The Posioned Chalice (PART 2)

________________

(Giaus POV)

________________

"Arthur no. Its a trap. Don't trust her. Arthur."

"Giaus whats she talking about." Gwen worriedly asked wiping a rag gently over Merlin's sweaty brow.

"Probably the fever. She has become delirious." At least I hope thats whats going on, but I have a suspicion that their connection with this destiny business may be stronger than people think.

"Arthur no. olim futuri regis et regine Abilon iungant terris suis. Bardus quod eius scutum amor magicae fuerint, et influunt in terra semel potius." I frowned at that. I may not practice sorcery as actively anymore but even I could understand that. Question now is who is this Emrys he speaks of?

__________

(Arthur's POV)

___________

"Here we are. You can find the flowers you need right over there." Following her gaze I groan as I realize the flower is on the other side of a giant chasm. Question now is how am I going to get over there. Shining my torch along the edges of the ledge I perched on I scanned the walls looking for anything that could help me reach it.

"Vos qui tenet illum. tare quassata separet." Turning slightly to glance behind me. I frown in confusion at cara as her whispers steadily become louder.

"What are you doing?" I ask. Turning more fully toward her. Only than did I realize she had moved completely off of the ledge and was not hiding safely in the mouth of the cave. Leaving me standing alone overlooking the chasm.

"Stans inimicum perdere." She finished ignoring my question. I gasp in shock as I felt the ledge crumble underneath me. There is no way I will make it back to the mouth before I plummet to my death. Making a decision. I turn toward the flowers and leap off the ledge. Digging my fingers into the stone as I began sliding down thevwall. I breathed a sigh of relief when I stopped sliding down the wall. Looking up I smile when I see the flowers are directly above me. Hearing her quiet laughter behind me. I angrily glance over my shoulder at her to see her smirking at me.

"Why are you doing this? Who are you really?" I panted struggling to keep my grip on the stone.  Instead of an anwser she merely pulls off her turban. Allowing her wavy black hair to cascade down her back.

"My true name is of little importance.  All you need to know is I am the last face you will ever see. Goodbye Arthur Pendragon.  tenebrae. Absolve mihi omnis victima. Lucem proferre deleti aranearum. Occidere eum. In quibus comedent illum stricte discussurus." I snarled in frustration as I was suddenly plunged into complete darkness. The sound of her retreating footsteps informed me I was now alone.

________

(Giaus POV)

________

"Arthur no. Lux vitae. Lux praesidio. Ut ánimæ famulórum te. Egredere qui soluunt amittitur tenebris. Praesidio ei. Afferte huc illum in domum suam."

"Giaus what language is that." Biting my lip I frantically scanned my brain for an escuse.

"Just babbling. Its the fever taking hold I'm afraid. Gwen might you take the lady Morgana back to bed. Its terribly unwise for her remain here sleeping in that chair." I advised glancing over to where Morgana sat laying on her arms on the cot. A wet rag still in her hand from mopping Merlins brow. Sighing and nodding to me. Gwen gently shook Morgana awake. Before leading her gently from the room.

"Arthur. Follow the light. The light. No leave it. Its not worth it.  Climb Arthur. Faster. Climb faster. Arthur." Turning back to my charge I frown as i see the blanket around her hand begin to glow. Pulling the blanket back I gasp as I see her holding a blue orb of light in her hand.

"What are you doing." I whispered glancing at her sweaty unconscious face.

_________

(Arthur's POV)

_________

I am just debating what to do now that I can't see when suddenly I gasp as a brilliant blue sphere of light appears directly over my head. Just hovering there as if waiting for something. 

"Well go on than. Finish me off. Go on." I scream completely fed up by this point. Yet as i hung there glaring at it nothing happened.  Deciding it wasn't an immediate threat I was just about to begin climbing. Now that I can see again. To at least attempt to get the flower. When a wierd clicking sound beneath me drew my attention. Glancing behind me I felt my face pale at the sight of hundreds of giant spiders crawling menacingly toward me.

Whimpering in fear. I immediately turn back to the light and begin climbing. Only than did I notice that with every upward movement I make the light would rise with me. As if lighting my path. I am only a few feet from the flower when suddenly I wince as i feel a pair of sharp fangs sink into my leg. Yelping in pain. I immediately kick out at the spider thats attached itself to me sending it flying down the chasm.

Ignoring my now throbbing leg I continue climbing. Snagging a few of the flowers on the way up. I nearly shout in relief as I see a hole in the wall leading out of the cave. Climbing over the edge I take a moment to catch my breath before glancing back the way I came.  I smile as I see the spiders once more retreating to their borrows.  Taking one last gulp of air. I stuff the flowers in my pocket and head out of the cave. Leaving my adventures behind me as I head for home.

__________

"Arthur!." Closing my eyes and sighing. I quickly pocketed the cure before slowly turning to face my father.

"How dare you sneak out and endanger your life for a servant. You are the crown prince and..."

"Your right."

"What?" He sputtered surprise overtaking his anger.

"I said your right it was foolish of me to go off on this wild goose chase for a servant.  I have a duty to my people.  I should have put of the needs of the majority above that of my servant.  I'm sorry." I lied pretending to be ashamed as I hung my head. He stared at me a moment as if attempting to see through my lie. After a time he seemed to accept my appology straightening and nodding his head.

"Good I am glad you learned your lesson, and what of the cure?"

"Gone. There wasn't any left when I got there. It was a pointless journey." I had to work really hard to hard my disqust behind my fake sorrow as the kings face split into an earth shattering grin. As if the death of a servants was something to be celebrated.  Hiding his grin behind a fake cough my dad quickly turned away so I wouldn't see his eyes twinkling with his supposed victory.

"Right well I will send a guard to inform them the cure is not coming. You are dismissed."

"Sire." I quickly bowed to him tutning to head to the physician's quarters. It took all I had not to just sprint my way to Merlin the moment I was dismissed. But I had to be sure not to give my dad any reason to doubt my story. The moment I was out of his sight though I broke into a run bursting through the door to see Gwen, Morgana,  and Giaus crying over my still Maidservant. I felt my heart sink at that.

"She's dead?" I asked horrified.

"She might as well be. A guard just informed us of your failed search." Morgana cried weeping into her hands. My heart leaped with relief at that.

"Oh thankfully she still a live. I only told my dad that I failed because I knew he would attempt to destroy the cure as a way to teach me alesson. I have it right here." I quickly pulled out the flower from my pocket handing it to an excited Giaus. Moving quickly and mixing it into a potion he was just about to  bring it to her lips when suddenly he stopped.

"Whats wrong why did you stop?" I demanded.

"Magic was used to make the posion. We may need it to make the cure." Silence fell throughout the room. None of us knowing quite what to say.

"B...but Giaus. You can't the ki..."

"Do it." I quietly whispered cutting off Gwen midsentence. They all stared at me at that.

"What?" Morgana asked a hint of almost hope lighting up her eyes.

"I said do it. If it will save Merlin than... than I Arthur Pendragon. Crown prince of camelot give you permission to use magic but no one outside of this room must ever know of this. Do I make myself clear."

"Yes of course." Gwen sang happily clapping her hands together in excitement. 

"You know I won't say anything Arthur." Morgana anwsered pecking me gently on the cheek. Nodding I turned my gaze to Giaus for his anwser only to find him already in the middle of a spell. His eyes flashing a soft gold as the bowl shone before once more going back to it usual dull color. Pressing the bowl to her lips. Giaus quickly emptied the cure down Merlin's throat. Setting the bowl down. Giaus quickly grasped her wrist in his hand. Checking her pulse. We all held our breath as he letting go of her wrist leaned down. Placing his ear to her chest before sliwly rising to stare solemnly at the unmoving body below.

"Well? Is she ok?" I prompted worringly. With just one look and a small shake of his head I felt my whole world collapsing.

"No... No she can't be dead. She... she just can't be." I muttered stumbling foreward as if on a string. Stopping in front of her still form. I brought a trembling hand up to gently caress her white as snow cheek.

"Merlin..." i whispered moving my hand to grip her shoulder.

"Merlin..." I repeated shaking her as if to pull her from what ever dream held her captive. Yet still no breath left those pale pink lips.

"Merlin please. You...you can't leave me.  I... i forbid it. Please. Please wake up." I begged sinking to my knees and gathering her limp form into my arms. Resting my forehead on her shoulder I allowed my tears to finally break through the barrier. Slipping down my cheek to wet her brown dress. I was just about to pull away and head back to my room to grieve in peace when suddenly a gasp from Gwen behind me alerted me to the arms suddenly gripping me back. Slowly lifting my head I stared in stunned silence into the beautiful blue eyes that I thought I would never again see.

"M...Merlin." I whispered almost afraid to believe she was really still alive. Her stunningly beautiful grin immediately lit up her features as her eyes twinkled with mirth at the sounsd of my trembling voice.

"Hello clotpole did you mis...mmmph." Before I could think better of it. I allowed my emotions to carry me foreward. Crushing her against my chest. As I sealed my lips over hers before quickly pulling away and leaving the room. Leaning against the now closed physicans door. I gingerly traced my finger over my still tingling lips. Shocked that I had really just kissed my maidservant.  I couldn't help a small smile breaking over my lips as I slowly made my way to my room. I knew my dad would no doubt punish me for lying, but for now I couldn't care less. It was totally worth it.

_____________

(Giaus POV)

______________

"I have your headache tonic you called for sire." I softly called knocking on the door and pushing my way in where the king sat at his chambers table messaging his throbbing head.

"Yes thank you Giaus. Oh and thank you for advising me to release bayard. If it weren't gor you. I may never have realized it was actually Nimueh who tried to posion my son."

"Just doing my duty sire." I say handing him the vial and turning toward the door.

"Yes now if only Arthur could do that." He spat downing the potion and wincing at the taste.

"Sire?" I enquired pausing and turning to face him.

"Honestly Giaus I don't know what to do with that boy. Going across half of camelot for a servant. What foolishness. He should have just let her die." It was like a block of ice was suddenly dropped down the kings shirt as he froze. Seeming to realize his mistake as he slowly rose his head to meet my hate filled eyes.

"Hmm. Yes he should have. It definitely was foolish of him to risk his life for my ward. Someone I consider my own daughter. Truly despicable that he would dare lie to the king to bring me the cure that would save the only person I really have left in the world to love. Than again I am merely only a servant."

"Giaus I..."

"Good day Sire. I must be seeing to my daughter now. By your leave." I calmly stated bowing to him and leaving him sitting there cowering against my rage. I may not scream and yell when I am mad, but when a foolish soul does incure my rath. Even the king quakes in fear, and if the king suddenly came down with a horrible case of flatulence after taking one of my headache tonic. Well lets just say it was never mentioned.

_________________________________________

Spell translations:

Lux vitae. Lux praesidio. Ut ánimæ famulórum te. Egredere qui soluunt amittitur tenebris. Praesidio ei. Afferte huc illum in domum suam:

Light of life. Light of protection. I beesech thee. Go forth and guide one who is lost in the darkness. Protect him. Bring him home.

Vos qui tenet illum. tare quassata separet. Stans inimicum perdere: You who holds him up. shatter and tare asunder. Destroy my enemy where he stands.

olim futuri regis et regine Abilon iungant terris suis. Bardus quod eius scutum amor magicae fuerint, et influunt in terra semel potius:

The once and future king shall unite the lands of Abilon with his queen by his side. Emrys as his shield love and magic shall flow through the land once more.

Tenebrae. Absolve mihi omnis victima. Lucem proferre deleti aranearum. Occidere eum. In quibus comedent illum stricte discussurus:

Darkness descend. Swallow my victim whole. Cut off the light and bring forth the spiders. Kill him. Devour him where he hangs.