A/N: As for the majority of this chapter—there are few things I love better than gossipy knights putting their heads together and making decisions. Like Lamia. But without trying to kill each other and with friendship!
Leon was white by the time they reached Agravaine's room.
Gwaine hadn't embellished the story like he usually did to his adventures (especially when they included beautiful wenches or alcohol), but nevertheless Leon had gotten the idea quite effectively. Someone had tortured his prince.
The only thing stopping his rising fury was the fact that the people who had done it were dead. Mostly, from the sound of it, by Merlin's hand.
"Merlin, against all those people?" Leon couldn't help being skeptical, but Gwaine shrugged.
"He's scary when he's angry, mate," Gwaine said, smiling a little drily.
Leon didn't doubt it. He would never falter at listening to Merlin again.
As they reached Agravaine's door, Leon stopped to think. "Let's just tell him Arthur is back and sleeping for now," he said.
Gwaine looked surprised. "Not tell him what happened?" That didn't sound like Leon. "Won't he be angry when he finds out?"
Leon scratched his head a little sheepishly. "Probably," he said, "but he's been… rather reckless… since King Arthur was taken, and it might be wise to wait for a better setting."
Gwaine looked at Leon with a new respect in his eyes. "Are you suggesting we not tell the man in charge of the kingdom what's actually going on?"
Leon nodded slowly.
Gwaine grinned. "I think it's a wonderful plan."
Horses trotted into the courtyard, and knights in their vibrant red slipped off of their horses and turned to face the castle.
Leon was there to greet them, explaining to all of the knights who came across him that they'd found the king and he was going to be fine after a bit, but that he'd been a bit injured in his absence. Gwaine, however, found Percival and Elyan at once and began to fill them in with a more detailed story. Not, of course, including the little "magic" detail.
"And you haven't told Agravaine yet?" Elyan asked, slipping off his gloves.
"I thought it would be easier if he had more people to advise him on any course of action."
Elyan shrugged, but looked at the castle a little distractedly. Gwen used to be good at that. Why did it take about four of them to fill her job?
"And what is our course of action?" Percival asked, and the tall man was practically leaning down to be able to hear them better.
"Nothing," said Gwaine. "We wait until Arthur heals and gets to moving around again before we do anything."
"How long will that be?" asked Elyan as they made their way across the courtyard and towards the castle.
"We don't know yet," Gwaine said. "We came right here from Agravaine's chambers."
All four of them made their way towards Arthur's rooms, still talking among themselves. Once they reached them, they knocked, and the door was answered by Merlin.
He smiled. "You're back."
Elyan responded, "Well, we couldn't find a trace of him. Looks like we were going in the wrong direction. Good thing you knew better."
Merlin grinned and opened the door wider, letting them in. "That's what I'm here for."
As they passed him going into the room, Leon remarked, "I do wonder how you knew better." His eyebrows drew together.
"Just got lucky," Merlin said innocently, and before Leon could question that further, Gwaine was behind him and pushing him a little forcefully into the room.
The knights stood back as Merlin made his way to Arthur's side, next to Gaius, who was sitting in a chair by his bed, having just finished wrapping the burns on Arthur's chest.
"He's still unconscious?" Gwaine asked.
"Just sleeping now, I believe," Gaius replied, standing and turning to face the concerned knights. "His fever is nearly defeated. However, too much noise will surely wake him."
He said the last words rather pointedly, and Percival and Elyan looked at each other over where they'd been talking and shut up.
"He should be fine from what I—"
"Gaius," Merlin cut him, grabbing the old man's arm. Merlin's head jerked towards Arthur, watching the king attentively.
Gaius turned around, and this time he too saw Arthur shift uncomfortably in his sleep, his forehead creased. His mouth opened but no sound came out. Slowly his face smoothed and his breathing changed, and everyone in the room knew that he was awake. There was silence as Arthur's good arm quietly moved across the bed sheets and up to his chest, where he felt the cloths covering his aching chest.
And then he opened his eyes.
His gaze was blank as it fell across the people in the room. He blinked, and no one moved. For a moment Merlin feared that there was no recognition there, and he stepped forward with his hand beginning to reach forward.
Arthur's eyes slid from the group to the individual. And then he opened his mouth and croaked, "Merlin."
Merlin felt himself sag a little in relief. Arthur remembered that they were friends, unlike when he had been in the cell. Merlin walked up and lifted his hand to put it on Arthur's arm.
Arthur pulled his arm away. Merlin froze, but the other knights hadn't noticed. When Arthur saw that he wasn't going to try and touch him again, he looked back at the other knights. Merlin had thought that his gaze was blank before, but now he could see the slight fear hidden behind the emptiness.
And he found himself angry at those kidnappers all over again.
"I guess you're tired, and we're being kind of loud," he said aloud.
"Yeah," said Arthur, shifting in his bed. He looked down at his no longer broken arm and frowned, perplexed. "It's fixed."
He looked up at Merlin with a question in his expression. Merlin tried to look innocent as he lied through his teeth again. "It was like that when Gwaine and I found you," he said.
As Arthur processed that, Merlin turned back to Gaius. "We should probably clear out and let him sleep, don't you think?"
Gaius nodded as he came forward. "I was about to suggest that," he said. "The king needs rest. I'll have to ask for everyone to leave."
The knights nodded willingly enough and began to file out, but before they went, Leon stopped and said, "We're glad you're back, Sire."
"In one piece," added Gwaine, reaching out to clasp Arthur's arm as he passed.
Arthur yanked back, getting his arm out of Gwaine's grip, looking alarmed for a second before he pulled himself together. None of the knights missed that, and they filed out in silence.
Merlin was the last to go.
Once out in the hall, Merlin rubbed his forehead with his hands. "He'll be fine," he said to the others, feeling the need to make the excuse. "He just needs a little time and rest."
Leon looked at Arthur's closed door. "We can't let anyone see him like that, though."
Merlin nodded and stepped out of the way as Walt the servant came down the hall, pressing himself nearer to the wall. "We only need a few days."
"Only we," Gwaine said, pointing around at the small group, "and Gaius can be allowed in there."
Elyan nodded. "What about Agravaine?"
Merlin and Gwaine looked at each other, but it was Leon who saved them from that. "He'll probably be too busy for much visiting anyway. I'm sure he'll understand that Arthur doesn't want to see anyone."
The rest agreed easily enough.
Suddenly thinking of it, Gwaine said, "We need to get those horses back to that farmer that we borrowed them from."
Feeling the need to be useful, Percival volunteered. "I'll bring them back if you tell me where."
"I'll point it out to you," Gwaine said, and both men started down the hall.
"We've all got things to be doing," Leon said, and the others nodded, but Merlin cast a look back at Arthur's door. He didn't want to move from this spot.
The servant named Walt walked down the hall, turning a corner and nearly running into Saul.
"Aberforth!" Saul snapped. "Can we get in?"
Walt's body looked back around to make sure no one was coming. "No, not like this," Aberforth said. "Only Emrys and the knights standing in the hall – there were four of them – are allowed in to see the Once and Future King. Them and the Court Physician. I can't get in with this body."
Saul nodded. "You'll need to get a new one."
"And you?"
"Who is with the king now?"
"The physician is inside. When I came out of the hall, the one they call Merlin – Emrys – was standing watch outside."
Saul smiled. "Well then. I might not need a disguise."
A/N: Please review!