Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or any of the characters, but I so wish I did. I apologies as I am an American, speaking American English not British English (yes there is a difference.)
I would lover reviews, good or bad. Help me improve my writing.
Merlin does do something out of character, I am aware of that. I just ask that you are nice.
"Dinner later?" Queen Guinevere asked her husband, planting a small kiss on his cheek.
"Mhmm." mumbled the king, his mind elsewhere.
"Goodbye, Arthur." The queen left rolling her eyes at her husband.
As soon as she was gone, he let out a deep breath; happy that his wife of 6 months had left for the day. Arthur had loved her, just not anymore. After her affair with Sir Lancelot he never fully forgave her. He married her on a whim, overwhelmed with emotion at her return, mistaking it for love. He married her though anyway, regretting it only a few day later. Arthur did care for her, but like a sister, a sister that he had to sleep with every night. The king put his head in his hands as he sat down on their marital bed; he hated this bed, just a reminder of the mistake he made marrying Gwen. Grabbing a decorative pillow he chucked it across the room. The clashing of silver on the floor pulled him away from his own thoughts.
"Merlin, what are you doing here?" he questioned his man-servant.
"Sire" he replied "It is noon, I am bringing you lunch." Arthur fell back against the bed, groaning at his best friend.
"Do. Not. Call. Me. That." the King growled through his teeth.
"Sorry, Arthur. Force of habit." Merlin said he scrambled to pick up the fallen food.
"Why so nervous?" Arthur laughed at how his friend was scrabbling. "Afraid that I will have you executed."
"No, you prat." Merlin retorted
"You do know that I could have you thrown in the stocks for speaking to your king that way."
"Yes, and I could turn your shirts pink." Merlin mumbled
"What? How!" The king yelled.
"Calm your horses. All I have to do is wash the whites with the reds." 'or use magic' the young warlock thought
"Really? That works?" Arthur said astound.
"Yes. Want me to show you?" Merlin asked, reaching for one of Arthur's shirts.
Drawing his sword and pointing the tip right at Merlin's neck, the king bellowed "No." he said, trying to contain his smile.
That is when he noticed them; three bloody cuts on his arm and several pink puckered lines covered around his wrist. Still with the sword, he pointed at the marks.
"Where did you get those from?" He asked
'"Nowhere." Merlin whispered pulling down his sleeve.
"Then from who?"
"Nobody."
"Merlin, scars don't just come from nowhere." Arthur said becoming frustrated.
"Arthur, give me your sword and I will show you."
Handing his sword over, expecting some humorous reenactment . Merlin grasp the sword in one hand a dragged the sharpened blade across his wrist. The dark red blood spilled from his wrist.
"Merlin!" the King yelled, kicking the the sword out of his hands. "You idiot! Why would do that!"
"Don't worry, I will clean it up." Merlin said as though it was no big deal.
"That isn't the point!" the King yelled "You're bleeding!"
"I know, it is sharper than I thought I was."
"Of course it is sharp! You just sharpened it!"
Merlin began to stand, still sitting on the floor, almost collapsed at the blood lost. Arthur reached out for his friend, cradling him against his chest. Grabbing one of Gwen's scarfs and wrapped it tightly around his wrist, but not before the warlock slumped against him.
"Guards!" Arthur bellowed. The guards stormed in, expecting danger. "Get Gaius, now!" Picking Merlin up off the floor, he laid him in his bed. They thin white scarf now soaked with blood was no longer holding any of the liquid in a dripped onto the white linens. Gaius scurried in, with his medical bag in hand.
"What happened?" the man demanded to know
"He cut himself." Arthur stated.
"Not again." Gaius exhaled.
"You knew?"
"Of course, Sire. He is like a son to me." Gaius said scrabbling to find a needle, thread, and a bandage.
"Why did he do it?" Arthur questioned
"Sire, can I explained this to you later? I need a second pair of hands. Come please, press down on his arm, hard." Arthur obeyed as Gaius tightly wrapped a rope around Merlin's forearm to slow the blood flow. "Hold his arm while I string the needle." Gaius expertly stung the needle, pushing Arthur out of the way, made expert stitched.
"Sire, Hand be the bandage and antiseptic." Arthur obliged. "He should be just fine. I gave him a herb that will help with the healing but it will keep him asleep for a couple of hours. If you call a couple of guards we can move him to his chambers."
"No, he can stay in here. No point in moving him." The king told him.
"As you wish Sire." Gaius said leaving.
"Gaius." He grabbed the old man by the arm. "Tell me why."
Gaius looked Arthur in the eye and said "He hurts." and the man left.
Enjoy? new chaps coming soon!