Merlin sat up in bed as Gaius examined his wound. "There is some slight irritation around the wound," the wizened old man noted. "Nothing the right poultice can't fix. The stitches will need to change in the next couple of days to reduce the risk of infection"

"How much longer until it is fully healed?" Merlin asked.

"When it's closed. The stitches are keeping it from bleeding. Were this a normal stab wound, you'd be back to work already. Sadly, Uther did a lot of damage and it's going to take a lot of time for it to heal fully," Gaius explained.

Merlin sighed. He knew not even magic, despite how powerful he was, wasn't going completely heal him. It might help with some recovery, but not all of it. He would still be recovering for a lengthy period of time.

A few days later, with the help of Gaius and Gwaine, Merlin was able to sit by the window and look down at the citadel to watch the celebrations. He watched as people cast spells that made butterflies, rainbows, and food and caused objects to fly from one end to another.

The table in his temporary chambers was filled with food from the feast. Arthur had some of the servants bring it as the feast was starting. Merlin had no appetite, though. He hadn't had much of one in the past weeks. He only ate enough to not die of starvation. The sorcerer was pretty certain that Arthur is telling him that he needs to eat more, whether he likes it or not.

Gaius has told him numerous times that he needs to eat more than what he has been if he wants to recover. But whenever Merlin did eat, it hurt too much.

After a while, Merlin was beginning to feel very tired. He looked over at the bed and measured the distance. Surely walking those few feet couldn't hurt.

He slowly pushed himself up from his seat and took a cautious step forward. He smiled at his achievement. He took a couple more steps and began to sway. His vision started to blur, and his wound exploded in pain, but he kept walking forward. He had to make it to the bed. If he could make it to the bed, he could call for the guard outside his room.

After stumbling the last few steps, he fell onto the bed. The warlock turned himself over on his back and looked at the now crimson-red bandages.

"GUARD HENNRICK," Merlin yelled as loud as he could.

Hennrick came bursting into the chambers and looked at Merlin, nearly losing his dinner at the site of the blood against his pale body.

"Get Gaius," Merlin said with exhaustion in his voice. "I think some of the stitching broke."

"Yes, sir," Hennrick nodded before running out of the chamber toward the citadel where Gaius was.

Merlin placed his hand over his wound and pushed down as hard as he could to try and stop the bleeding. But his strength quickly left him. He could feel the darkness closing around him. He was tired and wanted to sleep, but he had to wait for his uncle.

His battle to stay awake was soon lost, and he allowed the darkness came to claim him.

When Arthur saw Gaius leave with Hennrick, he knew something had happened to Merlin. He got up from his chair and quickly caught up with the pair as they entered the castle.

"What's going on?" Camelot's king ordered.

"Merlin is hurting, Sire," Hennrick answered. "I think he tried to get into bed on his own."

"That idiot," Arthur proclaimed.

Upon entering Merlin's chambers, Arthur rushed over to his friend's unconscious body and tried to shake him awake. "Merlin, wake up. Wake up, you bloody idiot."

Arthur didn't realize it, but he was crying. He was scared that he was going to lose his best friend after everything he's done to help save him. And it would be because the damn idiot tried to walk without help.

The young king felt Gaius gently push him away from Merlin. "Sit down, Sire. Let me take care of him."

Arthur did as Gaius told. He was glad he listened because as soon as he sat down, he felt a wave of nausea come over. He promptly emptied the contents of his stomach all over the chamber floor, his trousers and boots. He looked up and saw Gaius removing the last of Merlin's bandaging. When he saw his now exposed wound freely bleeding, he threw up once more.

The king could not understand why he felt so sick at the sight of blood. He's never had a problem with it before. Perhaps it was because it was Merlin's and the fact that he was scared.

The Court Physician seemed to read his thoughts and said, "No need to worry, Sire. He just broke some of the stitches. I'll have to take them out and resew the wound. He should be fine in the morning. Why don't you head back to the feast? They'll be wondering where you are by now. "

Arthur looked down at his trousers and boots. He was in no condition to go back to the feast. "I'll stay here. The feast can go on without me. You can go back when you're done. I'll stay and watch him."

The king looked at Hennrick, who was standing in the doorway. "Go and get two buckets of cold water. One for cleaning the wound. The other in case he develops a fever."

Hennrick gave a hasty bow and rushed to get buckets and head for the nearest water pump.

Gaius looked over the worried king. "Since you're going to stay, I need you to put pressure on the wound while I get what I need from my chambers."

Arthur stood up and moved over to Merlin. He placed his hands on the wound and pressed down. As soon as he applied enough pressure, Merlin let out a blood-curdling scream but did not wake. The king and the physician shared a look of concern.

"Is there any other way to stop the bleeding," Arthur asked, not wanting to cause any more pain to Merlin.

"I have heard rumours of a new medical practice called cauterization. It's basically burning the wound to stop the bleeding," Gaius explained. "We don't have the supplies for it, though."

"Hurry and get your supplies, Gaius," Arthur said, dismissing the elderly man.

Gaius bowed and quickly left.