Chapter Text
Last time:
Arthur, alarmed, swiftly crossed the two meters or so between them and crouched down next to his manservant, hand going to his forehead.
Hot and damp.
"Come on Merlin, what's the matter?" Arthur shook him gently. "Merlin!"
Merlin slumped in Arthur's arms.
Now:
Arthur staggered down to Gaius's quarters as quickly as he could manage, carrying Merlin. Two things registered other than his worry. Firstly that Merlin was too light for his height, Arthur really should make sure his manservant ate more, Secondly that, even underweight, a fully grown man feels ridiculously heavy when carrying his full dead weight for any distance.
Finally he reached the Physician's rooms and slamming the door open he called out.
"Gaius, come quick."
The older man shuffled into the main room with a book in one hand and a stern expression across his face.
"Your highness, I realise that you are young and impatient but that is no reason to . . ."
Whatever Gaius may or may not have accused Arthur of doing faded as he saw the Prince's burden. The old man froze for a second, book falling from numb fingers, dread in his mind before he rapidly changed gear.
"Well don't just stand there, quick bring him here and lay him down."
Gaius indicated the pallet he kept to one side, for patients he would need to monitor through the night. He went ahead of Arthur turning down the blankets and guiding Merlin's head gently onto the pillow as Arthur set him down.
The Physician's gnarled fingers worked rapidly over Merlin, checking pulse, breathing and other vital signs. As he worked he questioned Arthur.
"What happened? How long has he been like this?"
Arthur scrubbed a hand through tousled blond hair.
"He collapsed in my room, I brought him immediately."
"He collapsed? Were there any signs? Tiredness, Dizziness?" Gaius probed, while checking Merlin's head for bumps or swelling.
Arthur's hand moved to rub his own forehead, his stomach churning.
"I don't know, he was clumsier, not acting like normal and then he just collapsed. He didn't hit the floor though. I caught him."
Arthur blush slightly at this, being close enough to catch a falling servant was not really something a prince should admit too.
However, Arthur knew from field experience with the knights, that it was important for a Physician to know if a state of continued unconsciousness was due to whatever had caused it in the first place, or by damage done in the fall.
"Good." Gaius replied, "That narrows it down."
He moved rapidly around the room collecting vials of smelling salts and a couple of other potions.
Arthur watched on, feeling slightly awkward, as Gaius failed to revive Merlin with first the smelling salts (though they made Arthur's nose burn from where he was) and then with both of the potions. Finally when the supper bell clanged loudly, Gaius finally straightened and turned to Arthur.
"Sire, you should attend the evening meal, there is nothing you can do for Merlin at the moment and I must have time and peace to research without people getting underfoot."
Arthur was torn between concern; it was evidently something serious if Gaius said he would have to research, and indignation; he was not often accused of being "underfoot".
Eventually he had to concede Gaius' point. He could do no good here. Feeling as if he had suddenly been cut adrift he slowly made his way to the door, turning one last time to look at Merlin and say to Gaius.
"You will send for me if there is any change?"
"Of course sire."
Arthur left. He would go and find Gwen; she would know what to do, even if it was as simple as to tell him everything would be okay.
xXxXxXx
Gaius waited until the princes footsteps had faded before turning to the secret alcove. He dragged down several book and some of the potions he had made earlier. He had worried something like this would happen. Now where was that passage, he had seen it referenced years ago, when Hunith had first come to him with Merlin, but he couldn't remember where it was from.
He had known when Merlin came to Camelot that he should have research cambion lore. Somehow he had kept putting it off. There had always seemed other, more urgent, things to attend to and so he had stuck his head in the sand. Now Merlin may very well pay for his folly.
There was no use for regrets now. He opened the first of the arcane tomes. They were dangerous books, merely knowing of them was enough to raise questions of magic, but Gaius was damned if he was going to let the boy die. Merlin was his son in all but blood.
He settled down to work.
xXxXxXx
Hours later Gaius sat back letting the book drop into his lap. Candlelight flickered and cast twisted shadows on the walls. He glanced at Merlin and noted that the boy had slipped from unconsciousness into a natural, if heavy sleep.
He had finally found it. Leaning forward he read the passage through for the second time.
Powerful and beloved,
Child of man and monster,
Both good and evil,
Never whole in spirit,
Half only and evil prevails,
Carnal lusts give life, but damns,
Whole and a balance is struck,
Love and lust intertwine,
Power flows pure and true.
This passage coupled with several more texts set a grim future for Merlin. With Merlin's coming of age the power within him was overwhelming his body and soul.
There were two pathways ahead. Either Merlin found his balance, the one who could ground him or his magic would change him. He would become what could stand the power roiling through him and what would lust for more. Demon spawn. An incubus: a creature driven to seek more and greater power to sustain himself, eventually taking the very life others.
Gaius shuddered. The thought of the gentle boy he knew being driven to evil. Merlin would despise such an existence. But what could he do? He did not have the strength of character to end it before it had begun, but the chance of finding Merlin's match was next to impossible.
There were various legends about soulmates. Some texts said they did not exist, some gave possible examples. All that hinted at the possibility stated the rarity of such a match.
Gaius glanced at the boy lying peacefully on the bed. He knew now what would happen. Merlin would awaken soon, apparently unharmed. But he would change, maybe over weeks, maybe over months, but eventually the bright boy he knew would be replaced with a fae creature driven by base desires He would be a danger to those around him. Gaius did not know if he could bare it.
As he sat soberly by the flickering candle, a memory came to him. It was a rumour, considered a romantic folly by even those of the old religion. A tale whispered to be of sidhe origin. He hurried over to his store cupboard, even stories told by the capricious fae were better than nothing.
Rifling through his store cupboard he found what he needed and made his way back over to the sleeping Merlin. He gently placed a small sprig of white heather on one of the warlock's eyelids and a dried orange blossom over the other. Eternal love, protection and wishes to come true.
"See them in sleep and let them see you."
It felt like such a tiny worthless thing little more then a hedge witch's trick, but it was the best he could do. Gaius wearily shuffled to the back room to rest, if only for a couple of hours.
Merlin slept on. Beneath the petals Merlin's irises flashed a brilliant gold. He turned his head, restless, petals dropping softly to the pillow. In his dreams blue eyes shone with fondness and a voice echoed.
"Two sides of the same coin."
xXxXxXx
Half way across the castle Arthur tossed and turned in a fitful sleep. Despite his earlier thoughts, Gwen's company had not made him easier. In fact he had somehow ended up feeling guilty for some fathomless reason. Eventually he had made a weak excuse and retreated to his chambers. Being alone with his worries was not much better, everything reminded him of Merlin, from the sloppily made bed, to the boots still strewn on the floor where Merlin had dropped them.
When he finally managed to get to sleep he dreamed of blue eyes and gold fire.
In the early hours of the morning he was jolted awake by a voice.
"Two sides of the same coin."
As if lead, he made his way down to the physician's quarters. Stumbling into the room, his gaze ran straight the figure of Merlin. He sighed with relief as he took in the easy rise and fall of his manservant's chest.
He made his way over. Sitting down, he felt awkward once again. He searched for something to say.
"Wake up idiot, my boots need cleaning."
A voice answered.
"Well maybe you should clean them yourself prince prat."
Arthur looked down. Merlin eyes were still closed but a grin was spreading across his face.
Arthur felt a weight lift off him, but replied in kind, revelling in the familiar banter.
"You fainted you twit, if I find out you were up late flirting with some tavern wench and unable to do your job properly . . . " He let the tongue in cheek threat hang, growl in his voice.
Merlin's eyes snapped open in indignation.
"I didn't faint."
"You did." Arthur replied gleefully. "Like a girl."
Merlin's eye narrowed for a second, before a grin spread across his face.
"You missed me."
It was Arthur's turn to be indignant.
"I did no such thing." Seeing the smirk spread, Arthur huffed. "Anyway who is going to amuse me by tripping over the bucket they just dropped, if you're here slacking."
Merlin's smile softened.
"I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you Sire."
Arthur rolled his eyes, standing up.
"Well, take today off, but I expect you bright and early tomorrow with a full, hot breakfast." With a one glance back he turned and slipped out of the door.
Merlin sighed to himself and settled back on his pillows, no doubt he would have Gwen and Gaius mother henning him for the next week. Gwaine would find every excuse to help him, probably assisting him carrying things as if he was a Maiden. Lancelot would look pained and worried and ask under if breath if it was anything to do with magic. Arthur would huff and insult him, but his chores would probably be lighter than usual. He smiled. It was good to have friends.