Cold Time pt.2

Hello, hope you are having a good day.

"Ok." Arthur answered.

Arthur took the blankets, shirt, and bandages off. Gaius went to get the stuff needed to operate on Merlin. After several minutes Gaius started operating on Merlin. Gaius and Arthur carefully fixed Merlin's right lung. After more than an hour of working they had treated all of Merlin's wounds. Then Gaius treated Arthur's wound that was on his hip. When they were done Arthur careful carried Merlin to his bed. He gently put Merlin in bed.

"Careful, sire. His wounds were fatal. If moved too quickly the stitches will come undone. We don't need to do all our hard work again. Let's get him warmed up." Gaius calmly warned. So Arthur and Gaius took several blankets and wrapped Merlin up. Gaius went around Merlin's room and light all the candles. Several minutes later Merlin was warmer and his body was reacting the way it should.

"We've done all we can for him. Get some rest in your chambers. I'll watch over him. I'll send a guard to tell you if something happens. Your father will want to talk to you." Gaius sighed sadly.

"I'll be back in the morning." Arthur quietly replied. Arthur left. That night Gaius watched over Merlin who moaned, groaned, and whimpering in his sleep. One time Merlin started panting and shaking his head. Gaius saw this and put his hand on Merlin's injured shoulder. Merlin began to calm down but Gaius saw tears. He put his hand on Merlin's left cheek and rubbed it.

"Go to sleep, Merlin. You're ok. I know it hurts but you will live. I'm here." Gaius whispered tearfully. Then Merlin went still. For the rest of the night Merlin was still but breathing. The next day Arthur told Uther what happened. It was noon when Arthur went to see Merlin. Gaius was sitting next to Merlin sleeping. Gaius's head was next to Merlin's left arm. His hand was on Merlin's hand. Merlin slept peacefully on his bed. Arthur went over to Gaius and put his hand on Gaius's shoulder. Gaius woke up and looked at Arthur.

"Sire, I didn't know you would be here this quickly." Gaius groggily yawned.

"How is he?" Arthur asked sadly.

"He didn't have a good night. He had nightmares. I kept drugging him so he could sleep. He would try to wake up but then I would calm him down. It was almost dawn when he calmed down. I think he should wake up soon. Can you watch him?"

"Yeah. Has he gotten better?"

"Not really. Last night when I was calming him down he started crying. I don't know why but when I spoke to him he looked as though he was about to wake up. Then he went still and he still is. I'm scared that he will die."

Gaius started to cry. He was standing up and looking at Merlin. Arthur went to him and put his left hand on Gaius's shoulder.

"He will be ok, Gaius. He's strong." Arthur sternly admitted. "Now go get some rest. You look like you could use it. I insist."

"Ok but wake me when he wakes up." Gaius cried softly.

Gaius went to get some rest and Arthur sat by Merlin's side. It was almost supper time when Uther came in. Arthur was sitting next to Merlin with his head on the bed next to Merlin's left arm. His hand on Merlin's shoulder. Uther could hear Arthur praying.

"Arthur, it's time for dinner." Uther calmly said. Arthur looked up.

"I can't leave him. It's my fault he's dying. He told me we should come back when it first started snowing. When I saw his injuries from the fall I was ashamed. His head, ribs, leg, and arm were bleeding. He had internal bleeding. He's deathly pale. He hasn't woken up and I fear what might happen." Arthur tearfully admitted. Uther kneeled next to his son and put a hand on Arthur's knee.

"He'll be fine. He's been through things like this. I know since he's come to Camelot I've been rude to him but know I see that he was that little boy you became friends with. I couldn't believe that he was so skinny and pale. I couldn't believe that in about 3 years he got this way. He's grown up but yet is easy hurt. Physically and emotionally. I will ask someone to bring your dinner and something for Merlin when he wakes."

"Ok. Thank you father."

"I'm proud of you. Both of you boys. You guys have grown up in hard times. I don't know who Merlin's father is but I know that he should be proud to have a son like Merlin. I'll have supper with you and Gaius tonight. I know it's rare but I see I need to be better about being a father. Seeing someone who's fatherless and is my nephew has made me see that I should love you all that I can because of your mother. I know Hunith doesn't talk about her past much but I know that she loved your mother very much. Merlin might not know this but he has been like a son to me. You 2 are brothers. I love watching you 2 play and talk to each other. I love seeing you 2 smile. Do you remember when the 3 of us were out hunting when you were 12?"

"Oh, yeah. Was it in the summer when we were near a lake?"

"Yes."

They both began to laugh.

"Merlin would jump out of his skin when there was a sound. He would cling to you like a lifeline. That night I remember when we were by the fire you were telling Merlin stories that really scared him. I know that while we were talking he clung to you and you put your arm around him like a brother and held him close. He was singing songs about God protecting him and us. He pretty much sang himself to sleep. He fell asleep on you and you put him on your lap and leaned against a tree. Several minutes later it started raining so I carried Merlin to bed in the tent. You went to bed as well. I think Merlin woke up in the middle of the night scared when he heard thunder. He must have went to your sleeping bag with his stuff and slept next to you and used your body as a pillow. When I woke up I saw it and smiled." Uther happily remembered.

"He's not scared anymore but when his mother or Gaius is around one way you can tell he's tired is when his head is on their shoulder and he wants to be held." Arthur quietly said.

"I remember when you were was winter. Merlin came to visit around his birthday. He was sick with a cold and didn't know that there was a plague in Camelot. On the third day you both started getting the plague. He kept crying when he was awake. Someone had to watch him or he would start crying and yelling for someone. You 2 stayed in Gaius's chambers. One morning Merlin woke up and started crying for his mother and..."

"I woke up and heard him. I got up and went to his bed. He started hugging me and finally went back to sleep. I laid down and had him on top of me. He was curled up in a ball and I knew he was cold so I got a few blankets and covered us in them. Then I fell asleep with him on my lap."

"It was so cute. I was so proud deep down. When you got better you started playing with the others but Merlin was still very ill. One night I was asked to watch him. You came in and fell asleep on my lap. When Merlin woke up he wanted to fall asleep on my lap. So I let him. He found your hand and squeezed it. He was like that till he recovered. You 2 have been like brothers since he was a baby. When Merlin wakes up I want to tell him how I feel."

Then Merlin started to wake up. Merlin moaned and Arthur went to his side.

"Father, go get Gaius. Tell him Merlin's waking." Arthur ordered quietly. Uther went to get Gaius. Then Merlin began to open his eyes. Arthur saw it and encouraged Merlin.

TBC

Don't ask why Uther's nice. I started writing this about a year ago.