"Gaius, have you seen that insufferable servant of mine?" Arthur looked around the room as he stood impatiently in the doorway of Gaius' chambers, because one, he knew that today was Merlin's day off, but two, he hadn't realized it was his own day off as well, and he despised being bored. So, what better way to cure boredom? A hunt.
"I...I have." The concern in his voice was pure and Arthur certainly wasn't going to fall for the 'He's at the tavern' line again.
"Where is he, Gaius?" He asked as he stepped further in the room, listening to the creaking noises beneath his feet.
"He's in his room. He was injured while he was picking herbs for me."
"Who brought him back? Is he asleep? Can I go see him?" Arthur couldn't understand why his mouth was moving before his mind, but he didn't care. These were all good questions about how Merlin got injured when he was doing nothing wrong.
"Firstly, it was Sir Gwaine that brought him back. He was out there anyway, giving his horse some exercise when he found Merlin, on the ground, with a poisoned arrow stuck steadfast through the back of his shoulder and out to the front of his chest. It never pierced his heart, so don't worry about that."
"Thank you, and the other questions I asked?"
"Yes, he's asleep right now, I counteracted the poison, and thankfully Merlin is a rather fast healer, but no, he should be fine after a few more dressings but as I said, he's asleep. I believe Sir Gwaine wanted to speak with you anyway. Said something about a note but refused to show it to me. He said you would understand."
"Thank you once again, Gaius. You'll let me know once he wakes up won't you?" Gaius gave him a nod and soon he was out the door and heading for the training grounds where he knew that Percival would be sparring with him, because Gwaine had lost another drinking game.
Once he found Gwaine he walked up to him and patted him on the shoudler, signaling for him to follow towards the forest.
After they finally stopped, they were well into the forest away from prying eyes and ears. "Alright, Gwaine. What was written in the letter that you couldn't even show Gaius?"
Gwaine held out the note and gave it to Arthur to read.
'Sir Gwaine, this letter must only be read between you, Arthur, and if you choose, Merlin. I am but a humble druid. A druid that wants destiny and prophecy to finally meet, and wish for it to do so before it's too late. I am praying you will fulfill this request.
Please search out a man called Matthis, he is a weeks ride from Camelot going North East. He is a story teller of sorts. He will look upon King Arthur, Yourself, and Merlin. He will tell you of the prophecy and the destiny of which I speak but only after he shows the story behind all of your scars. He will test the bonds of friendship the three of you have created from the ground up. I hope this letter found you in good health. Please, search him out.'
"So, a druid...wants me to go search out a man called Matthis and he's a story teller? He'll tell us the story of our scars? Prophecy? Destiny? It sounds like a bunch of superstitious nonsense and a trap."
"Well, we can handle a trap, we have before...and if it is as you say...no harm in a little adventure, right?"
Arthur looked at the letter once more before looking back up at Gwaine. "It seems he knows he can't truly force me to go...but there is also the fact that Merlin is down right now."
"So we bring him tomorrow...Gaius says he heals fast, and he gave us directions. I'm sure we'll know him when we see him."
Arthur contemplated his friends words, and he had to admit that the letter intrigued him. "Fine, but if he's not better by tomorrow, and with a wound like that I highly doubt it, then we don't leave until he's better."
"You mean you've seen him?"
"No, Gaius won't let me see him." Arthur answered with a hint of annoyance.
"Arthur, he really is a fast healer. I remember when I was trying to help with his sword training because you asked me to while you were pummeling Elyan with a mace. I cut his arm...I feel still guilty about it even though he forgives me...but with a proper cleaning, and Gaius' help...he was better the next day. He had stitches but he was better."
"This isn't a cut. Gaius said it went straight through."
"If Gaius said he will heal, he will heal." Gawine replied calmly, placing his hands on Arthur's shoulders to try and calm him. "What's wrong, you don't normally act this concerned."
Arthur let out a light breathy laugh as he shook his head. "You should've seen how I reacted when Merlin drank poison for me."
"Merlin...drank poison for you?" Gwaine's eyes went wide at this new revelation of his two friends.
"Yes he did..." Gwaine let his hands fall from his friend's shoulders and crossed his arms waiting for him to continue. "He uh...it was a peace meeting and he had left for a moment before coming back and shouting that the cup was laced with poison. I thought he was going to be run through by Bayard's sword...then my father gave Merlin the chalice and he drank it."
"What happened?"
"At first, nothing, but then he started choking and he fell to the ground. I started to take him to Gaius' chambers before he even asked and then I learned the poison would cause a slow and painful death. I went to go get the Morteus flower which was guarded by a dangerous beast that had a dangerous bite, I met a woman who turned out to be a sorceress and tried to kill me...but then this strange...peaceful blue light appeared and helped me out of the caves."
"Wow...Merlin drank poison for you."
"He's my servant, it's what he's supposed to do."
"No, mate...was he afraid to drink the poison?"
"No, but he knew what he was getting into by making such an accusation."
Gwaine shook his head and smiled in disbelief as he ran a hand through his midnight black hair. "I pray that one day you discover what that man does for you and why. Hell, I want to know!"
"Sire?" Gaius called from the side and gave Arthur a quick nod saying that Merlin is awake.
"Can we visit him?" Arthur asked, hoping it wouldn't be another no.
"Yes, I've bandaged the wound, around his shoulder twice, and the bleeding has completely stopped. He will be wearing stitches on his injured shoulder so just be careful with him. He can resume normal activities tomorrow, just nothing to strenuous."
"Of course I'll be careful, Gaius."
"Thank you, Sire, but I was talking to Sir Gwaine." Gaius smiled briefly as he walked away.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Arthur and Gwaine walked up to Gaius' door and knocked on the door, awaiting a response. "Come in." They heard Merlin say, so they did.
What they saw surprised them quite a bit, Merlin was wearing his clothes that he normally would wear as if he were ready for work, and he was busying himself with putting away books. "No offense mate...but you were a dead man when I found you."
"The arrow didn't strike anything important, and the poison wasn't life threatening. My shoulder hurts like hell, but other than that I'm fine. Gaius gave me this God Awful medicine and then after he stitched me, up he dressed the wound with a paste that smelled like a swamp toad, and then he wrapped me up in gauze and bandages."
"Should you even be moving, Merlin?" Arthur asked as he continued to watch Merlin place books up on shelves, careful not to use his injured shoulder's arm.
"Like I said, I'm fine...but you two don't seem to be..." Merlin raised an eyebrow and stopped what he was doing so he could give his friends his full attention. "Right, what is it?"
"Merlin...you're too calm for someone who just got shot with an arrow...straight through..." Gwaine stepped forward and gave Merlin a look that said 'I know you're hiding something, I just can't figure it out.'
"It's not like it doesn't hurt, but I'm not about to sit here and do nothing. I hate it, even on my days off...which I enjoy by the way...even then I try to look for something to do. So, what did the two of you need? Gaius isn't here at the moment. He went to go get lavender, yarrow, and wormwood."
"We uh..." Gwaine looked at Arthur, who then gave him a reassuring nod. "Here, read this." He gave Merlin the same note he gave Arthur.
"Are you seriously thinking about listening to this letter?" Merlin asked as he slightly rose his eyes from the paper to look at his curious friends.
"Yes, if it's a trap we'll handle it, if not then we'll see if this Matthis character is real."
"I don't know, Arthur..."
"You wanted to get out didn't you?"
"Yeah, but..." Merlin hesitated.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow we set out in search of Matthis."