I don't own anything yada yada yada.

The sun shone through the small window in Merlin's room, causing a patch of sunlight to shine down on Merlin's face, warming his cheek. He grunted and slid out of bed, much to his annoyance. A clear line of pain shot through his head and he had to clench his teeth to stop himself crying out. He slid on his shirt and trousers and hoped down the steps to the main room.

"Good morning, Merlin," Gaius said, not raising his eyes from the draught he was preparing.

"Morning."

"You don't seam too chirpy this morning," Gaius commented. He turned around to look Merlin up and down.

"Uh."

"What's the matter?"

"My head."

"What's the matter with it?" Gaius seamed interested.

"What does it matter? I'm off." Merlin sleepily made his way to the door.

"Merlin." Merlin turned. "Come here a second, you don't look too good." Merlin walked over to Gaius and Gaius placed his hand on his forehead. "Hhmm. No, no, no. You certainly are not well. You shouldn't go anywhere today, Merlin. It won't do you any good."

"I'm fine." Merlin lied.

"I still do not approve of this."

"I'll be fine, Gaius. Bye." Merlin set off once more. He slammed the door behind him.

"I do hope so, Merlin." Gaius muttered to himself.

"MERLIN!" Merlin could hear Arthur's angry voice halfway down the hall. He turned his steady walk into a run, which did not help his head. The pain in his head had streached down to his neck in the short space of about ten minutes and it was not comfortable for him and he found himself wondering if there was something wrong with him.

Merlin threw open the door to see Arthur fully dressed with his back to the door.

"Finally!" Arthur said angrily. He still had his back to Merlin and was fiddling with his sword.

"Sire." Arthur spun around with an angry expression on his face. When he saw Merlin, his expression immediatley softened.

"Merlin, are you feeling alright?" Merlin was utterly shocked. He didn't look that bad did he?

"Yes, Sire."

"Liar." Merlin didn't know what to say. He just took up Arthur's laundry and began to walk out. Arthur's eyes followed him all the way around the room.

"What?" Merlin asked.

"Your going alot slower than usual. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Sire." Merlin excited the room. Once he was back in the hallway, he placed one hand against a wall to steady himself. The whole time he was in Arthur's room, he felt awful. Now he was out of sight of Arthur, he stood still so that the room would stop spinning. He stood there for a good five minutes and then he decided that he would have to move on, light-headed or not.

He stumbled down the hallway. He hadn't gone far when he bumped into Gwen. He had dropped the laundry and was leaning against the wall when she saw him.

"Merlin, are you okay?" She asked kindly. He nodded, not wanting to interupt her duties. He jestured with his hand for her to walk past. She didn't. She approached him and picked up Arthur's laundry and added it to her own pile.

"You don't look good at all. You should get some rest. I'll take care of the laundry." She was being so kind, but Merlin couldn't possibly let her take over his duties. He shook his head and took the laundry back. He tryed to put on a brave face and stagger on, but the pain had now stretched to his lungs and making it harder for him to breathe, speak, walk. He wondered what kind of illness spread through the body so quickly.

"Merlin, take it easy. You really look bad." She called to him as he walked slowly away. She stood there watching him, scared he was going to collapse any minute. He was fine last night, though. It was strange how he had suddenly become this ill. He turned the corner and Gwen went to do her duties. She didn't know it, but she had just become the third person with serious worries about Merlin.

Merlin was finding it harder and harder to do things throughout the day. Every step made his body hurt. Every breathe pinched his throat. His neck and legs ached. Overall, Merlin came to the conclusion that he was indeed ill. Coming down with a fever or something. But one thing kept bothering him. He found himself stopping every five minutes to lean against a wall and regain his balance so he didn't stumble over from light-headedness. He was touched by everyone's concern, especially Arthur's. Every time Merlin saw Arthur, Arthur became more and more concerned. He'd even begged Merlin to go to bed. In the end they struck a deal. Merlin did not want to resign from his duties. That would mean that someone else would have to take over, and he couldn't bear that burden. He didn't want someone else working where he should, it wasn't fair on the substitute. Arthur wanted Merlin to take a break, he was scared that the boy would over work himself and collapse. So he decided to make a deal with Merlin.

"Fine," he said, "I'll go everywhere with you untill tonight. I can make sure you don't over work yourself and then tomorrow you will take the day off if you have not improved when I drop you off at your room." Merlin shook his head and mumbled something about Arthur and his duty to Camelot. "I have nothing to do today so stop complaining or I'll take you to Gaius now." Merlin looked down at the floor and nodded.

Merlin walked out of the room to get Arthur's dinner and Arthur followed. Merlin was not happy about having Arthur tag around with him, it meant he couldn't stop so often for fear of looking weak infront of his master. Merlin didn't know that all the effort he was taking not to stop and take a break, was not for the better untill he collapsed onto the floor on the stairs.

"Merlin!" Arthur called, kneeling down next to him. Merlin felt a hot liquid running down his neck and a searing pain in his head. His throat was dry and he felt utterly awful. Arthur placed his hand on Merlin's forehead. Merlin was scared of what was happening to him. He was nervous. He trusted Arthur nd Gaius but... everything seamed so hopeless. He felt so weak as the darkness beckoned and he completely lost consciousness,