Arthur was the first to see them after Will, scars upon scars crisscrossing his brothers back, there must have been at least a hundred, making the skin look unnaturally disfigured. He was flogged... brutally, Arthur realized he had seen similar wounds on the bodies of knights recovered from enemy camps after torture. Gaius saw them next and then they heard a gasp from behind indicating Morgana had seen them as well. Gaius took charge immediately "Will get the prince into his shirt and for goodness sakes put him on his back."
The was enough to bring Arthur out of his stupor "Gaius, my father will want to hear about this".
"Yes, I understand sire, but at the moment saving your brothers life is more important and don't you think if he wanted your father to know he would have said something himself". Gaius looked at him imploringly "Please Arthur let Merlin explain himself before you tell your father anything". Reluctantly Arthur nodded to him and walked towards the far wall, across from the bed where he could see Will put on his brother's nightshirt. Once the boy was done Gaius instructed him to go fetch his medical bag from his tower room.
Morgana came and stood beside him both of them looking at Merlin as he lay on his bed breathing heavily "Arthur? What do you think happened to him"?
"Only he can answer that Morgana". He just knew one thing, his brother has secrets and by the looks of it painful ones and once he awoke Arthur would learn them all. Will got back with the bag and Gaius began examining Merlin's chalice. Gwen came back with the water and the physician instructed her to try and bring the young man's fever down. Morgana moved from where she stood at Arthur's side and began assisting her maidservant "My lady you don't need to do this".
"Merlin is my friend just as much as yours Gwen, please" Gwen nodded and poured some water into a bowl which Morgana used to wet the rag she was applying to Merlin's warm brow from where she sat beside his bed.
Not soon after Uther burst through the door. "How is he? How is my son"?! he demanded from the room. "Sire" Gaius as the medical authority was the one who responded "He has been poisoned by what seems to be a petal of the Mortuis flower" "Is there a cure"?
"Yes sire, the only thing that can save one from the effects of the flower is a potion made from its leaves". Gaius brought the book for Uther to see, Arthur came closer as well, to get a better look. "The plant grows on the roots of the Mortuis tree, deep within the underground caves of the Balor forests. "That doesn't look very friendly". Arthur pointed to what looked like a drawing of a winged lizard next to the text on the page. "The cockatrice, its venom is more potent than that of the flower itself, the forests are their preferred hunting grounds".
Arthur walked away rubbing his hand over his mouth in frustration, he looked back at his brother struggling on the bed and then at Morgana. She knew what he had decided even she looked into his eyes and nodded her approval at him, she knew if anyone could get the cure in time it would be Arthur. He turned back to his father and physician "it looks like fun".
"Arthur no"! was Uther's immediate and firm reply "If Merlin doesn't get the antidote in time what will happen to him"? The question was directed at the physician "The Mortuis flower induces a slow and painful death, he will have four to five days at the most after which he will die".
"Then it's decided, I will go to the forests of Balor and get the plant".
"And I say you will not leave this Castle. I will not lose both my sons, we will send the knights". Arthur moved to protest but Uther raised his arm to stop him and left the room to give instructions to the knights. Arthur still looked determined, however "Arthur?" he looked at Gaius whos wise eyes had watched Merlin and him grow as children, he was more of a father to the both of them then Uther and knew them better as well "If you are determined to go, please be careful, Uther is right Camelot cannot afford to lose both its heirs and my heart could not bare it if I lost you both either".
"I promise, just keep him alive until I return, I just got my brother back, I don't intend to lose him again so soon" They nodded to each other before the prince left the room, determined to save his twin.
Arthur rode out not long after, almost trampling two guards at the city gates in the process. Merlin was withering on the bed, his brow was on fire while a cold sweat poured down his hairline, face and neck. His magic was slowly working to overcome that of the sorceresses but his body was not able to purge the poison by itself. He was fighting to regain consciousness but physically he was weak and it was frustrating him, all he could do was be patient and hope that Gaius would be able to heal him.
The entire time Morgana kept dabbing Merlin's brow with the damp cloth he has stopped struggling a while but his fever had yet to break. Come back to us Merlin, come back to me. he could hear her, her emerging magic connecting with his, unconsciously pushing her voice into him he could reach out to her with his mind as well but thought better of it, not yet. Arthur will get the cure and you will be alright, just please hold on.
Perfect! Trust his brother to go on a mission for aid, by himself, without protection, when there is a sorceress plotting against them.
Merlin reached out with his mind to the natural web of magic that lay within the Old Religion. It took a lot and his body began to distress, further alarming his caregivers. As soon as he was able to join his power with the web his body stabilized, further giving his mind freedom to scry for his brother. He used the eyes of the animals across Camelot jumping from one to the other until he found Arthur at the edge of the forest of Balor, using, ironically, the eyes of a hawk.
The bird was perched on the branch of one of the many tall trees that comprised the forest, watching as Arthur tied his stead and moved into the forest on foot, sword in hand. Suddenly he was blinded to Arthur's moments, the bird's attention caught elsewhere, a movement in the grass below, prey. While Merlin could use the creatures' eyes he couldn't control them entirely, at least not in his weakened state and neither could he channel any more power from the earth. He moved again, this time to another creature entirely, a snake that lay coiled in on itself close by, it seemed more pliant. He nudged it to follow after Arthur, it took him a while but eventually, he caught up with his brother just in time to see him defeat a winged lizard.
"Help me, someone please" they heard a woman call and Arthur moved towards it. Merlin once again nudged the creature to follow and what it saw made him freeze. There was his brother with none other than the sorceress who tried to murder him. Arthur! No get away from her! Merlin's own body convulsed again, his lips repeated his thoughts. "What's happening Gaius"? Morgana asked the physician as she heard Merlin's feverish speech. "Merlin and Arthur have always been close, he probably is concerned for his brother's well being, something internally may have alerted him of Arthur's dangerous path".
"I hope they both come out of this alright".
"They will my dear if any are capable of surviving this ordeal, it's these two brave men. Morgana, I think you should go to your bed, you look exhausted".
"No I'm staying, and I will not move until Arthur returns, you can't make me leave". She turned her attention back from Gaius to Merlin and took his hand, the one closest to her reach, intertwining her fingers with his. Gaius looked at Gwen who was seated at the table helping him prepare the ingredients for the potion, she just gave him a helpless smile. "Gwen could you please go and fetch some more water and find Will, he's in the armory, have him bring us some food". A short time after Gwen left, Merlin began speaking again, it didn't make any sense to Morgana but what accompanied it did. From under the blanket a soft silver glow emitted, She immediately lifted the blanket to find a ball of silver light, emitting from Merlin's right hand. Morgana was at a loss for words as she turned to face the old man who had by now come to stand behind her hearing Merlin's speak.
Her panicked voice made it to the physician's ears before he could formulate his thoughts to respond and protect his prince " I implore you Gaius, I know you're loyal to the King but please, he will have Merlin executed if he finds out". She pleaded with him her eyes bright with unshed tears. "I doubt Uther would kill his own son my dear" Gaius looked at the girl with kind eyes and a sad smile "Even so, I have protected the boy ever since I saw him use magic moments after birth, I do not intend to betray him now".
Before either of them could say more Merlin began to speak, in the common tongue this time "Arthur, leave it you fool! Move"! Morgana's eyes widened "He's helping Arthur"?
"It would seem so my lady". Her attention was returned to Gaius.
"So he's had Magic all this time"?
"I think it's best if he tells you himself my lady, for now, all we can do is protect him". She nodded and went back to watching Merlin who had quieted down again, the ball of light slowly dissipating as he went back to a peaceful sleep, A gentle smile on his face. Morgana moved her hand through his long, sweaty locks as she thought to him I don't think you any different Merlin, but I want to know more and I hope you will soon trust me with all your secrets.