Arthur helped Merlin walk up the side of the trench, his legs still stiff. By the time they reached the flat field at the edge of the forest the other knights had gathered there, no doubt they had noticed Arthur's prolonged absence. Their jaws dropped when they saw Merlin, giving Arthur a thankful nod and pushing off only stumbling slight as he supposed his own weight fully. Gwaine was the first one to speak, rather, yell.

"Mate!" He cried hugging the prince briefly

"Where have you been?" Leon grinned

"You're still wearing the same clothes" Percival noted quietly, "The rips are even in the same place, but, no wounds..."

"I was saved, by the druids" Merlin supplied, "They put me under this spell, so I healed but I was in this deep sleep until Arthur found me. To me it was only a few hours ago we were fighting Morgana's army"

It wasn't completely a lie.

"We will need to figure something out to tell father though" Merlin continued, not noting everybody stiffen, "I don't want him to go and hunt the druids down or anything, their magic saved me and all..."

"Um, I don't think you should worry about it" Lancelot muttered, Merlin took in everybody's faces, he paled.

"He's not..."

"He's alive" Arthur supplied, "Well, he doesn't do much anymore but, he is alive"

"His mind had been fragile ever since Morgana's betrayal" Leon pointed out, "Everybody saw it"

"We think you, death, broke him" Elyan said finally, "He just sits there all day, barely eats or talks"

A huge wave of guilt crashed over the youngest prince, he felt awful, even worse than the time he poisoned Morgana. He'd broken his father. Him! It was all his fault, if only he hadn't stayed in that tomb, logically he knew there was no way he could of gotten out but still, it was his fault. He felt Arthur put a hand on his shoulder, he gave his brother small smile.

"Come on let's go home"

...

Getting through the town had been almost impossible, people screamed in shock and joy when they saw Merlin. He shook so many hands he thought his fingers might fall off, of course Gwen was so happy to see him she practically bowled him over with a hug. She was saying something Merlin couldn't make out, she had buried her face in his neck and was sobbing terribly. It made him feel even worse.

When Gaius first laid eyes on him as he entered the courtyard the prince was afraid he'd have a heart attack, he went so white.

"Merlin! How-?"

"I'll explain later Gaius" He smiled embracing the man who was a second father to him. To the warlock, he had been gone mere hours yet some some reason with every face he met he realized he'd missed them. He also feared going to see his father, he hoped his condition had been exaggerated, though he knew Arthur would never do such a thing. He hoped. God he hoped.

"Can, I go and see father now?" He asked quietly, it was barely above a whisper yet it sent the crowed into silence. Arthur nodded.

"Did I really hurt him so terribly?" Merlin asked as they made their way through the halls.

"No, it wasn't you Merlin" Arthur sighed, "It was too much for him, Morgana's betrayal so when...when we thought you were dead...it broke his heart"

The rest of the walk was in silence until they reached their fathers chamber. Slowly, Arthur opened the door, the room was dark and smelt musty. Taking a deep breath Merlin walked in.

"I'll be outside if you need me" Arthur whispered before closing the door.

Uther was sitting in a wooden chair facing the only uncovered window in the room. Merlin stood in shock, this couldn't be his father it was, wrong. Uther's hair had grown longer, but it was grey-white and thinning, his eyes were wide and staring but all the sharpness and wit was drained leaving them empty. He had a large amount of rough stubble on his chin and deep bags under his eyes, all the muscle had withered away, leaving his clothes practically hanging off his thin frame. Merlin bit his lip, He'd done this.

"Father?" He called gently, Uther didn't respond.

Swallowing, Merlin made his way over, carefully moving the second chair closer to the king so it was almost in front of him and sitting down. Uther blinked, looking confused, like he couldn't recognize the face in front of him.

"Merlin?" His voice was barely above a whisper

"Yes, it's me" Merlin replied warmly placing a hand over Uther's.

"So, I've died then...must of" Uther murmured

"No you haven't" Merlin insisted, "You're alive, we both are"

"No, that's not...right"

"It's true I promise" Merlin implored, "I'm so sorry it took me so long to come back"

"How?" Uther whispered grasping Merlin's hand weakly, "How can yu be here?"

"The river swept me far" Merlin lied, "It took me a long time to find Camelot again"

If Uther were of sound mind he would never of believed such a story, however with his spirit broken, he swallowed the story easily.

"You are...real?" Uther asked, obviously not trusting his eyes. Merlin smiled weakly.

"Of course I am"

They sat in silence for a very long time, Uther holding Merlin's hand like he was afraid if he let go his son would evaporate into thin air. After an hour Arthur entered to check on them with Gaius, the physician held out a small bottle of medicine to the king who drank it obediently. The princes helped their father to his bed, all the while the king never once let go of his youngest son.

"Don't worry" Merlin hushed as if speaking to a young sick child, "I'll be right here when you wake up"