Alaia Skyhawk: Wow, I'm actually finding myself lacking in motivation to write this one. It's just, compared to some of the other eps this one is just so... flat. Edwin is just so limp as a bad guy compared to some of the other evil sorcerers. It's like attack of the vicious hamster vs something like Nimueh the psycho seductress. Well, I've gotta write it anyway, so here goes. About the only bit I'm really looking forward to in this one is Gaius going to speak to Kilgharrah.

Apologies for, what seems to me, a blatant cop-out of a chapter start. But it was this or suffer Writer's Block trying to get this thing in motion. Hopefully I can make him seem a bit more inwardly sinister than he comes across as most of the time.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A

~(-)~

Chapter 31: A Remedy to Cure All Ills ~Part 1~

The figure stood unnoticed in the courtyard, the night's growing shadows letting his grey robes fade into obscurity. This was the place, his plan in motion, eyes watching for the candlelight from a certain window to go out. He would have his vengeance, he had prepared all to long for this, and when the candles were put out and he turned away, he did so knowing that come morning all of the pieces would be in place...

~(-)~

Elderly hands checked the young woman's pulse, opening her eyes to look for a response but getting none. At his shoulder stood the King of Camelot, Uther on the verge of pacing due to concern for his unconscious ward, Morgana.

Gaius sighed.

"Her body seems to have closed down."

"Why?" Uther faced his physician, growing frustrated. "You don't have an answer, do you. Nothing you've tried has worked. It's been nearly two days, and what do you know?"

Gaius could only bow his head in regret. He'd been doing all he could already.

"I fear she could have some form of inflammation of the brain."

Uther frowned.

"What could have caused such a thing?"

"An infection possibly. Rest assured I will do everything in my power to cure her, Sire."

The king nodded reluctantly, seating himself on the edge of Morgana's bed while Gaius briskly walked out. His grim expression only deepened to include sympathy when outside the room Gwen asked him if her mistress was any better, and he was forced to tell her she was not.

He watched her ascend the stairway to Morgana's room, while the young warlock who had been waiting outside with her approached his mentor.

"So how is she? Any change at all?"

Gaius shook his head.

"She's all but dead, Merlin."

"No, you're going to cure her. You have to."

"Don't you start." Gaius sighed, clearly at a loss. "I've tried everything."

Merlin eyed him thoughtfully, hesitating a moment before speaking.

"I was wondering... Maybe I could... help."

Gaius stared at him in disbelief.

"If you're suggesting magic. Have you forgotten what happened with Gwen's father?" Merlin flinched at that, Gaius continuing. "This is not a magical illness. It must be cured by conventional means. We keep trying."

Merlin sighed, relenting.

"Is there anything I can do to help with that then?"

His mentor nodded.

"See if you can find me some fresh rosemary, and yarrow."

Merlin turned a left, stopping by Gaius' chambers for a sack and then heading out of the castle. He didn't pay any heed to the man waiting by the steps in the courtyard, nor did the man show any interest in him. No, the figure was waiting for one particular individual to make an appearance.

Arthur soon came into the courtyard as well, for a different errand, but unlike Merlin he did pay attention to the waiting man.

He frowned, pausing to speak to him.

"What is your business here?"

Blue eyes regarded him from a face scarred by burns all down one side, the hood of the man's grey robes pulled up as if to prevent too many from noticing it.

"My name is Edwin Muiden, and I have a remedy to cure all ills. I beg an audience with the king."

Arthur regarded him warily.

"Is that so? Well our court has a Court Physician."

He turned and walked away, feeling like wanting to shake his head at the lengths some would seem to go to in order to try worm their way to a fast coin, but stopped when Edwin called out after him.

"...I hear the Lady Morgana is gravely ill."

Arthur turned, scowling slightly, his tone warning. Would this man stoop to trying to use her?

"That is no concern of yours."

"I may be able to help her."

Arthur continued to frown.

"Our physician has the matter in hand."

Edwin bowed his head respectfully, accepting the words, only to speak again as the prince resumed walking away.

"I'll be at the inn... In case you change your mind."

The robed man walked away after that, Arthur watching him with an uneasy feeling. The man had acted sincere, but at the same time something about him seemed off.

He shook his head and went on his way. The only thing that was 'off' was that Edwin was more than likely a charlatan, after money and nothing else. He'd seen the like often enough that he knew the best thing was to just ignore them.

~(-)~

The sound of boots on stone floor beat out a steady rhythm of worry, the servant who was their source speaking in reassurance of himself as much as the prince seated near him... Morgana was still in a coma, and by morning she'd have been that way for three days.

"Everything's going to be all right. It is, I know it is. She's going to be absolutely f..."

"Merlin."

The servant paused, looking to where Arthur had his head propped on a hand staring into his chambers' fireplace.

"What?"

The prince didn't turn to look at him, he didn't need to for Merlin to know he was becoming annoyed.

"You're making me anxious."

Merlin leaned over a little so he could see the side of Arthur's face.

"But I'm not worried."

"Then stop pacing."

Merlin frowned, sitting down on a chair next to the main table when the prince glared at him, only to start tapping his fingers on it instead as soon as Arthur looked away.

Within seconds Arthur got up from his chair, it now his turn to pace He wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.

He felt little better by morning, standing in Morgana's chambers with his father and Gaius, listening to the physician.

"I cannot preserve her life for much longer. She has hours, maybe less."

It was like a stab to Arthur's heart. Yes, Morgana could be irritating beyond belief, but she was still like a part of his family.

"We cannot let her die!"

Uther glanced to his son, before sitting on the edge of Morgana's bed.

"Arthur, please."

He seemed to have given up, but his son didn't want to. Instead he found himself remembering the man from the day before, compelled by the chance of hope to speak.

"There was a man. He came to the castle yesterday; claimed he could cure her."

Uther looked to his son, unconvinced.

"That's ridiculous, he doesn't even know what's wrong with her."

"He said he had a remedy to cure all ills."

It was Gaius' turn to glance at Arthur, frowning slightly.

"Impossible."

The prince was becoming frustrated.

"For Morgana's sake, surely we should at least hear him out. I mean, what have we got to lose?" He turned to the king. "Please, Father."

Gaius raised an eyebrow.

"It was probably some charlatan looking for a quick shilling."

"I don't care, she's about to die! What harm could it do? Give him his shilling! If there's one chance in a million he can save her, then why not?"

There was silence following Arthur's outburst, and after Gaius gave him a small resigned nod, Uther spoke to his son.

"Send for him."

The prince didn't need telling twice, hurrying out of the room to fetch the man in question. Returning and ordering him to wait in the council chambers. Uther was somewhat reluctant to leave Morgana's side to go speak to Edwin, but he did so, Gaius and Merlin, who had spent much of the morning on call ready to fetch things for the physician, following them both.

Edwin bowed to the king when they entered the chambers, dropping to one knee and holding up his licence to practice.

"Edwin Muiden, Sire. Physician, and loyal servant."

"Welcome to Camelot."

Uther accepted the scroll, unfurling it to confirm it was what it should be, and possessed the correct seals of approval from previous employers. Meanwhile Gaius regarded this newcomer, whose hood was now pushed back to expose a straggly mob of blond hair.

"Have we met before?"

Edwin rose to his feet, shaking his head slightly.

"I doubt you would forget a face like mine, sir."

Behind him Uther had finished checking the licence, the king speaking to gain the visiting physician's attention.

"Do you really believe you have a remedy?"

Edwin turned to face him, his tone polite, humble, but also confident.

"There are not many ills that I have not seen and successfully treated, Sire. So when I heard of the Lady Morgana's sickness, I felt honour bound to offer my services."

Gaius came forward to stand beside him, both curious and sceptical.

"You say you have a remedy for all... An antidote for everything."

There was a pause, before Edwin nodded.

"Yes. Although it is not quite as simple as that."

Uther seated himself on his throne, watching both of them.

"Gaius is the Court Physician."

The mention of the name seemed to spark an interest, Edwin smiling slightly to Gaius and bowing in respect.

"You are indeed a legend, sir. I am delighted to meet you." He stood straight again. "I am curious to know what it is that has affected her."

"An infection of the brain."

"And your treatment?"

"Yarrow, and rosemary to stimulate cerebral circulation."

"...Interesting."

Arthur frowned from where he stood by his father, wondering why Edwin would pause before saying that.

"Why? What would you suggest?"

Edwin raised his hands, warding off possible argument.

"No no, that is fine. All good... If that is the right diagnosis."

Uther rose from his throne, handing the man's licence back to him.

"And what would your diagnosis be?"

Edwin accepted it graciously.

"Well, without examining the patient..."

When his father hesitated, Arthur spoke.

"He should examine her."

"I would need my equipment."

Uther nodded, and Arthur indicated the young man stood well back by the council chamber doors.

"You may have use of a guest chambers."

"And you can consider my manservant at your disposal."

Edwin bowed.

"I will start work immediately."

~(-)~

Merlin entered the guest room, laden with a large box and unable to deny his urge to eye the rest of the apparatus in the room with curiosity. Some of the equipment was like Gaius', others seemed completely foreign, and on top of that there was just something about Edwin that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Edwin noted Merlin's attention, the avid way he seemed to want to ask something but reluctant to in case of offence.

"Yes. It was all originally designed for alchemy."

Merlin raised his eyebrows a little.

"Making gold?"

The physician smiled.

"You have an interest in science?"

Merlin finished putting down the box, smiling almost ironically in return.

"Well science is knowledge."

"Indeed. It has the answers to everything."

"Maybe... It can't explain love."

An amused glance and a laugh.

"So you are in love?"

Merlin shook his head.

"No... I meant it can't explain feelings, emotions."

Edwin stood straight, regarding him with interest.

"You seem too bright to be just a servant."

Merlin shrugged.

"Ah well, don't be fooled. I'm not that bright."

He picked up a small wooden box from among the things on the table, about to take a closer look at it only for Edwin to firmly take it off him.

"Yes, we'll be needing that." He set it on top of the other box of things he'd prepared. "Now, we must hurry to the Lady Morgana."

Merlin was quick to pick up the stacked boxes and follow Edwin out. Murmuring directions to the physician as they went. He still couldn't figure out what it was about the man. Like a jumbled feeling in his gut, wary one moment and fine the next. Maybe it was just because Edwin was a stranger, and might possibly be a conman looking for a bit of quick money. But apart from that possibility he seemed like a nice guy.

Those thoughts remained in the back of his mind a short while later, while he stood waiting outside Morgana's chambers with the king, Arthur, and Gaius. Edwin had asked for complete privacy, and while there had been some reluctance from Gaius, the king had allowed it.

Unbeknownst to them, Gwen had been in the antechamber of Morgana's rooms, her entering of the chamber prompting Edwin to cease whatever he'd he about to do and send her to fetch water. He frowned a little once she was gone, setting down on the bed the box Merlin had picked up earlier. He then leaned in close to Morgana, murmuring words that would condemn him should anyone have heard them.

"Bebiede thay arisan ablinnen..."

He smiled to himself when he stood straight a moment later, a beetle held in the grasp of the tweezers he held, the very one that had just crawled forth from the Lady Morgana's ear.

He opened the box, setting the now dormant creature in it alongside the many other identical insects it held, glancing as he did so to the vase of white lilies on the table by the bed. He had sent them, the beetle concealed among their flowers, and it had done its work.

He began to unpack a few simple remedies from his box, setting aside the piece of cloth with which he'd cleared the trace of blood from Morgana's ear. Gwen had returned at that point, handing over the water, warily eyeing Edwin before leaving again. It was a short while later that Morgana stirred, confused by his presence when she accepted a potion for the inevitable headache she would be suffering.

It was now time to break the good news to the king...

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Gah, this was such a chore to write :S

Now, in light of what Nellan said in the sub-ep before this, about magic drawing magic and letting sorcerers know if they can trust one another, it's not a black/white, good/bad feeling they get. It doesn't warn them if another sorcerer means them harm, otherwise Merlin would have spotted Nimueh a mile off.

Edwin wants Uther dead, and will make threats against Merlin to do it, but he does come across as being loyal to the magical community. He likes Merlin, and would have him as an ally, which is why he remains a 'grey area' for Merlin. Not an outright potential ally to his instincts, but to observations not an apparent threat either. Merlin is still a bit too naive to spot the suspicious signs just yet, and would much rather believe the idea that Edwin is a potential teacher. But I'll get into that more with the next chapter.

For now I'm just going to go beat my head off the proverbial wall and hope the next chapter is a bit easier to motivate myself for...