Buried

Words: 3,222
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Knights
Warnings: Mushiness, as usual.
Summary: While on patrol Arthur, Merlin and the knights investigate a mysterious cave. It does not go well.
A/N: I am so sorry for disappearing. Seriously. It was not intentional. I had numerous issues that kept me away that I won't bore you with, but please just know I really am sorry. I'm also very excited to be back! This story is just something I came up with to get back into the swing of things, and I'll go back to answering prompts next chapter. For everyone who wanted a story about someone from Merlin's past, it's already written. I just posted it as a separate story as it got too long. It's called Related by Blood, and will have a companion oneshot eventually. So, yeah. I think that's everything. Enjoy!

Seven men walked apprehensively down the mouth of the cave, their feet echoing against the dusty ground as it switched from forest dirt to cool, hard stone. Arthur knew his men had not been enthusiastic exploring the cavern, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere on their patrol, and possibly harboured a few reservations himself - but he blamed that on Merlin. If his manservant hadn't insisted on acting like such a girl and kept his mouth shut instead of harping on about how this hole in the wall just 'didn't feel right', he wouldn't have let his silly superstitions get to him. Neither, he would like to think, would his seasoned knights. Lancelot especially seemed upset by Merlin's warnings, and Arthur couldn't help but think he indulged the younger man too often. He shook his head and distinctly ignored the sudden shiver that ran through him. It was just a blasted cave.

Still, they had gone on this path many times before and never had any of them noticed it. It could be nothing, but it could be something. It really did seem perfect for any matter of creature to take refuge in. Or, perhaps, good for a sorcerer to hide out in. It was worth investigating at the very least.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as they traveled further into the cave, the light fading behind them as if the sun's rays were not quite brave enough to follow. It was deeper than he had expected and just ahead of them it curved slightly to the left. "Stay close," Arthur muttered and immediately his knights clustered closer together, leaving just enough space to move comfortably. Arthur noticed approvingly that Gwaine pulled Merlin, who had been drifting off to the side slightly, closer to him, and couldn't help but wish he'd told his servant to wait outside. If something did go wrong, he wouldn't have much chance to look out for his friend.

As a disciplined group they followed the corner in the path, and Arthur squinted at what appeared to be a light further away. So it was inhabited after all… Seeing no movement but not wanting to take any chances, Arthur turned to his men and signalled with his hands to keep their guard up. They continued forward silently, and Arthur could feel the air grow colder around him. Dramatically colder. Merlin hissed something and Arthur just had a moment to turn and glare at him before everything came crashing down around them. Literally.

With an almighty rumble the walls around them began to shake violently and the floor under their feet seemed to shift under them. Rocks began to fall from the ceiling where there had been nothing but smooth stone a moment ago, crashing down around the patrol. With surprised shouts and yells, the knights began to retreat back to the entrance, Arthur right behind them. He already felt a small surge of relief as Merlin fell into step behind him - it would be just like the idiot to freeze in shock or something.

His relief didn't last long; with the ceiling collapsing in on them in what had been a stable cave only moments ago, the entrance was suddenly looking much further away. He glanced to his right and Merlin returned the look with a grim expression. He could see it too. Red flickered across his vision as the knights' capes billowed about him in their rush to reach the outside world before it was too late. Arthur grabbed Merlin's arm and willed his legs to run faster as falling rubble began to fill the cave and close up the opening.

He was abruptly stopped by a massive boulder tumbling right where he'd been about to step and he jumped back in surprise before quickly dodging around it. Merlin's arm slipped from his grasp and quickly turning to see if he was keeping up, Arthur cursed.

Merlin had disappeared.

It was getting hard to see through the dust and debris as the cave continued to tremble , and Arthur thought he saw a flash of that blue neckerchief he'd always hated, but before he could run back towards his friend, an almighty gust of wind pushed him bodily back - all the way out of the cave.

With a hacking cough as his lungs tried to dislodge the dust that had settled there, Arthur quickly sat up to see the other knights had felt the same abnormal wind, all groaning and sprawled out around him. But…

He pushed himself to his feet, wincing at where he had landed against his armour at an odd angle, and turned in a full circle, his eyes roaming wildly for the one person that was missing. Unsuccessful, he looked back to the cave, now sealed off, and felt his heart drop to his feet.

Merlin groaned, a hand gingerly prodding the back of his head where he could already feel a lump forming. He took in a deep breath, only to immediately choke on the dust that lodged itself in his throat. Pushing himself up off the ground was a monumental task, and Merlin distantly felt rocks shifting around and off of him as he tried to get to his feet. A sharp jolt in his left leg and a yell of pain had him falling back and banging his shoulder against the sharp edge of a small boulder. Today truly was not his day.

The warlock had difficulty getting his bearings as he looked about, any rays of sun now completely blocked off by the cave in at the entrance. The only source of light came from further within the cave, providing barely enough to see. Despite this, Merlin breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a hasty attempt at a spell he had used in panic, but it had worked. He'd gotten Arthur and the knights out in time.

Squinting, he tried again to stand, this time going much slower. His leg ached and trembled with the weight put on it, and he knew he would not be able to stay upright for long. So, as quickly as he could, he stumbled clumsily over the rubble around him, making his way back into the bowels of the cave. The light had to be coming from somewhere. Perhaps there was another way out. Grimacing, he hauled himself up over a particularly obnoxious boulder and pushed himself further away from the entrance, from where his friends now safely stood.

It was very slow going. There was not much of the cave left, just boulders and dirt blocking Merlin's way. He had to sometimes twist or bend his body at awkward angles just to move forward. Add that to his injuries and it made for a painful endeavour. But he knew an explanation lay with that mysterious source of light. The cave had been perfectly sturdy when they had entered. Such extreme deterioration should have taken years, not mere seconds.

His leg was protesting loudly, and a throbbing headache caused Merlin to squint in the darkness. "If I'm not being knocked out I'm getting knocked down," he grumbled to himself, "if I'm not being tied up or possessed by a bloody snake I'm - " He gasped as his foot caught against a particularly stubborn rock and he fell forwards, barely managing to brace himself in time. With a groan he crawled forwards, pushing debris out of the way, and finally he reached the end of the cave.

The rock here was undisturbed by the cave-in, smooth as a pebble and curved slightly inwards, like a bowl. In the centre was wedged a large rock, about the size of Merlin's head. It was jagged and rough compared to the stone around it, but more importantly, it glowed. A dull yellow light was emitting from the strange gem. It pulsed as he stared. Merlin wondered how long it had been here.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, he turned and leaned against the wall, keeping a bit of distance between him and the centre. Rocks were shuffled as he stretched out his sore leg. He didn't think he'd broken it - if he had, it was a minor break. Still hurt like hell.

It was only when his eyes wandered, trying to ignore the exhaustion overwhelming him, when he saw it. Off in the other corner, now half buried, lay a long-decayed skeleton.

Arthur cursed as his hands again scraped the wrong way against the rocks in front of him. He could practically feel his gloves wearing down as he and the other knights worked, trying to dig through the entrance to the cave. If they could just dislodge enough to make an opening, they could get inside. More importantly, Merlin could get out.

That was assuming the entire cave hadn't collapsed.

Gritting his teeth, Arthur pulled harder against the medium-sized boulder in front of him.

"Merlin!" Lancelot yelled from his right. "Merlin, can you hear us?" No response. No change in the ten minutes they'd been trying to get to him. Arthur scolded the part of him that had already begun to lose hope and continued working against the unrelenting boulder.

"Come on, Merlin, we miss your wit!" That was Gwaine. The humour in his voice belied the fear in his eyes. "No one's called the princess fat in fifteen minutes!"

Percival groaned with exertion as he finally managed to dislodge a large rock near the top, but many more smaller ones immediately fell to take its place. Not a good sign.

"Merlin, if you can hear us…" Lancelot paused and closed his eyes as if steeling himself. "Do whatever you can to get out. Whatever it takes."

Merlin, in fact, could not hear them. He was too deep into the cave and, really, much too distracted by the fact he was sharing a small, enclosed space with human remains. Ignoring the shudder down his spine, he took a deep breath and dragged himself closer to the bones, hoping they held some kind of answer. They looked to be that of an adult, but otherwise Merlin could not glean any information. This was Gaius' forte. The warlock grimaced.

He really hoped he would be seeing Gaius again.

Looking closer and wrinkling his nose at the smell, Merlin noticed something in the ground by the skull. It appeared to be… writing. A message. In blood. Oh, that was comforting.

Let this hole be my home,

To others let it remain unknown.

Should any enter without me here,

See them buried for many years.

Arthur had been right; it was the hiding place of a sorcerer. Many months ago. He reread the final line of the frankly unoriginal spell and grimaced.

"Not this time, thank you very much," Merlin muttered to himself. With a tired huff, he forced himself back onto his feet to begin the trek back towards the entrance. There was no way out from this end.

A rumbling beneath his feet cut off his train of thought. An aftershock. Merlin pushed himself forward, stumbling over the rocks around him as more began to fall, forcing himself not to think of the growing pain in his leg. He heard a dreadful cracking sound and looked up to see numerous lines running through what was left of the ceiling. The cave would not be left standing much longer. He went as fast as he could but with the space around him getting smaller it was getting increasingly difficult to manoeuvre through. The cracking got louder just as Merlin glimpsed cracks of light at the end - small breaks in the blocked entrance - and his defiant yell was smothered by the remainder of the cave collapsing on top of him.

"I think we've got something here, lads!" Gwaine shouted triumphantly. Rocks had finally stopped falling where he was trying to dig through and he was working at the small hole he'd created, trying to get it bigger. "Merlin, mate, you there?!"

Elyan quickly crouched down beside him to help and the knights all renewed their efforts.

Of course, that was when the ground shook and a loud thundering was heard. Arthur knew what was going to happen moments before it did.

"No!"

What little they could see of inside was blocked off as the remnants of the cave collapsed, burying everything - everyone - within.

For one single moment, there was silence, The royal party was frozen in shock. Not a bird could be heard singing around them. No trees rustled in the breeze. Nothing moved.

Then Arthur stumbled backwards and Gwaine shouted in frustration. Elyan hung his head. Percival stared at the pile of immovable rocks as if still looking for a weak spot they could use.

Leon ran a hand through his hair before stepping back and resting it on Arthur's shoulder. "I'm so sorry," he murmured.

Lancelot, ignoring all of them, shook his head and crouched down, going back to trying to dislodge one of the heavier sections.

"Lancelot," Elyan tried to get his attention. His voice was quiet. "No one could have survived that."

"Merlin could have," Lancelot muttered. He didn't stop trying to move the rocks in front of him. After a beat of hesitation, Percival stepped back in to help.

Arthur watched this in silence, his mind blank. Feeling his legs were ready to give way, he fell unceremoniously to his knees. Not gods couldn't take Merlin. Not stupid, bumbling, annoying Merlin.

Not happy, loyal, superstitious Merlin.

They couldn't take him away. Not his best friend.

Darkness. Darkness and pain was what Merlin woke up to. They were the first things to register in his mind. He tried to suck in a deep breath but only coughed it back out as dust filled his lungs and his chest ached. His ribs were screaming at him, and if he'd thought his leg had hurt before…

It took a few minutes for the coughing to subside, and warily, he tried taking in a smaller breath. It still hurt, but he managed to inhale properly this time, and he tried deciding on his next step.

He was lying on his stomach, his nose pressed uncomfortably into the ground, but where he knew he should feel incredible weight on top of him from the ceiling collapse, there was nothing. Taking a moment to brace himself, Merlin slowly rolled onto his back, groaning loudly at the soreness he felt right down to his bones. After catching his breath, he conjured up his small ball of blue light with a few uttered words.

The warlock could see rocks above him, so large and dense, so many, that they blocked everything out like a well-woven blanket. But they remained about a metre above him, held in place by some invisible force. Reaching a hand up tentatively, his fingers brushed against the stone, and he felt something like a spark of energy at the touch. Despite all circumstances, he smiled softly.

Chalk one up to magical instincts.

Unfortunately, he knew this barrier would not last. He was fatigued, in pain, and his head was pounding worse than ever. He had to get out of here. He had to get back to Arthur and the knights. Somehow.

Rolling back onto his stomach, Merlin looked forwards, in the direction he hoped was the original entrance to the cave. He was completely sealed in by the barrier. To force his way out, he would have to break the side of it and push the cave remains out of his way. It was risky. But it was better than waiting where he was to die alone.

This was not how he was going to go.

Taking a steadying breath, Merlin focused on the rocks in front of him and his eyes glowed gold.

"Dammit!" Arthur swung his leg out to kick at one of the fallen rocks, his mind finally catching up with what had happened. He felt grief threatening to overwhelm him and immediately stamped down on it, suppressing it with rage. "Goddammit, Merlin!"

Lancelot and Percival didn't react, only continued to shift more rocks out of the way. Gwaine stooped to help.

"What are you doing?!" Arthur turned to them. "Elyan is right! He couldn't have survived that!"

Gwaine paused, and when he replied, he was more quiet and sombre than anyone had ever heard him. "Then we'll find his body. And give him a proper burial." Arthur stared. He flinched as a voice in his head pointed out that he was about as buried as he would ever be.

"Merlin's not dead," muttered Lancelot, grunting as he finally dislodged a particularly heavy piece. More rocks fell to replace it but it left a gap at the top. As they continued to work, the gap gradually got wider.

"How can you possibly know that?" asked Leon from behind them.

Lancelot was silent a moment before answering. "I just do."

Finally Elyan and Leon stepped in to help, but Arthur couldn't bring himself to. He couldn't face this. He didn't want to dig out the cave only to find the body of his friend in the rubble, unmoving. Not when he'd been the one to drag them all in there in the first place. He remembered Merlin's warnings and had the urge to scream. If he'd just listened…

Suddenly Percival froze, and held out a hand to stop the others. He leaned forwards, sticking his head right through the opening they'd begun to create. Arthur's blood ran cold at what he might have found.

"What is it?" Leon asked.

"Do you hear that?" was Percival's response. Everyone pricked up their ears, listening. After a moment, they heard it.

Coughing.

Lancelot grinned, shouting "what did I tell you?" before redoubling his efforts. The knights cheered and Arthur charged forwards, pushing past Percival to get a glimpe inside.

The cave was now just piles of rubble, but in the weak rays of the slowly sinking sun, he could see movement amongst the rocks, and the coughing was slowly getting louder.

"Merlin?!" he called, almost scared he was imagining things.

The coughing petered off and he heard a rasping "Ar - Arthur?"

With a shout, Arthur started digging at the opening, widening it to get to his friend.

When they had finally pulled the dusty manservant out from the wreckage, he squinted at the darkening sky and winced as Gwaine dragged him further away from the cave. Arthur immediately kneeled beside him, drinking every detail of the man he thought he might never see again.

"Bloody hell, Merlin, you gave us a fright," he managed to say.

Merlin only coughed in response before turning to his side and curling up, his arms going protectively over his ribs.

"We should get him back to Gaius," Lancelot pointed out, his hand resting against Merlin's mop of mussed hair. The knight was looking elated, and Arthur felt for sure they'd be hearing "I told you so" for days. That was okay though.

He'd never been happier to be proved wrong.