A/N – Thanks for the reviews and the story alerts. Glad to here people are enjoying the story.

Additional disclaimer – I am not an expert in medicine, either now or back then, so anything Gaius does or has in his capacity as physician is quite possibly inaccurate, though it works for me in the story.

Standard Disclaimer in Chapter 1

Chapter 3 - Please

As they sped through the streets of Camelot, Leon in the lead shouting for everyone to move out of the way, Arthur desperately hoped that they would reach Gaius in time.

They pulled their horses up quickly at the entrance of the castle building nearest Gaius' chambers, Leon called to one of the servants to care for the horses, as he jumped down and came over to Arthur and Tayla. Not a word needed to pass between Arthur and Leon, his knight knew what had to be done. Arthur gently passed Tayla to Leon and quickly slid off his horse. He spotted Merlin in the courtyard and called to him as he gently took Tayla from Leon's arms. He would trust no one else with her until they reached Gaius She was still unconscious, but thankfully he could feel her breath on his neck so knew that she was still alive.

"My Lord," Merlin said as he hurried over, his mouth dropping open at the sight in front of him. Merlin was about to continue when Arthur spoke again.

"Find Gaius. We will meet him in his chambers. Now!" Arthur said abruptly before turning to Leon.

"Leon, the doors," Arthur said as they moved to the castle. Leon led the way, ensuring the path was clear. They arrived quickly at Gaius' chambers just as the physician and Merlin did. As he laid Tayla on the table she started to stir.

"Welcome back," Arthur said, "You remember Gaius, our court physician. Gaius, Princess Tayla."

"Pleasure to see you again, Gaius," replied Tayla weakly.

"The pleasure is mine, Princess, though I would have liked the circumstances to be better. May I ask who attended your wound?" Gaius said as he looked her over.

"It was her knight, Sir Tristan. Speaking of Tristan, Merlin?" said Arthur turning to Merlin who was still standing near the door.

"Yes Arthur?" Merlin replied.

"Sir Tristan will be arriving shortly, he needs medical attention too. Meet him and escort him here," Arthur said firmly.

"Please," Arthur heard a faint voice from the table. He looked down to see Tayla giving him a look that he remembered all too well. He smiled and looked back to Merlin.

"Please Merlin, can you find Sir Tristan and bring him here?" Arthur amended.

Merlin looked at him then to Tayla, shock on his face.

"How long can you stay my Lady? I like your effect on the Prince." Merlin grinned at her.

"Merlin!" said Arthur sharply.

"Leaving now," replied Merlin with one last smile at Tayla who returned it warmly, though somewhat weakly.

"Happy?" Arthur asked Tayla once Merlin had left.

"So that was Merlin? Not quite like you described. And no, I had to remind you. I thought I had trained you bet..." Her words were cut off with a small scream of pain as Gaius did something.

"I'm sorry Princess. This wound is deep and I will need to stitch it. It will hurt. I have something that can put you to sleep whilst I do this if you wish," Gaius said gently to his patient.

"Is it going to get much worse?" Tayla asked the physician.

"Most likely. I'll be as gentle as I can but I cannot guarantee it won't hurt more. It will also take some time," Gaius replied.

"Alright then. I am at your mercy Gaius," Tayla replied, closing her eyes briefly against the pain.

"Arthur, can you please hold the pressure on the wound for me, whilst I get the draught to make her sleep," asked Gaius.

"Of course, Gaius." Arthur's hands replaced Gaius' just as the door burst open.

"Found him," Merlin said cheerfully as he walked in with Tristan, Gwen following.

"My Lady, My Lord," said Tristan though he had eyes only for Tayla, so pale lying on the table. Arthur looked up briefly, smiling when he saw Gwen, but his attention returned to Tayla quickly to ensure he held pressure on her wound like Gaius had requested.

"Tristan," Tayla said softly in greeting. Gaius turned and looked at the company noting the injured knight, he smiled at Gwen.

"Gwen, would you mind seeing to Sir Tristan's injuries please, whilst I take care of the Princess?" Gaius asked her.

"Of course Gaius. Sir Tristan?" Gwen responded, walking toward the knight.

Arthur looked up to again see reluctance in Tristan's eyes.

"You will be in good hands with Guinevere I assure you, Sir Tristan. As is the Princess. You will not need to leave her if that is what concerns you." Arthur said.

Tristan walked over to Arthur and Tayla, reaching for one of her hands.

"It's not that my Lord. I...I just worry about her," replied Tristan, though he didn't look at Arthur as he said this.

Tayla reached her hand up to his face, a small grimace giving away the pain that the movement caused.

"Tristan, I will be fine. You can not get rid of me that easily. Plus, there are still things you promised to teach me, I have not forgotten them and as such, how can I die before I have had that pleasure. I will be fine." Tayla replied to Tristan's concern. It revealed to Arthur that she cared deeply for her knight to reassure him so thoroughly given the pain she must be in. He was sure that it took a lot of effort to say so much. Tristan smiled gently and kissed her hand.

"I will hold you to that my Lady," he replied looking into her eyes. Arthur looked up and caught Gwen's eyes, smiling at her gently. It was nice to have her here, nice to know that someone so capable, in addition to Gaius would be looking after Tayla.

Tayla looked at Arthur, "Gwen? The Guinevere?" she asked him. He just nodded, not wanting to say anymore. Tayla smiled up at him, "I look forward to getting to know her later."

"Behave," Arthur said, knowing that look. She smiled at him again.

"Always Arthur, you know me," Tayla replied.

"Yes I do, and let me say it again. Behave Princess...Please!"

"My Lady, I have the draught ready," said Gaius. Tristan looked up and frowned.

"It is alright Tristan, Gaius is going to help me sleep, whilst he makes the necessary repairs," she said. Gaius helped her drink the liquid, a disgusted look coming on her face. Gaius chuckled.

"I did not say it would be pleasant Princess."

"I do not know what is worse, the taste of that or the pain. You should try and....." Her voice fading as she drifted off to sleep.

"Now, if you are staying Arthur, I will need you to stay where you are, not move and not ask questions."

"I'll be staying," replied Arthur, nothing could take him away from her whilst there was a risk that he might lose her.

"As will I," said Tristan gently placing Tayla's hand back down on the table and moving toward Gwen.

Arthur didn't move. He held Tayla's hand and he watched and waited whilst Gaius worked, assisted by Merlin. He glanced over to Gwen occasionally as she treated Tristan and then as she waited patiently next time the knight whilst Gaius continued to work on Tayla, comforted by the knowledge that she was there.

Gaius was almost finished when Uther walked through the door saying "What is going on? I should have been informed the moment the Princess arrived."

Arthur saw Tristan tense up and stand at Uther's rough tone.

"Well Father, it was more important that Tayla saw Gaius before she saw you." Uther looked at him and as he was about to respond, no doubt unfavourably, Gaius spoke up.

"Uther, Arthur is right. If I had not attended to the injuries the Princess had when I did, I doubt she would be alive right now." With that, Uther looked down at the body on the table, a body he had barely registered was there. A horrified look crossed his face as he recognised her. He turned to Arthur, "What happened?" Uther demanded.

"They were attacked by the raiders. It was lucky that we came across them when we did," replied Arthur, hoping his father would leave soon. He was tense enough without having his father here.

"They?" asked Uther, frowning at Arthur before his gaze went briefly back to Tayla's injured form.

"Tayla and Sir Tristan," Arthur replied, indicating the knight who was standing closer to Tayla than he had been before.

Uther looked at Tristan, nodded and then looked back to Arthur.

"I need to speak with you about this at once. Sir Tristan too." Uther was about to say more when Arthur cut in, shocking Uther and the others in the room.

"I can assure you Father, that once Gaius has finished with Tayla and we are both sure that she will be alright, we will come and find you. However, for now, neither Sir Tristan nor myself will be leaving this chamber." Arthur looked and held his father's eye, daring him to argue. Uther looked at Arthur, noting the glimpse of the future King he saw, unsure whether to be pleased or not at the confidence and power he saw.

"Very well, as soon as she is settled, find me," Uther replied. Turning to Tristan, Uther said "Welcome to Camelot, Sir Tristan," and left the room after a last glimpse at his son, noting the missing sleeve and the way he was sitting by the bedside of the battered princess, holding her bloody hand. Arthur turned his attention back to Tayla and Gaius, just missing the frown that crossed his father's face.

"Arthur, Tristan. I'm ready to wake her up now. Gwen, could you give me that vial off the table there please," Gaius asked. Gwen got the vial, handing it to Gaius. "Thank you."

"What can I do?" Gwen asked.

"We need to make sure she does not move too much when she wakes up, so if we can all hold her gently until she is awake and understands, that will aid her recovery and ensure the stitches I have placed do not break."

Gwen moved to the other end of the table to hold Tayla's legs still whilst Tristan moved to take her free hand, Arthur still having hold of the other.

"Are we ready?" asked Gaius.

Gwen, Arthur and Tristan nodded, each tightening their gentle hold on the princess just a little more.

Gaius bent over, gently waving the smelling salts under Tayla's nose. They all felt the jolt as she woke up, unsure where she was.

Tristan spoke quietly, close to her ear. Arthur felt Tayla's body instantly relax at his words.

"You are safe my Lady, please be still."

Tayla looked at him, smiled and softly said "Tristan."

She then turned to Arthur and smiled as well. "You stayed?"

Arthur smiled back at her, "Of course, what did you think I would do?"

"Run a mile. You did last time there was blood involved!" she said with a soft chuckle.

"I was seven, and it wasn't your blood," replied Arthur, pleased that she was back already to her teasing self.

"No, it was yours and you would not let me fix it," Tayla said softly.

"Of course not, you were six, and it was your fault I was bleeding anyway!" He smiled at her and the memory, as she slowly turned her head back to Tristan and smiled at him again as she closed her eyes, her hand going limp in his. Arthur looked up at Gaius, concerned.

"It is alright Arthur, she needs to rest, that is all," Gaius answered before either Tristan or Arthur could worry too much.

A/N 2 – So what do you think of this one? Would love to hear your thoughts? Thanks