Chapter Text
Arthur was stomping through the corridors looking for a raven-haired manservant who decided to just not show up to wake his master.
First, he went to Gaius to check if Merlin was still there, being late as always. But Gaius said he didn’t see him and thought he was with him all the time. An uneasy feeling was building up in his stomach because he thought exactly the opposite of what Gaius was telling him. So even Gaius didn’t know where his manservant was? Odd.
He searched the whole castle, but Merlin was nowhere to be found. While walking around and screaming his manservant's name, he came across other servants and knights who were smiling and even giggling at him, as if it were the most normal and funny thing in the world to see their King running around and yelling the name of a servant. Well, in truth, it was nothing new to see their king searching the place up and down, because it was a thing that happened daily.
Arthur was getting more and more upset about the whole situation. Where the hell was Merlin? He had already looked everywhere.
Just as he was about to give up and ask the knights if they knew anything about a missing manservant, he found him lying face down on the floor of an abandoned area of the castle.
Arthur panicked at the sight in front of him, Merlin lying motionless and too quiet on the cold floor. He was immediately by Merlin’s side. He expected the worst while turning Merlin around, he didn’t see any wounds at first glance but still frowned upon seeing Merlin’s face. He looked like death itself, sickly pale, no he was as white as snow, and you could see big black circles under his eyes. With shackling hands, he reached for Merlin’s wrist, looking for a pulse.
He was praying to all the Gods he knew. He couldn’t imagine a life without his cheerful, beautiful, and loyal servant, who never failed to make him smile and make his day better.
But there it was, a pulse! It was weak, but it was still there, that means Merlin is alive! His Merlin was alive. Thank the Gods! Arthur picked Merlin with utter care up and then made a run for Gaius.
He didn’t know how it looked, a King carrying his manservant through the corridors, looking deeply spooked. His father would turn around in his grave. But in this moment, nothing but Merlin mattered.
With his foot, he kicked Gaius door open, coming face to face with a clearly shocked Gaius, but upon seeing his apprentice in Arthur’s arms, looking half dead, he stepped aside and let Arthur lay Merlin gently down on the patient's cot.
Gaius immediately started to observe Merlin for any wounds, but quickly came to the same conclusion as Arthur. All the while, Arthur never left Merlin’s side for even a second, holding his small and pale hands in his strong and steady hands.
"Ahm sire, I do not want to disturb you, but I need space to observe Merlin and look for the cause of his discomfort..." Gaius broke into the silent room.
"Ah right, do not let me disturb you." After Arthur made it clear he was not moving from Merlin’s side any time soon, Gaius just sighed at the two and tried to go back to work, looking for any clues as to why Merlin was in this state.
The room was quiet except for Merlin trying to breathe. It sounded scary to hear your servant, your best friend, breath like that, as if he were right before dying. Maybe he is, Arthur’s mind thought bitterly.
After minutes that felt like hours, Gaius spoke again."Well, to me, it looks like Merlin fainted because he was exhausted, sir." Gaius was eyeing Arthur directly when he said it.
"What? I don’t think this comes just from being exhausted. I mean, look at him; he looks like he died and came back from the dead." Arthur was right before hyperventilating. Why would Merlin faint from exhaustion? He didn’t give Merlin too much work, did he? No, he didn’t, he would know if Merlin was overworking himself. He would know.
"I fear it’s exactly like I said. His body just couldn’t keep up with his mind, and as a result, he collapsed. He definitely needs rest, sir." God, it’s true then, he is really a bad friend, isn’t he?
„Of course he will get his rest, and when he is well again, he can take the week off, so he can relax a little. He deserves it." Arthur tried to sound as honest as he could, but you still heard the sadness in his voice.
Oh, poor Merlin! Arthur would do anything to take away his exhaustion. Next time, he will never let it go so far. He will look after Merlin because he can never forget his terror as he saw Merlin lying there so still. So unnaturally still.
"That's very kind of you, sire. He definitely needs care for the next few days." Gauis said seriously, leaving no room for arguments, not that Arthur wanted to.
Arthur can work with that.
"Good, of course. Would it—I mean, is it alright when we move Merlin to my chambers? I would like to look after Merlin, it’s the least I can do for him." Arthur cursed at how desperate he sounded, he hoped Gaius didn’t catch him on it. But from the look on his face, he heard it.
Gaius smiled at Arthur, he has known him since his birth, and it warmed his heart to see him care about his loved ones. Especially watching him with Merlin, even a blind man could see the love between the two, except for them, of course. It was funny and frustrating at the same time.
„Of course, it would be no problem. I can see you need Merlin right now." And now Arthur blushed because that's exactly how it was. He didn’t think he could leave Merlin’s side right now, even if he wanted to.
He never saw Merlin like that, on a patient's cot, looking dead. Merlin was always in a good mood, even when he was clearly unwell. God, now he just wants, no needs to see Merlin smile at him and tell him everything was alright, that he was alright, and that he is just a prat for worrying over him. At this thought, Arthur smiled a little.
Arthur stood up, never letting go of Merlin’s hand. He bent down, and for the second time this day, he picked him up. He wished Gaius goodbye and began to walk to his chamber with Merlin in his arms.