Gaius – What is all the commotion about?
JL – Gaius, I think these people might try to kill me cause I haven't updated in a while
Gaius – Well than you should put up an update of course
JL – Alright, here's your update. I've been tweaking the story just a little to go in more align with Series 3 but I have an outline now and the updates should be coming more quickly(especially since Christmas Break it coming up *happy dance*).
Gaius – and of course, JessieLightyear does not own the Merlin the TV Show, all characters are copyright material, but not her copyright material except for the characters you don't recognize from the show.
JL – Wow, I didn't have to cue you or anything
Gaius – I pick up on these things
When I woke up the next morning, the house was quiet. I stretched getting my blood flowing and feeling a little more awake and rolled over in my bed. I knew I'd had a strange dream and it was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't remember it at all. Sighing, I sat up realizing I probably wouldn't remember and should stop trying. I walked down stairs and saw Gaius had fallen asleep while watching Marcus. He was even snoring. I laughed under my breath. He was such a cute old man. I went over and woke him up gently. He bolted up mumbling something as he woke up. I smiled at him,
"It's sunrise. You've been up all night." He looked around still trying to get his bearings."Why don't you get a couple hours of sleep? I'll stay here with Marcus and try to get his fever to break." Gaius nodded and walked upstairs mumbling something while he did. I sat down by the poor man. He still had a high fever and looked so pale. For now he was sleeping, and seemed to be staying that way. I picked up a book Gaius had been looking at. I started trying to read it, but it was very technical, not written for a beginner at all. I sighed setting the book down. It was opened to the halfway and then started slowly flipping the pages with magic. It was harder than you'd think. It would be easier to move all the pages at once, but to slowly turn one page at a time took control and patience. So I sat there, with my feet propped up on another chair and the book's pages slowly. It was very relaxing. Merlin came down running down the stairs a couple hours later.
"Oh, I'm late. I'm late." He said while pulling on his shoes. He bolted out the door before I could even say good morning. As soon as the door closed, I burst out laughing.
"Oh, he's going to get an earful from Arthur." I said out loud. I finally needed to move around a little before I fell asleep. I stood up to get a drink, and Marcus work up at the same time. I went back over to the makeshift bed. Marcus was trying to sit up, but I gently pushed him back on the bed, "You can't sit up yet." I told him taking his hand. "Do you need something?" I asked. He nodded.
"Water." He said in a raspy voice. I nodded squeezing his hand before standing up to pour him a glass of water. Marcus eagerly drank and got about half way through before he started coughing up the water. I pulled the cup away, letting him finish his drink, and then his head fell back on the pillow. He sighed and pulled the blanket over his chest. I could barely hear him mumble something, and couldn't make out more than "on my feet." Now seemed as good a time as any to wake up Gaius, I didn't know what to do if Marcus woke up for a long time. I walked upstairs to the hallway and realized I didn't know which room was Gaius's. There were four doors in the hallway. I opened the first door and found an absolute mess. This must be Merlin's room. I laughed; it was no surprise that he'd been running late. I was tempted to clean the room using magic (it certainly would use up energy) but quickly decided the act wouldn't be easy to explain to Gaius or Merlin and left it alone. The next door lead to my room and the third door was locked. I knocked on the forth door and didn't hear anyone inside, so I slowly opened the door up. Gaius's room was much cleaner than Merlin's and smaller. I walked over to the bed where the old man was sleeping.
"Gaius, Gaius." He sat up, stretched, and then looked at me.
"Has there been any progress?" He asked.
"He woke up a few minutes ago, took a drink of water, and fell back asleep." I told him. "Anthony hasn't stopped by, but I'd expect him to before lunch. He seems to care a great deal about Marcus." Gaius stood up and I followed him out into the hall.
"It's refreshing for brothers-in-laws to be good friends." I said, "There are some areas where brothers-in-law are mortal enemies." I said remembering some of the hardships that had come.
"Anthony and Marcus are like brothers themselves, those boys have been thick as thieves since they met as children." We walked downstairs where Marcus was still sleeping. Gaius sat down and picked up his book. He flipped some of the pages to get to certain one. Just as he was started to read there was a knock at the door. I went over and opened it. There was a woman holding a young girl in her arms.
"Please, you have to help her." She said. The woman was frantic. I nodded pulling the door open wide so she could walk in. Gaius looked up and walked to the woman taking the girl in his arms.
"Emily, what's happened?" He asked.
"I don't know. She was playing yesterday and came home saying she was tired. This morning she walked out of the bedroom and passed out. I brought her to you." Gaius laid the girl on a bench.
"Don't worry Emily; we'll take care of Lucie. I need to ask you a few questions."Gaius said. Emily nodded and sat down on the bench "Where was Lucie playing yesterday?" Gaius asked.
"Um… she was down by the fountain in the morning and in the afternoon she went into town. She mentioned something about getting a snack from a stall that was giving them out free. I think it was Alexandria's stall."
"Alright, who else was she was playing with." Gaius asked.
"I um, Anittan, Caindra, and Vivindra." Emily answered, "Is she going to be okay?"
"Don't worry; we'll take care of her." Gaius said. "You should get back to your other children." Emily nodded standing to walk out the door. Gaius sighed and turned to me. "Another case, we'll have to bring down one of the extra cots from the closet."
By that afternoon there were seven cases including Lucie and Marcus just like it. We were running out of space and water. I headed out to get water from the well and Gaius was staying with the sick people. As I was going, to the water pump, the bells began to ring. I turned with the others toward the bell towers. Word spread through the crowds like wild fire,
"What's going on?"
"Are the rumors true?"
"But after all this time is it possible?"
"Excuse me Miss." I said to a woman passing by, "But what is the rumor burning though Camelot?" I asked her.
"Haven't you heard? They say Prince Arthur returns and that he brings the Lady Morgana with him."
"The Lady Morgana?" I asked, "The King's ward?"
"The very same, they are to reach Camelot by nightfall." The woman said, "Isn't it wonderful?" She asked. I nodded numbly,
"Yes, wonderful." I muttered. I left quickly to get the bucket full of water and returning to Gaius. I threw open the door,
"Gaius have you heard the news?"
"One moment my dear." Gaius said and turned back to one of the patients. It looked as though Gaius was taking her temperature. I nodded and set the bucket of water down on the table than removed my cloak. I walked over and got a good look at Lucy. She was still pale and seemed so weak. Gaius sighed and rested a cloth on her forehead, "Now, what is the pressing news?"
"Word has reached Camelot that Prince Arthur returns at nightfall, it is said he comes with the Lady Morgana." I told him,
"The Lady Morgana?" Gaius asked, "Are you certain?"
"That is what I have been told." I replied.
"Well, there can only be one thing to do." Gaius said,
"And what is that?" I asked,
"I must speak to Uther about this." I nodded,
"What shall I do?" I asked,
"Stay here, continue to study. The patients have all been given a sleeping vial that will keep them asleep until I return." I nodded,
"What shall I do in the even others come down with this sickness?" I asked.
"Set a cool wash cloth on their head to help with the fever and then give them a teaspoon of the blue liquid from the bottle counter." I nodded, "I should be back shortly." Gaius assured.
"I'll be right here." I said. Gaius left the room. I sighed looking down at the book, "You think there was a spell for absorbing knowledge." I muttered picking up the book, "But mother always said, 'you must strive to learn not strive to memorize.'" I recited. I sat down and put my legs up on the counter then flipped past the pages on skeletal anatomy and came to the muscles of the body. I stared down at the page and sighed. I started on the legs and foot when a knock came. I excitedly stood up and put the book down, I really shouldn't be that excited about something being sick. I thought as I opened the door. It was a man holding a grown woman in his arms,
"Is this where everyone comes?" He asked clearly concerned for her, I nodded.
"Bring her inside." I said opening the door. The man walked inside and waited for me to instruct him somewhere,
"Set her down on the bench." I said clearing off the papers, "I'll get her something to put her head on and a blanket." I ran upstairs taking the blanket and pillow of my bed and running down stairs. I quickly put them over her and the man moved out of my way so I could check her quickly,
"You can do something for her right?" He asked,
"I'll do everything I can." I told him honestly. The woman began to fling her head around. He looked up at me clearly still scared, "Is this your wife?" I asked trying to keep his mind active so that he wouldn't begin to hypothesize the worst. The man shook his head,
"I'm courting her, well I was hoping to ask her to marry me today." He said. I smiled,
"I wish you both the best." I said, "Has she realized it yet?"
"I don't think so." The man said, "I was hoping it could be a surprise." I smiled,
"I'll make sure she gets better." I promised. I stood up to go get the bottle that Gaius had told me to give new victims. I turned to the counter and saw the bottle had been tipped over and the liquid had spilled out. I opened my mouth to curse but shut it quickly. I turned back to the man,
"I must ask you to leave now." I said. The man opened his mouth to protest, "Please" I said cutting him off, "I promise to help her, but I'll need you to leave." The man nodded and walked out. As soon as the door closed I looked at the spilled potion. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair and looked down at the girl. She was still tossing her head around. What she needed right now was something to help her calm down. I bit my lip and looked at the door. It was still shut and did look as though that would change anytime soon. I walked over to her and rested my hands on either side of her temple, her head still thrashing about. I tried several times to say the spell, but every time she broke my concentration,
"Raed ym tser." I finally said finishing the spell, the girl tossed a few times more than settled down. I sighed. For now, the problem was solved. Of course, it could come back and explode in my face at any moment, but for now the problem was solved. I picked up the bottle and set it with the other empty bottles. I cleaned up the I looked at the book studying for a while. Gaius came in a little while later both looking quite troubled.
"What's wrong Gaius?" I asked.
"The rumors are true, the Lady Morgana returns tonight." Gaius said in a much less joyous tone than I would have expected. It made me wonder, what was so wrong with the Lady Morgana?
Gaius – if you would to be so kind as you review, I'm certain the chapters will come out faster.