Soon, he, along with Gwen were in the great hall. Royalty surrounded them. Everyone was looking at Merlin's hat, which he noticed he was the only one wearing this sort of headdress. Glaring at Arthur, he took off the hat and tossed it in a large pot. Sighing, he looked around. Spying a woman wearing a turban looking at him, he wandered over to her. "Is everything all right," he asked.
Everything was going perfectly! She had easily gotten in to Camelot disguised as one of Lord Bayard's servants, and she had easily switched out the goblets, already knowing what would happen that evening.
Now it was show time. Taking a deep breath she put on her best 'worried face' and approached Arthur's manservant. He asked her if everything was alright. "I need to speak to you, but not here please! I don't know who else to tell!" With that being said Nimueh headed out of the Great Hall while Lord Bayard showed Uther and Arthur the goblets that had been crafted especially for them. Nimueh had seen Merlin's interest and concern. She was quite confident that he would follow. She had cast her line now all she had to do was reel him in!
As he waited for an answer, he found himself wondering about Freya. After the pseudo-anointing, she had disappeared without more than a little nod. It worried him. However, the warlock hadn't heard of any druid being caught. That had to be a good thing, right?
He snapped out of his revelry when the woman spoke. "Um, all right," Merlin said. He glanced around. Arthur looked preoccupied, although bored. Uther was giving a speech. Bayard looked annoyed. And Morgana as well as Gwen looked like they were enjoying themselves. None of them seemed to need him. "I can't be gone for long though. I'm Merlin by the way. You are?"
After Nimueh took him out of the room, the warlock pulled her through a secret hallway. "I know where no one can hear us. We can talk in private," Merlin explained. It was disguised with a red and gold lion tapestry. He led her along and soon he found the exit. They were in a private garden that no one seemed to use.
"What's going on? Tell me, please," Merlin said. "But first, why didn't you just ask to speak to one of the royals, like Arthur or Uther or even your master, Bayard?"
Arriving in the hallway, Nimueh turned to face Merlin. She had to remember to keep the worried/scared look on her face. At this point she wasn't Nimueh; High Priestess of the Old Religion, here she was Cara, a servant to Lord Bayard.
"My name is Cara. I cannot go to anyone else about this! The royals would not believe the word of a mere servant girl and my master..." Nimueh paused, swallowing hard as if she were nervous, "It is about him and...and what he's done to Prince Arthur's goblet.
"Two days ago I was bringing my master his evening meal. I know I was supposed to knock; he didn't expect me to just walk in the way I did." Nimueh flinched, curling her right hand in to a fist and raising it to cover he mouth as if she were actually terrified.
"If Lord Bayard knew I told anyone...he said he would kill me." she muttered, fighting back fake tears.
He wore a concerned look upon his face as he listened to Cara speak. He wasn't sure how he could help, but he would certainly try. "Don't worry, it'll be all right," he assured her.
Merlin opened and closed his mouth. Hearing about the goblet, he too swallowed. "What has Bayard done to the goblet," the warlock asked. He reached out and grabbed her arm. "What has he done? What? Is it poison?"
Seeing the nod, Merlin turned and hurried back the way he had come. Merlin saw Arthur raising the goblet to his lips. "Stop! It's poison. Don't drink it," he shouted. Merlin grabbed the goblet away from the Prince.
He was aware of everyone staring at him. Bayard was screaming that this accusation was an outrage. Men were drawing swords. He looked over at Arthur and swallowed. He glanced at Uther, who was trying to get Bayard's men to lower their sword. The King then turned his gaze on Merlin.
"If you want strung up, you will tell me why you think this," demanded the King.
"He was seen lacing it," whispered Merlin.
The King took the goblet and gestured it to Bayard. "If you are telling the truth, drink it," Uther declared.
"This is an outrage! I will not," Bayard said.
"Then you lie?"
"No. Fine…I'll drink it," Bayard said. He waved towards Uther and the goblet.
"No, the boy will drink it. If it is poison, I want the pleasure of killing you myself," Uther said, handing the goblet to Merlin.
"He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying," Gaius shouts.
"You should've schooled him better," Uther said.
"And if it is poison," asked Gaius in an irritable voice.
"Then we will know he was telling the truth. And if not, Bayard may do what he will to him," Uther replied.
Merlin wrapped his fingers around the goblet. He looked over at Arthur. Slowly, he raised the goblet and nodded to him. "It'll be all right," whispered Merlin as he raised the goblet to his lips.
This incident was going to hell in a hand basket. One minute Arthur was raising the goblet to his lips, the next Merlin had run in and announced that his goblet had been laced with poison and now even as Arthur objected with his father's decision, he watched Merlin take the goblet.
"No, I'll drink it!" Arthur insisted even though he knew by the time he spoke it that it was already too late. Arthur rushed around the table until he stood in front of Merlin, trying to take the goblet from the boy's hands.
The Prince watched, praying to whomever was listening up there that the goblet was not poisoned. He didn't want to see his man servant get hurt if not killed over this.
"No, I'll drink it," Merlin said in a firm voice. He took the goblet away from Arthur. Holding it as high over his shoulder, he took a few steps away from Arthur. "You're life is worth a 1,000 of mine. I will drink it."
With surprisingly steady hands, he raised the cup back to his lips. He tilted it back. Slowly, the wine poured into his mouth. He closed his eyes as he finished it off. One minute passed and then a second minute went by. Nothing happened. "It's fine," Merlin said lowering the goblet.
"He's all yours," Uther said with a wave of the hands. Bayard's men strode forward. They were ready to grab him, when they stopped.
Merlin began to choke. His eyes opened as a grimace crossed his throat. He grasped at his throat. Before falling to the floor, he looked worriedly at Arthur. "Ow," he moaned as his head hit the stone floor. The goblet rolled from his hand and he closed his eyes.