Pati pt.5
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
That evening, Merlin woke up and saw Arthur watching him.
"You really need to gain some weight. I can see all of your bones." Arthur said.
"Well, we all can't be fat." Merlin answered.
"I am not fat."
"Maybe."
Then Merlin started coughing. Arthur helped him sit up. When Merlin was done coughing, he relaxed.
"I just want to go home." Merlin sighed.
"The treaty has been signed by the king's son, Joshua. He is innocent but his father and the physician are guilty of attempting to kill you. What should we do? Joshua wants them to pay for treason which means death." Arthur replied.
"Don't kill them. You can throw them into exile but do not kill them."
"I'll make sure of that."
"Thank you. A little suffering might be in order though."
"It will be arranged."
"Thanks."
"Now, eat. We want to leave in two days and we need you stronger so that you'll survive."
"Fine."
Arthur handed Merlin the bowl of broth.
"Let me help you." Arthur suggested.
"Arthur, I can do it by myself." Merlin moaned.
"Says the one who has been sick for a month and looks like death and needs help doing anything."
Merlin took the spoon and got a spoonful of the broth. He ate slowly not wanting to be sick again. When he was done, he handed the empty bowl to Arthur.
"See, I can do it on my own. It's just no one will let me." Merlin said.
"Showoff." Arthur mumbled as he got up and took care of the empty bowl. Merlin smiled and tried to rest. Two hours later, Balinor came in and went to Merlin.
"How do you feel?" Balinor wondered.
"Weak. Same as this morning." Merlin sighed.
"Can you try to get up and walk?"
"No. I can barely even feel my legs."
"Then let's get you up so that blood can flow through your legs again."
Balinor helped Merlin sit on the edge of the bed. Merlin stood up but quickly sat down again.
"I'm too dizzy." Merlin rasped.
"Ok. We'll try again in the morning." Balinor replied. "Let's get some more of the toxins out of your body."
Merlin nodded as Balinor got a cup of tea and handed it to Merlin. Merlin drank a few sips and groaned as he felt it take affect.
"I have to go." Merlin moaned. For the next few hours, Merlin drank the tea and got rid of the toxins in his body. When he was done, Balinor and Arthur helped him lie down and get covered. Merlin fell asleep quickly. The next morning, Merlin woke to Balinor hissing in pain. "Father, what happened?"
"I cut my hand. I'm fine." Balinor sighed.
"Let me see."
Balinor went to Merlin. Merlin touched the cut and his eyes turned gold. Balinor gasped and smiled as the cut healed.
"Your magic is back." Balinor whispered.
"Finally." Merlin panted.
"Tomorrow, we'll leave."
"But I'm still not strong enough."
"Your wife needs you. You are strong enough now."
Merlin sat up slowly. He stood up but had a dizzy spell. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He opened his eyes and slowly walk to the table. Balinor helped him. Eventually, Merlin was able to walk on his own but only for a short time. Arthur came in and smiled.
"What did the people say?" Merlin asked.
"Death." Arthur replied. "They will be executed tonight. I tried but they made their choice."
"That's all we can do."
"Tomorrow, we'll leave."
"I know. I want to see my kids."
"Me too."
That night, the king and physician were executed. Merlin saw it from the window where he stood with his father.
"Go get some sleep." Merlin said.
"I'm fine." Balinor answered.
"No, you're not."
"You're right."
"I'm fine, father. I don't need to be watched over."
"I know but I'm going to do it any ways."
"I know."
They woke late the next morning and got ready. Merlin had a blanket covering his shoulders covered in oils so that he wouldn't get sick. Someone was always watching him. They would rest every couple of hours so that Merlin could rest. When it rained, they would make sure that Merlin was warm and dry. The first night, Merlin was exhausted. Balinor helped Merlin off of the horse and under the shelter that had been made. Merlin laid down on his bedroll and was asleep when his head hit the pillow. Balinor smiled and went to the fire where the knights were.
"He's already asleep." Balinor sighed.
"He's exhausted. He'll need his rest." Percival answered.
"Yes, he will. He was excited to leave this morning. He was up an hour before me resting."
"We all want to get home." Leon replied.
"I suggest we all get some sleep before Gwaine starts telling us about his adventures." Arthur suggested.
"Hey, at least they're entertaining." Gwaine argued.
"Most of them are not even safe for Merlin's ear." Balinor stated.
"Fine. You win."
They all went to bed. Balinor woke up to Merlin coughing. He sat up and rubbed Merlin's back. Merlin calmed down and Balinor saw the blood dripping from his mouth. He used his magic and saw that his right lung was bleeding. He healed it and went back to sleep. Merlin was the last to wake up but that was expected.
"How do you feel?" Balinor asked.
"Tired." Merlin moaned.
"We'll be home in a few days."
"More like a few weeks."
"I know."
They rode hard for the next week. Everyone grew happier the closer to Camelot they got. It took more than two weeks for them to get home. When they rode into the citadel, Gwen and Hunith greeted them. Balinor helped Merlin down from his horse. Hunith hugged them.
"Merlin, Freya gave birth to a boy. She wants you to help her name it." Hunith said. Merlin walked to his chambers and walked in. He saw Freya making the bed.
"Freya, I'm home." Merlin whispered. Freya turned to him and hugged him. They kissed passionately.
"I missed you." Freya cried.
"I did too. I missed all of you."
"Don't ever leave me."
"I won't. Where are the kids?"
"With Gwen's kids."
"What about our Nathan?"
"In the crib."
Merlin picked Nathan up. He kissed his forehead and smiled.
"Nathan hasn't been sleeping a whole lot. I think he misses his daddy. All of us have had a hard time sleeping and then when Balinor and the knights left, we were afraid." Freya explained.
"I'll explain tonight. We can go to Arthur and Gwen's chambers for dinner." Merlin answered.
"I think we all could use that."
That night, they explained what had happened and got settled. Everyone was there. When they got home, Freya, Merlin and the kids went to bed. Merlin and Freya were trying to sleep with Nathan in between them. Then the rest of the kids came in.
"We can't sleep, daddy." Rosemary whispered.
"Come here." Merlin answered. The kids climbed on the bed and they all went to sleep. Merlin recovered with his family by his side.
THE END
Now for Albion 6: Love Heals Pain