Disclaimer: I do not own the Merlin series.
Chapter 8 Lamia
One of Gwen's old friends, Mary, comes to ask her for help one day.
"John's found some of the villagers ill. We have no physician to care for them," Mary explains.
They go to Gaius after speaking to Arthur, who joins them. Gaius tells them that he is dealing with an outbreak of sweating sickness. He suggests that Merlin goes in his place.
"Merlin?" Arthur asks, giving a laugh.
Merlin frowns at him.
"He'll bring his findings to me," Gaius says.
"Merlin can't find his own backside most of the time," Arthur replies.
There is an awkward silence. Merlin clear his throat. Arthur finally agrees to Merlin going to the village.
xxx
Gwen goes with Merlin and a handful of knights to the village to check the men who have fallen ill.
"They're alive, but only just," Merlin tells them after his examination.
"What happened?" Gwen asks.
"It strikes suddenly," John says.
"I'll give them something to stimulate the blood and check them in the morning," Merlin tells them.
Gwen can tell something is wrong with Merlin as everyone leaves.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
Merlin looks down and shakes his head.
"What if I can't?" he asks in a low voice.
"Gaius trusts you. And Arthur wouldn't have sent you of he didn't think so also," Gwen tells him.
Merlin smiles and nods. However, it does not work the next morning when he checks in.
"There's something at work here that I don't understand," Merlin explains.
In the back of his mind, he knows what is going on. But he does not know how to stop it.
"Sorcery?" John asks.
"It's possible. We need to get back to Gaius. He'll know," Merlin says.
xxx
On their way back to Camelot they run into bandits and rescue a girl. When Merlin tries to get near her, she screams. She tells them her name is Lamia.
"I was traveling home and the bandits took me," she explains.
"You're safe now," Sir Leon says.
Merlin does not know what to think of this girl.
xxx
Arthur starts to get concerned. He and Gaius leave Camelot to search for the group. Merlin gets worried when he realizes they are not going to Camelot, but in a different direction.
"We need to get to Gaius," he tells them.
"Lamia asked to take her home," Sir Leon says.
Merlin walks up to Gwen with a curious look on his face. She can tell something is not right.
"Something is wrong," Merlin tells her.
"I agree," Gwen replies.
xxx
Gaius discovers what is causing the sickness after examining the victims.
"So this girl, this creature, is still out there somewhere?" Arthur asks.
"I'm afraid so, sire," Gaius says.
"Merlin and the others?" Arthur asks.
The realization hits them both.
"They could have had an encounter with her," Gaius says.
Arthur and Gaius know now something is wrong. Meanwhile, Merlin and the others have made it to an abandoned castle.
"This is a trap," Merlin tells Gwen when the others are out of earshot.
"I still don't understand why only the knights have been enchanted," Gwen says.
Merlin thinks for a moment.
"You're a woman," he says.
"So?" Gwen asks. "You haven't."
Merlin cannot help but laugh a little.
"Well women aren't really my type now are they?" he asks
Merlin leaves Gwen to find the creature. Arthur soon finds them after Gwen ends up killing the Lamia.
xxx
Merlin helps Arthur get ready for bed when they arrive back in Camelot.
"Gwen was great," Arthur says.
"Yes, she really was," Merlin replies.
"She's going to make a wonderful queen," Arthur says.
"She could say no," Merlin jokes.
"Merlin," Arthur replies in a stern tone.
He grabs a pillow and throws it at him.
"She won't, though," Merlin says. "She understands."