So, we last left off with a steady food supply for Merlin and co. Beth (the child) and Gaius are still sick, Lander the builder, Allister the plot device and Arthur the oblivious are all still injured, and Merlin is still the whump bag. The roc is flying over the forest, Gwen is still trapped, Haspin is still at large, the hallways are nowhere near to being cleared, and the guards spread thin. And I am pretty much making these chapters up with only a very loose sketch of the plot in my mind.

Sorry it's been over ...holy crap, six months since the last update. Again. After the last update, I took two AP exams, final exams, directed a scene from the Merry Wives of Windsor, (which was never performed, by the way), I had no access to a computer for a whole month (I was touring Europe with a choir), and the blackout on the east coast happened, and then I had another week of rehearsal with another choir. And now I'm involved with three choirs, APs, etc. To all those of you who have managed to stay with me, I can't thank you enough, and understand any hostile feelings you may have towards me. Really, you can't imagine the guilt.

EDIT TO LAST CHAPTER: Returning readers, please check Chapter 6. I have changed the scene with Arthur and Merlin, as the idea of Merlin eating gruel 'every other day' was too unrealistic.

::::::::CHAPTER SEVEN:::::::::

Gwen broke off a piece of the bread roll with some difficulty; it was so stale that it was almost hard as a rock. Gently assessing the inside of the roll with her fingers, she was dismayed to find that the interior was not much better. She put a small quantity of the roll in her mouth and began to suck on it, waiting for her saliva to soften the roll enough for her to be able to use her teeth. Her stomach rumbled fiercely, and she swallowed.

Gwen sighed, leaning against the wall of the alcove. If she concentrated, she could hear very faint shouting—the rescuers, she had no doubt. Not that they'll do any good, she thought morosely, staring at her clasped hands, I'll die of starvation before they get here.

She started to hum tunelessly, picking at a loose strand of her dress. The dark solitude pressed in on her, and Gwen blinked, holding back tears. She'd never felt so alone before.

It was terrifying.

:::::::::::::

"Morgana."

Morgana stood and stretched, her back cramped from the time she'd spent removing the collapsed stone. "What is it?"

Uther looked at her, concern and irritation in his gaze. "Come dine with me. You look exhausted."

"While so many people need my help? I refuse."

"There are already diggers, Morgana. One woman will not make a difference in the matter." Uther pressed. "You need to eat...think of it as a break. You are not the only one who will do so."

I am hungry, Morgana acknowledged. Her stomach had been loudly protesting for quite a while. "I...I suppose you're right. But we shall eat quickly, I must return as soon as possible."

Uther smiled at her, and Morgana returned it without thinking, the mannerisms of a lady now instinct after years of etiquette lessons. He reached out a hand, and Morgana took it, linking his arm with hers.

"I suppose nothing will keep you from aiding the workers," Uther said, as they made their way down the corridors.

Morgana simply looked at him, daring the king to oppose her. He frowned, and then to Morgana's surprise laughed, looking at her with something akin to affection.

"You've always been so headstrong...just like your father..." he chortled, glancing away as they continued down the hall, people rushing in the opposite direction, shouting for more buckets and more water...

:::::::::::::

The girl moaned and writhed underneath Merlin's hand, her forehead slick with sweat and coal-hot to his touch. With his right hand, he smoothed her hair back, in his left hand he held a bowl containing pulverized coriander and water.

"Please," Merlin breathed, desperately trying to keep the mixture from spilling as the girl twisted on the table. "You need this. It'll help you. Please."

The girl whimpered, peering at him with watering eyes. "My head hurts. It's so cold—why is it so cold?"

"This will help bring the fever down," Merlin insisted. "And then I'll get some lavender for your head. But you need this first, alright?"

Tears leaked from the girl's eyes, and she went limp—unsurprising, as she barely had the strength to struggle.

"It's alright," Merlin tilted the bowl, letting the contents slip into her mouth. "It'll be okay. Swallow. Good. I'll just get that lavender now. Don't worry about a thing."

The girl—Beth—Merlin corrected momentarily, and then flinched—had malaria. He and Gaius had discussed her symptoms for as long as Gaius had been able—which wasn't very long, as Gaius had relapsed. A setback to be sure—Merlin had been counting on Gaius's support throughout this whole ordeal.

Sighing, Merlin fetched the lavender and proceeded to treat Beth, mentally preparing himself for the rest of the morning tasks. After Beth would come Gaius, then Lander, then Alister, and finally Arthur. Then, if he was feeling up to it, breakfast. Accompanying each patient was a checklist of ingredients...coriander and henbane for Gaius, vinegar and mint for Lander; vinegar, myrrh and yarrow for Alister...Or was it achillea? Merlin groaned, shaking his head. He'd just have to go through it step by step when he got there.

Gaius's treatment was simple, much as it had been before the relapse. As Merlin rubbed the henbane ointment onto Gaius's hands, the physician (who he had thought was asleep) muttered something about have you eaten yet and don't forget the leeches. Merlin frowned at that last comment. Though Merlin was well aware of the usage of leeches as a cure for diseases, and that Gaius used them often in his work, he personally had used them only once, maybe twice—and that was twice too many. They revolted him, and frankly he was a little leery of a remedy that removed an essential part of living from one's body. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.

After he'd finished with Gaius, Merlin returned to the table and knelt on the floor, next to where Lander lay. The builder would eventually be moved from there, of course, but for now it was more convenient to leave the builder there, no matter the fact that Lander couldn't exactly sit comfortably under it. Besides, Lander had admitted that sitting up made him dizzy, so there wasn't any pressing need to move him now.

"How are you feeling?" Merlin asked Lander casually, gently examining the bandaging on the man's head and arm.

The man grinned at him, with more ease than one would normally expect from someone in his position.

"Contented and warm-like...or at least I will be, once you hand over the mead."

Merlin smirked as Lander purposefully stared at the mug Merlin currently held in his left hand. "Don't look so greedy. It's watered down—you aren't in excruciating pain, and there's no point in having you drunk first thing in the morning."

"Why? I'm not going anywhere."

Merlin's grin faded slightly, and he and Lander looked at each other ruefully for a moment.

"Well, it's still no excuse." Merlin broke the silence, huffing slightly as he offered Lander a poultice he'd prepared beforehand. "Here, drink this first. And don't drink the alcohol just yet, I have to distribute breakfast," he suddenly remembered, wondering how that had slipped his mind.

He missed what Lander replied, getting up in a daze. It was just one slip-up, he reassured himself nervously. You remembered it after all, didn't you? But there was always the possibility that he might have not. And while certainly it wouldn't have been a huge problem—someone would take note and then he'd supply breakfast and that would be that—it could have had much bigger consequences. What if it had been someone's medicine?

Maybe it was just fatigue, Merlin reasoned, retrieving Alister's medicine and crouching next to the noble, going through the motions. He'd woken up fairly energetic, and had been on full alert during Beth's episode, but as the morning dragged on Merlin had begun to feel...heavy. Not the best of descriptions, Merlin thought, blatantly ignoring the inquiring looks Alister was giving him as he worked. It was like he was in a haze. He was processing everything slower. The word cotton suddenly sprang to mind, and Merlin rubbed his hands without thinking, watching herb scraps fall from them onto the ground.

"Gaius is right. I free-associate too much." The words hitched as he uttered them, and he rose to his feet, getting his bearings as the room swayed in the wind—swayed in the wind? What was wrong with him?

Merlin, numb, reached for Arthur's treatment on the table, near Beth's feet, and to his horror he somehow misjudged the distance and his fingers brushed against a vial instead of curling around it, the vial teetered on the edge and began to fall and he could only wait for it to smash instead of using magic and-

-Alister neatly caught it, examining him with a critical eye. "I say again, are you alright?"

Merlin blinked, and the world was comprehensible again.

"Yes. I'm perfectly alright. I'm...I'm very okay." Merlin snatched the vial from Alister's grip, flushing. "Thank you. Er, my lord." He turned away as politely as he could, wanting to distance himself from the nobleman as quickly as possible.

–

"I can't wait to stand up again. You know, I'm almost certain I can feel my muscles atrophying as we speak." Arthur lifted the mug and swallowed Merlin's poultice in one go, and as he set it down he glanced at Merlin, as if waiting for him to reply.

Merlin instead continued to silently bind Arthur's arm. Broth for Gaius and Beth, bread-

"You're awfully quiet today, Merlin. Still not used to the idea of waking up at dawn?" Arthur teased, reclining against the pillow, raising his eyebrows.

-cheese, fruits for the others maybe-

"Merlin?"

-fruits for the others, maybe-

"Merlin."

-maybe apples, or what about-"

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted, whacking him with a pillow, disbelief lacing his voice.

-salt fis- "Sorry, what?" Merlin spluttered, looking at Arthur blankly.

Arthur's gaze softened, and he looked almost apologetic. "Is everything alright, Merlin? You seem a little out of it."

"Everything's fine." Merlin tried to smile as he began to sort through the food baskets, picking out the particular foods. "Everything's okay."

"Good." Arthur said, bemused. "If you're sure."

"When haven't I been?" Merlin scoffed, taking a platter in his hands.

Arthur stilled, growing somber. "Your judgment has proven to be uncannily accurate, Merlin. Eerily so."

"Well, that's just me, I suppose." Merlin evaded, growing uncomfortable.

"You knew about Valiant's enchanted shield and stood by your accusation while everyone else opposed you. You were adamant that Gwen was innocent, even attempting to absolve her with the ridiculous notion that you were the one to practice magic. And Merlin..." Arthur paused, and Merlin forgot to breathe.

"...you were so sure that my drink—goblet-had been poisoned that you agreed to drink it instead of me, risking your career and your life in favor of mine. I never really said, Merlin, but...thank you."

The platter Merlin held was no longer weighing down on him. His eyes stung, and he felt inexplicably relieved of something.

"You've proven to be someone I can rely on. Well, not for chores or any of the duties that you're actually supposed to perform," Arthur grinned, and Merlin laughed, feeling just a bit more alive than he had before, "but your loyalty is something I never would have expected from the peasant boy who refused to kneel in front of the—the arrogant prat in the courtyard all that time ago. I want you to know that I appreciate what you've done for me. And...that I trust you."

Merlin felt giddy and deflated all at once. Words failed him, and he opened his mouth and closed it, a pit growing in his stomach.

Arthur shifted slightly, concern flitting across his face. "It shames me to say it, but I've only now come to realize how hard this situation must be for you. You're still recovering from the poison, you aren't a proper physician, and yet the task has fallen on you alone to care for five patients. I certainly didn't make things easier," he closed his eyes briefly, regretfully, and Merlin was filled with gratitude.

"I apologize for that. It was very unfair to you, and it won't happen again. I don't want you to view me as a hindrance, but as one you can turn to for support. So, Merlin...if anything's wrong, please tell me. I won't even call you a girl." He added, clearly hoping that Merlin would smile and everything would be as it should.

Merlin obliged, hesitating. "I'd love to, really, but I really need to deliver breakfast..."

"Of course. I shouldn't have kept you. But Merlin...come back when you're finished."

The sincerity in Arthur's eyes caused Merlin to freeze instinctively, uncertainty binding him to his spot. Finally, he found his voice again. "Right...yeah, I mean I'm delivering your, um, breakfast last...I..."

Merlin awkwardly turned and exited, a strange sense of shame weighing over him. Arthur's openness, his willingness to apologize and acknowledge the trust he held with Merlin was maddening. It only served to strip away Merlin's armor of deceit, taunting the warlock with the fact that he lied to Arthur on a consistent basis, that he was betraying Arthur's trust – something he didn't deserve.

But I want it, Merlin mused, helping Gaius sit up as he poured broth into his guardian's mouth. Arthur's trust was a necessity if Merlin wanted to continue protecting him.

Merlin doled out the rest of the food—broth to Beth, bread and cheese to the rest. He then returned to his room, and served Arthur.

"Sit, Merlin." Arthur tore into a piece of bread, indicating a chair as his cheeks bulged.

Merlin obliged, tentatively gnawing his own breakfast. His stomach had settled down somewhat, to his relief.

"How are the others?" Arthur's change of subject wasn't surprising to Merlin—though, Merlin realized, it wasn't really a change of subject but more of an assessment of what he was dealing with. And a genuine concern about the common people, Merlin noted with a bit of pride.

"Beth and Gaius have relapsed." Merlin said, "but Lander and Alister are doing better. With any luck I can have Lander ready to leave in a week or so, maybe less."

"That's good. You'll be less overworked with him gone." Arthur drunk deeply from his goblet, his voice slightly muffled. "Merlin, do you have any books on this 'roc' that I could read? I'd like to be as informed as possible on this creature."

Merlin paused, trying to remember if books on magical creatures were banned. "...You would be alright with that? Books on magical creatures, I mean."

"Well, I'm asking for them, aren't I?" Arthur laughed once and then sobered. "Don't worry, you won't be in any trouble over them. After all, the more knowledge we have on magic's demons and practitioners the easier it'll be to defend ourselves against them, don't you agree?"

"Mm." Merlin set his plate aside, standing up. "I'll get them now."

He left and went straight for the book balcony, where Gaius kept quite a few magic-related books on the basis that nobody actually ever went up there. Merlin ascended the ladder as quickly as he was able, and began to scan the shelves for books.

There was a sudden, violent jolt. Merlin gasped and wobbled, but before he got his bearings there was another, larger rumbling, and with a cry he stumbled back, crashed through the railing and fell.

He landed on his right arm, there was a sickening crack and he rolled, the room shaking as yet another shock vibrated throughout the room. A terrible noise, the sound of rock collapsing, filled the room and was instantly overtaken by the sounds of glass smashing and books tumbling to the ground.

Merlin attempted to stand, but his legs gave out and he toppled back onto the floor, his cheeck slamming into the ground. Beth began to scream, and he rose, swaying, teetering. The room reeled, and bile dribbled out of Merlin's mouth as he heaved.

Merlin stumbled, and hunched over in a corner of the room, wheezing. Tears leaked from his tightly shut eyes. "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay it's okay it's okay okay okay" Merlin chanted under his breath, biting his lip so hard he drew blood.

"It's okay!" He barked, turning and surveying the room with blurred vision. He felt suddenly calm, just like when he was about to drink the poison for Arthur. "Don't panic."

He darted for Beth, grabbing her before she rolled off the table and setting her on the floor, ignoring the sharp pain in his arm as he instructed her to hold on to the nearest secure object. In the next moment he was retrieving Lander and then Alister from the table and giving them the same instructions. Gaius refused to move and said he'd be fine, ordering Merlin to check on Arthur.

Merlin immediately did so, throwing open the door to his room with a desperate authority, only to be stopped in his tracks in horrified amazement.

Where the wall on his left should have been was a gaping hole, cut stone dangling off the edge forming a monstrous gouge in the wall of Camelot. Miraculously only a small portion of the floor was missing, leaving Arthur stricken on the bed just a few feet away from the edge. Merlin squinted, the bright noonday sun streaming into the room blinding him momentarily.

"Arthur! Are you hurt?" He called out anxiously, attempting to block the rays with his uninjured arm.

"There were talons..." Arthur gaped, glancing at Merlin with shock and fear, his dagger clasped in his left hand. "They pierced the wall like it was nothing and ripped it away—they were as big as my father-"

A inhuman screech drowned out Arthur's next words, so freakish that Merlin clamped his ears while Arthur shoved his head under his pillow out of terror.

Merlin and Arthur could only stare, stupefied, as the roc's head suddenly came into view and stared at them with beady, hungry eyes. It opened its beak and let out another grotesque shriek, and thrust its head into the room, snapping at the vulnerable Arthur upon the bed.

Feeding time.