Enduring Wounds of Woefulness (1/3)
Title: Enduring Wounds of Woefulness
Author: miss_chevalier
Beta: millicca
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: a little bit less than 7,000
Warnings/Spoilers: character spoilers for series 3 episodes 4, 7, 13 and a beyond-character-spoiler for series 3 episode 13; also warnings for violence (battle and wounds)
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, I just borrow the characters and play a little with them.
Summary: I’ll just post the prompt here: In order to help Arthur heal faster for whatever reason, Merlin does a spell in which Arthur's wounds are transferred to him.
Author's Notes (A/N): Written for merlinxarthur 's fanfic challenge #4. I hope I did everything right. Enjoy!
Enduring Wounds of Woefulness
The noise of courageous battle cries had faded long ago and only the sound of clashing swords was now audible. From time to time arrows filled the air, some of them burning, and if one stopped after slaying an enemy and listened closely, they could hear men crying out as they were dying. Dead bodies covered the ground and the scent of death and blood dominated the battlefield.
It seemed as if Camelot would win, having momentarily more men alive and standing on the battlefield. The other army was more or less repelled and Arthur was confident that soon this fight would be over and they could return to Camelot. Back home he could finally rest, without worry of another attack. His muscles wouldn’t hurt anymore and his whole body wouldn’t feel so tense and heavy. He wouldn’t be covered in sweat and blood anymore, wouldn’t have to wear his armour all the time.
Arthur cut his opponent’s throat and let his gaze wander over all the dead bodies, searching for his men. Where was Sir Leon? He needed to find someone who could tell him exactly how the situation was. He turned around and saw a man with the Pendragon crest walking towards him. Sir Elyan. Arthur moved his feet in order to meet him halfway. He didn’t seem to be greatly injured apart from a cut on his arm that didn’t look very deep. That was good. God knew what Gwen would do if her brother died in battle.
“Arthur!”
Suddenly there was pain - terrible pain radiating from his chest. Arthur felt hot blood soaking his layers of clothing and armour. There was a man standing in front of him and his sword cut Arthur in several places, before Elyan was there and drove his sword into the man’s back.
For Arthur these events passed in a blur. The edges of his vision were already dark and he sank to the ground. As he lay there between the other corpses, trying to prevent his strength from leaving him, he felt Elyan kneel beside him, grasping his shoulders. He probably said something because his mouth was moving but Arthur couldn’t hear any sound coming from Elyan’s lips. The pain was too strong and at that moment his world only consisted of his aching body.
And then everything went black.
~~ * ~~
Merlin was grinding some plant thoroughly with pestle and mortar just like Gaius had shown him when Gwen burst into the room. She was short of breath and clutching her stomach, trying to force more air into her lungs. Merlin approached her and saw in her face that something wasn’t right. She looked concerned and it surely wasn’t because of the run she had just fulfilled.
“What’s happened Gwen? Did they receive word from the battle?”
Gwen shook her head and tried to speak. Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Calm down, Gwen.”
After some moments she spluttered, “They are back. They have been seen appearing at the border of the forest. They will arrive in the courtyard every minute now.”
For a few seconds, Merlin couldn’t do anything but stare at her.
“How many are dead?”
Gwen shook her head again.
“I don’t know.”
~~ * ~~
Merlin was standing at a window in Arthur’s chambers, eyes fixed on the entrance to the courtyard.
Arthur was back. Finally he had returned. The last weeks had been horrible for Merlin since Arthur had forbidden him to accompany or follow them. Arthur had said that Merlin’s place wasn’t in a battle and that he was useless with a weapon anyways. Merlin had wanted to explain to him that he could fight, only that his weapon was different from their swords and axes. Of course he hadn’t.
Sir Leon was the first to enter the courtyard. He looked tired and exhausted and so did all those that followed him. Merlin wondered why Arthur didn’t lead the men but maybe it was to prevent him from being killed by any attackers on their way home. Merlin spotted Lancelot and Percival and none of them looked happy in the slightest way which wasn’t a surprise, seeing that they were returning from battle. Their armour and weapons weren’t shining but covered with blood and mud.
Elyan and Gwaine came into sight but Merlin’s smile froze halfway when he saw the body draped over the horse between them. The golden hair had lost its brightness and was soaked with sweat and also blood. The body moved to the rhythm of the horse, up and down. Merlin wanted to run into the courtyard, cradle the limp body in his arms and do something. Anything to save his prince. This just couldn’t be real. Arthur couldn’t have died, he was Arthur. He was supposed to build Albion and ... and ...
Tears blurred Merlin’s view but he could see how Percival took Arthur from his horse and carried him towards Uther who was still standing on the stairs, incapable of moving like Merlin.
Arthur couldn’t be dead. But then again, Merlin hadn’t fulfilled his destiny when he had stayed in Camelot. He should have stood by Arthur’s side, helped him - rescued him. Desperate sobs filled Arthur’s chambers. It was all Merlin’s fault.
Merlin observed surprised how Percival didn’t stop in front of Uther but kept walking on into the castle. Gwaine, Elyan and Lancelot followed him and Leon spoke to Uther. Merlin turned around and went to inform Gaius of what had happened.
~~ * ~~
When Merlin entered the physician’s chambers, Gwaine was standing there, talking to Gaius. At the sound of the door opening, they both looked at Merlin. Gwaine quickly crossed the room and took him into his arms. Merlin willed his tears back and returned the hug.
“Arthur’s been gravely injured.”
What?
“Not dead?”
“No, Merlin, he’s not dead. But we have to hurry. They’re bringing him into his chambers.” Gaius had already grabbed a whole basket of things and Merlin quickly followed him out the door.
~~ * ~~
“We have to undress him. I can’t see anything when he’s still in all these layers of armour.”
Merlin automatically reached for the lacings and began to untie them. Elyan, Gwaine and Lancelot were sent away to rest. Gwen was too because Gaius knew she wanted to talk to Elyan and Lancelot. She would be distracted and in shock if she were to help them. Uther was sitting at the table, still not capable of moving and Percival was helping Merlin, lifting Arthur when Merlin told him to so that Merlin could remove everything. When only Arthur’s undergarments remained, Percival was dismissed too. Merlin removed the last layers of clothing and began cleaning Arthur’s body. The blond didn’t even wince at the contact of cloth and wounds and Merlin had to keep himself from shedding tears. It just wouldn’t do to cry in front of Uther.
Gaius took a closer look while Merlin went to fetch fresh water and when he returned, Gaius was still trickling some essence onto the wounds. When he was finished, Merlin took care of the bandages and Gaius explained Arthur’s condition to Uther. Merlin was glad they remained in Arthur’s chambers because he too wanted to know how serious this all was.
“My lord, let’s start with the most dangerous wound: the stab into the chest. It wasn’t deep enough to kill your son, thanks to the armour and his opponent’s bad aiming accuracy. But he has lost a lot of blood because of it and some of his ribs have been damaged as well from the blow as from the ride home. The cut in his left thigh and the one in his left arm are not as deep as the first one but if the knights hadn’t stopped the bleedings there, your son would already be dead. The slice in his right cheek isn’t bad at all and will remain as a scar but nothing more.”
“He will live?”
Uther’s tear-filled eyes were full of hope and Merlin himself felt a weight being lifted of his heart. Gaius however didn’t sound too joyful when he answered.
“It is likely, yes. But it will take a lot of time and be very painful for Arthur.”
“But he will live?”
“Yes, if no serious infection occurs, he will live.”
Uther’s face lit up and after placing a gentle kiss to Arthur’s forehead, he left to tell everyone the (relatively) good news.
“Don’t dress him, Merlin, it will only be hindering when we have to change the bandages. But make sure he’s warm. Thank the Gods it’s spring and not winter.”
~~ * ~~
Merlin refused to leave Arthur’s chambers. He wanted to stay by his side and take care of him because he didn’t trust anyone else with it. Only in the afternoon did he sleep while Gaius was looking after Arthur. But even then Merlin remained in Arthur’s chambers, curling up on the floor next to his master’s bed.
~~ * ~~
Every morning and every evening Merlin had to exchange the old bandages which were soaked with sweat and slightly red, with new, clean ones. He always feared that some time during this action a huge amount of blood would spill from one of the gashes and Arthur would die because of him.
He still hadn’t been conscious so far and the way his skin looked pale and not at all golden as it used to was scaring Merlin. It seemed that with every day Arthur slipped away a little more and Merlin couldn’t stop him, couldn’t force him to stay. Gaius said that Merlin was imagining things because after only a few days Arthur’s condition couldn’t have improved.
It was still the same after two weeks. Arthur was motionless except for his breathing and that was shallow. The colour had drained from his lips and he didn’t look at all like his former self. He looked small and broken whereas he should be the golden warrior who was invincible.
Every day someone came and asked about his condition - knights, visiting nobles, maidens, servants, squires. Merlin never let anyone in because he knew Arthur wouldn’t want to be seen like this and Merlin didn’t want anyone near Arthur he didn’t know. Arthur’s injuries were a welcome weakness of Camelot for other kingdoms.
~~ * ~~
It was not like Merlin didn’t sleep at all. He knew he had to be awake and alert when he trickled drops of different potions into Arthur’s mouth and when he put salves onto his wounds. But he couldn’t help waking up during sleep, scared that Arthur still wasn’t getting better but worse. Most times he didn’t dream at all and when he did, nightmares full of Arthur dying in battle with blood spattering everywhere or Arthur dying lonely and weak in his bed filled his mind. Sometimes it was just images of them from the past, memories.
How Arthur had made fun of his ears but always with a hint of friendliness.
How they had been out hunting with Merlin being too noisy every time so that they only managed to bring two or three rabbits back to Camelot.
The two of them lying in the grass in summer, the sun warming their bodies and Arthur throwing blades of grass and daisies at Merlin’s face.
Arthur drunk after a banquet, having to lean against Merlin in order to be able to walk to his chambers.
Merlin watching Arthur during training or tournaments, admiring his strength and persistence.
When Merlin woke, there usually was a damp patch on his tunic or the floor and he knew he had cried during sleep.
~~ * ~~
Gaius didn’t approve of Merlin’s behaviour.
“You need to rest properly, sleep longer than three hours. It’s not healthy. And speaking of health, you need to eat more again, Merlin.”
“I’m not hungry. I already have to force most of it down my throat. It doesn’t taste like anything.”
Merlin turned to Arthur again and began to carefully scatter a grey ointment onto the wounds.
“Merlin, I know he means a lot to you but - ”
“No, Gaius, you don’t know anything.” There wasn’t any trace of malignity in his voice, just tiredness. “It’s been four weeks. How much longer is it going to take until he at least wakes up? I don’t expect him to jump around and be joyful, I just want to know he’s more than a breathing corpse.”
“He is healing, boy. It’s just not that evident.”
“It’s not evident at all.”
Gaius placed a hand onto Merlin’s shoulder. “He will get better.”
~~ * ~~
Merlin was administering Arthur soup spoon after spoon like he always did, when Uther entered the chambers.
“How is my son?”
Merlin put the soup away and bowed.
“Gaius says his condition’s improving. If you want to know the details, you best ask him, my lord.”
Uther nodded and approached Arthur. He sat down on the bed, took one of Arthur’s hands and kissed it.
“My son, I need you to get well again.”
Merlin went to check on the fire and clean the room where he could.
“Sir Leon is training the knights and they’re doing quite well from what I hear but they need you. This kingdom needs you. I know I’m not always easy and just but you’re my son. I love you and I - ”
A quiet sob was audible.
~~ * ~~
part 2
Author: miss_chevalier
Beta: millicca
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: a little bit less than 7,000
Warnings/Spoilers: character spoilers for series 3 episodes 4, 7, 13 and a beyond-character-spoiler for series 3 episode 13; also warnings for violence (battle and wounds)
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, I just borrow the characters and play a little with them.
Summary: I’ll just post the prompt here: In order to help Arthur heal faster for whatever reason, Merlin does a spell in which Arthur's wounds are transferred to him.
Author's Notes (A/N): Written for merlinxarthur 's fanfic challenge #4. I hope I did everything right. Enjoy!
Enduring Wounds of Woefulness
The noise of courageous battle cries had faded long ago and only the sound of clashing swords was now audible. From time to time arrows filled the air, some of them burning, and if one stopped after slaying an enemy and listened closely, they could hear men crying out as they were dying. Dead bodies covered the ground and the scent of death and blood dominated the battlefield.
It seemed as if Camelot would win, having momentarily more men alive and standing on the battlefield. The other army was more or less repelled and Arthur was confident that soon this fight would be over and they could return to Camelot. Back home he could finally rest, without worry of another attack. His muscles wouldn’t hurt anymore and his whole body wouldn’t feel so tense and heavy. He wouldn’t be covered in sweat and blood anymore, wouldn’t have to wear his armour all the time.
Arthur cut his opponent’s throat and let his gaze wander over all the dead bodies, searching for his men. Where was Sir Leon? He needed to find someone who could tell him exactly how the situation was. He turned around and saw a man with the Pendragon crest walking towards him. Sir Elyan. Arthur moved his feet in order to meet him halfway. He didn’t seem to be greatly injured apart from a cut on his arm that didn’t look very deep. That was good. God knew what Gwen would do if her brother died in battle.
“Arthur!”
Suddenly there was pain - terrible pain radiating from his chest. Arthur felt hot blood soaking his layers of clothing and armour. There was a man standing in front of him and his sword cut Arthur in several places, before Elyan was there and drove his sword into the man’s back.
For Arthur these events passed in a blur. The edges of his vision were already dark and he sank to the ground. As he lay there between the other corpses, trying to prevent his strength from leaving him, he felt Elyan kneel beside him, grasping his shoulders. He probably said something because his mouth was moving but Arthur couldn’t hear any sound coming from Elyan’s lips. The pain was too strong and at that moment his world only consisted of his aching body.
And then everything went black.
~~ * ~~
Merlin was grinding some plant thoroughly with pestle and mortar just like Gaius had shown him when Gwen burst into the room. She was short of breath and clutching her stomach, trying to force more air into her lungs. Merlin approached her and saw in her face that something wasn’t right. She looked concerned and it surely wasn’t because of the run she had just fulfilled.
“What’s happened Gwen? Did they receive word from the battle?”
Gwen shook her head and tried to speak. Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Calm down, Gwen.”
After some moments she spluttered, “They are back. They have been seen appearing at the border of the forest. They will arrive in the courtyard every minute now.”
For a few seconds, Merlin couldn’t do anything but stare at her.
“How many are dead?”
Gwen shook her head again.
“I don’t know.”
~~ * ~~
Merlin was standing at a window in Arthur’s chambers, eyes fixed on the entrance to the courtyard.
Arthur was back. Finally he had returned. The last weeks had been horrible for Merlin since Arthur had forbidden him to accompany or follow them. Arthur had said that Merlin’s place wasn’t in a battle and that he was useless with a weapon anyways. Merlin had wanted to explain to him that he could fight, only that his weapon was different from their swords and axes. Of course he hadn’t.
Sir Leon was the first to enter the courtyard. He looked tired and exhausted and so did all those that followed him. Merlin wondered why Arthur didn’t lead the men but maybe it was to prevent him from being killed by any attackers on their way home. Merlin spotted Lancelot and Percival and none of them looked happy in the slightest way which wasn’t a surprise, seeing that they were returning from battle. Their armour and weapons weren’t shining but covered with blood and mud.
Elyan and Gwaine came into sight but Merlin’s smile froze halfway when he saw the body draped over the horse between them. The golden hair had lost its brightness and was soaked with sweat and also blood. The body moved to the rhythm of the horse, up and down. Merlin wanted to run into the courtyard, cradle the limp body in his arms and do something. Anything to save his prince. This just couldn’t be real. Arthur couldn’t have died, he was Arthur. He was supposed to build Albion and ... and ...
Tears blurred Merlin’s view but he could see how Percival took Arthur from his horse and carried him towards Uther who was still standing on the stairs, incapable of moving like Merlin.
Arthur couldn’t be dead. But then again, Merlin hadn’t fulfilled his destiny when he had stayed in Camelot. He should have stood by Arthur’s side, helped him - rescued him. Desperate sobs filled Arthur’s chambers. It was all Merlin’s fault.
Merlin observed surprised how Percival didn’t stop in front of Uther but kept walking on into the castle. Gwaine, Elyan and Lancelot followed him and Leon spoke to Uther. Merlin turned around and went to inform Gaius of what had happened.
~~ * ~~
When Merlin entered the physician’s chambers, Gwaine was standing there, talking to Gaius. At the sound of the door opening, they both looked at Merlin. Gwaine quickly crossed the room and took him into his arms. Merlin willed his tears back and returned the hug.
“Arthur’s been gravely injured.”
What?
“Not dead?”
“No, Merlin, he’s not dead. But we have to hurry. They’re bringing him into his chambers.” Gaius had already grabbed a whole basket of things and Merlin quickly followed him out the door.
~~ * ~~
“We have to undress him. I can’t see anything when he’s still in all these layers of armour.”
Merlin automatically reached for the lacings and began to untie them. Elyan, Gwaine and Lancelot were sent away to rest. Gwen was too because Gaius knew she wanted to talk to Elyan and Lancelot. She would be distracted and in shock if she were to help them. Uther was sitting at the table, still not capable of moving and Percival was helping Merlin, lifting Arthur when Merlin told him to so that Merlin could remove everything. When only Arthur’s undergarments remained, Percival was dismissed too. Merlin removed the last layers of clothing and began cleaning Arthur’s body. The blond didn’t even wince at the contact of cloth and wounds and Merlin had to keep himself from shedding tears. It just wouldn’t do to cry in front of Uther.
Gaius took a closer look while Merlin went to fetch fresh water and when he returned, Gaius was still trickling some essence onto the wounds. When he was finished, Merlin took care of the bandages and Gaius explained Arthur’s condition to Uther. Merlin was glad they remained in Arthur’s chambers because he too wanted to know how serious this all was.
“My lord, let’s start with the most dangerous wound: the stab into the chest. It wasn’t deep enough to kill your son, thanks to the armour and his opponent’s bad aiming accuracy. But he has lost a lot of blood because of it and some of his ribs have been damaged as well from the blow as from the ride home. The cut in his left thigh and the one in his left arm are not as deep as the first one but if the knights hadn’t stopped the bleedings there, your son would already be dead. The slice in his right cheek isn’t bad at all and will remain as a scar but nothing more.”
“He will live?”
Uther’s tear-filled eyes were full of hope and Merlin himself felt a weight being lifted of his heart. Gaius however didn’t sound too joyful when he answered.
“It is likely, yes. But it will take a lot of time and be very painful for Arthur.”
“But he will live?”
“Yes, if no serious infection occurs, he will live.”
Uther’s face lit up and after placing a gentle kiss to Arthur’s forehead, he left to tell everyone the (relatively) good news.
“Don’t dress him, Merlin, it will only be hindering when we have to change the bandages. But make sure he’s warm. Thank the Gods it’s spring and not winter.”
~~ * ~~
Merlin refused to leave Arthur’s chambers. He wanted to stay by his side and take care of him because he didn’t trust anyone else with it. Only in the afternoon did he sleep while Gaius was looking after Arthur. But even then Merlin remained in Arthur’s chambers, curling up on the floor next to his master’s bed.
~~ * ~~
Every morning and every evening Merlin had to exchange the old bandages which were soaked with sweat and slightly red, with new, clean ones. He always feared that some time during this action a huge amount of blood would spill from one of the gashes and Arthur would die because of him.
He still hadn’t been conscious so far and the way his skin looked pale and not at all golden as it used to was scaring Merlin. It seemed that with every day Arthur slipped away a little more and Merlin couldn’t stop him, couldn’t force him to stay. Gaius said that Merlin was imagining things because after only a few days Arthur’s condition couldn’t have improved.
It was still the same after two weeks. Arthur was motionless except for his breathing and that was shallow. The colour had drained from his lips and he didn’t look at all like his former self. He looked small and broken whereas he should be the golden warrior who was invincible.
Every day someone came and asked about his condition - knights, visiting nobles, maidens, servants, squires. Merlin never let anyone in because he knew Arthur wouldn’t want to be seen like this and Merlin didn’t want anyone near Arthur he didn’t know. Arthur’s injuries were a welcome weakness of Camelot for other kingdoms.
~~ * ~~
It was not like Merlin didn’t sleep at all. He knew he had to be awake and alert when he trickled drops of different potions into Arthur’s mouth and when he put salves onto his wounds. But he couldn’t help waking up during sleep, scared that Arthur still wasn’t getting better but worse. Most times he didn’t dream at all and when he did, nightmares full of Arthur dying in battle with blood spattering everywhere or Arthur dying lonely and weak in his bed filled his mind. Sometimes it was just images of them from the past, memories.
How Arthur had made fun of his ears but always with a hint of friendliness.
How they had been out hunting with Merlin being too noisy every time so that they only managed to bring two or three rabbits back to Camelot.
The two of them lying in the grass in summer, the sun warming their bodies and Arthur throwing blades of grass and daisies at Merlin’s face.
Arthur drunk after a banquet, having to lean against Merlin in order to be able to walk to his chambers.
Merlin watching Arthur during training or tournaments, admiring his strength and persistence.
When Merlin woke, there usually was a damp patch on his tunic or the floor and he knew he had cried during sleep.
~~ * ~~
Gaius didn’t approve of Merlin’s behaviour.
“You need to rest properly, sleep longer than three hours. It’s not healthy. And speaking of health, you need to eat more again, Merlin.”
“I’m not hungry. I already have to force most of it down my throat. It doesn’t taste like anything.”
Merlin turned to Arthur again and began to carefully scatter a grey ointment onto the wounds.
“Merlin, I know he means a lot to you but - ”
“No, Gaius, you don’t know anything.” There wasn’t any trace of malignity in his voice, just tiredness. “It’s been four weeks. How much longer is it going to take until he at least wakes up? I don’t expect him to jump around and be joyful, I just want to know he’s more than a breathing corpse.”
“He is healing, boy. It’s just not that evident.”
“It’s not evident at all.”
Gaius placed a hand onto Merlin’s shoulder. “He will get better.”
~~ * ~~
Merlin was administering Arthur soup spoon after spoon like he always did, when Uther entered the chambers.
“How is my son?”
Merlin put the soup away and bowed.
“Gaius says his condition’s improving. If you want to know the details, you best ask him, my lord.”
Uther nodded and approached Arthur. He sat down on the bed, took one of Arthur’s hands and kissed it.
“My son, I need you to get well again.”
Merlin went to check on the fire and clean the room where he could.
“Sir Leon is training the knights and they’re doing quite well from what I hear but they need you. This kingdom needs you. I know I’m not always easy and just but you’re my son. I love you and I - ”
A quiet sob was audible.
~~ * ~~
part 2