So, can I kiss and hug all of you? And surprise! Another chapter! The next one is the last and it won't come probably until October. And sorry! This is completely unproof read! Leaving tomorrow and been busy. Hope you enjoy it, anyways!

When Gaius nodded, Arthur slumped back in his seat. This whole time they've been treating an illness when in actuality, it was poison? Arthur felt disbelief. However, it made perfect sense. The substitute cook had put the poison in Arthur's food intended for Arthur. However, Merlin tried it instead. Arthur made a mental note to strangle Merlin whenever he gets better.

Gaius grabbed the book back from the king and studied the page some more. "It's a poison made from the Icarus plant, made from the roots."

"It is curable, right?" Arthur asked impatiently. Gaius cast an unimpressed expression towards him before looking back at the book. He read for a few moments before replying.

"Well, yes. But only if it's administered in time. As time goes on, the weaker the person will get due to the poison. After a certain about of time, the antidote will no longer work."

Arthur stared at Gaius, waiting for something that sounded like good news. However, the physician simply looked up and slowly shook his head. Gaius set the book down and walked over to his shelf of ingredients, silently mumbling to himself. Arthur watched him for a few minutes before turning his attention to Merlin. Arthur could feel his stomach churned unpleasantly when he looked at just how skinnier Merlin has gotten. His cheekbones were more prominent and dark bruises were under his eyes. The king didn't needed a medical education to know that Merlin wasn't getting the nutrition he needed due to vomiting all the time.

Arthur looked up when Gaius walked back over to them, holding a vial of thick green liquid. "The antidote is rather simple to make," Gaius explained. He handed the vial to the king to hold before turning around to his table. The physician grabbed another vial; this time it contained a light blue, thin liquid. It could be mistaken for water if it weren't for the colour. He traded the vials with Arthur before turning to Merlin. Propping Merlin's head up, Gaius slowly pour the potion in his slightly opened mouth. He continued to hold Merlin up until he was sure that he had swallowed it.

Gaius sat Merlin's head down before turning to Arthur and holding his hand up for the second potion. Once Arthur handed him the vial, Gaius repeated the process with Merlin. When he was done, he stepped back and sat down, sighing. He grabbed the rag from Merlin's forehead and replaced it with a cooler one.

Arthur raised an eyebrow to Gaius, asking, "Now what?"

The older man shook his head. "Now we wait."

Two days later and Merlin still didn't look any better. Gaius worked as hard as he could to keep his fever down but it never broke. Once in a while, Arthur would come and visit. However, his visits were never long due to the guilt he felt. He somehow felt as if this whole thing was his fault. It wasn't until the night of the second day was there any change.

Gaius was sitting at his desk, mixing some potions for villagers, when he heard a groan from the bed behind him. Startled, Gaius quickly turned around and looked at Merlin. Merlin was stretching before he rolled over and stared at Gaius with half opened eyes. The physician shot up from his seat and quickly walked over to the younger male. He touched his forehead and nearly cried with relief; Merlin's fever had finally broke.

"What's going on?" Merlin asked, his voice sounding exhausted. Gaius patted his head with affection.

"You've been seriously ill, Merlin. I'm going to need you to eat this," he explained, handing the servant a piece of bread. Merlin looked at it for a moment before taking it and taking small bites from it. As Gaius had expected, he didn't had much of an appetite. However, it was food that he needed. Once Merlin finished the small piece of bread, Gaius handed him a small cup of water and helped him drink it. When he was finished, Merlin sank back into the pillow and quickly fell asleep.

As soon as Gaius had awoken in the morning, he sent a servant to Arthur to notify him that Merlin was getting better. It was only twenty minutes after Gaius had sent the servant when Arthur burst into Gaius chambers. He marched over to Merlin, studying him. He then looked up at the physician. "How is he?"

"He woke up last night and drank and ate. He should be doing much better. He is, however, still exhausted due to the poison and needs his rest."

Arthur sighed before sitting down in the bench besides Merlin's bed. He studied the servant, noticing that the dark bruises looked lighter. He was also a lot less paler. He watched as Merlin mumbled something in his sleep before turning over. He opened his dark blue eyes before glancing at Arthur. Blinking twice, he groaned again. "Arthur, that's a sight a lot of servants really don't want to see that when they wake up."

The king let out a laugh. "Glad to see you awake."

Merlin grunted a response before stretching again. He sat up and turned to look at Arthur with a raised eyebrow. "Careful, your Highness. One might start to wonder if you care."

Arthur huffed, irritated already before standing up and walking to Gaius. When he was standing next to the physician, Arthur glanced back to Merlin. The servant had laid back down in the cot, already feeling exhausted. He turned back to Gaius. "Well, he's awake. How soon will it be until he can work again?"

Gaius hummed, thinking, before he answered. "Probably a week, sire. His body is still exhausted. However, he is out of the woods and should be fine with rest."

Arthur nodded, confirming that he heard what the man had said. He walked back over to Merlin and mocked a disappointed expression. "Sorry, Merlin. Looks like you're not dying this time."

Merlin chuckled at the joke. "Dang."