Sigh. I hate repeating myself but I once again remind you that my disclaimers and warnings are in the first chapter. However, this chapter has its own separate warning for Uther being OOC.

Falls, Shivers, And Undeniable Concern:

Chapter Four: All Hope Is Gone:

Merlin's magic could not help him. No matter how he tried, he couldn't gather the strength, even with Arthur holding him tightly. He knew he was going to die and it terrified him. Who would guard Arthur? Who you love Arthur unquestioningly? What about his mother? Gaius? Gwen? Would they be all right? He felt Arthur's grip on his hands tightening and turned slightly onto his side to look at him. His fit of chills had passed, finally, and all but one of Arthur's cloaks had been removed from on top of the comforter. It was the black one Arthur had worn the day before they found that damned plant. They had gone to give the horses a long run and stopped for lunch. When lying out the blanket to sit on, Merlin had stumbled and Arthur had reached out to grab him. They ended up rolling down hill into a field of gorgeous red wildflowers, laughing once they reached the bottom. He pulled the cloak up to his nose and inhaled. Arthur smiled at him. "I hope there's nothing left on that that might irritate your sickness."

"Nothing could make this worse," Merlin told him. "It smells like you. You and flowers. The rest of the room smells like you too."

"Is that a good thing, little wizard?" Arthur asked with a soft smile. He ran his fingers through Merlin's hair and the magician sighed in pleasure. He nodded and Arthur's smile finally reached his eyes. "Gaius is preparing a potion for your pain. The final stage of your sickness will be on us by tomorrow." Merlin nodded. Arthur slid under the blanket with him and held him tightly. "I won't be able to touch you tomorrow, Merlin. It'll hurt you too much."

"Then hold me today." Arthur buried his nose in Merlin's neck and the smaller boy sighed contently. "I wonder if I'll be able to miss you. If I can, I will." Arthur nodded. "Arthur, promise to be a good king."

"Merlin, when you die, I'll only be a moment behind you," Arthur replied. "Morgana will be the heir apparent then. She'll be a fair queen. Do not tell me not to. I refuse to live without you."

"I'd do the same," Merlin admitted. "I have no right to ask you not to. I'm just touched you'd do that for me." Arthur caressed his cheek. "I have re-request."

Arthur nodded. "Anything you want, you can have it."

"I want a kiss," Merlin replied, blushing and avoiding Arthur's eyes. He didn't see the look of pleasure cross Arthur's face. "Please?"

"I'd be more than happy to give you a kiss, Merlin. But I warn you. I will not give you a little peck. It will be a very long, very passionate, kiss." Merlin nodded his approval. Arthur cupped his chin and tilted his head up before leaning down to claim his lips. They wrapped their arms around each other and enjoyed their kiss thoroughly. Arthur plundered the treasures of his love's mouth and only stopped when Merlin ran out of air. "Thank you," they both breathed. They chuckled and exchanged another brief kiss. "I think I needed that as much as you."

"One more?" Merlin confessed.

"As many more as you want," Arthur replied lovingly. They leaned in for another long kiss.

"Excuse me?" Guinevere piped up from the doorway. They broke apart to look at the poor, embarrassed girl. "Gaius asked me to give Merlin this drought. He and Hunith are praying with Uther right now. They'd like to visit when they're done."

"Of course. I'll support him, you give him the drought," Arthur replied. He sat up and pulled Merlin up with him. Guinevere gave Merlin the foul potion and he coughed and choked in disgust. Arthur kissed his temple to soothe him. Gwen smiled slightly at Arthur. "Is that for the pain?"

"Yes," she replied. Merlin brought the cloak to his nose again and drew his first easy breath in a while. He closed his eyes and Arthur lied him on the pillows again. Then he stood up and kissed his forehead gently.

"I'll be right back," Arthur assured him. "I'm just going to get you some clean clothes and have a bath drawn." Merlin nodded and Gwen followed Arthur to the doorway. "At least he can breathe now."

"What's on that cloak? It smells very sweet," she told him, genuinely curious. "And it seems to soothe him. Maybe I can get more of it? To calm him?"

"Um, I suppose there'd still be a trace of those wildflowers. Morgana knows where they are. She found us when we fell asleep there," Arthur told her. Guinevere thanked him and left to find Morgana. Arthur retrieved clothing for Merlin himself as well as Merlin's magic book then ordered a servant to draw a bath for him. He shut the curtains around his bed and lied next to Merlin. Merlin lied on his side again Arthur and flipped through the book until he found a spell he thought Arthur might like. Then he lied on his back and took hold of Arthur's hand.

"Watch me?" he requested gently. Arthur nodded. He raised his hand and Arthur watched his eyes turn gold and golden sparks began to escaped his fingertips. The sparks began to form a dragon and Arthur smiled as it flew about above them. "Like it?"

"Love it," Arthur replied, running a hand from Merlin's shoulder down his chest. "You're amazing, Merlin."

"Arthur?" Uther called as he entered. The dragon disappeared and Arthur kissed Merlin again before leaving the bed. "How is he?"

"He has a day left, according to Gaius," Arthur replied. "How's Hunith?"

"She's doing better. Arthur, has Gaius tried any…" Uther trailed off then looked around and leaned forward to whisper to Arthur. "Has he tried any magical remedies?"

"That's against the law. Of course he hasn't," Arthur replied suspiciously. Uther sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in agitation. "Are you giving us permission to try?"

"There are some books of magic in the royal vault. You love this boy, correct? I cannot stand in the way of that, so long as you find a woman and at least produce an heir in the future. I'm not even asking you to marry, just give me one grandchild," Uther said. "Save him by any means necessary." Then he left.

Arthur rejoined Merlin on the bed and kissed his lips deeply. "Did you hear that?" Merlin nodded. "Think we should come out and tell him I'm in love with a sorcerer?" Merlin smiled and he was glad to see the happiness glittering in his eyes. "Merlin," he breathed before kissing him again.

"I love you, Arthur," Merlin breathed back. They kissed each other over and over before Gaius and Hunith interrupted to spend time with Merlin and Arthur reluctantly when downstairs to the vault to look for a remedy. He found an entire book on that godforsaken plant, Gorgeous Death, and brought it up to Gaius.

"Arthur," Gaius said warningly.

"Don't start, physician. I have exclusive permission. Father decided that under these circumstances, I had the right to use any means necessary to find a cure," Arthur told him before sitting next to Hunith on the bed. She held her son's hand tightly and Merlin held the other one to Arthur. Gaius sat in the chair and began to read the thick tomb. Guinevere and Morgana came into the chambers a half hour later and placed several flowers in vases about the room. "Why?"

"Because this room is starting to be a bit macabre. And Merlin doesn't want to go out in a room that looks and feels sad, do you, Merlin?" Morgana asked, perching herself elegantly on the edge of the bed. Merlin shook his head with a soft smile. He looked tired, they all noticed, but was fighting sleep because they all knew that the next time he went to sleep and woke up again; he would be in the most pain he had ever experienced, unable to be touched by a butterfly batting its wings without feeling like he was being kicked repeatedly. Gwen hugged one of the bedposts and Merlin looked around at all of them. "I think it's time. You need to rest."

"I'm not sure I'm ready," Merlin replied sadly. His mother leaned over to kiss his forehead and embrace him then left the bed. Gaius hugged him tightly then Gwen followed Hunith's example and Morgana kissed his lips gently.

"I can't resist the opportunity to anger my dear brother here," she said when he looked puzzled, inclining her head towards Arthur. Merlin grinned and she led Gwen from the room before they started crying. Arthur leaned over and shared a kiss with Merlin that he knew would be their last.

"I love you," he reminded him. "I'll be right behind you."

"Be absolutely sure I'm dead first," Merlin replied. "I love you too."

Arthur smoothed his hair before he left the bed as well. He sat in the chair and watched his love fall asleep. "The drought will help?"

"He'll be comfortable, so long as no one touches him," Gaius replied.

"I'll get another chair for you, Hunith," Arthur told him before getting up. Hunith thanked him and he returned with a cushioned chair for her and another for Gaius. They sat and watched Merlin sleep, Gaius still reading the massive book. He had no hope but he couldn't not read it. If he didn't and discovered later that it did indeed contain a way to save Merlin, he would never forgive himself. After reading the whole thing twice, he discovered only one thing he did not know before and it did nothing for Merlin. He discovered that Merlin had until midnight the next day. Then, he would be dead.

TBC

Okay, so, is anyone else thinking, "Oh, shit. This is not going to end well,"? C'mon. would I really be so cruel as to kill poor, adorable Merlin? Yes. Yes, I would. You forget, my lovelies. I am evil. He-he. But I also have this wild, ever-changing mind. I haven't truly decided whether or not I'm killing Merlin. So, please, review and read on! And, as always, thank you for reading.