A/N: I have nothing to say so here is chapter 25:

Merlin got steadily stronger thanks to the various potions and salves forced upon him by a doting Gaius. He had been moved back into his own room for additional peace and privacy and each day saw him awake for longer periods of time; eventually sitting up and making the occasional trip to the table or chamber pot.

It had also become a regular occurrence for the warlock to ask everyone else to leave him and Errol alone for a few hours every afternoon.
Hours spent talking and practicing spells.

Little over a week after Merlin's collapse, Gaius proclaimed him fit enough to take short journeys around the castle- so long as someone was with him at all times, of course.

Merlin was pleased with the news and hurried to dress himself, striding to the door with Errol at his side.
Pulling the handle he stepped out into the corridor.

A foul-smelling cloth was shoved over his mouth and nose from behind and he found himself floating into unawareness as he breathed in the noxious fumes...

Taking a loud gulp of air, he braced himself against the door frame.

"Merlin? Are you okay?"
The scribe asked, concerned at his companion's sudden paleness.

The servant gave him a wan smile.
"I think I may have rushed things a bit. Perhaps we could do this later?"

Forehead still wrinkled, Errol held the door open for him as he stumbled back to his bed and buried his face in his hands.

What now? Can I not even leave these quarters?

He realized what had happened.
The strange, hyper-vigilant part of his brain had established these rooms as a safe place; giving him the false impression of being better when really he had just pushed the bad things away, associating them with the outside world.

But it doesn't do any good to know.

He was incredibly frustrated with himself.
Logically he knew he wasn't really safer here than anywhere else- at least not anywhere else in the castle.
He knew no harm was likely to come to him whilst he was within these walls.
Yet he still couldn't bring himself to get back up and go through the door.

You can't let this ruin your life. Livenn is dead. Camelot needs you, Arthur needs you.

And really it was a miracle the king had survived so long without him.
Probably only because he hadn't left the castle since the incident.

Then again, there was no need to face this today, was there?
He was pretty tired, after all...

Feeling secure in his rationalizations, Merlin took off his jacket and boots and hid under his blankets.