chapter ten!
010. the poisoned chalice

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    SERVANT'S HAD no time to celebrate the date of their birth. Not only did they barely had time to themselves, they had little money to celebrate, or anyone to celebrate with. Age mattered little. What mattered was surviving through another day▬another year without sickness, without falling short on their errands, displeasing their masters and mistresses and losing their jobs, and making through another naming day without being accused of sorcery or something else.

    Odette herself didn't even truly know when she was born. She was found during an early spring storm, and so from then forth, her mother celebrated her growth on each anniversary to which she had been brought into her life. Not many servants celebrated the date of their birth, but Ivette Mason had celebrated Odette's every one. She sung her songs, sneaked her good food from the kitchens and managed to save up enough coin each year to get her a gift▬whether it be a new toy, a new dress, or a embroidered handkerchief, she never missed the day once.

    Because Odette couldn't keep the tradition up for herself anymore, as soon as she learnt Merlin would be joining her in the ripe and daring age of seventeen years, she continued it with him.

    A month passed, and the young warlock was starting to truly begin to understand and fit into the bustling every day life of Camelot. He followed Prince Arthur and his many demands, enjoyed supper with and helped Gaius in his errands and spent as much time as he could manage with his two closest friends in the castle walls, Odette and Guinevere.

    Odette had friends▬Gwen especially, but she's never yet had a friend her age. Someone who has experienced life the exact same amount as she has; just as bright and just as youthful, with the same nativity and excitement. Someone who sought her out even when he was supposed to be doing work for Arthur, who found a stray flower in the crevices of the citadel stonework and gave it to her ("Flowers amongst friends!" Merlin had stated). Someone who laughed at her jokes and she laughed at his▬who sometimes perhaps brought out the worst of her every time Merlin egged on her whispered insults and quips about surrounding nobles.

    It only made sense that she'd have feelings for him. Whether she wanted anything to come out of them, she didn't know▬but they sparked the moment she met him, and had grown since. She has just never met someone like Merlin before, and it was quite mesmerising. What wasn't there to like about him?

    His seventeenth year resided on a stressful day for Camelot. After long years of war, King Bayard of Mercia would grace the halls of the citadel for the signing of a peace treaty between him and Uther. That was one of the few things Odette found herself admiring about her king▬while others sought war, and sought glory no matter the price of their own people and soldiers, Uther sought peace▬and it was something he also taught his son. Today, would be a step towards that ambition; one that was misguided few too many times, and was held upon a thin string of pride ready to snap quite easily, it was still made with all the best intentions.

    At least, that was what Gaius has told Odette many times. Uther is a good king, he would say whenever she questioned his rule, but it is not his role to be liked. It is his role to do what is best for the greater good of the kingdom. And he believes what he is doing is right▬it is all in his best intentions, and sometimes, that is enough.

    Preparations for the feast to celebrate King Bayard's arrival was in full swing. The hallways around the banquet hall were filled with servants running to and thro, carrying banners, freshly washed clothes, accessories, plates, and any ceremonial needs. Odette has never seen the castle so anxious and yet excited▬nor has she seen so many Mercia Knights in one place. Their capes of light blue were easy to see amongst the scarlet red of Camelot, and while they chatted with the King's esteemed warriors, Odette could notice the way either clutched the hilt of their swords, expecting any sudden threat.

    She quickly retreated to Morgana's chambers, welcoming the calming air▬she entered up the winding staircase instead of the servants' entrance, setting down the plate of fruit she had originally ventured down to grab. Morgana was sitting at her desk, reading The Illiad; a tale of the heroic Achilles within the devastating Battle of Troy▬and his tragic ending. Not even the invulnerable could be immortal.

     When Odette arrived, Morgana glanced up and she smiled. "Odette," she greeted happily, setting her book aside to make her way towards the table. She sat down and immediately picked a grape from the platter. "For a moment there, I thought I had lost you in the craze below."

    "You nearly did, My Lady," joked Odette, picking up a vase of perishing flowers to set by the window▬ready to be thrown out later. "Everyone is preparing for the banquet."

    "Yes," mused Morgana, "I am quite looking forward to Bayard's long, drawling speeches▬perhaps a fight will break out and I can hit a knight over the head with my plate." She quirked a brow, amused. Odette bit back a smile▬she wouldn't put it past her mistress either. "Perhaps I'll miss and hit Arthur instead, wouldn't that be something?"

    Odette flattened the creases in her bed noticing that Gwen must have gone down to grab her dress for tonight before the kitchens got too hectic. She picked a stray hair off her pillows. "What did he do this time?" she then asked, unable to hide the tone of her voice▬knowing Arthur's great talent at being annoying all too well.

    "He hasn't asked me to accompany him to the banquet yet," grumbled Morgana, picking off the stem of her grape before placing it in her mouth. She glanced back at Odette briefly, "It is obvious he is planning to▬I just wish he'd hurry up otherwise I'll be perfectly happy to attend alone without any escort."

    The young girl arched a brow, "Do you want him to accompany you?"

    She expected Morgana to make some sharp insult▬as she usually does, but instead, her mistress sighed and slouched over her fruit. "I'm afraid I do not know," she murmured. Odette's brows furrowed at this.

    "What do you mean?" she approached her mistress▬her friend, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Morgana smiled at her, appreciating it.

    "They'll all expect to see it, is what I mean," said Morgana. "But I do not know what I want. I've known him for so long▬I know all his faults but I know he's a good man underneath all of his arrogant words. But I have this strange feeling ... I can't exactly explain it, Odette, I just ... I believe I do not feel the way everyone would like me to feel. And yet ..." Morgana shrugged, "at the same time, I wonder if I do ... does that make sense?"

    "It makes perfect sense," said Odette, pouring her friend a drink of water. "You've known him since you were children. That is a connection you cannot be rid of." She spoke from experience, though her mistress did not know that fact.

    Morgana suddenly chuckled, shaking her head, "Dear me, Odette▬if you knew Arthur when he was younger, why, I tell you, he was not the man he is now▬clumsy, whiny▬though, he is still rather complaining more often than not."

    Odette had a grim smile on her face▬stiff and pained, though Morgana didn't notice.

    The Lady Morgana patted her arm, the serious tone of their conversation disappearing as she joked: "Be glad you will never be around him as much as I have to be. I fear for the poor princess that might ever have to marry him if I do not."

    "Perhaps she will ground some sense to him," Odette forced away her stiff thoughts to add and Morgana grinned, delighted by her words.

    She held up her water and mocked cheers to Odette, "Camelot shall be saved when that day comes." Another thought struck her, and as Odette smiled and passed, heading off to peer outside the window again▬delighted by the bustle beneath in the town▬Morgana decided to say: "What do you look in a man to marry?"

    Odette was stunned by the question. She glanced back, lips parted in such shock Morgana had to stop herself from chuckling. She pointed at herself, as if to ask, me? And the lady nodded, unable to stop the slight laughter that breathed from her lips. "Yes, Odette▬tell me, what do you see in your ideal man?"

    She frowned▬no one has ever asked her such question, even herself. She never had the time to think what she wanted in life; she never had time to strive towards anything or fall even lower, she went by each day doing what she always did: survive.

    Odette fiddled with her fingers, cautiously pondering on the question. "I'm not too sure, My Lady," she said honestly.

    Morgana scoffed lightly, shaking her head with a smile, "My, Odette▬you must have some thought about romance."

     She shrugged, suddenly quite shy. She turned back to the window, peering back down. She watched Merlin follow clumsily after Arthur across the courtyard, barely keeping up with him as he marched onwards, speaking about this and that. "Not really," she muttered thoughtfully. "I barely have the time to think of romance. But ... I suppose if he was brave, that would be nice. And kind, and thoughtful, maybe▬humble."

    She did not see the way her mistresses smile turned into a playful smirk. "What about Merlin?" she asked, knowing exactly what she was doing. She watched her handmaiden's reaction, and tried to keep herself busy with her food when she glanced back, her cheeks turning red almost instantly.

    "Merlin?" she spluttered. "What▬what about Merlin?"

    "Well," Morgana had a few more grapes, "Merlin is surely brave, and kind and humble▬I would say. Perhaps not the most thoughtful in what he does, but I daresay there aren't enough men who'd announce to the court he's a wizard to save the life of another."

    Realising, Odette forced a chuckle from her lips, quickly shaking her head. She hid her blush, "Oh, no▬I didn't mean▬I wouldn't say▬"

    Morgana's smirk went back to a gentle smile, "Odette," she chided her handmaiden lightly, sweet with the tone of a wise, older sister. "I've known you for a while now, I can easily see when you fancy somebody else▬and who's to say Merlin doesn't fancy you?"

    "Merlin's not my type," Odette lied, though it was too quick for Morgana to truly believe her. She just hummed, bouncing a brow.

    "So he isn't brave?"

    "N▬no, he is▬"

     "▬And not kind and humble?"

     "▬I▬I never said he wasn't▬I just▬" realising what her friend was doing, Odette sealed her lips, bright red at the cheeks. She glanced down at her small leather bag at her hip where she had hidden away the present she made him▬a small band of braided leather, twisted together for whatever purpose he might want: to wear it, to use it to keep a page in a book, or to just personalise something in his chambers. Quiet, she mumbled, "Do you think he fancies me?"

    Morgana shrugged, "It doesn't matter what I think," she said. "But who am I to stop you from asking him the same question?"

    Odette puckered her lips, thinking about her advice. She glanced back out the window again, her gaze finding him immediately. He and Arthur had crossed the length of the courtyard now, except they stopped right by the stairs, where Merlin managed to tip over his entire set of weapons from early morning training.

    She certainly knew Arthur wasn't her type▬she realised as she watched him scold Merlin for being so clumsy. He might be brave, and sometimes noble and thoughtful▬and she might see a side to him that was promising; hopeful that he'd start to recognise it and use it. But right now, as he rolled his eyes and turned away from Merlin's struggling figure, she found it hard to remember that hope. He was not kind, he was not humble▬and she truly did agree with Morgana, she prayed for the pour soul to be married to him one day.

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    THE BANQUET HALL had been turned into a grand museum of Camelot's passed. In celebration of the peace treaty: a promise of prosperity and the end of bloodshed between both kingdoms, tapestries of Camelot's rich history had been hung from wall to wall; tales of the Five Kings and the first Pendragon to take the throne▬Odette gazed at many depictions of the Round Table of legend, peered up at glorious threadings of a golden-haired king in robes of scarlet. She was surprised to see the sight of Uther's brother▬Ambrosius Pendragon. She had heard the stories, much like every other dweller in Camelot. That after Vortigern, King Constantine II's trusted advisor murdered him and his children, only two survived: the eldest son and the youngest. The eldest had been Ambrosius, the youngest, the King that now sat upon the throne. They had hidden out for their youth, gathering an army large enough to take back their kingdom. It had been a shame that the victorious Ambrosius lived little longer to experience the crown he had shed the blood of many for, dying during the final battle, leaving the youngest; the only living Pendragon, Uther, to lead the last▬and victorious▬fight.

    It was strange to see the eldest son of Constantine II, to know that the man who stood as King now had been the one of the youngest of his siblings. Perhaps it was to showcase humility after many long years of war, or perhaps it was a showcase of strength; to show where he started, and where he had ended up; the last of his siblings to still be alive.

    Amongst the many tapestries and celebrations of Camelot's past, there were drapes of Mercia blue▬tables set against each other from right to left went from scarlet to cerulean, mending together to symbolise the start of a new friendship. Knights and nobles from both sides sat together, discussing many matters and chuckling with their goblets filled with wine. Bayard's Queen sat silent in her seat, picking at the platter of food nearby with a bland expression upon her face.

    "She looks rather dull," Morgana had muttered to her handmaidens who stood behind her.

    "Hmm," Guinevere hummed in agreement, quirking a brow.

    Close by, as he always was, Ronyn leaned forward away from his discussion with Adelynn▬who looked very well after her recent illness and happy to be invited to a feast▬to mutter, "I'd say anyone would look so dull to be married to the boring mind of King Bayard of Mercia."

     "Hush!" Adelynn scolded him, quickly glancing at their mother in case she heard, but she was too busy discussing with other ladies of the court, "Say a word like that with these knights here and you'll be hanged for treason."

    "This isn't his court," replied Ronyn simply and took a sip of his wine. His sister rolled her eyes. "I say as I wish."

    Odette frowned as she noticed his eyes wander across from her to the maid standing at her side. Immediately, Guinevere stiffened and her jaw set. When she got the chance, she grabbed Odette's arm and tugged her away, heading towards the back where other servants stood waiting as the two King's gathered to sign their treaty.

    "What was that about?" whispered Odette, curious.

   Gwen glanced around them, before, with a sigh, she muttered, "Ronyn visited me when I was in the dungeons."

    Odette's brows shot up, "He did?" she breathed, surprised. "What▬may I ask why?" it seemed rude, but Ronyn was never to go out of his way to be out of his comfort zone▬if by the off chance someone noticed him, always running away, always darting off whenever he might speak to Odette in rare occasions. To willingly go visit a servant▬at the time, a suspected witch▬when someone could see, was out of character.

    Guinevere met her gaze. She went to say something, but stopped herself. She pursed her lips, and soon decided with: "I'm not too sure. But he's been rather strange ever since. I saw him the other day at my father's shop▬having a sword crafted for him."

    "You ... find this troubling?"

    "Of course, I do," said the blacksmith's daughter. "He's rude, and he left you as nothing but scum on the side of the street▬I don't want him anywhere near by father. I don't want to hear anything he seems to think he has to say. What business does he have there, anyway? He has a perfectly fine blacksmith in the Upper Town he can visit."

    To hear Guinevere speak so abrasively about someone took Odette off guard. She huffed and she puffed, flushed at the cheeks as she took a deep breath and set her glower onto the floor, as if even looking at Ronyn brought her into a furious frenzy. She wondered what on earth he had said to her in the dungeons.

    "What are you lot chatting about?"

    At Merlin's voice, Odette didn't even need to glance over in order to try and bite back her chuckle. The tense air that came about from Guinevere's mutterings released as soon as the manservant arrived in a flounder of red feathers and fabric. He looked ridiculous. Odette had already laughed three times at him this evening, and this was no exception.

    Not wanting to discuss her troubling thoughts anymore, Guinevere glanced at Merlin standing with them and stifled her laughter into a quiet snort in the back of her throat. "Nice hat," she whispered.

    Merlin scowled at her. He nodded, sending her a very sarcastic smile▬the feathers from his hat fell over his eyes. He shook them away and Odette had to hold a hand to her mouth to keep herself from breaking out into laughter. "Thanks."

    Standing behind his father, Arthur peeled his eyes away from the tedious signing to glance over his shoulder▬he noticed his servant and with a mischievous grin, he bounced his brows; mocking the boy who just shook his head in complete exasperation. The Prince bit back his chuckles, forcing himself to look away.

    "Prat," muttered Merlin as he did.

    Odette bit her bottom lip, but it didn't stop her amused smile. She nudged Merlin beside her, and in remembering Morgana's words from earlier, found herself blushing and muttering a shy, "I want to give you something later."

    The warlock's eyes widened, frowning down at her. "What?"

    "I have something," she smiled, nudging him again. "It's a surprise, though, so you shall have to wait and find out."

    "A surprise?" Merlin arched a brow▬he was about to ask her more questions, until his eyes fell upon someone else on the other side of the room. Odette's smile started to fall as she noticed the way he quickly took off his ridiculous hat, beginning to flatten his dark hair.

    She frowned, her gaze following ... and she felt something inside her sink to find that the object of his gaze was a girl; a girl far more beautiful than her. A handmaiden in a simple, modest red and blue dress with billowing sleeves, and yet on her, it looked stunning▬matching her blue gaze so startling, it was like they a pair of brilliant gems.

    Odette's shoulders fell, and she glanced down at her own dress▬something so plain in comparison; a dull tunic and dirty white skirts she could never quite fully clean no matter how hard she tried. They still had a stain on them from when she had spilt the wine after Sir Owain had scared her a few weeks ago. She shyly flattened her skirts, for once noticing just how chapped her nails were.

    She glanced at Merlin again, and found that his attention hadn't moved from the maid whatsoever. Odette chewed the inside of her cheek, glancing back at Bayard's servant. "She's pretty▬" he briefly glanced at her, barely listening. Odette swallowed sudden bitterness, "▬for a handmaiden, I mean..." she added.

     "She's pretty for a princess," said Merlin, quite dumb-struck, "let alone a handmaiden."

     Odette stared at him. She tried to hide how much his words hurt her. "Right ..." she muttered, but her voice got lost. She played with a few strands she had let down from the twist she had done, suddenly wishing she had hair as dark as the handmaiden standing across the other side of the room.

    She noticed Guinevere had set her a gentle glance, understanding how she felt and it made her clench her hands. Morgana had been wrong, obviously▬and now Odette felt as if she had been making a fool of herself this entire time.

    Once King Bayard had finished signing, the room was raised in polite applause, and Odette stepped away, not caring whether Merlin noticed or not. She came to stand beside Gaius, nodding at him in greeting before fixing her gaze back onto the event before her.

    As Uther and his son returned to their seats, Gaius muttered to Odette, "Are you all right?"

    She didn't shift her gaze from the handmaiden, but her hands clenched in front of her skirts, "I'm fine," she muttered.

    "People of Camelot," began the King of Mercia, raising his goblet towards those standing around the edges of the banquet hall, and to those seating. Ronyn quickly wiped away the crumbs he had from sneakily gathering food when no one noticed, far too starved to care about taking a bite only once the King took his, "for a great many years we have been mortal enemies. 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."

    Odette's attention drifted from the handmaiden to the King of Mercia as a serving girl approached forth with a chest. He turned to her, "As a symbol of our goodwill and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets." He opened the chest and presented forth two silver chalices▬one larger than the other, and both engraved with a number of delicate details. "To you, Uther and your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last..."

    His speech slipped into the back of her mind. In the corner of her gaze, Odette noticed Merlin disappearing out of the hall▬led through the back servants' entrance by the same handmaiden from Bayard's ensemble. Her brows knitted together▬though she soon rolled her eyes, realising she didn't want to know what the two of them were off doing.

    Bayard's speech continued▬on and on and on ... Odette did her best to stay vigil and polite, though it was growing hard to resit the urge to yawn. Ronyn was quite right, the King of Mercia was a dud. She met Gwen's gaze across the room and she made a subtle face that told her she very much agreed.

    "... And may the differences from our past remain there▬" he raised his goblet. "To your health, Uther..." the surrounding men and women stood from their seats and held up their drinks. "Arthur▬" Odette watched as the Prince nodded and went to take a drink, only to stop when Bayard continued, "▬the Lady Morgana▬" she smiled. Odette snorted to herself▬she quickly hid in in her hand, looking away as Arthur tried once more, only to be interrupted yet again, "▬the People of Camelot..."

    She looked down, whispering an apology to Gaius who chided her with a slight tap of her arm▬for Arthur, yet again, raised his goblet for a drink only to pull away as his father spoke. He set his jaw, getting annoyed at this point.

    "And to fallen warriors on both sides," finished Uther, and the kings bowed their heads in respect of the other, before finally, each raised the chalices for a drink▬

    "Stop! It's poison! Don't drink it!"

    Everyone jumped at the sound of pounding feet back into the hall. Merlin shouted in horror when he noticed the chalices inches from Arthur's lips and without a second thought, he reached forth and snatched it from his fingers. The Prince stared at him, outraged.

    Odette's eyes widened, all amusement falling away as she watched Merlin step before the King who held a gaze as cold as stone, "What?" he demanded.

    The warlock breathed heavily, flushed at the cheeks from running back inside so fast. He glanced around at all the surprised glances and shocked murmurs. Arthur was furious, "Merlin," he let out, curt, "what are you doing?!"

    The air of the banquet hall grew thick as Merlin turned onto the King of Mercia and declared, "Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison."

    The King of Mercia wouldn't stand by such an insult. He drew his sword in a fit of sudden anger, "This is an outrage!" he cried and his men followed suit. Odette hunched up, watching as every knight in the hall▬from both sides▬drew their weapons with the means of attacking the other. Guards rushed from the doorways, circling Bayard and his men in a trap of spears and glinting blades. Morgana brandished her dinner knife. Ronyn stood up, throwing a hand out to keep his sister down in her seat. Odette grew frantic▬just in a matter of seconds, the entire banquet hall turned into a malicious stand off.

    The King of Camelot's voice was clam, unwavering▬and yet very dangerous as he stated: "Order your men to put down their swords. You're outnumbered."

    Bayard knew this. He glanced around him, eyeing each blade that had surrounded him. Odette met Merlin's gaze, shaking her head as her chest began to tighten▬she found it hard to breathe. "I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!"

    Odette shuffled back▬she searched for something she could use to defend herself; she quickly found a knife settled amongst a fruit platter. She brandished it, heart racing. She caught Gwen's eyes again, finding herself not alone with her terror.

    The room was dreadfully silent▬until the King set his glower upon the Prince's manservant and asked: "On what grounds do you base this accusation?"

    Arthur gritted his teeth, "I'll handle this▬" he rounded the head table and marched up to his servant, wishing very much he could wrap his head in to make him learn how to think. "Merlin, you idiot▬" he grasped him by the shoulder and tugged him away, "▬we've been at the sloe gin again?"

    "Unless you want to be strung up," the King's threat made Arthur freeze, holding Merlin still at his side, "you'll tell me why you think it's poisoned. Now."

    Merlin was not intimidated by Uther's glower. "He was seen lacing it."

    "By whom?"

    The warlock bit back his tongue. "I cannot say."

    Bayard scoffed, "I won't listen to this anymore."

    Uther stood away from his chair, "Pass me the goblet."

    Arthur frowned, but did as he was asked, handing it over to his father who took it as he passed. He marched towards his long time enemy, all celebration dried up like a river within a drought. "If you're telling the truth..." he began.

    "I am," stated King Bayard.

    "Then you have nothing to fear, do you?"

    Bayard clenched his jaw. He stared Uther down the tip of his sword▬for a moment, neither seemed to waver, until he sheathed his blade and held out his hand instead. He gestured for the King to pass over the goblet, and Odette's fear was replaced with suspicion▬why on earth would a King drink the own goblet he laced himself?

    (Something didn't settle right, and it put her on edge).

    "No," said Uther. Bayard's hand faltered. "If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Slowly, he turned away until his eyes set upon Merlin. Instead, he held the goblet out to him. "He'll drink it."

    Odette's eyes widened. She surged forward, but Gaius stopped her, keeping a firm grip on her arm. Arthur glanced between his father and Merlin▬so stunned that for a moment, he was unable to speak. "B▬but if it is poisoned, he'll die!" he exclaimed.

    The King showed no change, "Then we'll know he was telling the truth."

    "And what if he lives?" questioned Bayard as Merlin eyed the goblet with a dry tongue.

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

    With a shaky hand, Merlin grasped the chalice without a word. Odette shook her head▬she glanced around, begging for someone to stop him. Her eyes met Morgana's, they travelled to Gaius's and over to Ronyn, finding herself aching in her chest to know that there was nothing she could do.

    The physician was usually quiet spoken, but at the sight of his nephew's brave stupidity, he spoke up, "Uther, please, he's just a boy▬he doesn't know what he's saying."

    "Then you should have schooled him better," replied the King coolly.

    Panicked, Arthur raised his voice in his greatest desperation▬he refused to see his manservant, as stupid and as annoying as he is, die in order to save his life. "Merlin, apologise! This is a mistake. I'll drink it▬!"

    He went to snatch it from his manservant's hands, but Merlin held it out of his reach, finally speaking up: "No, no, no, no▬" he said, so calm it made Odette want to cry in her frustration▬for once she cursed his bravery, she cursed everything about him; she wished he'd sit still and say not a word▬she wished the world wouldn't be so cruel to make him die for something he had done purely out of the goodness of his heart. "It's all right."

    She shuffled on her toes▬anxious and tearful; Odette could do nothing else except watch as Merlin raise the chalice with no flicker of fear in his gaze, no hesitance▬he had accepted his fate in order to protect Arthur's life, he cared not if he ended up dying because of it.

    When he raised it to his lips, Odette rushed forward until she could no longer▬kept back by the cross of the guards' spears. His eyes met hers as he drank, leaving not one drop left. The room was still with bated breaths, all eyes set upon the servant, waiting for what was to happen next.

    A breathless moment settled.

    Merlin swallowed, and said, "It's fine."

    The smug look on Bayard's face made Odette clench her hands▬she sighed out, relieved, and yet worried all the same. She had no clue what the King of Mercia had planned for Merlin, but she knew all too well it wouldn't be anything good. Perhaps it would have been better if the poison were to take him rather than meet the wrath of a king.

    Until she heard it▬

    Odette's gaze snapped back up, and she felt her stomach drop. Merlin frowned to himself, coughing a bit as if there was a tickle in his throat. His fingers reached up▬he wheezed, he coughed, he spluttered▬he couldn't breathe▬

    He collapsed. The goblet rolled out of his fingers, and there he lied, as still as a dead man.

    "No!" whispered Odette. She dropped the knife, ducking underneath the guards' spears before they could even think twice. She ran to her friend, falling to her knees at his side with sobs hiccuping in the back of her throat.

    On his other side dropped down Arthur, his hands shaking Merlin's shoulders as he tried to wake him up▬Odette watched him, heart pounding painfully against her chest. Without a second to waste, he had ran to his servant; he did not care what anyone would say, what others might think▬he started forward just as Odette had done; she realised Merlin's life meant more to him than he admitted. Arthur didn't speak words, his actions showed something far more powerful than that.

    Around them, Bayard and his men were surrounded▬seized under the blade of every knight and guard present. Odette paid them no mind, reaching past Arthur's arms to cup Merlin's cheeks▬they were clammy and hot.

    "Merlin?" she whimpered. "Merlin▬please wake up."

    As Gaius reached them, Guinevere was there to gently pull Odette out of the way so he could kneel over. She hugged her dear friend close with an arm around her shoulder.

    "Merlin, do you hear me?" asked the physician. He tugged at Merlin's eyelids. He received no response. He gathered his tunic and was back onto his feet. "We have to get him back to my chambers." Arthur nodded and quickly heaved Merlin up and over his shoulder. "Bring the goblet," Gaius told the girls. "We need to identify the poison."

    Odette took a shaky breath but did as she was told. She rushed over to where the goblet had rolled to a few paces away, picking it up and hurrying after Arthur, Gwen and Gaius out of the hall. With one glance at his sister and mother, Ronyn was on his feet to follow.

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    "LAY HIM ON the bed▬quickly!"

    Odette rushed into Gaius's chambers, breathless as she watched Arthur race forward, setting Merlin down onto the cot the physician had set beside his many potions and remedies. Guinevere bit at her chapped nails, each of them sharing a similar worry. It felt so strange to see their friend in such a dire situation, placed upon a bed so many before have perished in; looking pale, sickly and barely able to breathe. Already, Merlin was in a sweat, chest shuddering and his breath wheezing. He looked horrible, and Odette was tearful at the sight of it.

    She was unsure on what she was meant to do, standing and awaiting Gaius's instruction with the chalice clutched between her fingers. Ronyn came to stand beside her, having followed them all the way from the banquet hall. He stared down at Merlin, still finding it hard to believe just how brave he had been, and how little Fate seemed to have rewarded him for it.

    "Gwen," the physician spoke up, urgent to the blacksmith's daughter who glanced up from where she helped Arthur make Merlin comfortable on the bed, "fetch me some water and a towel." She nodded and sprinted out of the room, her skirts bunched in one hand.

    "Is he going to be all right?" asked Arthur and Odette watched the rush, sick to the stomach. Ronyn placed a hand on her shoulder. She was surprised, but grateful for it.

    "He's burning up."

    "You can heal him, right?" Odette spoke up, voice small in comparison. He glanced back at her, grim. She sounded even less sure, now: "R▬right?"

    "I won't know until I can identify the poison," he told her instead of the truth they all feared. "Pass me the goblet, dear."

    She handed it over and as Gwen returned with the water and bucket, Odette found herself taking them off her with little thought. She set herself down at Merlin's side, dunking the towel in the water before giving it a squeeze and placing it gently on Merlin's shining brow. She remembered how she tended to her mother when she was ill▬she forced herself not to think of it, knowing how that had ended.

    She met Arthur's gaze over him and she pursed her lips, desperate not to show how worried she was. But she knew he saw anyway. Odette just kept her focus on her friend▬someone who possibly meant far more than that, and she gently coaxed his ragged breaths, making sure to drench the cool cloth yet again.

    The tsk of Gaius's tongue made Odette nearly flinch▬she glanced over her shoulder, eyes wide as she recognised the look on the physician's face. She, Ronyn, Guinevere and Arthur all frowned as he picked something out of the goblets rim with a pair of tweezers, "Ah▬" he exclaimed, perplexed by what he found, "▬there's something stuck on the inside..."

    Arthur was on his feet, leaving Odette to tend to Merlin as he followed Gaius to his table. Ronyn shared a quick glance with Gwen before following. "What is it?"

    "Looks like a flower petal of some kind..."

    Odette pursed her lips. She felt Merlin's forehead and her stomach twisted, "Gaius, his brow's on fire▬"

    "Keep him cool," said the physician, "it'll help control his fever▬" as he spoke, he marched to his collection of many books, taking one right off the shelf and setting down onto his workbench. He skimmed through the pages until he found exactly what he was looking for. He held up the flower petal to his gaze, and cursed to himself when he found an exact match.

    "What?" demanded Ronyn, eyes a little frantic. He and Arthur stood at either side of the Court Physician while Gwen crouched down next to Odette, fixing Merlin's tunic so he had room to breathe.

    "The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower," explained Gaius gravely to the Prince and his noble friend. "It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the forest of Baloch. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree."

    He turned the page as he read, revealing a depiction of a deep maze of thick branches and leering creatures. One▬of which▬caught Arthur's attention: an ink sketch of a fearsome taloned lizard. He pointed it out, "That doesn't look particularly friendly..."

    "A 'Cockatrice'," read Ronyn as he spoke. "'The serpent guards the forest of Baloch ... It's evil serpent eyes watch through the undergrowth▬a fearsome creature whose claws will gut a man in seconds ...'" he made a face, leaning back away from the pages. "'It tastes the air with its serpent tongue, sensing movement as far into the distance as the surrounding mountains'."

    "Its venom is potent," murmured Gaius, watching Arthur carefully. "A single drop would mean certain death."

    "'Few who have crossed the mountains of Isgard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive'..." Ronyn's words trailed off, his gaze lifting from the pages of the book to where Merlin writhed under the touch of the cloth from Odette's hand. The servants held looks of troubled concern▬knowing the means to save Merlin's life would be far dangerous than any had sought before.

    Odette could see Arthur considering it, and it sort of terrified her▬and yet it struck her with admiration; he was so ready to risk anything for Merlin: a boy he barely knew for less than a months time. A servant whose life in comparison to his own was nothing in the eyes of everyone else. But to Arthur, a life was a life▬he held Merlin's in very much the same regard as he would any man of noble birth.

    Just like Merlin had risked his own life for Arthur, the Prince was prepared to do the same.

    Arthur found her eyes across the room, and without words spoken, a silent exchange passed between them▬she knew what he was planning to do.

    Gritting his teeth, the Prince of Camelot squared his shoulders and decided: "Sounds like fun."

    Ronyn's eyes widened, "Arthur, it's way too dangerous▬" he began but the Prince cut him off.

    "Gaius," he faced the physician, "if I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?"

    The Court Physician sighed to think about it. His eyes glanced between the Prince, to the girls at Merlin's side, and then finally to Lord Ronyn before saying, "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."

    Those words made Odette turn back to Merlin, and she bit her trembling lip▬he quivered, shivering with a fever that kept him cold and yet flustered at the same time. She did her best to try and calm him down, but it was little use.

    Guinevere watched Arthur march out of the room and Ronyn clench his jaw before running after him. She hesitated, but before she could stop herself, she squeezed Odette's shoulder and rushed to the door, overhearing their conversation in the corridor.

     Ronyn had stopped his friend before he reached the stairs, pulling him back around with a tug of his arm, "You're mad to do this▬going to that forest alone, it's too dangerous."

    "And what do you expect me to do?" asked Arthur angrily. "Let Merlin die?"

    "No, of course not," Lord Vecentia shook his head, "but think about this for a moment▬" he crossed his arms, peering into his friend's fuming gaze, "▬your father won't allow you to risk your life for a servant. You know he won't." Ronyn took a deep breath; he nodded to himself, determined. "But he won't stop me. I'll go get the Mortaeus for Merlin."

    Gwen frowned from the doorway▬she didn't expect Ronyn to be so willing to go into dangerous depths to save Merlin's life; to think of someone other than himself. She remembered how desperate he had been to save his sister that he came to her begging for an answer as she stood behind those bars with her execution hanging on the morrow; how angry she had been for him to ask such of her, realising that he hadn't listened to her when for a moment, she had been pleasantly surprised he did.

    Now, she saw the same determination projected onto someone else.

    Arthur's harsh gaze fell and he frowned at his dearest friend. There was a vulnerability in the Prince's eyes, "No," he said softly and Ronyn's brows furrowed, "I won't watch someone else risk their lives▬Merlin drank that goblet knowing it was poisoned so I wouldn't. I have to be the one to find that flower▬I need to do this. You stay here, keep an eye on him."

    Ronyn didn't like the sound of Arthur's plan, but he argued no more. Instead, he nodded, loyal to the Prince with everything he had. "Yes, sire."

    Arthur's eyes shot back to him, startled at the title. It was the title of a crowned heir▬a regent or a King, not a Prince still a few months before the day he came of age. He stared at his best friend, and found the belief of someone who already was prepared to lay down his loyalty for a monarch who had yet to prove himself in so many ways. Arthur wondered how Ronyn could be so sure he'd be someone he could follow so willingly.

    He cleared his throat, pushing down his emotion and reaching out his arm. Ronyn clasped it, and the two boys shared a stiff nod.

    "Be careful," said the young Lord.

    "Make sure he stays alive until I get back," answered the young Prince.

    "Make sure you're alive to get back," Ronyn soon managed a grin. "Who's going to be there to put me in the stocks next time I almost drink myself to Hell?"

    Arthur snorted a short laugh at him. He let go of his arm to punch him across the shoulder▬Ronyn snickered, knowing that was the friendliest gesture the Prince could manage to ever give.

    Their jokes soon faded away as the severity of the situation settled back down upon them. The Prince nodded yet again before turning away, and he started his way down the stairwell, ready to pay all that he owed to the young manservant on his deathbed because of him.

    Ronyn took a deep breath as he watched him go, wishing he could follow. But he held himself back, following the orders of his future King more than he'd ever follow those of the one sitting on the throne right now.

    Praying he'd come out of this victorious, Ronyn turned away▬only to freeze to see a pair of chocolate brown eyes stare back at him through the physician's ajar door.

    Guinevere's gaze widened and she quickly darted back inside, pretending as if she hadn't seen such a moment that seemed to make her distaste of Lord Ronyn suddenly falter.

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    a/n: everyone in this book either is in love with odette, merlin, gwen▬or has been in love with all three of them. these three hold too much power.

    (psst, not ronyn being arthur's first loyal servant. hot best friends are the top tier best friends▬)

    (no but seriously, ronyn literally is the embodiment of the argument to arthur's insecurities. he is the loyalty where arthur fears he has no one loyal to him. he is the pride arthur searches for. he is the result of every right choice arthur has made for ronyn that has kept him on his own two feet still when he fears he has made none. and arthur is the embodiment of ronyn's morals▬who he admires and wishes he could be, and in the end, just helps him become a better person while ronyn helps arthur see himself as worthy because this show is so symbolic when it comes to friendships and arthur and ronyn are no exception of that).

    (and then ronyn and merlin are a completely different symbolic dynamic that i love as well. merlin is his second chance to make right what he had done to odette. he takes him under his wing when he couldn't with odette. he cherishes him like a younger brother▬in more ways than one but is that spoilers? shit did I just spoil stuff? uh▬ignore my ronyn ramblings but I just love him so much. but anyway, his second chance with merlin makes him take a stand and fix his mistakes with odette as well).

    (don't even get me started on the other symbolism with each friendship and relationship. especially with odette like arthur being symbolic of the sunrise she's searching for aka being her symbol of hope and merlin then being symbolic of her growing relationship in finding light in the dark from the moon (especially when the curse in the swan princess is that she's a swan by day and herself once again once the moon reaches the lake) is not even the beginning of all the cute little metaphors and symbolism I like putting in my books ...)

    I need to stop ranting before I spoil the whole book I'm sorry.

    anyway odette is so ignorant to her future like she's literally insulting herself lol.

    season one:

    morgana: fuk arthur
    odette: yeah, fuk arthur!

    season two:

    odette: hey, guess who I hooked up with last night?
    morgana: who?
    odette: arthur pendragon

    morgana: why would you do that?
    odette: you said fuk arthur.
    odette: ... you didn't mean literally ...