Alright so this is the first multi-chapter fic that I will actually finish. Seriously. I got most of the chapters already written, I just gotta type them. Hope you enjoy.

"I don't recall signing up for this!" Merlin shouted over the roar of thunder.

Arthur laughed as he tied off a loose mizzen rope. "You're my manservant Merlin." The prince shot back. "That means you signed up for anything and everything I sign up for."

Merlin screwed up his face giving off a displeased expression. Currently, the pair resided on the great ship Chimera, the finest in King Uther's fleet. Their mission was to obtain a trade agreement from France. Ore had run low in the mines near Camelot and they needed an alternative until they found another source. Right now, however, their only mission was to keep the boat from capsizing into the mighty sea that raged in answer to a storm bearing down upon them. It was not easy.

Men all around them were tying off ropes and attempting to stow away loose cargo, whilst not getting tossed off the ship themselves. For all of his complaining Merlin was actually enjoying himself. Life was different out on the sea. Everyone had their duties, even his royal pain the prince. The only ones you could count on were your crew so everyone was treated as an equal. Well, Arthur still treated him the same as always, but in his own roundabout way he had always treated the warlock more like an equal anyhow. Besides it would be weird if Arthur started acting nice

A sudden jerk pulled Merlin out of his reverie "Watch it, Merlin!" Arthur called from his right. "As much fun as it would be to see you trip over a rolling barrel, I'll not have my manservant taking a swim while I'm working."

"Of course," Merlin retorted," that's just what I was thinking of doing."

The prince laughed heartily. It seemed a life at sea was agreeing with him as well. "All right we've done all we can here. We need to secure ourselves to the main mast."

The main mast, of course, was only halfway across the ship, but by the way the waves made everyone unsteady on their feet, it might as well have been half way around the world. Despite this, the pair made their way as carefully as possible, keeping hold of the side rails to balance themselves. For the last leg they had to push off toward the center of the boat and grip hold of the mast.

"On the count of three, we'll push off and move as quickly as possible." Arthur attempted to shout but it became a whisper caught by the wind. "Ready!" Arthur held up his fingers ticking down to zero and as one they pushed off. Merlin was behind Arthur which for some reason made the prince nervous. None the less he plodded forward through the assault of the rain that felt like sharp needles against his skin. Suddenly, Arthur's eyes grew wide as he gazed upon the largest wave he had ever seen in his life about to come crashing down on top of them both. He barely had a chance to register the faint "look out" as he was brutally shoved into the mast. He gripped it tightly as the torrent raged past them. When the water subsided, Arthur looked all around him but could not find his wayward manservant.

"Merlin!" he cried out. Again and again until he heard a small but familiar cry for help coming from the starboard side. Rushing to the rail he scanned the water to find none other than Merlin, barely visible in the angry sea. Arthur knew then that it was Merlin who had pushed the prince to safety whilst foolishly leaving himself open to the full force of the wave.

"Hold on Merlin! We'll get you out of there!" Arthur turned to some of the crew mates. "Who has a rope? I need a rope!"

"Here sire." came a reply at his side. He turned to see a young boy he remembered by the name of Gregory and if he wasn't mistaken the young lad looked up to Merlin(although Arthur couldn't fathom why). Arthur took the rope and threw some backwards for slack. Then he tossed the remainder of it out towards Merlin, relief filling him as it managed to hit its target.

"Alright, together everyone! PULL!" And together the crew pulled inch by very little inch. The choppiness of the water caused any progress to be slight at best. Still Merlin held on. Arthur kept a keen eye on his manservant while attempting to keep hold of the slippery rope. He had just begun to allow hope to seep into his chest when another wave jerked the boat sharply to left, straining the cord to its limits. It gave way with a mighty snap sending the men sprawling across the deck. Undeterred, Arthur sprang to his feet and again rushed to the starboard side of the ship.

"Quick!" he shouted, "We need more rope!" But the crew didn't move. "What are you waiting for!"

A stout man with a full face of gruff black hair came to stand in front of the prince. It was Dragus, the ship's captain. "With all due respect sire, I will not allow you to continue to put these men's' lives at risk for the sake of one boy. We must secure ourselves now and ride out the storm."

Arthur was outraged. "What! Are we supposed to just leave him out there? He'll die!"

Dragus looked at the prince with a somber face that suggested this was not the first time he had made this decision. "Look around to the ones who might yet live."

Arthur did just that, and though his heart screamed at him to try again, he knew Dragus was right. To a captain and especially to a future king the good of the many must take precedence over the good of the one. He took one final look out into the ocean, just barely able to see Merlin. He uttered a soft "I'm sorry" and then turned his back unable to stand the sight. With a weight like stone settling in his heart, Arthur had to resign himself to letting his faithful manservant drift away into the depths of the sea.

Aw poor Arthur. And poor Merlin. They're both gonna go for ride on this one.

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