Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, I'm merely playing with them for my own entertainment. :P

A/N: Hi everyone! Hope you've all had a good week and enjoying the fact it's a Friday and MERLIN TOMORROW! :D This one hasn't taken as long to edit as I thought it would as this chapter's a tad shorter than the previous ones- so I hope the fact it only took me a couple of days to update makes up for that! :P

Keepsake

Chapter 4

Arthur moaned as he came round, his eyes fluttering open as he saw a canopy of trees above him; dark, thick clouds pregnant with rain above them. The bruised face of a boy came into view- he had dark hair, ears that stuck out a little and perfectly carved cheek bones. He had friendly, concerned vivid blue eyes.

There was something oddly familiar about him; like passing the same person twice in the street days apart.

"Arthur? Arthur? Can you hear me?"

He didn't recognise the name, but he appeared to be looking at him; he replied with as much confidence as he could muster, "Yes?"

The boy's shoulders sagged with relief, his hand rubbing across his face as he helped prop him up against the tree, a pile of armour a few feet away from him, which he presumed was his own, "How are you feeling?" he asked.

Arthur eyed the boy curiously; his wounds looked a lot worse than his own, "My wrists are sore, and one side of my face hurts a bit. . . but apart from that. . . Are you ok?

"The worst of the wounds I've basically healed myself, although it has its risks; I seem to be fine. I've washed and bandaged up one of your forearms a little, nothing too serious." Merlin looked around suddenly, his voice hushed, "Arthur about what I did in the cave. . . "

"What did you do?"

Merlin met Arthur's gaze, his eyes glinting with shame; he looked like he was about to flinch at any moment, "About. . .you know? I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. . ."

"I didn't see anything. . ."

Merlin looked surprised, then slightly relieved, "Oh ok. . .don't worry about it then."

The prince furrowed his brow at the other man's expression as he moved away, relief and. . . guilt?

Arthur remained silent, and watched him potter around the small clearing, gathering together whatever edible things he could find, "How long have I been out?" the blonde asked.

"Not long, about half an hour."

Merlin walked back over to Arthur with a few handfuls of berries and nuts, the prince smiling kindly at the gangly boy, "Thank you."

The boy smiled in return and turned away, continuing his look for food, "You never say thank you, Arthur, even to me- I'm starting to think that blow to your head was a good thing!"

Arthur tried to laugh it off, but it came out rather half hearted, "Well, you've patched me up rather well."

"I do do my best," the boy grinned, "Gaius would have something to say about my skills as a physician no doubt. No, no Merlin, not like that!" he mimicked.

Merlin, well that's his name.

"I'm sorry to say this to you Arthur, but we need to get moving," Merlin continued, making his way towards the pile of armour and starting to collect it up, "We're about a mile away from what I believe is the battle ground-"

"Battle ground?" Arthur interrupted, eyes wide open.

"Yes Arthur, all your men will be-"

Merlin stopped midsentence, slowly turning around.

It was the jet-haired boy's turn to look shocked; Arthur could see the thought like a penny dropping in his head. His mouth was half open, the unfinished sentence hanging in the air. The panic on Merlin's face unnerved him.

"Arthur, do you know who I am?" he questioned tentatively, his body frozen as he stared at the blonde slouched against the tree.

"Of course. . .you're Merlin." Arthur answered with as much conviction as he could.

Merlin steadily walked towards Arthur, eyeing him with worry, "Ok, and how am I related to you?"

"You're. . . my cousin." the flaxen haired boy shrugged, as if it were well known.

Merlin looked at him as if he were the most horrendous thing on the earth, dropping the armour he was holding, suddenly screwing his eyes shut, clenching his hair in between his fists, "No, no, no, no. . . I thought I got to you in time. . ." he said to himself.

"What's happened?" the prince asked uncertainly, blushing, a feeling of absolute awkwardness, loneliness and vulnerability washing over him.

"You've had your memory wiped; why didn't you say anything when you woke up?" Merlin asked, his eyes panicked.

"I thought I might remember something. . . that maybe it was temporary." Arthur replied quietly.

Merlin hid his face in his hands, moaning loudly as he paced around; the prince looking on helplessly from the sidelines.

"This is all my fault, this is all my fault. . . I should've done something sooner. . ." the younger boy cried out to himself.

"There was nothing you could do." Arthur said, not knowing if his words had any truth behind them or not.

Merlin smiled a little at the kindness, however untrue it was. His expression suddenly changed again- unbridled excitement- like his entire being had been struck by an empowering bolt of lightening.

"Arthur! Look in your right boot quickly!" the boy cried, kneeling by his side and prying it off his foot before he even had time to react, looking on in confusion as the boy rifled around inside it.

Merlin set the boot down on the grass, his face back to one of utter hopelessness, "It's not here. I don't understand."

"What's not there?"

The dark haired boy turned to face him, the heartbreak in his eyes he reckoned would be able to break even the hardest of hearts, "My neckerchief."

"Why on earth would your neckerchief be in my boot?"

The elevated, slightly accusatory tone made Merlin smile to himself for a split second; he sounded like the old Arthur. The smile soon vanished though, "If we had it, it would've helped you remember! Can you remember where you put it?"

Arthur raised his eyebrows, tilting his head and gesturing wildly with his hands to their general predicament.

"Of course." Merlin said, rolling his eyes at his own question.

They both sat there pensively for a few moments, followed by Merlin moaning into his hands. The situation was hopeless.

The manservant spoke out loud to himself, "I cannot hear the sounds of war. . . yet it must be starting soon. Sir Leon and the knights must be going crazy wondering where we've gone."

He turned to the prince, "I cannot take you into battle, let alone lead an army; you don't even know what you're fighting for-"

"We have to go."

A hearbeat of a pause, "What?"

"Whatever I'm part of; whatever I represent is obviously important."

"It is. . . but you can't-"

"Yes I can. We should go now." Arthur said, starting to stand up, and pulling his armour towards him. Merlin was incredulous; even with his memory wiped, he was still fiercely loyal to Camelot.

"Wait!" Merlin called, Arthur froze, his eyes like a hawk as the dark haired boy walked in front of him.

Merlin held onto Arthur's shoulders firmly, forcing him to look into his eyes, sky met sea; they were the infinite horizon.

"You are Prince Arthur Pendragon of Camelot; you are brave, kind and loyal, and I am and always will be your manservant Merlin. We trust each other, and even though you wouldn't admit it; we're best friends. Right now, you must listen to me and do exactly as I tell you."

A/N: This chapter's a bit of a mid point really between the battle and well. . . finding out what exactly happened to Arthur so sorry it's a bit shorter than the rest! I hope to have the next chapter out by early next week. Please review!