Ancient Help (A Harry Potter and Merlin Crossover)

Chapter Forty-Three: The New Court Physician

Arthur raised an eyebrow as all of the members of his Council strode inside the Throne Room, a purposeful look on their faces. He had to hide his grin when he saw his wife tense at the corner of his eyes. Although Guinevere had been his wife and queen for almost two weeks already, it was still obvious that she was terrified of the council. She somehow knew of their protests for Arthur to marry her and just being in the same room with them had made her uncomfortable.

"Is something the matter?" he asked, his gaze settling on the eldest of the group.

Sir Jeffrey, the Royal Treasure of his Council, respectfully bowed down. "Sire, it has come to our attention of the alarming amount of people afflicted with diseases from the townspeople." His bushy, grey eyebrows furrowed in grim seriousness. "Truth be told, it had considerably increased compared to the past years in Camelot."

Arthur shifted his gaze at Sir Kay, the Royal Seneschal. "Is this true, Sir Kay?" he seriously asked.

The addressed court member somberly nodded his head. "Perhaps, we all believe, that it is because of the lack of a Court Physician, my lord," he added. "We all know that only two weeks had passed ever since Gaius' death, but the absence of a Court Physician is quite a dangerous one."

"We suggest," Sir Emmanuel, the Royal Secretary started, "that the King must appoint a new Court Physician to stop the increase of diseases in this kingdom."

"Hmm..." Arthur said, frowning in deep thought. Now that the members of the Court brought it up, he realized that he had not thought of anyone at all to replace Gaius' position. He had been too busy with his new married life and rebuilding the infrastructures that were destroyed during the Southron's attack.

Finally with a decision, Arthur's eyes swept over his Court and said, "Provide a list of all the menfolk in Camelot who have an expertise in medical practices."

"Of course, sire," Sir Kay replied.

Beside him, Guinevere quietly cleared her throat. Arthur's eyes briefly landed on her form, but upon seeing a strange look on her face, he stared at her curiously. "Is there something you want to say, my dear?" he asked, stretching out his hand to clutch her own.

"Well..." Gwen started, uncertainly looking at the curious eyes of his Court. "I just thought it will be very bothersome for them to gather all of the physicians in Camelot when you have a brilliant one right under your nose."

The king quirked an eyebrow, confused. "And who, pray tell, is this brilliant one that you speak so confidently of?" he asked.

"My maidservant," the queen replied without skipping a beat. "Hermione."

The members of the Court were unable to suppress their soft chuckles of incredulity. Even Arthur had the audacity to boisterously laugh at her suggestion, shaking his head in disbelief. Gwen, on the other head, knitted her eyebrows in confusion.

"My dear Guinevere," Arthur said, once again squeezing her hand. "Suggesting Hermione to be the new Court Physician is, quite frankly, a ridiculous idea."

Her cheeks colored from either embarrassment or offense or both, Arthur did not know. "And why is that, if I may ask?" she asked a little stiffly, trying to sound as polite as possible when it was perfectly obvious she was slightly scandalized by her husband's answer.

"For one, she is a woman," Arthur stated automatically as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole world.

Gwen's cheeks reddened and she deeply frowned. "And?" she asked, her eyes challenging.

Arthur blew a breath in frustration. The Court was now looking at the quarrelling couple in mild amusement and he honestly thought that he had other important things to do than fight with his wife over this ridiculous topic. "And that's it," he answered back. "For the past years, my dear, the House of Pendragon never had a woman as their Court Physician."