A/N: Sorry, I wanted to upload this yesterday but I spent all day in bed with fever so I've only managed to proofread it today. I hope it's alright! Also, you have no idea of how happy I am you like this story. I will work hard to finish it as fast as I can!

Albion's New Age

Chapter Three

Percival spotted the thickest tree and hurried to take cover behind it. He waited there until the horses were almost upon him. The knight had learned in his many years earning his living by the sword that timing was essential: if he attacked too soon, or too late, it'd be the end of him.

He strained his eyesight and, as soon as he caught a glimpse of the muzzle from the horse leading the pack, he jumped right in front of it, swinging his sword upwards, ready to strike its rider.

"PERCIVAL!"

The shout surprised him almost as much as recognising the voice's owner. Percival was so relieved that he unwillingly loosened the grip on his sword and, had it not been for his exceptionally quick reflexes, the weapon would have fallen on top of his head. Taking care, he lowered the blade and glanced at the horse's rider.

"Sir Leon!" he screamed, his voice full of joy.

The other man looked even more stunned than Percival but the most experienced of all Camelot knights recovered very fast and, replacing shock with a pleased smile, he dismounted from his horse while he ordered his party, six of Camelot's finest men, to do the same.

"What are you doing here?" Leon asked him.

"It's a long story," Percival replied.

"Are you on your own?" Leon asked next.

"No," Percival replied, "Arthur and Gwaine are with me, he's badly hurt and if he doesn't get treatment soon he'll die."

"Of course," Leon said now looking serious, "we must get the King to Gaius immediately."

"The King's fine," Percival explained, "it's Gwaine who needs Gaius."

"I don't understand," Leon said, "Gaius said the King had been hurt during the battle and that Merlin was taking care of him. Speaking of whom, isn't Merlin with you too?"

"No," Percival replied then, not knowing how else to break the news, he just said, "he's dead."

"What?" a wide-eyed Leon asked, "how did…"

"I don't know what happened to him," Percival hurried to explain, "I knew Arthur was badly wounded and that's why I rushed to the Isle of Avalon but when I got there, I found him unhurt and on his own. He managed to tell me that Merlin's dead but he hasn't spoken ever since."

"Oh no," Leon said frowning in concern, "not Merlin…"

"I know," Percival said, "he was such a loyal servant, it's no wonder the King's devastated."

"He was much more than a servant," Leon pointed out, "he was Arthur's closest friend. In fact, I think he probably was the only true friend Arthur's ever had."

"But…"

"We're Arthur's knights and brothers-in-arms," Leon explained, "but that's a different kind of bond, I'm sure you understand that."

"I do," Percival replied.

"Show me where the camp is," Leon told him, "we'll ride back to Camelot tonight."

"Of course," Percival said.

While leading the way, Percival thought of the conversation he'd just had with Leon and he had to admit that it was true that Merlin had been closer to Arthur than anyone else. He had witnessed in countless occasions during the years how Merlin always seemed to be the only one able to stand up to the King whenever he was being too stubborn or to cheer him up whenever he felt depressed.

The sort of relationship the two shared reminded him of the friendship he'd had with Lancelot. Percival had met the dark haired stranger just after his family had been slaughtered and, if it hadn't been for Lancelot, who knew exactly what he was going through for it had also happened to him, he didn't know what would have become of himself. When Lancelot died, Percival felt like the world had become a much darker place.

For the first time in days, Percival understood the King's pain.

"There it is," he said to Leon, pointing at the makeshift camp.

Leon rushed to the two bumps formed by Gwaine and Arthur. He first checked on Gwaine, finding him unconscious but still breathing. He then moved to Arthur who was just lying there, in the same exact spot where Percival had pushed him too. The King was wide awake but, just as Percival had mentioned, he didn't seem to acknowledge anything or anyone.

"My Lord," Leon tried, "my Lord, it's me, Leon. Are you alright?"

Arthur didn't even look at him.

"He won't answer you," Percival said, "I've tried."

"Okay," Leon said, "in that case, I hope you'll forgive me Sire but, you leave me no choice."

Leon went to grab one of Arthur's arms and, pulling him upwards as carefully as he could, he waited until one of the soldiers did the same with the other arm. He then nudged Arthur to see if the King would start walking on his own and, to his immense relief, he saw that he did. Leon turned briefly towards Percival to tell him to take Gwaine but, as it turned out, the younger knight was way ahead of him: he already had Gwaine in his arms and was carrying him to one of the horses.

Shortly after that, with Gwaine secured on the horse Percival had selected for the task, the three knights, the six soldiers and the King were on their way to Camelot. Percival tried to keep the ride as smooth as possible to prevent further injury to the poor Gwaine while Leon seemed to have a much easier job at keeping Arthur steady in front of him. The King seemed to be finally willing to cooperate.

"Gwaine, we're almost there," Percival whispered, "I'm not lying, so don't you die on me, okay?"

This time, he noticed with concern, there was no witty comeback.

About an hour later and thanks to the full moon, they saw the breathtaking outline of Camelot's castle and not ten minutes after that the seven horses entered the fortress via its main gate. The two guards there sported equally stunned expressions.

"The King!" one of them shouted.

"They found the King!" the other responded.

As it usually happened in the city, the rumours travelled faster than the horses and, by the time they reached the castle's inner square, Percival and Leon saw Queen Guinevere and Gaius running down the stairs accompanied by a couple of half-asleep servants.

"ARTHUR!" the queen shouted, so overcome with joy she forgot her queenly dignity, "ARTHUR!"

They stopped the horses and while Percival got a couple of soldiers to help him with Gwaine, Leon helped Arthur dismount. Gwen ran towards them and, throwing her arms around Arthur's neck, she pressed him to her so tightly it looked as though she was never going to let go of him again.

"Gaius," Percival said, "Gwaine needs your help, he's…"

He couldn't finish the sentence because, right at that moment, he realised how terribly worn out Gaius looked. It seemed like he'd aged twenty years in a heartbeat and his luxurious white mane had been replaced by a mass of wispy silver threads.

Over Gwen's shoulder, Arthur spotted the old physician and then something odd happened: removing himself from his wife's arms, he walked towards Gaius and before anyone could stop him, he threw himself onto his knees before Gaius and, his voice hoarse due to not having been used in days, he said:

"I'm so sorry Gaius, I'm so very sorry, I…"

His speech broke with a sob and that prompted Gaius to get on his knees too. The old man hugged Arthur and, caressing the back of his blonde hair with a wrinkly hand, he did his best to reassure him.

"It wasn't your fault, Sire, it wasn't your fault."

"It was," Arthur said pushing himself away from Gaius, looking at him, desperation in his eyes, "it was!"

"It was not," Gaius insisted, "giving his life for yours was his destiny, Merlin knew that."

"NO!" they heard the Queen's distressed cry.

"My Lady…" Leon tried.

"Not Merlin," Gwen said with the smallest voice, "not him…oh Arthur…no…"

The Queen went to join her husband and the physician on the ground. Sensibly, Gaius let go of the King who, finally noticing his wife, brought his arms around her. While Gaius was helped up by Leon, the royal couple remained on the ground, sharing their pain through a tight hug and a stream of silent tears.

"Gaius," Percival said, "I'm really sorry about Merlin, I really am, but Gwaine needs your attention."

The physician looked at him and nodded once.

"Of course, take him to my quarters, I'll see to him immediately," he then glanced at Leon and said, "please make sure they get to the royal chambers. I'll go there as soon as I can to check on them."

"I will," Leon said then, he added, "Gaius, are you alright?"

"No," Gaius replied honestly, "but I have work to do, I will think of my pain later."

"I understand," Leon said, "thank you."

Gaius nodded once more and then he followed Percival on their way to the physician's apartments.

After sending the soldiers back to their bunks, Leon was left with the task of getting Arthur and Gwen back on their feet. While he waited until the royal couple decided to go inside the castle, Leon thought that he had never seen Arthur looking so devastated before.

Not even when Uther died.

Gwen, on the other hand, had not taken the news much better and the poor thing was a sobbing mess. This, of course, only served to remind Leon that, while Merlin was Arthur's only friend, Merlin had been Gwen's best friend too. Plus, Elyan's death was still fresh on everyone's memory, including hers.

"My Lady," he said, "I know this is hard but you need to be strong, for him," he added looking at the King.

Gwen could only bring herself to nod but, true to her character she pulled herself together and, wiping the tears from her face, she offered her hand to her husband and said:

"Come on Arthur, let's go inside."

Through his tears, Arthur just looked at her, sorrow etched on his face.

"Come on," she repeated.

At long last, Arthur took her hand and, getting up they followed Leon to the royal chambers. The knight left them alone only after Gwen assured him they didn't need anything else. Leon smiled at her and said:

"Please take care of our King."

"I will," she promised.

To be continued…