Uther watched as Gaius took Merlin's pulse and checked his breathing for what felt like the thousandth time. Merlin had been asleep for a full day and a half. Now the sun shone through the windows of his chambers, warming his skin but if Merlin felt it, he didn't show it. He had not moved in all the time he had been sleeping, not once, he hadn't made a sound either. Gaius said that was perfectly normal and to be expected but it still made him worry.
He looked over at Arthur who was slumped over the bed on the other side, the prince had fallen asleep there last night, despite his still sore wounds, and nobody had the heart to wake or move him. Then, Merlin moved, a small moan passed through his lips as well.
"He's coming out of the deep unconsciousness" Gaius nodded, "He will wake within the hour, we had best get some food sent up, he'll need nutrients"
Uther nodded as Gaius turned and headed off to the kitchens as he closed the door, Arthur shifted and raised himself up blinking.
"He's still asleep?" He asked quietly.
"Gaius says he will waken soon" Uther assured his son, sure enough Merlin shifted under the covers returned with a plate of bread, fruit and a small amount of meat and sat on the side of the bed and Merlin sleepily reached his hand up to his eye and rubbed it, finally letting them crack open.
"Hey" Arthur greeted, "You better not fall asleep on us again, you've been out for nearly two days"
Merlin blinked but didn't reply, still half asleep. Gaius helped him to sit up and quickly got some food into him, one Merlin started eating it took him nearly no time at all to finish the plate.
"You had us all panicking for a while there" Uther smiled, pushing Merlin back into his pillows softly.
"Sorry" He whispered, "Why'm I so tired if I've been sleep'n so long?"
"You just wore yourself out is all" Gaius replied, "You will be fine by tomorrow"
"Kay" Merlin smiled rubbing his eyes before closing them again, this time into a natural sleep.
-Break-
"Arthur!"
Where was that voice coming from? For some reason Arthur was in the courtyard, the place was completely trashed, dead bodies and blood splattered the overturned carts and broken stone walls. That couldn't be right, they beat Sigan already!
"Arthur help me!"
That was Merlin! But where was he? The mist was covering everything it was hard to make anything out through the fog. Then he noticed something on the ground, at first he thought it was another body taken down by Sigan's monsters but then he realized it was Merlin, arm reaching out towards Arthur.
The front of his chain mail had been ripped open by the beasts claws and it was stained red, as was the ground beneath him.
"Arthur, please!" He begged reaching towards the horrified prince.
Arthur wanted to help him but for some reason he couldn't move, his feet seemed to be made of stone and his voice dried up. Merlins hand dropped to the ground as he looked away from Arthur, his eyes falling on a dark figure a few feet away.
"It must hurt..." the voice echoed
"Least important...least loved"
There was a flash of light from Sigan's palm and a strangled cry for Merlin as the light hit his chest before he went completely still, eyes glassy, staring towards Arthur but not seeing.
Arthur awoke with a cry as he hit the hard floor of his bedroom, it took him a few seconds to realize he had fallen out of bed, the sheets were still twisted around his legs. That was embarrassing, he hadn't fallen out of bed in years, even if he had nightmares.
He sat up against the backboard of his bed thinking about the dream, and also the fight with Sigan. Both he and Merlin were fine, Merlin more so than he. His wounds would take a few days to heal yet. He had always known Merlin was powerful but even he knew the story of Sigan, Merlin wasn't even of age yet and he had the power to beat him. He had looked so, commanding while he was chanting the spell, not the least bit afraid.
Arthur had to admit he was worried, over the last few night he had been switching back and forth from nightmares about Merlin perishing in the battle, to ones in which he joined the evil sorcerer. The eldest prince understood what Sigan had been trying to tempt Merlin with, he was more powerful than Arthur or Uther, yet he was forced to live life as the weakest royal, nobody knew about his bravery or magic.
"Arthur?" Merlin's voice called, The younger prince had just entered Arthur's chambers, "I heard you yell, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" Arthur replied quick;y, glad Merlin couldn't see his face turning red ith embarrassment, "Go back to bed Merlin you should be resting"
"I'm fine" Merlin insisted, "Besides I've been sleeping for two days, you all need to stop treating me like I'm made of glass"
But you are Arthur thought to himself. He noticed the bags under Merlin's eyes, even though he had slept for so long, once he had woken from the deep sleep, Merlin had been plagued by nightmares from the crystal once more. Arthur was sure of it, he also suspected their time with Sigan had not helped theses night terrors.
"Alright, if your sure" Merlin sighed, "I supposed I do have a busy day with the knights tomorrow"
"Merlin wait!" Arthur called, getting to his feet, "What Sigan said about you, you know he was lying right? About you being the least important"
"Yeah, course" Merlin said unconvincingly, looking at his feet.
"You are important Merlin, to destiny" Arthur replied before adding, "And to our family"
Merlin smiled before turning to leave.
"Get some sleep" He called over his shoulder before slipping out the wooden arch and closing it behind him. Leaving Arthur to his thoughts.
Ah the day after Christmas :) Ive got a nice stack of books so my updates might be a tad slow!
