Merlin you've got poo on your face
Chapter 7
"Thank you Gaius!"
"Pardon?"
"For fixing Merlin of course!" Arthur looked extremely pleased.
"Sire I have not done anything to Merlin yet. I was actually just on my way to give him the antidote."
"Ho…" Arthur said all of the air going out of him and a very puzzled look on his face.
"Has something happened?" Gaius sounded worried, worried about his boy.
"So he hasn't taken the antidote?"
"No Sire what has happened to him?"
"He, he just seemed so Normal this morning, I thought he was cured! I mean he didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I mentioned the love thing to him; he asked if there was something wrong with Me."
"I must find him."
"He should be doing Laundry right about now; he took the laundry basket anyway. I have to meet with council in a few minutes, when I am finished I would like a report on his state."
Gaius was able to locate Merlin in the laundry rooms.
"Oh, hello Gaius what brings you here?" Merlin greeted with a smile.
"I came to give you the antidote."
Merlin suddenly became very stiff and his expression was hard.
"I don't need it."
"Now Merlin just drink it-"
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Her shouted causing the others doing laundry to look up and wonder what was the matter.
"Listen to me, this has gone on far too long." Gaius said taking a step forward.
"No" Merlin taking a step back.
"I won't drink that."
"Merlin-"
"No, you can't make me. There's nothing wrong with me!"
"Merlin, calm down." Gaius said taking another step in Merlin's direction.
"Youknow you can't make me." The young man said in a low threatening voice.
"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed in disapproval.
A second later Merlin was off in a run as fast as he could away from Gaius. In the distance he could hear Gaius order guards after him. Since when did Gaius have that kind of authority? Well he was Gaius after all…
Why Gaius wouldn't believe him was frightening and there was only one person left to turn to because everyone kept a healthy distance lately, and that person was Arthur, he had been understanding yesterday so why not today. He turned a corner sharply almost knocking over the head cook who gave him the evil eye. He sent her a quick smile he would have to apologize properly when next he saw her.
This was all so very ridiculous why was he a fugitive? He wasn't even running because his magic was reviled! No, and that was the most painful thing that he had done so far in his life, lie, lie to everyone around him and lie to Arthur, to his face time and time again, but since he loved them all so much they couldn't know he couldn't risk their safety not until the time was right.
If memory served him correctly Arthur would be in with the council, yep it is Wednesday after all. So he made another sharp turn, a right and slammed into someone rather hard and muscular.
"Merlin!" It was Elyan and he didn't seem happy about it either.
"Sorry, no time to explain!" Merlin picked himself up and kept going leaving Elyan to help himself up and see guards rush past him after Merlin, so what else was there to do but join in and see what Merlin got himself into this time.
Merlin reached the council chambers and quickly but quietly slipped in and silently made his way to Arthur who was currently addressing those there. Arthur's eyes following Merlin with an annoyed look on his face.
"So you must understand that I agree with Lord Avis on the matter. We should all consider-"
But then came the guards bursting in not so quietly Elyan not far behind.
"Sire forgive us we were in pursuit of your manservant." The ranking guard said explaining their rudeness.
"And why?" Arthur asked glaring now at Merlin who was standing at his side.
"The court physician ordered us to…"
The guards trailed off, he wasn't sure if that was a good enough reason, but surly if Gaius had commanded so it was to be listen to? He had always been an unofficial authority in Camelot in King Uther's time, would he not be so in King Arthur's?
"I see…" Arthur now turned to merlin and whispered to him.
"You will go with them to your chambers and wait for me there. Is that under stood?"
"But Gaius will-"
"Is that understood?" Arthur said louder.
Merlin tiered up.
Oh great! All he needed was for Merlin to start crying like he was the previous day in the council chambers that was filled with the council; one more thing to add to their list of "Why King Arthur needs a new manservant!"
"No one's going to do anything to you, so just wait for me."
Merlin nodded and went with them
"Take him to his chambers and Elyan stay with him until I arrive." King Arthur ordered.
It was two hours later when Arthur knocked cautiously on Merlin's room door. He had first talked to Gaius to see what had happened. Elyan was there as well and told Arthur that Merlin kept apologizing to the guards and him the whole way to the physician's chambers.
"He really isn't himself, perhaps if we hold him down and you give him the antidote stuff?" Elyan suggested.
"I would strongly advise against that." Was what Gaius said.
"We aren't going to harm him Gaius." Arthur reassured the old man with a pat on the shoulder. But Gaius wasn't worried about Merlin's safety, he was worried about theirs. If he was taken so far from himself by this spell there was no telling what he would do.
It was after this conversation that Arthur found himself up the few steps and knocking on Merlin's room door cautiously.
"Merlin its Arthur."
The door was yanked open.
"Arthur?" He looked at Elyan and Gaius, then back at Arthur, and began to whisper to him.
"I kept telling Gaius that I don't need that old stinking antidote because there's nothing wrong with me. He just wouldn't listen! And then he sent the guards on me and it was all very embarrassing and frightening at the same time, and I'm sorry for intruding on the council this afternoon but I had to see the one person who hadn't been entirely affected yet. I knew you would believe me."
"Alright, alright just slow down." Arthur commanded. Merlin talking a mile a minute was actually beginning to grate on his nerves. He really just wanted his friend cured from whatever this was. As annoying as the actual Merlin was he was never this annoying.
"You said affected, what do you mean by that?"
Merlin spared another glance towards Elyan and Gaius.
"It's Morgana, it's got to be. She has somehow poised all of Camelot against me. That's why everyone keeps acting funny around me and refuses my hugs! You see? But so far you are the only one who hasn't been totally taken in yet. You're the only reasonable one out of the whole lot!"
"Why would Morgana target you specifically?"
"Because she must have found out about-"Here Merlin suddenly stopped himself.
"About what?" Arthur pushed, not really sure of anything coming out of Merlin's mouth.
"Sire he's just speaking gibberish at this point. We really should-"
"No! Do listen to Gaius! Morgana must know my secret and is getting at me through everyone I love! She's evil and I'm sorry Arthur but I really don't love her.
Arthur went up to Gaius and whispered in his ear.
"So… shouldn't we just force him?"
"I tried that already Sire, but he ran away."
"I have a bit more youth and strength on my side. Give me the veil." And it was an order, Arthur was determined to force it down Merlin's throat.
Gaius reluctantly handed it over.
"Now Merlin drink this it will be alright." Arthur said climbing the few steps back to Merlin.
Merlin's face turned hard and he stared at Gaius.
"You can't make me."
"I am stronger then you Merlin you know that."
"Oh but that's what I let you believe."
Arthur suddenly grabbed Merlin's wrist firmly.
A rather large book resting on the table near Gaius began to quiver and Gaius quickly put his hand on it hoping Elyan didn't notice it. But Elyan was too distracted with Merlin and Arthur to notice.
