Fair warning to everyone : this is going to be absolutley awful. I'm getting really tired of this story so expect awfulness.
Gaius decided to read his favorite book when Merlin disappeared itno his room. It was the one Alice had given hhim. He didn't really need to read it, as he knew all the words by heart. Gaius was just getting to his favourite bit when-
"FREYA!" Gaius jumped at the load yell from the small room next to his. He rushed into it quicker than he ever had. And there was Merlin, tossing about in his cot, calling out for the woman he loved, grabbing thin air.
"Merlin!" Gaius rushed to him and was about to start shaking him when Merlin thrashed again, making the old man duck. This was a problem.
"Merlin!" He yelled. But Merlin couldn't hear for his screams were blocking out any other sounds. Gaius was utterly stumped. He couldn't wake the warlock, but poor Merlin shouldn't be forced to endure this nightmare.
What to do? Who to fetch? And then, the answer was called to him.
"No, Arthur! STOP!" Arthur! Gaius aimed one last glance at Merlin, and sorrowfully rushed to fetch his lord.
The old physician burst into Arthur's room to see Arthur and Gwen discussing the days events. Arthur eating, Gwen standing with a jug.
"Gaius!" Arthur immediatley stood with a worried expression on his face, though he tried to hide it, it was hard to miss. Gwen looked confused at Arthur, then Gaius. Neither looked at her, both were looking at each other.
"Come quickly, Arthur. I have alot to explain to you."
So as the 3 walked speedily to Merlin's aid, Gaius explained all about Freya. Arthur looked like he was going to be ill.
"I...I killed... oh my God." Arthur stopped walking, utterly shooked. Gwen looked at his pale face and hugged him so hard that he couldn't breathe.
"You didn't, Arthur. You didn't. You are not to blame." She pulled back and Arthur nodded, slowly.
"How did he ever forgive me?" He wondered, out load.
"Merlin will forgive you no matter what you do. Soon you will discover that you will forgive him also, Arthur." Gaius said.
Arthur gave him a strange look of confusion, wonder and amusement.
"Now, come on!" Gwen called them both. Niether had noticed her running ahead.
Arthur and Gaius hurried after her, saking steps two at a time. When they finally reached the door to the physicians chambers, Arthur flung it open to be greeted by the most awful scream of agony.
The three rushed into Merlin's room. The same display as when Gaius had left the waqrlock greeted him again.
"We have to do something!" Screeched Gwen. She tugged at Arthur's sleeve, but Arthur was too transfixed by the sight before him to look at her. He did act though, rushing to Merlin, dodging every arm that came towards him. He shook Merlin hard and called his name whilst Gwen and Gaius watched from the door.
Then, Merlin woke up. At first he shyed away from Arthur's grip on his shoulders, and then he stared deep into Arthur's eyes and let tears run down his cheek as he lay still on his bed.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked, frightened by the sight before him. This was Merlin! This was his cheeky idiot of a servant who always brightened his day (though he would never tell that to anyone) lying in a bed, crying.
"Arthur... I'm so scared." Merlin sat up and hung his head. Arthur sat down next to him on the bed and squeezed his shoulder.
"You don't need to be, Merlin. It's alright."
"No. It's not. I hate living like this." Arthur thought hard. Living like what? And then-
"Without Freya?" Merlin looked up at him. He didn't need to ask how Arthur knew, he'd guessed Gaius would've told him. He gave a tired smile.
"Yes." He yawned and his eyes started to droop, but then he shook his head viciously. Arthur felt a pang of guilt and so decided to change the conversation.
"You look tired. You should sleep."
"No." Merlin shook his head again. "No, I can't."
"I know it's frightening but you've got to sleep."
"No."
"Please, Merlin."
"No. I can't experience her death again, Arthur. You don't understand!"
Gaius gently pulled Gwen into the main room. The conversation was so inticing that Gwen didn't want to leave, but she realised that they both wanted privacy to talk, and she had to leave.
The door gently closed.
Merlin looked like he was about to cry.
"Please go to sleep, Merlin." Arthur knew that not sleeping would be incredibly bad for Merlin's health, and he didn't want him falling ill!
"Arthur-"
"If I stay here, will you go to sleep?"
Merlin cocked his head like a confused dog.
"If you wake up, I'll be here for you." Merlin looked at him, confused then the confusion turned to a smile, then a yawn and then, Merlin found his way onto Arthur's shoulder. Arthur put his head against the wall and soon both were asleep.
Niether boy woke up till morning.
Merlin was first to wake, he immediatley got up and started getting dressed quickly. This woke Arthur.
"Why are you going so fast?" He asked sleepily.
"If I'm late for Arthur again, he'll have me for breakfast!" Merlin kept rushing around his room, pulling on his shirt and washing his face.
"Merlin?" Arthur teased him, entertained by how flustered he was.
"What is it, Arthur?" Merlin asked. This was hillarious.
"I'm right here!" Arthur almost shouted. Then he laughed hard and when Merlin realised, so did he.
Gwen had left when she'd seen both Merlin and Arthur asleep in happy company, and Gaius had fallen asleep instantly.
"Gaius?" Asked Arthur, poking his head out of the door. When he saw that Gaius was asleep he made Merlin be quiet and the 2 boys tiptoed out to training.
And once again, all was right with Camelot.