A/N This is the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Special thanks to LyricalSinger for betaing this, and for encouragement throughout.


Overlooked – Chapter 15

Merlin's wakefulness was short-lived. The servant fell back to sleep even before Gaius returned from his deliveries.

That suited the Prince just fine. Arthur reasoned that Merlin had not really been aware enough to remember the hu…what had happened when he'd first woken.

Arthur told himself that he had simply been so startled at hearing his servant's voice that naturally his noble instinct of … protectiveness over his subjects... over one of his many, many subjects … resulted in him throwing his arms … protectively over that subject in case … in case… in case he should fall out of the bed… as of course any Prince would do for one of his subjects in that same situation.

It was certainly and in no way any sort of hug.

Still, Merlin was just the sort of idiot who would mistake Princely duty for some sort of fondness or something. No doubt his servant would also have mistaken Arthur's staying by his side at Gaius' request for the same sort of fondness.

Yes, it was fortunate … for Merlin … that he had fallen back to sleep so quickly, so he would not work himself up over some ridiculous notion.

Arthur nodded to himself, satisfied at his reasoning. Just then the physician arrived, and so Arthur rose from his chair by the patient bed.

"He woke up for a few minutes, Gaius, and he talked to me," the Prince said, trying but completely failing to hide the excitement in his voice. Hoping the physician had not noticed, Arthur rushed on, "He knew who I was, and where he was, and even though he fell straight back to sleep; that means he will be fine, doesn't it?"

Gaius smiled broadly, not fooled in the least by Arthur's attempts to hide his real feelings. "Yes, I'm certain he will, Sire.

"And when Merlin wakes, you may tell him that I am glad I was able to stop him from falling out of the bed," Arthur said as he headed to the door.

Suddenly he stopped and spun to face the physician again. "No on second thought, don't tell him that," the Prince said urgently, not wanting Merlin to remember the event. "I …would not want him to worry that he was almost injured, when nothing actually happened."

Gaius chuckled, "Yes Sire," he said, "I will be sure to NOT tell him anything of the sort."

Arthur nodded, "Good. That's good," he said. "You may tell him,… that I will be back later to see how he is faring. That would be fine."

Happy that his… protective instincts….would be kept secret, Arthur left the room.

Gaius could not hold back a laugh once the door closed behind the Prince. "Merlin, my boy, if you only knew," he said to his sleeping ward.


Merlin woke again just as the Steward arrived bringing in a large pot of soup along with some still-warm bread that the cook had pushed at him for 'that poor young man'.

"You'd better make sure you eat every bit of that," said the Steward. "Cook will surely be asking me about it, and I do not want to give a bad report."

Merlin smiled wearily, "I'll do my best, Sir," he said, taking the spoon after Gaius helped him to sit up and set a bowl on a tray in front of him.

"See that you do, lad," the Steward said. "Cook is… quite frightening really," he added waggling his eyebrows and causing Merlin's smile to grow . "Now I must go, but George will be here in a little while to collect the dishes."

"Thank you," said Merlin between bites.

The soup was good and the bread even better, and the young warlock had soon finished his bowl and two pieces of bread, much to Gaius' approval.

"Now, let's see if you can stay awake and sitting up for a little while," the physician said, clearing the dishes away. "If you manage it to my satisfaction, then I might let you go up to your own room for the rest of the afternoon."

"I can do it," said Merlin, his eyes glistening with hope. He hated the idea of sleeping in the patient bed now that he considered himself to be on the mend. He already felt a lot stronger just for having eaten.

Gaius stared at him for a moment, as though to make sure he would not nod off, but when Merlin looked back at him with a small smile, Gaius pulled down a book describing some rare healing plants and handed it to the boy. "This will help keep you occupied," he said.


Merlin had been awake for almost an hour when Percival came through the door bearing an armload of firewood.

"Merlin, I'm glad to see you awake," the large knight said, stopping briefly to greet his friend before going to stack the wood in its corner.

"You've come just in time to help Merlin get to his room," Gaius said. The physician was relieved the knight had arrived just then. Merlin had proven that he was ready to be transferred to his own bed, but the boy's strength was rapidly waning, and it was doubtful that he would be able to make it there unaided.

"I'd be happy to," said Percival with a smile, glad for the opportunity to do something for his friend.

Merlin gave what was very close to a pout, and said, "I can get there on my own." But when Percival and the physician helped him to stand, Merlin's wobbling told a different story, and the boy allowed himself to be supported as he made his way up the stairs. By the time he was settled into his own bed Merlin was exhausted, not that he was going to admit it to anyone.

"Gaius, I left my book downstairs," the young servant said, having found the excuse he'd been looking for. "But since it would be too much trouble for one of you to go and bring it all the way back here, I guess I might as well just rest for now. I will go down to get it later on."

"You will do no such thing, my boy," said Gaius, fixing the warlock with a stern look. "Well, yes, you will rest, but you will not be getting out of that bed again today, or even tomorrow. I forbid it!" he added.

Merlin gave only the slightest hint of a frown, but he quickly decided that he had no real desire to do otherwise, at least not yet, and so held his tongue.

"Now, I want you to take these," said Gaius, grabbing the bottles he had placed on the bedside table when they had come upstairs, and handing them to Merlin. "Finish every last drop and I don't want to hear any arguments about it."

Percival laughed when Merlin grumbled something about the vile taste, but the boy quickly did as he'd been told, and began to nod off even before he had finished the last drops.

Gaius managed to rescue the bottle before it could slip out of Merlin's now slack hand, and with a smile he gently laid his sleeping ward onto his pillow and pulled up the blankets. "


Merlin slept for most of the rest of that day and the next, but he had longer and longer periods of wakefulness during which the knights, Gwen and Arthur took turns visiting.

Gaius was careful to keep the visits short and quiet, as he did not want risk his ward relapsing. As a result of the spell that Merlin had used, the physician knew that the boy would need extra time to recover his strength fully.

Merlin hated being idle. By late afternoon of the second day, he'd had enough of being confined to his bed and was already asking for Gaius permission to go back to his duties, something that Gaius naturally refused.

"You are not strong enough yet," Gaius insisted. "You were still a touch feverish at lunchtime. You have to allow yourself to heal."

"Well, can I at least come downstairs for dinner?" Merlin asked peevishly. "It's hard to eat in bed. The tray wobbles and I can't reach my bowl very easily," he complained. "And what if I spill it? It's not like you will let me go to do the laundry."

"Merlin…," Gaius said warningly, not at all swayed by the boy's frustration. "Not tonight."

The physician relented at seeing his ward's disappointment, "But maybe, if you sleep well tonight and have no fever when I check on you in the morning, I might let you come downstairs for breakfast."

Gaius held up his hand when the young warlock broke into a smile. "But only if you promise you will go straight back to your bed afterwards. You will need a lot of sleep for at least the next week, Merlin."

"I promise," he said. "I'll be fine, you will see."


Merlin did not want to take any chance of Gaius denying him, so the next morning the warlock was up and dressed and on his way downstairs before the physician had a chance to come up and check on him.

Gaius' eyebrow rose with obvious disapproval when he saw his ward walking toward the table, a guilty smile on the boy's face.

"Good morning, Gaius," Merlin said. "I…um… felt fine, so I thought it would be better if I came straight downstairs and saved you a trip….?" he ventured. The boy slowed his pace when the physician crossed his arms and scowled at him, but Gaius did not specifically tell him to go back to his bed, so Merlin dropped his eyes and slid into a seat at the table.

The warlock hoped the physician was not too angry; in retrospect maybe it would have been better to wait upstairs in his room after all. He also hoped that Gaius could not tell how hard his heart was beating just from one trip down a few steps.

Gaius kept his glowering focused fully on Merlin for a few moments until the boy hunched his shoulders, suitably chastened. "You were fine…. well, perhaps you could let me be the judge of that," the physician finally said.

Merlin wisely kept his mouth shut as Gaius placed a palm on his forehead. "Good, no fever," the physician confirmed. The physician's lips tightened when he checked the boy's pulse though. "Fast," he said. "Though not unexpectedly."

"So, may I stay downstairs? Maybe do something for you?" Merlin asked hopefully, but based on the look Gaius was giving him, he knew he was not going to like the answer.

"You may stay and eat your breakfast, but then I want you back in your bed, just as I told you last night," the physician said.

"But, I'm feeling so much better than yesterday," Merlin insisted, "Surely I could manage washing bottles for you or something like that."

"You will feel even better tomorrow, but not unless you rest," Gaius said, "And I don't want any more arguments about it, Merlin."


Gaius was sure that Merlin had meant keep to his room, resting as he'd been ordered, but when the young warlock appeared downstairs for the fourth time, asking if he could please just stay for lunch, Gaius could only sigh. Luckily, he had been a physician for too many years not to have a few tricks up his sleeves for dealing with reluctant patients.

So, somewhat to the Merlin's surprise, without any objections, Gaius waved him over to the table and made him sit down. Soon, the physician brought over the pot of soup, and set out some bread and cheese, cutting slices of each for his ward.

"You see, Gaius?" said the young servant as the two finished the last bites of their lunch. "I'm more than ready to be up and about. I've eaten a good lunch, and I don't have any fever." He slowly put his hands under the table to hide their trembling, hoping that the physician had not noticed that bit.

Gaius said nothing, only poured the tea and put away the leftover food. "Hmmm," he said, distractedly.

Merlin drank his tea as he watched his mentor cross over to his workshop and pull out his mortar and pestle, obviously getting ready to make a batch of medication. Finally the boy could not wait any longer, "So?" he asked, "Can I stay and help you?"

"What? No, not today," the old physician said. "Oh, Merlin, I forgot to tell you, I added something to your tea for your throat."

Merlin looked at his now empty cup and jumped up with alarm. "Gaius, please tell me that it's not going to make me sleep…" he said.

"Well, I'm afraid I can't say that. No," said Gaius with an apologetic smile for his ward. "In fact, I should probably help you over to the patient bed, because I don't think you will be able to climb the stairs to your room."

"Gaius! You didn't need to do that. I would have gone to sleep on my own!" Merlin protested as Gaius wrapped the boy's arm over his shoulder and led him over to the bed. Merlin was weaving by the time he reached it, and scowled when he saw a pillow set out and the blanket already pulled down. Gaius had obviously planned for this.

Merlin mumbled some sort of objection, but didn't fight when the physician helped him remove his jacket and pushed him to lie down.

"Honestly my boy, you've given me no choice," Gaius told him, pulling up the blanket. "You may even consider yourself lucky that I did not decide to use the restraints."

Merlin made no answer, since he was already fast asleep.

Gaius watched his ward for a few moments, frowning a bit at the wheezing that had started up again since the morning, but soon headed back to his worktable, trusting that the few hours of sleep he'd just ensured would take care of the problem.


Merlin slept right through the afternoon and on into the early evening, waking well beyond what the dose of sleeping draft would normally have caused. Even the Steward arriving with a platter of ham and potatoes did not cause him to stir, much to the man's amusement; or at least to his amusement once he had been reassured that the boy was indeed on the mend.

It was only once Gaius had returned from his deliveries, thanked Gwen for watching over the slumbering warlock and sent her home that the Merlin finally opened his eyes.

"Gaius, how long have I been asleep?" he asked, rubbing his eyes and pushing himself upright.

"Past time for your dinner," the physician answered. "Let me take a look at you and then you can eat if you are hungry."

Merlin eye's widened in horror when he noticed how dark it had gotten outside the window. "Why did you have to give me something so strong?" he asked, glaring at Gaius as the physician carried out his exam. "It's made me sleep the entire day away again!"

"Look Merlin, I know you are angry at me," Gaius said apologetically as he checked the boy's pulse. He stopped talking so he could listen to Merlin's chest, and was glad to confirm that the wheezing was gone. Straightening again, Gaius reached over to take the candle. "I want to see your throat," he said, amused when his ward opened his mouth as ordered, but had difficulty trying to maintain his glare while he did so.

At last, satisfied that the long rest had done its job, Gaius put the candle back and faced Merlin, a stern expression on his face. "You were not ready to be up and about, and I did what I thought was necessary," he explained.

The warlock's lips tightened, but before he could argue the physician said, "The fact that you've only just woken proves my point, Merlin. That was only a small dose of sleeping draft I gave you."

"But I felt so much better than I did yesterday," Merlin protested. "I'm sure I could have done without it. It's not like I would have asked to do anything strenuous."

Gaius shook his head at the boy's obstinacy, "Yes, of course you are improving, but you cannot tell me that simply coming down the stairs at lunchtime did not leave you practically trembling with fatigue. Don't think I didn't see you hide your hands!"

Merlin held his glare for a few moments, but eventually he lowered his eyes in resignation and sighed. "But it's just that…" he began.

"Merlin, what's the matter?" the physician asked gently. "You will be back to your full strength soon, I promise."

"I know… that's not…" Merlin said shaking his head sadly before looking back up at Gaius accusingly. "Why did you have to tell them?" he asked. "Did you not think that maybe I didn't want them to know, and if I had I would have told them myself?"

"Ah… so you heard that?" answered Gaius, not needing to ask what Merlin meant.

"Yes, I did!" the young servant said, brows furrowing in anger. "It's not their business, and I can take care of myself. I always have before."

Gaius studied his ward for a time, finally coming over to sit beside the boy, only to have Merlin turn his head away. "I'm sorry if you think I've betrayed your trust," the physician said softly. "But I thought your friends needed to know. They need to think twice when they keep you working so hard that you feel you have to resort to spellcasting to stay on your feet."

Merlin only shook his head and dropped his eyes again. "Well, they didn't need to know about that," he said. "Now they'll think…." Merlin trailed off not wanting to admit what he was worried about

Gaius could easily guess though, "You're not… ashamed … of your past, are you?" he asked, "or of your mother? Because you must know that none of it was your fault."

Merlin looked up sharply, "No, of course I'm not!" he snapped back angrily, although the flush beginning to rise in his cheeks belied his words. "It's just that …" he began, only to pause and start fiddling with the blanket.

"Just what?" Gaius prompted when it seemed for a moment like Merlin would not continue.

The young servant signed, "Well, yes. Maybe I am, but is that so surprising?" he asked, letting go of the blanket and looking back up at Gaius. "Growing up, I was told every single day of my life how worthless I was, that I was not as good as other people's children, that I was not even worth feeding! 'Let's get Merlin to do that, it doesn't really matter if he gets hurt after all,'" Merlin imitated. "And it's bad enough here already without everybody knowing about that too."

"I can only imagine how terrible it was," Gaius said, trying to calm his ward.

"No you can't imagine, Gaius," Merlin countered. "They already just think of me as a clumsy idiot. Now they'll add 'invalid' and… and… 'bastard' to the list."

"Oh, Merlin, I don't think they will think any less of you for taking ill," Gaius tried again.

Merlin did not even seem to have heard though. "They're probably having a good laugh at my expense," he continued, getting carried away in his imaginings. "'Poor Arthur, better go and tuck your servant in because the boy is probably too weak to pull up his own blankets' or 'Merlin do you need help carrying the Prince's lunch? Those sausages are awfully heavy.'"

Gaius tutted, and patted the boy's knee in sympathy, but couldn't help a small chuckle from escaping at hearing Merlin's musings.

Even Merlin realized that his imagination had conjured up an unlikely scenario. "I'm sorry, Gaius," he said coming out of his rant with a slight smile, "I'm just feeling sorry for myself, but I just wish… that even once, I'd be the one that mattered. You know?"

Gaius stood and smiled down at his ward. "Merlin, you did not see the state your friends were in when you were lying here delirious with fever," he said, "You do matter, very much if I'm any judge."

The servant looked up, not quite believing it.

"And you matter very much to me too," Gaius said. "I don't care how busy I am, or you are, for that matter. If you are ill, you must tell me and I will make the time to help you. Is that understood?"

Merlin nodded, "Yes, Gaius," he answered meekly, his heart warmed by the caring in his mentor's words.

"Good. I'm glad that is settled. And I also want you to promise that you will never use that spell on yourself again, Merlin." the physician added, holding his ward's eyes.

"I…" Merlin said, and hesitated, uncertain of whether he would be able to honour it.

"Merlin… Promise me." Gaius insisted.

The young warlock saw the worry in his mentor's eyes, and thought back to how he had felt when he had cast the masking spell, remembering also how he horrible had felt when it had worn off. "Yes, I promise, Gaius," he said with a shudder, deciding that he never wanted to feel that way again.

The physician smiled with relief and motioned that the boy should head over to the table for some dinner. "Arthur was the worst of them all," Gaius said softly as Merlin took a seat, "And if I'm not mistaken he is about to let you know about it," he added, cocking his head towards the door so Merlin would notice that the Prince was now striding towards them."


"Sire, I did not expect to see you back from Westmoor already," the physician said as Arthur joined them. "Have you come to see me or Merlin?"

"Oh I have definitely come to see you, Gaius," the Prince answered. "Although now that I am here, I might as well check on my servant at the same time," he added, as if in afterthought.

Gaius smiled, "Just give me a moment to serve him some supper then, and I'll be right with you," he said, ladling out some stew onto the warlock's plate and pushing it toward him.

"Merlin, I'm glad to see you awake," Arthur said, watching his servant eat. "You are certainly looking better than you did yesterday."

"Yes, I'm getting there," Merlin answered. "I'm sure Gaius will be letting me back to work soon, won't you Gaius?" he asked pointedly, looking up at the physician.

Gaius ignored Merlin's question, instead turning to face the Prince. "Sire, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"For me?" Arthur asked, furrowing his brows slightly in confusion. "Oh, right, for me," he continued, remembering his excuse for being in the chambers. "Gaius, I find myself in need of some liniment. I seem to have hurt my wrist somehow during our journey today."

Gaius rummaged in a drawer for a jar of ointment, and brought it over to where the Prince was standing. He waited for Arthur to remove a glove, or raise the sleeve of his arm in order to expose the injury, but when the Prince did neither the physician asked, "May I take a look, Sire?"

The Prince looked startled at the question, but finally rolled up the sleeve of his right hand. "It doesn't look much, I know," he admitted, "but it hurts quite a bit, and since it is my sword hand, I thought it would be best to get something for it…"

"Very wise indeed," Sire, said Gaius with a nod. As expected, he found no sign of injury, but went ahead and spread the pungent smelling mixture on Arthur's wrist without admitting it. "There you are, Sire. It should be fine in the morning as long as you are careful with it."

Arthur flexed his hand a few times, "Yes, that already feels much better, Gaius."

The physician simply nodded, and said "I have no doubt, Sire," trying not give in to laughter, before picking up a cloth and wiping off his hands. Laying the cloth back on the table, he asked, "Sire, if I might ask a favour?"

"Certainly, Gaius," answered the Prince, "Whatever I can do to help."

"Well could you stay with Merlin for a short time? I would like to take a last look at Lord Owen's baby, since they are due to leave tomorrow morning."

Merlin looked up sharply from where he had been eating his stew and trying to ignore Arthur. "Gaius, he does not need to stay. I'm just going to sit and eat, and I don't need a minder," he protested.

"No, it's fine, Merlin," Arthur said, "It would be better if I stayed for a little while until this liniment takes hold, anyway, wouldn't it Gaius?"

"Oh, certainly, Sire," answered the physician, trying hard to keep his professional mask in place. "I was just about to say that it would give me a chance to check your wrist again once I returned."

"There, you see, Merlin?" asked the Prince. "I need to stay anyway."

"Fine, stay then," grumbled the young servant, "But I'm fine."

Neither young man saw Gaius' smile as his picked up his medical bag and got ready to leave the chambers. The physician knew Merlin's reluctance to be left alone with the Prince was due to his embarrassment that the Prince knew about his childhood. But he also knew that Arthur was feeling guilty over having missed the signs of his servant's worsening illness. As Gaius closed the door behind him, he trusted that the young men would soon work things out.


Arthur stood watching Merlin eat for a time, looking at him with a sad sort of frown on his face. The Prince searched for the right words to say to his servant, but all that came out was "Well then, how is the stew?"

Merlin, who had been avoiding looking at the Prince, looked up with surprise, "It's …um… good. Steward keeps bringing meals by, but I'm not sure why. Gaius usually cooks for us and I don't think we are short on food."

"I'm sure he is feeling guilty that he kept you working at preparing for the feasts even though you were ill," Arthur said, stepping closer to the table and taking the seat across from his servant.

Merlin frowned, "Why would he feel that way?" he asked, perplexed. "After all, it is my job, and I told him I was okay to stay and do it."

"But you weren't, were you Merlin?" Arthur said, "Okay, I mean. And, I did not realize it either…" The Prince pursed his lips and sighed, not quite knowing how to continue.

Merlin looked back at Arthur, unsure if he was supposed to answer the question or not.

Arthur looked down at the table, his guilt not letting him look Merlin in the eyes, "Gaius said you had been ill for a few days before we found you on the way to Milton,…and so I … also wanted to apologize," he finally managed to get out. "For not noticing…sooner."

"Oh, um… apology accepted," answered Merlin, though he was still confused over why anyone would feel guilty over his illness. After all, the young warlock considered that he shouldered most of the blame all by himself.

"But Merlin…. why didn't you just tell me you were not feeling well?" Arthur asked, and much to the servant's surprise, the Prince looked hurt. "Did you think I would force you to work anyway?"

"No, not really," Merlin answered with a shake of his head once he'd thought it over for a moment. "And, well, I wanted to tell you, but there were so many other servants already away, and then… the refugees…. and the knight's dinner and the feast and then I botched up getting the cloaks you were counting on….and…" Merlin stammered.

Arthur's frown had deepened at every new item Merlin added to the list and finally the Prince had heard enough. "Merlin, stop!" he cut in sharply, holding up a hand. Shaking his head he added more gently, "The work would have been done. We would have found a way that didn't involve you half-killing yourself."

"But Arthur, there just wasn't anyone else, and I and didn't want to bother you over my problems. You have plenty of bigger things to worry about and, I mean, I'm just…" Merlin tried to explain.

Arthur held up his hands again, "Don't say it, Merlin. Just stop alright?" he said, cutting his servant off again.

"But...," Merlin tried to explain, snapping his mouth shut when Arthur glared at him and waved him to silence.

The Prince heaved a sigh as Merlin dropped his gaze again. "Merlin, I need you to listen to me," he said carefully, waiting for his servant to look up before continuing. "I am a Prince, and now Regent for a King. That means I often need to make decisions for the good of a whole village or town or even for the whole kingdom. It's… difficult … since sometimes that means that some people will suffer for the good of the rest. It's inevitable and I hate that, but it is my job."

Merlin nodded, uncertain about what this had to do with him taking ill.

Arthur sat back in his chair, but his eyes never left Merlin's. "I've come to count on you to tell me when I've crossed a line," the Prince said gesturing towards his servant. "When I fall back into old habits and don't consider everyone's concerns."

"When you are being a prat, you mean?" answered Merlin with a twitch of his lips.

Arthur smiled too, appreciating his servant's attempt to lighten the mood. "Exactly," he said with a nod. "But the thing is, when we first met, I was a prat intentionally. I admit it freely! Now I try not to be. Do you understand?"

Merlin looked at him for a moment and then shook his head, "Um, no, not really…" he admitted.

"What I mean is that I need you to tell me even when it's your concerns I'm not considering," Arthur said.

When Merlin looked at him doubtfully, Arthur sighed. "Look, I know I may not be very observant when it comes to you. But I don't ever want you to feel that your own needs are less important than mine… than anyone else's. So, you might have to tell me you are not well, but I would never expect or even want you to put something as trivial as a dinner or … or some gifts, ahead of your own health. Those other things are not as important to me as you are, can you understand that?"

Merlin's eyes had misted at Arthur's unexpected admission. "Yes, Sire," he whispered.

"Good, so then do you promise you will tell me the next time you are ill, or hurt, or … in any way not up to carrying out your duties?" Arthur asked.

Smiling at the fact that he'd be made to give a very similar promise to Gaius less than an hour earlier, Merlin said, "Yes, I'll tell you, I promise."

"Well, now that's settled, you'd better finish your stew," Arthur said, changing the subject back to more mundane matters, "I would not want you to eat it cold."


It was a full week before Gaius pronounced Merlin fit enough to leave the physician's chambers and resume light duties.

During his recovery, the young servant continued to sleep for much of the time, although Gaius did permit him to spend his time downstairs when he was not resting. He spent his time awake in helping Gaius prepare medications, receiving visits from the Arthur, Gwen and the knights, and happily reading his book on magic.

George came by most days, usually bringing some armour which they polished together. Merlin came to enjoy those visits, finding it reassuring to carry out the familiar task, and loving George's funny stories about what it was like to grow up as a castle servant.

And, although his forced confinement had been less boring than he had expected, Merlin was looking forward to his first day back at work.


Merlin was just finishing up his breakfast on that first day, when Arthur arrived at the door.

"Sire, what are you doing here?" Merlin asked, surprised. "I know I've been away for a week, but I swear did not forget where your rooms are," he said. "And I'm not even late."

Arthur ignored the question and strode over to the table. "Hello Gaius," he said acknowledging the physician with a grin, before turning to his servant. "Come on, Merlin. We've got to going."

"Going? Where?" Merlin asked worriedly. "Nobody told me to get ready for a patrol, and even if they had, you know I've not been allowed out of these chambers before today, so how would I have been supposed to arrange for it?" he said, getting up from the table with a frown.

"That's okay, Merlin. It's not a patrol. It's … a visit," Arthur said, trying to be reassuring.

Unfortunately, his attempt didn't work and Merlin became even more agitated. "A visit?" asked the servant, "Who are we visiting?" Merlin glared at the Prince and groaned, "Don't tell me I have to pack up all of your royal wardrobe-y type things. That will take ages…. You should have told me bef….."

Arthur cut him off before he could get any more wound up. Grinning he said, "No, it's not a royal visit. It's just a few days at a nearby village."

"What? Where?" Merlin was starting to feel that he was missing something. The feeling only increased when he heard the door to the infirmary open behind him, and he turned to see Leon, Lancelot, Gwaine and Elyan enter the room wearing their new cloaks.

"Merlin, are you not ready yet?" Lancelot asked with a smile.

"Ready for what?" the young servant asked in exasperation. His confusion heightened when the knights and Arthur all began to chuckle. Merlin looked over at Gaius who was still seated at the table, but his mentor was no help, only sporting a broad grin of his own.

Merlin was just about to push someone, anyone to explain, when Gwen and Percival rushed in also wearing their new cloaks. The young servant could only shake his head in confusion.

"Sorry, Arthur," said Percival, breathlessly. "It took me a while to find your Uncle, but he should be just behind us."

A few moments later, a scowling Lord Agravaine entered the room, carrying several large parcels.

"Ahh, Uncle, At last!" Arthur said, "Did you get everything?"

"Yes, I had to go back twice," he said with a scowl. "And I really don't think this is appropriate…." he began, only to be cut off when Arthur waved him to silence.

"Uncle, this is my will," Arthur said firmly, his eyes narrowing to show that he would not tolerate any type of argument on whatever this wish was.

By this time Merlin was so confused, he could only look from person to person to person, mouth hanging open and unable to even formulate a question. Finally he sputtered out, "Arthur, what's going on….?"

Arthur came back to join his servant who was still standing by the table. "Well, Merlin, it has come to my attention that your outerwear is not suitable for the type of visit that we are making," the Prince said loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear. Then, dropping his voice he teased, "it's actually not suited for any type of winter errand, is it?" and returning to his previous tone he added, "And so I wish to remedy that situation."

Arthur gestured to Agravaine that his Uncle should come into the room and set the parcels down on the table. Once the Lord had reluctantly done so, Arthur said to his servant softly, "I wish you to have this as a gift, Merlin."

The young warlock looked at the Prince, who nodded that he should go ahead and unwrap the largest bundle. Merlin untied the strings and unfolded the wrapping, only to gasp in surprise at the beautiful blue cloth that appeared, soft under his fingertips. Pulling the garment out further, the boy could see that it was a finely woven wool cloak, dyed blue and lined with sheepskin.

"There, that should keep you warm the next time I send you out on an errand in the winter," Arthur said with a smile. "But you'll need these too," he added, pushing the other two packages to his servant.

One of these held a pair of fur-lined leather gloves and the other, a pair of new boots, which Merlin kept picking up and putting down as though he could not believe they were his.

"Now, put them on because we need to get going," Arthur said with a laugh, pulling Merlin out of his admiration of his new clothes.

"You haven't said where, yet," said Merlin suspiciously, but he started to pull on the boots, giving a sigh of contentment on finding how warm and comfortable they were.

"Well, we have a delivery to make," Arthur said, and all of the knights began to smile. "The collection for Westmoor was so successful that we have enough left to provide a donation to a small village just near the border," he explained. He led Merlin over to the window where eight pack horses laden with food could be seen waiting.

"It is a welcome gift for a town which has recently been annexed to Camelot; a town called Ealdor," the Prince said, watching for his servant's reaction. "I believe you know the place?"

Merlin's mouth had dropped open, "Really?" he cried out in surprise. "You would do that?" he said, looking out the window at the waiting horses again. "That's enough food to last the whole winter!" he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Arthur laughed, "Yes, that's the general idea," he said, "Starting with a Yule feast which we will hold for the town tonight," he added. "That is, if we ever get underway!"

Merlin had to wipe the tears from his eyes, "Thank you, Sire. This means more to me than you can ever know," he said.

The Prince turned serious once more. "This is the very least I can do to reward the loyalty you have always shown me, Merlin. I should have done it long before now, and I can only apologize that I have not."

After allowing his servant a few moments to regain his composure, Arthur said. "Now get your new cloak on, and let's go and wish your mother a Happy Yule."


That's it! Done!

Thanks to everyone who has seen this story through to its end, and special thanks to anyone who leaves a review. I really appreciate your support.

I have another angsty one partly written but to be honest, I think I'm going to take a break and write something a bit happier next