Endure

Chapter 4

When Merlin next awoke he was lying comfortably on his back atop a bedroll or two, head cushioned on a blanket and covered in no less than three cloaks. He smiled at the thought of the knights tucking him in. The smell of campfire wafted over him, the clinking of a spoon stirring a pot sounded to his right. He turned to investigate but the muscles in his neck seized in a vice-like grip at the attempt. Fire seemed to spread and cover the skin of his neck. He gasped at the searing pain that tore through him. All at once his body seemed to come alive. His neck had been bandaged but he felt every move of the cloth over the raw and broken skin. His feet burned as if the iron was still being applied there. The burns on his thighs and underarms seemed to have a heartbeat of their own and throbbed unmercifully. Breathing became a lesson in agony as his broken ribs protested each rise and fall.

A face appeared and soft hands gently stroked his hair, whispering quietly but urgently, "Breathe Merlin, breathe. Slow breaths. You'll be ok, just keep breathing." The man kept up the mantra as Merlin reined in his hitching gasps. Dimly Merlin was aware of several others coming over, handing things to the man, but Merlin could only focus on pain, the man and breathing. Slowly recognition came to him as he realized Arthur was the man speaking to him, gently comforting him with calming touches.

Then Merlin noticed Lancelot kneeling on his other side, worriedly looking at Merlin. Gwaine was kneeling at Merlin's head whispering a manta of his own, "You're ok mate, you're ok." He whispered over and over again, hand on Merlin's shoulder. Merlin looked at the three faces and then looked up a bit farther and noticed Percival, Elyan and Leon also standing near with varying shades of worry or fear on their faces. Finally, Merlin seemed to gain a bit of his control and took as steadying a breath as he could, looking into the Prince's eyes. Arthur seemed to relax a bit.

Lancelot handed Arthur a cup who then pressed it to Merlin's lips. "Drink," was all he said. His eyes said everything else. If you argue with me over drinking this, you will be mucking out the stables for a month. Merlin obediently opened his mouth and drank. He was not expecting it to be anything more than water and was surprised to recognize it as once of Guias's pain relieving tinctures. He also knew this tincture would make him sleep soon. He frowned. He had just woken up.

"Don't look at me like that," Arthur replied. "You need it, and you know it." Merlin rolled his eyes at him.

Merlin had questions but his body and the tincture were not helping any, "Where?" was all he could get out.

Arthur seemed to understand anyway, "We're only two days from Camelot now." Merlin had more questions but Arthur was having none of it. "Sleep Merlin." He said quietly, resting his hand gently on Merlin's forehead and softly closing his eyes for him.

"Prat." Merlin mumbled and heard Arthur chuckle before he succumbed to sleep.

Jostling woke Merlin next. A steady clop of hooves and quiet conversation floated around him. He noticed he was still cocooned in cloaks but was now sitting atop a horse, leaning against another body as they ambled toward Camelot. The sun shone through the clouds radiantly and rained down through the trees in a beautiful kaleidoscope of shadow and light as they passed beneath the leaves. Merlin blinked and opened his mouth to speak but his throat was dry and to his utter embarrassment a squeak was all that escaped his mouth. Arthur's head snapped down toward his charge, thinking he had somehow hurt Merlin but seeing him awake he laughed at the sound he had made.

"Hold," he called to the other knights. "Percival, hand me your water skin please." Percival handed over the water and Arthur gently helped Merlin to drink.

Merlin cleared his throat, "Thanks." Arthur nodded. "Are we any closer?" Merlin did not want it to sound like he was whining so he tried to sit up straighter and look around but thought better of it as his muscles screamed in protest.

"Half a day mate," Gwaine's said from the front.

Merlin smiled at his friend, "Hey Gwaine."

"Hey."

Merlin chuckled and looked around noticing the rest of them. "Thank you," he said softly but with conviction.

Leon smiled at him, "You are most welcome."

"Gwen would kill me if I came back without either of you," Elyan said with a wink.

"It's what friends are for Merlin," Percival grinned.

"You would do it for any of us- have done it for all of us," Lancelot said.

"Couldn't just leave you there. Life wouldn't be the same without you mate!" Gwaine exclaimed.

A smug look crossed Arthur's face as he said, "Life would be dull without Merlin, wouldn't it? No one to laugh at when he trips on his own feet or when he makes a fool of himself in the stocks. No one to annoy you with inane prattle during patrols for so long that you want to strangle him. No one to feed rat soup to or force on hunting trips. No one making up ridiculous words like dollop-head and clot-pole. No one to throw things at in the morning when they wake me up with ridiculous phrases like 'let's have you lazy daisy!' No one to tell-"

Five other voices echoed Merlin's own as he cried, "Shut up!"

Arthur's mouth snapped shut in humor as he smiled at Merlin. "Prat." Merlin muttered.

"Dollop-head." Arthur returned.

"Hey, that's my word!"

The End