When Merlin is seriously injured following a bandit attack, Arthur tries to distract himself by reading some letters he finds between Merlin and Hunith. Arthur discovers a lot more than he bargained for …

Okay short chapter to find out what you guys think. So if you want to read more, then review. XD


Arthur stormed into the Physician's quarters, carrying a very unconscious and injured Merlin in his arms. He couldn't believe he'd let this happen! That Merlin had gotten hurt just because of him. All because of a stupid bandit attack.

Gaius looked up from his book, alerted by the sudden commotion entering his rooms. However, once he noticed Merlin, he instantly leaped up and moved all of the books, scrolls and beakers off the nearest table.

Arthur laid Merlin down on the table, moving back out of the way quickly. He watched nervously as Gaius began inspecting his ward.

"What happened?" Gaius asked, dashing around gathering bandages and whatever else he needed.

"We were attacked by bandits passing through an uninhabited part of the woods. There were not many but Merlin managed to get in a fight with one of them. He had no sword so I don't know why he'd …" Arthur started, unable to finish. "How is he?"

"Not well. Not well at all. He's seriously injured. I don't why this boy … Actually I do know why he'd do that. Damn boy, always getting into trouble. Now it could cost him his life." Gaius cursed.

"What can I do?" Arthur asked.

"Nothing. Please sire move out of the way. If you want him to live, get away." Gaius snapped, intensely working on Merlin's wounds.

Very rarely had Arthur ever heard Gaius speak like that before. However, he realized that it was not for no reason. Arthur moved out of the way and watched Gaius and the incredibly pale Merlin before knowing that he could not watch any longer.

Arthur almost ran up the stairs to Merlin's room before shutting the door behind him and sitting heavily down on the bed. He felt awful because it was his fault. His fault that right now Merlin lay on the doorstep of Death.

He breathed heavily and closed his eyes, feeling guilt and anxiety race through him. Being in Merlin's room didn't help either. Arthur couldn't bear to think of what might happen if Merlin …

No, stop Arthur, he told himself sternly. He needed to calm down and not focus upon his pale, injured manservant in the connecting room.

Looking around the shabby bedroom, Arthur tried to find something to distract himself with. His eyes caught on a stack of notes tied together with a string of red ribbon. He moved over to them, wondering what on earth these pieces of paper held.

Forcefully taking his mind off Merlin, Arthur reached over and picked up the stack of papers, glancing down at the first one. It was a letter.

A shriek of pain burst towards his ears from downstairs and Arthur flinched, recognizing the voice. He physically clung onto the edges of the bed, knowing that running down there and trying to help Merlin would probably make him worse. He focused his attention on the letters and read the first line:

Dear Merlin …