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

[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.