I think I'm going to be handing out hugs and cookies for all those feels.. Wow.. just.. wow. Thank you again for the immense response and reviews. WE are celebrating 19k views as well! So on with the story!
Enjoy ~!
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The words got caught in Arthur's throat and Gaius picked his head up as well at the unexpected statement, but Merlin's eyes stayed closed, his breath ragged and slowly evening out. Another drop of tear rolled out of the corner of his eye and he remained still after that; minus the twitches and the shivers and the slight moans that melted into his sighs.
The physician looked up at the prince, who stared at his manservant wide-eyed; his own eyes moist.
At that moment Arthur remembered, that Merlin was born in Ealdor. - Not Camelot. He'd work on the fields, not serve a prince amongst the castle walls; and in the evening he would retire to a humble home; not sleep in a tower room. And he might get in disputes with the other villagers, but not get abducted by bandits to be imprisoned and beaten by crazed landlords. Arthur realized, Merlin might not be cut out for it.. yet still; still he had been so strong. Again, something about him Arthur couldn't quite grasp.
Gaius had no idea what to say. He never before heard Merlin mention wanting to go back to Ealdor. His destiny, his duty all too clear in his mind, he never seemed to waver in the decision to stand by Arthur, no matter how grim the situation was. At times his mature determination even surprised the elderly physician.
It seemed so different now, and he felt truly lost and heartbroken at the state his ward was in; to be pushed so far, that it had him think of such a thing.
"Sire, Merlin is just.." He started, not really sure how to continue, but Arthur held his hand up to motion for him not to.
"I understand." He said quietly after a few moments, and he did. Somehow, he truly did. How could he not? Every man had a limit, and Merlin has been pushed over his far too much this time. This wasn't like drinking poison; or getting waved off for warnings no one wants to believe before it's too late; it was nothing like having his loved ones in danger and going to great lengths to help them.. this was different. This was suffering at the hand of someone he'd risked his life for. Arthur looked up at the elderly physician and thought this was even worse than the witch-finder; this time the damage was done.
"Will the potions help him sleep while you treat him?" he asked eventually, as he saw Gaius fill a larger bowl with lukewarm water, knowing the cleaning of those wounds will be just as painful as the infliction of them.
"That wasn't the potion.." The old man shook his head with a heavy sigh and proceeded to pour the purple content of a vial into the water, cursing inwardly that he'd wasted far too much time for talking instead of treating. "He merely passed out."
Arthur noted the bowl smelled of lavender. For burns.He recalled. It was the same scent he remembered from the time he managed to burn his hand on the ember when he was a child, though this was different then a child's clumsiness. Gaius began to dip some cloth in the bowl and turned back towards the table to clean the wounds and and cover the burns with it.
"Shouldn't you give him.. more?" Arthur asked all of a sudden, looking hopeful and the old man stared at him for a moment, then glanced at his ward, then slowly nodded, obviously coming to a decision. He put the bowl down next to Merlin's arm and turned back to the shelf holding a myriad of vials and potions. He felt angry at himself all of a sudden; he should have thought of that, he should have done it already, but he was just so unfocused.
Arthur noticed his confusion, but figured asking the man if he was alright was as ridiculous as questions could get.
"Raise him up a bit.." Gaius said coming back with a small bottle with red liquid in it and he lifted the bottle to eye the content and decide the dosage once more, while Arthur carefully eased his arm under Merlin's shoulders, as he saw the physician do a little while back, and gently lifted him enough to be able to drink the potion.
The sudden smell of charred flesh mixing with dirt and blood and something close to urine hit his nose and he tried very hard to push out the thoughts coming with those smells. He wondered how he handn't noticed it before, but it didnt matter.
Gaius moved close and eased a few drops of the tonic into Merlin's mouth and Arthur held him in place. It seemed he will remain oblivious to what's happening around him, but then Arthur felt his body tense and his manservant let out a pained moan.
„Drink it Merlin." Gaius spoke clearly upon seeing his ward stirr, and the prince saw Merlin obey, swallowing a few more drops, but didnt make much secret out of how horrible that red stuff might taste.
„Ah.." he gasped once the mouth of the bottle was removed from his lips and he tried to shift in a position that didnt hurt – as much; then picked his head up realizing someone was holding him, that wasnt Gaius.
Arthur still couldnt find what to say, and he quickly gave up the idea to smile, he doubted his facial muscles would tolerate it right now. His eyes locked with the warlock's.
„Arth'..?" he reather guessed then heard his name, and he warily noticed a certain shine in Merlin's eyes, then dread gripped his stomach, once he realised it meant that fever started to kick in.
„You'll be fine." He said quickly, trying to sound encouraging, but the next moment Merlin's eyes rolled into his head and he went limp on the prince's arm, head droping back. Gaius merely nodded to himself upon seeing the effect and turned to put the bottle aside, while Arthur eased the ravenhair back onto the table.
The physician looked up surprised when he caught glimpse of the prince picking up the bowl of lavender water.
"I'm helping." He said in a voice that signaled he wont stand for any contradiction.