One of my friends sent me one of this emails and while I read it with absolutely no intention of passing it on in any form, I found myself thinking of scenarios and hence this Fanfiction was created. Sorry.
SLASH references: Merlin/Arthur
**
A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
Arthur lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling feeling angry and sore. He couldn't believe Merlin had knocked him out, even with a piece of wood and he was angry at himself for being placed in a position when such action by his servant needed to be taken, even if he was enchanted. At that thought the anger faded, replaced by a deep sorrow. On face value Arthur was an arrogant, egotistical, blind-sighted prat; inside Arthur was more romantic. He tried desperately to believe in love. To believe that his father's coldness was in part due to his mother's death; that even though he tried not to blame his son for his wife's death, somewhere hidden and secret, he did. He couldn't help it. And as upset and lonely that made Arthur; it also taught him that his father had loved his mother desperately.
Arthur sighed, feeling desperately sad that love, that his infatuation with Sofia had simply been an enchantment. A falsity. Not even a dream; it had simply been a tool. A way of making possible what they wanted. Love wasn't supposed to be like that, love was something special, something to be treasured. Scowling at the ceiling he tried to smooth his face down at the knock on the door. The door opened and Merlin popped his head round and soon the rest of him followed. Arthur tried not to show how upset this whole episode had left him.
Unusually Merlin stayed quiet, simply sitting himself down on the bed next to Arthur's horizontal form. Arthur waited a moment for Merlin to say something. When he didn't Arthur glanced at him. Merlin's face didn't show pity exactly, nothing that would get Arthur riled further. It simply showed how much Merlin cared, and how sorry he was that Arthur had been tricked in such a way. He still didn't speak and simply took Arthur's hand in a loose but warm grip.
Arthur tensed momentarily then relaxed and allowed himself to enjoy the friendly contact being offered. He felt his eyes fill with involuntary tears and Merlin tightened his grip and allowed his friend to sob away the hurt.
**
