*PoV Arthur*
I was in pain. Blood seeped from the wound in my stomach, and I wasn't going to stay standing for much longer. The knights cheered as the bandits ran away, and I collapsed.
"Arthur!" It was Merlin, who kneeled next to me, and rested my head in his lap. "Arthur."
The knights scrambled over to us, shouting worlds around at each other. They all kneeled around us, looking worried. "We must keep him warm," Merlin said, sounding very strong. "Go get fire wood."
"Merlin, we need to-" Gawain started.
"GO!" Merlin shouted.
The others went off to get fire wood. It was quite nice, laying here. Merlin's hand on the back of my neck was warm, and he was very gentle. "Merlin," I managed to say. "Tell Gwen I'll miss her."
"You're not going to die," Merlin said quietly. "You'll be fine."
"No, Merlin," I said. "No man could live after a wound like this."
Merlin looked down at me, tears rimming his eyes. It was then I noticed blood gushing from a wound in his shoulder. I raised a hand and tugged on his jacket to cover it. There, I had a picture of a perfect Merlin to keep with me. Maybe I'll be joined by a servant in the afterlife that looks like Merlin.
"No man is worth your tears, remember, Merlin?" I said.
Merlin smiled sadly. "You're going to hate me for this."
I raised an eyebrow as Merlin moved his hand over my wound. He muttered something, and his eyes glowed yellow. I felt the skin around my injury stitch itself back together. I sat up and away from Merlin, looking at him with an eyebrow raised. "You have magic?"
Merlin nodded, hanging his head.
I stood up. "I trusted you! I trusted a sorcerer!"
Merlin stood up and advanced on me, wrapping his arms around my neck. He was hugging me, tears running down his cheeks. He looked at me. "I'm sorry." Merlin turned away and walked out of camp. Just walked away. And I didn't try to stop him.
I sat down, completely stunned. I touched my stomach where the wound was, and found only smooth skin. Merlin had been in my room when I was asleep plenty of time, and he did nothing to me. Merlin had done nothing bad to me, or any of the guards. He was extremely loyal to me. He had never done anything to hurt me. Maybe… magic isn't all bad.
"Where'd Merlin go?" Sir Gawain asked as he came back.
"He left," I said, standing up.
"My lord," Sir Leon said, coming towards me. "What happened to your wound?"
"Merlin healed it." I looked around the camp. "And now he's gone. I over reacted. I shouldn't have."
"Merlin was a sorcerer?" Sir Percival asked.
"It seems so," I said.
I had run him away, with my hatred of magic, when all he'd tried to do was help. I should have been alright with it, but I hadn't been. I had been a fool. I had run him away.
But I'd do anything to get him back.