This is the last part of 'The Middle'. Now we all know what comes next!

Merlin looked around the room. Two days later he was convalescing, but Gaius was happy with his progress. Merlin couldn't believe it, he had felt so awful, and the last thing he really remembered was being in the forest with Arthur, before he had woken up in Gaius' chambers, tucked up neatly in the cushioned soft bed.

Gaius had gone out now and Merlin looked up at the water jug on the table. He could get up but… Merlin lifted his hand and then jumped, sending the jug spinning the other way as the door opened. He just about stopped it falling over the edge, whipped his hand back under the covers and looked up guiltily. Arthur looked around, especially at the jug rocking at the far end of the table.

"I reached out and tried to grab it," Merlin said.

"All the way from over there?" Arthur asked and closed the door. "You're all right Merlin, it's only me."

"I don't think you can ever call yourself 'only you'"

Arthur chuckled and reached to get the now settled jug and took a swig. "That's better," he said and grinned. Merlin looked chagrined. Arthur offered the jug but before Merlin could take it, he pulled it away.

"Don't you think ought to be a little more careful?" Arthur asked. Merlin looked even more caught out.

"I know, Gaius keeps saying the same."

"Merlin, he's probably right," Arthur said giving Merlin the jug of water.

"And if I was, you'd probably be dead, and I wouldn't have a job."

"Or a destiny," Arthur said cynically.

Merlin took a drink, as he lowered the jug he watched Arthur look around and taking a nearby stool put it close to the bed and sat down on it. He rested his elbows on his knees and cupped his chin in his hands.

"How are you?"

"Okay. Good. Gaius will let me up tomorrow."

"Good, I just came to see you were doing okay. I know I haven't been before, but what with all the stuff going on, I just couldn't."

"That's all right," Merlin said. "I mean, I'm just a servant, thank you for staying with me, overnight. At least I think you were there."

"I was," Arthur said.

An awkward silence settled down between them. Merlin turned the jug in his hands and took another drink. Then he looked up at Arthur.

"I don't remember what happened. I called the dragon, or did we just talk about that?"

"No, you called and he came. You sent out a light ball, I presume to help him find you."

"I don't think he needs that much help." Merlin looked up. Arthur shrugged.

"I think I have to apologise."

That made Merlin raise his eyebrows. "Why?"

"He said I negated a pact between you."

"What pact?"

"You spared his life, so I asked him to save yours; he said that cancelled out the debt."

"It hardly matters," Merlin said with a huff. "He has no choice if I tell him to do something."

"You weren't in a state to. I had to talk for you."

"You didn't do much of a job," Merlin said, pushing his bandages about. The wound was still sore, but didn't look too bad now.

"He was right. It would have looked a little odd if they had found you completely healed. He stopped you dying. There were infections and you were bleeding into your lung, I presume he stopped that. To do anything further would have been foolish. It really would have."

"I guess. Did he really do that though? Or was he just lying again."

"You were coughing up blood when he came, and you looked awful. You were going to die, he stopped that from happening." Arthur had to concede that point. "You used to visit him regularly?"

"When he was chained down in the castle, yes."

"He's big," Arthur said. "I mean, I know I saw him in flying around when he attacked the castle but I never really saw him, just looking at him. He's big, how can you not be scared of him?"

"I never have been, maybe I knew. Maybe he knew. He just used me to get out of Camelot. I felt so stupid and hurt and yet I still couldn't kill him."

"I saw his face, Kilgharrah's, you couldn't miss it coming up that close. He cares about you. When he knew he needed to save you I saw how he looked at you. He's the only dragon in existence, and when it comes down to it, you are the only remaining link in his life."

"Oh, I guess," Merlin said. "I never thought of that."

"I don't ever want to end up like that," Arthur said, in a sudden rush. Merlin blinked, rather confused by the revelation. He sat up a little further in the bed.

"Like what?" Merlin asked.

"Alone," Arthur said. Merlin smirked.

"You're a prince, and you'll be a king, I don't think you will ever be alone."

"My father is," Arthur said. Merlin blinked.

"He has you, and Morgana and..." Merlin stopped there. Arthur looked at him steadily, waiting for Merlin to continue. Nothing else sprang to Merlin's mind; he gaped for a moment and looked around. "And Gaius, they're kind of friends," Merlin said, grasping onto that straw.

"And if he knew that Gaius was harbouring a sorcerer, how long do you think the friendship would last?"

Merlin went quiet for a moment before saying. "You could get into the same sort of trouble."

"I know, I know it's serious," Arthur said. "But you're the one person who knows more about me than anyone, that's important I guess."

Merlin figured that was the best he was ever going to get. There were still some conventions that Arthur couldn't remove. And Merlin knew Arthur well enough to know he'd rather rip his tongue out than openly confess that they were friends. It was all very well and good knowing it, as for coming out and saying it that was entirely different. But Arthur had also shown it, choosing to keep Merlin's secret a secret still.

Arthur cleared his throat and sat up. "So, you'll be back tomorrow."

"I think so," Merlin said, carefully lifting his arm and rolling his shoulder. "Almost better."

"Good," Arthur said standing up. "Because my room is a mess, my armour needs cleaning, my dress tunic needs washing and as for my horses, the tack needs cleaning, they need new shoes, and the stables are diabolical. There is, in fact, someone who can do a worse job in there than you."

Merlin grinned up at him. "Better get that rectified hadn't I?"

Arthur glowered at him from the doorway. "First thing tomorrow."

"Yes, Sire."