Hello my fabulous readers, I am back with another Merlin chapter! And just in time for Halloween! I hope this LONG chapter will be a treat for you! I will tell you that this episode will be either 2 or 3 chapters.

Also, to my Phantom of the Opera readers, I have some good news! I am almost done with my Narnia story, so I will be able to start planning and writing my Phantom of the Opera sequel! Please continue to have patience with me. Remember, I have a teaching job right now and I am trying to find a publisher for my novel that I wrote.

I do have a Twitter account right now! Follow me, message me! Don't forget to review and check out my Polyvore page to see what Sam is wearing for the chapter. Anyways, here's the chapter! I hope you'll enjoy it!

I don't own anything except my OC Sam.

I watched off to the side, standing next to Merlin, as Lord Bayard and his party walked into the Throne Room. Uther smiled as he walked down to Bayard to meet him half way.

"Camelot welcomes you, Lord Bayard of Mercia. The treaty we sign today marks and end to war and a beginning to a new friendship between our people," exclaimed Uther.

As Uther and Bayard grabbed their hand, both parties applauded and cheered. While I was clapping, I looked at the corner of my eye to Nimueh. My eyes slightly widened and I shook a little. I recalled what episode this was. I remembered she was in disguise and tried to kill Merlin. Nimueh looked right at Merlin and me. I turned away, not making eye contact with her. This is going to be a long day.

Later that day, Arthur ordered Merlin and I to pick up his dirty laundry, wash them, dry them, and bring them back to his room before the event of the Hall of Ceremonies begins. Did I mention that both Merlin and I have to carry a big bag filled with clothes? Each?!

"Why does Arthur have so many clothes? It's like he has more outfits than all the girls in Camelot," I complained as I was about to drop the bag of clothes I was carrying.

"Don't let the prince hear you say that Samantha," reprimanded Gaius.

Merlin groaned as he shifted his arm, so he wouldn't drop his bag.

"Still, it's not fair. Why do we always get landed with the donkey work," asked my brother.

Gaius sighed as he continuously walked down the halls with us. "You're a servant, Merlin. It's what you do."

"Servant, my butt," I mumbled to myself.

Merlin shifted his arms again as he said, "My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside."

I grunted from the weight of my bag. "I feel like my arms are about to be pulled out of their sockets soon."

"It's character building. As the old proverb says, hard work breeds...a harder soul," said Gaius.

I snorted as Merlin glared at our Uncle. "There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up," stated Merlin

"No. I didn't."

"You so did Gaius," I said.

"I did not."

I was about to reply 'so did' when I heard a commotion next to me. I looked to my right to see Merlin bumped into a girl. The servant girl looked like she was carried pillows and sheets.

"Sorry," said the girl

Merlin bent down and helped the girl pick up the sheets and pillows.

"It's alright. Let me give you a hand with that," he said.

Merlin grabbed one of the pillows, before he and the girl lifted up their heads and stared into each other's eyes. My breath was caught in my throat when I saw the girl's face. I was looking right at Nimueh. Merlin and Nimueh slowly stood up and continued to stare at each other's eyes.

"Hi. I'm Merlin."

Merlin constant to stare in Nimueh's baby blue eyes, until I cleared my throat. I will not let my idiot brother have a crush on the villain of season 1. Merlin looked right at me before shaking his head.

"Oh sorry, this is my little sister Samantha," Merlin said.

I put a fake smile as I replied, "Hi, I would shake your hand, but sadly my hands a full."

"Oh course, it's nice to meet you Sam," the witch said with a smile on her face.

My fake smile suddenly dropped as I said, "Only my friends call me Sam."

All three of them had different expression to my statement; Gaius was shocked, Merlin looked horrified, and Nimueh glared at me.

"Sam, what's your problem," Merlin thought to me.

I didn't reply to him as I continued to stare at Nimueh. She suddenly went back to her "character" when Merlin turned back to look at her.

"I'm sorry about her. She can be a real nuisance sometimes," Merlin explained.

My eyes were widen with shock when I heard Merlin. Did he just call me a nuisance?

Nimueh laugh and said, "No, it's completely fine. I'm Cara, by the way. You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honor."

Merlin snorted as he replied, "Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, someone's got to keep the place running."

I nearly glared at her as she sweetly smiled at Merlin and said, "Thank you, Merlin."

Merlin snapped out of his trace as he said, "Hmm?" Nimueh stared down at Merlin's. He looked down to see he was still holding a pillow. He blushed as he handed it back to her. "Oh, right. Yeah. Er, no problem."

She just smiled as said, "It was nice meeting you… both of you."

My eyes glared at her as she walked down the hall. I turned to see Merlin watched her leave. Oh no, I am not having that. I immediately slapped the back of his head.

"OW!"

"SNAP OUT OF IT," I screamed at him before I moved the bag to my hip.

I rolled my eyes and walked ahead of them. Boys can be such idiots. I was so relieved to be finally at Arthur's room.

"Hey Arthur, we're back… well, I'm back. Merlin's right behind me. Where do you want me to place this," I asked him.

Arthur pointed to his "closet" without even looking up from his papers. As I placed the bag down, Merlin finally walked in. After he placed his bag down, he opened up Arthur's closet and pulled out Arthur's clothes for the feast. I held my nose when the smell of rotten eggs mixed with cow manure assaulted my senses.

"Oh man, that's disgusting," I said continuing to hold my nose.

Arthur sarcastically smirked at me and said, "Thank you Samantha."

Merlin covered his nose and asked, "When's the last time these were cleaned?"

Arthur walked right behind us and replied, "Last year some time. Before the feast of Beltane."

"It smells like something died on it," I cringed.

"Did it end in a food fight?" asked my brother.

Arthur chuckled as he picked up his vest. "Don't all feasts?"

I scoffed as I placed one of his shirts back in the closet.

"We haven't been to many feast before, remember," I said.

Merlin nodded his head and said, "Yeah, we wouldn't know. The heirs and graces of the court are a mystery to us."

Arthur smirked at us. "Not tonight they won't be."

I looked at him and asked, "Wait, we're gonna be at the banquet? Like, as guests?"

"Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry. If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it."

"Of course, servants," I mumbled.

Arthur tossed me his vest, which smacked me right in the face… Um, Ow!

"Be sure to polish the buttons." Arthur looked at Merlin and asked, "Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?"

Merlin looked down at his clothes and questioned "Won't this do?"

Arthur shook his head and said, "No. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot."

He walked over to his closet and pulled some clothes out. I covered my mouth so I wouldn't laugh. I didn't know which was funnier: Merlin's ceremonial robes or his look of disbelief.

"You can't be serious," grumbled Merlin.

I tapped his shoulder and said, "I think he's serious. So sorry to be you Merlin."

I was about to leave when Arthur called out, "Where do you think you're going Sam? You didn't get your official ceremonial robes too."

Looking back, I was speechless when I saw the clothing that Arthur held out for me to wear.

"Oh come on! You have got to be kidding me!?"

I am so going to kill Arthur, I thought to myself. I was standing in the Hall of Ceremonies with the whole court, watching Lord Bayard sign his name on the treaty. My hand immediately went to my neck and I tried to itch and loosen the ruff. That's right, you heard correctly. Arthur made me wear a ruff around my neck. For those who don't know what a ruff is, you know a circus clown who wears that ruffle thing around their neck? Yeah, sadly that's what I'm wearing. Along with the annoying ruff, I am forced to wear a bright blue dress with red sleeves. Again I say it, I am so going to kill Arthur.

Merlin was sharing the humiliating fate as well. Besides the color for the clothing, he has to wear a ridiculous hat with a large red feather. I had to duck several times, because the feather kept on hitting me in the face. I heard a chuckle next to Merlin. I turned my head to see it was Gwen.

"Nice hat and ruff," she said with a snicker.

"Thanks," Merlin and I said sarcastically.

I looked back at the signing of the treaty to see Arthur was staring right at me. I narrowed my eyes and mouthed out, "I hate you." The jerk just shook his head and silently laughed at me. I rolled my eyes as he turned back to face the signing of the treaty. In the corner of my eyes, I could see the one person I despises right now. Nimueh pretending to be a handmaid named Cara. Merlin caught her eye and immediately removed his hat. Gwen must have noticed who Merlin was gazing at, because the next thing made her sound a little jealous.

"She's pretty isn't she? For a handmaiden, I mean."

I crossed my arms over my chest and said, "No, she's more like a toad."

Merlin ignored my comment as he said in a daydream gaze, "She's pretty for a princess, let alone a handmaiden."

I force myself not to gag at his response. Uther finished signing the treaty and then grasped arms with Bayard. As the crowd began to applaud, Gwen left us, looking a little disappointed. I knew she was upset that Merlin was staring at Nimueh.

Bayard turned to the crowd to speak. "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."

I watched as a serving girl brought in the box with the goblets. I was starting to get nervous, as I remember what was in one of those goblets.

Bayard continued as he pulled the goblets out. "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."

All of a sudden, I see Nimueh slowly approaching us looking distressed.

"Merlin, I need to speak to you," she said with a fake anxiety in her voice.

"What is it?" he asked quietly.

Nimueh shook her head and said, "Not here, please. I don't know who else to tell."

I have to do something, I thought. He is walking right into a trap. But Arthur's goblet is poisoned. What should I do? I turned my head to say something to Merlin, but to see that he was gone and so was Nimueh. Gaius must have noticed this too.

Bayard continued to talk as he said, "Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war."

I zoned out of Bayard's speech as I continued to look at where Nimueh and Merlin ran off too. I knew she would tell Merlin that she 'saw Bayard placed poison in Arthur's goblet.' Of course, I knew she was lying. She was the one who placed the poison and set a trap for Merlin.

I snapped back to reality when I heard Bayard say, "And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther." Everyone in the court stood up to toast. Bayard turned to Arthur and Morgana and said, "Arthur, the Lady Morgana, the people of Camelot."

Merlin, where are you, I thought.

"And to fallen warriors on both sides," said Uther as he raised his goblet.

Everyone was about to drink, when someone shouted, "Stop!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin as Merlin charged back into the room.

Merlin ran right up to Arthur, grabbed the goblet out of his hand as he shouted out, "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!"

The whole room became still and silent, until Uther spoke up. "What?"

"Merlin, what are you doing?" asked Arthur.

Merlin stared right at Bayard with a glare as he said with a stern voice, "Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison."

Bayard was not pleased at the accusation. "This is an outrage!"

I nearly gasped when Bayard and his men drew their swords out. However, so did the knight of Camelot. I looked to the side to see Nimueh standing by the corner secretly watching the commotion.

Uther scowled at Bayard as he ordered, "Order your men to put down their swords." Suddenly, the Camelot guards rushed in, withdrawing their swords. "You are outnumbered."

Bayard seemed hesitant as he stared at the number of the Camelot's army. "I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!"

Uther looked at Merlin and asked, "On what grounds do you base this accusation?"

Before Merlin could respond, Arthur spoke up. "I'll handle this." He moved around the table and walked right to my brother. "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the sloe gin again?"

Arthur grabbed Merlin by the back of the neck and took the goblet right out of Merlin's hand. He moved Merlin in front of Uther, so he was away from Bayard.

Uther looked at Merlin into his eyes and said, "Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned now."

"He was seen lacing it."

"By whom?" asked Uther.

I looked right at Nimueh to see her darkly smirking as Merlin replied, "I can't say."

Oh I so want to go up and accuse to the court that it was her who tricked Merlin and laced the goblet with poison. My brain is telling me to do it, so why isn't my mouth going to say it?

Bayard rolled his eyes as he said to Uther, "I won't listen to this anymore."

"Pass me the goblet," commanded Uther.

Arthur handed it to him. Uther walked right up to Bayard with the goblet in his hand.

"If you're telling the truth-"

"I am," Bayard said interrupting Uther.

"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Bayard instantly sheathed his sword and held out his hand for the goblet. Uther looked shocked at Bayard's action. I knew what the king was thinking. 'He would have be hesitant to receive the goblet if he did poison it.' "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Bayard scoffed at the threat. My eyes widen when Uther suddenly holds the goblet up to Merlin. "He'll drink it."

"WHAT!?"

I did not realize that the person who shouted was me. My face was red from embarrassment when the whole court stared at me.

Luckily, Arthur saved me when he yelled out, "But if it is poisoned, he'll die!"

"Then we'll know he was telling the truth," Uther said as Merlin slowly reached out for the goblet.

"And what if he lives?" asked Bayard.

Uther shrugs his shoulders and answered, "Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will."

Gaius instantly walked up and pleaded, "Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!"

Uther frowned at his friend. "Then you should've schooled him better."

Arthur was livid. "Merlin, apologize. This is a mistake. I'll drink it."

He reached for the goblet, but Merlin moved his hand out of the way. I looked back at Nimueh to see she looked much pleaded.

"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright," insisted Merlin.

Merlin toasted the goblet to Bayard and Arthur. He slowly brought the goblet close to his lips. The next thing came to a blur. All I remember is that I suddenly was next to Merlin, grabbed the goblet out of his hand, and drank it.

I came out of my trance when I heard both Arthur and Merlin shout out, "NO!"

The whole room became silent with shock. I could hear some of their thoughts in my head. 'I cannot believe she did that.' 'Did she just take the goblet out of her brother's hand and drink it?' "She is very brave.' 'I do hope she will be alright.' Nimueh looked shocked at first but then watched with glee. I suddenly heard her thought. 'Merlin's little sister, a perfect plan for revenge.'

Merlin looked horrified as he asked in a shaky voice, "Sam, what have you done?"

I ignored my brother as I slowly lowered the goblet from my mouth. I looked at Nimueh with a hateful stare, before turning to Uther and said softly, "It's fine."

Everyone in the court sighed in relief. Arthur looked at Merlin clearly saying 'You're an idiot.'

Uther sat down as he said to Bayard. "He's all yours."

Everyone was going back to sit in their seats. I wasn't concentrating, because I suddenly felt dizzy. My hand immediately went to my throat. It felt like someone was choking me to death. It was getting hot, really hot. Who turned up the heat? Everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard my choking sound. I could only see the faces of the court: Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, Gwen, Uther, and Morgana, all a mixture of confusion, concern, and terror. Merlin and Arthur suddenly walked up in front of me.

"Merlin… Arthur…" I choked out.

My eyes rolled in the back of my head as I fell to the floor and was in complete darkness.

Oh no, Sam drank the poison… CLIFFHANGER! Will Sam be alright? What will happen next since Sam took Merlin's place in the episode? Well, you'll just have to wait until the next chap! I don't know when I'll be able to update, but it will be soon… hopefully lol. Don't forget to review and until next time…

Grapejuice101