After he had spoken Nimuhe stretched out her hand towards the sacred altar, an ancient stone slab situated on her right. The vessel he so desperately sought appeared in her palm. It was as magnificent as had been described to him by the druids. A wide, bright golden chalice, he could feel the power rolling off it. it spoke to him, drew him near and instructed him on what needed to be done. It would save Arthur yes, but the price it wished for would need to be delivered by his hand and his alone.
Merlin moved forward as Nimuhe held it out for him to take. As he held it the power of Life and Death itself swirled through him. An immense vortex rushing through his veins connecting to his magic. The Cup and the Old Religion trusted him to carry out its will and he would comply. Before the priestess could do any more, Merlin's right hand unsheathed the dagger from his hip, where it rested next to his leather medicine pouch. He held her gaze as he swiftly plunged it into her chest. His eyes simultaneously glowed gold as he summoned the rain, its heavenly water filling the cup to the brim.
Nimuhe looked at his eyes wide with shock as she held onto his hand, the one that had buried the blade into her chest. "You have been deemed unworthy of the position you hold, my lady". He said in a cold hard voice. "Your death shall not be in vain, it shall serve a higher purpose, it shall ensure the future of Albion. The bargain is struck". He pulled the dagger back and the priestess fell. He watched for a few moments, impassive as she struggled through her last breath before her body went still, eyes sightless.
A falcon screeched across the sky. Merlin's eyes found the bird and using his magic commanded it to adhere to his will. It swooped down and landed on the altar. Quickly he took a vile from his pouch and emptied the contents of the cup into it. Sealing it with wax, he used a piece of leather to strap it to the bird's leg before ensuring it and its life-giving cargo was carried to Camelot and his ailing brother. Before leaving the Isle he had one more task to complete, ensure Nimuhe's body received the honor deserving of a High Priestess of the Old Religion. It needed to be buried with ceremony in the crypts of the temple.
Will was solemn as he assisted Gaius. The physician was currently tending to the blond prince's shoulder. The wound was not infected, but the bandages were damp with sweat and blood and needed changing. It was almost dawn and the window to the prince's chambers had been opened to allow the circulation of air. Gaius had just finished tying off the fresh bandage when a hawk came flying into the room and perched itself on the back of the wooden chair resting opposite from where the physician sat tending to his patient.
"Oye! Get out of here you"! Will shouted from where he stood a few feet away from the bed, arms full of dirty sheets. Gaius's keen eyes, however, picked up on something the young man was unable to see. He saw the vile hanging from the bird's foot.
"Wait, William" he held his hand up to stop the boy who had discarded his current errand and was making his way to the bird.
The hawk, a Merlin, didn't move as the older man circumvented the bed to come closer to it, nor did it dissuade him from untangling the package from its talons. Once its task was completed the bird flew out of the room the same way it came in. Will looked on as Gaius examined the container and its contents. "Is that what I think it is". He asked softly.
"Water, I assume from the Cup of Life" the physician replied as he walked towards the unconscious prince, his salvation clutched in the physician's wrinkled hands.
"Gaius". The physician looked up at his ward. "If you give that to him, Merlin dies".
"Merlin may already be dead my boy, we cannot let this kingdom lose both it's princes and we cannot let Merlin's sacrifice be in vain".
There was nothing more Will could say to that. He watched as Gaius administered the water to Arthur.
"What are you giving him Gaius"? Both men turned their attention to the entrance where the King now stood. His expression, suspicious.
Gaius was the first to recover from the interruption and relayed to the sovereign the first reasonable explanation he was able to formulate. "A tincture made from the Lobelia plant Sire. Said to be effective among all manner of poison".
"A cure"? Uther's voice betrayed the hope he felt, born out of desperation.
"Hopefully sire". The King just nodded and took his place back at his son's bed. Uther stayed with Arthur for sometime after, he was exhausted and just about dosing when he felt his son stir.
"Prince Arthur lives". A servant relayed the news to Gaius a while later. Gaius immediately made his way to the prince's chambers. Will following submissively behind him. When they entered the room Arthur was sitting up against some pillows with Morgana by his side.
"Where is the King"? The physician asked the occupants. It was Morgana who answered, the smile not leaving her face.
"He has gone to address the council of advisers". She looked at Arthur "to tell them that their prince lives".
Both Gaius and Will looked up solemnly at the royals. "What's the matter"? This time it was Arthur asking, concern evident in his voice. "What's happened"?
"It's Prince Merlin, sire…." and Gaius explained to them about the Cup of Life, it's properties and with it, the cost the man held dear to them all had most likely paid.
"No". Morgana whispered as she held a hand to her mouth to contain the sob threatening to break loose.
"That fool"! Arthur's furious voice was the next to be heard the prince was livid. How! How could his brother have done something so stupid. His life is not worth any less than mine!
It was then he recalled their conversation from after the incident with Tauren To protect you and this kingdom… whatever needs to be done… damn the consequences…
"Forgive me for bringing this up now sire but there will be enough time for mourning later. We need to decide what we are to tell the King of this matter"? Gaius posed the concern and none had the answer still dealing with the shock of what they had just learned.
Unbestoke to them all, the younger Pendragon, having completed his task of laying the High Priestess to rest and concealing the Cup, was now on his way back to Camelot.