I am SO SORRY! I forgot to update yesterday! To make up for that (hopefully) this chapter's early. Sorry for torturing poor Merlin. I know it's strange, but I love when he's injured and Arthur and the knights become mother hens. It's adorable. Enjoy!

I own nothing.

Arthur was by Merlin side before he even had time to process what had happened. He gently ran his fingers along the deep wound in the sorcerer's side. This is really deep, he thought. What if it doesn't heal? Arthur picked up Merlin's unconscious body and set him down in a semi-comfortable place with his head resting on the log, and his feet only a few paces away from the fire to keep him warm.

Another, more confident-sounding voice said Don't be silly. You've seen worse, and they all survived. Arthur decided to listen to the second voice, but the cut was really deep. He had a right to be worried.

There was yet another voice in his head, sounding suspiciously like that of his father. It said, You are a prince, and therefore you should not be worrying about a mere servant! You can just get a new one! Besides, he's a sorcerer! You should just leave him to die, and the world will be a better place.

Arthur didn't listen to that voice at all.

Arthur turned to stare in joy at Merlin when he mumbled, "Arthur?" and he tried to stand up. The boy immediately winced in pain. It had been a little past mid-day when Merlin collapsed, and dusk was approaching. They had lost half a day.

Arthur hugged Merlin, being careful of his wound, and just held on. "Um, Arthur?" Merlin said, his voice stronger than it had been a minute ago, but still not strong.

"Yes?" Arthur asked into Merlin's shoulder. It felt so perfect, holding Merlin, that he found he couldn't let go. The boy was so warm and comforting.

"Could you... Maybe... Let go of me? Please?"

Arthur shook his head lightly and replied, "No."

"Um. Okay, then." Merlin replied, and Arthur took that as permission to pull Merlin closer to him. He heard the boy's grunt of surprise and smirked. Arthur put his hand behind Merlin's head and pulled it into his shoulder, as if holding on for dear life. "Arthur, please. It - it hurts."

At those words, Arthur completely released Merlin. What was I doing? I was holding Merlin for my own comfort, and causing him pain! Arthur immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, Merlin, I'm so, so sorry! I didn't know it was hurting you! You should have said something, and I would have let go earlier!"

"No, it's fine. It didn't hurt at first. In fact, in the beginning it felt kind of..." Merlin trailed off, but Arthur was hoping he would say it felt kind of good. Arthur would agree with him there.

"I'm glad you're okay. Now, about that gash." Arthur tore a strip of cloth from his shirt, ignoring Merlin's protests, and tied it around the wound. Arthur also tore another strip of cloth to use later, because as much pain as it caused him to say it, the wound was bleeding a lot. He then asked Merlin what herbs to gather that could help with a wound like this. Arthur ignored Merlin's pleas that he could get them himself and went out to find some plants that matched the description the boy had given him. It was harder that he'd thought it would be. All the plants in this dang forest looked the same, and it certainly didn't help that it was getting dark out. How am I supposed to find anything?

Despite having almost lost hope, Arthur continued on because he knew that it would make Merlin better. On the subject of Merlin, Arthur did a little thinking. he honestly didn't understand what he was feeling for the boy. It wasn't the brotherly love he felt with his knights, nor was it what he felt with Gwen. Arthur was very confused, so he focused on the one thing that he was sure about. He cared about Merlin, as a friend, if not more, and he needed to help him get better. Just like that, all the other thoughts were pushed to the back of his mind as he hunted for medicinal herbs.

Arthur returned after what had felt like hours later, but can't have been that long because the sun had only just set completely, and crouched next to Merlin. "What's next? What do I do with these?"

Merlin told Arthur to ground them all. Arthur did so with a rock he found laying about. Then, Merlin told him to combine them with water to make a paste. Arthur took some water out of his waterskin and poured it on top of the crushed leaves in Merlin's hands. When Merlin told him that he had poured enough water, Arthur began stirring the mixture, which was still in Merlin's hands.

Once the consistency was right, Merlin poured the paste into Arthur hands. "Now," he said, "apply the paste to the wound. Make sure you get it in the general area too, so that it doesn't get infected."

Arthur lifted up Merlin's shirt, then the makeshift bandage. He dipped his fingers in the paste and spread it across the wound. Merlin occasionally winced in pain, but sighed with relief when Arthur was done. Arthur took the new bandage, the second one he had ripped off his shirt, and tied it carefully around the wound. He then pulled Merlin's shirt back down and the two made eye contact.

"Thank you, Arthur. I'd probably be dead if it weren't for you."

"Don't mention it. After all, why do you think I followed you?" Merlin didn't answer, instead falling asleep. Arthur smiled at him and sighed, he was pretty tired himself. Arthur unpacked two bedrolls, and placed one over Merlin as a blanket. He didn't want to risk waking him up by moving him. Arthur placed the other bedroll next to Merlin, and got in it himself. He leaned over and kissed Merlin's forehead, though he had no idea why. He told himself it was because he was glad that Merlin would be okay, but he knew it wasn't true. Arthur needed some time to think, but that was not the time. Arthur curled up to fall asleep, knowing that there would be a lot to talk about the next day.