Okay, cdnacho, fine. Ugh, I'm such a softie. XD

Epilogue

Once the party was back in Camelot, Arthur fairly dragged Merlin off his horse, barely waiting for him to stop coughing and wiping his nose with his spare neckerchief. He refused to let Merlin take care of the horses, put supplies away or draw his bath.

"Whad're you od aboud, prad?" he snarled at the prince who had a tight grip on his arm and was now practically dragging him toward Gaius' chambers. "There's work! I hab thigs to do!"

"I didn't push us hard to get home just so you can work yourself to the bone and get horribly sick anyway. You're going to bed and you're staying put until Gaius tells me you're completely well."

"Honesdly, Arthur, you're be-ig ridiculous. Id's just a liddle cold."

"I hope that's all it is and I hope that's all it'll ever be, but I made a promise and I don't have time to babysit you."

"Hold od." Merlin grabbed the prince's other arm and pulled him to a stop in front of Gaius' door. "A probise? Who did you probise? Wha' did you probise?"

The prince pulled his arm loose and pushed Merlin backwards effectively opening the door.

"Sire! Merlin! You're home!" called Gaius from his work bench.

"Hello, Gaius. I've got a patient for you." He manhandled the struggling Merlin over and down onto the patient bed.

"What's wrong with him?" the old man asked, hurrying over.

"I'b fide! Arthur's duh wud who deeds his head chegged!" He sneezed hugely and almost toppled off the cot.

"Gaius, Merlin is NOT fine and I won't have it. Under my strict orders he is not to leave these chambers until you assure me that he is completely fit for work. He wasn't well enough for our little outing and it didn't go unnoticed. I was distracted and ..others.. were concerned as well."

"Whad udders?" demanded Merlin pulling out his spare neckerchief and making use of it again. "Doze knighds dohd care aboud be."

"If you must know, it was your little forest friend."

"By liddle fores' fred?" he echoed confusedly.

"Yes. The one you were hoping we'd all forget about. The one you ran off to warn about a certain planned visit.."

Arthur saw the moment it all clicked. Merlin's eyes got round and his mouth became an "o" just before it shifted into a sheepish grin.

"Chryseis. You saw her? You spohg wid her? Whed?"

"Yes. Last night. Where do you think we got a supply of wood to keep the fire going all night, idiot?"

"I did'dt..I did'dt.." His stuttering became a coughing fit. Gaius hurried to pour him a tepid cup of water and add a cough remedy.

"No. You didn't realize or think about it because you've been so out of it. She came and made me promise to see to it that you're taken care of because apparently she could tell from a mile away that you're ill. Now, I don't know about you, but when I give my word, I keep it. You're staying here until you can speak intelligibly and Gaius and I decide otherwise." He took the cup from Gaius, passed it to Merlin and ordered, "Guzzle it. Now."

Merlin meekly did as ordered and lay back on the bed, actually quite happy to once again be comfortably out of the cold and in front of a lovely fire. Gaius brought him a blanket and he curled up in it with a sigh. He looked up as he realized no more conversation was forthcoming and his friend was heading for the door.

"Arthur," he rasped, "Was she, was she okay?"

Arthur stopped to reply, "She was fine. Looked a bit tired, but that's hardly surprising as trees sleep all winter."

"Is she safe?"

The prince took pity on his worried friend and returned to his bedside, crouching down to gently reassure him.

"She's safe. She came while I was on watch. I'm the only one who saw her." He paused before continuing seriously, "I'm not my father, Merlin. She saved us from those thieves and she provided for you better than I did on this last outing. I don't understand how it can be, but I can't believe she is evil. I am not going to hunt her. Who knows? Perhaps by spring things will be different with my father, or we can distract him from that mad quest somehow. But I promise you, Merlin, I will not be the one to bring her to harm."

Merlin nodded gratefully. The young man's energy was obviously flagging.

Arthur clapped him on the shoulder. "Stay here and rest. I promised her you would."

"I guess I'd bedder if you probised," Merlin whispered.

"Don't milk it and don't get used to lazing about. It's only until you're fit." He headed for the door telling Gaius, "I'll see that the kitchen sends up some hot soup, or something appropriate. Good luck keeping him in bed."

"From the looks of it, that may not be too hard for a few days," the physician replied, bending over Merlin, checking his forehead for fever. "Thank you for bringing him straight to me, Sire."

The prince nodded and slipped out the door.