Merlin's eyes fluttered open to welcome the bright, yet heat-stroking sun. The night's cool air seemed precious at that moment, and he wished it were back again to take away the beads of sweat he rather didn't fancy. He wiped the sleep away from his eyes, in a futile attempt to wake himself. He had slept well, for the most part. Besides the spasms of pain he got randomly throughout the entire night that still resonated on and off, he felt well rested. And to be sleeping outside, he was extremely comfortable at the moment. Too comfortable, actually.

"Merlin?"

The young warlock jumped. Before he could go far though, two hands clasped down on his chest and pulled him back.

"You okay?"

Merlin turned his head around to come face to face with his blonde headed prince. The other looked down at him with concern. The servant felt a little too close to his friend, and realized that he was leaning against Arthur's chest.

Automatically his cheeks began to burn hot.

"I…uh, I'm sorry." Merlin stuttered, lifting himself off of Arthur and into a sitting position in front of him. He looked down and noticed Arthur had his legs spread apart, making the situation even more awkward. Merlin scooted a little further away.

"That was…I'm really…I didn't even…"

"It's okay, Merlin." Arthur said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice, emphasizing his friend's name like he usually did whenever he was annoyed. Now Merlin's ears began to turn red.

"I didn't want you sleeping on the ground." He too sounded a bit nervous, and he realized his own head was feeling a little hot.

"Yeah, well, I suppose not." Merlin agreed.

They both stared at each other for a few moments, until both of them averted their eyes to different spots of the ground. The warlock cleared his throat loudly. Arthur noted that he probably didn't remember anything from yesterday, and silently thanked the gods. That would've made things even harder.

"So…" Merlin started, but let the word linger in the air instead of finishing his sentence. He looked at Arthur now, who was staring intently at the grass beside him. His yellow hair ruffled a bit in the light wind.

"What's going on then, you think?" Merlin finally thought to ask.

Arthur shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows?" He looked up at Merlin, who stared at him with large, brown eyes. A look of despair flickered beneath his pupils, but determination was obvious. And that's why Arthur didn't tell him the truth; that he was supposed to kill his only friend.

"Well I suppose we find a way to get back in," Merlin said, "Rescue the others and get the hell out of here."

"No." Arthur said bluntly. He sat up against the tree, probably to make himself look bigger. "You can't do anything with that leg. And I'm sure as hell not dragging you the entire way and back."

Merlin's eyes rolled. "Then what do you propose we do?"

Arthur mimicked Merlin and said, "The probable way. I'll take you to Camelot, gather a few knights, and give off the look of a real mission." He paused as Merlin tried to say something, but interrupted him. "No arguing this time. You're far worse than you think."

Merlin shut his mouth and looked away from his prince. He crossed his arms in a child-like manner and huffed. Arthur knew Merlin would never forgive him for not letting him help save his best friends, but he also wouldn't be able to thank him when he got himself killed during the rescue. He'd rather listen to him complain for the rest of his life than for him to not have one.

"Should we get going then?" Arthur asked. Merlin shrugged his shoulders and continued to sit in the same position.

Before Arthur could say something smart, Merlin flinched and his hands flew to his right leg.

"What's the matter?" Arthur was by his side in a second. Merlin was hissing through his teeth and clenching his leg. He shut his eyes in a grimace.

"Nothing." He hissed. "Just…my leg."

"Well I couldn't have figured that one out." Arthur said sarcastically. But when Merlin let out another moan, his face turned serious.

"It's like…shocking my leg." He said, trying his best to explain to Arthur what was going on. "Throbbing…and…"

Arthur reached over his left leg and laid a hand on his injured one. Merlin flinched away, but Arthur took his hands and kept them locked in his own.

"I just want to see." He said, memories flashing back from yesterday's ordeal. Merlin reluctantly withdrew his hands and let Arthur probe his leg. He ran his hand along the purple, obviously swollen, and black knee. He felt a lump along the side of it.

"I guess it didn't go back correctly." He said in a low whisper, mostly to himself. Merlin squeezed his eyes shut again as Arthur ran his hand back up the knee, lingering longer than necessary. Merlin didn't notice. When he finally lifted his hand away Merlin let out a silent breath.

"Is it forever damaged?" Merlin asked.

"Probably." Arthur looked at Merlin with a serious face. Merlin's eyes grew wide and he sucked in a breath. Arthur's face turned into that of enjoyment, and a smile soon spread across his face.

"I'm only joking, idiot." Arthur laughed. Merlin gave him a look he wouldn't forget.

"Can we just get going now?" Merlin asked, annoyed.

"Yes." Arthur said as he pulled himself to his feet and wiped off his pants, which were past the stage of filthiness. He looked down at Merlin with a questionable look.

"What?" Merlin asked.

"Nothing, it's just…" Arthur paused. "How're we to get you back?"

"Well you could carry me." Merlin laughed. But when Arthur bent down in an act to actually do so, he pushed him away.

"Whoa, just kidding." He said, holding his hands out in front of him in a sign of self-protection. Arthur looked at him again with a confused look.

"Well I won't be carried like a lady in waiting, now will I?" Merlin scoffed. Arthur rolled his eyes and offered his hand to his friend. Merlin took it gratefully, and together, with some difficulty, got him to his feet, or foot. Arthur slung his friend's arm around his shoulder and wrapped his own arm around his waist, securing it to keep him up.

"This'll be a while." Merlin said, leaning his head on Arthur in playfulness. "But no worries, my knight in shining armour is here to save the day." He fluttered his eyes up at Arthur, who in return kicked him in his good leg.

"Right then." Arthur said, hefting Merlin up more after causing him to falter. "Let's get going."

Together they began to walk, even if it wasn't at the fastest of paces. Merlin stumbled a couple of times, but Arthur was always there to catch him before he fell. By the time an hour had passed, the Prince was practically half-carrying his friend, who by each minute grew weaker and weaker with each step. And when half an hour had passed yet again, Arthur made them stop for a rest, much to Merlin's dismay.

"This is impossible." Merlin said while he tried to catch his breath. He was leaning heavily against a tree while he dabbed at his forehead with his sleeve in an attempt to wipe the sweat away. "We're not getting anywhere."

"Of course we are." Arthur argued. He was standing while he leaned against a tree, resting his body from the weight of an extra person. "We've gone at least a few leagues."

Merlin scoffed and let his head fall against the tree. He looked up at the sky with longing eyes. "I don't think so."

Arthur didn't respond. Of course they hadn't gone that far. Not even close to it. And by the way he timed the distance when they first arrived in this part of the forest led by Cor, it would be much longer until they even got to the glass wall.

"I've got an idea." Merlin said, still trying to slow his heart rate and his breathing.

"No." Arthur said.

"You don't even-"

"Yes I do, Merlin." Arthur interrupted. "You want me to leave you here while I go back to Camelot. And by my father's own hand, I swear to every god there is, I will not leave you."

"But-"

"I said no." Arthur said, and turned his back on his friend.

Merlin looked up at him with anger, for Arthur or himself he couldn't tell. He was furious with Arthur for ignoring his plans and basically lowering his voice, and even more angry with himself for getting them in this situation in the first place. It was his damn leg.

"Well I'm not going to slow us down." Merlin said. He started to lift himself up using the tree. "If you're not going to-"

Merlin suddenly lost his balance and grip on the tree and fell back to the ground with a groan. Arthur, yet again, was by his side instantly.

"You idiot." Arthur said. He lifted him to his feet again with one pull and secured their positions. "No arguments. You're coming with me."

"Prat."

"Clot-pole."

~~~MxA~~~

By the time Arthur could even barely see the light shining off the glass wall, the sun was already at its set and darkness was creeping nearer as they got closer. Merlin had been slowing down the entire time, but passed it off and talked nonsense to hide his extreme effort to help Arthur half carry him. And as Arthur could see the wall only a few yards away, he stopped.

"This is it?" Merlin asked, thankful for the sudden halt in their walking. His legs nearly gave out as Arthur nodded and lowered Merlin to the ground and walked towards it.

"What're you doing?" Merlin asked.

"Well there was a…a way he got in." Arthur said as he stopped right in front of it and stared. "He kind of…tapped it, or something."

"Do you remember how?" Merlin asked. "Or where?"

Arthur turned around and smiled cheekily. "No."

Merlin sighed and lay back on the ground, crossing his arms behind his head. He stared up at the greeting stars as Arthur continued to stare at the wall. A few minutes passed like this, both staring at basically nothing; thin air. Merlin finally lifted his head.

"Just tap it and find out what happens." He said.

"I'm not an idiot." Arthur said, staring back at him. "It could do something to me."

"Don't be ridiculous." Merlin snorted. "The worst it could do is bang you against the head if you run into it. It's a wall."

"Well, maybe-"

Arthur had reached out his hand as he said those words. As soon as they had made contact with the glass, a shock sparked from underneath his fingertips and he was flying backwards. Merlin shouted as Arthur landed with a dull thump a few feet away from him. He didn't move.

"Arthur?"

He tried to move closer but his leg refrained him. His breathing became quick when he didn't get a response. He looked up at the wall, which was sizzling bright sparks.

"Arthur?" He asked again. "Arth-"

"Hey!"

Merlin's head flipped behind him, heart stopping momentarily at the sound of another person's voice. If it was coming from that direction, it couldn't be a friend. Whoever it was, friend or foe, was too far away to see through the darkness.

"What're you doing, pretty boy?"

The man walked closer, out of the shadows of the trees, and out into the open field. His head jerked oddly.

"Who are you?" Merlin asked.

The man stepped closer again, and Merlin could make out his features. Dark, wavy hair, fairly built, the same height as himself…

"Lancelot?" Merlin shouted. The man stopped before he could even be sure. While his features said one way, the tone of his voice said otherwise.

"Merlin?"

"Oh thank God." Merlin breathed. He bent his head down and whispered a thanks. He felt as if a thousand pounds had been lifted from his shoulders. Relief, gratefulness, and sudden fatigue washed over him. Now he could finally relax. He looked back up at his friend.

"Arthur's hurt; so am I. We need to get out of here, before-"

"Arthur?" Lancelot asked, stepping closer. As he did, Merlin noticed a long gash along the right side of his face. His eyes weren't looking at him though, but at his friend behind him, who was still unconscious.

"Yeah, he was-"

"Shut up!"

Merlin let his mouth hang open on the words he was going to speak next. His eyes widened at the outburst.

"Lancelot, I-"

"I said shut up!" He yelled. A vein was noticeable on his forehead as it throbbed; his entire face was turning red.

"Lance, are…you okay?" Merlin asked slowly. His instinct took over and he was backing away towards Arthur, who still had yet to wake.

"No, actually, I'm not." Lancelot said slowly too, mimicking his friend. He stepped closer again, into the full moon's light. Merlin glanced towards his hand, and thought he saw a knife.

"Lancelot, what's happened?" He asked again. "What'd they do to you?"

"I'm fine." He said, and it almost sounded truthful, if it weren't for the smirk set on his face.

"No, I'm not!" His face contorted as his hand flew up towards the sky, and Merlin knew he was right. The knife gleamed in the night's light as he walked closer.

"Lancelot, what're you going to do?" His voice was shaking now. He gripped Arthur's sleeve as he cowered beneath the towering man. What was happening? This was his best friend.

"What should have been done a long time ago." He seethed evilly. His dark eyes seemed on fire as he got a few feet away from them.

Merlin held up a hand. "I don't want to hurt you." He said. "Please, just stop."

Lancelot threw his head back and laughed. The gash made him look mad, like a lunatic running through a village. "And what will you do? Slap me?"

And that was all he needed.

"Who are you?"

This wasn't Lancelot. This wasn't the same man that knew everything about him, about his fears, his worries, and his deepest secrets. This wasn't the same man that knew he was more than just human. That he had more than just the normal functions of a human being; that he had magic. The real Lancelot would've laughed at him and joked that he would never hurt him. But that's not what this man did. This wasn't Lancelot.

The man paused before answering and stared at his friend. His face changed from madness to pure searing anger. "I'm…nobody."

With those two words, he lunged forward towards the two clinging friends. As his arm came inches from Merlin's throat, making contact with it in the last few seconds, Merlin's eyes glowed yellow.