Somebody that you used to love

Rosy, Ruby, Raven girl

"How is she?" Merlin asked, concern filling his voice.
"She's sleeping. She only woke up for a few moments to have a drink. I couldn't get anything out of her. She was very dehydrated. No wonder she collapsed." Gaius explained as his adopted son moved passed him, and over to morgana's bed. He sat beside her, and allowed his eyes to wander her face, taking in her beauty. Her pale skin, her rosy cheeks, her dark lashes that covered her jade eyes, casting shadows on to her cheeks, and her ruby lips that he had once wished to kiss. He watched as her beauty faded, replaced by evil. Even in her ill state, she was still breathtaking.
"So, what exactly are we going to do with her?" He asked, tearing his eyes off her for a moment.
"Well, when she wakes up, we'll have to question her. Although she may not feel very talkative, depending on what's happened to her."
While the duo talked, morgana's eyes had fluttered open. She watched merlin carefully, before clearing her throat to alert them she was awake.
"Morgana, you're awake. How do you feel?" Merlin asked her slowly.
She stared at him blankly, as if he'd never spoken.
"Are you not ready to talk yet?"
She remained silent.
"Gaius, what's wrong with her?" Merlin asked, worried he may have overlooked a major injury, inflicting her ability to speak when he found her.
"I believe she's in shock, and very nervous. She'll be alright in time." The physician assured the boy, who was still staring at morgana's motionless form. She was starting at the wall adjacent to her bed. Merlin was starting to wonder if she'd gone insane. How long had she been wandering around in the woods? How long had she gone without food or water? All these thoughts rushed through his head, so when his mentor poked him in the shoulder he was caught completely off guard.
"What?"
"I said, I could make her a draft to calm her nerves." Gaius said, clearly peeved with merlin's complete lack of attention.
"You keep an eye on her while I sort out the draft."
"Alright. Although, to be honest, I don't think she's going anywhere." He said, turning back to the raven haired woman sitting a few yards away from him.
"She can still hear you." Gaius scolded.
Merlin settled himself on a stool beside her, and pulled out a book from the shelf beside him. It was a book on herbs. A few pages in, his eyelids became heavy. Soon, he was so bored, that his head slapped straight down on the book in his lap, causing Morgana to jump. Merlin however, remained asleep.
"Now merlin, I-" Gaius started, then cut himself short after seeing his ward sleeping on the job. "Merlin!"
The boy snapped his head up with a start.
"What?"
"You're supposed to be watching Morgana, not the inside of your eyelids."
As the old man blabbed on, merlin was already drifting off again. He hadn't slept well, after being held responsible for keeping Morgana's unconscious body propped up on her hoarse on the way back. Arthur swore he'd kill him if he dropped her.
"Merlin, are you listening to me?" "Yes!" He said quickly, pulling himself from his slumber before Gaius could turn around and see him.
"Honestly, how have you kept your job for nearly ten years if you keep falling asleep- Merlin!"
This time, merlin didn't stir. His head had flopped over the back of his chair, and was now snoring softly.
"Merlin!" Gaius said, louder than last time.
No response. Gaius walked over to the book shelve, grabbed a small book, and whacked merlin over the back of the head with it.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
Gaius just chuckled, and returned the book to its place on the shelf.

                      *************

"Well, is she awake?" Arthur asked, looking up from his desk.
"She's awake." Merlin said, not adding in anymore details, as he wanted to keep aside the fact that she wasn't talking for as long as possible.
"Great! When can I see her? I'd love to hear her story." Arthur said, already getting up.
"Well, she's not exactly up for telling her story."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, she's not exactly... Talking." Merlin said gently.
"Not talking? Why do you mean, not talking?"
"Well, I knew you were a dollop head, but I though you knew what 'not talking meant.'"
"Merlin?"
"Shutting up sire."
Merlin was so used to being told to shut it, that he just knew when he'd said too much.
"Getting back on a more serious note. What's wrong with her?"
"Gaius thinks she's in shock. She'll pull through. He's going to give her something to calm her nerves, but we should probably leave her some peace."
Arthur sighed, before nodding his head in agreement.
"I think you're probably right. Let me know if she makes any progress."
"Alright."
The young warlock turned on his tail, and went back to his room. When he entered the room, Gaius was handing Morgana a red liquid in a small glass vile. She paused when she saw Merlin.
"It's only Merlin. He'll be here for a while, you'll have plenty of time to look at him then. Drink up."
Merlin felt embarrassed, and morgana's cheeks had turned even more rosy. She took the vile from Gaius, and drained it.
"She should start talking in a few minutes. Give her some time." Gaius whispered, before moving over to his table to whisk up some form of concoction.
"Oh, I've run out of basil. I'll go and get some more, you, keep an eye on her. I mean it this time Merlin. No snoozing." He instructed firmly.
"Yes Gauis." He said.
Merlin turned back to Morgana. She hadn't moved. He tilted his head to the side, so he felt as if he was staring into a shop window. He was just about to leave, when he heard her.
"I'm sorry."