Too Old To Heal
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Merlin's POV)
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"Ah Lady Milicent, and Sir Rowley. Welcome to camelot." Uther sweetly greeted kissing the back of the ladys hand, and clasping the obles.
"King Uther its an honor to be here." Rowleys booming voice echoed across the courtyard.
"No the honor is all mine. I see you are looking well Milicent, and the baby?" Uther enquired gesturing to the very noticable bump in gown. A soft smile graced her lips as she placed a hand over her stomach. Eyes gleaming in joy.
"He is a fighter just like his father." She joked rubbing her bump.
"Well do make sure to stop by our court physicans chambers while you are here. He is the best physican I have ever laid eyes upon." Uther proudly stated completely missing the look of disgust on Sir Rowleys face. I didn't which gave me pause as I examined our guest closer. On the outside he seemed like just another nobleman. Yet looking closer I couldn't help but notice the dark aura surrounding him. I still haven't informed Gauis that my magic allows me to sense a person's aura. Figured that was one skill I could keep to myself. Frowning and deciding to keep a close eye on our guest I turned my attention back to the king.
"I will be sure to do that. Thank you your Majesty." Milicent agreed smiling.
"Anyway My sons maidservant here will be at your beck and call while you are here." Scurrying foreaard at the kings gesture. I quickly dropped into a curtsy in front of the guests.
"It shall be an honor to serve you my name is Merlin let me know if there's anything you need." I softly stated keeping my eyes firmly on the ground as I rose from my bow.
"Thank you Merlin. Would you mind showing me to the physicans chambers. I will like to meet this skilled physician the king speaks of." Lady Milicent softly asks smiling. Smiling back I nodded motioning for her to follow. I could already tell Milicent and I would get a long just fine. As for her husband...
"You girl hold on. I am coming to. I want to make sure this physician is actually worthy of the praise Uther gives him." Sir Rowley snaps scowling at me.
"At that I will take my leave than. You girl. Marla isn't it? Make sure their visit is a good one or I will have you whipped within an inch of your life." Uther threatened eyes flashing as he turned on his heel marching swiftly away.
Gulping in dread I motioned for the guests to follow me as I made my way home. Pushing open the chamber doors and holding it for our guests to walk through. I called out to my mentor. Alerting him to our presence.
"Gauis. Lady Milicent, and Sir Rowley are here to see you." Gauis upon hearing this quickly got up from his perch at the table where he had been grinding herbs. Wiping his hands clean on a rag he smiled as he rushed to greet our guests.
"Ah sir Rowley, Lady Milicent its a pleasure to meet you. Is there something I can do for you?" Rowley scowled his eyes narrowing as they scanned Gauis time wirn face, and callosed wrinkled hands. I tense weary of the darkness raidating from his aura. His aura was already dark before but now its like it became ten times worse. Where Milicents was light and floral with her easy going personality, and soft nature. Rowleys was dark, and dangerous promising death to those who dare cross him. I shivered involuntarily as his aura seemed to snuff out the light around him. Even Milicent aura seemed to cower from him. It was Milicent who finally broke through the tension. Stepping forward with a smile on her face.
"Yes Uther has spoken good things of your skills as a physician and I decided to pop by for a short visit to meet the man Uther raved of." Gauis smiled at that.
"I would not know the mind of the king my lady. I merely do what I can. I thank you though for your kind words." Gauis humbly anwsered bowing his head in gratitude.
"Not like you deserve it." Rowley mumbled crossing his arms over his chest.
"Pardon me?" Gauis polietly enquired raising an eyebrow. Huffing and rolling his eyes Sir Rowley Repeated his words.
"I said you stupid old bird that you don't deserve such high praise. When the king raved about your skills I was expecting to find a wise young physican. Yet here we are looking at just some old crack pot whose time was up long ago." Rowley spat glaring daggars at my uncle. I cringed as Gauis bright green aura seemed to dull under the harsh words. How dare he hurt my uncle like this. What does he know anyway about the healing art. I was about to say as much when I was beaten to the punch by non other than his wife.
"Rowley appologize at once." She scolded her aura turning dangerous in her anger yet still caring that soft floral feel.
"Why should I. We both know its true. He is to old to be a physician and you know it."
"ROWLEY!!" She exclaimed horrified by his words.
"I'm leaving I will find another servant to show me to my rooms. When you come to your senses come find me." He spat marching away. Slamming the door harshly behind him. Milicent turning back to Gauis her aura once more light and flowery, smiled appologitically at us.
"I'm sorry about my husband. He can be a bit much sometimes. Well I should go after hi...oh" she exclaimed wincing in pain as she placed a hand over her stomach. Within seconds Gauis was beside her. Leading her over to sit on the cot.
"Is she ok Gauis?" I anxiously asked coming over to stand beside my uncle as he checked the whimpering noble woman. After a moment he sighed straightening and rummaging through his herbs.
"Yes she is fine. She just has been over exerting herself is all. Here we are." Gauis stated returning to Milicent side with a vial.
"This should help with the pain. Take this twice a day for the next week. Should help with your false contractions. I will send Merlin up with the next vial tonight." Gauis ordered handing her the vial. Weakly smiling Milicent took the vial from his grasp. Downing it in one swig she pushed herself to her feet.
"Thank you Gauis." She softly thanked exiting the room and going after her husband.
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"Honestly Uther I don't know why you keep that man around." Sir Rowley complained cutting harshly into his stake as I poured him more wine.
"With how old that man is I'm surprised he hasn't killed someone yet." By this point Morgana who had been quietly whispering to Gwen as she filled Morgana's cup started taking intrest in the conversation. Even Arthur who had been quiet this far seemed bothered.
"Gauis isn't that old. Besides he has years of experience and knowledge on the healing art. I highly doubt he would make such a colossal mistake as to aciddently kill someone." Morgana pointed out frowning at the nobleman.
"I have to agree with Morgana father. Gauis has been a loyal and skilled physician for years." Arthur agreed plopping a bite of potato into his mouth.
"Even a skilled physician can make mistakes. Especially when they have been doing something for years. Gauis is old. Maybe it is time to find someone younger and more capable for the postion. I even have just the physican in mind. He is young and a very capable physican." Sir Rowley insisted.
"Father you can't honestly be listening to this nonsense?" Morgana exclaimed furious at the nobles words.
"SILENCE I AM THE KING AND I WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO FIRE GAUIS!" Uther spat eyes flashing in his anger. The nobleman instantly shut up at that.
"As of right now Gauis has given me no cause to doubt his abilities. So unless he makes a mistake as you say he will. He will remain right where he is, and that the end of it." With that the room fell silent. Morgana and Arthur both looked relieved at their dads words but one look at the suffocating aura seeping out of Sir Rowley, and I knew. This was far from over.
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"I am telling you Arthur. There is something not right about that nobleman." I grunted cowering under the shield I was given as Arthur waked away at it with his sword.
"Merlin we have been over this. You can't be saying stuff like that about those above you. The king could have your head for treason if he ever heard you say such things." Arthur sighed Slamming his sword harshly against the barrier sending me stumbling to the ground.
"Maybe but that still doesn't change the fact that Sir Rowley is up to something." I huffed taking Arthurs offered hand and pulling myself to my feet.
"Merlin..." Arthur groaned turning away from me.
"Arthur I'm serious. I..." My next words were cut off by a comotion leading to the physicans chambers. Glancing at each other we both dropped what we were doing, and raced toward the commotion. Pushing past the knights blocking the door we froze in shock at the disarray in front of us. A hysterical Milicent sobbing on the floor, Sir Rowley fighting against two guards attempting to get at a cowering physician with a bloody nose. Than there was Uther pushing past the knights looking as regal as ever as he addressed the situation in the room.
"SILENCE!!!" Uther boomed. Freezing the room with a glare.
"Now will someone tell me whats going on in here?" He demanded gazing from face to face waiting expectantly. It was Milicents hysterical wailing that broke the silence.
"My baby! He killed my baby!" Uthers hardened eyes softened as he turned his gaze to the sobbing woman in front of him.
"Who did my dear?" Uther gently asked turning to her. Instead of anwsering she merely pointed at the still bloody nosed physician.
"Gauis explain now!" Uther snapped eyes hardening once more.
"From what I could see someone tampered with the potion I sent up to Milicent for her false contractions. Being tampering with it the perpetrator has inadvertently caused a miscarriage. Killing her unborn child." Gauis explained.
"Tampered? Thats a bunch of rat dung if ever I heard it. You mixed the potion wrong killing my baby. Its your fault. I knew this would happen. I never should have allowed such an old man care for my wife. Its your fault." Rowley spat leaping for my uncle teeth bared only to be caught by the guards once more.
"Let me go that man needs to pay for what he did. Let me go." He yelled struggling fiercely against his captors.
"SILENCE!!!" Bellowed the king pausing the nobles struggles.
"Gauis as much as I hate to lose such a loyal member of my court. I can't dismiss Sir Rowleys claims. Maybe it is time you retired. Gauis by my order as King of camelot you are stripped of your postion as court physican. You shall be given a purse of gold and I ask you to find somewhere else to lodge by tonight. A new physican will be hired as soon as possible. I am sorry old friend but your too old to heal." Uther solemnly declared before waltzing from the room the guards hot on his heels. Sir Rowley with one final glare at Gauis picked up his weeping wife in his arms and marched from the room. Everyone too shocked to notice the triumphant smirk on one Noblemans face.
"Uncle." I exclaimed rushing to his side. Arthur assiting as we moved him to sit on the bed. Grabbing some water and a rag. I began to mop up the blood from his nose as I worriedly gazed into his tearful eyes.
"Its ok Merlin. Maybe Uthers right. I have been doing this for 50 years now. Maybe it is time I stepped down." I stared horrified my hand hovering over his nose with the rag. I was about to scold him for giving up when Arthur beat me to it.
"Nonsense. Gauis you are the best physican in all of Abilon. I don't know who tampered with your potion but I promise I will find them and clear your name. You will be back to mixing herbs in no time. For now we just need to be patient." Arthur stated earning a smile from both Gauis and I.
"Thank you my boy. Well I should probably start packing." He sighed clammorimg to his feet and collecting his items from the room.
"But where will you go?" I worriedly enquired watching him pack.
"I have some friends in the lower town who might let me stay a few days. After that I will most likely leave camelot." He sighed closing his bag and hoisting it over his shoulder.
"Leave Camelot? No we need you Gauis. Camelot needs you." I cried aghast. He merely smiled as he pushed past Arthur and I without a word and headed for the lower town.
"Don't worry Merlin we will get him back. I promise you." Arthur reassured patting my back before leaving me alone in my now empty home.
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"Ahh you must be Merlin. I am edwin the new Physican. " He greeted smirking at me as he set down his bag on one of the cots.
"So your the physican Sir. Rowley spoke of." I coldly replied arms tightly crossed over my chest. Face blank.
"Yes I do so hope we can get along." He smiled eyes locked on my face. I scoffed eyes narrowing at his disgusting aura that gave off the feeling of slime oozing down your skin. Making me want to gag.
"I doubt it. I may not be able to prove it now but i know it was you and sir Rowleywho tampered with that potion. I don'tknow why he would want to kill his own child, but I am going to find out." I scoffed pushing past him and making my way toward the door. I didn't get far before i felt his slimy fingers on my arm holding me in place. Glaring over my shoulder at him i raised my eyebrow waiting for an explanation as to why his disgusting fingers were touching me.
"Hmm I wouldn't go digging too deep if I were you. I would hate for something unfortunate to happen as a result of your meddling." He sweetly warned making me shiver as his slimy aura surrounded me. Breaking out of his grasp I raced out of there like hells hounds were nipping at my heels. I knew it what evers going on Sir Rowley is involved and its not good.
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"Thanks again for letting me stay in your ante chamber tonight. That new physican gives me the creeps." I laughed placing my stuff on the bed in the little room.
"Its no problem Merlin. Gwen doesn't use it since she stays with her dad so I figured you might as well use it. Besides I don't trust that physican ethier. When he brought me my sleeping potion today he kept asking me these wierd questions about whether or not my door is guarded at night." I frowned at that not liking how sinster that sounded. My mind instantly snapped back to a week ago when Morgana was nearly kidnapped. We still haven't found the nobleman who orchestrated the whole thing. Eyes narrowing I realized that maybe her attack and Gauis being sacked aren't as far apart as they seem.
"Anyway I will see you in the morning. Night Merlin." Morgana called exiting the ante chamber and closing the day.
"Night Morgana." I mumbled my brain running a mile a minute as new therioes began to form.
Later that night lying in bed listening for movement, i waited hoping I was wrong and just being paranoid. Yet not even 5 minutes later my therioes from earlier were confirmed as i heard the squeak of her chamber doors opening. Slipping out of bed and tip toeing to the door. I quietly push it open. Peeking out at the 2 shadowy fiqures slinking toward the princess's bed.
"See I told you it would work. Physican are able to go just about anywhere without being questioned. It was only matter of time before Morgana fell to our grasp." Edwins quiet chuckle remarked.
"Yeah at the cost of my child. You said tampering with the potion would only make her sick not kill our child." Sir Rowleys quiet grumble stated.
"Details details. At least now you can take the lady Morgana as your own. With her in your grasp the king will have no choice but to give up his crown if he wants her a live." Edwin stated brushing off the nobles concern.
"Fine lets just get this over with before the guards wake up from you drugging them." Oh no you don't I thought as I saw them begin dragging the princess away. Bursting from the room. I used my magic to tbrow them across the room before they realized I was there. Knocking them unconscious instantly. I chuckled, silently wishing all my battles were this easy. Grabbing the rope they had been using to tie Morgana with I quickly wrapped it around them. Tieing them together before returning to Morgana's side. I frowned as I realized why them dragging her hadn't woke her up. The jerks drugged her to. No doubt put it in her sleeping draughts. Now I am really glad I stayed in her ante chambers.
Making sure the attackers were still bound and unconscious, and breaking two vases over their heads so it looked like i knocked them out with those. I raced through the halls calling for help. With in no time the king, prince, and not drugged guards were in Morgana's chambers. Along with Gauis who a frantic Leon had dragged out of the lower town.
"Will she be ok Gauis." The king worriedly asked eyeing his ward with concern.
"I believe so sire. She is merely asleep. She should be fine by morning." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at that. Once satified that his ward truly wasn't in danger the king turned his attention to me.
"You Margaret explain." The king snapped once again using the wrong name.
"Well sire you see I was weary of the new physican from the start. He seemed far to intrested in Morgana so I arranged with The lady to stay in her ante chamber just in case. When those two tried to sneak in and kidnap the princess. I managed to sneak up on them and knock them out with those vases before tying them up and going for help." I lied gesturing to the vases. It may not be the complete truth but I wasn't about to tell him my magic sensed their sinster aura. Or that i threw them against tbe wall.
The King thankfully seemed to buy my lie. Nodding as he waved for the guards to take the prisioners to the dungeon.
"Yes well I commend you for your bravery and loyalty to Morgana. As for you Gauis I deeply appologize for buying into Rowleys lies. I should have known you wouldn't make such a grave mistake. You have my appologies and are hereby reinstated as the court physican." Uther announced nodding once to Gauis before leaving the room. The guards following close behind. Arthur a huge grin on his face, approached Gauis clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Good to have you back Gauis. I knew dad would eventually come around." He chirped before following his dad out the door. I rolled my eyes at his retreating back before turning my attention to my uncle. Who was regarding me with a raised eyebrow.
"Vases?" He asked doubtfully. I grinned sheepishly at him.
"Mmm maybe not vases exactly, but it worked." If anything his eyebrow seemed to climb higher as he gazed at me.
"Ok so i may have used a tiny bit of magic, but hegmy it worked didn't it."
"And if they tell the king?"
"Trust me with how furious Uther was I doubt he will be listening to anything they say." Sighing Gauis merely shook his head a fond smile playing across his face.
"What am I going to do with you child." He laughed.
"Go home." I anwsered. Rolling his eyes and laughing he nodded smiling at me.
"Yes Merlin we can go home."
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The next day at dawn say 2 terrified men tied to a stake in the middle of the courtyard. A huge crowd of angry people surrounding them.
"My good people. These traitors have been found guilty of conspiring to kidnap my ward the lady Morgana and have caused the death of an unborn child. Normally I reserve burbings for sorcerers but as they dared to harm the lady Morgana. I will make an exception. Light the prye." Uther commanded waving for the torches to be dropped. Only than did I realize the one holding tbe torch was none other than lady Milicents herself. I blinked in shock as I stared in horror at her once beautiful floral aura turned dark with grief and rage. Her burning eyes staring up hatefully at her husband and accomplice. Sir Rowley whimpered in fear as he gazed into his wife's hate filled gaze.
"Milicent please I didn't mean to. It was only supposed to make you sick temporarily. Please." She sneered up at him. Eyes hardening further at his words.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better. You killed my baby. You nearly killed me. If Gauis hadn't been there to reverse the effects I would have died to from that tampered potion. You murdered my baby. Now you must die."
"Milicent please."
"Goodbye Rowley." She spat tossing the torch onto the wood. Igniting it in seconds. I watched horrified as her aura blackened even further as she watched her husband scream in pain. A smile upon her face. This is the results of Uthers tryanny. The results of him normalizing revenge and hatred. A once beautiful soul. Turned dark by grief and pain. Uther what have you done.