They had escaped, both of them, before the guards could realise what had happened and had raised the alarm.

Merlin was up and about a few days later, but he looked a terrible state.
Bandaged hand and head, bound ribs and a crutch to lean on so as not to put too much strain on his back and ribs, he was immensely bored of the disadvantages which came with recovery. He was so bored, in fact, that he almost wished Arthur would give him some work to do, but he had been banned by Gaius to do anything which required physical strain.

One blustery day about a week after 'Drien' and his accomplice had escaped, Arthur came up to Merlin who was reading in the library.

The boy's hand was still bandaged and his ribs still bound, but his although his head was tender and sore, Gaius had removed the dressing and bandages so Arthur thought he looked, all in all, much better.

Arthur cleared his throat. Merlin looked up and smiled.

"You okay, Arthur?"

Arthur took a seat opposite Merlin.

"I'm fine, Merlin. I want to know about you. I've barely spoken to you since that lunatic almost killed you."

"Yeah, but you should've seen the damage I did to him," Merlin said, trying to joke.
Arthur didn't smile.

"Merlin," he started. Merlin cut him off.

"It's okay, Arthur, really," he said, "I get it. You're a prince. I'm just a servant. We can't be friends."

"That's not... I..." But he couldn't find the words.

"Arthur, thank you for acting like I matter, it's more than most people do. But you don't have to make the effort for me."

Arthur's heart felt like an iron fist had clenched around it. Cold. Tight.

"Merlin, you do matter. You matter so much, and you are much more than 'just a servant.'" Arthur had started, and once he had started he just couldn't stop. All his long-kept fears and little thoughts which he knew he should listen to- they all came pouring out, and Arthur couldn't have stopped them if he wanted to.

"You are my only true friend, and I know I work you too hard, I know I'm too harsh, too mean, unfair, whatever. I hate myself for having everyone feel beneath me. I would honestly prefer to be a bloody farmer! I trust you, rely on you, need your advice. You have never let me down. The class difference is stupid. I hate it. There. I said it! The spoiled arrogant brat said himself that he cares about a servant. So what? I do! So, so much. When I saw you lying in the dungeons, Merlin I ... I didn't know what to think, because a life without you isn't a life worth living. You... You mean the world to me. I'm so sorry for taking you for granted. I'm aware of myself doing it, that's the worst part... But I'm sorry. I will try to change. Really, I will. Because I think... Maybe, I think you are more than a friend. More than a best friend. Merlin, you are my brother, and I never want to lose you. And..." Here, Arthur's throat clenched, and he urged himself to say what he had always known to be true but just couldn't bring himself to accept it.

"I think I love you."

The silence which followed was long and drawn out.
Neither moved, nor spoke. Arthur began to blush, feeling foolish, surely Merlin would reject him, tell him he was an idiot, think he was joking-

But no-

What was he doing?

Merlin took Arthur's hand in his own bandaged one, leant in, slowly, whispered in his ear:

"I love you too, clotpole."