No. 22—Pick Your Poison
Toxic | Withdrawal | Allergic Reaction
Arthur numbly drank his wine. Hopefully Father didn't notice—or care—that Arthur was zoning out. The celebration banquet honored a new treaty with a small distant kingdom Camelot had just opened trade relations with. Arthur was exceedingly bored.
"A gift to you, Prince Arthur," the king of the small kingdom, King Drath, said. He pulled out a bottle of wine. "Our finest vintage."
Huzzah, more wine. Arthur didn't need to catch Father's pointed glance to know what he needed to do. "Thank you, your Majesty." He took the bottle and handed it to Merlin. "Fill my cup with this wine instead."
Merlin heaved a sigh and grabbed Arthur's cup. "What do I do with this wine?"
"I don't know, figure it out!" Arthur whispered. "Drink it yourself, I don't care!"
A few minutes later, Merlin plonked down Arthur's cup with the new wine. Arthur put on his best "I'm-listening" face and zoned out of Father's and King Drath's continuing speeches, sipping his wine periodically. It was the same drivel said at all treaty celebrations.
Arthur's chest burned. He coughed, rubbing his chest. He took a long drink of wine, but the pain didn't subside.
Pain spread into Arthur's stomach. He grimaced and rubbed it. He must have eaten something that disagreed with him. He gritted his teeth, suppressing a groan.
Arthur's heart hammered far too fast. He leaned against the back of his chair. His vision blurred. Pain pounded through his head.
He shook his head. Something was wrong. Something beyond too much wine or some bad food. His vision split into double, two banquet tables and two wine cups and two plates floating in front of him. instead of one. Sweat poured down his face. He struggled to take a breath. The pain in his head transformed into stabbing.
He must have been poisoned.
"Merlin," Arthur gasped. Before he had the chance to say, "Go get Gaius," he curled over and vomited on his plate.
"Arthur!" Merlin grabbed his shoulder.
"Arthur?" Father asked.
"I…can't…breathe." Arthur collapsed against the back of his chair, focusing on breathing in and out.
"I'll get Gaius." Merlin ran off.
Father pressed a hand to Arthur's forehead. "You're not fevered. What's the matter?"
"I think I've…been poisoned," Arthur gasped. "The wine."
Father's face transformed into an ugly mask. He stood up and drew his sword. "You dare to poison my son, Drath? Arrest him!"
Camelot's knights darted up, surrounding Drath and his men. Many of the visitors had already gotten drunk, so they were seized easily.
Pain cramped Arthur's arms and legs, stabbed in his chest and stomach. He groaned. Sweat trailed down his neck. "Father."
Gaius—or at least a figure shaped like Gaius and wearing his red robes—hurried up. "I need Arthur in my chambers immediately."
"I'll take him," Uther said.
Arthur raised his hand. "I can walk." He stood up and his legs immediately buckled under him.
Father caught him and scooped him up in his arms. "I'll take you."
Arthur gritted his teeth, his face heating up. In front of everyone else, no less. How embarrassing.
Father carried him through the castle into Gaius's chambers. Arthur's cramping and aching grew worse. The embarrassment of being carried out of the banquet hall was wiped away by the horrible pain. Finally, Father lowered him onto the bed and hovered near his head.
"Merlin, do you have the wine?" Gaius asked.
"I've got the bottle right here," Merlin said.
Arthur groaned again. "Gaius."
"Just hold on, Arthur," Gaius said. "We'll figure this out and then I can treat you. Tell me your symptoms."
"Double…vision, pain everywhere, my stomach, my chest, my arms and legs, my head. My heart is going too fast, I'm…sweating," Arthur said.
"Sounds like wohfeln," Gaius said. "The good news is that I can treat it so you won't die. The bad news is that it's not an antidote. It won't immediately reverse the effects, it'll just minimize the symptoms so that you can weather them. You will be miserable, but you won't die."
Arthur nodded. "I don't have…much of another…choice, do I?" He arched his back, letting out a cry.
"Here." Gaius set a vial to his lips. "Drink up."
Arthur grimaced but obediently drank up the nasty liquid that would keep him alive.
"Now, all we have to do is wait," Gaius said.
Arthur collapsed onto the bed. "Father, will you…stay with me?"
Father sat down next to him and stroked his forehead. "Of course."