A/N: Thanks for the get well wishes! Also many thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites. You rock!

Albion's New Age


Chapter Six


The shock froze both men for an instant then, reacting at the same time, they both dropped onto their knees one at each side of Merlin's body. The young man was all curled up so Arthur tried to turn him on his back, very carefully, as if he were handling the most precious thing. Merlin's face was dirty and, for some reason, looked younger than the last time Arthur had seen him but there was no doubt: it was Merlin.

"Give me your cloak," he instructed Gwaine while he removed his own.

"Here," the knight said.

Arthur used both garments to cover as much of Merlin's body as he could. He was trying to get the fabric around his shoulders when he heard some wheezing sound coming from Merlin's lips. He stopped moving and glanced at Gwaine. The other man had also heard it and the both returned their attention to Merlin's face.

"What is it Merlin?" Arthur couldn't help but to ask.

"What are you trying to tell us?" Gwaine added.

Merlin's lips moved once again, the sound wasn't much stronger but they still managed to hear it.

"Fre…ya."

"Who's Freya?" Arthur asked Gwaine.

"No idea," the knight replied.

Merlin started coughing quite violently, as if his lungs weren't getting enough air. Alarmed, Arthur tried to get him to sit up. This seemed to work and the cough stopped as suddenly as it had started. Merlin's head lolled down to his chest and that was all Arthur needed to start moving once more.

"We've got to get him to Camelot," the King said.

Without waiting for Gwaine to get up, Arthur took Merlin in his arms, trying to get the cloak around him as best as he could. Slowed down by the extra weight, Arthur made it to his horse after Gwaine who, grabbing the horse's rein, steadied the beautiful animal, allowing Arthur to get Merlin's unconscious body on top of it.

After helping Gwaine get on his own horse, the two men started riding back to Camelot as fast as they dared. Arthur kept one of his hands firmly on top of Merlin's back, as much to reassure himself that his best friend was indeed there as to ensure the young man would not slide down to the ground.

Arthur's mind and heart were invaded by a whirl of thoughts and feelings and by the time he saw the outline of his castle, he had come to the conclusion he was so happy to have Merlin back he just didn't care about anything else. He felt his lips curving into the sort of smile he thought would never grace his face again.

"We're almost home," he whispered to Merlin.

The two riders arrived at the castle's front entrance at almost midday so it was unsurprising to find quite a few people such as townspeople, soldiers and merchants wandering around the place and Arthur found himself wishing he could order them all to leave so that they would stop staring at Merlin. Instead, he dismounted his horse as soon as it stopped at the bottom of the flight of stairs that led to the royal residence.

He was getting Merlin off the horse when he heard a loud gasp. Turning his eyes briefly up, he found his wife there, looking so petrified she had forgot to put her foot down on the step beneath her.

"Ar…" she started, her voice obviously failing her.

"Find Gaius," the King asked her.

Gwen nodded and, fighting to recover her poise, she shook her head once before she went to comply with her husband's request. In the meantime, Percival and Leon had joined them and while Percival helped Gwaine get off his horse, Leon tried to be useful by helping Arthur with Merlin's unconscious frame.

"I can manage," the King said refusing his help, "just get the door."

Leon nodded once and, hurrying up the stairs, he pushed the guards out of the way so he could fully open the castle's massive door. He then made sure that there would be no obstacles for Arthur on their way to Gaius' apartments.

"No," Arthur said seeing where Leon was guiding them, "we're taking him to my chambers."

"But, Sire…" Leon tried to protest.

"Arthur," Gwaine intervened, "it's better if we take him to Gaius, he's got all the supplies he needs there."

Arthur stopped for half a second, considering carefully his options then, nodding to Gwaine, he said:

"You're right."

As the King started making his way to Gaius, Leon mouthed a "thank you" to Gwaine who just grinned at him. The knight was so happy he felt very little pain in his leg, for this reason, he managed to keep up with the King as they all rushed towards the physician's quarters.

There, they found Gwen who was trying to convince Gaius she had not gone mad and that she did not need any calming draught. The old man was only persuaded she was telling the truth when Arthur showed up.

"Merlin!" Gaius screamed, "I can't believe it!"

"Please Gaius," Arthur said, "we found him unconscious, he needs your help."

"Put him in there," Gaius asked pointing at his sleeping pallet.

The three knights and the Queen watched all in silence while, with the utmost care, Arthur placed Merlin on top of Gaius' bed. They thanked the stars the old man was first and foremost a professional for that allowed the physician to concentrate on what he was doing, temporarily forgetting what had just happened.

Arthur stared at the proceedings, his apprehension mounting to an indecent level. He was about to speak when Gaius left his working tools on top of a tray and placed his hand on top of Merlin's forehead.

"Is he okay?" the King managed to ask.

"As far as I can tell," Gaius replied, "there's nothing wrong with him."

A collective sigh of relief was heard in the room.

"Why is he unconscious?" Gwaine dared to ask.

"I don't know," Gaius replied honestly.

"How is he…" Gwen started then, she bit her lower lip and tried again, "how is he alive?"

Everyone stared at her first then, they all glanced at the physician who appeared to be just as clueless.

"I don't know," Gaius repeated, "Merlin's never been a normal person…"

"Hey," Arthur warned him.

"…he's never lived by any normal standards," Gaius carried on, obviously ignoring the King's objections, "even for a magical being, his life has been marked by anomalies. His magic was something that had never been seen before. Even powerful magic users from the Old Religion needed years of studies to master the use of a portion of magic, Merlin could freely use all magic at an instinctive level even before he was able to talk."

"What are you saying?" Leon asked.

"I'm saying this is Merlin," Gaius said shrugging his shoulders, "anything can happen with him."

"Who cares?" Arthur finally said, "he's here and that's all that matters to me."

"Arthur…"

"Guinevere," Arthur interrupted her, "I don't care what happened, I don't care what made this possible, as far as I'm concerned, this is a miracle. I'm just too grateful I've got Merlin back to think about anything else."

With this, he removed his sword, placed it on top of the table and, grabbing a nearby stool, he sat next to the bed. He then moved to grasp a few blankets and as though he had forgot about the other people in the room he started covering Merlin's body making sure he was properly tucked in.

"Arthur," Gwen said using her gentlest tone of voice, "shouldn't you go and get something to eat?"

"No," Arthur replied, "I'm not hungry."

"Sire," Gaius said, "you should get something to eat, I'll watch over him."

"No," Arthur repeated, "I'm not moving from here. That's that."

The three knights looked at Gaius and then at Gwen who, shaking her head, just smiled and said:

"Let's go then."

"My Lady," Gwaine said, "with your permission, I would also like to stay here."

"Of course," Gwen agreed, "please send for me as soon as he wakes up, okay?"

"Yes, My Lady," Gwaine replied offering her a curtsy.

Gwen smiled at the knight and, before stepping out of the room, she glanced once more at her husband. The sight of his happy face made her smile grow and she felt a tug in her heart for she had feared she would never see again the way Arthur's light blue eyes shine as they did now.

Silently, the Queen sent a prayer asking for Merlin's prompt recovery.

While Arthur sat by Merlin's side, Gaius checked on Gwaine's leg, finding that the knight had overstrained the poor thing. He started removing the bandage that kept the knee in position when Gwaine said:

"Gaius, who is Freya?"

"Where did you hear that name?" Gaius asked.

"We heard it from Merlin," Arthur replied instead of him.

"When we found him," Gwaine elaborated, "he whispered that name. He then got a fit of cough and fainted."

Gaius remained quiet for a bit then, he glanced at the two younger men and said:

"Freya was the name of the only girl Merlin's ever loved."

Arthur's eyebrows shot up in astonishment while Gwaine had to steady himself on top of the table.

"Merlin's been in love?" the knight somehow managed to ask, surprise obvious in his voice.

"Yes," Gaius replied.

"What happened to her?" Arthur asked with genuine curiosity.

"She died," Gaius replied, "it happened many years ago but Merlin's never allowed himself to love another."

Swallowing hard, Arthur returned his attention to his best friend. While he looked at Merlin's closed eyes, he wondered just how many things he had never known about him. Without thinking, he moved his hand on top of Merlin's chest and promised himself he would make the most out of this second chance.

This time, he'd get to know the real Merlin.

He hadn't even finished this thought when he noticed Merlin's eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly. He looked more closely and he saw that the young man was trying to open his eyes. Arthur's heart started beating so hard he thought he would die from the sheer trepidation and for a whole minute, he forgot to breathe.

"Gaius," Gwaine's voice resonated in the room, "he's…"

The three men rushed to Merlin's side and, just then, Merlin revealed his beautiful dark blue eyes.

"Merlin!" Arthur almost chocked with joy.

"Merlin!" Gaius and Gwaine joined in.

"Merlin," the King repeated grasping his left hand in between his own, "it's so good to see you!"

The young warlock stared at the three men with a bewildered expression on his face. They all watched him trying to speak but at first he failed to produce any sounds. Gaius was going to tell him not to force himself when, after coughing a couple of times, Merlin looked at them once again and with the smallest voice he said:

"Who is Merlin?"

To be continued…