Catie's POV

I stand by Merlin as the delegation of Mercia arrives. Lord Bayard and Uther will be signing a peace treaty tonight. "Camelot welcomes you, Lord Bayard of Mercia. The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and a beginning to a new friendship between our people" Uther says. Uther and Bayard grasp arms. Both parties applaud as I notice a serving girl from Bayard's group looking at Merlin.

Afterwards, there was a lot of work to help settle the delegation in. And prepare for the feast. But it's finally time to clean Arthur's jacket. Which he gives to Merlin as we stand in his chambers. "When's the last time these were cleaned?" Merlin asks.

"Last year some time. Before the Feast of Beltane" Arthur tells him.

"I would have cleaned it, but Arthur likes hiding it until the next feast" I tell him.

"Did it end in a food fight?" he asks us.

"Yes" I say dully.

"Don't all feasts?" Arthur asks.

"I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me" Merlin states.

"Most do and you're not missing much" I tell him.

"Not after tonight they won't be" Arthur tells him.

"I'm going to be at the banquet?" Merlin asks looking mildly excited.

"Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry. If Catalina and I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it. Be sure to polish the buttons" Arthur tells him. "Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?" he asks.

"Won't this do?" Merlin asks gesturing to his everyday outfit.

"No. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot" Arthur tells him. And holds them up for Merlin to see and he does not look impressed.

"You can't be serious" he states. "Do you have to wear something like this too?" he asks me.

"Not exactly, but I will be wearing a nicer red dress" I tell him. "Besides, I'm sure you'll look fine" I assure him. "What can I do to be of service my lord?" I ask Arthur.

"Nothing, go get ready for the banquet and meet Merlin there" he tells me. I nod and leave. I go to Morgana's room. Where I am allowed to change, then help Gwen get Morgana ready. We then all go down together and Gwen spots Merlin. We go over to him as Morgana goes to her seat.

"Nice hat" Gwen tells him.

"Thanks" he says. "You look nice Catie" he tells me.

"Thank you" I say. Just then he catches the servant girl of Bayard's eye and removes the hat. Gwen and I share a smile. Someone has a crush.

"She's pretty isn't she? For a handmaiden, I mean" Gwen state.

"She's pretty for a princess, let alone a handmaiden" he states. I giggle. Uther finishes signing the treaty and grasps arms with Bayard. Gwen goes to Morgana as the crowd cheers. Merlin and I go behind Arthur.

"People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them" Bayard says. One of his serving girls comes forward with a box, inside are two goblets.

"As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last" Bayard declares. One is handed to Uther and the other to Arthur as I notice Merlin leave with one of Bayard's serving girls. I ignore it and fill Arthur's new goblet with wine.

Bayard continues his speech as Arthur waits impatiently to be able to drink. Each time he thought Bayard was done with his toast. He went to drink, only to discover Bayard wasn't finished and he had to put his new goblet down. "The people of Camelot" Bayard finishes.

"And to fallen warriors on both sides" Uther adds. Everyone goes to drink when Merlin runs into the hall. Taking the new goblet off of Arthur.

"Stop! It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" he shouts.

"What?" Uther asks.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur demands.

"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison" Merlin states.

"This is an outrage!" Bayard exclaims in outrage. Bayard and his men draw their swords, so do the knights of Camelot. I grip the pitcher in my hands tighter. As more guards run in.

"Order your men to put down their swords. You are outnumbered" Uther tells him. As the guards surround Bayard and his men.

"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged" Bayard states.

"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" Uther asks Merlin.

"I'll handle this" Arthur assures his father. He walks around the table and heads over to Merlin. "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the slow gin again?" he asks as he takes the goblet off of him.

"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned now" Uther orders.

"He was seen lacing it" Merlin tells him.

"By whom?" Uther demands.

"I can't say" Merlin tells him.

"I won't listen to this anymore" Bayard states.

"Pass me the goblet" Uther tells Arthur. Who does so and Uther walks over to Bayard with the goblet. "If you're telling the truth" he states.

"I am" Bayard tells him

"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Uther asks offering him the goblet. Bayard sheathes his sword and reaches for the goblet. But Uther pulls it away. "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself" he states. He holds the goblet out to Merlin, saying he'd drink it.

"And if he lives?" Bayard asks.

"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will" Uther tells him.

"Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!" Gaius pleads.

"Then you should've schooled him better" Uther tells him. Merlin drinks the wine and it appeared fine at first. Then he begins to choke and falls to the floor unconscious. "It's poisoned. Guards seize him!" he orders. Bayard and his delegation were taken into custody.

Arthur, Gaius, Gwen and I kneel over Merlin. Who is breathing hoarsely. "Merlin. Can you hear me? We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison" Gaius states. Arthur picks up Merlin and Gwen grabs the goblet. I follow them to Gaius chambers. Once there Arthur laid Merlin on the bed.

Gaius identifies the poison and where to find it. Only problem the forest in which it grows, it protected by Cockatrice. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive. According to Gaius.

"Sounds like fun" Arthur states.

"Arthur, it's too dangerous" Gaius tells him.

"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?" Arthur asks him.

"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. He may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually he will die" Gaius explains sadly.

"I'm going" Arthur states. "Catalina, I want you to remain here. Help Gaius with whatever he needs to keep Merlin alive" he tells me. I nod my head and he leaves. Gwen to leaves to return to Morgana, while I take over tending to Merlin's fever.

"Will he be alright?" I ask Gaius.

"If we get to antidote in time, yes" he states.

"I'll watch over him tonight, if you are going to cure him. You need to be fully rested" I state. He agrees reluctantly and goes to bed. "You're going to be ok Merlin, I just know it" I say as I look down at him. I stay up with him all night. When Gwen arrives in the morning, Gaius has be go get some herbs to help with Merlin's fever.

When I return, Gaius is reading the book on the mortaeus flower. "It says here that "once a rash appears, death will follow within two days" he states.

"You said he had four days" Gwen and I state.

"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" he tells us.

"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer" Gwen states.

"No he isn't" Gaius agrees.

"Then who did this?" Gwen asks him.

"That girl" I mutter. "It was one of Bayard's serving girls who told Merlin about the poison. I saw them leave the hall together during the speech" I state.

"Cara, dark hair, very beautiful" Gwen states.

"Find her. Quickly" Gaius tells her. She hands me the damp clothe and runs off. I dab Merlin's forehead.  As Gaius inspects the rash on Merlin's arm. Gwen returned quickly. "Let me guess, she wasn't there" he states.

"No one has seen her since the banquet. Who is she?" Gwen asks him.

"Not who she claims to be" Gaius tells us.

"But you know, don't you?" we ask him.

"Cara. Though, that's not her name. Not her real name, anyway" he states.

"Then who is she?" Gwen asks.

"A powerful sorceress" he tells us.

"Wait, was she behind the attack on the water?" I ask him.

"Yes" he says.

"Well, we should tell Uther. Maybe he could send riders out after her" Gwen suggests.

"No, she'll be long gone. It's impossible to know where, though. Oh, no" he says.

"What?" we asks him.

"She knows the only place an antidote can be found is the Forest of Balor. Arthur could be walking into a trap" he tells us. Merlin mutters Arthur's name.

"Arthur, it...it's a trap" Merlin says.

"His fever's getting worse, isn't it?" Gwen asks Gaius.

"We need more wolfsbane" I state.

"She's right, could you fetch me some more Wolfbane?" he asks Gwen. WHo agrees and leaves the room. "You know about healing?" he asks me.

"Only a little" I tell him.

"If you are interested, I could teach you?" he offers.

"We'll discuss it later, right now we should focus on Merlin" I tell him. He nods his head in agreement. "We need fresh water" I state and grab the bucket. Assuring Gaius I'd be back soon. It took me a little longer then expected as some in town wanted an update on Merlin.

I enter and Gaius covers Merlin's hand with the blanket. "Something wrong?" I ask him.

"No, you look exhausted" he tells me. "You should get some rest" he states.

"Arthur told me to help you" I state.

"You won't be any help if you pass out from lack of sleep" he tells me. "You may use Merlin's room" he adds gesturing to the stairs. I sigh, knowing he won't budge. I place the water beside him and head up to Merlin's room. I saw the mess it was in and clean it up. Before laying on the bed and fall straight to sleep.

When I woke up, I heard Gwen downstairs. I come down. "And we have to find out if Arthur has it. I could sneak into the dungeon" Gwen states.

"Why would Arthur be in the dungeon?" I ask her.

"He was arrested when he returned" she states.

"I'll go, I am his maid" I state.

"That would be very dangerous" Gaius tells him.

"I've got to. Merlin will die if I don't" I tell him. "Gwen stay here" I tell her.  I left and got some food from the kitchen. Then head down to the dungeons. "Food for the prince" I tell the guards. They let me into the cell.

"Set it down over there" Arthur tells me. I put it down on a small table and takes a step back. Arthur gets up and goes to the table. He thanks me.  "Wait a minute" he states and returns to his spot on the floor. "I couldn't possibly eat this, it's disgusting. The state it's in, I'm not sure it's fit for anyone" he states.

I go back to pick up the plate and smile when I see the flower on the plate. I leave the cell and the door is locked. A guard takes a piece of bread from the plate. "Waste not, want not, eh? We're not all as precious as our Royal Highness" he tells me. I nod and start up the stairs. Passing another serving girl who had the real food for Arthur. I take the flower dropping the plate and run to Gaius' chambers.

I hand him the flower. He starts to make the cure. Gaius pauses in making it. "Why have you stopped?" Gwen and I ask him.

"The poison was created using magic. We may need magic to make an antidote" he states.

"But we can't. It's forbidden. Even if we could" Gwen tells him.

"I'll try and make it work without it. Oh, I need some fresh water" Gaius tells us. Gwen leaves to get it. "Catie, why don't you go pick out some fresh clothes for Merlin?" he suggests. I nod my head and go upstairs. I return to the main room at the same time as Gwen. Who hands Gaius the water. We have Merlin drink the potion.

But Merlin stops breathing after taking it. Gaius puts his head to Merlin's chest. He tells us his heart has stopped. "He's dead?" we ask shocked.

"He can't be. It was his destiny" he says.

"It's my fault. If I'd have got here sooner. If I'd have been quicker" I cry. Gwen hugs me. Gaius joins us, hugging us both.

"No, no. It was me. I should've looked after him better. It's my fault" he states.

"That's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be their grandfather" Merlin states. We look at him surprised, he's alive.

"Merlin. You're alive!" Gaius cheers.

"No. I'm the ghost come back to haunt you" Merlin teases him. Gwen grabs Merlin's face and kisses him. Then pulls away blushing as I giggle.

"Sorry, I'm just...I thought you were dead" she tells him.

"It's fine. It's more than fine. ...erm...what happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine" Merlin tells us.

"It was poisoned, but Arthur risked his life to get the antidote. You're going to be just fine" I tell him. Gaius left to go talk to Uther, while Gwen went to tell Morgana the good news. "So did you enjoy my sister's kiss?" I ask Merlin teasingly.

"It was fine" he states. "So what have I missed?" he ask.

"Nothing much, you should take the day off. I can look after Arthur" I tell him. "Speaking of Arthur, I should go clean his chambers" I state. "I'm glad you're alright" I add kissing his cheek. Before leaving the room. Bayard was proven innocent and released with a full apology from Uther. Arthur gave Merlin the day off and allowed me to leave early. Once his room with clean and his clothes were clean. I got him dinner, before going home. Gwen, dad and I had dinner together, before calling it a night.

A/N

Picture above of Catie's dress for the feast.