Chapter Text
He's Just A Boy
Lynette stayed diligently beside Merlin, caring for him as best as possible while they waited for Arthur to return. Her cousin’s illness had continued to spread as her father predicted, with Lynette’s research doing little to prevent it, much less stop it. According to all her research, death was inevitable, and Gaius was trying to decide whether to send for Hunith. Lynette had already penned the letter to her Aunt, but they left it on the table when Gwen called them to Merlin’s side. Lynette reached him first, her skirts flying behind her as she checked his fever with the back of her hand.
“He's getting hotter.”
“He’s practically on fire,” Lynette exclaimed, placing another cool rag on his forehead.
“Him. Liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf.” Merlin mumbled as he began to fidget in the bed.
“What language is that?” Gwen asked.
“None. The fever's taken hold. None of those words are his own.”
“His pulse is weaker,” Lynette announced, her fingers positioned on his wrist to listen to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Gaius rolled the sleeve of Merlin’s tunic up to reveal a circular rash on his arm, alerting the others to a more pressing issue.
“What is it?” Gwen asked as she peered over his shoulder.
“That can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage.” Gaius muttered as he moved to check the book with his magnifying glass.
Lynette moved away from Merlin, leaving him in Gwen’s care as she consulted her stack of books. All of them said the same thing: that the potency of this particular poison was inevitable. The blonde looked over at her cousin, and then her eyes flitted to where Hunith’s letter sat. She had written that as a precaution, out of love for her aunt and the drive to do the right thing. Lynette felt desperation rise as she prayed she wouldn’t have to deliver it. The only news she wanted to give her aunt in Ealdor was that Merlin was thriving in Camelot, but it seemed she would have to pray for a miracle. The flower was Merlin’s only hope, and all the pressure lay directly on Arthur’s shoulders.
“What does that mean?” Gwen asked.
“It says here that once a rash appears, death will follow within two days.”
Gwen looked as distraught as Lynette felt as the blonde replied, “You said he had four days. That is what my books say.”
“Something's increased the flower's potency,” Gaius replied, albeit reluctantly, adding to the girl’s fears. “It warns that the Mortaeus's effect will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation.”
“An enchantment?” Gwen questioned. “But Bayard's no sorcerer.”
“No, he isn't,” Lynette responded, more than a little put off by the idea.
“Then who did this?”
“It can't have been.” Gaius trailed off, lost in thought. “She wouldn't dare come here. Unless…”
Lynette looked over at her father, surprised by his choice of words. While he had initially mumbled them to himself, Lynette could pick up on the sheer confusion in his tone. The possibility of the culprit being somebody Gaius knew from before magic was outlawed was slim due to people being in hiding. The few friends her father did have from that life, he had made sure to sever all ties to for his safety and his daughter's safety. He had helped many to escape Camelot the night the Purge on magic had begun. Her mother had been one of them, the memory still ingrained in her mind, playing like a nightmare.
“Unless what?” Gwen asked, breaking Gaius out of his thought process.
Gaius turned to his daughter, “What happened to that girl?”
Lynette shook her head, “In all the chaos, I didn’t see-”
“Which girl?” Gwen interrupted.
“Just before Merlin burst into the hall, one of Bayard's serving girls took him outside,” Gaius said, hoping to help one of the girls remember.
“She had dark hair. Very beautiful.” Gwen mumbled.
“Find her. Quickly.”
Gwen fled the room, not wasting any more of Merlin’s precious time. Merlin twitched in the bed as Lynette replaced the rag on his forehead with a cool, fresh one that had just been soaking. Merlin leaned into her touch and mumbled her name, and the girl did her best to soothe him. Lynette watched her go, wanting to follow but knowing her father needed her expertise more. The blonde knew who to look for and had some questions about how the poison made it into the goblet. Something wasn’t adding up, but Lynette trusted Gwen to finish the job.
The physician carefully examined Merlin’s new rash, glad of his daughter’s help as she came to his side. She carried one of her books with her, joining him, wanting to be more valuable than she felt she had been. It felt like time had stopped as Lynette read further into his symptoms, doing her best to stop the inevitable. Gaius was by her side as he tackled the problem head-on, neither willing to quit until they had saved their family. Merlin had just entered her life to bring magic and hope to a kingdom that desperately needed it. Lynette wasn’t ready to lose him to a poison she was determined to prevent.
The blonde was the only one to acknowledge Gwen’s return as the maidservant came rushing in. Gaius was still engrossed in his research for Merlin as Lynette sat at the table, her books spread out with various herbs in bundles that one of the guards offered to collect for her. She jumped when the door slammed open to reveal her friend, out of breath and looking full of more questions than answers. She seemed as perplexed as ever as she returned to Merlin’s side, taking over for Gaius. Lynette could only assume it had something to do with the servant girl, Cara.
Merlin stirred restlessly when Gaius left his side, and Gwen tended to his needs. Lynette wanted to return to him but needed to help her father research his developing symptoms further. They were nowhere near where they should be, and that perplexed Lynette. It appeared they were more reliant on Arthur than she first thought. She knew it would be days before they saw Arthur return with the antidote, and her patience was thin. They would need the flower to end the progression of the poison before they could tackle his symptoms, and it unnerved her more than it should.
Gwen continued to battle his fever as Lynette moved to one of the different books she had scattered about the room. Most were on poisons, while others were herbs that could slow the process of symptoms. However, the more she read, the more discouraged she felt as the blonde looked at her father. Gaius was working on a salve to slow the rash growing on Merlin’s arm, but it didn’t appear that any good news would come of it. His eyebrows creased as the old man sighed, rubbing his forehead before turning to Gwen, who never left Merlin’s side.
“Let me guess,” He began. “She wasn't there.”
Gwen nodded, looking perplexed, “No one has seen her since the banquet. Who is she?”
“Not who she claims to be,” Gaius answers in a grave tone.
Lynette jumped from her place on the bench as a book slammed shut, surprised to see her father openly frustrated. He was known to monitor his emotions when a patient needed him. They relied upon it when the kingdom landed on hard times, but then she remembered why this was different. This wasn’t a random villager seeking medical attention, although Lynette doubted that made a difference. This was his nephew, and if Gaius failed, they would need to inform Hunith that her son died. Lynette’s eyes drifted over to where the letter sat just out of reach on the table. It was a letter that shouldn’t have needed to be sent, yet they had written it all the same.
“But you know, don't you?” Gwen asked.
“Cara, though that's not her name,” Gaius replied. “Not her real name, anyway.”
“Father?” Lynette questioned in surprise. “Who is she?”
“A powerful sorceress.”
“Well, we should tell Uther,” Gwen offered. “Maybe he could send riders out after her.”
“No, she'll be long gone.”
“How do you know?” Lynette asked. “Have you met her before?”
“Not in this form, no. It's impossible to know where she will go, though,” Gaius answered honestly. “Oh, no.”
“What?”
“She knows the only place an antidote can be found is the Forest of Balor,” Gaius said as dread filled the room. “Arthur could be walking into a trap.”
“Arthur. Arthur,” Merlin groaned in his feverish state. “Arthur, it...it's a trap. It's a trap.”
“His fever's getting worse, isn't it?” Gwen asked.
“It’s all we can do to keep his fever under control,” Lynette said as she steeped the last of the Wolfbane into a poultice. “Much less put a stop to that growing rash.”
“The poison's setting in,” Gaius confirmed.
“Eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume.”
Gaius went to soothe Merlin, asking Gwen, “Could you fetch me some more Wolfbane? It appears we used the last of it.”
“Yes, of course.”
Lynette watched her go and was surprised to see a messenger standing outside the door with his arm poised to knock. The boy looked new to his job, shaking in intimidation between the guards the prince had stationed outside the physician's chamber. Arthur had gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of those he cared for before departing. While the prince knew Bayard was not the culprit of the poisoning, he didn’t like the idea of leaving the woman he cared for and her family unprotected. Lynette ushered the messenger inside, offering him a kind smile as the boy glanced nervously over where Merlin lay unconscious.
“Arthur... swa…” Merlin croaked out.
Gaius held his hand, encouraging his nephew, “Merlin, you must fight it.”
The boy seemed to flinch at being near someone so sickly and quickly handed the letter to Lynette before departing. The girl watched him go with a peculiar gaze, but her mind didn’t rest on the messenger long. Merlin didn’t have that kind of time. She read the letter and was surprised to find its sender to be the King of Camelot. While she knew he would eventually discover Arthur’s escape from the castle, she had hoped she would at least have a few more days. Lynette showed the contents of the message to her father, whose only response was to not keep him waiting. The blonde left hurriedly, casting one last glance toward her cousin, who reached a hand out to her as if in search of her. She wanted to return to him, but she knew better. The longer the servant kept Uther waiting, the worse his wrath would be.
She went toward Morgana’s chambers, flinching when she heard his fury echoing through the halls. She knocked on Morgana’s chambers timidly, hearing Morgana’s voice before entering. Uther stood next to one of the windows, his fist tightening as he shook in apparent fury. He was still dressed in his ceremonial cloak from the feast, and his crown, a symbol of power, sat on his head. It had been days since Arthur’s departure from Camelot, and it looked as if the king had neither slept nor eaten. Lynette looked worriedly over at Morgana, who didn’t appear surprised at her guardian’s reaction. She was in one of her night dresses, having changed herself so she wouldn’t bother Gwen or Lynette as they tended to Merlin.
Lynette had to clear her throat to announce her presence, not trusting her voice to be strong as the king rounded on her, “You knew about this, didn't you?”
Lynette stepped back as his eyes landed on her, “My lord?”
“Don't lie to me.” Uther spat. “He tells you everything.”
“Arthur’s old enough to make decisions for himself.” Morgana intervened, but Uther held up a finger to silence her.
“Arthur, indeed, is more than capable of deciding who is worth saving,” Lynette stated.
“He's just a boy,” Uther countered, " a boy who still does not know what it takes to be king.”
Morgana scoffed, “Have you seen your son recently? You have to let him make his own mind up.”
“Even if it means letting him go to his death?”
Lynette faltered slightly at Uther’s words. She had been prepared to defend Arthur’s choice, yet the blonde had forgotten who stood before her. Uther may be the King of Camelot, but he was also Arthur’s father. He had every right to worry about his son's safety and the kingdom's future. What caused Lynette to not lose her momentum with Uther was that he had no authority to decide who was worth saving. She wouldn’t let him have the final say over whether Merlin lived or died. Arthur had made his choice. Uther must now make a choice on whether or not to support his son.
“Yes,” Lynette answered firmly. Your son chose to put someone else’s needs above his own—a quality that a good king should have. Despite what you may believe, the prince has a mind of his own, and I did nothing to influence his decision to pursue the antidote. If you will excuse me, sire, I must return to my cousin's side.”
The girl turned on her heel, missing Morgana’s proud smirk as she left the wards' chambers. Uther yelled for the guards to seize her, and they did, albeit reluctantly. Lynette did little to resist the knights, knowing they would let her go if it were up to them. Arthur had also sent this particular pair to watch over Morgana amidst the chaos following the banquet. They had received the same briefing as the guards outside the physician's chambers: protect what the prince valued most . From the beginning, he had declared openly that Lynette was at the top of that list.
“If you arrest Lynette, then what?” Morgana countered, issuing an ultimatum of her own. “You will have taken Merlin’s best chance at recovery, and if he dies, I will never forgive you.”
Merlin would need all the help he could get, and Morgana’s words made it clear that having Lynette arrested would have consequences. The King stared at his ward, surprised that she and Arthur were fighting for the boy's life despite his low station. He looked over at the physician's daughter, who stood between the guards who had just arrested her. Lynette looked at him calmly, trying not to show her surprise. She wanted to believe he would let her go, but something in her told her this was different. Uther had noticed the shift in her relationship with his son, and it was apparent that he disapproved.
“You are wrong. Merlin’s best chance is the court physician, not his daughter, who sends my son on a suicide mission,” Uther spoke, pointing at Morgana.
“But -” Morgana began but was silenced by Uther.
“Take her to the dungeon.”
Lynette’s eyes widened as the guards dragged her down to the dungeon, locking her up with looks of remorse. She didn’t blame them but instead asked one of them to deliver a message to Arthur when he returned. He promised to do so before leaving Lynette alone. She rubbed her wrists as the shackles bit into her soft skin. The cold seeped into the unforgiving stone walls as the blonde curled onto the little patch of straw in the corner of the cell. She could hear Lord Bayard and his men grumbling about their treatment, but she paid them no mind. Instead, she fell into a restless sleep, not knowing what else to do as she waited for her father or Gwen to come search for her.
Lynette wasn’t sure how many days went by. Every day, she woke to a plate of stale bread and water, no secret note or news of her cousin. The guards on rotation were either loyal to their king or their prince. There was no in-between. Lynette took slight comfort in knowing some still viewed her as a friend, especially when it was someone she knew. Leon had been to visit her a couple of times, but he had no news of Merlin to offer. Gaius had barred anyone from entering, save for Gwen. The blonde had begged Leon to deliver the news of her arrest to her father, leaving Gaius to choose who needed him more. Lynette had made Leon promise to deliver her message that her father should stay with Merlin, and so far, he had listened to her.
When she woke that evening from a nap, Lynette heard the sound of keys rattling and the cell door being opened. She dared to hope it was the end of her prison sentence and she could return to Merlin’s side. However, all her wishes to be with her cousin came crashing down as her brown eyes met the familiar blue hues of Arthur Pendragon. His face contorted in rage as he came to her side, placing his thin leather jacket around her shoulders to ward off the cold. She leaned into his hold, grateful for his safe and timely return, but knowing that him being here only meant one thing. Uther was using his never-ending power, and Lynette knew she wouldn’t like the outcome.
Arthur pulled her closer, his look of concern changing from her to one of rage toward his father. “What is she doing here? She has nothing to do with this!”
“You disobeyed me.”
“Of course I did. A man's life was at stake,” Arthur said before taking a deep breath to calm himself. Nothing would come of him losing his temper. “Do not let Merlin die because of something I did.”
“Why do you care so much? The boy is just a servant,” Uther said as his eyes drifted to where Lynette sat, wrapped in his son’s arms. She was much thinner than when he had last seen her. Her face was worn, and her wrists were raw from the shackles that had been placed on them. “They both are.”
“Merlin knew the danger he was putting himself in. He knew what would happen if he drank from that goblet, but he did it anyway. My servant saved my life.”
“Arthur, did you get the flower?” Lynette asked, desperate to hear good news.
Arthur nodded, “I did, Nanet, and there's more. There was a woman on the mountain. She knew I was there for the flower. I don't think it was Bayard who tried to poison me.”
“Of course it was,” Uther said, unready to hear the truth.
“It’s true,” Lynette said. “My father said he knew who this person was. He had seen her type of magic before.”
“Impossible.”
For a moment, Lynette caught a glimpse in Uther’s eye that stunned her. It was so fast that she would have missed it if she hadn’t been paying attention. It looked to be fear. He looked to be fearful of the implication behind Arthur’s words. That someone had been able to easily infiltrate the castle. Not only infiltrate but attempt to assassinate a member of the royal family and cause a war in the process. Whoever this woman was, she had a vendetta against Camelot, and Lynette was scared to know if it was just the kingdom or Uther. What didn’t make sense was how her father knew the woman. He had severed all ties to that life yet had quickly recognized the sorceress's signature.
Arthur pulled the delicate yellow flower from his pocket and held it out to the King, “Gaius knows what to do with it. Put me in the stocks for a week, a month even—I don't care. Just make sure it gets to him. I'm begging you.”
Uther took the flower in his hands and looked between the young couple. He was momentarily reminded of his wife as he looked at Lynette. She had always counseled restraint in his actions, something he knew Lynette would do for Arthur if given the chance. The two made an excellent pair if Uther was honest with himself. Lynette had been a constant source of support for the young prince and spoke the language of Camelot’s people. However, he also knew that what a man wanted mattered little when a kingdom was in need, and a girl had jeopardized that.
Arthur’s hope and Lynette’s desperation solidified Uther’s decision. He needed Arthur to put the kingdom's needs above his own ambition. He cared little for the hatred that would be directed his way. The king cared that he would be ready when Camelot passed to his son. His fist closed on the delicate petals, crushing them firmly before letting the flower drop to the cell floor. Lynette’s scream could be heard throughout the prison as Arthur shouted after Uther’s retreating form. It took everything in Uther not to flinch at the sound and the anguish behind it. He knew the feeling well but stood firm by his decision.
“You must learn there's a right and a wrong way of doing things,” Uther reasoned as he neared the stairs. “I'll see you're let out in a week. Then you can find yourself another servant.”
“At least let Lynette be by his side,” Arthur shouted. “You owe her that much.”
Uther paused at the stairs, not turning for fear of breaking, as he muttered, “I will think about it.”
Despair was the only emotion Lynette could feel as she cradled the remains of the mortaeus flower. She had gone deaf to Arthur’s pleas to let them go as she began to pray. A simple act that she had started to cling to while imprisoned. The blonde prayed that her father had found another antidote. That she wasn’t holding Merlin’s only hope, but she was a fool. She had read each book in the mountain of books scattered throughout the physician’s chambers. She had listened to her father give the course of treatment and what would happen if Arthur had not returned. This was Merlin’s last hope, and she held it pathetically in the dungeons.
“I am so sorry, Nanet.”
Lynette could barely make out Arthur’s voice, which should have brought her relief, but it didn’t. Her mind was too preoccupied with Merlin’s fate and how it rested in her hands. The blonde looked up at the man she had fallen in love with. He had risked everything to save her cousin for her. Arthur was a good man and would make an even greater king than his father. Lynette could see that now, and she was forever grateful to him for getting the antidote and returning it to her. Lynette could not continue if Arthur and Merlin were gone. They were two of her life's most influential men, and she loved them both intensely.
Arthur came to her side and wrapped her in his arms. Lynette buried her head in his chest as her body shivered, grateful for his body heat as she succumbed to his warmth. He pulled her tighter against him, feeling just how thin the blonde was, and let out a long sigh. She could tell he was trying to find the right words, but they both knew nothing would improve this situation. Lynette let the tears fall as she raised her head to gently kiss the prince’s cheek. A silent thank you for his sacrifice to keep Merlin alive. Arthur used the pad of his thumb to wipe the stray ones away as he tucked her in tighter and set a stony glare to the guards that watched over them.
“I will find a way to fix this,” Arthur whispered to her. “I promise.”
“Please don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Lynette replied hoarsely. “Only promise me that you will be better than this. You will be worthy of the crown and do your best to put your subjects first.”
“I promise, my love.”