Don't You • Merthur ✔️

II: Willow

"I'm afraid its the work of sorcery, Sire.", Gaius informed Uther, who promptly stood up from his seat once he was told of magic.

"Magic made Arthur like this?", he hissed, his blood starting to boil at the thought of it.

"Yes. Merlin was there, My Lord. He claims to have seen a witch, short and silver-haired, cast a spell on Arthur in the woods. And he was telling the truth. Arthur was perfectly healthy before he went on patrol. Its the only explanation for his current state."

"All these years of upholding my duty to protect the kingdom from the likes of magic, just for my own son to be afflicted by it in the end.",
"I thought I've done enough. It seems not.",
"What can you do to bring him back, Gaius?"

"I'll have to keep looking into it, Sire."

"Well, please hurry."

Gaius simply nodded and excused himself.

"I want that witch found and hanged!", Uther snapped, ordering the royal guard to search their entire land until they'd hunted the mysterious woman down.

---

Merlin entered Arthur's chambers, carrying numerous blankets and hot packs. He placed them down and rushed to close the windows. He didn't get much sleep when he was too busy tending to the young prince. He wrapped Arthur delicately with another blanket and placed a hand on his forehead. His condition was getting better. His pulse was clearer, skin less pale, and he was finally warming up. It gave Merlin hope.

'What exactly had that witch done to him?'

He sat there on the floor beside the bed, carefully gazing up at Arthur, fingers lightly brushing over his. He felt hesitant to hold his hand. Merlin didn't want to make him feel like he was alone. All he wanted was to make him feel better.

'Can I hold his hand?', he thought. It was the only sense of comfort he could provide.

Merlin felt so fatigued, going through pages and pages of enchantment books last night, looking for a spell that could possibly help Arthur's condition. He had tried numerous times, but without knowing the witch's intentions, it was difficult. Yesterday's turn of events felt as if it had drained Merlin of his emotions. He was drowsy, laying his head on a cushion as his eyelids felt heavy. Right when Merlin was about to doze off, he felt Arthur's hand twitch.

Merlin sprung back up when he noticed. Arthur started shifting around, letting out a soft groan.

"Arthur?"

"Arthur!", Merlin beamed, clutching the prince's arm as he fluttered his eyes open, lifting his head up slowly.

"Ugh...", Arthur finally spoke, wailing as he felt a sharp pain in his head.

"You're awake!" Joy bloomed inside Merlin. All of his worries and drowsiness seemed to disappear as soon as Arthur had awoken.

A dazed Arthur scanned the room, but his eyes suddenly widen as if he was in a place so unfamiliar. He then darted his attention to Merlin and flinched at the sight of him.

" What are you doing to me?!", Arthur panicked, swiftly getting off the bed, ripping away from the layers of blankets he was once carefully wrapped in. Arthur trembled as he tried to run and reach for his sword but stumbled over to the floor with a thud.

Merlin's heart sank from his chest as suspicions raced through his head.

Arthur quickly snatched a goblet from the table and threw it across.

"You again! What are you doing trespassing in my chambers?!"

"Wait, so you do remember me?", Merlin exclaimed, carefully approaching him without getting hit by the flying objects Arthur was flinging.