"Good in Others" (Rose)
As the sun begins to set, my heart fills with hope at the thought of seeing Merlin soon. As I fold bandages and rags, I decide the day cannot possibly get any duller than it is right now. Gaius totters about, straightening his potions on the shelves.
Recounting the nothingness of my activity past deliveries, I hear scuffles outside the door overshadowing the strained voices of Merlin and Arthur.
I run to the door, heart quickening with worry, and open it for them. My jaw drops when I see the man limp between them and the trail of blood leaking from his left thigh. Observing the knife protruding from his leg, I know his wound is not to be trifled with. "Gaius!" I call out in alarm. "Get him to the backroom with the smoothest movement you can muster and lay him on my bed."
They speed past me, keeping the injured soul as still as possible. Gaius walks next to me as we follow them. "Use my bed," Merlin protests.
"Merlin, you need your rest. This is not your only duty, but it is mine. You have other things to worry about," I argue.
Neither one of them heeding, they lay the man on Merlin's bed.
"Boys," I roll my eyes with an uneasy smile, "So stubborn."
Gaius peels back the bandage on his leg, surveying the wound. "Merlin, fetch me some fresh water, towels, a needle, and silk thread."
"And honey?" Merlin asks knowingly.
Gaius smiles at him, "You're learning. I'm glad Rose inspires you," he teases, then he turns to Arthur, "Helps fight the infection."
Arthur nods sullenly, "Will he be alright?"
"Providing he's strong," Gaius answers.
"He's that, alright," Arthur says surely. "The man saved my life, Gaius. He needs to be given anything he needs."
"Of course, Arthur," I reply.
Without another word but giving me a tight smile, Arthur leaves the chambers.
"Now, if you don't mind," I say as Merlin reenters with the supplies, "Tell me what happened! It must be quite a story."
"Oh, it is," he watches as Gaius hands me the water and towels.
He begins telling me of how he suggested to Arthur that he accompany him on a hunt, insisting that the Prince is always in a better mood after hunting. Along the way through the forest, he implemented the idea of spending a bit of time around his people, just to see if they are pleased with the way they are being ruled and things of that like. Arthur derived that the best place to do this was a local tavern. After defending the woman who owns the tavern, they found themselves on the losing side of a brawl and the man, Gwaine, aided them, but not without receiving a knife to the leg and a conk on the head from smacking into the corner of a bench as he fell out of weakness from the blood loss.
"You should have seen it," Merlin can't help but laugh. "The barmaid even flirted with me over Arthur."
"Oh, no!" I cry, still bent over cleaning the blood that seeps from Gwaine's wound, laughing with him despite my position.
"But once he was able to put the thief in the stocks and announce his position and the people ooo'ed and ahh'ed, he seemed to be back to his narcissistic self," Merlin concluded happily.
"It was quite brave of Gwaine to put himself in the middle of those kinds of odds," I remark.
"I know," he nods with a thoughtful look on his face, "And for complete strangers."
"Although I'm thankful he intervened, I wonder why he did it," I peer down at Gwaine, who finally seems to have found peace in his rest.
"There seems to be more good in others than we have recently seen," Gaius says wistfully.
"Maybe so," I smile down at our new friend. "Should I stay up with him?"
Gaius nods. "That would be best considering the amount of blood he's lost."
"We'll take shifts, and I'm going first," Merlin cuts in, and when I open my mouth to argue, he says, "Ah ah ah," wagging his finger at me, "I'm still feeling just as stubborn."
"Alright," I show my palms in surrender. "You win."
"Night Watches" (Merlin)
With Gwaine all wrapped up and fast asleep, Rose helps me set up a comfy spot on the floor for our upcoming night watches. Even though we won't be sharing them. But I'm not going to tell her that. When all is said and done, we both settle down in our places for the evening.
"Were you scared?" Rose asks in nearly a whisper.
"What?" I make a "psh" noise by blowing through pursed lips. "… Yes."
"I would have been, too, with all that cutlery flying about," she muses, curling up on her bed. "I can't tell whether I find them courageous or foolish."
"Gwaine and Arthur?" I ask.
"Yes," she nods sleepily.
"I don't know," I ponder. "What I do know is that you are."
"I am what?" her voice is even drowsier than before.
"Courageous, that is," I say softly.
"And you're crazy," she smiles, eyes fluttering shut. "Thank you … Goodnight, Merlin."
"Yeah, I am," I admit, thinking of … other things I'm crazy for. "Goodnight, Rose."