AN: I've been sitting on this chapter a while now because I wasn't completely sure if I wanted to end it where I did. After much deliberating, however, I came to the conclusion to just post this chapter as is. So, here you guys go!

Just as much as I personally hate reading/writing disclaimers, they're a necessary evil. *sigh* So...

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Arthur stared at the bloodied dagger laid on the table. Hard as he tried, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling that the blade was staring right back at him, mocking him. Gaius had been patching Merlin up for the past hour or so while questioning Arthur relentlessly about what had happened.

Truth was that Arthur wasn't sure what had happened. One moment he was speaking to his Knights and the next his manservant was laying on the floor in a growing puddle of blood. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Merlin was attacked within Camelot, let alone a council meeting! The incident was enough to unnerve him, to say the least. Two of Camelot's guard had had hidden agendas. Who else did?

By now, Gaius was cleaning up the soaked bandages and rags around the room. His brow was furrowed as he was deep in thought, mulling over the situation just as much as the King.

"Gaius?" Arthur breathed, careful not to disturb the now-sleeping Merlin. "Will he be alright?"

"I'm not sure, Sire," Gaius answered. When he began to treat Merlin, the boy had developed a rising fever. But it was when his body started to tremble that Gaius became even more concerned. This was more than just a stabbing. He knew there was something missing, but he didn't need the King idling around his chambers while he tried to narrow the possibilities of just what.

Before Arthur could ask him more questions, Gaius continued. "Sire, this has been a trying day for us all. You should retire for the night. There's nothing we can do now except wait."

Arthur nodded. "Let me know if there's any change, Gaius."

"Certainly, Sire."

Arthur gave the ailing Merlin and the worrisome Gaius one last glance before turning and walking out of the physician's chambers.

What he wouldn't give to get his hands on the two traitors wasting away in the dungeons below his feet…

He was the one who would soon decide their fate, so he at least took solace in that.

But still…it wasn't the same.

If only he wasn't King for just one small moment.

Gaius picked up the dagger on the table. If he was right, the blade held the answer to Merlin's current state.

Merlin had all the tell-tale signs of poisoning, but his symptoms were intensified. His condition was declining by the minute. Since Arthur had taken his leave not a moment ago, Merlin's breathing became more laborious, leaving him trembling even more with his shuddering breaths.

This poison was different, somehow; definitely a poison Gaius wasn't familiar with. Perhaps it was a poison derived from magic itself. If that was the case, there was only one way to fight magic.

Gaius set down the dagger and yanked his stack of spell books towards him. His magic was about as weak as his old bones. But he had to try if it meant saving Merlin and all the greatness the boy was destined for. He flipped open the most promising of the books and began scanning the pages for a cure.

Arthur sat at his desk going over several reports on recent patrols through Camelot. Still no sign of Morgana, he thought. He was beyond frustrated. There was no way he could know her next move; no way to prepare against the perils of magic and sorcery and no true way to protect Camelot and its people.

He sighed as he brought his hands to his face, blocking the morning sun from his view.

Arthur hadn't gotten much sleep the previous evening after he left Merlin, choosing to spend his time reading reports until the sun rose. He needed to keep himself busy to avoid thinking about yesterday's events, but he couldn't put the thoughts off for much longer. After all, today was the day he would face them, the pair that brought this whole thing about.

The King was brought out of his reverie by a knock at his door. "Enter," he ordered.

He had to admit his heart fell a little when he didn't see Merlin's goofy grin as the door swung open.

"Gaius?!" Arthur wasn't expecting to see the physician so soon, which led him to some conclusions he had hoped he didn't have to make.

"Merlin? Is he-?" He couldn't find it in himself to finish.

"My Lord," Gaius began. "Merlin lives."

AN: So another Chapter is done! Yay! Sorry for the irregular updates. I'll admit to having a bad case of writer's block recently. Don't worry though, I'm not abandoning this story! I know what I want to write, I just don't know how! You fellow fictioners know how it goes, right? Lol

Anyways, please feel free to leave a review! I reply to all of my reviews so don't think it'll go unnoticed! And to my guest reviewers (there's a few of you!), thanks for all the kind words! They really keep me going :)

Also, thanks for all the story favorites and follows. Those definitely don't go unnoticed either!

If you haven't checked out my sister's (KnightOwl17) stories already, YOU SHOULD! If you like my story, you'll definitely LOVE hers!

Til' then, MerTrexTer :D