Gaius continued to encant the healing spell. Feeling more and hopeless with each try.
"Come on, Merlin," Gaius urged, before casting the spell one final time.
Gaius stared at his former ward as he set the withered leaves down. "Please Merlin. That's all I have. Let it be enough."
When Merlin did not wake, Gaius bowed his in defeat. Not ten seconds later did he feel an arm touch his own. He looked up and saw Merlin staring at him. "Merlin!"
"Gaius!" Merlin replied as he reached for his still sore throat. "Hilda. It's Morgana."
"Morgana?" Gaius repeated, surprised.
"She's been using some kind of aging spell," Merlin explained.
"That would explain why she always so tired," Gaous agreed.
"Mithian tried to warn me," Merlin informed, "but I couldn't get to Arthur in time. Morgana got to me first."
"And she very nearly killed you," Gaius pointed out.
"Yes," Merlin nodded then smirked. "Well, she didn't count on a sorcerer of you power. Now did she?"
"Indeed," Gaius said, "but please, Merlin, don't make me do that again. I'm not sure my heart can take it."
At that moment Gwaine came back with Hilda. Merlin wasted no time explaining, he quickly cast a spell that threw Hilda against a wall. As she fell, her features quickly returned to what they once were.
"We need to get to Arthur. He's walking into a trap," Merlin said he stood up.
"You're not going anywhere," Gwaine and Gaius protested in unison.
Merlin looked down at himself. He was standing on his own two feet at the moment, but he doubted he could run on his own. He looked over at Gaius. "Can you give me something to block the pain and keep me moving on my own two feet?"
Gaius sighed and pulled a tonic out of his medicine bag. "Take this. The effects should last for about an hour and a half."
Merlin grabbed the vial, and downed the tonic inside it. He instantly felt the way he did before Uther stabbed him. "Gaius, keep her unconscious, until everyone is back."
Before Gaius could reply Merlin picked up a sword and ran out with Gwaine hot on his trail.
Mithian stared at the direction she and everyone else needed to go in, but was tempted to have everyone turn back She was glad that Arthur knew that it was trap, but that didn't make it any less dangerous.
"Is something wrong, Mithian?" Arthur asked.
"Just scared," Mithian admitted.
"Everything will be alright," Arthur reassured.
Gwaine followed the warlock, doing his best to keep up. Whatever Gaius gave the younger man, was most definitely working. "They're traveling east! Maybe an hour ahead of us."
"We don't have much time!" Merlin exclaimed.
Mithian and Arthur stop at the opening to a clearing. In the middle of the clearing is an old tomb.
"Is that it?" Arthur asked making sure they were in the right place.
Mithian nodded. "Yes. We should find my father and Odin inside."
Arthur walkd ahead. "Let's go then."
Merlin continued to forge ahead while Gwaine tracked. Gwaine grabbed Merlin's wrist and pointed to a different path. "Wait a second. This way."
The two men turned and went in the direction.
Everyone reached the cave.
"New plan," Arthur announced. "Leon, Holmes, Marsh and Anthony stand watch. Everyone else follow me."
Leon and the three knights drew their swords and stood watch while everyone else went into the tomb.
Mithian lead down tunnels with twist and turns, until coming to a stop. "The burial chamber lies just ahead. At the end of that tunnel."
Merlin and Gwaine spotted a group of Odin's men marching in their direction. They both hide under a slope, thus allowing the group to march above unseen
"Odin's men," Gwaine confirmed looking at Merlin, who had his right arm resting across his midsection. "You alright, mate?"
Merlin nodded. "Just peachy."
Merlin knew he was lying. The tonic was beginning to wear off, but if he told Gwaine, the man would carry him back to Gaius without a second thought.