The Tidy Room - Chapter 1

It wasn't exactly what Merlin had planned to do when he started but looking around the room he had to admit he was surprised with the difference it had made. Everything was clean and dust free and actually in a sensible, easy to reach place. He felt sure Gaius would like it...well mainly sure...though a little niggling doubt began to creep stealthily into his brain.

"What if he prefers it as it was, after all these are his rooms and he's used them for many years." The small fear of having made a mistake had now moved into a complete terror that he had totally done the wrong thing. "You idiot" he thought to himself "Of course Gaius wouldn't want this, he loves his disorderly room. You need to put it all back to how it was."

Merlin started to do just that, moving back a bottle of disgustingly smelly potion next to the fresh herbs he had collected earlier that day. But then another small voice in his head began to nudge him "No, leave it all, it will be okay. Gaius will love it. It will make life so much easier for him after the accident. It will mean he can begin to work again sooner. When he's better he will understand why you did it and he will appreciate it."

Standing in the middle of the large room; another bottle of something unspeakably vile clasped in his hand; Merlin felt empty. The enormity of what had happened suddenly hit him. Gaius. The accident. The helplessness he had felt when he had realised that there was nothing he could do to help. Gaius was miles away at the border village. His friend was hurt and that he, Merlin, had been unable to protect him. And worst of all; the unspoken fear that Gaius was already dead.

When the messenger had arrived, telling of the old physicians fall from the horse and his severe injuries, Merlin had been inconsolable. A few days before an urgent plea had come from a far flung village. They had a severe outbreak of sweating sickness and they had begged for the King to send his physician. Gaius immediately agreed to go. He had even said that he was looking forward to the fresh air and the break from routine. Merlin wanted to go with him but Gaius had refused. It had been a while since the last magical attack on the Kingdom and that made the old man nervous. Merlin was needed to protect Camelot and Arthur. After all Arthur had sent four soldiers to accompany him on the journey and to offer any help he needed whilst there. What could go wrong?

Well nothing for the first three days apparently. But then Gaius had ridden out to the isolated Manor House to bring them the medicines and for some reason he had chosen to do so alone. He had left the village at dawn before the others were awake. The soldiers were not immediately worried when the physician did not join them for breakfast; he was usually up very late tending to the patients and so often slept in a little. But when it became time for the sick to receive their medicines and Gaius had still not emerged from his small hut they grew concerned and went to wake him. Only to find his room empty and his bed cold.

They had set out to search for him at once but it was five long hours before one of them stumbled onto the rough pathway that eventually lead to the Manor and discovered the aged man lying on the ground. His left leg was twisted under him in a completely unnatural position but it was the gaping head wound that drew the soldiers attention. A three inch gash had split open his forehead and already a furious looking purple and black bruise had formed all around it. Blood pooled around Gaius's white hair and down his all too still face. The gentle mare that he usually rode was dead beside him; a look of pain and anguish on her face and a horribly broken foreleg as proof of her fall.

The chief soldier, Lucan, had hurriedly put the unconscious man onto his horse and had ridden straight back to the village. The inhabitants did what they could. One of the women, using her knowledge of herbs and potions had managed to set his broken leg and bind the cut on his head. But Gaius had remained unconscious for two whole days. Eventually the four soldiers decided that the best thing would be to build a bier and carefully bring Gaius home to Camelot. Lucan rode out ahead of the others to inform the King of their decision and the rest had followed as soon as Gaius had been made comfortable to travel.

Merlin's reaction to the messenger's news had been instant. Barely had the exhausted Lucan relayed his tidings than the manservant had run out of the Great Hall and begun to make his way down to the stables. One thought in mind; to ride to Gaius and offer what healing (magical or otherwise) he could.

However, as he was saddling the horse he normally rode, he heard a voice behind him. Arthur.

"Merlin, I think it would be better if you stay here. I understand why you want to go, I really do but we are not sure of the path they will take on their journey home and you may miss them." Arthur moved a little closer to Merlin; almost reaching out to touch him as he spoke. "I am worried too but honestly it would be better if you stayed here and prepared for his arrival. They will only be one more day I am sure and Gaius will need you to be ready to care for him. Not lost in the forest searching for him"

Merlin stopped; realisation of the truth of Arthur's words slowly permeating into his brain. Much as he desperately wanted to go and find his mentor he knew the King was right. Better to remain and to get ready.

So that is what he had done. He collected herbs, made poultices, prepared bandages and read up on healing spells late into the night. But then there was nothing else to do; all was prepared. His body was exhausted but his mind would not be still. He tried to sleep but whenever he closed his eyes all he could see was Gaius; dead or dying. After an hour of lying in his bed Merlin had given up and instead had begun the clean up to beat all clean ups. He worked furiously through the night and into the next morning; not stopping. He neither ate nor drank, just worked. He did not use his magic. He needed to do all this with his own hands. It felt like the only thing he could do for the man who had taken him in and who loved him as his own.

Burying himself in the task Merlin had been able to keep his fears somewhat at bay; but now the job was done and the terror struck once more. What if Gaius was dead or his injuries were too severe for Merlin to deal with? The youth knew he had some skill as a conventional healer but that his magical abilities in this area were often severely lacking. As the panic set in Merlin's mind searched unconsciously for an escape route and that was when he began to worry about the changes he had made to Gaius's work space and if they been a good idea.

He looked once again at the bottle in his hand and the immaculate room around him and it all finally became too much. His knees gave way and he crumpled to the ground; only the wall behind his back keeping him upright. Clasping his legs to his chest and hugging them tightly he lowered his head and gave into the tears that had been threatening all night.

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