Chapter Text
When Arthur delivers his ultimatum, Warin is a little more than surprised. How can he be so kind when he'd done something so monumentally wrong? He shares a look with Gaius, and his friend smiles at him as he subtly gestures his head toward the young man on the bed. Of course the physician could still read him like a book, but then, he'd never been very good at hiding his expressions either.
So the prince's disposition has something to do -in part- at least, with the boy? How interesting... Speaking of which-
"Sire, would you mind if I spoke to Gaius alone for a moment? It's been many years and I wish to do some catching up."
Arthur looks less than pleased at the idea of leaving Merlin, but Gaius interjects before he can say anything. "Sire, we both know you haven't had a proper meal today. Why don't you go and get yourself taken care of? I promise you nothing will happen while you are gone, but in the unlikely event that it does, I shall have someone send for you immediately." It's more like a final word, and the blond is about to protest when his body betrays him and his stomach lets out an embarrassingly long growl. The sound immediately kills any argument he has before he can make it.
"Alright then, but I will be returning within the hour. If anything, and I mean anything at all happens, Gaius, I want to know about it." Arthur gives him a level look, and nods at both of the men in the room before making his exit.
Warin takes a moment to assure that the door is securely closed, and Arthur down the steps before he turns back to Gaius. "The boy...he has magic, strong magic. I can sense it on him just as clearly as my own."
The physician nods knowingly, "You've always had a unique sensitivity to such things. It's truly a miracle not all sorcerers share your gift Warin, or he would have been exposed long before now."
The merchant grins at him, "Sensing and healing don't make for good work Gaius. Sylvia was always better with magic than I was anyways," He pauses long enough to look back at the boy on the cot. "He seems special to you, I am truly sorry...I would have never attempted this if I knew it would kill someone. I loved my wife, but she would have my hide if she knew that I'd sacrificed someone for...well I suppose she would call them trinkets." He laughs at himself, and how ridiculous the whole thing sounds.
"I've known you since we were both apprentices Warin, I know that you'd most likely cry if you had to kill a mouse to save some grain- but what you did...that was brash, shockingly so. Merlin...he may not be my son in blood but I care for him as such all the same." There's more Gaius wants to say but Warin can see he is hesitant.
"There's something else isn't there? Something bigger than that?"
"There is," Gaius lets out a world weary sigh, pulling a stool to the side of the patient cot, "He has more than strong magic, Warin. Him and Arthur have an enormous destiny to fulfill. I believe you've heard the tales, the druids spoke of them often."
Warin takes a second to put together what he means by it, but when he does, the enormity of the situation becomes clear. He whips his head towards the sleeping boy.
"I almost killed Emrys?!"
When Arthur returns, he has two guards in tow. His brow is set low and he directs them toward Warin with a gesture of his hand. They have him tied up before he can comprehend that he's been betrayed. He looks towards the prince, and while he understands why, he is still reeling and shocked. Arthur had spoken to him so assuredly earlier.
His arms are wrenched behind his back as one of the guards marches him forward, and though Gaius looks outraged, the older man keeps his mouth shut so as not to call attention to himself.
Arthur stands in the middle of the room, straight backed and stern as he addresses the men. "Bring him outside, I need to speak to Gaius."
Warin is pushed out the door and down the stairs before he can hear another word. His shoulders are beginning to strain at the angle of his bindings and his lungs are working like a bellows as he realizes that he's just been signed his death warrant. His mind is jumbled, turning over every interaction, wondering when Arthur had decided to change his mind, or even if he had in the first place. The whole thing could have been a ruse to keep him in place.
The door opens behind them and he hears Arthur step out. "I will escort him to the dungeons myself, I need you two to report to my father and let him know that I've captured the criminal. I will commune with him once I'm sure I've got him secured." Warin feels a shove at his back, and it jars him but there isn't a lot of weight behind it.
He watches as the guards move from his side and disappear down the hall with a growing sense of dread.
"Sorry about that, it was the only way to make it look convincing." Arthur puts a hand on his elbow and turns him so that they're facing each other. "We need an excuse to go to the lower levels of the castle, no one will blink if they see me bringing someone down to the dungeons."
"You're still helping me?" He laughs in disbelief.
"I told you before, Merlin would never let me hear the end of it if I killed you." The prince then turns Warin around again and takes a hold of his upper arm, placing his other hand firmly on his back. "Sorry about this. Once we get far enough, I'll untie you."
They walk quickly down the long halls, and the merchant is raring to be unbound, he'll be feeling the ache in his shoulders for months at this rate. Arthur doesn't say much, but talking would be suspicious. To make it more believable Warin feebly tries to struggle out of his hold as they pass the guards at the head of the stairs. Arthur plays along, forcing one of his arms up further behind his back without much force. He waits until they get to the bottom of the stairwell to commend him.
"Nice touch."
"I'm just glad you knew I was acting, though next time you try and straighten me out, you may just fix my back problems." Warin says it in jest, but really, his spine had popped as he was forced to bend back to relive the pressure on his arm.
Before they get to the stairs to the dungeons, Arthur redirects him down a different hallway and they both duck into an alcove as a guard passes on patrol. Once the man has gone, Arthur removes Warin's rope bindings and gives him a second to rub the circulation back into his hands as he digs out a key. Although the corridor is well lit, a cold chill sweeps over them both as they approach an iron enforced door. The lock pops opens with little fuss and Arthur stops to grab a torch off of a wall sconce before they slip in. The room is large, and when the fire illuminates the entryway they can see that it must be full of all kinds of treasures. How many people had died for the king to have accrued so much?
"Tell me what you're looking for and I'll help you find it." This is going to take all night.
Warin doesn't seem to hear him. He's moved into the center of the room, eyes closed and standing as still as a statue. He has a similar expression on his face as he did when he had his hand to Merlin's head. Arthur decides to step back and let him concentrate, impressed when he navigates his way further into the room, eyes still closed. After about a minute of weaving around piles, he stops at an ornate looking jewelry box and opens his eyes to inspect it. The mage picks it up and lift the lid, and Arthur can tell he's found what he was looking for as he reverently lifts a locket out of the box by a fine silver chain. It looks more expensive than someone of his class could afford but he doesn't question it, though really, he doesn't have to. Warin is already speaking aloud as he runs a finger gently over the clasp of the necklace.
"When Sylvia and I married, her mother gifted this to her. It was her most treasured belonging. Not too long after that we found out that she was with child."
A child? He never mentioned his child. Oh god, did they...?
"We had her for all of three summers before she took sick." He pops the locket open, and reveals a small curl of brown hair inside. "I can keep them both with me now."
No wonder he was so careless. Arthur feels a pang of sympathy for the man.
"At the time I was barely studied in healing magic, I didn't know how to cure her." Warin swallows hard. "Sylvia never blamed me for it, but I promised myself I could do better so I took to studying harder. That's when I met Gaius actually..."
The merchant closes the locket with the soft snap and pulls it over his head. "I've kept you too long. I'm sure you'd like to return to your friend's side."
Arthur nods at him. "I can deal with my father, can you get out of here on your own?"
"I got all the way to Gaius' without suspicion, I can manage." Warin bows deeply. "Thank you, I mean it. You had no reason to help me, more reason not to really. I owe you a great debt."
"Leave Camelot and we can consider it even."
"I can do that, as long as I have them with me, anywhere can be home."
Dealing with Uther had been almost too simple. Arthur never mentioned the suspected sorcery initially, so it was really easy to play the fool. He told his father that the man had just disappeared once he was thrown in his cell. How was he to know the man had magic? It never came up after all. But really they should work on securing the dungeons better. Uther had sent knights out to hunt for the mage, but Arthur knew he'd be long gone by that time and wasn't worried.
Gaius is still awake when Arthur rejoins them. The fire is burning low, but there's still enough light that he sit's reading comfortably at Merlin's side.
"I take it nothing too exciting has happened then?"
The physician glances up at him from his book. "He hasn't stirred, not that I expect him to. Oh! But Guinevere dropped in and sat with him for a while. Apparently she'd heard that he'd fallen ill and was worried. I told her it was nothing she should concern herself with, but nonetheless she's insistent on helping out tomorrow if he needs it."
"She's as stubborn as Morgana when it comes to things like this, you won't be rid of her until she decides he's alright herself."
"I've no doubt about that," Gaius raises an eyebrow at him as the prince makes to pull up a chair. "Arthur, you should go and rest. We've all had quite the day."
Sleep calls out to him like a siren's song, and he's ready to embrace it, but another part of him won't abide in leaving yet.
He remains stubbornly, but ends up falling asleep in his chair, slumped forward on the side of the cot with his head resting on his arms. Gaius drapes an extra blanket over his shoulders before dousing the fire and retiring to his own bed for the night.
Merlin wakes up to warm light shining on his face. It feels as though he's underwater, everything is muffled and distant, and it takes far longer than it should to breach the surface. When he opens one bleary eye, it takes still longer for his vision to come into focus, which is why he doesn't notice his friend until he tries to sit up. All of his muscles ache horribly, and he moans in pain when he moves. There's a flurry of red and gold to his side, and suddenly Arthur is leaning over him, whom is joined shortly by Gaius.
"Merlin! You're awake!"
Merlin shakily sits up on one elbow, and the whole scene reminds him of when he'd been poisoned. The only difference is that Arthur is standing where Gwen had. The prince looks delighted and relieved, just as she had that day, and for one confusing moment, he thinks he's about to swoop down and kiss him. Instead Arthur pulls him into a fierce hug, helping him sit up fully in the process, and it comes as such a surprise that Merlin doesn't react for a couple of seconds. He tries to lift his arms, but the muscles ache so he lets them drop back, leaning into the embrace instead. Arthur doesn't seems to mind.
Something stirs at the back of his mind, vague memories of pain, confusion, and someone speaking.
"You called me friend..."
Merlin feels the prince's chest vibrate as he lets out a teary sounding laugh. "My mistake..." Merlin laughs too.
They sit for a few seconds before Arthur hugs him a little more tightly and pulls back. He looks serious as he keeps both hands firmly on Merlin's shoulders, arms straightened to give them space while still being connected.
"Arthur? What is it? What happened?"
"You almost died Merlin, and it was my fault for not listening to you in the first place."
"What? How?" Merlin looks over to Gaius for a second as if he has the answers, he usually does, but Arthur answers him instead.
"The oil Merlin, you were right. Do you remember?"
The young man takes moment to think, looking down at his blanket covered knees. "I spent the night polishing all the weapons before coming back here...then I started feeling sick..." He must look lost because Arthur nods at him and fills in the rest. He tells him about how the armory had rusted over, and how they had found him in the forest, about getting him back up to the tower, and then Arthur tells him about the merchant. It's a lot to take in, but somehow he manages to process it.
"You let someone save me using magic? If your father found out-!"
"My father only knows what I told him. Honestly Merlin, I'm not a complete idiot!"
"Well that's debatable..."
They fall back into their usual banter with ease, but Merlin is still tired and Arthur can tell so he cuts their conversation short.
"I should have listened to you, and you got hurt because I put my pride first," The blond looks abashed, like a dog caught doing something it shouldn't, "I'm sorry."
"Well now I think I may have actually died..."
"I mean it! If I hadn't been such a- what was the word you used before? A clotpole? You never would have suffered in the first place!"
Merlin stares at him, and reads the distress on his face, before sighing dramatically. "Well I guess you're just going to have to get used to having me around permanently. You'll never wake up on time again in your life." I forgive you, prat.
Arthur tries and fails to look annoyed at that, but his eyes are shining with relief. He pats Merlin on the back, looking as though a great weight has been lifted off of his shoulders, and excuses himself to go and eat a proper meal. Once he's sure that Arthur is gone, Merlin leans forward as much as he can and groans, head resting lightly on his knees.
"You're in pain?" Oh right, Gaius is here.
"I ache all over, even laughing hurts." He hears his mentor chuckle to himself, and sees the swish of his robes on the floor as he makes his way over to his potions.
"Well I'm not horribly surprised considering the ordeal your body's just been through, let me get you something to help."
Gaius is back at his side with a warm hand on his back, and Merlin gives a little start. He must have nodded off.
"Take this and we'll get you settled, you'll likely be tired for the next week or so."
Merlin groans again, this time in mental anguish, and Gaius is kind enough not to say anything else on the matter for the time being. He offers his ward the bottled potion silently, and grins amused when he pulls a face at the taste. The effects are not immediate, but then this isn't a magic potion, but he knows the relief will be quick in coming. He hands the empty glass back and waits for Gaius to return to help him lay down. If he tried now he'd just fall back and cause himself more pain.
"The next time something like this happens and you don't tell me immediately I'll have you cleaning out the leach tanks for the next few months." For the second time that day, Merlin is pulled into a hug. "I can't handle these things like I used to Merlin, I'd likely perish in my grief." This time he musters just enough strength to hug back, hands weakly gripping at his mentor's back. He lets his head rest on his shoulder, and can't help a couple of stray tears that slip down his cheek onto the cloth below.
He falls asleep to the comforting feeling of a hand brushing through his hair.