Disclaimer- I don't own.
I am sorry for the wait but hey, the sequel is up. Hope you enjoy.
Gaius was relieved enough at the news of the Hunting party's return that he didn't immediately worry about why they needed him. Of course, as a physician, he had to think logically about situations and they would not be bringing him the news unless someone was injured, so he was ready by the time they brought his ward to him bloodied and bruised and chilly to the touch.
It didn't take long to determine that while Merlin was injured, weak and not actually conscious, it was not serious and, given time, he would make a full recovery.
He did his best not to react to the story, but hearing his nephew had nearly drowned shook him.
He placed each wound with the place it was received in the story, finding no stray injuries that could not be accounted for or evidence from anything that had occurred in the two missing days. He was not massively dehydrated or malnourished like he should have been had he slept through those days without food or water.
It was concerning, on many levels.
The basic idea of a sorcerer and their workers having a group of knights could be disastrous.
It was worse when one was the Prince.
Worse again when another was Emrys, and any powerful sorcerer could have known it.
Once he'd made sure none of Merlin's injuries were serious, he checked over all the other Knights and Guinevere. They'd also borne no sign of any mistreatment either. Gwaine had recovered from his dip into the seawater by the time they had made it back to the city but he had a nasty concussion and Gaius wanted to keep an eye on it.
None of the others had been more than bruised.
He cleared the Prince, the Knights and Guinevere for duty, asking her to find out who Merlin's temporary replacement was and to tell them they were going to be working for the Prince for a few weeks. The rest of the Knights had work to do and Gwaine had followed them to the meeting, even if he would not be going with them to find their attacker.
The bruising and scrapes would clear up quickly, the broken rib, wrist and no longer dislocated shoulder would take longer. They were lucky Percival had relocated it as quickly as he had, having done so almost immediately after they pulled him out.
Gaius dabbed some ointment onto the scrapes on Merlin's stomach. They were most likely caused when they pulled him from the hole he was in, to the shame of his friends.
He then re-wrapped Merlin in blankets, happy the boy was now producing enough body heat to warm himself, before sinking into the seat next to him.
"Oh, my poor boy, why is it always you?"