Chapter 3: Merlin Lives
Their journey back to Camelot was quick. Arthur led with Leon and Lancelot, followed by Elyan and Percival, and lastly, Gwaine drove the open wagon that held the precious cargo - Merlin. Merlin felt every bump and grove in the road. It wasn't the most comfortable ride, but he felt the speed. Lying on the lumpy wooden planks of the wagon, Merlin stared into the night sky. He saw a thin swirl of clouds stretch across the mountain tops. Scatters of stars were twinkling. Merlin was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. The pain was numbing and it didn't bother him as much. Perhaps the blood loss rendered him tipsy and sleepy. He wondered if this meant the end was near.
He was never good at healing spells. No matter how hard he studied and practiced the powers of healing, it was the one thing he could not get right. He knew he lacked the strength but he wanted to test his abilities. He figured he had nothing to lose. He was already dying. He took a deep breath and allowed his magic to consume every fiber of his being. There was a warm and tingly feeling centering in his body and as he opened his eyes, his irises turned a fiery gold. A foreign word passed his lips. The gold flickered for a second and disappeared, leaving him weak and spent. He lay gasping greedily for oxygen.
Every few leagues, Arthur would fall back and check on Merlin. For the most part, Merlin had his eyes closed and appeared to be either unconscious or asleep. Sometimes, Arthur heard a moan or small sob indicating that, all in all, Merlin was still alive. They journeyed into the night without stopping. The knights were used to pulling all-nighters and ran on just several hours of sleep. It was part of the job. By the time they reached Camelot, it was midday. Instead of going passed the heavily guarded front gate, Arthur thought it wise to use the service entrance behind the West tower. It was closer to the hospital wing, where Gaius would be tending to the injured. It would also draw less attention and suspicion in case the enemy was watching.
The knights worked quickly and quietly. Percival carried Merlin, who was still swathed in capes, and hurried into the castle with Arthur walking speedily behind. Leon, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Elyan took care of the horses and got rid of the wagon. By that time, Merlin was unconscious and looking exceptionally pale as his pulse grew weaker and weaker. Percival strode across the corridors in long gaits. Servants and other hired help quickly jumped aside to prevent being trampled by the gentle giant. Some caught a glimpse of the body that Percival held when he passed. A few people recognized Merlin and quickly succumbed to fervor of whispers. Once Percival's bulky form passed from view, they recognized Prince Arthur immediately behind and all became silent. Not a single movement stirred as everyone fell into deep bows and courtesies until Prince Arthur passed. Arthur was too preoccupied to notice what the hired help was doing nor did he care if their bows fell short. He was worried about Merlin and that was all.
The doors of the hospital wing swung open as Percival, with Merlin in tow, entered. Nurses, servants, and patients turned to stare at the new commotion that had taken to the room. They scrutinized the latest casualty of war for a few seconds and soon resumed their tasks. Scanning the large room for Gaius, Percival found him in the rear mixing medicines. There was no need for an exchange of words when Gaius saw who Percival was carrying. Arthur took note of the shocked and grieved expression on the old physician's face. Since Merlin's arrival to Camelot, Gaius had taken him under his wing. Gaius was the only person who understood Merlin and loved him unconditionally - magic, flaws and all. Merlin found comfort in Gaius and saw him as a father-figure. Gaius was someone he could count on and go to for just about anything. Gaius accepted Merlin for who he was and protected him from all harm. Even Arthur noticed the difference in Gaius since Merlin came. Gaius seemed to have a newfound a purpose in life and almost always had a joyous expression. Merlin was like a son to him and to see his young ward in such a state was horrendous.
Except for the obvious details, Arthur knew very little about Merlin. Merlin did not come from a wealthy family, it showed in the way he dressed and the way he behaved. Merlin wore simple but functional clothes, which were somehow made to be durable. Arthur used to be embarrassed to be seen with Merlin wearing his strange, earthy outfits and at one point even suggested the court tailor to create something more "suitable" for him, but that did not settle well with Merlin. And in the end, Merlin got his way and got the freedom to wear what he pleased. Arthur had also seen other little actions that gave him a clue on Merlin's character. He never wasted food. He always finished everything on his plate. Arthur had seen the way Merlin ate his lunch, sometimes he couldn't tell whether Merlin didn't have enough to eat, or if he was just always hungry.
Merlin lived a very practical and simple lifestyle. His pre-Camelot days were filled with routine chores, caring for livestock, and working in the fields. Ealdor was a farming village and there was always plenty to do for everyone during all seasons of the year. The days were long and hard but everyone pitched in to help each other. His mother always made sure he had a good place to sleep and three hearty meals a day. She understood her son's rare "gift" and did all she could to keep him safe. Any spare time Merlin had, he spent by the lake with his good friend Will. They whiled away the day lazily talking about random petty things. He didn't have much, but he was happy.
Merlin hardly ever spoke of his father. Arthur assumed the worst and so he never asked. But somehow, he understood and could tell it wasn't a good relationship from the hurt look on Merlin's face each time the subject was brought up. It appeared Merlin was the happiest when he was spending quality time with Gaius. It didn't matter if they were inside labeling jars or researching new medicines or even in the woods picking herbs and exotic roots. Merlin liked being around Gaius. He enjoyed watching Gaius work and learning about all sorts of scientific discoveries. Merlin also valued Gaius' words of wisdom and sound advice. Merlin liked being cared for and looked after, even though he always insisted he could do things on his own. Merlin was all Gaius had and for the old physician, that was more than enough.
Arthur watched as Merlin was carefully laid atop a bed in the rear of the room. Merlin appeared unresponsive to anything. Arthur found it hard to tear his eyes away from the sight of Gaius scurrying to and fro spewing instructions to servants to fetch this and that. All the movement going on around a very still Merlin made Arthur anxious. He craned his neck to catch glimpses of Merlin's face. He felt so helpless and useless standing there like a lost child in a crowded market place. He was eventually led away by Percival, insisting there was nothing more Arthur could do. To keep out of the way, Arthur and Percival waited out in the hallway. When they got tired of pacing back and forth, they sat on the floor in front of the hospital doors like beggars. They were soon joined by the rest of the knights. The wait for news became longer and longer. Arthur told his knights to get some food and rest. At first, they all refused, knowing that this was Merlin's life they were talking about. Everyone had a reason for needing to know how Merlin faired. But Arthur convinced them that they all needed to be refreshed and on the top of their game when battle commenced. Besides, Arthur promised to tell them first hand any news that should arise. The knights left reluctantly and soon Arthur was alone. He paced with hands behind his back. There were several desperate moments when he wanted to barge in and demand answers. But he knew that wouldn't do any good.
Arthur was overcome by a sudden fear. Merlin had a good chance. They found him alive and kept him alive though the journey back. But what if after all that, Merlin still died? What if the injuries were so bad that Gaius couldn't do anything to save him? Arthur had seen the way Merlin looked and it was really bad. Arthur began thinking of life without Merlin. He realized just how empty his life would be and how much he would miss him. The abusive name-calling and bullying was probably unforgiving, but Arthur had a strange way of showing his affection towards his trusty servant. Merlin never took anything personally, because deep down, he knew Arthur. Arthur may be a hot-head but underneath it all, he was a good friend. Though sometimes, Merlin defended himself with a pretty good comeback. There were so many things Arthur wanted to tell Merlin and now, he may not even get the chance. Merlin, of all people, should not die like this. It made him so angry that he wanted to put a fist through the wall.
With a soft creak, the large wooden door to the hospital swung open and a young servant boy appeared. "Sire," the boy said with a deep bow. "Gaius says you can come in now."
"How is Merlin? Is he alright?" Arthur asked as he rushed passed the boy without waiting for answers. Gaius' robed figure immerged from behind a linen curtain. "Gaius, what's the news?" Arthur could feel his heart hammering so hard against his chest. He studied for hints on Gaius' face. Gaius seemed to have a blank expression - one that contained neither good nor bad news. It was a rather ambivalent look, but after a brief moment of suspense, a small smile broke across Gaius' thin lips.
"Merlin will live." Gaius said, ending the longest three-seconds of Arthur's life.
"Is he awake? Can I see him? I want to see him." Arthur stammered. He took a step forward only to be stopped by Gaius.
"Wait, there is something you must know before you go in." Gaius said. "Merlin has been hurt badly - in body and in mind. There were a few seconds when he came to and thought he was still back at that awful place being tortured. Please be gentle with him. He's been through a lot."
Arthur nodded and was about to advance again when Gaius stopped him once more.
"I've dressed all his wounds. He had a mild concussion brought on by the head injury and three bruised ribs. However, the wound on his leg concerns me the most. It's the worst I'd ever seen. It was a smart move when you applied the tourniquet. He surely would've bled to death." Gaius said.
Arthur was tired and weary, but his ears caught a rather suspicious tone in Gaius' voice and he looked at the old physician curiously. "What is it, Gaius? Is there something wrong with his leg?" Arthur asked. Then a horrible thought came to him. "He will be able to walk, won't he?"
"He will need plenty of rest and proper nourishment." Gaius changed the subject.
"Gaius, you didn't answer my question." Arthur said. He was very satisfied that Merlin will live but the thought of his best friend being crippled for life didn't sit very well with Arthur. To have something like that taken away will surely crush Merlin. And Arthur's heart grew heavy with grief for Merlin.
"It's too soon to tell. I should like to hope that he will make a full recovery. But truth be told, his leg will take longer to heal." Gaius said. "One more thing Arthur, I gave him strong medicine for the pain. It'll make him groggy."
With that, Arthur parted the curtain and stepped through cautiously. He saw a different-looking Merlin under the soft white sheets. The blood on his face and hair were cleaned off and Gaius had changed him into fresh clothes. A wound of white bandages swathed around Merlin's head. The bruise on the face was stitched up and a puffy shade of purple was forming. The split lip had been sewn back together and on the mend. White bandages were wrapped around a fist nursing defensive wounds. The blanket hid the other injuries. Arthur approached Merlin's bedside. Merlin's face was pale and his breathing was a bit irregular with small gasps every now and then. His eyes were closed and appeared to be sleeping. Arthur took a seat in the chair next to the bed. Merlin felt movement around him and peeled his eyes open.
"Merlin?" Arthur whispered softly.
"Sire." Merlin acknowledged with a painful grin. He was glad to see Arthur as much as Arthur was glad to see him.
"Do you need me to get you anything? Do you want some water or - or another blanket?" Arthur said, not realizing how ironic that sounded. It was total role reversal. Whoever heard of a Prince asking a servant if he needed anything? At this point, Arthur was willing to bend over backwards for Merlin. He knew how close he came to losing his best friend. Merlin's brush with death was nerve-wracking and too scary for Arthur. He hoped to never have to go through that again. Even placed in the most dangerous situations didn't compare to how genuinely frightened Arthur had been. He realized how precious certain things were and vowed to never take it for granted.
"No, I'm fine." Merlin lied. In fact, he was in so much pain that he could barely move a muscle. And perhaps Arthur noticed it as well. "Arthur, whatever happens, you need to know that I understand and respect whatever decisions you'll make. I won't take it personally." A tear fell from the corner of his eye. It was an all-knowing look that even Arthur understood what they were saying without having to say it.
"Nothing's going to change, Merlin." Arthur said with conviction. "You will get well and things are going to be as they were. You will continue to be under my service."
"Things might be different." Merlin said, subconsciously touching his injured leg with his hand. "I - I won't be the same. I think you know too. Gaius is being all protective. He thinks the news would be too much of a shock for me to handle in my condition. But I sort of already know." He said softly.
"You don't know that for sure, Merlin." Arthur said in denial. "You're going to take one day at a time. Things will get better. You can't give up. I won't let you."
"What if I can't do my job? What if I can't - can't..." Merlin stammered. Walk. The word was too hard for Merlin to say aloud. He just couldn't say it. This wasn't something he ever thought would happen to him. Merlin was the type who always confronted truths. He didn't like bad news to be sugar-coated. He took things as they were and dealt with it. But the possibility of being crippled for the rest of his life never really occurred to him until now. It wasn't just the subtle hints in Gaius' voice, but he knew his body. He somehow knew it from the start that something wasn't right and perhaps wasn't ever going to be right.
Merlin tried to be strong for the sake of keeping his sanity. He wanted to be able to say that he had things under control and that this was just another challenge that he had to overcome. He would be lying if he said he wasn't scared. In fact, he was petrified. The thought of being crippled and not being able to do the things he used to do was hard to comprehend. It was a difficult idea to digest but then again, there was no use denying the truth. Merlin had no choice but to accept his shortcomings. Magic was hardly enough to compensate for not being able to walk. He couldn't say it wasn't fair. He would've done anything to help Arthur's people. If it meant losing the use of a leg, then the sacrifice was worth it and not done in vain. The one thing that worried him was his future in Camelot. What would his function be? How was he going to serve Arthur?
When he first moved to Camelot, he hated it. It was crowded and people were loud and obnoxious. People kept to themselves and there were no time for pleasantries. Merlin saw them as cold and unfeeling. The streets were narrow and there was movement everywhere. Trade wagons and horse drawn carriages pulled up in all directions at all hours of the day. It was a wonder how Merlin could get from one side of the street to the other without getting trampled. Camelot was a thriving, busy kingdom bustling with commerce - a little too busy for Merlin. Aside from Gaius, he didn't know a soul in this so-called "big city." Merlin was used to the wide open spaces of Ealdor. People back home were relaxed and friendlier. But as his time passed in Camelot, he got used to it and grew to actually liking it. The people weren't so bad. They weren't heartless, just focused on making ends meet. In the beginning, Arthur was a bully and made his life a living hell, and he often cursed him out behind his back. But somehow, things changed when he realized the destiny-crap that Gaius and Kilgarragh kept feeding his brain was true. He found in Arthur the makings of a great king and a friend. It took a while for Merlin to see it, but he finally understood his function in Arthur's journey. He was happy to call Camelot his second home. And now, he feared things were going to change.
"Merlin, look at you. You saved my people from peril. It was because of you that they are alive. You are this way because you sacrificed yourself for them - for me. And here you are, worried about not doing your job. You've exceeded your job. You've done a job that perhaps no other servant in the entire kingdom would have done. Did you think I was going to replace you? Is that how you think I would repay you for your sacrifice and bravery?" Arthur spoke in a gentle tone.
"I just thought that..." Merlin's voice trailed off.
"You're not just my servant, Merlin. I value you as a friend. I will not abandon you. I wish you would always remember that."
"I didn't think anyone would go through all that trouble to look for me." Merlin said. Tears were forming behind his eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous now Merlin. I would've travelled to the ends of the earth to find you and you know it. I couldn't let you die out there. You mean too much to me." Arthur heard himself saying that last sentence. It was a truth and yet never really told. He had wanted to tell Merlin so many times but it wasn't the manly or princely thing to do.
Arthur had grown quite fond of Merlin's presence and learned to appreciate his honesty, although sometimes, he said things that were not pleasing to Arthur's ears. Merlin was not the type of manservant who agreed with everything the prince said, especially when the prince was wrong in judgment. Merlin often made his voice and thoughts known. However, his opinionated tongue frequently landed him in the stocks. But as Arthur learned later on, there was something pure and candid about Merlin. He spoke the truth and his advice, on more occasions than one, made sense. He hated to admit it but Merlin was, at times, wise beyond his years. Arthur might've found it amusing to tease and pelt insults at Merlin from time to time, but he would never trade Merlin for anyone. Merlin had proven his loyalty numerous times and put himself in danger to protect Arthur. Arthur always set himself up to appear selfish, pompous and arrogant - some typical characteristics royal blood should have, but unlike his father, he secretly cared about things. In fact, he cared a lot for Merlin. People came and went but Merlin was the one constant in his life - someone whom he could trust and utterly count on with his life. He loved Merlin like a brother and promised to always look out for him.
"I couldn't bear the thought of a day going by without you being there tormenting me and getting on my nerves. Life would be way too dull." Arthur said with a nervous laugh, and then turned to a more serious tone. "You won't be forgotten. You belong here. Your home is in Camelot."
"Thank you for such comforting words. I'm touched." Merlin said as another two big glassy beads of tears fell from his eyes.
Arthur was consumed with pity for him. In all the years he'd known Merlin, he'd never seen him cry. There were plenty of times he wanted to make Merlin cry just for the evil fun of it. Piling on an impossible amount of chores and ordering ridiculous requests, like sending Merlin all over town searching for something called "nutmeg" just because Arthur felt like using it for his stew. Merlin had never even heard of a nutmeg, much less knew what it should look like. He only knew that it was expensive and that half a kilogram cost as much as a whole cow. It angered Merlin for Arthur to send him on a wild goose chase only to later "change his mind" about the nutmeg.
Merlin was always happy-go-lucky and never held a grudge with anyone. He always found a way to make the most out of everything. He had a heavy daily workload, but he always did it, set aside a few complaints every now and then. All the heat he'd taken from an often disgruntled prince was never taken personally. In his life, the glass was always half full. It had to take something extremely big for Merlin to cry. And this was it - the straw that finally broke the camel's back. Seeing that much sadness, fear, and despair in Merlin's watery eyes made Arthur realize how much he regret ever wanting to make Merlin cry.
Arthur empathized with the pain and trauma that Merlin endured, but he couldn't fathom being crippled. Arthur always had everything he ever wanted or needed and things like losing a limb never crossed his mind because he was always so bold and held such high esteem of himself. As prince and champion, he claimed himself a winner and therefore, being maimed and incapacitated was virtually unheard of and not in his vocabulary. He felt almighty and untouchable. There was nothing that could prepare anyone from handicap. Arthur's compassion for Merlin was beyond anything he'd ever felt before. His heart broke a thousand times as he watched the tears stream out the corners of Merlin's eyes in a steady flow.
It was difficult for Merlin to hold back tears and emotions. This was the lowest blow in his life and part of him felt as though his world had crumbled right before his eyes. Yet for the first time since his arrival in Camelot, he felt like he did something meaningful - for the greater good. He never aimed to be a hero. He just wanted to help and be useful. Gaius always told him to take care and reminded him time and again that even with magic, he was not invincible. Merlin was human - flesh and blood like any other. Perhaps he pushed his luck too far this time. To end up this way, Merlin wondered if it was better off not being found at all. Maybe if he had the good sense to die, he would not have to ponder this question. He resented Arthur slightly for depriving him of the one thing that would dissolve all his problems - death. He cursed Arthur for being so determined to find and rescue him. Merlin's morbid thoughts would've been disturbing with reasons for concern had the others known. Feeling defeated, Merlin heaved a small miserable sigh and stopped crying.
"I'm glad you're alive. Whatever comes next, we'll face it together. Just know that you're not alone." Arthur patted Merlin's uninjured hand lightly. "Sometimes, I know I come off as being a real prat and treat you like dirt..."
"Sometime? Don't you mean all the time?" Merlin corrected. He forced a smile. Arthur wanted to say something smart but he just couldn't bring himself to any verbal abuse, especially after seeing the poor way Merlin looked - the greyish circles under the eyes, a face spotted with bruises, and a head wrapped in bandages. Under any other circumstances, Arthur would shoot back a few harsh words and maybe throw in a punishment or two. But this time, Arthur just gave a smirk.
"From now on, I'll try to be more reasonable with you." Arthur searched for the right words without lowering himself too much.
"Well, don't change too much. Otherwise, I wouldn't recognize you." Merlin tried to be funny but failed when he wheezed painfully. Arthur couldn't help but wince in reaction to watching Merlin struggle slightly for breath.
"Take short, easy, and slow breaths. Don't make sudden gasps because it's going to hurt like hell. Ribs need plenty of time to heal." Arthur spoke like one with experience. He knew about broken and bruised ribs, especially since he's had a few of those in his lifetime. Merlin took Arthur's advice and his breathing eventually evened out. There was an unusual moment of silence that fell around them, before Merlin spoke.
"I - I'm scared." Merlin finally admitted softly, ashamed of revealing his vulnerability.
"I know." Arthur answered all-knowingly. "But you'll be alright." For the first time that night, Arthur smiled. It was a simple and effortless gesture but right from that one smile, Merlin understood the message Arthur was trying to get across this whole time.
Arthur may not have always been the easiest person to deal with, but one thing was for sure, he was just as loyal to Merlin. There had always been some sort of strong bond between the two that Arthur could not explain. It was something stronger than a friendship. Arthur didn't think it was possible to have this connection with a lowly servant, but as time went on, he soon came to realize that there was something special about Merlin - something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. He wasn't like any of the other servants he's had in the past. There was a sense of idiosyncrasy in the way Merlin presented himself. And Arthur wondered why he never fired Merlin for all the times he angered him. He surely would've done away with any other servant who peeved him in such a mouthy way within a heartbeat. Merlin was different. It was like as if their lives were meant to cross.
Young Merlin was told of a destiny he didn't quite understand. He didn't see how someone as minuscule as he could make that much of a difference. Sometimes, he despised the dragon for telling him that he had a destiny. In fact, Merlin didn't want any destinies. He didn't want to have anything to do with the snooty Prince of Camelot. He just wanted to live a nice laidback, normal life in Ealdor with his mother and all his friends. Things never have a way of going the way he wanted. His destiny was to protect Arthur and aid him in uniting the kingdoms of Albion and returning magic to the land. As time progressed, Merlin came to realize how important a role he played in this destiny.
Even with magic, it wasn't easy protecting the unsuspecting, spoiled prince from harm all the time. Arthur treated him badly - there was no denying that. There were plenty of times when Merlin felt so vexed and provoked that he had to fire back something in his own defense. It had its consequences - like mucking out the stables or the stocks or polishing all the knight's boots. Nevertheless, Merlin always stood by him through thick and thin.
Arthur never understood the real reason behind Merlin's undying loyalty and he may never truly know. Sometimes, it angered Merlin not being able to say something. The secrets haunted him from time to time and caused him quite a lot of grief. He wished he could be completely honest with Arthur for a change, but that would mean revealing his "special talent" and he couldn't do that. Arthur may not have known it right away but Merlin had a big impact on his life. Merlin's kindhearted and selflessness influenced Arthur each day and eventually, Arthur grew from being arrogant and pompous to compassionate and merciful, qualities which Uther lacked.
Nimueh's poisoned chalice played over and over in Arthur's head. He couldn't stop the images for months afterwards - Merlin being forced to drink the poisoned wine, seeing the bottom of the chalice turn up as Merlin gulped down the liquid, the sickening sight of Merlin struggling for breath as the fast poison took its toll, and watching in horror as Merlin dropped to the floor in an unconscious heap. Arthur was always able to find a way to save Merlin. But this time, it came too close. Seeing Merlin battered within an inch of his life was worse than any poison. He secretly shared in Merlin's pain. Each spasm of pain that Merlin felt, Arthur felt doubled. Still deep down inside, Arthur felt responsible for this happening to Merlin. This was his fault and he took full blame, even if Merlin refused to accept it. He wished Merlin would allow him to take some of the blame. Nevertheless, Arthur promised to make some changes. For one thing, he was going to try to be nicer to Merlin, because after all this, he realized Merlin's importance in his life.
Merlin's first impression of Arthur was on the negative. Arthur was smug and self-centered and Merlin had no intention of being his friend. It was the most unlikely friendship that started off on the wrong foot. But they've come a long way since that first disagreeable day. No one would've ever imagined how two people who were so different could become such close friends in the end. Merlin never expected their friendship to grow so strong and deep. Destiny.
Besides, Arthur wasn't so bad. He might be a little stubborn at times, but for the most part, he was just and honorable. He kept his word. This was something that Merlin could always count on. Arthur never broke his promises. Merlin looked at the face smiling at him and read the kindness in his eyes. He needn't worry anymore about his future because his future was and always has been right there in Camelot.
"You should get some sleep. You look like a wreck." Merlin drawled tiredly. He couldn't tell if it was all the crying or the drugs that made him feel so warm and drowsy.
"Look who's talking." Arthur chortled. "You ought to take your own advice."
"Thank you, Arthur. For bringing me back." Merlin's voice was small and barely coherent. It was hard for his eyes to focus and remain open. Suddenly, staying awake became a struggle and he didn't think he could fight it any longer. "Forgive me, Sire, but I'm going to pass out now."
"Sleep well and heal. I will visit you later." Arthur said.
"Mmmmmmm." Merlin mumbled before drifting off into sleep.
Arthur stared at Merlin for a few minutes, just watching him sleep. With blanket drawn up to his earlobes, Merlin appeared so much younger. He had lost the healthiness from his face as a result of the fatigue, dehydration, and excessive blood loss. With all the bandages and bruising, Merlin looked exceptionally beat. But he was safe now, among friends, and in good hands. At least Arthur had a chance to talk to Merlin and tell him that he mattered.
It would be last conversation Arthur had with Merlin for a while. Merlin slept straight through the next two days. He fell deeper and deeper into an abnormal sleep. Nothing could wake him. Arthur visited him numerous times and even tried talking to him. He was skeptical about Merlin hearing him, but he realized how easy it was to speak to Merlin, especially since the servant was unconscious. Arthur told him about his day and updated him on how the war was starting to dissipate as treaties were being drawn up. There were a few instances when a lack of words rendered Arthur a little desperate and he simply asked Merlin to "please wake up."
Aside from the shallow rise and fall of Merlin's chest, he showed no signs of awareness of his surroundings. He did not feel the prick and pull of his bandages being changed, or the stinging sensation he would've felt when antiseptic was placed on his bruises. Several times, Arthur watched Gaius "feed" Merlin. Gaius tilted Merlin's head back and poured various liquids down the servant's throat. Arthur saw how delicately Gaius was cradling Merlin's limp body as he did these feedings. Merlin was already a skinny fellow but now, he had become skeletal and Gaius wasn't the only one who noticed. Feeding time was the worst because Arthur saw how completely dependable Merlin was on Gaius for something as basic as eating. It was a sight rather unbearable but Arthur forced himself to watch. He watched Gaius wipe off the excess drippy liquid that had dribbled onto Merlin's chin. It looked very discouraging prompting Arthur to inquire about Merlin's condition a few times. Although Gaius explained that it was absolutely normal due to the exsanguination, Arthur caught the hint of concern laced in the old physician's voice.
On the third day, Merlin awoke from his coma, allowing everyone relief. Merlin was disoriented and unaware that he'd lost two whole days. In his mind, he'd just taken a nap. He was confused at the smiling faces and wondered why everyone laughed when he said he had a sudden odd craving for stew.
Arthur was so overjoyed that he ordered a servant boy to fetch a whole pot of beef stew from the kitchens immediately - and to make sure that it was hot. Everyone knew that anything that came out of the kitchens would be a top rate meal. It was food fit for a king, after all.
Merlin smiled at the idea of food. He was famished.
End
Author's Note: Thank you for reading! The story ends here, but I guess the question remains - will Merlin walk again? The answer is yes. In the months to come, Merlin managed to regain his ability to walk, but with a limp. Of course, some days are more painful than others as he struggles to get back into a routine life. Arthur kept his promise in treating Merlin better. He found it quite difficult to yell at Merlin after all that's happened and even harder when he sees Merlin limping around as a constant reminder. Please sign a review?