My disclaimers and warnings are in the previous chapter, if you haven't read them yet. This chapter does not have any particular warnings, unless reading of Merlin suffering makes you uncomfortable.

Falls, Shivers, And Undeniable Concern:

Chapter Two: An Unusual Effect For An Unusual Sickness

Arthur scooped Merlin's prone body off the floor and carried him over to the bed. "Morgana, the blankets," he ordered. She pulled them down and he lied Merlin on the side of the bed Arthur normally occupied. He reached for the blankets and covered his flushed manservant with them. "Find someone. Have them fetch cold water and linens. We need to bring down his fever." The lady did not move, overcome by her fear and shock. "Morgana!" Arthur roared, grabbing her shoulders. She flinched as his nails dug into her skin. "Now!"

He released her and she ran to do as told. He turned his full attention on Merlin again. By the time Gaius had been hunted down and brought to the prince's chambers, Merlin was awake again but only partially so and Arthur was trying to bring down the fever that made him hot to the touch. "It's c-cold," Merlin stuttered, shivering. Arthur wrapped him in the blankets again and order the servant Morgana had fetched to find spare blankets. The servant rushed to do as told. Arthur pressed the cold cloth in his hand to Merlin's face and whispered so softly, no one could hear him but Merlin. "W-Where's…G-G-Gai-Gaius?"

"I'm here, Merlin," Gaius said. He grabbed Arthur's shoulders gently and moved him away from Merlin's side. Merlin let out a groan of complaint, reaching for his friend. Arthur moved back into his line of sight. Gaius examined him and let out a heavy sigh. "Let's move him to his room. At least there…He'll…He'll be comfortable."

"On that bed? I think not. He'll be far more comfortable here. But why does that matter? You can treat him, can't you?" Arthur said worriedly. Gaius shook his head. "Why not?" He looked ready to strangle anyone who came within reach.

"His symptoms are typical of that plant he fell on, Arthur. There's no cure for it. The most we can do is make him comfortable. He'll be dead by the end of the week," Gaius said after a moment. He watched Arthur's eyes shift about the room, as if looking for someone to tell him Gaius was lying, that they knew of a way to save Merlin, but no one could say anything. When his eyes fell on them, they looked down in shame and sadness. "Make him comfortable and say...say our goodbyes. I'll send for his mother."

Gaius left and Guinevere rushed to Morgana's side to led her out. The servant boy returned with the blankets and left them at the foot of the bed before pulling a chair up next to the bed for Arthur and fleeing. Arthur sat beside Merlin and continued to try to relieve his fever. "I don't care what Gaius says. You're stronger than everyone gives you credit for, me included. You will pull through."

"A-Art-Arthur," Merlin gasped. Suddenly, he began to cough and Arthur flinched at the blood that escaped his perfect pink lips. He ran to fetch Gwen.

"I need help. I don't know how to tend to him." Gwen went back with him and set about showing Arthur how to tend to Merlin's needs. Merlin's eyes twinkled with amusement beneath the rolling storm clouds of pain and fear within those stunning blue irises as he watched Arthur struggle to follow Guinevere's directions precisely.

"I can tend to him, if you prefer," Gwen offered sincerely. He shook his head and dismissed her, assuring her she could return later, when Morgana had no need of her. Guinevere left after kissing Merlin's forehead.

"I can't guarantee a good job, Merlin, but I'll try," Arthur assured him before going to have a bath drawn for him. Arthur managed to tend to Merlin for most of the day before Gaius forced him to allow someone else to take over. Merlin moaned and protested when Arthur left but Gaius was insistent and Arthur was forced from the room. He wasn't able to enter the room again until after Merlin's mother had come and dissolved into hysterics at the sight of her deathly pale, shaking son, leaving Gaius to tend to his friend. Gwen also burst into tears upon seeing the tears of the older woman and Morgana forced her out. Arthur snuck into the room and rushed to the bedside. Merlin turned his head to look at him and smiled slightly. "Forgive me absence. They will not make me leave again."

"A-Arthur," Merlin said before closing his eyes and falling to sleep. He woke to find Arthur pressing cool, wet linen to his forehead for his fever and stroking his sweat damp hair. "Girl," he accused affectionately. Arthur smiled softly. "Water. Please."

Arthur quickly grabbed the pitcher of water and a goblet. Merlin attempted to sit up but failed so he set the items down and eased Merlin into a sitting position before sitting behind him to support him. He picked up the goblet again and gently helped him drink. Merlin drank greedily and snuggled up to his prince. "So warm," the warlock murmured. Arthur set down the goblet on the bedside table and wrapped his arms around Merlin. "Smells good."

"It'll be okay, Merlin. I know it will." Merlin snuggled up to him the best he could and Arthur held him tighter. Suddenly, coughs racked Merlin's frail body. Arthur's arms tightened once more around him again as if he was trying to hold him together. He didn't flinch away as Gwen or even Gaius would have as Merlin coughed up blood and mucus onto his tunic. "Shh. It's all right."

"S-S-Sorry," Merlin stuttered, shaking even more.

"Don't apologize. Let me wipe your mouth," Arthur said gently. He pulled out his handkerchief and gently wiped up the blood around Merlin's mouth and on his tunic. "That's better, isn't it?"

"Y-Yeah," Merlin gasped. "Thank you, Arthur."

"Don't worry about it, Merlin." Arthur lowered Merlin back to the pillows and the warlock whimpered at the loss of Arthur's arms around him. "I'll be right back. Gaius asked me to send for Hunith when you woke."

By the time he returned not five minutes later, he was shivered and coughing terribly. Hunith rushed to her son's side and Arthur watched from the foot of the bed. Merlin gasped and clutched at her, trying to speak but only managing to wheeze and choke on nothing but air. "I'm going to get Gaius, Arthur," Hunith said fearfully. "He can't breathe."

Arthur rushed to take Hunith's spot next to Merlin and, almost immediately, Merlin's airway seemed to magically clear. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and gripped his hands tightly. "That was frightening, wasn't it?"

"D-Don't leave me," Merlin gasped, reaching up to grasp Arthur's shoulders. Arthur wrapped his arms around his frail body and once again arranged them so Merlin was in his arms, seated against him with his head tucked under his chin. Merlin wrapped his arms around him and snuggled into his chest. "I f-feel b-b-better with you n-near."

"Then I will have to be pried away by an army of men," Arthur assured him. "Until you are well again, we'll practically be glued together, shall we?"

"Yes," Merlin replied with a contented sigh. Arthur turned his face into Merlin's hair and rubbed his back and arm tenderly. Neither noticed the crowd in the doorway, staring in surprise at the two on the bed. Hunith smiled. She knew they shared something.

Gaius stared at his charge's face and his eyes widened when he saw Merlin's eyes were gold. Bright gold. Merlin was healing himself, he realized, and using the strength Arthur gave him and, his magic, to do so. He could have laughed. He should have figured. He moved everyone out into the hall and leaned down to whisper, "Let's not make Arthur leave. I think he may be having a positive effect on Merlin's illness. An environmental factor, maybe. Something on him. Best not to separate them."

"Of course," Hunith replied. Gwen inclined her head and Morgana nodded as well. "But what if this is nothing more than the calm before the storm, Gaius?"

"I do not believe so, Hunith," Gaius assured her. "We'll check back later." They all returned to their respective rooms. Inside Arthur's chambers, Arthur watched Merlin fall asleep then kissed his forehead gently and eased him to lie on the bed once more. He dressed him in clothes not covered by sweat after giving him a gentle sponge bath and left him uncovered when he moaned about it being too hot. He sat in the chair beside his bed and held his hand tightly but carefully so not to harm him.

"Arthur," Merlin moaned in his sleep.

Arthur stroked his face to soothe him and Merlin's expression of anguish softened to one of peace. "I will never leave your side, Merlin. Not even death will separate us, for if you die, I think I shall too. I should have told you. Now, I fear, it is too late."

TBC

Huh. Another short chapter. I'll try and make the next one longer. As usual, mes cher lecteurs,thank you for taking the time to read my work. And once more, I request you take a tad more time to leave your trèsimportant opinion for me to read. Reviews, my lovelies! Please! LOL

I'm going to give some pre-chapter warnings here, sweet readers, and I warn it may be a bit of a spoiler. Merlin will not get better in the next chapter. I'm a horrible sadist behind my charming exterior and I intend to draw out our heroes' suffering, that means Merlin and Arthur both. I only tell you this so you will not gather false hope. I like my readers too much to crush their wonderful spirits. LOL.

Again, thank you for reading and, please, tell me what you think.