Thanks for all the reviews and the story alerts, This story is going to hopefully be as good as regrets was :)
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I dont know if some people may think this is a bit dark but its just to set it up for the hopefull humour and relationships which come with the twist halfway through :P
Part 2
"Gwaine we need to stop here-" Arthur commanded as he stopped the slow yet constant jogging he had been in, His arms releasing the tight hold on the quivering warlock within his arms. They had escaped the perusing men at-least an hour earlier, Yet to be on the safe side the group had continued running until the sun had disappeared over the horizon; sending the forest into a dark and murky state. One which even the most savage of bandits wouldn't navigate. Gwaine walked up beside the king and gripped Merlin's shoulders as he aided him in lowering the man down onto the floor, Moving stones and twigs away as he made it as comfortable as possible for his friend.
"They- need to work on their anger" Merlin gasped as he gripped his injury; His bright blue eyes fluttering open slightly. Arthur smirked and laid the man's head down against a fallen branch; Merlin had been in and out of consciousness constantly as they travelled, always muttering incoherently about needing to talk to Arthur, despite the man in question being the one to carry him.
"They just did- On you" Arthur stated as he glared at the man before him with amusement and worry, Gwaine forced a smirk and moved across to sit down beside the servant, His arms crossing across his chest as tried to keep himself warm, His eyes watching the warlock from the side.
"Yeah- You were their live punching bag back there mate-" Gwaine cocked his head to the side to face the brave friend beside him, as he did he noticed the stain on the warlocks tunic was larger than before; The thick red blood still slight damp and darker than before. Concern filled his features as he glanced across to Arthur who also seemed to be staring at the injury with an intrigued and panicked look upon his features. The knight knew how the king felt about Merlin; the man who had been beside him for almost more than five years. To show so much emotion over a lowly servant wasn't acceptable as king, and was something his late father always disproved off, Gwaine had heard of the time the warlock was poisoned; And still finds himself surprised to this day that once prattish prince had gone rogue all for one man. One man which he himself would kill a million men to save. A man who he would willingly give his life for. But after that incident when it came to his father, Arthur never wanted to disappoint, especially after his death. Deciding better than to tease the blonde Gwaine leaned in closed to the branch, He knew that all the king wanted to do right now was ensure his friend was okay, He knew all Arthur wanted to do was take the injury that was most likely meant for him away.
"Why'd you do it?" Arthur questioned as he watched the raven haired man, Slowly Merlin's gaze rose as he met the gaze of the king once again. "Why didn't you move"
"Because-" Merlin paused as he considered the question. If he had moved the king was right behind him, if he had moved than Arthur would be the one with the immense pain rippling through his head, He would be the injured king of Camelot. Slowly the warlocks gaze returned as he watched the king, His face pulled into one of worry as he waited patiently for an answer. Gwaine's own gaze seemed not fixed on the warlocks face, but rather chest. Ignoring the company, the warlock smirked. "Because I needed to protect you-"
"Merlin your my servant your not-"
"Im your friend" Merlin interrupted, Wincing as the king gawped slightly. The warlock smirked and used his spare had to scratch away at the back of his head awkwardly. "Or rather I hope so-"
"Merlin-" Arthur interrupted as he kneeled down before his friend, His eyes locked with the mans as for once he allowed his normally hard exterior to melt away. "I have one of the most bravest servants- friends a king could ever ask for, The last thing I want them to do it throw themselves in front of a mace for me"
"I wouldn't call it throwing yourself Arthur" Gwaine interrupted with a smirk, "More like stand in the way- the bandit was aiming for him already anyway"
"Yeah-" Merlin flinched and grasped at his chest as he groaned in pain his head rolling to the side as he clenched his eyes shut, His grip on his shirt tightening and turning his knuckles a stark white. Arthur stepped forwards with Gwaine as they placed hands on the mans shoulders in an attempt to give him comfort.
"Merlin?" Arthur uttered as the man went slightly too still; His skin a stark white and covered in a thin layer of sweat; Sweat which glistened in the limited light of the moon above. Slowly the raven haired man's eyes opened again but from the look pulled across his features it was easier said than done. Arthur gazed into the man's eyes, noticing how their surfaces were still glazed over in pain, He decided enough was enough. "You need to let me have a look at it-" The king practically ordered as he gestured to the growing red patch on the man's tunic; surprising the knight beside him. But however much he tried to convince himself that everything was going to be fine, Both himself and Gwaine knew whatever it was it wasn't good. No man would survive such an injury as merlin had sustained for long, The momentum of the mace…
"Okay-" Merlin gasped as he released his hand from the blood stained area reluctantly, Arthur and Gwaine exchanged glances before the king slowly reached outwards. His hands clasped around the rough material the younger man wore as he moved as much fabric away as possible, Leaning inwards his eyes took in what he saw. Guilt and sympathy washed over the king as he struggled to supress a gasp; His eyes watering slightly as he nodded and leaned back again allowing Gwaine to also take a peek at the injury. Arthur's eyes moved across to a tree behind the warlock while the knight too tried to supress his reactions, His own hand diving down to the warlocks and pressing it hard against the wound. Arthur's head dipped. It was definitely worse than they thought.
"What's wrong?" Merlin gasped as he held his hand in its place while Gwaine moved his own away, "Is it bad?"
"No its alright mate- Youll be fine" Gwaine smirked as he turned to the king and elbowed him in the side, Knocking Arthur from his dark reverie. The king nodded in agreement and mirrored the normally drunk knight's smirk as they both laughed.
"Yeah I've seen injuries like that loads of times Merlin- After some rest you'll be waiting over my beck and call" Arthur answered stoically as he turned his head away and stood upwards from his kneeling position; Turning away from the warlock and wandering forwards slowly as he looked down at the ring which rested around his finger, Slowly the king began to spin it around his skin as he wandered to a tree, Leaning his shoulder against it as he faced himself with the facts. All the while listening to the soft speech which filled the silent forest from the conversation behind him.
"On a dead man-" Merlin stated as he watched the king wander away, His eyes almost silently pleading that for once the blonde would smile and turn back. Silently pleading that the king would comfort him as he clutched the wound which was potentially to be his death. His eyes never left the king as he wallowed in his own thoughts, Forgetting at that moment that there was infact another knight of the round table beside him. Gwaine however caught the look of distress on the servants face as the king walked away and nudged him lightly; Gwaine would help Merlin whatever way possible. Slowly the knight signalled for the raven haired man to lean back and get some rest, so helping Merlin down into a more comfortable and lower position became his first task.
"Gwaine-" Merlin uttered as he was lowered downwards, His eyes having pulled away from the king after being knocked from his reverie.
"Yes Merlin-" The knight answered with a smirk, Releasing his grip on his younger friend as he finished lowering him down, "Don't make this a goodbye speech because you know your not going to-"
"No" The warlock stated as his eyes began to droop, the raven haired man glanced at the king again before locking eyes with Gwaine, "Arthur is a good man, He will be the best king that Camelot ever see's- Gwaine I want you to promise whatever happens to me tomorrow, you'll look after Arthur first- you'll protect him before me"
Gwaine smirked and placed a hand on the warlocks shoulder as he nodded, "Of course mate- Id probably do a better job than you"
Merlin laughed and contented allowed his eyes to roll into the back of his head, Slowly the man slipped into unconsciousness and a deep sleep. Smiling sadly knight stood upwards taking one last glance at the younger traveller before turning wandered over to the king; stopping beside him as he glanced at the blonde haired man. Slowly he turned his gaze away and tried to spot whatever was more interesting than Merlin at the moment, His hand slipped down to his sheath; His fingers seeking out a single cord which connected to a small water pouch filled with mead. Untying it in silence the knight brought it upwards to his lips, Pulling the cork away as he gulped down a large mouthful. Slowly he extended his hand out to the king, The mead sloshing refreshingly about inside as he wriggled it before the mans face. "You need a drink"
At no recognition the man sighed and sloshed it around my violently and closer to his face, A large grin slowly spreading across his features despite the dull mood which hung over them. "Here-" Gwaine insisted; Annoyance tinged into the edges of his words, Arthur glanced down and slowly accepted the mead after finally recognising the offer. Reluctantly Arthur tipped the warming liquid down his throat, relishing In the taste it brought with it before handing it back to the knight. All in complete silence.
"You heard what he said right Arthur?" Gwaine asked as he eyed the king, Arthur however remained with his eyes fixed on a single tree in the distance, His eyes glassed over with memories and pain. 'Emotions' Gwaine considered to himself, Sighing as he received no answer the knight went to retire back beside the warlock. When suddenly something stopped him, A strange pull back to the king. Taking a deep swig and Spinning back around the knight walked so he was face to face with the king, His eyes hard and focused on the blondes own blue orbs. Blocking whatever view he was locked with-
"You are a PRAT!" Gwaine stated stoically, "You know- your friend- your servant is sitting there…. Sitting there…."
"SAY IT" Arthur growled as he glanced at the knight, His eyes cold and hard-
"Hes dying Arthur- and if you keep moping about like this it's not going to make him feel any better! You should have seen his face as he watched you leave- he needs you" Gwaine muttered as he watched the kings head drop in silence, The blonde sighed and locked eyes with the knight again.
"I cant I am King of Camelot Gwaine- Something that you wouldn't understand"
Gwaine growled and turned on the ball of his feet, marching straight back to his friend as he lingered on the kings words for longer. He would live to regret what he had said.
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