A/N : Hi everyone! This has been a long time a-comin', and I'm sorry it took me so long. Real life has been really hectic, and now that my exams are coming up in january, I'm not sure if I'll have a lot of time to write. I promise you now, I'll do my very best. Promise!
I'm also not so sure about this chapter, so if you could please tell me if you like it or not? Please, it would mean a lot to me. Especially now.
Xo, as always
Mae'side
Merlin
It was cold as they advanced deep into the forest, the white glow of the horse's flank cutting through the darkness, flying past the trees. Had it not been for his companion, Merlin would be searching for a way… any way… to get home sooner. He had been driving his stallion to its limit, he had been aching with distress. But it was not enough, it was never enough. Leon called from behind when Merlin's animal tripped, nearly causing them both to fall into the brownish soil, into the dirt that seemed too heavy, too rough. The warning fell on deaf ears and, he noticed, came from far behind.
His escort had explained how Arthur had fallen to the floor, how the pain spread through his body and…how clueless Gaius was. Immediately, he had felt the sky crushing him and tearing at his limbs. He had not been there. He had failed his friend.
And so he would not rest until he reached him, he would not sleep nor eat nor drink, until he was back home. Arthur would know he'd come back. Merlin would make sure they were safe again.
-
There were guards outside the door. Strong and silent creatures who did not meet his eyes, afraid to show even the smallest glimps of their darkest hour. It was as if a clock was counting down the minutes until it came. Until he'd be gone.
An arm reached out and pressed against his heaving chest. "It might be contagious." They didn't speak his name and chances were they didn't even know it. He was not important enough to be remembered as an individual wrapped up in a single word. He didn't mind, because to them, he was Arthur's servant, and that's who he would always be.
"I don't care." He reached for the handle, anxious to be by Arthur's side, and stepped inside.
Arthur
He opened his eyes slowly, the heavy, painfilled lids pushing upwards with the greatest of efforts. He blinked into the soft morning light that was harsher than usual, more colourful and dazzling. He was not accustomed to it anymore. The light, the sounds and the blistering heat that raged through his broken body. It was all too much.
Gaius was there again, faithful as always and on a neverending search for the answer, praying it would somehow be written on his skin in clear, fine print. Dying, it would say. Cause unknown.
But another night had passed and still he had not perished. Which was, after all, a good sign. Three hundred nights like these and he make it through the year.
Even through this misty haze of pain and fear, he could tell the moment something changed. Voices murmured outside the door and Gaius' fingers stilled above his body, the old man's ears straining to hear the sound that had entered his chambers through the smallest of cracks. His mouth twitched a little in relief, a faint uprising of its corners.
"Merlin, which part of it might be contagious don't you understand?" The physician sounded more than a little amused as he looked at his foster son. Of course he'd known Merlin would come running, and that he wouldn't care about any danger or safety protocol. He was stupid enough to risk his own life for the sake of others.
His hurried steps moved him closer to the bed and now Arthur could not only hear the new arrival, he could also see his servant coming towards them. Merlin's eyebrows shot up in feigned surprise. "Contagious? Right." He smacked his lips ostentatiously. "Since I'm here anyway, I might as well stay, don't you agree, Gaius?"
Gaius smiled and silently excused himself – no doubt because he wanted Arthur to explain what had happened himself, leaving him to do the dirty work. He sighed softly, a small murmur being all that he could manage. "You're an idiot, Merlin."
"Well," the answer was cheerful, Merlin's eyes lighting up as he spoke. He was trying to play pretend and for now, Arthur didn't object to that at all. He craved for something to make it seem okay. "some might say I am. Others would say I'm just..incredibly dedicated to my mission." He gave his friend a cheeky smile.
"Your… mission."
"I'm going to save you."
Arthur chuckled, but it wasn't light or even funny. His whole body convulsed when the shock ripped through him, his face becoming flushed for a second before returning to the ghostly pale color it had been. Merlin immediately darted forward and gently eased him back against his pillows.
The once so pure blue eyes, now clouded with pain, looked into his. "You do realize that every word that comes out of your mouth is more ridiculous than the last?"
Merlin
"Really? That's strange. I was just about to say what a good prince you are." He shrugged. "Well, it explains a lot."
His finger prodded the space between them. "No. THAT I want to hear."
"Sorry." Merlin sang. "The window of opportunity has officially closed." He reached for the damp cloth that lay in the blue bowl next to the bed and wiped it across Arthur's brow, hoping to ease his fever. "You're a prat, Arthur."
"Of course I am." He blew a string of air between his lips and for some reason, it seemed to him as if it died the minute it escaped his body. Free, at last. "What did I do this time?"
"It's what you didn't do." He released the object in his hands and shifted on the bed, forcing Arthur to look at him. "You weren't going to tell me."
Arthur turned away, causing the sun to cast its rays upon his dirty blond hair. It clung to his forehead. "Didn't see why I should."
Merlin let out one breath, harsh and clear, though the air that passed between his lips made them tremble. "You didn't see that?"
Arthur
"What good would it have done, Merlin? You would be worried, helpless, and most likely blame yourself for not being here."
"I'm not helpless."
"You are, Merlin. Gaius doesn't know what it is and.. I'll.." he paused, thinking of how best to explain this to this fragile friend of his. No sense in making Merlin any more terrified than he probably already was, he searched for a way to explain. He was reminded of the time when they went off together to save Gwen, and the giant..baby..rats they had encountered. "well, it's not looking good."
"You're not going to die, Arthur." His voice was soft and soothing, but at the same time it was more powerful than any order his father had ever issued. He couldn't help but stay silent and listen, completely. "I'm going to make sure of that."
Merlin
He'd tried to stay strong when he was falling apart on the inside. He knew Arthur hadn't fallen for it, but had also felt his gratefulness. Despite what he had said, a small part of Merlin believed that Arthur actually liked the fact that he was here, trying to make him laugh by declaring to save him.
What he didn't know was that his servant was more serious about this than he had been about anything else in his entire life. He would not let Arthur die, and while he climbed the step to the attic, he begged for Gaius to have an answer.
"I've hardly ever seen this kind of disease before, Merlin. It is affecting everything inside of him, eating him from the inside." Gaius treaded softly, trying not to upset him. But that was not important right now, for he would gladly be upset if it meant Gaius had found the source of this illness… and the cure.
"You know what it is?"
Gaius nodded and Merlin felt his legs sagging with relief. He listened to Gaius with clear intent as the physician had explained how the illness was a result of a poisoning of the worst kind, a nearly intraceable demon that hid inside whatever it could feed on. It had not come here by itself, Gaius told him. Someone had deliberately tried to poison Arthur.
He knew it was all dangerous and that battle was not won. But Merlin only heard the good news, he heard the answer to his prayers. They knew what this was and they would conquer it. They would.
Through hell and high water. He would save his friend.
Oh, please... please tell me what you think? It would mean everything to me!!
XO, as always
Mae'side
