Chapter Five

It was later that day that Arthur's father had practically ordered him back to his own chambers for some rest. He was expected at practice with the knights in the morning he was told. Told he had to be there. It was another two days, two agonising days of waiting; before Merlin began looking any visibly better. His skin lost some of the horrible porcelain lustre, though the dark circles still blossomed under his eyes, like someone had physically punched him. Arthur made regular visits, every spare hour he had. He refused to get another, temporary manservant. He didn't think he could bear anyone actually doing as they were told, anyone who wasn't Merlin, serving him. He found himself laughing softly to himself at the realisation. It had been three weeks. Arthur looked up from polishing his sword himself, at a knock on the door. His entire boy tensed up before calling for them to enter. What if it was Gwen or Gaius? What if something had happened to Merlin? What if he'd taken a turn for the worse? What if he was... Forcing down the panic that suddenly blossomed in his chest, he called for the person to enter, and Gwen slipped in, tired but grinning. The panic was quickly replaced by hope.

"Gwen?"

"He's awake Arthur! Asking for you" There were tears in her eyes as she beamed at him. Arthur leapt up, dropping the sword he had been polishing for training, and all but ran to Gaius's chambers.

"Merlin!" He all but bounded around the doorframe, his voice lit by hope and anticipation.

Merlin was lying in the same position as he'd last seen him. Flat out on the patient bed by the merrily roaring fire. Gaius was clutching his hand in both of his own, looking down at his ward with a warm smile on his face. The boy's frame was still pale and horribly thin, but his breathing was steady and his fingers curled around one of Gaius's own ever so slightly.

"Arthur's here, Merlin." Gaius spoke softly, his fingers tightening around the ones they held, and he smiled at the flustered, anxious form of the crown prince in the doorway. There was a groan and a hard chafing noise, like someone clearing a sore throat, before a weak voice croaked;

"'Thur?"

Arthur took four paces forwards and was at his side, falling back into his own chair. The blue eyes were weakly cracked open, surveying him with an unfocused gaze. They lit up with recognition, and his manservant gave a lopsided grin in his general direction.

"'ha'ks" he coughed; the sound rough and dry "'thur... Gai's tol' me wha 'append".

"How do you feel?" Athur found himself asking, taking the other pale, weak hand in his own. The fingers were soft and frail, the bones in them shifting to lightly clasp his hand back. Each finger thin and bony, cool against his warm hands, like that of a skeleton.

"Stu'ipd ques'ion" He coughed again and his lopsided grin grew; "doll'op-h'ed"

"What kind of word is 'dollop-head', I mean, really Merlin" He chuckled and drew out the 'er' of Merlin in the way he always did.

" Told 'yu it's id..." cough "idio" cough "matic..."

Arthur let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Idiot" He paused for a second, surveying the weak form of the warlock. Warlock. "Merlin..."

"Here, sit him up, and get him to drink this" Gaius handed him a cup of cool, clear water.

"Right" Arthur sat on the edge of the bed and slipped a careful arm behind Merlin's shoulder blades. Merlin made a weak noise of pain and protest, and Arthur froze.

"It's alright" Gaius smiled at him, and rested a hand behind Merlin's shoulder. Arthur nodded and lightly pulled Merlin up, bringing his arm round his back, and settling him against him chest. Merlin gave a long groan of pain, his eyes scrunching up, Arthur shot Gaius a glance, and the old man frowned slightly.

"Here, Merlin, try and drink this"

Gaius held the cup to Merlin's lips, and tipped it slightly so that his ward could drink. Merlin coughed and spluttered as the cool water slipped past his lips and hit his raw throat, and each cough wracked his fragile, bony frame. Arthur could feel his body shaking like a leaf is the wind as he held him, the bones in his back pressed against Arthur's chest, the skin around them tight and sallow. Arthur found his forehead resting on Merlin's shoulder as he did so.

Arthur could feel Merlin's body relaxing, and his breathing evening out.

"Gaius?"

"It's ok, he's just falling asleep again" The old man gave the boy a look filled with such fondness and love that Arthur suddenly felt like he was intruding terribly on them. Together, they lay Merlin back down, and Arthur sat with him all afternoon, until his father stormed in, and ranted about him missing training with the knights. Arthur suddenly had a strong urge to take a sword to whoever had told his father he'd not been there, as he had to leave.

With one last fond look at the sleeping Merlin, Arthur found his feet walking themselves back to his chambers, and felt his body collapsing onto his bed. With a long, drawn out sigh (he seemed to be doing a lot of sighing as of late) he closed his eyes and, without even bothering to change, fell sound asleep.

His dreams that night were easier, more peaceful, calmer.

A.N: Why hello dear readers, Lenle G. here (surprise, surprise; it is my story). :D Hope you've liked this story do far, only the epilogue to go really now! If you do like it, then drop this little author-wanna-be a review, pleasies, so she can know whether or not to write more of this stuff? Thanks in advance and thanks for reading!

:D :D :D xxx