Greetings Readers! A new chapter, and here's some more angst.

To those who wanted me to continue the Dark!Merlin from last chapter/oneshot/blank, it will probably be happening. I'm brainstorming.

This was actually written for the lovely Ryne42 - she writes me some awesome Merlin/Gwen friendship, and I give her this in return. Ha!

Warning: Angst, character death (blame my depressed muse), K+

Disclaimer: I still don't own Merlin or any of its characters.

Pieces of the courtyard wall were scattered about the castle, hazy in a mist of soot and dirt and blood, and Gwen peered desperately around for the two men she loved best in the world, the only two who had not come back after the aftermath of battle.

She saw the two figures, one prone on the ground, the other hunched over and shuddering beside him. Ignoring the blood and wreckage staining the hem of her dress, she sprinted over to them, the knights close behind.

The sight broke her heart. "Merlin!"

The figure on the ground looked blearily at her. "Hey," he said shakily.

Arthur looked up then, his eyes wet and desperate. Gwen began to cry.

"Hey," Merlin said, smiling comfortingly, attempting to wave away her fears with the splintered bloody remains of his arm. "It's okay, don't you see that's Arthur's all right?"

Gwen fell to her knees, heedless of the blood seeping in a pool around Merlin that soaked into her gown. "But you – oh Merlin…" she tried to reach down to grab his hand, just to do something, but couldn't find anything resembling a hand in the bleeding tangle of tendon and bone. Instead she grabbed his shoulder. "Merlin, please…" she whispered, "don't leave us."

"Gwen," he smiled, the blood bubbling from his mouth dampening the attempt considerably. "It's all right – the threat's gone and Arthur's okay. My work is do-"

"Don't you dare, you idiot," Arthur barked, "don't you dare leave us. Heal yourself!"

Merlin looked regretful. "Arthur, I can't-"

"This is no time to be modest, Merlin!" Arthur nearly yelled. "What good is your magic if you don't use it?"

The warlock attempted to shrug, but only began coughing, and more blood bubbled forth. "Was always…rubbish…at healing spells."

"What are you talking about?" Arthur said, his voice a mere whisper. "You've healed all of us before!"

"Well, that's you all, isn't it?" Merlin coughed. "Never much of a point in learning to heal myself, was there?"

"Come on, mate," Gwaine choked from behind Gwen, "do it. Please."

"Sorry." Merlin looked sad. "I can't. You all will be fine without me."

Gwen broke down sobbing and Arthur could no longer maintain his wet glare. "Don't die, Merlin. That's an order."

Merlin grinned. "I never was good at taking orders."

And with that he closed his eyes and he was gone.

A/N: I killed him! *wails* What is wrong with me?

Thanks for reading and please review! They make me happy.