AN: It is only in my dreams that I own Merlin. So I didn't actually plan this out all the way when I wrote chapter one, so this chapter was a "make-it-up-as-you-go" kinda thing, but don't worry, I have a vague plan to go with this chapter. Hope you like it. Check out my poll?

Merlin and Gaius both turned to stare at Arthur. It took the king a moment to realize he had spoken Merlin's name out loud out of relief. At this realization, he flushed and coughed awkwardly, casting around for something to say to cover up his slip-up.

"Still alive, then?"

Merlin's mouth twitched upward. "Last time I checked. "

He still looked weak, and his skin tone hadn't completely normal, but his eyes were no longer glazed over with pain and he no longer flinched at every movement.

"You found a cure?" As soon as he said it, he realized it was a stupid question. Merlin would be dead or dying if Gaius hadn't found a way to cure him.

"Indeed. The poison Agravaine used is one I am familiar with. It is usually deadly, but Merlin survived after my treatment."

"Yes, well, Merlin isn't exactly the usual, is he?" Arthur quipped, trying to ignore the anger in him that spiked at the words 'Agravaine' and 'usually deadly'.

Merlin pretended to be offended. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

He tried to get off his bed, but Gaius pushed him back with a very firm "sit."

"But Gaius-" Merlin tried to protest.

"No. You need rest. You may be healed of the poison, but you still took a beating."

The mood sobered at the reminder of Merlin's attack.

"I presume it was Agravaine who attacked you."

Merlin nodded. "I didn't remember at first, but I got my memory back after Gaius cured me."

"Right," Arthur said crisply, "From now on, Merlin, I want someone to be with you at all time. Perhaps a knight-"

"What?" Merlin cried. "No! Won't that be a bit of a giveaway that you know?"

"Well what else would you have me do, Merlin?" Arthur demanded. "Let you walk by yourself with someone out there who wants to kill you, and I can't do anything about it?" Merlin was so easy to attack, he could barely defend himself against anyone or anything.

"It's worked so far," Merlin retorted.

Arthur gaped. "What do you mean, it's worked so far? You almost died today, Merlin!" His voice had gone up a pitch at the last part.

Awkward silence met his words, which Merlin broke.

"Arthur, it's almost like you care."

"Don't get your hopes up," Arthur replied immediately, and then scowled. Merlin was trying to distract him.

"I'm serious, Merlin. I'm sure Gwaine would volunteer for the job. We can tell him we need him to stop you from getting into more 'accidents'."

Merlin flushed. Great. Now the whole castle was going to think he couldn't do anything by himself without getting hurt.

If only they knew.

"I'm surprised Gwaine hasn't come to see you yet," Gaius commented.

Merlin snickered. "Oh, I'm sure he will. Once he gets out of the tavern. He doesn't take days off lightly."

Arthur groaned. "Great. I get too deal with hungover Gwaine." He sighed.

"I have to go attend to my duties. Gaius, let me know how he does."

"'He' is right here, you know," Merlin muttered.

"Oh, and Merlin?" The king paused before opening the door.

"Hmm?"

"Anyone else I know betraying me?"

He forced his voice to sound light, even though it was hard to force the words out.

"No," Merlin said softly. "Not that I know of."

Arthur let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. At least that was one weight off his chest.

"Wait," Merlin said sharply. An idea had just occurred to him. And it just might work, to...

0o0

Agravaine knocked on the king's door.

"Enter."

"You called for me, my Lord?" Agravaine said politely.

"Yes, uncle." Arthur turned away from his window, his face an expressionless mask. "I need to inform you that I will be going away for a few days."

The older man inclined his head in acknowledgement. "And...the nature of this journey, my Lord?"

Arthur kept his face carefully blank. "Merlin died this morning." His voice cracked at the end, loosing its monotony.

Agravaine's eyes widened. A few days ago, Arthur would have thought he looked shocked, but now the king saw the expression was really triumph. How could he have missed it?

"I'm sorry to hear that, sire," his uncle responded finally. "May I ask how?"

"He had another of his accidents. The storage from the washroom had fallen on him. He had a broken rib, which punctured his lung." Arthur closed his eyes. "Gaius was unable to save him."

"I am sorry for your loss, sire," Agravaine repeated, "but what does that have to do with your trip?"

Arthur sighed. "I wish to return his body to Ealdor, to his mother. I...I have tell her myself. But I will be going alone, uncle. I must ask you to keep this a secret, because I will be vulnerable to attack. Especially here," he said, unrolling a map and pointing.

"I'm going to spend the first night here. It's a ravine in between two hills, and hopefully no one will find me there."

He looked his uncle in the eye. "Only a handful of people know about this, because I am sure my councilmen will try and dissuade me. I trust I can count on you not to tell anyone?"

Agravaine smiled his unctuous smile. "Of course, my Lord. When will you be leaving?"

"Tomorrow," Arthur replied. He handed Agravaine the map. "Please put this in the vaults."

Agravaine bowed and left.

Hours later, Arthur slipped quietly into Gaius's chambers.

"Did he buy it?" Merlin asked immediately.

Arthur turned to him.

"I think he did. Now, we wait."

0o0

The horse's hooves thundered against the ground, but out in the middle of the forest there was no one to hear it. The rider urged the horse forward, anticipation making him in a hurry.

They stopped outside a small hovel. The dark-haired rider slipped off and quietly walked to the door.

"Morgana," he whispered, knocking.

The door opened to let him in.

"Well, Agravaine?"

Morgana's cool voice floated through the air. Her gaze latched onto her fellow traitor, who was practically trembling with excitement.

"My Lady," he murmured, "I bring good news."

Morgana leaned forward. "Well? What is it?"

Agravaine smiled. "Merlin is dead, and I know of a way to kill Arthur."

Morgana stared at him for a moment. Then, a cruel smile grew slowly across her face.

"Merlin is dead?" she repeated.

Agravaine nodded.

Morgana's twisted smile widened. "Well, well, Agravaine. Turns out you do have it in you after all. Good work."

There was a pause, in which Agravaine savored the fact that Morgana had actually praised him, and Morgana the fact that the pest was dead.

"You said you knew how to kill Arthur?"

"Ah, yes, my Lady. Arthur wishes to return Merlin's body to Ealdor, but he is going by himself and keeping it a secret because he thinks his council will not approve. No doubt he will tell them he has gone hunting."

Agravaine paused to pull out the map Arthur had given him.

"He is going to stay his first night in this valley. He thinks it will hide him from bandits and such, but it will make him far easier to take, especially since he will be alone."

Morgana examined the map.

"Contact the mercenaries."