Over the next few days Merlin's visits to Arthur at the hospital increased as each day passed by. He made sure that Arthur was regularly updated about various things that had changed since Arthur's accident despite knowing that he couldn't hear a word Merlin was saying.
At every chance he had of visiting the unconscious Arthur, Merlin had always been at Arthur's side regardless if anyone else was there watching him grab his hand and rub it in soothing circles or listening to him talk to the silent Arthur. He knew he had no time to waste as one day fate could pull them apart for eternity.
It was a miserable Monday afternoon when he was finally able to leave school to see Arthur. Unfortunately still nothing had changed throughout the whole week he had been at the hospital. However it had given Merlin plenty of time to say things that he may one day never be able to say again.
Sitting down on his usual seat that one of the nurse's now called the Merlin chair, he carefully took Arthur's hand and explained the surprising news at the latest gossip around the school.
"Well the good news is that the troublesome trio no longer seem to be a trio and there was no catch this time, they actually looked as if they were horrified at each other for who they truly are ", was only the beginning to Merlin's speech.
"However the school itself is another story" Merlin said before adding.
"School has become... a place full of misery and sorrow, no one's talking to each other as much or smiling as freely as they once did".
Merlin grabbed Arthur's hand gently as if he was worried about hurting him.
"The incident hasn't only affected the entire school... it's also affected those who are considered close to you a severely deeper way" Merlin said despite the lump forming inside his throat.
"The whole village have taken this tragedy to heart, your family especially." Merlin sniffed before continuing to talk, "Morgana is in pieces, she's not eating or sleeping properly and as for your father... well distraught is putting it mildly. He's now convinced that he's cursed, he and Morgana blame themselves for what happened, they are unable to hurl their harassing thoughts to the deepest corners of their mind because of their phobia of losing you".
Merlin let out a small chocking noise.
"And me... I have been questioning myself if I was partly responsible for your incident. "
Merlin's eyes were darting towards the floor then back up to Arthur before clearing his throat to let out his next sentence.
"I know I might never get the chance to say this again but... going back to when I first met you I did have my suspicions that you would be well... strange, but from being your friend I quickly learned that you were not what you seemed. You were able to shake off the insults like they were just bread crumbs off your lap, whenever things got feisty you always kept your cool despite the tension in the atmosphere which most people would never have the courage to even consider".
Merlin took a deep shaky breath before his final sentence came tumbling out of his mouth.
"Arthur I just want you to know that... you're a special person who deserves not to have the worry of fearing that you're alone".
Merlin then wiped the many tears that were rolling off his face with his sleeve before being interrupted by one of the nurses.
Merlin felt himself being tapped on the shoulder by the young nurse who had a soft gentle voice as if she understood what he was going through.
"A close friend"? She asked softly, her voice soothing Merlin's sadness.
"Yeah" Merlin snuffled.
The nurse then gently told him that she needed to check on Arthur. Merlin was then guided out of the room.
Merlin turned to his right and looked at the unconscious Arthur one more time before being led away along with his thoughts of Arthur recovering.
Now Merlin feared for the future a million times more than he has ever done before.