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Red Sky

The bell's chimes indicated it was midday to Gaius. He walked up into Merlin's room checking to see if he was awake before the knights arrived. He stuck his head around the door to see if Merlin was up but he could see his ward was still sound asleep. He turned around as he heard a knock at the door, a little shocked when he saw Gwaine's head poking around the door.

"Hey Gaius, is he awake yet?" Gwaine asked stepping into the room.

"He will be soon and judging by this morning's actions, i guess you orchestrated the whole thing last night?" Gaius asked as Gwaine headed up to Merlin's room.

"What you mean 'operation defy Gaius'? Nah never heard of it, I'm a good honest knight." Gwaine said the picture of innocence.

"Call for me when he wakes up." Gaius added, laughed at Gwaine's act and waved him off into Merlin's room. He was sure the other knights would get revenge later.

Gwaine grabbed the best seat next to Merlin's bed and propped his feet up on the edge on the bed. He smiled guiltily as he looked at Merlin, maybe he should have woke the rest of them up in the morning, but nature called and Gwaine had to answer. He had planned on returning but saw everyone being kicked out so headed back to his chambers. But no-one was going to believe that so he'd just have to accept the torture he received from everyone else.

"Gw'ne?"

Gwaine was snapped from his daydream about what was the worst that could happen to see Merlin staring at him.

"That's Sir Gwaine to you, you commoner," Gwaine said jokingly, moving into Merlin's line of sight so he didn't aggravate hid ribs by moving. "I'd better get Gaius too …" Before he could even finish that sentence Gaius had opened the door and was halfway across the room. Gwaine shook his head, for an old man he could certainly move fast.

Merlin, now more alert, was back to his position of half sitting, half leaning against the wall: finding it the most comfortable position for his ribs. Gwaine was joking with him.

"How many times do I have to tell you about tavern fights before you actually learn the basics?" Gwaine said shaking his head, you'd have thought by now that after all his –brilliant and heroic – stories that Merlin would know how to defend himself near or in a tavern.

"Yeah well it would be better if I actually practiced; you can't just throw words at me and expect me to learn how to fight." Merlin moaned, he was going to get a lecture of some form off all the knights.

"I'm sorry," Gwaine said. "Your right, if you're going to learn how to fight, I'll just have to take you to the tavern more often so you learn how to fight." Gwaine said laughing as he saw Merlin's eyes widen.

"That's really not a good idea now is it Gwaine."

Gwaine spun around to see Leon, Elyan and Percival in the door. He smiled weakly at the hoping they would wait later for revenge. They all greeted Merlin and spread themselves around the room before continuing with their conversation.

"I'm telling you the tavern …"

"No way, he'll end up like you, he can train with us." Elyan reasoned.

"What and be crushed by Percival and Arthur, I'll teach him when he's got free time, one on one, it works with the younger knights." Leon argued.

"I don't need to know how to fight!" Merlin cried after listening to the knights' debate about whose method of teaching Merlin self-defence would work best. Percival who had yet to say anything laughed at his fellow brother's antics. Merlin gave him a half-hearted glare before turning back to his friends.

"Well Merlin you quite clearly do given the last few days events." Percival said, justifying his need to laugh. Merlin let out a sigh crossing his arms on his chest. Things could only get better right?

Arthur bounced up the stairs to Gaius' chambers. He was finished with the council for today. He couldn't wait till Merlin was feeling well enough to join him. He had to admit it, Merlin livened up the meetings. The councillors were all older and share his father's views which made it hard to bring about change. It didn't really take much to liven up the place, just a few sarcastic comments and some subtle insults muttered – just loud enough for Arthur to hear – made all the difference.

He smiled at Gaius as he entered the physician's chambers, he could hear laughing from Merlin's room with indicated the knights where already present and that Merlin was most likely awake. He walked into Merlin's room to see all the knights and Merlin laughing most likely at Gwaine who appeared to have joined in.

"Feeling better are we?" Arthur joked.

"Raring to go, sire." Merlin quipped back, grinning as Arthur rolled his eyes. He was going to say something else as he approached Merlin's bed but was shoved aside by what appeared to be a purple flash. On second glances he realised it was Gwen. She had pulled Merlin into a tight hug, ignoring the fact that he wasn't in the best position to do so.

"I can't believe you were so stupid …" all the knights and Arthur grinned, pleased for once not to be on the receiving end of Gwen's scoldings. Merlin sunk a bit into his pillow and let Gwen get it all, noticing Gwaine silent laughter at his misfortune.

"Hey aren't you all mad a Gwaine for something?" Merlin asked giving Gwaine a pointed look. Gwen pivoted around; now realising Gwaine was in the room and wanted to give him a piece of mind from last night.

"Ah, Sir Gwaine …" Gwen started, ignoring the other knight's silent tears of laughter at Gwaine. Percival looked around the room and grinned to himself. Everything was going to be alright.

"Oh and Merlin," Gwen said breaking off from her rant. "Arthur's going to teach you self-defence.

"He's what?"

"I'm what?" Merlin and Arthur cried at the same time.

"Look Merlin, it's not that hard Gwaine can do it when he's drunk, now punch me!"

Percival winced at the scene before him; maybe almost everything would be alright.

"You're wearing armour!" Merlin cried back to Arthur.

"So?"

Merlin threw his head back and looked at the sunset in the sky, the blue swirling into the late night sun.

Red sky in the morning Shepard's warning; Red sky at night Shepard's delight.

"Just aim around it."

Maybe not such a delight, Merlin thought as he looked for a soft spot amongst all the metal. It was going to be a long night.

Okay and i'm done. Review and let me know what you guys thought. Hope you enjoyed it.