AN: First thank you for all the reviews so far, second I have to apologize for my misspelling of Caerleon and Nemeth in the last chapter which I have now corrected. I must apologize over and over about my spelling and grammar as I am still editing my own work. I decided to go ahead and add this chapter even though I was going to wait, since the next few chapters will be posted a week or so apart from each other. Please review and enjoy!

As stated before I do NOT own Merlin, and I don't like to be redundant, this will be the last time I address it.

"Your songs remind me of swimming
Which I forgot when I started to sink
Dragged further away from the shore
And deeper into the drink"

-Swimming by Florence + The Machine

Chapter 2

"Arthur..."

He opened his eyes and saw the trees blanketing him from the sunshine, he laid there with the buzzing in his ear, felt his limps burn like fire even though he was perfectly still. He thought he'd heard Guinevere's voice calling him, closing his eyes trying to listen for it again.

"Arthur..." she whispered softly sitting on their bed, her long curls free and spilling over one shoulder, skin glowing from the break of dawn, as she looked at him with those eyes that begged him to stay at her side. She knew as well he that he had to leave soon. It was just before dawn that he awakened. He'd watched her sleep beside him for a long while. She was the epitome of beauty in his eyes, to him there would be no one lovelier than his Guinevere. His. Pushing back a stray curl, he listened to her breathing, as he traced her brows gently with his finger. Never was anything as precious to him as this small woman who he once kissed in her humble home and instantly lost his heart to.

He got out of bed and stood by the fire that was slowly dying out, he stroked it and watched the flames spark back to life again. He always felt a little empty when he was leaving her. She'd voiced her concerns, she'd asked him to reconsider, but this was something that had to be done for the unification of Albion, he needed to make peace with Odin. Sometimes he wished that he didn't have all the burden that came with being King, that he had not asked her to join him in carrying this burden. He knew what he was asking of her, he knew how her heart stopped every time he rode away as did his. His thoughts broke when she said his name softly. Turning to find her just as alluring if not more now than when they were just young lovers. "Good morning, my queen." He smiled.

"Good morning husband." She said, he always liked it when she affectionately called him husband. He moved towards her then, standing by the side of the bed, cupping her cheek in his hand, he lowered his lips to hers. "Arthur..."

"Live for you I shall, my Guinevere..." he whispered before claiming her lips once more for she gave him the will to live, her lips was the breath of life.

When he opened his eyes, he could feel the moisture spilling down the sides of his eyes, he wept, because he'd promised her that he'd return to her and now in this moment, he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep that promise, and even though he knew not what awaited him in the after life, a life without Guinevere was not something he was ready to live, not again, not ever.

"Merlin?" he called his throat sore, turning his head to each side slowly for the pounding made him dizzy. He had to fight, he had to live. He made a promise and he had to keep it. Closing his eyes from the flashing behind them, he listened for any sound that might lead him to know if he was indeed lying alone at the edge of death. But all he felt was the blackness that threaten to consume him, he fought to stay awake, to move, but all he could do was slip into the black nothingness where he heard her voice.

"My King..." she whispered brushing back the golden locks and tracing his brows as he dozed in his chair, his desk littered with treaties, and proclamation that needed his attention. Her cool fingers comforting, he opened his eyes and looked at her. She was wearing her ivory night gown making her skin even more earthy, her hair was braided to one side as she smiled at him.

"Did I drift of?" he asked taking her hand into his and smiling at her, she gave him a knowing smirk. How he loved her expressions. Placing a kiss to her palm, he felt the pulse of her life around his fingers.

"Yes you did, but I think it's time you came to bed," taking her hand back and moving towards the bed.

He sat back and smiled lazily at her, watching her, "is that an invitation, my queen?"

"Well I suppose you'll have to join me and find out, won't you?" she said standing in front of their bed.

Their bed, how hard they fought to have these moments without being questioned, or having to hide. There was no worry of getting caught for he was king and she his queen. What a lovely creature she was, how she made his heart race and blood hot with need. He stood and approached her slowly, when he finally reached her his hands falling to her small waist, "I shall join you for as long as you shall have me, Guinevere..."

"Good..." she whispered as she tipped her head to meet his lips. "Then you must stay awake..."

"What?"

"Stay awake Arthur..."

"Arthur!"

"Arthur!" his eyes snapped open at that moment, as if some invisible spark flew through him, he was sure he heard a voice calling him. "Arthur!" he could hear again, Merlin's frantic voice coming towards him. He laid there then and looked up at the blue sky which greeted him and the sun that fell in spot through the curtain of leaves, providing displaced warmth about him, he smiled. He wouldn't break his oath, at least not without a fight. And definitely not today.

"Merlin," his voice broke from the dryness that resided there. But his voice fought as did the rest of his body as he finally willed it to move. Turning to his side, he saw Merlin approaching him. Those ridiculous socks and boots a welcomed sight.

Merlin raced towards Arthur, even though his own body ached, face covered with dirt, sweat and blood. Falling to his knees when he reached him, his eyes glittering with tears that he so often shed at this man's expense. He smiled though because what else can you do really but smile at the small things that eventually led to great victories. "What took you so long?" Arthur asked laying back on his back, but the smile on his lips made Merlin's tears fall even more.

"Sorry I got lost." He answered looking down at the blond man, his king, his friend, his brother. His eyes scanned the young king's body, and saw the blood that stained his chain mail. Watched as the blue eyes glazed over, he was hurt bad, and all he had at his disposal was his magic. Magic which was so taboo that it might one day cost him his friendship along with his life. "Arthur?"

"You know Merlin, I feel so tired today. I think a lie in will be good for me." Arthur whispered, suddenly knowing that Merlin made him realize he didn't have to fight so hard. He'd known that as long as Merlin was alive and able, he'd make sure that he saw his Guinevere again. That his life wouldn't end today in a uneven battle field. He closed his eyes for a moment, the darkness a welcoming calm finally, before he looked at his young man servant, his friend. "Dry those tears Merlin, lets go home, Guinevere is waiting." With that his eyes closed form weariness.

"Yea, she is." He found himself saying even though he knew once Arthur came to again he will realize that maybe Gwen wouldn't be waiting for them, that Camelot would have to be fought for again, and maybe this time he will have the power to do what he didn't all those years ago, kill Morgana once and for all. There were times that he felt as if he was the root cause of all the pain that now seem to follow Arthur, Gwen, and those around them, for if he had heed Kilgharrah's warning he could've saved them all a lot of heartache.

The burden which he carried on his shoulders some days weighed him down, and he felt as if he was buckling under the pressure, at least his heart was. Lifting his hand over the unconscious Arthur, he whispered the enchantment to heal his wounds. Couple of broken ribs, a sword gash through his side, a displaced shoulder all remedied with blue eyes glimmering golden with some supernatural energy activated by a few words and sheer will. He remembered the days when he struggled with such incantations, but now it as simple as a stroll about the lower town.

He worked on getting a fire started as his mind went to Camelot. What would be there to greet them this time? He wondered if they had enough time to escape for he knew very well that they were out numbered. Camelot graciously offered King Lot a larger division of it's army in order to regain balance after Cenred's death and Helios short rule left the lands open to bandits and mercenaries. To gain back alliance with Essetir and to have a friend in King Lot, Arthur agreed without hesitation. But it was now that Merlin realized that Morgana had planned this all along to leave Camelot bare, and those mercenaries once worked for Helios and plagued Cenred's lands were now causing destruction to Camelot again.

How little people thought of each other, how easily they were manipulated and coarse by greed. He admired Arthur for being able to carry the weight of ruling a kingdom, the politics and of course the destiny he knew nothing about. Merlin chuckled to himself then as he looked into the flames, they say ignorance is bliss but so far that has not proven to be true for Arthur or himself. For Arthur thought his man servant was ignorant yet still 'dragged' him everywhere so Merlin was forced to be enlightened, and Arthur had no idea of the great destiny he's been given but still comes close to death on a daily basis trying to fulfill said destiny. And now Gwen was involved.

Folding his arms over his knees and slowly placing his chin there he felt the heaviness settle in his bones. Gwen his very first friend, his closest and most cherished friend now the queen of Camelot. He had been overjoyed the day of her coronation, but all too soon he realized that Gwen's love for Arthur would also be her down fall many times over. Merlin could not blind himself to the fact that more than her heart would be broken over and over again, and he wondered how many times she could bounce back from it all. He had pledged to her, to Arthur, and to himself that he'd protect them with his life. When he was just a boy it all seemed glamourous to be entrusted with such a great a task but as years wear on he was beginning to think he had no right to promise such things even if he is to be the greatest wizard that ever lived, he couldn't bring back the dead.

TBC

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