Merlin swayed again and Arthur steadied him.
"I'm fine." Merlin said weakly. Arthur guided Merlin into the shade and helped him sit against the base of the tree.
"Of course you're fine Merlin. You're only coated in blood." Arthur rolled his eyes and searched the forest floor for his satchel. After a few moments he found it, he jogged to it and brought it back to where Merlin sat. He pulled his water jug out and pushed it to Merlin's face. "Here, you need to stay hydrated." Merlin sipped slowly and then pushed the jug back to Arthur. He took a big gulp and then shoved it back into the bag.
"How's your head?" Arthur instinctively ran his hand over the back of his head and winced when it touched the tender lump on the back of his skull.
"I'll live." Merlin gave a small chuckle. "What's so funny?"
"You just have a hard head." Arthur chuckled with Merlin.
"I suppose I can be hardheaded sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Arthur broke into a full laugh but stopped abruptly when he saw Merlin's eyes starting to close. He reached forward and lightly shook his servant.
"No sleeping, you need to stay awake."
"But I'm so tired."
"It's all the blood loss. Your injuries are not that bad, but without proper treatment you could bleed out. We really need to get moving." With that Arthur stood and began to scan the area around them for their horses. He figured they were long gone but he thought he'd check anyway. Movement caught his eye and he could see his white horse grazing in the tall grass in the distance. He turned to Merlin, whose eyes had closed. Arthur watched his chest rise and fall steadily. After confirming his servant was still alive, he took off towards his horse, it would be a quicker trip to Camelot if he could ride. It took just a few minutes to reach his horse and grab the reigns. He hopped into the saddle and rode back to Merlin. He hadn't moved, still slumped against the tree, unconscious. Arthur jumped from his horse and carefully scooped up Merlin and draped him over the horses back. Arthur climbed into the saddle and secured Merlin so he wouldn't fall and took off towards the castle.
The horse trotted along the trail; Arthur didn't want to tire the animal by making it run the whole way. He figured by the time he could see Camelot; he'd push the horse into a run. Arthur watched as the sky began to darken, he knew they'd make it back before nightfall. He looked down at Merlin and wondered how long he had been practicing magic. Arthur began to think aloud.
"Merlin, I know why you kept it a secret, I just don't understand why you practice magic to begin with. I thought all magic was bad. I've been told that all magic is evil, that it corrupts you and…." He trailed off. Had everything he'd been taught as a boy been wrong? Was his father wrong? But he had seen so much evil come of magic, it was all he had known. Most enemies of Camelot were driven by dark magic. What made Merlin different? Arthur glanced up from the boy and saw the castle come into view. He pushed the horse into a run and sped towards the gates.
The guards stood ready to confront whoever was speeding towards the gate, but they grew worried when they noticed it was the king. Arthur didn't slow as he entered, he was set on getting to Gaius as fast he could. As he entered the courtyard, his knights rushed to him.
"Someone alert Gaius." Gwayne took off running towards the physician's chamber. He burst through the door and startled Gaius.
"Arthur is on his way with Merlin. I'm not sure what happened but Merlin is injured." Gaius jumped up and began clearing a table.
"Help me." The knight jumped in, and they had the table cleared moments before Arthur burst through the doors with an unconscious Merlin in his arms. "Lay him here." Gaius instructed. He looked over the boy and turned to Arthur. "What happened?"
"We were attacked by some sort of beast. He's been unconscious for a few hours. The entire ride back to Camelot." Gaius nodded and then turned to tend the Merlin's injuries. "Gaius?" Arthur asked. Without looking up Gaius responded.
"His wounds are mostly shallow. These two look the deepest. But not life threatening, as long as they stay clean and don't get infected, he will be fine. It will be a few weeks to recover, but he will be fine." Arthur took a deep breath and turned to leave.
"I'm going to clean up, but I'll be back to check on him." Gaius nodded and went back to tending the wounds.
Arthur returned to his chamber and began undressing. He grabbed clean clothes and dressed quickly. He poked his head out the door and caught a servant walking by and asked for a meal to be brought to him. His stomach growled in protest. He hadn't eaten since breakfast. Arthur scarfed down the food and then sat in silence. Thoughts of Merlin's use of magic bounced around his head. Should he confront Merlin? Should he keep it a secret that he knows? Should he change the law, so Merlin didn't have to stay hidden? Arthur stood and decided it was time to check on Merlin.
