The Aftermath (Merlin)

Chapter Eighteen: I trusted you

The pair waited in the old man's quarters, Arthur had told some guards to fetch the physician from his work in town. Now Merlin sat awkwardly in silence with his hand to his throat trying to soothe it.

"You know what Merlin, I quite like this, you being unable to talk, its... peaceful."

The warlock rolled his eyes, Arthur ventured towards the boy noticing that he was shivering "You're still cold?"

Unable to respond the raven just nodded his head, the truth was he didn't understand why he was so cold, he wasn't ill, at least not in the way Arthur though he was. "Why don't you just use magic to heat yourself or something?" The king continued. Merlin just shook his head again.

"Fine." The blonde replied and headed into the servant's room grabbing a blanket from his cupboard. As he closed the wardrobe door he was confused at the strange scorch markings on the wood which were definitely new. Walking back into Gaius' room with the blanket in hand he placed it over the boys shoulders before taking a seat in front of him "Better?" The boy just nodded gratefully. "So what happened to your wardrobe?" Merlin looked startled by the kings curiosity but before he could try and communicate any answer, the door into the chambers opened with an old man appearing.

"You sent for me sire?"

"Ahhh yes Gaius" The king stood from his seat "It appears Merlin here has a cold, he's lost his voice and is cold, give him something to treat it would you?"

The Physician walked towards his ward, feeling his forehead and quickly retracting his hand from the sheer shock of coldness "Arthur start a fire, his body is too cold, I'm surprised he's even alive let alone awake."

"Of course" Arthur saw the worry in the old man's face and raced over to the fireplace only to be interrupted by a grunt coming from his servant "what?" The king asked confused.

Merlin's eyes flashed gold and a fire soon engulfed the wood, causing Arthur to smirk at his friend. Gaius found nothing funny about this and was seriously concerned about his ward's health. Tilting the boys head up and opening his mouth the Physician looked down at his throat, eventually the raven moved his head away from the physician so that he could cough as his throat was aching. It wasn't just a single cough though, once he started he couldn't stop and soon he had fallen onto his hands and knees coughing uncontrollably, Arthur immediately fell to the boys side holding his shoulders "Gaius what's wrong with him?"

"I...I don't know, his throat is swollen"

"Isn't it just a cold?"

"No, it most definitely isn't" Gaius quickly turned to his work station grabbing bottles of all kinds and mixing herbs and spices.

Arthur turned his attention back to his friend who was still coughing "It's going to be alright Merlin... everything is going to be alright" he spoke reassuringly whilst rubbing his hand on the Raven's back.

The Warlock looked up at Arthur, his coughing has subdued momentarily, in that moment the king saw pain, fear and most of all regret in the boy's eyes. It saddened the blonde to see this, but before he could say anything, Merlin's coughing resumed, only this time blood now came up with each wheeze and was splatting out over the floor "GAIUS?!!!" The King shouted.

"Quick get him sat up straight" Arthur did as he was told and lifted the boy up leaning against him, the red liquid fell down the sides of Merlin's mouth as he continued to spew up blood.

"What's happening to him?" The King held panic in his voice as he looked up at Gaius who was walking towards him with glass vial in hand. The man didn't respond and instead crouched down and poured the liquid down the boys throat.