This fanfic is based on the song 'One of Us' from lion king 2:simba's pride.
I do not know when this is set. I know that the knights of the round table are present, Uther is still king, and in his right mind, and Morgana is evil.
I do not own Merlin
"ARTHUR WATCH OUT!" Merlin shouted as a bandit went for a death blow. Arthur blocked it in the nick of time. Merlin stood helplessly on the side of the road as the knights fought, he had no sword to defend himself.
"MERLIN!" Leon shouted. Merlin turned just as a flash of silver darted past him followed by searing hot pain. There was warm liquid sliding down his cheek and lips. The metallic, salty taste he impatiently identified as his own blood. But it wasn't over. The man who held the silver weapon he thrust it forward. Merlin tried to drop to the ground but was too late. The sword lodged its self in Merlin's lower left shoulder. There was blinding light.
Seconds later Merlin was collapsed on the dirt road covered in his own blood.
His vision cleared mostly, he cold make out those who were fighting, and the treetops. He saw birds fly over top and wondered what it would be like to just fly away. To go somewhere where he mattered, where he could be himself. The sound of fighting ceased as the pain in Merlin's chest increased. Merlin tried to take in a deep breath but it only caused more pain. So instead he took short intakes of breath.
"Is everyone okay?" Arthur's voice asked. Merlin's chest tightened and he started coughing hard tasting the same warm metallic taste of his blood spilling out of his mouth.
"where's Merlin?" Gwaine's voice sounded. Merlin coughed hard again more blood came spilling out of his mouth.
"MERLIN!" Lancelot's voice shouted. He heard footsteps come running towards him then a soft thud of someone landing at his side.
"Merlin, Merlin can you hear me?" Lancelot's voice asked. Merlin wanted to say yes but he couldn't make a sound. Merlin coughed again.
"Just hang in there Merlin." Lancelot said.
"Merlin are you okay can you hear me?" Arthur's voice called out among the others. Since Merlin could not manage talking he gave a very Gaius like eye roll. Merlin could hear a snicker among the knights.
"I think you are annoying him sire." Percival's voice rang out.
"We need to get the sword out." one of the knights said, Merlin didn't bother to try to identify due to the increasing pain.
"Right... this might hurt a bit, Merlin." Arthur said. There was a slight tug in Merlin's chest then indescribable pain as the sword was pulled out. Merlin gasped for air as the blood from the wound pored out quickly.
"We need to get him back to Camelot quick!" Gwaine shouted as Leon and Arthur picked Merlin up. There was a bright flash of light then darkness, Merlin slid into painful unconsciousness.
The convoy moved swiftly towards Camelot. The guards who stood guard at the city Gates had to swiftly move against the wall to avoid being trampled by the prince's horse. Merlin was on Arthur's horse,where Arthur held tightly to his friend. Merlin's head was dropped forward and bounced up and down to each trod of the horse. Arthur held his hand over Merlin's once blue shirt which was now stained crimson with the boy's own blood.
Leon moved ahead shouting, "Get out of the way! Move! Make way!" causing the normal street crowds to flood to the side, watching in curiosity as the prince passed holding onto his bloody manservant.
Gwen was in her house when she heard he commotion, it was Leon. She darted out to make sure her friends were safe, but they weren't. Merlin was there blood flowing freely out of his wound. Arthur was trying to keep pressure on it but it only flowed through his fingers staining them red as well. She picked up her skirts and ran after them. 'Not Merlin. Oh please, God, not Merlin.' she prayed as she ran.
The convoy arrived in the courtyard and they all carefully lifted Merlin off Arthur's horse. Arthur's hand left Merlin's chest for a second. The blood pooled and flowed over and down onto the stone ground. "Oh God No!" they all heard a gasp. Gwen was clutching onto the gate, eyes full of shock. Elyan tried to wave his sister off to get her to go home but instead she rushed forward to get the door. Elyan nodded and the knights carried Merlin in, leaving a trail of blood.
Gaius' door burst open. The physician turned to scold who ever it was but was silenced by the sight. His young ward was being carried in by the knights. Gaius swept every thing off the table with one swipe of his arm. They set Merlin down on the table and scrambled around to stop the bleeding.
"Go get water, Gwen!" Gaius ordered the girl standing in the door way. She gave a nod and rushed off. Gaius grabbed a needle and string and started to get ready to stitch up the boy's wound.
"this is really close to his heart, it looks like it might be infected as well. We need to wait for the clean water." Gaius muttered pointing to the wound on his ward's chest. So Gaius started on Merlin's face stitching the large cut that went from his upper right cheek to the left side of his chin.
"I'll help you in any way I can." Arthur said holding a vile of potion that Gaius often used to decrease pain.
Gaius nodded and handed Arthur a towel.
Merlin stood in a field of bright green and the sky was bluer than the ocean.
"Merlin." a voice called his name. Merlin turned and across the field was his father, Balinor.
"Father?" Merlin asked taking a step forward.
"Don't take a step closer." Another voice said. Freya appeared next to his father.
"What... why... please. I want to touch you." Merlin pleaded.
"No you don't Merlin." another new voice said. Will appeared beside Freya.
"Well why the hell not?" Merlin asked.
" If you do you will die, Merlin. As long as you stay away from us you can live." His father said.
"Well what if I don't want to live?"
"You don't have much of a choose here Merlin. As long as your destiny is not reached, then you can't die, you won't be allowed to, no matter what." his father continued
Merlin felt a jabbing pain in his heart. He dropped to the soft green grass.
"Wh-what's happening?" he asked.
"you're not dead yet, but not yet alive. You're bringing brought back."Will said looking up at the sky. The once bright blue sky was darkening, like nighttime.
"I love you Merlin but hang on please for all of us." Freya said, a soft breeze came by and caressed him, as if Freya was hugging him.
"go to sleep son. Goodnight." Balinor said like their last night together. So Merlin laid back closed his eyes and fell to sleep.
"WE'RE LOOSING HIM!" Gaius shouted as the knights scurried around to gather supplies. Suddenly Merlin's eyes shot open and he bolted upright.
