Hey everyone, I am so sorry for the long wait. This couple of months has been a roller-coaster for me. A couple of weeks ago, I was in the hospital for a whole week because my stomach was in so much pain and I found out I have colitis in my colon. I am doing better now, but I have to be careful of what I eat now. The doctor says I may or may not have this for the rest of my life. For those who knew about this already, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Plus, I do have a teaching job, I am part of a theater company, and I do have a life too. So sadly, updates will take its time for my stories "My Magical Wish" and "Red Rose Nightmare." I would ask you all, my faithful readers, to please have patience with me. I swear on my life that I will NEVER abandon my stories.

Anyways, 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.

3rd POV

Time stood still as everyone watched Sam faint to the ground as the goblet fell out of her hand. Merlin immediately ran to her and knelt down, gathering her in his arms.

Uther realized what happened and glared at Lord Bayard. "It's poisoned. Guards seize him!"

All of Camelot's guards unsheathed their swords and pointed at the other knights. Even Morgana held her dagger out. Arthur rushed over to Merlin and crouched over Sam. Gwen and Gaius rushed over too.

Merlin was trying to wake Sam as he said, "Sam! Wake Up! Please wake up!"

"Sam? Can you hear me?" Gaius placed his hand on the girl's head and immediately pulled back. "We have to get her back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison."

Arthur instantly lifted the unconscious girl into his arms and ran out of the room. Merlin grabbed the goblet as he, Gwen, Gaius, and Morgana followed Arthur. Arthur's mind was racing as he sped down the halls carrying Sam close to his chest. He looked down to see her face was as white as snow and her breathing was shallow. He needed to get her to Gaius' chambers and fast.

As they all entered the physician's chambers, Gaius said to Arthur, "Lay her on the bed quickly; she's struggling to breathe." Arthur placed Sam on the bed as Merlin grabbed his sister's hand. The healer turned to Gwen and Morgana and ordered, "Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel. Morgana, go get a blanket."

Merlin was shaking in fear as he continued to hold Sam's hand, not only thing to comfort her, but also himself. "Come on Sam, wake up. You got to wake up!"

Arthur looked at the physician and asked, "Is she gonna be all right?"

Gaius touched Sam's sweating head and immediately recoiled. "She's burning up."

Gwen and Morgana returned with the supplies as Gwen worriedly asked, "You can cure her, can't you Gaius?"

Gaius picked up one of his books on poison and replied, "I won't know until I can identify the poison. Pass me the goblet." Morgana reached over and handed it to him. Gaius looked carefully into the cup and noticed something. "Ah. There's something stuck on the inside."

The statement caught Arthur's attention. "What is it?"

"It looks like a flower petal of some kind," explained the older man.

Morgana looked at Sam, before she addressed to everyone, "I have to return to Uther and tell him what's going on. I'll keep you informed about Lord Bayard." She was about to run out, but briefly turned to Gaius and pleaded, "Please save her Gaius." The older man nodded his head as Morgana ran out of the room. Merlin rushed over to the physician as his mentor pulled the flower petal out of the goblet.

"That's the thing that poisoned her?" asked the wizard.

"Indeed it looks like it."

Gwen was so concerned for her friend. How could someone do such a cruel thing? She touched Sam's forehead and her worry grew. "Her brow's on fire."

Gaius started to turn the pages in the book as he said to Gwen, "Keep her cool; it'll help control the fever." Gwen grabbed the towel, placed it in the bucket full of water, rung it out, and laid the towel on Sam's head. Gaius suddenly stopped when he spotted something on one of the pages. "Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."

"The caves in the Forest of Balor?" questioned Merlin.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he spotted a drawing of a creature on the page. "That's not particularly friendly," he pointed out.

"A Cockatrice. It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death." Arthur's breath stopped as he turned back to see Gwen was still tending to Sam. He knew she was a stubborn and independent girl, but he had never seen her so ill and fragile, and it scared the prince. "Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive," explained Gaius.

Merlin walked back to where Sam laid on the bed. He knelt down to her and grabbed her hand again. He had never felt so useless in his life. Sam's hand was trembling, but Merlin did not know if it was her hands or his own. He was struggling not to break down, especially in front of Gwen and Arthur. Gwen continued to cool down Sam's head with the towel. She looked over at Merlin to see the love and nervousness on his face. Gwen knew what it was like to fear for a loved one's life. She had been worried about her father when he was cursed with an illness. All Gwen wanted to do was to find a way to heal Sam and comfort Merlin, and a thought of how to comfort Merlin made her lightly blush.

Arthur was pacing back and forth, trying to figure out a solution. His eyes stared right at Sam's still figure. The thoughts of her saving his life rushed right back to him. He could not and would not let her die. "Sounds like fun," declared the prince.

Merlin's head snapped, shocked at what Arthur said. "Wait, what?"

Gaius marched right up to Arthur, trying to make him reconsider what he was insinuating. "Arthur, it's too dangerous."

"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Sam?" he demanded of Gaius.

Gaius turned to Sam with a worried expression. Sam was like a daughter to him, but Arthur was the Prince of Camelot. He sighed before answering, "The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. She may hold out for maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually she will die."

Merlin couldn't help but gasp at the dread of losing her and held her hand tighter. Arthur exhaled before slowly walking to Sam. He knelt down to her and whispered, "Don't worry, Samantha. I promise I will save you. You will not die." He looked at her for a few more moments, before he suddenly stood up and started marching towards the door. "I'm going to talk to my father and I will save Sam."

Merlin suddenly stood up and started to follow Arthur, calling out, "I'm coming with you."

Arthur abruptly stopped and glared at his manservant. "No Merlin, you are not," he said sternly.

Merlin frowned at the prince. "My sister is dying and I have to help her!"

"Which is why you need to stay here. Merlin, Sam needs tending to and you are the only one who needs to be at her side."

"But-"

"No, you're staying here and that's final," declared Arthur.

Before he could argue further, Arthur walked out of the room to find his father. Uther will not let Sam die. Arthur was sure of it.

"What's the point of having people to taste for you if you're going to get yourself killed anyway?" asked Uther as he and his son walked down the halls.

"I won't fail, no matter what you think," argued the prince.

"Arthur, you are my only son and heir," Uther groaned as he pitched his nose at his boy's stubbornness. "I can't risk losing you for the sake of some serving girl."

Arthur glared at his father as he retorted, "Oh, because her life's worthless?"

Uther twisted around to face his son and said, "No, because it's worth less than yours."

"I can save her. Let me take some men."

"No."

"We'll find the antidote and bring it back."

"No."

Arthur suddenly snapped at the overwhelming frustration bubbling inside of him. Why wouldn't his father listen to reason? "Why not?!"

"Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a king." Arthur had to hold back rolling his eyes at his father's statement. He's been hearing about being king ever since he was a baby. "I'm not going to let you jeopardize the future of this kingdom over some fool's errand."

"It's not a fool's errand. Sam risked her life for both Merlin and me! Gaius says that if we can get the antidote-"

Uther interrupted his son as he said sarcastically, "Oh, Gaius says? That's exactly what makes it so."

Uther was about to walk away when Arthur stopped him again. "Please, Father. She saved my life. I can't stand by and watch her die." Arthur normally don't beg his father for anything, but Sam is his maidservant, Merlin's little sister, and Arthur's… friend. If Sam died, Camelot would never be the same without her.

"Then don't look." Arthur couldn't help to be shocked at his father's answer. How could he say that? "This girl won't be the last to die on your behalf. You're going to be King. It's something you'll have to get used to."

Arthur shook his head in disappointment. "I can't accept that."

"You're not going."

"You can't stop me," Arthur nearly screamed.

"Damn it, Arthur, that's an end to it! You're not leaving this castle tonight and that is final," declared Uther. Without saying a word, he walked away from his son. Arthur was so angry that all he wanted to do was to punch the wall. He ran his hand through his hair as he thought, now what am I going to do?

Storming right into his chambers, Arthur threw his sword on the table and leaned over the fireplace. He closed his eyes, trying so hard not to picture Sam's dying face. He felt as though he failed her, as his father would not allow him to go find the antidote. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice someone was at the door.

"Say what you like about the food," he looked over his shoulder to see it was Morgana who had spoken. "But you can't beat our feast for entertainment."

Arthur groaned, knowing Morgana was upset that she wasn't told if Sam was all right or not. "Morgana, I'm sorry, I should have made sure you were all right."

She merely shrugged before saying, "Disappointed actually. I was looking forward to clumping a couple around the head with a ladle."

Arthur scoffed at her as he walked over to the table and placed his hand down to support his weight. "I'm sure the guards could have handled Bayard and his men."

"Yeah, but why let the boys have all the fun? I want to help Sam, she's my friend too."

"Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous."

Morgana rolled her eyes and glared at the prince. "Spare me the lecture, I've already had it from Uther," she spat out.

"If it's any consolation, you weren't the only one," Arthur said grimly.

Morgana walked over to Arthur and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Not that I listen to him. Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences."

Arthur thought about her words. He peered to her and asked, "You think I should go?"

Morgana removed her hand and crossed her arms over her chest. "It doesn't matter what I think."

Arthur marched right in front of her and asked sternly, "If I don't make it back, who will be the next king of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake."

"And what kind of king would Camelot want? One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" She reached over to the table and grabbed Arthur's sword. Arthur looked right into her green eyes as the blade was held in front of him. "Or one who does what his father tells him to?"

Morgana gave Arthur one more look of determination, before leaving the room. Arthur looked down at his sword. He needed to make a decision; stay here and let Sam die, or go find the antidote and disobey his father. He took a deep breath and marched right out of the room. He knew what he had to do.

Later that night, two guards were standing by the drawbridge of the castle. One of the guards heard the sound of a running horse coming up behind them. He glanced to see Arthur galloping fast towards them.

The guards pointed their weapons at the prince as they called out, "Halt!"

Arthur ignored the guards as he rode past them. He kicked the side of his horse to gallop faster and out of Camelot.

While Arthur searched for the antidote, Gaius, Gwen, and Merlin stayed with Sam, trying to find a way to slow down the poison. Gwen diligently attempted to cool down Sam's burning forehead, while Merlin held to hope and his sister's hand. He had his eyes closed and tried to think of a spell that could help the healing. However, every time he tried a single spell, there was something that blocked the magic.

"She's getting hotter," said Gwen.

Merlin's eyes widened when he heard Sam murmured, "Him. Liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf."

Gwen stopped dabbing Sam's head when she heard and asked Merlin and Gaius, "What language is that?"

"None. The fever's taken hold. None of those words are her own," Gaius responded quickly. Merlin let out a soft sigh, thankful that Gwen didn't realize Sam was murmuring a spell or magic. Gaius grabbed Sam's wrist to check her heart beat. His face turned grim as he said, "Her pulse is weaker."

Merlin looked down, but stopped when he noticed something on Sam's arm. He rolled up her sleeve to see a large circular rash. "Gaius, you might want to take a look at this," he said.

The physician rushed over to Merlin's side to examine it. Gwen looked even more worried as she asked, "What is it?"

"That can't be right," murmured Gaius. Merlin looked at him to see to concern and confusion on his face. "The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage."

"The final stage?" asked Merlin. "What does that mean?" Gwen and Merlin stood up and followed Gaius to the table where the poison book laid. Gaius picked up a magnifying glass to check the page of the book.

"It says here that 'once a rash appears, death will follow within two days,'" read Gaius.

Merlin and Gwen shared a look of fear. Two days? That could not be right. Merlin felt a huge lump grow in his throat before he walked over back to Sam. He grabbed her hand, trying to heal her again.

"You said she had four days," exclaimed Gwen, before looking back at her ill friend.

"Something's increased the flower's potency." Merlin looked up to see Gaius was using the magnifying glass to read the book again. "It warns that 'the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation.'"

Merlin glowered when he heard the words enchantment. A sorcerer or witch laced the goblet to make Sam die quicker?

"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer," said Gwen looking muddled.

"No, he isn't," Gaius agreed.

"Well then who did this? Who would try to poison Arthur's goblet, let Lord Bayard take the blame, and be a sorcerer?" Merlin desperately yelled.

Gaius shook his head, trying to figure out who might be the culprit. All of a sudden, one particular person came to his mind. "It couldn't have been. She wouldn't dare come here. Unless..."

Gwen stepped forward to the older man and demanded, "Unless what?"

"What happened to that girl?"

Merlin released his sister hand and stood up. "Wait, what?"

"Which girl?" Gwen asked shaking her head.

"Just before Merlin burst into the hall one of Bayard's serving girls took him outside," explained Gaius.

Merlin was confused as he asked, "You can't mean Cara… right Gaius?"

Gaius ignored Merlin as he told Gwen, "Find her. Quickly." Gwen nodded and ran out of the room. Merlin was conflicted and started to paced back and forth. Cara couldn't be a witch and she wouldn't try to kill Arthur. She warned Merlin about the goblet being laced, so why make all the trouble just to poison and frame Bayard?

Merlin turned to his mentor and inquired, "Gaius, you don't believe Cara did this to Sam, do you?"

Gaius stared sadly at the young sorcerer and shook his head. Merlin ran his hand through his hair and rushed right back to Sam. Gaius noticed Merlin had his eyes closed and was slightly murmuring to himself.

"What are you doing Merlin?"

Merlin's eyes snapped wide open, before he explained, "I'm trying to heal her or slow down the poison."

"Well, is it working?"

Merlin narrowed his eyes for a second and said, "Nas tress nota partroma." He waited… and waited… but nothing happened. Merlin groaned and slammed his hand to the floor. "Nothing! I cannot heal her! Gaius, why can't I heal her? It feels like my powers are being blocked so I can't reach her."

With a sigh, Gaius replied, "I believe whoever this Cara really is, wanted to make sure that the victim wouldn't survive, even if someone could help with magic."

Merlin swallowed a cry before looking back at Sam. He was so tired and grief stricken that he barely missed Sam mumbling, "Arthur... trap… witch…"

Little did Gaius and Merlin know, that Sam was trying to warn them that Arthur was falling right into Nimueh's dangerous trap and he might never return to Camelot.

And there you have it! Another chapter down! Again, I am so sorry for the really long wait. I will try really hard to update the last two chapters of the episode sooner than later. Please be patient with me. please favorite, follow, review, and until then…

Grapejuice101

P.S. Happy Late Easter Everyone!