A/N: Another thing I forgot to mention in the excitement of posting my first fic ever. The words in italics are Merlin's thoughts.
******** means a scene change
Enjoy and please, pretty please review!
Chapter 4 – Things Go back to Normal
Merlin felt a hand shaking his shoulder and then Gaius's voice filtered through his less than awake consciousness. He sat up with a start to find Gaius leaning over him asking him to wake up. He had fallen asleep while sitting at Gwain's side, and now his muscles were protesting. He jerked his head around and noticed that Gwain was still asleep and the breathing wasn't as labored as yesterday.
"C'mon Merlin, wake up, you don't want to be late for work…"Merlin stood up and stretched.
"Can't I just stay here with Gwain today?" Merlin asked, giving Gaius a pleading look.
"Merlin! You can't be thinking of taking another day off! Arthur just gave you one yesterday!"Gaius admonished.
"I know, I know… but I want to talk to Gwain as soon as he wakes up… and his bandages need to be changed. He shouldn't be left alone... You could tell Arthur I'm unwell." Merlin tried again.
Gaius just gave Merlin a look which said you're being an idiot. "What?" Merlin asked a little indignant at the expression that Gaius was throwing at him.
"Gwain said there might be an attempt on Arthur! You should be with him making sure everything's alright. Besides, you know Arthur will march in demanding an explanation for why you didn't show up. Nothing I say will convince him till he's seen you in person. You might as well go tell Arthur Gwain is here right now!" finished Gaius.
I hate it when Gaius is right like that… but I don't wanna leave Gwain's side…what if he needs something when he gets up…or worse… what if he tries to leave after telling us what he knows… I can't let him leave again...not yet anyway-
Merlin's thoughts were interrupted by Gaius "Merlin, I'll be here to look after him, I do believe I have more experience with bandages than you" Gaius teased lightly. "You don't need to worry, he will sleep through most of the morning anyway…I'll send a message through someone if he wakes up before. You need to go, now."
"I guess you're right…"sighed Merlin. " I'll help you move him to my room"
After making sure that Gwain was comfortably settled Merlin stopped at the door for one last look at Gwain. Gaius studied his charge thoughtfully and then spoke softly "Go on Merlin, he's in good hands…I'll let you know if he wakes"
"Just…don't let him leave Gaius. I can't…he might try to…"there was desperation to Merlin's words that Gaius had only heard used in dire situations related to Arthur. Merlin was looking at Gwain with an intense expression, when he saw Gaius watching he tried to control the emotions showing on his face. Gaius nodded "he'll be here when you get back" with a final nod Merlin left. Gaius watched Merlin leave and then turned to Gwain, a knowing expression making its way on his face.
"Good Morning Sire-"Merlin's greeting was cut off by a shirt hitting him full in the face.
"You're late! You got more than half the day off yesterday and you're still late!" yelled Arthur. "I wonder Merlin how you ever get anything done on time – Oh wait, that's right! You don't!"
And his royal prattishness is back!
"Good Morning to you too Merlin… How was your day off? Oh well Sire, I wouldn't really call it a day off since I ended up helping Gaius with a patient and didn't get to sleep last night. I was so looking forward to you yelling at me instead" Merlin retorted right back, glaring at the prince, completely unrepentant.
"Well, since giving you a day off didn't help you get here on time or your attitude, I don't see why I should allow you to slack off today. My laundry needs doing, my chainmail needs polishing, my armor has dents in it, my room needs to be cleaned, and the stables need to be mucked out" Arthur finished with relish as he watched Merlin react by glaring daggers at him.
"I'm only 10 minutes late…and I didn't get to use the day off. I was helping Gaius with the patient! I haven't even slept, and you're pilling me with work from yesterday as well!"
Thank god the fool was back to normal. Arthur felt almost giddy with relief. He smirked, and decided to taunt his manservant best friend a bit more.
"Like I told you Merlin, You were always going to do your chores… I just said you could take yesterday off to do whatever you wanted. Yesterday is over, the chores are still pending…and I'm starving! Where's my breakfast Merlin?" Arthur finished abruptly as he looked around the chambers as if Merlin had hidden the food somewhere in the vicinity.
Merlin fumed at the injustice of it all. It would take hours before he could return to Gwain's side, and how was he supposed to protect Arthur if he was going to be busy doing laundry when someone decided to attack! Just Great!
"Right here on the table Sire, unless you were planning on breakfast in bed"
"Merlin, what did we say about you trying to be funny? Make sure you finish the chores and then report to the training grounds. " Arthur flicked the back of Merlin's head before settling down to eat his breakfast.
"Ah! The joys of being prince clot pole's manservant" ground out Merlin, rolling his eyes. Arthur's only response was to grin in amusement at his predicament.
