Hey, everybody.

So I've tried for three days to write a new chapter for my Blaine and Kurt story, but for some reason nothing was working. But then, I got this idea and wrote it, though it was a rocky start for a while.

I love the BBC show Merlin. Honestly, I love just about any show that has a great sibling (like) bond in it, especially brothers. I tried to keep them somewhat in character, but it's been a little while since I've binge-watched the show, so I apologize in advance. I put this story some time after season three, I think, but there aren't any real spoilers. Anyway, read and enjoy. let me know what you think.

No warnings for this story, except brief mention of blood and other injuries.

I don't own Merlin. (Wipes away tears. No. I'm not crying. I don't know what you're talking about.)

Be Your Shelter

Merlin groaned as he stood in the stirrups to give his sore behind a moment's respite. They had been riding for four days straight and Merlin was more than ready to be back in his small, but comfortable bed and enjoying Gaius' quiet company. Being around five, rowdy knights and a king-prat got old quickly. What he wouldn't give for some time to himself? He sent a prayer heavenward of thanks that they were finally on their way back.

Sir Gwaine was telling yet another of his dirty jokes when Merlin's horse suddenly stumbled, his hoof had found a rabbit burrow. As the horse went down, Merlin flew out of the saddle and landed on his shoulder on the hard ground. His head hit next and bounced.

Lancelot was the one closest behind the warlock and was the first at his side. He eased his young friend over onto his back gently, wincing at the sight of blood running from the swelling knot on the edge of Merlin's forehead into his black hair. Without a moment's thought, he used his dagger to tear off a portion of his cloak and pressed it against the wound, trying to stem the flow.

The other knights had gathered around. Arthur crouched down, worry lining his youthful face. "What happened?"

"His horse stumbled."

Merlin's eyes fluttered open. The sunlight coming though the branches was unbearably bright and his head pounded. He closed his eyes again and moaned, trying to move away from the pain.

"Merlin? Merlin, open your eyes." Arthur's voice was just shy of pleading.

Merlin blinked his eyes open again. "Arthur?" He slurred out. His mouth seemed less willing to cooperate.

"You're okay, Merlin. You just took a spill off your horse."

"H-how is she?" Merlin asked, trying to sit up.

Elyan had gone over to check the mare over. But returned when he heard Merlin's question. "Her leg is a little swollen. It's not too bad, in a few days or so, she'll be fine. But she won't be able to carry a rider or go any faster than a walk."

Arthur nodded somberly and Merlin looked relieved.

"Other than your head, Merlin, does anything else hurt?" Sir Leon asked.

Merlin winced. His whole body felt jarred and sore. "M-my shoulder." He reached slightly shaky fingers towards it.

Now that he'd drawn their attention to it, they could all see that his left shoulder was swollen and didn't look right. They could tell it was dislocated.

Arthur moved a little closer. "We need to take off your shirt so we can get a better look."

Merlin nodded slightly in understanding. "Okay."

Arthur gently eased the shirt up and eased the uninjured arm out, then Merlin's head before removing it the rest of the way. Merlin's shoulder looked even more grotesque uncovered. Lancelot removed his ruined cloak and began using another large piece of it to make a sling. Arthur noticed briefly a few scars that marred the pale skin. Some he knew the reason for, but most he didn't.

"H-how bad i-is it?" Merlin asked.

"It's dislocated." Leon answered. "I need to put it back in place."

Merlin grimaced and his face paled a bit more. He trusted Leon and had seen him correct dislocations before, but he knew how much it would hurt.

Arthur moved closer and took his friend's arm comfortingly. "Merlin, look at me. There we go. What do you think Gwaine's worst joke was this whole trip? I think it was…"

A sickening pop followed by Merlin screaming through his teeth cut him off. Merlin panted as the pain subsided, but the nausea didn't. He rolled over slightly and gagged, though nothing came up. Thinking quickly, Percival soaked a cloth in water and handed it to Arthur. "Put it on his head." The quiet giant told him. Arthur obeyed and the nausea faded almost instantly.

The knights worked quickly and almost wordlessly getting Merlin fixed up as best they could. Gwaine loaned Merlin his spare shirt, and they got his arm resting in a sling and the wound on his head cleaned and the bleeding to slow. They made a bed with a bedroll and pine boughs and gently moved Merlin onto it. They even built a small lean-to over it to make it warmer and to block out the bright sunlight they could see was causing Merlin discomfort. They all knew his head needed stitches, but were reluctant to put their friend through more pain.

"That's a willow tree." Merlin told them drowsily.

"Yeah?" Arthur looked at him confused.

"Its bark helps numb pain. Gaius uses it to make a tea."

The knights had already gotten a fire started and quickly got a small pot of water on it to boil while another stripped off some of the bark. In short order, they had the strong tea in a cup and Arthur was holding Merlin up enough to drink it.

Once the tea had time to take effect, Arthur held onto Merlin's hand, pretending not to feel pain when Merlin squeezed too tightly, as Leon put eight, neat stitches across the gash. When it was finally over, Arthur gave Merlin another dose of the tea and encouraged him to sleep.

During the night-watch, the knights and Arthur took their turn waking Merlin periodically to make sure he was okay. Merlin was drowsy and irritable, but they didn't take it personally; knowing the young man was concussed and in pain.

The next day, Merlin woke up and out of habit, began going about his morning routine while in the forest. He started clumsily gathering wood for the fire. He found it immensely difficult doing it one handed.

"What do you think you are doing?" Arthur demanded, incredulously.

"Gathering wood so I can make breakfast?"

Arthur snorted. "Uh, yeah, no. no, you are not."

Merlin raised his eyebrows. "I'm not?"

"No. You just fell off a horse. Give me the wood and go back to camp."

In all honesty, Merlin was more than a little relieved. His arm throbbed still and his head ached and made him feel dizzy. He'd only been upright a few minutes, and was already exhausted. He let Arthur take the wood from him and guide him back.

Elyan was just stirring when they came back. Arthur put down the wood and got Merlin to sit, giving him a stern look. "Make sure he stays put." Arthur told Elyan, before picking up his crossbow in search of a rabbit or something for breakfast. He woke Leon and Tristan to go with him.

"What did you do?" Elyan asked Merlin, amused.

"I went to gather wood, like I always do."

Elyan shook his head and chuckled softly for a moment before looking more serious. "You could have re-injured yourself. That was a rather foolish thing to do."

Merlin huffed and looked a little offended. He wasn't used being patronized this way. He was used to head-slaps, being bossed around, and good-natured teasing about "being a girl." He preferred that to this. So, though his body demanded a rest, preferably in a horizontal position, Merlin stayed sitting, frowning at the fire, poking it occasionally with a stick. Lancelot woke next and went to sit by his friend.

"How are you feeling?"

Merlin shrugged with his uninjured shoulder. "I'm okay. I'm not going to break."

"Maybe not. But you came very close to it yesterday. Your head landed only a few inches away from a boulder. If you'd hit that and hadn't landed on your shoulder first… well, we would probably be burying a friend right now. And you know we aren't treating you any different than how we treat each other when we are injured. besides, you've taken care of us more times than I can count."

Merlin looked down and gave the ground a half-hearted poke with the charred stick. He knew Lancelot was right, but he wasn't going to admit it.

"Do you need more of that tea?"

Merlin grimaced but reluctantly nodded slightly. The pain was getting worse with increasing speed. Elyan got up without a word with his knife to get more willow bark.

"Elyan and I will get it. Come on. You need to lie down." Lancelot told him kindly.

Merlin was too weak to protest as the larger man led him back to his bedroll. "Just rest easy, my friend." Lancelot told him quietly, giving Merlin's right arm a gentle squeeze.

When Arthur, Tristan and Leon returned, bearing two rabbits and a couple squirrels, Merlin was resting quietly.

"How is he?" Arthur asked Lancelot.

"Frustrated. He doesn't appreciate being treated like an invalid."

"None of us do."

"I know. But this is a first for him."

Arthur considered that and gave a short nod, promising himself to try to be more patient. It was hard. Something about his quirky, awkward manservant brought out his protective nature like nothing else; the kind he'd only seen displayed by brothers. He'd be a fool to try to deny that the way they teased, fought, and simply talked to each other had this resemblance, but it was different when Merlin was hurt. It was like something as crucial as air was wrong. It made Arthur feel on edge.

The smell of food cooking woke Merlin. Arthur was fixing two plates as Merlin sat up with slow, clumsy movements, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Feel up to eating?"

Merlin nodded.

Arthur handed him the plate before sitting down beside him. "Take it slow. I imagine you still feel a little nauseous. It's normal with a head injury."

Merlin managed to eat half of what was on his plate. He was already exhausted again. Arthur took their plates back and returned with another cup of tea. He handed it to Merlin who reluctantly sipped the bitter liquid.

"You don't need to hover, you know." Merlin told him.

"I'm not hovering, Merlin. Well… okay, maybe I am a little. But you'd do the same if this was reversed. And you know it wouldn't be just because you are my servant."

Merlin finally grinned mischievously. "Are you finally admitting you care about me?"

"Yes, Merlin." Arthur answered rolling his eyes. "Look at that: I do have a beating heart in my chest."

"Who knew?" Merlin chuckled lightly.

"Don't get used to it; I'm sure its just a momentary lapse."

Merlin smiled wearily, no longer having the strength to come up with a witty response. Arthur coaxed him to take the last few swallows of tea before taking back the cup and helping his friend lay back down; even going so far as to tuck him in.

"Get some rest."

Merlin let his eyes drift shut and Arthur stayed by his side until he began to snore softly. Even then, he glanced back at the fair, sleeping face. What was it about the young man? The one who met a spoiled brat and transformed him into a confident king, a bully into a friend. Arthur couldn't imagine his life without his servant, his comrade, his brother.

THE END

Hope you liked. Let me know what you think.

Ciao