Ok up until this chapter all the other chapters were copied from the original story and author so from here on out the chapters will be what I write, I also found out from the previous Author that there had been request for this to become a reveal fic so I might get into that in later chapters

so enjoy XD

-Wolfy

~oo0O0oo~

Yule passed and the weather slowly grew colder and harsher. Winter was never a kind season for Camelot but this year was especially harsh and everyone was feeling it. The servants had it especially hard because unlike the knights they still had a lot of work to do. Arthur didn't train his knights as much for worry that they would fall ill from a bad chill.

Of course when Uther had received notice that soldiers from Cenred's kingdom had been spotted rounding Camelot's boarders, despite the cold weather and Arthur's arguments that it was too dangerous, he sent out Arthur and his most trusted knights to patrol the boarders.

~oo0O0oo~

Merlin whimpered as he came awake. His body hurt, it ached all over and his head felt like it could implode if he moved too quickly. it was hard to gather the strength to pull himself out of bed but some how he managed to do it just in time to hear Gaius bang on the closed door of his room.

"You need to get up Merlin, the prince had requested you," Merlin let out a low groan not really feeling up to getting up yet.

"Why cant the prat dress himself?" He cried dropping his face back into the pillow. He heard Gaius chuckle through the door as he stepped away. Merlin ignored the pain in his head and threw on his clothes haphazardly, ruffling his already messed up hair.

Gaius was at his workbench, packing away a bunch of vials and herbs that only a few Merlin could recognize. His muddled mind worked slowly to ponder what Gaius was preparing for before the memory of the previous day struck him.

A dangerous string of the flu virus broke out in lower town only a week ago, it was only recently that when many of the knights and their families had fallen ill even with the efforts of the many physician living in the area did Uther feel he had no choice but to send Gaius.

Merlin bit his lip in worry, he didn't want to be all alone and he could already tell he was coming down with something himself, but he knew that even if he did get sick and no matter how much he wanted Gaius to stay, the skilled physician would still be forced to go. SO he decided that staying quiet about how badly he was feeling to stop Gaius from feeling guilty for leaving him.

Merlin turned away from staring at the old man's back to the table where stew awaited him. He wasn't feeling particularly hungry he tucked in and ate about half of the stew before his stomach started protest and he had to stop.

He quickly stood and rushed out the chambers with only a quick goodbye to Gaius, he didn't want the physician to see him, he knew that as soon as the old man laid eyes on him Gaius would know he was sick.

~oo0O0oo~

Gaius raised an eyebrow at the retreating boy, a foreboding feeling filling the pit of his stomach. He should send a letter to the prince to keep an eye on the young warlock, he would tell him in person but he really needed to go. so with that thought to himself Gaius headed out to fulfill his duty as the physician of Camelot.

~oo0O0oo~

Merlin weaved his way though the servants and kitchen staff as he gathered a tray full of food for Arthur. Merlin had to fight the urge to vomit as the smell of food twisted his gut and made him dizzy. He let out a soft, almost inaudible whimper as the head cook knocked him up side he head when he banged into her causing her to drop a few freshly made bread rolls. He whimpered again when his head throbbed again.

The young boy let out a sigh of relief when he finally got to the prince's room and closed the door. Arthur was sitting at his breakfast table waiting impatiently. When he saw Merlin he let out an annoyed huff at his timing.

"You're late again MERlin, what reason do you have this time?" Arthur asked raising an eyebrow in question. A shiver ran up Merlin's spine at the annoyed tone in his master's voice, he really wasn't feeling well enough for the stocks, he was sure that if he were to be locked out in the stocks in this cold weather he would die, no question about it.

"Sorry prat, there are a lot of people in the kitchens this morning, it was hard to get all your food," he told truthfully. He didn't want to mention how he was always berated by the head cook and was made to gather his food last because she didn't like him. He especially never told him how often he got hit by the head cook like this morning. Arthur probably wouldn't even care.

Arthur eyed Merlin, he was never a morning person and had a bad habit of taking out his annoyance on poor Merlin, he always felt bad about it, but he couldn't help it, the kid could really annoy him and he was constantly stressed because of his duty as a prince.

Arthur let out a tired sigh and motioned for Merlin to continue his job. Merlin let the relief wash over him for a second, he really couldn't deal with an angry Arthur right now, not when his head was pounding and he couldn't stop shaking.

Merlin quickly laid out Arthur's food on the table before he went about tidying the bed with shaky hands. Arthur tucked in for his late breakfast, but one look at the food in front of him sent his anger and annoyance boiling.

"What the hell is this Merlin!" he growled. Merlin flinched at the stern tone and turned to see what he was talking about. he started at the sight of the food on the table, not even realizing that all the food were Arthur's least favorite. When Merlin started his training as Arthur's servant Arthur practically beat it into his head what foods were forbidden to reach his tray. "You are the worst excuse of a half-assed servant that ever worked in Camelot. What is wrong with you? Is it your mental defect, because I remember that was just made up, now I'm starting to doubt it all together. I told you that I never want to see this trash on my tray, and what do you do? you put it on my tray, you are the definition of 'idiot'."

Arthur's voice raised higher and higher in volume with each word till he was belting out and shouting. Merlin's head pounded and Arthur's loud voice scared him, he usually could take Arthur's yelling like nothing because he knew he didn't mean the things he said in anger, but with as sick as he was, he felt vulnerable. He remembered back to the time when he was younger and the men in his village would scream at him to the point that he was sure they would hurt him.

Merlin, feeling sick, weak and miserable and slightly confused, did what most children do when being yelled at by someone older, he began to cry.

Arthur stopped yelling at the sound of quiet sobbing. He looked down in shock at the boy in front of him who was shaking, his body jerking with sobs, his head bowed over and his fist balled and rubbing at his eyes. Arthur's voice caught in his throat as he stared in horror at the sight before him.

Merlin, his snarky, clever, annoying, fun loving, servant who he saw as a little brother was crying, he was crying because of he yelled at him, for something as stupid as a stupid breakfast. His previous anger forgotten, Arthur rushed forward and pulled a crying Merlin into his arms.

The young warlock leaned into the touch, even as upset as he was at Arthur's yelling he still knew the young prince didn't mean what he said. Arthur felt Merlin grip his shirt as his sobs slowly degraded to whimpers and hiccups.

"I don't feel good," Merlin murmured into Arthur's chest. It was then that Arthur's attention was drawn to the heat radiating off the boy. He gave a soft gasp of surprise when Merlin's knees buckled, Arthur held tight to the young warlock and lowered them to the ground.

"You're burning up Mer," Arthur whispered worriedly, using the pet nickname the knights made up for him. He turned the boy in his arms so that he was cradled like a baby and carefully lifted the boy and swept towards the bed. He lowered Merlin into the soft covers, Merlin's teary, cobalt blue eyes looked up at him tiredly.

"Merlin I'm sorry I'm such a clotpoll, can you forgive me?" Arthur asked as he brushed back the dark locks from Merlin's brow. Merlin gave him a teary smile and closed his eyes whispering "My word," causing Arthur to smile in return

Arthur got a basin of cool water and ringed out a clean rag and placed it on the boy's burning forehead. He then pulled the covers around the boy and tucked him in, not caring that it was his bed and that it was inappropriate for a servant to lay in it, only that Merlin was sick and cold.

He fed Merlin some water, and did the most unexpected thing. He crawled on top of the covers and pulled Merlin into his side. Merlin looked up at him in sleepy curiosity, the pain in his head and body easing.

"Arthur?" Merlin's voice was soft. Arthur looked down at the boy, still feeling bad about yelling at him. This was one of his free days, it was no reason to get mad at Merlin when there wasn't any meeting to get to and he still yelled at him, he really was a dollophead.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you," Arthur soothed as he ran his hand through Merlin's dark locks, easing him into sleep. The prince settled down as well, his arm laying over the boy curled into his side as he rested onto his dark head. They would sleep in this morning.

He need to be more careful, the way Merlin acted sometimes made him forget, but Merlin was only a kid, a child, he had to look after him and treat him well.

It's what big brothers were supposed to do right?

~oo0O0oo~

Ok I know this wasn't the best but I wanted to get this chapter out so my readers wouldn't thing I abandoned this story.
I will be going into Merlin's life in his old village in later chapters with the rest of the Knights in it

Please REVIEW! It keeps me going

-Wolfy