Arthur
My thoughts were in turmoil... What have I... Something snapped in me... creating order from the chaos... I needed to get him to Gaius... I scoop him up, getting to my feet... recalling the time I did the same thing when he drank that poison... a lifetime ago... But then something else comes to me... I turn to glance at Morgana... she doesn't look as if she is going anywhere but still... But Merlin... a small groan from him makes my mind up for me... I see his eyes open slightly, focusing on me but before he can say anything, they close again... I start running... dodging piles of rocks and the now frozen statues... He must have destroyed it... and the Shadow Stone... how else could he have escaped that land of nightmares... and he thanked Merlin by giving him a wound that could easily be fatal... No... He was going to be fine... he had to be... I finally made it to the steps, jumping up them as fast I could... then I had to stop as a group of men blocked my way... they must have woken up... feel dismay spread through me... Merlin...
Arthur froze as he made out Leon, Gwaine and he rest of them. Had the spell ended?
Gwaine ran forward, and Arthur was relieved to see him without anger in his eyes.
"Arthur, are you okay? The guys said they attacked you and..." his eyes fell to Merlin... no, to the spreading blood stain on his stomach. "Merlin..." he gasped, before he turned and ran up the stairs. "I'll warn Gaius, you need to get him up there."
Arthur immediately followed him, calling to Leon to sort out Morgana. He turned the corner, not hearing Leons reply,
"Morgana? Where?" he scanned the courtyard but saw no sign of her...
Arthur could barely make it up the stairs, fatigue seeping into his limbs, but he managed it. He lay Merlin down on the low bed, moving aside to let Gaius get to him. He could see by the expression on his face that it wasn't good. He felt something warm seeping into his sleeve and saw Merlin's blood soaking through. Then he realised he was still holding the knife... Merlin's knife. He fought the urge to fling it away and placed it on the table, sinking down onto the bench as Gaius cleaned the wound. Gwaine sat next to him.
"What happened Arthur?" he asked softly, and Arthur told him about the run in with Morgana, about the visions-though he did not tell him the exact images, knowing that he should keep them to himself- and about lashing out and finding that it was Merlin whom he had struck. Gwaine said nothing throughout the story, keeping a blank face.
Arthur finished and they were both silent, until Gwaine spoke.
"Arthur, you didnt mean it. It wasnt your fault..."
Arthur stopped him.
"Don't... don't try to make me feel better. If, no... when Merlin gets better, then maybe I can try to sort out this mess." He sighed and turned as the door opened. Leon, Elyan, Percival walked in, all of them letting their eyes drift over to Gaius, who was still working on Merlin. "Sire..." Leon began, "About before... we didn't mean to..." Arthur interrupted. "Its fine Leon, It wasn't you fault." Leon realised that Arthur wouldn't accept an apology so turned his attention to Merlin. "Is he going to be okay? What happened?" Arthur was about to explain but Gwaine interrupted.
"I'll tell them, you need to rest." He walked over to the others, the look in his eyes telling them not to argue and they all left the room.
Arthur went over to Gaius.
"Gaius, can I..."
Gaius cut him off.
"I need room sire, there is nothing you can do at the moment. I suggest you rest." The harsh tone in his voice was probably not intended to hurt, but it did. Arthur turned to go, but felt a hand weakly grip his arm. He turned and saw Merlin, awake and anxiously trying to speak.
"Arthur..." he murmured weakly, "Demon... cut. Have to heal it... please..." Arthur looked to Gaius.
"He must do it sire, It wont be long until it starts to get worse."
Arthur sighed and nodded to Merlin. He raised his hand to Arthur's cheek, face screwed up in concentration. He muttered a few words, his eyes turning golden, and Arthur felt pain -that he hadn't realized was there- drain away. He put his hand to his cheek, and felt it smooth. He turned back to Merlin but found him unconscious again.
"Gaius..." he tied to say, but got interrupted.
"I need to see to the wound. You should rest Arthur... or at least sit down." Arthur sighed and made his way back to the table, sitting down and resting his head on his arms. The last thing he thought about before sleep overtook him was that he should really try to stay awake.
Arthur
I felt my eyes close, and knew that I wouldnt be able to fight the fatigue that filled my body. I remembered what Merlin said about sleep catching up on me if I forgot to drink from the waterskin and cursed. I could not reach it and I wasn't gong to distract Gaius. My lids suddenly went heavy and fell shut, and everything was dark. I suddenly got a strange feeling and I was in my rooms... A sense of horror washed over me as I relived the entire scene with Morgana and Gwen... and Merlin... all of it... Camelot was burning again... the men died... the dragon... Merlin... then again... Everything happened over and over... I did not know how long had passed... hours... days... weeks... Over and over... Then it changed. The images became blurry and eventually faded to black... then my eyes opened and I saw Gaius staring at me...
Gaius stepped back, sighing as he realised that Merlin would be okay. The blade had missed any vital points in his body and the bleeding had lessened. He had bandaged the wound and assured himself that he would be okay for a few hours at least... hopefully.
He turned to see Arthur, sleeping but jerking fitfully. He had been doing so for several hours, and Gaius had not wanted to risk waking him. He needed to sleep. Now, as Arthur started to move even more fitfully, he felt he had no choice. He reached over the table and shook his arm, relieved to see him open his eyes.
He blinked a few times, then jumped up.
"Gaius... Merlin. Is he okay?" A relieved expression crossed his face as Gaius explained that as long as he didn't strain himself too much, he would be fine. Though, he had said, That wasn't likely, so the best hope would be to wait till he woke up, then attempt to heal him with magic.
Arthur grinned, but then his face got marred by guilt.
"Look at what I've done Gaius... How can I ask fo everything to go back to the way it was?"
Gaius looked at him, and Arthur finally appreciated the wisdom he held in his eyes.
"It never can Arthur." He told him. "Too much has changed. But if you are worried about losing Merlin, don't be. That young man cares greatly about you. After everything, I don't think that this will drive him away. But you not trusting him might do."
Arthur turned to him.
"But Gaius, I do trust..." He never got a chance to finish.
"No Arthur, you don't. Not as much as you used to anyway."
Arthur and Gaius turned towards the voice, finding Merlin awake and leaning on his elbow, staring at them. His eyes showed the pain he was in, but also the sadness at what he had said, knowing it to be the truth. "You used to, but no more. Not properly..."
He groaned and rolled back onto his back. Arthur and Gaius ran to his side.
"Merlin," Arthur said, "How are you feeling?" He looked down at Merlin's hand, clutching the point where the blade had pierced. "I'm sorry Merlin..." he managed, before the door burst open.
"Arthur..." It was Percival. "You need to come, Its The demons... We cant fight them..."
Arthur told him he was on his way and Percival ran back out of the room. He turned to Merlin and Gaius.
"I have to-"
"We know Arthur," Merlin interrupted, "Go. If you need me, just call."
Arthur smiled softly at the words, similar to the ones he had read on the scrap of parchment and ran from the room. Hoping that one of the men had picked up his sword. What he saw in the hall made him freeze, horror across his face.
"Oh God's..." he murmured, before running straight at Morgana, who was clutching Gwen, grinning at him, evil written across her expression as she held a knife to Gwen's throat.