I was told by my father that I was to rest for the next couple of days. When I asked where Merlin and Gaius were he said that he hadn't seen them. 'Merlin did leave...' Was my only thought.
About two and a half days after that I started to give up. 'Perhaps Gaius helped him home.' "Sire!"
"What!" I snap without thinking.
"Gaius and Merlin have returned."
"Thank you. leave." After he leaves I rush to my window and as I watch Merlin ride back with Gaius...the amount of relief that he hadn't left nearly sent me to my knees, but then I noticed Merlin's shirt and how he was riding. He had been burned. Badly.
I rushed to Gaius' chambers feeling my heart pound against my chest and my mind reel with so many questions. Once I made it to the door I could faintly hear Merlin and Gaius talking. "Merlin, here let me help you."
"Thank you Gaius. It hurts to move my arms."
"As well it should. Really, Merlin...I find myself constantly surprised by you..." I can hear Merlin wincing in pain for a moment before Gaius continues. "...The extent of this burn mark..."
"It would've killed me right?"
"Well, if anyone else had received it the way you did, they certainly wouldn't be awake and sitting up while they are being treated."
"Gaius, why didn't she take my life the first time?" My heart stopped as I could hear the genuine curiosity. 'So..those dreams...they were real?'
"I'm fairly certain it has to do with the destiny you and Arthur share."
"She told me that when she used the poison to try and kill me...that it was before she understood my importance." I could hear a heavy sigh come from Merlin while I felt my skin run cold. 'The poisoned cup...I thought it was meant for me...did he know at the time?'
"Then that may be precisely why she didn't respect your request, and instead respected mine. I knew Nimueh a long time ago, before the great purge. She never acted without reason."
"She asked me to join her."
"I'm glad you refused. Merlin...I have to be honest...This burn is likely to remain a scar."
"It's worth it. You, mother, and Arthur are all still alive. I could care less about a scar. God knows Arthur has already given me plenty." I can hear them both laughing and I assume Gaius is done tending to Merlin because I hear his chair move across the floor.
I knock on the door and I hear footsteps walk closer to the door. "Gaius." I say once it opens. "I noticed you and Merlin return. I thought he had quit." I look past Gaius to glance at Merlin, who was now looking away with an expression of guilt.
"Merlin would never do that, sire. Would you Merlin?" He turned to look at him and I noticed a faint smile appear on Merlin's face.
"Couldn't even if I'd wanted to." I hear pure honesty in his words, which for some reason hurts. "I'll be polishing your armor tomorrow then?"
"Actually...no. You have the day off tomorrow."
"What?"
"I'm no fool, Merlin..."
"Could've fooled me." He smirks and I find myself returning that smirk.
"Be that as it may...you're in pain. I can tell by the way you're sitting. We'll talk tomorrow but you won't be working tomorrow."
"That doesn't make any sense..."
"I'm the prince. I don't have to make sense."
"You know...you can't keep using your title to wave away your explanations."
"No, but it certainly helps. Get some rest Merlin." He nods at me as I left for my chambers.
Once I made it to my own chambers I found it increasingly difficult to stand, so I quickly made it to my bed where I could comfortably sit. My heart felt heavy and my mind was racing. 'He had been hurt and they won't tell me how. Well, I didn't really ask, but still...'
A knock at my door interrupts me from my thoughts but it's Merlin coming through the door that makes my mind go blank. "Arthur, is everything alright?"
"No, you should be resting."
He walked over to me and sat beside me on my bed. "You're not acting like yourself."
"Neither are you."
"No, I mean that you seem a little...hesitant to talk to me."
I wasn't meaning to be but I can't help it. He has magic and he's my servant. I'm the prince, what am I supposed to do? "Sorry..."
"Now you really aren't acting like yourself." I hear a small but of laughter escape him, bringing me a sense of relief and the courage to ask him about his burn.
"Merlin...when you and Gaius came back I saw the two of you from my window. Your shirt was burned. What happened, and please don't lie to me. I will know if you do."
"I um..."
"Merlin...if we're friends, you have to tell me the truth."
I watch as he hangs his head in defeat. "After you got bitten by the questing beast I went to a friend who knows a thing or two about magic and the old religion. I wanted to know how to best heal you. He told me to go to the isle of the blessed and warned me that if I ask them to save you, that there will be price to pay. A life for a life. I willingly gave my life...but when I came back, you woke up, and the next day i was alive...I discovered that the woman who I spoke to didn't honor it. She began to kill my mother instead with the...exchange..." 'Wow, he's actually telling the truth so far...maybe he'll tell me of his sorcerery.' "Gaius knew that I would go back and try again so he left before I did...once I caught up with him he was dead on the ground. I got angry with her...more angry than I've been in my entire life...and I killed her but only after she gave me the burn on my chest."
"How did you stop her Merlin?"
"Arthur..."
"I asked you how. Tell me, please."
"With..."
"With magic?"
He looks at me with a mixture of shock, wonder, and fear. "You...how did you...?"
"It was strange, you know...being unconscious after being bitten by the questing beast. It was if I was falling you the entire time on your first trip to the isle of the blessed...It was like I witnessed you bargain your life to Nimueh so that I would live."
"I never said her name..."
"Like I said, it was like I was there, but before that I heard you telling Gaius that he had to trust you to look for a cure and I heard the book pages turn really fast...after that i heard you say something about the spell not working yet..."
"When will I be leaving?" The sound of his voice is regretful and sorrowful.
"Leaving, why would you be leaving?"
"Because I'm a warlock and I..."
"WAIT!" I interrupt him as soon as I can. "...What's a warlock?"
He gave a heavy sigh and looked at me. "Before I came to Camelot I never studied magic nor was I taught. I was born like this. I could move things before I could talk. It frightened my mother sometimes and the other villagers never thought too kindly of me so my mother sent me to Gaius. When I walked in he almost fell to his death, but I instinctively slowed down time and used magic to slide his bed underneath him, cushioning his fall. He seemed upset but then impressed. I was born with it, Arthu, and I can't simply stop. I use it for you and Camelot, but if you want me to leave I will and I will protect you as much as I am able to from the outside."
"Merlin..." I can't help but laugh a little. Even in his newly depressed state he's still a loyal and brave idiot. "...I'm not going to ask you to leave or turn you in. You've proven more than once that you are on my side. I think I'm lucky to have a friend like you...but please, don't bargain your life like that again."
"I can't make any such promise, but I should probably tell you that the experience you had while unconscious...I apparently had the same experience while you were getting the flower for me. Gaius told me I had conjured a strange orb of light in my hand, and that I was shouting at you to hurry and climb. It was like that ever since you set out to save me."
"What does this mean?"
"I guess that we have a sort of strange connection. It's a good thing we're friends other wise it would be awkward." We both laughed and I had a feeling that life now would be more complicated, but at the same time happier.