Alaia Skyhawk: I'm back with another chapter, and right now I'd like to recommend a story to you guys. Magic Waves, by Gbean, is a REALLY GOOD modern-era continuation of the show. Seriously, go check it out :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A

~(-)~

Chapter 34: Odorous Diversions ~Part 3~

It was to the sight of a very busy physician, that Merlin entered his mentor's chambers when evening came. Gaius was stood at a table, which was strewn with more than a dozen jars and all manner of brewing and mixing paraphernalia. It all looked so very complicated, and Merlin was immediately intrigued.

"What are you making? New potion? New remedy?"

"Bath salts."

The bland reply made the warlock blink, frowning ever so slightly as he took a second look at everything on the table.

"Bath salts?"

Gaius let out a sigh of exasperation, setting down the ingredients he was presently measuring.

"Prolonged contact with the troll, has left the King with a lingering odour that refuses to be removed by regular soaps at all. I am creating a mix of natron and herbs that should clear it, or at the very least mask it more effectively than everything that has been tried thus far."

Merlin dropped down to sit on a stool in surprise, before he then started to grin in amusement.

"So you're staying that Uther still stinks of troll? Couldn't happen to a more deserving per-"

"This is no laughing matter, Merlin!" Gaius' sharp reprimand caused the warlock to flinch, and the physician then let out another sigh. "He is deeply humiliated by this, and was already talking of launching a kingdom-wide search for supporters of magic, despite the fact the troll clearly came from beyond Camelot's borders. He is angry enough that this could turn into a second Purge. At this point I can only hope that a swift remedy to his condition will allow his temper to cool. If so, a normal search of the realm may be enough to satisfy his pride. If not, then I fear what he will do in its place."

Merlin didn't look convinced.

"What could be worse than every house in the kingdom being turned over and searched by knights?"

There was a moment's silence, as Gaius thought on something he'd heard the king murmuring to himself. He could only pray it didn't come to that.

"There are worse things than knights to be worried about, for those with magic."

There was an undeniable edge of fear to Gaius' words as he said that, enough to turn Merlin's attitude from humour to seriousness.

The young man stood up and came over to the table.

"Then maybe I could help? A spell to make the effects of the bath salts, stronger?"

Gaius glanced at him sidelong, yet the response was not the usual and expected refusal.

"I would normally disagree with using magic, but in this case I think it would be prudent. There are numerous mundane cleansing spells that will anchor quite nicely to the ingredients I will be using, and every piece of help would be greatly appreciated for this. The faster the King is cured of his 'condition', the better."

He pointed to a small tome on his desk, taken from among his collection of legally-held borderline-illegal books.

"You will find reference to several in that book, although not the incantations themselves. If you can create a spell to hide the Mage Stone, I'm certain your capable of recreating a cleaning spell."

Merlin picked up the book and started to flip through it, shrugging nonchalantly.

"I make up cleaning spells all the time. How else do you think I cheat with my chores?"

Gaius shook his head.

"Please be serious, Merlin. This spell needs to be one that can be anchored to the salts, without conflicting with the ingredients. Now start reading."

Merlin let out a sigh and did as he was told. Reading through the book in-between the tasks of setting up supper. It was nearing midnight before their task was done. Ending with Merlin's cast of a spell over a modest-sized jar of greenish-white powder. His mentor fitting the cork into place before setting it aside for the morning.

"Now we hope that it works."

~(-)~

The following morning saw Merlin rushed off his feet, due to the news from one of the patrols that King Bayard and his men had been spotted and would arrive by mid-afternoon. The entire castle was, from top-to-bottom, an organised chaos of servants dashing to get everything ready. As for the King, he was nowhere to be seen. Normally he would be prowling certain parts of the castle, making sure everything met his standards. Only Merlin and Gaius knew he was presently soaking in a bath laced with enchanted bathing salts.

This was a point for Merlin to start feeling nervous, because if the salts failed there was no time at all to make another batch. Gaius' barely concealed fear of the possible consequences of a failure, enough to leave his ward decidedly tense.

It showed as a greater-than-average degree of clumsiness, as evidenced when he arrived at Arthur's chambers with the midday meal... and almost dropped it.

The prince shook his head in exasperation.

"Pay attention to what you're doing, Merlin. Now hurry up and prepare my clothing for this afternoon. King Bayard will be here in less than three hours."

Merlin hastened to the table and put down the tray, for once not even thinking of a sarcastic reply to that. Because another thing had by now occured to him.

"Is there any chance that I could not stand out there with you when you greet him?"

Arthur frowned at him.

"Merlin, what are you talking about? As my personal servant, you know you're expected help take everything to the guest rooms."

Merlin winced at that.

"The last time King Bayard saw me, was when I'd accused him of trying to poison you and got him and his entire entourage thrown in the dungeons. That I was poisoned and almost died, and that the whole thing was set-up by a sorceress to start a war, probably isn't going to help. I humiliated him."

Arthur stood there, his irritation replaced by a hint of concern. It was then his turn to wince.

"There's nothing we can do. Protocol says you have to be there. If I'm not seen to offer my own personal servant to assist a visiting King, it could be taken as implied insult. The only way out of it is when more than one king or ambassador is arriving, or there's an acceptable excuse for my servant's absence. 'Sending you on another chore' isn't an acceptable excuse."

Merlin perked up at that.

"But what if you loaned me to the Court Physician, and I was sent out to gather important herbs before word got here about King Bayard's arrival? Your father is already upset about everything with the troll. Do we want to add an upset King of Mercia to that?"

The two of them glanced at each other, the seconds ticking by in silence until Arthur reluctantly nodded.

"For once I actually agree with you, but don't see this as a chance to skip out on your chores. Get your work done, but stay out-of-sight of King Bayard until he leaves. Understood?"

Merlin laid out the remaining item for a formal outfit, and then darted gratefully towards the door.

"It will be like I'm not even here. If I can hide when there's an arrest warrant out for me, I'll have no trouble this time."

Arthur called out after him.

"Don't push your luck, Merlin."

He needn't have worried, because the servant had no intention of being seen by the Mercian King or any of his men. Instead he lurked on the walkway bordering the roof around the central courtyard, watching as King Bayard was greeted by Arthur and Uther. And by Uther's expression and manner, which held no signs of obvious tension, it appeared the bath salts had worked.

Once again it was evening before warlock and physician met up in the latter's chambers for supper. But Merlin's grin of success faded when he saw the grimace his mentor wore.

Merlin frowned.

"What's wrong? The salts worked, right? He didn't look unhappy when he was in the courtyard."

Gaius came over, removing from his pocket the jar with the remaining bath salts in it.

"It worked a little too well."

Merlin sat, confused.

"What do you mean?"

Gaius let out a sigh, keeping his back to Merlin as he shelved the jar. He then forced on a humoured smile, and turned back to his ward with a light-hearted tone.

"Uther no longer smells of troll, but he does smell quite strongly of rosemary, thyme, and several other herbs. Enough so that one would think his clothing had been hung to dry in the castle kitchens, or that he had gone rolling in the castle herb-garden."

Merlin let out a sigh and smiled, unaware of the uneasiness his mentor was masking.

"That's good then. Better herbs than troll, right?"

"Indeed."

Gaius once again turned his back to Merlin, and proceeded to begin preparing their supper. Thus the young warlock was unable to see the physician's troubled expression. Hidden so as not to worry his ward.

Herbs were indeed a better smell than troll. But when once strong scent is replaced by another equally as strong, it still served as a persistent reminder of why it was there.

Uther's pride had been salved, but only a little. And the longer the herbal scent remained, the more it would fray the King's temper. The situation was still precarious, and now all that was left to do was watch and wait to see what came of it next.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Dun dun dun! Next chapter, part 1 of the The Witchfinder :)