A/N: Sick and miserable :/ but that means more chapters for you! I'm at the point where you're so congested everything seems detached and far away- at least (for now) I'm only dizzy when I move...
I'd still be in bed but my cat bullied me out (she kept jabbing me in the face with her cold, wet nose while purring directly in my ear)- probably because the bed is usually her territory during the day. Little brat. She's lucky she's so darn cute. Back to chugging medicine and warm beverages.

I was just going to skip Merlin's side of last chapter's events, but people asked for it (literally) so this is me giving in ;)
Action should be happening in the next chapter

sarah/laura: Sorry, hadn't intended to be insulting- just expressing my puzzlement. (Blame it on the congestion- I will.)

Merlin woke to a gentle touch on his forehead and a familiar voice speaking in an oddly soft tone.

"It's not supposed to be this way, you know... you're the one who's supposed to fuss over me."

Arthur...

He reached out blindly, wanting to comfort his friend, and was gratified to feel his hand not only moving but also colliding with what he assumed to be the other man's knee. He patted it awkwardly for a moment before the blond took notice.

"Merlin!"

"Prat" he mouthed around the smile that had formed on his lips.

He could still feel the fire in his body, but it had lessened to a more bearable level and his head now throbbed only slightly.
The stinging on his leg now seemed of more import, but still insignificant in the face of his continued existence.

"I thought we'd lost you."

The king's voice was uncharacteristically distraught, and Merlin tried to console him only to realize he still couldn't talk.
Come to think of it, there was something important he had needed to tell the other man...

When he remembered it hit him like a slap to the face.
Morgana was going to make an attempt on Arthur's life.

There was no other explanation for her sudden action- and the timing couldn't be coincidence, what with a hostile warlord within the castle walls beside an enchanted Gwen.

His eyes flew open, fingers instinctively tightening their hold as Arthur gasped.

Why-?

The darkness pressed on him like a physical weight, a painful reminder of what Morgana had done to him. The renewed dismay stole his strength and he felt his hand slipping away from Arthur, followed by the unexpected sensation of the king's callused hand grabbing his own.

"Merlin?"

He had to tell him.

His mouth was incredibly dry and he felt the sores cracking open as he forced his jaw to move, something flaking away from the inside of his cheeks as they flexed slowly.

Desperate to get his meaning across, Merlin projected his words mentally as well as physically.
"Morgana's trying to kill you! You need to look out for Sarrum..."

Mentioning Gwen would've been pointless, probably even counter-productive; well, it would have been if Arthur had any idea what Merlin was trying to say.

"Are you in pain? I'll wake Gaius."

"No- Arthur, you clotpole!"
He grasped feebly at the king's shirt, unexpectedly managing to keep him in place.

"Listen to me!"
He knew it was a futile plea, but he really didn't know what else to do.

"I'm sorry, Merlin, I don't know what you're trying to say..."

A feeling of defeat washed over him for a moment before he once again steeled himself.

If I can't speak then I'll just need to write it- can't be that hard to write blind...

Using Arthur's hold on his arm, Merlin pulled himself upright and was about to begin his search for pen and parchment when the world tilted and the bed tried to dump him onto the floor.

Strong arms embraced him and laid his body back on the cot.

"You're in no state to be getting up. Here- Gaius left this for when you woke up."

Glass clinked and a stopper was pulled.

No, this is too important...

Resisting as best he could, the servant nevertheless felt his arms being held down as a vial appeared at his lips.

"Stop fighting me and drink it, idiot."

Despite his best efforts, his energy was waning and his feeble protests ended.

A truly repugnant odor hit his nostrils as the liquid dribbled into his mouth and Merlin was thankful he couldn't taste the concoction now sliding down his throat.
The potion soothed the pain wherever it touched and the warlock would've been grateful if the agony hadn't been the only thing keeping him from slipping back into slumber.

No, I've got to warn Arthur...

Fatigue and weakness soon overwhelmed him, however, and he fell back into sleep's embrace.