It was gone. All the worry, all the pain, all the cold. All of it was replaced by that smile. The smile the man could wear so well. Merlin got lost in his face. So glad Arthur was alright. Alive. Beside him. Breathing.
Merlin didn't care about the arrow in his leg that caused him to limp, nor the throbbing of his black eye, and wouldn't bother to care about his skin forming scares. He'd saved Arthur yet again. And that was enough to satisfy him. Enough to make him smile back.
The prince's arm fell across his servant's shoulders, steadying him. Merlin was always holding him steady; it was time he returned the favor.
He leaned into Arthur's warmth and found his eyes, staring back intently.
"Don't expect me to act like I care this much again, Merlin."
He just had to ruin the moment, didn't he?