A/N: Well here we are again. This will be a more filler chapter that exists simply to move the story forward, and it doesn't have an illustration either. This chapter was meant to be more, but one of the main scenes in it just refused to flow and be written so I deleted it and took a detour. Next Chapter will be Merlincentric hooray! I'm sure everyone is ready to see our warlock being more than a lump to lug around lol, and my illustrations will be back!

As always thank you EchoRose480 this wouldn't be here without you. You made it better with your advices.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Merlin, if I did, Episode 5X13 never would have happened :P

~~~~~~~~MERLIN~~~~~~~~

Chapter 10 – Departure at Dawn

Merlin's brow beads with sweat and Arthur drags a saturated cloth over the damp skin once more, watching in distress as the perspiration quickly reappears. His chest aches with worry and he can feel his mouth turn down even further in concern.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs breathily, focusing on the flutter of dark lashes that stubbornly refuse to rise, "I'm sorry I've treated you so poorly, and I'm…" Arthur breaks off hesitantly, "Truth is… I'm ashamed" he confesses, swallowing down his discomfort. "I don't know why I did it, why I continue to do it. I know it's wrong, and I know it wasn't funny-not to you, and it shouldn't be for me either."

"You're so loyal, you've stayed by my side when many others would have left." he says fondly.

"You never ask anything of me, but that doesn't mean that you aren't in fact, deserving."

"Lancelot was right, you do deserve my respect." He admits, and then with a deep unwavering surety he adds. "You have my respect Merlin, and you've had it for a long while now if I am to be honest."

Tears prick at the backs of his eyes, and with a shuttering breath Arthur tries to blink back the traitorous liquid that threatens to escape. With a frustrated shake of his head he manages to collect himself as best as he can.

"You are also my friend you know, despite the teasing and the bickering. I know I don't say it. I'm not good at feelings, but I just thought you should know that you are important to me, to us-the knights, and Camelot. I promise when this is over I will try to be better. I know I won't always succeed, I know I will disappoint you at times, but I will make sure you never feel undervalued again."

With a sigh, Arthur looks down at the pallid face before him and swallows thickly, his eyes raking over the younger man's drawn features, "Fight, Merlin," he pleads, "Please, fight."

A resounding bang startles the prince and draws his attention to the now thrown open door. He stands shakily, relief flashing through his eyes at the sight of Gwaine and Percival moving forward into the small chambers.

"Did you succeed?" he asks with poorly concealed hope.

"We're fine, thanks for asking, Princess," Gwaine grins mischievously, "Very nearly became wyvern fodder" he says, waving around his poorly bandaged hand as evidence. "but we still managed to get some of the stuff that Percy says he thinks will help."

"Thank God, where is it?"

Percival thumbs back towards the door, "We passed it off to the physician as soon as we walked in downstairs. He's gathering supplies to make the necessary potions. We did our best with what little time we had; I just hope it will be enough."

"And you did very well, sir knights," Gaylen praises as he comes bustling in, his arms burdened with books, bottles, and other various medicinal tools. "We owe you a great debt. The plants you gathered will be more than enough to treat not only your friend, but other villagers as well. Infection has been running rampant without the yarrow necessary to treat it. I now believe that some of the patients I had deemed beyond hope may yet survive their injuries, your boy included."

Taking a few sprigs and tossing them into a bowl, Gaylen quickly grabs the nearby pestle and begins grinding the plants together to make a paste, "I should have a treatment ready shortly, but it will still be a long while before we know whether or not this will be enough to help your friend. We will have to wait until he turns and hope that it will be for the better and not for the worse. Until then, I'll have Martha assist me as she is the village midwife, and very capable."

Arthur nods appreciatively "We owe you our gratitude, and I thank you for your efforts. Merlin is… he's a good man."

The physician looks up, fixing the prince with an assessing gaze. There is an awkward moment of silence before the healer seems satisfied with whatever it is he's found and nods approvingly. "I have no doubt that he is, your Majesty, no doubt at all."

Arthur swallows down another question for the man, and instead looks over at Leon, who is poised at the chamber door, "Have you gathered any more information?"

"Nothing more than what we managed to compile earlier, sire."

"Very well," Arthur begins as he walks across the room, possessing a now steely look of determination, "We have been given detailed directions to the whereabouts of the cave where the beasts are believed to be dwelling. We don't know how many creatures there are, only that there has been no more than 3 seen together at once. We have battled Wyverns in the past and they are formidable, difficult to kill, but not impossible. If we are going to face these creatures tomorrow we will need to be as well rested as can be expected in this situation. I want all of you to be prepared to depart at dawn. I refuse to let these creatures take any more innocent lives. These people are under our protection, and as knights of Camelot, we will not fail them."

There is a loud chorus of agreement and Arthur smiles fondly, "Leon, make sure the others know to be ready, the rest of you get to bed."

Quietly the men start shuffling out of the door towards their rooms down the hall, and the young royal watches them go with a strong swell of pride. Arthur moves to follow, but pauses for a brief moment to glance back, his gaze lingering on his injured servant long enough to see the physician applying a healing paste to his wounds. "Take care of him," he says softly.

The older man smiles at him earnestly, "With all the powers I possess, sire."

Arthur furrows his brow inquisitively, but is nevertheless satisfied with the answer, and with an abrupt turn, he vanishes around the corner, the door shutting closed behind him.

~~~~~~~~MERLIN~~~~~~~~

When dawn arrives, the knights depart on horseback, one man shy. Lancelot steals a glance behind him at the disappearing village, and toward the inn where his friend lies recovering, and silently swears that he will watch over the prince in his stead.