The Definition of a Life Saved by Shine (PG)

[laceymcbain.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~ 3289 words
Author on LJ: shinetheway
Author Website: Master Fic List on LJ
Why this must be read: This is a great little fic that has a worried Arthur at Merlin's bedside, waiting for him to wake up from a head injury. We learn bits and pieces of what's happened while Merlin's been unconscious - a fire, the death of knights, Merlin being knocked out. But the whole picture doesn't become clear until the very end, and trust me, it's worth it. Protective!Arthur is truly a beautiful and dangerous thing.



“Is everyone all right?” he said after a while. Gaius added a few dried leaves to whatever mixture he was creating and continued to grind it fine. Arthur shook his head.

“Five knights died,” he said flatly, “defeating the sorcerer. And, of course you—you’ve been unconscious for three days.”

“Three,” Merlin echoed blankly. Gaius nodded briskly, and added water to the mortar.

“You had a skull fracture, a very small one,” he said calmly, and poured the mixture into a cup. “Here,” he added, “drink this. It will strengthen your blood.”

Merlin didn’t have the strength to argue, although very much wanted to. He drank the potion, which looked like mud and smelled like mud and tasted like fetid rotten mud. Arthur steadied him when he gagged. “Easy,” Arthur said quietly, and let Merlin drink a little more water, washing the taste away. Merlin leaned his head back against Arthur’s shoulder, grateful for the support.

“How did I fall?” he asked slowly, trying to remember.

Gaius looked at Arthur, and then shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “I wasn’t there, I’m afraid; I only saw the aftermath of the attack. Arthur was the one who saw it happen.”

“You tripped,” Arthur said wryly, although there was something odd in his voice. Merlin closed his eyes and groaned. Of course he had. Some rescuer he was.

Read the story and feedback the author: The Definition of a Life Saved