(Author's Note: Still own nothing! FINAL PART! Hope you liked it. Please review! I will love you forever!)

Part 7 At Least For The Moment

The journey back to Camelot took a few days but they managed somehow to make it back without incident. Arthur left Merlin with Gaius and went to explain to his father what had happened. When he was gone Merlin told Gaius the truth as he bandaged his ribs and head.

"You truly are brave my boy. Take this, you need sleep and it will help with the pain." Merlin obeyed and downed the potion. He soon fell into a dreamless sleep.

Arthur walked back into Gaius's chambers to find Gaius dabbing a wet cloth on Merlin's forehead.

"Gaius? What's wrong?" Arthur somehow managed to keep fear from his voice.

"A simple fever. Stress induced I believe. He will pull through I have no doubt." Gaius laid the wet cloth on Merlin's forehead. Merlin moaned and fidgeted in his sleep.

"Arthur… Arthur... Have to help..." He mumbled, his eyes seeming to search under their closed lids. Arthur felt guilt tugging at him. Merlin wasn't begging for his help, he was trying to help him. Gaius patted Merlin's hand.

"Shhhh. Arthur is safe and so are you." Merlin must have heard him because his mumbling paused for a moment. Then he continued to mumble, Arthur couldn't stand it.

"I'm fine you idiot. Not even a scratch, you on the other hand, got hurt. So stop mumbling and rest." Merlin's mumbling paused again.

"Prat…" He muttered then the mumbling stopped and his sleep became much more restful. Arthur couldn't help it, he laughed.

"Even in his sleep he thinks I'm a prat!" He sighed and sat down. Gaius pulled a blanket over Merlin and came to sit down across from Arthur.

"Something's bothering you sire. Would you like to talk about it?" Arthur looked at Gaius. He trusted him, enough as he had trusted anyone since that day. He nodded.

It took Arthur an hour to finish his story. He told Gaius everything, from the spell the witch had placed on him which he had 'forgotten' to tell his father about, to the strange feeling he had followed. When he told Gaius of Merlin's unwavering loyalty the man seemed to swell with pride.

"I can't help but feel bad about what happened. If he wasn't my servant then he wouldn't have gotten hurt." Gaius laid his hand on Arthur's shoulder.

"Merlin doesn't regret his actions. I guarantee he would do it again in a heartbeat." Arthur sighed but he was smiling slightly.

"I know, that's part of what makes him such an idiot. But that's also why I trust him; he's the first person I've truly trusted in a long time." Arthur said it almost to himself but Gaius smiled knowingly.

"I'll expect him back at work soon, but not before his rib is healed." Arthur said standing. Gaius nodded. Merlin, who had heard most of this exchange smiled slightly in his sleep. He wouldn't remember this, save as a fleeting dream.

Everything would be alright, at least for the moment.