One Week Later

Merlin, who was standing on the table in his room, looked out the window, looking down at everyone in the courtyard. He knew that he was supposed to be in his bed, but he had grown restless laying there, doing nothing. So when Gaius left to go tend some ill people in the Lower Town, he took the chance to get out of bed.

The warlock watched as he saw Arthur and Gwaine talking as they headed in the direction of the council chambers. He figured that they were about to go and have a boring discussion about boring things with bored knights.

Merlin just smirked at the thought of how bored Arthur was going to be without him there to entertain him.

Deciding that he was tired of people watching, Merlin slowly got off the table and headed into the main room to find something to snack on. As he entered the main room he was greeted with someone walking through the door.

Please don't be Gaius, Merlin thought.

He wish was granted when Mordred walked in.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Merlin sat down at the smaller table in the room and grabbed an apple from a bowl.

"You should be in bed," Mordred stated.

Merlin shrugged. "I got bored. Shouldn't you be in a council meeting?"

"How did you know that?" Mordred asked in return.

"I saw Arthur and Gwaine heading in that direction," Merlin answered biting into the apple. "So why are you here and not there?"

"Gaius spotted me in the Lower Town and asked if I could check on you," Mordred said.

"Don't tell him I got out bed," Merlin requested.

"I won't," the knight promised. "I know what it's like being restless."

"Gaius doesn't seem to though," Merlin muttered.

Mordred let out a short laugh at Merlin's statement, then asked, "How are you feeling?"

"My side hurts and still a little dizzy from the blood loss, but other than that great. The infection's gone at least," Merlin replied.

Mordred looked down, suddenly interested in the floor.

The warlock picked up on the uncomfortable air that suddenly surround the younger man. "What's wrong?"

The Druid lifted his head up enough to look at Merlin. "I can't help but feel responsible for what happened."

Merlin knew that Mordred felt guilty about what happened. He didn't need Gaius and Arthur telling him for him to figure it out. The Druid's behaviour when they were near each other spoke louder than words.

Merlin placed the palm of his hands on the table and stood up. He remained that way while he spoke. "This is not your fault. Your only crime that night was helping a friend in need. You weren't the one who shot the crossbow. You weren't the one get hit with the bolt. You were the one who got me out of there the quickest way possible. You were the one who got me to safety, so that Morgana wouldn't find out who I was. You were the one that got me back to Camelot when you realized that I gotten worse. You damn near killed the horse in the process, but you got me here. You saved my life, Mordred. For that I owe you a debt."

"If I hadn't fallen asleep-" Mordred began, but Merlin cut him off.

"The wound was already becoming infected when we made camp. I knew that, but said nothing, because I was too tired and weak. I also knew that we couldn't ride through the night. If we had, I would have been worse off," Merlin explained. "So do me a favour and stop torturing yourself. You weren't in anymore control of the situation than I was."

"Why do I feel so guilty though?" Mordred asked.

Merlin went to move toward him, but quickly decided against it when his sight began swimming. After deciding to sit back down, Merlin shut his eyes for a moment to clear his head.

Merlin's wave of unsteadiness did not go unnoticed by the Druid knight. "You are okay, Merlin?"

"Yeah fine. I just went to move to fast," Merlin answered as he opened his eyes.

"How long have you been out of bed?" Mordred asked.

"Since Gaius left a couple of hours ago," Merlin answered.

"We should get you back to bed," Mordred stated, moving toward his friend. "If Gaius sees you like this. He'll lecture us both."

"Can't have that happening," Merlin agreed, "but first let me say something."

"What's that?" Mordred asked.

"You feel guilty because you implanted the thought in your own head. Once you rid yourself of the thought, the guilt will leave you," Merlin said, answering the knight's early question.

Mordred pondered the thought for a moment, then decided he would follow his friend's advice after he got him back to bed.

As soon as Merlin's head hit the pillow, he was fast asleep. Mordred sat in a nearby chair for a few minutes and watched as he slept.

The Druid hadn't even realized that he made himself think that he was responsible for Merlin falling ill, until Merlin voiced the problem. Now that he knew why he felt so guilty, he coud work on removing the guilt.

Before he could think any further, Gaius walked into the room. "How long has he been asleep?"

Mordred jumped at the elder's voice, then turned to look at him. "A few minutes. All the talking made him tired."

Gaius looked at him, curiously, wondering if he should believe him or not.

"He did most of the talking," Mordred added.

"Ah," the physician said. "Well as long he wasn't walking around."

Mordred just stood up. "I should get going. I have a council meeting to attend."

"Of course," Gaius said.

The knight quickly left the room, before he completely betrayed Merlin and told Gaius what the man really had been doing.

As Mordred walked to the council chambers, he felt better than he had all week. The false guilt had fled. He knew now that he couldn't have controled what had happened. He also knew that Merlin had repaid the debt and didn't even know it.

A/N: This is the final chapter of 'Damn Prophecy'. Lucky for you, I've already completed the first couple of chapters to my next installment. After doing some more editing, I hope to have the first chapter posted withing the next couple of days. If that does not happen, I'm either dead or to busy to get to my laptop. Let's hope that I'm not dead. Until then I leave you with you thoughts of what I will do next.