Thank you all so much!

Arthur walked around the grounds. It was long past practise time, and he was concerned. Merlin was usually an idiot and couldn't help fall over his own feet, but today he was staggering more than usual. He remembered his manservant had worked through the night to clean all of his equipment. No sleep for thirty six hours would do that to a lot of people (but not Arthur, because he is the prince and once and future king). Perhaps he should give Merlin a day off.

He headed back up to his own chambers and nearly walked into the door as he suddenly recalled a discussion with Gaius the day before.

"He was up all last night, helping me stir up a new medicine for chicken pox. Unfortunately, he fell head first in the cauldron..."

He'd been up for nearly three days. Arthur closed his eyes and groaned, thumping his fist against the door. How could he have been so stupid. He stormed around in circles and started insulting himself.

"Argh! Pratdragon!" Wow, Merlin was rubbing off on him. Hands on his hips, he spun to face the door.

Merlin was staring at him.

He was never going to live this down.

However, the young Warlock was swaying on his feet as he entered the room, and was oblivious to the Prince's rant. He walked like a drunkard across the room.

Recalling the hug, Arthur gathered Merlin in his arms and pulled him into his bed. He didn't know how to take care of others but Merlin had been there for him through difficult times. He could at least pull the covers over him.

He should have sent him back to Gaius' chambers, but Merlin wouldn't have made it on his own. Now, where was he going to sleep? Merlin was going to owe him big time.

He leaned over to whisper in Merlin's ear. "You owe me an eternity of servitude, Merlin."

Unfortunately for him, Merlin was more coherent than he had predicted. "Not unless I tell the other Knights you have conversations with walls, Pratdragon."

He smirked, eyes still closed from exhaustion.

Arthur ground his teeth in frustration and after making sure no one would disturb him until morning, he jumped into bed next to the younger man and promptly fell asleep, while trying to come up with a plan to stop Merlin from spilling the beans.