Percival had swiftly carried Merlin down to Gaius's chambers which Arthur had to admit were actually clean and tidy for once, he realised with a start that Merlin had been staying with Morgana, and so Gaius's chambers were reasonably less clutter free. Percival gently laid Merlin down on the bed Gaius used to treat patients, then immediately stood back. Arthur couldn't quite believe what had happened this morning. Morgana had flipped out at the very mention of Mordred and had actually attacked her so called magic mate, the one person she couldn't live without, it all seemed rather back to front to him.

Arthur didn't really get why Morgana had got so angry it wasn't as if she was destined to die by the boy's hand. The news had startled Arthur; the fact that his life had already been mapped out was starting to get to him. His life had been predicted down to his eventual death and Arthur began to wonder if he actually had any choice in the matter. Merlin had seemed confident though that he could prevent his death by Mordred and that confidence had spurred Morgana to violence.

He was sure she regretted it now, her heartbroken face had said it all when she had finally realised what she had done, but for now, Arthur couldn't and wouldn't forgive her, his best friend was lying still, his face gaunt and unmoving because of her. Along with that Merlin was Camelot's best line of defence in the face of a magical attack as it was becoming swiftly obvious that Morgana could not be trusted to guard her emotions.

He could see where Morgana was coming from of course; Mordred had seemed like such a sweet little boy, quiet perhaps with a mysterious aura to him, but a nice boy all the same who was caught up in Uther's quest for the death of all magic users. The fact that he could turn into such an evil force of power seemed rather remarkable to Arthur. But then again as he gazed down at the unconscious Merlin, power It seemed came in all shapes and forms and in people who you least expected to wield any.

Gaius was bustling around his ward checking his temperature and pulse and bathing his head in a cool cloth, despite this Merlin showed no signs of life.

'Will he live?' a voice came from the back of room to where Gwaine was standing looking worried.

'I don't know, he seems to be in a very deep sleep and I don't know how to call him out of it,' Gaius responded never taking his eyes of the sleeping Merlin.

Gaius and Merlin were obviously very close; the son Gaius had never had and the Father Merlin had never known. He had been there to guide Merlin, to give him an ear to all his magical concerns and to lift his spirits when things had seemed impossible. Morgana, Arthur realised had not had any of those things and the thought gave him a slight pain in his chest which he instantly dismissed, he couldn't afford to feel sorry for Morgana now, not when Merlin was in such a grave situation.

Gwaine came forward now and rested his hand on Merlin's shoulder, Gwaine was another person Merlin was close with Arthur realised. In fact when he looked around the room Leon, Elyan, Gwen and Percival were all staring compassionately at the young man. Merlin, Arthur realised had a way of touching everyone's heart. He was kind and selfless and the sort of man who inspired loyalty and respect despite their often teasing relationships. The thought brought another burst of anger directed at Morgana for doing this to him. He was right when he had said that she didn't deserve him. It was hard to think of anyone who would. Merlin was the very essence of all things innocent, pure and good. Even his magic when it was cast, created a feeling in Arthur of comfort and safety.

'I'm going to kill her,' Gwaine continued looking protectively down at his friend.

'Don't be stupid,' Gwen said stepping forward now 'You do that and you kill Merlin remember?' Gwaine frowned in response.

'I don't think Merlin would have wanted anything done to her, magic mate or not,' Gaius said,

'He understands her bond with Mordred, I just don't think he realised how deep it went,' Gaius continued

'What istheir connection?' Arthur asked speaking for the first time.

'They are connected through destiny, and magic, they were foretold to form a great alliance that would mean destruction to you and to Albion,' Gaius replied.

'And now that's changed?' Arthur asked confused.

'It would seem so, the bond Merlin now shares with Morgana will have overthrown destiny and now it seems Mordred will have to fight on his own, which will mean good news for you Arthur.'

'But you just said their bond was strong and Morgana had certainly made her opinion clear on the matter when she knocked Merlin unconscious,' Arthur said.

'It is strong but it doesn't come close to what she now feels for Merlin.'

'Then why did she attack him?' Arthur asked frustrated now.

'Oh Arthur I'm sure she didn't mean to,' Gwen said before Gaius could reply.

'She certainly looked like she meant to,' said Gwaine.

'No, she didn't, she was inconsolable when I took her to the dungeons, she wasn't revelling in her victory,' Leon said.

'You must understand, Morgana has had her world turned upside down, everything she thought she stood for with Morgause, she is being forced to question, all she has ever wanted is to be accepted and she was willing to do anything to achieve this with Morgause…now Merlin has forced her to question everything she fought for…what she must be feeling would drive any of us slightly mad,' Gaius said.

'Then you forgive her for what she has done?' Elyan asked now.

'Yes, as must all of you as I am sure Merlin already does,' Gaius replied looking down at his slumbering ward.

Staring at Merlin, a rush of brotherly affection and love swept over Arthur, and he wanted nothing more than to shield him from everyone and everything.

'I don't think that will be easy,' Arthur said. No one had anything to say back to him on that.

A groan of what sounded like pain escaped from Merlin and everyone turned their attention back to him, his once still form was now tossing and turning and sweat was beginning to form on his brow. His lips parted and incoherent mutterings began to form on his tongue some were words that Arthur realised were a different language.

Gaius rushed to his side and checked him over,

'Merlin?' he questioned and gently shook him by the shoulders.

'I'm s…so…sorry Mother, I didn't…mean too…it just happens,' Merlin stuttered his eyes flickering under closed lids.

'Merlin?' Gaius questioned 'your mother isn't here she's in Ealdor,' Gaius tried to tell him.

'What's going on?' Arthur questioned but Gaius just shrugged in reply.

'WILL!' Merlin suddenly screamed as his eyes flashed open and turned gold and then shut again.

'What the hell is going on?' Gwaine now repeated Arthur's earlier question.

'I don't know Merlin's friend Will has been dead for years now,' Gaius said confused.

Arthur remembered William from the time he had helped save Merlin's home village from bandits. He suddenly realised that the windstorm Merlin's friend had supposedly cast up was most likely in fact Merlin. They had seemed close, Arthur remembered Merlin crying over his death, and he wondered why he was thinking of him now.

'Will…pl...Please…I'm not…evil!' Merlin stuttered again. Gwen gasped and brought her hands up to her face as tears of confusion began to drip down her cheeks.

'I think I understand now,' Gaius said. 'I think he is reliving his most traumatic memories.'

'Why?' Arthur asked.

'I don't know, he is in a deep sleep that he can't awaken from and Morgana put him there, the shock of it all must of hit him hard' Gaius said.

'Fr…Freya,' Merlin muttered now and Arthur watched as Gaius sighed deeply at the name and rested his hand on his wards shoulder.

'Who's Freya?' Arthur asked.

Gaius looked up at surveyed all of the curious faces in his chambers and shook his head, distressed at something.

'It's not my place to say, and these are deeply personal memories Merlin is remembering, things that I don't think he would ever want to remember.'

'Please…please don't die,' Merlin whispered. Gaius sighed again and stood up.

'I think it would be best if you all left, I don't think it's fair for Merlin's personal secrets to be revealed this way, please,' Gaius said. He made shooing motions with his hands and it was with reluctant faces that everyone left but Arthur.

'You too Arthur,' Gaius instructed.

'No please, Gaius I'll ignore everything he says just don't make me leave I need to know he's alright,' Arthur begged.

Gaius sighed again and put up his hands in defeat, 'Fine.'

Arthur smiled back and pulled up a seat next to Merlin's bed and took his hand in his and stroked the back of it with his thumb.

'You have to get better Merlin, I need you, your friends need you, Morgana needs you,' Arthur whispered 'Camelot needs you.'

'Ar..Arthur' Merlin whispered and Arthur looked up in hope but his eyes were still closed and realised that his dreams must have turned to him now, the thought wasn't comforting.

'Pr…prat' Merlin whispered again.

Arthur beamed in response, even in his dreams and memories Merlin still bought Arthur down to reality with a well-chosen Merlin insult that Arthur would allow no one else the privilege of calling him. In fact all the knights including Gwaine at times looked startled at the liberties Merlin would take with the King, only for Arthur to laugh them off with well returned banter. Their friendship was strong Arthur realised, and he hoped it would be enough to bring him out of his coma.

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