I am sooo sorry for leaving everyone hanging for so long. I've been in the process of moving and have just gotten into more of a steady schedule...
Anyway, to make up for it I'll post TWO chapters! Read, Relax, and if you're feeling obligated as a writer to help out your fellow... review!
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"Arthur!"
The prince in question immediately swivels to inspect the speaker. Merlin is still asleep. Arthur spins back around and is about to return to his work when Merlin cries up again.
"Arthur, don't! It's no use. You're hurting yourself Arthur. Just- Just leave me be!"
His voice is low and mumbled but Arthur picks up on the pain that has been a constant presence in Merlin's voice and eyes as easily as breathing. Below the pain, duel emotions of worry and fear fight for dominance.
"'ve got to get out. Arthur! 've got t'- got t' escape. þu næfest þá cwealmnesse. þu afl…" (1)
His voice trails off into incomprehensible murmurs before he falls into a deeper slumber.
Arthur had leapt up as soon as the clouded blue eyes had flashed gold under half lids. Grabbing the stone from his desk he presses it to Merlin's palm for a count of three and then waits for results. Nothing discernable to Arthur's senses occurs and he sits back in relief. A sick, scared Merlin generally seems to entail random bouts of magic ranging from gusts of wind to dancing cutlery. Arthur allows himself a moment to imagine Gaius trying to cover up his ward's enchantments during one of his own previous, oblivious attempts to see the warlock.
Then the guilt overshadows him again.
Knowing that his f- his brother is reliving waking tied to a pyre, burning alive every time he closes his eyes eats away at Arthur's sense of duty and, yes, love for those he cares about; even if he's not sure how much of their friendship was real. He should have done something. Gotten Merlin away from there. Merlin shouldn't have had to rescue himself in a bout of half unconscious magic that left him hurting himself even more as he walked blithely about on feet blistered and scorched by the searing wood. It is not Merlin's duty to care for everyone. Merlin should not – as he relives burning alive – be more concerned with Arthur's wellbeing than his own, nevermind what was said about destiny. Above all Arthur should have done something.
"No!"
Merlin is awake, half upright and searching frantically for something with wild eyes that fail to focus on anything but empty air. Arthur drops his quill for a second time and hurries over.
"I'm right here Merlin. I'm alive. I'm fine. You're alive. You're going to be just fine."
The now familiar mantra returns a light of recognition to Merlin's blue gaze.
"Arthur?"
"Yes Merlin. I'm right here."
With that reassurance, the younger man's entire frame seems to relax.
"That's good. HE was- HE-"
Only one name is unspeakable right after Merlin's nightmares. Uther. Arthur grinds his teeth and asks the question Merlin is waiting for, if dreading all the same. But he needs to talk about it, even if he'd rather bottle everything inside. So Arthur asks.
"What did he do this time?"
"I- I woke up." Merlin doesn't elaborate. Both know by now how Merlin's dreams always start. With a fiery pain wrenching him back into the land of living. "I- HE-"
Merlin turns his head away, ashamed.
Angrily, Arthur grabs Merlin's hand and squeezes it in reprimand and support.
"Come on Merlin. You're not weak. How many times do I have to tell you that? Now tell me what happened."
The responding voice is small and mortified. "Is that an order Sire?"
"Only if it needs to be Merlin."
The narrow frame doesn't move an inch as Merlin does as he's asked in a voice more akin to death than any ever should be.
"I woke up. I was in the courtyard, but things were different. You were there with me. Tied to the stake. Before HE burned me HE forced me to watch your execution..."
Nothing Arthur does or says can convince Merlin to say anything more on the matter and Arthur doesn't really try to push it. He hopes that just the knowledge that someone is there to share the burden will be enough for his traumatized servant.
"Come on idiot. It's time to change your bandages."
Arthur watches Merlin bury his pains and fears deep inside and smile teasingly at the Prince. Pride wells up in him for Merlin's bravery but a part of him wishes that the warlock could overcome and be rid of his pain rather than hide it. It shouldn't be this way.
"I didn't know you cared Arthur."
"I don't really. But servants of your caliber are hard to find. Not everyone is as big an idiot as you are."
The familiar banter helps distract the injured man as Arthur carefully unwinds the bandages on his arms first. Right before he pulls off the last layer he hands a thick leather strap to Merlin who places it in his mouth with a grimace.
"Ready, one, two three-"
With one smooth movement Arthur pulls the bandage stiff with congealed fluid and salve away from the scorched skin. Merlin hisses and his hand clenches spastically around a fistful of blankets.
With the bandage comes a layer of dead skin and Arthur lays the thing gingerly aside to be disposed of.
Grabbing the pot of Gaius' salve he next scoops the thick goop on to the blistered skin and, more gently than he'd ever admit, spreads it in a thin layer over the length of the forearm and bicep.
"You need sit up now Merlin. I have to do your torso."
Merlin acknowledges the command with a weary groan. As Arthur slips his hands under the other man's arms and helps lever him upright he keeps up a steady stream of light abuse. "Come on Merlin. Don't be a girl now. I don't like this anymore than you do. People would kill for a chance to be nursed by the Prince of Camelot."
Merlin spits out the leather gag. "No they wouldn't. You're rougher than a blacksmith. Give me a gentle maid any day."
Arthur chuckles and places the gag gently back in. "Well you'd know all about gentle maids, with all the time you spend in the tavern."
"Mm-hm." Merlin responds distractedly, steeling himself for the next strip.
All in all the entire process takes a good hour to unwrap, clean and rewrap every wound. Soon all that is left is the feet. Arthur stands aside.
"Gaius should be around any moment now. Just take a break and try not to fall asleep."
"How can I sleep with you babbling in my ear?" Merlin grouses. Immediately he looks up at his King with an apology hovering on his lips. "I don't mean that you know. I-"
Arthur stops him. "I know Merlin, I know."
What he does know is that the man needs the reassurance just now to heal… whether or not the words are true.
(1) - (translation: You 'not to have/ to lack/ be without' the 'pain/torment'. You …. )