"Countess Isabel ordered tea, but the queen demanded wine. So Isabel ordered that and cheeses and meats and breads to soak them up, as she said. I do not know what is happening in there, sir, but I know that when I left them, they appeared happy enough together. I do not fear for the countess's life, or I would be the first to intrude."

"You feared for the countess earlier?"

"I did, sir."

"From Gwen? From your queen?"

"I cannot answer that question. Even Countess Isabel would ask me not to answer."

Arthur nodded. "Your lack of an answer speaks louder than any other. It also speaks to loyalty, Mary. So very important. James is a lucky man."

He picked up the tray and handed it to her, holding on until she was steady, which took a moment because here was the king helping her.

"Mary," he said, looking deeply into her eyes, "I ask you not to spy, only to inform me as soon as possible if you sense anything wrong."

"Such as?" she asked, feeling a quakiness in her knees once again.

"Such as a threat from one person to another."

"The countess would ne'er harm ..." She stopped herself. "I cannot imagine either harming the other."

"'I am going to stay here in the hal way, and I am asking for a report of what you see and feel inside. I do not want details, I do not expect any wrong happening in there, but I must know before I charge in on my own."

"You would do such?"

"If Gwen is planning to harm Isabel, yes, I would."

As Mary headed to the door, it came to her thinking that the king had not worried about Countess Isabel harming the queen. Then again, it had not occurred to Mary, either. Very strange indeed that both of them were much more concerned about the welfare of the countess than the queen.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

ARTHUR knew that waiting outside of Isabel's bedchamber was more than ridiculous. And that his fear of Gwen bringing harm to Isabel was also without merit.

Yet his need to protect overwhelmed him. The very perplexing thing that confounded him was it was not his wife he felt the need to protect.

Mary final y left the chamber, seeming almost out of breath. She ran directly to him and curtsied. "My king."

"Tel me, Mary."

"The countess has asked me to pass this missive to you, sir. The queen is not wel ."

"My thanks," he said, trying very hard not to rip the note from Mary's hands. He took it and opened it as slowly as desperation al owed. Arthur, Gwen needs medical attention. Please have Gwen taken back to your bedchambers, and call for Tom.

Arthur crushed the note in his hand and tossed it aside. "Thank you, Mary. Please go find Isabel's man, Tom," he said before storming into Isabel's quarters without knocking.

The sight afore him was truly amazing. Isabel was pumping at Gwen's chest, then stopping to give her kisses of sorts.

He had worried about Isabel?

"What are you doing?"

"I think she's gone into some kind of shock," she said, huffing afore beginning the process al over again.

Isabel was holding Gwen's nose shut, while blowing into her mouth. 'Twas shocking. "Stop!"

Isabel stopped the blowing thing and began the pumping her chest thing. "Do you want Gwen to live or not?" she asked.

"Of course."

"Then back off! I should have seen the signs. Her delusions, her mood swings. For chrissake, I thought it was PMS."

"I need to help."

"Then bring me some water."

As he poured, he watched in horror. But in that moment Gwen coughed and shook her head.

Isabel sat back on her heels and wiped her brow. Then she lifted Gwen into a sitting position and accepted the chalice of fresh water from Arthur.

"Welcome back, Gwen. That was a tad worrisome. Please sip."

Gwen grabbed the base of the goblet and attempted to drain it down, but Isabel disal owed it. "No, a sip or two at a time. We wil rehydrate you, but not al at once."

Arthur had never felt so helpless afore. He knew naught what had happened to his wife, he knew naught what Isabel had just done, he only knew he had been unable to do anything worth use, save pour a glass of water. He fel heavily into a chair.

If he puzzled this out, he had to conclude that his wife had a medical episode, and that the woman he ached for had just saved Gwen's life right afore his eyes. And he had stood helpless.

"Arthur."

He heard, but the beating in his ears prevented him from hearing.

"Arthur!"

He opened his eyes.

Isabel sat looking up at him. "Arthur, I know this is getting old, but would you please carry your wife to your chambers? She is good for now, but she needs Tom to check her over."

"Tom is but a tooth healer."

"To be any kind of healer in my land, you must understand al types of medicine. He is best equipped to diagnose what this is."

"Dia-"

"Figure it out. But we need to help her back to her bed. Man up, big boy. Carry your wife to your chambers."

By then there were many in the room. Isabel took control of them al . "Mary, please bring as much fresh water as you can gather to the king and queen's quarters."

"Yes, mum."

"Jenny, please bring to Tom every type of flower and or herb that the queen used in her tea or any other food today."

The girl named Jenny curtsied and disappeared.

"Mordred! Oh, good to see you up and about." She glanced down at his leg. "Appears, however, that Dick trussed your leg like a goose's, or something."

"I wish to be of service in any way I may, Countess."

She nodded. "Then how about you lead the way so that no one else impedes Gwen's transport back to her own bed?"

"My pleasure, Countess," Mordred said.

Arthur almost grinned as he saw his son appear to beam with pride at having a mission to accomplish. Arthur should have kicked his son in the ass a long time ago. With one swift and most amazing kick, Isabel had done al he had failed to do.

"Arthur!"

He shook his head, trying to rid it of al regrets. "Yes, tel me what I should do."

Isabel stared up at him, and there he felt a bond. But he had not time to reason it out now. "Is she able to travel?" he asked.

"Yes, and Mordred wil forge the way."

Arthur bent to Gwen, who stil appeared sickly. "Are you able to wrap your arms around my neck, Gwen?"

"Lance?" she asked in a very smal voice.

Arthur almost dumped her on the spot.

But Isabel took hold of his arm. "No one but you and I heard that, Arthur. Just pick her up and carry her to your bed."

"Her bed. It is no longer mine." But he picked her up regardless. "Mordred, my son, I believe you are our escort."

"Yes, sir, although possibly a slower one than you prefer."

Arthur turned back before leaving the chamber. "I thank you for saving the queen."

Isabel smiled at him. "Never a dul moment at Camelot."

He winced as Gwen clawed at his neck. "You realize that had the positions been reversed, she might wel have not worked so hard to save your life as you did hers." "I like to think that she would."

Arthur shook his head but smiled. "When we get over this crisis, I must needs speak to you of a place I like to cal la-la land."

As he carried Gwen from the room, he heard Isabel's musical laughter fil his ears.

"MUM, had it been you!" Mary said, bursting into her room. She threw herself at Isabel, nearly dropping her.

"It wasn't me, Mary. What I'd like to know is who and what it was."

Mary straightened up, scrubbing her eyes against her apron. "I do not know. But it shal not happen to you."

Mary sailed straight for the tub and began scooping up al of the herbs and flowers.

"Mary."

"I wil not al ow anyone to poison you, Isabel. I wil not."

Isabel grinned. She'd bet good money that Mary forgot she forbade herself to cal Isabel anything but countess or madam or whatever the hel .

"Mary."

"What if it were meant for you? What if I had served you something that made you il ? How would I possibly be able to do what you did to save the queen?"

She turned back to Isabel, who was stil getting over the shock of whatever had happened to Gwen. Mary's apron was fil ed with al the herbs and flowers that she'd sprinkled just a while ago to make Isabel's bath heavenly.

"Dump them back in the tub, Mary."

"No, I wil not," Mary said, her freckles looking angrier than the rest of her face. "They might wel be dangerous."

"Please, Mary. I am asking, not demanding."

"And if I refuse?" Mary asked, chin raised high.

"Then I wil ask you to go pick more so that I enjoy my bath."

Mary's shoulders deflated, but she turned and dumped the contents of her apron back into the tub. "But how do I protect you from poisons?"

Isabel grinned. "Want to hop in the tub before me?"

Mary giggled. "If you wish, countess."

"Want to drink the bathwater?"

Mary giggled more and couldn't seem to stop. She sank to the floor. "Only if 'twould turn me as beautiful as you ... Isabel."

Isabel stood stunned for a moment. Which had zapped her more, Mary final y daring to cal her by her first name or Mary saying such a sweet thing, she didn't know. But that verbal taser only lasted for a moment. She laughed and dropped down to the floor with a stil giggling Mary. Isabel grabbed and hugged her.

Then they laughed together for a while before Isabel took Mary's shoulders and pushed her back. Then she laced her hands through Mary's hair, shoving it back as wel .

"Mary, you are such a beautiful young lady. I wish I had been as pretty as you are when I was your age. Heck, you know what the boys cal ed me when I was thirteen?"

Mary shook her head. "No ... what?"

Oh, good gods, she couldn't remember. She knew they cal ed her something that led to a bloody nose or two, but she was spacing on her nickname.