Ah, it's been a while. My apologies. RL as usual, won't go into details.. But I shan't take up too many lines on the page for A/N, Onwards with the fic! I hope you enjoy, feedback appreciated, and be assured, the writing is on! And huge THANK YOUs to all of you still reading..
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"Gaius. A word." The kings spoke straight away as he was striding in, but then he spotted the prince and slowed his steps, looking just a little surprised. "Arthur.." His features took on a distinct "I should have known" look for a moment, but he said nothing.
"Sire.." Gaius rose to his feet to give a slight bow. He wondered what the king could want from him at this time and somehow felt that Arthur's presence in his chamber was not exactly doing favors for either of them. The last thing they needed right now is trying Uther's temper. Again.
"Father.." Arthur too, realized all of a sudden that perhaps sitting down at the physician's table might look a little suspicious, but he was caught off guard.
"Gaius. A word.. If you are done with my son."
"We are ..done, actually." The prince stood up at that, glancing at the physician.
"No, please. Finish what you were discussing." The king said calmly and Arthur felt his mouth going dry. He certainly had no intention of finishing his discussion in front of his father. The young man was trying to read Uther's features, but he got nothing so in a sudden idea he nodded, and turned to Gaius.
"Very well.. As I was saying, I won't be needing Merlin's services for the time being, but his efforts will not go unrewarded and I expect him to be back to his duties as soon as he is able to do so." He said as he was reaching for the remains of his tea.
Gaius was fighting the urge to raise an eyebrow. His ward barely knew where he was, there will be some time before he'll be getting up to polish anyone's boots, but he said nothing. It really seemed Arthur had a plan in mind and that put him ahead of the physician for once, so the elderly man gave a nod and listened, while trying to figure out where all this was going.
"And send someone to find me with the tonic once you are done with it. I may be down at the training fields or in the armory." The prince continued and then finished his tea, adding a grimace to it for good measure. "Oah..!"
"Yes, Prince Arthur. I shall get to it straight away."
"And for goodness sake, put some honey in it next time.." He grumbled as he set the empty cup down. "That has got to be the foulest tasting thing I ever had to drink!"
It took Gaius a moment to catch on.
He clearly remembered adding honey into the cup and he felt near offended that his tea should provoke such a grimace out of anyone. A draught will have an acquired taste, of course; but his tea, never. However, he realised, that that must be precisely Arthur's intention. The king doesn't need to know that it's tea and not a concoction, and somehow that had significance, but before he could ponder more about it, Uther cut in.
"Training fields?" The king had been listening intently thus far, but now he stepped closer.
"Yes, father. I was consulting with Gaius about doing some light exercises. It would also do good to supervise training times at least. Good for morale as well."
"Indeed. Very light exercises however! You mustn't strain yourself until you are not fully recovered, Prince Arthur." The physician pitched in this time, having a rough idea of what Arthur's plan was. Last thing he would need now is for the young man to wear himself out on the training field for appearances' sake. He was still too pale and wobbly on his feet for the old man's liking. It was beyond Gaius how Uther couldn't see his own son's ailing.
The prince however was trying to look his most eager self as the king stared at him bemused.
"Very well, son.." Uther was smiling with pride and approval and gave the prince's shoulder a squeeze. "I'm glad you think that way." Gaius sighed inwardly.
"Father." The young man nodded, and giving one more glance in the physician's direction, he turned to leave.
The door soon clicked shut behind him, and now, alone with the king, Gaius had to admit, he was feeling a tad vulnerable in Arthur's absence. He couldn't imagine what the royal would want. He was waiting for the man to speak, but Uther seemed to be in thought about something.
"How can I be of service, sire?" He thought a little nudge might help.
The king then glanced at Merlin and he stepped closer to the elderly man.
"You must be tired.." he said and motioned towards the bench the physician was standing by.
"Nothing a good night's rest won't cure, sire.." Gaius bowed his head, and resisted the urge to sit down. It wasn't often someone sat in the kings' presence.
"He is on the mend, I hope." The man spoke slowly.
"Yes, he is. He is a strong lad, and I have some good draughts in mind that will help. With proper diet and good exercise, he should be back to his old self in no time." The elderly man spoke, but then saw that Uther was looking at Merlin again, and when the sovereign turned, Gaius was surprised to realise, he was rather asking about his ward.
"Merlin too, will recover.." He added slowly, knowing the king would never outright ask about a servant's wellbeing.
"Good." Uther nodded. He looked like he had something else on his mind and was contemplating about voicing it or not. "What's done is done, we must focus on the future. I shall leave you to prepare Arthurs tonic.." He said and made to leave.
"Yes, sire.." Gaius bowed again, a little puzzled, and was about to grab the teacups off the table to make room for his books, when Uther turned back.
"Also.. Arthur is going to be king one day. I hope I need not remind you that he has to be prepared when the time comes. I know he doesn't always listen to me. And that is good in a way. If he is to be king one day he needs to find his strengths and confidence and trust his abilities. However.. I would not want him finding encouragement for the wrong things, and let's face it, my son can be quite stubborn when he decides on something."
The physician was looking at the king, but said nothing.
"He seems to listen to your advice at times." He didn't add 'over mine', but Gaius could sense it was there. "I'd hate to see him stray off. What I'm trying to say is, I want you to make sure he stays on the right path. Do I make myself clear?"
"Of course, Sire." Gaius gave a slight bow, drawing his conclusions from the conversation.
In itself was a favour and a threat as well, delivered in a way only Uther Pendragon could.
"I can assure you, sire, we both want the same thing." Gaius said.
For the most part. He thought.