AN: I don't own Merlin. Deal. With. It.

This is a pathetically short chapter, I know. But I plan to have another one up soon! Thank you all for your amazing feedback!

Arthur wanted to stay until Merlin woke up, but Gaius shooed him away.

"He won't be awake for a while. He needs his rest. I will have you notified as soon as he wakes up."

Gaius waited until the king's footsteps had stopped echoing down the corridor. Then he turned to his ward.

"Merlin? Are you awake?"

Merlin inhaled sharply and cracked his eyes open.

"Define awake."

It was a similar sensation to before. The pain distracted him from really registering what was going on, and his senses seemed to be dulled. However, he was able to hone in on Gaius' voice.

He started to cough, and Gaius gripped his shoulder to hold him still. He winced, being held still helped his head, but Gaius had grabbed him on one of his bruises.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," Gaius murmured, his heart clenching at Merlin's wince. Merlin replied with a slightly slurry "S'all right, Gaius."

He coughed again and said "Gaius? I think I've been poisoned...again."

Gaius started to nod, then realized Merlin's eyes had fluttered closed again. "Yes, I'm afraid so. I've prepared an antidote, but it may not be strong enough on its own. Can you use your magic to heal you if it's not?" As he said this, he picked up a vial from his desk and guided it into Merlin's hands.

Merlin swallowed. "I can try."

Taking a deep breath, he downed Gaius' potion, grimacing as the concoction washed over his throat. Some of the pain seemed to dull, but other than that Merlin couldn't feel any signs of it relenting.

Magic it was, then.

Screwing up his strength, he summoned his magic and his eyes burned gold.

At once he had to stifle a cry of pain, the effort of using the healing magic had caused his head to feel as though a spike had been driven through it. But it only lasted a few moments. After that, it began to subside, and Merlin's head began to clear enough to register the battle that was going on in his body between his magic and the poison. But he couldn't hold onto it for long, and he soon passed out again.

Gaius felt Merlin's forehead hopefully. The raging fever seemed to have receeded, but he was still horribly pale. Gaius sighed.

I guess we'll just have to wait.

0o0

Arthur was beyond furious.

He was vaguely aware of the other knights watching warily as he pounded the practice dummy into ribbons, but he didn't care. Of course, his brain chose that moment to remind him the last time he had done this was when Morgana had hit her head and was dying.

STOP IT!

He threw his sword on the ground. This was not helping. If he was honest with himself, nothing would really help except forcing his uncle to replace the practice dummy.

He sighed, rubbing his head in aggravation. The sight of Merlin's bruised body swam in front of his eyes, and he snapped them open.

Dwelling would not help Merlin. Arthur had refrained from arresting Agravaine so they could use him to their advantage. If he arrested Agravaine now, it would have been for nothing that he allowed Merlin to get hurt.

He wanted to get started on a plan of what information they would be feeding Agravaine and when. The thing was, after Agravaine's betrayal, Arthur was having a hard time trusting anyone except Merlin and Gaius. Gwen would have made the list too if she hadn't betrayed him...

Stop thinking about her, he told himself sternly.

He decided he would talk to Merlin when he woke up. Just to make sure no one else was betraying him.

0o0

Arthur had just finished a grueling practice with the knights when a page ran up to him.

"The Court Physician wishes to see you, sire," he said with a bow.

Arthur felt the lump of worry in his stomach grow. What if Gaius hadn't been able to cure Merlin? He hastily removed his armor and hurried towards Gaius's chambers. He knocked and heard a quiet "Enter" from inside.

Almost afraid of what he would find behind the door, Arthur pushed it open and found...

...Merlin, sitting upright and looking tired but very much alive and being handed a cup of water from Gaius.