I'm SO SORRY I took so long. I came back to school 6 weeks ago, and totally had nothing for this... Last night I was like, "De, sit your ass down and write the last damn chapter!" And voila! Here it is! Sincere apologies on timing, and I hope you like the end to my first fanfic!

Merlin sighed as he stared at his door. He'd been obedient and stayed in bed for the bed rest period. Gaius, feel free to release me any time now... He sighed again. Sitting up, Merlin knocked his head gently on the wall, waiting.

His eyes locked on the door as he heard the slow footsteps of Gaius on his stairs. The door opened, and Gaius poked his head in. "You can come with me and go see Elena now, Merlin."

"Finally! I thought I was going to go insane with boredom, Gaius!" Merlin leapt out of bed, eager to leave.

Gaius gave him a look. "Thank you for being obedient, Merlin. It does my old heart good to see you better."

Merlin smiled at Gaius and they walked out together. As they made their way through the halls, Gaius explained that Elena had gone into a coma and hadn't woken up yet. "You may need to draw her out with magic, Merlin. Let's see how she's doing when we get there. Clearly, she hasn't gotten worse, since no one has come and gotten me." Merlin nodded, and thought it couldn't be that bad. Her body was preserving itself, that was all. Maybe if he showed up, then she'd wake up, since he was the one who had inadvertently administered the poison in the first place. He winced. He still could not believe he'd missed it. Merlin hoped she'd forgive him.

Merlin's hope for her condition plummeted when he saw her. Her face was pallid and still. Nothing moved, she barely breathed. Merlin's own breath caught when he took it in. He dropped to his knees beside her and took Elena's hand.
"I'm sorry Elena.. Please, wake up. You're safe now. All is well. Everyone is worrying... wake up." He looked at her and saw no response. Merlin's guilt came back in waves big enough to be tsunamis. His head dropped so that his forehead was resting on her hand. Merlin closed his eyes as tears threatened to spill. Not thinking, he muttered, "gecierran nu". His whole body slumped as his guilt threatened to overwhelm him. Tears ran down his cheeks as he tried to keep quiet in front of Gaius.

"Merlin! Look!" Gaius rushed to Elena's side. "Look! She has color returning to her cheeks! Her eyes are starting to move under her lids!" Gaius was thrilled. He looked down at Merlin. "What did you use?"

Merlin could not believe his eyes. She was coming back! Elena was waking up! He knew no spell for bringing people back to the present. Closing his eyes, he thought back to whatever had just passed his lips.

"Umm, I think I said 'gecierran nu'. But I don't know where it came from.. I don't know any spells for this sort of thing."

Gaius' eyes twinkled and his eyebrow raised up just enough to notice. "Merlin, your gift is instinctual. It's unselfish. And given that it's not just a gift, it IS you, I would not be so surprised when you do things you did not think you knew how to do"

Merlin tilted his head, accepting the explanation. He knew Gaius was being vague because who knew how Elena's hearing was at the moment. But it was a nice thought, his magic being unselfish.

"Merlin?" Elena's eyes opened slowly, blinking as she took in her surroundings.

"Elena! You're awake! Thank God!"

She turned her head more fully towards him and looked at him for a long moment. "Why on earth are you on your knees and holding my hand? What happened?"

Merlin didn't know whether to be happy or distraught that she didn't remember anything. "Well, um, it would seem you were poisoned." He gulped and the rest tumbled out before she could say anything. "I'm so sorry Elena, I had no idea, but I should have and I didn't and because I wasn't paying attention, you suffered, and almost died and it's entirely my fault! I'll understand if you never forgive me!" He drew a deep breath after, having said it almost entirely in one breath in an effort to get it out.

Elena leaned her head back on her pillows processing. Her demeanor wasn't angry though. After a minute, she merely returned her eyes to Merlin and held his gaze. "Merlin. There is nothing to forgive. Apparently it happened on your watch, but it's not like you're a magical poison detector or anything." Elena chuckled at the thought of a magic-user dwelling in the walls of Camelot. "I can see it's bothering you, so let me put your mind to rest. It would have happened no matter who was serving me, because we weren't expecting it. Merlin, you aren't to blame. Do I make myself clear?"

Merlin nodded, glad she had forgiven him so easily. Now to forgive himself.

Elena held her arms out, and he got up, recognizing the request for a hug. He leaned over, and her arms wrapped around his back. It was a tight hug- comforting, reassuring. They embraced for a couple minutes while Gaius thought contentedly about his ward. The guardian in him was proud of Merlin for what he'd done and the physician in him was glad Elena was already able to talk freely and move enough for a hug. A win-win.

There was a knock on the door, and Merlin broke the embrace, wishing for a split second it could have continued. He felt so peaceful with Elena. However, his focus would soon be elsewhere. The door opened and in walked Arthur and Gwen.

Both were overjoyed that Elena had woken, and Arthur immediately had a guard send word to her father immediately.

Arthur conveyed his relief and happiness that she was fine and on the mend. Then he turned to Merlin. "I'd like a word with you, Merlin, for just a moment. Come with me."

Merlin had no idea what Arthur wanted to talk to him about, and immediately started freaking about things he hadn't done in the past few days that Arthur might get angry about. His armor probably needs polishing, but I've been stuck on bed rest.. And gods help me, his laundry pile is probably stacked to the skies..

Arthur had no such intentions. He had walked them to his chambers, where he sat Merlin down.

"Merlin. I have had a lot of time to think since you've been gone. Your mindless chatter hasn't interrupted me. You gave me a real scare when I found you. I thought I'd lost you. For all your faults, you really are a close friend, and I don't know what I'd do without you." Arthur looked completely serious and sincere, though his cheeks had a faint flush. He never talked like this! "So, please Merlin. If you ever get overwhelmed, or feel like doing that again, you have someone to talk to about it instead. Ok? I'm here, Gwen is here, and gods know Gaius is here. You aren't alone. I feel like I might be repeating what I told you a day or two ago, but I mean it Merlin. You have a place here, and we will do what you need to keep you healthy in mind and body."

Merlin stared at Arthur, processing what he'd heard. "Arthur, you have so much more important matters to attend to than worry about me. I'm supposed to worry about you!"

Arthur cut in firmly. "But not at the cost of your well-being. I mean it. You have friends. Talk to someone. Ok?"

Merlin nodded, slightly sheepishly. "Ok." His eyes went down to his hands, and then his eyes shot up again and he said, "Thank you. Really."

They stood up and Arthur, breaking his history of arm-grips, pulled him into a hug, and said again, "Let others worry about you, for once. Friendship goes both ways. And that's what we are. Friends."

Merlin's eyes were starting to fill, so he quickly let go, and muttered, "Yes, friends." To break the slight awkwardness he felt, he quipped, "Who else but a friend could put up with your royal pratness?"

"Hey!" Arthur grabbed a spoon and held it threateningly at Merlin's face. "Don't make me use this."

Merlin scoffed. "You're threatening me with a spoon?"

Smack. "OW!" Merlin laughed and grimaced at the same time. "I didn't think you'd actually use it!"

Gwen walked in with an apprehensive look on her face. "What are you two boys doing? I heard something that sounded awfully like a smack... Arthur, are you beating up on poor Merlin again?"

"What? Of course not? I never beat you up, do I Merlin?"

Merlin chuckled and soaked up the warm feeling of strong friendship. "Well, do you want an honest answer or an answer that makes you look good in front of Gwen?" He stopped and got an innocent look on his face. "I mean, what? Did I say that out loud?" He smirked and ducked as Arthur grabbed an apple and chucked it at him. "You're answering your question all by yourself!" Merlin called over his shoulder as he bolted out the door with a grin on his face.

The End.

Author's Note: In Old English, "gecierran" means return, and "nu" means now. So he told her to return now, or come back.