Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Ten (III)

Huffing Gaius proceeded to explain, "Courtiers seldom go down to the lower town. So what does that mean?"

Merlin thought about grinning as he replied, "Erm... that, that she hasn't spoken to any townspeople."

Gaius felt as if someone had just slapped his face. He showed the pain off to Merlin truly embarrassed by the young man. "Yes, it suggests that the disease is not spread by contact."

Merlin smiled glad he was catching. Slowly a more part of it dawned on him. "Oh, and they probably ate different food."

Gaius returned the smile nodding eagerly. "Good. Anything else?"

"Erm... I doubt they breathe the same air." Merlin said thing of Arthur and how highly he thought of himself. He could imagine the guy trying to breath the same air as he did.

Gaius nodded, "So what's the only thing they do share?" This was it Gaius knew it this boy was not a complete idiot like Arthur claimed him to be.

"Water. Water? You think the disease is spread through water?" Merlin was now a bit confused. Water did make the most sense yes. Especially based off how quickly it all spread and how it wasn't just the poorer dirty parts of the city getting sick.

Gaius patted his back sending him a compliment, "Merlin, you're a prodigy."

Then he smiles placing a bucket into his hands. Merlin down at the bucket frowning he got up leaving towards the Lower Tower well to get a sample.
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Gwen danced around her house her spirits were high. She was ready for another day of adventure. "It's time to get up, Dad. Dad?" He didn't answer and a worried frown spread across her face. She turned her beloved father over.

"Gwen." Tom groaned. Gwen gasped he was sick and that means he could die. She gave him an extra blanket before racing towards the castle tears streaming down her face. She ran past the well and Merlin.

"Gwen? Gwen!" Merlin cried chasing after her a bucket of water in hand.
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They raced into Gaius' Chambers. Gaius spun around eyes wide his attention on the terrified young women. "Gwen!" Gaius said grabbing her arm searching for symptoms of the sickness.

"Gaius." Gwen replied hiccuping as her tears continued to flow.

"You have the sickness?" Gaius asked scanning the girl worried about the sweet girl she was.

Gwen bit her lip shaking her head. She attempted to pull herself together. "My father! Please, Gaius, he's all I have." Gwen pleading going into another round of sobs. Gaius pulled her it a warm hug drawing circles on her back for comfort.

Gaius pulled her back looking her dead in the eye so she could see how much this hurt him to say, "Gwen, I have no cure."

"I am begging you!" Gwen quivered the news piercing her very soul.

Gaius frown deepened. He loved this young woman she was kind and inspiring he hated breaking news to people, especially people he was close to. "I wish there was something, anything, but so far the remedy is beyond what I can achieve." Gaius reaches out taking her hand. "I'm sorry, Gwen."

Gwen gave him a small nod rushing out of the room. She was going to spend as much time with her father as she could today. As the door closed Merlin flipped around turning to Gaius desperate. "There must be something we can do."

Gaius took the bucket grabbing a bottle taking some out so could inspect it. "My best. Let's hope that this can provide some answers."

Merlin sighed once again frustrated, "But that'll be too late for Gwen's father."