Hey everyone, hope you enjoy the chapter. And a big thanks to everyone who reviewed :)

o}O{o

It was no fun being stuck in bed Merlin decided. There was absolutely nothing to do, especially since Gaius hadn't given him his toys. Merlin groaned impatiently for the umpteenth time and tightened the blankets around his shoulders. He did not have the energy to turn himself on the bed so he did his best to roll onto his back. Once his task was completed he looked around for Gaius and found the physician turned away from him and doing something over the fire.

"I'm bored," Merlin declared.

"I told you to rest, Merlin," Gaius said in a clipped voice.

"I'm not tired," Merlin whined. Which was half a lie, but he was bored of sleeping.

"Yes you are," the physician sighed.

"I don't want to sleep. I want to play with Mordred."

Gaius turned to face him and Merlin saw that the old man was holding a kettle which he had taken off the rack over the fire. "You know Mordred has to work. And you can't even sit up yet, Merlin," Gaius said as he went to the dining table.

Merlin tried to keep him in view but the physician trailed out of his line of sight. "Yes I can," Merlin pouted.

He heard Gaius laugh. "Why don't you give it a try then," Gaius suggested.

A scowl passed over Merlin's face- he did not expect Gaius to encourage him. So Merlin tried to sit up but the only thing he managed to do was tense his stomach. The child breathed deeply for a moment before trying again, this time he was able to prop himself up on his elbows but was able to go no further. He flopped back down onto the bed and frowned heavily. "I don't want to no more," he said angrily to Gaius.

"Here," Gaius' voice said from his bedside. The physician lifted Merlin's back with one arm and rearranged the pillows with another before settling Merlin to a sitting position.

Merlin's head felt airy for a moment but it mostly faded after a few moments. "It's high up here," he said and yawned while glancing down to the floor. Merlin smiled though when Gaius took a seat. "Are you done working now? Can you stay here?"

"I was only making you tea, Merlin," Gaius told him and ruffled his hair.

"Tea is yucky," Merlin informed him, reaching his hand out for Gaius'. The physician covered Merlin's hand with both of his own.

"Yucky?" Gaius repeated in shock, "Well, I'd better tell Arthur that. He likes tea, you know."

Merlin blinked and frowned at Gaius. "He does?"

"Oh yes," the physician answered. "Are you certain you wouldn't want to try?"

"…I don't think it's that yucky," Merlin admitted. "Arthur likes tea and chicken, and swords, and, and he likes chess cause I taught him how. And he likes horses too. 'Special Hengroen cause he's the best horsey." Merlin took a small moment to laugh. "He's really fast, he's so fast that he can fly."

"Fly? My goodness," Gaius interrupted the boy. "...Did Arthur take you flying on Hengroen?"

Merlin nodded because he could not speak around a yawn. "Mordred was mad at him for ages!" Merlin giggled. Gaius forced a laugh, and made a mental note to speak with the prince. "When is Mordred coming back?"

"A bit later, Merlin. Now I think that tea has cooled a bit," Gaius said and reached for the small cup of tea he had set on a nearby stool. Merlin narrowed his eyes at it and fiddled with his hands to play for time.

"It will warm you up," Gaius encouraged, putting the cup before Merlin's lips. The child obediently took a sip and then pulled a face. He looked at Gaius who had not pulled the tea away. Since Merlin did not want to get caught in the lie that he liked tea, he drank some more until the physician was satisfied.

It did warm Merlin up but now that he felt more comfortable, his eyelids were growing heavy. "I'm sleepy," Merlin mumbled.

"Then a nap is in order," the physician said gently and guided Merlin to lay down.

"Can you sing for me?" Merlin asked him, fighting to keep his eyes open. "Mordred does."

"Mordred sings for you?" Gaius asked in shock.

"Oops… that was a secret," Merlin whispered.

Before Merlin could get worked up over his error, Gaius whispered back, "Do not worry Merlin, I won't tell him."

A smile formed on Merlin's lips before it relaxed and the boy's breathing deepened. He had fallen asleep. Gaius laughed to himself as he tucked Merlin in to make sure he would be warm. The physician stayed beside Merlin, watching over him and guiltily pleased that he would not have to sing.

o}O{o

When Merlin woke next, the first thing he saw was Mordred's eyes staring at him. The older boy was leaning on the bed with his chin resting on his folded elbows. He grinned when Merlin blinked at him. "Hi, Merlin," he greeted and scooted closer to the younger boy.

"Hi," Merlin replied and then realized that he was still tired. His lips fell into a pout and he raised his arms to Mordred. His brother moved to sit on the bed and he lifted Merlin to bring him into a hug. The older boy supported half of Merlin's weight and readjusted him so they were sitting beside each other. Almost immediately Merlin began to sob, hiding his face in Mordred's shoulder.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Mordred asked worriedly, "Gaius! Gaius, something's wrong!"

Merlin shook his head and fought to speak while he heard Gaius shuffle over. "I d-don't want t-t-to sleep anym-more!" Merlin cried.

Mordred rubbed his back and rested his head against Merlin's. "It's no fun, is it?"

Merlin shook his head and Mordred let him cry for a bit longer before he gently pushed the younger boy away. "But listen, you will be better in no time, and then you can sleep only when you want to," Mordred said cheerfully.

"Are you feeling better now, Merlin?" Gaius asked. The old man was standing by the bed, his hands in the pockets of his blue robes.

"No," Merlin reported grumpily and leaned against Mordred who gathered the blankets and wrapped them around the child.

"Do you want to hear the joke Emily told me this morning?" Mordred offered.

Merlin shook his head which deterred the older boy for just a moment. "Do you want to know what happened with Ivor?" Mordred raised his eyebrows, knowing full well that Merlin would be interested. He was. His blue eyes regarded Mordred curiously and he bit his lip.

"He hasn't been bullying you again, has he?" Gaius cut in.

Mordred waved an impatient hand but looked a little sheepish. "He was getting lunch for Lord Wayne, and I was talking to Evan. Do you remember him, Merlin?"

Merlin nodded. Evan was a boy Mordred's age who came with his father, Alec, once a week to deliver milk and cream to the palace kitchens. They lived on a farm outside one of the outlying villages but the head cook only took the dairy despite Alec's attempts to sell other crops. Evan and Mordred had struck up a friendship over the weeks, and the other boy often lingered whenever they saw each other.

"Well," Mordred continued, "he was telling me about some sort of festival coming up when Ivor walked over. He wanted us to get out of the kitchen, as if he owned the place, going on about how we were lazy and didn't belong there, blah, blah, blah." Mordred broke off to snicker as Merlin paid rapt attention. Gaius appeared displeased but did not say anything and let Mordred continue with his story.

"Then Elias walked over. I didn't see him at first but then he tripped, and the soup on his tray fell right onto Ivor. He was so mad." Mordred grinned and Merlin cracked a smile.

"Hm," Gaius commented, "I suppose this trip was not completely unintentional."

The pale eyed servant only grinned wider. "Maybe Lord Wayne will fire him for being late…"

"Mordred," Gaius snapped and drew the boy's alarmed gaze. "Ivor may be unpleasant but it is no laughing matter for a man to lose his livelihood."

Merlin bit his lip, not knowing exactly what livelihood meant but able to sense the physician's displeasure. Mordred was not moved however. "He deserves it," Mordred said, "if he doesn't want something like that to happen he should stop being a big old jerk all the time."

Gaius arched an eyebrow. "All the same, you should never be happy over someone else's misfortune."

"I don't think he's actually going to be fired, Gaius." Mordred pouted.

"You are missing my point," Gaius said sharply.

"Don't fight," Merlin spoke up in a small voice.

Both Gaius and Mordred appeared guilty but the physician eyed the older boy in a way that told him he was not off the hook.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," Mordred offered.

"S' okay," the child mumbled, looking miserable. He rubbed at his eye tiredly and let himself fall back onto the bed. Staring upward at the ceiling, he said, "Bored. Bored,bored,bored,bored,bored."

"Go to sleep," Mordred suggested with a smirk.

Merlin threw him a glare. "I hate sleeping," he whined, "it's for babies."

Mordred laughed. "You sleep like a baby."

"No. I pretend but then I go outside and play."

"You do not"

"I do too. Me and Kilgharrah play hide and seek." Merlin giggled, thinking that he had fooled Mordred.

The older boy sighed and gave Merlin a skeptical look which made him pout. "It's true," Merlin said, "we play all night. And you never notice. Gaius doesn't either, or Arthur, or Gwen, or Morgana."

"What about Selwyn? Doesn't he notice?" Mordred wondered, looking bored.

"Nope," Merlin chirped, pleased at having fooled Mordred. "He's a sleepyhead."

"You really never sleep huh?"

Merlin's laugh was subdued by exhaustion. "Yeeess! You believed me."

Mordred smiled at him. "You tricked me," he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You're funny, Mordred," Merlin yawned.

Gaius came shuffling back toward them. "Before you go back to sleep, Merlin, I'd like you to eat this."

Merlin looked at the physician. The old man was carrying two small plates in his hands, and set them both on the bed in the space between Merlin and Mordred.

"Thank you, Gaius," Mordred said, looking bashful.

Gaius mussed the boy's hair. "Eat up. I'm sure the prince will require you soon."

Mordred fought not to smile as he smoothed his hair down. He grabbed the sandwich Gaius had made him and took a bite. Merlin frowned as Mordred sent him a pointed look so he looked down at what he was given. He did not feel very hungry, but upon seeing the slices of apple he thought he might like to have a few.

Gaius watched as Merlin took a tentative bite of one, knowing that Merlin liked apples. Mordred too made sure that he was eating. Not very pleased that he didn't trust Merlin to eat, the child opened his mouth to show Mordred the chewed mush of apple. Instead of being disgusted, Mordred laughed as he was chewing, and did the same to Merlin.

Merlin laughed loudly and stuffed a whole slice of apple into his mouth to add to the effect. Mordred started to snicker but his eyes were drawn to Gaius. He stopped upon seeing the look on the physician's face.

"He does not need you to encourage him, Mordred," Gaius scolded.

Both boys tried to banish their smiles but were not completely successful. Gaius merely rolled his eyes and stalked off to the other end of the chambers. When his back was turned Mordred opened his mouth again. Merlin giggled, and put his hands to his mouth to stifle the noise. The older boy smiled and resumed eating, prompting Merlin to do the same. As he was raising a slice of apple to his lips, the door of the chambers opened and a wide shouldered figure strolled through.

o}O{o

"Sire!" Mordred greeted in surprise. He scrambled off the bed but forgot to bow, but Arthur was learning not to mind. "Was your lunch not satisfactory?"

"Oh it was fine," Arthur said dismissively, his eyes sweeping the chambers and resting on Merlin. He found the boy propped up by pillows with a small plate next to him. He was awake which filled Arthur with relief.

"Hi Arthur," the child said brightly. Arthur's lips started to lift but his expression remained neutral.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Sire?" Gaius asked the prince. He was putting together various vials on his favourite work table. The prince looked to him and missed Merlin hold his breath hopefully.

"I was wondering if you had a headache remedy," Arthur said and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.

Merlin deflated and looked down, only noticed by Mordred. "I did not know you had a headache, m'lord," Mordred said.

The prince's eyes flicked toward him but he hid his annoyance. "A small one. I'd rather it not grow," he lied.

"Certainly, Sire," Gaius said and wandered to his stock of potions.

The prince held his hands behind his back and walked closer to the boys. "It looks like you are feeling better, Merlin," Arthur noted. He was pleased as the boy had looked like death yesterday.

Merlin smiled. "A little," he said quietly. "Why do you have a head ache, Arthur?"

"Oh, ahem, I uh, slept bad last night," Arthur said lightly and took a seat beside the bed.

"Me too!" Merlin said, "I'm still sleepy."

Arthur favoured him with a smirk. Merlin had been sleeping all day yesterday and through the night. It worried Arthur that the boy still looked tired though.

"Aren't you going to finish your apple, Merlin?" Mordred asked the boy.

He looked down at the few slices on the plate and then pushed it away, shaking his head. Mordred did not look pleased but took the plate away. "At least have some water," he said and scurried to the table where a pitcher waited. Merlin pouted and looked to Arthur.

"I don't want water," the boy whispered.

Arthur smiled indulgently. "It's good for you."

Merlin eyed him distrustfully. "It's cold," he mumbled but took the cup from Mordred when the boy came back. Arthur glanced at Mordred while Merlin peered into the water. He huffed a small sigh and took a miniscule sip before holding it out to Mordred. The boy did not take it and Arthur was amused by the look Mordred handed him. With that look, Merlin drank more of the water.

"Thank you, Merlin," Mordred said. After taking back the cup, Mordred tucked the blankets around Merlin.

Arthur refrained from laughing. The blankets formed a cocoon around Merlin, making the boy look smaller than normal. Silence started to grow but only after a few seconds, Merlin looked at the prince.

"Is your dad better, Arthur?" he asked curiously.

Morded, having gone back to the table to put down the cup, stiffened but Arthur did not notice. The prince smiled, amazed that a child as young as Merlin would ask after Uther's well being. Especially since the king intimidated Merlin greatly.

"Yes he is, Merlin. Thank you."

Merlin looked perplexed for a short moment but he shrugged it off. "He got sick too, like me. Arthur, do you get sick?"

The prince grinned. "Me? Certainly not."

"Wow!" Merlin exclaimed, "Why not? Why don't you get sick?"

"Well I'm strong. And a lot older than you, Merlin."

"I don't want to get sick no more. But I'm still little. One day I'm going to be just as big as you. Then I won't get sick."

"As big as me, hm?" Arthur said and leaned forward. "I don't know, I think you will be a shrimp forever."

Merlin laughed at Arthur. "No I won't!" he argued, "I'm not a shrimp. Mordred, what's a shrimp?"

Mordred grinned at the boy. "A small fish," he answered, coming to sit on the bed again.

Immediately, Merlin pulled a face. "I don't like fish," he told Arthur seriously.

"A squirt then," Arthur suggested.

Merlin paused to think, and then he shook his head. "Not a squirt."

Arthur did not bother hiding a smile. "A little squirt."

"Then you're a big squirt!" Merlin announced happily.

Mordred laughed out loud, but Arthur was unoffended. The prince pointed his finger at Merlin. "But you are a little squirt. Remember that." Merlin grinned toothily and Arthur just couldn't resist. "Go on, what are you?"

"Not a squirt," Merlin stated.

"Now, Merlin," Mordred said slyly, "he's the prince, you have to do what he says."

Arthur's eyebrows rose but he grinned. He couldn't be sure, but this moment might have marked the first time Mordred sided with him. "That's right," Arthur goaded, "you don't have a choice."

Merlin tried to scowl but it was evident he could not fight away his smile. He glanced between Mordred and Arthur, both waiting expectantly. He laughed and shook his head.

"Oh, don't be a girl, Merlin," Arthur wheedled.

"I'm not a girl!" Merlin said shrilly, highly offended. Both Arthur and Mordred laughed at the outraged expression on his face.

"Then all you have to say is that you're a squirt. That's all."

Merlin pouted at Arthur. "I'm a squirt," he grumbled, "there."

The prince was immensely pleased and ruffled Merlin's hair in triumph. "See, was that so hard?"

Merlin did not reply and looked to Mordred for help but the older boy was still grinning though he tried to hide it for Merlin's sake.

"Sorry, squirt." Mordred gave up and then laughed amusedly.

Gaius came to Merlin's rescue. "Now, now," he said. The old man was sitting at one of his work tables, cutting up something Arthur could not see. "Leave the poor boy alone. And he should be resting!"

"Nooooo!" Merlin whined, betraying Gaius and leaning against Mordred.

"Merlin," Gaius said in warning and handed Mordred a pointed look. Arthur watched as Merlin turned his face, his skinny arm curling around Mordred tighter. Despite being made to laugh, Merlin still appeared sick. His skin was pale and looked scrawnier than usual. The prince did not claim to know much about medicine, but he had the common sense to know that it wasn't safe for child as small as Merlin to be sick for any length of time.

"He's right you know," Arthur said before Mordred could speak to Merlin. "Sleeping is the best way to get better when you are sick." The prince paid no attention to the scoff Gaius uttered.

Merlin mumbled something into Mordred's shoulder, the only thing Arthur understood was the shake of his head. "No we won't, Merlin," Mordred said gently, having heard Merlin's garbled words. "We'll still be here when you're sleeping."

"Promise?" Merlin asked, looking up at Mordred.

"Promise," Mordred said, not even glancing at his master.

Arthur took inspiration from Gaius and directed a raised eyebrow to the boy but when Merlin turned to look at him, Arthur cleared his expression. "Promise?" Merlin said tentatively.

The prince of Camelot was a busy man, especially on a weekday afternoon and he hadn't intended to stay here for too long. But Arthur found that he could not say no. How could he? When the child asking him was swaddled in blankets and looking younger than he usually did- with a heartbreakingly hopeful expression too. "I promise," Arthur said, smiling.

Merlin's expression immediately brightened and he grinned, his previously sad features melting away. Arthur was not completely sure if a five year old had played him or not. As Merlin sighed in contentment and closed his eyes Arthur was certain he had been manipulated. But then Merlin blinked his eyes open, searching for Arthur and Mordred both before closing them again, Arthur wondered if it wasn't just Merlin.

o}O{o

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