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It wasn't unusual for Merlin to be on the side of the training grounds, hell he was found there even after Arthur became king and had no time to do training anymore! He was typically seen doing chores that really should be done inside, but every now and then he was seen watching the knights spar and stepped in if it seemed like one of his friends had been a little too rough and needed to be patched up.
It was what he was doing at this current moment, even though he should be sharpening Arthur's sword. His gaze was trained on Mordred who was acting a little stranger than normal, he seemed slightly slower and not entirely with it as he just about blocked gwaine's sword before stumbling back and falling on his backside. Merlin knew Mordred well at this point, he watched him closely on most days as it was and he didn't just fall over from a simple spar.
He looked towards Percival and Leon's spar, which was much quicker and for several seconds he focused on those two, ensuring that both of them didn't start tiring and end up injuring themselves or each other, only for his attention to be brought back to Gwaine and Mordred "Merls! C'mere, something's up with Mordred" all Merlin could hear was concern, so without second thought he rushes to where Gwaine was crouched beside a rather pale Mordred and quickly checks for any injuries that he might have missed in the last few minutes.
Not seeing any, Merlin's physician side kicks in as he gives Mordred another look over "you are rather pale Mordred, lets get you inside so I can look at you properly" he says as he and Gwaine help the younger man to his feet with a stiffled groan, it takes both of them to get him to his chambers "I've got it from here, thanks Gwaine" he says as he helps the druid out of his chainmail. Gwaine nods and gives Mordred's shoulder a gentle squeeze before he leaves, whilst Merlin rests a hand on the others forehead and is rather startled at the heat he feels there "why didn't you tell anyone you were sick?" He asks as he gets Mordred under the covers, much to the druids confusion.
When he doesn't answer right away, Merlin raises an eyebrow at him "I didn't want to bother anyone" he says weakly, still slightly confused as to why Merlin was helping him when the man clearly hated him, Merlin clicks his tongue and rolls his eyes "Gaius and I are physician's for a reason Mordred, you wouldn't be bothering us if you tried" he says as he rests a cool damp cloth on his forehead, causing Mordred to relax and close his eyes.
For a few minutes the two stayed silent, Merlin focusing on getting the younger man's temperature down to something more manageable and Mordred releshing in Merlin's kindness 'Emrys, why are you helping me?' he asks eventually, making Merlin jump slightly as he wasn't used to mind speak anymore.
He thinks in silence for a few minutes before shrugging 'im not just going to ignore someone who needs help, even you' he says as Gaius, who must have been told by Gwaine, enters the room with enough tonics and tiniture's to take down a bear, he checks Mordred over and gives Merlin instructions on how to take care of him.
It takes a few hours, but he eventually gets Mordred's temperature down to a much better level and helps the druid to sit up enough to take a mixture of tonic and tiniture, before he leaves him to sleep the rest of it off 'thank you, Emrys' he hears Mordred whisper through their link just before he leaves 'any time Mordred he responds genuinely before he rushed off to tend to Arthur.