Chapter 9-A magical Plague

Hey guys, it's been a while I know. I'm really bad! I have been working on my degree. Happy Halloween people! There is a poll still so make sure you vote for if you want Gwen to be with Lancelot, Merlin or neither. And I promise I would publish the results from the last poll and I completely forgot. There was one more vote for Morgana being evil than being good. Now enjoy, I don't own Merlin, but Laudine, Elizabeth and Kay are all my characters.

I was walking around the lower town trying to explore without people recognising who I was. So far I had been given free silk and food, so the plan to go undercover obviously wasn't working too well. I skipped from one stall to another before I saw Merlin and Gaius wheeling something through the middle of the street, "What are you doing?" I asked curiously.

"Er…Just moving something," Merlin said evasively.

Gwen came to stand next to me, carrying some flowers that she seemed to have picked, "Looks heavy," she commented.

"Earm, it's nothing really. Erm... did someone got you flowers?" Merlin said desperately trying to change the subject.

"Oh! No," Gwen giggled, "Would you like one? A purple one. Purple suits you. Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you. And you too My Lady," Gwen said handing us both flowers.

"Thanks. Well, er..." Merlin said trying to find a place to stick the flower before choosing his scarf. I tucked mine behind my ear. Gwen smiled brightly.

"Er…see you," Merlin said quickly before beginning to pull the cart again.

"Bye," Gwen smiled and walked off.

"How you're so obvious Merlin I will never understand!" I smiled affectately at him as I walking next to him.

"What?" Merlin said looking completely baffled.

I just laughed, "Don't worry."

Just then Laudine came walking towards me, "Lady Elizabeth must you always disappear."

"I just wanted to explore," I explained holding my hands up in mock surrender.

Laudine took a moment looking at me before she laughed, "The king wishes to see you."

"Of course he does," I grumbled before turning to Merlin, "Goodbye."

"Bye," Merlin said carrying on forward with the unknown object in the cart.

Laudine and I quickly made our way to the council chambers. I knocked before moving to stand in the doorway, "You wish to see me My Lord?"

"Yes Elizabeth, please come in," Uther said sitting his table.

I entered just as the servants were putting down lunch, "Is something the matter My Lord?"

"No, I just wished to see how you were enjoying you're time in Camelot so far," Uther said before beginning to tuck into his meal.

"I find it beautiful My Lord. You're town is amazing," I complimented truly. Whenever I managed to get away from Laudine I could walk for hours just looking at the views of Camelot.

"I am glad, My Lady. I was hoping you would consider moving here on a more permanent basis," Uther said leaning forward so he could see my reaction.

I kept my face straight, not relieving what was going on in my head. I knew what he really wanted to ask was if Arthur proposed to me, would I say yes. Although I did like Camelot, I wasn't sure yet whether I could see myself stuck with such a pig-headed man as Arthur, no matter what destiny he was meant to fulfil. Lucky for me I got out of answering, but unlucky for the servant who had been serving Uther food collapsed onto the floor, no longer breathing.

I ran to the door in time to nearly bump into Arthur, "What's the matter?" He questioned.

"Need to get Gaius," I explained pointing to the body lying on the floor. Arthur nodded and took off with me in the direction of Gaius's chambers.

I was planning to reach out and knock on the door, but Arthur decided it would be easier to yell, "Merlin!"

Merlin came running to the door standing in front of it blocking our view inside, "Erm, I'm on my way sorry I'm late."

"Don't worry I'm getting used to it," Arthur said before looking at the side of my head, "Who gave you that?"

"Oh it's from Gwen. Isn't it nice?" I said reaching up and taking the purple flower from behind my ear, "Merlin has one as well," I pointed out.

"Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now," Arthur said before turning around and walking off. I gave a quick wave before following him.

"So don't tell me you were getting jealous over a flower?" I questioned running to keep up with Arthur's long steps.

"No, I just wondered who would give you such a thing. Honestly I thought it was from Merlin," Arthur said not bothering to slow down for me.

I had to laugh at that, "Merlin is a friend. You should stop being so horrid to everyone in the world Arthur. You might find people then who can actually be your friends," we reached the doors of the council Chambers and opened them to find Uther looking at the body, "You probably don't want to get too close My Lord," I suggested, "Gaius is on his way now."

Just as I spoke the words Gaius came into the room followed closely by Merlin. He knelt down beside the body and looked at it.

"What's happened to him?" Uther questioned.

"I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today," Gaius said and suddenly I understood why we were allowed in the chambers and why Merlin was being so secretive this morning.

"Why didn't you report it to me?" Uther asked.

Gaius stood back up, "I was attempting to find the cause."

"What did you conclude?" Uther responded immediately. It was almost like he was scared.

I looked down for the first time at the body and finally understood. The paleness of the skin, with his veins visible and only the whites of his eyes could be seen. He looked like he had died of fright, "I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one," Gaius said trying to avoid what we all knew it was.

"What are you concealing from me?" Uther said suspicious.

"Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours, and its spreading fast," Gaius said trying not to say the words which would send Uther over the edge.

"What is the cause?" Uther repeated again.

"I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery," Gaius said finally.

Uther pulled Arthur aside, just to within my hearing range as the panic spread throughout the room, "We must find who did this," Uther told Arthur.

"I will, father," Arthur assured him.

"Conduct door to door searches. Increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates. And lend the physician your servant," Uther continued in a scared whisper.

"Merlin? But..." Arthur began.

"I'm going to need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, this city will be wiped out. This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer, and quickly," Uther said quickly his voice on edge.

"Yes, father," Arthur replied obediently.

I turned to Laudine, "Hide all the magic books we have, and remove all the items associated with it, tell Sir Kay to do the same. Then go to Gaius, he will need all the help he can get," I ordered.

"Of course My Lady," Laudine said moving away from me.

I watched as Arthur and the Guards searched the city while walking next to Laudine through the city. We were delivering food to the town's people. Not that Uther knew about it, I figured if I could keep them alive for a little longer there may be a cure.

"My Lady? He's still alive," Laudine pointed out quietly next to me. I turned and looked over at the man people were avoiding. He had sunken eyes and was really pale, he obviously was suffering from the illness.

"There is nothing we can do to save him Laudine," I said apologetically.

"But we haven't tried," Laudine argued back for once.

"We will find the cure and when we do then I promise you I will stop this," I said touching her shoulder the only way I can comfort.

"We could heal them with magic," Laudine whispered back to me.

I pointed to the guards, "Have a look. They're suspicious of everyone. This is not the time to be using magic. Science will lead us to the source of the disease. Now we need to travel to help Gaius," I said before walking over to the man and bent down, "I know this won't change your suffering but it may help with the remainder of your life," I said softly before handing him my final piece of food. The man nodded at me accepting the only comfort I could offer him. I tried my hardest not to cry as I turned and walked back towards the castle towards Gaius chambers.

When we reached Gaius's chamber he was heating a vial of liquid, "What are you doing?" I questioned as I walked through the door.

Gaius jumped before turning around, "I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach."

"Will that tell you who did it?" Laudine questioned from beside me.

Merlin chose that moment to enter the room, "No, but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind," Gaius said softly.

"Why would someone use magic like that?" Merlin asked innocently.

I took a deep breath before I spoke, "Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends."

"But not all magic is bad. I know it isn't," Merlin stated.

"It's neither good nor bad. It's how you use it," I explained softly. Just at that second Arthur and the guards burst in.

Arthur pointed before speaking to the guard, "Over there," he ordered then turning to Gaius, "Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town."

"What for?" I questioned.

"A sorcerer," Arthur replied simply.

"But why would he be here?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Arthur paused for a moment trying to come up with a good answer, "I'm just doing my job."

"We've nothing to hide. Go on, then. Search," Gaius said getting annoyed.

Arthur began searching around the room before coming to a large amount of papers, "All these books and papers?"

"My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish," Gaius offered.

Arthur didn't even bothering replying to that, "What's this room up here?"

"Er, it's mine," Merlin responded.

"And what do you expect to find in there?" I asked.

"I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments," Arthur replied before heading into Merlin's room.

I stayed still for a second before suddenly remembering something, "What've you done with the magic book you have?"

Merlin didn't respond simply looking worried, Arthur voice echoed from Merlin's room, "Merlin, come here. Look what I found," Merlin looked at me in fear before going in.

"I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard," Arthur spoke to Merlin. I let out a sigh of relief. Arthur quickly exited Merlin's room and turned once again to Gaius, "How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?"

"It depends on how many interruptions I get," Gaius replied back coldly.

"Of course, I'm sorry," Arthur did honestly look guilt when he spoke, "We're finished here," he addressed the guard, then turned to me, "Your chambers are next My Lady."

"You're joking me right?" I questioned before I could stop myself.

"I'm doing everyone's chambers," Arthur said seeming not at all apologetic.

Laudine nodded before I could respond again, I followed Arthur out of Gaius's chamber and along to mine. Praying that Laudine had cleaned the room out of magical artefacts we had collected over the years.

I opened the door and found that my room had been completely cleaned from top to bottom, removing all trace of magic.

"I wish I had your servant," I heard Arthur mutter behind me.

"Well I'm not giving her up," I replied sharply, "You can search but don't place everything back," I ordered before turning and walking out.

"Where are you going My Lady?" Arthur asked just as I was about to leave the room.

"Gaius needs help to find a cure, I have given Laudine help and mine," I said softly before turning and walking back to Gaius's chambers trying to think of how we could possibly stop such sorcery.

Please review and let me know what you think. I'll try and write again as soon as possible. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Until next time

Artistic-Blue-Eyes

xxx