Chapter Text
Gwen had dealt the monster a vicious blow but it was still bearing down on them. They were cornered, they were going to die. He and Gwen were going to die if he didn't do something. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to defeat this thing in his current state but he had to try, and if saving their lives cost him revealing his secret then so be it. He raised a shaking hand, feeling the magic bubbling to the surface, the incantation forming on his lips.
Before the words left him the beast gave an agonised scream. Its chest heaved as the tip of a sword burst from it, and Merlin's hand fell to his side as the Lamia's body crumpled.
Its ugliness was replaced by what Merlin thought may have been the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Although that may have been the blood loss talking. Or maybe the two days without sleep, because Arthur was looking far from his best, with his face dirty and flushed and his armour peppered with the Lamia's guts. But gods Merlin had never seen something quite as wondrous as Arthur grinning smugly and wrenching his blade free of the monster. Merlin thought he might have smiled back, but wasn't entirely sure. He couldn't really feel his face anymore, but he certainly felt like smiling.
It was over. Arthur was here. The Lamia was slain. Gwen was alright. The knights would be back to normal. It was over.
Able to relax for the first time in days, he let his knees buckle and his back slide down the wall. He hit the ground, and his vision turned to mist.
The next few minutes were confusing, a coming and going of his senses feeding him disjointed information. A cold stone wall against his back. His head throbbing and lungs aching as his cough returned. Gwen's frantic voice and Arthur's firm one. The taste of blood on his lips and the smell of it in his nose. A leather-gloved hand on his cheek. Arthur's face hovered before him for a while, and he thought he might have heard his own voice mumbling something to him. He wasn't sure what he had said though.
But it didn't really matter, did it? Arthur was here now. Help had come and Arthur was here so things would be alright. His eyes slid shut.
Then there were hands beneath his arms, hauling him upright. He felt his wrist being pulled, his arm draped over someone's shoulder as they forced him to his feet, followed by an explosion of pain. It felt like his ribs themselves were clattering against each other in his chest, stabbing at his insides as he was jostled. He slumped and someone caught him against their armoured chest. He must have groaned or yelled out because the person holding him up hushed him. "I've got you." He couldn't open his eyes, but he knew that voice.
"Arthur..."
"I'm here, can you walk?"
He couldn't. He tried to straighten his legs but his knees gave out at once. Arthur must have noticed because a moment later Merlin felt his feet leave the floor as Arthur hoisted him into his arms and this time he knew he had cried out when the pain hit him. "I know love, I know, just hold on," Arthur hushed him again. He sounded scared. Merlin wanted to reply, to reassure him his injuries were minor, he was just worn down, just a bit bruised and dizzy, but the sleepless nights and pain were catching up all at once. All he could do was moan as he pressed his face into Arthur's shoulder. He was fading in and out.
"I've got you, just stay awake Merlin."
But he was so tired. They were safe and everything was OK now. Arthur would look after him now, surely it didn't matter if he went to sleep?
He decided to ignore Arthur's orders and let the darkness swallow him.
The first time Percival woke, since Gaius explained that he had been enchanted and now healed, it was to the sound of the physician speaking again.
"...fortunate you got to them when you did."
"Thank you, Gaius."
He felt drained beyond measure, but opened his eyes when he heard Arthur's voice. His king must have come to their aid. Two fuzzy figures were hovering beside him, and the knight blinked a few times to clear his vision. He grinned up at Arthur when he came into view, standing with Gaius beside his makeshift bed. He was fairly certain it was entirely thanks to those two men that he was awake and breathing right now. When he noticed he was awake, Arthur gave him a stiff smile back and a firm pat on the shoulder before turning back to Gaius. "And how's Merlin?"
Percival frowned and glanced over at the other men sleeping in the long room. He hadn't seen Merlin there earlier, and he didn't seem to be there now. If Merlin wasn't lying in a cot like the rest of them he must be fine and had escaped Lamia's spell. Why would Arthur be asking Gaius about him then? Maybe Merlin was upset about what had happened to them? He was a worrier, his caring heart might be giving him a hard time and he was just fretting for them all the way he often did. But Arthur seemed tense, and the look Gaius wore seemed too grim for that to be the case.
"He'll recover," Gaius told Arthur quietly. "But it will be a day or so before he is well enough to travel, and it will be a difficult journey for him."
A pit appeared in Percival's stomach. "What happened to Merlin?" His throat felt dry as he rasped out the question. He saw Arthur's jaw clench a little tighter. The king's eyes flickered to him only briefly, before he looked back at Gaius and spoke to him instead of answering.
"Their memories have been affected as well then?"
Why was Arthur talking about him and the others as though they weren't even there?
"Yes sire." Gaius nodded to the other knights, still sleeping. "They all have little memory of the events while they were enchanted, and I am unsure if that will change."
Now that they mentioned it, Percival's recollection of the last two days was fuzzy. He had some vague memories of them all directing a handful of harsh words at each other and at Merlin, while they were all besotted with a girl who had, apparently, turned out to be a snake monster. Things got especially hazy after they arrived at those ruins. He frowned. In fact... he couldn't remember anything after arriving there at all.
"What happened to Merlin?" Percival asked for a second time. Arthur glanced at him but looked away quickly again, as though unwilling to make eye contact, only adding to the knight's confusion.
"He was injured during the rescue," Arthur spoke stiffly. He sounded almost angry.
"Is he-" Percival wanted to ask for more details but Arthur cut him off before he had a chance and spoke to Gaius instead.
"Where is he now?"
"The building next to this," Gaius gestured in the direction of it, "Guinevere is with him."
"Right, thank you, Gaius." Arthur gave him a grateful pat on the arm and turned his back on Percival and the other knights as he made to leave.
"Wait, sire..." Percival trailed off as Arthur strode out of the cottage, and slammed the door behind him.
Arthur was furious. If he had stayed to speak with Percival a moment longer the man would have been at risk of having his knighthood revoked because Arthur didn't think he could keep his temper much longer.
They were enchanted, it's not their fault, it's not their fault.
He had repeated the words to himself a hundred times already that day. They were yet to have any effect.
The building he assumed Gaius meant appeared to be little more than a shed, probably cramped and full of farming tools. He hoped he wasn't about to find Merlin had been denied a proper place to rest because of his station. He bristled at the thought of Merlin dumped on a dirty floor, while the others had been given cots and the villager's spare blankets. If that was what he found he'd be insisting at once that he was moved. When Gaius had first treated Merlin they had been in the same house as the knights. He must have been moved during the time Agravaine pulled Arthur away, suggesting that they return to Camelot and leave his men to travel back themselves. Arthur expected Gwen or Gaius had decided Merlin should not stay in the same place as the knights, considering the events of the past two days.
Arthur resented Agravaine's presence. He hadn't wanted to bring his uncle with them but also had not wanted to risk leaving him in charge, not with Merlin, Gaius, Gwen, and all his most trusted knights away from the castle. He still hadn't decided how to deal with the traitor. He would have loved to banish him months ago, but the potential of using him to feed Morgana information was hard to pass up. The positives of getting rid of Agravaine were beginning to balance out the negatives though, after the disregard he had shown for the wellbeing of Arthur's men, Gwen, and, in particular, Merlin.
The image of Merlin bloodied and slumped against the wall as Gwen cried out for help was burned into Arthur's memory, and each time he remembered the sight his fury flared. When he'd first seen Gwen crouched by Merlin's side he had assumed, obviously, that the creature he'd just slain had done the damage, and cursed himself for not getting there sooner. Hearing the truth had brought bile to his throat.
When Arthur found them, Merlin had been barely conscious, bleeding heavily from gashes across his arm and chest, and a slow trickle of yet more blood had been making its way down his neck. He'd gotten enough details out of Merlin and Gwen to send the knights he'd brought with him in search of their comrades, before scooping Merlin up and rushing him to safety. As he'd jogged out of the ruins Merlin had pressed his face against Arthur's neck and murmured weak sounds of pain for a few seconds, before he went limp and his head slumped back. For a brief, sickening moment, Arthur had feared he was dead.
He stopped when he reached the building door, pinched the bridge of his nose, and blew out a slow controlled breath.
They were enchanted, they didn't mean for this to happen. It's not their fault.
He did what he could to push down his anger and regain control of his emotions, before making his way in.
As he had expected, the shed contained tools for taking care of the fields. To his relief though, someone seemed to have cleared most of them away, leaving a large enough space among them for a temporary bed to be set up. It wasn't a proper cot like the ones the knights had been given next door, rather just a collection of blankets placed on a long, low table, but it was far better than the cold stone floor.
Merlin had been propped up on what appeared to be a bag of grain and a single pillow, and though the blanket draped over him and drawn up to his chest was shabby, it looked warm enough. Perched on a stool beside him was Gwen, hands clasped in her lap and back abnormally stiff as she watched her friend sleep.
The old hinges on the door squeaked and Gwen looked up. She stood at once but he gave the action a dismissive wave. There was no need for such deference between them. She retook her seat and gave him a sad smile as he closed the short distance between them. He didn't attempt to return it, giving her a nod instead, before turning his gaze on his other half. He'd managed to stay with him long enough when they arrived back in the village for Gaius to reassure him Merlin's wounds were not fatal, but that was it. Merlin looked awful but was, at least, looking better than when he'd last seen him.
The blood and dust had been wiped away, the burn and cut on his arm had been bandaged, and the tiniest amount of colour had returned to his cheeks. The bruise on his jaw had swollen further though. Arthur expected more bruises would have well and truly blossomed on the skin hidden beneath the blankets, and Merlin's breaths rattled ever so slightly in his chest. But he was alive. He was alive, and he was going to be alright.
"Gaius says it will be another full day before he's well enough to travel," Arthur quietly told Gwen. "I'll remain here with them, but the others will likely be leaving in the morning, I expect you'll want to go back with Elyan?"
She nodded. "Yes, unless Gaius would like anyone else to stay and help?"
"He'll be fine, Merlin's the only patient he'll have left by tomorrow." Arthur appreciated her characteristic thoughtfulness, but he would be more than willing to assist Gaius if he needed it. He cast his eyes back to Merlin's bruised face and the shadows beneath his eyes. He wasn't sure when he'd last seen Merlin looking so exhausted. It made him wonder how long it had been since he was last able to rest. Maybe had been avoiding sleep to keep watch while this damn Lamia creature was still around.
"They really did all of this to him?" He knew the answer, but it was still so impossible to believe. Unbearable to think that his closest circle of knights could have done this to a man who was meant to be their friend. That they had done this to someone as good-hearted and loyal as Merlin. The knights of Camelot were sworn to defend those who could not defend themselves. Arthur was aware that Merlin was far from defenceless, but as far as both he and Merlin knew, the knights weren't. They were supposed to protect him.
Merlin had saved their lives countless times, placing himself in harm's way to do so more than once. And this was the treatment he had received in return.
"The Lamia knocked him down when we tried to fight it, but everything else-" She stopped and took a shaky breath, eyes dropping to where Merlin's hand rested on the covers at his side. "It was awful Arthur..."
Her eyes were shining and Arthur felt guilty for asking. It must have been terrifying for Gwen to witness men both she and Merlin trusted hurt him. With her help, Merlin had managed to list his wounds for them before falling asleep, exhausted from the combination of pain, stress, and the concussion Gaius was certain he had. He had been so groggy at the time he seemed to forget Arthur's presence the moment he stepped out of his line of sight, and Arthur had made sure to stay standing behind Merlin as Gaius questioned him. He doubted Merlin would have been as forthcoming if he believed anyone other than the physician and Gwen could hear him.
The lump on the back of his head was courtesy of Leon throwing him against a wall, and the resulting concussion had been worsened by the Lamia's attack. The bruised jaw was from Elyan, and the burn on his arm from Gwaine. The worst of his injuries had come from Percival though. How unfortunate it was that the strongest knight had been the most deeply enchanted. From what Gwen had told them, it seemed Percival had been the first who had fallen to the Lamia's spell, and it had affected him powerfully. He had attacked Merlin more than once.
The Lamia had not taken kindly to Merlin's offers of assistance, and each time she expressed her displeasure Percival had been furious, and rewarded Merlin with a punch to the gut. On the final occasion when the knight lost control, he had knocked Merlin to the ground and kicked his chest with such force that Merlin's breathing had wheezed ever since.
Gwen didn't know where the slashes along his arm and chest, now clean and bandaged, had come from. Merlin had blamed them on the Lamia, but Gwen was doubtful. She hadn't once seen the girl hold a weapon, and her true beastly form hadn't had any claws that could have caused such an injury. Gwen was relatively sure Merlin had sustained the cuts sometime between going in search of the knights and when he stumbled into her in the hallway with the snake beast hot on his trail. She wasn't certain though.
She was kicking herself now for not paying more attention to him. She hadn't even noticed when he started coughing up blood. Gaius had told her she was not to blame herself. Elyan had been close to death at the time and she'd been frantic for her brother, and Gaius said Merlin was notorious for hiding these things. It was understandable she had missed the signs of just how bad Merlin's injuries were. Guilt was still consuming her though.
Gaius had identified several cracked ribs, one broken so badly he was fearful it may cause a punctured lung if Merlin moved too quickly. The blood he'd been coughing up told Gaius there was already bleeding in his chest, and the bruising to his stomach was severe. Gaius was confident all of Merlin's injuries would heal though, as long as nothing happened to worsen his condition. It was his laboured breathing that concerned the physician most. Riding would be out of the question for at least a week, and painful for much longer, even with Merlin's magic passively speeding up the healing process.
Arthur thanked the gods they'd thought to bring a cart with them in case his men had been too injured to ride. He hated to think what extra damage he may have inflicted on Merlin if he'd ridden all the way back to the village with him on his horse. They would need the cart for their journey back to Camelot as well.
"You were incredibly brave Guinevere." She was obviously surprised and he smiled at her. "You saved yours and Merlin's lives. Since when are you such a fearless hero?" She chuckled.
"Well, maybe you just didn't notice before." He laughed softly as well.
"Clearly not. But truly, you showed great courage." She blushed and shook her head.
"I did what anyone would have done."
"You did a good deal more than that. You were equal to any knight of Camelot. You should be proud." The blush in her cheeks grew as she beamed at him.
"Thank you, Arthur." She glanced back at Merlin, still sleeping peacefully. "Are you going to stay with him? It's just, I was thinking I would go check on Elyan." Arthur nodded.
"Go, see your brother. I'm sure he'll be pleased to have you there." She gave him a final smile, stood, and made to leave. When she reached the doorway though Arthur called her back. "Gwen?"
"Yes, Arthur?"
"They don't remember everything that happened." Arthur was staring at Merlin instead of her, but what she could see of his expression was dark. "I told Percival Merlin was injured in the rescue, I would prefer that was all they knew right now."
She waited a moment, wondering if he would elaborate. He didn't though. "Of course," she said, and closed the door softly behind her.
Arthur shifted the single stool in the room closer to the head of the bed before sitting. He was grateful Gwen had left him alone with Merlin. He wondered if she had known he would appreciate it. To his knowledge, Gaius was the only one aware of his and Merlin's relationship, it being hard to hide such a thing after the old man noticed how infrequently Merlin now slept in his own room. Merlin had intended to keep it a secret just who he was spending his nights with, but Gaius had made it clear there was no point in him pretending. He knew who it must be. Arthur had a suspicion Gwen knew as well though. She was dangerously perceptive about these things.
Arthur ran his fingers through Merlin's hair and cupped his unbruised cheek. Merlin must not have been sleeping deeply, because he gave a soft sigh and leaned into the touch. He didn't open his eyes though, so Arthur stayed silent as he ran his thumb back and forth across his cheek, not wanting to wake him. While he was asleep the pain of his injuries couldn't reach him, and Merlin desperately needed the rest.
When the knights were told what they had done, and he would most certainly be speaking to them about it, he knew they would want to see Merlin and apologise. He'd rather they didn't disturb Merlin's sleep though, and stayed away for a while longer yet. Arthur couldn't stand the idea of them being in the same room as Merlin right now. He let his eyes trail over the bandages again, and tried to swallow the lump rising in his throat. There was a chance the cuts across Merlin's arm and chest would scar, and the burn on his arm almost certainly would. A few more for him to add to his extensive collection. When Arthur had first seen the damage their entwined destiny had wrought on Merlin's body he had sworn to do all he could to protect him from more pain. On this occasion, he had failed.
Gaius joined him just a few minutes later and Arthur snatched his hand away from Merlin's face when the door opened. Gaius would have been surprised if Arthur had left, and gave him a nod as he made his way to the opposite side of Merlin's bed. He was grateful he had remained. Heavens knew Merlin deserved the comfort of someone sitting with him right now. "Has he woken at all?" Gaius asked as he took Merlin's pulse. He was pleased by the strong and steady beat he felt.
"No," Arthur answered, immediately concerned, but Gaius seemed calm.
"Alright, I'll need to wake him to check on his mental state, help me keep him calm if he's agitated." Considering what Merlin had been through, Gaius thought there was a good chance he would be distressed upon waking.
Arthur nodded and took Merlin's hand. Showing physical affection for Merlin in Gaius's presence would usually be appallingly embarrassing, but such emotions felt frivolous right now. Merlin quickly made it clear he was not pleased to be roused when Gaius patted his arm, scrunching up his face and groaning as he turned his head away from Gaius's voice. When Arthur squeezed his hand and called out to him though, his eyes flickered open. "Merlin?"
It seemed like it took some effort, but Merlin held his eyes open, looking faintly fearful. "Arthur?"
Arthur smiled, glad to hear his voice again and massaged the back of Merlin's hand lightly with his thumb. "I'm here." The fear in Merlin's eyes melted away at once, and the grin that broke across his face was so joyful and relieved it hurt Arthur to see. He gave Merlin's hand a gentle squeeze. "How are you feeling?"
"Oh, you know," Merlin tried to shrug then hissed in pain. That had been a bad idea. "Been better," he finished in a strained voice. Arthur snorted and shook his head despairingly. Gaius was unimpressed though and gave Merlin's shoulder a light slap.
"Stay still or you'll hurt yourself more." Merlin had the decency to look apologetic as Gaius continued his assessment. He felt much less apologetic when Gaius began poking at his chest and side though.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked between the prods to his ribs. Arthur nodded.
"They've all been treated, they'll be fine by morning."
"Good," Merlin sighed with relief.
"Yes, there's no need for you to worry about anyone but yourself right now," Gaius told him firmly, and Arthur quite agreed. Merlin huffed a small laugh that quickly turned into a cough. Arthur had an arm around him at once, lifting him to a seat as Merlin hacked into his fist. Gaius's shoulders slumped sadly as he watched and waited for Merlin to recover. It didn't last long, but by the time the coughing fit passed Merlin's hand was flecked with bloody mucus, and he was wheezing worse than before. Gaius pulled a cloth from his bag and Merlin gave him a nod of thanks when he handed it to him.
"The cough will pass as your lungs heal, but you must inform me at once if it worsens."
"Worsens?" Arthur looked startled. The word sounded much more like a demand than a question.
"As long as he doesn't go running off or leaping back onto a horse too soon he should be fine, which means we'll have to keep an eye on him."
"I'm right here you know," Merlin grumbled, causing Gaius's eyebrow to climb a little higher.
"Yes, and unfortunately I know what you're like." Merlin wanted to retort, but then Gaius went back to poking at his sore chest and he decided he'd rather not risk aggravating the physician even more.
Despite the coughing, and how upsetting Merlin being in pain was, Arthur did feel a little better by the end of the examination. Merlin's grogginess had abated, and though he admitted that his head still ached the concussion didn't seem to have addled his mind. He was back to his usual sharp self, a relief to them all. He was clearly exhausted though. He'd only been awake a few minutes, and already his eyes were drooping.
"Alright, you can rest now my boy," Gaius said once he was done tormenting Merlin. "I'm afraid I don't have anything for the pain, but try to get some sleep anyway."
"Can definitely do that," Merlin mumbled. Gaius gave him a look of sympathy and patted his shoulder. He inclined his head at Arthur on the way out, and left the two men alone again.
At some point in the examination, Arthur had let go of Merlin's hand so he could run it anxiously through his own hair, and was now leant forward with his elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly between them. He was glaring at the bandage around Merlin's chest, as though he blamed it for every problem he had. Merlin wasn't sure when he'd last seen him look so troubled. He reached out and placed a hand on top of Arthur's clasped ones. "I'm OK Arthur." Arthur's expression darkened further.
"No Merlin, you really aren't."
Merlin bit his lip. Arthur wasn't wrong. He felt abysmal. Dizzy, achy, even a little nauseous, and every breath he took sent a twinge of pain through his lungs. His stomach was throbbing from the deep still developing bruises and, though the threat of danger from both the knights and the Lamia was now gone, he felt on edge. An uncomfortable, anxious heat still sat beneath his skin.
"Well, I will be." He gave Arthur a weak smile but he didn't see it. He had dropped his gaze to the floor, glowering at that now instead.
"I should have been there."
"I know you think the world revolves around you, but this isn't your fault." Merlin waited a few seconds to see if Arthur would rise to the bait, or if his frown would at least soften. He was disappointed when it didn't. "Arthur?" He didn't look up. Merlin shook the hand on top of Arthur's and spoke a little louder. "Arthur." When he finally met his eyes Merlin fixed him with a severe look. "You don't have to blame yourself for everything just because you're king. This wasn't your fault, or the knights'. That monster did this, there's no one else to blame."
Arthur's jaw tightened at the mention of the knights. But Merlin's eyes were sincere, and he made a good point. He felt himself deflate a little, some of the anger and stress bleeding out of him as he stared back at a fully alive and now recovering Merlin. He unclasped his hands, wrapped them around Merlin's, and smiled meekly. "You really are surprisingly wise sometimes." Merlin grinned. "For an idiot, that is."
"Smarter than you though." Arthur's mouth twitched and Merlin's smile widened.
"You just keep telling yourself that." Arthur moved his hand back to Merlin's cheek and leant forward, connecting their lips for the first time in days. It felt painfully longer than that. Despite his weak state, Merlin responded hungrily, raising his hand to the back of Arthur's head and pulling him closer. Sighs of yearning escaped them both as Arthur shifted from the stool to sit on the bed and brought his other hand to Merlin's hair. It was just too easy to lose themselves in each other like this.
Arthur allowed himself that glorious reprieve for just a minute before he groaned and begrudgingly broke the kiss. He kept his forehead pressed to Merlin's though, cupping his face tenderly and wishing he didn't have to leave. "You need rest, and I should go before my uncle gets suspicious," he murmured.
Merlin wanted to protest, but he knew Arthur was right to be cautious, and he really was rather tired at this point. "Alright," he sighed. He gave Arthur a final soft kiss before leaning back into his pillow. Arthur's hand didn't leave his face though.
"Will you be alright by yourself? I'll have someone stationed on the door."
Merlin nodded. "I will."
"You're sure? I could ask Gwen."
"I'll be fine."
Arthur stroked his cheek a few more times and smiled. "I'll have my tent set up and come get you as soon as I can."
Merlin gave him a puzzled look. "Come get me?"
"Yes, though I'll need to ask Gaius if it's alright for you to walk first." Arthur said it as though it should be enough to settle the matter. Merlin looked more irritated than confused now and Arthur rolled his eyes at him. "Don't give me that look, Merlin, I'm not going to make you do work. I want you close by, where I can keep an eye on you." He held back a laugh as he watched the man's expression shift to surprise, then one of equal parts annoyance and affection. "I'll come get you soon." Merlin smiled sleepily.
"I'll be here."
Arthur squeezed his hand, and pressed a last kiss to his brow before leaving.
Arthur kept a steadying hand pressed to Merlin's lower back as they made their way slowly to the tent. Merlin's pinched expression gave away the amount of pain he was in. Arthur had experienced broken ribs before and, though they'd always been unpleasant, the amount of pain Merlin seemed to be suffering made him fear the injuries went further than Gaius believed. Or maybe Merlin was just too drained to put on his usual brave face.
They didn't pass any knights on their way, and if any nosy locals were observing the king and his manservant they'd just have to hope any gossip within the village didn't follow them back to the castle. One day they wouldn't have to sneak around like this. One day, when it would be safe for Merlin if anyone found out about his magic, then they wouldn't have to hide from the world. The scrutiny that a lover of the king would endure was far too dangerous right now, particularly if that lover were both a commoner and a man.
The moment the tent flap fell behind them Merlin sagged against Arthur's side and let out a low groan. Arthur's arms were around him in an instant, gently guiding him to the bed already set out. Arthur had ordered they prepare for an extended trip when they left the citadel, unsure what they would find when they arrived, and he was extremely glad he had. He, Gaius, Agravaine, and several knights had ridden ahead to reach the village quickly, but the remaining knights had arrived with their additional supplies not long after. Not that he'd made use of them before tonight, having been busy tracking down his knights, Gwen, and his bumbling manservant now glued to his side. He was immensely relieved to have the additional facilities now.
The royal tent was spacious and well equipped, with a small table and basic necessities set out for him. Though a far cry from his gloriously soft mattress at the castle, the makeshift bed here was far more comfortable than the thin things he and Merlin usually slept on while camping, and just large enough for them both. He wasn't sure if he'd have been able to come up with a believable reason for requesting a second bed be set up in his tent.
Arthur helped Merlin lower himself down to sit on the edge of the bed, feeling a pang of misery when Merlin inhaled sharply and tensed up from the pain. "You alright?"
"Yeah." Merlin nodded, though his expression was still tight. "It hurts much less now, I'm just worn out." Arthur watched him suspiciously for a moment, but really, what could he even do if Merlin was in more pain than he said? He rubbed Merlin's shoulder, before moving away to the table to begin the arduous process of removing his armour. Merlin watched him fighting with the straps for half a minute or so before taking pity on him.
"Come here," he snickered, sounding unbearably fond, and held out a hand to beckon Arthur over.
Arthur paused in his fiddling. He'd explicitly told Merlin he wasn't to do any work tonight. Suspecting Merlin would try to stand up and help him if he didn't do as he asked though, he sighed and obeyed anyway, much to Merlin's amusement.
Merlin made quick work of the gauntlets Arthur had been struggling with, sending them floating through the air to the table after he doffed each piece. He could have removed all the armour in seconds with his magic, but the familiarity of the process was something he found calming. It felt more like a ritual of theirs now than a part of his job, one he had grown to treasure over the years. It brought him comfort, as strange as that may have seemed to anyone else.
He moved on to the straps of the vambrace, and Arthur reached out to gently trace the swollen line of his jaw. Merlin glanced up, hands continuing the task he probably could have performed in his sleep. Arthur was staring at the bruise on his face, brow furrowed and mouth pressed into a thin line. His bottom lip stuck out just a little, the way it often did when he was unhappy. Merlin's fingers slowed. "Arthur-"
"Why didn't you stop them?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you stop them?"
Merlin frowned up at him as he slid the vambrace down and off Arthur's arm. "I tried, I told them she was leading us into a trap, but they wouldn't listen."
Arthur shook his head. "Not that. Why didn't you stop them from hurting you?" Merlin looked no less puzzled by this. Arthur rolled his eyes and continued in a whisper. "We both know you could have."
"You're asking me why I didn't use magic in front of the knights and Gwen?" Merlin asked slowly, as his eyes flashed gold and the metal plate flew over to the table.
"You could have done it without them noticing!" It came out as more of a hiss than a whisper this time, but Arthur couldn't help it. He was angry with Merlin for not defending himself.
"It would have been too risky," Merlin hissed back, affronted at Arthur having a go at him about this, especially after he had been so furious the last few times he had risked using his magic close to the knights. "It's a lot easier to hide it when everyone's busy trying to fight off a bunch of bandits!"
"Surely you could have just knocked them all out or put them to sleep or something?"
"Oh." Merlin's face went blank and several beats of silence passed. "I... didn't think of that."
"You didn't think of that?" Arthur raised two incredulous eyebrows at him. "What do you mean you didn't think of that? You clearly never had a problem doing that to me in the past." He was still rather annoyed about all the times Merlin had done that.
"Only when I had to do it to protect you."
"So why not do it to protect yourself as well? And Gwen?"
"I never would have let them hurt Gwen!" That felt like a low blow to Merlin. Arthur knew he never would have let that happen, and the affronted look was back on his face at once, the task of removing Arthur's armour now completely forgotten.
"But you let them hurt you?"
"That's different!"
"In what world is that different Merlin?"
"Arthur, you don't understand..."
"Well enlighten me then Merlin because no, I don't..." He turned away from Merlin, lips pressed together again. "I don't understand why you would let them hurt you like this." There was an undercurrent of misery to the anger in his tone, and Merlin heard a faint crack in his voice.
He felt the fight drain out of him at once. Arthur was upset, and Merlin didn't think there was anything he could say to make things better. He hated that. Arthur was always the one who noticed when he was upset and would try to make him feel better again. He hated it when he couldn't do that for Arthur as well. He dropped his eyes to his hands.
"I'm a servant Arthur, I can't just go and attack a knight because they're pushing me around. Servants can't do things like that."
Arthur wanted to snap back at him, to tell him how wrong it was for him to place himself so much lower and not fight for himself. But he was as familiar with the hierarchy they lived in as Merlin was, albeit from the opposite side of it, where the consequences affected him far less. He could see why Merlin didn't do more, even though he thought he should have, so he held his tongue.
With nothing to occupy his hands now, it didn't take long for Merlin to tire of the silence. "I should finish with your armour," he murmured, bringing Arthur out of his thoughts. He gestured to the chest place still in place and out of his reach from where he sat.
"Right..." Arthur knelt down, answering Merlin's unvoiced request, and watched his hands as they went to work on the straps. "Has anything like this happened before?" Merlin frowned for a moment before realising what Arthur meant. He looked shocked.
"What? No! None of them would do that!"
"Not them," Arthur jerked his head in the vague direction of the house where the knights were resting. "I mean other people, other knights or nobles in Camelot?"
"Are you asking me if servants ever get pushed around?" He gave Arthur a crooked smile. "Say, for example, get put in the stocks? Or have goblets thrown at them?"
Arthur's cheeks turned a little pink, but he continued. "I mean serious things, like..." He trailed off and gestured to Merlin's injuries. "Have you or the other servants been hurt like this before?" Merlin's smile faded. He carefully lifted the last of Arthur's armour away and he dropped his eyes to stare at the large piece of metal in his hands.
"It happens, sometimes. Not to me, not really, but it does happen to servants sometimes."
"Not really?" Merlin bit his lip. He hadn't wanted to say anything, but he and Arthur had agreed no more secrets. He'd promised not to lie about injuries or danger ever again.
"Not anymore, it happened a couple of times in the first year or so since I came to Camelot, but not since then, and there's been even less of it happening to other servants since you became King."
"You never said anything." It was a statement, not a question or chastisement. Arthur knew well enough by now that Merlin had hidden things from him over the years, even those that had nothing to do with his magic. "Merlin?" He placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder, making him raise his head and meet his eyes. "If it happens again, to you or anyone else, you tell me, alright?" Merlin gave him a small smile and placed a hand on top of his.
"I will."
That was enough for Arthur. He leaned in for a kiss and smiled as he felt Merlin's lips move against his own, warm and welcoming. How he wished he could have had not just this, but Merlin's full trust so much sooner.
"Try not to hurt yourself getting undressed," Merlin teased when he pulled away. If it weren't for the headache Arthur knew Merlin had he would have given him a chiding flick to the forehead. He settled for doing it to his shoulder instead. He immediately wished he hadn't though, because Merlin's chuckle brought on another awful coughing fit. With one hand raised to his mouth, Merlin wrapped an arm around his middle and curled forward as the cough sent renewed pain surging through his torso. Feeling helpless, Arthur rubbed his shoulder until it was over, then hurried away to retrieve a glass of water and cloth for the blood.
Merlin hadn't straightened up, pain still racking his chest too much for him to move. Arthur pulled his hand away from his mouth and wiped away the mess the cough had left behind for him. He tried to comfort himself with the fact that there was no more blood than earlier, but it was difficult when Merlin was still doubled over in agony. When his breathing began to ease back into a regular rhythm, Arthur helped him sit up and take a few sips of water. Merlin mumbled his thanks. His eyelids were drooping in a way they hadn't been before. The coughing and pain seemed to have sapped much of his remaining energy. Arthur ran a hand through his hair. "You need to sleep."
With no desire to resist, Merlin allowed Arthur to help him lie back and tuck the blankets around him. Arthur prepared for bed quickly, but was unsurprised that Merlin was already dozing by the time he joined him. It was a wonderful relief to see him looking completely at ease again. Arthur could still hear a faint wheeze each time he inhaled though, and a fresh wave of animosity towards his knights came over him. He knew he needed to redirect that hostility towards the true culprit, this Lamia creature, but it was hard when he couldn't really put a face to the monster. He hadn't spared it a glance after confirming it was dead and realising the person dearest to him needed help. On the other hand, he knew his knights' faces well. It was hard not to blame them when it was so much easier to conjure images of them placing their hands on Merlin.
Despite his efforts not to disturb him, Merlin's eyes opened a crack as Arthur settled into bed beside him. They were glossy with sleep, but he gave Arthur a small smile, and rolled onto his less painful side towards him. Mindful of his injuries, Arthur wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
Merlin pressed his face into his neck, using his upper arm as a pillow, and pulled Arthur close to him with an arm around his waist. He needed to know he was close right now. Needed them to be wrapped up in each other, keeping the rest of the world away. If they were here like this they were both safe. He spent so much of his time trying to protect Arthur that he sometimes forgot how much Arthur did the same for him.
Sensing his thoughts, Arthur pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. "You're safe with me." He ran his fingers lightly along Merlin's spine, causing him to shiver and then sigh happily as Arthur rubbed his back.
Warm and content, he tried to murmur into his neck. 'I know...' Merlin wasn't sure if he managed the words before he fell asleep.