A/N- Long time. I've missed you guys. But guess what? Here's another one!

Thanks to MerlinFan1996 for beta! You rock massively!

Benugan!

Gwaine stood up. "No! You are not going to hurt him!"

"Gwaine, listen to m-"

"No, I will not listen! You saw what he did! He saved us!"

"Gwaine-"

"You are not going to kill my best friend! He has done nothing wro-"

"GWAINE! SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME!"

The knight's jaw snapped close and Arthur sighed. "You really think me that heartless? I am not going to hurt him. I refuse to kill him. But don't you think he would feel a lot safer if he won't up to me without a weapon?" With that, the prince tossed the sword to the far wall of the cavern and came over. "Now are you going to let me see him?"

Mutely, Gwaine stepped aside. Arthur kneeled down and gently raised Merlin's head into his arms. "If you won't kill him… What are you going to do?"

"I'm taking him back to Gaius. He'll be healed, and he will remain my servant. But most importantly, Merlin will not die." Arthur carefully slid his other arm under his knees to support him before standing up and holding the warlock's battered body. "Go get the horses ready. We have to ride fast and hard."

Gwaine nodded and ran to do as bid.

The prince followed as fast as he dared, holding Merlin's child light body against his own protectively. "Hold on, Merlin," he said quietly. "Hold on."

PRATTARP

They rode quickly, Arthur holding Merlin's pale body in front of himself, an arm around his waist. The warlock's head lolled back on his chest.

Not once did they stop. The whole journey was spent moving. When Arthur and Gwaine spotted the castle, both nearly shouted in joy as they pushed their horses faster. Other than that, the rest of the trip was lost in a blur.

At the gate, the guards took one look at the trio, saw Merlin's blood soaking through his shirt, and one took off running. The other just watched anxiously as they passed, eyes not straying from the warlock's being.

As soon as they reached the courtyard, Gaius, Elyan, and Percival came forward. The two knights carefully brought Merlin down from Arthur's horse, holding him gently as the prince dismounted.

"What happened?" Gaius asked. Arthur shot him a look that just about screamed later. The physician got the message and didn't ask again, rather directing the knights to take the boy to his chambers. Arthur made to follow, but Gaius stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"What are you doing? Gaius, let me go with him."

"Sire, you're the king's son, remember. He is expecting a full report right away. Then you may come be with Merlin. And I'll be waiting for the full story." The prince nodded and turned away, sparing the warlock one last glance before heading off.

PRATTARP

"So you can see, Father, Merlin has once again saved my life."

Uther was sitting in his throne, impressed. "Your servant- the mentally afflicted one- saved you from a bear attack at the last second? Last I heard he was in Gaius' care for a stab wound."

"Yes, Father. He was. But you see, Merlin sensed that I was in danger and snuck out. It's very lucky that he has this… sixth sense for when I'm in trouble. Most of the time he is of no use, but before he has acted on the same sensitivity and saved me." Arthur prayed with all his might that Uther would be fool enough to fall for it.

"Very well. You are dismissed."

The prince breathed a sigh of relief and turned on his heel. The only thing running through his head was one thought.

You better be alright, Merlin.

PRATTARP

"Gaius? How is he?"

The physician turned away from his ward. "He is severely exhausted and has lost a lot of blood."

Arthur came over quickly and sat in the chair by Merlin's bedside. He didn't care if he was the prince, or that Merlin was a servant. He didn't care about procedure or protocol, or anything like that. All that mattered was that the warlock was injured.

"I've sent a letter to Merlin's mother, Hunith," Gaius said from the door. "I believe she would like to see her son again."

Those words almost sounded like the death sentence, the final verdict. The prince nodded, automatically blocking out the words. He couldn't hear anything like that, he wouldn't.

"And Arthur?" He looked away from the prone body for a second and locked eyes with Gaius. "Please. Understand." The prince's brow furrowed. What did he mean? Did he know he knew about the magic? …Or was it something else?

Either way, Arthur pretty much ignored him and went back to looking at his servant. He didn't turn back when he heard the door close behind the physician.

What had truly happened?

"Merlin," he said quietly. "I'm hurt and betrayed. You didn't tell me about your magic, you didn't trust me." He paused and took the warlock's hand in his grasp, a brotherly gesture. "But that's alright. I understand."

He sighed as he didn't even twitch.

Arthur continued talking.

IDIOTTOIDI

Merlin vaguely heard a voice float to him. He hurt, and didn't want to listen. He just wanted to stay in this blackness. Because he knew.

Arthur knew he had magic.

How could he face him now?

Images flashed in the darkness. Arthur beheading him himself. Being burned on the pyre. Led to the dungeons. Forced to be the prince's pet, on hands and knees like a dog, a collar around his neck. Many, many horrible scenarios went by. But when one passed, Merlin stopped it. He clung to it, holding it in place as a seed of hope grew in his chest.

Arthur was grasping in a hug, accepting him for what he was. A promise floated in the air, a promise to set him free when he was king.

Finally, Merlin listened.

"Merlin, I'm hurt and betrayed. You didn't tell me about your magic, you didn't trust me."

Merlin's heart sank and he prepared to slink back to the darkness. He knew that voice. It was Arthur.

A pause and a warm touch somewhere on his body. "But that's alright. I understand. You are the only one to really get me, really understand. My father is wrong, in more ways than one. A prince and a servant can be friends, I know now. You are my best friend, and I don't want to lose you."

Was he kidding? How could he understand, really truly understand? But nevertheless, the ice in his stomach slowly melted.

"And I also know one thing. You, Merlin, are not dangerous. You are not evil, never could be. I have seen your past; I know what you've been through. And I am sorry for everything I've done to make you reconsider trusting me."

By this point, the only thing Merlin could do was listen carefully, digesting each word.

"But most of all I know this. Not all magic is evil. It is the wielder, not the thing in itself. You have magic, but you are still the same old Merlin. Nothing could change that."

A pause.

"Merlin… I accept you for who you are. Now don't you dare go now, you idiot."

The warlock rejoiced and began his journey back to light of day.

IDIOTTOIDI

Merlin was tired. He had swam, tried to flee the darkness, but it seemed with every two steps forward he was forced three back. His head hurt, he was exhausted, and he didn't know if he could do it anymore.

Damn his destiny. He couldn't go on.

Merlin sank back into oblivion, welcoming its embrace.

PRATTARP

For three days Arthur stayed at Merlin's side, only leaving when absolutely necessary. Hunith arrived on the second day, taking the place at Merlin's other side. They shared a knowing gaze every once in a while.

Gaius wrung what had happened from the prince on the first night. From then he had proceeded to tell Arthur exactly what transpired once the warlock had come to Camelot, filling in the blanks Nimueh had left.

The king had long stopped trying to remove his son from the physician's chambers, resigning to worry about him secretly. He desperately hoped the servant would get better. Hopefully then Arthur would come back and become himself again.

Each day, Merlin's health decreased. Every knight, close to Merlin or not, eventually came. They each bid farewells, except for the ones closest to the boy. Each time Arthur closed his ears, refusing to think the raven haired young man was beyond hope.

On the night of the fourth day, Gaius came to Arthur. He had called Hunith out, and she had not been back in.

"Arthur," the physician said quietly. The prince looked up. "I have something to tell you."

The prince inclined his head for Gaius to continue.

"Merlin was struck with a blade in his abdomen. He then transported himself with magic when he was still weak. He then proceeded to not only set you and Gwaine free, but defeated both Mordred and Nimueh, some of the most powerful magic users."

What was Gaius saying?

"He battled against the strongest mind control technique other than the Fomorrah, and won. Now his health is deteriorating quickly, and it seems his will has faded."

Arthur stared at the physician. "Don't you dare say it, Gaius. Don't you dare."

He sighed. "I'm sorry. But it has taken too much out of him. Merlin will not last the night."

Arthur howled his pain and grief to the skies.

A/N- Oh no. *picks up large shield* DON'T HURT ME! *uses magic to enforce shield* *suddenly realizes self isn't cool enough to have magic and screams*

Guess what people? CLIFFIE! Oh gosh, I'm so mean!

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Have a wonderful life and a great time with this cliffie!

~L~