Arthur's Sons (Book 1)

The Poisoned Chalice (Part 1)

In here cave Nimueh holds a yellow flower petal between her fingers while chanting a long complex spell, she pauses and drop the flower into an image of Merlyn and continuing to chant stirring the water. She removes the now transparent flower from the water and places it inside the rim of a silver goblet and grins wickedly at the destruction about to be wrought on Camelot and the meddling servant.

In the Throne room Merlyn stands off to the side with Gaius and the boys who are dresses in there best clothes standing ramrod strait, hands behind their backs, almost the perfect image of their father standing next to the king with a stoic expression. The doors open wide revealing King Bayard and his entourage in blue levity, the King and knights of Camelot in red march forward meeting them half way in a practised display of formality.

"Camelot welcomes you, Lord Bayard of Mercia. The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and a beginning to a new friendship between our people." Uther and Bayard clasp forearms in greeting and the crowed applauds while unbeknown to Merlyn, Nimueh watches with a vindictive expression.

Rowan picks up on the hostile feelings vibrating from the Mercian entourage and examines each servant and knight until he notices a beautiful woman from which the hostility emanates. Rowan focuses on the woman a feels the powerful wash of magic tingling under her skin sending shivers down his spine. He is immediately on high alert but before he can investigate further the party leaves to begin preparations for that nights feast, he quickly passes on the face and hostility of the woman to his brother through the bond they share.

'Do you think she's here to hurt father?' Arty whispered back keeping his face neutral.

' I don't know yet but i'm sure as hell gonna find out.' Rowan responded silently before following his mother from the Throne room.

Merlyn lugged a heavy back through the upper corridor when Gaius suddenly appeared with an amused expression at her struggle.

" Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?" Merlyn complained dumping the bag at her feet to give her aching shoulders a short reprieve.

" You're a servant, Merlyn. It's what you do." Gaius pointed out.

" My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside." Merlyn huffed back giving her shoulder a stretch with an audible 'pop' to prove her point.

" It's character building. As the old proverb says, hard work breeds... a harder soul." Gaius smiled innocently at Merlyn's narrowed eyes at the blatant lie.

" There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up." Merlyn accused crossing her arms.

" No. I didn't." Gaius responded with a playful smile. Before Merlyn could call him out again a servant from Bayard's party tripped and fell in front of Merlyn dropping the few throw pillows she was carrying.

" Sorry." She muttered quickly scrambling to pick up the pillows.

" It's alright. Let me give you a hand with that." Merlyn bent down despite her spines protest and began helping the woman gather her things. The woman stands after collecting most of the pillows and meets Merlyn's eye with a kind but faked smile.

" Thank you. I'm Cara." Cara held her hand out and Merlyn shook it tentatively.

" Merlyn."

" You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honour." The woman gushed but Merlyn knew something was off. The woman's eyes were cold, hard and startling blue. It didn't match the outward emotion she was expressing and this set Merlyn on edge.

" Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, he can be a bit of a prat sometimes but it's otherwise quiet interesting." Merlyn could sense that Cara knew she didn't trust her and instead of pressing simply thanked Merlyn, took the final pillow and continued down the hall.