Yesterday's post... today! Yeah, headaches are a b**ch. And spring just doesn't want to come. Apologies. Hope you like it though.. and thank you for your reviews and favs and follows.. they all warm my heart!

And we celebrate yet again folks! 39k! zendog is 200th follower! looot is the 70th to favorite this story and wow! caldera32 apparently read it all in one go and reviewed each little chapter =O Thank you~

Cookies! Cookies for the lot of ye~

And now... On with the fic~

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Sir Leon had noticed the changes.

They were subtle but they were there. The prince was young, he was yet to gain enough experience; yet to face hardships of true battle and fights outside of tournaments and training fields; - more then the occasional minor wrangles with bandits. The others noted it down as the effects of the ordeal on their young prince and shushed in silent understanding; however the knight still remained with the feeling that there was more to it.

Times of hardship could build friendships. Sir Leon knew as much.

The two young men didn't seem to have serious injuries, more like a large number and variety of small ones. Arthur had a bigger cut on his arm, while Merlin had one on his side, they need to bandage; added to it exhaustion and hunger, it wore them down no doubt, but considering the circumstances, they looked alright.

Their clothes were ragged, poor reminders of proper wear; torn and smudged, with obviously more then just dirt off a cell's floor.(A little confusing as the large blood smudges on their wears contrasted against the small cuts they actually bore,the knight remarked.) Same dirt and scratches covered every inch of their visible skin; and while Arthur seemed a little frantic, Merlin's face was just blank, and there was no trace of their usual bickering; his glance looking dull and mostly fixed on the ground, unless someone was speaking to him. He had even smiled when they were led outside, but now his eyes were just tired.

There was something in the princes' eyes however, that Leon made a note of to ask about later on. For now, still in command, he gave out the orders, leaving the others in charge of the taken prisoners, and the situation it all resulted, while two knights and himself set out to ride back to Camelot with the injured prince and his servant. He understood that it was more important to get back to Camelot as soon as possible, then to seek answers, so he decided to do whatever Arthur asks, and do so without inquiry.

For one, Arthur insisted to have Merlin sit on a horse with Sir Leon. – None else, but Leon. "So he wont fall off", and as unusual it was for the prince to request something like that with such vehemence, his pleading look marring desperation, had convinced the knight and he felt better to do as he's asked, taking the boy to sit in front of him on his mount; and the servant made no remark about the arrangement; and well suggested too, as they didn't even reach the edge of the forest and Leon noticed the servant's head bob in front of him; - not sure if he had passed out or merely fell asleep.

Leon pulled off his glove and slid his right under the blanket to check on the young man, but his fingers couldn't find a pulse on his neck. He noted the position to be at fault, but a slight fright came over him and he quickly slid his hand lower to press onto the servant's chest in search for his heartbeat, unexpectedly finding the touch of bare skin through the torn fabric, and Merlin felt to be a tad too warm, but the knight sighed in relieve. The pulse was there; perhaps a little weak but steady. He pulled the blanket tighter around the unconscious form, feeling with an eerie tickle on his back, of how the prince watched his every move from a horse close to them, as he fiddled with the fabric to keep the raven-haired warm and safe.

There was certainly something different.

He wanted to find out more, but the time didn't seem to come around; then with what had happened upon their arrival to Camelot, the talk with Arthur seemed to climb even further away into the uncertain future.

Finally, he had hope, as a young boy ran up to his chamber the next morning, telling him the prince wishes to see him. Sir Leon thought he will be able to find out more, but instead he was met in a dimmed room, with curtains still pulled in, a tray of the prince's breakfast on the table, untouched; the bitter smell of sick, and a figure slumped on the side of the bed.

Walking up to him revealed more and more and the knight's stomach clenched of the sickly look Arthur had on him. It wasn't unexpected, that much he acknowledged, it was to be expected, but it didn't stop him from worrying for the young man.

"Sire!" He jumped forward but Arthur held his hand up. He looked pale, eyes sunk; and drenched in sweat, with his hair sticking to his forehead; all the while shivering and gripping the mattress of his bed as if his own life depended on it to sit up tight.

Yet he held his hand up. He wasn't frantic. He was holding it together.

"Are you in pain, Sire?" Leon asked, gently grabbing hold of the blonde's shoulder, then not waiting for the reply, he turned to the young servant still standing around the entrance. "Boy! Go fetch the court physician immediately!"

"No, Leon.. No.." Arthur picked his head up, but the quick youngster was already gone. "I'm alright.."

"Gaius will be here soon.. Anything I can do? Are you in pain?" The knight asked warily.

"No.." the prince replied quietly and let out a bitter chuckle. "Not more then I'd expect. Just.. bring me a cup of water." He said fiddling with something next to him.

The older man glanced up to locate the pitcher, before giving the prince one more look, as if he'd expect him to fall the minute he lets go of his shoulder, but Arthur was sitting steady. Leon ran to the table and retrieved a cup of water, then saw the small bottle in the blonde's hand.

"Gaius was right.. I will need this.."

He downed it and quickly motioned for the water as his face became more and more screwed up with the obvious foul taste the tonic had. Leon looked at him with sympathy.

"If only he'd do something about the taste.." he mumbled trying to lighten the mood and gasped, then took another gulp from his cup for good measure.

The knight didn't react though. He was too worried.

Arthur looked ill. Very ill, yet he was holding it together with a sort of strange determination that Leon figured he gained not just through his training, but during his capture. And no matter how he would pose the question of 'why' and 'how', the answer was clearly back there in the cell he's been locked up in for nearly two weeks; with his servant.

The memory still fresh the knight knew not to rush the prince to talk about his ordeal. Instead he stood looking at him and waited.

"Something has happened Leon.. something.. bad.. very bad has happened…." The blonde started out slowly, staring ahead of him, but not really looking at anything and his voice had a tone that was like an echo of dreadful things.

"What is it, Sire?" the question escaped before he could clam down on it.

Just then rushing footsteps could be heard through the door of his chamber, left ajar by the servant boy, and both men picked their heads up to the approaching sounds. At that the prince became vivid and suddenly gripped the knight's shirt and pulled him closer.

"Listen to me Leon, something has happened.." he started again in a shushed and agitated voice, staring into his right-hand man's eyes. "We need to.. you have to keep Merlin safe.. promise me.." and there it was again, that desperation in the prince's eyes behind the façade that was breaking with each uttered word and the knight of Camelot felt lost, not really understanding, but none the less gave a firm nod in a blink of an eye, holding the prince's glare.

"Of course, Arthur.."

Hearing his name instead of his title seemed to calm the prince slightly, and he let his hand fall, looking ahead again, blinking a few times; and he didn't flinch when the door flung open and two pair of feet marched into his room with agitation; and he closed his eyes before either of them could speak.

"Arthur! Son!"

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Any of you out there that are into HighSchool AU, Hurt/Comfort,Slash I do recommend "Be my escape" by pensgarth over on AO3. It's fluffy goodness. (Just google title and author and should pop up, if you don't know your way around.)

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To Irene: :/ Exams... yea, the torment is still vivid in my memory, though it has been years. *shivers* Well best is to just get on and be done with them! (Good luck~)

Haha! awkward!Gwen was awesome in 4x06. And even though S01, with talking too much then getting caught up and tangled in what she was saying. It all just got brushed off of her when she became Queen.

Aye.. well Merlin shall wake... but still got a few bones to pick before that happens *spoiler* so Arthur can keep on being angsty.. :]