chapter seven!
007. the mind of a lord

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THE UPPER TOWN was a splendour to behold. When not gazing upon the citadel of Camelot, the rich homes in its shadow standing tall over the slums of the Lower Town were next in line to a contest of beauty. The houses of merchants, knights, second-born and third-born sons, and widows pleased the eye. However, the most extravagant of them all, was the estate built upon foundations as old as the city itself▬standing alone from the rest on ancient grounds; beautiful gardens, pathways and columns that made even the famous architects of Ancient Greece roll over in their graves.

The home of the Vecentia name. It may not be the hallways belonging to a prestigious earl, but not one of such title held such riches and high regard to the King than that of the long line of sons through the generations. The late Lord Vecentia was an individual known by any who had the means of well-bread society. A man considered to be honourable, honest, and chivalrous.

Those who worked the extravagant hallways, tended the portraits that hung on the wall, kept the many empty bedrooms warm and the gardens lush knew different. They heard the shouts his wife cried out each time he struck her, the way she called for her eldest son to leave the room, and the way the Lord Ronyn only sometimes escaped just in time, receiving the blunt of his father's blow too many times.

Two years since his sudden passing, even now, the newly named Lord was barely gracing the hallways of his estate. Whether he held little regard for his responsibilities, or simply could not find the courage to live the nightmares of his childhood, gossipers couldn't exactly figure▬but he was an enigma at each banquet, a bachelor who turned past each suitor to spend his time laughing and causing mischief by the side of the Prince, and a regular at the Lower Town tavern.

Those who truly knew him, however, would know the young Lord Ronyn as nothing more than a broken boy expected to live in the footsteps of a father who despised him. The only boy in a small family that were plagued with the inability for more than two siblings▬he and a young girl still attached to her mother's hip. Lord Ronyn and Miss Adelynn might just be cursed for misfortune within a history once so wealthy.

The young fourteen-year-old girl was there to find her brother stumbling in through the window of her second floor bedroom, clumsy and startling her awake in the early dawn▬before the sun had even yet started to rise. He, of course, was too drunk to even realise the bedroom he snuck into wasn't even his own.

Adelynn gasped and sat up under her covers, staring▬horrified▬as Ronyn groaned, hitting her bedroom floor painfully. She thought she heard her vase of paintbrushes clatter to the ground with him. Then, after a moment, she heard a grumble of, "Ow..."

She rolled her eyes, finding him ridiculous and annoying. Though she wasn't going to be the one to tell their mother he had spent the night out in the tavern once again and doing God knows what. "Brother," she decided to say, yawning, "I believe your room is on the south side of the house."

Ronyn turned onto his back, spreading out a strangle of limps as he took in his bearings. He was flushed at the cheeks, his tunic loosely tied around his neck. He glanced over at her, and his eyes widened, surprised, "Ah! Sister! Have you been sleeping well? Are those dark circles under your eyes?"

Adelynn immediately reached for one of her pillows and flung it at him, hating how he chuckled when it struck him in the face. "You are an idiot," she told him. "Surely there are better things to do than wake me up stumbling into my room as drunk as a bumbling poet."

Ronyn sighed, not moving from her floor, "Ah ... a bumbling poet I would love to be..."

She slumped, pitying him despite it all. He was a first born wishing he was the second son▬wanting to ignore the life he had been born into. Even as gaping in age as they were, Adelynn could understand that.

So, with an annoyed, exasperated sigh, the young Vecentia swung away her covers and hopped off her bed. Bare feet touched the rug under her bed, but once she ventured off that, they met cold tiles that momentarily made her shiver. Adelynn wandered over towards her brother. "Get up," she told him.

"I'd rather not▬ow!"

She kicked him in the leg, hoping it would jolt him to some sobriety. Instead, Ronyn just clutched his leg and turned over to his side, "What is wrong with you?" he whined. "How do your bare feet hurt that much▬?"

"Up!" Adelynn crouched down and tried to drag her older brother to his feet, hands grasping his arm. He was as heavy as he was annoying, and it was an unnecessary struggle this early in the morning. "Quickly▬before some maid hears you."

Reluctantly, Ronyn let himself be dragged back up onto his two feet. He stumbled slightly, except Adelynn was there to make sure he didn't trip. She sighed, leading him to sit at her table. He did so with a great thud. "Aren't you supposed to see the King later this morning to discuss whatever it is you discuss?"

She walked over to the table beside her bed, grabbing the jug filled with water, and the cup she liked to keep in case she got thirsty overnight and didn't want to travel to the kitchens. Adelynn returned to the table with them, carefully beginning to pour her brother an entire cup full.

"The likes of stock, debt and land is something not entertaining for your ears, little sister," Ronyn muttered as he groaned, trying to sober up now. He set his head between his hands, staring at the patterns on her table. "I dread it."

Adelynn passed him the cup of water and sat down with him, albeit curious. All she got to do day-to-day is read, draw, paint, play the piano, and keep within these walls. If she was to go and see a tournament, or follow her mother into the markets, or even be invited to sit a feast, she was lucky. Knowing anything else than her day-to-day activities was exciting▬in its own sad, pitiful way. "What if I would want to hear? Tell me."

Her older brother peered at her out of the corner of his eye. He snorted at how eager she looked. Adelynn smacked his arm, "Tell me!" she told him again.

Ronyn sighed dramatically. But he was always lenient with her. He often found himself unable to tell her 'no'. "If you insist ... I have to come forward to our King to let him know of the coin we've collected from the stock in the country, and give him a share of it. Thus is the relationship between a King and his loyal nobleman."

"Oh ... sounds ... thrilling."

"I did warn you it would be of exciting nature." Ronyn rubbed at his eyes. He took a sip of the water she poured for him. "Except, I also have to join a council meeting▬another thrilling experience. As well as meet some of father's investors, go through the books▬oh, and collect the King's taxes, and next week I'm ought to set off to our country home to check how things are fairing down there..."

"And ... you believed getting unbearably drunk before the sunrise to be a reasonable way to handle all of this?"

"It is an original, creative way to solve the boredom." Ronyn finished her cup and filled it up with more water. Adelynn watched him, biting her tongue. There was much she wished she could tell him, but she knew he wouldn't listen. It wasn't her place to scold her older brother. "The only thing I understand from father."

It didn't stop her, though.

Adelynn scowled at her brother, "You honestly sound like him sometimes."

She expected the way her brother set down her jug of water angrily. She did not flinch. Her brother might be ridiculous, and irresponsible, but even if he was in his worst moment, he would not scare her as much as their father did. Though he had his moments where he was stepping into the same traps he fell into, even if Ronyn was determined to ignore it.

"Say those words again," he threatened, eyes flashing dangerously, "go on, sister, tell me."

She kept her mouth shut, having said what she wished and felt not the need to say it again. Her brother felt no smugness in her not answering, because he knew she had been the one to grab the reaction she sought.

Adelynn watched Ronyn stand up, sculling the rest of his drink of water before shoving past her in the chair. She did not let her gaze follow as he stormed out of her room, but she heard him stumble down the hallway. She closed her eyes briefly, sighing out a long sigh. After her door finally swung close, Adelynn reached out to pour her own cup of water, alone, yet again.

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DOWN UNDERNEATH, in the shadow of the vast halls of the Vecentia manor, there dwelled a humble abode in the slums of the Lower Town. Built upon years old stone, creaking wooden beams and a modest front door, the house of the commoner blacksmith was bright with smiles. Past the doorway that greeted any visitor with a beautiful set of hanging flowers, made by the hardworking man's lovely daughter, resided the simple Tom Smith and his darling child Guinevere.

They were all that was left of the once happy, bountiful family. Guinevere's mother passed when she was little, leaving her husband to raise two children. One quite rambunctious who left as soon as he could be sure he'd be able to make his own way in the world. Elyan Smith was somewhere and everywhere, like a leaf blowing gently in the wind, he was taken wherever it drifted. But even if the house was smaller than it once was, that didn't stop the smile that graced Gwen's features as she woke that morning in time to say goodbye to her father before he was to head to the forge.

Rather chipper this sunrise, Guinevere Smith rushed around her cluttered one-room cottage, careful not to wake her slumbering father. She cleaned up the burnt out candles off the table, picked up the discarded armour and setting it on the crudely-made cupboard in the corner▬Gwen prepared them both for the day, graced with the orange light of morning peering through their small windows.

She prepared a small breakfast of porridge, eating it by herself by the window▬not one to stop moving and sit. She set her elbows onto the stone, peering through the open shutters to the streets outside her home that were already alive with early-risers and hardworking peasants; most of which were making their way to the citadel. Guinevere smiled at passing friends and neighbours, finishing off her breakfast before she started lunch.

Her father was only just waking when she had finished his food. Yawning and readying himself for work, he watched his daughter rush around with a merry hum▬never quite understanding the mind of a morning person, but delighted nonetheless. She brought forth a sandwich wrapped in cloth by a pink ribbon, and he chuckled.

"Dad," she announced, handing it over, "here's your sandwich."

He grinned, bringing it up to his nose to give it a great whiff, and Gwen smiled when he then held it to his heart, blessed by her. "Smells brilliant, what's in it?"

"It's smoked pigeon," Guinevere grabbed her cloak and fastened it over her shoulders. "But▬I'd say there's more smoke than pigeon."

Her father chuckled and she turned on her toes happily, reaching for her second breakfast she had made for a certain girl who'd be waking up after a long night without any sleep. "You're such a good girl to me."

"Oh! And I've done you some watercress soup tonight," she brushed her skirts and tucked a stray curl out of her eyes.

Tom closed his leather satchel and slung it over his shoulder, giving her an amused glance, "Don't tell me, dearest, with more water in it than cress?"

Guinevere slumped, rolling her eyes at his joke. She chuckled, reaching forward to give her father a tight hug. He squeezed her, rocking her back and forth that made her laughter turn into giggles. When a mother passes, and a son becomes a wayward traveller, a father and daughter become close with such a bond that each cherish with all of their hearts. "I'll see you later," Gwen smiled.

Pulling away, Guinevere left her humble home, stepping out with a deep breath of air not so fresh, but it was the air of her beloved home, and so it made her happy.

She started her way towards the citadel, much like many others for a day of work▬a life of which she's done day to day since she was eleven, the average age a girl such as her could be brought into a household as a maid. It was her glorious luck that she'd be graced with the like of Morgana as a mistress▬someone so kind and generous and understanding; someone who she considered a friend if they were of different stations.

Lifting her skirts, Gwen stepped up onto the wooden plank set across a flooded pool of water and mud from the recent rain. While others walked around it, she grinned to herself as she balanced across it and leapt off triumphantly onto the other side.

She passed the florist▬who, as a good friend of her fathers, always saved Guinevere a portion of their pickings for her to take up to the Lady Morgana. Gwen smiled, picking through the purple blossoms as she continued her way towards the citadel.

Reaching the drawbridge, Guinevere caught sight of two familiar faces, and her smile broadened. She peered, a little curious at the wagon both figures tugged underneath the gate, but despite it, Gwen rushed forward to greet a warm hello to Merlin and Gaius.

"Hello!" she said brightly, trying very hard to hide her want to arch an incredulous brow at the wagon. Merlin glanced back, and stopped to smile at her. "What are you doing?"

Her question startled something within him. The young boy jumped to action and ran around to the other side, blocking whatever was underneath the blanket from Guinevere's view. Her smile faltered slightly, trying to see around him but he only just shuffled in front of her, chuckling anxiously, "Uh▬just moving something."

She tilted her head, now even more curious to know what lied beneath, "Looks heavy..."

Merlin scoffed, leaning awkwardly against the back of the wagon. "I▬it's nothing, really. Uh ... oh!" he stood back up, surprised by the bouquet in Guinevere's hands. "Someone got you flowers?"

She frowned, only to realise with a breathless chuckle, "Oh..." she shook her head, finding the thought ridiculous. She had no time in the world to have someone to give her flowers. "No..." Her eyes caught something placed in the scarf tied around Merlin's neck, however, and her brows did shoot up this time. "Did someone give you a flower?"

Merlin glanced down, and he quickly blushed. "Oh▬" he scoffed yet again, making a face, "▬I wouldn't exactly▬I mean▬" he shrugged, "▬Odette ..." he jutted his chin down so he could stare at the small flower, "... found it ... but she gives flowers to everyone, I've noticed."

Guinevere narrowed her eyes, humming her suspicion. Merlin, recognising it, quickly rushed out, "Not▬it's not anything," he forced out a chuckle, "I'm not▬we're not▬we▬we're just friends ..."

"Well, if it isn't anything," mischievous in her own subtle way, the blacksmith's daughter picked one of her smaller flowers from her bouquet for Morgana and held it out to him. Merlin stared at it, "you should not mind having one of mine? A purple one."

Merlin heard Gaius bite back his want to laugh and he quickly shot the physician a short look. Smartly, he turned back to Gwen and stated, "I would love one, Guinevere, thank you."

He picked it up and smiled, twiddling the stems in his fingers. "Flowers amongst friends. I quite like purple."

"Yes," nodded Guinevere, trying her very best not to laugh, too. If she had two eyes▬and she was pretty sure she did▬she could definitely see the feelings Odette had for Merlin, any other pair of eyes could see that the physician's ward must feel the same. "Purple suits you." A thought suddenly occurred to her and her amusement fell away to quickly add a reassuring, "N▬Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you ..." she nodded to the shirt he was currently wearing.

Merlin scoffed a small chuckle. "Thanks. Well ..." he placed the flower amongst the first one in his scarf, grinning. "I guess it is now my turn to find both you and Odette a flower, shall I? Maybe there's one lingering here in the citadel corners somewhere."

Guinevere shook her head at him, the smile still donning her lips. She might see the truth, but it was amusing watching Merlin continue to deny it. Flowers amongst friends? He was ridiculous.

"Uh▬well▬" Merlin shrugged yet again, awkwardly gesturing to Gaius behind him and the cart they were heaving, "▬see you."

Gwen nodded, smiling a sweet, "Bye," as the pair continued their way into the citadel. She waited a moment before following, splitting off towards a servants' entrance into the castle.

She happily made her way towards the Lady Morgana's chambers, continuing to fiddle with the flowers to create a beautiful assortment of colours from what she was given.

Walking down the empty corridor towards the small spiral of stairs that led up to her mistresses room, Guinevere saw another figure wrap around the corner in front of her. She expected another servant around this time of the morning, however she was surprised▬and was quick to bend her knees into a curtsey▬when it was instead the Lord Vecentia, having just returned from his briefing with the King.

He yawned, having not even noticed Guinevere. He had quite the headache from his endeavours last night, and no matter what he did, he couldn't get rid of the sour, dry after taste of mead in his mouth. But he when he did, he slowed to a stop.

Guinevere risked a glance upwards, confused as to why he had stopped. When she felt like it would be okay, she slowly stood back up.

Ronyn bounced his brows at the bouquet in her hands, "Are those for me?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and scoff. In being the Lady Morgana's maid for almost as long as she's been living at the castle, Guinevere has become accustomed to Ronyn and the Prince, who Morgana often chatted with (and complained about). She's heard many things, and seen, been present in many conversations▬and she remembered being scared witless by frogs he and the Prince would leave hidden in Morgana's chambers that she often ended up finding.

"They're for the Lady Morgana, My Lord," Guinevere quickly corrected, not hiding the curtness to her tone. She didn't like the Lord Ronyn, at all. She didn't like him for the things he said, she didn't like him for his irresponsible ways, and she didn't like him for leaving Odette helpless and starving after her mother died. "Not you, I'm afraid."

She quickly curtsied to dismiss herself before he could even get out another word. Ronyn blinked, rather slow this morning▬he turned to watch Guinevere walk up the stairs towards her mistresses chambers, the words he wanted to say not even halfway off his lips before she was gone.

Groggy, Ronyn stared at where she had been for a few more moments, taken aback by her tone▬until he, too, went on his way.

Reaching the doorway to Morgana's chambers, Guinevere entered, plastering the smile back on her face now that she didn't have to look at the face of Ronyn Vecentia any longer. Closing the door behind her, she saw both Morgana and Odette already awake. The lady smiled in greeting, looking beautiful in a warm, deep purple fur belted with a jewelled clasp.

"You look happy!" said Morgana brightly, walking up to meet Gwen.

She passed over the flowers, "I got these for you."

Morgana gasped, taken aback and most grateful. She grabbed them, smiling down at the differing colours, "Oh▬that's so sweet!"

"Just something to cheer you up," said Guinevere sheepishly. "I know you're not sleeping well."

Morgana's brows lifted, positively delighted. "Oh, well you and Odette cheer me up."

Guinevere smiled at that. She was truly lucky to know someone like Morgana▬unlike other serving girls who told stories of horrid mistresses. "Would you like me to put them in water for you?"

Morgana nodded kindly and Guinevere took the flowers back. She passed the table towards the vase settled on the dresser. Odette followed her, peering over her shoulder briefly to state, "They look beautiful."

Gwen turned to her, "I also got you this▬" she reached into her pockets and pulled out the breakfast she had made for her best friend. Odette gaped, not expecting it.

"Gwen," she said in a hushed whisper, staring at the smoked pigeon sandwich, "bless, but you shouldn't have▬should you ever."

"You won't accept a place in our home," Guinevere argued, placing the food in her small hands, "the least I can do is make sure you feed yourself."

"You're such a mother, you know that, right?" Odette tried to joke, but she was beyond grateful▬and she tried very hard not to get emotional with Morgana in the room. Having something better than burnt bread, or left overs in the kitchens was always welcomed. So, she mumbled a soft, "Thank you, truly. I don't know where I'd be without you, Gwen."

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MERLIN HAD A terrible feeling. As he watched Gaius hover over the dead body they had found in the Lower Town streets that early morning, he couldn't help but feel weak at the knees. Something was tugging at his gut, making him feel on edge▬and he knew it was all coming from the unusual state of the man on the table. His skin was pale▬paler than the skin of a usual dead body; almost as if he had been painted with powder. Drawn along his cheeks, around his mouth and down his neck were the writhing lines of blue veins▬like lightning strikes across his face, and his eyes, they were glazed over; white and creamy, as if he had turned blind.

He waited, anxious for Gaius to finish his examination. He peered though a hand-held magnifying glass, gazing harshly at the deep blue veins. Finally, he murmured, "I've never seen anything like this before."

Merlin's breath hitched at that. It might not have been long he's been here, but Gaius seemed to have a library of knowledge ready on the tip of his tongue. If he didn't know what this was ... it forebode nothing good. "Do▬" Merlin swallowed hard, his tongue suddenly feeling very dry, "▬do you think it could be some kind of plague?"

"No," said the physician gravely, "I fear something like this could never come from nature." He stood back up, meeting Merlin's anxious gaze. "But who has this kind of power?"

The young warlock's breath was lost for a moment. The horrible feeling in his gut had started to make sense▬it was as if it knew this was magic the moment he laid eyes upon the corpse. "You think it's caused by magic?"

Before Gaius could answer, pounding footsteps stormed down the hallway outside the physician's chambers. The voice following it, echoing through the ajar door made Merlin sigh, frustrated: "Merlin!"

With a glance Gaius, the young sorcerer rushed to the door before Arthur could reach it. He opened it up just as the Prince arrived at its threshold, keeping the dead body from his view. Not that he cared▬he set an exasperated, annoyed eye upon his tardy manservant who chuckled, knowing exactly what that look was about.

"I'm on my way," said Merlin, continuing to chuckle nervously. Arthur rolled his eyes. "Sorry I'm late."

"Don't worry," grumbled the Prince. "I'm getting used to it ..." his brows furrowed as he noticed something. Merlin frowned too, wondering what he was looking at until followed his gaze and realised he was staring at the two flowers settled in his scarf.

"Oh!" he let out, clearing his throat. Merlin chuckled yet again, feeling rather flushed▬what was it with everyone noticing the flowers? "Uh▬Odette and Gwen. They▬uh▬they gave them to me."

Arthur arched a brow. Incredulous, he questioned him slowly: "Odette and Guinevere ... they both gave you a flower?"

Merlin stared back at him, confused. "Flowers amongst friends," he explained simply.

The Prince shook his head at him, "Never knew you were such a girl, Merlin▬" the warlock's gaze went flat. "Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now."

With that said, Arthur left back down the hallway towards the staircase. Merlin watched him go for a moment, scoffing under his breath▬what a dollop head. Then, he turned to the physician watching by the table, "Gaius▬"

    "I heard."

    Merlin closed the door as he stepped back into the room, confused. "Why couldn't he just tell you himself?"

    "'Cause that's the way it is," said Gaius indifferently. "You're a servant."

    "Well, if he knew who I was, what I've done▬"

    "You'd be a dead servant."

    At those words, Merlin's gaze shot to him, startled. Gaius just raised his brows, daring him to tell him he was wrong. Merlin gritted his teeth, but stayed silent▬reluctantly admitting that he was indeed right.

    "Right," then said Gaius, satisfied. He nodded to the corpse, "get this covered up."

    Merlin instantly made a face, "Hey!" he let out. "I'm not your servant."

    "No," said Gaius in immediate response, "you're my dogsbody. Come on, hurry up."

    As he gathered his physician's bag, Merlin threw a blanket over the dead body, managing a roll of his eyes. Then, together, the two of them left the room and headed straight for the council chamber. There, a familiar sight awaited them. Merlin's stomach lurched as another body lay in the centre of the room▬a kitchen servant, with skin as pale as snow, eyes milky clear and veins deadly cornflower. He had dropped a plate of cheese and wine; it spilled by his outstretched hand.

    The King waited for their arrival, standing by his chair with a gaze full of dread. His son stood not too far away, staring down at the dead body with a stern brow▬looking much older than he was. He met Merlin's gaze as they entered, and the two of them shared a grave exchange.

    Gaius crouched down to examine the second body of the morning, and not even a moment passed before the King demanded, "What's happened to him?"

    "I don't know, Sire," answered the Court Physician. "That's the second case I've seen today."

    Uther grew annoyed, "Why didn't you report it to me?"

    Gaius slowly stood back up▬gradual on old knees, "I was attempting to find the cause," he stated.

    "And what did you conclude?"

    He shook his head, "I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one."

    But the King understood the look upon his physician's face. He could tell when Gaius was choosing not to speak his mind, and so he demanded, "What are you concealing from me?"

    Gaius sighed, "Sire, I have seen nothing like it," he admitted, sounding very severe. "The victims are dying in twenty-four hours and it's spreading fast."

    "But what is the cause?"

    The physician bit his tongue. But, with little other choice under the gaze of both the King and his son, Gaius stated what he had suspected from the start: "I think you should say the cause▬the most likely cause is ... sorcery."

    The King had a staggering moment. He turned to his son who glanced back and forth, quite startled by such an announcement. Before he could even begin to comprehend the gravity of the situation, his father pulled him aside in the shadows of the stone columns.

    "You must find who did this," he ordered immediately.

    Arthur nodded, quite urgent, "Yes▬I will, father."

    "Conduct door-to-door searches," went on the King. Arthur was startled for a moment▬it seemed as if his father sounded scared, "increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates. And lend the physician your servant."

    The Prince frowned at this. He glanced over at his manservant who left to find something to cover the corpse with. "Merlin? But▬"

    "We need Gaius to find a cure," his father cut him off, stern. "He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, the city will be wiped out." Arthur's stomach dropped, growing hollow. "This is the kind of magic," continued the King in a whisper, "that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find the sorcerer and quickly."

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    WHEN THE city became rampant with the King's men banging on doors, demanding their presence inside homes and castle chambers▬for not even the noble and rich were exempted from their extensive search▬Lady Morgana and her young handmaidens, tucked away in her chambers above the citadel square, knew something was wrong. It didn't take long for the terrible news to reach their ears as more bodies were found in the Lower Town, the rich merchant homes and in the castle hallways: corpses with skin ghostly pale and veins bulging around milky-white eyes. It took even quicker for Odette to find out they were on the search for a sorcerer who was causing this sudden, terrifying plague▬she might as well be apart of this castle, and Morgana knew that; she asked Odette to gather as much information as she could since the King nor Arthur would never tell her anything, and she did. She didn't sneak around, not truly, she merely listened in the right places where not one person would suspect a thing; that was what it was like to be invisible, and Odette will admit, it brought her a few advantages.

    It also struck odd to the Lord Ronyn▬who, off in his own word; grumbling about responsibility (as he usually does) and trying to survive a day with a pounding headache, hadn't been around for the King's council to discuss the most sensible move in a threatening plague, hoping to tackle it while it was still in its early stages. When the Prince was searching the town, Ronyn trudged his way to the physician's chambers, hoping to find some potion to soothe last night's endeavours.

   As he knocked on the door and pushed it open with an uncertain, "Gaius? You in here?" he was met with an estranged sight. He frowned, nose turning upwards as he noticed the physician standing by a fire with Merlin hovering over his shoulder▬they were burning a strange, white substance within a vial.

    "What are you doing?" Merlin was whispering.

    "I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach," answered Gaius and Ronyn let out a loud noise of disgust.

    "Someone's stomach?" he couldn't stop himself. Merlin jumped like a startled toad, spinning around to stare, bewildered at Ronyn's entrance.

    "What are you doing here?" asked Merlin, not thinking twice about it.

    Gaius frowned at him, stern, "Merlin," he chided the servant who didn't even address the nobleman with a proper title let alone any polite curtesy.

    Amused, a grin etched its way onto Lord Ronyn's face and he said, "Well, Merlin▬this is the chamber of the Court Physician; I'm here for a remedy of the ill-tidings of many tankards of mead▬holy Lord, is that a dead body?!"

    He pointed at the figure underneath a long drape of fleece sheets, suddenly rather startled. A horrible thought occurred and he eyed Merlin with suspicion, "Is that Arthur's dead body?"

    "No!" chortled Merlin, though he seemed for a moment honestly considering the possibility.

    Gaius glanced back over his shoulder, pouring a potion of red into the vial with the white contents of a man's stomach▬the same man underneath the blanket, Ronyn was sure. "My apologies, My Lord," he said as he did so, "I'm afraid all and any remedies will have to wait▬this strange plague is the forefront of my responsibilities."

    Ronyn's stomach dropped. His brows shot up in horror. He stepped forward, heart beginning to pound as he hoped that he had misheard him. "Did you just say plague, Gaius?"

    Merlin continued to frown at him, rather incredulous. He watched the young Lord approach Gaius at the centre table, both interest and his fear piqued. "You're just hearing this▬have you not seen the bodies or heard the rumours or even seen Arthur parade the Lower Town?"

    "Merlin," his guardian chided him again, unable to believe the lack of care he had for manners.

    Lord Ronyn didn't care. He found Merlin amusing▬clasping a hand on his shoulder to state, "I've been preoccupied."

    "With what?"

    "With this pounding headache," he then reached up to press his fingers against Merlin's forehead▬the young boy ducked out of the way, shooting him a scowl to which he managed a weak smile. There was something about Merlin that made him easy to talk to▬to act with like he was just another knight; one of the new boys beginning their training that Ronyn liked to tease. Except he sort of liked Merlin, he was interesting and different than any other individual in Camelot▬even if he was some servant. Ronyn believed he might just enjoy his company if he got the chance to have it.

    "Merlin," murmured Gaius, "grab Ronyn the second vail to the left on the third shelf, would you?"

    The manservant frowned to himself, muttering those words over and over again before making his way to the vast cupboard of remedies▬he counted them, trying to follow Gaius's instructions to get exactly what Ronyn needed. As he did, the young Lord couldn't help himself but shuffle even closer to the physician, admittedly curious.

    "Do you have a cure?" he asked.

    "Unfortunately, no."

     "Will looking at that man's stomach give you one?"

     "No," he held up the new mixture to the light, giving it a shake. Ronyn watched him with a keen eye. Gaius always seemed to hold the wisdom and knowledge of a man of many centuries▬any word he spoke, the young Lord often held onto with every breath; even as a child, "but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind."

    Ronyn's eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat. "Magic?" he echoed. "You believe this plague is caused by magic?"

    Merlin handed him a vail of a remedy that didn't look (or smell) good, at all. Ronyn glanced down at it in his hand; he made a face. "Why do you think Arthur's out there looking for a sorcerer?"

    "Do you even know the way to address a nobleman?"

    The young boy just shrugged, jokingly in a way that Ronyn was sure that he did know, he just chose▬perhaps idiotically▬not to.

    At that moment▬as if hearing their very talk of his adventures in the Lower Town▬the door to the physician's chambers opened and in marched Prince Arthur. Following him were a group of his finest guards; they spread out without a word, heading towards the cupboards, bookshelves and remedies▬searching for anything that might just link to sorcery.

   "Sorry, Gaius▬" said Arthur as he glanced around the room himself. He pointed to the chest in the far corner, "▬we're searching every room in town." He slowly came to an incredulous stop as he noticed his closest friend standing amongst the physician and his servant. "What are you doing here?"

   Ronyn just held up the remedy given to him with a blank face, "Would you like some?"

    Knowing then exactly what Ronyn had gotten himself into last night, the Prince rolled his eyes with an amused scoff▬light in the serious tone settling in the room. "I should throw you into the stocks next time you decide to try and drink yourself to Hell."

    Ronyn scoffed as he walked past him, "Hell?"

    Arthur glanced back at him, innocent, "Yes," he said, pretending to be rather oblivious to his joke, "Where else would you be going?"

    "You twat."

    Merlin watched the two of them interact, a little disgusted▬he never thought he'd see the Prince joke around with someone with no offence intended at all, like he was a normal person.

     The Prince and his men continued to search the Physician's chambers, much to Gaius's displeasure. They opened chests, turned over books and papers, checked underneath the cots and the desks and shuffled through the shelves. Arthur passed a set of manuscripts with very fancy covers, "What are these books and papers?" he asked, holding them up for Gaius to see.

    "My life's work," answered the physician stiffly, rather miffed about all of this, "dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish."

    Immediately, Arthur dropped the manuscripts with a look he tried to hide that was nothing more than absolute disgust. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed his friend leaving the chamber when he thought he wouldn't be seen. He resisted the urge he held to sigh, knowing he was avoiding more than just his responsibility at this point.

    He couldn't go after him, even if he wanted to, and so Arthur set his focus back onto the job he was supposed to be doing. He glanced around the room and set his gaze upon a door set apart from everything else▬a separate chamber above a small set of stairs. He frowned, "What's this room up here?"

    His servant spoke up, clearing his throat to say: "I▬it's mine."

    A spike of fear erupted between the young warlock and the physician. They shared an apprehensive glance overlooked by the Prince and his men around them.

    "And what do you expect to find in there?" asked Gaius.

    "I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments," Arthur approached the door to Merlin's room and they watched him with a wary eye.

     Quiet, in a whisper so that no one else could hear, Gaius whispered to the boy standing beside him, "What have you done with the magic book I gave you?"

    Merlin's gaze shot up like a cork. His breath hitched with the sudden horror as he realised exactly where he had left it▬not hidden, not covered by a floorboard or even his blankets ... it was lying right on his floor, in plain sight. He could do nothing as Arthur stepped into his room, and his heart pounded to think what he'd do if he saw it.

    And then he heard the very words he dreaded: "Merlin, come here. Look what I've found..."

    The young warlock cursed all that was holy and mighty, rushing forward in his best attempt to not seem suspicious▬but what does it matter? He was sure to have been found out; for not even the Prince was oblivious enough to not see such an obvious evidence of magic lying so plainly about in his chambers.

    Leaping up the stairs, Merlin stepped into his messy room. He feared the worst.

     Until he found Arthur standing in front of the open door to his dresser. Merlin faltered, staggered with surprise. The Prince didn't miss a beat as he finished what he was saying▬quick and sarcastic: "I've found a place where you could put things. It's called a cupboard."

    A nervous chuckle escaped Merlin's lips, though he felt as if he could drop from relief right then and there. He sighed it all out as Arthur brushed past him, turning up his nose as he stepped over a pile of forgotten tunics towards the other side of Merlin's room▬completely missing the magic book lying there by Merlin's spare boots.

    He had to be quick. Merlin took a sharp breath, glancing over at the Prince as he picked through his books on the far side. Little novellas about medicine that Gaius gave him (such Merlin will never read). As he released that breath, he watched Arthur's movements slow down▬giving Merlin enough time to move his night shirt from his bed off onto the floor, covering his book without even the touch of his fingers.

    He watched as the Prince gave a final (very disgusted) glance around his manservants room before leaving, and Merlin couldn't believe his luck.

    He followed him out, tottering down the stairs and stopping at Gaius's side. The Prince propped his hands on his hips, gaze now set upon the corpse hidden under the sheet on Gaius's table. He looked just as pale.

    With gentle concern for the wellbeing of his people, Arthur met the physician's gaze, "How long do you think it maybe before you find a cure?"

    Gaius replied with a scowl: "Depends on how many interruptions I get."

    Arthur understood. He nodded his head in apology, "Of course," he muttered. "I'm sorry▬" he turned to his guards still searching the room. "We're finished here."

    And just like that, they left.

    Gaius quickly closed the door behind them. He spun onto the warlock shaking his head as a stubborn thought returned to him. "We have to hide that book!"

    "No▬" said Merlin, meeting his friend in the centre to state: "▬we must use it."

   The physician scoffed, "Don't be stupid!"

    "Stupid▬?" the young sorcerer let out in his disbelief. "If I have this legacy, then what is it for? Y▬you keep telling me it's not for playing tricks!"

    "You want to practice magic when the King is hunting for sorcerers? Are you mad?!" Gaius marched around the table to look him in the eye with a steel gaze. "Merlin, your life is destined for more important things."

    Merlin couldn't believe him. He hated it▬standing here, watching him try to solve this madness with nothing but his hand and his mind; a magical disease that Merlin could cure with a snap of his fingers! It made him froth with guilt▬ache, almost. "But if I don't practice, then how will I get to be this great warlock?"

    "There will come a time when your skills will be recognised," said his uncle.

    Merlin scoffed at this▬he was so sick of riddles! "When?! How long do I have to wait?"

    Gaius sighed at him, "Patience is a virtue, Merlin."

    "What▬sitting by and doing nothing, that's a virtue?"

     His tone did not settle well with the physician. He pointed the ladle he held at him. "Your time will come."

    Merlin gritted his teeth. Stubborn, he pressed his hands on the table and leaned in to say: "I could cure that man we saw!"

    "I know it's tempting to use the way you find easiest, Merlin▬"

    "It is when it would save a life!"

    "It's no good just saving one person! We have to discover how this illness is spreading!"

    Merlin pointed furiously at the door, his voice rising: "Arthur is out there right now looking for the sorcerer▬!"

    Gaius matched his tone, "A sorcerer who is powerful enough to do this will never be found searching the town!"

    The warlock clenched his jaw, but stood back up. With an angry sigh, he spun on his feet for a moment, realising getting Gaius to see what he meant was futile▬but even then, how could he face a sorcerer responsible for this plague if there wasn't one even here? He let out another sigh, "So what can we do?"

    Gaius picked up the stomach vial he had been assessing before. He held it back over the fire, "Hope that science can find the answer before it kills us all."

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a/n: this chapter, a summary:

ronyn: imma be the medieval sad fuk boi

everyone else: *obsessed with flowers and who odette is giving flowers to*

merlin: flOwers amONgsT fRIEnds gUYS!

morgana and gwen: *girlfriend noises*

arthur: where is my flower from odette? ☹️

gaius: ... sORcerEH
uther: 😧🫢😮 that's illegal they can't do that