Chapter 11 – Princes
In the morning, when Willow informed Arthur she wasn't going with him, he refused to go then either. Gaius protested. "King Uther wants you now, Prince Arthur. Please be reasonable."
"When she decides to come, I'll go," Arthur said petulantly on the bed.
Gaius threw up his hands. "Merlin, you talk sense into him. We must leave soon."
After Gaius had left, Willow listening at the door heard Merlin say, "Arthur, we need to leave soon if we do not want to be traveling in the dark. You must leave without Willow if she refuses to come."
Arthur said, "You did this."
Merlin asked, "Did what?"
Arthur said, "Convinced her not to come. I've seen the way you look at her. You like her too. You're trying to keep her from me."
Willow couldn't keep the grin off her face. They were arguing over her. It was very flattering.
Merlin sounded defensive. "What if I am?"
"I say, game on, Merlin. Let her decide for herself who is the most charming. It should be a very short competition."
Willow rolled her eyes. Princes!
"Arthur, your relationship with her has no future."
"Why do you say that? I wouldn't dally with her affections and then dump her. Do you really think so poorly of me as that, Merlin? I thought you were my friend."
"Uther would never let you marry a commoner, Arthur."
"I can handle my father. Tell her you've changed your mind and you agree with me that she should go."
Willow cleaned out a fingernail roughly. Who did Arthur think he was to just order Merlin and her around?
"Merlin, I need a good healer to get me through this when you and Gaius are busy healing the wounded." There was a pause. "Besides, Merlin, don't you want her someplace safe during the upcoming attacks? How would you feel if she stayed and died because of your interference? Would you really be able to live with yourself?"
Oh! Willow frowned. That was low. Making Merlin feel guilty if anything happened to her.
There was a sigh that had to be Merlin. "Maybe you're right."
Willow could hear the grin in Arthur's voice. "Of course I'm right. I'm always right."
"You're hardly ever right." There was a soft thump that Willow suspected was a pillow. She grinned. She would miss both of them if they left without her. "But maybe this time you are."
Willow just wished she knew what was best. Either choice felt like a betrayal of someone. But she didn't think she could resist Millie, Arthur and Merlin combined all urging her to go. She opened the door.
Merlin looked surprised to see her there. He raised an eyebrow. "Eavesdropping? I thought better of you."
She frowned. "I'll go. Just get him ready." She left with misgivings to get her things ready.
Arthur stood in the doorway to the house staring at the carriage that had been brought as close to the door as possible. "I won't ride in that carriage. I ride Swift Frost or I'm not going."
Everyone protested, but in the end, Arthur got his way. Princes!
But watching him mount a horse with his injuries was painful to watch for everyone. Once Merlin got him upright in the saddle he smiled with grim determination. "This is good, I feel better already." He patted Swift Frost. Then rode the horse slowly out of the village to many farewells and well-wishing.
The pace of the journey was excruciatingly slow. But no one had the heart to tell Arthur to hurry up. His face was a mask of pain. Willow didn't think she could bear dealing with the pride of princes much longer. She insisted on checking his wound for new bleeding every hour. By noon, they were only a third of the way to Camelot and his wound had started to bleed again.
She let some of her irritation show. "Arthur, you need to be in the carriage. You need to lay down. I should change the dressing on your wound. I could do that in the carriage."
Arthur refused for another hour or two, but eventually, the pain grew to be too much for him. Willow told him, "When we get closer to Camelot you can ride again if it's important to you. But you should rest now and let me tend your wound."
The fact that he gave in was a tribute to how much pain he was in. They laid him on the bench in the carriage. Willow rode with him to change the dressing. The wound had indeed opened up from the exertion. "This need more stitches. But I can't do it while this rickety bumpity-thump is moving." They stopped for Willow and Gaius to stitch the wound closed. It was a slow process in the cramped carriage. Afterward, Arthur fell asleep and they were able to make better progress.
When they approached Camelot Merlin insisted Arthur be roused and asked if he wanted to ride in.
"Yes! Absolutely." Willow heard his answer loud and clear, several yards away.
It was even more painful to watch him mount Swift Frost a second time with fresh stitches. But ride he did. Willow shook her head and sighed.
The entrance into Camelot was only just short of triumphant. The townspeople cheered from the ramparts and along the lanes up to the castle. They were eager to have their prince there to defend them. Willow shook her head. If only they knew how wounded he was.
Arthur's dismount in front of the king was more than enough evidence to show that he was severely wounded. Uthur insisted he be taken up to his room immediately.
At least Uther waited until Arthur was reasonably comfortable in his bed before coming to greet his son and ask after him. Father and son, king and prince, had a quick conference about the state and positions of their military. Finally, Uther left to let Arthur get rest after his arduous journey.
Willow had to restitch his wound a little more. She cleaned, dressed, and bandaged it all up again to make Arthur comfortable. He was practically asleep before she finished.
When Willow left Arthur's room with him asleep to look for Gaius and Merlin, Uther pounced. "Why are you treating my son and not Gaius? Is it true you are only an apprentice healer? How did you convince them the give you such an important task?"
Willow had known this was going to be awkward, but she didn't think Uther would be so aggressive. "I was the only person left alive in the forest when he was wounded. I kept him alive until help came. I told you this when I delivered his message. It is by his own request that I am still your son's healer, your Majesty."
Uther began to pace. "Why would Arthur request this? Gaius has always been his healer in the past."
Willow sought to comfort him despite her nervousness. "I am a confident healer. I've been treating him effectively since his injury in the forest."
Uther turned sharply to her and stepped closer. "You're the reason he got injured in the first place. Have you cast some sort of spell over my son?"
Willow stepped back, fear and rage fighting for dominance in her voice. "My lord? I assure you I have done nothing to harm your son. It is common for patients to develop feelings for their caregivers. It will pass soon enough once he's well again."
Uther snorted. He put a finger near her nose. "Just remember, I'm watching you. If you so much as step a toe out of line, healer. I will have you thrown in the dungeon. Are we clear on this point?"
Rage was winning, but Willow controlled it. "Yes, your Majesty." She dropped him a small curtsy. He walked away. Willow squeezed her hands into fists and swallowed. "What have I gotten myself into?" She unclenched her fists. There were marks left by her fingernails.
She found her way to Gaius's and Merlin's quarters. Gaius made arrangements while Merlin and Willow got her things and he showed her to her room. He frowned. "This is far too close to Arthur's room for my comfort."
Willow smiled at him. "It'll be at least a week before he gets out of bed. Relax."
Merlin smiled grimly. "You don't know Arthur. Two days in bed, tops. He may be up tomorrow."
Willow shook her head. "After that ride today and the busted stitches he'll be down and out for a while to come yet."
Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to place a wager on it?"
She laughed. "Don't you fear that will compromise my integrity as a healer?"
He grinned. "I know your purity of heart. This is just a fun little venture. Do you want to hear my terms?"
Willow rolled her eyes but smiled. "Go ahead."
He smirked. "If Arthur isn't up on his feet and walking around outside of his room tomorrow, I'll buy you a new dress." He glanced down at her travel-stained dress. "But if Arthur is up on his feet and walking around outside of his room tomorrow you owe me a kiss." He raised one eyebrow. "A nice one." he paused. "On the lips." He touched his lips.
She blushed. "Merlin? Are you implying I'd sell my kiss for a dress?"
Merlin blushed. "No. Don't think of it like that, Willow. Think of it as a harmless game that may get you a new dress. Yours has seen better days and I'd like buying a dress for you. If you win." He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "And maybe you'd like giving me a kiss if I win."
She laughed and blushed.
Merlin laughed. "Good, I'll take that for a yes. See you in the morning." He disappeared down the hall and around the corner before she could protest. She rolled her eyes and gave her dress an appraising look. Merlin was certainly right. Her dress, fine by village standards was bedraggled and filthy. Here in the castle, it looked little better than rags. She wondered if Merlin had good taste in dresses because Arthur wasn't getting out of bed tomorrow if she as his healer had anything to say about it. She went into her quarters and washed up as best she could before falling exhausted into an overly soft bed.