REVISED AND REVISITED!
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Chapter Two
"What the...?"
Arthur couldn't think. He was in some sort of shock. He had been looking Merlin to tell him to do a new list of chores by the end of the day and he found him barely conscious on the ground in the upper dungeons, not another soul in sight.
Quickly he lifted Merlin off the ground, pausing briefly when he felt something moist on the palm of his hand. He removed it from Merlin's back so he could see and saw it was blood. Gaius, he thought. I need to get to Gaius.
As hurriedly as he could while holding Merlin the Prince rushed up the stairs and into the hall and almost ran straight into Morgana.
"Could you watch wh-" She began to complain about how inconsiderate and rude Arthur was but the form in his arms halted her words. "What on earth happened?"
"I'm sorry, Morgana," he was already rushing off and calling behind him, "I don't have time to explain. I don't know how seriously he's hurt."
He practically sprinted around the corner, then years of roaming the castle halls took over as he twisted and turned, taking the fastest route to the Physician's Chambers. When he arrived he kicked the door open with his foot and swiftly made his way to the bed that was ever present next to the fire.
"Gaius." he called out the old man's name, as he didn't sight him as he entered. "Gaius!" He placed Merlin on the bed then went to check in the other room. "Damn!" Arthur growled his annoyance. Why was it when Arthur needed him, really needed him, the man was nowhere to be seen?
Thankfully, Morgana's curiosity lead her to follow Arthur and as he came out of the other room, Morgana strode into the main. "Arthur, what is going on?"
He sighed his relief. "I don't know but I need you to go find Gaius. Don't ask me anything because I really do not know. Merlin could be seriously hurt and I can't... I need you to just... I don't know! He needs Gaius now!"
Arthur hated when the situation was out of his control, it made him feel frustrated and...hell, it feel was frightening.
Morgana placed a calming hand on Arthur's arm, "I'll go look for him." And with that she ran out of the room, all thoughts of keeping up appearances lost.
Arthur massaged his forehead worriedly and paced.
There was nothing else he could think of to do. He knew next to nothing about medicine and he was scared that if he did do something it might make it worse.
But mainly he was scared of what he would find underneath that blue shirt of Merlin's. Arthur shook his head. He had could not stand there and do nothing while, for all he knew, Merlin could be dying. There was so much blood, too much to have been on Merlin. Ever.
Arthur strode to Merlin's side and, with a little trouble, stripped off Merlin's shirt...
And then stopped. Dead in his tracks.
Merlin's entire upper body was black and blue, smeared with blood that mainly seemed to be pouring out of two or three large gashes. One at Merlin's side, the other two on his chest. Bringing himself back to reality Arthur took a deep breath. He looked more closely at one of the wounds on his chest and lost it.
Arthur quickly jumped away from the bed and vomited.
The wound was a cut running diagonally across Merlin's chest and stomach. Blood still was seeping and the white of bone could be seen poking out.
"Sire! Are you ok?"
Arthur looked up from his position on the floor to find Gaius, being followed by a distressed Morgana. He coughed once then found his voice. "I'm fine. Merlin," he said, pointing to the bed. "It's Merlin."
Gaius nodded once then went to Merlin's side to inspect the wounds. Morgana went to Arthur's side. She knelt beside him and rubbed circles on his back soothingly as he continued to empty the contents of his stomach onto Gaius' floor. A floor which Merlin, no doubt, had scrubbed. Oh, Merlin.
He gagged again.
"Are you alright?"
Arthur just remained crouching for a second and then, after his breathing regulated, he replied, "I'm fine."
Morgana left his side momentarily and came back with a cup of water, which Arthur accepted gratefully.
"I've never done that before," his voice was low as he stood up.
"What? Vomited?"
"Not that, I've just never vomited because of seeing a wound."
"It probably makes all the difference in the world seeing a wound like that on a friend," Morgana replied softly.
Arthur looked at her for a second, then handed her back the water with a mumbled 'thanks' and walked over to Gaius next to Merlin's bed.
"Is there anything that I can do to help, Gaius?"
The Physician nodded, though his eyes did not leave his task of wiping away the blood with some cloth. "A fresh bucket of water and if you could put some more wood on the fire, I expect we will need it."
"I'll get the water," Morgana said, the hurried off.
Arthur simply went and poked his head outside the door to the chambers, called down the stairs to a guard passing by, and told him to get firewood quickly.
"How bad is he?" Arthur asked, walking back over.
Gaius shook his head, "Quite bad. The cuts cannot be allowed to become infected or I fear he may die. He has..." Gaius paused and poked and felt around Merlin's front for a second then picked back up. "He has two broken ribs and I fear one may be very, very serious."
Arthur seemed to stiffen at his words. "When I found him he coughed and blood came out of his mouth. Could his rib punctured his lung?"
Gaius breathed hard and paused. "I really hope not, sire, I really hope not."
Arthur closed his eyes briefly, praying to whatever thing was out there that Merlin's lungs were hole-less and perfectly intact.
"If I may, Arthur, how did you find him? I tried asking Morgana but she knew nothing."
Arthur shook his head. "To be honest with you, I don't know much more than Morgana. I was looking for him and I found him in the upper dungeons just lying there. He fell unconscious and I brought him here."
"Did he say anything?"
Arthur's eyes widened dramatically. "How could I have forgotten?" He jumped to his feet and rushed out of the room, pushing past Morgana on the way.
"Where's he going?"
"I don't know." Gaius took the bucket of water from Morgana's hands.
"Oh, there's no need to heat it. I went to the kitchens and took some boiling water from there."
"Thank you Morgana. That will certainly save us time."
"Did Arthur get more wood?"
"He called someone to get it, it should be up in a minute."
Morgana nodded and watched Gaius turn back to get to work on Merlin.
Arthur ran down the hall and into the Throne Room. The doors opened with a loud 'bang' and a furious Arthur strode in.
"Arthur? What's wrong?" King Uther looked up from the paperwork he was surrounded by.
"Where's Halig?"
"What?"
"Where is he?"
Uther shook his head. "I don't know, why?"
Arthur grabbed a passing guard. "Get everyone on full alert. Guards and knights. Tell them if they see Halig to arrest him immediately and inform me the moment it happens. Understood?"
"Yes sire." Arthur let the guard's arm go and he rushed off.
"Arthur." Uther's stern voice cut through the air and he stood. "What is going on? Why are you arresting Halig?"
"He..." Arthur started. Then he realised this was Uther. Having a loyal ally in the fight against magic arrested for a slim chance he might know how a clumsy, lowly servant was beaten half to death would not be acceptable in Uther's eyes. But Arthur was in no mood so he went ahead. "Merlin, my servant. I found him beaten in the dungeons and before he fell unconscious he said Hallig's name. He was covered in blood, black and blue everywere. I took him to Gaius and he fears the worst at the moment.
"I know your view on servants but he's like a friend to me and he's saved my life a number of times. Whether Halig did it or not doesn't matter at the moment. I just need to know if he knows anything. What was done to Merlin was a crime, no matter who it was done to and or who it was by, it is a crime to beat someone like that and if Merlin dies...I..." Arthur stopped and took a deep breath. "As soon as I know what happened the sooner I can figure out what to do."
Uther stared at his son. "Arthur. I...have no problem with what you are doing. You obviously care for this man and you are right, what happened is a crime."
Arthur was shocked. He had expected an argument to follow but apparently...not.
"Prince Arthur!"
He turned to see Sir Leon at the door.
"We've found Halig, he's in the dungeons."
Arthur nodded once then turned back to his father.
"Go see to him."
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