Ribbons

It's been three days since I woke up from the dragon's hushed, toxic words. The days are quickly dwindling down, and I can feel the tension in the air every time I wake. Each morning I get dressed with Edgar's help then I go to breakfast with Merlin. I can't help but notice how the tension seems to get worse every morning as I sit with Aurelius, who does not express it facially, but emanates it from his bodily presence. I can tell Uther feels it as well, but he tries to push it away by constantly turning his attention to Igraine and speaking of wedding matters at every meal time. I can now understand the nausea Aurelius spoke of before.

After breakfast, Aurelius and I will then usually go for walks together to get things for Merlin, and I think it helps Aurelius. His eyes will get a little brighter and he smiles a little more, yet, I sometimes think it would be helpful for Aurelius to talk things through, but all he ever speaks of is little things: the way the birds sound or how the wind is blowing that day. His voice and words are like bits of beauty, but it is as if he is hiding behind his own beautiful world, a world he knows he cannot hold on to.

We headed back to Merlin with a basket of ribbons, which Merlin uses to tie around people arm's and legs to reduce blood flow.

"We come, baring tidings of beautiful ribbons to pretty your hair with." Aurelius announced as we entered Merlin's room.

"Very funny, Aurelius. Set them over there." Merlin pointed to a shelf as he concentrated on a purple colored mixture that bubbled a little in front of him.

I walked closer to Merlin to get a better look at the purple filled bottle, and was assaulted by a most wretched smell. "Oh, that's awful! What are you doing, Merlin?" I pinched my nose together, trying to keep myself from gagging, my eyes already starting to water.

"It's a new remedy to help with coughs." He looked up at me and smiled, and I was certain I would never get a cough. Never. Ever.

"Can we help you with anything else?" Aurelius asked.

Merlin set his things down. "Ah, yes, come here I need to see how your shoulder is getting a long."

Aurelius sat on a cot and pulled his forest green shirt over his head, causing his hair to stick up randomly like when I first met him.

Merlin poured some clear liquid on a cloth and touched it to the scar that was starting to form around the wound, and starting rotating the cloth in small circles to clean the area. "I'd say this is healed up pretty well. I do not think it will open up now... unless one gets himself stabbed again." Merlin gave Aurelius a knowing look and Aurelius simply shrugged. "Well, I am quite a good physician if I do say so myself." Merlin disposed of the cloth and put a thin coat of his healing paste and then helped Aurelius put his shirt back on. "I would not be objected to you returning to training, just don't let your men strike at your shoulder. Does that sound fair?"

"Yes, of course. You know, I thought, being a king and all, I could do what I want anyway." Aurelius huffed.

Merlin patted Aurelius' head. "Perhaps, but a wise king always listens to his friend." He announced. "Fia, walk with Aurelius and make sure he listens to his doctor, will you? I need to make a house call, so I am not certain when I will return."

"Of course, brother. See to it you make them well." I said.

"Always do." He smiled, with something odd behind his eyes.