Sorry it took awhile. I have to wait for some kind of creative juices before I can write. As promised, here are our comments for last chapter.

Shawn1968- You are very right, but I saw it similarly to how people in their thirties still look at eighteen year olds as children. Especially if you just found out someone was quite younger than you and they had been in danger so much.

parimalik- Thank you! Sorry that I'm just getting to this for you! Hope you like the new chapter.

MamzelleHermy- Thank you! But what is it exactly that you don't like with the first two chapters? Or do you just like these two more? Message me and let me know, I love the feedback.

I don't own Merlin or any of it's characters.

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Merlin stuck closed to Lancelot for most of the following days. He was still weak, so most of his chores were given to someone else. But now he was standing in the middle of the training field holding a shield. All the while a very angry king swung the sword at him.

"Protect yourself!" Arthur yelled swinging the sword at the shield once more. "You aren't a weak servant and you know it!" He shouted.

The knights stood around around the ring, ranging from anger to worry. Leon was holding Gwaine back, the angry knight fighting to get free. Elyan was holding Lancelot, but it wasn't anger driving this knight it was fear. Arthur knew his knights were anxious, and in the back of his mind, he wished one of them would stop him.

The king couldn't explain why he was so angry at the young man in front of him. His mind was racing back as he tried to remember. Merlin had been carrying the kings armor down the stairs when he ran into Arthur. When the armor hit the floor Merlin flinched back and covered his face.

Arthur had stepped forward to comfort his friend, but Merlin threw himself backward when the king touched him. All Arthur could see was red. Now they stood out in the heat, The king swinging away at the servent.

Merlin was sweating profusely, he knew what the king wanted, but he couldn't even get his magic to come to the surface. He was breathing heavily as he tried to keep up with Arthur's blows. His pleadings to stop had long since passed.

Merlin's world spun and he stumbled forward falling to his knees. He was coughing hard his shoulders shaking. Arthur glared down at him and put the sword to his throat. "Stand up." He growled.

Merlin forced himself to his feet and looked at him "Sorry sire." he choked. He picked the shield back up and braced himself for more blows. But just as Arthur swung, his grip loosened and he turned away slightly.

Gwen was running up to the ring eyes wide with worry. She had been yelling for Arthur and Merlin begging them to stop. But she realized her mistakes when Merlin turned and her husband brought the sword down.

Everything was almost in slow motion as the people around started moving. Merlin let out a loud pained scream, and Arthur froze stunned. Lancelot raced forward and to his friends side. Gwaine however lunged at Arthur.

The two hit the ground and Gwaine started swinging "You bastard!" He yelled. It took the king a moment to realize whetr he was now. He shoved his knight off and rushed toward Merlin.

Merlin was lying on his stomach breathing quickly, blood was soaking his tunic and leaking onto the ground. Lancelot rilling his own tunic to keep pressure on the wound while he yelled for someone to get Gaius.

Arthur reached his hands out only for them to be shoved away. He glanced at Lancelot before looking back to Merlin. "Merlin I... I'm sorry I didn't mean to... What have I done." He whispered. He forced Lancelot's hands aside and put pressure on the wound himself.

"Somebody better tell me what happened." Gaius said as he rushed into the field. The old man knelt beside the boy. "Anyone?" He asked raising a brow. Everyone shifted back except Merlin and Arthur.

Lancelot quickly filled in what he knew, glancing between the physician and the boy. Gaius pressed his lips into a line and nodded. "Come now Lancelot, we must quickly get him to my chambers." He said without so much as a glance at the king.

Arthur was quick to his feet when Merlin was scooped into the knights arms. "He'll be alright...?" He asked shakily as he walked toward the people who would care for his young friend.

"Yes sire." Gaius said stiffly as they walked away "As long as we avoid infection Merlin will be fine. Just another scar to add to his collection."

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Hey! So I know this was a shorter chapter, but I'm sick and decided to spend my time writing. I hope you enjoyed it.