Sorry for the wait on this - I've been crazy busy with school and homework and I've got all my exams coming up soon :) But please read and review for this last chapter to tell me what you think x :)

Gaius POV

It doesn't matter that it's not their fault, not really. He wants to blame something and he needs it, because Gaius has just spent the last few weeks watching his ward wander around like a wraith, powerless to help. He's seen the bruises on Merlin's back, watched them fade, and watched the Knights cut deeper into the scars they left with their thoughtless comments.

Merlin seems to have the right idea of what these Knights have in their heads, and it isn't much.

But he can't do anything, except prompt Arthur to do something, because he's only the Court Physician (not that it could stop him) and because Merlin wouldn't want them to be harmed (and that might not be enough to stop him either, not once he's got started).

Gaius supposes that he could put a tonic of some sort into their drinks and watch them squirm, but the physician's instinct is to help people, not to poison them.

Even if this time he really wants to.

He watches the Knights go into the stocks and once Merlin has found out and had a fit at Arthur (who refuses to release them), he subtly encourages his ward to go join the crowds and throw fruit at them.

After all, most people would just consider it a friend getting their own back.

(And this is a friend getting their own back, only it's Arthur doing it for Merlin because the raven haired man refuses to.)

When Arthur tells the Knights what they've done, he knows straight away. They go straight from swaggering around the castle to hunching up and whenever they pass Gaius in the corridors they look away, ashamed.

He knows it wasn't their fault, but he can't help the flash of anger at the terror stricken look on Merlin's face as Gwaine heads towards him looking murderous. Only the difference is that Gwaine is angry at himself, not Merlin.

Gaius wants to hit him over the head anyway.

It's like that for a few days longer, Merlin hiding out in his chambers and Arthur assigning more chores to him, simply so he can't do that, and the Knights following him around reminding him of lost love-sick puppies, one that's just been kicked.

Gaius just wants to bang their heads together and maybe bang his against a wall, watching them dance around each other.

This isn't going to do anything and right now Merlin's hurting and needs his friends.

Which is why Gaius refuses to feel guilty when he manages a convenient excuse to put them all into the same room and shuffles away suspiciously, the key in his pocket.

When he comes back to let them all out three hours later Merlin is smiling like he hasn't since Lancelot died and Gaius breathes a sigh of relief.

No matter what destiny says, it can still be broken.

Merlin can still be broken.

This time he hasn't. And Gaius is grateful for it.

But he refuses to let there be a next time.