A/N – I'd like to thank my mother, who got me to watch Doctor Who (I'm going somewhere with this) and I fell in love with it. After that, I've been watching all other BBC Saturday programs, which included Merlin. So therefore, my Mum is the reason for this story. And Kirstie, she was bored so I wrote a story, and then texted her at 2am because I was so excited over the storyline. That's how cool I am. So, here goes!
Prince Arthur was having a walk around the castle and the village protected directly by it, which generally woke him up in the mornings. Although it was his usual stroll around the place he grew up in, he felt almost lost without his manservant.
Over recent months he realised how much he had relied on Merlin for helping him hunt, get dressed and other various errands. Only then, moments before he also realised how much he relied on him as a friend and companion, a friend who could change a boring place into such a more interesting one with just their presence.
He had given Merlin the past few days off, as he could clearly tell that Gaius's near-death kept his mind occupied. Arthur was not very observant of other peoples thought and feelings, but even he could tell a man was troubled when they used a roll of bread to clean shoes.
Apart from Merlin's own distractions, the Prince had his own. Before Gaius's incident, Merlin had started talking to him about how he saw Arthur. Although he gave the impression that he hadn't given it anymore thought, it still confused him about what he was initially trying to say.
In his deep thought, Arthur had not been concentrating on where he was walking, and bumped into a small, bent, cloaked person. He was about to apologise until the figure looked up. He looked so familiar, but half of his face was shielded by the hood, but his voice sounded unfamiliar.
"He's hiding a secret. He's not who you think." Said the man, in a rasping voice, and then scurried off.
"Wait! Who do you mean? Who are you?" called Arthur after the strange man, but the crowds going to market were louder than his calls. He took one last glance at the man before he disappeared around the corner.
"Merlin! I do insist you stop fussing this instance! I'm fine!" said the Physician frustratedly. "It has been a week now!"
"No way, Gaius. You were dead. You sacrificed yourself for me. There's no way I'm leaving you alone." Merlin said bossily, while making porridge for Gaius to have in bed.
"Merlin." Gaius said sharply, in a voice that stopped Merlin in his tracks. "It has been a week. You've also been neglecting your duties." He ripped the blanket off him, along with several others that Merlin had added to keep him warm.
"Does it matter? All I would have missed was a new shoe polishing technique…"
"Well, you do need to learn a better one. From what Arthur tells me, bread isn't too effective." smiled Gaius "You've had three days off, now eat that porridge and get to work!"
"But it's your porridge."
Gaius stopped to think. "Erm, I insist, you made it… You should eat it."
"Okay, fine, if you're su-"
"I'm fine! If I have any trouble, I'm sure you'll rescue me, you usually do. As a treat, you can check up on me every hour."
Merlin sighed with a laugh. He had known Gaius was perfectly fine, even without the constant telling. He felt that Gaius deserved the 'special treatment', but he also needed it for his own peace of mind.
He forced down the last of the porridge (it was rather lumpy, not as good as Gaius's porridge) and went to find the Prince.
He ran to his Master's room, but found him gone. Well, it was half nine, and guessed that he went on a stroll, for there was no hunt planned until tomorrow.
He walked down the corridor, but suddenly a hand grabbed his. It pulled him into an empty room, which he initially thought was empty, but then saw a couple of brooms alongside a staff. To notice the staff he had to do a double-take, as it was well disguised next to the brooms. He turned to see the face of the person who had grabbed him, but all he saw was darkness alongside a dull, cracking thud against his skull.
