Disclaimer - i own nothing. Thanks again to Matsukaze Tenma for the idea, and everyone else for reviewing.

Red Sky

Gwaine watched in horror as his best friend sank to the ground.

"Merlin!" Gwaine yelled trying to catch him but Merlin was out before he even hit the ground. Gwaine looked at his friends wonder what had happened. Arthur shoved through the group and knelt beside his fallen friend.

"Merlin?" Arthur called shaking him gently: trying to wake him up. Merlin didn't even stir. Arthur looked at his knights, "We need to get him to Gaius." Before he could even ask it Percival had Merlin swept into his arms, and was walking towards the castle trying not to jolt his younger, hurt friend. Percival could hear the rest of the knights and the King chasing after him, all concerned for the young man in his arms. He looked closely at Merlin's face wincing as he saw the bruise, that must be smarting by now. He navigated quickly, but carefully around the buzzing rush that made up Camelot, up the stairs and headed to the Physician's chambers. He and all the other knights had the route laid down after so many hard training sessions. He smiled in thanks as Leon stepped ahead of him opening the door to the small room so he could carry Merlin in.

Gaius and Gwen were sitting across from each other at the small table in Gaius' chambers. The room was finally empty, all of the people put into Gaius' care by Morgana were well enough to go home. He smiled as he listen to Gwen joke about the Courtiers, although Queen, she still couldn't help but act like a servant sometimes. He smiled as he heard the door open expecting to see Merlin. He hadn't seen much of his ward recently. They had both been so busy. Gaius was a bit surprised to see Leon he usually knocked, only to gasp when he saw Merlin in Percival's arms.

"Merlin!" Gwen cried jumping up from the table not sure what to do. Gaius' medical skills took over.

"Lie him on the table," Gaius said clearing a table and setting a pillow up for Merlin's head. He was surprised at how gentle the strong knight could be when he wanted to, as he watched Percival lower his ward down.

"What happened?" Gaius asked as he carefully combed over his wards face trying to work out where the damage was.

"I don't know I just slapped his stomach as a joke and he collapsed." Gwaine said scared he had caused his friend to take ill. Gaius started to lift Merlin's top not sure why his wards belt was missing, a gasp echoed around the room as Merlin's chest was revealed. Bruises covered both sides of his ribs and spread up to the middle of his Sternum. There were distinct shoe marks on Merlin's chest, Gaius still not sure how they got there continued assessing the young man. At least two ribs were broken and the rest would be badly bruised. The pain must have been overwhelming. Gaius announced his findings the younger people in the room as he started wrapping Merlin's chest. He smiled as Gwen held Merlin's hand, and Gwaine sat down heavily pleased he had not hurt his friend, but angry someone had dared to lay finger on him.

Percival was only too happy to carry Merlin up the stairs to his room.

"He should be awake by tomorrow morning," Gaius explained. "I gave him a light sedative for the pain, he should sleep through the night. But those bruise are quite interesting, it almost as if he was stamped on a few times." Gaius said. Gwaine's head shot up.

"He got in a fight." He announced to the group. Percival nodded, backing up what his friend said. "The maids said he looked injured but he said he was fine." Gauis gave Gwaine a look.

"Merlin isn't the kind to provoke a fight."

Arthur nodded. "Merlin may be an idiot but he knows his own strengths and fighting is not one of them." He ran a hand through his blond hair trying to work out what to do. "Gwaine, Percival where did the fight happen." Percival shrugged,

"We didn't see it but the two maids suggested it happened outside the tavern,"Gwaine answered. Gaius frowned again, why Merlin would be outside the tavern?

"I'm going to head down there and see if anyone saw something." Gwaine said heading towards the door

"Wait," Arthur called making Gwaine pause and turn around. "Take Elyan, Leon and Percival with you and if you do find who did this, bring them to the castle so we can deal with him. I want to make sure he knows he messed with the wrong guy."

Arthur watched as they left the room. He sighed and hugged his wife close, wiping her tears away. "Don't worry he's going to be alright, it's Merlin we're talking about here." He whispered in her ear.

Merlin was sat in the darkness.

"Hello?" he called, it was strange the pain was gone. He step forwards and the scene changed, it was a forest. He looked around seeing someone stepping out of the shade.

"Lancelot!" he called running towards his friend, hugging him tightly. He felt Lancelot laugh and released him grinning his head off. Lancelot watched as Merlin's posture changed dramatically.

"What's wrong with you!" Merlin cried. Lancelot gave Merlin a weird look. "I was meant to go through the veil not you! I should be dead not you!" Lancelot shook his head.

"No Merlin my friend you are wrong. I had my destiny as you have yours .You have to look after Arthur, you can't do that when you're dead." Lancelot smiled sadly. Merlin frowned at his friend,

"There could have been another way," Merlin started but Lancelot patted his shoulder while shaking his head.

"You and I both know that's not true." Merlin smiled weakly at his friend.

"I'm sorry Lancelot," Merlin said. "You would have been an awesome knight."

"Don't be, Gwen's happy, Arthur's King and your alive. I don't need anything else," Lancelot said wrapping his arm around Merlin's shoulder. "But you, my friend, need to get back before Gaius starts to panic."

Merlin smiled and shook his head.

"I'll see you around" Lancelot said giving his friend one last smile before walking off into the trees. Suddenly the world around Merlin started to swirl and he felt the pain in his ribs again.

"Merlin?"

Here we go. Review please share the love!