Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Fifteen (IV)

It's weird when someone close to you was facing death. The feelings you've tried to suppress float up without your consent. Gwen knew she thought of Merlin as an important friend, but when he looked at the really pretty maid from Bayard's group she could've sworn she felt a little bitter. She almost wished Merlin would look at her the same way. She was quick to push such silly feeling aside focusing on the words Bayard was announcing.

Yet here she was skipping out on sleep and being excused from her work to spend time with Merlin. She stared at him biting her lip. Her hand shook as she touched Merlin as if he was made of glass.

Merlin's forehead burned and he was drenched in sweat and from the water she has been laying on him. She brushed back his damp hair turning towards Gaius. "He's getting hotter."

Gaius looked up from his book rushing over. Taking a seat next to her just as Merlin mumbled incoherently, "Him. Liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf."

Gwen's brows squished together. Her eyes fluttered from Gaius to Merlin and back. "What language is that?" Gwen asked watching as Gaius gave her a forced smile as he shrugged.

"None. The fever's taken hold. None of those words are his own. His pulse is weaker." Gaius held Merlin wrist two fingers on front.

He sighed laying Merlin arm down. He started to look away. but was taken aback, he looked back down lifting Merlin's arm. There laid a large circular rash.

Gwen gasped placing one hand on her heart the other grabbing Merlin's arm. "What is it?" she whispered urgency and concern down into her voice.

Gaius traced the rash before standing up, "That can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage."

Gwen let Merlin's arm fall turning towards the worried old man. "What does that mean?"

Gaius pulls his magnifying glass out scanning the book. "It says here that "once a rash appears, death will follow within two days."" Gaius read his eyes wandering back up the Guinevere.

Gwen rose up rushing over to him. "You said he had four days." she recounted.

Gaius nodded agreeing with her. "Something's increased the flower's potency. It warns that "the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation."" Two different thoughts rolled through his head. One: Arthur better hurry up otherwise Merlin was as good as dead. Two: Arthur was going into a trap blind.

"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer." Gwen pointed out tilting her head.

She brought up a good point this was no longer Bayard fault this was someone entirely different. "No he isn't." Gaius agreed again.

Gwen looked around, just the mention of a sorcerer made her nervous. "Then who did this?"

"It can't have been. She wouldn't dare come here. Unless..." Gaius mumbled his eyes growing wide. The realization hit him. He should have recognized her work anywhere.

"Unless what?" Gwen asked not enjoying being left in the dark.

"What happened to the girl?" Gaius wondered Ponting at Gwen for an answer.

Gwen looked behind her having no idea who Gaius was rambling about. "Which girl?"

Gaius nodded his wrist grabbing her shoulders. "Just before Merlin burst into the hall one of Bayard's serving girls took him outside."

Another burst of jealousy ran through her. She shook it off nodding her head. "She had dark hair. Very beautiful."

Gaius gave her a comforting smile before is shifted a serious expression. "Find her. Quickly."