A/N I couldn't stand it if Merlin died in one of my fics... So keep that in mind as you read and don't let it turn you away! Hopefully it's not too bad and you enjoy it. Well I'll see you on the flip side of the story ;)

Arthur put on his red cloak, fastening the clasp, eyes shut tightly. He was meant to be here for this. He wasn't meant to sacrifice himself for his king, no matter what happened. He should have been here on this day, not have this happen in his name, in his honour.

A dying whisper shouldn't have happened- he should have been standing next to him, not gone. He should have told him himself, had a chance to explain.

Arthur gulped as memories hit him, tearing holes through his wall.

oOoOoOo

The forest was too silent, the whisper of the wind and their footfall the only things reaching their ears. Arthur's eyes scanned the trees that loomed around them and caught Merlin's eye. The fear and determination he saw there startled him. Merlin nodded once and looked away.

He had told him that coming out here wasn't a good idea, that he had a bad feeling. Yet, as per usual, Arthur had ignored him, telling him to get a move on. He should have listened.

That's when the first soldier fell, an arrow sticking out of his chest. The knight jumped into actions, meeting the cries of the bandits with cries of their own. The next minutes were met by the sounds of swords clashing.

Arthur parried and swung his blade, the calls of sheer fighting slowing his world down. He had trained for moments like these his whole life. Moments where he had to fight for his friends, fight for his people.

He did not stop until his blade was met by no other. He looked around to see his men standing, exhausted but alive. His eyes sought out Merlin and he let out a sigh of relief when he saw his servant standing beside Gwaine, making his way over to him.

Looking a little worse for the wear, Arthur eyed Merlin speculatively, taking in the leaves scattered in his messy raven hair. Meeting Arthur's gaze, Merlin frowned, reaching up a hand to run through his hair. When he pulled out a rather outstanding oak leaf, he grinned sheepishly and kept walking.

Merlin looked set to call out to him when his blue eyes widened. He gasped in a breath of air and went blank. He tried taking another step but his knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his midsection.

Looking down, his eyes glazed over as he pulled something out of his stomach. He stared inquisitively at the arrow until the sheen of blood dripped onto his pale hands.

It was as if everybody had frozen for a second, disbelieving that anything had happened. That was shattered as he dropped the arrow and looked at his bloodied palms. His head cocked to the side and his eyes rose up as he stuttered "Arthur?"

Arthur ran to his side, dropping his sword, focused on getting to his manservant. "Merlin, you're going to be alright. Merlin just hold on."

He lay Merlin on his cloak and pushed his hands over the wound. The blood was pumping out so fast and it wouldn't stop. Arthur looked at Merlin pleadingly, "What do I do? Merlin I don't know- what do I do?"

"It hurts Arthur" Merlin grimaced and looked up.

"Well you have to be ok- who else would I get to polish my armour?"

Merlin smiled weakly "Prat…"

"Would I be anybody else? Merlin you have to tell me what I'm meant to do."

The wound was still pouring out Merlin's life source and it didn't seem to be slowing down. Merlin's already pale complexion was going more and more translucent by the second. Arthur's weak attempt at humour didn't- and couldn't- hide his worry.

"It's not going to work Arthur. You won't stop the bleeding. I'm dying-"

No. No. Merlin couldn't die, not on his watch. He had vowed to protect the people of Camelot and Merlin wasn't just his servant. He was his friend. Arthur would do anything to save him…. Even if that meant going against everything he had been taught.

"Use your magic Merlin! Please, I beg of you, heal yourself."

Merlin' s eyes widened and there were gasps of shock around them as the knight heard what he had said. Merlin just stared at Arthur.

"You knew? All thi-"

Merlin was cut off when a golden light began to fill the woods, blinding the knights. Golden rays shot through their minds and they couldn't move, couldn't see. It felt as if the world had exploded beneath them, swallowing them into a place where one could not feel pain. Silence echoed in their heads until it was broken by an anguished cry.

Merlin.

Then everything faded to black once more.

oOoOoOo

When they woke up, it was as if there had not been a fight, not a trace of blood to be seen. The fallen had gone and nobody that had passed remained there. Merlin was gone.

They searched for months, patrolling the forest, looking for the one thing that was truly gone. They didn't find him and every time they would return it was as if more hope of understanding had disappeared. They never spoke of Merlin's magic. Arthur shut himself off to everyone if Merlin's 'betrayal' was mentioned.

Until one day when Arthur came home and Gwen screamed at him, begging him to become the man she once knew. Begging him to stop searching for their friend and instead to honour him.

She begged him to understand that Merlin would not want this, Merlin could not deal with the sight of what he was turning into. So he stopped looking.

That was a month ago.

He decided that he should stop pretending that he was oblivious to the good Merlin had done. The good he had done with magic.

So, today, Arthur was declaring the ban on magic lifted.

And in the square, a man with sapphire eyes stood and watched, cloaked in a blue robe.

Watched as he gave his speech.

Watched as the crowd cheered.

Then the man whispered,

"It's almost my time to come back Arthur."

A/N: Well if you've gotten this far, thank you! This is my first dive into the Merlin FF World and I'm pretty nervous... It's only my second story so hopefully it isn't too bad! Judging if this gets any reaction I'll either leave this as a one-shot or continue it... Fingers crossed it isn't too bad!

Please review and I hope this is alright! Any feedback would be great :) Thanks guys!

-Liv