The next few days were exhausting. Despite his injured arm, Merlin was kept busy running back and forth between the Citadel and the Lower Town with medicines for those injured by the beasts. In his spare time, he headed back down to the Lower Town and visited those who had lost family members to see what he could do to help. He assisted with the rebuilding of walls and roofs and bought what food he could from the Camelot stores to help those most in need. Late in the evening when most of the Castle was sleeping, he and Gaius would go down to the tomb of Sagan and painstakingly sort through all the treasures contained within in order to check that no more of them held magic of any kind.

Arthur, too, was exceedingly busy. Once the harrowing task of burying the dead had been finished, he was commanded by his father to oversee the rebuilding of the walls and towers of the citadel. He was also occupied with replacing those Knights and soldiers killed by the beasts. He spent long hours down on the training grounds putting the new recruits through thier paces. Although physically exhausting, this served as a good therapy and helped him to cope with the grief of having lost so many good men. He was especially pleased that the humble foot soldier who had so impressed him with his bravery just before they had faced the beasts turned out to be an extremely able swordsman. Arthur was in no doubt that with training he would become an excellent Knight. His name was Sagramor.

Arthur had excused Merlin from his manservantly duties for a few days. Officially he said it was in order to allow the boy to aid Gaius tending to the injured although privately he had been rather shaken by Merlin's lengthy bout of unconsiousness and wanted him to have the chance to recover fully. He of course had no idea that Merlin was working twice as hard in his 'free' time.

Thus it was almost a full week before the two men met again. Arthur arrived back at his chambers exhausted from the training grounds late one afternoon to find Merlin busily remaking the bed, humming quietly as he worked. As he walked in Arthur looked around to see that his chambers were spotlessly clean for the first time since the attack of the beasts. He took off his gauntlets and sat heavily down at his table. Merlin finished fluffing up and straightening the last of the royal pillows then looked up at him.

"Arthur, you look exhausted!" he exclaimed, hurrying over and helping to remove vambraces and hauberk before lifting the heavy chainmail from Arthur's shoulders. The Prince did not argue or resist and let Merlin move his limbs around in order to remove his armour. When the weight of it was gone from his shoulders he let out a long groan and stretched his muscles then looked up at Merlin.

"You're not looking too clever yourself" he parried, noting the dark rings under the boy's eyes and the fact that he was even thinner than before. His face was so drawn that his already prominent cheekbones looked sharp enough to cut cheese with. "Is Gaius actually letting you sleep? And are you eating anything? You look like the wind might blow you away!"

Merlin huffed out a small laugh as he laid the armour carefully across a chair. "I'm just fine, Sire" he said smiling, "You should know as well as anyone that I'm stronger than I look."

"Hmmmmmm" hummed the Prince in a noncommital manner. "Even so..."

"You, on the other hand need looking after" said Merlin deciseively. "I don't know who has been tending to you this week but you smell like a ripe cheese. When did you last bath?"

Arthur bristled and opened and closed his mouth trying to form words of protest to this outrageous statement. Before he managed to do so, Merlin was heading toward the doors of the chambers with purpose. "I'll go and organise a bath for you,Sire" he said, "We don't want you making your nice clean sheets all smelly now, do we?"

With that he was gone, leaving Arthur frowning at the door indignantly. He shrugged his shoulders and began to unlace the jacket that he wore beneath his chainmail. As he took it off he sniffed it and wrinkled his nose and reluctantly conceded that his irritating manservant had a point - he stank. He threw the smelly coat into the laundry bin and then walked over to the door, stopping a passing maid and ordering supper for two to be bought up to his chamber.

When Merlin returned about fifteen minutes later with the big wooden bathtub and a group of maids carrying buckets of hot water he found the Prince exactly where he had left him at the table. Now however he was sound asleep with his head resting on his hands. Merlin smiled fondly and quietly ushered the bucket-bearers into the chamber to deposit their loads then sent them on their way with thanks. He poured the buckets of water into the bath and threw in some sprigs of lavender and rosemary. With a last glimpse over his shoulder to check that Arthur still slept soundly, he muttered a quiet spell to heat the water just that little bit more so that it would be the perfect temperature. Once that was done he laid out some clean towels and a fresh set of clothes in front of the fire then went over and shook his master gently awake. Arthur groaned and shifted but resolutely kept his head down on the table muttering an incoherent protest.

"Oi, dollophead" said Merlin softly, shaking him again, "Wake Up. You smell like a goat and your bathwater is getting cold."

Arthur slowly moved his head to one side and drawled, "If you call me a dollop head, an old cheese or a smelly goat again I shall have you hung for treason."

"Ooops, sorry Sire" said Merlin sounding not sorry at all, "I thought you were still asleep."

"And do you often call me abusive names when I am asleep?" said Arthur, sitting up and giving Merlin his sternist look. It was a little disconcerting when Merlin blinked twice at him before folding over in fits of laughter.

"Sorry Arthur", he said once he could breathe again. "It's very hard to take you seriously when one side of your hair is sticking up like a cockscomb." Arthur tutted and smoothed down his sleep ruffled hair and tried to look stern and irritated again, but the moment was lost. Instead he stood up and stretched then stood passively as Merlin came over and began to strip his clothes from him. Despite his recent fit of laughter, Merlin went about his task quietly and efficiently. When Arthur was down to just his breeches, his manservant left him and went to put more wood on the fire then began to light candles around the chambers to chase away the evening gloom that was fast descending. Arthur watched him for a moment before slipping off his breeches and getting into the bath.

Merlin almost dropped the lighted taper that he held when the Prince let out a long loud and almost obscene groan of contentment and declared "Ah, Merlin, this is divine - how do you do it?" as he sunk into the hot bathwater. The groan had caused Merlin to blush so he was glad that the Prince was facing the other way. When he had regained his composure he said cheerily, "Glad I can do at least one thing right. Now make sure to wash all the nooks and crannies before you even think of getting out again."

Arthur tutted and laughed. "Merrrlin you are forgetting yourself again" he said imperiously, "I give the orders around here." The effect was somewhat ruined by the fact that he was dilligently soaping his armpit as he spoke. He continued, "Now he may have had his faults, but that Cedric chap did at least know his place and how to behave around royalty."

"Yeah, and look how that turned out!" said Merlin, blowing out the taper and walking over toward the bathtub. Without asking, he grabbed the flannel from Arthur's hand and started scrubbing his back. "Of course, if you really want I could start being a weasly obsequieous arse-licker that goes everywhere with a clothes brush in my pocket (who carries a clothes brush? In what world is that normal?) and then steal from you when you sleep..."

"Yeah" Arthur laughed, "and then you could turn into a sorcerer and try to kill me and destroy the Kingdom."

Merlin ceased scrubbing his back for a few moments before resuming again, huffing out a non-convincing laugh and saying "Indeed, Sire." in a voice a few octaves higher than his usual. Arthur thought this a little bit odd, but merely shrugged it off. Despite the boy's bravado, deep down Arthur knew that he was as shaken as the rest of the Kingdom by Sagan's devastating attack. Both men were silent for a while. Merlin finished with Arthur's back and set about washing his hair. It was one of his favourite tasks. He never stopped marvelling at how it went from dusty brown to the colour of spun gold after he'd washed it through with soap and chamomile a couple of times.

"There, that's you all done" he said, depositing a towel upon the royal head and giving it a brisk rub. "Though this bathtub might need disinfecting before we can use it again." He just about managed to stand and jump back before Arthur took a swipe at the back of his head.

"Insolent whelp" mumbled Arthur, slowly standing up and getting out of the bath, "I don't know how I put up with you."

"Ah, you wouldn't have me any other way really." said a grinning Merlin as he approached bearing a large fluffy warm towel that he handed to the Prince.

Arthur took the towel and wrapped it around his shoulders, revelling in the warmth of it for a while before wrapping it around his waist. "No, you're right" he said to Merlin's back. The boy was busily collecting up dirty clothes from the floor and chairs.

"Sire?" said Merlin, not looking up from his chores.

"I really would not have you any other way." said the Prince still watching him. Merlin stopped what he was doing and looked up quizzically at Arthur. After a few moments he grinned like an lunatic and his eyes dissapeared into little crescents.

"Blimey" he said laughing, "That must have been some blow to the head that you had - I've been here for half an hour or more and you haven't called me an idiot ONCE, and now you are saying you don't want me to change! Wonders will never cease..."

"Seriously though, Merlin" said Arthur cutting into his mirth, "I acted like an arse this last week and I treated you appallingly. I am sorry. I should not have doubted you. You have time and again proven yourself to be a good and loyal...friend...and it was wrong of me to cast you aside so carelessly."

Merlin stopped laughing and looked at him intently. He said nothing.

"You mean..." continued Arthur, "...you mean a lot to me, and I really couldn't imagine not having you about. I don't mind admitting that you had me worried when you didn't wake up for three whole days."

Merlin stared at him and his eyes began to fill with tears. "Oh Arthur" he said quiety. He looked like he was moving in to embrace his master. Arthur wasn't sure how he would respond. The moment was broken by a loud knock on the door and the maid's voice announcing that supper had arrived. Merlin hurried over to the door to take the tray and Arthur dissapeared behind the changing screen and put on his clean clothes.

Merlin was setting the tray down on the table as Arthur reappeared, fully clothed. "Er - are you hungry?" he said looking quizzically at the large amount of food. "and since when did you start eating honey cakes for supper?"

"You are eating here with me" commanded Arthur. Merlin blinked owlishly at him.

"Well don't look so shocked", said the Prince a little flustered. "You look like a matchstick! I'm not convinced that Gaius is feeding you enough, so you can eat here with me. Now sit down and shut up."

Merlin did as he was told, mumbling, "didn't say anything..." as he did so.

"You didn't have to", said Arthur, sitting opposite him and beginning to dish up food for them both, "You think louder than anyone I have ever met."

Merlin said nothing but took the plate proffered to him by Arthur and began to eat with gusto. As they ate and drank, they talked of the previous week. Arthur told Merlin about all the new Knights-in-training decsribing the merits of each new man, They remembered and spoke of those men that had fallen. For his part Merlin told Arthur how the injured men were doing and when he thought they would be well again. He told him also of his work in the Lower Town, trying to help people rebuild thier homes and their lives.

Arthur nodded as he spoke then said, "No wonder you look so weary. You know, there are other able bodied men in Camelot Merlin...you really don't have to rebuiild the town singlehandedly." he joked.

"I feel it's my duty" said Merlin rather earnestly.

"You're duty" said Arthur, sipping wine and sitting back in his chair, "Is to help Gaius tend the injured and to be my manservant. I don't want you overdoing it and fainting away like a girl again."

Merlin laughed a little and countered, "I think we've ascertained that I am not a girl."

"Indeed" said Arthur sternly. They lapsed into a companionable silence for a while, drinking wine and watching the flames dancing in the fireplace. Arthur was beginning to feel his lids drooping when he was started fully awake by a sudden snorting snuffling sound. Merlin sat with his chin on his chest, sound asleep and snoring like a contented sow. Arthur snorted a laugh before leaning over and shaking his shoulder. "Wake up, you lightweight." he said.

"Gnnnnnnrgh" responded Merlin, dopily opening his eyes and blinking around. "Musta dropped off" he mumbled, scratching his nose, "sorry 'bowt that". He prompty fell back to sleep. Arthur reluctantly stood up and shook the boy by both shoulders. "Come on, Merlin, wakey wakey" he said. He pulled the boy to his feet. Merlin scowled but conceded.

"S'pose I should go to bed" he said and started heading for the door. Arthur had time enough to reflect on how like a newborn foal his manservant looked as he walked before the boy's legs gave way and he fell in an ungraceful heap about halfway to the door. "Ooops" he said, making no effort to stand again.

Arthur rolled his eyes and picked Merlin up off the floor in his arms. "You really cannot hold your drink, can you!" he exclaimed. "There's no way I'm letting you walk through the castle in this state - you'll fall down some stairs or some such nonsense - you can stay in the antechamber again."

"Alright" said Merlin, looping his arms around Arthur's neck and laying his head against his chest. "Mmmmmm, you smell all clean and Arthur-ey" he said dreamily. Arthur rolled his eyes and carried him through to the antechamber, depositing him on the bed and taking off his boots, jacket and neckscarf. He looked down at the boy and shook his head and turned to leave. He was prevented from doing so when Merlin grabbed him by his wrist and turned him back around. Merlin's eyes were still closed. "'S a bit cold in here", he mumbled plaintively, "Stay?" and gently pulled at Arthur's arm.

Arthur rolled his eyes, sighed - then kicked off his trousers and climbed into the bed behind Merlin, enclosing him in a warm full-body hug. As he pulled the blanket up over them he kissed the top of the boy's head fondly. "G'night Idiot" he said, ruffling his hair.

"G'night Prat" responded Merlin.

Within minutes they were both sound asleep.