Merlin curled his fingers around his coffee cup. He wandered down the halls on his way back to Arthur's room. He crept in quietly in case Arthur still slept. He didn't. Arthur was wind awake and looked over at Merlin. "Hello gorgeous!" he smiled.
Merlin smiled back. He set down his coffee and sat in the chair besides Arthur's bed. He entwined his fingers with Arthur's. "How you feeling?" Merlin asked. Arthur groaned as he sat up.
"Not bad considering. I'm dying for some chocolate though!" Arthur said. Merlin winced slightly when he said "dying" which made Arthur regret it. He squeezed merlin's hand a little tighter.
"I'm going to be fine you know. I promise I'll live. Because I'm not leaving you merlin. Not again. I promised you that when I proposed. I said I'd spend the rest of my life with you. Besides, I asked if you'd love me for the rest of my life. What was the answer?"
Merlin looked away a little. He swallowed slightly as he did. "I said no. I'll love you for the rest of mine!" he said bringing his head back up. Arthur smiled slightly.
Arthur felt for the rings from Camelot that Gwaine had forgotten to bring on their wedding day. Gaius's and Uther's. That was what he and merlin had agreed on. He took Merlin's hand. "Merlin, do you take me for better or for worse? In sickness and in health? Even if death do part us?" Arthur asked.
Merlin let himself smile. "I do!" he said. Arthur slid Gaius's ring onto Merlin's finger and kissed his hand. "Arthur, do you take me for better or for worse? In sickness and in health? For richer or poorer? Even if death do part us?" Merlin said showing off that he remembered more than Arthur.
Arthur chuckled shaking his head "I do!" Merlin slid Uther's ring onto Arthur's finger and kissed his hand. For richer or poorer had already been established. From rulers of a mighty kingdom to civilians with a normal life. They had lost a lot of money, but they didn't care.
Gwaine slammed open the door and strode straight in looking happy and healthy and more than ready for today. He beamed at Merlin and Arthur as they sat beside one another. "Hello boys! I tell you what I am dying for an apple pie!" he said. Then he saw Merlin wince. "Sorry mate. Didn't mean that, wasn't thinking!" he said.
Merlin shrugged. "It's alright! Thank you Gwaine, I appreciate this!" merlin said.
"It's fine merlin. Anything for a mate like you! Besides what's the good in having organs if you can't give them away ey?" Gwaine joked.
"Really Gwaine. Thanks a lot!" Arthur said. Gwaine nodded slightly.
The doctor walked in. "ah you're all here. If you would just follow me I'll get the nurses to prep you for your surgery and you will be taken down in about half an hour alright?" he said. The nurses came in to prep Arthur. Merlin was told to wait outside.
After a while, the nurses told merlin that he wouldn't be able to stay. She said that Arthur wouldn't be taking visitors until tomorrow lunchtime, so merlin should just go home.
Merlin thought about going back to that big old empty house alone. How the walls would echo and the bed would be cold. He looked down at his shoes. "It will help him recover so he can go home faster!" She explained. Merlin nodded. He made her place some flowers by the bed so as soon as Arthur woke up he saw something beautiful. "It's a shame I can't send a mirror!" he chuckled.
Merlin couldn't find it in himself to go all the way to the empty house now. He wanted to be around people instead of being alone. Gwen and Leon were out on their date, Mordred had an away match with Lancelot and Morgana had gone as moral support. The only one left, the only one who would probably understand, was Percival. So merlin found himself knocking on Percival's half red half lilac door. (Percival and Gwaine couldn't agree on one colour so they just went for two. The same went for the blue and black gate too!)