A/N: Thank you SnidgetHex, Buckhunter, GuestM, and Guest for reviewing!

Chapter 7

Arthur sat at the table, nibbling on some food one of the wooden servants had brought up. Sir Leon and the dog were still there. Arthur had never had so many bodies gathered in his room for a lengthy period of time. It wasn't just for Lancelot; Arthur could tell that Sir Leon's post by the door was as much for Arthur as it was for the servant boy who'd triggered Uther's wrath. Not that there was anything a cursed suit of armor could do against the beast, but Arthur appreciated the show of loyalty and support.

A moan issued from the bed and Arthur turned toward it. Lancelot tried to sit up, only to gasp and fall back.

Merlin had been curled up on the pillow beside him and jumped to his feet. "Don't move," he warned, albeit a moment too late, in Arthur's opinion.

Arthur picked up the vial Gaius had given him and brought it over. "Here, you should drink some of this."

Lancelot squinted at it.

"Just two sips," Merlin said.

Lancelot continued to frown as he roved his gaze around his surroundings, first down at the dog lying beside his legs, then the canopy top of the bed. His face flushed pink. "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking your bed."

"It's fine," Arthur cut him off. "You need it more right now."

Lancelot's eyes shifted down to Arthur's sling. "You're injured too."

"I'm not made of glass," he said, then muttered, "Despite what my father thinks." He held out the vial for Lancelot to take.

"Easy," Merlin put in as Lancelot tried to sit up again to drink from it.

Pain creased his face, both from the movement and as he swallowed the tonic. He dropped his head back down with a groan, and Arthur took the vial back and set it aside.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Lancelot grimaced. "Sore." He looked down at himself and the bandages wrapped around the upper part of his chest and shoulders. He then looked at Arthur's arm again. "I'm so sorry about everything."

Arthur sighed. "It wasn't your fault."

"I made you fall."

"It was an accident. I'm the one who's sorry my father is an unreasonable monster."

Lancelot's expression turned worried. "Are you going to be in trouble for having me here?"

Arthur shrugged. "My father has banished me from his sight for the time being, so I'll take the peace while I can get it."

He didn't say it hurt to be so rejected. It wasn't even the first time Uther had been displeased with him, and yet somehow it still hurt every time it happened.

Arthur pushed those feelings down. "Are you hungry?" he asked, going over to the table to pick up the plate before getting a response.

Lancelot looked at the plate of bread somberly. "I suppose I won't be fulfilling my duties for a while."

"I got by before you; we'll get by again," Arthur replied. "Besides, it's more important to me that my friend is going to be okay."

Lancelot met his gaze at that and gave a small smile in return. "Same here."

With Lancelot convalescing, the two of them stayed in Arthur's chambers without either one venturing out. They played chess to pass the time, but Arthur would also sit by the fire reading when Lancelot was in too much pain to sit up for a game. The medicine from Gaius helped but there was no escaping the fact that getting mauled by a beast was going to be a somewhat painful healing process.

"What are you reading?" Lancelot asked.

Arthur looked up from his book. Lancelot's face was pinched in pain, which was apparently preventing him from sleeping. "Tales of dragons," he replied. His father would never approve, so Arthur thought now was the perfect time to indulge when he was already on the outs with him. "Would you like something to read?" he asked.

Lancelot averted his gaze. "I can't read," he admitted.

"Oh."

A beat of uncomfortable silence passed between them.

"I could read to you," Arthur offered.

Lancelot's eyes sparked with interest and he nodded shyly. So Arthur shifted his chair around to fully face the bed and began to read aloud from the start of the story.

They passed several days like this, and Uther didn't come for them.

But then the peace ended with a metallic knock on the door. Sir Leon turned to open it, revealing another knight standing outside, his stern mien directed at Arthur. Thus, he was summoned.

Lancelot gave him a concerned look from the bed, and Arthur tried to give a reassuring one in return. But the truth was Arthur feared the worst as he left his chambers to go to his father.

Uther was sitting on his dilapidated throne, waiting, and Arthur braced himself in resignation.

"I will allow the boy to remain your servant," Uther declared. "But you are not to engage in sword training anymore."

Arthur pressed his mouth into a thin line but didn't argue. They were getting off lucky, really.

"Thank you, Father," he said with a stiff bow.

Uther chuffed. "You may go."

Arthur returned to his chambers to tell Lancelot the news.

"Well, I suppose that's better than being turned into an animal," he said. "Although, the dog seems to have a pretty comfy life."

The dog looked up from the bed and smiled, tongue lolling out.

Arthur wrinkled his nose. "Once you're healed, you're washing the entire bedding."

Lancelot grinned.

Lancelot's wounds were healing well and had completely closed, though there was still some stiffness, but he returned to his duties. Fortunately, he was not called to resume his evening attendance of Uther at supper, which was a relief.

Winter had set in and the castle was even colder. Arthur's chambers were kept comfortable, of course, but Lancelot had to bundle in two layers of sweaters when he went out to do his chores.

One day when he had a moment, he took a blanket up to the third level where Guinevere sat. The window was still open, letting in frigid bursts of air. Lancelot would close it, except he didn't want to lock her brother Elyan out. So he tentatively walked right up to her and draped the blanket over her shoulders.

"I don't know if you even feel the cold," he said sheepishly. "But just in case, I hope it helps."

She gave him a sweet look and beckoned with a flit of her gaze for him to sit and listen to her play.

"I only have time for one," he said, though he was eager to hear her music. It'd been a while.

She strummed her fingers down the strings, and the resulting notes started off by eliciting a chill, but then they picked up until they sang of spring, and Lancelot felt slightly warmer for it.

"Thank you," he said with a smile.

She smiled back.

He reluctantly bid her farewell and returned to his duties.

Midwinter was approaching and Lancelot wondered if Arthur had ever had a celebration for it. He suspected not, given the state of things, so Lancelot decided he wanted to surprise Arthur with one.

He went down to the kitchen while the servants were dormant.

"Hello," he said. "Um, I was wondering if it would be possible for you to make a little Midwinter feast for the prince?"

The kitchen staff exchanged wordless looks with each other, then turned back to Lancelot and nodded.

He straightened with excitement. "Oh, that's great. It's in three days. Is that enough time?"

Again they nodded.

Lancelot beamed. "Thank you."

Next he needed a coconspirator to keep Arthur busy and away from his chambers so Lancelot could set it all up. And he knew just who to ask.

"Brilliant!" Merlin declared after he'd heard the idea.

"Do you think you can keep Arthur away from his chambers for a few hours?" Lancelot asked.

"Leave it to me," the cat replied with a devious gleam in his eye.

Lancelot didn't know what the feline had planned, but the morning of Midwinter Day, Merlin bounded up to Arthur after breakfast and said,

"We need to go on a badger hunt."

Arthur blinked dubiously. "Excuse me?"

"A badger managed to get into the castle," Merlin explained. "We need to track it down, capture, and release it."

"It's just a badger."

"Yes, but if it wanders into the east wing, Uther might think Lancelot let it in and that won't go well."

Lancelot shot the cat a sharp look, to which Merlin twitched his ears apologetically.

Arthur's lips thinned. "The knights can handle it, I'm sure."

"With the racket they make? They'll scare it into hiding," Merlin argued. "Come on, it'll be fun."

"Hunting down a badger in the castle is not fun," Arthur huffed. "And my arm isn't mended yet," he said pointedly, lifting his sling a fraction. "Why don't you take care of it?"

"It's bigger than me!"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Fine, you and Lancelot can deal with it."

"He's got his own chores to do," Merlin interjected. "And we don't want him wandering around in case Uther's lurking about. What, all your training and you can't handle one woodland creature with one good arm? How about the dog comes too."

Arthur scowled and got to his feet. "Fine."

Lancelot watched him leave in a huff with Merlin and the dog, the black feline pausing to toss Lancelot a wink over his shoulder on his way out.

Lancelot shook his head in amusement. He hoped Merlin managed to keep Arthur occupied the full time, and that the prince didn't catch on to the fact they were hunting a nonexistent badger.

Lancelot went and retrieved the decorative tablecloths and candlestick holders he'd found in a storage room and set the table in Arthur's room. He then put out some floral decor he'd made in secret, just some bundles of spruce with red winter berries to hang above the mantel. Bit by bit, he brought up the platters of food the kitchen staff had prepared, careful to make sure he wouldn't accidentally cross paths with Arthur on the way. But it looked like Merlin was keeping him far away.

It took a while, doing it all himself, but eventually the room was looking festive and the food smelled tantalizing. There was cheese and roasted potatoes with chicken and even custard tarts. Lancelot had never had one of those before. And though he was tempted to sneak one early, he settled in to wait.

When the door opened and Arthur returned with Merlin and dog in tow, he pulled up short and gaped at the room.

"What's all this?" he asked, stunned.

Lancelot stood up. "I thought we should have a proper Midwinter celebration."

Arthur roved his gaze over everything in amazement. "Is that today? We've never celebrated it before. How did you do all this?"

"I asked the servants if they could make extra food, and I found or made the decorations. And then of course I had a little help keeping you away while I set it all up." Lancelot flicked a grin at Merlin.

Arthur turned to the cat and put his good hand on his hip. "There was no badger."

Merlin gave him a toothy smile.

Arthur shook his head and turned back to the spread. "It looks amazing."

Lancelot gestured for him to take his seat, then began to serve him a portion of each delicacy. Then he served himself, and they sat and ate, occasionally tossing scraps of chicken to Merlin and the dog. Lancelot wished he could have brought Guinevere in here to play something for them. She was so lonely. But seeing the feast might have made her sadder, since she couldn't partake. Sir Leon, still stationed at the door, was looking at them with longing, and Lancelot's heart went out to him and all the inhabitants of the castle.

Arthur wiped his mouth and set his napkin on the table, leaning back in his chair. "This is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Thank you."

Lancelot beamed.

"I've been thinking," Arthur went on. "Since my father has forbidden us from practicing swords—and you've mastered all your training anyway—that I could teach you to read next."

Lancelot straightened in surprise. Yet again the prince's generosity made him wonder how he could possibly be the son of Uther.

"I'd like that."