Oh God. I'm so sorry that it's been so long since my last update! Things have been really busy for me with finals and I've been stressed out of my mind! I hope that you like this chapter, and I promise to get the next one out as soon as possible!

It had been two days since Arthur had stabbed Merlin, and things weren't looking good. Merlin still hadn't woken up, and he was looking more fragile by the minute. His skin was white and cold, and his face was almost constantly screwed up in agony, even though he was unconscious. His wound was looking worse, the whole area was bruised, swollen, and red, but no matter what Gaius did it didn't get any better.

Arthur hated that Merlin was hurt. He hated that he was watching the life slowly leave Merlin's body, that he wouldn't wake up, that he couldn't do anything to help the poor boy, that his best friend was dying. But most of all he hated himself for being the one to put Merlin through this.

During the small winks of sleep that Arthur was able to get, he was plagued by nightmares. Each time his eyes closed, he had to relive stabbing Merlin through the stomach. Usually the nightmares would be of something bound to happen in the future, too. He would dream about Merlin waking up and hating Arthur forever, and of Merlin's heart stopping its beats. He was stuck in Hell, whether he was asleep or awake.

"Arthur?" Gaius said quietly.

"Yes, Gaius?" Arthur asked, his voice weak.

"Your father calls for you. Something about an alliance with a neighboring kingdom."

"Tell him that I refuse to go."

"Arthur-"

"No," Arthur said, cutting him off, "I'm not leaving Merlin! I'm never leaving him!"

"I understand that you want to be with him," Gaius said, "But it would really be best if you went. You know that your father is a very impatient man."

"I don't care about my father right now!"

"I know, I know. But Merlin's wound needs tending to as well, and it would be best for him if I could look at it without you hovering over him," Gaius said carefully, not wanting to sound rude to the prince.

"But what if we wakes up and I'm not here?" Arthur protested.

"Then I will send someone to get you right away. I doubt he will, though, and you won't be gone long. It'll be fine."

Arthur contemplated the thought for a moment before deciding that no matter how resentful he was about it, he had to go. "I suppose you're right. I'll go."

Then, to Gaius's surprise, Arthur leaned down and pressed a small kiss to Merlin's pale forehead. He stayed there a moment, before moving to Merlin's ear and whispering something so quietly that Gaius couldn't make out what he said. Arthur then stood up, ran a hand through his hair, and walked out of the room without another word.

Arthur practically sprinted through the castle, wanting to get back to Merlin as quickly as possible. Uther had kept him for much too long, or maybe it just seemed long given the situation. His heart was beating hard inside his chest as his last words to Merlin played in his head: don't you dare die on me, Merlin. He didn't know what he would do if Merlin had died while he was gone. If losing his only real friend wouldn't hurt enough, then the pain of knowing that he was the one to kill him would surely make it unbearable.

When he finally got to the door, Arthur took a deep breath before pushing the door open, preparing himself for the worst. Stepping in to the room, the first thing he saw was Gaius, sitting in a small chair, his face the epitome of devastation. The second that Arthur saw his face, his heart dropped into his stomach. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't.

"Gaius! What happened? Oh God, Merlin, is he-?"

"No, Arthur. Merlin is still alive," Gaius said before Arthur could even finish the question. Relief immediately washed over the Prince, but it was quickly replaced with new fear as he saw that Gaius still looked so upset.

"If he's alive…then what happened?" Arthur asked carefully, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"The infection is worse than I thought and he's lost so much blood. He's got a day at most."

"Isn't there anything you can do?" Arthur said, his heart shattering at the words 'a day'. One single day wasn't long enough. He needed more time with Merlin. There were still so many things that he wanted to say to his manservant.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. He's hopeless."

"You mean that you're just going to give up on him?" Arthur said angrily, "you can't do that!"

"Arthur, you have to understand. There's nothing I can do."

"No, there has to be something! You have to be able to do something, Gaius! I can't just sit here and watch him fade away!"

"All I can do is make him comfortable."

"It's not fair!" Arthur exclaimed.

"What's not fair?"

"This! Why is there nothing that we can do? Why should he have to die for something that's all my fault?"

"Arthur, you were bewitched, it wasn't your fault," Gaius said, trying to comfort him.

"I should've fought harder against it! I should've beaten that stupid enchantment!"

"Arthur, please don't blame yourself."

"Can I please – can I just have some time alone with him?" Arthur said, sounding defeated.

"Of course, Sire. Call me if he wakes."

Arthur nodded to Gaius, and then made his way back up to Merlin's small room and sat down next to the bed. He grabbed Merlin's hand and squeezed it, hoping beyond hope that he would feel a squeeze back. But of course, nothing came.