Rarepair Rowboat: devotiontrio | Merlin x Leon x Arthur Pendragon (BBC Merlin)
Requested by @ambugutron
The moment that they were finally in the clear, no bandits in sight, the three of them dismounted their horses and made camp.
'You should really let me take a look at that,' Merlin called over to Arthur, nodding pointedly at his bloody arm. His eyes swivelled to Leon. 'Both of you.'
'Stop fussing, Merlin,' Arthur said, stoking the fire. 'It's a few scrapes, we're hardly going to bleed out in our sleep.'
Leon glanced at him, hesitating, but a moment later, he nodded at Merlin and shifted closer. He held his hand out to him, and Merlin took it gratefully to inspect the cut on his palm.
It wasn't too deep, fortunately. A simple healing incantation closed it up, leaving behind only a faint line that would either fade in a few days or become one of the many scars littering his body. Merlin traced it with his thumb, regretful that he couldn't heal it entirely.
Leon's fingers closed around his and squeezed gently. He thanked him with another nod and a weary smile.
'You know, if the two of you wish to be alone, I will happily do a patrol of the area,' Arthur said dryly, but there was a smile at the corners of his mouth, too. 'Just give me the word.'
'Oh, is someone jealous?' Merlin teased.
'No.'
'I think you are.'
'I am not!'
'Definitely jealous,' Leon agreed when Merlin glanced at him, both amused by the obvious display.
Arthur huffed again, and Merlin tilted his head as he said, 'You wouldn't have to be jealous if you'd stop being a stubborn prat and just let me take a look at your wound.'
'You know, Merlin, most kings would have beheaded you for such an insult,' Arthur pointed out. 'You should think yourself lucky.'
'And you should think yourself lucky that I was here when those bandits attacked or else you'd be the one without a head!'
'Now, that is just not true!'
Merlin bit back a million witty retorts. Oh, how he would've liked to have said any number of things, but he was actually concerned by Arthur's pale complexion and the blood seeping through his shirtsleeve. For some reason, after a look from Leon, Arthur conceded.
Relieved, Merlin shifted closer as he peeled the torn sleeve away from the wound. It was nasty. Deeper than Leon's and wider, too. Merlin cleared his throat and cleared his mind, hoping it might make the healing incantation more effective.
It half-worked. The skin started to close up, but Arthur hissed as it tried and failed to knit itself back together entirely. There was still a small gash that wouldn't budge, but he was at least satisfied that Arthur wouldn't bleed out before they got back to Camelot. He dressed it using a piece of fabric that Leon tore from his own clothes without hesitation.
'You should rest, sire,' Leon told him, then looked at Merlin, whose eyes widened in surprise. 'You as well.'
'I highly doubt those bandits will be back tonight,' Arthur said meaningfully. 'There's no reason we shouldn't all get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow. Come on.'
They agreed and all laid down, though Merlin was still on high alert. He did his best to hold on for as long, keeping himself awake by tracing Arthur and Leon's features with his eyes through the darkness, until he finally gave in and drifted off.