Okay, so it's kind of a terrible chapter so I'm sorry. I just wasn't really... inspired? Anyway, enjoy and please review :)

Merlin moved Arthur to the tree, setting him on the ground. The king's eyes were already closed, and Merlin shook him.

'No, no, you can't sleep Arthur.' Arthur's eyes flickered open and he looked at Merlin, irritated.

'Why not?' he asked, sleepily.

'You're injured, remember…' he looked around the clearing they now sat in. Pine trees and large oaks surrounded them, making shadows look like ghosts and making every bird call sound a million times louder.

Merlin moved to sit next to Arthur, stretching out his legs and yawning.

'I don't want you dying on me.'

'I can die if I want to.' Arthur mumbled, childishly, trying to get into a comfortable position and once again letting his eyes close. Merlin rolled his eyes and dug his elbow into the King's side.

'Arthur!'

'I'm awake!'

Merlin shook his head and slid down further, letting his head roll a little to the side. He could feel his eyes growing heavy, and he struggled to keep them open for more than a second. He felt sleep calling for him, but he fought against it, throwing his head backwards. His head connected with the tree, and Merlin sat up, rubbing at the back of his head. Beside him, Arthur chuckled.

'Wake you up, did it?' he asked, as Merlin scowled at him.

'Prat.' Merlin whispered, as he fell asleep.

Merlin's eyes flickered open. His head was pounding, and his eyes were heavy. Looking around him, the blurry figure of Arthur came into view, and he sat himself up.

'Arthur?' The man was sat in front of a burning fire, hunched over on a log. At the sound of his name, he turned his head.

'Hmmm?'

'You made a fire…' Merlin ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his tired eyes, as he moved to join Arthur.

'Did you figure that out all on your own?' Arthur mocked, making room on the log. Merlin look at his king's face, then down to his stomach. He could not see the wound, as Arthur's arm hid it, but he could see a small sliver of red on his chain mail.

'You really should get that looked at…' Merlin said, quietly.

'It's fine, Merlin. Just a scratch…' The orange flames lit up Arthur's face, and Merlin watched him closely for a moment.

'Really?'

'Yes. Really.'

'But-'

'Just drop it, Merlin!'

The rest of the evening dragged on for what seemed like forever, with Arthur sat staring into the flames of the fire. Merlin couldn't tell if the man was thinking or just tired. The fire died down, and Merlin moved back to the tree, this time lying down. He shut his eyes, and after a moment he heard the shuffling of feet as Arthur moved next to him.

'Do you think any of them made it?' Arthur asked in a quiet, almost child-like voice. Merlin's eyes opened at the unexpected question.

'Who?' Arthur sighed, sadly, not answering Merlin's question, and after a moments silence, it was Merlin that spoke.

'I think… that your knights are the bravest men in the land. They've faced dragons and warlocks, and not once did they run away in fear. So yes, I think they're fine. They're probably searching for us as we speak.'

'Do you really believe that?' Merlin lay silent, the tone of doubt in Arthur's voice alarming him. He was at a loss for words.

'Great.'

They woke at dawn, to dancing raindrops and whispering winds. Arthur lay with his eyes wide open. He hadn't slept well the night before, due to a thunder storm that had managed to knock a few trees over. His dirty-blonde hair was once again plastered to his face. During the night, he had rolled over onto a rock, and it had angered the wound on his stomach, so much so that it was still screaming at him. His eyes were fixed on a nearby clump of grass, and his teeth were clamped together.

Merlin turned onto his back and looked up at the crying sky. His ears picked up the sound of Arthur's shaky breath.

'Arthur? Are you awake?'

'Yes.' Arthur strained. The pain in Arthur's voice worried Merlin, and he swiftly moved closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

'Hey, what's wrong?'

'I do- wh… Can't.' Merlin's eyebrows furrowed, and he lifted his other hand to Arthur's side.

'Arthur…' Looking him over, Merlin saw a fresh patch of blood on Arthur's stomach, and his mind went blank. He looked to the pale, ghostly face of his king.

'Tell me what to do, Arthur.' He said, embarrassed to find tears welling in his eyes. Since when did Merlin cry over anyone? He lifted a hand a angrily wiped the tears away. Arthur stayed silent, trembling beneath him, and Merlin suddenly realised that he had no idea what to do. More tears fell down his cheeks, and Merlin tried to think. He assumed that Arthur's wound had become infected, somehow, but since Arthur refused to show that anything was wrong, Merlin didn't know how bad it really was. He lifted a hand to his forehead, shutting his eyes and forcing himself to think straight.

'Okay… okay.' Merlin rolled Arthur onto his back and swiped a strand of hair from his face. The man looked like death itself, and a small minnow of fear swam through him.

'Arthur, open your eyes.' Arthur's eyes flickered faintly, but did not open. It was enough for Merlin, though.

'Alright, okay… ummm, I need you to sit up. Just for a moment.' Merlin gripped onto Arthur's shoulder, slipping an arm under him and gently lifting. Arthur groaned and he was lifted into a sitting position, and Merlin leaned him back against the large oak tree that was sheltering them from the rain. Merlin sighed and looked down to Arthur's stomach, reaching his hand out and lifting his chain mail. The gash looked frighteningly out of place against Arthur's pale skin. Blood ran in small rivers towards the ground. Merlin glanced up at Arthur then back to his stomach. He ripped a line of fabric from his blue tunic and pressed it against Arthur's stomach.

Arthur flickered open his eyes. The world was spinning and his head was pounding. He fixed his eyes on the mop of black hair before him.

'Merlin.' He mumbled. Blue eyes connected with is, and Arthur could see the fear on Merlin's face.

'Arthur…'

'What're you doing?' he asked, his eyes momentarily closing again.

'The wound on your stomach… it's infected.' Arthur's eyes scanned Merlin's face.

'Are you alright?' he asked, s look of concern on his face.

'Typical,' Merlin scoffed. 'You're practically dying, and you're asking me if I'm alright?' Merlin looked up at Arthur and instantly regretted his words. Merlin had never seen anything but annoyance on the face of his king, and he couldn't be sure if he was right or not, but Merlin saw a glimmer of fear in Arthur's eyes. He placed a hand on Arthur's knee, looking him in the eye as confidently as he could.

'You're going to be fine, Arthur.' Merlin kept his eyes locked with Arthur's, and for a moment he almost believed what he was saying.