The men slowly clambered off their horses, muscles aching and they groaned as a cold wind thundered past biting at their rosy cheeks.
"Pair off," called the golden haired prince. "Find any wood you can, get the fires burning."
A flurry of activity began as the group split and hurried off through different parts of the long abandoned ruins collecting any braches and dried grass that could be used for fuel.
Merlin instinctively headed for Lancelot, not wanting to bother the Prince but Arthur called out to him.
"You don't seriously think I'd let you out of my sights. You cause enough trouble anyway I wouldn't trust you out here with anything." Merlin grinned cheekily and jogged towards Arthur and into the dimly lit passageways.
The walls of the castle was crumbling as the pair steadily made their way through, torch held out in front both men vigilant for any Dorocha as the light slowly faded. Arthur led the way as Merlin gathered any dry wood he could find, gathering them up into his arms as if they would be able to fight away the chilling cold.
Not so faraway they could hear the soft padding footsteps of the other knights. Suddenly an ear piercing scream cut through the silence. Merlin jumped dropping a few scraps of wood. Arthur broke into a run crying for Merlin to follow he gathered up the few pieces of wood he could find and ran after him into a clearing where several of the others had already congregated.
Without a word they began to circle around, backs facing inwards, searching the skies for the distinctive glow of the dead. Around them more screams where echoing in the cold night air.
Without warning one swooped in through an archway Arthur leapt forward swinging the burning torch at the bright skull flying towards him. It swerved upwards, shying away from the light.
"Go!" cried Arthur, his voice gruff with panic. The men ran occasionally glancing backwards until they were out in the main courtyard.
The wood was placed in a large stone holder and Merlin was set the task of lighting a fire to fight away the cold as much as the Dorocha.
A handsome young knight commented on the lack of wood and looks of dismay passed over many faces as all realised it was true. And all too soon his remark became reality. The last block of wood was thrown onto the embers and began to gently burn. All eyes rested upon it.
"I'll go." said Arthur reluctantly pulling himself up and stretching. Another stood. "You'll need help."
"I'll go with him." ventured Merlin. Arthur threw him a sceptical glance.
"You sure you're the right person?" Merlin was slightly taken aback by his comment but smirked as he responded.
"Since when have you known how to collected fire wood?" Those around him chuckled and Arthur smiled as he walked off, Merlin running behind him.
Merlin was bent over gathering as pile of logs up into his arms as the distinctive shriek sounded. He looked up alarmed but was thrown over as Arthur dived on top of him throwing them both out of the Dorocha's path.
"Let's go!" he cried as they scrambled up. Merlin's heart pounded as they ran through the stone corridors, feet thumping on the ground. Without a torch they could barely navigate their way through the darkness.
"In here." Arthur said, pushing Merlin into a small room and slamming the door behind himself. They both leant on the door and waited. The shrill cry of the Dorocha flew past and then was gone leaving only the silence.
Sighing they slumped down onto the floor. Shuffling over until they were slightly hidden by a pillar but still facing the door. Their breath came heavy and they chill didn't help.
"It's cold." murmured Arthur. Merlin merely nodded his head in response, somewhat uncertain. "You're not feeling it?" asked the prince surprised. Merlin shrugged his shoulders. "You might be braver than I give you credit for."
"Really, you scared of the cold?" teased Merlin a large grin creeping onto his face.
"Don't be stupid." They both chuckled. After a moment Arthur spoke again. "All the things I've faced," he'd turned very serious, "I'd never worried about dying."
Something panged inside Merlin's chest. "I don't think you should now."
Arthur looked at him dead in the eye and thought. "Sometimes you puzzle me."
Merlin smiled. "You never found me out."
"No." Arthur's voice was filled with sadness as he drops his eyes to the ground.
"I always thought if things had been different we'd have been good friends."
Arthur nodded. "Yeah."
Slowly Merlin leaned over towards him, muscles shaking from the cold. He placed on hand under the Princes chin and slowly brought it upwards till their eyes met.
Inside Arthurs heart was going crazy, he was confused this couldn't be right but it felt so nice.
"That's if you hadn't been such an arrogant pompous dollop." His breath brushed across Arthur's skin hot and comforting. Slowly the Prince close the remaining distance between them pressing him cold lips against his servants. For several moments the remained together before slowly, reluctantly separating.
Both men wore small smiles upon their faces.
"We will defeat the Dorocha." Said Merlin. "We will, Arthur, together."
"You know you're a rave man, Merlin. Between battles." They grinned.
A scream rushed past the door and the jumped together, holding each other, they felt of safe. A great bang erupted from the door. A wisp of white smoke pushed through one of the cracks in the door. Arthur made to leap at it but Merlin grabbed his shoulder forcing him back and leapt over his body running out towards the creature. Arthur turned reaching out to try and grab him, his voice bellowing out but Merlin flew up into the air crashing into the skull its voice becoming higher and higher. Merlin's body was ricochet against the rock wall, his head smashing against the stone becoming falling limp on the ground a cold sweat already covering his body as his skin began to ice.