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As they came closer, Merlin recognized what looked like Percival. It wasn't until he saw his face in details that he realised something was wrong. The knight looked prostrate, and despite having the stature of a colossus, Merlin never saw him looked so fragile. When he raised his eyes towards Merlin, they were filled with unshed tears and fear. The young warlock could not detach his eyes from him, he never saw his friend so distressed and the feeling of stress and apprehension came back to clutch his chest. Whatever happened to him, it was bad, and at this moment Merlin wasn't totally sure he wanted to know.

Once they were close enough Percival ran to help his friend to land, Merlin jumped out of the boat, and landed in the water up to his knees. Percival grabbed his arm and squeezed slightly.

"Merlin" he said relieved before noticing his king lying still on the boat, with his chain mail stained with blood "Is he…?" He stopped, short of breath, a lump forming in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to even think their stupidity could have brought this.

"No, no, he is alright," said Merlin hastily, feeling his friend's despair.

Percival looked at the sky, full of relieve and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths.

"What happened?" whispered the warlock after a moment.

"Later, we need to take care of you both." The answer came immediately, in a stronger voice than before.

Surely Merlin didn't realise he looked so miserable in that instant. Soaked, haggard and red eyed, he looked exhausted, like if the slightest shock would make him shatter. He was also shaking from the cold, and the emotional tests he just passed through.

The strong knight held the king in his powerful arms and they started to walk back to the forest. Merlin felt numb while following him, now the adrenaline gone, his legs felt as if they were going to give up. They walked silently, although Merlin wanted to know what happened to his friend, he was grateful he didn't have to talk. He was feeling so tired he really couldn't right now and whatever news he still had to hear, he was no fit to take them right now. The only thing he wanted was to collapse on the ground and sleep for days.

Once near the edge of the forest, they found a place to leave the king to rest and started building a fire. They placed their king next to it, took off his chainmail his boots and covered him with Percival's knight coat. Once this was done, Merlin started to move around the camp collecting herbs and mushrooms, and looking for anything they could eat. The horses had disappeared earlier with their backpacks and the little amount of supply they had. Percival still had his horse though, but it seems he didn't have any supply either. Merlin suddenly fell the massive hand of Percival on his arm, stopping him.

"You need to rest, let me take care of this," he said, before heading towards the trees. "I'll try to find something."

Merlin was too weak to protest, he gave his friend a grateful look, took off his own boots and placed them to dry, before siting close to Arthur. He brought his knees against his chest and wrapped his arms around them, trying to keep warm.

For a while he stayed alone like this, watching his friend sleeping. He couldn't believe the situation had seemed so desperately hopeless a few hours ago and now he was just waiting for Arthur to wake up. As he looked at him, although he should have been filled with nothing but relief, he realised his stomach was still torn with apprehension: Arthur's last words were words of acceptance and gratitude. But what if he said all those things because he was dying? What if he regretted them now? Merlin stared at the fire, chewing his lips. He didn't know what he would do if his friend rejected him. He didn't want to think about it, but couldn't really stop either.

A moan drew his attention. He jumped to his feet and was at Arthur's side immediately, kneeling next to him. The king took a long breath and blinked a few times, he looked above him, waiting for his vision to focus. He could however perceive a blurred face with raven hair above him. He tried to concentrate on it until his sight came back to normal.

"Merlin" he whispered.

Merlin couldn't prevent himself to smile from ear to ear; he had feared he would not hear this voice ever again. He grabbed a flask, and hold his friend's head while he was drinking.

"How did you…how could you…what happened ?" Arthur tried to make coherent phrases as his mind was trying to fill the holes in the story.

"Its a long story, the important part is that you are alive."

"You'll have to explain me everything," he said as he touched his stomach where the sword struck him, there was no trace of any wound.

"I will, I promise"

Arthur was wondering how a man could even defy death.

"Morgana?" he asked suddenly, looking around as he expected to see her appearing in front of them.

"She is dead." Simply stated Merlin.

They stayed silent for a moment, both lost in their thoughts.

"You look terrible," said Arthur, glancing at his friend.

"You are not better" Merlin grinned. It seems their usual banter was coming back, and his heart was beating with hope at this idea. He couldn't detach his eyes from Arthur, as if he would disappear as soon as he would turn his head away.

"Stop looking at me like this, I'm not going anywhere" this one joked, feeling the inquisitive look on him.

"Sorry…you just died in my arms a few hours ago." He tried to sound as if it wasn't a big deal but his voice betrayed him, his throat was tight with emotion and he sounded a bit too high pitch. It was hard to remember those moments; the pure agony and the hopeless future that crashed over him, and he doubted he could ever forget what he felt back there.

Arthur saw the distress in his friend's eyes and felt a wave of empathy for him.

"I'm sorry you had to live this…I really am…and it seems I owe you my life," he finished with a smile.

"That wouldn't be the first time."

"No it wouldn't be…"

Merlin helped him to sit down and stood to add some firewood.

"How did you bring me to the lake? Did you drag me all the way?"

"I'm not as weak as I seem."

"No but…we were so far…and I felt like, you know, dying…and how did you heal me?"

"…"

"Merlin"

"Sire?" he turned to face him with big innocent eyes.

"Your king asked you a question."

"Can't his highness wait until we are back in Camelot?"

"No, Merlin, I want to know…Oh come on, I already know you're a sorcerer, what could possibly be worse than that?"

It was brief but Arthur noticed the hurt that passed through his friend's eyes.

"I mean…I didn't want to say worse, that is not what I meant…I just…Merlin…"

The warlock sighed and sat on the other side of the fire, facing his king. He didn't want to talk about that, he was so tired, and Arthur just woke up from the dead. He didn't want him to start shouting at him already. He just stared at the fire in silence.

"If it's about magic, ok I reacted a bit harshly at the beginning but I was in shock and, by the way, I was dying, you can't possibly be angry for that? Especially after what I said at the…

At this moment Merlin's eyes shifted from the fire to meet his friend's. He was being ridiculous, Arthur didn't really seem angry with him, did he?

As he seemed to understand, a flash of anger passed through Arthur's eyes.

"Oh wait…is that what it is all about? You think I said all those things because I was dying? Of all the idiots on earth, Merlin, you…"

Percival chose this exact moment to appear from the wood, holding two big rabbits in one hand. He quickly put them near the fire and he hastened to knee before his king.

"Sire!"

"Percival!" all trace of anger just vanished to be quickly replaced by joy and relieve, "How did you find us?" he said smiling at his knight.

"Sire…something terrible happened, it is my fault if Morgana found where you were heading. Me and Gwaine…" at this point his voice broke and he closed his eyes tight trying to control his feelings, "We knew where she was heading to, we went after her."

Both Merlin and Arthur were in shock, staring at Percival with wide eyes.

"You what?!" shouted the king, rising to his feet.

"She tortured Gwaine to death…and learnt where to find you…" tears were rolling down his cheeks when he finished talking.

"Gwaine…." Whispered Merlin in a strangled voice. "No…"

Arthur started to pace around the camp, his hand automatically looking for his sword without finding it, he was so mad at this moment he needed to hit something.

"What came over you?! You two, alone, to fight a high priestess, were you out of your mind?!" Arthur's angry shouts were echoing around them.

Percival remained silent, bowing his head a bit further. The king kept on shouting for a while before stopping abruptly to meet Percival's eyes. He took the voice he used when he was acting like the king, a strong and calm voice although grief was filling it.

"He was a brave knight…the bravest…he will be honoured once we get back to Camelot…"

Merlin was still froze in shock. Once the silence came back to fill the forest, he stood up and walked away, in the direction of the lake. Trying to don't think, don't think and just walk away.

They watched him leave without a word and a long moment passed before Arthur spoke again.

"Percival… I'd like to give word to Camelot that we are both alive and well and that we are on our way."

"You want me to leave you alone my lord? But the forest is still crowded with Saxons."

"I feel good enough to fight if needed. Trust me," he said while staring at the place where Merlin had disappeared. "I am perfectly safe."

Percival, still on his knee, bowed his head one more time and stood to prepare his horse.

"I'll ask for a patrol to be sent to meet you"

"You can leave after lunch."

"Sire."

Arthur put a hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed a bit.

"He was a good friend."

The knight nodded and grabbed one of his knives to start skinning the rabbits. After a while, Arthur headed towards the lake to look for his manservant. He found him seated on a rock near the edge of the forest, his knees pressed against his chest and his face buried in them. Arthur walked slowly to his friend and seated next to him, staring at the horizon. They could see a part of the lake from there. If Merlin noticed his presence he didn't show anything. They just shared silence for a while, until Merlin finally raised his head and wiped his tears. He was still shaking slightly with quiet sobs though and he gritted his teeth trying to make them stop. Some more minutes passed before Arthur turned to look at his friend.

"I'm sorry," he said.

The young warlock raised his, once more, red eyes to look at his king. He could see the grief printed on his face.

"Me too," he whispered.

"Merlin," Arthur started, without looking away from his manservant, "I meant what I said…I don't want you to change. I still have a lot to understand about you, but if there's something I know, it's that I'm happy to have you as a friend."

Merlin didn't know what to say. His emotions were a horrible mix between the loss of Gwaine and the acceptance of Arthur.

"When you're ready, come to have some food," the king said before going back to the camp.

Merlin didn't wait long before following his friend. He helped Percival to cook the rabbits, grilled some mushrooms and they all sat around the fire. Percival left straight after lunch, and Merlin and Arthur started they long walk back to Camelot.

"So Merlin…about that lake…" said Arthur while walking through the forest.

Merlin sighed, but started to answer anyway.

"I…had help…from a friend."

"A friend? Where is he?"

"He flied away…."

"What do you mean "flied away"?" he frowned.

Merlin drew a deep breath and quickly answered before squeezing his eyes shut.

"He is a dragon."

"Your friend…is a dragon….ok…nothing abnormal…sorry, what?!"

"Arthur..."

"Merlin…"