Chapter 4: Merlin Wakes
The beautiful Lady Morgana was seated gracefully on a padded red velvet bench at her vanity table. There was an elaborate set of hair brushes with handsome ivory handles on the table. Next to it was an array of delicate and expensive-looking hair combs lying side by side. Morgana was dressed in a fashionable long sleeved off-the-shoulder dark green silk gown highlighted tastefully with white organza. She sat facing the huge oak wood framed mirror. Her debonair reflection stood poised and collected. She observed Gwen, her maidservant, through the mirror.
Gwen showed great patience and concentration in brushing Morgana's long, thick dark mane of hair that flowed to the small of her back. She did not look up to meet her lady's gaze even once the entire morning. She went about her duties in an odd quietness that surprised Morgana. Gwen was usually the cheerful little spirit who always came sporting a smile and an armful of fragrant white jasmines for the room. The flowers continued, but the infectious smile could no longer be seen. In exchange, her tanned freckled face was etched with worry and sorrow. Morgana knew the reason for this change in behavior.
"He is going to be alright, you know." Morgana finally spoke after a long silence. Her bright red lips pressed together. It was unlike Gwen to be so reserved. She was usually quite animated and had something to talk about. Gwen looked up for the first time and caught the look of compassion in her lady's eyes through the mirror.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I'm afraid I have not been keeping you good company the last few days." Gwen said apologetically and quickly turned her attention back to brushing Morgana's hair.
"Merlin is your friend and you should have a right to be concerned." Morgana said.
"I just can't stop thinking about it." Gwen said and paused in brushing. "He's so badly injured. Gaius says Merlin's been attacked by a gargoyle."
"Poor Merlin. It is rather unfortunate." Morgana shook her head and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"He's been sleeping an awful lot, last I heard from Gaius. But at least he's demanded water from time to time and has eaten a few bites of bread." Gwen started to gain a little bit of liveliness as she spoke about her friend.
"That sounds like progress. It's a sure sign of recovery then." Morgana said with conviction. "I'm glad for it. Merlin has always been an odd character but with a good heart - and he has a tendency to keep Arthur rather amused."
"That much is true." Gwen offered a smile and went back to stroking Morgana's hair with a brush.
There was often a line drawn between master and servant – a sort of boundary. Servants were taught to be obedient and know their place. They were not allowed to talk back or give opinions. Servants' opinions were considered irrelevant and therefore unimportant. But over the years, Morgana had come to adore Gwen and saw her as more so of a friend and confidant than a functional maidservant. Between the two of them, they traded secrets and often laughed at each other's jokes. But in front of the court and King Uther, they had to play the part of Lady and her loyal maid. Morgana knew how strict Uther was about "keeping the hired help in their place." The last thing she wanted was to provoke Uther into getting rid of her maidservant. Morgana and Gwen have always managed to cheer each other up when things got troublesome. Seeing Gwen's gloominess saddened Morgana.
"We'll go visit him." Morgana suddenly suggested. "Right now."
"Really? Do you mean it?" Gwen stammered. Her eyes lit up.
"Would you like that?" Morgana asked.
"Oh, very much so!" Gwen replied excitedly. She suddenly frowned. "But my lady, what about your drawing lesson?"
"Hmmm." Morgana thought carefully. "Suddenly, I've developed a tremendous headache." She said feigning her ailment with a mischievous smirk appearing across her lips. "It looks like we will have to cancel my drawing lesson today." She shrugged and sounded not the least bit disappointed.
King Uther believed that a lady of the high court should be well-rounded and knowledgeable in the arts, music, and dance. It was the fashionable thing at the time for all sophisticated and noble women to represent beauty and talent. Henceforth, he practically required Morgana to take such lessons and expected her to excel in each area. As a young girl, Morgana was less enthusiastic about such activities and would rather spend her time learning how to handle a sword and other weapons. But nonetheless, she respected Uther's wishes for her to be a "proper" lady and conformed to his insistence on taking lessons. But Morgana found it far more interesting in watching Arthur's sword and fencing lessons than being stuck in the drawing room practicing the harp or rehearsing the steps to the estampie. Even though the lessons taught her to be graceful and smooth in character, Morgana preferred to learn the things that the boys learned. She wanted to handle a sword. She wanted to be good at riding a horse. She wanted to learn hand to hand combat. Morgana was a girl with ambition in her eyes and believed she had no limitations, no matter what people told her.
"Oh, are you sure you want to do that? King Uther will not be pleased if he finds out." Gwen said worriedly.
"Well, do you want to see Merlin or not?" Morgana demanded.
"Er, yes – but…"
"So, I'll send a message to my dear old art instructor that we are canceling our class for today due to this stubborn headache that just refuses to go away." Morgana said firmly but with a wink of her eye.
"Yes, my lady." Gwen answered. "Thank you." She added shortly after.
"Don't thank me. I should also like to see for myself how Merlin's doing as well." Morgana said. "Come now, finish up my hair and we shall be on our way." Morgana saw through the reflection of the mirror that Gwen was in a much happier mood. With the corners of her ruby red lips slightly turned upwards, Morgana was pleased that she was able to cheer up her friend.
M.M.M.
"Arthur, where have you been all morning?" King Uther yelled when he spotted his son from a distance walking aimlessly towards him with head hung low and not in any particular hurry. Uther's thunderous voice traveled down the corridor and bounced off the walls. He sounded bothered, as usual. Arthur could see his father coming towards him, his long cape billowing behind as he marched.
"Father." Arthur almost gasped in surprise, like as if he wasn't expecting to run into his father in this wing of the castle.
"I – I – I was practicing with our trainees. Things ended a bit later than expected." Arthur blurted before his father could say a word. "I was just on my way to the war room."
"We may be at war with King Badon at any given moment. And here you are – off gallivanting, wasting precious time and treating this like wind in your ear." Uther scolded.
"I'm sorry, father. I didn't mean to keep everyone waiting." Arthur mumbled and started at the floor. "It will not happen again."
Uther studied Arthur with a careful eye. And after a moment of silence, he sighed heavily and spoke in a calmer voice. "Son, I know it is difficult being your age. You're young and would rather not be bombarded with all these responsibilities of being a king just yet. I expect so much out of you and sometimes, I come off a bit too strict. But there will come a time when you alone will need to face these problems and make important decisions in the best interest of Camelot. The kingdom will be yours one day and I just want you to be prepared."
Arthur's blue eyes looked up to meet his father's gaze. "I understand, father. I promise I won't disappoint you."
Uther then smiled for the first time in a long time. He put a big calloused hand affectionately on his son's shoulder. "I trust you will keep that promise. You still have so much to learn."
They walked down the corridor together. Boots scuffed the cobble stoned floors and capes flapped as their broad steps carried them closer to the atrium. Neither Uther nor Arthur said a word to each other. Uther's mind was on King Badon while Arthur's mind was on Merlin. They may be the same blood but they couldn't be more different.
"The messenger boy that we sent to King Badon has returned this morning. Badon is currently reviewing the pact and will send one of his messengers with the verdict." Uther finally spoke.
"Does this mean we won't go to war at all?" Arthur asked.
"We shouldn't assume anything. I do not trust them but for the sake of our kingdom, we must try to extend the olive branch whenever necessary." Uther said. "However, we must not forgive them so easily for torching two of our villages."
"So basically, the fate of the future lies in Badon's hands." Arthur said. "What should happen if he refuses the pact?"
"Then we will have no choice but to go to war." Uther said gravely. Right then, Uther stopped in his tracks and faced his son. "Look son, I do not wish for war. You must know that war is a very messy situation. It is something that no one may recover from. Thousands will perish. Innocent people will get caught in the crossfire. Understand that it's the very last alternative that we must face. When we go to war, it would be because there is no other choice. Do you understand?" He said intensely.
"Yes, father. And I will stand by your side whatever happens." Arthur said loyally.
Uther smiled and cupped a hand on Arthur's cheek warmly. It was a rare moment of tenderness that Arthur was not used to seeing. But nonetheless, he was touched by the gesture. Seeking approval and gratification was all Arthur ever wanted as child. He wanted his father to be proud of him.
They continued walking through the atrium and passed several corridors before reaching the war room, where everyone was waiting for the king to arrive. Uther went in and everyone stood to greet him. Arthur, being the last one into the room, closed the thick wooden doors behind him and the meeting commenced. The strategy meeting took several hours. Everyone was glad when Uther called for a much needed fifteen minute break in between and ordered the servants to bring in beverages and refreshments. Arthur's behavior throughout the conference was quite reserved and spoke only when questioned. He kept finding his gaze fall upon the spot where a bloodied Merlin collapsed that night. The floor had been cleaned since then leaving no traces of the blood stains. Every now and then when no one was watching, he would steal a glance at the spot.
Once the meeting was deemed over for the day, Arthur was the first one to head out the door. Anxious for a breath of fresh air to clear his head, he ventured out into the empty courtyard by himself. The frigid air bit at his skin and he could see his breaths in front of him as he exhaled. He walked past the big stone pillars and climbed the wide steps onto the upper terrace, where a frosty Pendragon banner flapped softly over the side. Arthur stood there looking out into the distance. He drew the collar of his cape higher to retain some warmth.
The sun was setting in the west. West was also the direction of King Badon's land, which was about a day's walk away. Camelot possessed rich soil and therefore flourished with good pastures and fertile land for cropping. Some trade disputes and greed over land turned King Badon against King Uther. One thing led to another and things got very complicated. Threats and intimidations began and escalated. King Uther held up all trade in and out of King Badon's territory. King Badon, in turn, sent his men to torch two of Camelot's outer villages. They have been on the brink of war for a month now. Uther and Badon were still negotiating. There was so much tension between the two kingdoms.
Arthur watched the sky turn into a shade of creamy orange. For the first time in his life, he wondered about the future. What would become of Camelot if they were driven into war? A victory was most desirable but if they should lose the battle, what would become of the people of Camelot? What would become of the Pendragons? How different would life be? The power would certainly be diminished and he would no longer be living such a fruitful lifestyle. His thoughts then traveled to Merlin. And what about Merlin's future? What was going to happen to him? Is he going to live long enough to see it?
Arthur was interrupted by the gurgling sounds that emanated from his empty stomach. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until then. There was nothing like taking in a good hot supper to warm up his body and soul. For the first time all day, Arthur thought about food. He imagined that dinner was probably being prepared at the moment and would be laid out in the dining room soon. The court kitchens were only a short distance from where he stood. He could smell the spices, simmering sauces and warm roasting of meats as the wind carried the aromas to him. Then an idea popped into his head and he smiled. He jogged down the wide steps and walked towards the kitchens.
M.M.M.
"WHERE ARE THE BLACKBERRIES? WHICH ONE OF YOU IDIOTS TOOK MY BLACKBERRIES? I NEED THEM TO MAKE THE SPICE SAUCE FOR THE ROAST." A high shrilled female voice shrieked in near panic. The voice belonged to Matilda May, or as most people called her – Mrs. Mattie. She was the one in charge of the court kitchens. She ran the entire kitchen along with all the servants under her authority. There was not one dish that she didn't know how to prepare. Mrs. Mattie may be a loud and patronizing woman but she was a superb cook and was able to turn even the most boring food into something gourmet. She was a middle-aged, short, brash woman with thick pudgy fingers and a rounded pillow of a figure.
Chaos was breaking loose in the kitchen. This was almost always the case when meal times were near. The stress levels often reached a high during these times. Deadlines were critical and everyone seemed to be in everyone's way. The heat from the fiery ovens consumed the whole room in a most uncomfortable way. There were more than a dozen sub cooks and novice cooks swarming around the place, all equally frazzled. The clanging sounds of pots and pans and banging of doors circulated the kitchen. Instructions as well as insults were being thrown around. But there was no time to hold a grudge. Preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the king and his trusted advisors were the most important part of the cooks' day. The kitchen was consumed with activity and usually everything that seemed to be a mess finally comes together in harmony before the king's place at the table.
One of the novices brought over a cup of blackberries to Mrs. Mattie and it seemed to calm her nerves. Just as she was about to turn around, she accidentally backed right into Arthur, who had been unannounced and standing right behind her.
"Prince Arthur!" The woman gasped like as if she'd just seen a ghost, nearly dropping the blackberries. "I'm so sorry, Sire. I – I didn't see you there." Mrs. Mattie stammered as she bowed her head low.
"It is quite alright." Arthur cut in.
The rest of the kitchen heard her exclamation and stopped what they were doing. For the first time all day, the kitchen was quiet as they all stared at the prince in awe. The only sounds were the bubbling of stews over the fire and the occasional puffing of steam through the lids of boiling liquids. It was very rare that any member of the high court would come visit the kitchens. Usually, the proper procedure would be for Uther or Arthur to send a messenger to relay their wishes. The king and prince were not known to travel to the kitchens at all, so this was truly an anomaly.
"Er, carry on everyone." Arthur said loudly when he realized all eyes were on him. "Go on, continue what you were doing." He repeated when no one moved. A few people started moving about in reluctance but all the while still looking at Arthur suspiciously.
"What brings my Lord to the kitchens?" Mrs. Mattie asked ever so politely.
"I don't have a reason. I haven't been down this way in a long time, and just thought I'd stop by and see how dinner was coming along." Arthur answered. But of course, he wasn't there for a change of scenery. He had a reason for visiting the kitchens.
"Is there anything I can do for you perhaps?" Mrs. Mattie looked worried and nervous at the same time – like as if this was some sort of test.
"Nothing, Mrs. Mattie. You may go about your business." Arthur said.
"Are you sure? Is there a special request or change of menu?" Mrs. Mattie pressed.
"No. Everything is fine the way it is." Arthur said. "Now, you better finish up with those blackberries, or we will be missing that delicious spice sauce for dinner." He offered a smile and pointed to the cup of blackberries in her hands that she was squeezing rather tightly.
"What? Oh. Er, yes. Alright." Mrs. Mattie stuttered and just appeared to remember the blackberries. She inched back to the counter, her eyes never really leaving Prince Arthur.
Arthur walked stiffly with hands behind his back – a strut that he learned from his father and mimicked quite well in fact. He marched up the aisle lined with endless dishes and trays containing an array of ingredients and spices. He passed by the burlap sacks of ground vegetables and rice that lined the way to the pantry. Feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him, he stopped and turned around.
"Please continue cooking. It is an order." Arthur said firmly.
Frightened, everyone in the kitchen quickly obeyed. Soon, the sounds returned - the slicing and dicing, chopping and tenderizing, clanging and banging of pots, even a low drone of conversation started up again. After several minutes, the kitchen was fired up again and it appeared Arthur had been forgotten for the time being. Mrs. Mattie, however, kept Arthur in the corner of her eye and glanced quizzically at him from time to time.
Arthur made his way across a counter full of meat and chicken marinating. He stopped for a moment and looked around like as if he was searching for something. But an aroma of freshly baked bread distracted him and he followed the scent to the bakers at the far end of the kitchen. He watched from a short distance as a tall thin baker removed loaf after loaf of golden crusted bread from the stone oven with a long wooden spatula. The baker placed the new breads on an adjacent table to cool.
Arthur took a small cloth from a nearby table and waited for the baker to turn his back. Once this happened, Arthur quickly grabbed a medium sized hot loaf from the table, wrapped it in the cloth and tucked it into the folds of his cape. The baker did turn around and met Arthur in the eye.
"Smells delicious. Carry on. Carry on. Great job." Arthur rambled. The baker beamed at the compliment from the prince. He didn't suspect a thing.
Arthur then walked innocently to a table filled with other foods that were ready to be served to the king and the other stuffy people of the high court. There were all sorts of tasty foods piled high in fancy silver platters. These items were supposedly the best of the best and no one but the deemed "important" people were to even venture close enough to taste it. Arthur contemplated vigilantly before making his final decision.
Arthur pocketed a wedge of cheese, as well as a few links of grilled pork sausage. He then placed a block of butter in another cloth and carefully tucked it into the pockets of his cape. There were a few other foods he wanted to take but, they would be required being transported on a plate rather than in his pockets. He stared at the roast beef and hesitated for a moment before taking it. He realized that Mrs. Mattie was still working on the blackberry sauce so the roast beef wouldn't become mush in his pockets. He remembered Gaius saying beef was often a good source of protein. With a cape growing heavy with food, Arthur slipped out of the kitchen leaving Mrs. Mattie in bewilderment. She wondered what on earth the young prince was up to.
M.M.M.
Perhaps it was the scurrying of a mouse or a soft rattle of the window that woke Gaius in the dead of night. He stretched his stiff muscles and opened his eyes to darkness. The candle had burnt out long ago and the only thing left in the hearth was the soft dying glow of embers. Yawning, Gaius shifted in his bed and pulled down his blanket. He could've sworn he heard a sound. To be sure, he remained still and waited to hear it again.
"Gaius?" Merlin's weak voice whimpered. "Gaius, where are you?" The scared voice said.
"I'm right here." Gaius whispered as he hurried over to Merlin's bed. He grabbed a candle from a shelf and lit it. Gaius thought Merlin was rambling in another one of his nightmares, but when he took a closer look at the boy, he realized that Merlin was indeed very conscious.
"Merlin, you're awake." Gaius said with a sigh of relief.
"Where am I?" Merlin moaned.
"In my chamber." Gaius answered. "You're safe."
The light from the candle allowed Merlin to recognize his surroundings. He couldn't remember how he ended up in Gaius' room, or even what day it was. All he knew was that he somehow survived. He noticed that he was lying in a bed by the fire with some sort of odd bedding. The softness, the size, the weight, the smell of it – it was all unfamiliar. The pillow behind his head was way too soft and the blanket covering his body was way too warm. He tried to sit up but a dull pain shot through his body and he groaned.
"Easy now. You're still very weak." Gaius said as he gently insisted the boy to lie down. "We've been very worried about you. You gave us a great scare. We thought you weren't going to make it."
"Gaius! The amulet!" Merlin exclaimed worriedly. His eyes were wide.
"It has been restored." Gaius cut in. Merlin seemed to relax and breathed.
"Where'd this come from? I don't own anything like this." Merlin asked groggily referring to the blanket. Suddenly, a grumble is heard from a few paces away. It startled Merlin and he squinted into the semi-darkness to see what made the noise.
"I suggest you lower your voice, dear boy. You don't want to wake Arthur." Gaius advised.
"Arthur?" Merlin sounded confused. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed someone slouched down deep in a chair not too far from where he lay. Merlin recognized his old blankets wrapped around the figure. He couldn't see the prince's face but the tuff of golden hair protruding out from the top of the blanket was unmistakable.
"He's been sleeping here – like that – for the last two nights." Gaius said quietly. "He gave you the pillow and warm blanket."
"I don't understand." Merlin winced at the pain.
"Arthur's been taking it pretty hard on himself for what happened to you." Gaius said. "He feels he is to blame for you ending up like this."
"He feels sorry for me?" Merlin's voice came in a near whisper.
"Yes, something like that. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? Arthur brought it straight from the court kitchens. He did a fine job of smuggling it out." Gaius chuckled lightly as he recalled the story Arthur told him earlier.
Merlin glanced over at the table. From the light of the candle, he saw on the table a whole loaf of bread, some cheese, sausages, and a chunk of some sort of darkened roasted meat. It was a delightful feast for the eyes. Merlin had to admit that it was a little shocking that Arthur brought all this food for him. Although Arthur's charitable behavior was not unconceivable, it was just out of the norm that he should be so nice to Merlin. As if the blanket and pillow were not enough, Arthur took food from the kitchens and gave it to him - a servant. Merlin had never seen this side of Arthur before.
"I happened to mention that you needed protein in your diet to regain your strength and low and behold, Arthur brings you meat. I will fix you some bread – let's start with that. Arthur also brought some butter to go with the bread." Gaius said as he began slicing several thick wedges of bread, smeared it generously with butter, and placed them on a plate. "Come now, don't make that face. It is quite alright. I will eat with you. Being so worried over you, I haven't eaten much."
"Water." Merlin swallowed the dryness in his throat. He suddenly felt an annoying itch on the injured side of his head. He brought his fingers up to scratch, only to discover that his head was swathed in bandages.
"I'll bring some over." Gaius said. "And don't touch your head. I know the wound itches, but you must leave it alone."
Merlin obeyed and moaned when he turned his head. The sudden move rendered him lightheaded. He closed his eyes for a second to steady his spinning vision. He reopened his eyes to find Gaius materialized in front of him holding a cup of water in one hand and the plate of bread in the other. Gaius propped Merlin up to a semi-seated position. After his thirst was quenched, Merlin sank back into the pillow.
"You are going to like this bread. It's freshly baked." Gaius said as he put a big fluffy piece of it into Merlin's mouth. He watched the boy chew and swallow slowly. Merlin smiled, giving his approval. He couldn't remember the last time he had such tasty bread. It seemed to melt in his mouth.
"Morgana and Gwen were here earlier. They sat with you for a while. Gwen even helped me change your bandages. They were – I guess you can say – stricken with sympathy." Gaius said after stuffing another piece of buttered bread into Merlin's mouth and then taking a bite out of his own piece.
"I hope I didn't say anything embarrassing." Merlin said while chewing. He saw the fleeting look on Gaius' face and knew something was amiss. "Did I say something I wasn't supposed to say?"
"Not in front of Morgana and Gwen. You were unconscious when they were in the room." Gaius said.
"But I did say something, didn't I?" Merlin looked squarely at the old physician. The boy looked so vulnerable, defenseless, and weary that Gaius felt bad bringing it up so soon. "What did I say?" The boy pressed.
"You said Blais was alive. You said it when Arthur was in the room." Gaius hesitated for a moment.
Suddenly, the memories of that dreadful night came back to Merlin. The haunting image in Blais glowing red eyes implanted in Merlin's brain. He remembered the demonic features of the gargoyle as the talons fell on him. The pain was unbearable. There was so much blood that came out of him. Merlin suddenly grew a shade paler. He wanted so much to block out the images of the claws, the massive wings, the row of sharp teeth, the lizard-like eyes, the smell of hot stinky breath, and the black leathery skin that masked wiry flesh. Breathing much deeper now, Merlin closed his eyes. His heart was hammering painfully against his chest.
"Merlin, it's alright." Gaius said in comfort.
"No, it's not alright Gaius." Merlin blubbered. Soon, hot tears streamed down the corners of his closed eyes. Like a typical young man, he hated to cry in front of anyone – especially Gaius. In his youth, Merlin didn't have a father-figure to look up to. Gaius was as close to a father as Merlin would ever have. It was so hard to be strong – be a man – at that point. He tried so hard to stop crying but he just couldn't. The tears seemed to have a mind of their own.
"You are going to exhaust yourself." Leave it to old Gaius to give some tough love.
"He can't be alive." Merlin's voice came in a strained whisper. "He's dead. He has to be."
"We don't know the facts yet." Gaius figured that perhaps bringing Merlin back to those events so soon would surely do more harm than good. However, Merlin was very intuitive when it came to those things. It wasn't hard to get a clue on what was going on in Gaius' mind.
"I know you want me to tell you what happened that night." Merlin took a ragged breath. "But I can't right now. I just can't, Gaius. Please don't make me." His lips quivered and a few more tears squeezed out of his big river blue glassy eyes. He absentmindedly touched his injured side with his hand.
It truly broke Gaius' heart to see Merlin so mortally wounded. Despite Merlin's cunning character, he was a fairly passive individual who would never hurt anyone unless he was forced to. Gaius had no knowledge of the events that Merlin encountered but whatever it was, it was horrible enough to eat away at Merlin's soul. He couldn't force the boy for answers - not when he was so weak. The quick draws of breath from crying caused spasms of pain to immerge. Merlin's lungs burned, making him cough fiercely. It was so painful that for a moment, he thought he was surely going to pass out. Arthur stirred at the noise but did not wake.
"Look here, drink this." Gaius said after taking a small vial off the table. He put the opening of the vial to Merlin's lips, but the young warlock shook his head. "Merlin, this is hardly the right time to be stubborn. Drink it. It will help."
Merlin gulped the liquid down in mouthfuls. After the last drop, Merlin grimaced at the bitter after-taste. It seemed like Gaius found enjoyment in administering awful tasting medicine. Merlin wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
"Gaius, would it kill you to add something sweet in that?" Merlin said, causing Gaius to smile.
"Perhaps next time." Gaius replied.
Merlin leaned back into the fluffiness of the pillow. His face was a ghastly white, giving him a sickly appearance. "I'm sorry." He apologized after a while. He was sorry for all sorts of things, especially for not wanting to discuss what happened.
"Right now, we will concentrate on you getting well." Gaius said. "We can discuss the other things when you feel better. Now, would you like some more bread? How about some cheese?"
Merlin shook his head. Feeling groggy and tired, the medicine started to slowly take effect. He was trembling slightly. It was not so much from the cold, but as a result of the strong medicine. Gaius saw it and made a mental note to himself to lower the dosage next time.
"How are you?" Gaius asked, worriedly.
"I don't feel the pain. Actually, I don't feel anything at all – just tired." Merlin drawled. His tongue felt thick and head heavy.
"It's the medicine." Gaius concluded. "Go to sleep, Merlin."
"Tell – tell Arthur I said thanks." The boy murmured. "Tell him I'm sorry."
"Merlin, close your eyes." Gaius instructed. "Go on, now. Close them."
Merlin's eyes grew heavier and heavier. Closing his eyes, he wondered what kind of drug Gaius gave him that took its toll so quickly. The thoughts that came after that were in a haze. Faces, places, and objects swirled in his head, making very little sense. He had no choice but to surrender to sleep.
End of Chapter 4
Author's Note: Thank you for reading and reviewing! Please sign a review if you get a chance.