A/N: Warning: This story is about to get really depressing, really fast. That'll be all :)

Arthur threw his quill down in frustration. He hadn't been able to get any work done this past week. Not since Merlin had bolted out of his chambers at the mere mention of the physician. Since then, Merlin had hardly spoken to Arthur at all. He seemed to have withdrawn completely inside himself, and Arthur was at a loss as to what to do.

But he knew that there was not much he could do. He hadn't seen Gaius in days, as he finally stopped attending Council meetings. Servants and nobles alike walked the castle corridors with solemn expressions as the days wore on. Their beloved physician was dying, and he did not have much time left.

The King ran a hand over his face. He knew that he could no longer put off what he had been dreading now for weeks. He needed to go talk to Gaius.

The very thought of it made Arthur uncomfortable. He slowly stood up from his desk and turned to gaze out the window. The people below lazily milled about the courtyard; some led horses while others carried baskets. Arthur couldn't help but envy them at the moment. He could feel the immense weight on his shoulders almost crushing him. And the worst of it was that the one person, besides Gwen, that he normally would have talked to about it was currently not speaking to Arthur, and in fairly bad shape himself.

Arthur thought long and hard about what he would say to the dying man. There was no delicate way around the pressing matter, but that didn't stop Arthur from trying to find one. Arthur tore his gaze away from the window. This was no simple task. But as Arthur made his way towards his door and slipped out into the corridor, he realized it just needed to be done.

He nodded and forced a small smile as he passed his servants and Knights. Before long, he found himself outside of the physician's chambers. Arthur had hoped that Merlin, for once, had listened to him and gone to polish his armor. He wouldn't put it past Merlin to skip out on his duties to look after Gaius, especially now.

The King raised his fist and quickly knocked on the door before grasping the latch and entering.

The room looked as it always did. Vials, books and stray papers were strewn across virtually every surface. It was easy to pretend as if this were just any other normal day. Nothing was out of place, yet everything was. Gaius was not up and about as usual. He was not standing above his mortar and pestle, grinding herbs. He was not hunched over at the table, engrossed in one of his many books of medicine.

Instead, he was scrunched up on his small, modest bed in the corner of the room. The pitiful sight wrenched at Arthur's heart and the greeting that he had been about to utter got caught in his throat. And then he was simply standing in the middle of the chambers, wondering how he should proceed.

Then, the silence was broken by a weak voice. "I was wondering when you would come, Sire."

Startled, Arthur looked over towards the corner only to meet Gaius' exhausted gaze. The physician let out a soft groan as he shifted slightly on the mattress. He managed to lift his hand a few inches off the bed and motioned for the King to take the seat at his bedside.

Arthur took in a deep breath and slowly made his way over to the physician. He sank down onto the stool and reached out to clasp Gaius' hand as it wavered in the air.

"How are you feeling?" Arthur said, finally finding his voice.

"I've had better days." Gaius gave him a sad, knowing smile.

Arthur just bowed his head and sighed, not really sure how to respond. Gaius gave his hand a light squeeze.

"We have much to discuss, Arthur," he breathed.

Arthur met Gaius' eyes once more before finally speaking his worst fears. "Will you recover from this illness?"

There was a short pause before the physician responded. "I am an old man, Sire. There's no cure for that."

"So you don't think-?"

"No, Arthur. I do not think I will recover."

The King was silent as he allowed this news to sink in.

"Now that that's been addressed," Gaius continued, "there are some other matters I wish to speak with you about."

His words hung in the air for a moment before Arthur answered in as strong a voice he could manage. "Of course."

"Good," Gaius said as he gestured towards the table. "Pass me the quill and parchment."

Arthur stood up and quickly walked over to the table. He searched through the various contents before finally producing what the physician asked. When he turned back towards Gaius, he noticed that the man was doing his best to pull himself into a sitting position. He immediately hurried over to assist him, dropping the supplies on the stool before doing so. After Gaius was settled, Arthur handed him the piece of parchment and freshly inked quill.

The King watched as the physician began scratching some words onto the parchment in his familiar scrawl. Arthur forced himself to wait patiently, resisting the urge to ask him what he was writing.

Eventually, Gaius looked up. "There's another physician, Sire. He's highly qualified. You may have to do some searching, but last I heard of him he was residing in a village named Fireth." Gaius paused as he handed over the note. "You may need to call upon him shortly, as I fear I do not have much longer."

"What?" A new voice rang out through the chambers.

Both Gaius and Arthur looked over to see Merlin standing in the doorway. Arthur noted the odd expression that was on the young man's face and how he was now looking at Gaius in what could only be called a state of confusion.

The room fell silent again for what felt like several minutes but in actuality couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Then Merlin spoke again, the rising panic in his voice easily apparent.

"Gaius, what are you talking about?" His question was once again met with silence. "Gaius? What-? What's going on?" His voice grew in strength as his pleas went unanswered.

"Merlin, we've both known for some time now-" the physician began, but Merlin soon interrupted.

"No. We can fix this, Gaius. I will make you better."

Gaius sighed and leaned his head back against the pillows, closing his eyes in exhaustion. "Merlin-," he whispered.

Merlin moved closer to the bed. "Please Gaius," he begged, "don't give up."

Arthur watched the exchange before him, trying to determine if he should intervene. He looked from Merlin, who was drawing closer to the bed, to Gaius, who looked as though the last of his strength had just drained from his body, and quickly decided that he needed to step in.

He took a few steps forward to meet Merlin and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Merlin, now is not the time for this," he said quietly, in as firm a voice as he could manage.

Merlin drew away from his touch. "But I can help him. I just need more time." Merlin's voice was flooded with emotion. But then Merlin quieted as a new thought dawned on him.

"You're giving up on him, aren't you?" he accused Arthur.

"That's enough, Merlin," Arthur responded, reaching for Merlin's shoulder once more.

Merlin took a step back. "You are. You're giving up. You don't even care-"

Arthur lunged forward and grabbed Merlin's arm. "We are not going to do this here," he said forcefully.

The King shot Gaius an apologetic look. The physician gave a quick nod to Arthur in return, his sad eyes full of understanding, before the King began to steer Merlin out of the room.

Merlin only struggled for a second or two before realizing that it would be completely pointless to fight against Arthur. And so with one last glance back at Gaius, Merlin finally allowed himself to be guided from the room.

Arthur waited until they were several corridors away before finally releasing Merlin. "Follow me," he instructed, almost daring Merlin to do otherwise.

Arthur then weaved through the castle corridors with practiced ease, Merlin on his tail, until they arrived at the King's chambers.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let us know what you think :D

See ya at Chapter 3! -A and W