A/N: "Hollow Queen" shows in the U.S. this week (more readers, please?)
I'll try to get another chapter out in honor of that, but I'll be away for the weekend so it may not happen
(which is why this one is short- wanted to make sure I got at least one chapter up).
Regardless, here is this chapter: enjoy the terrible suffering ^_~
He wanted to ask Arthur to just kill him and have done with it, but all he could manage were a few mewls of distress as the king propped him up with a bent knee wedged under his stiff back.
Merlin's head rested against his master's broad chest and he could hear the strong heartbeat within, drawing attention to just how unruly his own muscle was behaving.
The higher elevation made him feel faint, but he had heard Gaius say something about his wakefulness being good so he struggled to remain conscious.
Something touched his lips and Gwaine was muttering, coaxing him to drink.
Merlin wasn't looking forward to the effect this would likely have on his mouth and throat, but complied nevertheless.
The cold liquid was initially a relief, but left renewed burning and roughness in its wake as he drank. He wanted so badly to refuse the next gulp of water, but didn't even have the strength to close his lips- it felt as if he had a sweet gum seed pod in his throat when he swallowed.
Arthur was saying something then, the rumbling in the monarch's chest transferring to the invalid's back, and he felt a touch of coolness on his forehead before the volume increased and more voices joined in. Merlin was reeling from the noise and therefor wholly unprepared for the torment that followed when hands grasped at his limbs, lifting and moving him. He was certain his legs were going to break off of his body until more hands appeared to support his back, the resultant shifting of his stomach making him nauseous once more.
The piteous sounds coming from his mouth were deeply embarrassing, but he simply couldn't get them to stop.
He was slightly shocked when he felt the ground beneath him- softened a bit by something unidentified- but it was a welcome relief from the drag of his own weight, even lessened as it was by outside assistance.
This new location was warmer and he could feel his body beginning to relax slightly, though this only made it more clear how sore and weak it was.
Gaius was talking again, then Gwaine, and a cup pressed against his lip before spilling warm tea into his mouth.
Well, he assumed it was tea- taste would be eluding him for the foreseeable future.
Gradually, his throat began to be soothed by the decoction and his stomach settled a bit- the pain now more akin to a cooking flame than a bonfire and the need to vomit all but gone.
Merlin was beginning to think he might actually be getting better- if only it weren't so cold... didn't they have any blankets with them?
He wanted to ask for one, but knew nothing good would come of the effort.
In fact, he didn't really feel like putting effort into anything right now and as such, he allowed himself to drift into oblivion.
