"You're awake!" Gwaine stated when he entered the room.
"Gwaine." Merlin looked up and grinned. He looked terrible. He was paler than ever before; his tall, thin appearance was more angular. But he was more lively than he had been two days ago.
"Gwaine, keep it short. He needs to rest," Gaius said before he left the room.
"Yes, yes. And this is for you. The whole kitchen sent their hello." Gwaine set the tray full of food on the table.
Merlin looked at it with astonishment. "Really?"
"Really. Merlin, I have noticed that you usually don't value yourself highly. Everyone who I met on the way down here asked how you were. Now I can answer that you are well... Given the situation, of course. Oh, and maybe you want this back." Gwaine offered the ring to Merlin, who blinked. He had completely forgotten about it.
"Right, yes. Thank you." He took it from Gwaine's outstretched hand.
"I have to say that I'm curious about it..." Merlin visibly stiffed but Gwaine chose to ignore it "...so I borrowed this book…"
"Borrowed a book? From where? From the library? From Geoffrey of Monmouth? " Merlin sounded doubtful.
"Maybe borrowed it too strong a word. But anyway, it was an interesting read. I think that you should read it too some time. " Gwaine set the book on Merlin's lap.
"Gwaine…"
"Eat, go to sleep, and get better, Merlin. And if you want to talk, you know that you can trust me." Gwaine went toward the door.
"I-"
"Don't say anything now. Just, keep it in mind. Now I really have to go. Percival is waiting."
"Gwaine!" Merlin called after him.
"Yes?" Gwaine peeked around the door.
"Thank you."
"Merlin, I should thank you. A few years ago you gave me something no one else has ever done. You gave me hope."
Merlin didn't get the chance to answer before Gwaine was gone. After that, Gaius came back and saw the ring.
"That ring, don't tell me that this is…"
"My father's ring, my family seal. I met a man named Delwyn." Merlin noticed that Gaius recognised the name, and smiled. "He said to say hello to you."
Gaius sat down. "I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you earlier."
"Don't be. Maybe it was the right thing to do anyway. And I really don't want this." Merlin rolled the ring on his fingers.
Gaius shook his head. "No, Merlin. I think you really should keep it. In your position, you may need it someday. You are counsellor now. "
"Use this in Camelot? Gaius, are you mad?"
"Maybe. Times are changing."
Merlin stared at his mentor, but Gaius looked too serious.
"Gwaine gave me this." Merlin opened the book and Gaius noticed that it was the book of heraldry. There was a list of all the noble families of Albion.
"You should tell him," Gaius said.
"You really think so?" Merlin asked quietly.
"After Lancelot, you need someone beside you."
"Gaius…"
"I know that you are afraid. You have lost a lot of people. But Merlin, you need someone who can ride beside you. I'm not always able to be there for you, I realised that after Morgana… Let's say that this year had been instructive to me. And it's seems that you actually can trust him. He figured out the seal." Gaius pointed at the book.
"Yes he did. I promise, I'll think about it." Merlin smiled and put the ring back on his finger, the seal facing downwards.
#
"When he can be back to work?" Arthur asked, looking up from his papers.
"Soon, but only if you keep him sitting still, Sire. He'll get tired easily," Gaius answered. "He can't participate in any council meetings yet."
"If he can just sit in here and look over these and write, that's good. I need his help. I can't believe that my father did this all by himself, without any help," Arthur complained.
"It was because he didn't trust anyone to share his job but you."
"And that was because I had to learn how to do this damn paper work." Arthur leaned back on his chair. "And Merlin helped me with these through the last year, when he had to do all of his servant duties as well."
"And be my apprentice," Gaius reminded him.
"No wonder he was always late," Arthur sighed.
"And you never thought that he was overworked, Sire?"
Arthur winced. "I was blind to many things, Gaius."
"Don't push him too much now, either. He is still my apprentice and your counsellor and scribe. And because of that, he has a lot to learn, and thus he has to study," Gaius warned his king.
Arthur nodded. "Gwen keeps that in my mind. She is also doing too much, but she has lot to do with the castle itself. And the tournament is coming. Hopefully by the time it begins Merlin will be well again. This was his idea. The whole town and castle are going to be full of people soon. Look at this letter." Arthur offered the letter to Gaius who eyed it.
"Oh," he said.
"Right. And I can't say no to her. I killed her husband. If only I had listened Merlin back then."
"Merlin, Sire?" Gaius looked puzzled.
"He never told you? He really tried to stop me, but instead I listened Agravaine."
"I can understand why, Sire," Gaius sighed. "He was your uncle, after all."
"No, I was just too arrogant to listen Merlin who was just a servant. I still can't understand why he can be so wise sometimes," Arthur murmured.
"He just looks at the world differently. Even I can't understand him most of the time. And he has gone through a lot, much like you, Sire. You two are not so different." Gaius stood up and smiled. "Can I say something, Sire?"
"Don't you always?" Arthur grinned.
"Sire. You say that you trust Merlin, and I say that you really can trust him, but... do you know him?"
Arthur stared the old physician. "What do you mean, Gaius?"
"I'm just wondering, do you know him, really? Behind that goofy smile, do you know anything about him? Why do you trust him so much?"
Arthur couldn't say anything.
"Five years, Sire, only five years and he has gained so much. And he changed you, for better I dare to say. I'm glad that you have finally acknowledged him. He deserves it. But there is still much more for you to learn. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go. Sire."
Gaius stopped right outside the King's study. He rubbed his yes tiredly. Now, the wheels were in motion.