Merlin/Headache

[runaway_smith]

The day after Gwaine takes to his bed, Elyan wakes up with a sore throat.

He thinks nothing of it, puts it down to the dregs of the wine, and goes about his day. Gwaine looks better, which is a good thing because Arthur has them running around like headless chickens. Training, Council, more training, and then, oh look, more training. Arthur's determined that the Mercians won't show them up and he's worried that Gwaine won't be well in time. Elyan brings Gwaine dinner, then catches an early night.

The next day, he has a sniffle and suspects he might have caught Gwaine's cold. But he barely has time to breathe, running straight from morning training to lead a patrol to the northern border to deal with a band of smugglers. It's a brief scuffle and they barely have a bruise between them when they ride back in time to catch Arthur's evening training.

Exhausted, Elyan falls into bed with a groan, his muscles aching and his head pounding.

Dawn comes and Elyan feels like he's been flattened by masonry. He shifts weakly against the pillow, his head like lead, as he coughs against the pain in his chest.

Elyan has 'flu.

Comments

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

The idea of food makes him sick, and Elyan shakes his head, wincing when the pounding returns with a vengeance.

"I'm not good company right now," he says softly.

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"You bothered me when I wasn't good company," Gwaine points out, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sure that gives me the right to be bothersome in return."

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

Elyan smiles and takes another drink of water, reaching out to rest his shaking hand on Gwaine's arm.

"Thank you."

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"I'll set Gaius on you if you're no better by tonight," Gwaine threatens.

"Arthur's close to having a panic attack over being a knight down."

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

"I don't need Gaius," Elyan says, even though he feels like he's been beaten to within an inch of his life.

"Tell Arthur I'll be back training tomorrow."

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"I doubt that very much," Gwaine warns him. Even he'd needed more than a day off, and Elyan seems worse than he ever was.

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

"Why? Are you worried, Sir Gwaine?" Elyan teases, his eyelids growing heavy.

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"I doubt you'd make it out of these rooms unaided, tomorrow," Gwaine answers honestly. "Seeing as how you've just come off worst in a fight against your own sheets."

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

"Protect me from the sheets then," Elyan says sleepily, letting himself drift off with his fingers curled in Gwaine's sleeve.

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"Go back to sleep, Elyan," Gwaine suggests, though it's clear that the knight doesn't need telling twice.

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

Elyan sleeps in fits and starts for the rest of the day, plagued by strange dreams. It is late evening before he finally comes back to awareness, feeling more exhausted than when he went to sleep.

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

Gwaine pops his head in to check on Elyan shortly after he wakes. Again, he's brought food and drink with him - he's hungry, even if Elyan isn't.

"Good evening," he greets. "How are we feeling?"

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

Elyan rubs his eyes. "Like Percival hit me with a mace. Did I miss training?"

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"You did," Gwaine tells him. "Arthur's okay with it though. Mostly."

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

Elyan tries to laugh but it turns into a cough, and he turns his face away from Gwaine as he catches his breath.

He doesn't remember feeling this awful since Cenred locked him in a dungeon.

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"Do I need to fetch Gaius?" Gwaine questions, moving to sit himself on the edge of Elyan's bed.

"Or Cook?"

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

"No...don't bother Gaius."

Elyan clumsily pats Gwaine's arm. "You should get some rest. Arthur will have you up with the lark."

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"You know me better than that, Elyan," Gwaine laughs softly. It doesn't matter what time he has to be up come morning, he'll still be spending his evening at the tavern rather than in his bed.

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

Elyan smiles - he does know Gwaine well. Well enough to know the knight's already getting bored.

"Thank you for bringing supper. Now get to The Rising Sun before Leon takes all the best girls."

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"Do you want me to look in on you later?" Gwaine offers, already getting back up onto his feet.

[runaway-smith.livejournal.com]

"No, I'll be fine," Elyan says firmly, determined not to rely on Gwaine's newly-discovered charity. That path could only bring disappointment.

"Have one for me."

[sir-gwaine.livejournal.com]

"Oh, at least," Gwaine promises with a trademark smirk.

"I'll look in on you tomorrow," he tells the knight, before leaving for the tavern.