Wanted to wait until Friday with this, but then I thought.. what for? :P So here's next chapter~
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"I will.. personally take you home." He added in a struggled tone.
Merlin looked hopeful and somewhat in awe, as if he couldn't believe what he just heard; that for once Arthur Pendragon agrees to something without him having to do more convincing.
"However.." Arthur swallowed. "Ealdor is far. Very far from here and you will need your strength." He said slowly easing the blanket around the dark-haired and pulling it closed around his shivering frame as much as the man's arms let him. Merlin was still clinging onto his shirt. He glanced down from the servant's pale face that was slowly but steadily turning into a frown. It was hard to look him in the eye in such a state, but this way it was inevitable, that he once again noticed, from up close, the slight bloody gashes and bruises that remained uncovered by bandages and fallen poultices; the careful, shallow breathes to avoid pulling at any of them; the angry blue patches on his abdomen and sides, dark reminders of the ordeal, resembling marks of a fist, and it made him cringe again to know his own father did that.
"Noh.." The servant breathed in disbelief.
"Right now.." Arthur schooled his expression, looking up at him again, doing his best to ignore his resistance and be as convincing as he can, gripping the blanket to hold the man along with his impending panic at bay.
"No.. no.." Merlin shook his head, trying to pull away, but all he managed was a pathetic attempt of a push and pull of the blonde, too strenghtless however, his hands remained griping the shirt, and the fabric of the blanket in the prince's hold kept him still.
„I want you to rest. And get better." Arthur said almost pleadingly. "Please.." He pondered adding some jokes about chores needing to be done, desperate to have things on the mend and heading towards their awkward normality, to ensure things are going to get better, but the young man's nerves clearly were not up for jest at the moment; and truth be told he didn't feel like he'd be up for it himself. Laughter was such a distant and foreign idea.
Arthur was aware that things will never be the same, but for now, he knew he had to focus on one thing at a time; one thing, that was in front of him, and figure the rest out along the way.
"You.. you trying to trick me…" The servant sputtered with suspicion growing on his face, and he observed the blonde with dark wide eyes.
"No, Merlin.." the prince replied in a pained, sad voice, shaking his head, while he placed his hands gingerly on the man's shoulders. Merlin just looked at him warily, then after a short silent stare Arthur's tone came out no more then a whisper, and the physician had do strain his ears to hear it.
"We're in Camelot, Merlin. We're safe.." He added looking at his servant in the eyes, and Gaius wondered if that had more meaning between them, then the words let on. Even so he was amazed of their interaction. As riled up he's been a few moments ago, right now his ward was focused; with every cell in his body paying attention to the prince; like a child listening to the most amazing fairy-tale; Merlin listened, as if his life depended on it, and for a fleeting moment the old man thought, maybe it actually did.
Merlin thought long and hard; then he seemed to comprehend the words and eventually he nodded. He furrowed his brows, still a slight confusion on his face and swallowed hard. The warlock knew though, he knew it was his other half talking now, not just a prince; and he figured, destiny is just too cruel to let him free.
"Alright.." he mumbled as his grip loosened and his hands slid off the prince's shirt and reached up to hold the blanket himself. Peering about the chamber his glance slid across the blonde's shoulder, meeting the eyes of his concerned guardian for a moment.
"I need you to recover.." the prince said again, letting his own hands slide down to his manservant's elbows. The warlock again looked in that strained, yet comprehending way and simply nodded. Gone was the dread and the frantic distress and all that remained was sadness and exhaustion.
"Come now.." Arthur coaxed and took a step backwards gently pulling the young man to follow him, to which Merlin obliged after a stumbling step and bowing his head; he followed the blonde's lead to have him lie back down on the cot.
Gaius stepped close quickly and he had a vial at Merlin's mouth before he could lay down. The young man reached up, wanting to take the small bottle himself. He recognized the color of it, knowing all too well what it would do to him, but he wanted to be an obedient patient to his guardian and do as Arthur asked him to, yet found his hand was strengthless and shaking. He didn't get to think too much of it or despair about his own weakness; Gaius's hand got hold of his and helped him down the potion, before he could spill any more of it.
He even left the taste without a remark.
Merlin blinked at his guardian with defeat in his eyes, then looked at the prince who was still standing next to his sickbed. The physician again felt a certain change in the air about them, but left it without a word for now.
"I need to check your wounds, Merlin.." he last heard and felt a tingle of his guardian's touch on him, but he didn't have time to give an answer. His eyes closed and he fell asleep from the draught.
The physicians hands moved efficiently, little did the prince know thoughts were racing in his mind just as fast.
'Two sides of the same coin' He knew that. But he never saw such a display of synchronicity between the two. Except for when Merlin used magic to help Arthur, even on his deathbed, but that was a long time ago. So Gaius now had questions.
As the last of the poultices have been re-applied and he noted his ward now slept deep and peacefully, wondering if it was really the work of the medicine, that acted a little too fast than he'd expected it, or the fact that Arthur had told him that he was safe; - he felt it might be a bit of both. The physician glanced at the prince.
Arthur had his eyes on Merlin the whole time. He stood in the background as still as furniture, only moving when Gaius asked him to help with this or that. He kept quiet, relieved the old man didn't want him to leave for once. He only tore his gaze from his manservant when he felt the old man looking at him.
Neither of them said anything.
Arthur knew he will need to talk, and Gaius knew it will be a difficult conversation; and any confession he can get out of the young man won't be easy to hear and digest, or for the prince to say out loud. So he stood up, motioning to the blonde to take a seat at the other table in the room – that was somewhat cleaner and tidier then the one close to the sickbed, let alone for some books - and he busied himself in making some tea.
Arthur took a few aimless steps towards it, stopping at a bundle on the ground.
"Something happened, hasn't it, Arthur?" The old man turned with a kettle in hand, only to feel his heart skip a beat as he saw the prince bend down and pick up the pile from where he stood. Merlin's clothes and his book! He'd completely forgotten about it and now he held his breath looking at the scene, as the blonde looked at the garments; then eyed the book.
Gaius was about to offer to take them away, before Gods forbid the price of Camelot would decide to flip open Merlin's book of magic right there and then.
"It has.." Arthur just nodded, idly running a hand across the cover of the book, obviously deep in thought and showing little interest in it, and the physician bit his tongue; should he speak now, the prince might actually get interested in Merlin's possessions. The prince however was unaware of the old man's inner turmoil and just sighed and made his way to the table, putting the tome on it and the clothes on top, and sat on the bench. "Indeed it has.." He mumbled again, then looked up.
"Are you alright Gaius?" he asked next, noticing the physician looked oddly pale.
"Yes, Sire." He snapped out of it, hurrying over to the table with the kettle. "Just passed days..it hasn't been easy.." He didn't really need to say more. Arthur understood. He snatched up the clothes and the book, taking some of his own volumes along, in the pretense of clearing the table and rapidly made it all vanish in a cupboard.
That out of the way he turned back to his guest, finding the prince staring at his ward again. Following his gaze, he could only see a mop of dark hair on a pillow, but Merlin was sleeping quietly.
"What happened Arthur..?" he asked in a voice as soft as he could utter. Arthur's eyes were moist and he looked a bit frightened, the old man was pretty certain his thoughts were wandering back and forth on whatever has happened in their captivity.
Arthur glanced up at the physician, then at the mug set in front of him, looking desperate but determined, and his next words, uncharacteristically quiet, left the physician with his mouth agape.
"Gaius.. Please.. I know you care about him, but please.. My father mustn't find out... I.. I.. think he has magic.."
Gaius had to sit down.
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Thank you all for the wonderful feedback you give me on this fic, and it's madness! 70k~! we celebrate! :'D Biscuits and tea for everyone!
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To yay: Thanks very much ;) Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well, as the atmosphere continued..
To Irene: Gasp! omg! You talked to the guys! I'm sooo jealous.. though considering I saw Colin on stage, I'm not complaining.. (Worried over his health now though :( *sniff*) It must've been awesome to see them..! Tell me more! Tell me more! Tell me more!
Awwe, and thanks much for the review~ :3 no spoilers ;)
ps. makannaccountalreadywoman...-.-