Don't get used to these frequent updates. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to pull this off. They're already fixing the screens in two of our units :/ Also, there's already a week long, no-internet, trip planned for me...

At any rate. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's a little longer than the last one. I also had a bit of fun in the middle. It might seem a little OOC, but hopefully I balanced it right! Let me know what you think! I love reading your comments :)

Needless to say, Uther would not be moved to accept Merlin as his ward. Arthur tried asking him after the conclusion of the day's meetings, but Uther quickly turned him down. He meant to continue his argument but the Lady Katrina entered the room. He left as fast as possible. He was already unsettled by Morgana's words- he didn't need the awkward tension from Katrina.

For the next few days, he remained subdued. With Merlin still asleep, Arthur had no reason to linger in Gaius' chambers. He only visited when Gaius was sure to be busy and stayed only long enough to reassure himself that Merlin was still alive. He felt guilty about avoiding his mentor, but could not bring himself to voice the new doubts seeded by Morgana. Instead, he pushed his emotions out during training; pushing himself harder than ever even as the weather forced shorter sessions. He performed his duties as efficiently as possible and denied his father's requests for shared dinners, preferring to spend his time on the battlements where he knew Morgana would not find him.

She had tried to apologize, after causing a scene during dinner one night. Arthur guessed that she hoped Katrina's presence would temper Uther's response. Instead, Uther had threatened to send away the boy immediately. She came immediately to Arthur's room but he had refused to open the door. A couple of days later, he had found a note on his table after training.

He read her apology and wished he could believe her when she said she thought he would make a great king. How could it be possible, if he couldn't even help one little boy?

Training was canceled the next day when the rains finally began, so he decided to visit Merlin. He was startled to find Katrina in Gaius' chambers. He tried to leave, but she spotted him.

"Arthur, wait! I was just leaving." She walked past him, saying, "I'm glad you saved him. You've done a good thing." He knew the comment was an olive branch, but he couldn't bring himself to respond. He watched her leave and finally gave in to his exasperation.

Are all women so confounding? You're not fit to be a ruler. You'll be a great king. You've done a good thing. Can't they just leave me alone?! At bottom, Arthur knew he was overreacting. Katrina had always tried to be friendly towards him, but he had remained standoffish. He just didn't understand how to accept his father's courtship of her. Was he expected to call her mother? To embrace her openly? And what would it all mean to his mother's memory? Besides, why did she feel the need to judge him? Between Uther, Morgana, and now Katrina, he was being pulled in different directions. How was he supposed to satisfy all of them!?

Distracted with all his thoughts, he left without checking on Merlin.

The next day, Gaius called Arthur to his chambers in the early morning. "I need you to watch Merlin while I attend a council meeting with your father. The villages along the eastern border have been overcome with a mysterious illness."

"Is it deadly?"

"It appears so; and highly contagious too. It began in just one village and has spread to three others in a fortnight." Gaius stacked his parchments together and scrambled from the room. "Thank you, Arthur."

Arthur meandered over to Merlin's cot. He looked a lot better now. With the fever gone and all the rest, Merlin's face had recovered a more natural, though still pale, coloring. He gently touched his forehead and swept his fingers through his hair, grimacing slightly at the greasy feeling. He walked over to the benches and looked for Gaius' daily list of chores for himself. He hadn't helped Gaius very much the last few days, and wanted to make up for it.

Finding no list, Arthur checked the cupboards to see which draughts were running low. He easily settled into the meditative calm of grinding and mixing herbs.

Standing up to stretch his back, Arthur was surprised to see that it was almost noon. Gaius had still not returned which meant that illness business must be very serious. He looked around for something else to do; he noted a pile of bedsheets on the stool near Merlin's bed. Bending down, he noted that Merlin's sheets were rather grungy with poultice residue and ointments. I've never made up a bed before. How hard could it be?

Very hard as it turned out. First, Arthur had to figure out where to put Merlin in the meantime. He settled for placing him in the dark back room while he aired out the front room. Airing out a room. Sounds very… official. His room was always aired out while the bed was made. For a second, he paused to consider what that implied about his smell. No, it couldn't be that he smelled. It was just something that was done. Part of the cleaning process and all that. Standard policy, surely.

So he opened the windows and propped the door open. Then he tidied the tables and supplies. Turning back the bed, he paused again. I need a plan, a strategy. I must tackle this task with soldierly efficiency.

Strip the old sheets from the bed. Done. This mattress looks rather lumpy. Oh, this is uncomfortable. Ugh, how can anyone sleep on this? Oh, get off, get off, get off. It's a death trap is what it is.

Remove old mattress. Done. Where does one get a new mattress? …I don't know…

Place old mattress back and fluff it. Done. Maybe if I flip it?

Flip old mattress. Done

Put new sheets on. Why are there so many? What- why is this one sewn so strangely? And this one isn't even large enough for the bed… oh it must be for the pillow. These corners don't even line up! Oh, this is impossible.

Find a servant to make the bed. Done.

Needless to say, the servant was very confused as to why the mattress cover had been stretched over the bedframe and the mattress lain over it. Arthur simply took it in stride, watching carefully as the servant made the bed properly. Shooing the servant back out, he felt pleased with his cleaning skills. He walked over to the window and watched the clouds for a while. As he turned back to survey the room, he realized he was missing something. Something. Something… MERLIN!

He ran to the back room. As he pushed the door open, he was frozen in the doorway by a gasp. He stepped closer and whispered, "Merlin?"

He heard the blanket rustle and a muffled whimper. He walked to the bedside and reached for Merlin- only to have him whimper louder and crawl backwards off the edge of the bed.

"Merlin! It's alright! It's me, Arthur!" But as he stepped closer, Merlin continued to crawl away. Arthur realized that with the light at his back, and having slept for days, Merlin must not be able to see him clearly. He stepped back and moved to the window. Pulling aside the cover, he saw Merlin cover his eyes. Adopting the same strategy as when he first found Merlin, Arthur crouched low and spoke in a soothing tone. He waited until Merlin uncovered his eyes. Recognition dawned in his eyes and Arthur say him touch his neck. Arthur? He looked at Arthur with fearful hope in his eyes.

"Yes, Merlin. It's me. Just take a deep breath." Arthur watched as Merlin looked around, still holding his breath. "Breathe, Merlin." Looking down, Merlin finally took a breath. On inhaling so deeply, he flinched in pain and began to cough. Scared, he looked to Arthur. "Not so deep, Merlin! Your ribs! Relax, breathe. Just- hold on." He brought back a small cup of water and helped Merlin sit up to sip from it. "Small breaths, Merlin. Just breathe. It's alright. I have you now." He continued to soothe Merlin until the boy relaxed before gently carrying him into the main room. Merlin stayed tense in his arms, holding himself away from full contact with Arthur. Even so, Arthur could feel Merlin's heart fluttering rapidly.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I was cleaning this room and didn't want to disturb you." Arthur said as he laid Merlin on the newly made cot. He crouched down to meet Merlin's eyes although Merlin very quickly bowed his head away.

"Are you in pain? What am I saying, of course you are. I bet Gaius forgot to give you your medicine in today's rush. I'll get it." Arthur quickly retrieved the correct draught. Knowing how bitter the potion would be, Arthur also watered down a bit of wine. Placing his fingers under Merlin's chin, he forced Merlin to look up. "You're safe now, Merlin. This is just medicine for the pain. Trust me."

Merlin searched Arthur's eyes before clenching them shut and opening his mouth. Arthur carefully helped Merlin drink the potion and then directed him to swish his mouth with the watered down wine. He helped Merlin lie back. "You're in Camelot now. These are Gaius' chambers. Do you remember him?" Merlin continued to avoid his eyes though he shyly looked around the room. "Iseldir and Gaius were able to get the collar off of you, but you have to be careful Merlin. No one can know you have magic here, besides Gaius and myself." At that, Merlin looked at Arthur with clear confusion. "No one, Merlin. Magic is not allowed in Camelot." Merlin's eyes began to tear up. "But you are safe, Merlin. Trust me. I won't allow you to get hurt. You're free now."

Arthur sighed as the tears flowed down Merlin's cheeks. He brushed Merlin's head back and rested his hand on his forehead. "Is there- I mean, do you have any family, Merlin? Someone I can take you to?"

Instead of answering, Merlin curled up as best as he could and began to sob. Arthur held his hand. "I'm sorry, Merlin. I had to ask. I just need to know if… if there is someone… to take care of you. Like your mum and dad?" Merlin shook his head and gripped Arthur's hand tightly.

You're a bastard, Merlin. Do you know what that means? You have no father. He didn't want you!

Arthur saw, through Merlin's eyes, finely tooled leather boots circling him; felt a terrible burning around his wrists and neck. Then another memory overtook him.

"Hurry, Merlin! You must be quick!" Merlin was trying! He really was, but he hurt so badly and his head felt like it kept getting left behind a few steps. "Just a little more!" Merlin felt it when he finally reached her- her warm hand wrapping around his and with just that contact he felt a little better, could breathe a little easier even as he felt the sobs tearing through his chest. "I'm so sorry, Merlin. I'm getting you out of here." She picked him up and hugged him tightly. Then she ran.

Arthur felt his own tears rise as he acutely missed his own mother.

"Ride to the west. As hard and for as long as you can. Don't stop for anything, and don't go to Ealdor. Get over the border and then you can find places to lie low, but keep moving."

"Aren't you going with us?" Her voice was scared. Merlin was scared too.

"Someone has to lead them away and keep them distracted. I'll find you if I can. The only thing that matters is to get Merlin away from here." With that, Merlin felt his chin held up. He looked at the bearded man and received a friendly wink in return. "Be brave, Merlin. Take care of your mum, okay?" Merlin had to stop himself from cringing when the man leaned in to kiss his forehead. Friend. He was a friend.

Another flash.

He was so tired and dizzy with pain. They had ridden until the horse collapsed and then his mum had carried him. She was tired too, he could feel it, but still she ran. Every time they stopped, the men came closer, faster.

Arthur knew the terror was a memory, but still his heart sped.

Merlin snapped out of his daze as they fell. With rising panic, he saw that the men had caught up to them. They were milling about on the bank of the ravine above. His mum was crawling towards him. She picked him up and stumbled into a run down the embankment. She cried out and stumbled again but kept running until they were under the cover of the forest. She stopped at the edge of marsh and lowered Merlin.

"Merlin, my boy. You have to run now. Straight through this marsh until you reach the other side. I love you very much, Merlin, never forget that." Merlin felt his heart breaking and he clung with all of his meager strength to her legs. "I'm so sorry, Merlin. I can't go with you. They're following my trail. I'll lead them away for as long as I can." She pried his hands away and hugged him. He could see the blood running down her leg. "I love you so much, Merlin. I wish we had left Ealdor with your father. You should never have had to suffer with that monster. I am so sorry for all of that." She pulled him away and wiped at his tears. "Listen to me. Listen to me, Merlin. You have to be brave for me. Run. Straight through. Don't stop until you find someone to help you. Stay strong. Use your magic if you have to. Now go. Go!"

Arthur felt himself sobbing just as hard as Merlin. He felt the emotions fade with the memories. He gathered Merlin up to his chest and hugged him. "I'll help you, Merlin. You can stop running now. I found you. Rest now."

Merlin eventually relaxed in his arms. Arthur laid him down again and sat on the edge of the cot until Merlin dozed off.

Not long after, Gaius came bustling through. "We have a problem."