Amelia's POV
Today is a very tense day. Well, it has been a tense few weeks as Camelot has been preparing for the arrival of Lord Bayard of Mercia. Camelot has been at war with them on and off and things have been very tense for many years and now Bayard is coming to sign a peace treaty.
In the Throne room Morgana, Gwen, Anne and Amelia are walking behind Arthur and Uther. They all walk very dramatically, with other Courtiers, Knights and servants, towards Bayard and his group, who have just entered and are walking towards them.
They all met in the middle and Uther speaks, "Camelot welcomes you, Lord Bayard of Mercia. The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and a beginning to a new friendship between our people." Uther and Bayard grasp arms.
Amelia glances over all of the new arrivals and notices a maid staring toward where Merlin stands. This causes something to niggle in her brain. She does not look familiar at all but Amelia knows she must be significant. Her notes said that when Bayard arrives, Nimueh poisons Merlin then tries to kill Arthur when he tries to save him but other than that she had not put anything else for this episode. She had clearly put too much faith in her older self and was thinking that nothing really needed to be changed and that she should let it go as it already did.
—
Anne's POV
Merlin passes Gaius and Anne in the Upper Corridor while carrying a heavy bag. "Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?" He huffs dropping the bag.
"You're a servant, Merlin. It's what you do." Gaius says amused at the sight.
"My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside," Merlin complains.
"It's character building," Anne says.
"Yes." Gaius agrees. "As the old proverb says, hard work breeds... a harder soul." He is clearly making that up on the spot.
Merlin looks at him knowingly. "There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up."
"No. I didn't." Gaius says. Anne notices a maid striding determinedly towards them from behind Merlin and Gaius. The maid then falls in front of Merlin. Anne frowns thinking how faked that looked but the other two seem to have not noticed the act.
"Sorry." She mutters demurely.
"It's alright," Merlin says looking quite taken with her. She is very beautiful.
"Excuse me." She says bending to begin gathering her things again.
"Let me give you a hand with that." Merlin crouches down and catches the girl's eye. Anne analyses the scene sensing something is off. They stand up.
"Hi. I'm Merlin." He shakes her hand. Anne can't help but slightly smile at the sight of Merlin being armoured by the girl. He looks quite sweet.
"Cara." She greets. "You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honour." She continues trying to butter him up.
"Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, someone's got to keep the place running." Merlin boasts.
"Thank you, Merlin." She says trying to get him to realise that he is still holding some of her things.
"Hmm?" Merlin says still staring at her clearly very besotted. He then snaps out of it and looks down at the pillow he picked up for her. "Oh, right. Yeah. Er, no problem." He hurriedly says handing it over.
"It was nice meeting you." She says walking away. Merlin continues to watch her leave.
"Shouldn't you be busy running the place?" Gaius asks sarcastically making Merlin realise that Gaius and Anne are still with him. Gaius laughs. Anne joins him trying to cover up the unease she feels.
Merlin gives them a look before picking up what he was carrying before.
—
Amelia's POV
"I feel like I should tell you something," Anne says that night as she is helping Amelia prepare for the feast.
"What is it?" Amelia asks having noticed the slight unease Anne has had on her face but has been waiting for her to say something.
"It is one of the maids that Bayard has brought with him." She reveals. "There is something about her that does not feel right."
"Could it be your magic telling you this?" Amelia asks.
"I suppose if she was using magic, I'm not sure." Anne answers.
"I've noticed a maid staring at Merlin earlier. Are we talking about the same one? The one with that has a blue scarf wrapped around her head?" Amelia questions.
"Maybe. I suggest we keep an eye on her." Anne decides.
"Yes of course," Amelia says thinking about how this woman could possibly be Nimueh. She does not say anything as she will then have to explain how she knows and Anne knows that Amelia has not had a nightmare the last couple of nights so she cannot use that excuse.
—
Later that evening they are all in the hall of ceremonies watching Bayard sign the treaty. Well, Amelia tries to but she can't help but slightly giggle at Merlin in his outfit from her place on Morgana's left. He is standing by Gwen and Anne who are also laughing at him. Amelia then sees Merlin hurriedly take off his feathered hat, Amelia follows his eye-line and sees that he is staring at the mysterious handmaiden. Amelia thinks back to what Anne said about having a funny feeling about her. Is this how Nimueh poisoned Merlin? By slipping into Bayard's entourage?
Uther then finishes signing the treaty and grasping arms with Bayard. Everyone applauds.
"People of Camelot," Bayard begins. Oh great this is the fun bit, the speeches. "…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." A serving girl walks in, bringing in a box that reveals goblets inside. Amelia frowns. Drink is quite a good way to poison someone.
"As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship," Bayard continues. "I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last." Amelia is so focused on it that she does not notice the maid approach Merlin and take him out of the room.
"Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war." Bayard speaks as the two goblets are handed out to Arthur and Uther.
Bayard eventually begins his toast, "And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther." Everyone stands with drinks in hand.
"Arthur." Amelia can see Arthur nod then start to drink but he is stopped as Bayard continued.
"The Lady Morgana and Amelia." They both nod. Arthur waits this time.
"The people of Camelot." Arthur starts to drink again thinking the toast is finished.
"And to fallen warriors on both sides." Uther then says stopping Arthur again then after Uther has finished everyone starts to drink.
"Stop!" Merlin cries running in. "It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" Merlin runs up to Arthur and takes his goblet. Ah, now she vaguely remembers this. How could she forget this? She's clearly brain dead.
"What?" Uther asks obviously thinking about how a mere servant dared to interrupt.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur asks him.
"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison." Merlin declares. Gotta admit he has confidence.
"This is an outrage!" Bayard shouts. He and his men draw their swords and so do the Knights of Camelot.
"Order your men to put down their swords." Uther orders as Camelot Guards rush in. "You are outnumbered."
"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" Can't blame him for being angry.
"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" Uther asks Merlin.
"I'll handle this," Arthur says skirting around the table. "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the slow gin again?" He grabs Merlin and takes the goblet.
"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned now." Uther orders.
"He was seen lacing it." Merlin answers.
"By whom?" Uther asks.
"I can't say." Merlin answers. Amelia, at this moment, looks around for the maid and she sees her peeking round a door in the corner of the room; she is smirking at the scene. Oh god, she is Nimueh. She can't stop this now.
"I won't listen to this anymore." Bayard then says.
"Pass me the goblet," Uther says to Arthur, who hands it to him. "If you're telling the truth..."
"I am." Bayard interrupts.
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Uther continues. Bayard sheathes his sword and reaches for the goblet.
"No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Uther says. Bayard snorts. Uther holds the goblet up to Merlin. "He'll drink it."
"But if it is poisoned, he'll die!" Arthur argues.
"Then we'll know he was telling the truth," Uther says not caring. Great detective work Uther.
"And what if he lives?" Bayard questions.
"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will." Uther answers.
"Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!" Gaius begs.
"Then you should've schooled him better."
"Merlin, apologise. This is a mistake. I'll drink it." Arthur says reaching for the goblet.
"No, no, no, no, no. It's, it's alright." Merlin says pushing Arthur's hands away and putting the goblet out of his reach.
"Please, Merlin," Amelia begs, trying to walk up to him but a Guard stops her before she makes it fully around the table.
Merlin gives her a small smile before toasting to Bayard and Arthur, then drinks. She sees Nimueh watching with glee. Gwen takes a few steps forward in her anxiety.
"It's fine," Merlin says after taking a sip.
"He's all yours," Uther says. As Guards walk toward him, Merlin begins to choke and falls to the floor unconscious.
"It's poisoned. Guards seize him!" Camelot Guards and Knights rush forward to arrest Bayard and his entourage. Arthur, Anne, Gaius and Gwen crouch over Merlin. Morgana grabs a butter knife and shoves a fork into Amelia's hand. Thank you, Morgana.
"Merlin. Can you hear me? We have to get him back to my Chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison." Gaius orders. Arthur picks up Merlin and Gwen grabs the goblet. Amelia quickly rushes after them, fork in hand, before anyone can stop her.
—
Arthur enters Gaius' Chambers carrying Merlin with Gaius, Anne, Gwen and Amelia following.
"Lay him on the bed quickly; he's struggling to breathe. Gwen, fetch me some water and Anne get a towel." Gaius orders.
"Is he going to be alright?" Arthur asks worriedly sitting down by the bed Merlin now lies on as Amelia hovers behind him, the others dart around doing various tasks.
"He's burning up," Gaius says not answering him sitting down on Merlin's other side.
"You can cure him, can't you Gaius?" Gwen asks as Anne hands him a towel.
"I won't know until I can identify the poison," Gaius answers putting the towel on Merlin's forehead. "Pass me the goblet." Gwen hands it to him."Ah. There's something stuck on the inside." He says standing up before walking over to a table nearby. Gwen takes over his task.
"What is it?" Amelia asks following with Arthur behind her. Anne takes the seat Arthur has vacated.
"It looks like a flower petal of some kind," Gaius says taking out of the goblet and holding it up to get a better look.
"His brow's on fire," Gwen calls to them.
"Keep him cool; it'll help control his fever," Gaius instructs her before pulling out a book and flicking through it to find what he is looking for. "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."
"That's not particularly friendly," Arthur says pointing at a beast on the page.
"A Cockatrice," Gaius explains. "It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive." Isgaard sounds a bit Viking.
Arthur steps away from the table. Amelia can see he is debating on what to do. "Sounds like fun." He then decides.
"My lord, it's too dangerous." Anne suddenly says.
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" Arthur asks Gaius. He knows he needs to go.
"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually, he will die." Gaius answers. Arthur then walks out of the Chambers with Amelia scurrying after him.
—
After telling Arthur that Amelia will go with him no matter what he says, the next person they go to is Uther as Arthur insisted that they need to despite her telling him that Uther will not listen. So there they are, a change of clothes later walking down the Red Ribbon Corridor, trying, and failing, to persuade Uther to give permission for them to go.
"What's the point of having people to taste for you if you're going to get yourself killed anyway?" Uther asks.
"We won't fail, no matter what you think." Arthur insists.
"Arthur, you are my only son and heir and Amelia you are my ward, you are in my care. I can't risk losing the both of you for the sake of some serving boy." Uther says.
"Oh, because his life's worthless?" Amelia asks.
"No, because it's worth less than yours." Uther answers. Wow…
"We can save him. Let me take some men—" Arthur begins.
"No." Uther interrupts.
Arthur continues as if he hadn't, "We'll find the antidote and bring it back—"
"No," Uther says talking over him.
"Why not?!" Arthur finishes shouting.
"Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a King. I'm not going to let you jeopardise the future of this Kingdom over some fool's errand." Uther says.
"It's not a fool's errand. Gaius says that if we can get the antidote..." Amelia begins to say.
"Oh, Gaius says? That's exactly what makes it so." Uther says sarcastically. To be honest she is not entirely sure what he means by that.
"Please, Father. He saved my life. I can't stand by and watch him die." Arthur begs.
"Then don't look. This boy 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." Uther says. Great parenting Uther.
"I can't accept that," Arthur says.
"Neither can I," Amelia says in agreement.
"You're not going."Uther orders.
"You can't stop me," Arthur says.
"Damn it, Arthur, that's an end to it! You're not leaving this Castle tonight." Uther demands. Amelia opens her mouth and before she can say she is still going, he says, "Neither are you, Amelia." Amelia purses her lips in annoyance.
—
Arthur's POV
In his Chambers, Arthur storms in, tosses his sword onto the table and leans over the fireplace breathing heavily in anger and frustration. Morgana enters.
"Say what you like about the food, but you can't beat our feast for entertainment," Morgana says.
Arthur turns to her. "Morgana, I'm sorry, I should have made sure you were alright."
"Disappointed actually. I was looking forward to clumping a couple around the head with a ladle." She says.
"I'm sure the Guards could have handled Bayard and his men," Arthur tells her.
"Yeah, but why let the boys have all the fun?" Morgana remarks only half joking.
"Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous." Arthur lectures though he knows she won't listen.
Morgana rolls her eyes. "Spare me the lecture, I've already had it from Uther."
"If it's any consolation, you weren't the only one," Arthur mutters in annoyance. "Amelia tell you about him not allowing us to go to save Merlin?"
"Amelia has already told me. I have you know that I do not always listen to Uther's lectures. Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences." Morgana says.
"You think I should go?" Arthur states rather than questions.
"It doesn't matter what I think," Morgana responds.
Arthur walks over to Morgana, "If I don't make it back, who will be the next King of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake." She must realise the risks, maybe his father is right.
"And what kind of King would Camelot want? One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" Morgana draws Arthur's sword. "Or one who does what his father tells him to?" Morgana presents Arthur with the sword. "Plus Amelia is already getting her horse." She says to add some extra persuasion.
"What?!" Arthur exclaims.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia is walking out of the Stables with her horse and also her supplies that are already attached to the saddle when she looks up and sees Arthur storming towards her.
"Coming along then?" She asks cheekily.
"I could not leave you to go by yourself." He answers. "Have you forgotten about the Cockatrice?"
"No. Just felt that saving Merlin was more important than cowardice."
Arthur narrows his eyes at her. "Just let me get my horse and we will be on our way."
"Good. We've already wasted enough time."
Before too long, Arthur and Amelia are riding across the Drawbridge.
"Halt!" The Guards exclaim, trying to stop them but they just ride past them out of Camelot.
—
Anne's POV
"He's getting hotter," Anne calls to Gaius who is standing by the window in his Chambers while Anne sits next to Merlin's bed trying to bring the temperature down.
"Him. Liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf." Merlin begins to mutter. Anne looks to Gaius, who has just sat next to her, in alarm while Gaius glances over to Gwen.
"What language is that?" Gwen questions from the other side of the bed.
"None. The fever's taken hold. None of those words are his own." Gaius says to cover up Merlin's use of magic. "His pulse is weaker." While holding Merlin's left arm, Gaius finds a large circular rash on Merlin's arm.
Anne sees Gwen take notice. "What is it?" Gwen asks.
Gaius pulls down Merlin's sleeve to fully reveal the rash. "That can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage."
"What does that mean?" Gwen asks. Anne is beginning to frown, an expression she almost always seems to have nowadays.
Gaius stands up, Gwen and Anne following, and walks towards a table to check his book with a magnifying glass. "It says here that "once a rash appears, death will follow within two days."" Anne and Gwen look at him in alarm.
"You said he had four days. Has it been accelerated?" Anne asks thinking of the most obvious way someone can do that.
"Quite. Something's increased the flower's potency." Gaius agrees. "It warns that "the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation."" He reads.
"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer." Gwen states.
"No, he isn't," Gaius says in deep thought.
"Then who did this?" Gwen questions.
"That girl!" Anne exclaims. Gaius and Gwen look to her in question. "That serving girl from Bayard's group took Merlin outside just before he stormed in."
"She had dark hair. Very beautiful." Gwen murmurs realising who Anne is talking about.
"Find her. Quickly." Gaius instructs. Anne and Gwen dart from the room.
—
No one's POV
Arthur and Amelia ride on their horses through the countryside and through the mountains, soon approach a large forest.
—
Anne's POV
Anne and Gwen enter Gaius' Chambers to see Gaius inspecting Merlin's rash with his magnifying glass while Merlin stirs restlessly. Gaius looks up, "Let me guess, she wasn't there."
"No one has seen her since the banquet. Who is she?" Gwen questions.
"Not who she claims to be." Gaius vaguely answers.
"But you know, don't you?" Anne asks knowingly.
"Cara. Though, that's not her name. Not her real name, anyway." Gaius says.
"Then who is she?" Gwen asks.
"A powerful sorceress." Gaius finally says.
"Well, we should tell Uther. Maybe he could send riders out after her." Gwen says.
Anne shakes her head. "I do not know whether that is wise." She says.
"It does not matter, she'll be long gone. It's impossible to know where, though." He says before realising, "Oh, no."
"What?" Anne asks, wondering what he has just realised.
Gaius stands. "She knows the only place an antidote can be found is the Forest of Balor. Arthur and Amelia could be walking into a trap."
"Arthur. Arthur." Merlin mutters causing the other three people in the room to look at him.
—
Amelia's POV
Once they enter the forest of Balor, both dismount their horses and begin to lead them through the forest.
"Ugh…" Amelia groans. "Never going to get used to horses being my mode of transport."
"Well, the only alternative we had was walking. Can't exactly bring a carriage with us." Arthur says. She doesn't respond as she knows her list of things that would be easier and quicker will not make sense to him.
After walking a while, they come to a clearing where they see the back of a woman sitting on a fallen log crying. Arthur ties his horse to a branch and approaches her as she sits with bruises on her arms. Amelia stands back feeling unsure. Is this Nimueh?
"Hello?" Arthur calls out. "Are you alright?" He asks coming around in front of her. Then a roar happens causing the woman to scream. A Cockatrice comes over the slight hill towards them. Arthur stands up.
"Arthur!" Amelia exclaims in worry, now walking forward so that she is next to the woman.
Now that she is standing next to her, she notices that she does not look like the serving girl at the Castle but now looks more familiar. Amelia is pretty sure this is Nimueh but she cannot be certain as it has been so long since she has seen her face. She knows, due to her notes on the episode, that she would probably be there.
"Stay back," Arthur instructs. The Cockatrice lunges, Arthur rolls under it as it jumps, then throws his sword, killing it. Nimueh grimaces. Arthur looks at her and she gets up and backs away in pretend fear.
"It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you." Arthur says reassuringly. Amelia stops herself from saying anything. "Who did that to you?" Arthur points to her bruises.
"My master. I ran away from him, but then I got lost. Please don't leave me." Now that she knows she is faking, Amelia can see right through her performance. Try a bit more Nimueh.
"I won't. I'm not going to." Arthur says. Though second thought, maybe not as she seems to be fooling Arthur pretty well.
"You can take me away from here?" Nimueh pathetically begs as Arthur begins to walk around her.
"Not yet." Amelia presses. "There's something we have to do first." She gives Arthur a pointed look. Arthur looks at the Cave mouth. What a coincidence that she is right in front of where they need to go.
Nimueh notices, "Why have you come to the Caves?" Arthur walks over to their horses to untie them.
"We are looking for something. It can only be found here." Arthur answers.
"What is it? I know this place; I could help you." Nimueh says trying to sound innocent but is overdoing it. How convenient that she is here to help.
"It's a type of flower that only grows inside the Cave. It's very rare." Arthur tells her. Amelia sort of doesn't want him to tell her but at the same time, he needs to so they can find the flower in the first place.
Arthur walks over to them with the horses and hands Amelia the reigns of hers. "The Mortaeus flower? I know where they are. I'll show you." Nimueh tells them. Arthur looks at Amelia and she reluctantly nods. He then follows Nimueh, who had begun walking away from them. Amelia reluctantly follows. Not long after that, they all enter the Cave with torches in each of their hands.
—
Anne's POV
In Gaius' Chambers, Merlin lies on the bed drenched in sweat. "Arthur, Amelia, it... it's a trap. It's a trap."
"His fever's getting worse, isn't it?" Gwen says from Merlin's left looking at him with concern. Anne nods with a different concern.
"The poison's setting in," Gaius says from the end of the bed.
Merlin begins to chant again, "eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume."
Anne strokes a wet cloth on his forehead from her seat on Merlin's other side. "Shh." She does not want Gwen to get any more suspicious, especially with the look she has on her face.
"Could you fetch me some more Wolfbane?" Gaius asks Gwen seemingly hoping to distract her.
"Yes, of course." She says snapping out of her suspicious thoughts and leaves the room.
"Merlin, you must fight it," Gaius says to him.
"He will," Anne says stroking Merlin's arm in comfort with her free hand.
—
Amelia's POV
After walking through the Caves, they reach the end of the tunnel to a part of the Cave that opens up to a ledge with a long drop and a narrow ledge on the other side.
"There they are," Nimueh says pointing to the flowers on the wall across the large drop. Amelia does not like how dark it seems down there.
Arthur walks forward and looks down. "Keep back from the edge. Don't worry. We'll be out of here soon. Amelia, you stay with her." She nods. Arthur begins walking across the part of the ledge that juts out across most of the drop.
Amelia then hears Nimueh begin to chant. "Eorthe, lyft, fyr, waeter, hiersumie me." The Cave begins to shake. "Eorthe ac stanas hiersumie me. Ic can stanas tobrytan..." She lunges forward in an attempt to stop her but she just raises her hand and Amelia flies back, but thankfully not down the drop, knocking her out.
Arthur's POV
"What are you doing?!" Arthur cries looking over to Amelia in worry. He can see a cut on her forehead. Thankfully it is her torch that fell down the drop.
"...hiersumie me." Nimueh finishes. Arthur drops his torch as the rock falls out beneath him. He jumps for the opposite ledge and catches it with his hands.
"I expected so much more," Nimueh says.
"Who are you?!" Arthur yells to her trying to keep his grip.
"The last face you'll ever see." Nimueh sates. A giant spider creeps up from the dark depths. "It seems we have a visitor." Arthur edges away from the spider, draws his sword and kills the spider while dangling from the ledge.
"Very good." Nimueh praises. "But he won't be the last. I'll let his friends finish you off, Arthur Pendragon. It's not your destiny to die at my hand. Nor is it the Lady Amelia's. Her past is more complicated than you realise." She leaves with the torch, leaving Arthur dangling from the ledge in the dark with Amelia laying unconscious on the other side of the drop.
"Who are you?!" Arthur yells after her but he gets no answer.
—
Anne's POV
"Arthur. It's too dark. Too dark. Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum." Merlin chants from his bed.
"Something is glowing," Anne says. Gaius moves to the other side of the bed to see the glowing coming from under the bedsheets.
"Merlin," Gaius says in surprise. He folds the bed sheet and both of them see Merlin holding a glowing ball of light in his hand. "What are you doing?"
"He's helping Arthur." Anne realises. "That's why he has been chanting, he is trying to help him."
"Leave them, Arthur," Merlin says. "Go. Save yourself. Follow the light. Faster. Go faster. Follow the light! Move. Climb."
—
Arthur's POV
Back in the Cave, Arthur is able to find and collect the flower after being guided by the light sent to him. As soon as he collects the flower he climbs the rest of the way out of the Cave through the entrance the light disappears through from the many spiders climbing after him.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia wakes up not knowing how long she has been out but she realises that the whole Cave has gone completely dark. She slowly gets up staggering slightly as she feels dizzy and her vision blurs. Amelia looks around as if she can see where Arthur is in this darkness when she suddenly hears the sound of scuttling not far from her. She then realises that it sounds like a large insect, probably spiders, and, despite her head hurting, she immediately runs through the Cave to what she hopes is the entrance.
While running she keeps on stumbling into the walls of the Cave before she eventually finds light and staggers out to find the horses where she and Arthur had left them. "Thank god I found you two," Amelia says falling onto her horse's side.
Amelia must have closed her eyes because she is suddenly startled by Arthur yelling her name. "Amelia!" He yells walking up to her. "Thank god you made it out! I was going back in to save you!"
"Amelia?" He asks when she does not look at him. "Your head looks worse!"
"I feel a bit dizzy Arthur." She says before falling and everything going black. The last thing she hears is Arthur yelling.
—
Arthur's POV
Arthur rides back to Camelot with Amelia balanced on his lap with her horse attached to the saddle on the horse he rides. He keeps looking at her in concern. He had treated the wound on her head the best he could till he gets her to Gaius.
Arthur rides up to the Drawbridge gate, however, Guards block his way. "What are you doing? Let me pass." He says.
"I'm sorry, Sire. You're under arrest, by order of the King." Says a Guard called Patrick.
Arthur sighs resigned, "Fine, but at least take the Lady Amelia to the Physician."
"Of course Sire." Says Patrick nodding to one of the other Guards to take her from Arthur.
—
Anne's POV
In Gaius' Chambers, Anne sits next to Amelia who has been placed on another bed in the room. Anne has been treating her while Gaius focuses on Merlin.
At that moment, Gwen walks in. "He hasn't got much longer. Has Arthur got the flower?" Gaius asks.
"I don't know. Uther won't allow anyone to see him." Gwen says. "Is there nothing we can do to help?"
"Only the leaf of the Mortaeus flower can save him," Gaius tells her.
"And we have to find out if Arthur has it. I could sneak into the Dungeon." Gwen says. Anne barely looks at them while they talk, her entire focus is on Amelia. She is concerned as the woman on the other bed in the Chambers has not woken up.
"That would be very dangerous."
"I've got to. Merlin will die if I don't." Gwen says determinedly. Merlin makes a noise showing that he is struggling to breathe.
"Be careful," Gaius says, knowing they have no other option. Gwen then leaves the room.
Suddenly Morgana bursts in. "Amelia!" She cries when she sees the woman she sees as a sister lying on one of the beds. She rushes over to her, cradling her head in concern.
"She will be alright my lady," Anne reassures her.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia feels very groggy as she wakes up and when she tries opening her eyes, it is too bright and she has to immediately close her eyes with a groan.
"Amelia?" A voice asks. Is that Morgana? Where is she? The last thing she remembers is Arthur finding her in the forest.
She attempts to open her eyes again, finding it easier this time. She looks around and notices that other than Morgana, Anne is also looking at her. "Hi?" She says, feeling awkward under their stares.
"Oh thank god!" Morgana cried lunging at Amelia, giving her a very tight hug.
"I still need to breathe, Morgana." Amelia rasps.
"Oh sorry." She immediately says. She leans back and strokes Amelia's long brown hair out of her face.
"Am I back in Camelot?" Amelia asks. Recognising the room as Gaius' Chambers.
"You are. Arthur brought you back. Gwen is finding out if he has the Mortaeus flower." Anne says.
"Why hasn't he brought it?" Amelia asks confused. Her mind felt a bit foggy.
"Uther arrested him," Morgana says with a roll of her eyes. Amelia tries to remember why they were getting the flower in the first place but it hurts her head.
"Oh right." She says. "Why were we getting it again?" Anne and Morgana look at each other with worry, but before they can answer her, Amelia hears the sound of someone struggling to breathe. She looks over and sees that it is Merlin who had made the noise; he looks close to death. "Oh." She vaguely recalls Merlin poisoning himself now. She is beginning to get a bit worried now. How had she forgotten that?
—
Anne's POV
Later on, Gwen comes rushing in holding the flower. By this point Morgana has Amelia moved to her own Chambers so she can continue to rest there.
"How is he?" Gwen asks.
"Have you got the Mortaeus?" Gaius asks.
"Here." Gwen hands it to him.
"His breathing's much worse. We have to hurry." Anne says. Gwen sits down next to Merlin's sickbed as Gaius begins crushing the flower leaf. He suddenly stops after a few seconds.
"Why have you stopped?" Gwen asks having noticed his actions.
"The poison was created using magic. We may need magic to make an antidote." His eyes flicker to Anne's, who is looking at him with worry.
"But we can't. It's forbidden. Even if we could." Gwen reminds him. Not that he really needed it.
"I'll try and make it work without it. Oh, I need some fresh water." Gaius says to get her to leave the room. He hands her a bowl and she runs off. Gaius lifts the bowl he's holding.
"Sythan..." Gaius stops and looks around, nervous to be practising magic again.
"Maybe I should do it," Anne says walking over to him. Gaius hands it to her and tells her what she needs to say. "Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum." Anne chants. The potion sizzles and foams for a moment. Gwen runs back in and hands him the bowl of water before rushing back to Merlin's side.
"Thank you," Gaius says to her. Gaius pours the potion into a small cup and goes to Merlin. "Hold his nose." Gwen pinches Merlin's nose as Gaius pours the potion into Merlin's mouth. "Swallow, Merlin. Swallow it."
After a moment, Merlin goes still. "He's stopped breathing. What's happening? Gaius?" Gwen asks.
Gaius puts his head to Merlin's chest. "His heart has stopped."
"He's dead?" Anne asks eyes beginning to water.
"He can't be. He can't be. It was his destiny." Gaius says, standing up.
"It's my fault. If I'd have got here sooner. If I'd have been quicker." Gwen gets up and cries in Gaius' arms with Anne joining them.
"No, no. It was me. I should've looked after him better. It's my fault." Gaius says.
Suddenly a voice they thought they would never hear again. "That's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be their grandfather."
They all break away from each other to see Merlin trying to sit up. "Merlin. You're alive." Gaius cries with happiness.
"No. I'm the ghost come back to haunt you." Merlin remarks. Gwen suddenly grabs Merlin's face and kisses him with relief. Anne's eyebrows shoot up in surprise; Anne knows Gwen has a slight crush on Merlin but she thought that Gwen would never have the confidence to outright kiss him.
"Sorry, I'm just... I thought you were dead." Gwen stammers.
"It's fine. It's more than fine. ...erm ...what happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine." Merlin asks confused, looking at the three people next to him.
"Well… I'm not sure where to begin." Anne says with a small smile causing them to chuckle.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia is laying in her bed due to the fact she has been ordered to stay there to recover her health. She wants to see Merlin but Gaius and Anne reassure her that he is fine and alive. Everyone is already concerned about her because a few bits of her memory from the years she's been here are missing. While it is not a massive worry as they will probably come back but she is even concerned with the fact that when she tries to remember what happens next in the show, she finds she remembers even less than she did before. Even main plot points are slipping her mind now.
Amelia obviously has not told anyone about this but she is very worried as she had hoped to change certain bits for the better. Now she might not be able to due to the fact that the notes she had made are vague at best.
—
A/N: So that happened. Anyway, couple ideas? Let me know.