A/N: Thanks all for R&R the previous chaps. Haven't forgotten to update, just hard with a full time job. This chap is a little on the angsty side. Just how i like it. Hopefully some more action in the chapters to come, sort of needed this one as a link really. Enjoy and R&R. Thanks. : )

Chapter 6

Arthur remained glued to the spot next to his servant for much of the day. He watched intently as Merlin's chest rouse and fell rhythmically as if to make sure it did not stop. Gaius tended to him intermittently but was called away much of the time, tending to many of the knights and members of the public who were slowly filtering back with various arrays of battle wounds. Merlin drifted in and out of consciousness, everytime not really making much sense to the king, but Arthur was glad that he was at least waking a little. It was hours later when the warlock finally made any sort of sense upon coming around.

"Merlin?" Arthur bent over the boy as he saw his eyes flicking open and closed. It was about the 100th time he had uttered the servants name. At the sight of Arthur Merlin groaned and tried his best to turn away, failing miserably as his wounded shoulder protesting otherwise.

"Why haven't you done it already?" He wheezed out, trying his best not to catch the dryness in his throat.

Arthur frowned. "Done what?"

"Killed me already?" The warlock's words struck the King like a knife to the chest. Merlin must have noticed because he continued. His voice fading as he went. "last i knew magic was outlawed in Camelot under pain of death?"

"Don't be stupid Merlin, I'm not going to kill you." Arthur rubbed his temples, "I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do but I'm not killing you so you can rest assured at that."

The servant said nothing, simply taking a ragged breath which sounded all to harsh for Arthur's likings. Merlin closed his eyes and shivered for a moment. It was then that the King noticed the large collection of sweat beads congregating on his friends forehead. His tattered tunic was beginning to stick to his pale chest. Arthur knew a fever when he saw one.

Not long after Gaius returned to the camp, he was stooped low, clearly waining at the amount of patients he had attended to, the King caught his attention and he bee lined to his ward.

"He's burning up" Arthur motioned to his servant's pained features.

"I feared as much" the physician's brows furrowed and he bent down beside the warlock. "the poison is strong sire, help me take his tunic off, we must keep him as cool as possible."

Arthur slowly peeled back the soaked shirt, and Merlin groaned subconsciously as his wounded shoulder was forced upwards to remove the cloth, Arthur bit back an apology. The angry red wound was now slowly discharging what Arthur could only think was infection but as his eyes continued over the warlocks torso he could no longer bite back his thoughts.

"W..what happened?" the King stuttered at the sight of the many scars littering the pale skin of his servant. Lines and ugly pink and white marks criss crossing one another but what brought the kings attention the most was the large circular scar in the centre of his chest, what Arthur could on imagine as a burn, it must have been deep and painful. How had he not noticed his servant's such severe injury?

"Nimueh" Gaius simply said, knowing exactly which scar had brought his attention. He dipped the cloth into the bucket of cool water and placing it across his wards brow.

"Who?"

Gaius sighed. "Its a long story, but she was the girl who poisoned Merlin at the feast with Bayard and the peace treaty with Mercia"

"She burned him then too?" Arthur pulled a face and Gaius sighed even louder in annoyance.

"No Arthur" the physician half heartily smiled in the Kings direction. "I am sure Merlin will bring you up to speed with all these stories some time. But do you remember being bitten by the Questing beast?" Arthur simply nodded.

"You were saved by Merlin who brought you a magical cup to drink from, he bargained his life in exchange for yours"

"Prat" Arthur interjected mid sentence. "How did i know that was coming"

"The Questing beast is a creature of the old religion, if it choses to kill a victim then someone must die in there place if they are to be saved. The gods tried to take Hunith, Merlins mother, but before the boy could do anything i rode to the Isle of the blessed to exchange my own life." Gaius paused for a moment, remembering that fateful day he was so close to death himself. He took a long inhale.

"In the end, Merlin followed me, he fought with Nimueh, she is, well was, a high priestess of the old religion. It was then that she burned and nearly killed him. But Merlin was too strong for her. He killed her and restored the balance of the world, saving me"

Arthurs jaw dropped and stayed there for a moment. "Merlin killed her?"

Gaius frowned slightly. "He has done much to save you Arthur" he said simply, "one day he may tell you the full story"

Arthur stared at his man servant then, taking in the uncountable amount of scars and blemishes on his skin. The King was sure some must have been caused by him on the training field. Many a day his friend would hobble back to his chambers with Arthur jeering at him for being a girl. The King bit his tongue in haste not to curse himself for his foolishness. Exactly how many times had Merlin been injured and never told his king and trusted friend?

"You idiot Merlin" he cried, the sound of his affection for the boy creeping into his voice. "Why did you not tell me?"

"S...sorry" Merlin jittered, his eyes did not open but somehow he has heard his Kings words. He then mumbled several words that Arthur couldn't understand, the King turned to Gaius.

"He's trying to heal himself"

Arthur watched closely, his friends eyes fluttered open and closed and his iris's flashed a glint of gold then flickered back to blue. His chest heaved as the exertion of magic took over his body and he tried to fight the infection racing through his veins. The King could see him grit his teeth as he tried chanting more causing his limbs to tense and shake.

"Merlin thats enough" Gaius gently placed a hand on his wards uninjured shoulder. "You have no energy to heal yourself, you must rest"

A strangled "No" was all that answered him as Merlin tried in vein again. "Can't..." The warlock chanted again, this time his breaths hitching shorter and more labored. For a moment Arthur thought he might just explode, the energy the boy seemed to be emitting, even without magic the King could sense it. Merlin gasped and gave out two agonizing groans before his head lolled back and he seemed to lose consciousness. It was then his body shook violently.

"Whats happening" Arthurs panicked voice cut the silence between them.

"His fever is becoming dangerously high" Gaius's concerned tone replied. The physician re soaked his cloth and draped his across his wards forehead, using a second he soaked the boys torso in water at an attempt to cool him. Merlin convulsed violently, with Gaius being able to do little. "He's temperature has become so high he's given himself a fit"

"Cant you do anything?" Arthurs tone hitched up a notch in alarm. Gaius shook his head.

"Merlin!" the King shouted at his friend, pushing his writhing body down in an useless attempt to calm him. "Stop it!" he was practically screeching at him like a girl, Merlin would be proud.

Almost on command the warlocks body relaxed, his burning muscles coming to a stop and relaxing back on the blanketed ground. He let out a long and strained sigh and then breathed with ease.

"You clot pole!" Arthur sat back with relief.

Gaius raised an eyebrow to the comment and checked over his now seemingly sleeping ward. "I think we may be lucky" he said finally, looking to Arthur. "I think his fever is breaking"

"Great" Arthur nearly smiled. "He'll be up and washing my socks in no time"

"Not if Morgana has anything to do with it" Gaius cried.

Arthur looked towards the castles turrets in the distance. The next few days were going to be entertaining to say the least. And Gwaine was right, he needed his friend by his side every step if they had any chance of defeating the evil witch. He exhaled, looking down at Merlin. It was going to be a long night.