The hall was filled with men, either fighting each other or trying to get into fights. Arthur and Merlin stood facing the scene, and turned their heads to look at each other. At the exact same time they said
"The stone..."
Arthur ducked a chair-leg that had been thrown at him, and jumped out o the way of the pair of soldiers who were grappling on the floor. He turned to Merlin
, "Is there anything you could... you know...". Merlin hid a sigh, and scanned the room, noticing a few of the men had started to fall asleep.
"I dont have to," he replied, "they are so tired they are going to fall asleep soon anyway... and in the state their in, they don't think, just lash out." Sure enough, over the course of a few minutes, most of the remaining men had fallen to the ground and lay snoring. Only a few, including Elyan, Leon, Percival and several of the other knights remained, grappling with each other.
Arthur groaned,
"They are trained to go for up to four days without sleep..." he muttered, just loud enough for Merlin to hear, "They aren't going to..." he didn't have time to finish however, as one of the knights spotted them.
"Hey boys, look who it is. Our masterful Lord and King... do what do we owe this gracious visit..." he eyes drifted to Merlin, "Damn sorcerers," he cried, and rushed towards them, most of the others following.
"Damn it," Merlin cursed, "You told them?" Arthur drew his sword.
"Well they needed to know..." he argued. Merlin drew the knife from his belt.
"I may be able to make them feel tired," he stated, "With the stones effects, they would sleep too..." He had no time to finish as he brought the knife up to deflect a sword blade.
Arthur was likewise occupied.
"Well what are you...", he parried another sword thrust, "...waiting for..."
Merlin twisted a sword out of Leon's hand.
"Your say so...", he exchanged a flurry of blows with another knight.
"What do you mean, my... Damn it... Do it Merlin!..."
Arthur tripped backwards, from the force of three men pushing against him, and fell to the floor. Merlin jumped over and blocked the sword that was about to hit him, whilst muttering a spell. He disarmed Elyan, and blocked another strike before the spell began to take affect. However, sure enough, within only a few moments, the men were asleep. Merlin sighed, straightening up, allowing Arthur to get to his feet. He jammed the knife through his belt and turned to face Arthur.
"What?" he said, to the dumbstruck expression that met him.
"You... you just disarmed my knights with a knife... You fought men whose sword skilled rival my own, and beat them with a knife..." He laughed, "You never cease to amaze me..."
Merlin grinned too, remembering the last time Arthur had spoken those words. Then his face fell,
"The other men, those who were asleep when the Dusk Stone took effect... if they wake up and discord stone is still working..."
Arthur finished the thought,
"They will do the same, and be wide awake whilst doing it... We need to find Morgana." Together, they turned and left the hall.
_
Morgana stared into the basin in front of her, watching them. She cursed. They were together, and whether Arthur wantd to admit it or not, that was when they were stronger. She was about to wipe the water clean in frustration, when a thought struck her. She murmured a few words and an image of Gwen appeared. She was asleep, good. That would make it easier. A plan formed in Morganas head, and she left the room.
_
Neither of them had any ideas as to where she might be, and decided to head up to Gaius. They had just turned to go up the steps when Arthur stumbled, unable to hide the exhaustion he felt. Fighting for an entire morning after twenty-four hours of not sleeping... and only few hours the night before last because of his unsteady thoughts? He was trained, but he wasn't that good.
He pushed off from the wall to find his path blocked by Merlin, holding out a waterskin.
He shook it.
"Here, you need it," he said, and when Arthur hesitated, he shoved it into his hands. "Honestly, it's fine. You aren't going to sleep, I know you won't, so have a few mouthful of this."
Arthur looked at it.
"What is it?" he asked, slowly, unscrewing the lid.
"Honestly?" Merlin replied, "I have no idea whats in it, but it will mean we don't waste ages arguing about whether you should sleep or not. Which you should, but won't do." He watched as Arthur drank a few mouthfuls and shivered before holding it back out to Merlin. "No, you keep it, the moment you stop drinking that, it'll all catch up on you. Just take some whenever you feel tired." He stepped aside to let Arthur go first, glad to see that he was steady on his feet, and then followed him up the staircase.
Merlin opened the door and called Gaius' name. He walked through the room and noticed him, asleep on the chair, head on the table. Merlin hated to wake him, but reached over and shook him gently. Gaius opened his eyes, looking blearely out at him, obviously unable to make him out. Then he blinked a few times and Merlin could see his eyes focus. His eyes widened and he pulled Merlin into a hug.
"About time you got here, M'boy." He let go, revealing a long cut down his neck.
Merlin gasped,
"Gaius, what happened?"
Gaius put a hand to the wound, shaking his head,
"Just a Demon cut, I'm fine for now. Some people aren't though."
He gestured over Merlins shoulder to Arthur, and Merlin focused on the cut on his cheek.
"Damn it," he cursed. "With everything else, I'd forgotten about that." He counted up the days in his head. "Arthur," he cried, "You only have a few of hours left..." He turned to Gaius. "I've seen cuts on others. How do I heal them?"
Gaius gestured to the books on the table.
"That is what I was trying to find out." He replied, turning to pick up a book on curses. "We need to find the cure before It's too late." He didn't need to say that he was talking about Arthur. Merlin turned to face him.
"Arthur, we need to..."
Arthur interrupted him.
"No Merlin, we don't..."
"But Arthur-" Merlin butt in, protesting,
"No buts Merlin." He looked at the determined expression on Merlins face. "How about you do this, and I will search for Morgana. I will come back here if I find out where she is."
They all agreed and Arthur head out.
Merlin spent nearly three hours pouring over books, insisting that Gaius shoud rest, and gradually getting more anxious, before he finally found the spell he needed. He woke Gaius and tested the spell, delighted that it healed him almost instantly. Now for Arthur, he thought and went to leave the room, changing course and running for the window as he heard a terrifying screech rent the air. He peered out of the window, dismayed to see Arthur surrounded by Gargoyles and facing Morgana. He ran to the staircase, knowing that he would arrive too late. Arthur was on his own.