arthur abruptly turns and snaps, "That is no concern of yours."
"I may be able to help her," The man calmly states.
"Our physician has the matter in hand," He says in a surprisingly even tone, but it is laced with a recognizable threat if pushed further.
So, Edwin simply bows his head. "I'll be at the inn, in case you change your mind." Arthur glowers at the man before entering the castle once more.
...
Arthur sits besides Morgana's bed watching, waiting, hoping for her to open her eyes. She remains still. Her usually shining hair is lank around her shoulders, her skin is sickly pale, if it wasn't for the slight rise and fall of her chest, she could pass for a corpse- 'No!' the prince stops that thought. He cannot think that.
Morgana will live. Morgana will get better. He is sure of it.
Tentatively, he puts his hand on top of hers and squeezes her fingers. "You're not going to die." He pauses. "I promised once that I would never leave you alone. You made me the same promise and even though we may fight all time, we never break our promises." Arthur pauses, feeling a bit awkward. "Come back, Morgana. We need you."
He moves his hand and continues his watch over her.
That night, Arthur sits with his chair in front of the fire, awaiting any news of Morgana's condition. He is thankful that his cousin and Merlin are in the room with him, otherwise he'd be left to ponder on Morgana's fate alone and that would eventually lead him to think the worse of things.
Estella, having been forced by Gaius to leave Morgana's side, though unable to be alone either, is silent as she simply stares into the flames.
The manservant, however, is pacing on one side of the room. "It's going to be alright. It is. I know it is. She's gonna be absolutely-"
"Merlin!" his master interrupts the boy's rambling.
"What?" he sounds surprised by Arthur's sudden outburst.
Through clenched teethed, the prince answers, "You're making me anxious."
"But I'm not worried," He insists and resumes his previous activity.
Arthur's fist tightens and he begins to rub his temple, "Then stop pacing."
Cautiously, he settles into the chair next to Estella. He still is not able to keep still as his fingers start tapping against the table. And Arthur, in the same restless state, gets up from his chair and begins pacing in front of the fireplace.
Merlin watches Arthur before his eyes flicker to the Lady beside him, whose eyes had not left the flames. Merlin's been in Camelot long enough to know that the king's niece is not as blatantly empathetic as her equally as beautiful Lady cousin, but if ever there's a time Estella will show her emotions, it is where Morgana's health and safety are concerned. The same could be said about Arthur.
The next morning, Gaius, Uther, Arthur, and Estella are in Morgana's chambers yet again. There is no visible change.
When the physician straightens up after his examination of her, he looks to the king. "I cannot preserve her life much for longer. She has hours, maybe less."
"We cannot let her die!" Arthur cries in anguish, voicing what Estella's thoughts are screaming. Though she is almost certain that this illness will not kill Morgana, the shadows of doubt are always with her, no matter the situation.
"Arthur, please." Uther implores as he sits on Morgana's bed.
But the king's son would not be silenced, he moves to the other side of Morgana's bed. "There's a man. He came to the castle yesterday. He claims he can cure her."
The king says, "That's ridiculous. He doesn't know what's wrong with her."
Arthur quickly continues, "He says he has a remedy to cure all ills."
Gaius feels great sympathy for the young prince. Desperation is making him grasp at any possibility. But the physician has studied medicine for many years and he knows there is no such remedy that exists in the world, "Impossible," He voices.
Arthur wouldn't listen. "But for Morgana's sake, surely, we should at least hear him out. I mean what have we got to lose?" He looks to the king, "Please, Father."
Gaius wouldn't allow the royals any false hope, therefore he cautions, "It may be some charlatan hoping for a quick shilling."
"I don't care!" Arthur shouts, "If she's about to die, then what harm can it do? Give him his shilling! If there's one chance in a million he can save her, then why not?"
As the king sits and contemplates his son's words, Gaius could only look upon the prince with something akin to wonder. In the eyes of the court, Morgana and Arthur's complicated relationship always lead to unfortunate situations. Affection, genuine or otherwise, can soon turn to sniping and emotion, real or not, is dismissed with sarcasm. But what the physician now sees is that the shadow of death allows one (both) to show his (their) true feelings. As Morgana lies at death's door, Arthur in his desperation shows how much he cares. He will try anything, even turning to an unknown physician, to cure Morgana.
Finally, Uther says to his son, "Send for him." And Arthur hastily does so.
Arthur stations himself in the corner of Morgana's chambers, his sky blue eyes filled with melancholy. Uther stands at the end of her bed, watching for any signs of change. Estella had not moved from Morgana's side and Gaius stands on the other side, the four of them silent as they wait for the physician to arrive.
When he does, Estella nearly twitches at the essence of magic. The Lady can recognize Morgana and Gaius as if they were her own, and she has learned how to distinguish Merlin's, but this magical aura she felt from the lilies three days ago. A feeling of dread runs through her, but before she can react, Edwin asks everyone to leave.
The king's niece stares incredulously at the scar-faced man. "Someone should be with her," Callousness patent in her words.
Edwin looks upon the young woman, dismissing the tone for her grief. "The Lady Estella, I presume." He makes a show of bowing courteously to her. "I must say your beauty is far grea-"
"Don't try to flatter me to get your way!" she barks.
"Estella," the king implores, believing that the girl is simply as desperate as everyone else for Morgana's recovery. "Come, we must leave Edwin to do his work."
She tries to protest, "But, Uncle-"
"Come, child." Uther then tugs his niece from the chair and ushers her, rather forcefully, out the room. She doesn't complain this time, knowing that there is naught she can do.
Gaius is also called upon by the king when he lingers behind.
...
Gwen opens the door to Morgana's chambers and abruptly stops. While her mistress lays immobile on her bed, a strange man leans over her. Though the maid reasons that this is the foreign physician that Estella informed her of, the proximity in which the man leans toward Morgana is… unsettling.
The young girl cranes her neck in order to better see what the physician is doing, but he senses her eyes on him.
"Why are spying on me?" he demands.
"I wasn't, I'm her maidservant," she answers, innocently.
"Then bring me some water." He orders.
Gwen's suspicion intensifies at the obvious attempt to make her leave, "Someone-"
"Do you want to be responsible for her death?" he questions.
"No, but-"
Edwin interrupts, "Then, you will bring me some water, now. Or she may die."
At his extremely insistent tone, she then reluctantly leaves her friend alone with the man, moving quickly in order to return as fast as possible.
...
To Arthur, it feels like an eternity since they left Morgana to be examined by Edwin. He stands next his father, presenting his princely stance as they wait. Occasionally, he glances at his cousin, sitting on a chair, her hands shaking in her lap. Arthur is about to approach her when Edwin comes down from Morgana's chambers.
"Great news, Your Majesty, you will be glad to hear it is not an inflammation of the brain." He announces.
"What is it then?" the king inquires.
He says, "It is a cerebral hemorrhage."
"Hemorrhage?" Gaius repeats. "I don't think so."
Holding out a blood-stained handkerchief, Edwin says, "I found this trace of blood in her ear."
"God in Heaven!" exclaims Uther.
"The severity depends upon the site and the volume of the bleed. If not treated, it can lead to coma and eventually death." Edwin explains to the royals.
The king turns to Gaius, "How could you have missed this?"
"I didn't see any blood." He adamantly answers.
Edwin intercedes, "Please. Just thank the Fates you did not administer more rosemary to stimulate the circulation. Can you imagine what that might have done?"
The king and the prince apprehensively look to Gaius once more, while the Lady beside them holds her darkened stare on the foreigner. "It may have increased the bleed." He replies, gravely.
"Is there a cure?" the king demands.
Edwin smiles graciously, "See for yourself."
Uther then climbs up the stairs with Arthur and Estella at his heels. The other three close behind. He opens the door to find Morgana sitting up in bed, awaken and well again.
"Morgana, this is truly a miracle!" The king gently kisses her forehead. "I thought... I really thought..."
The recovered Lady softly laughs, "Oh, you won't get rid of me that easily."
"What exactly did he give you?" Gaius urgently asks.
"I have no idea, but thank Heaven he did." Morgana responds as her cousin tightly hugs her. She laughs softly as Estella holds back her cries of joy.
Arthur smiles at the sight. "Careful, Cousin, you may put Morgana at death's door again," he jokes.
The two women are not the least bit amused. "Thank you, Arthur for your optimism," Morgana sarcastically remarks.
This causes Arthur's grin to widen as he gently takes her hand and says, "I'm glad you're back." And for a moment they hold each other's gazes, their eyes always seemed to say more than words ever could, until Uther has everyone leave the room in order for Morgana to recuperate properly. Arthur reluctantly lets go.
Morgana is sitting on a chair at her table. A fire is blazing in the hearth, while she watches the crackles, for some reason, fascinated by the dancing flames. Gwen cushioned the chair with pillows and blankets, she also wrapped Morgana is her softest and warmest clothes, to ensure his mistress' warmth and comfort and quick recovery.
A knock at her door pulls her out of her personal thoughts. "Come in," she says.
Arthur enters slowly and cautiously. Standing a few feet from her, "How are you feeling?" he asks.
She attempts to smile, "Slowly, but surely getting better."
The prince grins. "Good, you should be back to terrorizing the castle in no time." The Lady is too weak to roll her eyes, so she simply laughs. Arthur looks around awkwardly, not sure what else to say to her. He sees something missing from the room, "What happened to the lilies?" He only noticed their presence in Morgana's room because he nearly caused them to fall over during one of his private visits.
The woman glances at the table where the lilies used to be. "Gwen took them away, Estella ordered it."
That sounded strange. "Why?"
"Something about them having toxic insect larvae in them," she wrinkles her nose and so does Arthur. "Obviously, they weren't from you."
"What?"
She shakes her head, slightly embarrassed, "Nothing."
"You thought the flowers were from me?"
"It was a joke Arthur, Gwen suggested it, but I knew better."
The prince nods, "Yeah, I wouldn't send you flowers, I would just give them to you."
Gwen chooses to enter the chambers with a tray of food. Noticing the king's son, she quickly curtsies.
Arthur gives her a nod of acknowledgement. Putting his hand on Morgana's shoulder, he bids her good night and leaves. The two of them are both left with warm feelings in their chests.
Estella stands near her gray horse in the main square. Around her, there are knights of Caerleon, watching as she bids her farewells.
She steps up to her uncle and he embraces her warmly. "Oh, I will miss you greatly, my dear."
"I will miss you, as well, my Lord." Her sentiment is not as heartfelt, but the king doesn't notice (he never does when it comes to her).
When they pull back he looks over her and cautions, "Be safe."
The young woman nods and turns to Morgana to hug her gently. "I hope you recover quickly."
"Thank you…" Her forced smile falls. "I don't want you to go."
Estella pulls back and smiles. "Don't worry, I'll be back for Arthur's birthday, wouldn't miss his crowning for the world. And that is only a few weeks away." This assures Morgana.
Finally, the king's niece goes to her other cousin. He embraces her and says, "I know you won't believe it, but I will miss you."
Her laughter is musical. "Well, I can at least pretend that you are sincere." She pauses and her eyes flicker at Edwin staring from his window at Morgana standing off to their left with Gwen supporting her. "Take care of her," she whispers, a slight shiver of fear toning her words.
Arthur doesn't have to ask who. "I will," He promises.
The woman steps back and then walks to her horse and nimbly jumps onto its back. Everyone has long since learned of how proficient she is with a horse and therefore do not berate her for not riding as a noblewoman should.
The knights surround her and pledge to King Uther that they would protect the Lady Estella with their lives. After which the company leaves the city.
A few days later, Edwin comes before the king, having finished his review of Gaius' work. With a great amount of seemingly genuine regret, he informs the king that Gaius' old age has caused him to make a number of errors in his medical practice.
Uther, believing and trusting in Edwin's words, makes the decision to relieve Gaius of his position as the Court Physician. Morgana attempts to sway her guardian, but his fear of history repeating itself keeps his mind firm in his judgment.
Merlin, knowing that the king wouldn't even give a second's thought to what a servant had to say, goes to his master. The young warlock watches Arthur practicing with his sword as he speaks up for Gaius.
The prince listens almost patiently to his servant's passionate defense of Gaius. Sadly for Merlin, however, the prince did not agree with him. There is no personal hatred against the elder man, he's been his physician since his very birth, but Morgana's recent illness has Arthur fearing even more for her.
"I can't understand why the king would sack him over one mistake." He finishes.
Arthur looks at Merlin apathetically, "A mistake that nearly killed Morgana. Besides it wasn't the only one."
"What do mean?" he asks.
The prince sighs, "Edwin said his work was riddled with errors."
The servant shakes his head, "That's nonsense."
"No one wants Gaius to go, but my father's already made his decision. There's nothing anyone can do." The prince plants his sword into the ground and walks away.
Gaius sits on a log, watching as the fire crackles, apprehension stemming into his mind.
"And for good cause…" The old man looks up at the sudden sound of a feminine voice. There standing before him, is a tall, dark-haired woman, whose beautiful face he thought he would never see again.
She continues. "…That uneasy feeling that something is wrong." For a long while, Gaius does not respond. "Nothing to say?" Her emerald eyes are bright in the fire's light. "Or did you forget who I am?"
"Your daughter is very much like you," he tells her bluntly.
A melodious laugh rings through the darkness and the figure of another woman steps from behind the first. "Wouldn't want my daughter to be like me."
The elder man inclines his head to the woman. "Valeria," and to the first woman, "Vivienne."
"What are you doing here, Gaius?" Vivienne inquires.
He sighs, "I'm sure the both of you know."
"Yes," Valeria drawls, "But we are aware of the current circumstances of Camelot's court, but what we do not understand is why you are not trying to do anything about it." The former Court Physician is silenced yet again.
"Gaius, we know that being a person not gifted with certain abilities makes decision making rather difficult, but instead of turning a blind eye you should learn to stand up."
"Vivienne, you have always dreamed of a united Albion that is free and just, why must I prevent that from happening?" he reminds her.
"The time for that Albion is not now." She replies sternly.
"There is much for their generation to learn before they are ready to fulfill their destinies." The younger twin pauses. "Besides, Merlin will try to save Uther because with his knowledge that's what he knows you would do."
"Make your decision, Physician." Those being her last words, Vivienne walks into the darkness of the trees.
Valeria stays. "Don't put too much faith into that dragon's words. You can blame me for having a biased opinion, but he cannot be trusted as he says Morgana and Estella are not to be." Gaius says nothing. "Merlin may protect Arthur and one day Arthur may rule over Albion, but there is the matter of his queen and her protector."
"What are you trying to say?" the old man shakes his head.
The woman's eyes are cold and demanding. "Do not let anything happen to those girls. Theirs is a destiny that intertwines with Merlin and Arthur's and so many others. One little thing or one person may be able to change the future, but it takes many to ensure that there is one."
Without a farewell, she quickly follows her sister into the shadows.
Gaius returns to Camelot and with Merlin's help they are able to thwart Edwin's plan and save Uther. The prince sentences Edwin to death for his crimes and the king – finally seeing some sense – reinstates Gaius as the Court Physician and names him a free man of Camelot.
As Gaius holds up the parchment Uther presented him with, his eyes fall on the First Lady and the Prince of Camelot. Valeria's words ring in his ear and many possibilities run through his mind. He recalls a forgotten thought of Camelot's court: a marriage between Prince Arthur and Lady Morgana. It was once seen as the most rightful union for Arthur, but when it became clear that the two could no longer stand each other, the idea was dismissed.
But the Court Physician watches the two young nobles, so different and yet so alike, standing in such close proximity, he can't help but think that what once was, may be again. 'Perhaps one day…'
Author's Note: So, we get more of a bitchy Estella, but it is the way she is so... I hope she doesn't bother you too much. Thanks for reading and please review.