Chapter 10

Gaius watched the young prince carefully as he stood at the doorway of his chamber. Arthur was sitting on a chair next to Merlin's bed, his arms folded. Although Merlin had improved greatly in the last day or so, Arthur was still worried about him. Gaius was concerned that Arthur hadn't left since he had arrived back at Camelot, he hadn't eaten anything, nor had he slept, but as Gaius watched the prince he saw his head lulling forwards and his eyes slowly closing. Gaius coughed loudly, Arthur jerked awake.

"Haven't you got things to do?" Gaius asked Arthur, entering the room.

"What things?" Arthur said, rubbing his eyes.

"Duties, tax collection, meetings with the King, feasts, training with the knights, they all need to be done."

"They can wait."

"I don't think your father would agree with that."

"He never agrees with anything I say." Arthur murmured grumpily, stretching as he stifled a yawn. Suddenly he let out a small cry of pain; he clutched his stomach as the colour drained out of his face.

"What's wrong?" Gaius asked, stepping forward, concerned.

"It's nothing," Arthur gasped, "just a scratch from the fight with Alik."

"I should check it—"

"No it's fine, it's just a scratch! Shouldn't you be taking more care of him?" Arthur nodded in Merlin's direction.

"You need taking care of too."

"I said I'm fine, I've had much worse." Arthur assured Gaius.

"I read about the brothers when you were gone," said Gaius, "where they come from they have a pretty good reputation and the have an obsession with power and dark magic."

"You shouldn't congratulate ma about anything, I haven't done any good." Arthur replied, staring at Merlin.

"What happened to the other brother? Adiemus I think was his name, you never said anything."

"I…I don't know, he disappeared." Arthur admitted, turning to look at Gaius; "do you think he'll come back?"

"No, not for a long time anyway."

"I hope not." Said a quiet and croaky voice from behind Arthur.

"Merlin?" Arthur turned to see the young warlock looking up at him, "Merlin! You're awake! How are you feeling?" He asked, not bothering to hide the happiness in his voice.

"I've been better," said Merlin, it was true that he did still look awful, he had grown thin from the lack of food and he was pale from the loss of blood. But there was a twinkle in his eye and he was smiling.

"I thought I would never see that smile again." Said Arthur, he felt as if he was in a dream.

"Sorry my Prince, but you can't get rid of me that easily."

***

In less than twenty-four hours Merlin had improved immensely, by next morning he had regained his appetite, eaten something and was talking happily to Arthur, who still hadn't left his side.

"Did I ever thank you?" Merlin asked after a long silence, laying on his side and looking up at Arthur.

"Thank me for what?" Arthur asked, wondering around the chamber, looking at all the medicines and potions, trying to remember which one Gaius had told him Merlin should take at midday, and failing miserably.

"Thank you for saving my life." Merlin replied.

"I don't deserve any thanks."

"Wow, I wouldn't have heard you say that a few weeks ago, what happened to the arrogant Arthur I knew? You've become modest, that's a thing I thought I'd never see, Arthur Pendragon doesn't even want my thanks." Merlin teased.

"Well it sounds like you need to get some sleep." Said Arthur.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not, you're overtired, it's making you say strange things, which I assure you are not true." Arthur grinned.

"No, I know exactly what I'm saying." Said Merlin defiantly.

"You really think I've changed?"

"A little, you're still a prat though."

"Very funny," Arthur said, trying to sound sarcastic but couldn't help laughing with Merlin. "Well, maybe you have a point, I've done some pretty stupid things, that haven't done you much good."

"I don't blame you for what happened, we've talked about this already."

"You should though."

"I could never blame anything on you Arthur. Even if it was your fault, even if you were the one who put the knife in me, I would forgive you."

"Don't say that."

"I just did, and I mean it."

"Like I said, you're over tired."

"No I'm not! I mean what I say, it wasn't your fault, and you can't keep blaming yourself for what happened. It was the brothers, and we managed to stop them, surely that's all that matters now?"

"Yes I suppose so," Arthur sighed, "and it was lucky that we did stop them, with all that anger and power, who knows what they might have achieved."

"See, I was right." Said Merlin, he sounded pleased but the thought had drenched him in fear, he shivered.

"Are you alright Merlin?" Arthur asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine, just a bit cold." Merlin lied, not wanting to seem like a coward, and he did feel a little cold.

"Here, this will warm you up," said Arthur,

He disappeared from Merlin's field of vision for a moment, he lay there, waiting for something to happen and wondering what Arthur was doing. There was movement behind him, and he noticed the bed move under him. Suddenly Merlin felt Arthur's warm arms rap around him.

"Is that better?" Arthur asked softly.

"Yes," sighed Merlin happily, "thank you Arthur."

"You're welcome."

There was a long silence; finally it seemed that things were going back to normal, just the way they were meant to be. Merlin smiled at the felt Arthur's warm breath on the back of his neck. Suddenly he knew something, and he had to say it.

"Arthur?"

"Hmm," said Arthur, the days without sleep were starting to catch up with him, now that Merlin was going to be OK, he could sleep.

"I love you."

"I know," Arthur paused, "I love you too."

"Do you really it's going to work?"

"Do I really think what's going to work?" Asked Arthur, now getting irritated, he would much rather finish this conversation once he'd had some sleep.

"Us two, me and you. I'm a wizard and you're the King's son. One day you're going to be King, and you're not going to want me any more."

"That will never happen Merlin, we need each other, and I'm not going to leave you. I don't car that you do magic, in fact I'm happy, I know who you really are now and magic will not change how I feel about you."

"Good," Merlin sighed. "You don't know how relieved I am to hear that, I never thought someone would be able to truly understand who I am and love me for who I am. I have to admit that I thought you would be the last person to appreciate what I am, and not think of me any different. I think that it is because of this, we can work against all the odds and nothing will be able to separate us, not anything. Don't you agree? Arthur? Arthur!"

Arthur had fallen fast asleep; his arms still rapped around Merlin, his light breathing tickling the back of his neck. Merlin tried to nudge Arthur with his elbow to wake him up, but nothing happened, Arthur continued to sleep soundly. In the end Merlin gave up, he closed his eyes and joined Arthur in the fantasy bliss of sleep.

Wow that was my last chapter! Can't believe it's over, I've really enjoyed it! I might write a Brothers in Arms two, what do you think? Please also say what you thought of the chapter and what you thought overall.

Thanks for reading my fanfic and for the reviews, hope you enjoyed reading. I have a strong feeling it's going to be the first of many