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Merlin looked so helpless and small (more so than normal). He was so weak and yet he threw himself in front of that bandit… for Arthur.
Arthur was filled with guilt from not protecting Merlin. Loyal, kind, self sacrificing idiot merlin! Who is in this cot all because Arthur had to drag him on their hunting trip.After Gauis gave Merlin the healing drought and bandaged his wound, he had excused himself, claiming to be needed elsewhere. So Arthur stayed by his man-idiots side, wiping the blood off Merlin's arms. It was stupid for him (a prince), to be doing this chore when any other servant could help clean up Merlin and his blood. But Arthur was reluctant to leave Merlin's side, feeling a tug in his chest at the mere thought. Merlin could have died!Honestly you’d think the man had some kind of death wish doing that without any armour!(Maybe Arthur could get him into some armour next time. Instead of his cheap peasant clothes. The red mighty even look nice on- nothing never mind)Merlin would have bleed out right in Arthur's arms all because he was stupid enough to jump in the way of an arrow aimed at Arthur.A wave of sickness comes over him at the thought accident. It had been a nice relaxing day after a busy week of pushy visiting nobles. The whole castle had worked hard to entertain and Merlin had been on his best behaviour (only around the visitors)So to relax, Arthur and few of his knights were going on a hunting trip. And of course Merlin came along, even though the girl tears up whenever Arthur tries to actually hunt something.Despite all the stress the ride out was relaxing and everyone was glad to be out of the castle and in the fresh air. Arthur felt the pressure of being crowned prince was a little lighter whenever he was in nature.Gawain had been bugging Percival about coming to the tavern with him later and making crude comments that turned into a heated debate among the knights about who was the best flirt. Surprisingly Leon had some good pick up lines and even more surprising was when Percival tried to flirt with Gawain, Gawain actually blushed! Merlin hadn’t been by his side instead had dropped back to ride along side Gawain and joke with him but before Arthur could do anything about his manservant not paying him attention like he was paid to do, Bandits attacked. From then it all happened so fast. Arthur and his fearsome knights were making quick work of the bandits and were in a battle high. The bandits, although having the element of surprise and numbers on their side, were not very skilled.But just as Arthur took down the last man in front of him and started to make his way to where he last saw Merlin he heard a shout and then was tackled.
He hit the ground hard, his head ringing it took him a second to realize what had happened. One of the bandits had snuck behind his men and had kept to the trees to remain unnoticed by all the knights.However, Merlin like always had moved to the side while the knights and Arthur dealt with the bandits. So Merlin spotted the archer and shouted a warning, just as the archer stepped out from the trees and shot an arrow right at Arthurs back.It would have killed Arthur had Merlin not run at Arthur as the stupid (brave) man he was and tackle him… taking the arrow meant for the crowned prince.As Arthur's knights took down the last bandits including the coward with the bow, Arthur and merlin disentangled their limbs and looked in between them to find the source of the blood now on both their tunics, was coming from an arrow in merlin's stomach.The rest of the day was more snap shots of everything for Arthur who felt as though he was the one shot. He had held Merlin and tried to stop the bleeding but it just kept pouring out. It was so odd to see so much blood, how could someone as small as merlin have this much blood?He remembers how light Merlin was as he lifted him onto his horse to ride back to Camelot.
He remembers looking into the normally bright blue eyes dulled and pain filled. Telling Merlin to hold on and not die and it was an order.
He doesn't remember crying but by the time they all rode back into the castle and Gauis was rushing to his ward, Arthurs cheeks were wet.Gauis had given Merlin a sleeping potion so he could take out the arrow, stitch the wound. He had also assured Arthur that the wound was not fatal and that Merlin would be alright.
Gauis looked at the lost boy with such pity seeing what the prince himself did not. So he set Arthur down next to Merlin and pushed a washcloth and bowl of water in his hands before leaving.So with nothing else to do as he waited for Merlin to recover, Arthur methodically cleaned the dried blood off merlin. First off his arms, than his head smoothing out the frowning lines.
Then the cloth brushed Merlins pinks lips which stand out all the more with his skin pale from blood loss. They pull together becoming thin and taught so different from Melin’s normal carefree smile and full pout that Arthur can’t take his eyes off them. As if waiting for him to awake and call him a prat. A smile pulls at his mouth as just the thought.
A pained whin escapes Merlin's lips that makes Arthur want to hug him but he’s the prince; he shouldn’t think like this.Arthur finds himself holding Merlin's hand between both of his as he continues to clean off the dried blood. There's something about Merlin's hands that have always mesmerized Arthur and this time is no different. So overcome with desire and the need to protect his cleaning of Merlin's hand becomes more like a caressing touch. Sparks light up where skin meets skin. Arthur is hypnotized with the idea of interlocking their fingers.The thought of his hand being tangled with Merlin's bony but refined fingers. The feeling of soft and hardness grazing is all he can picture. The contrast of Merlins pale skin and Arthurs tanned hand taunts him.
But even the small touches of their skin are indescribable. How can he know what it would be like to hold Merlin's hand? and by God does he want to know what it would be likeMerlins hand, rough patches from his hard work as a servant but still seem to have a gentle touch, a touch that comes from picking flowers and herbs. While Arthurs hands calloused from the sword and never seem able to have a gentle touch.Arthurs heart rate picks up as he stops wiping Merlin's hand and instead grasps Merlin's hand.“Come on Merlin, wake up” pleaseHis chest is so full of many emotions, so many that he doesn't have names for. But holding Merlins hand slows the twisting in his chest. It feels almost right like this.(if only merlin was gripping his hand back)Arthur jumps up and moves across the room as Gauis enters the room. Clearing his throat Arthur made some excuse about duty and princely things before leaving Gauis behind even as he felt the power of the eyebrow at his back.