I have returned! ...o.o.. Hello. And I am continuously in awe and feel humbled by the unwavering attention this fic receives. Thank you all very very much.. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And we celebrate a kiriban of a number too, storming passed 55,555! =O ..I love you all.. Slightly longer chapter on this occasion!

I'm slowly resuming the writing bits, will slowly catch up with reviews and updates and all the yumminess on this wonderful site~
Warm recommendations go to TeganL74's "The Shadows I Live With Are Numberless" (which is now completed!) and LBF72's "Burning Amidst an Ocean".. because they are wonderful and talented people (and not as horrible slow with updates as I currently am..eee)

And this update is dedicated to THEM too~ it was fantastic to meet you and I hope we can do it sometime again in the future! *huge hugs and cookies* (yes, yes, chocolate too.. I can hear the protests in the background ;)

And yes... We have seen the mighty Colin Morgan on stage, and by the Gods... he is a beautiful creature...
I suggested to have a string tied around my ankle and someone hang onto the other end or I just might float away in pure awe.. I think I didn't even breathe for a couple of minutes when he jumped on stage; he was cheeky, and playful, and forgetful and cunning and furious and tearful and fearful and adorable and...and...It was beautiful. Everything was beautiful. The Globe itself has an atmosphere that makes you feel swept into another era the moment you step inside.. and to see the brilliant Colin up on that stage...wow... "omg omg"

Erm..erm.. enough of the drooling for now.. On with the fic...! Enjoy~

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Gaius felt his routine to be going irritatingly slow. He had seen two knights with pulled muscles, and one with a twisted ankle; he had seen to a cut made by a clumsy sword practice and re-dressed an arrow wound acquired during a patrol; a lord with a sore throat from too much singing in good joy of ale, and a young maid with a burnt wrist down in the kitchens; however he had made sure to check on Lady Morgana again before starting out towards the rest of his patients and errands.

She's been quiet and sad; saying she had little sleep the previous night, and looking it enough that it was believable. Gaius glanced at the peculiar bracelet on her wrist, which she idly played with at times, but said nothing; he knew her gifts weren't bothering her this time. The bruise on her face on the other hand, was quite the hideous display, so the old man understood she was reluctant to leave her chambers.

It had been a backhand; with a ring on a finger that cut into the fair and delicate skin of the young woman, causing a slight swelling as well, but she said nothing of it. It was ugly, but nothing serious; it was healing and she smiled kindly at the elderly physician, thanking him for the ointment, but her smile didn't reach her red rimmed eyes and whenever she didn't have to show it, she let it drop from her features.

She didn't feel like pretending everything is alright, and Gaius found himself not blaming her for it, thus remained silent about it as well, while he carefully dabbed the injured skin with a marigold salve.

The very first time he went to check on her, she was still frustrated about it all; remarking how senseless and blind the king is, then looking at the old man, she grabbed his hand and said how sorry she feels for what has happened to his ward.

It wasn't her fault, still Gaius knew how torn she felt about it, and how her helplessness in the matter infuriated her. She was angry, but unable to do anything about it. He thanked her, only remarking it was foolish of her to get herself injured over it, knowing the king has a bad temper in times of trial, and assuring her several times, that Merlin is on the right road to recovery.

The lady was the only one the old physician felt he needed to take his time seeing to. Not only for her display of courage to step up to Uther, - which was foolish, but brave nonetheless, - or the fact that he saw her grow up in front of him; but also for the fact that her maid was coming around more often to the court physician's chambers, then the elderly man felt she had time for; thus concluding she was dismissed by her mistress to do so as often as possible. Gaius knew Gwen would visit either way, but she was Morgana's maid, yet still spent a great deal of time at Merlin's bedside, and he couldn't help but feel gratitude towards her and the Lady Morgana.

"How is he?"

"He's asleep, milady."

"I've heard he was burnt." She said and her tone took on an odd biting tone. Gaius didn't know where to place it at that moment, but figured, the idea of burning started to mean a whole different thing for her; - as it would for any sorcerer, knowing and unknowing.

"His injuries were.. severe, but I assure you, Lady Morgana, he is healing well. Gwen even managed to get some broth into him early this morning." He added with a small smile, omitting the part that his ward didn't actually wake up for it. "And I feel I must thank you for allowing her to help out.."

"It's the least I can do.." Morgana smiled, grabbing the old man's hand in hers and her smile this time seemed genuine.

"He will be alright." Gaius nodded. "In time.. everything will be alright." He added quietly, as he too wanted to believe that more than anything, and gave the young girl a reassuring smile.

Yes. Things will eventually be alright, because things just need to work themselves out. There is no other way.

Merlin will get over this. - Like so many other things before. And Gaius will be there for him. And he will get back to being.. Merlin. - Once again doing chores; running around for errands; fussing over things and focusing on his destiny, complaining about Arthur, calling him names and then going out and saving him again from something.. - And so confident was the physician in that, it was bordering stubbornness; yet he let himself sink into those thoughts, despite the knowledge he had gained though years of experience slowly whispering at the back of his mind, telling him, that 'it's just not going to be that easy.' But for now, he refused to think otherwise. As made his way back to his quarters, he felt he just needed to hang on to that one notion. He just had to. For his and Merlin's sake.

His breath got caught in his throat when he got inside his chamber and saw the very person in thought standing in the middle of the room.

Gaius stopped dead in his tracks at the door and didn't dare move as he looked at the crouched slender figure pick his head up; and he felt a shiver run down his back when their eyes met.

The one expression the old physician could read on his ward's face was that of being terrified. Completely and utterly terrified. And his wide blue eyes didn't seem to recognize him at first.

The air stood still for a moment as the physician eyed his young patient.

Clutching the blanket around his hunched shoulders Merlin took a few limping steps to turn towards his guardian.

"Gaius..?" He furrowed his brows and the hoarse voice seemed so foreign and out of place.

"Merlin… my boy, you shouldn't be up." Snapping out of his daze, the elderly man quickly closed the door, and put the medicine bag on a bench as he made his way towards the warlock.

Something seemed to be off about him; something that was more then the effects of his ordeals or the various potions poured down his throat. It wasn't uncommon for people to be in shock after going thought such.. experiences, - (how could they not?) - still, Gaius had a bad feeling there are unpleasant surprises waiting for him, and his suspicion seemed to be gaining more ground as Merlin flinched the moment his guardian reached out to touch him. "It's alright.." the elderly man mumbled instantly, his heart clenching at how his ward glanced warily at the wrinkled hand hovering in front of him.
"You are safe.." He tried approaching his ward again, this time more careful; with his hand still held out, he tried to keep the shaking out of his voice, so not to startle him, as he called out to the boy again; too scared to touch him anywhere, knowing well of the various injuries that were hidden under the blanket, yet feeling the urgency growing by the minute to get the injured young man back on his bed. But Merlin flinched back again and the movement made him lose grip of the blanket; the fabric slipping out of his hold and off from his shoulder, once again revealing his mangled body with maps of cuts on his bare skin and myriad of injuries; bandages with redness seeping though it – tell-tale signs of re-opened wounds, perhaps torn stitches. Compresses fallen to the ground as he got up and off the cot, and the tincture-soaked materials, that weren't under wraps, were now coloring the floor with their herbal liquid pooling around them.
Who knows how long's he's been awake and what has he been doing in that time... Gaius noticed and felt his stomach tighten at the horrible sight, as if he was seeing it for the first time. He noticed the manservant was holding onto a travel bag with his other hand; a grip rather just tense, then with strength in it. His gaze was piercing and disturbed, his form shivering.

Merlin was clearly agitated, and Gaius found himself suddenly lacking the knowledge on how to calm him; it didn't help matters that he had a lingering foreboding he couldn't explain, and his decades of experience seemed to be insufficient in the face of this current challenge.

The dark haired kept glancing around anxiously, visibly worn out from the little movement he did, breath ragged, sweat drops forming on his temple, he didn't bother leaning down to pick up the blanket that covered him before, - or perhaps he couldn't; - and in a fleeting thought Gaius recalled again that he should have the young man put some clothes on, despite being it easier to tend to his injuries this way.

"Merlin you must lie down. We cannot have you worsen your condition." Gaius came to from his amazement, and stepped closer to the young man, trying to gain control over the situation.

That was when Merlin looked at him again, eyes wide with fear.

"W-we have t..o get out of h-here!" he stated.

"What? No.. No, Merlin. You are safe now, no harm will come to you.." the physician said, reaching to grab his ward, and get him back on the cot by force if he has to, wondering if there were any guards around that could help him if needed.

"Pack!" Merlin cried abruptly and pushed the bag against Gaius's chest with a sudden wave of determination showing on him. "Gh.. gather some things .. we.. we have to leave…" He swallowed hard. "Hurry.. w..we have to get out of here…!.."

Gaius was ready to continue in trying to convince the warlock about his assured safety, and the importance of his health; that needed anything but movement and agitation at that moment, but then Merlin spoke again, and it had him stare with mouth agape, as it was something that just didn't fit somehow..

"We have to get out before she gets back.."

She? She who?..

.*.

Irene: myessss... it was brilliance... and if not else, know this: next year the DVD will be out, so you can have a look at Colin's performance! :3 Thanks for your continued support for this story too.. ( So when are you making that account again? xD..)