Calm Before the Storm

Chapter Twenty-Two

22. Merlin's Return

Magdelena was over joyed as Merlin entered the chambers she smiled and ran into his arms, she was taken back when he simply patted her shoulder and then pushed her aside. Gaius was serving them dinner, he was just as happy to see Merlin as Magdelena was, but Magdelena was slightly worried that something was off with her brother, "Don't do that again, Merlin. My heart cannot take the strain."

"Yes, well, you are getting on a bit," Merlin says, Magdelena and Gaius share a look of surprise at the rather mean words coming from his mouth, "What is this?"

"It's a special welcome home," says Gaius a pleased smile on his face, "Your favourite."

Merlin takes a small sip of the soup gagging as he swallows, "I think that you should stick to cooking up potions, Gaius. This tastes like the bog Arthur found me in."

Gaius lets out a chuckle while Magdelena stares at her brother studying him carefully, "How did you escape?"

"With great skill. Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course. Anything."

"What is the strongest poison that you possess?" Gaius looks at his male ward, Magdelena hoping he was seeing what she was seeing, "I had this great opportunity to lace the bandits' food with poison and nothing to do it with."

Magdelena watches as Merlin stands walking to the cupboard where Gaius kept most of his potions, poisons, salves, and ingredients when not in use, "Well, that would be aconite."

Merlin grabs the bottle smiling as he takes it from the cupboard, "Well, I think I should take some of this with me from now on," he says, "You never know when you might need to kill someone."

Magdelena waits until he was gone to look at Gaius, "That was not Merlin," she says confusing Gaius slightly, "Not the Merlin I know. I should follow him and make sure he won't be doing anything stupid."

She quickly makes her way through the halls, smiling at the few servants she passed. She caught sight of Gwaine and rushed to him, "Maggie what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Have you seen Merlin?" she asks hopefully staring at the long haired knight.

"Just passed him. On his way to feed the Princess," he says shaking his head, "Do you think he is okay?" 

"Why do you ask?"

"He was very adamant about me not touching Arthur's food," Gwaine says making her raise and eyebrow as he peaked her interest, "He normally lets me steal a bit if we pass one another." 

"Damnit," she says not bothering to say her goodbyes she rushes toward Arthur's chambers hoping she wasn't too late. Entering she saw Gwen serving food to Arthur, "Has Merlin been by?"

"Yes, he was trying to serve me lunch," Arthur admits, "Gwen here was kind enough to bring me lunch thinking that Merlin might be tired or having a rough time from his ordeal. Nothing more. Just lunch." 

"Do you know which way he went?" She asks too focused on trying to find her brother and figure out what was wrong with him to care about Gwen - who she knew was in love with Lancelot - serving him lunch. 

"No sorry Maggie," Gwen says, the two watching as she turns quickly leaving the room heading through the halls. She found no sign of her brother, and no one she stopped to ask knew where he was heading. She made her way back toward Gaius, when she caught Gwen holding some chicken heading into Gaius's chambers. She followed quickly in after her, as Gaius sniffed the chicken.

"Aconite," Gaius says making her stomach drop knowing he had tried to kill Arthur with that poison, "Wolfsbane to you."

"The most deadly poison known to man," Magdelena says entering the chambers so they were both aware of her presence. 

"What was it doing on Arthur's food?"

"Merlin took some from here earlier," Gaius shares a look with Magdelena who was already worried and anxious as it was.

"He was really angry when he realised Arthur wasn't going to eat it," Gwen says mentioning when he had tried to bring the King his lunch.

"He has been behaving very strangely."

"But why would Merlin want to kill Arthur?"

"Merlin wouldn't." 

Magdelena adds to Gaius, "Not if he was in his right mind."

The three head off trying to find Merlin, Leon walks towards them smiling at Magdelena though his smile fell when he saw the worried expression on her face, "Have you seen Merlin?" She asks quickly not bothering in formalities.

"He was in the armoury," Leon says his smile coming back on as if remembering something funny.

"What did he want in there?"

"A crossbow," Leon lets out a small chuckle before continuing, "I think Arthur must be getting on his nerves."

Magdelena swore her heart stoped as she forced out the question, "Why?"

Leon looks around before leaning in closer to the three others before whispering softly, "He said he was going to kill him." Leon burst into laughter, Magdelena shared a look with Gwen and Gaius all wearing the worried expressions as they took off at as fast a run as they could to get to the kings chambers. 

The three enter the chambers quickly just in time to watch Merlin charge at Arthur with his cerimonial sword only to run into the wall hard and sprawl on the floor. Arthur grabs the sword looking at his servant a moment before turning back to the three in his room, "Mags, would you care to walk with me to the knighting ceremony?" 

"It would be an honor to Arthur," she says looking at Gaius and Gwen who nodded, "Any reason why or just the company since Merlin seems rather out of it at the moment." 

The two exit the chambers and begin heading toward the throne room, "Yes, I fear he may be pushing himself to hard after just returning," he says but before she can respond he begins an new topic, "I wanted to make sure you know that Gwen was just serving me lunch to help out Merlin. Not for any other reason, she is a servant of Camelot so is her duty to do such things."

"Arthur I know, I didn't respond because I was busy trying to find Merlin, I agree with what you said too much too soon after his return," she says smiling at Arthur, "Beside I know for a fact that sweet Gwen is madly in love with Lancelot, who feels the same way toward her. I wouldn't be surprised if they were already courting." 

"Ah, very good then," he says kissing her cheek before the guards opened the doors, "Thank you for the walk. You may come and watch if you so wish to."

"Thank you Arthur, but I should return to Gaius and Merlin," she says squeezing his hand before walking past him back toward Gaius's chambers.