As I've said, my disclaimers are in the first chapter. Thank you for reading this far, my dears, and I announce that this is the last chapter. It has one warning for minor sexual content, nothing explicit, but other than that, it has nothing that'll make someone yell at me or feel offended. Enjoy.
Falls, Shivers, and Undeniable Concern:
Chapter Five: Midnight Brings The End:
Merlin woke in the morning and immediately began to scream in agony. Gaius quickly poured more of the potion to relieve his pain down his throat and he quieted. Guinevere moved one of the vases to the bedside table so Merlin could distract himself by looking at it. He didn't speak, barely managed to stay awake, and he refused all food and drink. Arthur longed to take his hand but knew that, even with the potion, it would cause him far too much pain. Hunith often caught herself reaching out to stroke his cheek. Sweat rolled down his body and his chills returned, this time never fading. It was a terrifying sight, the pale boy shivering and sweating as tears filled his eyes constantly.
He reached over at ten o'clock that night, only two hours before his final hour, and picked up one of the flowers. The water it had been in dripped on his hand as he examined it, lost in the memory of laughing with Arthur in that field while they ate. Arthur noticed something immediately when the water touched Merlin's pale skin. His shaking stopped in that hand, but only for a moment. "Merlin, I'm going to do something. It shouldn't hurt."
He rose from his chair and picked up the vase. Everyone stared at him as he gently poured the water inside on Merlin's chest. And stared in wonder at Merlin when his color returned slightly, he looked a little less anguished, and his shaking stopped. "Anything?"
"I don't hurt as much anymore," Merlin whispered.
"Guinevere, Morgana, go back to that field and get as many flowers as you can. Gaius, fetch a servant and have the tub filled with cold water then make a stronger pain reliever for Merlin. I have an idea. It may not work but it's worth a shot," Arthur said. Everyone rushed to do as told and Arthur and the servant that came to fill the tub helped him move it until it wasn't so far from the bed. While the young man filled the tub, Hunith and Arthur tossed all the wildflowers into the tub. When Gwen and Morgana returned, they added their flowers until half the tub was flowers and the other half was water. Arthur tossed the blankets off Merlin and Gaius gave the poor boy the new potion.
"I feel numb," Merlin told them after a few minutes. "It's so much better." Arthur gingerly picked his love up off the bed and Merlin grimaced. "No, no. Put me down. Please. It hurts."
"Only a moment, Merlin." Arthur lowered him into the tub and Merlin relaxed. "Just for thirty minutes. If nothing happens, we'll dry you off and make you comfortable again." Merlin nodded. They sat to wait again.
After ten minutes, Merlin was able to push himself up into a sitting position and announced he wasn't in pain anymore, even after Hunith touched him to check for a fever. There was none but she couldn't attribute it to improvement with him in a cold tub. But after thirty minutes, Merlin was smiling and boosting that he no longer felt nauseous, in fact he was quite hungry, and his throat no longer ached. Forty-five minutes and he appeared perfectly fine again. He stood up and dried himself off before stepping out of the tub and into Arthur's arms. "Do you think it worked? Do you think I'll stay better?"
"No. The affect is probably temporary but it should give me enough time to make a potion from those wonderful flowers," Gaius said excitedly. "I'll need an extra set of hands." Morgana and Gwen left with him excitedly. Merlin kissed Arthur but Arthur shook his head and urged him back into the tub.
"Why?" Merlin demanded in displeasure. "I feel great." Arthur smiled and started to lean in to kiss him but, before he could, Merlin began to spasm. Arthur grabbed him out of the water rather than risk drowning and placed him on the ground. Hunith and Arthur watched in terror as Merlin's toes curled, he went rigid, and he continued to seize violently.
"Merlin!" Arthur cried in fright. Merlin finally stopped and passed out. "Oh, gods. I think I made it worse."
Hunith patted his shoulder comfortingly and said, "Let's just dry him off and get him comfortable. At this point, it's all we can do. If there's a cure in those flowers, Gaius will find it."
"But they made it worse," Arthur reminded her.
"The bath made it worse, yes, but we've seen the flowers' affect on him. Your cloak covered in their pollen soothed him. The scent eased his pain. The bath nearly cured him. They work, but not as a bath, obviously." They undressed Merlin and put him in dry breeches then placed him back on the bed and made him comfortable.
He did not wake up and, as midnight approached, Arthur could no longer sit and watch. He left the room. He went up to the tower and leaned on the wall to stare out into the night. As midnight rolled around, the prince slid down to sit against the wall and began to cry once more. He cried himself out then sat there staring at nothing in particular until dawn, when his mourning was interrupted.
"ARTHUR!" He looked up to find Guinevere and Morgana running towards him. "Come quick! It's Merlin!"
"He's gone?" Arthur asked. Already his eyes seemed dead and empty. Morgana grabbed his arms and pulled him up. He allowed her to pull him down to his chambers, not really caring or listening as she and Guinevere talked excitedly. He didn't know how they could be happy with Merlin dead.
"ARTHUR! WAKE UP!" Morgana yelled outside his chambers as she shook him violently. "Have you been listening at all?"
"What does it matter? He's gone," Arthur replied sadly. She rolled her eyes and shoved him into the room. He would have gotten mad, had he honestly given a damn about anything now. But without Merlin, nothing mattered. He glanced at the bed, expecting to find it void of occupants, Merlin long ago moved to the royal burial crept to be prepped for his funeral, but that was not what he found at all. He found two people sitting on his bed, one at the foot, one sitting contently against the pillows.
"Hi," Merlin said cheerfully. Arthur just stared. Merlin grinned. "Gaius managed to make the potion in time. I'm going to be fine." Arthur still just stood there, completely frozen. Merlin frowned and looked uncomfortable. "Um, Arthur? Still there?"
Arthur crossed the room quickly and put his hand to Merlin's cheek. His warm, life-filled cheek. "You're alive." Merlin nodded and reached up to touch his face as well. Arthur moved in to swallow Merlin's lips. Merlin eagerly returned the kiss. "Thank God. I love you."
Merlin grinned up at him. "I gathered that." Arthur smiled at his cheeky tone. "I was a little mad you weren't here when I woke up, Arthur."
"I was deciding how to die," Arthur said nonchalantly.
Merlin grimaced. "When did I agree to that again? You're not allowed to die, dumbass."
Arthur laughed. "Yes, sire," he teased. He kissed the warlock again and Merlin grinned again. "Can I get you anything?"
"Nope. I'm good. Sit with me?" Arthur went around the bed and climbed onto it until he was sitting beside him with his arm around his shoulders. He watched Merlin scarf down the massive tray of food he was given. He was starving, he told Arthur. Arthur just smiled and kept his head on Merlin's shoulder.
"You two are really cute," Morgana said teasingly. Merlin grinned and Arthur glared.
"Go away, Morgana. Go…Go tell Father Merlin's alive," Arthur ordered firmly. He tugged Merlin closer and the sorcerer turned his head to kiss his prince's forehead. "And that he can stop preparing funerals."
"Fine," Morgana huffed. Guinevere kissed Merlin's forehead before she rushed after her mistress.
Hunith smiled at her boy. "What is it, Mum?" Merlin asked with his mouth full of bread.
"Nothing, dear. Just…Immeasurable relief. Suddenly, I'm very tired. I'll be back after a nap, all right? Gaius, you too," she said firmly. "I'm sure Arthur can take care of him." They hugged and kissed Merlin goodbye before they left. Arthur got up and locked the door.
"Why'd you do that?" Merlin asked nervously.
"No interruptions," Arthur said by way of an explanation. He lied down and wrapped his arms around Merlin's waist. Merlin set his tray on the ground and slid down to lie level with Arthur. They kissed each other and Arthur ran his fingers through the hair of his lover. "I love you so damn much, Merlin. I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again."
"Good. Kiss me more," Merlin demanded firmly. Arthur chuckled and leaned in to kiss him again. "I love you too," Merlin mumbled when they pulled apart again. "So much."
"Not more than I love you," Arthur said teasingly. "Let's get married." Merlin grinned again. "It'd have to be a private ceremony, of course, but it doesn't matter. I want you to be mine forever, Merlin."
"Marriage would be great, if your father would let us, but he probably won't, Arthur. Not yet at least," Merlin reminded him. "If we ever can, I'd love it."
"Good. You're mine. All mine," Arthur told him in a tone that seemed to dare him or anyone else to contest his claim. Merlin just smiled. They kissed over and over again but, as it started to get heated, Merlin pushed Arthur away. He looked like he might complain but stopped himself before he could. He knew Merlin probably needed time, no matter how he ached for the warlock.
"Arthur, you need to sleep. You haven't been, right? And when you did, you were sleeping in that damn chair! We can be…intimate…later," Merlin finished awkwardly. "Plus, we need to bath first. Just…Just lie down and hold me. Tomorrow, okay?"
"Whenever you're ready," Arthur replied. "Not before. We are not going to do anything you're not ready for, all right?" He stroked Merlin's cheek and received a beaming smile as a reward. "Time to sleep then." They curled up in each other's arms and were asleep in a few moments, both listening to each other's breathing and heartbeats. When Arthur woke several long, restful hours later, Merlin was towel drying his hair by the mirror with only a pair of brown breeches on. "Mm," Arthur purred. "Shirtless Merlin. I like it."
"Morning," Merlin replied with a roll of his eyes. He walked over and bent down to kiss Arthur gently. Arthur, however, had other ideas. He wrapped one arm around Merlin's waist, the other around his neck to guard his head, and yanked. "Arthur!" Merlin objected when Arthur flipped him onto the bed and began to lavish his neck with kisses and love bites. "Don't."
The objection was half-hearted as he moaned in pleasure under Arthur's attention. "I have to show you," Arthur murmured. "I have to show you how much I love you."
"Okay," Merlin agreed eagerly. Arthur chuckled and pushed himself up to look at Merlin. The warlock blushed under his inspection. "Um, but you should probably be quick. Your bath water will get cold if you wait too long."
Arthur paused a minute to think about that. With a growl, he got off Merlin and began to pull off his boots. "I have to bathe first." Merlin nodded and helped Arthur undress before watching him climb into the tub. "You already bathed?"
"Yeah. Down at Gaius's," Merlin replied.
"Join me anyway," Arthur ordered firmly. Merlin blushed and looked down. Arthur waited patiently, somehow knowing he would get his way.
"Look away a minute. Just until I'm in," Merlin requested. Arthur didn't want to but he looked away anyway. Merlin removed his breeches and climbed into the bath with Arthur. Immediately, Arthur pulled him into his lap and began to kiss his shoulder. "Easy, Arthur. I'm not going to vanish."
"I don't know that. We never know that. I'm so sick of almost losing you. I'm thinking about locking both of us in this room and never letting you leave." Merlin chuckled. "My cute little idiot," Arthur purred affectionately, licking Merlin's ear. Merlin moaned. "I love you."
"I love you too," Merlin said, turning his head to kiss Arthur's lips deeply. "Don't tease my ears. We'll have problems getting you clean if you do."
"Good," Arthur replied calmly.
Merlin felt a hand sliding from his stomach towards his… "Arthur!"
"Relax," the prince cooed. "I'll be gentle. You deserve pleasure after everything you've been through these past three days. Just relax and let me care for you." Merlin resisted and, after a few minutes, Arthur released the warlock's erection despite knowing Merlin was lying about not wanting to be touched.
Merlin chewed his lips to hide his disappointment. He had liked the way Arthur was stroking him. He didn't honestly know why he lied and said he didn't. In fact, all he wanted was that touch to continue. "Um, you stopped?"
"You asked me to. Past the pleas of a nervous virgin," Arthur replied. He wrapped his arms around Merlin again and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again without permission."
Merlin sighed. "I don't know why I made you stop. I liked it. A lot. But I'm a little scared. Sex makes things a lot more intimate. If we can't make it together, then it'll make everything harder," Merlin confessed. He turned onto his knees to face him and they kissed gently. "What do you wanna do?"
"Pleasure you. That's it. No sex tonight, of course, but pleasure for your suffering." He kissed Merlin's forehead. "And we're going to make it. You're stuck with me for the rest of your life then after. I love you. You're stuck with me."
"I love you too. There's still so much to tell you but for now, you need to know that we've always been each other's destiny. Two sides of the same coin," Merlin confessed. Arthur smiled and nodded as if he'd always known. "You're real happy by that, aren't you?"
"Oh, very. You're mine, mine, mine," Arthur announced in a tone that reminded Merlin of a bratty, boosting child.
"You're seriously demented," Merlin decided. I'm not property, Arthur."
"No, I know that. But you're my lover. The love of my life. No one else's. That bequeaths pride, even if you're a worthless manservant. You're not a worthless anything else, thankfully." Merlin rolled his eyes. Arthur really was a pain in the ass. "Don't roll those eyes at me, idiot, or I'll leave you hard."
Merlin froze for a minute to contemplate this and Arthur smirked. "You're an arse," Merlin complained. Arthur laughed and kissed him in reply. "A royal arse."
"You know you love it. Now, let's wash then I'll take care of you," Arthur told him firmly. Merlin nodded and, for once, didn't argue.
Hours later as Merlin kissed his mum goodnight and Gaius made sure Arthur would remember to watch him for any signs of a relapse, Arthur found himself watching Merlin intently. But not for signs of sickness. No, he just liked watching him. Merlin picked up the room though it was mostly clean then turned down the bed and started to dress Arthur in his night things.
"Merlin, you're off duty," Arthur had to remind him. They laughed and Merlin sat on the bed comfortably. Arthur dressed himself for bed and watched Merlin do the same out of the corner of his eye, so not to make him uncomfortable. Though he found the blush that spread across Merlin's cheeks to his ears adorable when he did make him uncomfortable. Once they were nestled on the bed in each other's arms, Arthur refused to close his eyes. He couldn't. He had to watch Merlin, he decided. He had to watch him like a hawk and make sure he didn't relapse. If he did...Arthur didn't even want to think of it. He just wanted to make sure he didn't.
"Arthur, I can't sleep with you staring at me," Merlin told him.
"I can't sleep knowing I could wake up and you'd be gone," Arthur replied. "I just want to make sure you're alive at all times."
"Arthur," Merlin sighed. After a minute, he nodded and smiled. "Okay. Put your head on my chest. Listen to my heart. Then we can both sleep." Arthur smiled and did as advised. "Better?" He nodded. "Good. I'm so tired."
"I bet. You've been through hell lately." Merlin slid his fingers into Arthur's hair and Arthur sighed pleasurably. "Yet you still have an amazing touch."
"So do you and everything we've been through was hard on you too," Merlin told him. "I love you. So much."
"I love you too, moron," Arthur said with a smile while he started to drift off.
"I think I liked love better," Merlin grumbled. Arthur just laughed, mentally promising that he would never take Merlin for granted again. Both were grateful that midnight did not bring the end of Merlin's life. However, they would admit it brought about the end of their friendship. That wasn't so bad though. It was only the beginning of something much, much better.
Okay, I'm done.
I honestly got a little bored while writing this and I'm not pleased with how it turned out but what're you gonna do, right? LOL. So, as usual, I'd love to hear your thoughts and thank you for reading.