Honestly, Arthur didn't understand what was taking Merlin so long to bring up his food. It isn't like he had to make the food himself. All he had to do was get it from the cooks in the kitchens and bring it up to his room. His grumbling stomach only made him angrier and he threw his quill across the room, giving up on trying to write his speech for the stupid meeting with the council tomorrow. There was no way he would be able to focus without food in his stomach.

"Where is he?" Arthur growled and no sooner did the words leave his mouth did the door swing open and Merlin appeared with a cheery grin. "Here is your dinner Sire." Arthur didn't know where the sudden rush of rage came from but he stood up and threw a vase at Merlin, feeling slightly disappointed when it missed his head and smashed into the wall.

Arthur walked over and stood in front of Merlin, feeling absolutely livid. "What took you so long Merlin? You were supposed to be here hours ago!"

Arthur continued to glare at Merlin while his servant responded with a casually shrug. "Oh, come on prat. I'm not that late." That stupid grin was still on his stupid face and Arthur had to resist the urge to punch him in the face. He snatched the food from Merlin with a scowl and marched back to his desk, eating with his back turned to Merlin.

For a few moments Arthur simply stared at his food while he tried to calm down, clutching his fork so tightly it was beginning to bend, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Eventually he let out a deep breath and started eating, but he didn't get very far. He managed to swallow a small bite of his meat and shuddered in disgust. "MERLIN!" he yelled, angry that his food was cold. He was going to give his manservant a piece of his mind.

When Merlin didn't respond with a witty retort like he usually did, Arthur turned around and was about to yell at him some more but stopped, utterly confused. Merlin was clutching the side of his bed so tightly his knuckles were turning white, and his breathing was labored. Arthur couldn't see his face but he quickly became concerned. Even if he didn't acknowledge it, Merlin was one of his friends.

Arthur got to his feet and started walking over to Merlin when he heard the boy gasp and start falling on the ground. Lunging forward, Arthur managed to catch him before his head hit the stone ground. "Merlin?" He gently laid his manservant on the ground and slapped his cheek gently. "Merlin, you great lazy arse wake up. You can't pass out on me." He began to grow alarmed when Merlin wouldn't wake up and after a second of hesitation Arthur scooped Merlin up in his arms

"You are such a girl Merlin." He muttered, trying to calm his nerves while he quickly made his way out of his room and to Gauis' quarters. The usually fast walk seemed to take a really long time, much longer than usual and it was doing nothing to calm Arthur down. Merlin still wasn't awake and he had become uncomfortably aware of how light Merlin was. It couldn't be healthy for a grown man to weigh this little. He was skin and bones practically.

Arthur burst into Gaius quarters and practically gaze the older man a heart attack. It seemed like he had been holding something because Arthur heard a crash as glass shattered on the floor when Gauis looked at him.

"Merlin!" He gasped and ran over to a cot near the fire. "Quickly, put him here!" he ordered Arthur. Arthur quickly did as he was told, placing Merlin down on the cot as gently as he could. Gaius shooed him off as he began doing something with Merlin, Arthur wasn't quite sure what. He wasn't knowledgeable with healing like Gaius was. He just knew how to clean and wrap bloodied wounds.

"What happened?" Gauis demanded, turning to Arthur once he was sure his patient was alive and in no immediate danger of dying.

Arthur shrugged helplessly. "He came up with my lunch and started cleaning. I turned around to tell him to take my food back down because it was cold and he was leaning over the bed breathing really hard. Then he just… collapsed."

Gaius stared at him in a way that Arthur could have sworn he saw his soul. Finally he turned his attention back to Merlin. "His body is extremely malnourished. It seems he has gotten very little sleep as well, judging from the bags under his eyes. What exactly have you been making him do?"

Arthur ran his hand through his hair, suddenly feeling guilty. Was this all his fault? "Just his normal chores. Plus… more." He said quietly, staring at Merlin's unconscious form. There was silence before Arthur spoke up again. "What now, Gaius?"

"Now?" Gaius raised an eyebrow at him. "Now, you leave me to take care of Merlin. You'd best find a new manservant. Merlin won't be returning to work for a few weeks until he is healthy and fit to start working again."

"Of course… Of course, Gaius." He hesitated before kneeling down next to Merlin's cot. He placed a hand over Merlin's for a moment and sighed. "I'm extremely sorry Merlin. This is my fault… I will make it up to you. I promise." He stared at Merlin's face for a moment and he could have sworn he saw a muscle in Merlin's jaw move but then decided it must have been a trick of the light. Shaking his head, Arthur got to his feet and nodded at Gaius. "Let me know if you need anything, and I will see to it that you get it."

With one last look at Merlin, Arthur sighed and left Gaius' chambers with a heavy heart. This was his fault. He worked Merlin to hard and he was going to make it up to him. Somehow.

So sorry about the outrageously long wait! But hey, I'm updating now! I hope you guys like this chapter, tell me in the reviews! Also, let me know what you guys would like to see in the future of this story. Thanks!