Merlynn

The Mark of Nimueh

Merlynn had the morning off while Morris was dealing with Arthur and had decided to go out with Gaius. Things had slowed way down since the tournament a couple of weeks ago and Merlynn and Morris had begun to put a schedule together when they were supposed to work and do which chores and try to adapt to Arthur's weekly schedule as well. Merlynn had approached Gaius a couple days ago about becoming a part time apprentice underneath him, she told him it was just for general treatments of things that she might face when she was training with Arthur or on patrol or a mission with him and other knights. Gaius agreed, of course, but also told her that he was going to expect her help when he had jobs then so it was no surprise that Giaus asked Merlynn to go with him when he got called out this morning. Merlynn and Gaius arrived at the body lying on the ground and Gaius got on his hands and knees to investigate the man further.

"Aren't you scared?" Merlynn asked upon seeing Gaius so intimate with the body.

"Of what?" Gaius looked back up at her to answer the question.

"That you might catch whatever it is."

Gaius gave her a funny look. "I'm the court physician, Merlynn. This is part of my job." Gaius got close to the body again and Merlynn crouched. "Most of the time there's nothing really to be scared of." Gaius finished while rolling the body over.

Gaius and Merlynn froze upon seeing the face of the man. His skin was a pale blue, almost white, with deeper blue veins accentuated on his face. What really disturbed Merlynn the most was the pure white eyes.

"You were saying?" Merlynn asked when she and Gaius finally looked at each other.

"People mustn't see this. They'll panic." Merlynn got up and grabbed a sheet from a town person's drying line to cover up the body. Merlynn felt guilty about it for a moment, but when people saw her give it to Gaius, she hoped they knew it was important. Together they loaded the body into a cart and pulled it into the castle where Gaius could study it away from prying eyes.

Merlynn heard Gwen's voice from behind her. "What are you doing?"

"Uh, just moving something." Merlynn responded moving towards Gwen, leaving the cart.

"Looks heavy."

"It's nothing really. Ahum, someone got you flowers!?"

"Oh, no." Merlynn cocked her head at Gwen about to ask what they were for when she suddenly blurted, "would you like one? A purple one" and plucked a flower from the bunch. Merlynn graciously accepted it and Gwen complimented her again, "purple suits you. Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you."

"Thanks. Well, uh..." Merlynn quickly looked for somewhere to put it before tucking it in a scarf she had on. She smiled at Gwen who smiled back at her. "Uh, see you." she finished turning back to the cart and pointing at Gaius.

Gwen nodded. "Bye."

Merlynn turned back towards the cart and started pushing from behind. She turned back to look at Gwen once before turning back completely to the task at hand. They got the body to Gaius' study and laid it out on the table. Gaius got out his magnifying glass and started to inspect the veiny skin on the body.

"I've never seen anything like this before."

"Do you think it could be some kind of plague?"

"No, I fear something like this could never come from nature. But who has this kind of power?" Gaius looked up to meet Merlynn's gaze.

"You think this was caused by magic?"

A thud came from outside the door as someone had just come up the stairs. "Merlynn." Arthur was calling for her and she went to answer the door.