"Merlin?" Arthur asked as he crouched down next to him. As soon as the prince had come back over Robert had vacated the space at Merlin's side. Merlin looked up at Arthur, his eyes were dazed and he blinked like he couldn't focus too well. Arthur felt the first stirrings of dread start in the pit of his stomach, lying there like a rock.

"Arthur, what happened?"

"You were shot, Merlin, the arrow is still in your back."

"I thought it hurt a bit," Merlin commented with far too much calm for Arthur's liking.

"We'll need to take the arrow out, and get the wound cleaned, it would be good to let it bleed a little," Leon said. "That might wash out anything that's deep in the wound."

"Okay," Arthur said. Watching as Leon gripped onto the shaft, ready to haul it out.

"Wait!" Olwen's voice made them all jump. Even the knights tending to Gareth paused and turned to look. Arthur watched as Olwen came back with a quiver of arrows. He had one in his hand, examining the tip. Jogging over to the group he held it out for inspection.

"The tips are barbed, if you pull it out, you'll rip his flesh."

Leon took the arrow, glanced at it and then passed it to Arthur for examination. Arthur winced as he looked at the metal tip. Although they were small the barbs on the head were vicious looking, and would no doubt do more damage if the arrow was pulled out. But they couldn't leave it in there indefinitely.

Arthur pondered the situation for a moment, his eyes fixed on the arrow in his hand. Everyone else tried not to notice Arthur's other hand, which was gently running through Merlin's hair in a soothing gesture. Arthur's hand eventually paused, resting on the nape of Merlin's neck.

"We'll have to push it through and break the tip off before pulling the shaft out," Arthur said.

"If we just pull it out it might open the wound and clean it out," Leon said.

"But we could do more damage," Arthur said.

"Can I just say, I'm not keen on any of this conversation," Merlin announced.

"Shut up, Merlin," Arthur said. Merlin gave a weak huff of laughter, it turned into a moan of pain as Arthur pulled the material of his shirt, ripping it a little to look closer at the wound, as if that could give him any indication of which option was the best. The arrow was embedded deeply, just at the top of Merlin's shoulder blade and a little to the right. Arthur compared it with the arrow in his hand.

"Pushing it though would be simpler, Sire," Leon said. Arthur nodded.

"Do you have to?" Merlin asked, rolling his eyes up at Arthur, in a very good puppy dog expression. His eyes were dull with the pain, his face pale and waxy looking. Strands of hair were sticking to his forehead in damp patches.

"You can't go around with an arrow in your back, Merlin."

"It would be useful to hang things on," Merlin observed. Arthur had to laugh, but the sound was filled with tension. "Merlin, how much damage do we risk pushing it through, compared to pulling it out?"

"Less," Merlin said in resignation. Arthur nodded.

"Shall I?" Leon asked.

"No, I'll do it," Arthur said. He stood up and stepped over Merlin and knelt down, so he was at Merlin's back. Robert came back to kneel at Merlin's front, and Arthur looked at the arrow embedded in Merlin. Putting one hand on his shoulder Arthur took hold of the arrow.

"Wait," Olwen said again. Since he had been right the first time Arthur paused. Olwen pulled his gauntlet off, folding the leather glove over. "Give him something to bite on, they had to do this to my uncle once, he nearly bit his tongue in half."

"This is reassuring," Merlin said, sounding panicked.

"Merlin, just do it," Arthur said. Olwen offered Merlin the glove and he took it in his mouth, gripping it in his teeth. Arthur looked up and around at everyone. They all looked down at Merlin with serious expressions on their faces. As Arthur gripped the arrow again the knights surrounding Merlin put their hands on him to hold him still. Arthur closed his eyes, opened them and pushed hard.

There was a sickening grinding sound as he forced the arrow through Merlin's flesh. He convulsed a little, but the knights held him still, the only thing they didn't contain were his legs and Merlin flailed them frantically. He screamed through the leather glove, and his nostrils flared as he gasped for breath. Arthur had to use all the strength he had to fight the resistant he felt in Merlin's body, but he forced it through. The vicious tip of the arrow came out of Merlin's chest, just below his collarbone. Blood welled around the arrow head.

"Ow!" Merlin grunted through the gag.

"It's not over yet," Arthur said, reaching over he snapped the arrow head off. Merlin grunted again, breath heaving, and his legs kicked out again. Arthur wasted no time. He grabbed the shaft and yanked it out. Merlin screamed, kicked and his eyes rolled in his head. Most of them holding him thought he would pass out, but he didn't. Merlin hung on, gasping, chewing on the gauntlet, and kicking his legs. Blood surged through both puncture wounds and they let it flow for a few seconds before Robert and Olwen pressed down, applying pressure to the wounds.

Merlin snarled and huffed through the pain, and eventually he released Olwen's gauntlet and Arthur gently pulled it from his mouth. Merlin still didn't pass out.

Again the debate would rage, was Merlin brave or stupid.

Hours later…

"You can take Gareth, just get him back to Camelot," Arthur said.

They had moved camp, the bandits were dealt with but none of them wanted to stay on the killing ground. A small clearing at the edge of the road had been found where they could set up camp. Gareth had been easy to move, Merlin not so. Six knights had carefully carried him, but they couldn't do that all the way to Camelot.

Merlin had directed the dressing of Gareth's and his own wound. But there was only so much they could do. Arthur had never felt so helpless in his life. He couldn't stop what was happening to Merlin, but he wasn't sure if there was something Merlin could do, and was not doing, because there were other people around.

"We can't leave you, Sire," Robert said. A few of them also didn't want to leave Merlin. He was in a way one of them, he was always there when they fought, when they trained. He was the prince's man servant, he had enough status, and he had their respect. They all knew Arthur could be hard to deal with and it was always easier when Merlin was there, he didn't let Arthur get away with things.

"You can," Arthur said. "Get back to Camelot. The dawn is coming, there will be enough light for you to find the way. We can't move Merlin."

"Olwen has ridden as messenger, they will be here by tomorrow."

"I am ordering you to go," Arthur said. "Take Gareth, he is strong enough to ride if you take it slowly, and that does not waste time."

Leon blinked at the wording. Then he looked at Merlin. Sweat plastered his hair down on his head, his skin was pale. The wounds were fine, but they had punched through his body, he was in shock, he had lost blood. He did not look good at all.

"Sire?"

"I just want you to go," Arthur said.

Leon nodded. "Not yet, if they don't reach us by tomorrow afternoon then we'll go. That will give Gareth time to rest as well."

Arthur turned to look at Merlin. Robert was carefully wiping his face with a cool cloth.

"Fine," Arthur snapped, his voice tight.

A day later

No one had come by the afternoon, and Arthur sent them on their way. He would stay with Merlin. Merlin could not be moved, it was foolish to even try. They couldn't cool him down, they could do nothing more to the wounds, and Arthur watched now, as Merlin coughed. Blood started to appear at the corners of his mouth. Arthur built the fire up and sat by Merlin.

"Merlin? Merlin, listen to me. Can you do something now? Can you heal yourself or something?"

Merlin's head moved from side to side.

"Don't know how."

"What is the point Merlin? If you have power, why don't you use it?"

"To keep you alive," Merlin murmured.

"That's not going to be too good to me if you end up dead now! Merlin, is there anything you can do?"

Arthur gritted his teeth as Merlin's head moved from side to side. Then he murmured something.

"What?"

He murmured again.

Arthur still didn't hear. He put his ear next to Merlin's mouth.

"What are you saying?"

"Kilgharrah."