The sun was streaming down on the city of Camelot, it was near mid-day and under the covers Merlin stirred, groaning and turning over and away from the light that was blinding him, he shut his eyes quickly.

“Uuuh… so tierd… ugh!” he sat up abruptly, realising what time it was, “Arthur’s going to kill me!”
He scratched his head and yawned – it was then he noticed the arm across his waist – he squeaked in fright and fell off the bed, taking the covers with him.
As the pair of blue eyes peered over the edge of the bed, his hands still clutching the bed sheets Merlin smiled and sighed – Arthur was asleep on the sheet less bed next to where he had been laying, face buried in the pillows; practically sprawled out over the small bed in a most undignified, un-princely manner.
The warlock picked up the sheets and clambered back onto the bed, pulling the covers over the sleeping prince and pressing a kiss to the messy golden hair; he moved to the edge of the bed and a low, tired voice filled the room.
“Merlin… Where are you going?”
Merlin smiled and turned back to the prince, whose head was still buried in the pillow and climbed back to sit beside him.
“I’m going to do my chores sire”
“No… you stay.. here” Arthur’s hand found his arm and before he knew it he was snuggled against the princes side.
“Ah! Arthur!” Merlin squeaked, squirming in the prince’s arms, “lemme go!”
“Merlin… stop squirming” Arthur moaned gripping the warlock tighter, “I’m tired, stay..here.. wi’ me”
“Arthur..” Merlin whined laying his dark head on the prince’s chest, “I have to go and work, we servants do that you know”
“I do know that” Arthur murmured, his fingers lacing in the warlocks dark hair, “I know..”
“Then let me go” Merlin murmured lifting his head, looking up at the prince from under dark lashes and giving the prince a lopsided smile.
“Merlin” Arthur replied simply, the warlocks name rolling off his lips softly like a summer breeze, “I say you stay here, I’m prince, so you do as I say..”
Merlin chuckled at the prince and gently kissed his shoulder, “is that so?”
“Uhum” Arthur murmured, his lips ghosting against Merlin’s collarbone in a gentle kiss.
“Well I guess if his highness says so, I’d better stay” Merlin replied with a small smile, pressing a kiss to the prince’s lips, “why were you here anyway? I thought you were sleeping in your own chambers”
“I, I didn’t feel too good” Arthur replied quietly, now that Merlin noticed it – the prince did sound a little off-colour – but he seemed to be trying to hide it.
“What’s wrong?” Merlin asked, pressing a kiss to Arthur’s forehead, his fingers gently stroking the hair at the nape of the prince’s neck.
“I just, du’ feel well” Arthur murmured, “stay wi’ me Merlin, please”
Merlin frowned and rolled onto his side, but at the same time smiled sadly at the prince and curled closer against him, “of course I will”
Arthur ran his fingers softly over Merlin’s elfin face, his soft rosebud lips, his uncommonly large, adorable ears and his sharp, jutting cheekbones and although he felt incredibly ill, Merlin’s eyes staring innocently back at him made the prince feel a little better.
“You o.k. Arthur?”
Arthur’s body tensed under the warlock’s gaze and Arthur’s face creased up slightly, his hands gripping his stomach – his handsome face twisting into pain; he shook his head.
“No.. it.. urts” Arthur mumbled against Merlin’s chest.
Merlin frowned and drew back the covers; clambering out of the bed and running a hand through his dark hair as he did, adding to its messiness – he sat on the edge of the bed and started to pull on his boots.
Fingers gently probed at his spine and Merlin looked over his shoulder to see Arthur starting innocently back, like a lost child, his golden hair now dark with sweat and his hand still clutching at his stomach.
“Merlin.. where are you going? You said…you said you wouldn’t leave me..”
The prince’s voice was strained and his blue eyes searched Merlin’s, willing him to stay.
“I’m going to get Gaius” Merlin replied simply, tugging his nightshirt over his head, “he needs to see you”
Arthur whimpered and tried to get up, out of the bed to follow but Merlin laid a hand gently on his sweaty chest, “Arthur stay put, lye back down”
Arthur sat on the edge of the bed and promptly buried his head in Merlin stomach; letting out an annoyed groan, his fingers gripping Merlin’s legs.
“Arthur” Merlin sighed, “let go”
“No” came a muffled reply.
Merlin sighed and petted the scruffy mop of blond hair, “you really want me to stay that much? That you’d rather not get better and have me sit here doing nothing to help you?”
Arthur looked up at his loved one, his misty blue eyes staring lovingly into sky blue ones and nuzzled Merlin’s chest, “just being with you Merlin… that’s all I need to make me feel well again”
Merlin raised an eyebrow at the prince and pressed a kiss to his hair, chuckling under his breath, “oh Arthur you big sop”
Merlin pressed against Arthur’s chest making the whiny prince shuffle over and snuggled up next to him in the warm bed, “better now?”
Arthur nodded against his shoulder.
“Sure?”
Arthur nodded again and lifted his head to press a gentle kiss to Merlin’s slightly parted lips, “I’m sure”

Merlin smiled and laced his fingers in the princes golden hair; if all Arthur wanted was for him to be here, by his side – then Merlin was more than happy to oblige.