A/N: From a prompt by Sarajm :)
Many thanks to the guest who left me some lovely reviews- and to the rest of my precious reviewers as well ;)
Windows rattled as the wind continued to gain force. There was no denying it now- they were in for a powerful wind storm.
"And where are you off to, Merlin?"
The servant froze, not quite meeting his master's eyes as he replied.
"Well, it wouldn't be unusual if all this excitement caused Adelaide to go into labor and I-"
"Tell me you were not about to go out in this storm for a horse."
"Not just a horse. I know you've been looking forward to this- she and your Everard are a very promising match. Why, I bet-"
"Merlin," he stared until the younger man returned his gaze. "You are not to risk your safety to visit an animal that is probably perfectly fine without you. Understood?"
Blue eyes drifted away as the physician's ward pursed his lips.
"Merlin."
"Fine," he huffed, "I'll just go see to Gaius, then."
"And no side-trips!" Arthur commanded.
It's not a side trip if it's along my route. The stubborn warlock thought, turning to take a different path to Gaius' chambers. What a coincidence it happened to take him past the royal stable.
He winced as it came into view. He could already hear the roof beams creaking as the thatch prepared to fly away. What he didn't hear was the screaming of panicked horses. Good. That meant the stable hands had likely moved them inside the castle proper, something that was usually only necessary in the winter.
Merlin was about to go straight back to his mentor when he heard a familiar voice. Tyr.
"C'mon, girl, let's go," the stable hand coaxed from somewhere inside the distressed building.
"Well, now I won't be risking my safety for a horse..." the servant mumbled as he ran to the small stable, the wind nearly smashing him into the door frame as he turned the corner. "Tyr!"
"Merlin!" The other man looked up, surprised but pleased to have help. "Could you get the foal? Adelaide just gave birth and isn't quite recovered."
"Isn't that unusual?" Merlin asked, making his way back to the birthing stall where the baby was wobbling in the wind despite the protection of the stable walls.
"It happens sometimes- she should be fine soon enough," Tyr shouted, just as the mare decided to lie back down.
"Tyr- why don't you come carry the foal? It's too heavy for me." That was a lie, but they had to get out of here- the sound of the door being torn off was testament to that. The roof beams were also creaking in an increasingly alarming manner.
The stable hand reluctantly left the horse and took its foal in his arms, turning back at the door.
"Merlin-"
Whatever he had been about to say was cut off when the ceiling fell in. Eyes flashing, the warlock leapt for the exit, managing to push Tyr and his burden to safety before he himself was buried.
All he heard over the collapse and howling wind was his name being shouted as a horse shrieked behind him.
Arthur walked through the impromptu infirmary, visiting those who had been harmed in the previous day's wind storm. He hadn't seen Merlin yet, but then he'd only even seen Gaius for a moment as the elder moved between patients.
"Guinevere." His new wife turned from her patient with a wan smile.
"Arthur! Could you hold him still? I can't treat him when he's so agitated."
Behind her Arthur spied his most trusted stable hand, now with an ugly bump and slice on his forehead.
"Tyr," the king gently restrained the younger man so the queen could clean his wound.
Hazy eyes swiveled toward him, gradually lighting in recognition.
"Sire!" He would have bowed had Arthur not been holding him.
"Just relax, Tyr. Guinevere will have you fixed up shortly but you have to hold still."
Calloused hands wrapped around his arms and pleading eyes met his own.
"You've got to help him, Sire!"
"What? Help who?"
Tyr's brow furrowed in confusion and pain.
"I- I don't remember. Just- he needs help... the stable! He's trapped in the stable!"
Suspicion was running down his spine like cold water. Surely that idiot didn't...
"Tyr, you just sit and let Guinevere and Gaius tend to you. I'll take care of whoever's in trouble."
"Thank you, Sire," the stable hand replied, slumping a bit and remaining still as the queen dabbed at his injury.
"I shall return soon," he kissed his wife, leaving the room in haste.
Arthur stared in open-mouthed horror. What had once been the royal stable was now little more than a pile of stone and timber. Not only had the roof fallen in, but the walls had followed. One corner was all that remained upright, two ceiling beams bracing against each other to form a relatively protected area in the middle. Perhaps Merlin was there, safe like he always was.
You don't even know if it is Merlin in there.
Either way, someone was in need of help and the sooner it arrived the better.
"Leon!"
The commander, currently in charge of a group of knights assisting in recovery efforts, trotted over and frowned at the wreckage.
"Sire?"
"I've been informed someone may be trapped in the rubble; organize a few men to clear this away- carefully."
"Of course, Sire," he surveyed the remains with a sad gaze. "Do we know who we're looking for?"
"No," the king's voice grew strained, "but I think it may be Merlin."
That proclamation lit a fire beneath the rescue crew, all of them working at a frenzied pace that soon had them uncovering a battered hand.
"Here!" Elyan called out, tossing stones aside with reckless abandon.
The increased noise woke Adelaide, whose cries could now be heard beneath the sheltered area Arthur had observed earlier.
"You two take care of that," the monarch pointed to a pair of knights who gave short bows and obeyed, leaving the king to focus on his friend- for it was definitely Merlin they had found. Dark hair and a familiar brown jacket, dusted with crumbled mortar, confirmed Arthur's fear.
"Careful, we don't know how badly he's injured."
Leon nodded, the hint of moisture in his eyes showing his expectation that the servant was more than merely injured.
Their pace slowed as they worked to ensure nothing shifted to further harm their friend, though his prospects looked increasingly bleak as they revealed more of him. No one dared to check for signs of life in the bloodied and crushed form until the last of the debris was removed.
"Merlin?" Arthur knelt by his servant, lightly resting a hand on one shoulder. Not lightly enough, as the action caused Merlin to draw a sharp breath which incited a bout of wracking coughs and pained groans. He did not, however, wake.
"Well he's alive," the sovereign's tone was brisk, "let's make sure he stays that way."
He woke screaming when Gaius set his leg, but subsided to whimpers when his arm was put back in place.
"Shhh, shhh, my boy- it'll be better soon. Now, tell me- where else does it hurt?"
"Everywhere," he moaned before forcing himself to concentrate on exactly what he was feeling. "M' back's the worst."
The physician nodded. "I expect it would be," he answered, pulling a jar out of his medical kit. "Try to relax."
Merlin huffed, then groaned again, only now realizing he was lying on his front with no shirt or jacket in evidence. The pressure wasn't pleasant on his battered chest, but it was preferable to being on his back- which was probably one large bruise.
"This will soothe the ache a bit, but it will make your cuts sting," Gaius warned.
His ward hummed in acknowledgment, concentrating on containing any further screams. He knew from prior experience that "stinging" was a very mild term for the burning pain the balm caused. Still, it would help seal the wounds as well as easing the agony from having a building fall on him.
"Is Tyr okay? Adelaide and her foal?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes. Tyr brought the foal inside, looking for help, but was knocked out by flying debris. They were both found and Tyr sent Arthur to find you as soon as he woke. Adelaide was in the stable with you, but the beams fell in such a way that she was protected. It was miraculous, really." Gaius gave him a pointed look.
"Miraculous indeed." A familiar prattish voice proclaimed. Blond hair and blue eyes entered Merlin's vision as the king knelt beside him.
"I distinctly remember telling you not to risk your safety for a horse."
"Well," the servant licked his lips, accepting a drink from Gaius before continuing, "it was actually two horses- and Tyr."
Arthur massaged his forehead with one hand, sighing in resignation.
"You're never going to listen to me, are you?"
"I always listen to you, Sire," Merlin grinned, slipping into the familiar banter.
"But you don't obey."
"Then how do all of your socks get clean?"
"I'm not certain, but I think you've been bribing George to do your chores."
"You don't pay enough for me to be giving out bribes."
"Maybe you should stop spending it all in the tavern."
"Maybe you should stop driving me to drink."
Arthur, whose own grin had been widening throughout the exchange, was about to deliver the comeback of a lifetime when Gaius interrupted.
"This is all very entertaining, but Merlin is in need of rest." He fixed his charge with a stern glare, making the younger man shrink back slightly. Arthur hid his chuckle in a light huff.
"I'll be back later, Merlin."
The servant sighed dramatically.
"If you must."
The royal rolled his eyes and turned away, parting words just barely audible.
"I'm glad you're safe, Merlin."
I am so glad you're safe, old friend.