Author's Note: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Other updates will probably not come as quickly as this one, but I wanted to get this chapter up since I already had it written. Again, reviews are the best presents! Please let me know what you think.
Chapter 2
Home Again
Arthur opened his eyes. For a moment he just lay still, staring upwards. He remembered little of the journey home. Something about a lake, and a dragon.
The king looked up when he heard the door open. Merlin entered the room carrying a tray of food. He grinned when he saw Arthur's open eyes.
"You're awake," he said. "How do you feel?"
"I've been better. But I've also been worse."
Merlin set the tray on the bedside table. "I've brought you some breakfast. You'll need some food to keep healing. Do you think you can sit up?"
Arthur nodded. Carefully, Merlin helped him prop himself up against the pillows. He chose a piece of bread from the tray and held it out for the king to bite.
"Start with something simple," he said. "You haven't had anything in a long while, so take it slowly."
"I can eat it myself, Merlin," Arthur said. "I'm not entirely useless."
Merlin grinned and set the tray in the king's lap. He moved toward the hearth and began piling on logs for a fire.
"How long was I out?"
"Three days," Merlin answered, stuffing some kindling into the grate. "You slept nearly the whole way back, and barely woke up when we brought you back in, but Gaius has been assuring us it's only exhaustion." He struck a piece of flint and lit the kindling.
Arthur bit into an apple. "How is Guinevere?"
"Worried." Merlin went to the wardrobe and pulled out a shirt. "She'll be glad to see you're well. I don't expect you'll be getting up for some time, but I thought you might like a fresh shirt, as we haven't been able to get that one off you while you've been asleep."
The king stared Merlin. "Why are you doing this?" he asked.
"Doing what?"
"Acting like a servant."
"You didn't mind on the way to Avalon."
Arthur snorted. "I was dying, Merlin, I didn't have a choice."
"Besides, you asked me that already, don't you remember? I told you, it's my destiny to serve the Once and Future King."
"All of Camelot serves the Once and Future King, Merlin," Arthur said. "But there are easier ways to do it than changing my shirts. You're the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Why toil after a prince who thinks you're a bumbling idiot?"
Merlin shrugged. "It wasn't like I could tell you," he answered. "Besides, I am a bumbling idiot most of the time."
"But you've told me now," Arthur argued, ignoring the joke. "I've seen what you can do. And now that I know, Gaius has probably told many of the others. Yet you still show up here like it's any other day."
"Gaius hasn't told anyone but Gwen, and neither have I."
"You're avoiding the question."
Merlin sighed. "Just because I have magic doesn't mean I'm above work," he said. "It doesn't mean I don't still take pride in it. I believe in the kingdom you will create, Arthur. I am of most use to you close by. It might mean polishing your armor and lighting your fires, but it also means watching over you and giving you advice, however little you might take it."
The king looked down. "I should take it more often."
"Yeah, probably. Now, do you want this fresh shirt or not?"
Arthur sat up and raised his arms obediently. Merlin removed his shirt and slid the new one over his head. As the king sat back against his pillows, there was a soft knock on the door. Gaius stepped into the room.
"I thought perhaps you'd be awake," he said, smiling.
"Ever the brilliant physician, Gaius," Arthur said.
The old man chuckled. "I'm afraid not, Your Majesty," he said. "It's simply that I asked Merlin to return immediately with some supplies from the kitchen stores, and when he didn't, I thought something must have distracted him."
"Sorry," Merlin said sheepishly. He dropped Arthur's shirt into the laundry basket. "I'll go fetch them now and take them down."
"And Merlin, would you mind telling Guinevere I'm all right, and to come up?" Arthur added.
"Would you mind?" Merlin echoed, grinning. "Gaius, we ought to knock him out three days more often, he gets much more polite."
Arthur raised his eyebrows. "Merlin..."
Merlin's smile disappeared. "Right. Guinevere. Right away, sire."
He found the queen in the throne room reviewing military documents. She looked up when he entered. Lines of worry were etched deep in her face. Merlin stepped up to the table.
"He's awake."
Gwen gasped and stood up quickly. She ran forward and threw her arms around Merlin. He laughed and pulled her off gently.
"I don't think the queen is supposed to do that," he teased. "You'd better go up and see him, he's asking for you."
Gwen nodded and brushed her hair out of her face, embarrassed. "Of course, of course." She smiled at him. "And thank you, Merlin."
