Arthur looked round once he had dispatched the bandit he had been fighting and saw the man holding his shoulder with Merlin's blade clearly in the wound. Arthur ran the man through before turning to look round. First he saw Gwaine and Percy then he spotted Lancelot clearly using his body to protect someone. At the same time the bandits realised they had lost their sorcerer and were losing men. So the leader shouted for them to pull back. As they began to run the knights gave chase. Arthur however ran towards Lancelot hoping that he was wrong in who he believed the knight was covering, his heart in his throat.

As Arthur got closer Lancelot was getting up but the figure below didn't move, but Arthur knew without a doubt it was Merlin to style of clothing was enough to tell him that without the stock of raven hair and slender build. He fell to his knees beside his spouse and very carefully turned Merlin over. Merlin may have been saved from the arrow that hit the tree, but another had imbedded in his shoulder and broken off as he hit the ground. Arthur quickly checked him for other injuries when he saw blood on Merlin's forehead.. By now Lancelot was also kneeling by Merlin "I'm sorry Sire, I saw the archer and pushed Emrys out of the way, I was too late to save him from that one"

Arthur cradled Merlin in his arms and ignoring the Knight gently rubbed his finger over the trail of blood on Merlin's forehead, stopping it running towards his eyes. "Merlin, open your eyes please" he said softly. As he carefully looked under Merlin's top at the arrow wound. There was a small piece of the shaft showing and blood oozing from the wound.

He was soon joined by Gwaine the man was clearly as worried as Arthur. Seeing him Arthur seemed to come from his daze "What are you all doing here? You were supposed to stop him coming after me!"

Gwaine looked round. "Chose your words carefully Arthur. Emrys left us with no choice, so we came with your spouse to ensure protection" then in a louder voice he added." We were out to celebrate the Midsummer as is the way of our religion when Merlin spotted you" looking at Merlin he added "Let me take my sibling back out of the way of the dead."

"I'll take…Merlin" Arthur just stopped himself saying 'him' when he saw his own men approaching "Leon please clear away these bodies and make sure the horses are collected"

Leon looked puzzled but said nothing about Merlin and the other knight's presence, as he ducked as Aithusa flew directly towards Merlin not caring who was in the way. "Yes Sire." He handed Merlin's knife, now clean to Lancelot "I took that from a bandit"

That at least brought a small grin from Gwaine "I keep telling Merlin to aim to kill, the idiot still only injurers them." Then he looked at Merlin who was still out cold. Arthur carefully carried Merlin back away from where the fighting had taken place. Percy and Lancelot collected wood and made a fire and Gwaine collected water skins from the horses and started to clean Merlin's wound as Arthur continued to hold him. As Gwaine touched the wound Merlin stirred and opened his eyes

"What happened?" he murmured

"You were hit by an arrow" Arthur told him softly "It has broken off in your shoulder we must take it out"

"No, it will bleed too much" Gwaine told the Prince "We can't take the risk it need to be done by a physician otherwise Merlin could bleed out."

Lancelot approached with bandages "Let me cover the wound to stop infection"

"I'll do it" Arthur took the dressings then looked at Gwaine "I'll help, Lancelot make sure no one comes near."

It was then that Arthur realised they had to be careful or Merlin gender would be known to all. But it was understandable that they wouldn't want anyone near if they were removing a woman's clothing.

The two men carefully removed Merlin's top and cleaned the wound before bandaging the area. Then Arthur took his cape of and wrapped it round Merlin, not wanting to replace the bloodied top. Merlin had passed out while they cleaned the wound but gradually came round. Arthur and Gwaine sat with Merlin talking to him and getting him to drink small amounts. Arthur had begun to calm down, and after speaking to Merlin and Gwaine realised that there was little anyone could have done to stop Merlin. Now he needed to think of ways of stopping his husband/wife? in future. Merlin himself was unrepentant and said he had to protect Arthur that it was his destiny and he couldn't do that if he was left behind. Arthur was worried about the wound and this made him less patient than he might otherwise have been.

"He does have a point Arthur, not that I agree with all this prophesy nonsense but Merlin does." Gwaine said with a weak grin, he was as worried as Arthur about his brother. "And you can't blame the boys, Merlin threatened to turn them into frogs"

Arthur looked at Merlin "Could you?"

Merlin looked sheepish "Only big frogs, look they are there to protect me from attack not stop me doing things and they did come with me"

Leon arrived at that moment "We have cleared the site Sire. We have two dead and three injured. But we took out twelve of the bandits and I know we injured more."

"Can the men travel? We need to get back to Camelot and Gaius." The Prince demanded

"They can Sire, or we could go to the nearby town there will be a healer there" Leon suggested

"Not as good as Gaius, Merlin is hurt and I want Gaius to treat all of them of possible" Then He asked the one thing he dreaded "Who didn't make it?

"Sir Candor and Sir Braun Sire. Both died with valour. I have had them placed on horses so we can return them to Camelot, although they were single men both their families are local and will want to bury them."

"If the injured want or need to go to the town arrange an escort otherwise we leave for Camelot now. If we take a straight route we can be there tomorrow" Arthur ordered.

"They wish to return to Camelot Sire" Leon assured his prince, "It also better if we keep together"

Arthur turned to Gwaine "I will take Merlin on Hengroen can you pass him to me once I am mounted."

Making sure to keep his brother covered Gwaine carefully lifted Merlin up and handed him to Arthur who settled Merlin so he was in front of him and rested against him. Hengroen was a large strong horse and well able to carry the extra weight. He was also so used to Arthur that the blonde could keep on arm round Merlin to steady him whilst just having one hand on the reins. Arthur set a pace that didn't jolt any of the wounded men to much and they stopped to allow them to rest when needed. That night when they camped Arthur made Merlin have some of the juices that the rabbits were cooked in and made his bed as close to the fire as he could. Gwaine also insisted on staying close.

The other injured were cared for but Leon and the other knights. As everyone began to settle and the guards posted Arthur took the chance to check Merlin's bandages to make sure he was not still bleeding. As he moved the cape away he saw something which surprised him. Motioning to Gwaine to look. Across Merlin's shoulder above were the arrow was lodged was tendrils of gold flashing.

Gwaine smiled and whispered "Put your hand over them and tell me what you feel"

Arthur did as he was bid, trusting his brother in law completely. He looked up and replied "It feels warm, and safe…like home. I have felt it before when we make love"

"That's Merlin's magic. He can't heal himself not with the arrow there but his magic is fighting any infection" Gwaine smiled "That is how Merlin's magic feels to me as well."

"Are you sure it's not a spell from the sorcerer?"

"Defiantly, each magic user has a different feel, Merlin's is like him pure and comforting. If that had been a curse it would feel dark and evil" Gwaine paused "Merlin is a very kind person, even though that bandit was attacking you he only did enough to stop him and not kill him. Merlin has yet to kill. He would if he had to but it would cause him distress to do so and live with him forever. He would rather be killed than kill. Normally he will cause branches to beak or roots to trip people up. If he has to do more it is to knock people out. Even the sorcerer he just sent away. Now you have felt his magic you will always know it"

"Where to?" Arthur said looking around.

"I don't know, he might not either, it happened very fast." Gwaine said truthfully.

Checking they were still alone Arthur asked Gwaine "Do you have magic?"

"Like my father I will be a dragonlord. So I have a small amount. Enough to light a fire for instance. Whereas Merlin has yet to find his limit. He can make it rain, cause the earth to tremble and whole fields of crops to grow overnight. But such is his purity of heart he will not use his powers for ill, or if he can do something what he calls the hard way. You must never ask him to, remember he has to live with what he does. The Great Dragon says that is why the power resided in Emrys, because he will not misuse it"

"Then why doesn't he remove the arrow and heal himself?" Arthur demanded quietly

"It doesn't work that way, his magic will help him heal but he cannot use healing magic on himself, Healing magic always tires him greatly if he does use it, it seems not to be a strength of his. Although once I had my leg sliced badly Merlin took the injury on himself. But it took him weeks to heal. I forbade him ever doing it again it tired him so much he slept for a week afterwards without waking" Gwaine looked at his brother love clear on his face "We ought to stop talking Princess, this is dangerous for him if anyone hears"

Arthur nodded his agreement. But he needed to know and Camelot, even in his rooms was even less safe. He lay down need to Merlin and gently pulled the slender form closer to him. Wrapping his arms around the still form to keep Merlin warm and safe.