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Morning arrived, Tom promised he'd watch over Merlin while the knights and king headed off to kill the Naga. Percival pocket several small jars for the blood, Arthur wasn't leaving until he had it, they all knew that.
"I'll be back soon and you'll be better." Arthur told his brother who was only partly lucid. Merlin have him a weak smile, while he didn't understand the words the general tone of the kings voice was soothing.
They started in the cavern where Merlin had first fought the creature, then slowly they made their way through the tunnels, leaving no stone unturned or shadow unchecked. As the hours passed Arthur began to despair. What if the Naga was gone? What if it had move on?
Arthur was investigating a small crevice in one of the walls when he felt his hairs stand on end. Call it a knights instincts, he was very hard to sneak a up on. Spinning on his heels he turned to face the other nights, scanning the room until he found a pair of cold, not human, eyes staring back.
"There!" he yelled, Elyan held out his torch, dimly illuminating the Naga who was now in possession of a large white sword.
"You're not getting away this time." Leon growled blocking the only exit with his body, "You've hurt our prince."
"You will pay for hurting my brother." Arthur growled unsheathing his sword and pointing at it at the Naga, it hissed.
"I once had a brother too." The Naga replied, "But he wassss killed for hissss blood. I made thisss sssword from his bonesss."
The Naga stroked the sword almost lovingly and for a moment Arthur almost felt sorry for it, him really, the Naga was a he. But that didn't change the fact that he'd killed several people and Merlin was on his way to becoming part of that list. And nobody hurts his little brother and gets away with it.
All of a sudden there is a clashing of swords and hissing and they were fighting. Gwaine yelped in pain as the Naga threw him against the wall jarring his already injured arm, Elyan went to his defense. The scales on the Naga's tail were heavy and armored, Arthur's sword seemed bounce off it. Naturally he was going to have to go for the chest, but getting to it was easier said than don, that great tail was always in the way.
So he waited, feigning attack until the tail cam straight at him and skillfully dodged it and before the Naga could pull it back to defend himself, Arthur had his sword in the creatures chest. The large half snake half human body thumped to the floor heavily and Percival quickly made a show of collecting the blood while Leon helped Gwaine.
"Come on, we need to find willow root to boil this with." Arthur ordered.
"I'll go." Elyan volunteered, "I know plants."
"We'll meet you back at Tom's hut." Arthur nodded before running back to the village with the other knights.
...
"He's gotten a lot worse since you left." Tom reported, "He's been mumbling God knows what for the past hour."
For the first time in years Arthur thanked the Gods these people knew nothing about magic.
"Merlin." Arthur called sitting down on the ground by the bed, "Brother can you hear me?"
Merlin didn't reply, his breath was so wheezy Arthur doubted he could talk even if he was conscious.
Elyan boiled the blood and willow when he returned, the smell was putrid, everybody was coughing and gaging.
"We have to make him drink this stuff?" Gwaine retched, "How will he keep it down?"
"Just pass it to me." Arthur sighed trying not to be sick.
Gently he propped his brother up against his chest and held his nose.
"Sorry about this." He grimaced before pouring the deep red broth into his mouth. Merlin coughed and trembled but eventually the horrid potion went down. And now we wait.
...
The first thought that came into Merlin's fogged mind was that his mouth felt strange, then the taste came.
"Oh my God!" He coughed wiping at his tongue with his mouth, "Thats the worst thing I;ve ever tasted ugh!"
"You're awake sire!" Leon smiled, "About time, we thought the potion wasn't going to work."
"You mean the Naga blood!" Merlin coughed, "Oh god!"
"At least your still breathing." Elyan smiled, "Arthur's been worried sick."
The knight pointed to the end of the bed which the prince was now residing in, the king was slumped against it fast asleep.
"Oh we are going to tease him about this aren't we?" Gwaine grinned.
"Relentlessly." Merlin agreed before flopping back down on the bed exhausted.
"Don't wake him." Merlin ordered when Percival got up to wake Arthur to tell him the good news, "He probably needs the rest."
For a while there was silence and Merlin rested but didn't sleep.
"Don't do that again." Leon finally spoke up, "I don't think Arthur could take it, the first time was bad enough."
"It's not like I try to get myself in these situations." Merlin smirked before turning serious, "What do you mean?"
The knights all shared a look.
"Nobody wanted to tell you." Elyan said quietly looking at the floor, "But after we all thought you'd died after Morgana's raid, Arthur was just the same as Uther for the first week."
Merlin's mind immediately filled with memories of his father sitting and staring at nothing for days on end. Then putting Arthur in his fathers place, he shivered. That was terrifying.
"I'll be more careful." Merlin nodded quietly.
...
When Arthur opened his eyes he saw the knights were all asleep, as was Tom. Immediately his eyes flew to Merlin who despite looking much less pale, was still asleep. He sighed, the medicine should of worked dammit! What if he'd been too late.
"Mmpfh, Arthur, stop shaking the bed." Merlin sighed turning over and sitting up, rubbing his eyes.
"Merlin!" Arthur beamed wrapping his arms around his brothers neck.
"Nice to see you too." Merlin grinned when Arthur let go.
"I swear Merlin you are the worst knight I've ever had." Arthur joked, "I spend more time rescuing you than anybody."
"Oh yeah, like I've never saved your life." Merlin bit back jokingly.
Sorry! I know I'm late and this is rushed!