A/N: Oops. Seems my careless phrasing led to a misunderstanding. What I meant (in the previous author's note) was that although I'm updating this story daily, don't expect it to happen ever again (with other stories). I fully intend to continue updating this at least once a day until it's done- hopefully I'll be well on the way to finishing it tomorrow, but we'll see. I really need to get this out so I can get back to my other fics. (I'm sorry for temporarily abandoning you, other readers who aren't here to see this!)

Ever make something and then just spend time staring at it in satisfaction?
I redid the cover for this story and as I write the chapter I keep going back to look at it. Just makes me happy :)
Tomorrow I'll probably think it's crap, but for now it's great ;)

And "Kettering" by The Antlers just started playing on Pandora- that song gets me every time.

More buckets of steaming water had been delivered and gradually replaced the tepid liquid in the tub until the bath itself was actively warm.

Gaius was tipping the bottle of hawthorn over Merlin's mouth once more when Arthur noticed the dark stain beginning to blossom on the bandages.

"Gaius-"

The physician looked down and, seeing the mark, immediately straightened.
"Get him out!"

Arthur hauled the thin man up by the armpits, Gaius helping as best he could to get their patient over to the fire.
Snatching up a towel, the physician gently dabbed the moisture away as quickly as he could before helping the king lie the now mostly-pliant body down on the cot.

Motioning for Arthur to pull the heated blanket up to the young man's waist, Gaius cut the bandages away rather than take the time to unwind them.
The elder swore loudly at what was revealed.

The thick layer of bandages may have delayed the water in reaching the wounds, but it also lengthened the amount of time Merlin had bled before it became visible.

Red covered that pale chest again and Arthur had to look away, instead retrieving another cloth for Gaius to begin repeating his work in cleaning and treating the injuries.

Once he had done, the old man called the younger back to prop the servant up to be re-bandaged.

Turning back to the bed, Arthur stopped in his tracks.

There was a dark blotch the size of his palm directly over Merlin's heart, starting from a single black dot and gradually fading to a pale grey at the edges.

"Gaius, what-"

Rheumy eyes surveyed him sadly.
"Frostbite. I'm afraid he has quite a bit of it, but this is by far the worst. I cannot fathom how this was done, but I can only think the dorocha must somehow be involved."

Arthur bent to lift his servant, unable to tear his eyes away from the hideous spot- until he noticed the edges of what appeared to be a large and vicious burn peeking out from beneath the black.

What?

Trance now broken, the king's eyes roamed along his friend's chest as he noticed other imperfections in the pale skin beneath the recent horrors that had been visited upon it.

A puckered circle here- puncture wound- a long slice there- sword strike...

Where had Merlin gotten such scars?
He recognized the slightly dented remains of the flail injury obtained in the Valley of the Fallen Kings along with the white line on his arm from their encounter with the Knights of Medhir- he had called that the man's first battle wound, but it looked as if he had been mistaken.
The other scars, however, he couldn't even begin to guess the origin of.
In many cases he wasn't even able to discern the cause.

He must have spent a goodly amount of time staring as Gaius was now gesturing for him to lie Merlin back down, which he did.

Would Gaius know?

Arthur shook himself. This was hardly the time to be asking about old scars.

But don't think I'll just let this go, Merlin...

Now that his ward was able to bend again, Gaius checked over his joints.
"His shoulder is dislocated, be prepared to hold him if he stirs."

Normally the physician would have someone brace a person getting a joint re-located, but there wasn't an injury-free area appropriate to hold him by apart from his left arm.

Neither sound nor movement came from the invalid as the shoulder was put back in place.

"He'll need a sling once he's up, but for now try not to jostle it."
The king nodded absently, knowing the physician had mostly spoken to fill the heavy silence.

Neither of them dared discuss the subject of Merlin's recovery, nor the things that would have to take place beforehand.