Yes, I realize that I am a terrible person for not updating for so long. I am very, very sorry. I got really sick, and then I got really busy, and then I nearly fainted at dance last night and things are just not the best right now, so I'm doing my best. Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews, favorites, and alerts. They mean a lot to me. I hope you enjoy chapter four!
Only a mere hour and a half after Arthur had sat down next to Merlin, the young servant began to moan in pain in his sleep, each sound tearing though Arthur like a blade. There was nothing he hated more in this world than seeing Merlin in pain and not being able to do anything to help, especially when he was the one who caused it. With every blink of his eyes, Arthur's mind flashed back to the moment when he stabbed his sword through Merlin, forcing him to relive something that he would much rather have erased from his memory.
Arthur desperately tried to soothe Merlin when the pain seemed to be getting worse and worse, but despite his attempts of rubbing Merlin's knuckles and placing wet rags on his forehead, nothing seemed to be working. Not even Gaius's medicines were nearly enough to numb any of the pain, no matter how much he gave him.
It wasn't long before Merlin started to mumble things, at first it was nothing that Arthur could understand, but eventually the mumbles turned into coherent words. They were so quiet, though, that Arthur had to lean down and strain his ears to hear what Merlin was saying.
"Please…please help. Someone help me," Merlin mumbled, his eyes screwing up. "Make it stop…someone make it stop!"
Arthur's heart shattered as Merlin spoke in his sleep; the words cutting through him like ice. He wanted to be the one to help him, but there was so little that he could do. He tightened his hold on Merlin's hand, and wiped a tear that had escaped from his closed eyelids off of his friend's face with his thumb, oh so gently.
Suddenly, Merlin's eyes shot open as he awoke with a loud gasp from both men. Merlin looked straight at Arthur, and for a second his eyes filled with recognition and relief, but then something clicked in his brain, as he realized that he was looking at the man who had stabbed him and that relief quickly turned into terror.
"HELP ME!" Merlin screamed as loudly as he could, backing away from Arthur as he yelled. It didn't take long before he doubled over in pain from all of the screaming, both hands clutching at his stomach. Merlin began slowly rocking back and forth on his bed, the pain clearly too much for him to handle. Arthur cautiously reached a hand out and placed it on the other man's shoulder, but he shuddered in response and flinched away, clearly terrified of the blonde.
"Don't touch me!" Merlin shouted, his voice full of fear. Just then, Gaius burst through the door, having heard all of the screaming coming from the room.
"Merlin!" He exclaimed, clearly in shock.
"Gaius, get him away from me, please!" Merlin pleaded, his words thick with terror.
"Arthur, get out!" Gaius practically shouted.
"But—" Arthur protested.
"Now! His heart rate is way too high with fear and if you don't leave, then he won't make it!" Gaius said, not caring that he was talking to the Prince of Camelot, his only worries currently on the dying boy in front of him.
Arthur quickly obliged, throwing Merlin one last look before running out of the room. He slammed the door behind him and slid to the ground, hot tears forming in his eyes. The look on Merlin's face was terrible. It was a blend of terror and pain, and Arthur didn't think that he could stand ever seeing that on Merlin's face again. He knew that Merlin would be scared of him when he woke up, and he had tried to prepare for it, but his attempts were definitely futile. He was supposed to protect Merlin, to keep him out of harm, and now Merlin was absolutely terrified of him.
Arthur squeezed his eyes shut tight, determined not to cry. He was the Prince, crying wasn't supposed to be an option. But then he heard Merlin scream in the room, clearly in unbearable pain, and Arthur couldn't stop the tears from coming. The began to rush down his face, hot and fast, and before he knew it he was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably like a child.
The tears wouldn't stop. Arthur kept trying and trying to calm himself down, but nothing he did worked. Merlin's screams and cries from the room right behind him didn't do much to help the situation, either, but Arthur refused to walk away. He put Merlin in this pain, and he was going to stay with him until it was gone, no matter what.
Arthur had no idea how long he had been sitting against the door. It could have been mere seconds, or a whole lifetime for all he knew. Eventually, though, Gaius slowly pulled the door open and gave Arthur a pitiful look.
"Arthur," Gaius said calmly, getting the Prince's attention.
"Gaius!" Arthur exclaimed, hastily wiping the tears from his eyes in an attempt to have at least some dignity, "Is Merlin okay?"
"I've given him enough of the pain medicine to make it bearable, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do to make it go away completely. It's a great sign that he woke up, though. If we're careful, he might just make it."
"He's going to live," Arthur said, "he has to."
Gaius gave him a sad smile, not wanting to crush Arthur by telling him that Merlin's chances, while now a bit better, were still very slim.
"Can I see him?" Arthur asked, his voice desperate.
"Yes, I told him that you were enchanted, so he's much more calm now. He'll still be frightened of you, though. You're going to need to explain it all to him yourself."
"Okay," was all Arthur said before taking a deep breath and slowly pushing the door open.