Gaius's face was like nothing Arthur has ever seen, when the elderly physician caught glimpse of his bloodied ward being carried in by the men.
His lips pressed into a thin line and the prince could have sworn he saw the man go pale. However the routine from the long years of service kicked in and he was again the court physician. Quickly tossing books and parchments off his table, he motioned for the two to lay the boy on top of it, and he was right beside them to help, gently holding on to the warlock's head as they handled him onto the wooden surface.
Merlin was alive. That much was certain, from the rise and fall of his chest, but the breaths were a little troubled and Arthur swallowed as he saw blood slowly pooling under him already.
Gaius put a palm over the young man's forehead, then leaned in closer; gently pulled his eyelids to check his eyes; felt around his neck to find his pulse; turned his head to the side to observe the wound above his temple; looked at the seeping cuts and horrible burn marks on his sides, that covered him almost to his groin, some even on his thighs and arms; noticed the slight trembling in his wards body, as his own trembling hand oh so carefully touched his dirtied skin.
"Going to need honey.. and lavender.. " he mumbled .
"Gaius.." the prince carefully said, but it still caused for the physician to look at him a little startled. The physician shook his head and moved to his shelf of potions grabbing various vials, jars and bandages.
"His heart is beating too fast, we need to calm him, else it will pump all the blood out of him. And need cold compress for those burns.. and clean him.. and some clothes.." His voice trailed off and Arthur swallowed again, feeling incredibly uncomfortable at the statement; at the situation. The bloody sight seemed so unreal, for just this morning they were rescued. They both lived and were glad to be coming home, and then..
"He called him.. a dragonlord's son.." Arthur found his voice again, tearing his gaze away from the bloody gashes and noticed Gaius's hand stop in mid-air for a second, then the old man turned around and hurried back to his ward, looking at him.
"I don't understand.." he muttered, setting down the vials. "I need to treat him now.."
"Tell us what to do." Leon spoke all of a sudden, but then they heard something and they all picked their heads up.
"Arthur.." The knight whispered and Gaius looked at the prince puzzled, but it seemed the two men knew something he didn't. There were footsteps approaching.
The next moment, Leon grabbed the water bucket, as Arthur strode to the back of the chamber and leaped up the stairs. He closed the door of Merlin's room just as the king of Camelot walked into the court physician's chamber.