Merlin burst into the room before any of his council men could arrive.

Arthur knew full well what would come out of his mouth even before Merlin breached the first few feet of the room. Let him, Arthur thought. He himself had many words to tell Merlin that he vehemently disagreed.

"You cannot do this," Merlin said, echoing the exact words in Arthurs mind down to the last syllable.

"Merlin, you don't tell your king what he can and cannot do," Arthur wanted to say but what came out was, "It needs doing," in a gruff voice. Arthur cleared his throat and shuffled the papers on the desk. He would not look at Merlin even if he leaned on the desk and angled his head just so.

"You're severely injured Arthur, you can barely sit," Merlin said in a tone that implied Arthur was a child that needed explanation of the most basic things. "I know how important this is for you but it can keep for a few days. Until you're well."

The noon bells had rung just moments ago and that meant Merlin couldn't keep this hounding up for so very long, not when his council men would start trickling in any second.

Arthur heard Merlin sigh, distantly. He was trying not to let his throbbing side consume all his thoughts. If he didn't think about it, it simply wasn't there, Arthur decided.

Merlin stepped back, giving him more room. Good. Merlin of all people should know what this meant for the people of Camelot, especially for those living outside the protection of the citadel. Today would be the last of a long series of gatherings to assemble a better governing law for the lands Arthur's lords oversaw under his authority.

Speaking of, had he brought that last piece that he'd made Merlin write the other day over lunch? He shuffled the papers again, this time with more intent and-

"Close the doors."

Arthur had never before heard Merlin so imposing. His head sprung up. At the double doors, as usual, two of his men stood duty. They exchanged wary glances, looked towards Arthur then their eyes returned to Merlin as though drawn back to him without choice.

Arthur knew authority intimately.

Afterall he was Camelot's king and had been prince for more than two decades while his father was upon the throne. His father, who could command a room with his presence alone.

What was utterly odd though, was that Arthur thought Merlin could achieve the same feat just then.

Arthur stood, cursing lightly as the wound pulled. The burning left him breathing harshly and leaning on the oak table.

Merlin's back was all Arthur could see of him, but whatever his face showed the guards seemed to straighten even more at their posts.

"Merl-" Arthur started but his voice was eclipsed by the sound of metal hitting wood when one of the guards took a step back as Merlin took two more steps forward.

Arthur thought he could feel the chill of Merlin's surely cool stare. Or maybe that was the fever that had been steadily growing under his skin.

"I am our king's acting physician while Gaius is away and I do not judge our king fit for his duties. If you do not want to see him collapse on your watch, you will close these doors. Am I clear?" Merlin hadn't raised his voice but it rang through the empty chambers, rising unencumbered into the high rafters. For a moment there was only silence.

Then the guards sprung into action.

Arthur sighed. He knew a losing battle when he saw one. He rubbed at his eyes and sat down even as Lord Franwin accompanied by Goldstone appeared by the door pausing the guards. He saw through the gap, Goldstone come to a stop and hold the jabbering Franwin back, sensing the atmosphere.

Merlin opened the door some more ignoring the hovering guards and bowed to them both. He was talking, explaining things, still with that competent air. Arthur didn't pay attention, his thoughts were going another direction, even as leaden as they were right now. The heartbeat in his side had eased a little.

Arthur heard the snick of wood as the doors closed. Merlin had won his crusade, without so much as a raised voice.

He opened his eyes- he doesn't remember closing them- to see Merlin right beside him. How had he gotten there so fast?

Arthur met Merlin's eyes. The skin of authority had not quite melted off Merlin yet as he said, "Come. Let's get you to your chambers."

"I need to conclude this today. Call them back," Arthur said just to let Merlin know he hadn't admitted defeat all that easily.

"You're delirious with pain, Sire," Merlin said and hooked Arthur's arm over his shoulder and heaved Arthur off the chair. Arthur huffed.

"Your people know you care for them," Merlin said now, in his wise voice as they exited through the back door. "They would not want to see you push yourself when injured. Don't worry, I'll take care of the council."

Arthur knew he would and he knew he would also be utterly grateful later but at that moment he pressed his lips together to keep himself from agreeing; he'd been denied his wishes.

Arthur looked at Merlin sideways, through the corner of his eyes. What Arthur was considering…Merlin was right. He really must be delirious.

Arthur shook his head inwardly. He'd seen the seeds of it, growing over the years, but Arthur had refused to see. He'd been selfish and held Merlin back. Regardless of all that, he would be doing his Chief of Household a favour. The man's desire for a successor, so soon granted.

Arthur's eyes were starting to hurt but he still looked. He needed to see Merlin's reaction. "I'm starting to think, you're wasted in your current position, Merlin."

"Is that the best reason you could come up with to give me more work?"

"What do you think about the title, steward?"

Merlin laughed. "I didn't know pain could give people a sense of humor, Sire. Gaius would be delighted to know of this new symptom. He'd want to put it in his books."

Arthur kept staring at him.

Merlin stared back. Understanding saturated his eyes first then his face fell into a rictus of disbelief and despair. "You're not kidding," he said and ground them to such a sudden halt that they stumbled under Arthur's weight and nearly bashed Merlin's head on the hallway corner.

"The fever's more severe than I thought," was Merlin's faint response, looking wide eyed, when they start the track back to Arthur's chamber.

Arthur would laugh- he would, just as soon as he'd gotten his breath back from their near casualty.