I'm so sorry for the long delay. My plot bunny ran off with my muse and left me with double shifts at work - wasn't happy!

Gwaine watched in an uncharacteristic silence as Arthur trained with Leon. Well, trained wasn't quite the right word, but under Gaius' careful supervision, they had slowly began on a program that would help build up Arthur's strength. Originally, Gaius hadn't wanted to start anything until they were back in Camelot, but the attack four days ago had changed his mind. Arthur hadn't slept for two days after that, despite Merlin's best efforts, and everyone knew – but wouldn't say – that he was terrified. It had been Leon who had approached the matter, claiming that Arthur was feeling weak, he could read the prince's body language well enough to know that was part of his terror. For eight months he had been unable to fight back, and now he was still feeling the same.

But watching them, Gwaine knew that wasn't the only reason why Gaius had agreed. Merlin couldn't have a part in this; there was nothing physical he could do to help Arthur regain his strength, no matter how much he was key to Arthur's mental state. Letting his eyes flicker away from the duelling pair, Gwaine instead looked towards the fire, where Merlin was sitting talking to Lancelot. The pair of them always seemed to bond well, Gwaine was no fool. He didn't miss the looks that were traded when they thought no one was looking. They had a secret...and Gwaine didn't care. One day, perhaps, they would tell him. But for now, he knew that Lancelot was just doing as Gaius had instructed and keeping Merlin occupied.

With both men being given tasks to do without them realising it, the rest of the party were trying to ease them away from each other. Uther would not react well to seeing his heir relying solely on his servant to basically keep him sane, especially not as it was now bordering on six weeks since the message had arrived that Arthur had been found. The knight knew that Gaius was worrying about how he was going to explain to the king that although whilst Arthur was healing physically, it was still going to take a long time before he overcame the mental barriers. But the physician knew that Merlin was also relying on being near Arthur as much as the prince was. His over protectiveness was bordering on worrying, especially after the usually gentle servant had nearly hit Elyan for being in between him and Arthur when the prince had cried out one night.

But the training was beginning to have the desired effect. At first, Arthur would only go a few moments before looking around for Merlin, and every time he turned, Merlin would be there, watching him carefully. Now, however, he had been training for Leon for almost half an hour, and hadn't once turned. Merlin, for his part, was completely engaged with whatever it was he and Lancelot were up too and hadn't checked on Arthur.

Across the camp, Gwaine caught Gaius' eye and grinned, flicking his gaze between the two young men to make his point. Gaius nodded softly, before resuming watching Arthur. Gwaine had come to learn a lot about the old physician over the last few weeks, and knew that it was what he didn't say that often spoke louder than anything that came out of his mouth. For instant, the way the corner of one eyebrow was turned down meant Gwaine knew the battling pair was only moments from having the fight called off. Although so saying, Gaius wasn't the only one who was noticing that Arthur was tiring. Even so, the improvement was amazing, and when he had flopped down by the fire the night before, barely able to keep his eyes open, the prince had been flushed with success, a grin making its way onto his face whenever he thought no one was watching.

"Enough!" Gwaine's predictions were spot on as Gaius' commanding voice rang out over the clearing and Leon immediately called the training to a halt. No one commented on the way Arthur all but collapsed to the ground, his muscles trembling slightly and sweat pouring off him. Since he began to use his voice again, the royal had been very vocal about he felt about them treating him like he was something fragile. But Gwaine knew he wasn't the only one watching with baited breath as Leon casually handed Arthur the water skin.

The prince took a long gulp, and Gwaine could sense Gaius moving in out of the corner of his eye. But then Arthur stopped and handed it back to Leon, seemingly oblivious of what he had just done. Glancing over at Merlin, Gwaine wasn't the slightest bit surprised to see that he was watching his master. Gaius' call would have gained the servant's attention, but there was a small smile of pride on his face as he turned back to continue his conversation with Lancelot. Arthur was finally beginning to be able to look after himself a little more, something they all knew would improve his confidence tenfold.

Now that the training had finished, everyone snapped to it. It was like they had all been in some sort of trance, clinging to the vague sense of normality of watching the prince train with his men. But now it was obvious how late in the day it was getting. They had travelled quite a distance that morning, stopping early. They all knew why they were stopping early. They all knew where they would reach tomorrow, something no one, not even Merlin, was quite sure how Arthur was going to react to.

"...so I want to leave about mid-morning and get..." Gaius broke off from where he had moved over to talk quietly to Merlin when Gwaine approached, but on seeing the Knight was alone, continued. "Get to Camelot late afternoon. Hopefully it will be getting dark and we can get Arthur inside with very little fuss and prying eyes."

Merlin nodded his understanding, and Gwaine found himself agreeing. Although there could be no denying the prince now was far more like the old Arthur rather than the broken shell they had first discovered, the marks of his torment were more than obvious. There had been a brief moment of panic when one of the marks on his back had become infected, meaning that the majority of the wounds were still bandaged up. Gaius wasn't taking any chances when he had such limited supplies. It was obvious what Arthur had been through, and they all knew that for his people, those who he had one day lead, see him like that...he would hate it.

"What about the king?" Merlin asked quietly, his resigned tone showing how long it had been since he last slept in a proper bed. It must have only been a handful of times since Arthur had been taken. He was getting a little more rest now that Arthur had begun to settle, especially when he would let the Knights near even without Merlin around. But even so, the servant looked exhausted.

"That's another reason for going in late. We can say Arthur needs rest, and that will give us at least until the next morning."

"Are you lot coming to eat before Percival scoffs the lot?" Elyan's laid back and friendly tone made Gwaine grin and he jumped to his feet, offering his hand to Merlin. He hauled the young man upright, and between them they helped Gaius to his feet. The physician was another one who looked in dire need of a good night's sleep, weeks in a forest at his age had not been easy.

A companionable atmosphere settled around the fire. The group had always been close, the events that had bonded them in the first place being far from normal. But having spent so long fighting to get Arthur back and alive, something else had changed. The bonds were deeper, messages being spoken without any words. But there was one person that was even quieter than he now normally was that night, and eventually Merlin sighed.

"What is it?" He demanded of the prince, turning everyone's attention to Arthur. It was only then they noticed that he hadn't touched his food. They may not have trusted him to drink on his own, but Arthur had shown that he had no desire to eat and had just picked. Although it also didn't escape their attention that as time had gone on, he was picking more and more until the meal was finished. Tonight, however, Arthur hadn't even taken a nibble.

"Nothing." The prince responded, refusing to look at Merlin as he scuffed his feet in the dirt around the fire. Merlin briefly shut his eyes, sighing in what appeared to be defeat before glaring at Arthur.

"Don't lie, Arthur. Not to me. What is it?"

"Nothing." Arthur repeatedly stubbornly, still refusing to look at any of them although he must have known they were all listening closely. It wasn't only Merlin who now worried almost constantly about what was going through Arthur's head.

"Then eat." Merlin all but ordered, and Leon wasn't the only one unable to hide his smile as Arthur moodily picked up his bowl and took a small mouthful. They knew this wouldn't be able to continue when they reached Camelot, that Merlin couldn't be seen telling Arthur what to do like this, even if it was for his own good. But for now, they were just glad that Arthur would listen to someone, or who knew how weak he would still be.

But whilst Arthur was beginning to slowly eat, Gwaine noticed that Merlin didn't take his eyes off the prince, a small frown appearing as he watched Arthur. Glancing at the prince himself, Gwaine couldn't figure out what had Merlin so worried until he finally saw what the warlock was seeing. Arthur was shaking.

"Elyan! You'll come and help me get firewood, won't you?" Gwaine's overly loud exclamation broke the silence throughout the camp, Lancelot jumping in surprise. Elyan looked astonished, Gwaine never volunteered to fetch firewood. But he seemed to read something in his friend's expression and nodded. Leon caught on to what they were up to.

"Percival, help me patrol the border of the camp. Lancelot, help Gaius clean this up and get the bedrolls out." Percival rose to his feet and Lancelot nodded his understanding. They all set about with their tasks without complaint, something that was highly unusual these days. But eventually, Merlin was left alone around the fire with Arthur. The second Lancelot's chatter to Gaius faded away; he threw the bowl back down on the ground and crossed his arms over himself.

Merlin sighed as he moved forward. He knew that Arthur did this when he was feeling unsafe; it was some attempt to protect himself that he must have picked up in the hellhole he had been living in. Merlin hated to admit it, but it was Arthur trying to make himself smaller. Considering his confidence had nearly always bordered on arrogance before this, it all but broke Merlin's heart.

"What is it?" Unlike before, there was only softness in Merlin's voice now, gentle compassion as he moved around to crouch in front of Arthur, forcing the prince to look at him. "Arthur, please, what's wrong? Does something hurt? Do you want me to get something from Gaius?"

"No." Arthur's answer was so quick Merlin immediately knew he was lying, but still didn't move. Although Arthur clearly was in pain, the servant knew that wasn't the problem. Not all of it, anyway.

"Then what?" When Arthur didn't answer, but was clearly shaking more than before, Merlin sighed. He stretched out his own hand, forcibly unfolding Arthur's arms and sliding him down from the log he was on, making him sit next to Merlin on the ground. "Arthur, please, talk to me."

"How can I face him?" Arthur's words came out as nothing more than a whisper, but Merlin felt like the prince had shouted them. He didn't even need to ask who he was. Arthur was scared of seeing Uther.

"He's been worried about you, Arthur. More than words can express." Remembering the pleading expression on Uther's face as Merlin had ridden out on that last morning; Merlin knew his words didn't do any justice for what the king must have been feeling. He may be called a tyrant by many, he may have done a lot of things Merlin wanted to hate him for, but there could be no denying how much he cared about his son.

"He'll be furious." Arthur argued, although his voice lacked the normal heat when he was disagreeing with his servant. He sounded hollow, lost. "I should have fought better. I should have escaped, I should have stopped them from..."

"Arthur, stop." Merlin interrupted gently, refusing to acknowledge the tears in his own eyes. Only Arthur could go through all of that and somehow believe that it was his own fault. "I saw how they had you ch...chained. You couldn't have got out of there if you tried..."

"I shouldn't have let him do it." This time, Merlin was surprised that Gaius on the other side of the clearing didn't hear the crack as he felt himself shatter.

"Arthur! Arthur, listen to me!" Moving around so that he was kneeling in front of the prince once again, Merlin cupped Arthur's face, forcing the prince to look him in the eye. "You didn't let anyone do it. I saw you, there was nothing left of you! Eight months you've been missing! Eight months they have been doing what they please! Don't you ever say anything like that ever again, you utter prat!"

Merlin had tears running down his face now. He couldn't believe that Arthur would actually see himself as weak after what he had been through. He had to be the strongest men the warlock knew. No one else could have been through that and recovered as much as the prince had.

"Eight months?" Arthur asked quietly, and Merlin knew this was the first time anyone had given him a timeframe. He mutely nodded.

"I didn't... didn't think it had been that long. And yet, it f...felt like forever. I thought it would be forever."

"I would have never given up trying to find you." Merlin promised, dropping his hands back and sitting by Arthur's side once more. Sighing, he wriggled down until his feet were just in front of the fire, his head resting on the log rather than using it to support his back the way Arthur was doing. He stared at the sky just as the stars were beginning to come out. This time tomorrow, they would be in Camelot. Who knew what would happen then?

"I know." Arthur responded quietly, mirroring Merlin's actions and lying down by the fire. He gently bumped Merlin's shoulder with his own. "I never said thank you."

"You never had to." Merlin muttered, finding himself unable to look at Arthur. Should he ever admit to the desperate measures he had been driven to, how half of Camelot's bandits were now cowering in fear of a ruthless sorcerer hell bent on finding his prince? How Gaius had warned him time and again that he was losing himself in the frantic attempts to find Arthur. It wasn't just the prince's life that had been saved the day Merlin stumbled on the building.

"Merlin?"

"Yes?" Now that darkness had fallen, Merlin was suddenly aware of how quick Arthur's breathing was. He was clearly working his way up to saying something, and whatever it was, he wasn't comfortable saying it.

"Tomorrow..."

"We get you home."

"No matter what happens," Arthur took a deep breath, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the sky to avoid looking at the man lying by his side. The man that was by his side no matter what. "Promise that you..."

"What is it?" Hearing Arthur break off again, Merlin rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow so that he could get a proper look at his master. He wasn't expecting Arthur to suddenly roll his head, looking his servant directly in the eye.

"Don't leave me?" It wasn't an order though. It was nothing more than a plea, almost a beg to not be left on his own. Merlin smiled gently.

"I promise. Now get some sleep, it's going to be tiring tomorrow." Arthur nodded, trying to get comfortable. Hearing him hiss as some wound brushed against something, Merlin tugged him over. By the time that Arthur's breathing had evened out, the prince had his head resting on Merlin's shoulder, trusting the sense of safety his servant seemed to provide even if he didn't understand why.

Merlin sighed, looking at the sky before closing his own eyes.

"For us all," he muttered, even as the warlock fell asleep, his mind wondering what the day ahead would bring.