They all looked down at Merlin, Gaius and Gwaine quickly knelt at his side.
"Is he alive?" Arthur asked not moving.
"Yes he is but he still has a long way to go Sire." Gaius looked at the knight by his side "Can you carry him to the tent for me. As soon as we can I need to get him back to Camelot."
"I'll take him to Camelot now" Gwaine replied.
"No Gwaine it will be dark before you get there best go in the morning." Gaius looked at Arthur expecting him to say something but the King was standing still not moving or saying a word.
Gwaine bent and picked Merlin up in his arms, and took him into the tent set up for the knights, laying Merlin on his own cot. Covering the unconscious man gently with a blanket, he then took of his clock and placed that over Merlin as well. He then settled down on the floor by the warlock's side. Gaius followed him and after gently checking his young ward left him to sleep.
Outside Arthur hadn't moved Gwen went up to him. "Come Arthur you need to rest. Come to our tent."
She guided a still silent King into their tent and took of his armour and got him to lie on the bed. It wasn't until she lay by his side that the spoke:
"Why Gwen? Why did he become a sorcerer? I don't understand." He looked at his Queen.
"I don't know Arthur but what I do know is he isn't evil, Merlin is the gentlest person I know. He loves you like a brother he would never hurt you." Gwen was as lost as Arthur.
Arthur was awake most of the night, the only person who could answer his questions slept in the next tent. Outside the other knights gathered round the fire, trying to make sense of the day, they like the king, would have to wait to hear Merlin's story, but like Gwen figured that magic couldn't be all bad if Merlin used it. They slowly and quietly went to their tent making sure not to disturb either Gwaine or the sleeping Merlin.
At first light Gaius checked over Merlin. The wound to his side was dry and healing but Merlin showed no sign of waking. The camp was packed up and the remaining army started to make their way back to Camelot. The injured travelled back in wagons, except for Merlin, who was held in Gwaine's arms on the back of this horse. Arthur travelling by their side, but he still didn't speak to anyone.
They left behind some common soldiers to bury the dead from both sides in mass graves to prevent disease. Only the bodies of the fallen knights would be returned to their families for burial. The others would have any valuables removed and returned to their loved ones. The enemy soldier's belongings would be collected and shared amongst those Camelot families's who had lost their men, to help them to cope through the coming winter.
As the King and Knights rode into the courtyard Percy jumped down to take Merlin from Gwaine, but Arthur beat him to it, taking Merlin gently in his arms and carrying him to Gaius's chambers. He placed Merlin on the cot in the main room, and watched as Gaius checked his ward. Still Arthur kept his silence. Gaius looked up at Arthur:
"I don't know when he will wake Sire but his wound appears neatly healed. I'll get him into his own bed and keep a close eye on him. But I need to get the other injured treated; they are being put in the infirmary set up in the lower hall. If I could ask, that Gwaine be given permission to remain with Merlin, while I am away."
"Of course Gaius, let me know if you need anything, we must do what we can for everyone." Arthur voice was flat showing no emotion.
Arthur then turned to Gwaine "Call me if he wakes please." With that he walked out and up to his chambers.
He spent most of the day there, only venturing out to check on the men in the infirmary. Gwen divided her time between her husband and helping Gaius where she could. She tried hard to get Arthur to talk but he stubbornly remained silent.
Arthur was thinking through all he knew of the sorcerer and was slowly realising all the things he had missed in the past. How could he have been such a fool? The sorcerer, he refused to think of him as Merlin, had hardly been that clever at hiding his magic. He told himself it was only because he had trusted the younger man that he hadn't noticed before. Was his father wrong? And if he was how many people had he killed without reason. But then he thought of all the magic users who had brought death and destruction to Camelot, no they must be evil. But that meant his servant was evil. Was he really? He was powerful that was clear from his actions at the battle so if he was evil why hadn't he acted against Camelot before? Arthur's thoughts went round and round. He needed to speak to Merlin that was the only way to solve anything. With his mind finally giving him a course of action he went towards the healer's chambers.
Once he reached the door he stood for a moment before walking inside. Gwaine was sat by the cot where the still form was still laying, no sign of life apparent accept for a faint rise and fall of the chest. Gwaine looked up and seeing Arthur tensed.
"What are you here for? Gaius isn't here." Gwaine growled unhappy at how Arthur was treating Merlin.
"I've come to see how he is."
"He's got a name, Merlin has been your best friend for years, he disserves better from you. He would never hurt you; he would rather die than that. Doesn't the fact that he's lying here with a wound in his side prove that too you?" Gwaine couldn't understand the Kings reaction.
"I know Gwaine, but he lied to me, for all those years, he could have told me."
Arthur was trying hard to understand.
"What and have you burn him at the stake! Don't forget magic is a crime in Camelot." Gwaine was angry he couldn't understand Arthur; they had all seen Merlin save the day during the battle, what more proof did the man need.
"Has he woken yet?"
"No I would have sent for you if he had. He's just lying there not moving." Gwaine took Merlin's hand in his and held it was if willing Merlin awake.
Arthur stood looking down at Merlin, trying to see how such an innocent seeming face could hide such power. He then bent and put his hand to Merlin's cheek:
"Wake up Merlin, I need to talk to you, I need to understand." As the king turned to leave the room Gwaine commented:
"There's hope for you yet princess, just keep thinking about it."
Arthur left the room no further ahead in his decision about what to do but at least his anger was cooling.
Gwen arrived in the healer's room just after Arthur had left. She crept in quietly not wanting to disturb Merlin.
"How is he Gwaine? Gaius asked me to call in." she was obviously concerned.
"Still the same, he's got to wake up soon to have a drink if nothing else. Have you seen Arthur?"
"No I haven't I'm going to see him next. Has he been here?"
"Yes, what's he going to do? I won't let him hurt Merlin." Gwaine would die first.
"I don't know Gwaine, Let him have time to think I'm sure he'll work things through in the end, it was a shock to him. What with the dragon and all. I won't let Arthur hurt him Gwaine he gave his word." Gwen was worried about both the men she loved. Merlin had been a friend for many years.
"If he rejects Merlin it will kill him, you know much Merlin thinks of him." That worried Gwaine as much as anything.
"I do Gwaine, don't worry. Let us know as soon as he stirs please" with that the queen left and went to the royal chambers. Arthur was sat at the window gazing out.
"I wish he would wake up I have so many questions to ask. I can't decide what to do until I have some answers."
"I know my love but please when he does don't say or do anything you will regret. Promise me you will think things through."
It was the next morning before Merlin awoke his injury and all the magic he had used had drained the young Warlock, and in all that time Gwaine had never left his side.