I really love this chamber, it's very thick in bromance. But that's all it's intended to be. There's no slash unless you want there to be.

" I feel weak. I have let myself weaken,"

" You are not weak Arthur," Merlin spoke precisely as he should, calmly and knowingly. His thoughts trailed back to the previous day. The image of Arthur's diminished muscles glimpsed quickly through his mind, but he threw the thought away swiftly. His body was thin, like a man coming back from sea after months of salted rations. Worse yet was the brokenness that he was welcomed back to. A body, no matter how fit was weak if the mind was impaired. It pained him seeing how damaged the young prince was capable of becoming. Yet, like the trusted and loyal servant he was, he said nothing of these thoughts. He said only words to uplift the fallen man.

" I am," Arthur stared down at the sheets laid hazardously across his barren legs. His fingers mindlessly fidgeted with the seams that held the very cloth together. He wasn't waiting for a response. What was someone to say to something like this? He didn't wish to be consoled, and be told he was strong when he knew he wasn't. He wished to be heard, not told lies that weren't true. He wanted nothing more than to be irresponsible as he once was when he had only seen a few summers; With little responsibility. At least when he laid in this bed, unbothered, those responsibilities seemed to vanish, and in that way he sought the comfort his depression gave. But, those responsibilities never really left. He just pushed them aside long enough to momentarily forget they existed. They were still very much there.

" Pray tell how someone as weak as you has the strength to beat every man known in this land twice over."

" That was then, this is now,"

" Now or then, it does not matter,"

" It does. It does matter...It just takes the right thing to take down a man,"

Merlin looked up curiously from where he leaned up against the cupboard, folding stray linens that never seemed to have a home," Care to explain?"

"We all have a weakness; and my weakness is you," Arthur lifted his gaze to meet Merlin's. They let their eyes skim one another's. Blue met blue; and one saw the other. Merlin didn't reply for some time, and Arthur stayed quietly patient. They melted back to their own thoughts, and considered the words spoked for some time.

" You're my weakness too," Merlin spoke quietly, though not too quietly. That would be unlike him after all. His voice was older, more mature in a way it hadn't been before the accident. And that's just what it was, an accident. Whether that's what it was perceived to be or not.

Arthur was obviously surprised to hear Merlin speak those words. His shocked expression said it all. However, his stitched brow and curious eyes melted back down to their resting place. He decidedly made the decision to accept the response and continue watch as the other man walked about his chambers.

By late morning, the prince's chambers were as clean as they could possibly get. Merlin kept himself busy tidying this, cleaning that, anything as long as it was not staring at Arthur. He wasn't exactly a sight for sore eyes as of late. Instead once finished, Merlin set about tracking down Gwen. He of course didn't actually leave the room, but assigned a guard to the task.

Merlin took a deep breath and sat down in a nearby chair, totally exhausted. He had stayed with Arthur for the night, sleeping on a decently cushion bed roll next to his bed. It was owned by the Prince himself. The ground wasn't as hard as it usually was, but it wasn't outright comfortable. It wasn't the ground more so the disrupted sleep that led to such tire. In the day time it was easy to see what was there, and what was not. However, in the darkness of night, little can be seen. It should have suprised the servant when his master awoke multiple times in the night, seeking him out. Each time, he was reassured.

" Merlin? Merlin!"

" I right here," Merlin's groggy voice spoke from below. His skinny arm reached up to the top of the bed, reassuring with touch.

Instantly the Prince would calm and eventually fall back asleep before the cycle could repeat itself. A few times, Arthur would initiate the touch himself and place his large hand on the servants chest. He had to make sure the rise and fall continued, but only doing this when he was sure the other man slept. Otherwise that would be embarrassing, foolish just to make sure.

Merlin pretended he didn't notice.

" Merlin!" Gwen walked into the room hastily and flung herself at the young man before her.

Merlin stood and smiled brightly. His face lit up when her arms wrapped around his neck. He hugged her back and removed himself from to death hold to took at her face. She looked astonished to see him. After all, when word spread that Merlin had been seen in the citadel, she figured it wasn't true. It was utterly impossible.

" It's good to see you Gwen,"

" Me? It's good you see you Merlin. I still can't believe it. I didn't know if I could believe it when I heard from the towns people. I don't understand, how-"

" It's a long story," He said exhaling deeply. The words showed on his appearance as well. Merlin looked tired, but good. He wasn't ill or hurt, and that was enough to let Gwen relax and hold her quizzical questions.

" I have to go see Gaius, will you sit with Arthur until I get back?" Merlin said quietly. He didn't want to alert Arthur out of his zoning gaze. His eyes pointed out of the large windows. Merlin had to wipe the growing layers of dust that had coated the glass this morning before much could be seen out of them. It was like a whole new world outside.

" Of course," She smiled and looked Arthurs way with a grimace. The last time she had seen him, he'd been buried by blankets, hardly visible. He had looked sickly, as far as she could tell. It was a drastic change seeing him upright in a chair. Don't get her wrong, he still looked like a skinny bear after hibernation. He was in much need of nourishment and energy.

Merlin walked over to the Prince until he was obstructing the mindless gaze. This caught his attention and the sluggish eyes met his. Merlin crouched down slightly so that their eyes were more leveled.

" Hey Arthur, I'm going to go see Gaius. I won't be long, I promise. Gwen will stay with you and keep you company until I get back. Okay?"

Arthur looked at him as though he had horse ears, though he was more concerned than confused. Merlin was praying he'd let him go without a fight.

" Don't look at me like that, it's just for a little bit. I haven't seen him since I got back." He hadn't seen anyone. This was the first time he's seen Gwen.

"No, stay here," Arthur's voice resembled a lone child more than an ordering Prince. That made it okay to argue reason with him.

" I need to see him Arthur, let him know I'm okay. And maybe get a wash, and a change of clothes, and maybe something to eat." The servant's clothes were dirty now that attention was brought to them. They weren't horrible, but have definitely been worn for several days. The trek through the woods the previous day left them wrinkled and musty. They were the same clothes he had been reincarnated in. If reincarnated is the right word for how he came back to life that is. His hair too was disheveled from improper care.

" Can't you have Gaius come here?"

" I could. But he is old Arthur, he has old knees. I won't be gone long. The second I get done I'll come right back up,"

" Then I'll come with you," Arthur said standing up.

" No offense Arthur, but I don't think it best that you leave your chambers just yet. You need more rest, feel more like yourself before you venture out. Stay here with Gwen okay?"

" How long will you be gone?"

Merlin sighed but played along.

" Just long enough to get washed up and talk with Gaius,"

" You can have a bath up here, there's a basin in here already,"

" Really Arthur, I don't thin-"

" Just please?" Arthur looked so pitiful, practically begging his servant to stay. Finding every reason to keep him close.

" Okay...But at least let me go speak with Gaius. I'll be 20 minutes tops, I swear," Merlin looked tiredly over. He needed to get air, just for a moment and see Gaius. Surely he's heard of the news and was antsy to see the boy for himself. With order from Uther, no one but designated servers were to enter the Prince's chambers.

A few moments passed and Arthur nodded, purposefully avoiding any and all eye contact.

" Okay,"

Merlin nodded and gave Gwen the best friendly glance he could. Suddenly exhausted beyond measure, he left the chambers and started down towards his room and waiting mentor.

So sorry to those who may have actually been following this story. This chapter is short, but has been done for months. There will likely be one more chapter after this!