A/N:

This one is an AU of 1 x 11 – The Labyrinth of Gedref – Camelot goes much longer without water and Merlin feels the effects of severe dehydration. Nearly at the big 300 – Thank you so much guys for all of your support!

I don't own Merlin

CHARACTERS: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius & Anhora

RATED: T

GENRE: Hurt/Comfort, Angst

THE ADVENTURES OF MERLIN

Thirst

Merlin's head pounded fiercely as he waited for Arthur to show up, arms folded across his chest as he leant against the wall. Trust Arthur to be late to his own ambush.

It had been a trying week for the people of Camelot, and many had died since the water in the well was replaced with fine sand – but Merlin did what he could. Any morsel of food that Gaius put in front of him was secreted away once the old man's back was turned and rationed out to the children in most need of nourishment.

The first few days without food did not bother the young man – growing up in Ealdor meant you couldn't always eat – but soon, the lack of sustenance began to have its toll. Hunger clawed at his belly like an angry beast, filling him with nausea that refused to go away, and being on the slim side in the first place – his body did not have the fat stores that Arthur and the other royals had to keep his body from shutting down.

The lack of food, however, was far from Merlin's main concern.

As Gaius's ward, he had come to learn many things about the human body, and one of the main things that had been drilled into him since one of the Knights collapsed during a training session, was how important it was to keep well hydrated.

So Merlin knew that he was not faring well.

It began like a mild hangover – leaving him groggy and slightly dry, but as the days wore on, trickling slowly into each other, the young man began to notice signs that his condition was worsening.

The need the relieve himself had long since passed – for which he was thankful, as the burning was utterly unbearable – and there were times, whilst carrying out his duties, Merlin was forced to sit to stop the world from tilting violently around him.

There was no doubt about it – If Arthur didn't stop being an arrogant prat soon and admit that he had caused this mess, however inadvertent it was – Merlin was going to die.

More worryingly, this didn't seem to faze him in the slightest.

Gods, it would mean he could finally sleep and drink to his hearts without being ordered around by a pompous arse from sunup til sundown.

As he contemplated these thoughts, his lids grew heavy – exhaustion wearing him down. Arthur still hadn't shown up and even in the cool, stone cellar, Merlin still felt unbearably hot.

I'll just close my eyes for a moment...

Merlin was brought suddenly into the waking world by a livid Arthur, who was still clutching the straw broom that he had used to wake the youth.

'Don't you worry about keeping watch, Merlin.' The royal began sarcastically. 'You just make yourself comfortable.'

The raven haired youth blinked slowly, feeling lethargic and not at all inclined to rise from his spot near the cool floor.

'Go away,' he mumbled in reply, which earned him another clout from his irate master.

'Get up,idiot! It wasn't a request.' Arthur ground out through clenched teeth as he grabbed the youths arm and attempted to haul him to his feet, which were not cooperating.

Merlin groaned and dropped his head against his chest, his lids fluttering as the Prince, as oblivious as ever, began to drag him to the door.

The world tilted around him as he tried to force his feet beneath him – but he was beyond that point now. His body was giving up on him, despite his magic and all he could do now was hope that Arthur would stop being a complete cabbage –head for just one second and notice that his manservant was not being a lazy, insubordinate idiot – but was in fact dying.

'A-Arthur...' he rasped quietly, tugging against the Prince's painful grip. 'I need to stop.'

The young man continued to drag the youth down the corridor as he spoke. 'Don't be ridiculous, Merlin – you were just fast asleep!'

Merlin tried to keep up with the young regent – but it was at that particular moment that his body had reached its limit. With a pained huff, the young man fell forward, barely feeling the sharp pain in his knees as they connected heavily with the stone.

'Merlin, I swear, if you've-' Arthur, who moments ago wanted nothing more than to slam the boy in the stocks and leave him there, found that his anger and frustration was replaced by a profound fear upon seeing the youth panting on the floor behind him.

'Merlin?' He called, his tone laced with concern as he knelt by him. Arthur reached out to grasp the boy's face and recoiled in shock at the heat that radiated from his skin. 'God's above Merlin!'

The warlock slowly lifted his gaze and blinked owlishly up at his master, confused at the look in those azure depths. Tongue heavy and head heavier, he found he could no longer be awake and with a sigh, his lids fluttered as he pitched forward into Arthur's chest.

The prince swallowed thickly as the youth began to tremble violently against him – his muscles taut and vibrating as a seizure wracked his slight frame.

Arthur took a composing breath and set the boy gently upon his side, his hands resting atop his head – fingers combing gently through the unruly raven mop as he waited for the tremors to still.

'You fool,' he whispered to the unconscious boy as he lifted him over his shoulder with too much ease. Even a child had no right to be as weightless as this youth was.

Determined to get the young man some much needed medical treatment, Arthur hastened to the Physician's chambers – ignoring those who tried to ask questions. He had seen this before – on a long hunt, one summer many years ago. One of his men was separated from the group for several days before they found him, frail and delirious on the forest floor – and dry as a bone.

Merlin was dehydrated; and severely so.

Not bothering with niceties such as knocking, Arthur kicked the door open.

'Gaius!' He called frantically, setting the boy down upon the patient's cot before divesting him of his tunic - biting back a gasp upon seeing how shrivelled his skin had become from lack of water.

He was in a bad way.

'GAIUS!' Arthur hollered as Merlin's breath stuttered from his dry lips.

'Do you see what your ignorance has done, young Pendragon?' Came a new voice from the door. Arthur spun on his feet – fists clenched by his side. 'You.' He growled. 'You must fix this. He's dying.'

The old man nodded solemnly. 'Yes. He is.'

Arthur brushed away the wetness at his eyes before turning his pained gaze upon Anhora.

'Please...' He begged, unable to contain his fear. 'He cannot die.'

The sorcerer tilted his head slightly, watching as the Prince turned to crouch at the boy's sickbed before resting a palm upon his brow.

Even within such deep unconsciousness, Arthur could see how sunken Merlin's eyes were – the gauntness of his face resembling a skeleton. The blonde sniffed and bit his trembling lip as his eyes raked over the emaciated frame of his friend. 'I am so sorry...' he murmured thickly, absentmindedly running a calloused thumb across his forehead. 'I should have paid attention.'

'Young Pendragon,' the sorcerer began, gaining the Prince's attention, and was almost shocked to find the anger and arrogance gone – only to be replaced by deep sorrow and regret. 'You show great compassion to one with such a low station. Why?'

Arthur sighed and wiped his wet eyes against the sleeve of his tunic. 'Merlin is the only person who pulls me up when I am being unreasonable. He reminds me of my shortcomings but does not judge me by them. He encourages me to follow my heart and be the man I want to be. Merlin treats me...as a friend. Not because he feels obliged too, but because he believes in me. He has shown great courage in the past and even now. I cannot lose him. He is...precious to me.'

Anhora gave the Prince a sad smile. 'I see in your eyes you are not lying, young man. You have almost passed the first test. Your water will be returned to you at dawn – if – you can take care of the boy as he was your blood. The Physician is elsewhere currently, and will not return until after dawn. Keep him alive, Pendragon...'

Then he was gone.

*~*M*~*

The Prince raked his fingers through his sable locks and huffed in frustration as he look around the Physician's chamber in search of something to help Merlin. He was no medical worker - he was only learned in the most basic of battle triage and first-aid. Lost to his thoughts, Arthur jumped in fright as painfully thin fingers wrapped gently around his wrist.

'Ar..thur...' Merlin wheezed dryly, smacking his lips and frowning slightly.

The Prince crashed to his knees beside the youth and cupped his too-hot face in his large hands.

'Merlin...I'm sorry that I was too stubborn to see that you were right,' he said softly, watching wearily as Merlin's glassy orbs travelled the room slowly.

'Wh-where am I?' The raven haired youth whimpered softly, his cheeks flushed red with fever.

Arthur's heart clenched. 'You're in Gaius's Chamber's, my friend and I need to cool you down. Any ideas?' He responded with a small smile.

'I'm going to die.' Merlin said resignedly, allowing his eyes to fall closed.

The Prince swallowed thickly. 'No. No you are not Merlin. Because I need you and I couldn't bare it if you left.' His voice cracked as a sob threatened to escape.

Merlin's eyes cracked open slowly and he gave Arthur a small smile that lacked its usual brilliance, but it fell from his lips almost as quickly as it appeared. 'T-thirsty...too hot...' he murmured, blinking rapidly. 'Water...'

Arthur sighed. 'There is none...not yet.' He admitted sadly, flinching as Merlin began to wail.

'It...hurts s-so much!' He sobbed dryly. 'It's like fire...please Arthur. I need water...need...wa...'

Suddenly his eyes rolled back and his body was once more assailed by convulsions. He gasped dryly, every breath announced with a pained grunt as his back arched from the bed, body as taut as a drawn bow string.

Arthur was panicking now, but he could see that the sky was beginning to lighten – and it was that moment that Gaius stepped through the door.

'Sire! What the – Merlin!' The old man cried desperately as he rushed over to the bed with a speed that belied his age.

'Gaius, he is severely dehydrated...I think he's dying.' Arthur whimpered, feeling like a child.

The Physician nodded and busied about grinding various herbs in order to provide the nourishment he so obviously lacked.

'He has not eaten in many days,' Gaius muttered, resting a hand upon his concaved stomach. 'I heard whispers, from the parents...'

Arthur frowned. 'I'm not sure I follow...'

Gaius waited for the boy to still, before prising his jaw open and setting the herbal paste upon his tongue. 'Merlin has been forgoing his meals in order to provide the younger children with food. I did not notice he was doing so.'

The Prince was about to respond, when Guinevere crashed through the door, a pail full of water clutched in her hand.

'We have water!' She declared happily, only to gasp when her eyes fell upon the still serving boy. 'What happened!' She cried, handing the pail to Arthur, who had rushed forward.

'He is very dehydrated Gwen...We need to get some water into him. Could you please wet a rag and set it upon his brow. Arthur, if you could do the same and wipe down his chest?' Gaius ordered, wetting his own cloth and squeezing it out on Merlin's lips. Sensing the confusion, he began to explain.

'Because he has gone without food or water for so long, his stomach will reject it if we give him too much at once.'

Nodding, Arthur continued to brush the wet cloth across Merlin's torso, losing himself to the repetitive movements.

The trio continued their ministrations until early afternoon, gradually able to give Merlin more water. He was still yet to wake, but even long after Guinevere left and Gaius announced that he had to attend his rounds, Arthur stayed with him.

He would not leave his side, not until he was sure Merlin would be ok.

Ahh, Fluff...I hope you guys enjoyed that! Now, I draw a prompt from my red prompt bucket (This is my innocuous vessel of choice) and you will see what I have next chapter! Until next time :D