Author: LadyFromPoland

Disclaimer: I don't own "Merlin", though it'd be great. "Merlin" belongs to BBC.

Warnings: SLASH MerlinxArthur.

English is not my mother language, so sorry for some mistakes.

Chapter 11

"Illness"

Merlin was lying in the bed in the safe bedroom. He still had a dangerously high fever. However his breath was better than even one hour before. The most important thing was that he was no longer outside where the rain didn't give in.

"Arthur." The crowned prince heard Lena's soft voice. "You should go and sleep."

"No," Arthur answered. He didn't want to leave Merlin.

"I'll stay with him till the morning," she told him. "I will not leave him until you come back. He's safe now."

Arthur shook his head. "I won't leave him. He needs me. I know it."

Witch gave up. Somehow she understood the future king. If it was Phil she would stay up through many nights.

"Tenra is preparing elixir," Lena said changing the subject. "It will help him. It always helps in a fever."

"Thank you," Arthur smiled at her.

"Elixir isn't difficult," she told him smiling back.

"I want to thank you for everything what you all did and do for us," the blond man admitted suddenly. "My father is truly wrong. Magic doesn't have to be evil."

Lena felt a bit confused. "You knew it. I mean... Merlin," she said.

"I sometimes thought that he was the only one magical person who was not evil. You know..." Arthur thought a while. "When I realized about his magic I was angry, sad and a bit scared but I knew that he couldn't be evil. He was doing so many good things. It couldn't befeint." He took a breath. "Besides I met you. You're good for us. You're helping us."

Lena didn't know what to say. She didn't even know ifthere were right words to reply. Girl just smiled a bit and changed the subject again.

"Maybe I'll bring you cup of tea?" she asked.

"No, it's not necessary," Arthur answered with his deep voice. "But you can go and sleep. I can see that you're tired."

"Okay, but..." she hesitated.

"Yes?" Prince looked at her carefully.

"You know that if you stay longer, you can also fall ill," Lena told him seriously.

"He's ill because of me." Arthur was stubborn. "I won't leave him now. There's no way. Even if I fall ill, I'll be happy."

"Why?" Lena asked but somewhere inside she hoped that she knew the answer.

"Because we'll be closer," Arthur said blushing a bit.

Woman nodded and went out. When she closed the door she smiled. It was a good sign.

***

"Lena, Lena!" someone nudged her.

"What?" woman moaned.

"Wake up, come on. I have to show you something!"

Lena opened her eyes and saw Amy.

"Come on!" the younger girl was stubborn.

"Wait a second... What time is...?"

"Almost ten," she said a bit annoyed.

"Did Tenra go to work?" Lena asked.

"Yes." Amy nodded.

"And what about... Merlin's fever?" Lena looked carefully at her sister.

"Better," Amy answered. "He still has a fever but it's lower than before."

"Good..." Lena was still half-asleep.

"Take your ass up and go with me," Amy ordered her.

"What for?" the elder sister didn't think clearly yet.

"I told you!" Amy shook her sister's arm. "I want to show you something."

"But I'm so sleeeeepy." Lena yawned.

"It should help you." The younger sister gave the brown haired girl a cup of hot coffee.

Lena's smile said Thank you, you're amazing. Yes. Amy knew her sister so well. Only coffee could wake her up so soon. A cup of coffee and Philip. But he was dead and the poor girl had only a coffee now.

When elder sister drank everything, Amy said: "Now go with me."

Lena nodded and followed her sister. Amy led her to their guest's bedroom. Red haired girl put her finger on mouth, which had to mean to be silent. She opened the door.

The scene was so beautiful. Merlin lay on a bed as before. Arthur slept on a chair with his palm on Merlin's hand. The chair was as close to the bed as it was possible. At least it looked like this. The blanket lay on a floor.

"He'll feel cold," Lena said smiling. She moved her hand and whispered such a strange word. Then the blanket raised a bit in the air and it covered Arthur.

"That's better," she said.

Amy only nodded and gave the sister sign to leave them alone.

Girls went out as quietly as they could.

***

Arthur woke up and looked around. Merlin was still sleeping. That illness was very cruel. It didn't let him see his friend with open eyes and lovely smile on his lips. Arthur wanted to see that smile again so badly.

Prince looked at the window. Rain didn't give up yet. Then he glanced at Merlin's pale face. He had such a great desire. He wanted to touch warlock's face. He wanted to caress his hair. But Arthur hesitated. He had touched Merlin's hand to protect him. Face was something more precious. It was something for a special person. However the desire was stronger.

Arthur caressed sorcerer's cheek with one of his fingers. He was very tender. Prince smiled a bit when his finger touched Merlin's lip.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Somewhere inside Arthur hoped that warlock would answer. But he didn't. Merlin didn't even move.

Prince took his hand away. He felt guilty. He felt that he shouldn't be there. That he didn't deserve this.

Arthur stood up and, with fast beating heart, he went out. When he closed the door he didn't know what to do. Prince felt as if important part of him stayed by Merlin's side. Without that important part he felt useless. He was even ready to come back to his friend but the feeling of guilt didn't allow him.

"Arthur." Prince heard soft voice. He turned and saw Amy's sad face.

"Let's go and drink some tea with me," she said.

"It's not a good idea," Arthur told her frankly.

"Yes, it is." Amy was stubborn but her voice was still very soft.

Arthur wasn't able to say no again. He just nodded and, with a sad face, he followed the girl.

Amy asked him to sit down and he did it. She started preparing tea. They were both silent. Arthur looked at the table. He still fought with himself. One part of him wanted back to Merlin right now and the second part felt too guilty to even move.

"You have to know that it's not your fault," Amy said after a while.

Arthur glanced at the girl.

"It is my fault," he answered.

"Not only yours," Amy suggested.

"What do you mean?" the blond man asked firmly.

Girl sighed.

"What?" he asked one more time.

Amy looked at him with her deep eyes. "It's too complicated," she stated.

"Let's try to explain me," Arthur said.

"I can't." The girl shook her head.

"You can't or you don't want to?" Prince was too curious to give up so soon.

"You can't even suppose how much I want to tell you," Amy said throwing him a strong look.

"So do it."

"But I really can't," she said firmly. "There are that kinds of things that you have to understand on your own. And nobody can do it for you."

"Do women always have to say this way?" Arthur asked angrily.

"I'll pretend that I didn't hear it." She thought for a while. "Don't worry too much. Everything will be okay. You just must trust it."

"Will he... hate me?" Arthur asked suddenly. His voice sounded very sad.

Amy sighed. She wanted to tell Arthur everything. She wanted to comfort him. Girl wanted to scream that Merlin can't hate the person that he loves. However, Amy couldn't do this.

"You have to ask him but..." She smiled softly. "But I think that he won't."

"Thank you." Arthur smiled back.

"Just don't let him down any more," she said abruptly.

"I will not," he said slowly.

"Besides you should listen when he wants to tell you something. It would make some things much easier," Amy told him honestly.

"Do you know something?" Arthur asked.

"Go, be by his side and wait. You're going to have a lot of things to say. If you don't find the way of agreement, you will not back to Camelot." She threw him meaning look. "Remember about it."

"I'm not sure what are you talking about but we'll find the way," Arthur assured her. "I'll do anything to find it."

"Don't ask me what I was talking about," she said sighing. "Just take a cup of tea and go to him."

Arthur nodded.

***

The empty cup was put on a little table. Time passed by very slowly. Too slowly. Prince was walking around the bedroom. Time after time he stoodnear the window or glanced at his friend.

Suddenly Merlin moved. Slowly but he did.

Arthur came up to the bed.

"Merlin?" he asked quietly.

Warlock frowned and slowly, very slowly, opened his eyes. When he saw prince's face he couldn't help but smile. Arthur's worried look made him feel someone special. At least for a while.

When the future king of Camelot saw Merlin's smile, he felt a blissful relief. He also couldn't help but smiled.

Merlin tried to say something, however he wasn't able.

"No, it's okay," Arthur said. "Don't say anything. Not now. You should rest. We'll talk later."

Sorcerer nodded.

"I'm sorry," prince said it aloud in front of his friend. "I really am a prat."

Merlin's sight told him to stop blame only himself.

"You see." Arthur laughed. "You have a good heart. It all was only my fault and you still try to explain my behaviour."

Arthur coughed several times. Merlin looked upset.

"I told you," Lena said staying in the doors. "I knew it. You're going to be ill. You are ill."

"Don't care," Arthur answered glancing back at Merlin.

"But I do." She sighed. "Take your boots off and go to bed."

"But..." The blond haired prince looked at her strangely.

"Hurry!" she ordered.

It wasn't like that he didn't want to lie by Merlin's side. He wanted it very much. Arthur just felt a little bit embarrassed. However he came into the bed.

"Good," Lena said and turned to Merlin. "It's very nice to see you with open eyes again." Girl sighed. "Now we have two patients. I'll bring you some medicines."

She went out.

Arthur looked at Merlin and warlock glanced at prince too. They both smiled in the same time. It was going to be the best illness that they ever had. The best – because they had to go through it together.

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