It's right after Arthur witnesses the woman he's always thought of as sister betrayal his family. Arthur had wanted to fight, kill them all right where they stood. But his aching leg and Merlin's persistence had convinced him that rest was needed. They hid in a closet that Arthur had never even seen before.

"Where are we?" Arthur mumbled looking around the tiny storage closet.

Merlin smirked, "Don't worry, we're safe, no one knows about this place but me."

Arthur rested against the wall, allowing his eyes to fall shut.

Merlin sighed, Arthur's leg looked better but…"I hope Gaius, Gwaine and Elyan are Ok." He whispered more to himself than his exhausted companion.

"For real Merlin?" Arthur snapped.

Merlin blinked, shocked that the prince wasn't asleep. "What?"

"It's literally the end of the freaking world and you're worried about your boyfriend?" Arthur hissed anger and fury lanced in his every word.

"My…boyfriend?" Merlin cocked his head, shocked and confused.

"My father…my family…my kingdom.."Arthur chocked, "And you're worried about if you're boyfriend made it out ok." Arthur glared at his servant, "I wish you had just gone with them."

Merlin smirked, "I was just worried about my friends, Arthur."

"Friends, yeah right. I've seen the way he looks at you." Arthur snorted.

Merlin smirked to himself then moved to rest against the wall next to his soon to be King.

"Wanna know something." He asked gently.

"What?" Arthur snapped. "That you wish you had gone with them too?"

"No," Merlin started gently, "That I stayed with you because of the way I look at you,"

Arthur turned shapely to look at him. But when eyes locked and truth was know, Arthur closed his eyes and leaned completely against the wall.

"Merlin…everything is lost….everything is gone." The prince mumbled sadly.

"Not everything….nothing is lost that we cannot find…together." And when he laced his fingers between those of his Prince, the prince did not resist. Instead the grasp was returned and that was how they spent the night, holding and hoping, and knowing they had each other.