So new chapter everyone!
I would like to thank Lbunny for prompt:

Can you do one where Merlin is trying to hide that he's gravely injured and Gwaine or Percival notice that something is up so they mention it to Arthur and he gets all upset and then Merlin faints?
So here it is! hope you like it!

Merlin POV:

"Arthur!" I shout as the bandits come flooding out from the shadows the trees cast on the darkening forest, the sun was lowering sinking out of site, the light of day dimming into darkness creating the perfect opportunity for a ambush. The knight were exhausted, a long day of hunting draining their energy, making them less aware of their surroundings, but as soon as threat was near, adrenaline pumped through their blood waking their tiered bodies.
The clashing sounds of swords on swords echoed through the quiet forest, the birds singing long gone replaced by the battle cries of both Knights and Bandits.
Crimson blood already stained the forest floor, seeping from its owners bodies, draining them of life, their eyes never to open again.

I quickly kneel by a knight known as Sir Bedwyr, who was one of Arthur's most trusted knights (except for Gwaine, Percival, Leon and Elyan of course). He was laying unconscious a arrow in his leg, his face pale as blood leaked from his body.
I look up quickly checking no bandit was near and their were no knights looking in my direction, before I swiftly remove the arrow from were it had nestled into tender flesh, and pressing my hands firmly to the bleeding wound, before whispering under my breath a healing spell.
Although I was not the best healer, the wound stopped seeping blood, and the river of blood dried up, as if it were a stream in the dessert, drained of all liquid.
The wounds now healing I dragged the heavier man to safety behind a fallen tree.
I emerge from the hiding place, stalking back to the battle field and dragging the injured away from danger, checking them for fatal wounds, healing them as well as I could, hiding them and repeating the process again.
By the time the battle had only 10 bandits left I had dragged away 6 Camelotian men from the bloody battlefield.

I look around once more and spot a man in need of help, Gwaine to be precise. He was fighting off another bandit, defeating the man quickly before he clutched his arm his face paler than usual, but not all color had gone from his tanned face.
I start to jog to him as he starts to fight off yet another bandit with his weak arm, struggling to maneuver his wounded body.
I was planning on helping him when a large man stepped in my way.
His face was scarred, his eyes malicious, greasy long hair covered his left eye, his body was wide and bulky, twice the size of my smaller frame. But there was one thing, I had the advantage of height.
I did not have time to comprehend what was happening before I felt the brunt of the mans powerful fist and I collapse to my knees at the brute force, the air knocked out of my lungs making it hard to breath. But I had no time to catch my breath as the next fist hit me for the second time and my neck snaps to the side, blood already bleeding from my slit lip. I leap (rather gracefully if I do say so myself), onto my feet, but the next punch was followed by another three to my ribs before I could even take a swing at the man.
My fist connect with the hard bone of his jaw, and I nearly laugh out loud. If only Arthur can see me now! I think but a successful kick smacked into my already fragile ribs, making two of them break as they gave way to the thugs huge feet. I felt punch after punch hit me in the abdomen, making me moan in pain, more than a couple of my ribs surely broken, my stomach tender and bruised as I attempted to fight back, but he was too strong for my weak body.
And the next thing I knew I was slammed into a tree, my head making a cracking noise as it hits hard wood, blood dribbling out of the wound. I open my eyes the world around me was spinning so I quickly close them again.
When no more attacks came, no punches or kicks I open my blue eyes, and only a mere 3 meters away, the owner of the punches and the kicks was being cut down by a angry looking Percival. Never had I seen him so enraged.
My eyes blur slightly as I watch Gwaine take down the last ruffian, pain was shooting through my head as my hands reach up to the back of my skull, returning with blood on them, they trembled as I struggle to breathe my lungs burning, my ribs on fire.
I whisper the healing spell under my breath, closing my eyes to hide the golden color of my eyes, but it only slowed down the blood that ran down my head a fraction, as my tiered body refused the use of too much magic.
I meet Gwaine's brown eyes gasping his name as I staggered forwards loosing my balance.
"MERLIN!" He shouts taking off on a run in a bid to catch me but two strong arms had already wrapped themselves around my falling body, making me gasp in pain as their arm grabbed around my stomach, making my body burn even more.
"Oh sorry" Percival's voice announces as he steadies me and I control my shaking legs, making them stand, not wanting to show any weakness.
"Oh my...Merlin you are not okay mate" Gwaine exclaims and I chuckle hiding the fact that my body was burning in pain, trying to act as my normal self.
"I'm fine, just some bumps and bruises. I think he is worse off than I" I say pointing to my attacker whose eyes stare up into the sky, now empty of life.
Knowing I could not leave him like that I kneel next to him, fingers bringing down his eyelids.
I then stand, grimacing silently at the pain before walking to where I had left the injured Knights, telling the others were I had taken them, still hiding the fact that I was in pain.
The un-injured knights rushed to their fallen comrades, taking them back to where Arthur, Leon and Elyan had built a fire, far enough away from the dead bandits that scattered the floor a few meters away.
"Merlin! Help Gwaine and Percy and collect some fire wood, enough to last the night" Arthur commands as soon as I made my way to his side, and I nod in reply following Gwaine and Percival deeper into the forest, my body burning more the further I walked, as if a large fire was licking at my tender flesh, orange flames engulfing anything in its path
I hear Gwaine distantly bicker playfully with Percival, but my concentration was far away, as my legs had started to quake, my vision blurry, and the world around me was just a blur. The two knights voices were getting quieter and quieter as if they were a bird flying away, its singing becoming distant as there deep voices were.
"Right Merlin?" I hear Gwaine say but it still was only a quiet murmur.
"Merlin?...Percy I think we should get him back to camp" His voice says again and I hear Percival grunt in reply, and before I could protest, strong arms were leading me to camp.
I did not try to struggle my vision was dangerously blurry and I could only make out blurred outlines of objects. Then the fuzzy image of the fire came into view, the sound of 15 knights making my head ache in protest. Too loud. I think but then Arthur's loud, booming voice made it 10 times worse.
"Your back quickly!"He announces loudly, sending pain shooting through my brain and I swear a whimper sound came from my mouth.
"Merlin?" His voice questions, in a more quiet and gentle tone than before, but yet my brain ached further at if any sound was torturous, making my vision blur further as I stubble.
"Bandit...huge...beating him up...I think...is seriously hurt"
"WHAT!...MERLI...WHY DID...NOT SAY ANYTHING...Mer..in?" I hear the jumbled conversation shared between Gwaine and Arthur, but my brain was too far away from them, only catching snippets of their words, as my eyes start to flutter closed, feeling heavy as if weights were hanging off my eyes lashes bringing my lids to close.
I feel a sudden pain in my cheek but nothing would have brought me from the path of oblivion I was following, not the distant shouts of distress, nothing, the only thing I knew was pain, and the darkness was offering painless slumber, so I let myself slip into unconsciousness.

Arthur Pov:

I watch as Merlin sleeps, his face more youthful in slumber, guilt gnawing at me.
How I not notice he was in pain? I question myself, after all I was supposed to be his best friend, an older brother even, but I was to absorbed in my own little world I had not noticed his pale, bruised face, the tears thet glistened in his blue eyes and the way his shoulders were slumped tiredly and he clutched his ribs.
"Sire, you should sleep too, it has been a long day" Leon tells me startling me out of my thoughts.
"I will, but first how are the other men?" I ask
"Fit and well. They are sleeping but otherwise all is fine. It is a miracle none of the knights died from their injuries " He comments
"Indeed..." I say adding "goodnight Leon" before I settled down in my blankets close to Merlin, making sure I was close to the younger man if any danger came lurking our way. I hear two sets of footsteps nearing where we were laying, and I raise my head and spot Gwaine and Percival setting down their own beds, Gwaine on the other side of Merlin while Percival settled down at his feet, creating a protective barrier around the manservant who had became all of our little brother.
I also notice that Elyan and Leon had settled themselves not far from us, Sir Bedwyr also close to Merlin.
It was at this realization I knew no harm would come to Merlin, at least when we were around, not when every one of us breathed, it would be over our dead bodies that he would become injured again. Merlin was the light of the band of brothers that seemed to have formed over the years, and without him darkness would take his place, although I would never admit it Merlin was the best brother I could have wished for, without him I would be nothing, I would not have my brothers in arms, I would never had spoke to Guinevere, never had become the king I was and I would have been dead many times over.
"Goodnight Princess, Percy" Gwaine mumbles his eyes closing.
"Goodnight" I reply and soon I fell into slumber, sleeping peacefully, the knowledge that my brothers were near comforting, but most of all knowing Merlin would always be their made my heart swell with love, not the love I shared with Guinevere, but a brotherly bond which never could be broken.

So guys chapter 5!
Hope u have enjoyed! Remember to leave Ideas!
Later Taters.
-Leggomygreggo2 x