A/N: rushed again, and again not happy. But I am so glad you guys have enjoyed it thus far, I have been so grateful and rather taken aback by the lovely feedback, so really hope this doesn't disappoint.
'Arthur, are you feeling okay?' Morgana asked as they sat down to dinner.
'I'm fine' Arthur replied, stifling a yawn behind his hand, 'just a little tired'
'You don't look okay' Morgana said with what she hoped sounded like heart-felt concern.
'He looks fine to me' Uther said taking a swig of wine.
'He looks a little pale'
'Thanks for the concern Morgana' Arthur said, feeling a little uncomfortable.
'I'm only saying because Gwen-' his ears pricked up,'-mentioned something to do with a sleeping sickness going round the lower town and you have been spending a lot of time down there recently'
'I feel fine-' he began.
'Gwen says everyone says that. First symptoms are tiredness and pallor'
'Coincidence' he muttered.
'Well I think you ought to be checked over, because if it's treated quickly it's not a problem but if it isn't...' she paused for dramatic effect, 'you die'
'I do not need to-' he began again.
'I think Morgana's right, there is no need to take the risk' Uther said firmly.
Arthur scowled across the table at Morgana, who smirked back.
'You can go and see Gaius after dinner'
'I thought Gaius was on leave on account of him visiting his sister in Ealdor' Arthur said.
'I forgot' Uther said, gritting his teeth in deep thought, 'I will send for the physician from that outlying village' he said waving his hand vaguely.
'That is not necessary' Arthur said quickly.
'I agree with Arthur. I could just ask Gwen to take a look at him' Morgana said, her attention so focused on Uther she did not notice Arthur's look of surprise and the flush which crept into his cheeks. 'She
knows the symptoms very well and could tell us if he is infected or not. If he is found to be unwell, then by all means call for the physician. However if it turns out to be a false alarm then calling urgently for the
physician would just have caused undue concern amongst the people, for word would certainly get around'
'I suppose you are right' Uther said picking up his cutlery, 'you will and go see this girl after dinner Arthur, and you will remain under her care until she is satisfied you are well'
'Of course Father' he replied, without looking up from his plate. Maybe being ill wasn't such a terrible thing after all.
Morgana steered him to her chambers.
She opened the door.
'Gwen?'
She looked up from her needlework.
'My Lady?' Gwen said before spotting Arthur, 'Sire?' she exclaimed as she got swiftly up from her seat to offer him a low curtsey.
His stomach lurched at her formality and the motion which reminded him so strongly of that day, several weeks ago, when she had told him that she could never be his Queen.
'Arthur are you okay?' Morgana asked, genuinely concerned this time, on closer inspection he didn't look like his usual self, his eyes were over-bright and his skin rather pale. Maybe he was coming down with
something.
'I'm fine' he said, forcing a smile, then he turned to Gwen, 'which Morgana will not believe. She has decided that I am dying of something'
'Well we can't have that, can we?' Gwen said with a mock seriousness which was totally lost on her mistress.
'I was worried that he might have the sleeping sickness' Morgana said quickly, 'and Gaius isn't here, so I thought you would be the best person to consult'
'I am no physician'
'You are the next best thing' Morgana said swiftly.
'Do you mind going down to Gaius's rooms because his books and charts are all there sire?' Gwen asked Arthur.
'That sounds fine'
The three of them made their way through the castle to Gaius's chambers in awkward quiet, Morgana attempting to engage them both in conversation with little success.
Gwen knocked.
'Come on in' Merlin shouted.
'Hey guys' he beamed as they entered, 'what are you doing here?' he said through a mouthful of soup.
'I need to check Arthur hasn't come down with the sleeping sickness' Gwen said collecting several books from a shelf, 'and Gaius said I could use any books I needed'
'No problem' Merlin said chewing on a chunk of bread.
'Please sit down' Gwen gestured at an empty chair. Arthur sat down obediently.
Gwen pulled up a chair so that she was sitting directly in front of him.
'My Lord, can you please follow my finger with just your eyes?' she asked raising her index finger in front of his face, he focused his gaze on the slender finger before him, though it took a great deal of effort
not to stare into the eyes of it's owner. She moved it to the left. His eyes moved with her finger. She moved it to the right and his eyes followed the digit.
She allowed her hand to drop and then leaned in towards him. For one mad moment he thought she was about to kiss him but her eyes were intently looking at his, not into his. But the closeness of her alone
was enough to make him feel lightheaded as he breathed in the fresh smell of lavender.
She pulled away too quickly, 'no problems there' she smiled.
'Merlin, I want to go for a walk and I need a chaperone' Morgana said tugging the reluctant servant from his seat.
'But I haven't finished my dinner' he protested loudly.
'Come on Merlin' she said, her teeth clenched with the effort of practically dragging Merlin across the room.
'Morgana, I should probably check you too' Gwen said quickly, acutely aware this new development would leave her and Arthur alone.
'I'll be back later' Morgana said swiftly, 'Merlin, Come on!' she said pulling him away from the table and his dinner.
He tried to protest but he was already being shoved indelicately out of the door.
'So...?' Arthur said nervously as Gwen stared mournfully at the now closed door.
She turned to face him, her face a little flushed, 'could you please hold out your arm for me'
She took his wrist in her hand and pressed firmly with her index and middle fingers. He felt his heart begin to race at her touch.
After a moment she let go off his wrist, 'your pulse is a little fast' she said getting to her feet. He coloured.
She looked into his face.
'Oh' she said in comprehension, blushing as her pulse began to race too.
'Sorry' he said, thoroughly embarrassed.
'Its fine' she replied not looking at him, but pouring over a book instead, 'it was a sluggish pulse I was worried about'
'Well I feel great, so is this really necessary?'
'And you look great, but it's good to be sure' she said without thinking. Looking up from the page to see Arthur's cocky grin, she flushed, 'I meant healthy, you look healthy'
The cocky smile didn't fade.
'So I said you look great? It's not a big deal. I'm sure girls tell you that you look great all the time' she said quickly.
He stood up so he was standing right next to her, a wide smile on his face, 'but you don't'
She gulped, looking up at him; he was so close, too close, much too close.
'So what's next then?' he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
'I need to check your breathing'
'Sure' he said brightly.
'Would you kindly take off your jacket?'
'No problem' he said pulling it off, folding it haphazardly and placing it on the table. He reached up and went to pull his shirt over his head.
'Um, Arthur, you don't need to take off your shirt' she said quickly, her face flushed as she tried very hard to avert her gaze.
'Oh right' he said, blushing too, 'of course'
'So could you lie down please?' she asked, pointing at the makeshift cot in the corner that Gaius used for patients.
'Er, okay' he said tentatively.
Once he was laying flat on the cot Gwen knelt on the floor beside him, so their eyes were on a level.
'I'm just going to lay my hand on your chest if that's alright?'
He nodded, noticing her slightly apprehensive tone.
She placed her hand in the centre of his chest.
'Can you take a deep breath for me?'
He complied, proud that he had actually remembered how to breathe at all.
'And again, in...' he breathed in, 'out...'
'Perfect' she announced.
'Wow, I look great and am perfect, it's been a pretty good day so far' he grinned, sitting up and swinging both legs over the side of the cot.
'Being perfect at breathing is nothing much to boast about Arthur' she giggled, 'I find most living people are pretty good at it'
'Guinevere' he said with mock reproach, 'and there I was thinking you had paid me a genuine compliment'
'I have paid you a number of compliments Arthur Pendragon' she protested as she sat down on the cot beside him.
'To be fair I wasn't fully conscious for most of them' he teased.
She went to give him a playful push but he caught her hand. They looked at each other. And he leaned tentatively in. He paused half an inch from her lips, waiting for her to collapse the remaining distance.
'We can't' she whispered, her breath brushing his lips as he opened his eyes.
'Why not?' he asked with wide eyes, and she couldn't help but notice the tinge of hurt in them.
'Because nothing has changed' she said, turning her face away from him, trying to quash the sense of guilt she felt at hurting him.
'Exactly' he said simply.
She snapped around to face him.
'I still feel the same way' he said with a half smile.
'But-'
'Just because you want me to view you as just a servant doesn't mean I will, or can'
She looked at him with a frown.
'Tell me to leave you be and I will, I swear, tell me you don't want anything to do with me and you will have your wish' he said earnestly.
She couldn't utter a word.
'Morgana, what are we doing?' Merlin said as she pulled him down the corridor.
'Sometimes destiny just needs a little helping hand, don't you agree?'
'Er...'
'Sometimes people are just too blind to see that they are meant to be together'
Er...Morgana you do know that I just think of you as a friend, right?'
'Merlin!'
'What?' he exclaimed.
'I was not talking about us!' she hissed.
'Then who were you...' his eyes widened in understanding 'you're not talking about Arthur and Gwen are you?'
'Don't you think they would make a good couple?'
'Do I think they would make a good couple?' he repeated the question in hopes of delaying a response, unsure whether this meant Morgana was still in the dark or not and feeling Arthur probably wouldn't take
kindly to him enlightening her on the subject.
'I had a dream, a vision Merlin; I saw Arthur become King, marry Gwen, make her Queen and have a son with her. And Camelot was at peace, magic was permitted, Albion was united, it was the kind of future
I've always wanted' she said in a rush. She took a deep breath, 'and they were so happy.'
'Really?' Merlin said, his head cocked to one side.
'I know it sounds ridiculous'
'Not so ridiculous' he said with slight smile she couldn't understand.
'But that future isn't set in stone and there is no way it will ever happen at this rate' she said exasperatedly, 'I need that future Merlin and so does Camelot. And Arthur and Gwen deserve it too, if you could
only have seen them together...' she smiled.
He grinned like a loon, 'well I reckon on this particular occasion we could give fate a little push in the right direction'
'The more of a push the better, goodness knows we need it, I don't think Arthur's even registered that Gwen's a girl yet'
Merlin snorted with laughter but managed to pass it off as a hacking cough.
'I wonder how it's going' Morgana pondered aloud after a moment.
'Maybe we should go and check?' Merlin said brightly.
'No we shouldn't really-' she began, 'oh but if it's getting awkward we really should' she chewed her lip.
'You know you want to' Merlin grinned.
'Fine' Morgana said, her cheeks flushed with excitement as they performed a U-turn in the corridor and headed back towards the physician's quarters.
'Oh and Merlin, I think its best we keep this to ourselves okay?'
'My lips are sealed'
'Er...' Gwen managed to stammer.
She was saved from answering by the door bursting open to reveal a breathless Merlin and Morgana.
'So as I was saying you will absolutely fine sire' she said standing up and forcing a bright smile.
'Thank you' Arthur said calmly, standing up too.
'So you don't have the sleeping sickness?'
'No' he replied, 'I told you I didn't'
'Did you tell Gwen about being so tired recently?' Morgana asked swiftly.
'Um...' Arthur said sheepishly under the glare of his foster sister.
'Oh Arthur' Morgana said exasperatedly, 'well why don't you come back tomorrow morning and see if there isn't anything Gwen can do to help you sleep better'
Fortunately Morgana was totally oblivious to the suddenly wide eyes and flushed cheeks of her three companions as they all sought to avoid the gaze of the others.
Gwen recovered her composure first, 'I would recommend an early night and I can make up an herbal remedy for you tomorrow if you would like sire'
'Right' Arthur said briskly, 'sounds fine. Well I'd better go and get that early night'
'Goodnight My Lord' she said, inclining her head to him. Well it was a bit of an improvement he thought rather glumly as he slipped out of the door.
'Wait!' Merlin shouted down the corridor after him, 'I'll come with you'
'That is unnecessary' Arthur said with a dismissive wave of the hand.
'You mean you've learnt how to undress yourself, all on your own?' he exclaimed in mock astonishment as he bounced alongside Arthur.
'Shut up Merlin'
'So I take it from you mood that Gwen didn't give you the full body examination you were hoping for?' he teased with a wide grin.
'Say anything like that again and I'll put you the stocks for a week' he said thrusting his pointed finger in his manservant's face, 'and the same penalty applies to telling anyone, and I mean anyone about Gwen and I'
'So there is something to tell?' Merlin inquired, rubbing his hand together in excitement.
'No' Arthur said quickly.
'You're blushing' Merlin pronounced gleefully.
'I am not' Arthur protested as he stormed off towards his chambers.
