Chapter 1: Beginnings
Arthur's P.o.V
"MERLIN!" Arthur yelled as Merlin jumped in front of him to protect him from the dorocha flying straight for them. Arthur was horrified at the sight before him...his serv...friend was being frozen from the inside out, Merlin was practically dying right before his eyes, then he heard them the voices of his knights, he looked over and his heart immediately fell "Merlin?" Arthur asked with worry in his voice he took a step forward and asked again "Merlin, you alright?" when he didn't answer Arthur knew something was wrong, he didn't remember moving but in a second he was at Merlin's side. "Merlin, wake up or you'll be going in the stocks for a week." still silence Arthur had never studied with Giaus but he knew one thing for certain, he needed to check for a pulse, he managed to bring a terrified hand up to the cold mans neck, he was about to lose all hope when he felt a beat, fairly weak but there. When the knights arrived Gwaine was the first to speak "What happened?" he asked with a fire raging in his voice "He saved me." Arthur replied "He's alive but barely, we need to get him to Gaius." Leon was the next to speak up "And abandon the quest sire? Arthur looked up at Leon with worry clearly in his eyes. "If we don't get him back now then he won't make it, its amazing that he's even alive." he said tears starting to form in his eyes, he then thought of something his father always told him. "No tears are worth one man." had his father been wrong he started wondering "Arthur we can't turn back now, there are to many lives at stake, if he is to die then I say we sacrifice him." Arthur was stunned at the comment coming from his knight and quickly hatred filled his voice "WHY...WHY SHOULD I SACRIFICE HIM AND NOT ME SIR ELYAN!?" "He would want it to be him sire." Arthur looked in the direction of the voice to his surprise it had been Lancelot. "NO, I WILL NOT SACRIFICE MY BROTHER!" Arthur quickly covered his mouth realizing what he just said. Gwaine was the next to speak "What do you mean by brother princess?" Gwaine had become curious now, and he would not stop until he knew.
Merlin's P.o.V
He had just been waking up when he heard Gwaine "What do you mean by brother princess?" He knew Gwaine and he knew he would not stop till he knew what he meant by it "Ar-tur where are we?" he had managed to say, he still had more to ask, he began to speak when he felt a hand on the back of his neck. "Not now Merlin, you need to rest." Merlin knew that voice and he was instantly relieved, he had saved Arthur. and with that thought he passed back into the blissful arms of sleep.