Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter seven: The poisoned chalice and Lancelot.
"Our story starts once again in the caves far from Camelot. Where Nimueh drips some of her blood into the stone basin, she then starts to cast a spell using a petal from a flower. She then places the petal into a chalice and holds it up as if toasting and curses Merlin's name."
Everyone looks at each other. Arthur, Gwen and Gaius all know what's going to happen. And everyone else can guess correctly, she was going after Merlin.
"Meanwhile in Camelot, king Bayard and his knights are arriving. Where he is greeted by Uthur and they begin to talk about peace. Nimueh is with them dressed as a servant, her gaze fixed on Merlin.
"Merlin who is carrying a couple of sacks through the halls, stops to talk for Gaius for a moment. Behind them Nimueh approaches as she passes Gaius she trips and Merlin kneels down to help her. After the two of them talk, Nimueh sneaks into king Bayard's room, using magic and changes the goblet for the one she placed the petal in.
"In Arthur quarters Merlin is sorting out Arthur cloths. As Merlin asks about the feast, Arthur tells him he will be there as well, as a servant of course. Arthur gives Merlin some really horrible cloths to wear. Later at the feast Merlin and Gwen try not to laugh about what Merlin is wearing. As Merlin and Gwen talk, Uthur and Bayard, sign the peace treaty. As Bayard starts his speech on peace, the goblets are bought in and Nimueh smiles. She quickly pulls Merlin from the hall and tells him, the princes goblet is poisoned. Merlin rushes back into the hall and tells Uthur. Who forces him to drink the wine, at first nothing happens, but then Merlin falls to the ground."
"Why does no one ever believe Merlin?" Percival asks. "So far ever time he's warned you about something it's turned out to be true."
Gwaine nodes. "Uthur was a bit evil, don't you think? What a way to repay someone for saving your sons life, what was it now, three times."
Gwen smiles sadly. "I remember it happening. I was so scared, I thought Merlin was going to die."
Arthur nodes. "So did I."
"Arthur quickly grabs Merlin, while Gwen gets the chalice as Gaius leads the way back to his chambers. Leaving Uthur to sort out Bayard. As Arthur sets Merlin down on the bed Gwen gets some water. While Gaius examines the chalice, he finds the petal stuck in the top of the of it. After Gaius identifies the plant, they find a cure. Which can only be found deep in the caves, in the middle of the forest of Balor. The forest is guarded by a creature called a Cockatrice, one drop of poison from the creature will mean certain death. Knowing this Arthur still plans to go in search of the cure. That night Nimueh leaves the castle, a wicked smile on her face."
Elyan smiles. "It was about time you returned the favour, Arthur. Merlin has saved your life three times, even if the poison was meant for him."
Arthur nodes. "I guess I'm lucky to have a friend like Merlin."
Everyone smiles.
"Gwen quickly makes her way into Morgana's chamber. Morgana tells Gwen to stay with Merlin, knowing the two of them were close friends. Meanwhile Arthur and his father as having a disagreement on going to find the cure for Merlin. The king forbids Arthur to leave. Arthur goes back to his chamber where Morgana talks Arthur into going anyway... Even if it was against the kings orders. So Arthur sets out to save Merlin,"
"See that is why the people love you, sire." Leon smiles. "Because you would risk your life to save that of your friends."
Arthur shakes his head. "Merlin is my servant."
"Yet the people know he is much more than that." Percival answers. "I am sure everyone in Camelot is friends with Merlin. And they all know you value Merlin as a friend more than any knight or lord."
"While Nimueh watches from her stone basin. Back in Gaius chambers Merlin is getting worse, his pulse had gotten weaker and he had started muttering in the language of the old religion. Gaius notices a rash on Merlin's arm and starts to panic, it was not supposed to appear until the final stage of the poisons cycle. Meaning Merlin only had two more days to live! Gaius works out that the poison works faster if an enchantment is used, causing him to work out Nimueh was the one who poisoned Merlin.
"Uthur and Morgana have an argument on how Arthur should behave and how he shouldn't risk his life for a servant. Elsewhere Arthur is drawing closer to the forest, while Nimueh watches from her stone basin once more. Back in Gaius chambers, Gwen and Gaius know Arthur is walking into a trap. As Arthur enters the forest he fails to notice the Cockatrice that is watching him from the shadows. He makes his way through the wood, until he comes to a clearing where Nimueh is waiting, crying. She lies to Arthur and tells him she was beaten by her master and fled into the woods. At that moment the Cockatrice that had followed Arthur appears. Nimueh watches as Arthur fights it and wins.
"Nimueh offers to show Arthur the way to the flowers. Leading him into the cave, Nimueh smiles to herself. Back in Gaius chamber, Merlin start muttering 'it's a trap'. Gaius hears Merlin starting to mutter a spell, so sends Gwen down to the well to get some more water. Back in the cave Arthur and Nimueh arrive at the flowers, the only thing that will cure Merlin. Once Arthur has crossed the small rock bridge to the flowers, she destroys his path back and leaves him to be killed by the giant spiders making their way towards him, from far below. Back in Camelot, Merlin casts a spell, creating a ball of blue and white light, while all Gaius can do is watch. Back in the cave the blue and white light appears beside Arthur and leads him from the cave after he grabs the cure."
"So even when Merlin is dying, he still saves your life princess." Gwaine smirks.
Everyone seemed slightly shocked at this. Even when Merlin was dying, he still risked everything to save the lives of the people he cared about.
"So the light was Merlin." Arthur mutters, in awe.
"Arthur quickly escapes the cave and makes his way back to Camelot. But before he can get the cure to Gaius he is arrested and thrown in the dungeons were he and the king have an argument. Arthur gives the plant to Uthur to give to Gaius, but Uthur just destroys the plant saying Arthur needed to learn his lesson. Back in Gaius chambers Merlin is getting worse, Gwen arrives to tell Gaius Arthur has got back and been put in the dungeons. So Gwen decides to sneak into the dungeons, going as the servant to bring the princes lunch she mangoes to get the plant. Returning to Gaius, she gives him the plant. After sending Gwen to get some water once more, he casts a spell on the cure he is about to give Merlin and gives it to him just as Gwen gets back."
Everyone looks at Gaius.
"You're a sorcerer?" Arthur asks.
Gaius nodes. "But my power is nothing compared to Merlin's."
"How many more people are going to betray me?"
"No sooner had Merlin drank the cure. He stopped breathing and his heart stopped."
Everyone gasps. Isolde grips Tristan's hand. Whilst everyone else, apart from Gwaine, bow their heads.
"You do know Merlin is still alive?" he asks. "So therefore he must have come back to life."
"Shut up, Gwaine."
"Gwen and Gaius hug. Only for Merlin to wake up and see them. He makes a couple of jokes and Gwen kisses him."
"You kissed Merlin?" Arthur asks.
"Well…. I did." Gwen mutters, blushing. "He had just died and he is my best friend."
"Gaius leaves soon after to speak with the king. He tells the king it was Nimueh who tried to poison Arthur, but Uthur doesn't believe him at first. But they release king Bayard. Arthur, Morgana and Uthur, watch as they leave Camelot. Arthur exclaims to Morgana how a light guided him out of the caves. Before he goes back to the castle, Uthur speaks to him about Nimueh. Arthur then goes to see Merlin, who thanks him for saving his life. Once Arthur is gone Gaius warns Merlin he was the one Nimueh was trying to kill and that she may try again."
"So Merlin saved your life twice that time." Elyan mutters.
Leon nodes. "I don't know anyone who is quite that brave, to keep risking their life to save another, time and time again, braking the law that would get them killed at the same time."
Gaius nodes. "Lancelot once said Merlin was the bravest of us all."
"Lancelot knew?" Arthur asks.
Gaius nodes. "You'll find out how soon. Merlin never told him, he found out."
"Quickly everyone to that side of the cave, there is someone coming, you must hide." Taliesin calls.
Once everyone is in place he casts a spell to hide them. Not seconds later a hooded figure enter the cave carrying a pack over one shoulder and a small staff topped with a blue crystal in the other. They look round as if looking for someone.
"Taliesin?" They call, after a moment they pull there hood down.
Everyone gasps, it is Merlin.
"Hello? Taliesin? I need your help. It's really important!"
Taliesin appears behind Merlin. "I am here."
Merlin spins round. "I need your help."
"What with?"
"I need to find Gaius."
Everyone looks at Gaius.
"Why do you need to find him?"
"Alice, a close friend of his…. Was…. Well." Merlin turns so he's facing them, he takes a deep breath. "Alice was…. Let's just say, hurt, the druids are treating her as we speak. But Gaius needs to be there for her."
Taliesin nodes and Gaius suddenly appears beside him.
"Gaius!" Merlin exclaimed, hugging him.
Gaius smiles. "My boy."
"You need to come with me," Merlin explains. "Alice was burnt at the stake for witch craft, but me and a friend saved her, she is hurt... Only minor injuries."
Gaius grips Merlin's arm. "Take me to her, please."
Merlin nodes and mutters a spell his eyes flash gold and the two of them vanish in a whirlwind.
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Tristan watched Merlin and Gaius vanish. In the hall after Isolde had died before Merlin had traded a life for hers he had asked Gaius if he would do the same for Alice. So there for Alice must be Gaius's love, by the looks of it Merlin had been to Camelot. He had a pack and staff with him, he must have seen Gaius's note. He didn't actually know they were in the cave. Isolde notices Tristan expression.
"This is about Alice, isn't it?"
Tristan nodes. "Merlin again risked himself to save someone, only this time it was from the flames."
Isolde smiles. "It seems Merlin will risk everything to save those he cares about."
Before they can say anymore Taliesin steps forward. "It is time for the next story."
"Shouldn't we wait for Gaius?" Arthur asks.
Taliesin shakes his head. "Gaius knows all Merlin adventures that I will tell you about and show you. He will miss nothing that he didn't already know."
Arthur nodes and everyone takes their seats.
"Our story starts with the young warlock Merlin, picking mushroom in the forest. Behind him deeper in the forest there is a unearthly shriek, as Merlin gets to his feet, out of the trees bursts a griffin. Merlin turns and runs, but trips. As the griffin goes to strike him, out of the trees a man jumps, wielding a sword. He pushes the griffin back and quickly helps Merlin to his feet. The two of them run and hide behind a fallen tree. The man introduces himself as Lancelot. With Lancelot injured Merlin takes him back to Camelot, where Gaius treats his wound."
"So that's how they meet, I always did wonder." Gwaine mutters.
"Elsewhere in Camelot a town has been attacked by the griffin. It only killed people. Uthur and Arthur along with some knights go to see the damage. But no tracks, so what the people said about it having wings must be true. Back in Camelot Lancelot tells Merlin it is his dream to become a knight. Lancelot seemed surprised when Merlin said he knew Arthur. Out on the training field Arthur is testing some men to see if they are worthy of becoming knights. After he is finished Merlin speaks to him. And finds out you have to be a noble to become a knight. After Merlin tells Lancelot this, he comes up with a plan to help Lancelot. He thought it was unfair that only those of noble birth could become knights. Not much later Lancelot tells Merlin why he wanted to become a knight, a tale he did not normally share."
"Did Lancelot tell any of you?" Elyan asks.
Everyone but Percival shake their head.
"Lancelot told me." Percival mutter. "But then mine and his tales' are almost the same. He didn't actually tell me, he just said the same thing had happened to him."
Gwen smiles slightly. "It seems everyone trusts Merlin, even if they have just meet."
Gwaine grins. "I told him my biggest secret not long after we meet. He hasn't told anyone it. He is my first and best friend, my loyalty will always lie with him... Above all others."
"You have a secret Gwaine. I find that hard to believe." Leon mutters.
Gwaine just smiles. "I'll never tell you. And neither will Merlin. So believe what you want to believe."
"So the following day Merlin goes down to the library and uses magic to create a seal of nobility for Lancelot. At first Lancelot refuses to take the seal Merlin created for him, but in the end he accepts it. So Merlin takes Lancelot to Gwen, so they can make some amour for Lancelot. Merlin tries not to laugh as their small talk gets a bit awkward. After leaving Gwen, Merlin and Lancelot make their way back through the castle while Lancelot talks about Gwen.
"Out on the training field Arthur is training some of his men. While Gwen and Merlin dress Lancelot in his new armour. Merlin and Gwen gasp as Arthur test Lancelot's reactions, let's just say he could have come up with a better way to test them.
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"Back in Gaius's quarters Merlin is grinding down some herbs as he and Gaius talk. Gaius doesn't believe that Merlin sat by and did nothing so starts questioning him. At that moment Lancelot walks in, covered in dirt, Merlin quickly lies and tells Gaius he got work at the stables. Finally Gaius gets annoyed and forces Merlin to tell him the truth. Merlin tells Gaius he can punish him if he wants, but he believes what he is doing is right.
"The following day, Arthur walks through town and passes Lancelot who is sharpening swords. He throws a broom at him, Lancelot catches it. Where Arthur and Lancelot then fight with the brooms, after Arthur wins, he tells Lancelot he's made basic training. Suddenly the alarm bell goes and the sound of people screaming fills the air. Arthur quickly runs to see what is going on."
"You fought with brooms?" Tristan asks.
Arthur nodes. "He was quite good. But not as good as me."
"Your still arrogant, you know?" Gwen mutters. "I believe Merlin will never be able to truly change you."
Everyone just smiles thinking about how Merlin changed Arthur for the better.
"Merlin helps some of the injured people into the court yard. Where Gaius is treating as many people as he can. Not long after Lancelot comes running up to them. After Gaius tells him what's happened, he and Merlin share a look, both knowing it was the creature he had saved Merlin from. Back in the castle Uthur and Arthur watch from a window and work out the creature is heading for Camelot."
"Is it just me or are all magical things and creatures drawn to Camelot?" Elyan asks.
"It is most likely they are," Taliesin answers. "Camelot was built using powerful magic. Plus it was also where the most powerful sorcerer ever lived."
"Later that night Gaius sits up going through his books looking for the creature. The following morning Lancelot watches as Arthur briefs his men on the changes to their training patterns, to help prepare them to fight the creature. Arthur tells Lancelot that he is going to test him now, needless to say Lancelot wins. And is granted a knighthood."
"How did he beat 'the all so great' princess?" Gwaine mocks.
"He played dead and caught Arthur by surprise." Gwen answers. "It really was an impressive move."
Arthur pulls a face and everyone laughs.
"Lancelot is knighted. Later that day at the feast Merlin and Gaius stand talking, Merlin is told he played god and it may not end well. Gaius leaves and Gwen soon takes Gaius's place. The two of them talk and Merlin asks Gwen which one she likes better, Arthur or Lancelot, but she refuses to answer. The following morning Gaius, Lancelot and Merlin talk over breakfast. But suddenly guards burst into the room and drag Lancelot to the great hall. Where Lancelot admits it is fake. After he has been dragged off, Arthur and his father have a disagreement.
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"When it is over Merlin vists Lancelot in the dungeons. Where Lancelot tells him, it wasn't his fault and to stop blaming himself. After that Merlin returns to Gaius's chambers. Where Gaius is waiting for him. He shows Merlin what he has found. The creature was a creature of myth, a griffin. At that same moment Merlin tells him it is the right creature the alarm bells begin to sound, Merlin and Gaius quickly make there way over to the window. Only to find the creature attacking the city.
"Down in the court yard, people run screaming as the creature circles the yard. Arthur and the knight soon appear and try and battle the creature but there weapons are useless. Down in the dungeons Lancelot demands to know what is happening. When Arthur reports to his father, Merlin and Gaius step forward and tell him that the creature is a griffin and can only be killed with magic."
"Oh let me guess," Gwaine mutters. "Merlin killed it."
Arthur shakes his head. "No Lancelot did."
"Want to beat on it, princess."
"Sure, five gold coins."
The two of them shake hands.
"Merlin and Gaius return to their quarters. Where Gaius tell Merlin he is the only one who can kill the griffin. Knowing Arthur will die Merlin and Gaius set about trying to find a spell that will kill it, they have two hours to find the spell or Arthur will die.
"Down in the dungeons Arthur visits Lancelot. They talk about the creature and how magic alone can kill it. Arthur tells Lancelot to go and never return. Finally Merlin and Gaius find the spell that can kill the griffin, so Merlin sets about practicing it on a old knife. Lancelot arrives at Gwen's house to get amour and weapons saying it is his duty to protect Arthur. Gwen begs him not to go, but go he must. Arthur and the knights set out to defeat the griffin. Merlin keeps repeating the spell but it still doesn't work. Suddenly Gwen appears through the door and tells them Lancelot is ridding out to help Arthur. Merlin quickly runs from the room and down to where Lancelot is preparing to ride out. After a small disagreement Lancelot and Merlin ride out.
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"Outside the walls of Camelot Arthur and his knights prepare to fight the griffin but it is useless and all of them are knocked from their horses dead or out cold. Not far behind them Merlin and Lancelot hear the screams of the knights as the griffin attacks them. They soon come to the site of the battle, the knights bodies littered the ground. Merlin and Lancelot quickly rush over to Arthur, who is luckily still alive. Lancelot quickly prepares to charge the griffin on his horse as they hear it's shrieks through the trees. As Lancelot charges Merlin casts the spell on his lance, on his fourth time casting the spell, it works. The lance is covered in bright blue flames, the lance kills the griffin easily. And Merlin celebrates that his spell worked and the griffin is dead.
"As Arthur wakes, Merlin quickly runs back to the castle, leaving Lancelot to get full credit. Arthur congratulates Lancelot on killing the griffin. Back in Gaius's quarters, Merlin grins as Gaius offer his congratulations to the young warlock. Arthur tells the king that it was Lancelot who killed the griffin and that he should be allowed to be a knight once more. Outside Merlin and Lancelot talk, Lancelot tells Merlin he knows it was him who cast the spell which killed the griffin and promises to tell no one. So Lancelot tells the king he must leave. The following day Gwen watches Lancelot leave. Merlin and Gaius also watch him go. So that is how our story ends, until the next adventure of course."
Gwaine laughs. "I told you Merlin killed it, you owe me five gold coins."
Arthur just glares at Gwaine for a moment. "Why did I ever knight you?" he mutters.
Everyone laughs while Gwaine just sniff slightly. "I miss Merlin, he always backs me up."