Oh wow... that response just.. blew me away! ("weeeee" *flies off into the distance*) I actually paused with the sandwich halfway to my mouth when my mailbox opened and it had 27 emails of FF notifications in it.

Seriously thought, THANK YOU ALL for the support and the reviews and follows! Means a lot to me :3 You put a little tingling in my soul and a smile on my face.. (which, let's be honest on a Monday morning, at 6:30AM in the office is an achievement! Before coffee even!)

So here you go~ The very next chapter and slightly longer as well! Just because I love you all~ ;)

Enjoy!

.*.

"I .. didn't d-do anythi.. ng.. Gaius .. I swear…" His voice trailed off into whimper again. "I ..I… didn't..d.. nt.."

"I know, Merlin. Its alright." The physician tried to assure him retrieving a small bottle off the other table and moved to get it's content into Merlin.

Arthur waited a bit, then slowly creaked the door open, to see the physician trying to coax a potion into his ward.

"No.. hh.. he sai..d.. that... I'm..."

"I know.."

Gaius had a supporting arm around his shoulder trying to keep him still and raised just enough to have him drink the offered medicine. The young man shook and squirmed; no doubt seeing Uther at his wake didn't help him calm down despite having Gaius near him now, and the pain just made him shudder.

"Ca..led me..a.. dragnl.."

"Don't speak Merlin.. drink this." Gaius figured there might be more he could tell, but for now he had to keep his ward quiet, not knowing what might escape his lips with the prince listening. The mention of magic was the last thing they needed.

"Drink it... we can talk later.."

Merlin gagged a few times and his body was rigid through and through; pain so obvious on him, it made the old man cringe with sympathy, and the fact that he cared about the boy didn't help it. He tried to be distant, but the mask of the physician was slipping off and he didn't even find the strength to reach after it to hold it in place.

"Oh, my boy.." he said, voice no more then a whisper as he let Merlin lay back on the table, quickly grabbing a cloth to put under his head for more comfort and his eyes locked with the pained look of the warlock for a moment, before it went a little blurry as his own eyes got teary. - He blinked a few times. He cant allow himself this now, he has to be there for him.

Merlin's eyes went unfocused. "I'm.. s orry Ga..ius.." he panted. "I've n..ever even hea..rd.."

"It's alright Merlin.. You are safe now and everything will be better. Just try to calm down." He said and stepped back to the other desk to get a second vial of medicine ready, as the first one met its end on the floor when Merlin woke with a fright and shoved it off the table. "I'm right here Merlin. I'm preparing something for the pain for you. It will help." He kept talking to let the young man know of his presence.

Gaius worked fast, pushing his anger to the back, knowing he probably has to focus now more then ever; even completely forgetting about the prince and anything else around him; and soon, he stood with a second bottle and had Merlin drink that as well. He coughed and some drops escaped from the corner of his mouth, but eventually managed to down most of it. He breathed heavily as the old man let him back onto the table; then let out a sob and Arthur felt very uncomfortable hearing that.
And there was another; and another; and suddenly the prince remembered his servant to be younger then him. It was all just wrong. Very wrong.

"hur..rts…"

"I know, Merlin.. It will get better soon.. I promise.." the old man said in a deep voice.

Arthur hesitated standing by the door. He felt this was a very vulnerable and private moment. After all, Gaius was his guardian; no doubt Merlin let his emotions show around the man. And he couldn't bare the sight of his mangled servant.. the clumsy oaf that always smiled and was always by his side, he didn't want to see him like this; he didn't want to step out of his hiding place, yet a part of him wanted to; to just be there. He wondered if it was the sense of duty, or something else, something more personal.

He took another breath and stepped outside, careful to make as less noise as possible as he descended on the few steps; not to scare the young man even more, and he found himself near the table before he realized he even left the small room.

Merlin didn't notice him though, he squeezed his eyes shut and his face was distorted in the obvious agony, tears glistering his dirtied face and his breaths coming out in half sobs. He felt confused and lost; very much in pain and incredibly afraid.

Arthur saw the old man looking over him and saw his eyes to be moist, while his own eyes felt to sting all of a sudden.

Gaius looked up at him and tried to compose himself, grabbing the emptied bottles, moving to retrieve what he needed to tend to his wounds. Arthur felt he needed to do something, to say something to reassure the boy; to tell him he is safe, and that things will no doubt work out and he will be there and will help him. He opened his mouth, still not sure what it should be, but then Merlin said something he felt to be even more hearth wrenching then his sobs.

"I.. wan..nt.. to.. g..go home.."