A/N: I'll bet everyone thought this story had died a natural death. I am dedicating the next few months to clearing up these open stories I have plaguing my hard drive. If anyone is still reading, my apologies for letting this story waver for so long. I am currently working on all three of my open stories so hopefully by the end of Lent I will be caught up on all of them.

Chapter Twenty

When Merlin woke it was with a sense of confusion. The light was wrong. In the morning the sunlight streamed in through his high window spilling over his face. Now the light was on the wrong side of the room indicating mid to late afternoon. A momentary flash of panic gripped the young warlock and he sat bolt upright in bed.

Arthur is gonna kill me!

Throwing the covers off of him caused sharp hot pain to flair through his arm and he looked down at it frowning. There was a bandage covering it. As he turned his hand to look at the underside of his forearm he saw clearly that the bandage was stained with old blood as well as a yellowish brown. Merlin stared at the bandage on his arm in stunned fascination for a moment as he willed the panicked feeling to abate.

I'm not late, I was injured... in a battle, I think. Wait a minute, Arthur and I were... camping?

The young man struggled to clear his mind. Something felt off. He knew that there was something he should be remembering, but he couldn't quite figure it out.

Arthur and I went on a trip, I remember that. Hunting? No that's not it... but that's what I told Gaius and what Arthur told the King, but it wasn't a hunting trip.

Merlin climbed out of bed gingerly and stood up. He felt dizzy and decided that he should probably sit down for a moment while he gathered his thoughts.

Gaius. Didn't I speak with him? Why can't I remember clearly?

"Okay, Merlin, think this through," he said to himself aloud. "I am clearly injured. When did that happen? If I didn't go hunting with Arthur then how did I get hurt?"

I flash of fragmented memory came and left as quickly. Merlin had the image of a deer in his mind, but he couldn't remember what it meant. He had a strong feeling that it had something to do with his injury, but he couldn't place the time or circumstance.

"This is ridiculous. I know that I left Camelot with Arthur. I.. Urgh!"

Merlin raised his good arm up and ran his hand through his hair. He wrinkled his nose at the smell coming from himself.

I smell terrible! What I need right now is a bath, more than anything else. Maybe then I will be able to think properly.

The young man carefully made his way down the short flight of steps from his room into the common area of the court physician's chambers. He felt heady and awkward and he half walked, half stumbled around the partition to the small tub that Gaius kept for bathing. The tub was empty as was that large watering pail next to it.

The thought of walking down to the common well several times in order to bring back enough water in which to get cleaned up seemed an insurmountable task, but after another sniff of his clothing decided that the effort was worth it. He reached down and picked up the bucket with his good hand and moved toward the door.

His progress was slow, but determined. Merlin used magic to make the bucket less heavy when it was filled with water, but not so much as to be noticed by anyone who might be watching a servant going about his normal duties. It took Merlin the better part of half an hour to bring back three full buckets of water. After upending the third bucket into the tub he found it was only a third of the way filled with water. He stood there, his strength waning, wondering if it would be enough to get him properly cleaned.

The tub was small compared with the one Arthur used and the water was cold. The young man heaved a sigh and bent over to pick the bucket up once again. One more bucket will have to do it, he thought to himself. He cleared his mind of the fatigue he felt and ignored the throbbing, burning sensation in his arm.

I can do this, and I'll feel so much better once I am clean.

Merlin didn't really remember the trip down to the well for the fourth time. He bent his head to the task of pumping the handle of the well to get water out, not paying any attention to his surroundings. As water splashed over the rim of the now full bucket sending chilly water down his pant leg and into his boots he came out of the dazed fog he had been in. He jumped back away from the bucket stumbling over his own feet sending him backward and landing with a hard thump on his backside. The bucket tipped over spilling its contents all over him.

"Merlin!"

The familiar voice stopped the cry of startled pain in his throat. He turned at looked at Gwen who had just approached with her own bucket.

"Gwen! I... umm, hi."

She rushed forward, concern written all over her face. "Are you all right?"

Merlin looked up at her through fevered eyes, but still managed a lopsided grin. "I'm fine, I guess," he said, as he disentangled his foot from the rope handle of the bucket.

She squatted down and turned the now empty bucket upright. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Merlin's cheeks turned a bright red that was evident even past the fevered glow that flushed his face. "I need a bath, although I hadn't planned on anything quite so public," he said sheepishly.

Gwen reached out her hand to help him up. Once he gained his feet a wave of dizziness washed over him and he wobbled precariously on his feet. "Oh, Merlin, you had better sit down."

Gwen guided him over to a short bench set next to the well. Merlin's embarrassment took a sharp upswing when he saw her turn her head away as the scent from his clothes assaulted her. "Ahem, yes you do need a bath. Let me help you."

She quickly filled both his bucket as well as hers, while Merlin sat quietly trying to get the buzzing in his head to go away.

"Where is Gaius? Why didn't he send for me or one of the other household servants? You really shouldn't be doing this on your own."

Merlin looked up as the later afternoon sun washed over his face making him look even paler under the flush of the fever. "I've no idea. I imagine he is doing his rounds, or attending to some courtier or something. I woke up and realized that I needed to... well... I guess I should have waited for... No one was around so I came myself."

Gwen smiled down at her friend's rambling reply. She stepped over the wall and took one of the yolks that leaned against it. She positioned each bucket three feet apart and with one smooth motion hoisted them up on the yolk that now rested on her shoulders.

"Wait, Gwen, I should..."

She cut him off before he could finish. "Are you serious? Merlin I have no designs on having a public bath myself, and you are in no condition to carry these buckets. Come on then, let's get you back home."

Merlin couldn't fault her logic and he was so wiped out he couldn't muster an argument that would hold any weight, so he simply rose from the bench and followed the girl.

"Merlin, what happened to you and Arthur? I know that he was also injured and now he has gone off to Cenred's kingdom to do something. I know that the King is furious, but I couldn't find out anything else."

Merlin felt as though the ground shook at Gwen's words. "Arthur was injured? How? Is he all right?"

Gwen frowned at him, "That's what I am asking you, don't you remember anything. Arthur's fine, or else he wouldn't have gone off with the knights, but it seems as though all of the knights and guards are on some sort of alert. Only the citadel guards are left here in Camelot."

Merlin tried to remember, but for some reason everything was fragmented, and he knew that shouldn't be. He knew that he had spoken to Gaius, but he couldn't remember what he had said to the court physician.

"I think that maybe we were attacked, I have this sense that there was a battle or a fight in the forest. Gwen, I know I spoke with Gaius, but now it all seems so... I'm not sure how to describe it. I feel like my head is full of cotton."

Gwen glanced at Merlin and carefully held out one slender hand to touch his face without spilling the buckets she had balanced on the yolk over her shoulders.

"You are fevered, it isn't a wonder that you don't remember things clearly."

They had reached the spiral staircase leading up to the court physician's chambers and Gwen bent low to set the buckets down, and lifted each one in her strong hands.

"Here let me help you with that," Merlin offered.

"And have you drop one of them down the stairs? You just get the door open for me at the top."

Merlin nodded and proceeded up the stairs holding the wall as he moved. Once inside Gwen poured both buckets into the tub.

"Wait, what about you? Don't you need your water?"

"I am perfectly capable of fetching another bucket from the well, Merlin, and besides I need to return the yolk. Are you going to be all right here alone. I could come back and help you..."

Gwen stopped short.

"Ehh, thanks, but I think I can handle taking a bath on my own." He could feel his cheeks getting brighter red and was relieved to see the same happen to Gwen."

"Yes well, right, of course, I didn't mean to... I mean it's not that I want to... ,I'll let you get to it; that is... your bath."

Gwen was completely flustered now, but after a moment she looked up more seriously at her friend. "Merlin, I'll come by to check on you later. I could get one of the household man servants to..."

Merlin just shook his head. "I'll be fine, Gwen, really. Thanks for your help."

Merlin meant it. The tub was properly filled now and he was eternally grateful for her assistance. After an awkward goodbye, Merlin closed and latched the door just in case Gwen decided to send in one of the male servants against his protests. Looking around once more just to be sure he was alone, Merlin held his hand over the tub of cold water and mumbled a spell as his eyes glowed bright gold, heating the water. Once he had removed his clothing he stepped in he slid gratefully down into the warm water. He allowed it to relax over-taught muscles and sooth aches he hadn't even realized he felt.

Merlin made quick work of soaping up those places he could easily reach and used a simple spell to reach his back with the cloth. His arm was throbbing and he ended up removing the soiled bandage to get a better look at the injury. He could see that it was infected and the wound went all the way through his arm. He couldn't for the life of him figure out what had happened to cause such a wound. He winced and hissed through his teeth as he gingerly wiped it with the cloth.

He wasn't sure submersion in the soapy water was a good idea for his wound so he carefully rested his arm on the side of the tub as he slid down a little further into the tub of now soapy water. Merlin laid his head back against the edge; the warmth of the water and the fatigue brought on by the exertion of multiple trips to the well made his eyelids heavy.

I'll just rest for a moment before I get out and find some clean clothes. He thought to himself.

The young warlock was jarred awake by insistent pounding on the chamber door and Gaius' frantic voice. "Merlin! Are you there? Why is the door locked?"

Merlin sat up quickly making his head spin slightly as water slopped out of the tub and onto the floor. He'd forgotten that he had locked the door but now he was stiff from his position and wasn't sure he could even make it to the door.

"Gaius?" he called out in a voice that was weaker than he thought it should be.

"Merlin, thank heavens. Are you all right?"

"Are you alone?" the young man called as he stood up gingerly reaching for the towel that was hanging from a peg by the tub.

"Of course I am! Merlin what's happening? Open this door at once."

With a wave of his hand the door unlatched. Gaius heard the sound and entered quickly, closing the door behind him. "Where are you?"

Merlin peered out from behind the partition soaking wet with the towel wrapped around him. "Uh, I took a bath. Sorry about the door, I fell asleep in the tub."

Merlin could feel his cheeks grow red and he felt ridiculous to be found in such a state, but Gaius didn't seem to take note at all. He moved over to the young man and guided him to a short stool near the fireplace.

"Your fever has gotten worse. You didn't fill that tub by yourself did you?"

"Mostly. Gwen helped with the fourth trip to the well. I was worried that she would send one of the house servants in to help me so I locked the door."

"That was very foolish, Merlin. You are in no condition to be galavanting around Camelot. Let me see your arm." Gaius didn't wait for Merlin to respond to him. He simply took a hold of Merlin's wrist and raised the arm up for inspection.

Merlin winced at the angry red wound. It still had yellowish puss seeping from it and looked altogether dreadful. Gaius set to work immediately cleaning the wound and put a cooling salve on it before affixing a new bandage.

The old physician didn't expect his young ward's next question. "Gaius, why can't I remember anything? How was I injured? I don't have any clear recollection of anything. Gwen told me that Arthur was wounded too, and that the King is furious. What happened?"

"All of that will have to wait. You need to get dressed and lie down for a while. We need to bring your fever down."

Merlin stood up reluctantly to make his way back to his room. Gaius was looking at him with a penetrating gaze that made him uncomfortable. "What is it? I have a feeling that something important happened, but I've no idea what, but you do. I can tell by the way you are staring at me."

Gaius raised both eyebrows. "I'm not staring. I simply want to make sure you don't fall flat on your face. Now let's get you into some clean clothes shall we?"

Once Merlin was properly dressed he had no intention of lying down again. He wanted answers and he was determined to get them. "Gaius, I think I'd like to have some broth or something. I'm a little hungry, but I don't know what I'll be able to hold down."

The old physician smiled and nodded. "Some broth should do quite well to begin with."

Merlin smiled to himself. He knew that Gaius would want to feed him and it gave him the opportunity to question the man about what had happened to land him in this situation. Once he was sitting at the table and Gaius busied himself with heating up some broth he asked his first question.

"Why is the King angry? Is it because of me or Arthur?"

Gaius looked at him over his shoulder for a moment and Merlin got the distinct impression that he was weighing what he would reveal.

"Uther is angry because you and Arthur were attacked by Cendred's men on your way back to Camelot."

Merlin frowned as he tried to remember. "So there was a battle. I have a vague memory that suggested that, but I can't remember anything specific. Why did they attack us?"

Gaius brought back a bowel and set it down in front of Merlin. "I'm afraid I have no idea."

Just then there was a knock at the door. Gaius called out for the visitor to come in and smiled at Gwen when she peeked her head through the door. "How is Merlin doing?"

"Well enough to eat something. I want to thank you for helping him this afternoon. I was unavoidably detained."

The young maidservant stepped in and approached the table holding an empty wash basket. "It was no trouble at all. I was pretty worried about you this afternoon. You certainly look better."

Merlin smirked. "Yeah and I smell better too, no doubt." He blushed slightly at the memory.

"Yes, about that. I have come to collect your laundry and bed linens. You are in no condition to be doing the wash, and I don't mind so before you say no, you just sit there and eat your supper and let me get on with it."

Without missing a beat she took the basket and ducked behind the partition where the bath tub was and scooped up Merlin's soiled clothes. Then she disappeared up the steps to his bed chamber.

Merlin wanted to finish his conversation with Gaius but he had to be careful not to ask any revealing questions while Gwen was close by. "How badly was Arthur injured?"

Gaius was surprised by the question and turned back to his ward. "Not very badly at all. He has suffered worse injuries in training. His only concern was getting you back here."

Merlin couldn't help the feeling of content at those words. He knew that Arthur cared about him even if he rarely of ever showed it. "So what happened to me? Was I injured in that battle?"

Once again Gaius seemed to be thinking about what he should reveal. This irritated Merlin to no end.

"Gaius, I have a right to know what happened to me!"

Both men heard Gwen moving around up the short flight of steps and then heard her pause at Merlin's shout. The older man sighed. "You were re-injured in that battle."

"Re-injured?" Merlin's eyes opened a little wider.

"Yes, apparently on your hunting trip you were pierced with a poison arrow. That is why you are having so much trouble remembering anything. The poison nearly killed you." Gaius said, but didn't offer any further explanation.

Merlin thought about that for awhile. "Were we, or should I say was Arthur hunting deer?"

"That is an odd question. Why does it matter?"

Gaius was being evasive and he wondered if it was because Gwen was listening, but he still needed answers. His fragmented memory didn't seem to reveal anything magical so he decided to continue. "I remember a deer. I don't know why I can see a deer in my minds eye, but it is just about the only clear image I have."

Gaius nodded. "That would make sense. You were in a clearing with a deer when the animal was shot with a poison arrow. The arrow went through the deer and pierced your arm. The tip was laced with Belladonna. The poison took effect almost immediately. I am not surprised that the deer is the last clear memory you have. Arthur barely got you back here in time."

That sounded right somehow. The image of the deer in his mind became clearer. It was very close to him. He had reached up a hand and was actually petting the animal. Gwen had come down the steps with the basket of laundry and stepped silently closer to the table. She was Merlin's friend and was curious to know what had happened to him.

"Who shot me, or I guess it was the deer? Isn't hunting with poison arrows illegal?"

"Indeed it is, for this very reason. Some less skilled hunters still use poison because they want to insure a kill even with a grazing shot. Arthur got a glimpse of the hunter, but he couldn't very well pursue him without allowing you to die. I for one am grateful that he choose to bring you home rather than try to arrest the other hunter."

"Gaius is right, Merlin. Arthur was right to get you back to Camelot. I didn't know Belladonna was so dangerous. I have heard of it used for other purposes." Gwen said.

"There are many uses for Belladonna. In certain extracts it can be a very powerful hallucinogen, and yet still be harmless to the subject. It can be also be used for medicinal purposes, but it must be carefully prepared. It is still a very powerful poison and not something anyone without proper training should ever attempt to use."

Gwen reached over and patted Merlin's hand. "Well I am very glad that you are back here safely. You get some rest. I'll return with these in the morning."

"Thanks for everything, Gwen." Merlin said with a genuine smile.

She picked the basket up that she had set at the base of the stairs and made her way to the door. Gaius followed her and they spoke softly for a moment before Gaius returned to the table holding something in his hand. Merlin had managed to get down almost all of the broth but his strength was completely sapped. Gaius handed him a small vial of potion.

"This is for the fever and infection. You need to drink it and get some rest. Gwen made your bed up with clean linens."

The young warlock was in no condition to argue. He felt dreadful but his heart was warmed by the people who obviously cared so much about him. He drank down the vile concoction before making his way back up to his room. Gwen had put some wild flowers in a cup on the table which made the young man smile. He hoped that a good night's sleep would clear the rest of the cotton from his mind and he would be able to remember what really happened. He loved and trusted Gaius, but he also knew without any doubt that the man was keeping something very important from him.

TBC