Part seven:

/

Arthur looked up frighten at Gaius when Merlin passed out. Gaius reassured him that he was just sleeping. Arthur scooped Merlin up and got him back into his bed.

"I can stay with him." Gwaine suggested but Arthur shook his head.

"I'll stay," The Kind replied "You all need to get some sleep."

"So do you, sire." Gaius pointed out.

"I'll sleep here." That was the end of the argument. Arthur kissed Gwen before she left. Gaius slept in his normal spot, he told Arthur to wake him if he needed anything. Giving him a sleeping drought that would also help with pain, incase Merlin woke up and was in too much pain.

Arthur went back to the chair he had gotten use to sleeping in. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Merlin. Usually, for the past week, in sleep he looked like he was in pain. He moved a lot, little movements, nothing too bad. Except that time he had a nightmare. He'd mumble in his sleep but never anything Arthur could understand.

But, this time was different. Merlin looked so peaceful. Arthur prayed, for his friends sake, that Merlin wasn't plagued with nightmares tonight.

Arthur wouldn't be surprised if Merlin never forgave him for what he did. He couldn't stand seeing that wicked man inside Merlin. The only wound Arthur got was a small cut on his cheek from a sword swinging to close.

He could still see Merlin's face after he plunged the sword into him. The sorcerer had left him just seconds after and he could have sworn he saw Merlin's blue eyes flash gold before he collapses to the ground.

"You did the right thing." Arthur looked over to see Merlin's blue eyes open and starring at him tiredly.

"I could've killed you," Arthur responded looking down at the floor. "I thought I did."

"You had to protect Camelot. You had to protect yourself!" Merlin said. "I could never blame you for that." His tired voice cracked. "I would have rather died if I knew I was taking him with me." Arthur new he was talking about the sorcerer.

"I would've done anything if it meant keeping you safe." The King admitted. "Plus you can't find menservants like you anymore. My breakfast has actually been on time all week. It's a bit unnerving." Arthur joked getting a smile from Merlin.

"Should I feel honored?" Merlin teased. Arthur laughed this time. "Please don't blame yourself."

"Then you can't blame yourself." Arthur countered.

"I can't remember much anyway." Merlin said.

"If you really want," Arthur started. "I will tell you everything that I know of, everything that happened to you that I know about." Merlin shook his head though.

"I'm sure it will come back on it's own." Merlin replied. "I wouldn't mind just leaving it a lost memory though. Doesn't seem like a very enjoyable event to go through."

"No, it doesn't." Arthur agreed. "But promise me that if you do remember and you need to talk, you come to me first."

"Arthur, I'm not going to waist your time…"

"Fine, than I order you to and as King you have to do what I say." Arthur said, very child like. Merlin sighed and nodded his head pleasing the King.

"Dollop-head." Merlin said and Arthur laughed.

/

Merlin couldn't stand laying in bed anymore. Gaius had kept him there for the past week only getting up if he really needed to, but Merlin wanted out.

He begged Gaius to let him at least sit with him while he worked. If Gaius thought he was getting too tired he'd go right to bed, no arguments. Gaius fought Merlin but in the end the old physician gave in.

Gaius sat Merlin down at the table and put a plate of food down in front of him.

"Eat." Gaius ordered. Merlin did, slowly. He grabbed one of the books from the table and started to skim through it. It was a medical remedy book. He figured he should know this stuff anyway, so he continued to eat while he browsed through it.

When the door opened Merlin jumped a bit. Gwaine rushed in with a smile and hugged Merlin.

"It's great to see you out of bed, mate!" Gwaine said happily as he hugged Merlin tightly.

"Gwaine, I can't breath!" Merlin muttered and Gwaine released him.

"Sorry," He said sitting down next to Merlin and stealing a piece of bread from his plate. "I'm glad your feeding yourself. Trying to get you to eat before was the hardest thing I've ever had to do! It was like trying to force feed a rock! But I learned a trick…"

"I don't want to know!" Merlin said and Gwaine smiled at his friend.

"It's really good to see you up and about!" They looked up when the door opened again and the King and Queen walked in. When Gwen saw Merlin she ran over and wrapped her arms around him.

"Oh, Merlin," She said with so much care and a tear slipped from her eye. "I thought we were going to lose you. I'm so glad you're doing better." She said squeezing a little tighter.

"I can't breath again!" He said. Gwen loosened her grip slightly but still held on.

"Sorry." She said kissing his forehead.

"I'm glad you're up Merlin." Arthur said. "And you need to return back to work soon! This new servant is horrendous! He gets everything done perfectly. He's so polite, would it kill him to be late once in a while!" Arthur said annoyed. "I can't even throw him in the stocks because he's done nothing wrong!" Merlin couldn't help but laugh.

"How are your eyes, Merlin?" Gaius asked. Merlin looked around. It wasn't perfect but it was a lot better.

"Some things farther away are still a bit blurry," He admitted. "I don't understand what happened to my eyes though?"

"I think it was just a random side effect." Gaius said. "But I don't see any long lasting damage, give it time and you will be able to see like before."

"I could have sworn your eyes flashed gold." Arthur said. Merlin's eyes widen in horror. His heart beating too fast. Had he used magic in front of Arthur? "It must have been the sorcerer though." Arthur said. Merlin let out the breath he was holding in relief, his heart returning to a normal pace.

Merlin realized that Gaius must have been watching him like a hawk.

"I think that's enough for now," Gaius said. "Merlin should get some more sleep. He still has a long recovery ahead of him." Everyone nodded. Gwen kissed his forehead again and promised to be back later. Gwaine hugged him, gently this time before leaving. Arthur smiled at him.

"It's really good to have you back, Merlin." Arthur said kindly. "But if you ever go missing again I'll hunt you down and kill you myself!" He warned.

"How will that help anything!" Merlin shot back quickly. "And it's not like I go around looking to be kidnapped!" Arthur smiled before leaving.

"I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." Gaius said honestly. "It's so good to have you back with us. And I have no doubt that Arthur will catch the sorcerer responsible for this."

"He can look all he wants, he'll never find him." Merlin admitted.

"What do you mean?" Gaius questioned.

"Kilgharrah found him." Merlin answered.

"I take it he wasn't pleased with him." Gaius almost laughed. "I should've figured the Great Dragon would have gotten involved. It's less you have to worry about. So, you can focus on getting better."

"Thank you, Gaius." Merlin said with a smile. "Do I have to go back into my room?" He asked. Gaius shook his head.

"You can sleep in my bed." Gaius said helping Merlin to the bed and got the younger man to lay down. "Do you need anything for the pain?" Merlin shook his head.

"No, just give me a minute and I'll be sleeping." Merlin said tiredly. Gaius wrapped a blanket around Merlin and like the young man said, he was out.

/

Merlin didn't stay cooped up in Gaius's chambers anymore. He wasn't healed completely yet. Gaius made sure Merlin exercised his shoulder, not wanting it to get stiff and making sure the muscles moved the way they were suppose to.

Merlin liked to go for walks. Usually he went with one of the Knights. Gwaine went with him most of the time. At first Merlin only walked to the end of the corroder and he was too exhausted to go further but now he pretty much walked around wherever he wanted. Heading back when he felt too tired.

Whenever he'd go by himself Arthur would be furious. He never liked leaving Merlin alone or unguarded. Merlin couldn't tell Arthur that the sorcerer was dead without having to explain about his magic and the Great Dragon.

Despite Arthur's threats and warnings about wandering the castle without someone with him, Merlin did it anyway. He made his way to the kitchen. He was greeted kindly by the cooks and he continued on.

Walking by one of the rooms he noticed Gwen. Sitting at a little table in a very beautiful gown mending one of her own dresses herself.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asked walking into the room. Gwen looked up and smiled at Merlin. He took a seat next to her. "You're the Queen now, you know. Other's are meant to do that for you."

"I'm just so use to it." She answered. Merlin took the dress from her and began mending it. "Oh Merlin, you don't have to."

"I've done nothing but sit in a bed or at a table or sleep and I think I've read every book Gaius has at least twice. I need something to do." Merlin stated. "At least you are not as hard on your close as Arthur. I swear, sometimes I think he wrestles boars!" Gwen laughed.

"How many times have I told you not to wander off!" Arthur stormed into the room annoyed. He crossed his arms over his chest but Merlin never lifted his head from the cloth he was mending.

"This week about twelve, altogether…" Merlin thought for a second. "Well, it must be over thirty times." He answered sarcastically.

"You can be so irritating at times, do you know that?" Arthur questioned sternly.

"And you can be such a clot-pole." Merlin replied. Arthur wanted to be mad that Merlin wasn't listening to him but he couldn't. Merlin was getting back to his old self and Arthur couldn't have been happier.

~End

Thank you so much for all the kind words! I hope you enjoyed and thank you so much for reading! Hope you all have a great day/night!