the many secrets of merlin [completed]

Chapter 14 - (some clever title)

/your comments on the AN were hilarious. like some were 'DON'T YOU DARE' or 'i cAN'T WATCH MY BABY DIE' and some were 'ok sure' haha but at least you gave me an idea./

They rode through the woods as fast as the horses would run. The trees they passed were hard to make out from each other as they turned to a blur. Arthur's mind was spinning but the only thing he could keep focusing on was the road in front of him.

He hadn't seen Merlin so ill since, well, wasn't it when he drank out of that chalice and it had turned out to be poisoned? That had been about four months after they had met. They had both just been boys pretending to be men. How he wish they had stayed boys. Stayed out of wars and kingdoms.

But this time it wasn't out of duty Arthur was riding away from the castle. This time, it was purely to save his friend.

_

Gaius had sweat streaming down his face when the Queen opened the door to his small quarters. He was too stressed about keeping his ward alive that he didn't notice the woman until she put a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and turned around to face Gwen. You could see the relief, worry and stress as clear as a day in his face. The bags from one too many sleepless nights, the worry that had erupted inside him as soon Arthur hadn't come back with Merlin the first time. He looked right out worn out.

"You need a break." She said kindly. When he opened his mouth to argue she spoke again, this time more urgently. "That's an order from your Queen. Just tell me what he needs, and I'll stay with him."

The older man looked down in defeat. After telling her what herb Merlin needed to take and to keep his forehead cold but heart warm.

As soon the physician closed the door to Merlin small room, where it was quieter, the woman dressed in red broke into tears. How she had missed this young man.

"Don't you dare die on my watch, Merlin. I will personally kill you. And Camelot can't take it - Arthur can't."

[29.5.17]