I was asked if I planned on doing a one-shot concerning the end of 'Reclaiming Camelot' and thought 'why not!'. So if you haven't read it and you intend to, I suggest that you don't read this, because it will seriously spoil the ending. SPOILERS!

Once again, I do not own Merlin, and any mistakes found are completely my own. This might be a little OOC for a few characters, but just go with it. I've never really been good at understanding Uther, to be honest.

He knew that Merlin would be fine, but considering that his manservant and unofficial friend had not woken up yet, he was still inclined to worry – not that he would admit it.

Ever since Merlin had been brought up to his room, he sat by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. Finally accepting that Arthur was not leaving, Gaius had kindly offered him one of the chairs that he could lean back in. It was definitely better than the stool that Arthur had previously been using. At least now he could be comfortable.

Merlin had been unconscious for nearly a day since he had been healed by the druid girl. During that time, Merlin had had many visitors, including the knights and the druids. But none were more shocking to Arthur than his own father. King Uther himself had come to see how the young boy had been doing, on the second day of Merlin's unconscious state.

Uther told Arthur that he was changing the laws in light of the information concerning Merlin being Emrys. That reminded Arthur: who was this Emrys? Together, Gaius and Uther explained the prophecies about the greatest warlock that there would ever be, and the Once and Future King.

"How do you know about this, Father? You hate magic" Arthur finally asked.

"I think of magic as an enemy, yes. But it is better to know everything about your enemy than nothing at all. I asked Gaius a long time ago about a name – Emrys. I had heard a couple of sorcerers mention the name, and was curious as to who this great warlock was, thinking that he would be a threat. But according to the prophecies, he would never use magic to harm Camelot or its people. Only to help them, in any way possible. I wasn't willing to believe it until he showed us all that the prophecies were true" Uther explained.

After that, Uther knew that Merlin would only ever protect Arthur. He had seen how close the two boys were, and despite the fact that Merlin was a servant, he was happy to see that Arthur had someone who was friends with him because they wanted to be, not because of the fact that he was a Prince. He remembered how those two were always insulting each other, and at first had been angered by how informal their relationship was. But Merlin's behaviour and personality had grown on him; especially as he saw how much good it had done Arthur. He was a lot more caring than he used to be, and thought of others before himself. He saw that he would definitely make a great King one day.

Gaius said that it was likely he would be asleep for a good few days more, but despite this he still kept thinking about what would happen if he never woke up.

He'd only just gotten Merlin back, he wasn't about to lose him again.

Uther had gotten up to leave, and Gaius followed him to the door. Arthur looked back to Merlin, seeing him a little less pale than what he had been when he had collapsed, but was still paler than his usual self. It unnerved him seeing Merlin like this – Merlin never got this injured or hurt. Sure, he had had a few nicks in a sword fight – the idiot couldn't use a sword to save himself – but he never got this hurt.

"Arthur…" came Gaius' voice, as he entered the room.

"What is it?" Arthur replied, but not in a harsh tone.

"Sire, you must rest. You haven't slept or eaten since bringing Merlin here. He wouldn't want you making yourself ill over this, my Lord" Gaius reminded him.

"I cannot leave him, Gaius…it's…" he started, but couldn't finish. He wasn't really the type to show or admit to certain feelings; usually he would cover them up when he was talking to Merlin with a well-timed insult.

"It is not your fault, my Lord" came Gaius' voice, as if hearing his thoughts.

"It's because of me that he did all of that, Gaius. He was protecting me".

"He was protecting you because he wanted to, not because he had to" Gaius replied, making Arthur wonder if he was reading his mind again.

When he had heard that this 'Emrys' was destined to protect Arthur, he started thinking that maybe Merlin was only around so that he could fulfil his job. Maybe if it weren't for the whole destiny thing, Merlin would have left Camelot a long time ago. He remembered how Merlin had once told him that he had left Ealdor to find somewhere that he would fit in, and how he wasn't sure if Camelot was the place that he could.

It was ridiculous to Arthur. Merlin wouldn't fit in anywhere else. Camelot was his home.

"Merlin nearly got himself killed. He shouldn't have done any of that" Arthur finally replied.

"He was doing it to protect Camelot, and to protect you. Merlin would do anything to help his friends, and he thinks of you as one of them".

"But why? I'm always insulting him, and giving him all these ridiculous jobs to do. Why would he think of me as a friend when I'm like that?" Arthur didn't mean to speak out loud, but had gotten caught up in Gaius' words that he forgot what he was doing.

"Because he knows that despite all of that, you would do the same for him. Remember when he first came here? You two had barely known each other for more than a few months, and yet you went, against your father's wishes, to collect the cure for him when he was poisoned. Merlin also told me about what happened at the Labyrinth. You drank what you believed to be poison, so that Merlin could live. He knows that if he ever needed your help, you would give it to him" Gaius explained. "Besides, doesn't he insult you all the time as well?"

That made Arthur smile. He knew that all the insults were just for fun, that they were never serious. And Merlin would never show any respect, unless that person had earned it form him. At the beginning, he recognised the fact that he insulted him because he didn't like him. But now it was for a different reason.

Soon after, Gaius left, needing to collect more herbs for a remedy that Merlin would need to take when he woke up. Arthur stayed by Merlin's side, but knew that Gaius was right – he needed to rest. Instead of leaving and actually going to bed, like he knew he probably should, he lay back in the chair and closed his eyes, letting sleep claim him.

It seemed like only a few minutes later that he heard his name being called, but the crick in his neck from sleeping in the chair definitely told him otherwise. That and the fact that he could barely open his eyes – he was still very tired..

As he immediately jumped up out of the chair, he gave some half-mumbled, half-understandable words, and heard a chuckle coming from the bed.

Before he knew what he was doing, he was hugging Merlin – he was so happy to finally see that he was awake!

When Merlin's goofy grin came back into place, he knew for definite that Merlin hadn't changed. Merlin wasn't there because he needed to be, he was there because he wanted to be.

Hope you liked it! Please tell me what you think - I really don't mind if it's criticism :D

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