Arthur had never left his side. A few times Merlin had woken up, and every time Arthur felt more and more hope sneek into him. Merlin most definitley was on the mend, but he was so very tired all the time. It made Arthur sad, but he knew he would soon have his manservant back to normal... awake.
"Arthur." Came the soft mumble from the bed. Arthur slowly turned round to observe Merlin rubbing his head slowly, breathing quickly and looking as though he was going to cry. He was still lying down and his eyes were still closed. Arthur knew he had a head ache. He always did. Gaius said that they were a side effect from the medicine that Merlin had been resieving to heal his wound.
"It's alright, Merlin." Arthur sat next to Merlin on the bed and ruffled his hair. Merlin liked it when Arthur did this because it comforted him and calmed him down, even when he was asleep. Arthur thought it sweet that one simple thing had such an effect on Merlin, but he would never admit it to anyone, and he also wouldn't tell anyone else of Merlin's 'weak spot'. He tried not to use it as he thought it's effect on Merlin was just slightly scary. "How's your... err... cut?" Arthur stopped ruffling Merlin's hair once he'd calmed down a bit.
"It hurts... as always. I think it's healing though." Merlin sighed and sat up, leaning against the wall.
"That's good. I'll be expecting you at work tomorrow, then. You've already had the best part of a week off." The two boys laughed until Merlin clutched his stomach, where his wound was, in agony and had to fight to keep from crying. Arthur noticed this and one hand shot up to Merlin's hair. The young raven eventually calmed down and relaxed against the wall.
"Maybe not tomorrow." Merlin said in a whisper.
"Maybe not tomorrow." Arthur confirmed. And slowly, Merlin fell back onto the bed and soon he was asleep. Dreaming...
Merlin dreamed of the past. He dreamed of the knife, spinning through the air slowly as time slowed down. Morgana's hair flowing gently in the wind, with a sort of meacing ura about it. The smile on her lips. That evil smirk. Before. The scene changed.
Him and Will were running from bully, they jumped over a log and soon heard the thud of their chaser jumping over it a few seconds later. Will laughed but Merlin was petrified. When they met a dead end, the bully came sauntering over. Smiling an awful smile, a fist raised, preparing to beat the two for trying to get away. Merlin yelled and sent the bully flying backwards into a tree. Will stared at him, shocked.
Many memories of Merlin's past flashed through his mind, all of them ones that had caused him fear. And no matter how long it had been since they had occoured, be it years or days, they still petrified him as they had done then.