"Merlin!"
"Merlin!"
"MERLIN!"
"Yes sire?" Merlin popped out from Arthur's closet, grinning at the King's exasperated face.
"Couldn't you hear me calling for you? You're right there!"
"Sorry, my lord, I was trying to organize and I must have blocked it out." Arthur did a double take of his servant.
"Organize? Organize what?"
"The clothes."
"Why?"
"Well because," Merlin gestured at the wardrobe, "someone decided it would be a good idea to just throw all of the clothes in here." He glanced at Arthur. "I don't really have to guess who, do I?"
"What, you've been on vacation while I've had to make do without a servant!"
"It wasn't vacation, you told me to rest!" He held his hands up in surrender. "I was just following orders." Arthur ignored this last statement, instead focusing back on the document he was supposed to be working on. His concentration was shattered, however, when Merlin coughed into his sleeve, trying to stifle what must have been very painful.
"Merlin." The young warlock held up a hand, signaling to the King that he would be a moment. "Let it out Merlin." And so he did, grabbing onto the wardrobe to keep his balance. Arthur watched him with concern.
"Sorry, sire." muttered Merlin, slowly removing his hand from the furniture.
"Don't apologize Merlin, we've talked about this."
"Right, sorry." Arthur rolled his eyes, but didn't turn his head from his servant.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yes, how many times must you ask me that?"
"As many times as I want, I'm the king."
"So I've heard." Merlin said under his breath.
Arthur looked inquisitively at the young warlock, as if he was debating whether or not to say something.
"We need you down at the field."
"What, why?"
"Training." Merlin paled slightly, and Arthur noticed. "Relax, I'm not going to make you be a target. I just need you to take care of the weapons."
"Oh, okay. Let me get back to Gaius first, he said he wanted to see me."
"Alright, but make it quick!" Merlin nodded and ducked out of the room, hurrying as fast as he was able.
"Gaius?" Merlin called, coughing lightly into his wrist afterwards. "Gaius, you there?"
"Merlin!" He spun around to see Gaius in the doorway, carrying his basket of remedies and herbs. "Where were you this morning? I couldn't find you!"
"Sorry, I was with Arthur."
"You shouldn't be doing too much Merlin. I warned you before and I'll warn you again; you're not well." This Merlin knew, and it scared him more than he'd like to admit.
"I know Gaius, but I can't just sit around and do nothing while I feel mostly okay. I've just got the cough, and it's not that bad most of the time."
"What about last night?" Merlin paused.
"Last night?"
"Mhm, last night. Don't think I didn't hear you." The young warlock sighed, sitting down heavily on one of the chairs nearby.
"I'd hoped you wouldn't." Gaius sat down next to his ward, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Really Merlin, you mustn't try and hide your fits like that. You could cause more damage. Was there any blood?" Merlin was silent. "Was there any blood?" the physician repeated.
"Only a little, I swear!"
"Merlin, from now on, if you are coughing like that, wake me. I will not be angry."
"Gaius, I'll be fine."
"How many times have you said that, and how many times have I proved you wrong!" The older man was getting agitated now. "I need to make sure you're alright, and you need to let me." He took his ward's silence as assent, and his gaze softened. "How are you feeling, m'boy?"
"It hurts, Gaius. I want it to stop. I feel fine, and then something shifts, and I can't breathe anymore. I try to hide it from Arthur when it happens, but it's getting harder. What's happening to me?"
"I wish I knew how to help you Merlin. Have you tried using your magic for it? You shouldn't still be having problems with it."
"I don't want to use my magic for this. I need to save my strength, in case Arthur needs my help. I don't want to waste it all on me." Gaius raised an eyebrow in obvious disagreement, but Merlin silenced him by coughing lightly. Unfortunately, this triggered a much larger cough, causing the young warlock's face to contort in pain.
"Oh, Merlin…" Gaius said sadly, wrapping his arm around the still-coughing man. He listened to the painful coughs, paying close attention to how chesty they still seemed. "You still sound terrible." Merlin shrugged half-heartedly as the fit subsided.
"I feel fine Gaius. I just wish the cough would go away. It's not like I'm still dying or anything."
"That's not funny Merlin."
"I know." The young warlock bowed his head. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood I guess." Gaius said nothing, but he understood.
"Are you absolutely certain you don't want to take more time off? I'm sure Arthur would allow it." Merlin smiled.
"Yes Gaius, I'm certain. Arthur may need me."
"I wouldn't be too sure, clotpole." Merlin and Gauis both jumped at the unexpected sound and turned to the door, fully expecting to see the king standing there. Instead, it was Elyan, smiling.
"That was an impressive imitation, Sir Elyan." Gaius said respectively, and Elyan chuckled.
"How are you Merlin?" The young warlock blinked in surprise at being addressed so suddenly.
"Oh, I'm… I'm alright." Gaius glanced at his ward, but his face betrayed nothing.
"You sure? I could hear you coughing before I came in. You sound better, but still not well."
"I'm afraid Merlin's cough may take longer to subside than many of us hoped." The knight's eyes flitted to his friend's, and for the first time he noticed how tired he looked.
"Listen, Merlin… Arthur sent me to fetch you, but if you want I can tell him that you're feeling unwell. I'm sure he would be fine with you taking a night off." At this Merlin laughed a bit, pausing to cough again. This elicited a look of concern from both other men. Merlin ignored them.
"I don't need a night off Elyan. I'm coming with." He made to stand, but was caught off balance by a rush of dizziness. He gripped the table and felt Gaius reach an arm out to steady him. "Sorry, I must've stood up too quickly."
"Merlin, I don't think you should be - "
"Gaius, I'll be alright. Don't worry about me."
"Well, if you're sure m'boy…" Merlin nodded, then walked over to where Elyan stood, patiently waiting.
"Let's go."
Merlin leaned against the weapon's table, watching Arthur and the knights train with swords, maces, and some ranged weapons as well. His legs felt weak. This was the longest he had been standing since getting sick, and his body was not happy with him. The knights kept glancing at him with concern, and Arthur even came over once to make him drink some water. His throat was sore with coughing, a feeling he had never liked but now absolutely despised.
"Merlin!" Arthur shouted from the entrance to the castle. "Clean this mess up and meet us in the armory." Merlin nodded, coughed, and set to work, picking up the various shields strewn about. Once more, he felt himself slipping into a coughing fit. Trying in vain to stifle it, he rushed inside the castle and up the short stairs to the armory, knowing that Arthur would be waiting for him. Too late, he realized that running up stairs while he was trying to get his breath back wasn't the best idea. The pressure in his chest built until he could hold it in no longer, and he coughed hard into his arm, using the other arm to brace himself against the wall. The coughing wouldn't stop, and he was starting to see little black spots in his vision. He sat down against the wall, trying to breathe evenly, and eventually, he put his head between his knees. He could tell that the cough had become slightly productive and he groaned internally. Suddenly, he heard a door open, and he could hear the loud voices of the knights from beyond the threshold. The young warlock realized that they would be expecting him, so slowly, careful not to upset his still itching lungs, he stood up. The corridor swam before his eyes, and he took a few deep breaths before walking to the armory. Upon entering, he could feel six pairs of eyes on him.
"About time Merlin. I was about to send Leon to go…" The king's sentence trailed off as he looked at his servant for the first time. "What the hell happened to you?" he asked, staring at Merlin's pale face and hearing his labored breathing.
"I…" the young warlock tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"Merlin?" Lancelot said gently, "You alright?" Suddenly, Merlin snapped back into focus, and after clearing his throat roughly, he was able to answer.
"Yeah, I just… I think I took the stairs too quickly is all." The knights frowned at him, as did Arthur.
"Are you sure?" voiced Leon, eying the ailing boy with concern and suspicion.
"I'm sure."
But the moment was ruined when Merlin coughed loudly, letting the knights hear how much worse he sounded from earlier that day.
"My God Merlin, you aren't really one for sharing are you?" Gwaine blurted out, "You sure don't sound fine my friend."
"No, he doesn't," Arthur reflected, "Go to Gaius. Now. That's an order." Merlin tried to protest, but was silence by a death glare from all of the knights
"Fine." The young warlock said grumpily.
"I'm coming with." Lancelot said, and Merlin had to say something.
"Come on Lancelot, I'll be fine to walk to my quarters. I don't need a babysitter."
"I'm not coming with so I can babysit you. I've been feeling under the weather myself, and I'm hoping Gaius can give me some herbs." All eyes then turned to the knight questioningly.
"You're feeling ill?" The king asked.
"No, just a little run down. Tired." Arthur nodded, as did Merlin.
"I'm ready to go now. Merlin?" The young warlock nodded for a second time, and Arthur smiled as they walked out of the door. However, he frowned when he could hear his servant coughing from down the hall. There was only one thought running through his mind: Not again.
