AN: I'm sorry for finishing on a cliff-hanger but I needed some more drama to be added to this story. Thanks again for all your feedback and support, it's much appreciated.
"Second place and second best as usual!" Elyan jeered as he and Percival raced their horses through the town and into the castle's courtyard.
"I let you win." Percival retorted and Elyan snorted.
"Of course you do, the same way you do every time we race." Elyan reminded, he had had enough experience of being chased away and to places to be the best speed rider out of any of the knights.
"Keep gloating little man, I'll beat you yet." Percival commented and the smiles fell of their faces as Lancelot ran down the steps towards them looking panicked. Something had happened.
"What's happened? Has something happened to Gwen? The baby?" Elyan demanded, Lancelot's expression alone didn't bode well but Elyan was doing his best not to panic. It had to be some sort of false alarm.
"She collapsed during the meeting. She-she's been poisoned." Lancelot explained and the words were no sooner out of his mouth that Elyan had turned and sprinted up the steps and into the castle. Lancelot and Percival both ran off after him, leaving the other people in the courtyard to look at them run off in confusion.
Elyan sprinted through the castle as quickly as he could but the race to Gaius' quarters seemed to last for a lifetime until eventually he reached and crashed through the door, looking around the room. Gaius was bent over Gwen whilst Merlin was at the table pouring over book after book trying to find the poison's origins and antidotes. A few moments later Lancelot and Percival hurried into the room and Gaius became aware of their arrival.
"What happened?" Elyan repeated and Gaius looked at Merlin to give an explanation.
"Gwen was in the middle of her meeting with King Rodor when she tried to stand and just collapsed, she began having spasms and began frothing at the mouth and producing blood in the saliva." Merlin relayed and Elyan looked both confused and furious as he crossed the room and sat down beside Gwen who was still twitching and shaking slightly although the foaming at the mouth had stopped. For a moment there was silence as Elyan reached out and held his sister's hand, none of the others spoke, they were waiting for the explosion.
"How could she have been poisoned? She was in the council room that should have been surrounded by guards and filled with people. How could anyone, even Morgana get into the room and poison her without getting caught?" Elyan demanded as his panic gave way to fury. They had all sworn to do whatever it took to keep both Gwen and the baby safe, now he was being told that somehow Gwen had been poisoned in plain sight and nobody had done anything to stop the poisoner? It was a total disregard for their oath as well as showing a lack of concern for Gwen and the baby as well as practically spitting at Arthur's memory.
"We still don't know what sort of poison was used. It could have been ingested just before or during the meeting or it could have been given to her at an earlier time. If that is the case then we need to consider all she has ate and drank within the past few days." Gaius explained calmly and looked at Elyan. "I know you're scared Elyan but you need to remain calm for Gwen's sake."
Elyan nodded and Percival looked around the room. "Where's Leon and Gwaine, weren't they supposed to have been at the meeting too?"
"Leon was the one who brought Gwen down then he left to deal with King Rodor and Princess Mithian. As for Gwaine," Merlin trailed off. "Now that I think about it, I haven't seen Gwaine all day."
"Me either, not since the king and princess' arrival this morning." Lancelot replied.
"I'll try and find them will I?" Percival offered, he felt like he was intruding on something private as the men watched Elyan take and squeeze his sister's hand tightly, making no attempt to hide the fear on his face. If Gwen did die, Elyan wouldn't lose just a sister but also a niece or nephew. However they all tried not to think about that possibility. Gwen might die but at the same time, she might not and it was the latter prediction that they were hoping would come to fruition.
"I think you should, just in case." Lancelot replied and as Percival left the room, Lancelot walked over to Merlin. "What do you think caused this?"
"Three guesses." Merlin replied in a whisper. Poison, someone working on the inside, important political alliance being interrupted by chaos; this had Morgana's name all over it. Lancelot nodded and looked at Merlin.
"Is there anything you can do?" Lancelot asked in a whisper, the double meaning of his words not being lost on Merlin.
"I don't know." Merlin replied, they didn't know what sort of poison Morgana had used or the strength of it or how much time they had. Even if they found some sort of way of healing Gwen by magic, the key question was how were they to do it? Was it finally time for Merlin to reveal himself or would there be another way of yet again avoiding being caught or recognised for proving that magic could be used for something good.
"You'll find something." Lancelot replied bracingly and Merlin nodded as Lancelot picked up one of the books and began helping him flick through it.
As Percival walked down the corridor, he kept an eye out for Gwaine but there was no sign of the knight anywhere. Percival kept looking and by now, word of what had happened in the council room had spread around the castle. Whilst everyone knew something had happened to Gwen, there were different rumours being circulated. Some said that she had collapsed, others were claiming someone had attempted to stab her but the one thing all the stories had in common was the fact that the heir to the throne was nearly on her deathbed in Gaius' quarters. That was all anyone seemed to know yet even that was worrisome, the rapidness of which news was spread around the castle.
"Sir Percival,"
Percival turned to see Rowan hurrying towards him looking worried. The maid stopped in front of him and Percival looked at her, recalling what Merlin said about the poison being possibly contained in what Gwen had ate or drank recently. If anyone knew what Gwen had eaten or drank, it was Rowan.
"Is it true? What they're saying about Gwen, is it true?" Rowan asked looking terrified.
"Yes but Gaius is doing everything he can." Percival reassured. "Rowan, has Gwen had anything unusual to eat or drink recently? Something she would not normally have taken?"
"Not really, aside from her apple craving and the tonic, nothing out of the ordinary. Percival, this poison, it could kill both of them couldn't it?" Rowan asked, as Gwen's maid, she was the only other person aside from the knights, Merlin and the council who knew Gwen was pregnant. The decision not to formally announce the news until Gwen had reached her third month was proving to have been a wise one. The people were scared enough for Gwen's survival as it was.
"Let's hope it doesn't. The tonic, that was the one Gaius gives you isn't it?" Percival asked. Elyan had mentioned something about Gwen having a tonic with her meals and how it was supposed to be beneficial for the baby's health.
"Yes but he didn't give it to me today, I was running late and didn't have time to fetch her afternoon dosage." Rowan replied.
"So Gwen didn't receive it today?" Percival asked and Rowan shook her head.
"No she did, Sir Gwaine gave me the tonic. He told me Gaius had sent him to give it to me." Rowan explained and Percival thought about it. it made sense but at the same time, it didn't. He needed to be sure of all the facts first.
"Have you seen Gwaine since?" Percival asked and Rowan shook her head.
"You don't think he did it." Rowan whispered.
"No, Gwaine never would. I need to tell Gaius, that tonic bottle would still be in the meeting room wouldn't it?" Percival asked.
"I was just going to fetch it." Rowan replied.
"I'll do that, don't worry Rowan. Gwen will be fine." Percival reassured even though the both knew they were empty words. Rowan turned and walked away as Percival hurried towards the throne room. The room was empty and he made his way to the table where the tray was still sitting on the table. The jug and goblet were still on the tray but the vial which the tonic had been in was gone. Percival cursed under his breath and looked at the goblet and jug, the jug still had water in it and the goblet still had some liquid in it. Careful not to spill any, Percival lifted the tray and carried it from the room and back towards Gaius' quarters.
"Have you found anything yet?" Elyan asked as Gaius moved away from Gwen and over to where Merlin and Lancelot were still pouring over books, the rhythmic flicking of pages doing nothing to offer any sort of reassurance, instead it just seemed to add more and more worry as each book proved no possible answers or indications of a possible cure they could use.
"Nothing yet," Merlin replied.
"This is indeed a powerful poison. Almost certainly the work of Morgana." Gaius replied which surprised none of them. Morgana, who else would it have been?
"Do you think she knows?" Elyan asked and none of them needed any sort of clarification to what he was asking.
"It is possible, prior to his death Arthur was concerned about a possible traitor in our midst. If that is the case, they could be aware of Gwen's condition and informed Morgana." Gaius replied as Percival entered the room.
"Gaius, did you give Gwaine the tonic Gwen needed?" Percival asked and Gaius looked confused.
"No, Gwen was due her dosage after the meeting adjourned." Gaius replied and Percival nodded as he set the tray onto the table beside the tower of books.
"Rowan said Gwaine gave her the tonic but when I reached the council room it had gone." Percival explained, there was silence as Merlin, Gaius, Elyan and Lancelot realised what Percival was telling them.
"Gwaine would never do that. Not to Gwen, not to anyone." Lancelot defended.
"None of us have seen Gwaine since but Lancelot's right. He would never do this." Elyan insisted with a shake of his head.
"Morgana must be involved but we need to know what she's done and how we can cure Gwen. Then we figure out what happened to Gwaine and how we deal with him." Merlin decided as he and Gaius looked at each other before they stood in front of the tray with their backs to the others.
"Revelare," Merlin breathed as his eyes flashed gold. 'Reveal'. The liquid in the goblet turned a vile yellow shade and gave off a brief smell of various herbs and fungi used to create poisons before reverting once more to clear fluid and the smell dispersing. As they looked at one another, Merlin could see Gaius working out which poison it was before turning back to his books.
"Well?" Elyan asked after a few minutes of unbearable silence.
"It seems to be a blend between two different poisons. Both would not have been particularly strong on their own but combined they are extremely powerful and the cure of which is extremely rare." Gaius replied as he compared the two poisons in the books in which they had been written about.
"What is the cure?" Lancelot asked, whatever it was they would find it or make it no matter what the cost. If it ensured Gwen and the baby's survival, they would all do whatever it takes.
"The antidotes are difficult to make but for them both to work," Gaius trailed off and glanced momentarily at Merlin before looking at the assembled men. "Magic must be used."
There was silence as the knights absorbed Gaius' claim. Percival looked uneasy. Elyan seemed baffled but determined. Lancelot glanced at Merlin before back at Gaius. There was nothing but silence before Elyan broke it.
"Are you sure Gaius?" Elyan asked.
"Positive, it would most likely be why Morgana chose this particular poison. Gwen's body will be able to fight it but not for long, especially with the baby having to be protected too. Even if the antidotes were made and administered in time, they would be useless without the spell." Gaius explained as Leon entered the room.
"Is there any news?" Leon asked as he looked at Gwen lying on the bed, the soft swell of her stomach more noticeable in a lying position.
"We think Morgana's done something to Gwaine to create this poison. There is an antidote but the only way it can be used is through magic." Merlin explained in a slightly stunned voice.
"Gwaine? Where is he?" Leon asked.
"We don't know but we need to find him. We don't know what Morgana's done to him but we need to find out and help him." Lancelot replied. For all they knew, Morgana could have ordered him to kill himself after Gwen was poisoned in order to try and keep the truth secret.
"We'll need to do a full search of the castle and the woods." Leon nodded before he seemed to do a double-take of sorts as he looked at Merlin and Gaius. "Did you say the only way Gwen will be cured is by magic?"
"I'm afraid so, Morgana was indeed devious in her plans. Forcing Gwaine to give Gwen the poison and ensuring the only cure is the one thing we cannot do. The use of magic in Camelot is treason yet if Gwen isn't cured, she dies and Morgana is the last heir to the throne." Gaius explained.
"There has to be some other way." Elyan said, as though saying it would make it true.
"I'm afraid there isn't Elyan." Gaius replied gently and Elyan shook his head.
"No Gaius. There has to be. I'm not losing my sister or my niece or my nephew. They're the only family that I've got. We have to do something." Elyan insisted and everyone pretended not to notice the wetness in his eyes as he looked at Gwen, tightened his hold on her hand and pressed their linked fingers to his forehead. Merlin walked over to Elyan and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll find a way." Merlin promised. He meant it, if he was going to reveal himself then now seemed as good a time as any to do it. If ever there was a good enough reason to reveal himself then certainly it would be to save the lives of Gwen and the baby.
"All right, now we need to organise some sort of plan. Lancelot, Percival and I will try and find Gwaine and try and do something to break whatever control Morgana has on him. Gaius and Merlin you need to try and find some other form of antidote that doesn't involve magic. Elyan, you stay with Gwen and hopefully… hopefully Arthur won't take her and the baby from us just yet." Leon suggested and the men all went their separate ways. As the knights left, Gaius looked at Elyan who was still staring at Gwen as though hoping he could cure her by sight alone.
"Elyan, why don't you move Gwen into Merlin's bed? It would allow you both to have some privacy." Gaius offered knowingly as Elyan nodded and dragged the back of his free hand across his eyes before gently picking Gwen's unconscious form up as though it were made of glass and carried it into Merlin's room. Once the door was shut behind them, Gaius turned to Merlin.
"You know what I have to do." Merlin muttered.
"You know I do, the problem is what happens afterwards." Gaius replied. It was all fine and well to think that everyone would accept the truth about Merlin with open arms but the reality would be different. There would be questions, accusations, distrust and the inevitable threat that would come when Morgana learnt the truth as well. Merlin wasn't planning on screaming his secret from the battlements but as the situation plainly showed, even the best kept secrets could very easily be leaked to the enemy.
"I can't let her die," Merlin countered. Gwen was his best friend and had been since the day they met when she'd come up to him in the stocks and introduced herself. Everything else came second to that fact that they always had been and (he hoped) always would be.
"I know, therefore we need to find an alternative solution." Gaius offered and they continued working.
Morgana waited patiently in her hovel for news. If she was right and everything had gone according to plan then Gwen was all but at death's door. Morgana was not someone who killed for the sake of killing, there was method in her madness. If Gwen had not been named as Arthur's heir or pregnant with his bastard spawn then Morgana wouldn't have had to poison her. It was just the way circumstances worked themselves out. If there had been other alternatives then she would have considered them but the fact remained, the throne of Camelot was rightfully hers and since Gwen would not willingly give Morgana her right to the crown, then if Morgana had to take it from her cold, dead corpse, then so be it.
Morgana had been cleverer than usual in her planning. The poison took a full day to kill its victim unless the antidote was administered and Morgana knew there was nobody with magic in Camelot, nor would any of them be able to find one in time. Morgana also reasoned that she was doing Gwen a favour. She obviously would want to be reunited with her precious Arthur and was Morgana not giving her that opportunity now? This was the way things had to be.
For the greater good of Camelot.
Gwaine skulked around the castle, waiting for any sort of indication to determine Gwen's fate. Morgana had ordered him not to return to her unless he had proof that Gwen was dead. Everything had been going according to plan and if things worked themselves out then she would be dead by this time tomorrow. In the back of his mind, a lone voice was protesting that what he did was wrong. He would never have done that and Morgana was not to be trusted. That lone voice was drowned out by the overpowering magic surrounding the charm Morgana had placed around his neck. It was merely what had to be done to restore the rightful heir to the throne.
"Gwaine!"
Gwaine turned to see Lancelot, Percival and Leon walking down the passageway towards him. the possessed knight quickly adapted a concerned expression.
"How's Gwen?" Gwaine asked.
"We think you already know that answer. You're working for Morgana aren't you?" Leon accused and the three knights quickly surrounded Gwaine and backed him into a corner. Gwaine scoffed at them.
"Me? why would I work for Morgana? I serve the true heir to the throne." Gwaine replied and attempted to push past them. "Now if you'll excuse me lads," He didn't see the blow coming. All he felt was something heavy smash into the side of his face before the world went dark.
As Gwaine lay unconscious at their feet, Lancelot and Percival hoisted Gwaine's arms over their shoulders to carry him to the dungeons when Leon spotted the chain around his neck. Leon moved around Gwaine and pulled up the chain from under his collar to reveal the amulet Morgana had placed around his neck. Leon tugged it off and looked at Percival and Lancelot curiously before he cautiously slapped Gwaine around the face to bring him round again. a few moments later there was a groaning sound as Gwaine opened his eyes and raised his head.
"Ow my head. What was I drinking?" Gwaine asked groggily as he looked around and removed his arms from Percival and Lancelot's shoulders in order to rub his eyes and aching cheek. The knights looked at him cautiously.
"Gwaine, do you remember what happened?" Lancelot asked and Gwaine frowned. His memory was extremely murky and he found he had little recollection of the past day.
"I remember stopping by the river while on patrol, after that nothing." Gwaine replied then he realised that something wasn't right. "What happened?"
"It's Gwen, she's been poisoned. Gaius says that unless magic can be used to heal her, she-she won't make it." Lancelot explained, his throat going horribly tight as he thought about the woman he loved possibly dying. Of course he knew Merlin would be able to save her, that Merlin had the power to but whether or not he could was another story.
"How was she poisoned?" Gwaine asked and the knights all looked at him and each other uneasily before Leon explained.
"Morgana created some sort of poison combination and she put you under a spell." Leon explained and Gwaine blanched.
"I did this?" Gwaine asked.
"No, Morgana did. You were just her puppet." Percival reassured but Gwaine looked horrified at the idea that he poisoned one of his friends and her unborn child.
"Where is she now?" Gwaine asked.
"Gaius' quarters. Elyan's with her and Gaius and Merlin are trying to come with another solution if they can." Lancelot replied as he led the way back to Gaius' quarters. As they entered the room, the physician and Merlin were still hunched over books and discussing their options in whispers. Leon set the amulet onto the tablet and Gaius quickly checked Gwaine over for any other signs of enchantment before they turned to the matter at hand; how to save Gwen and the baby.
"Have you found anything yet?" Leon asked Gaius and Merlin who looked at each other.
"I'm afraid not. Our only option is to find a sorcerer who would be able to use magic to heal Gwen." Gaius replied and as the knights looked at Gaius, Lancelot glanced at Merlin curiously. Was Merlin about to do this?
"Magic is illegal," Leon reminded.
"And murder isn't?" Gwaine asked, he felt so guilty about his actions and if this was the only way to cure Gwen and save the baby, then that was the option they would have to take.
"Do you know anyone with magic who could help?" Percival asked Gaius curiously. That was the real crux of the problem. Before they could use magic to cure Gwen; they would need to find someone with magic and who in Camelot was able to use magic?
"Indeed I do." Gaius replied and looked at Leon. "You know him too."
"I do?" Leon asked confused. "What is his name?"
"Dragoon."