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It wasn't often that his manservant was quiet, but when he was the entire castle noticed and began betting on what the reason was, Arthur hadn't heard Merlin speak in 3 days now. He just went around the room doing chores and was seemingly ignoring the king's presence altogether! He tried to think what he could possibly have done to deserve this on going silent treatment and was at a loss, sure he'd been a prat and a dollophead, but not enough to warrant this!
He continued to watch as Merlin went around the room, for what felt like the 3rd time today and began to notice that he looked slightly uncomfortable and every now and again he'd rub his neck, so after the 5th time of seeing, whatever the hell this was Arthur groans "what is going on with you?! You're never this quiet" he demands, causing the other man to jump and turn to look at him with wide eyes "tell me what I did wrong, do I need to apologize?" He asks slightly desperately as Merlin starts to look more and more confused.
He watches as Merlin opens his mouth, winces and gives him an annoyed look as if that is supposed to explain anything. They stare at one another for a few seconds before Merlin stomps his foot and walks over, snatching a piece of parchment paper and began to write something, before pushing it back towards him "it hurts to talk, clotpole, I have laryngitis" it reads, making Arthur wince in sympathy having had it when he was much younger "do you need anything? Are you even supposed to be working?" He asks in confusion, he'd been forced to stay in bed when he suffered with it, though he can't really see his friend staying in his sick bed unless he'd broken something or was unconscious.
He quickly noticed Merlin pointing to the jug of icy cool water on the table "would that help?" He asks, already moving to pour some into a cup for him. He saw Merlin relax slightly the moment he took a few sips, it was a few seconds later when Arthur got an idea "sit down, I have an idea" he says as he moves to stand, watching as Merlin eyes him suspiciously before doing as he's told for a change.
With his friend looking like a kicked puppy, Arthur quickly heads down to the kitchens, promptly startling the cook at his sudden appearance "Mary, I need soup, tea and honey as quick as you can" he says once her startled look has faded to slight annoyance.
She raises an eyebrow at the odd request, but nods with a slight smile "I'll have it ready in 10 minutes, sire" she responds, causing the kitchen to go into organised chaos, much to Arthur's amusement. True to her word, Mary brought him a tray with a bowl of soup, a cup of tea and two small bottles of honey as well as a honey cake "tell him to get better soon" she says as he carefully takes it from her, so it wasn't just him that missed Merlin's prattle.
It wasn't long before he was back in his chambers, slightly suprised to find that Merlin was right where he left him, looking ever so slightly worse than before, though he perked up when he heard the door opening "don't get too excited" he says as he places the tray in front of him, causing merlin to look between each thing on there and him a few times before tilting his head in curiousity "I got soup because it's easier to swallow and I don't know when you last ate and the tea and honey to soothe your throat" he explained quietly, watching as Merlin's expression softened and a small relieved smile appeared on his face.
Arthur went back to doing paperwork, though he was keeping an eye on his friend and couldn't help the small smile that fought its way onto his face, at the quiet happy hum that managed to escape Merlin's mouth after the first mouth full of tea and honey.
It took awhile longer before he started the soup, but eventually there was a soft huff of amusement when merlin spotted the honey cake "cook really must like you today, Merlin" Arthur says when he points to it, making Merlin shake his head with a smirk as he mouthed 'bribe to get better' causing Arthur to chuckle slightly "yes and if you're going to get better, you need rest" he says as he taps the quill against the table a few times before saying "you have the rest of the day off, tomorrow too" he saw Merlin's eyes widen before he smiles and heads off to his chambers with a mouthed 'thank you' as he goes. He could put up with George for a few days.