A/N: Thank you to all those who have R&R, as you all know as writers its great to have some feedback. Here's chapter two, hope you enjoy. Have a rough idea were this is going to go and lets say that their stay in the forest isn't going to be the nicest they have and their relationship as friends will be more than tested. Not much of a cliffhanger or anything in this chap but promises to get better next time. Enjoy...

Chapter 2

Arthur finally began to get his bearings, he pulled himself into a sitting position cradling his arm stiffly with a small moan escaping his lips.

"You need that seeing to" Merlin sighed and grimaced as he tried again to sit up.

"What did i just tell you" Arthur shot him an angry glance. He tried to hide his worry, but Merlin could see through his front. Underneath, the king was a real softy to his manservant and although Arthur was doing his best not to show it, Merlin could see the faint lines of worry etched on his friends brow. They were indeed not in the best of situations to say the least.

"It needs to come out" Merlin said after a pause, twiddling his unsteady hand around the shaft of the bolt considering doing it himself. One tiny knock of the wood caused a torrid rush of pain to flash through his body and he took a shaky breath through his gritted teeth.

Arthur moved carefully over to kneel beside him. "Let me" he glanced from Merlin's taut features to the bolt and back. "It's going to hurt Merlin, promise you wont be a girl?"

"Just do it" The warlock cried, placing both hands on the bolt ready to help, "Just do it already" He sucked in a quivering breath and then he did it.

Merlin screamed, he tried to hold it in but failed. His back contorted upward in agony as Arthur ripped the bolt from his flesh and he felt crimson flow freely down his side to the dirt below. Arthur dropped the arrow and placed his good hand on Merlin's shoulder to comfort his wreathing friend. The warlocks breaths came short and ragged for a minute and then began to ease.

"Could... have... warned me?" Merlin shuddered out now placing a hand across the fresh open wound trying to stem the heavy blood flow.

"That wouldn't be any fun now would it." Arthur joked half smiling, but quickly turned his worried eyes back on his friends "Are you ok?"

"Never better Sire" Merlin tried a half-hearted smile which turned into a wince of features. "Just a scratch" he tried to add. Arthur was unconvinced. They sat quietly for a moment, the forest was almost unnaturally silent around them and all that could be heard was the servants uneasy breaths as he tried to overcome the burning pain.

"Your bleeding a lot" Arthur suddenly noticed the pool of blood beginning to form and slowly seep into the dirt around his friend.

"It'll be fine" Merlin's voice wavered a little and Arthur was disturbed at how much his friends complexion had paled considerably. "Let me sort out your arm for you?" He pushed himself up carefully trying best not to jolt the wound further and rested his back against the steep incline.

"Your in no fit state to be tending to me" Arthur moved back from his friend. " We need to stop this bleeding, fast"

"Oh don't be such a drama queen you" Merlin now visibly slurring his speech across at him. "Besides all my supplies at in my saddle bag"

"Damn it" The king shouted. Standing up and kicking the dirt from under his feet. He paused for several seconds, contemplating what he was supposed to use.

"Don't worry" Merlin whispered, "it'll all be fine" he pulled a drunken smile before his eyes rolled back and he lost all consciousness.

"You dimwit" Arthur gently lowered himself back down, thinking quickly he eased his friends neckerchief off and placed it over the still streaming wound. He pressed down. Hard. Even as a young boy, Gaius had always taught him the basics of first aid. The first and foremost how to stem the blood flow from a wound, Arthur had sadly seen plenty in battle. Merlin groaned, but made no effort to rouse from his slumber as Arthur remained in position for several minutes pressing hard on his servants abdomen.

"Your braver than you look Merlin" he said as he watched for any signs of waking. "Any knight would have passed out long before now" The warlock made no response. Arthur then looked to the sky, hoping against all hope that this was not the day he was about to lose his most trusted friend and servant. Merlin was not meant to die, he always seemed to escape unscathed. Well nearly always.

The sun was lowering slowly in the sky now. It would only be a couple of hours before night fell across the forest. And highly unlikely that anyone, even bandits would find them in the pitch black of the night. Arthur reflected on whether to start a fire as not to draw their attention. He looked down at Merlin's pallid face and realised not starting one was really not an option either. Arthur heaved a long exhale, swallowing back the lump which was sitting in his throat threatening to spew his emotions out at any minute. He was exhausted, a long days ride in the saddle had been draining. Even for the well trained and fit king of Camelot. Arthur pondered for a moment how an earth his scrawny thin servant ever managed to keep up with him. He vowed if they ever got out of this one, he might just give the man a day off.

The king slowly pulled back the soaked neckerchief several minutes later to find the blood flow had slowed. He sighed in relief but worried all the same. The cloth was soaked through and the ground around Merlin had been stained an ugly shade of crimson. Arthur struggled one handed to un-clip and pull the cloak from his shoulders. He carefully covered his friend from neck to toe in the fabric and went quickly in search of firewood. It was going to be a long night, if they were to survive these haunted woods then they would need plenty of firewood to keep the fire burning.

Arthur was not used to collecting firewood. It was always Merlin's job but he managed none the less, taking twice the time being single handed. He collected a rather impressive pile of twigs/branches. While scouting the area he found that all sides of the ravine were steep and nearly unclimbable. Certainly impossible with a broken arm. The recent rain looked like it had caused a land slide and several banks were high with mud and slippery rocks making a climb even more treacherous.

"Arthur?" The king felt his name whispered and he turned to his servant. Merlin's eyes were half open, showing little more than the whites of his eyes. He rolled his head back and groaned. "Where are we?" The warlock cracked his eyes open a little further and looked a little more lucid this time.

"We're still in the forest Merlin" Arthur felt himself almost lose a little patience with his friend. "You were shot with an arrow remember?"

Merlin vaguely shook his head. "Don't remember" he muttered.

Arthur frowned and looked again at the blooming bruise on his friends face, it was slowly creeping up his forehead towards his dark brown locks.

"You need to try and stay awake Merlin you've banged your head up pretty damn hard" Arthur affectionately patted his servant on the cheek to rouse him and Merlin moaned in response.

"Do I have to?" He grumbled. "So tried"

"I'm afraid so" The king replied. "It's going to be a long night"

"Hmm, especially if I have to listen to your voice all damn night long" Merlin shot back.

Arthur smiled. At least he hadn't lost his cheery banter just yet.