The Prince let out a relieved sigh when Merlin said it was fine. Thank God! Arthur had just turned his back on the boy when he heard a cough and a choke. Whirling back around he paled when he saw Merlin grimace and grab at his throat.
"Merlin!" Arthur called, reaching forward to try to catch his man servant but the boy had fallen too fast and ended up smacking his head against the stone floor. The Prince was at the boy's side within seconds. He saw that Merlin's eyes were closed and that he was in distress.
Not wasting any time Arthur gently yet firmly hoisted the boy on to his shoulder and rushed from the room. He didn't see who picked up the goblet but he heard that someone had. His main concern at that point was Merlin which was why he dashed as fast as he could to the medical wing.
Even in his unconscious state, he could tell he was struggling for air. It felt like his throat was tightening until there was no airway for breath to go in or out of. His chest strained with the labor that was breathing. The effort seemed to tire him out and he wasn't even sure why he was doing it. The attempt to inhale and exhale seemed almost futile and frustrated him.
As Arthur picked him up and slung him over his shoulder, the little air left in his lungs was expelled. Weakly, he coughed and opened his eyes. They were opened to tiny slits, but he could see Gwen pick up the goblet before she and Gaius followed Arthur to his quarters.
Once there, Gaius set out preparing the room. He filled a bowel with clean and cool water and then grabbed cloths to cool Merlin's brow, if need be. He pushed the table out of the way and set up the cot near the fire. "Lay him there. Prop his head," barked the physician.
"Here Giaus," Gwen said, holding out the goblet. She wore a worried expression was on her face as she looks at The top of Merlin's head. A drip of sweat falls from his nose. "I think he has a fever."
Gaius grunts in response as he examines the cup. Taking tweezers, he plucked a flower petal from the rim. Carrying it over to one of his books, he flipped through it. A frown formed when he saw the proper entry.
"I found it," Gaius said."It is the Mortaeus flower. When injected, the effects are terminal. Within a week, Merlin could perish unless he receives the antidote," explained the physician. "And the only way to treat it is with the leaf of the same plant."
Gaius sighed. "It is a rare toxin that causes the recipient a slow, painful death. High fevers, respiratory distress, rashes, sweats," he explained. "The person who used this wanted to wreck havoc to the drinker for it is hard to find and come by. In fact, it's only in one cave in all of this land."
Once Merlin was down on the ground, the Prince started to pace, feeling absolutely helpless as his friend and servant suffered. More than anything he wished he could take Merlin's place but he knew that it was not possible.
He turned his attention back to Gaius when the older man announced that he had found out what type of poison had been used. A petal from something called the Mortaeus flower.
"What cave?!" Arthur demanded to know, approaching the physician as he waited for an answer.
Wherever this cave was Arthur was more than willing to go there and locate another flower if it would save Merlin's life. Looking down at the book that Gaius had been reading from the Prince saw a picture of a beast that he didn't want to come up against.
"That doesn't look very friendly." He commented, tapping the image of the beast with his right index finger.
The elderly man looked up when Arthur half-exclaimed, half-asked what cave it was. After looking at the Prince for a brief moment, Gaius cleared his throat as he looked back at the open tome. "Let me see. Let me see," muttered the man. The air Gaius was exuding showed his annoyance at the hollering (Merlin had moaned a little right after Arthur's proclamation) as well as the apprehension as a whole.
"It is in Cenred's Kingdom in the caves of Balor. After a two day's ride, you should get there," Gaius replied. The man gestured to the map next to the flower drawing. One long finger tapped the mountainous area. "The flower grows underground, on the roots of the Mortaeus tree. This mountain range is the only area that has this tree."
Gaius looked down at the book when Arthur commented about the beast. "It isn't. It's the guardian of the caves," he explained. "While its bite isn't poisonous, it does have a nasty temper."
Looking over at Merlin, he frowned. The boy writhed in the bed, his breath was coming out labourously, and he was coated in a film of glistening sweat. "If you are to get the antidote, you must leave in haste. Merlin has less than a week until the poison takes his life. Fur of your days will be traveling to and from the area."
He listened to Gaius's warning about how much time he had, before he glanced back towards Merlin who looked like he was in a lot of pain. The Prince nodded his head, about to remark that the mission 'sounded like fun' but before he could utter the words his father stormed in to the room looking none too happy.
Just then, Uther stormed in. He looked anxious and angry - not a good combination. Gaius chose to ignore it. "What brings you here, sire?" asked Gaius.
"My son. He is needed in the throne room. We must discuss why we will do with Bayard and his knaves," spat Uther.
Thankfully Gaius spoke up first, asking Uther why he was there, and listening to his father's response was enough for Arthur to close his eyes and give a small shake of his head. Opening his eyes once more he folded his arms and fixed Uther with a look.
"I assumed that would be easy My Lord, throw every one of that lot in to the dungeons. Whatever you choose to do Sire, you cannot execute him. Now is that all? I have more important matters to attend to...father."
Arthur made sure to at least try to treat his father with respect when he spoke to him but inwardly he just wanted to rush out of the room, pack what he needed and then head out on his quest to the Caves of Balor. It was only too clear to him that Merlin didn't have the time to wait while the Prince and his father argued about what was to be done with Bayard and his lot. Not waiting for his father to answer, Arthur squeezed past the King and headed to the door.
"Arthur, you know it isn't easy! You know the laws and the procedures of the court," growled Uther as he grabbed his son and hauled him back into the room. "When there is an attack upon the House of Pendragons, there is council! You could be the one lying in that bed right now instead of the servant. How can you be so cavalier about an assassination attempt upon your life?"
"Sire, he really does have more important things to do, Sire. Merlin shall die in a week's time if he doesn't get the antidote. Arthur was just about to ride out for it," explained Gaius.
"That is what is considered important? Arthur, he's a servant! He was doing his job. Many servants have lost their lives protecting their masters. It's part of their duty. You will not go and risk your life to procure the medicine," Uther said. "You are to stay in your room for one week, do you hear me? The only time you will leave is for council. There will be guards posted outside your door. If you try to leave, you will be arrested, do you understand me? George shall be your new servant," Uther said. He took Arthur by the arm and escorted the Prince to his room.