A/N: Hello my Temporal subjects! Welcome to my first ever fanfiction! I had actually written this awhile ago and have a pretty good idea of where it's going, so hopefully this goes well :) . This story takes place in the middle of season 4, after the King dies and before Arthur asks Guinevere for her hand in marriage. This is somewhat of an introductory chapter so not much happens, but I need to set the stage. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, but wouldn't it be so cool if I (or any of us) actually did?

Life Goes On

Chapter 1

"They attacked us from behind. There was nothing we could do. There were too many of them." Percival said, on the verge of tears.

"It's all right." Arthur said calmly, putting his hand on the strong knight's shoulder. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Arthur knew he wasn't going to like the answer. Whatever made Percival, who was one of his bravest and strongest knights, this upset could not be good.

They were standing in King Arthur's chambers; just him, Sir Percival, his Uncle Agravaine, and his manservant Merlin. Percival had just led a border patrol to the west. Usually these patrols were uneventful, just a bunch of bored knights riding around in the woods, but this time it was different. When this patrol had returned there was definitely something wrong.

Knights were leaning over their horses, not able to sit straight, and there was blood everywhere. Most of them were rushed to Gaius's chambers immediately, but somebody needed to tell Arthur what happened as soon as possible. Percival looked like he had fared the best out of all the knights, at least he was still able to sit straight on his horse, but even he looked like he was going to keel over any second. Arthur had to get this meeting done quickly.

"We were making our way back to Camelot when suddenly, out of nowhere, these bandits came from the ridge behind us and attacked us. My patrol consisted of only 10 knights and there were about 40 bandits. They attacked our horses first so we would have to dismount. Then they fought us with swords, but sire, these were no ordinary swords. They glow a faint green and when they made even the smallest cut, a knight would be beaten. In the end, we had no choice but to run. We grabbed the horses that were well enough and we took off. As you saw, only about half of us made it back and probably half of them won't make it to morning. I couldn't save all of them. I just couldn't-" and now the knight really did keel over sobbing on the floor.

"It's all right Percival, it wasn't your fault. Thank you for telling me this." Arthur said reassuringly. "Guards!" He yelled and two men in armor with red capes entered. "Take this man to Gaius. Make sure he gets the medical attention he needs."

After they were gone Arthur then turned to his manservant. "Merlin, who are the knights that are currently in Gaius's chambers." Merlin lived with Gaius and was there when the knights had arrived.

Merlin was silent.

"Merlin? Merlin?" Arthur said, looking at his servant, but the boy still wouldn't respond.

He was staring at the place where Percival had collapsed. "Is he going to be okay?" he asked, horrified.

"He'll be fine." Arthur said, making his voice sound annoyed at Merlin for not answering right away, even though he really wasn't mad. After all, it doesn't take a lot to scare Merlin, but seeing a full-grown, basically fearless knight collapse on the floor sobbing because of some unknown threat; God knows what must be going through this poor boy's mind now.

Agravaine huffed and said, "If you can't tell him, I will go down to Gaius's and ask him myself. Thus actually performing a satisfactory job."

Arthur threw a glare at Agravaine. He knew his uncle didn't care much for people below his standing, but was that really necessary?

"No, no, it's all right, I'm fine." Merlin said, throwing a glare of his own at Agravaine. "There was Percival, Bedivere, Kay," Merlin rambled on, forgetting formalities as usual, "Gaheris, and um," Merlin paused.

"Honestly Arthur." Agravaine said in his usual annoyed tone. "Can't you get a servant who can at least remember 5 names?!"

But Arthur knew that's not why Merlin had stopped talking. According to the look on his face, he had stopped because he didn't want to say what came next.

"Who else?" Arthur said, bracing himself for the answer.

"Elyan." Merlin finished.

Arthur sucked in a quick breath. Sir Elyan was another one of his best knights. He could still be okay, Arthur said to himself. Just because he was injured doesn't mean we should lose hope. The others were also loyal knights and he didn't want to lose them. Maybe if he-

"Was that satisfactory enough for you?" Arthur was broken out of his reverie by Merlin snapping at Agravaine.

The look on Agravaine's face said that if Arthur wasn't standing right there, he would have taken his sword out and slit Merlin's throat.

Arthur smiled inwardly. He had always secretly admired the fact that Merlin would talk back to anyone, royalty or not. Arthur would never have talked back to his father or one of the other visiting kings when he was younger. Although most of the time this bravery of Merlin's was just plain stupid, a lot of the time Athur found some of his advice helpful; not that he would ever tell him that.

"Sire, what do you plan to do?" Agravaine asked him.

Arthur looked over at Merlin as if to say 'You know what's going to happen next.'

After Merlin groaned, clearly getting the message, Arthur turned back to Agravaine. "Merlin and I are going to go after them."

Agravaine looked horrified. "Sire I must protest! Forgive me for saying this, but as your adviser I must inform you that that plan is most unwise! Sir Percival said that there were about 40 of them! You can't just ride in there when there are only 2 of you, well actually just 1 because you can't really count Merlin, since he can't fight worth a damn and therefore would be no help to you!"

Out of the corner of his eye Arthur saw Merlin raise an eyebrow as if to say "Oh it's on now."

Before Merlin could even open his mouth Arthur quickly said "Well then there won't be 2 of us. I'll bring Sir Gwaine as well."

"Sire!" Agravaine yelled. "You are clearly not understanding what I meant. I-"

"I know what you meant Uncle." Arthur injected. "I'm just not sure you know what I meant. All I want to do is reason with them, see why they are doing this, and maybe we can organize some sort of peace with them."

"Reason! Organize! Sire, bandits do not possess the ability to do either of those things."

"Uncle, something tells me they're not bandits."

"Not Bandits?! Sire, I think you are mistaken!"

"No I don't think I am. Look at what we know of them so far. There were about 40 of them, when most bandits we have encountered have been groups of 10 to 20. Based on the wounds of the patrol knights, these "bandits" definitely possess some fighting skills, while most other bandits are inexpertly flailing a sword around. Not to mention, the swords themselves. Not just regular swords but ones that glow a faint green and take a man out of the fight with just a single touch. Now I don't know about you, but that sounds like magic to me and most sorcerers think themselves to good to do something as petty and demeaning as being a good-for-nothing bandit."

Was it just Arthur's imagination, or did he feel Merlin shift slightly on his feet.

Arthur dismissed it as his imagination as Agravaine said "Well that doesn't make this trip sound any better. On the contrary; I am actually more worried than I was before. Sire, there is no way I am letting you-"

"Well I'm going and that's final!" Arthur yelled. This was the first time he had raised his voice the entire conversation. "Agravaine you may be my uncle but you cannot tell me what to do! I am the King and this is my decision! Now go get the list of the knights who did not return, I want to see just who we lost, and then find Sir Gwaine and tell him to come see me immediately."

Agravaine still didn't move. "Sire, I am saying this because I care about you. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Agravaine, out now! That is an order."

"This is a suicide mission."

"When I say get out, get out!" Arthur was really starting to get mad.

"Look who's performing a satisfactory job now." A voice from behind Arthur said.

Both royal eyes turned to see Merlin leaning against Arthur's desk, crossing his arms, and giving a pointed look to Agravaine.

That certainly quieted Agravaine down. He signed resignedly then threw a weary look at Arthur, a death glare at Merlin, and finally turned around and walked out the door.

He doesn't know what he's talking about, Arthur said to himself. If he'd just listen to me he would understand. This trip is going to go fine, I'm sure of it.

The person behind him was not as calm about their upcoming trip.

Just one day! Merlin said to himself as he began to pack Arthur's things. All I'm asking for is one day. One day when there's no magic spells, no unknown threat to the kingdom, no plans to risk my life, no super secret magic missions to save the King. Just one day. But nooooo. Apparently destiny doesn't work that way.

"You know, maybe we should listen to Agravaine." Merlin said. "I mean I know I seem like I don't like him, because I don't, but maybe he's actually got a point."

"I know it probably kills you to say that-"

"It does"

"but I have to stop these warriors before any more harm comes to my people or my kingdom. Now for a safer mission I could bring a lot more knights with me but I don't want to risk more unnecessary deaths."

"What about Gwaine?"

"I didn't tell Agravaine this but I just want Gwaine to escort us to near where these people were last seen and then I will order him to go no further. So his life will not be in danger. As a result there will be no more unnecessary deaths like I said before."

"Um, aren't you forgetting somebody?"

"Who?" Arthur said, feigning ignorance.

Merlin raised his eyebrow again and pointed to himself. "Me that's who, you prat."

"I would give you the same order as Gwaine, to leave, but there's no way you'd follow it, even though it's a direct order from the King."

Merlin nodded. "Yeah you're probably right."

"And nothing bad ever happens to you anyway."

Merlin laughed.

"No I'm serious." Arthur continued but was now smiling. "It's always me who gets hurt the worst. It's like you have some force field around you or something. Nothing bad is going to happen to you."

A/N: I tried to make Agravaine as annoying as possibly because let's be real, do any of us actually like him? How did I do? Do any of you think this is actually worth continuing? Please let me know if you can, but if not I'll love you anyways!

Farewell my Temporal subjects!

-The Temporal Queen