Chapter 27 [Dining Hall]

Rodor drank from his goblet. Celebration had long soured. Thoughts and prayers remained upstairs with Merlin. "My apologies for the display." He set the goblet down on the high table. "I do hope Merlin will not lose his arm."

"I wish the boy had listened to Prince Arthur! We had enough capable knights on the battlefield!" Uther gulped down a few more mouthfuls. He narrowed his eyes. He had his fill of Nemeth and its hospitality. Aredian's dismissal and Rodor's attitude infuriated him. Merlin's actions over their time there left him with little choice. The boy would be dealt with in short order….

…side with magical creatures and sorcery. Pay the price….

"With respect, King Uther. The boy bled all over my guest chamber. Bad enough my wife used magic on the field. Then, she got herself caught helping a servant? Really?" Bernard rubbed the back of his neck. "If you ask me, he is the cause of this morning's events."

"Father? How could Merlin do that? He was…hurt. He…." Elaine lifted her head. Bloodshot eyes pressed into his. Tears' dried salty trails pulled at her cheeks. "He could be dying up there." Greenish pallor stained her face. "He is so nice! Mother only helped him! She never…!"

Bernard sneered at her. "I would never expect the likes of you to understand! Simple brat!" He pushed her in the chest and against the wall. "SHUT UP ALREADY!"

"COUNT BERNARD, ENOUGH!" Rodor smacked the table.

"If I may say so, I quite agree! Despite her condition, she is still your daughter, Count Bernard!" Uther turned toward him.

Elaine leaned forward. Nausea rocked her stomach. Her lips tightened but to no avail. She grabbed her goblet. Within a heartbeat, her vomit filled it. Stinking spray spewed all over her and Bernard. "AHHH! Sorry…mush…rooms…make me…sick!"

"Pardon me, Sire, King Rodor." Gaius got up and hustled over to Elaine's side. "Good grief!" He'd objected to Wyngate's near-toxic dose of mushrooms. "Calm yourself, Lady Elaine. It will be all right." He shook his head. "Count Bernard, I told Master Wyngate and you that this might happen."

"Truly so?" Gaius' revelation stunned Rodor to say the least. Wyngate's knowledge and acumen stood head and shoulders above all save Gaius himself. Instinct and Experience taught all to trust in Nemeth's chief physician. Yet, Elaine sat in discomfort. "Count Bernard?"

"Sire, I will not have her accidents around the estate! I…." Bernard scowled at Gaius. "Ahh! She's better off!"

"She is suffering from toxic mushroom poisoning!" Gaius shook his head. "I say! We have to get her upstairs immediately. Gwen, I need some water please."

"Take this." Morgana offered her water cup to Gwen. "What is with the mushrooms? What do they do?"

Rodor stewed. "They are for suppressing magical abilities, Lady Morgana." He set his jaw. "Master Gaius, is there a treatment?"

"Aye, King Rodor." Gaius turned to Rodor. "Fortunately, the dose today was the first one for Lady Elaine. If I may, I could prescribe some ginger to settle her stomach." He shook his head. "Her body is rejecting it."

"You heard Master Wyngate! She will tolerate it after a while!" Bernard pressed. "AHH!" He swiped at the air between them. "Just go already! Better dealing with her throwing up than being a witch!"

Morgana got up and rushed over to Elaine's side. Merlin saves our lives. Still, you criticize him? And to let Lady Elaine suffer like this? Morgana bod her head. Disgust ate at her over Bernard's treatment of Elaine. How can he be allowed to act like that? Surely, even Uther would see that as a father? "Gwen, can you fill my goblet with water and bring it here please?"

"Aye, Milady." Gwen refilled Morgana's goblet. Nerves ate at her. She scurried over to Morgana's side. "There!" She handed the goblet to Morgana. "Is there anything else we can do, Gaius?"

"We need to get her to Master Wyngate." Gaius rasped a sharp breath. He noted hives across her hands and arms. Greenish Discharge flowed from under her fingernails.

"Ma…Master Gaius, help…help me…." Elaine spasmed and trembled. "Thirsty…so thirsty…"

"I have some water right here." Morgana offered the goblet. Getting a nod from Gaius, she set the goblet against Elaine's lips. "Just drink, Lady Elaine. It will be all right."

"Th…Thank you." Elaine gulped down the water. "Sire, pardon me. I ruin…ruined your dinner."

"You did no such thing, Lady Elaine. I will have words with Master Wyngate over this matter." Rodor rubbed his forehead. "How could this happen? Master Wyngate knows such things!"

"He does, Sire. Count Bernard, however, insisted on giving her more than the recommended dose. She cannot tolerate it. Even a lesser dose would not work now." Gaius bowed to Rodor. He glanced toward Uther. Healer's duty ran up against Political Acumen.

"Gaius, if she has magic, it has to be suppressed at any cost!" Uther insisted.

"Even if it kills her, Sire?" Morgana nodded to him. Desperation looked to Elaine, Uther, and then Rodor. "My lords, Gwen and I can bring her if that is all right?"

"Morgana…" Uther started to disagree.

"I am sorry, Uther. Lady Morgana, I normally do not care to come between another King and his subjects. In this case, however, Master Gaius is the medical authority here. I wish for to follow his prescribed treatment regimen and…."

"King Rodor! Pardon us, Milord!" Accolon stood at the door. "We have a situation!"

"I believe we know that, Prince Accolon." Rodor pointed to Elaine. "Can you help Lady Elaine to the Physician's Chamber? Lady Elaine has toxic mushroom poisoning."

"Go with them, Prince Accolon." Radegund dragged Kay in. "Sisters, bring in the conspirators!"

Matilda, Elena, and three other Amazons pushed Aethelwald, Wyngate, and Wulfstan into the chamber as well.

"Conspirators?" Rodor stood up. He stared at the accused quartet. Disbelief confounded his thinking.

Just when it seemed things could not get any worse….