Arthur paused outside the door, his hand resting on it as if to push it open, but he stayed still. It had been two days since the attack and this was the first time Arthur had been able to visit Merlin. Uther had kept him busy with plans of defence and attack – and it had taken all Arthurs logic and reasoning to convince his father that there was no point going on some wild goose chase after the sorceress. Constantly Arthur's thoughts had been on Merlin, and the image of him in pain kept appearing in his mind. Why did he care so much? He was only a servant, and it's not like they always got on. But it worried Arthur that Merlin had been so willing to sacrifice himself, and his show of complete loyalty scared him. He felt an overwhelming guilt at the pain Merlin was in, but more than anything one question plagued his mind. Would he have done the same for Merlin?
It was these thoughts that made Arthur pause outside the door to Gaius's chambers. Shaking his head slightly, as if to dispel all worrying thoughts, Arthur shifted his weight and pushed the door open. Merlin was lying on Gaius's bed, his breathing was shallow and he lay very still. Next to him sat Gwen, a small sad smile on her face as she held a cloth to his forehead. Her hair was a mess and her clothes unwashed, and it was obvious to Arthur that she had not left her friend's side in the last two days. She looked up when the door opened, acknowledged Arthur with a light nod of her head, then continued to rinse out the cloth and reapply it to Merlin's forehead. Gaius was standing behind Gwen with his back turned away from the door, grinding various herbs.
'How is he Gaius?' Arthur asked the physician. His eyes did not leave Merlin and his brow was furrowed in concern. As he spoke Gaius jumped slightly before turning around – he obviously had not heard the prince enter. 'I think he shall be fine with close attention and more rest sire' Gaius replied, although he too was watching Merlin. 'Actually I was just making him something for the pain when he wakes up' Gaius looked down into the bowl he was still holding and frowned. 'Gwen, could you please fetch me some more water?'
Immediately Gwen stood up from her position, 'Of course'. She made to leave but Gaius stopped her. 'Gwen after you've returned you should rest. I think I can handle it now' Gaius smiled down at the maid who had been helping him. Gwen looked like she was going to object, but instead returned the smile, nodded her head and turned to leave.
Arthur watched the whole exchange. He felt guilty for not having visited before. As soon as Gwen left the room Arthur turned to Gaius: 'So he's going to be ok?' he asked, the concern he was trying so hard to hide creeping into his voice.
'Yes, he should be' Gaius replied, but he was frowning slightly as if disbelieving his own words. Arthur chose to ignore this, Gaius would tell him is something was wrong. Instead, Arthur sat down in Gwen's vacated chair. 'I think I will stay a while' he said, but Gaius had already returned to his mixing.
Arthur had been correct. Gaius was indeed worried. It had been two days since the attack and Merlin should have woken up. The wound itself had not been fatal, and Gaius's quick actions had prevented infection. But something was wrong about the whole attack. For one thing why would a powerful sorceress stop her attack just because one arrow hit the wrong person? It didn't make any sense, she could easily have still taken out the prince – especially with Merlin injured, but instead she had halted the attack. And why hadn't Merlin woken up? Gaius had even checked for poison (several times), but he found nothing. Earlier Merlin had looked like he was struggling with an internal battle, his flickering back and forth underneath his eyelids – and Gaius was at a loss to explain it. The only thing he could conclude was that sorcery was involved.
Far away, the sorceress, Orguelleuse, watched the scene in Gaius's chambers in a pool of water. An evil smile worked its way onto her face. She had thought her plan was ruined when her arrow hit Merlin, all her planning for nothing. However, as she watched the concern on Arthur's face as he watched over Merlin, her sense of hope had returned.
The beginnings of a new plan were quickly forming in her head.