A/N: Hello! Im here! Sorry so much for the delay, some angst to come. Thank you all again so much for the reviews, keep them coming. Do enjoy...
Chapter 7
Merlin's breaths hitched faster. His dreams seemed to be worse than the fever itself and all Gaius could do was watch on. He soaked the cloth again for what seemed like the thousandth time and placed it gently on his wards forehead. The warlock's brows furrowed in distaste of the cold feeling.
"Merlin" Gaius sighed heavily, "please try to calm down"
It had been a long day, Merlin's fever had risen and Gaius had to force several draughts down the boy to simply calm not only his delusions, but quell his emotional turmoil and magical outbursts. The servant had refused to not heal himself, and in the process had sent himself into a deep fevered sleep filled with nightmares. His movable left arm was twitching, his fist clenching so tight that at one point that his short nails dug deep into his palm spilling blood on the clean white sheets. Gaius bit back on his lip and sat back on the chair defeated. There was little more he could do for him, the sleeping draughts were as much as he could give him and pain relief was already on board, though the physician feared it wasn't physical pain causing the problems. It was long after sundown when finally the King had returned to the city.
"Gaius?" The physician looked up as her heard the King enter the main room. He left the bedside, meeting the man in the main chambers. Arthur was windswept and mud spattered having just returned.
"How is he?"
"Much the same. I think the injury is finally starting to get to him I'm afraid"
Arthur paused and looked over to the door which was just ajar. His servant was sprawled out on the bed, exactly as he had left him that morning.
"Well?" Gaius broke the silence which stretched between the two friends.
"They gave me this?" the King hesitantly pulled out the glass phial holding it towards the physician who took it.
"What is it?"
"Water from the spring, they said it would strengthen him" Arthur shrugged, then revealing the amulet from under his cloak. "And this is the amulet of Borvo apparently"
"I see" Gaius took the second item from the man, "Borvo" he mused, looking upward at nothing as he recalled the name. "Healing God of the springs" he said finally. "There are some who believe that the springs and brooks hold much healing power in the old religion."
"Do you believe it?" Arthur's face seemed unreadable to the old man.
"Your asking the wrong person I'm afraid, Sire" Gaius turned away, placing the items on the bench. He took an old tome off the shelf. He flicked through the pages, scanning the ancient text.
"Sorry" Arthur then took a seat in the chair, suddenly feeling spent from the days hard ride. His boots were caked in mud and had started to deposit their coating on the flagstone flooring much to the physician's dismay.
"What else did they say?" Gaius interjected the silence, looking up from his research.
"That no matter what, I should trust him" Arthur let out a long and drawn out sigh, "stupid thing to say, I already do."
"I see" the physician hummed.
Arthur chose not to add anymore for now. He was tired and hungry and wanted nothing more than to be tucked up in his chambers while Merlin served him dinner. Arthur refused to admit it to others but he sure missed the boy bumbling clumsily around his chambers already. "I suppose we should try the water and see if it makes a difference" The King hauled himself to his feet and took the water from the table making his way up to his servant's room, Gaius followed.
Arthur plonked himself into Gaius's still warm seat and looked over his friend. Merlin's brow was still tightly knitted together, the gash was now all but a pale white scar across his face and Arthur eyed it suspiciously. The warlock's face was speckled with beads of sweat and his body involuntarily twitched as his fevered dreams wracked his mind.
"For goodness sake Merlin" he muttered, "you can't do things by halves can you?"
Arthur uncapped the vial, looking dubiously at the colourless liquid inside.
"Just remember what the druid's said sire" Gaius hesitated, wondering if this really was such a good idea after all.
Arthur only nodded slightly but did not answer. He tipped the flask up letting the water pour gently into his servants lax mouth.
For a moment nothing happened. Both King and physician stared at the boy. Merlin swallowed the liquid reflexively and he inhaled deeply. The twitching continued for a minute then until suddenly the warlocks eyes opened. He inhaled sharply and in a flash his pupils turned molten gold. For several long moments stared unblinking and unmoving at the ceiling to which point the physician began to panic.
"Merlin?" Gaius placed a gently hand on the boys shoulder and he finally exhaled eye lids drooping and gold fading back to blue. His tense body seemed to go slack finally giving into the ancient magic roiling in his stomach.
"W.. what just happened?" the servant stammered, his burning skin had already began to cool. A pregnant pause followed.
"Yes Merlin" Arthur's stern voice took both the warlock and his guardian's attention away. "What just happened?"
Merlin blinked, focusing his eyes finally on his master. Arthur's face was unreadable, red had begun to rise in his cheeks, which Merlin could only guess was from pure anger. His lips were pursed tightly together and his brows furrowed and if the servant could move he would see that the Kings fists were white with fury.
"I... I don't know?" the warlock's voice cracked and failed.
"Oh I think you do." Arthur shot, "It all makes sense now." He held eye contact with his servant with a glare. "You've been trying to heal yourself all along, Gaius tried to cover for you, but it was you. Your..." He inhaled and huffed, struggling with the concept.
"Your a sorcerer!" he pointed this time, eyes now welling with unfallen tears. "You've been lying to me all this time" Merlin could hear the pain in his voice and it broke the warlock.
Arthur turned sharply then, throwing the glass vial to the floor it smashed as he strode out of the room, boots clonking on the floor loudly.
"Arthur?" Merlin's voice cracked again and he was barely audible. "Arthur please?" But the King was gone, he was out the room and chambers and into the corridor so fast he did not hear his servant's call.
Brows furrowing further, if it was possible, Merlin's eyes traced the ceiling as he lay on his back, helpless against what had just happened. His neck was still broken, he was still paralyzed yet now Arthur had found his secret out. It wasn't supposed to happen like this, it was meant to be planned, when the warlock would be able to explain himself and when Arthur would listen, not now. It was then Merlin began to hyperventilate once again, tears escaped his already reddened eyes and he let out a small disconcerting whimper. He closed his eyes quickly to avoid Gaius's worried look. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.