Chapter 20 [Physician's Chambers]

Merlin followed Wyngate into his main chamber. His eyes surveyed the area. Personal library held perhaps a third of Gaius' collection. Two worn tables held a few glass apparatuses. Three cots sat in their respective corners. A door lay open to another chamber beyond that one. Further examination revealed four post bed and polished desk.

Questions abounded for sure….

Gaius talks about Wyngate as if he's a great physician. He does not seem like it. Merlin rubbed his left shoulder. Despite Casualties' numbers in the courtyard, nary a patient could be seen. "It almost feels like home." He forced a smile onto his face for his host's sake.

"Gaius and I have our differences, Merlin. Still, I know he'd want me to look at you myself. He was riding with the Prince. Did he see you?" Wyngate patted the cot with his hand. He noted Merlin's passing glance by his inner chambers.

"Aye. He did." Merlin eased off his torn coat. "The shoulder's stiff." He climbed onto the designated cot.

"I imagine it is. Gaius has told me about your adventures at Prince Arthur's side, Merlin. For the life of me, I do not understand how you manage to get through them without a scratch. Up until now that is." Wyngate considered the scar. "Amazing! This scar runs clean across your upper chest and the shoulder itself! How you still have your arm is beyond medical comprehension! My word!" He ran his finger along its smooth extent. "And it is healed like this after a mere few days? This is the work of magic!"

Merlin nodded. "Lady Reyna, I guess, was helping me in some back room. She started to heal me. Then, they brought someone else into a room nearby. I heard her being dragged off. Then, I blacked out. When I woke up, Britomart and an Amazon were sitting with me. I was in bed."

"Aye…Lady Reyna…." Wyngate shook his head. "I am glad she could help you. Not all healers are as thorough I fear." He picked Merlin's left arm up. "It still looks stiff. Judging by how you appear to be walking, I would avoid strenuous labor." Questions and details bugged him despite Merlin's account. He recognized a heavy broadsword's wound. The coat and scar backed that theory. Bernard mentioned only one patient at the manor house. Merlin? Is he the hooded man? That conclusion threatened to blow his mind.

The close calls…the miraculous escapes…all because of…magic?

Does the boy have magic? Wyngate filed a mental note to himself. Gaius evaded such inquires with almost too much experience. Memoria recalled Gaius' previous time as a priest before the Purge. Could it be he still dabbled in such things? We should have keep Aredian here!

"King Uther and Prince Arthur are not going to give me a choice." Merlin twirled his left arm around in a slow circle. Labored motion completed itself. Still, Effort pushed his endurance. "Maybe I can rest on the ride home."

"I am sure Gaius will tell King Uther and Prince Arthur what I am about to tell you." Wyngate shook his head. "Nay. I know your shoulder is healing exceptionally well. I will advise King Uther and King Rodor to have you stay behind. I am sure Gaius will support my findings in that regard. King Rodor will be delighted to have you stay as a guest, I am sure."

Knocking came from the door.

"Who could that be?" Wyngate turned and made his way toward the door. He glanced back at Merlin a few times. "Can you get your jacket back on? Pardon me, Merlin." Then, he opened it expecting another patient or demanding official. "Princess Mithian?"

"Aye, Master Wyngate. Pardon us. Lady Morgana and I wondered about Merlin. Might we come in?" Mithian glanced at Morgana.

"Prince Accolon sends his regards as well. He will catch up with us at dinner," Morgana looked over Wyngate's right shoulder and into the chamber. "Merlin! You are on your feet."

"I am. Have to get ready for tonight. King Uther and Prince Merlin expect me there. Gwen should not have to take on everything. I cannot expect Britomart to take on my share of the service." Merlin kept a straight face. Stiffness and Pain's slight twinges jabbed at him.

"Britomart will not allow you to undo your healing, Merlin." Mithian cleared her throat. Her eyebrow arched at him. "King Rodor is prepared to have you stay here until your arm can handle a horseback ride. Besides, there is that other fellow. What is his name?" bed her She rubbed her chin. "Pardon. He does fill the goblets and loves his polishing overly much."

"George." Merlin pulled his coat closed. "Prince Arthur will make me do it. He cannot stand George." He made himself stand up straight. "King Uther could barely look at me in the throne chamber." He put his hands up. "With respect, I am not criticizing him." A pronounced wince contorted his face.

Morgana sniffed. "Merlin, look at you. You can barely raise your left arm. How will you even carry a wine pitcher much less pour into goblets? Then, there is the meal service." Her hand stifled a cough. "Prince Accolon can have one of his servants take your place."

"There are servants here who can fill your role, Merlin." Mithian folded her arms across her chest. "King Rodor will appreciate your willingness to serve. He would not want you to permanently injure yourself."

"I want to serve." Merlin exhaled a sharp breath. "I have to prove to King Uther that I am not…." He braced himself against the wall.

"Prove what?" Skepticism sharpened Morgana's tone. "Merlin, do not be what Arthur is always calling you. Do not be an idiot! We know that you do plenty." She pointed at his arm. "I may not know exactly what happened at Shalott. Queen Radegund has said how you fought alongside the Amazons. You stood up to a Cawdorian knight. Arthur is beside himself that you did what you always do. You just…" Her eyes rolled (yet again). "Whatever Arthur tells you to do or Gaius tells you to do or whoever tells you to do just goes in one ear and out the other! Uther, I think, learned from the poisoned chalice."

"Poisoned chalice?" Mithian's eyebrow arched ever higher. Intrigue held her attention. "You…drank from a poisoned chalice?"

"King Bayard…you know? There was a matched set of goblets presented by him to Uther at the court. I heard from a serving girl from within his court that the goblet was poisoned. Arthur was about to drink from it. I stepped in between them. Bayard wanted me dead. Uther was about to give me to him. I had to drink from the chalice. I did and nearly died. Arthur nearly died getting me the cure." Merlin shook his head. "It was not King Bayard in that case. The serving girl wasn't really a serving girl. She was the Priestess Nimue. She got me to drink from it so she could get to Arthur."

Morgana coughed. "Oh, I should say you caused quite an incident! Bayard and his courtiers were in Uther's dungeon. Camelot and Mercia stood at the point of war. Everyone practically stood guard by your bedside. Uther banned Arthur from leaving Camelot. Arthur had to leave to save you. He found the mortius flower. Uther put him in the dungeon and crushed the flower. Gwen got the flower to Gaius and saved your life, Merlin." She shook her head.

"I would not let Arthur drink from it, Morgana," Merlin reiterated.

"Oh, I know you too well. That was another case in point." Morgana exhaled a deep breath. "Well, I suppose if you are going to insist on doing that service, we should get you back to your quarters."

"His new quarters. I believe Merlin merits an improvement in his quarters. King Rodor would agree. Perhaps he might manage some rest beforehand? Master Wyngate, perhaps you might speak with Master Gaius, Prince Arthur, and King Uther about Merlin's condition?" Mithian eyed Merlin's shoulder. "Perhaps he is but a servant now. Pity. King Rodor would not allow such deeds to go unrewarded. Interest sparked within her. Intrigue considered Merlin's potential riddle in her mind.

"New quarters?" Merlin stiffened. Comfortable bed and better clothes would improve his standing. Deeper sleep would heal his shoulder faster. Still, Mithian's interest needled him slightly. Restraint kept his eyes averted. Still, her presence stirred other feelings. Memoria recalled Arthur's lecture about class boundaries and such.

"Aye, Merlin. I believe you merit a better chamber and bed for yourself. Certainly, a hero deserves better than a cot. Would you not say, Lady Morgana?" Mithian supposed.

"Aye. King Uther will not agree. I think it is a good idea." A smirk creased Morgana's face. "Merlin is used to the ground or a small bed. Be careful, Lady, you are spinning his head." Teasing jabbed at Merlin.

It's a class thing. I am grateful for a bed at all. Gaius provides as best as he can for us. King Uther does grant a roof and a job. Those are good things." Merlin stretched his arm. "Prince Arthur should be back soon."

"You can rest for a while, Merlin. Princess, can you see to that please? I do not want him hurting himself again. Master Gaius will want him to take it easy. I have heard enough stories from him about you to know better." Wyngate handed Merlin a small bottle. "Rub some of this on before you join the others for the dinner service. It will help with the stiffness. Remember, no heavy lifting."

Morgana quirked an eyebrow. "It seems they know you already, Merlin."

Merlin shook his head. Arthur would demand to speak with him shortly. "Thank you. I hope Gaius gets back with the Prince and Queen Radegund before then."

"Meantime, you are going to rest. I might lock you in there to make sure." Mithian looked at him yet again. "Merlin, if you hurt yourself again, King Rodor will not be pleased. You saw how King Uther was in that chamber. He is not happy with you as it is. For some reason, you lack common sense in that regard." Despite Class Distinction's barriers, warmth spread over herself.

Morgana's smirk spread all the more. "She seems to know you already, Merlin."

Merlin let his reply go. Some things just could not be responded to….