A/N: At the end, happy reading!

I want to apologize for everybody who read it today 21-03-16 since God It had so many mistakes. I read each chapter at least five times before posting, I swear, but is only when I freaking upload it that I see all the mistakes.

The time Arthur saved Merlin…. from Agravaine.

Lancelot was a man that took pride on his ability of staying calm in the direst of times, enough to make his fellow knights and prince make bets on who will be the first to witness an angry and out of himself Lancelot Du Lac.

Today, Lancelot thought anxiously, might be the day.

Him and Percival where both outside Gaius chambers, the King and the physician were inside planning and writing the final details of the soon to be 'sword in the stone test'. Percival had agreed to guard the door with Lancelot without much questions. Usually it would be either Sir Leon or Sir Percy the ones requested to do such task but when he heard the words 'kings direct orders' there was little left to be questioned.

So here they were. A tranquil and placid Percival leaning against the wall on the left side of the door, while Lancelot was on the right side. Eyes looking up and down the hall every few seconds. His right hand over the hilt of his sword and the other one anxiously clenching and unclenching at his side, he had never been an anxious man but then again he had never been this close to commit treason.

A maid turned hurriedly down the hall and Lancelot took a sharp breath when she came nearer, he was about to demand her motives of being there when she just ran past them, apparently she was just doing her job of hurrying after orders of nobleman. Lancelot followed her figure till she was out of sight.

"Lancelot, it is everything alright?" Percival asked worriedly making Lancelot jump a little where he stood. Amused, the giant knight raised a brow. Well, this was new.

"Of course." Lancelot jerkily nodded. "I didn't get much sleep that's all."

"Tavern?"

"You know Gwaine." Lancelot said meekly. "He came drunk last night and God he snores."

Percival laughed merrily and nodded, he understood perfectly so he took the lie in a swing. Once Percival's mind wandered away Lancelot dropped his smile.

Lancelot had never felt as lost as in that moment. He was a strategist himself and he knew there were little paths they could take now that they had been discovered; the worst case scenario would be Agravaine meeting with the King, so Lancelot would do anything in his power to avoid that, however, now that the truth was out, an alive Agravaine was out of the question, how they were supposed to deal with it is something Lancelot, the purest hearted of the nights, didn't want to think about. He would die for Merlin and Arthur any day and if treason was what they required for Albion to exist Lancelot would do so, but that does not mean he has to like it.

A moment later heard hurrying footsteps once again, this time he managed to keep a collected face and a more relaxed stance, maybe it was just another servant and there was no need to keep scaring Percival, however, this time Lancelot did fear the worse when Gwaine turned around the corner… with the unmoving body of Merlin in his arms.

Oh no… God's no.

Lancelot couldn't even move from his spot as Percival dashed to help Gwaine with Merlin's body. In the arms of his friend Merlin looked almost fragile.

"Is he alive?" Lancelot asked with dread, his hand shaking on the hilt of the sword, his eyes looking for answers, that's when he saw the barely up and down of Merlin's chest as he breathed. Just when Lancelot felt like he would lose his composure he felt like he himself was breathing again. Merlin was alive and that in Lancelot's book meant they had all the chances in the world.

"Unconscious." Gwaine answered with a hand on his chest winded for the effort. "Gaius, we need –Gaius—and Arthur… left."

"What happened?" Lancelot asked, back at his cool headed self. Gwaine understood perfectly what Lancelot was asking and shook his head. "Where is Arthur?"

"I—don't know, I found him… k—knocked out unconscious on Arthur's c-chambers." Gwaine said as he took big gulps of air, then he motioned for the door in a hurry. Lancelot nodded and he only bothered to knock twice before entering not waiting for the Kings permission.

The king and Gaius were seated on the farthest table almost drowned in papers and books that were messily scattered around them. When the knights trooped in Uther turned around aghast at their boldness. Incredibly angry at being interrupted when he had specifically stated that no one was to intrude unless it was Agravaine himself, but then he was speechless when the knights entered with a passed out Merlin.

"Merlin! Good graces, what happened?" Gaius asked hurriedly as he stood up from his seat already motioning to the knights where to leave him.

Lancelot and Gwaine hurriedly made space on the patients table so Gaius could take a look at him. The king behind them was saving and retrieving all the papers that were scattered on the table, it was the first time Uther was to blatantly ignored and he was finding out he didn't like it one bit.

"I don't know," Gwaine repeated. "I just found him like that"

Percival was too busy making sure Merlin was comfortable in the table and helping Gaius with some vials that he missed when Gwaine intentionally left out that he had found him in Arthur's chambers.

Gaius turned towards Lancelot for a flicker of a second, it was not like Merlin to just faint like that, something strong and definitely magical must have happened to catch Merlin so unguarded and one look at the troubled face of Lancelot was enough to know that they were in deep problems indeed.

Gaius turned towards Uther who was silently watching behind their backs, the knights seemed to remember who was in the room and scattered around to make place for Uther and bowed.

"My lord I—" Gaius started but the King understood perfectly, after all a King was never dismissed from any place so before that could happen Uther dismissed himself.

"I understand Gaius, I'm postponing this meeting." The King nodded solemnly. "Your first duty to this kingdom is one of a physician. Take care of your ward. I have an upending meeting with the court, after that I shall be in my room with Agravaine to talk about the—well, about the test." Uther said as he eyed the knights just barely. "Find me when you are finished here, Gaius."

Gaius nodded respectfully and all the nights bowed again as the King left the room, it was until he was outside, door closed, that all hell broke loose.

"Has he not woken up yet?" Gwaine said annoyed staring down at Merlin. "How long will this take?"

Percival shot Gwaine a glance. "You just found him five minutes ago, Gwaine, give him some time."

"Time? We don't have time." Gwaine said frustrated.

Percival turned his head up, quizzical about that statement.

"What do you—"

"Percival, Merlin is running a fever and I need a bucket of water to break it down, can you bring me one?" Gaius interrupted and just raised his brows higher when said knight stood on his spot after a second of hesitation. The gentle night nodded and was out the door not a second later, all the while Lancelot eyed Gwaine with a curious look on his face, arms crossed. Interesting.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-

"So how long until he wakes up?" Someone voice was urging and Merlin was finding hard to connect that voice to a body. His head hurt a bit too much and the throbbing pain was the only thing he could concentrate at the moment. "What the hell happened to him, anyway?"

"He's got a concussion born from a heavy blow to his left temple." A softer, older voice stated, Merlin could know that in the way he talked and enounced his words, like the words themselves were old. He felt something cold and wet press against his face and Merlin hissed. "Should not take long for him to wake up."

"You said Merlin was in Arthur's room?" A gentler voice asked. "If Merlin was there where is Arthur?"

There was a heavy silence after that that Merlin didn't like.

"Gaius, how long till Merlin wakes up?" The same urging voice pressed.

"Gwaine…"

"A few minutes give or take." The old voice answered, Gaius, it had to be Gaius his guardian. He would know that voice anywhere. There was a ruffle of clothes and then-

"We don't have bloody time, we need to leave now I don't care what his stupid bloody letter says"

There was a moment of silence where Merlin felt that some big news was delivered.

"Jesus Christ."

There was heavy silence after that but Merlin recognized the name. Arthur. And the name nagged Merlin enough to move. Groggily Merlin tried to open his eyes and sit but just hissed again. God it hurt. Once he finally managed to keep his eyes open he saw an ocean of colors swimming around him, he blinked serval times to make it stop. He conjured all his strength and hastily sat up. He felt someone's steady hands on his back so he could regain his wits and sit still.

Merlin squinted around the very crowded room and it took a moment for everything to stop spinning, he nodded towards Lancelot in recognition that he could let him go, the Knight stepped a away, arms crossed, but he hovered closer just in case Merlin needed help again.

"God my head hurts— is this blood?" Merlin asked as he touched the side of his head and felt a lump and something sticky. "What happened?"

In that moment Percival walked in with a bucket of cold water on his left hand and once he caught sight of his friend he looked relieved to see Merlin up and about.

"Merlin, you are awake! You alright?" Percival said as he left the bucket by his feet near Gaius.

"What happened?" Merlin repeated getting irritated with himself for not being able to remember.

"I was hoping you could tell me that." Gaius clasped his arm and gave him a vial to drink. "Here, this will help with the nausea and the pain."

Making a face as he finished the potion Merlin looked around catching the anxious glances that Gwaine and Lancelot were giving him.

"What?"

"Merlin do you think you can walk? We need to get going." Lancelot threw the sorcerer a meaningful look.

Merlin looked around once more before he understood what was missing.

"Arthur, where is he?"

Merlin grunted as he stood up. Percival leaned forward to keep him right by his left shoulder. He felt a little bit dizzy but now that he was fully awake he felt stronger as the seconds ticked by and his magic, bless his magic, was already kicking in, it probably had started to immediately heal him the second he had—

Oh.

He snapped his head towards Lancelot who nodded ever so slightly like saying 'Yes, exactly move"

"Arthur… Arthur hit me." Merlin said aghast, forget that, the Prat had kicked him unconscious.

"Arthur hit you?" Everyone in the room repeated all with different feelings on the issue. Gaius, for starters, looked aghast as he raised his eyebrow as high as it would go, while Gwaine even looked a bit happy about it. Merlin ignored them all.

He recalled everything now…The sword in the stone test. Uther agreeing with it and they arriving at the castle afterwards—Leon saying there was a meeting— Agravaine finding about his magic and Arthur saying he had a plan so Uther wouldn't find out. Arthur saying something stupid about training him before he punched him on the head. Merlin bleached and he faltered on his feet feeling out of air it was only because of Percival that he managed to stay upright.

"Easy Merlin, you just woke up." Percival advised.

"Arthur, where is he?" Merlin basically spat as he looked around and cursed softly. Weren't they supposed to work better together after Merlin revealing his true identity? And here they were…

"Arthur has a plan, Merlin." Lancelot confided in airs of calming him and Merlin was baffled at the statement.

Oh, gods. This definitely was on the top of the list of bad news. He had never been a number one fan of Arthur's plans. They never functioned— the only times they ever did was because Merlin had made them function, but Arthur didn't know that, did he?

He thought of making a list of that too for future reference.

"Where is he?" Merlin asked again in dread as he looked to Lancelot for answers.

"Here." It was Gwaine who answered though, and surprisingly he gave him a note. Why he needed to read a note was unknown to Merlin at this dire moment but he complied. "He left with Agravaine to the forest just a while ago. He left this."

At the mention of Agravaine Merlin hurriedly opened the note hoping to find some light in the plan that Arthur had formulated. His mouth flew open before it closed in an audible snap, just reading the first line had been enough.

I won't be coming back.

Merlin stood there motionless in the middle of the room for a whole second before he squashed the note into a tight ball. How dare he? How dare he just say that so casually?!

All pain forgotten and feeling his magic compensating for the pain on his human body, Merlin was out the door the very next second, not even wasting time to see who was following him as he dashed down the hallway.

Merlin vowed that if Agravaine—and Morgana, his heart beat fast at that recognition—failed to kill Arthur he will. That stupid, arrogant, prat of a prince was going to get himself killed and God's be damned if he had worked so hard to let that happen.

Over his dead body, Merlin thought. It had taken him quite the sacrifice to keep the prat alive for Arthur to die on him. As he ran down the stairs, servants and maids parted ways to let him and the knights trough.

Merlin stared out the windows as he ran, trying to bury his fear inside of him.

Outside the sun was getting down faster than he would've wanted.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Arthur blocked every blow Agravaine threw at him and attacked with his own rain of movements at every opportunity. Overhand, underhand, left sprint and up again, the swords meeting at the middle and for a moment Arthur could feel the warmth radiating from Agravaine's body before he pushed him away, grinding his teeth. Arthur was relentless and was giving no ground to Agravaine, he refused to call him uncle ever again.

Slash, a jab, a cut to the middle of his chest, a step back to wield his sword and another to the front to aim for a blow. Not for a moment wasting any opening, and so Arthur repeated the sequence. Angrily Arthur shouted when Agravaine moved away a few steps, breathing heavily, and Arthur's sword only found air.

Arthur let him have his brake from the endless battle for a few seconds, he himself breathing heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat and his hair plastered to the sides of his skull. This had taken long enough as it is and Arthur knew it was time to end it, the sun was setting on the horizon and he would be a fool to let the battle go further into the night.

He was quite confident Morgana wouldn't show up, after all he had gave no moment to Agravaine to go and fetch her the news of their whereabouts but he could never be sure and Arthur didn't want to risk a meeting with Morgana when he was alone. Merlin had told him several times that he would die dare Arthur face Morgana on his own and he didn't doubt his word, now, however, over the upending meeting with his dear sister Arthur had more things to worry about; he had to worry about thugs, towns people stumbling upon them, or even worse the knights—if they saw him murdering Agravaine…

Murdering, was he really about to murder his uncle? His mother's brother? Arthur ventured a look at Agravaine who was looking intently in his direction, was there really no other way? Does it really have be like this?

"Morgana—what did she promise to give you in exchange of my life?" Arthur asked bravely, not for a moment letting his guard down. Agravaine read him like a book though, as he slowly lowered his arms. They stared at each other for a long time trying to catch their breath.

"To govern by her side." Agravaine finally said, eyes set on the sword in Arthur's hand and once he caught sight that Arthur lowered it just a centimeter he looked to his nephews face. "I accept that is tempting, the offer of being King and rule by her side, but that does not mean I fancied you dead or your father… is just… there's something in the way Morgana talks that is captivating. That makes you bow to her words. You should know."

"Actually I dont. The Morgana I knew would have never wanted me dead."

"Things change, Arthur... kingdoms rise and fall and maybe it is time for the Pendragon's legacy to be over." Agravaine said almost amiably. "Im sure, if you wanted it, Morgana could come to an agreement with you."

Arthur snorted but didn't move or react, not letting the words get into his heart, he couldn't believe this so easily but maybe that was the reason Agravaine had lasted until now in the castle-maybe Agravaine was under a spell— and he found himself thinking what Merlin would do, apparently whenever at a loss Arthur was finding himself thinking from his point of view, would Merlin let him live? Would Merlin kill him? Would Merlin give him the benefit of the doubt after all that they had witnessed?

"You said that you bow at Morgana's words..." And Arthur saw the flicker of coolly intelligence pass the King's adviser face.

"Oh, you mean that maybe im enchanted?" Agravaine said. "Morgana knows everything, Arthur, from your deepest fears to the fact of who's helping you."

Arthur didnt move a muscle but his uncle smirked. "Oh, yes, we know about Merlin... and Arthur, Morgana will not sleep till she finds him dead... isn't that right, milady?"

Arthur's thoughts stopped dead when he slowly watched as Agravaine smirked and looked up, past Arthur's head, and he even bowed a little. Arthur got scandalized at the action. "Milady, you have come."

Arthur's brain collapsed for a second before he whirled on his feet in an instant, Morgana was here?! He hadn't noticed her coming and he raised his sword in fear as his eyes scanned the woods in seconds, trying to pinpoint the familiar body among the trees. To catch a glimpse of the green eyes he had once loved and it took him five precious seconds to know he had been fooled.

Morgana was not up the hill, or hidden in the woods, she was not besides the sword in the stone or throwing spells at him.

Morgana had never been there for starters.

He could almost hear his father's voice inside his head calling him a naive, stupid fool. 'Don't ever give your enemy your back, that's why kings die and people perish, Arthur, they trust their blind spot to the wrong people'

Arthur moved to the side as he furiously took a step to the left bringing his sword with him, but he knew it was too late to stop it all. Arthur turned just in time to see that Agravaine was a step away, sword raised to cut his midsection and just at the last second Arthur raised his sword to prevent the blow but even if he missed the mortal jab he didn't miss the way Agravaine smirked. Arthur's hand faltered on his sword for the awkward position and effort.

On Agravaine's other hand shined a knife and Arthur had just enough time to recoil two steps in fear before the blade slashed on his right side and then after a hiss and messy aim for Agravaine's chest, he felt the swearing pain of the blade grinding on his leg just above his knee.

Arthur's eyes grew huge with the unexpected wave of pain. Agravaine looked as Arthur took two steps back wordlessly, aghast that Agravaine had used not once but two nasty tricks on him. The fucking bastard. Honor means nothing to people like him.

Arthur didn't have more time to think as Agravaine lunged forward again but Arthur was ever ready and so the prince of Camelot did two brave things in less than three seconds, one: in one swift motion he draw out the knife of his skin and threw it away—hissing and ignoring the blazing pain that made his leg shake— and second: he took two steady steps back as the swords collided once again, he could feel the hot liquid running down his leg but Arthur stubbornly ignored it.

"How could you." Arthur hissed feeling his body boiling with rage. "How damn could you?!"

"Arthur, you are under a spell!" Agravaine yelled as Arthur's pushed with his sword. "Stop for a moment and—"

"Stop trying to confuse me, Agravaine!" Arthur spat getting tired of Agravaine's incoherent actions. "For once in your life leave the lies out of this!" Arthur added in a lower voice. "You are not making it alive anyway so just might as well die an honest man!"

Agravaine counter attacked when Arthur lunged forwards favoring his good leg and Agravaine retreated just a step. "Deep inside you, you know this is wrong, Arthur."

"No." Arthur said. A part of his brain, the one focused on keeping him straight, was telling him he only had a few minutes before he collapsed due to the loose of blood, thank the heavens he knew what to do now; letting Agravaine live was out of the question, this was not just because of his treason against his person, this was for Merlin, and Gaius, and all the people he was now sure Agravaine had killed to get here.

Agravaine yelled as he lunged at Arthur, taking advantage that Arthur's movements and thinking were slower now. Arthur sidestepped the blow but his leg gave in for just a flicker of a second but it was enough to leave a gash on his shoulder when the sword cut the air. Arthur hissed and stumbled out of the way.

"Give up now, Arthur, and Morgana might forgive you."

Arthur didn't even deign himself to reply and instead took one last steady breath. The battle was over. It needed to be over.

He waited for Agravaine to come at him again and Arthur saw the perfect opportunity. When Agravaine raised his sword to slash Arthur's head off—an opening that Arthur knowingly left— the prince raised his sword, so both swords met above their heads, with a trick that Gwaine had thought him the sword of Agravaine flew away from his hands. For a moment as long as a butterfly beating of wings they stared at each other, the next moment Arthur made his third brave movement of the day.

Ignoring the pain on his leg he raised it and kicked with all his strength the chest of Agravaine, he yelled due to the pain and he felt close to losing conscious right then and there, it was just by adrenaline and power will that Arthur managed to stay upright. Agravaine fell to his back, out of air. "You tried to kill me. You tried to murder me and my father, who knows how many people have died because of you! And you think I will let you live?!"

Finally, the two men were unmovable on the clearing.

Arthur readied his sword with both hands in a swift motion. His breath uneven, his face red with anger, pain and adrenaline. His leg was hurting like hell and he could feel the little river of blood making his way from his upper leg to his foot. He could hear the pulse of his blood in his ears. However, all he could focus right now was the amount of suffering, pain and misery that people had gone through Agravaine's hands. Pain and misery that as prince of a land he was born to put an end to it.

Agravaine made one last attempt to move from under Arthur, but the prince moved his sword faster, as only the best knight in Camelot could, and let it rest against Agravaine's neck, close enough to hurt dare Agravaine breath too hard. Agravaine laid still on the ground.

"My Father" Arthur snapped after a moment and he pushed the sword enough for it to make a fine line of blood on Agravaine's neck, signaling he was done with playing around. "I know Morgana is behind his loss of memory. Tell me how to break the spell."

"Arthur—"

"Tell me!" Arthur screamed enraged. "Or God help me."

Agravaine looked up at Arthur, one hand instinctively up in protection and a submissing look trying for a last chance of survival. "You don't want to do this Arthur, you don't want to kill me. I'm your mother's only living sibling."

Arthur looked from above at his uncle's face and found no sight of the uncle he thought he had known for years. He didn't make any reaction because there was no reaction to be given. He could not find compassion within him to forgive a monster like him.

"Are you going to tell me or will I have to look for Morgana herself?" Arthur pressed the sword down and at the mention of Morgana Agravaine's face grew darker. "Tell me how to break it!"

"Kill me then!" Agravaine spat. "Get it over with. There's no cure anyway, no spell that you can try or potion you can give him. Morgana is not as stupid as your sorcerer. Your Father is as good as dead! You will have to kill him or face losing the throne. It won't matter what you do, Morgana already won."

"Shut up!" Arthur growled.

Arthur didn't believe him, he couldn't and refused to believe that his Father was beyond salvation, but he saw in Agravaine's eyes the fierce loyalty he saw in his knights. Morgana had made a good ally and she was about to lose him, seeing that there was nothing else to do now Arthur decided that this was taking long enough, his vision was starting to get blurry and he knew he would pass out any second now.

"Was it worth it?" Arthur snapped as his hands shook on his sword. Even now he felt guilt and pain, and so much grief for a moment. He wanted to understand something unthinkable. He wanted to understand how Morgana had corrupted his uncle. "Was it worth to die this way on this game of thrones? To plot and betray me, trying to kill the only thing alive that was hers?" Arthur looked down at Agravaine and couldn't help but break a little. "I though you loved my mother."

God he hated himself for this, hated that he would have to kill the only living relative his mother had… so many stories that Agravaine had shared with him about her… and here they were. The fact that they shared the same love for his mother was the reason he had trusted Agravaine so much, almost blindly, however, the lies, betrayal and the pain were there too, darkening and destroying the idea of Agravaine. A man that he refused to call family. Arthur couldn't spare his life even if he wanted.

Agravaine laughed and Arthur's hand stilled on his sword. There was nothing Arthur feared the most but a man laughing at the face of death.

"You, stupid, stupid nephew, you never understood anything!" Agravaine spat sarcastically, before it darkened, his dark eyes filled with emotions Arthur didnt want recognize. "It was never Morgana, she was a mean to an end, but it was never her it was you. I wanted to kill you, because you killed her when you were born. I hated you the second you took your first breath because with you, with your stupid life—you took the only thing I ever loved." Agravaine said with great pain but he didn't show remorse and finally he said the one thing Arthur was sure he had never wanted to hear. "I hope Morgana kills you—ends your life as pitiful as you ended Ygraine's. I never cared as to whom took the throne as long as it wasn't you…as long as it wasn't you…So if I'm about to meet with my sister, let so be it by the hand of her unworthy son. A murderer from the second he was born."

Arthur didn't realize he was crying till he saw the droplets fall to his uncle's face. He shook his head meekly but no words came out as he just ook one gulp of air.

"I bet my little sister would be proud."

Those were the last words that Agravaine De Bois ever said. Arthur shallowed the lump on his throat and without another word but just looks of hatred and misery he jammed the sword through Agravaine's chest with steady hands.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

One day off. Merlin thought drily as he kept on running. One day off was that much to ask?

Just one day that Arthur wasn't in peril of dying or were things could go right for once would be enough. Gwaine, Lancelot, and Percival along with Sir Owen and Sir Elyan—whom by Gwaine orders had been waiting for the rest of them on the courtyard, horses at the ready— had taken to the woods when the sun was setting on the horizon.

Hoping that all of them could make it to the sword stone was, of course, too much to ask, as he had to stop his mare when the knights and him were surrounded by thugs and thieves. One glance around Merlin and knew they were outnumbered. Good lord he hated them, Merlin had lost count of the times they jailed and killed !thugs in the past and yet they dared to show up! Because of course they would! He began panicking, if they had found them maybe they had found Arthur and Agravaine first. Oh Jesus.

The second they were ambushed Gwaine had practically shoved Merlin away into the path with an urgent look on his face. The thugs were enough to scare ordinary men, certainly enough to scare Merlin who could not use his magic freely but the knights of Camelot were not ordinary men. Merlin stood rooted to his spot for exactly half a second, watching as each knight got into his fight.

"What are you doing, Merlin?! Go find Arthur!" Gwaine screamed over the sounds of the fight before he turned, ducked and impaled a man who had gone for his head. He pushed the sword out and headed for a new rival that moved towards Merlin. "GO!"

There was chaos all around the forest but Merlin didn't need to be told twice, and so with a heavy heart he ran hating every decision that had led to this.

He followed the path and once away from the knights and their battling sounds he lighted a ball of fire to light the way, he didn't care anymore who saw him, if Arthur died he might as well die too because Camelot would die and peril without an heir.

Thanks the gods he didn't have to run much longer, as he reached the side of the path that led to the hidden stone. He stumbled down the way and he breathed in relief once he found two horses tied up on a nearby tree. Merlin recognized them in an instant. It was Saphir, Arthur's horse, besides the black one that belonged to Agravaine. Merlin stopped for a moment and tried to hear anything besides his heavy breathing, leaning against a tree for support, if a battle was going on or Morgana was there he needed to know.

But he heard nothing, not even a single shout and that unsettled him even more.

He closed his eyes and listened more intently with his senses enhanced. Movement. His magic sensed movement and without waiting another moment he ran to face the little way down where the sword should be. He saw two figures and in the dim light of the moon they looked almost the same but Merlin could recognize even Arthur's shadow if needed to be at this point. One person was looming over the other one but Merlin knew exactly who was standing upright.

"ARTHUR!"

Merlin had never been so relieved in his life. He felt weak just by seeing Arthur there breathing and on his feet. He dashed down the hill stumbling as he went and once at the bottom he crashed against the floor, he hardly paid mind as he stood up and walked hurriedly towards Arthur, finally close enough for the light to illuminate their surroundings.

Merlin stopped when he was just a few steps away from him. Arthur's back was towards Merlin. He had barely reacted to his name being called. Merlin's eyes strayed worriedly to his hand that was still welding a bloodied sword. Merlin waited for a few seconds to comprehend what he was seeing but internally sighed knowing exactly what had happened.

"Arthur?" Merlin said softly as he sidestepped him and looked down.

For a moment he wanted to believe it would be a thug but he knew it was wishful thinking. Agravaine was sprawled on his back, his chest still bleeding and his eyes were looking up at the sky towards nothing, hooded and lifeless. Dead.

Merlin turned his stare from the man that had caused them so much pain and placed a steady hand on Arthur's shoulder, for a moment Arthur looked startled to see Merlin there. When their eyes met Arthur just took a step back and looked down again. He looked like he had lost a battle instead of the other way around. His eyes were rimmed red and he was looking at everything but Merlin and Agravaine. Instead he focused his eyes on his bloodied sword.

Merlin was quiet for a long time not knowing what to say, or even if there was something he could say before Arthur seemed to sway on his spot. Merlin quickly assessed him and looked down spotting bleeding leg.

"Arthur, you are hurt," Merlin said stupidly and wondered since when has Arthur been bleeding, he sighed and placed one arm over Arthur's shoulders and began to drag him away.

"You shouldn't be here," Arthur said gravely but he let Merlin steer him away from the body.

Merlin only answered once they were far away, enough that in even with the ball of light the body could not be seen but it was almost like they could feel it, just a few yards away staring at them in the dark.

"Well, what did you want me to do?" Merlin said with a severe tone but a gentle look on his face "You left me a note that said 'I'm not coming back' like I'm a cheap whore with whom you just spent your night, who do you think I am? I'm your manservant, Arthur, on good days im your friend but Im not your mistress thank you"**

The 'You prat' was implied but for the moment Merlin felt it was unnecessary.

Arthur blinked several times at what Merlin had said and then, without notice, he huffed, a quick chuckle escaping his lips, then a whole little laugh as he shook his head, however, his eyes were hunted, the smile didn't reach his eyes and soon Arthur was looking back at this feet, solemn face once again. "No, you idiot. I meant—I meant that I wasn't coming back because—" He grunted as they made their way up the little hill and he blinked in pain. "Because I thought- I thought I would wait for the patrol Gwaine was supposed to send. It would look suspicious if I returned to Camelot alone and unaided. Don't you think?"

Merlin blinked several times as his eyes shined gold and all the rocks that were obstructing Arthur's way moved to the side, Arthur just nodded tiredly in thanks.

"You mean you didn't come here… to… uh die or something?"

"Merlin, I have a kingdom to rule in the future, what's this nonsense about dying?" Arthur said as an explanation and Merlin decided not to comment. "Besides, I do recall a certain idiot saying that if I ever decided to do something reckless I should leave a note. So I did**" Arthur said with a low and soft voice looking straight ahead to nothing. A voice he didn't use often, with Merlin or anyone else and Merlin once again just nodded, wondering exactly what had happened in the fight with Agravaine that had left Arthur so drained of his usual armor—the metaphorical armor— Merlin was sure it was the only thing Arthur was thinking about. Agravaine. It was like every step away from him wasn't breaking his friend free from the burden.

"You could've taken me with you." Merlin said softly just when Arthur closed his eyes in pain for his leg and then smirked if ever so slightly when Merlin stopped to have a look at it under a tree at the top of the hill, the ball of light shining merrily.

"You were worried about me?" Arthur said amused and hissed when he tried to test his leg. "I—I didn't know I was so unreliable."

Merlin faked deafness as he lowered Arthur to the ground. "God you are heavier than you look. Now stop whining and let me have a look at your leg."

"Im not whining." Arhur half hearteadly protested.

Arthur didn't say anything, feeling the world collapse on him for a brief moment. He placed his head against the tree and let Merlin do his job, his eyes traveled to his sword, he had used it as a cane for leverage and now he seemed to only be capable of staring at the blood staining the steel. Merlin kneeled by his side but did nothing but stare at it too. Merlin wanted to ask so many questions but Arthur lowered the sword and hastily started to clean it up against the grass and dirt.. His movements becoming more erratic with every try.

This wasn't just about the blood on it.

"Arthur, stop, it wasn't—"

Arthur looked at Merlin and he didn't need to say anything for Merlin to shut up. Merlin complied and instead he focused on curing Arthur, priorities, he could deal with Arthur's feelings later so he raised his hands to Arthur's leg and winced at the huge gash that traveled from up his leg and down past his knee.

He closed his eyes in concentration. After a moment where he was sure he knew what he was doing he murmured the spell, feeling a rush of coldness that started from his chest and then traveled to his hands as part of his magic left him to aid Arthur. He breathed in a few times recovering from the sudden loss of energy. It has been a while since he had used a healing spell and they always left him feeling weak for a few seconds, Merlin opened his eyes when Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Merlin, are you okay?" Arthur said inspecting his face and then his eyes snapped to his leg. The wound was there but the bleeding had stopped completely. It took Arthur a moment and his blue eyes grew huge as his hand clasped Merlin shoulder's so hard it was almost painful. "Merlin…"

Arthur looked from his leg to Merlin almost in fear and Merlin regretted his decision almost instantly. Arthur was fine with Merlin using magic but Merlin had been an idiot to think that Arthur would be fine on letting magic to be placed upon him so easily.

"Arthur, Gods, Sorry I—"

"Did you just—did you just… cure my leg like…" Arthur just motioned stupidly from Merlin to his leg. "You just—?"

Merlin nodded slowly and then closed his eyes in dread. "Should have asked first, isn't it? I—"

"Bloody hell, Merlin."

"Sorry! Sorry, I know you hate magic being placed upon—Uh, wait!" Merlin said when Arthur began to touch his skin marveled that it was cured, it would still hurt since magic could only do so much, but it was not bleeding anymore and the gash was more superficial. Arthur's first stop in Camelot would be Gaius chambers since they still had to attend it for possible infections but it. "It's not fully cured, don't push it. I still need to practice, sorry."

Merlin repeated but he totally missed the way Arthur was not mad but marveled.

"This is amazing, Merlin. Jesus, this... it's unbelivable."There was awe in the voice of the prince, still sadness and guilt but he was amazed at what he had seen and Arthur raised his eyes at Merlin blinking in confusion. "You need to practice' So... this is not the first time you have healed me?"

Merlin smirked like a five year old in response.

Arthur nodded jerkely, for a moment a solemn and placid stare on his eyes. His hand rested on his injury. Merlin could only wonder what he was thinking about. "I uh—I would thank you, really I would, but you seem to glorify yourself on it… so I won't."

"Oi, I deserve it don't I?" Merlin deadpanned playing offended.

"I'm teaching you manners, someone ought to do it, Merlin."

Merlin and Arthur shared a glance and Merlin nodded good naturedly taking the compliment for what it was as Arthur leaned on the tree again with a nod in gratitude.

"You are welcome, Arthur. Now." Merlin said getting up and looking around, blinking away the tiredness of the day. Arthur was alive and in one piece, Agravaine was dead ,for the better if you asked him, and so far Morgana was not siting in a throne of any kind. "We seriously need to talk about your plans for future problems but that will come later, and Gwaine did send a patrol they—"

"Arthur? Merlin! Good lord is that you?" They both looked ahead, a lone figure was making their way towards them and Arthur quickly snapped towards Merlin. Kicking his knee with his hand, Merlin looked down and raised a brow, it was the more awake, per say, that he had seen Arthur since he had found him.

"Merlin! The light!" Arthur hissed.

"Oh—"Merlin had completely forgotten about it really, in a second the ball of fire that had guided them all along disappeared but for their luck—really the first struck in months—it was Lancelot.

"Are you two alright?" Was Lancelot's only question as he took in the situation, leaning to have a better look at the prince leg, after a moment where he saw that Arthur was not near fainting he helped him to his feet. Merlin had never been so glad that Lancelot was as kind and intelligent as in that moment, since he chose to spare them the unavoidable questions that would certainly arise later.

"He'll live. Is everyone alright?" Merlin asked quickly. He wouldn't forgive himself if one of them had died because of this, Lancelot nodded.

"Percival got shot in the leg with an arrow but he will make it. Gwaine and the rest are just down the path. We will catch up with them in a few minutes. If we hurry we can get to Camelot in less than an hour or so, then we can have Gaius to check on the lot of you." Lancelot said as Merlin aided Arthur by his other side taking the still bloodied sword from his hand. He could feel as Arthur relaxed from not having to see it or hold it any longer.

"I'm fine, I don't need anyone checking on me." Arthur grunted but his stare was low and he was, for the first time ever, not complaining about basically being carried around, over his shoulders Merlin and Lancelot shared a worried look. It would be a long way before Arthur could actually be fine, and so, in darkness with only the light of the moon as guidance, they made their way back to Camelot.

A/N: The so long waited chapter. I have no idea how many times I rewrote this but I am very pleased on how it turned out, thoughts? The bloody fight was a headache, I had to see what they were doing in my head and the verbs and words were foreign to me, I had to do a lot of research on fights, ugh, horrible but I think I managed. (I just realized Agravaine died on chapter 13 and im finding that funny)

Next chap will be in a few days, its already written but the new arc is completely different and I need to set some things straight, remember we still have Morgana to worry about and I can bet you will love how that plays out (or not, it depends) *grins*

(**)

The first ** that is the whole "Arthur left a note thing" was because in chapter 6 Merlin jokes with Arthur that the next time he should go and run away (when he hid in his tower back when Uther just lost his memory) he should at least leave him a note. Which Arthur did remember— in his defense.

And the second ** is a quote I took from a book I adore that is called The Name of the Wind, if you like Merlin and magic please, guys, please do yourselves a favor and read it you won't regret it. I swear, and if you have read it man, you know what I'm talking about. Amazing out of proportion book, just… preach.

Well! And for the reviews. I Screamed and im not joking when I entered yesterday and saw the amount of them. Really (: if you think I read your review just once you are mistaken, I read each one at least six times, they inspire me and I am grateful for each one, they all have make little or big changes in the story.

Well, hope to hear from you! And for the ones who had never left a review this chapter deserves doesn't it? Just this one? *Pouts like Merlin*

-Juliet'lovestory-