Notes at the bottom.

Chapter 23: Back To It

((((((((((((((())))))))))))

The splash of water jolted Merlin back into reality. Coughing and sputtering he turned and landed on the floor in a jumbled heap. Consciousness and murky dreams blended together as the warlock laid on the ground in his room. Gaius was speaking behind him but his voice could barely be heard.

"Really… Work… Late…"

The cry slipped from his lips without him noticing as pain pierced through his head. Blood drips from his right ear as the world blurs around him. A shape is by his side, red fills his vision as Gaius's voice filters through his hazy work.

"Merlin! What… Merlin? Merlin!"

His world went black.

(((((((((((((())))))))))))

Gaius gazes at his ward in worry as two guards placed him into one of the examination beds. When he tried to rouse the boy this morning nothing had worked till he dumped a bucket of water over him. Then he had started screaming in pain before passing out again. Working quickly now that the guards had moved out of the way the physician got to work.

The blood going down the side of Merlin's head was easily visible and so that's where he focused his efforts. Moving across the room he pulled a small bunch of yarrow from the hanging plants along the wall. Moving over to the tables he placed the plant in a mortar and began to grind it. After a few passes of the pestle the slight wet clump of plant was ready. Gathering some bandages and the mortar he moved to Merlin and began his treatment.

Without knowing what was causing the bleeding he could do very little to treat it. Stopping the blood flow was his first concern. Placing a clump of the ground yarrow into the sorcerer's ear then binding it with bandages the physician gave a small hum of satisfaction. His expert eye taking in the rest of the boy's appearance in a moment he moved over to his books to begin his search for what was wrong with his charge.

((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))

Gwen returned to her mistress's room with a slight smile on her face.

After Lancelot's exile she had been a wreck all over again. Thankfully, Morgana had been able to pull her out of her funk. The flowers spread around the room helped as well. For the last few days flowers from well wishing nobles for one reason or another had been delivered to the Lady of Camelot. The onset of bouquets had turned said woman's room into a practical garden. Every table was or available surface was covered in color arrangements of plant life. Gwen's favorite were the while lilies on the main table that had arrived yesterday.

Moving through the room she saw her mistress was still asleep. Smiling at the thought of the poor insomniac finally getting her well deserved rest the maid set about her duties quickly and quietly. As much as she enjoyed the flowers around the room it truly was a bit much. Good manners however required that the Lady of Camelot keep such gifts, if only for a day. So with a new day dawning she set about removing the smaller settings that her lady had disapproved of when she read the cards.

Honestly some of the men trying for her lady's hand were such pigs.

A little after the day had well and truly begun the beautiful maid moved to her mistress's side to wake her. Only, the Lady of Camelot never did.

((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))

"MERLIN!" Came the prince's angry cry as he burst into the physician's chamber. Gaius was startled out of his book on head injuries to see the seething prince. Said royalty took one look around the room and focused his ire on the court physician.

"Where is he Gaius? Where is that useless servant of mine?" His seething tone showing how barely restrained his anger was. Moving across the room to his fireplace Gaius took the pot from over it and poured the burning liquid within into a cup filled with leaves.

"I'm afraid that Merlin won't be able to assist you today sire." He replies calmly motioning the prince forward. The pair move across the room towards the medical beds and the prince's anger evaporates seeing his manservant laid out and covered in bandages around his head.

"Good lord! What the hell happened to him Gaius?" Arthur exclaimed stunned, though honestly he shouldn't be. His servant was a magnet for trouble.

"I don't know sire, it seems likely it's a side effect from the Moriartus flower I may have missed but I am looking into it." Gaius answered with a tone of dismay. He hated it when something went awry, especially with his medical treatments.

"I thought you said you cured him?"

The physician hummed and moved back to his books.

"Of the Moriartus? Yes, however some people are weaker to certain things than others, perhaps the Moriartus caused some damage I couldn't see and it's only now coming out, you have been pushing him quite hard with the recent griffin attacks."

"With a griffin terrorizing the land I couldn't exactly let my servant do nothing Gaius!" The prince exclaimed as he moved to the court physician. The old man smiled thinly and placed a hand on his younger counterpart.

"Nor should you, I am only stating a theory as to Merlin's condition. It could very well be that he hit his head with the rather violent wake up call I gave him and this is all my fault."

The smile calmed the prince as he snorted at the thought of Merlin's own stupidity hurting himself.

"Thank you Gaius, I guess I shall be on my way then, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask." The golden haired man stated as he made his way out of the room only to nearly run into Gwen who burst in.

"Gaius help! Something is wrong with the Lady Morgana!"

(((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))

Arthur gave a yell of frustration as he destroyed the last training post on the field. All having befallen the same fate beneath the prince's ire. For the last two days things had been growing worst around the castle. His father had shut himself away with Morgana, Gwen was running herself ragged trying to help Gaius, Merlin was in and out of consciousness always saying something about a bug and the physician caring for him was running out of treatment options for the afflicted parties. The prince had taken up the role of running the day to day of Camelot and the lack of progress was wearing his patience thin.

With a huff the knight handed his training sword to a servant and stalked over to the benches set off to the side. Sitting down the royal let his mind drift while his body began draining away the last drops of energy pouring through it. The last few months had been trying for the prince. Seeing the woman he considered a sister and the man he reluctantly considered a friend both suffering all the time made him feel useless, especially when he could do nothing to help. What good was he when all he could do was swing a sword? He may not be able to master the healing arts like Gaius or speechcraft to the level of Morgana but he could know how to bit to help out?

If these last few weeks were anything to go by then no he couldn't. His father's advisors still looked at him like a child filling in for an adult when he sat down in his father's chair during the council meetings. Gaius all but pushed him out of the physician's chambers when he had burned the medicine he was trying to help make and Gwen.

Running a hand down his face as a smile developed the blond royal sighed.

Gwen had stepped up to become the single person it seemed he could count on as he balanced the jobs of three different royals. Also she didn't snark back at him every second of the day like Merlin did. Thank god for the little things. Raising himself off the bench, Arthur began his trek back to the castle and the hundred different tasks needing his attention.

He never noticed the cloaked figure following him.

(((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))

Hi everyone! I hope this helps us get back into the swing of things, it certainly got me back on track. Don't ask how far off track I got. Seriously. Don't.

Anyway I'm hopeful I can make all chapters about this length or longer from now on. We will see.

Thanks to OechsnerC, TheDelta724, Adele (guest) and Maricate for your reviews!

Thanks to no name to speak of, Maricate, Brainless1 (lol), Halo99Elite and LoveLifeForever for following/favoriting!

I hope to get more and better content out within the next few months so don't be afraid to throw your thoughts at me!

Next update should be in about 2 weeks give or take a few days.

Read and review please! Love y'all!