A/N: Hello people of the world :D This account was created for one purpose only: to serve as a place where we (yes, there are two of us) can post the stories that we co-author together. These stories will be separate from those on our individual accounts. We hope you enjoy reading this first chapter as much as we enjoyed writing it!

"You've hardly touched your supper, Merlin," Gaius chastised, his voice soft and weary.

Merlin looked up from the stew he had been pushing around with his spoon to meet his mentor's gaze.

"I've eaten more than you have," the warlock pointed out, inclining his head towards the physician's bowl, which appeared to be untouched.

Gaius was quick to justify his lack of eating, however. "I had a wholesome lunch earlier," he supplied.

But Merlin knew better than to believe his excuse. He had been watching Gaius carefully for the past few weeks and had noticed the subtle changes in his appearance and demeanor. It was as though the man was slowly deteriorating before Merlin's eyes. The more Merlin studied Gaius as he, too, pushed around his stew, he realized just how tired the man seemed. His robes hung loose on his shrinking body, his gaunt face shrouded by his gray hair.

Merlin was worried. But he simply nodded in agreement and they both continued in silence, neither having the desire, nor need, to speak.

Several minutes passed. Merlin forced himself to swallow a couple mouthfuls of food. He hardly tasted it, though. His mind was elsewhere, his thoughts far away from supper.

Eventually, Merlin found that he could no longer stand to sit still. He pushed himself up off the bench and moved over to the fireplace to stoke the flames.

Gaius followed Merlin's movements, watching his ward in silence for a minute or so before finally speaking.

"Did you have any plans for the evening, Merlin?" he asked at last.

Merlin turned to look at the physician. "No. I think I'm just going to go to bed."

Gaius simply bowed his head in response. Merlin had to suppress a sigh.

"You should probably get an early night, too," Merlin reasoned. "You seem tired today."

"No more tired than I normally am," Gaius argued. "There's still work to be done."

"Then let me help you," Merlin responded.

Gaius turned his weary eyes to his ward once more. "That won't be necessary, my boy. Besides, Arthur's been working you hard lately. You need your rest."

Merlin was prepared to argue the matter further, but decided against it. Gaius may not be in the best of health, but that didn't mean he wasn't as stubborn as he always was. So, with much reluctance, Merlin straightened himself up from the hearth before retreating to his room, his thoughts keeping him from the graces of sleep.

A few days passed, although Merlin couldn't be sure of exactly how many. Lately, the days seemed to blur together, and Merlin made no attempt to separate them. It just didn't seem to matter.

Merlin sighed as he made his way down the corridor, the royals' breakfast in hand. His thoughts continued to center around Gaius no matter what he did. When he had left the physician that morning, the man had been hunched over, grinding herbs at the table. He had looked even more defeated than the day before, if that was even possible. But no matter how badly Merlin did not want to leave him, he knew Gaius would force him to go either way.

As Merlin neared Arthur's chambers, he slowed just enough to clear his thoughts and smooth his features into a practiced smile. He didn't bother to knock as he swung open the door and placed the King and Queen's breakfast on the table.

Merlin blinked at the brightness of the room. Somebody must have already thrown the curtains open, then. Turning his gaze in that direction, Merlin was met with the sight of the King and Queen, already up, already dressed. Arthur was sitting in the chair behind his desk, while Gwen leaned up against one of the bedposts.

Gwen let out a laugh at something Arthur must have just said before Merlin had entered the room. The sound made Merlin wince involuntarily, and he stood silent and unmoving in the middle of the room, trying to gather his thoughts together.

"Merlin!" Gwen exclaimed a moment later, having glanced over to discover the manservant standing there. "I didn't hear you come in."

Merlin opened his mouth, prepared to deliver an excuse, but the King and his incessant remarks beat him to it.

"Yes, Merlin. You really ought to knock louder the next time," he jeered.

The manservant turned away and began picking up a few of Arthur's discarded shirts around the room. "I'll remember that next time, Sire," he complied.

Arthur frowned. He was expecting more of a quip from Merlin. It was their usual routine, after all. But, truth was, Arthur had noticed a change in his manservant. And now, as he stood before him moving about his chambers, he recognized the same somber air that he seemed to carry with him day after day. And the King knew the reason for it all too well.

Gwen, sensing the growing tension, decided it was time to take her leave. "Well, I should get going. I have some matters to attend to in the lower town." She gave Arthur a quick peck on the cheek and Merlin a friendly smile before opening the door and gliding into the corridor.

Arthur continued to watch Merlin as the young man now worked on straightening up the bed. He kept his head low, as if trying to hide his tired eyes. He looked defeated.

"How is he?" the King asked, his voice quiet.

Merlin paused in his work, one of the King's pillows clutched in his hands. He made no attempt to answer the question, however. He was worried that his voice may betray him if he did.

"Merlin?" Arthur inquired, as Merlin moved to place the pillow back on the bed.

The manservant refused to turn around and meet Arthur's gaze. Instead, he straightened himself up and quickly swiped a hand across his eyes, trying his best to eliminate the wetness that had suddenly appeared there.

"He's fine," Merlin finally managed to get out when he heard Arthur stand up from his place behind the desk.

Arthur knew it was a lie. He had seen Gaius' condition for himself, and there was no doubt that the man was unwell, practically withering away to nothing. He did not need to be a physician to be able to make that determination. But he decided not to point this out to Merlin. Instead, he let out a sigh before asking his next question.

"And you?"

"Me?" Merlin asked, trying to sound casual as he worked to smooth out the wrinkles on the bed.

"Yes, Merlin. How are you doing?" Arthur was now standing at the end of the bed, watching Merlin carefully as he worked.

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

"I mean, are you...ok?" Arthur replied, feeling slightly awkward at the idea of asking after his manservant's wellbeing.

"I'm not sick, Arthur," Merlin replied firmly. But Arthur could detect a slight quiver in his voice. Merlin was anything but ok.

The King ran a hand through his hair and let out another sigh. "I saw Gaius yesterday-," Arthur began.

But he was stopped short when Merlin interrupted him. "I need to get started on your laundry, Sire." Merlin turned to pick up the basket that was now overflowing with Arthur's clothes.

Arthur opened his mouth to respond, but quickly decided against it when he caught sight of Merlin's face. His eyes were red, his face twisted as if he was losing an on-going battle within himself.

And so, not sure what else he could do, Arthur just watched as his manservant strode over to his door, wrenched it open, and disappeared into the corridor.

A/N: Feel free to leave us a review, they will always be welcome!

See ya at Chapter 2! -A and W