He knew that he was hallucinating.
"You got it really bad." Merlin said, sitting beside his bed, looking worried.
"What… happened?" He was able to ask, his voice dry.
"Someone sliced through your stomach. And now you have really nasty fever."
"Oh, that explains it." Arthur smiled, eying his friend. He looked so pale. Like a ghost.
"We got us home. Like I promised."
Merlin nodded. "Thank you."
"I don't say anything to them. About you." Arthur promised. He wanted that Merlin would know. Merlin watched him, his eyes big and so blue, but there was tiredness that Arthur couldn't understand.
"About my magic?"
"Your secret is in safe."
Merlin shook his head. "Don't think about it now. Just get better, will you?"
Arthur fell asleep again. When he waked again, Merlin was still there, hovering over him.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course, I always trust you."
"Then close your eyes."
Arthur closed his eyes.
He felt a touch where the wound was.
How vivid dream this was.
"Healing had never been my bright side." Merlin's voice whispered, sounding apologetic.
"You have done too much already." Arthur felt the familiar warmness, same what in the forest and he drifted away again. When he woke next time, Merlin wasn't there and he felt himself much better.
"Your fever is gone." Gaius said, helping him drink the medicine. "The wound is healing fast."
Arthur couldn't say anything. He couldn't say that he had seen Merlin. It was just a dream. But still he was happy that he had seen him one more time. It had been good dream.
"I'm sorry Gaius."
"For what?" Moment Gaius looked puzzled.
"Merlin."
Gaius smiled sadly. "Not your fault. I have to go. Gwen, if he can eat, give some soup."
"Yes." Gwen nodded and sat beside the bed, her fingers intertwining with Arthur's fingers. "You are finally awake."
"I though I saw him." Arthur said, watching Gwen's tired eyes.
"Who?"
"Merlin. Sitting there where you are now."
Gwen's look fell. "Oh, really? No, maybe I should have known." She muttered.
"Know what?" Arthur frowned. Gwen shook her head.
"Nothing. Can you eat?"
"No. Water, just water."
Gwen helped him drink.
"How long?"
"Two weeks." She sighed.
"How are things?" Arthur was actually bit of afraid to ask. Not that he didn't trust his lovely wife.
"Good. Everyone had been worried because of you so they had been calm, not wanting to bother me. Not council meeting in two weeks." Gwen grinned, tilting her head. "You know, if it wasn't Gwaine, the knights were never been there when…" Gwen gulped and shook her head again. "He said that you should have been at home already. He was so nervous, saying that Merlin had told that you would be back by that evening. He was so sure. He always trust that what Merlin say. He was so restless so finally he wanted to leave, suggesting that if something was happened, you would come the most direct route through the woods. So Leon and some other went with him middle of the night. And he was right. Glad that we once actually listened him. But when they came back with you two…" Gwen's eyes were full of tiers. Arthur managed to pull her closer and they hugged.
"Everything will be alright."
"I know." Gwen whispered. But Arthur knew. Merlin was dead and part of him was gone forever.
"I didn't ask from Gaius, but did he figured out about the flower. I remember that I warned Leon…"
"Yes. I can't remember its name, but he showed me the picture of it. Very deadly most of the case."
Arthur smiled shortly. "Most of the case." He muttered.
"What reminds me that I have to go a bit, I come back soon. Just rest. Sleep." Gwen commanded, kissing him one more time.
"Where?" Arthur didn't want her to leave, but he just watched when Gwen walked on the door.
"To say Gaius that Merlin got out again. He is supposing to be bed rest like you. But of course he slipped out to come see you. We should have though that, when he got so sick again. I go see if he's better. " Gwen smiled and opened the door and was long gone before Arthur realized what his wife was said.
"WHAT?"
One chap left. I think I can update today. It had been fun. But what to do next? I'm wondering between modern au, noble Merlin and two different sequel (Blind future and So it must be), let me know if you want to hear some of those.
Thank you again.
