A/N: Hey guys! Not sure when we will be able to update next, as 'A' is moving back to college Sunday and 'W' is going back to high school Monday. We still haven't worked out the details on exactly how we're going to write this fic while we're 50 miles away from each other (I think plenty of phone calls and emails are in our future). But have no fear! It'll all work out! :D Enjoy chapter 3!

Arthur swept into the room and moved towards the table. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that Merlin had stopped just inside the door. He looked more distraught than Arthur had ever seen him before. His brow was furrowed as he began fidgeting and pacing, reaching a hand up to his head as he did so. Merlin looked rattled. Yes, Arthur thought, it had been a good idea to take Merlin away from Gaius for a little while.

"Close the door, Merlin," Arthur ordered.

Merlin shot him a glare before striding over and slamming it shut. He set back to pacing again while Arthur just watched on. Finally, Merlin broke the silence.

"You wanted to speak with me, Sire?" His voice was laced with bitterness, a tone that Arthur had rarely heard Merlin use, let alone direct towards him.

Arthur frowned but did not reply right away. He turned back to the table where a pitcher of water was sitting on its surface. There were two large cups there as well, no doubt meant for the King and Queen. Arthur filled both cups to the brim and then pushed one towards the edge of the table, for Merlin, before taking a swallow from his own.

Merlin paused in his pacing but made no move towards the table. "Why did you bring me here?" he finally demanded, when Arthur failed to speak.

Arthur placed his cup back on the table. "You need to calm down, Merlin," he answered at last.

Merlin's eyes flashed with anger. "I need to be with Gaius right now," he responded.

"He saw how distressed you were. It was upsetting him."

Merlin resumed his pacing. He could try to make a run for it, he thought, but he knew it would be useless. He doubted that he'd be able to outrun Arthur and the guards.

"I have to take care of him," Merlin said forcefully. "He needs me to be there for him."

"Yes, he does," Arthur agreed. "But not when you're like this. You're not thinking clearly."

"I'm fine!" Merlin nearly shouted. "I have to take care of him. I can...I can make him better."

"You're expecting too much of yourself!" Arthur answered. "You can't do everything, Merlin!" His voice was increasing in volume as he tried to get through to Merlin.

"But I have to do everything." Merlin's voice was just above a whisper now. But Arthur caught every word.

The King stared at Merlin, seriousness replacing his growing belligerence. His manservant spoke with such shocking conviction in his voice; he truly believed that he was responsible for curing Gaius.

"Merlin-" Arthur began, but he was immediately interrupted.

"If I don't do something...If I can't figure out how to cure him, then..." Merlin trailed off as he began to tremble.

Arthur immediately moved forward. "You need to sit down, Merlin," he said carefully, trying not to upset Merlin even more.

"I'm done sitting around! I've got to do something. I have to go-," Merlin abruptly cut himself off and began moving towards the door.

"Merlin, you aren't leaving until you get a hold of yourself," Arthur stated, taking a few steps towards him. Merlin met Arthur's eyes, as if weighing the odds. He really didn't like his chances.

Merlin wanted to be angry. He could deal with anger. Anger would keep him going; keep him distracted from the other emotions that had built up inside of him and that he was currently trying to ignore.

But he couldn't. Because all of his energy was gone. Used up. And he found that he was exhausted.

Arthur noticed how Merlin's eyes started to well up, how his shoulders slumped in the slightest. He lightly put a hand on one of Merlin's arms and began to draw him towards the table.

"Here, sit down." He gestured at one of the chairs and sighed in relief as Merlin finally did as he was told.

Arthur sank down into the chair next to Merlin and pushed the cup of water closer to him. But Merlin refused to drink. He rested his elbows on the edge of the table and allowed his face to fall into his hands.

For weeks now Merlin had felt as though he had been walking through a nightmare that he couldn't wake up from. He had tried everything he could think of to save Gaius. But no amount of medication, no amount of magic, seemed to make any difference. In all his life, Merlin had never felt so powerless. Or so useless.

The seconds of silence dragged out into minutes. Arthur had no idea what to say to Merlin. Nothing that came to mind seemed to sound right in his head. He doubted that anything he had to say would offer very much comfort to Merlin, anyway. Or to himself. Because the thought of losing Gaius was breaking Arthur's heart. Tearing his insides apart.

He could scarcely imagine what Merlin must be feeling. When Uther had become ill, Arthur didn't know which way to turn. While he was devastated over losing his father, he had had to bear the weight of the kingdom by himself. He had had to live up to his people's expectations when he felt lost in his own power. Arthur was forced to move on; Camelot was not going to wait for him. And as hard as it had been, dealing with all of the responsibilities and expectations that had suddenly been thrust onto his shoulders, it had, oddly enough, been what kept him sane. Kept him distracted from his emotions on those days that seemed to be just a little harder to get through. He would need to find some distractions for Merlin, he decided.

The King glanced over at his manservant, who was still trembling in his chair.

Arthur knew that the relationship Merlin and Gaius shared was much deeper than the one he had had with Uther. Gaius was the father Merlin never had. There was a strong bond between them, something that Arthur wished he had shared with his own father.

So as the King watched his manservant struggle for control over his emotions, he could only begin to understand what he was going through.

Finally, after several long minutes, Merlin let out a deep sigh. He leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling.

"He's going to be okay," he said at last. And it sounded to Arthur as though he were trying to convince himself of those words more than anything.

The King just placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder, and finally, finally, Merlin looked at him.

Arthur searched for something to say. He knew that the chances of Gaius pulling through this illness were...nearly nonexistent. But he couldn't tell Merlin that. Not when there was so much hope in his eyes.

But he also couldn't bring himself to agree with Merlin's words. It would probably only make everything worse if...when...things didn't turn out.

"He will be okay," Merlin insisted, seeing the doubt on Arthur's face. Arthur always doubted him. It didn't matter how many times Merlin turned out to be right in the end. The King never seemed to believe him.

"I'll just have to make him believe me," Merlin thought to himself, suddenly standing up.

"Where are you going?" Arthur asked.

"I need to give Gaius his medicine, now. And make sure he gets something to eat."

Arthur considered him for a moment. Merlin appeared to have somewhat of a grip on his emotions, but the King knew that it would only be a matter of time before they caught up to him once more.

But, as there was not much more Arthur could do for him now, he simply nodded and watched as his manservant walked the short distance to the door, opened it, and disappeared into the corridor.

A/N: It kills us to write a depressed, angry Merlin! But, it has to be done. Please leave us a review (it makes us really happy!) Thanks to everybody for following/favoriting/reviewing our story! We really appreciate your support! :D

See ya at Chapter 4! -A and W