Only For You

Chapter 12

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you've all been enjoying the new fic; it's been a load of fun writing it! I actually really miss writing this fic too though, so what I'm going to do from now on is alternate updating chapters between this one and the other one. Enjoy! :)

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The following morning finds Arthur lying slumped over on the floor beside Merlin's bed, his head resting on the edge of the mattress Merlin lay on. He'd refused to sleep until the Druids had finished doing what they could to heal Merlin, and the whole process had lasted hours. Arthur fell into an exhausted sleep the minute the Druid healers left the tent. He was still holding Merlin's hand.

Merlin stirs faintly, a small crease forming between his brows. Pain. Pain in his head, in his wrists, in his chest. He opens his eyes slowly, squinting against the bright light that streams through the small sliver of opening of the tent. He doesn't recognize where he is at first, and panic swells inside his chest. Then, the events of last night slowly came back to him. Being taken to the dungeons, beaten. Arthur rescuing him, carrying him through the woods. Arthur kissing him.... Merlin's cheeks flood with warmth at the memory. Butterflies form in his stomach. A small smile flits across his lips briefly, before fading at the next memory. There had been arrows. Arthur's body on top of his, sheilding him. A calming voice.

Merlin sits up slowly, wincing at the discomfort in his chest. Although it was by no means painless to move, it didn't hurt nearly as much as it had the night before. He notices, with slight embarassment, that his shirt has been removed, and his chest wrapped in bandages. He looks around at his surroundings, not all together quite sure where he was. The last thing he remembered was Arthur talking to a stranger with a soft voice. He glances down at his right hand, which was considerably warmer than his left, to see that Arthur was holding his hand. His stomach does a happy little flip.

Merlin's movements break Arthur from his sleep, his red rimmed eyes opening slowly, blinking several times. "Merlin." He sits up instantly, rubbing sleep from his eyes with the back of his free hand. "How are you?" He frowns, worry written across his tired face.

Merlin's eyes scan Arthur's face, noting the dark circles beneath his eyes. "Better," he replies, giving him a small smile.

Relief washes across Arthur's features and he bows his head for a moment, subconsciously squeezing Merlin's hand. "Thank god..." he mutters.

"Where...where exactly are we?" Merlin sits up a bit straighter, trying to peek through the gap in the fabric of the enterance to the tent.

"A Druid camp." Arthur answers shortly, glancing over his shoulder towards the opening flap. "A Druid man saved our lives last night. He killed the bandits who shot at us."

Understanding slowly creeps into Merlin's mind. "The Druids healed me.." He says quietly, more to himself than Arthur. He glances down at his chest again, then at his wrists. The swelling was remarkably less than what it had been before, and both wrists were bandaged. He found that he was able to move them a bit without too much pain. That amount of healing would only be possible one way... He looks up at Arthur in surprise. "You let them use magic?"

Arthur sighs, pursing his lips and nodding his head. "I did." He says nothing for a few seconds, then, in a quieter voice, "I'd do anything to keep you safe."

Merlin can swear he feels his heart melting as a smile tugs the corners of his lips upwards. "And I for you, Arthur."

Arthur feels warmth spread to his cheeks, only now noticing that he was still holding Merlin's hand. He must have fallen asleep like that. He wonders whether he should let go, but quickly decides not to. It made him happy to have Merlin's slender fingers interlocked with his. His thumb begins stroking circles on the back of Merlin's hand. On a whim, he leans forward, pressing his lips to Merlin's forehead and closing his eyes.

A pleasant shiver runs down Merlin's spine, and he too lets his eyes closed. "Thank you," he murmurs softly, hardly feeling the pain any more. The only thing he can focus on is Arthur's lips pressed to his skin. "And Arthur?"

"Mmmm?" Arthur keeps his lips to Merlin's forehead.

Merlin feels a slight thrill of nerves and anticipation as he gathers the courage to say his next words. "You missed."

Arthur's eyebrows raise slightly in surprise, but his lips twist into a smile. "My apologies." He whispers, before lowering his head slightly and pressing his lips to Merlin's.