No Good Deed Goes Unpunished (Gaius)

[Deleted]

After the shock had died down, it left Nimueh with nothing but cold, blinding rage that grew colder and more unforgiving with every fire that burned in Uther’s craze against magic. She had never thought it possible, but he really got through with it. Of course, there were those helping and hiding the sorcerors and healers, protecting them with their life, but that was what it soon came down to: they paid with their own life, and deep down inside every human being looks out for number one.Slowly but surely they succumbed to the new law and let it happen, some even found their darkest side roaring to life and aided the slaughter, turning those in they thought guilty, no matter if they were. The stakes burnt day and night, sometimes making it look like Camelot itself was aflame. Friends turned against friends, brothers against sisters, children against parents. Uther’s madness was contagious and spread like a deadly disease, leaving those in its wake only one choice: cower or die as a collaborator.

And for all her power, for everything Nimueh was capable of, she feared she could not stop it. She could not even help her own mother, the retired High Priestess, becoming a victim of the frenzy, and with the pain and anger came guilt. Nimueh herself had asked for her help and guidance, and she had come, like her daughter not minding the danger. Before Nimueh foresaw it, she was captured and burned, having not enough power left to save herself, as she had handed it all down to her daughter years ago. She had been weak, and so had paid the impossible price. The loss of her mother had heightened Nimueh’s anger into pure acid hatred, and she had sworn to herself that she would make Uther pay. No matter how long it would take her, one day she would bring Uther down, and Camelot with him if that was what it takes!

But Nimueh was still sane enough to know that she would need allies. She might be poweful, but striking at full force without help would be suicide. Not that she did care if Uther had forbidden her to show her face again in Camelot on pain of death, but one person alone could not bring Camelot down to dust, and that was exactly what Nimueh wanted right now. But who would aid her? Those remaining alive were either paralyzed with fear or on the run, or they had become traitors to their own kind, joining forces with Uther in hope to save themselves. But there was one Nimueh hoped still to reach, still to turn to her side. He had been the one getting her in this mess in the first place, urging her to help Uther, and so he owned her more than just a simple favor. He might think himself lucky she would not kill him on the spot. She only did not because she thought them still to be friends.

Sneaking into the castle unseen was surprisingly easy, even in these troubled times, and so it was not long until Nimueh found herself in the very same chambers she had visited often enough, looking at a familiar back of a head, leaned over some book.
”Gaius.” For now it didn’t need more than simply calling his name. He would be shocked enough to see her without her blurting out her demand right away.

---

Tag: Gaius
Timeline: A week after the beginning of the Great Purge
Time of Day: Midday

[Gaius]

Gauis walked into the library, nodding a hello to his old friend before grabbing the book he had requested. The sorcerer in hiding began swiftly walking back toward his chambers, book already open. He knew his way through the castle well enough he didn't need to look up, only step around others.

Nudging the door open to his chambers he hesitated near the corner of his room, a certain line in his book had captured his attention. It was a line about the possibility of a cure for a rare disease. Chuckling to himself he was about to turn the page when he heard the all to familiar voice of Nimueh "Gauis."

Snapping the book shut he turned and gazed incredulously at her. "Nimueh what on earth are you doing here? Do you realize your on the executor's list! You could be killed if found." Sighing a smile tugged at his mouth. "Not that it isn't good to see an old friend of course."


OOC: My greatest apologies for the late reply. [/size]

[Deleted]

Should she really be surprised by Gaius’ reaction? He had always been the firm rock, not ever waning, and wise beyond many they both had known. But this… this was different. Their world was falling into chaos and this was how he reacted? Acting as if nothing had happened, reading books about… she craned her neck and shook her head… diseases?! Or was he trying to rid Uther of this mind desease that must have befallen him? And why was he caring about her, but not about himself?
Sighing, Nimueh wondered if she ever had known him at all. Everyone reacted different in the face of danger… and apparently Gaius saw it fit to remain like he always had been: calm and collected. But was this the right way? Surely not in Nimueh’s eyes! She would apparently have to open Gaius’ eyes to the truth he could not hide from. But she needed to be gentle… Gaius had been friends with Uther for as long as she had.

”I’m not exactly on the executor’s list”, she corrected him softly, a sad tone in her voice. “Uther said he could not harm me, but I should not return to Camelot on pain of death… but since when did I ever listen to him?” Taking a deep breath, Nimueh tried to gain control over her uproaring feelings. Never since becoming the High Priestess had it been so difficult to simply suppress them like she should. But these… these were desperate times, so even a High Priestess was allowed to be desperate.
”Why, Gaius?” the one simple word entailed so many questions at once, and Nimueh wasn’t even sure which one of those she was asking. Why was this happening? Why did it have to come this far? Why could she not do anything about it?
But in the end, she settled on an entirely different question.

”How can you be so calm? When you see our friends dying every day? They burnt my mother, they’re drowning little children! How… how can you stand by and do nothing?! You… you don’t agree with him, do you, Gaius? You know magic is not evil!”
There went her resolution for calmness apparently. She just couldn’t keep these things inside, not with her innermost parts so in turmoil.