Hello? *dodge flying objects and fruits* No excuses. I'm tackling a case of RSTA (read-something-too-awesome), so bare with me. It's hard. Cookies for 42k~ I thank you for that, as well for the wonderful feedback and reviews! I will honestly try to snap out of it. (I'm sure TeganL74 will whip some discipline into me, so rest assured everyone wins!)*snicker*
I got a few lovely lovely announcements to make!
First off, LFB72 posted her very first fic "A Very Bad Day" It is a wonderfully worded little story, I very much recommend, so head over and read!
As for my case of RSTA, I read "In the Shadow of Kings" by ultimatefandomfangirl which is just magnificent..
For adult, D/s lovers "Wait" from eldee is a lovely treat. If you read "Castle" and loved it, then you will love this too~ (Anyone has any recommendations for me?)
And now for my own stuff... on with the fic! Enjoy~
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The prince didn't even turn to look at the king. He didn't hear him. (He didn't want to hear him.) He blinked at the small bottle in his hand; then Leon just about managed to catch him before he toppled off the bed.
The knight eased the unconscious young man back onto his bed with an impatient Uther glaring at the scene. Gaius, who had been right behind the man, now quickly walked around the ruler to reach the bedside of the prince.
„Physician!" Uther snarled. "Have you neglected my son's treatment?!"
"Forgive me, Sire, but I have not." Gaius replied forcing the trembling out of his voice with great effort, as he busied himself with checking over the blonde, and avoiding looking at a very angry king at the foot of the bed. - He knew exactly what this looks like to Uther.
"Then how do you explain this?! He didn't look nearly as bad last night when I saw him!" The man continued, and the physician had to agree Arthur's paleness bordering a shade of gray and the amount of sweat covering him looked quite unsettling.
"I was fully aware that the upcoming period will be a difficult one, Sire; despite the prince feeling well last night." He continued talking, while he checked the prince's eyes and pulse. "I was unsure when he will wake, so I gave him the medicine when he returned to his chambers last night, to take when he does." He said, prying the vial out of Arthur's fingers and held it up for the king to see. "Which he did. Just now."
Uther glared daggers, and huffed, then looked at his ill son, clearly not sure what to say; and the physician couldn't determine if his face showed more of anger or of worry.
"His wounds are superficial, Sire. But he is mentally and physically drained and will need lots of rest in order to fully recover. There is no telling what has happened during their captivity, but he will get over it. In time." The physician said, quietly. "He is a strong lad.. Uther." and the mention of his name had an instant reaction as the king raised his head, briefly glancing at Sir Leon, who seemed to be very busy staring at the pitcher on the table. Calling a king by his name was reserved but for a few and only in private; but the king this time understood and merely nodded. It was one father figure talking to another parent, no doubt, both of them stressed with worry for the young ones; and Gaius was relieved it got through to Uther.
Whatever the prince and his manservant have been through, the after-effects were bound to catch up to them. The king had enough battles and dealt with enough soldiers, he of all people should know how such things work. It would be careless to think Arthur wouldn't react the same way, and it would be downright foolish to expect him not to react at all.
Yet appearances were very important to Uther, and Gaius knew well he didn't want the people to see any sort of weakness in the royal family, as Uther liked to remind them, how 'gossip of a weak ruler can take a kingdom down'; but Arthur was no king yet; he was a prince, and before all else: just a young man.
"He will be asleep for a while." Gaius spoke again. "But there is no need to worry; he should feel a lot better when he wakes, Sire. And now, if you don't mind I would like to check over his injuries, to make sure all is healing properly." He stated and set his medicine bag down on the table near Arthur's bed.
"Very well, Gaius.." The king nodded, then turned and headed towards the door. "Do what you must do." He added from the door without turning back and Gaius knew the man was going to bury himself into paperwork and council issues until Arthur wakes.
Checking the prince's injures, Gaius found everything was well and healing; not like he expected anything else. The problem wasn't only physical, the young man's earlier reaction clearly being an effect of their ordeal, which was bound to catch up to them, and Gaius didn't dare to think what Merlin will do when it catches up with him, after he wakes; but now he rather focused on the prince, and had Leon help him change into dry nightclothes and called two maids to arrange his bed and rid them of the sweated and moist sheets and pillows, and have it made fresh.
"Gaius? How's Merlin?" Sir Leon asked all of a sudden and the old man picked his head up in surprise, lifting an eyebrow at him. The knight has helped him wordlessly, just like he helped him tend to Merlin's injuries the other day, but now, taking a better look at him, Gaius realized the man looked positively troubled.
"He's asleep." The physician replied a little confused, glancing at the door to see if the last of the maids have left, and once finding themselves he looked back at the knight. "Why? Did Arthur say anything?"
Sir Leon took a deep breath and sighed, wondering if he should say or not, and just how much, but he figured if anyone should know, if there's something threatening the manservant, it was Gaius. On the other end, the old man found himself getting a little impatient with the young man's uncertainty, but before the physician could voice it, Leon spoke.
"He said.. something very bad has happened, and that we.. well, I should keep Merlin safe."
Gaius looked at him with furrowed brows and felt something grip his elderly heart. What has happened? What have they done to his boy..?
"Did he say what?" he asked cautiously.
The knight shook his head. "Just that I should keep him safe."
The old man looked at the prince deep in thought. The blonde will be asleep for a good number of hours, and he kept Merlin in a draught induced sleep as well. Until they wake, whatever has happened to them will remain their secret. He hoped to learn of the mystery, once the young men wake, for there was something in hiding no doubt.
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To: aima: These ARE "decent length chapters" for the story. There are reasons for them being that length. Otherwise, glad you like the story.
To Irene: Thanks~ Yes, trouble is on the way.. :P What else would we all write about? xD
Aye, well done, well done! Almost there then :) Just think of the ultimate relief when you get all the exams behind you!
Hm, I for one have given up on the idea of the movies. Besides, even if they make them, without the original cast it just wouldn't be the same. So I rather not have that image ruined. I mean, seriously, would you have anyone else than Colin and Bradley playing Merlin and Arthur? ;P