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Arthur made it back to Camelot in almost record time. George merely gave him a long look of concern as the prince jumped from the saddle, swinging Merlin over his back as he did so. The faithful stable master simply took the reins and said nothing as Arthur set off as quickly as he could manage with an unconscious servant over his back. By the time he had reached Gaius's chambers, the boy had begun mumbling something incoherent, his limbs beginning to thrash slightly. Arthur couldn't make out what was being said, but there was something strangely unearthly about it, almost powerful. It was making the hairs on the back of his arms stand up, and quite frankly, the prince didn't like it.

Entering Gaius's chambers with far more noise than was strictly necessary, Arthur held back a sigh when he saw the concern leap immediately into the physician's eyes as he hurried over as fast as he could. His father had yelled at him not to turn his back, not once looking vaguely concerned Arthur had just under gone an attack whilst they were all conveniently unconscious on the forest floor. Gaius' reaction was the complete opposite, and Arthur couldn't help but feel that was how a father should behave.

"Sire! What happened?"

"Greg." Arthur responded simply, striding over and depositing the servant on the bed. Merlin was beginning to thrash with more strength now, his mumbling getting louder even though Arthur still couldn't make out what was being said. With a frown on his face, he bit his lip as he stared down at the boy, not seeing the way Gaius's eyes widened in horror as he recognised what was coming out of Merlin's mouth.

"The servant?" He asked, his voice almost too controlled. Ever so carefully, he inched past Arthur, plucking the pot out from mid-air. Whatever had been done to the warlock, his magic was trying to fight it off. The only problem was, Merlin obviously had no control. He was just lucky he hadn't done anything on the way over to Gaius's chambers, for the physician did not particularly want to have to be the one to explain to a concerned looking prince why there was a pot floating behind his head...or why the mop seemed to have taken on a life of its own. Glancing towards the door, Gaius knew he had to act fast.

"Help me get him to his own room, Sire. He will be more comfortable there." Arthur looked confused. Why would Gaius want to move his ward to somewhere that had far less access? Before Arthur could press for answers, Merlin gave some sort of cry and Gaius snapped at him to move the servant, now. Startled into action, Arthur grabbed one of Merlin's arms and one of his legs and draped the boy over his shoulder. As he stumbled for the stairs that would give him access to Merlin's room, he didn't see Gaius snatch yet another of his many potion pots out of thin air, nor give the mop a somewhat terrifying glare. Arthur deposited Merlin on his bed just as Gaius came in the door behind him. The candle on the other side of the room suddenly set itself alight, but Arthur was too busy staring at Merlin to notice.

"Why does he always put himself in harm's way? Gaius, I think something happened to him this morning, he was so late..."

"Sire, you must leave him, just in case it is contagious." Gaius hoped Arthur wouldn't be able to hear how frantic his voice was as another candle flickered into life, one of Merlin's discarded shirts beginning to put itself away behind Arthur's back. This was getting out of hand.

"Then I would have already been exposed. He tried to save me again today. I'm not just going to leave him."

"Sorry, Sire, you have no choice. It's for Merlin's own good." Grabbing a protesting Arthur by the arm, Gaius forcibly dragged the prince from the room, slamming the door shut behind him. As soon as they were down the stairs, Arthur wrenched his arm from Gaius's surprisingly strong grip and whirled around, sparks flying from his eyes.

"What the hell was that? I demand you tell me!" For a moment, Gaius was lost for words. How was he going to explain his sudden irrational behaviour? But then he caught sight of the way Arthur's brow was furrowed and he smiled sympathetically.

"When were you going to tell me about that headache of yours?" He asked gently, pulling around a stool and pushing it towards the prince.

"Never, because I don't have one. What's wrong with Merlin?" Gaius merely raised an eyebrow.

"Arthur, I've treated you since before you can remember. What in the world makes you think you can lie to me about how you are feeling?" Gaius refused to answer the Merlin question. At the moment, he had no answers that would satisfy the prince, and if it was any other situation, Gaius would have been pleased. It wasn't all that long ago where Arthur wouldn't have shown a flicker of concern for those under his protection. This was certainly something new, but unfortunately, it had come at the wrong moment. Instead, Gaius just pressed the matter about the prince's own health, nudging the stool closer until Arthur took the hint and finally sat down.

"Okay, I've got a slight one. I did just have a sorcerer try and invade my mind." He rubbed his hand across his forehead, his eyes screwing shut slightly. "I've had worse th...argh!" Whatever Arthur was about to say was suddenly cut off as both of his hands flew to his head. The prince almost doubled over where he sat, his eyes now firmly shut and his face going a strange ashen complexion. Gaius sighed. He had hoped Arthur would grow out of the migraines his childhood had been littered with, and for the best part, he had. It appeared that the latest attack however, had just brought one on. Gaius felt horrible. Never had he been so glad for the distraction.

He almost silently stood up, moving across to his shelves and plucking a bottle from it. For a split second, he paused, glancing back over his shoulder at Arthur. The prince had his palms pressed against his eyes, completely oblivious to what the physician was up to. Deftly pulling out the stopper of both bottles, he then mixed the contents together and replaced the cap on one before moving back across to Arthur.

"Here, Sire." He said gently, his voice low, calm and soothing. "Your usual."

"It doesn't work," Arthur groaned, the pain laced in his voice. Gaius had never seen one come on this quickly with this extremity, and he knew he needed answers about what had happened out there. But Arthur was not the one who could provide those answers.

"Please, just try it. For me?" Adding the last part on as almost an after-thought, Gaius smiled when Arthur sighed, stretching out one hand but still keeping his eyes firmly shut. That particular phrase had always made the normal defiant prince do whatever Gaius wanted, ever since he could talk.

It worked once again. Without opening his eyes, Arthur pulled the stopper out with his teeth, ignoring Gaius's tut of disapproval, and downed the contents, only to immediately grimace afterwards.

"Can't you do anything to improve the flavour?"

"Sorry, Sire." Gaius said no more though, instead watching Arthur closely. Within a couple of moments, the bottle fell from his hand, smashing over the floor.

"Gaius, I feel...I don't..." Arthur's words were slurred, and how he managed it, Gaius had no idea. But somehow, he managed to get the prince on his feet, over to the main bed and lying down just before the drug took hold completely and Arthur sagged back, fast asleep. For a moment, Gaius just watched Arthur sleep, watched the concerns and responsibilities drain from his face before standing up. He had an out-of-control warlock to sort out.

His foot had barely even touched the bottom step when the door banged open violently, causing the aged physician to jump. He turned, fully intending to scold whoever it was about the proper decorum when entering one's chambers, but the words died on his lips as Uther strode in, looking furious. By accident, Gaius found his eyes flickering to Merlin's shut door as the King took a few more steps into the room. He just hoped that Merlin's magic was beginning to control itself a little more, or there was going to be big problems.

"Where's Arthur?" Uther demanded, his angle meaning the bed on which his son was sprawled was blocked from his vision. "I'll have him thrown in the dungeons for this, disobeying his King for the sake of a servant. Again. In front of visiting nobles as well. He is the Crown Prince, he should know better."

"Sire, I do not believe it was as simple as that." Gaius said quietly, suddenly hit by an idea. There was only one way he could think of that would get Arthur out of helping his friend, and with any luck, it would protect Merlin from the King's wrath as well. For Gaius was more than aware who would truly bear the brunt of the punishment.

"It's perfectly simple, physician. Arthur disobeyed me, he must pay the price."

"Sire..." Gaius moved out of the way, gesturing for Uther to look behind the screen. For a long moment, the King merely gave Gaius a suspicious look, and the physician thought he wasn't going to move. Finally, Uther peered behind the screen, and although no sound escaped him, Gaius could see the way his shoulders tensed at seeing his heir spread out, motionless.

"What happened?" The anger in Uther's voice had all but disappeared as he demanded answers. The tension and bite would have made most men quiver at that voice, but Gaius knew Uther better than that. He knew it was the King's way of showing he was concerned for his son. Gaius couldn't focus on that right now, however. He had a story to spin, and hope that he could make it convincing. He had never been so relieved to have drugged Arthur, although he knew the prince would probably never be aware of the confrontation taking place around him whilst he slept.

"He collapsed, Sire." Gaius invented, sending a look of genuine sorrow towards Arthur. He wished that Uther would just be able to be proud of his son for who Arthur was, not who Uther wanted him to be. "I fear the attack did something to his mind. He made it back to Camelot, but then the guards turned up at my door with him. Both the prince and his servant were unconscious, Sire. They put Merlin in his room and I've been treating Arthur ever since."

"What's wrong with him?" Despite the demanding tone still being present in his voice, Gaius could sense the King was softening.

"Hopefully nothing long term. The attack on his mind simply overwhelmed his senses when he arrived back. No doubt his sense of duty of returning to Camelot was all that kept him going. I doubt he disobeyed you, Sire. It was more than likely he couldn't think straight at all, and didn't even hear you properly." Gaius paused, waiting to see how Uther would react. He just hoped the King would accept his story, for he pushed for more detailed answers, Gaius didn't have them. He had just invented the whole thing off the top of his head, after all.

Gaius was practically holding his breath as the King remained motionless, staring down at his sleeping son. The physician had a horrible feeling Uther was about to question things, state something about Arthur still knowing his place. But it was the prince himself that managed to tip the balance in their favour. Whether there was a part of him that could sense the atmosphere in the room, or whether it was genuine distress, Arthur suddenly moaned.

Uther's eyes immediately snapped to his son's face. A deep frown was resting there, and Gaius knew it was the migraine, he had seen the look before. But all Uther was seeing was Arthur's face contorted with pain, his head tossing away as he shifted restlessly, another moan slipping past his lips. Gaius knew in that one moment, the King believed his story. For a moment, Gaius could see the flicker of indecision cross Uther's face, the need to be the controlling king battling against wanting to be a father. But as per usual, the King won out and Uther began to sweep from the room.

Just before he left, he paused in the doorway. He didn't turn his head, but his words were more than audibly.

"See he reports to me when he is conscious."

"Yes, Sire." Gaius immediately acknowledged, bowing slightly as Uther finally left. Crossing the room and shutting the door behind him, he sighed in relief. It had worked. With any luck, both Arthur and Merlin had been saved the King's wrath. But Gaius knew it was more than that. By ordering Arthur to report to him, it was Uther's way of checking up on his son, of making sure he was okay. Just as Gaius had begun walking back across his chambers, two things happened simultaneously. Arthur gave another moan, and something crashed into the back of Merlin's door with a thud. Gaius sighed. He had two young men to sort out, both too stubborn to know what was good for them.

Arthur was his first priority. Not because he was a prince, but because he was just going to be easier to calm. Gaius took no time at all in picking up another phial and crossing over to the bed. Sitting on the edge, he gently tipped Arthur's head back. Pinching his nose lightly, he forced the tonic down the young man's throat. For a moment, Arthur struggled against his grip, but as the tonic began to combine with the sleeping draught and pain relief, he sagged again. Within seconds, he had fallen into a deeper sleep, all traces of pain once more absent from his face. For a moment, Gaius just watched him.

He couldn't deny how much Merlin meant to him, the boy was like the son he had never had. But Gaius knew he would always hold a special place in his heart for the young confident prince. He had been involved in Arthur's upbringing, had seen the man at his most vulnerable even more times than Merlin had. It had been Gaius Arthur had run too when something was wrong, not his father. Watching him now, marvelling in the way he had disobeyed the king without a second thought in order to get Merlin back to the physician, he knew the makings of a true king were beginning to show. If only Uther could see it.

As there came another thud from Merlin's room, Gaius stood up with a grin. Arthur may hold a place in Gaius's heart, but he knew who he truly considered a son. He was constantly getting himself into trouble with his charming smile and pure heart, but Gaius wouldn't have him any other way, despite what the lectures might otherwise imply. Turning towards the stairs, Gaius quickened his pace when there came yet another bang. Something told him Merlin was going to be a harder challenge to calm down than his master had been.

Gaius couldn't stop a gasp from escaping him as he stepped into his ward's room. Whilst it was always messy, this was beyond anything that even Gaius had seen. After picking his way precariously across the floor, he stared down at the bed. Merlin had moved since Arthur had placed him on the bed, his head now firmly buried under the pillow, knuckles white from where he was gripping it.

"I know you're awake, Merlin." For a moment, Merlin's whole body seemed to tense before he slowly drew his head out from under the pillow. He continued to stare at it though, doing nothing to acknowledge Gaius's presence.

"Arthur?" The physician was hard pushed not to roll his eyes. Despite the tale he had told Uther, it had only been the servant who had returned unconscious, and yet as per usual, Merlin was worrying about the prince.

"Is fine. Merlin..." Before he could continue, the warlock's wardrobe gave an almighty shudder, and Merlin immediately stuck his head back under the pillow.

"I can't stop it, Gaius!"

"Merlin, listen to me." Gaius moved across the room and sat on the edge of the bed. After a moment of having to wrestle against the warlock, he finally pulled the pillow away. Grabbing Merlin's chin, he turned the boy's head to face him. He wasn't surprised to see Merlin's eyes burning gold.

"Listen to me." Gaius repeated; his tone slightly more sympathetic when he caught sight of the concentration in Merlin's expression. The warlock was clearly fighting whatever this was with everything he had, and it was costing him to do so. "Unless you want me to knock you out, you have to pull it back in."

"I can't!" Merlin cried, pulling himself out of the physician's grip and sticking his head back under the pillow again. Maybe if he couldn't see objects, they wouldn't be able to move on their own accord. He should have known though. No sooner had he done so when something fell over in the far corner. His magic had never stuck by the normal rules, whatever they might be.

"Enough!" Gaius snapped, beginning to lose his patience at Merlin's defeated attitude. "If you are truly a warlock, you can. Nothing can tamper with your power apart from you, Merlin. Direct the magic to the curse, send its energy there. And if you dare say you can't do that either, then I am going to knock you out before the King comes back and takes off your head."

"Gaius!" Little did Merlin realise that his reaction of shock and disbelief at his mentor's blunt words was exactly what Gaius had been hoping for. The flash of anger Merlin felt at Gaius believing he wasn't trying drove his magic back drove through him for a second, and just like that, Merlin was back in control. His change in emotions had startled the magic. Following the physician's advice, he shut his eyes to concentrate better. He couldn't pull the magic in, but Gaius was right, he was still the one in control of it.

For a long moment, everything in the room fell silent, not even a whisper of the breeze swirling through the open window could be heard. Merlin was fighting internally. Whatever Greg had done was strong, but he knew Gaius had a point. He was stronger. Finally, he managed to re-establish his grip on the magic, and began forcing it into himself, directing it mentally to where he could feel the effects of whatever Greg had hit him with. His magic had been combating it this entire time, but only wisps of the magic had made it that far; the rest had simply escaped into the surrounding area without Merlin there to direct them. Now, however, Merlin could direct it.

Gaius watched, hypnotised after a quick check to make sure the door was shut, as Merlin almost seemed to light up from the inside. Even through his shut eyelids, the gold could be seen, dominating everything. But it wasn't just his eyes. It was almost as if a golden mist had surrounded the warlock, swirling around him with a grace and poise Merlin could never manage himself. It seemed to almost pulse as it danced through the air, and through all his years as Court Physician, Gaius knew it was the magic healing his ward.

Finally, the mist drew back, looking for entire world like it was being sucked back into Merlin, and the warlock opened his eyes. For a moment, they did still glow golden, but it was not the same intensity as before. Even as Gaius watched, the colour faded and the normal vibrant blue took its place, causing the old man to let out an audible sigh of relief.

"Well done, Merlin."

"Might have been easier if you weren't threatening to chop my head off." Merlin muttered, but there was no heat in his voice and his normal smile flickered onto his face. He knew full well what Gaius had been trying to do, and the fact that it had worked meant Merlin could feel no anger towards his guardian. For his part, Gaius simply smiled in his mysterious way and turned to leave the room.

"Get cleaned up, Merlin."

"Wait...Gaius, how's Arthur? How did you manage to get him out of here? He didn't..." Seeing a spark of panic leap into the boy's eyes, the physician shook his head, hovering in the door way.

"No, Merlin, he did not see anything. I managed to get him out of here before he noticed quite what you were mumbling." Merlin blushed, dropping his gaze. "He's asleep."

He should have known his words would do nothing to reassure the servant.

"Asleep? But Gaius," Merlin glanced out of the window, wondering if he had been unconscious for longer than he had realised. But the sun was still high, a clear sign it was still the morning. "It's early. Why is he asleep?"

"Migraine." Gaius responded simply, turning and leaving properly this time. He trudged his way down the stairs and glanced at the prince, satisfied with just one look there was nothing more he could do for Arthur. He was sleeping peacefully now, and Gaius knew by the time the drugs wore off, the man would be feeling a lot better. Hearing a clatter behind him, he was hard pushed not to roll his eyes. One day, Merlin was going to trust what Gaius said about Arthur's health rather than having to see it for himself.

"Since when did Arthur get migraines?" The warlock exclaimed, sounding incredulous as if he was expecting this to be another of Gaius' tricks. He stopped dead when he saw Arthur, spread out and motionless, the smashed bottle still on the floor from where he had dropped it. He certainly hadn't expected the prince to still be in the physician's chambers, and to Merlin's mind, that was just a sign that something was indeed wrong. Gaius heard his ward's sharp intake of breath, and sighed.

"He's had them for as long as I've known him. He used to get them a lot as a child, but over the last few years, they have eased completely." As he spoke, Gaius suddenly realised something. This was the first one Arthur had had since Merlin had arrived in Camelot. The physician always believed the child's pain was based on Arthur being so desperate to do something that his father would be proud of, resulting in stress and pressure no ten year old should try and shoulder. But since Merlin had arrived, everyone had seen how much Arthur had changed. Gaius wondered whether he was the only one who noticed how much Arthur had relaxed. He didn't have to pretend around the warlock, for the first time ever, he had a way of voicing what he was feeling without being scared of judgement.

For years, Gaius had been forced to tell an anxious – and slightly irritated – King he had no remedy for his only heir's ailment. But now, watching Merlin perch on the edge of the stool by Arthur's bed, gazing at his sleeping master with a frown of concern on his face, Gaius smiled. He had just found the cure. Merlin.

"How long will he be asleep for?"

"Another couple of hours at least," Gaius admitted, knowing Merlin would understand what wasn't being said and that it was because of Gaius that Arthur was now lost in dreams. "So you should go and get some rest and come up with some answers about what happened out there today."

Merlin nodded distractedly. He took another look at Arthur and stood up, meandering back to his room. He didn't intend on getting any more rest, but instead would attempt to see if his spell book had any answers about what had happened out there today. He knew Greg had used powerful magic; there could be no denying that. But there had been something else about him, something that seemed to suggest Greg wasn't entirely himself. Merlin didn't like the man, there could be no denying that, not after the way Greg had treated not only the warlock, but those around him. But he had sensed something much darker out there today, and knew that, personal feelings aside, Greg was in trouble.

A few hours later, and a small knock on his door gave Merlin enough warning to stuff the book down the back of his bed before Gaius poked his head in, eyes twinkling at the fact Merlin looked like he was just sitting there doing nothing. He knew full well what the young man had been up too for the majority of the morning.

"Lunch is ready, Merlin. And Arthur should be stirring soon." A smile washed over Merlin's face and he all but scrambled off the bed. Gaius knew full well it was not the call of food that his ward almost running for the door. His predictions about Arthur were spot on. No sooner had Merlin once again taken the stool, Arthur shifted position slightly.

Gaius was over like a shot, reading the prince's body language. The beginnings of a frown were making its way onto his face, and sighing, the physician picked up the bottle he had waiting on the table.

"Arthur? Sire?" A slight moan met his call, and Gaius sighed. He should have known this would have been a bad one considering what had brought it on.

"Gaius? Is he alright? Can't you do something?"

"Shut up, Merlin." The voice was barely audible, nothing more than a groan, but as Merlin turned back to the bed, Arthur's eyes opened, clouded and full of pain. Gaius smiled sympathetically.

"Help me." Immediately, Merlin leapt off the stool, knowing what the old man wanted him to do. He slipped on the bed behind Arthur's head, wrapping his arm around Arthur's shoulders and forcing the prince into a more upright position. Arthur looked as if he was going to protest, but even Merlin could feel how much his master was sagging against him. Merlin had been able to fight of whatever Greg had thrown at them, but even if he had received less than his servant, Arthur was struggling to do the same.

Gaius pulled the stopper out of the bottle, and with Merlin's help, managed to tip the contents down Arthur's throat.

"That's disgusting."

"That's what you say every time, Sire, until it works." Arthur had no comeback for that, and instead let Merlin sit him against the pillows without complaining for once. But as soon as his servant moved back around to the front, his hand shot out and he grabbed the younger man by the wrist.

"What happened to you?" He demanded. There was a time when Merlin took it as being rude, but now he knew it was just Arthur's way of asking whether he was alright. It was amazing how the prince never directly said what was on his mind, and yet Merlin seemed to know what he was talking about all the same.

"I woke up," Merlin responded dismissively, working his hand out of Arthur's grip and sitting back down on the stool, making sure he was out of the prince's reach even as he watched his master closely. "Why didn't you tell me about the migraines?"

Arthur shifted uncomfortably, an almost accusing gaze flickering over to Gaius before he looked back at his servant. Merlin knew that look. If he hadn't caught Arthur in the grip of one, he would have never had found out, for the prince clearly had no intention of revealing anything that could potentially be seen as a weakness.

"I don't see how it is any of your business, Merlin," Arthur muttered, looking away again so he didn't have to meet the almost accusing look in Merlin's stare. He shifted his weight forward again, clearly intending to rise. "My father, I have to get to my father."

"He's fine, Arthur. He wants a report tomorrow morning." Once again, Gaius couldn't believe how easily he could lie to the royal; although he could tell by Merlin's glance his ward was not fooled. But Gaius knew should he repeat Uther's direct words, Arthur would have been out of the bed and through the door before Gaius had so much as blinked. The prince needed rest, not having to deal with the King. "He might have been led to believe the attack rendered you unconscious and you weren't responsible for your actions."

"Gaius!" Merlin exclaimed, a broad grin on his face as he glanced at the physician, awe and respect leaking out of his eyes. He knew what the physician's lie really meant – he was covering for Arthur. Unfortunately, the prince knew it as well.

"You shouldn't have done that. If he finds out..."

"Who's going to tell him? He's already seen you apparently out cold, Sire, he has no reason to suspect otherwise. Now if you'll excuse me, I have rounds to make." So saying, Gaius picked up his basket and swept from the room, leaving a gobsmacked Arthur and a grinning Merlin in his wake. A stunned silence overtook the room as he left, but after a few moments, Arthur finally found his voice again.

"And where, precisely, were you this morning, Merlin?" His servant knew that tone, it meant it was time to confess to precisely what had happened. Arthur needed to know, especially as this situation was clearly much bigger than Merlin had originally believed. There was more to this than three disgraced servants wanting a bit of revenge.

"Kind of a long story?" He offered sheepishly, shooting Arthur an uncertain grin. The prince merely settled back into the pillows and fixed his servant with a commanding look.

"Well? I'm not going anywhere." Nodding his understanding, Merlin began talking.