JUST TO WARN THIS IS IN NO WAY RELATED TO REGRETS :)

AU- Servant of two masters, Enjoy! Thanks to magpieintheshadow, Mymagicwhispers and all the people who review- yeah YOU!

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Torn

The raven haired warlock clenched onto the dark leather reins of the horse as it wandered forwards slowly, His large blue eyes attached to the vibrant tree's which stood strong and sturdy around them. Its bright green canopy protecting them from the sun, And only allowing small veils of shimmering light through; Light of which danced across the men's faces as they travelled through a small ravine. Slowly Merlin pried his eyes away from the natural beauty which graced them all and instead urged his horse into a slightly faster trot. The dark mare beneath him snorting in satisfaction and obedience as it came up beside the Kings own dark stallion. The blonde in question glanced across and gave his servant a smirk, One which Merlin couldn't help but mirror. It was days like these when he found himself enjoying his destiny, Days when the group had nothing to worry about- Only the soft trotting of the horses ringing through the light silence as they each took in the warm heat which burned down upon them. Arthur- Or rather King Arthur, was constantly finding himself busy these days; the endless stress of the kingdoms responsibilities beginning to take a toll on his personality and body; Dark rings hanging beneath his eyes as evidence. Merlin hated seeing Arthur like this.

"Arthur- this is the valley of the fallen kings, You know nothing good happens here…" Merlin uttered as he spotted the familiar rock; etched with the old engravings from druids, The markings in old religion covered by a thick growing moss. Arthur smirked and rolled his eyes as he glanced at his servant, The knights behind them taking the chance to convey their own words between each-other.

"We have to Merlin-The routes not called secret for nothing" Arthur replied sarcastically, However before the warlock could reply a loud crack rippled through the air around them. All conversations died as the men halted their horses, Their eyes searching the surroundings as they paused and waited. The strong study tree's no longer a beauty but a hiding place for some of the foulest men the four kingdoms had to offer.

Within seconds men of all sizes emerged from the forest around them; Dressed in clad black with face scarfs to obscure their own faces; allowing nothing but their cold hard grey eyes to be visible, A great last image before someone sank into the darkest oblivion. Death. Dragging his thoughts in the warlock watched the blades and swords swinging through the air; their gleaming metal glinting in the sunlight which burned down upon them all. Trust there to be an ambush on a day like this. The king grabbed his servants shoulder to capture his attention, Turning to his master he noticed Arthur was signalling for him to ride ahead and towards a more sheltered area. Reluctantly Merlin obeyed and with Arthur beside him, they grabbed their reins and tugged; Kicking their heals into the horses chest as they urged them forwards, the horses obliged without hesitation as they were already slightly spooked; With a short burst of power they rode ahead.

"MERLIN!" Arthur bellowed across the shouts of men and clashes of metal, The warlock glanced over his shoulder at the following king just in time to see him dragged off the large stallion he rode, The attacker smirking with success as he fell upon the blonde and tried to restrain him. Merlin panicked and jumped off his own horse, Ignoring the shouts from Arthur to run on. Merlin rushed forwards, His weak arms expanding outwards as he ran straight into the attacker pinning the king to the floor. With a groan the two fell to the floor, Allowing Arthur to climb to his feet and draw his sword.

Pointing the blade at the attacker beside Merlin, the king extended a hand down to his most loyal friend, Pulling him to his feet. "You really are an idiot aren't you Merlin-"

"Is that all I get for saving your life… again!" The warlock exclaimed as he brushed himself off, The king smirked and brought the hilt of his sword down upon the mans head knocking him unconscious, Hesitating until his body had gone limp. Merlin turned around once again and spotted three men approaching, Their hands filled with some weapons he couldn't put a name to. "Arthur-"

The blonde prat turned his head and smirked at the warlock, the smile dropping as the tallest of the attackers jumped forwards, Leaving Arthur barely any time to raise his sword to block the attack against his life. Slowly the other men circled the king, malicious smiles growing across their hard features as they also prepared to attack, Merlin who had backed off slightly glanced around in search for deterrence.

"MERLIN RUN!" Arthur bellowed as he caught sight of his friend, Merlin sighed and walked back slightly more. Waiting until the king was occupied with fighting. Arthur ducked a swinging blade and kicked his leg outwards knocking the largest of the attackers backwards, yet spurring the others to join leaving the king no time to eliminate the one which was down. Content with the distraction and lack of attention upon himself, the warlock turned his attention to a stray horse running towards the men; With a golden flash from his eyes the animal spooked and powered even faster towards the group.

"ARTHUR WATCH OUT!" Merlin roared as he kept a focus on the horse and its direction, The king glanced back upwards, Gasping he dived to the side; leaving the attackers no time to react. Wincing the warlock looked away from the collision that followed; His eyes screwing shut tightly as he tried to remove the screams and shouts of pain coming from the sick men, Who of which undoubtedly littered the floor.

"MERLIN WATCH OUT!" Gwaine bellowed as he stopped fighting with his own attacker just beside Arthur; The warlock opened his eyes once again and turned back to the knight and king. Having forgotten the one rule Arthur had tried to drive into his head. Never take your eyes off a fight. The world around him slowing significantly as the thunder of hooves shook the floor behind him, The king finished off another of his own opponents and turned to meet his manservants figure- His face falling as he extended a hand outwards and shouted his name; Worry etched into his eyes. Slowly the raven haired man turned to face he approaching attack the horses hooves almost upon him, Atop the dark horse was a large man; His wrist spinning slowly as he welded a large deadly mace; It was in those seconds that the warlock considered him to be his death.

With low prospects Merlin could do nothing but watch and wait, There was too much attention for him to use his magic; He could almost imagine Gwaine rushing forwards as it happened. Widening his eyes at the speed of the man's approach the warlock braced himself as the bandits arm swung low as he targeted it at the warlocks chest, Smirking as a loud crack resounded from the raven haired man's chest as it had impact. The rider carried on riding however; His dark eyes planning another attack leaving his victim in a small cloud of dust. However was quickly knocked from his safety upon the deadly horse from Gwaine in a shouting rage. To be honest, Merlin was confused it was only a little knock to his chest. It was probably most likely only going to bruise… badly. The raven haired man turned to the king with a smile, One which fell as he stumbled forwards slightly; His feet somehow beginning to quiver in his boots as he struggled to walk to Arthur.

'Guess its worse than a bruise' Merlin considered to himself as his knee's went weak and collapsed beneath themselves, sending his ever cooling body to the ground. The soft pulse from his injury the only thing keeping him from rolling into the darkness which surrounded his vision.

The blonde had frozen in his place; The sword in his hand hanging limply beside his side as he watched his friends knee's give out and send his body falling to the floor. Clenching his hand tighter around the hilt Arthur willed himself to move. But found he couldn't.

Arthurs mind was stuck in the moment as he witnessed; One of the worst thing's he thought could ever possibly happen, He had watched Merlin be injured. By a foul man. A bad man. And it was all his fault. He had heard Gwaine cry above the roar of anger and shouts, He had heard the way he had called out to the warlock. Arthur had turned to see the commotion, Only to instinctively shout merlins name himself; The idiot however was watching him! Like he could protect the king of Camelot… He was nothing but a serving boy. Nothing but a friend. The world around him had slowed, No man dared approach the king as he growled to himself while his manservant settled on the floor, The dust in the air beginning to settle over his hair and back. But however much he wanted to run forwards he couldnt- He just- Merlin never got hurt, Through everything he never came away with a scrape. 'But he just did Arthur- he was just wounded before you- and you stood and did nothing, Just like you are now'.

Shaking his head the king took a shaky step forwards, before deciding he couldn't wait. He couldn't be a coward now. Within seconds he had run to the warlock's side; his knees crashing to the floor as his vice like hands gripped the younger man's cold shoulders. Arthur rolled Merlin's small lanky form onto his back just in time to see the man's eyes meet his own; The blue orbs which rested within them losing their usual glimmer, and leaving nothing but a faded blue, Small veins had risen to the top making them blood shot and red. Matching the ever growing blood stain on his chest.

"M-Merlin" Arthur uttered as he shook the man in his arms slightly; Having convinced himself that a small shake and slap would bring the brightness back into the mans eyes, And make everything fine. The king bit his lip and pushed his emotions back down, No-one could see his feeling for his manservant, He was king. He had to. But no amount of will-power could rein his racing mind back from thinking about the prospect he could actually be slipping away from him… in his hands.

"Arth-" The warlock tried to speak but sighed as he couldn't form the words, A small droplet of blood slipping from his mouth as his breathing became laboured. The king sighed and looked around at the battle. The opposition still had strong numbers and by the looks on the knight's faces they were becoming tired. They had to go. The king looked down at the warlock in his hands.

"Come on Merlin you need to get up-" Arthur sighed as he tried to help the man up, Merlin groaned in pain and gripped his chest tighter. Guilt crashed through the king as he watched his friends eyes flutter on the brink of closing the pained expression having not erased completely.

"Merlin?" Arthur spoke softly as he tried to prop the man up further, "Come on- Don't be so lazy now-"

"Arthur- Leave…" The warlock hushed as his eyes began to close again, Arthur shook his head and stood upwards; His hands wrapping around the warlock's neck and legs as he lifted him off the dirt covered ground and into his arms bridal style. Honestly the king didn't care about what people thought. Merlin was his friend, And no stature could change it.

"No- Your not the one to be giving orders Merlin, Let me show you how annoying it is when someone doesn't follow them" Arthur muttered as his grip on the man in his arms tightened at the sight of more bandits emerging from the tree's. The kings eyes followed the fight until they landed on Gwaine who was finishing off Merlin's attacker, His dark hair swept across his face as he gazed down at the body. Slowly the knight turned and began to run over towards them, His eyes latched with the limp form of the warlock in his hands.

"Arthur-" Merlin mustered, "I-I- I need to tell you-"

"Shut-up Merlin" Arthur replied as he looked down at the warlock whose head was leaning against his arm, Gwaine came up beside them and looked down at the raven haired man before him. A small yet sad smile spreading onto his face as he noticed the growing stain on the warlocks tunic, and the constant struggle the man was fighting with his own consciousness.

"Alright mate? Hold on okay-" Gwaine asked as he nodded, Merlin smirked but his eyes fluttered dangerously close, His eyes rolling into his head as his neck went limp and rolled back and away from the kings grip. Arthur's hands tightened around the man's arms as Gwaine stepped forwards, Both their faces pulled into panic.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked as he shook the body-

"Come on mate- Princess needs you" Gwaine muttered as he looked around the battle, Three men beginning to walk towards them with menacing looks.

"Gwaine we have to go- I need you to cover us though okay?" Arthur ordered, the knight glanced at the king then down at the man in his arms before nodding slowly. Taking it as a yes, The king turned and began to retreat to the tree line as the knight behind him pulled out his blade and followed a single cry ringing through the same once peaceful air.

"RETREAT!"

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