Chapter Seven: The Quest for Mortaeus Another bloody feast. I sigh, and then hope no one heard me. I have to act like I enjoy it, as is befitting a "princess" (honestly, how do they still believe that?). The Grey Knight is still in a comatose state, so we (Merlin, Em, and I) haven't been able to ask her any questions. Last... er... episode? Was the Afanc. It pretty much happened like on the show, with the edition of me, Em,a bunch more snarky comments, and some singing. Back to the present. I can see Nimueh (aka "Cara") off to the side. Merlin is watching her. I'm trying not to feel jealous (she probably has some kind of enchantment or something (I hope)), but it isn't exactly working. Uther begins to speak, and Nimueh goes to talk frantically to Merlin. They leave, and I wait anxiously for their return. I've been wondering if I should intervene, but... I can't. Space time continuum. I know Merlin survives, and it's best not to jumble everything up. Merlin runs in just in time to prevent the hall from drinking to Bayard's toast. "Stop!" He shouts, and for some reason, they do. "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" Merlin takes Arthur's goblet. The scene from episode four unfolds, and Merlin agrees to drink from the goblet to prove himself. I almost stop him. Almost. When he collapses, it is all I can do not to say something. I want to tell them that it's Nimueh's fault, that they cat't let Merlin die- but I don't. For a second, a pair of sharp blue eyes meet mine. They are filled with shock and a hint of resignation. The moment is gone. I stand in the corner of Gaius's chambers as the others all bustle around Merlin; even Em is there. I reach for a bucket of water and a towel before Gaius can ask Gwen, and he accepts them without surprise; too focused on Merlin. That night I sleep restlessly, waiting for the morning. I awake long before dawn. At some point last night I had made up my mind. I pack a bag with my cloak and some food that I "borrowed" from the kitchens. Then I go to the armory. Arthur is there, looking for a sword to take on his quest (I can't fathom why, Morgana gave him one already. Did he expect me to come?). "I'm going with you." My voice sounds harsh; it is not a request. Arthur turns to me incredulously (guess he didn't). "What do you mean?" "To find the antidote. Let's face it; your father will probably arrest you when you get back. And who knows what'll happen on the way there? You need help." I join him at the sword rack, and lift one that seems well crafted. It is a light blade. I can tell that it's balance is perfect; far better than the sword I fought with in my duel with Arthur. I then find myself a chainmail tunic and metal chestplate that look like they belong to Morgana. I hope she doesn't mind me borrowing them. Five minutes later I am dressed in the armor (I'm not wearing any gauntlets; they would probably make it harder to fight (not to mention that I might challenge Arthur if he got on my nerves (you throw down the left gauntlet to issue a challenge))) and wearing leggings and a tunic. I wake Em to tell her I'm leaving, and she throws her pillow at me. A stableboy brings me a random horse, and Arthur and I quickly ride out of Camelot with a few gaurds on our tail. We keep riding, and I imagine I can feel a prickle on the back of my neck; Nimueh is scrying on us. We sit in front of a fire in the woods. Arthur is lookinng for more firewood while I cook. When Arthur gets back, he looks at me with surprise. "Aren't you going to cook some meat with that?" "Nope. I'm a vegetarian." I say. I've avoided meat at every meal, but I guess it hasn't been that noticeable. "You and Merlin should start a club. He's all about saving the 'harmless little creatures,' with his loud blundering through the forest during hunts." Arthur turns to look at the fire, and I can tell he is thinking about how Merlin will never blunder through the forest again unless we succeed. We wordlessly eat the soup made from wild onions, spices, and carrots that I brought or found in the woods. Arthur does not complain. I offer to take first watch, and after a breif argument Arthur agrees. After three hours I wake Arthur, and three hours after that we are eating a quick meal of bread toasted on the dying coals of the fire and an apple each. We ride horseback for a few hours, reaching a companionable silence. While we have had our disagreements (most of which I caused) we have one thing in common: Merlin. When we reach an area of the forest that is close to our destination, Arthur dismounts. I follow suit. We lead our horses to where Nimueh is sitting on a fallen log. "Are you alright?" Arthur asks her. A Cockatrice roars behind him. "Stand back." I watch calmly as Arthur dispatches the Cockatrice, my hand at my sword just in case. Nimueh backs away, feigning fear. I tune out their conversation, trying to think of a way to warn Arthur that Nimueh is an evil scorceress without seeming suspicous myself. When we enter the cave after "Nimmy" (sorry, nicknaming people in my thoughts again), I shoot Arthur a warning glance. He nods behind Nimueh's back; hopefully he understands. We're there. "There they are." Nimueh gestures accross a large gap with a narrow ledge and a very, very long drop. For a second I stare down, unable to think until Arthur speaks. "Keep back from the edge. Don't worry. We'll be out of here soon," He says, still ever the gentleman. "Eorthe, lyft, fyr, waeter, hiersumie me," Nimueh seems to glow as she chants, but perhaps I'm hallucinating. Suddenly, the cave begins to shake. "Eorthe ac stanas hiersumie me. Ic can stanas tobrytan-" Nimueh continues, but Arthur's words almost drown out the rest. "What are you doing?!" "-Hiersumie me." After the last word, Arthur drops his torch as the rock falls from beneath him. I curse mentally, having forgotten to get one. I leap with Arthur to the far ledge, managing to land on it with my toes and somehoiw bend backwards without falling off. After gaining balance, I help Arthur from where he clings to the edge, feet dangling into the abyss. "I expected so much more," Nimueh taunts. "Who are you?!" Arthur looks furious; his fists are clenched and his face tinged red. But beneath all that, I can see a hint of desperation. Merlin's time is ticking away... "The last face you'll ever see," Says Nimueh, continuing upon the arrival of a large spider (at least Ron's not here...). "It seems we have a visitor." Before Arthur can act, I draw my sword and slay the spider. I usually wouldn't kill it, but you can't just put it outside when it's freakishly huge and wants to eat your dissolved flesh. "Very good. But he won't be the last. I'll let his friends finish you off, Arthur Pendragon. It's not your destiny to die at my hand," She grins evilly. "Oi! How come you didn't address me?" I shout, my voice echoing slightly through the cave. "Oh, yes. The princess. I have only spared you thus far because you intrigue me." "How come?" "Where Arthur's book has been written for him, your pages are blank. You have no destiny. That in itself is unheard of, but also... you belong in Camelot even less so than Uther Pendragon belongs in the halls of the Druids." The sorceress leaves, taking with her the last of the light. We stand on the miniscule ledge in the dark, waiting. After what feels like hours of silence broken only by the distant scuttling of thousands of spiders, a voice sounds clearly in my head. "It's too dark. Too dark. Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum." I glance where Arthur stands, and despite the fact that it's too dark to see him, I know he heard nothing. I try to convince myself that that's just what happens when you watch episode four too many times, but I inevitably fail. For one thing, my caffeine-induced auditory hallucinations never make sense. For another, there's no way I'd remember all that Welsh. A ball of light appears, and Arthur (of course) yells a taunt at it. The light continues to rise, and we both spot the Mortaeus flower. I begin to climb the rock-face. Arthur follows suit after realizing that it's the only way to escape the spiders which are now upon us. Once more, the voice sounds in my head. "Leave them. Go. Save yourself, follow the light." I nearly laugh, despite the danger of the situation. "Merlin, you idiot. We can't just let you die," I think, as Arthur and I simultaneously grab a sprig of the Mortaeus plant. "Faster. Go faster. Follow the light! Move. Climb." We make it to the top, just as the orb of light disappears. Neither of us speaks much on the way back. I tell Arthur that I'm going to enter separately in disguise, and he grunts in agreement. That way I'll be able to get the Mortaeus to Merlin if he fails. Because in the end, being punished by Uther doesn't really matter. Here's another thing we have in common: we'll both do anything to save Merlin. I stay in the woods as Arthur is accosted by the guards. I don my cloak from my pack, and a few minutes later wide slowly to the gates. I slip the guards a silver coin, and I'm in. After putting my horse back in the stalls as quickly as possible, I rush to Gaius's chambers. Gaius's eyes show surprise, then horror. "You've got to leave. Uther-" He stops when the door bursts open. Two guards stand there, and they wordlessly escort me to the throne room. To my surprise, Arthur is there talking to Uther. "Ah, Calli. May I ask what possessed the two of you to elope?" Uther's words are met with a stunned silence. Elope? "Sire, we did not-" I begin, but Uther interrupts me. "Of course you did. Arthur was seen riding out with an accomplice, and you arrived back in Camelot within an hour of Arthur. I must say, I truly am surprised at your actions. To attempt to elope after I expressed the option of marriage-" "Sire. We did not elope. I went in search of the Mortaeus flower,"Arthur interrupts, earning a glare from his father. "And Calli? What is your excuse?" "If you must know, I went in search of a man I had heard of that might have information about my uncle. He disappeared right before my father's kingdom was destroyed." I roll my eyes, knowing Uther is probably used to teenage girls doing so in annoyance (read: Morgana). "Oh," Uther says, deflating slightly. "Arthur, you are to spend three days in the dungeons." He motions for one of the guards, who takes Arthur by the arm. Another walks with him on the other side, and I leave behind the group. I catch Arthur's eye as he is escorted away, and he glances meaningfully at the plant still clutched in my hand. I hadn't let it go since we escaped the cavern, which was hours ago. I nod, walking briskly to Gaius's so as not to attract the attention that a full run would bring. Gaius stands by Merlin's bedside, his hand resting on Gwen's shoulder comfortingly. I walk slowly through the doorway, and Gwen looks up, running to me after seeing the flash of green in my palm. "Did you get it?" She asks, eyes wide. "Yeah. How is he?" I know he's still alive (barely) but I ask to make sure. "He has minutes left." Gaius takes the plant from my hand, beginning to inspect it. "Ah, yes. This will do." He then goes to prepare the plant, having already laid out the other supplies hours before. "Where's Arthur?" Gwen asks, as I take a seat by Merlin. "Er... Uther put him in the dungeons. I managed to come up with a cover story and convince him we didn't elope together, which is about the only bright side..." I trail off as Merlin begins to shiver. "Is it almost ready? I think the poison is in the last stage," I warn Gaius as Merlin's shivering intensifies. "It should work," Gaius walks to Merlin, and I hold my breath before remembering. Stupid! I berate myself. How could I have forgotten? But before I can say anything about how the antidote will need magic amplification, it has been administered to an ever paler Merlin. My breath stops just as Merlin's does, and I wait. After what feels like an eternity, Merlin inhales. I breathe again, relieved. It begins to dawn on me what is supposed to happen in the next scene, and I steel myself. I'd found the Gwen/Merlin moment adorable in the past, but now... less so. Surprisingly, it doesn't happen. Merlin sits up and grins, and I rush forward to give him a hug. He's safe. Camelot is safe. Everybody's safe. I let myself relax for a moment, and forget season five. A/N: So. Sorry. Short chappie, I know. Well I think it's short, anyway. I'll start writing Lancelot today, so... yep. Review? I'm sick today, so I'll get a lot of writing done. Hopefully. Or I'll just rewatch loads of Doctor Who... anywho... er... bye... *awkwardness intensifies* why are you still here? Go run around in circles, or watch Hetalia, or play Minecraft, or hang out with people to restore the gaping hole in the balance of the universe that my lack of socialness has torn!