"Keep up, Merlin!" Arthur shouted as he and Merlin tore down the corridor to get to the training grounds. You try holding all of this armor while walking, you clotpole, Merlin thought. He doesn't understand how men can wear this heavy armor, let alone fight in it. That bumbling, clumsy fool, Arthur thought as he glared back at Merlin stumbling around while carrying his armor. He was not in the mood for this. When they reached the stairs, Arthur almost flew down while Merlin took each step carefully.
Or so he thought. With a cry, Merlin slipped on a step that sent the armor and himself flying. He tried using his arms to break the fall and protect his head but to no avail. Excruciating pain exploded in his right arm and head as he was knocked out cold. Hearing Merlin's cry, Arthur whipped his head back and a sense of fear and dread washed all over him. Shouting Merlin's name, he ran up the stairs as fast as he could to get to Merlin. But as he was at the bottom and Merlin was at the top, he was not fast enough to stop Merlin from tumbling down the stairs. Meeting halfway, Arthur held Merlin's body upright to see the damage done.
Merlin's hairline was pouring blood down his face, his right arm was definitely broken, hanging limply in a weird angle. Panicking, Arthur shouted for the guards to inform Gaius of what had happened. When trying to rouse Merlin was ineffectively, Arthur carried Merlin bridal style while securing Merlin's broken arm on his chest and ran towards the physician's chambers.
The light wooden door was no match for Arthur's strength as it swung open fiercely. Gaius, who had already been notified of what happened, quickly directed Arthur to the patient's cot and asked him to lay Merlin down gently. Gaius started setting Merlin's right arm correctly right away. With a clean snap, it was straight again. "He didn't even wake up." Arthur said worriedly. "Is he going to be alright, Gaius?" Arthur began to panic but thankfully Guinevere came barging in the physician's room. "I heard what happened, Gaius! Is he…?" She trailed off as she saw the state of her best friend herself. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gasped.
Just then, a guard showed up at the door. "Your Highness, the king requests your presence in the throne room". Arthur didn't want to leave. He desperately wanted to stay and help Merlin. "Go, Arthur. I have Gwen to help me. Besides, you don't want to be late to meet your father," Gaius said. "Inform me if anything happens," Arthur said as Gaius nodded. Glancing back one more time, Arthur reluctantly left to face his father.
The big and heavy throne room doors opened to reveal his father, King Uther, standing in the middle of it with his nasty scowl and his arms crossed. "What on earth do you think you are doing?! Missing training for a lowly servant?!" the king shouted. "He was injured! What would you have me do, leave him?!" Arthur shouted back angrily. The king stepped forward and towered over Arthur. "I am the king and you will not speak to me that way," The king said with repressed anger to Arthur's face. "As punishment, you are forbidden from seeing your servant until you learn that your duties as a prince are more important than anything else." The king proclaimed as he called for the guards. As the guards came in to escort Arthur to his chambers, he shrugged them off and stormed out of the throne room.
"He should be fine now," Gaius sighed as he sat down on a stool next to the patient's cot. There laid a pale Merlin who was as white as a blanket covering him. His right arm bandaged with a stilt and his head wrapped up in bandages. If it wasn't for the subtle rising and falling of his chest, he would appear dead. "When will he wake, Gaius?" asked Guinevere while staring worriedly at her best friend. "I've done all that I can for him, Guinevere," Gaius said sullenly. "It is up to him now."
Arthur paced around his chambers in anger. How could Father do this to me? Arthur thought. Sighing, he flopped onto his chair by his desk. Holding the bridge of his nose to relieve the pulsing headache, his thoughts wandered off to his dear friend. He thought about what Merlin means to him. Merlin was the first person to ever stand up to him. He is the only one that Arthur could consider a friend. Merlin has been by his side ever since he became his manservant. But there was always something more. Whenever he needed someone, Merlin was always there. He soon found comfort whenever he was in Merlin's presence. His heart almost stopped when he heard Merlin cry out and saw him tumbling down the stairs. That was when Arthur realized that Merlin meant more to him than anyone else. Standing up, Arthur glanced around the room. He saw his bedsheets, clothes, curtains and a window. Arthur smirked as he came up with a plan.
Night fell and Merlin took a turn for the worst. His wheezing became short and labored. "Gaius, you said he was fine! What's wrong with him?" Guinevere asked Gaius frantically. "I think there may be a bleed inside his head," Gaius said solemnly. "I fear he won't last the night,". Guinevere sobbed into Gaius' shoulder as he hugged her tightly, silently cursing himself for not being able to do more. It was then Arthur came bursting into the room. Panting, Arthur asked if he had made it in time. Pulling away from Guinevere, Gaius just shook his head at him. Seeing them in tears, Arthur's heart shattered even more. He walked to the patient's cot where Merlin laid and knelt beside it. "Merlin, please, I need you," Arthur pleaded as he cried. "I can't lose you, you clotpole," he whispered. Arthur sobbed on Merlin's chest while pounding it lightly. "That's my word," a weak voice croaked out. Whipping his head up, Arthur saw the one thing he thought he would never see again. Merlin's smile. Gaius and Gwen gasped happily and hugged each other. Standing up, Arthur leaned in hard and smashed his lips against Merlin's. They both pulled away and smiled at each other. At that moment, Arthur thought that everything was going to be okay.