When the shaking started, Merlin and Arthur didn't realize what was happening immediately. One minute they were congratulating each other and laughing and the next they were clinging to the crystal walls around them as ground beneath them heaved and rolled with a life all it's own.

" What's happening?" Arthur stood bracing himself against a crumbling wall of crystal as Merlin glanced around wide eyed. " How should I know?" Arthur lept forward and shoving Merlin before him started to run. But Merlin held back, his eyes on Excalibur still stuck within the stone. "Arthur, wait!"

Arthur turned back. " What are you doing?" Merlin turned to him, pointing at the sword. " The sword."

" Leave the sword! Merlin, are you blind?" Arthur indicated the collapsing walls around them. Merlin shook his head. " You go, I'll catch up…The Lady of The Lake told you to return it. Remember?"

Arthur's voice was amazed, "How did you..? Merlin listen, I'm sure she'll understand!"

Merlin wasn't listening he was heaving at the hilt of the sword, his face strained with the effort as he tried to pry the blade from its crystal scabbard. Arthur gave an irritated sigh and ran to him. " Here let me!" shoving Merlin aside Arthur put his shaking hands on the hilt of Excalibur.

"Arthur, it's impossible..you'll never do it. It's too…"

Merlin stopped in mid sentence as with a grating, singing sound the blade of Excalibur slid from the rock. Arthur held it above his head and for a moment Merlin felt he was witnessing a vision of the future. Then Arthur sheathed the sword and was Arthur again.

" Satisfied? Can we save our lives now? Thank you!"

With that Arthur grabbed Merlin by the shoulder and together they ran through the crumbling tunnel. Crystal shards fell like knives from the ceiling above and crunched beneath their booted feet as they ran. Merlin narrowly missed a spike of crystal as it hurtled to earth. He turned to Arthur as they ran. " I swear, I'll never go in a cave again."

"Too right you won't." said Arthur " Because if you do and I have to go through this again…"

A loud shattering sound cut off Arthur's threat. Instantly Merlin felt himself pushed to the ground a ways away just as a crystal shard the size of a grown man fell to the earth near where he was standing. He heard the ring of armor and Arthur's cry of pain.

"ARTHUR!" Merlin picked his way through chunks and shards of glittering crystal to where Arthur lay gripping his side. " Arthur! Are you all right?" Merlin pried Arthur's hands from his side and gasped at the large gash in his armor. But no blood was visible. Arthur cursed, " That was a near thing…I could have sworn that thing got me. "

"Let's not test our luck, come on!"

Together they rolled out of the opening just as the cave collapsed in on its self sending a shimmering cloud of dust skyward.

Instantly the mood of the situation was changed. Merlin lay on his back regaining his breath and his belief in religion. Beside him Arthur's relieved laughter rang in his ears as the dark velvet of the night sky danced like a jeweled cloak. At first Merlin thought it was an illusion caused by the brightness of the crystal cave, but soon he realized the sky was full of stars. "Thank you." He said to no one in particular. Then he turned to Arthur who was standing nearby grinning. Merlin had never met anyone like Arthur, he seemed to draw strength from danger. This aspect of his nature both fascinated and terrified Merlin to his very core.

" I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. I'm sure once the rush wears off and you realize how close we actually came to being skewered you'll be lying here next to me, so have a blast."

Arthur chuckled pulling Merlin to his feet. " Come on, let's get out of here before you get us in anymore trouble." Merlin rose, but as Arthur hauled him up he saw his face crinkle as though in pain.

"How's your side?" Merlin asked furrowing his brow. Arthur's face returned to normal and he made a dismissive gesture. " That's nothing…it isn't even bleeding. It certainly hurts enough though."

"Maybe you should let me see."

"Merlin…"

Merlin threw up his hands, " I know, I know, stop being a girl. Come on."

The walk back to the lake shore was more of a run and when they caught sight of the boat waiting for them Merlin felt a thrill of joy. Arthur was standing by the lake shore looking indecisive. Merlin went up beside him. " Going to miss the old place are you?" Arthur answered wistfully. " No..." his hand moved over the sleek scabbard of Excalibur at his waist. " It's just, now that it comes down to it…I wish I didn't have to give it up."

"Excalibur you mean? Arthur, you promised the Lady…you promised Freya you wouldn't keep it. A knight always keeps his word."

Arthur snorted, " Since when do you know so much? You were half dead when she told me all that."

" I could be dead and buried and I'd still be able to hear her voice. Give the sword back Arthur, it isn't time yet."

" You're right I suppose…it's just this feeling…like I shouldn't part with it yet. Like I still might need it."

Merlin looked at him seriously, "It's the power talking Arthur, with the sword comes power…power you're not ready to wield yet."

"Oh is that so?" Arthur shook his head, " But you're right Merlin…a knight doesn't go back on his word."

With that Arthur untied the sapphire sash that held the scabbard to his waist and took the sword in his hands. "Thank you Lady," he said to the open water, " You see, I've kept my promise." With that he threw the blade as far as he could out into the crystal waters. As they watched a hand rose from the water and caught the blade before disappearing once again below the water.

When he dared to look away again, Merlin's eyes fell on the sand at Arthur's feet and he startled . Blood stained the sand and as his eyes traveled up ward he saw the trickle of red flowing from the gash in Arthur's armor. Merlin stared in disbelief.

"Arthur…you're bleeding!"

Arthur looked down, then putting a hand to his side he stared at the bloodied gauntlet before him with a blank expression on his face. He turned to Merlin a look of confusion on his face, his lips moved to speak then with a clatter he collapsed.

Merlin wasn't always greatful for having Gaius as a guardian. Certainly not when he made him do chores or gather herbs from god forsaken places. Nor when he scolded him over simple things. But kneeling there on the lake shore, Arthur's armorless body lying before him his blood still on his hands., Merlin was thankful to have lived with a physician.

Tying the poultice of yarrow blossoms he'd gathered over Arthur's wound, Merlin sat back wiping his forehead. The poultice would stop the bleeding enough to get Arthur to Gaius, then the wound could be stitched. Yes, everything would be all right…if Arthur would just wake up.

Merlin soaked a rag in the cool lake water and layed it on Arthur's fore head. " Wake up, pratt…I'm not carrying you home."

Arthur stirred but did not wake up. Merlin layed a hand on his neck, his heart beat strongly against his fingers, a pendragon heart, too stubborn to die. Merlin gave Arthur a shake. " Come on, seriously Arthur, you need to wake up. I don't care what you're doing or …" he hesitated, " or WHO you're doing in those dreams of yours , come round!" Merlin frowned.

"All right…maybe you can't come round…you did lose a lot of blood." Merlin paused the reality dawning on him slowly, " A LOT of blood and of course the shock and all and….Arthur? Arthur please wake up! Please!"

The good thing about Merlin was he was fairly difficult to panic in an emergency, unfortunately he was VERY good at panicking himself. He knelt beside Arthur, shaking him and all but begging him to wake up. That would be, of course, the exact moment he DID wake up.

" I'm sorry, My Lady….thought my serving boy was here…maybe you've seen him? Little Mousy thing called Merlin."

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, " Finally…you took long enough."

"Well, wounds like this aren't easy to recover from you know…what with all the BLOOD and the SHOCK."

SLAP!

" OW! Merlin! Is that any way to treat a wounded man?"

Merlin's voice was a hiss, though relief was already tempering anger. "YOU are an arse…come on, let's go."

Arthur chuckled, " Oh come on Merlin…Merlin?" Merlin was marching towards his horse. Arthur was laughing and making placating gestures at the same time. " I wasn't pretending long, I swear. Is it my fault I came to my senses just as you were losing yours? Merlin, it was a joke!"

"You SCARED me, Arthur. I mean REALLY scared me…I thought…I thought you finally got yourself killed."

"You got me killed you mean." Then Arthur's smile faded, " You're serious aren't you? You were that frightened?"

Merlin stopped and turned to him, " Of course I was frightened! You're my friend you idiot, weather you like it or not. I'm sorry but that's how it is!"

Arthur smiled and approached contritely. " I'm sorry, Merlin…it still hurts if it makes you feel any better."

Merlin huffed looking away, " Clot pole." Arthur shook his head, then winced touching his side then it seemed to dawn on him.

"Merlin, where's my armor?"

" In the saddle bags…it was getting in the way of your breathing."

Arthur looked down at himself in his ripped arming doublet and breeches and cast baleful eyes at Merlin. " You don't expect me to ride home looking like this?"

" I'll say a boar gored you…get on the horse."

Arthur's hand moved over the lump under his doublet then he lifted it and Merlin saw him touch the poultice beneath.

"You saved my life again didn't you?"

"Sorry…it's become a habit." Merlin gave a side ways smile. Arthur roughed his hair, " You'd make a great knight Merlin… and a physician…that's some impressive work."

"Being Gaius's ward has it's advantages. I can also swear in several ancient languages…care to hear?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, " Let's forget what I said about being a knight."

"I'll chalk it up to you being in shock."

"Fair enough…oh and Merlin."

"Yes my lord?"

Arthur smiled, " I told you you should have let me keep the sword."

Merlin gestured at him, then mounted his horse and together they rode off.

Note: Excalibur's scabbard is also enchanted in many of the myths. As long as Arthur wears it, no matter the wounds he sustains he will lose no or little blood. It's like a magic tourniquet of sorts.

Last chapter next time.