Chapter 13–The poisoned Chalice
Hey guys! Hope you are all doing okay. I managed to do two chapters in less than a week, this makes a change! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I have changed the poll on my profile you should check it out. Anyway I don't own Merlin, but Elizabeth, Laudine and Kay are my characters. Enjoy.
I spent most of the day trying to avoid Laudine. It was the day of the treaty and Bayard had been in the castle for the last few days. During that time I had mostly spent the day with Arthur and Merlin fighting and laughing around. They had been a good couple of days, however now was the time for the ceremony, something I had always hated. Therefore I had spent the day running around trying to stay unnoticed so I wouldn't have to get ready. It was due to this that I found myself running into Arthur's chambers.
Arthur was sitting at the desk obviously startled by my sudden presents, "Just ignore me. I'm hiding," I said quickly looking around the room for somewhere I could disappear. Sadly there wasn't anything in the room.
"Who from?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Laudine she wants to play dress up with me for the ceremony," I complained sitting down on the bed.
"Not your thing?" Arthur questioned almost sounding sympathetic.
I shook my head, "Sitting there listening to people go on and on about the greatness of themselves is something I have never had time for. I understand the need for treaties just don't see why they can't be done in private without a major event taking place," I continued my moaning.
Just then the door opened and in came Merlin and Laudine, "I have been looking all over for you," Laudine said looking down at me.
"And I have been avoiding you all day," I answered back with a smirk.
Both Arthur and Merlin laughed, even Laudine cracked a smirk, "You need to look your best."
"It's not like anyone going to be paying attention to me anyway," I muttered but got up anyway and made my way over to her, "Let's get going. See you two at the feast."
I managed to arrive at the feast early and take my seat Laudine standing next to me, "See no one notices," I stated looking around the room, people were socialising with each other talking business and deals, stuff which my father had taught me about when I was younger.
I coughed into my hand as Arthur entered followed by Merlin, who was wearing a stupidly big feather hat, as if he could hear me Merlin gave me a dirty look. Arthur came over to stand next to me, "How did you get him to wear that terrible thing?" I questioned Arthur as he took his place next to me.
"I told him it was tradition and may have threatened him with washing my socks for a month unless he went along with it," Arthur muttered back as we watched everyone begin to enter the hall for the ceremony.
"How dull do you think it will be?" I questioned Arthur.
I could see him rolling his eyes next to me, "They are always boring. I always end up drinking at the wrong times as well."
"Oh I will make sure that you do," I smiled back at him just as Uther walked in. We immediately stood up. Bayard followed in a moment later.
The papers had already been set down on the table, Uther walked over to it and signed quickly followed by Bayard. The crowd around us applauded.
"And now begins the speeches," Arthur muttered in my ear. I lowered my head to hide my laughing.
"People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them," Bayard begun as a young servant girl brought in a box with a large number of goblets in it, "As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last. The wounds we received in battle..." Bayard said beginning his speak. I was trying to pay attention but then I noticed Merlin walking out of the chambers, closely followed by one of Bayard's maids who he had been staring at earlier, once they disappeared around the corner I tuned my attention back to Bayard's voice, "Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war. And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther," Everyone stood in the room to make a toast, "Arthur," Arthur held up his glass in respect before he started to drink.
I nudged him gently in the shoulder, "Not yet," I whispered.
"The Lady Morgana," Bayard continued, Morgana raised her goblet and Arthur nodded at me gratefully, "Lady Elizabeth," Bayard went on, I held up my glass to him in thanks, "The people of Camelot."
Arthur once again started to drink, before he could get the liquid to his lips Uther spoke, "And to fallen warriors on both sides."
Everyone started to drink, "Stop!" I heard Merlin's voice echo from outside the chambers before he ran in, "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" Merlin said moving to Arthur and taking his goblet away.
"What?" Uther questioned, while I looked at Merlin in shock.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur asked angry.
"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison," Merlin informed everyone.
"This is an outrage!" Bayard said as he and his men drew their sword, so did the knights of Camelot. I rolled my eyes at the stupidity of men, using their swords in a peace treaty.
"Order your men to put down their swords," Uther commanded just as more Camelot guards rushed in.
"You are outnumbered, don't do anything stupid," I spoke staring Bayard down.
"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" Bayard said angry.
Uther didn't respond to him instead turning to Merlin, "On what grounds do you base this accusation?"
"I'll handle this," Arthur said making his way around the table, "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the slow gin again?" he questioned taking the goblet back from Merlin.
"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned now," Uther commanded and I realised this was getting seriously out of hand.
"He was seen lacing it," Merlin informed Uther.
Uther seemed to be getting more annoyed, "By whom?"
Merlin looked down, "I can't say."
"I won't listen to this anymore," Bayard said seeming to have calmed down slightly.
"Pass me the goblet," Uther ordered, Arthur obeyed, "If you're telling the truth..."
"I am," Bayard interrupted.
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Uther said offering the goblet to Bayard, who sheathed his sword and reached for the goblet.
Uther seemed to think about it and come up with a different idea, "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself," Bayard snorted in disbelief. Uther turned and held the goblet out to Merlin instead, "He'll drink it."
I moved around the table standing next to Arthur, "But if it is poisoned, he'll die!"
"Then we'll know he was telling the truth," Uther said coldly as Merlin took the goblet from his hand.
"And what if he lives?" Bayard spoke.
"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will," Uther said.
"Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!" I begged as Merlin stared into the cup.
"Then your father should've schooled him better, when he was your servant," Uther said sharply to me.
"Merlin, apologise. This is a mistake. I'll drink it," Arthur tried to take the goblet back off of Merlin.
"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright," Merlin said taking it away from Arthur's reach. Merlin toasted Bayard and Uther. I moved closer to Merlin knowing that this could never end well. Merlin drunk the whole of the liquid in the cup before bringing it back down, we all stood there watching for any reaction at all to indicate the poison was there, "It's fine," Merlin said in relief.
I let out a sigh of relief as Uther turned to Bayard, "He's all yours."
Merlin began to chock, gasping at his throat. I stepped towards him just as he collapsed onto the floor, no one reached for a moment, "No, Merlin!" I yelled skidding down to his side.
Behind me there was Uther voice echoing and everything going mad but I couldn't pay attention all I could see was Merlin laying on the floor, "Come on Merlin," I begged quietly reaching out and touching his cheek, "You have to be okay," I felt Arthur arrive next to me. Gaius, Laudine and Gwen followed shortly after.
"Merlin, can you hear me? We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison," Gaius told us. Arthur picked up Merlin while Gwen grabbed the goblet. I looked around realising that Camelot knights had overpowered Bayard's, who was surrendering. I felt tears prick my eyes as we walked through the chambers and back towards Gaius's chambers.
"He'll be okay," Laudine said softly next to me as we walked.
"I hope so Laudine. Or else someone is going to pay for this," I said trying to keep my magic under control as all it wanted to do was hurt Bayard for what he had done.
By the time we entered Gaius's chambers Merlin was beginning to turn a grey colour, "Lay him on the bed quickly; he's struggling to breathe. Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel," Gaius ordered immediately going into physician mode.
"Is he going to be alright?" Arthur questioned as Gaius and Laudine leant over him.
"He's burning up," Gaius informed us.
"You can cure him, can't you Gaius?" I questioned noticing the desperation in my voice.
"I won't know until I can identify the poison. Pass me the goblet," Gwen handed Gaius the goblet which he looked into, "Ah. There's something stuck on the inside."
"What is it?" Arthur questioned as he got closer and closer to Gaius.
"It looks like a flower petal of some kind," Gaius explained.
Gwen moved over to check Merlin feeling his forehead, "His brow's on fire."
"Keep him cook, it'll help control his fever," Gaius ordered walking back over to Merlin as Laudine and I turned to the bookshelf and began to flick through the books looking for the flower.
I check to see if anyone was looking at me before turning back to the book, "Abepecian se tramet ic behefp," the book flicked frantically through the pages before landing on what I was looking for, "Got it!"
Laudine leant over my shoulder, "Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."
"That's not particularly friendly," Arthur observed.
"A Cockatrice. It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive," Gaius continued from memory.
"Sounds like fun," Arthur said straightening up.
Gaius realised what exactly Arthur meant, "Arthur, it's too dangerous."
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" Arthur questioned.
Gaius looked reluctant to say, "The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually he will die."
"If you are to go I will travel with you," I said stepping up beside Arthur.
"Elizabeth…" Arthur began to say.
I held my hand up before he could argue, "He's my friend Arthur. I'm going."
Arthur just nodded his head in acceptance, "Now we just have to get my father to agree."
It didn't take long for us to find Uther who was walking around the corridor, he didn't seem in a great mood when we reached him. He got even more annoyed when we mentioned we wanted to go to save Merlin, "What's the point of having people to taste for you if you're going to get yourself killed anyway?" Uther complained loudly.
" I won't fail, no matter what you think," Arthur argued back.
Uther stopped walking and turned to face us, " Arthur, you are my only son and heir. I can't risk losing you for the sake of some serving boy."
"Oh, because he's life's worthless?!" I snapped getting annoyed myself.
"No, because it's worth less than both of yours," Uther argued back.
Arthur looked at me before turning back to Uther, "We can save him. Let me take some men."
"No," Uther said sharply.
"We'll find the antidote and bring it back," Arthur continued as if Uther hadn't spoke.
"No," Uther repeated again.
"Why not?!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a king. I'm not going to let you jeopardise the future of this kingdom over some fool's errand," Uther said.
I was about to argue back but Arthur got there first, "It's not a fool's errand. Gaius says that if we can get the antidote... "
"Oh, Gaius says? That's exactly what makes it so," Uther interrupted.
Arthur stopped walking once again, "Please, Father. He saved my life. I can't stand by and watch him die."
"Then don't look," Uther replied coldly, "This boy won't be the last to die on your behalf. You're going to be King. It's something you'll have to get used to."
"I can't accept that," Arthur replied simply.
"You can't stop us," I argued.
Uther finally seemed to lose his temper and yell, "Damn it both of you, that's an end to it! You're not leaving this castle tonight."
We walked back to Arthur's chambers in silence. Arthur was obviously anger as we entered his chambers he tossed his sword onto the table before going to lean over the fireplace. I watched as he took deep breaths seeming to calm as he did.
"Personally I was looking forward to clumping a couple around the head with a ladle," I said going to sit on the table.
Arthur turned back to me giving me a disapproving look, "I'm sure the guards could have handled Bayard and his men."
"Yeah, but why let the boys have all the fun?" I smirked back.
Arthur didn't seem amused, "Elizabeth, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous," he said turning away from me.
I rolled my eyes back at him moving closer as I spoke, "Spare me the lecture, I was there when you got it from Uther. Not that I will listen to him. Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences."
Arthur turned back around and looked at me carefully, "You think I should go?"
"It doesn't matter what I think," I said with a shrug.
Arthur stared at me, "It does to me."
I shook my head, "It matters what you think."
Arthur took a step closer, "If I don't make it back, who will be the next king of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake."
"And what kind of king would Camelot want? One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" I questioned drawing Arthur sword out from its sheaf, "Or one who does what his father tells him to?" I finished presenting Arthur with the sword.
He stared at me again for a moment, looking like he was seeing me for the first time before taking the sword from my hands, "When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible," I replied with a smile.
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Artistic-Blue-Eyes
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