He'd only just gotten Merlin back, he couldn't die now! But he had, he'd died right in front of Arthur's eyes and it had only taken a few seconds. The prince let out a sound somewhere between a gasp and a sob while the knights looked at their feet in silent mourning. Arthur pulled Merlin to his chest and squeezed his eyes shut to stop the tears from leaking through.

"Arthur…can't…breath…"

He lowered Merlin again, shocked to see him blinking slowly, the light in his eyes was still there, dully, but he was alive.

"Merlin!" He cried, "You're alive!"

"But how-?" Leon started only to be interrupted by Lancelot.

"Who cares? Let's get him covered up now!" He yelled the others nodded.

They made their way back to the fire pit, gathering wood on the way and setting up a huge blaze. The ice melted from Merlin's face but he remained pale, silent and limp. He didn't even have the strength to lift his head, he may have survived, but he was skating on the edge of death and it wouldn't take much to push him over.

The night was spent making sure the prince was warm and as comfortable as possible against the side of the warm stones of the fire pit. No matter what they did his skin still felt like ice to the touch.

"We have to get him back to Gaius." Arthur announced as the sun began to rise.

"And abandon the quest?" Leon questioned

"He saved my life I won't let him die." Arthur replied fiercely.

"If we don't get to the Isle of the Blessed hundreds more will perish." Elyan pointed out.

"Let me take him." Lancelot spoke up.

"On your own, carrying a wounded man," Arthur shook his head, "It'll take you two, three days to reach Camelot."

"Not if we go through the Valley of the Fallen kings," Lancelot argued, "You can't give up on the quest."

"Sire, he's right." Leon nodded, Arthur sighed, he had no choice.

Gently Percival picked up Merlin and carried him to the lowest horse they had. Merlin had no choice but to slump over the horse's neck, Lancelot would have to lead it from his own. The others left Arthur to tie Merlin down so he wouldn't fall off, giving the brothers some time in private.

"This is my fault," Arthur said quietly, "And I'm sorry. You're my little brother, I'm the one who's supposed to look after you, not the other way around."

"Take me with you, please." Merlin rasped

"You'll die Merlin."

"You don't understand, please Arthur." Merlin begged pathetically

"Don't you ever do as you're told?" Arthur joked darkly

"I have to come with you!" Merlin insisted

"Merlin!" His brother scolded

"I'm dying anyway-"

"Shut up!" Arthur seethed, "You'll be fine."

"We need to leave." Lancelot announced.

Arthur gave Merlin's shoulder a squeeze before Lancelot called his horse and the pair left the group to their travel. Arthur watched them until they disappeared.

…

They rode for most of the day, only stopping to rest once. Percival and Elyan sat back to watch as Gwaine angered a hive of bees and ran around the forest trying to be rid of them. Another day, Arthur might of laughed but for now he couldn't even bring himself to be the slightest bit happy. He was riding to certain death and Merlin was hanging by a thread. No matter what happened, the odds were against him ever laying eyes on his brother again.

"You're quiet." Leon greeted softly

"That's what happens after days of listening to Gwaine." Arthur jibed but his heart wasn't in it.

"You made the right choice," Leon insisted, "Merlin couldn't of continued with us."

"I should've saved him." Arthur replied bitterly

"If anybody can get Merlin to Camelot, it's Lancelot." Leon said with finality. He was sure. That gave Arthur a small amount of hope.

...

Lancelot looked back at the prince, he was barely sitting up, still mostly slumped over the horses neck. He knew that he desperately needed to rest, but was too proud to say so. His theory was proved minutes later when he stopped his horse and went over to the prince and carried him over to a stream to rest, he was unconscious within seconds. The knight desperately wished for some blankets, he made do with his cape as a covering.

"Lancelot~"

"Lancelot~"

The voice echoed through the air, calling to him. He gaped as the water seemed to drip backwards, droplets falling up and floating around his face. His jaw almost fell off when a womans face appeared in the droplets.

"Be calm, we bare you no harm." The droplet smiled, "We are Villia."

"Magic..."

"Yes, we are spirits of magic, much like the dorocha, however while they take life, we restore it." She explained, "We wish only to help."

"My friend, he's sick," Lancelot explained, "I need to get him to Cameot."

"Merlin is stronger than you give him credit for," The Villia sighed, "DO not worry, even now my sisters begin to heal him."

The knight felt a smile form on his lips as he looked at the prince who was glowing with an ethereal light. He somehow knew this magic wasn't meant to harm, he'd always considered himself neutral with the idea. This was proof that not all magic was evil.

"You are tired, rest here." THe Villia invited, "We will protect you through the night."

His smile grew as a white light enveloped the both of them, this would keep the dorocha away.

...

He slept deeply through the night and he woke slowly, he blinked open his eyes and they fell upon his cloak. His cloak that was supposed to be over the dying prince but was now empty.

"Merlin," He gaped, "Merlin!"

"Shh!"

He turned to the source of the voice to see Merlin poised on a rock in the river, spear in hand, catching fish.

"Breakfast?" He asked holding up the two silver fish

"Merlin you're meant to be...dying." Lancelot said finally.

"Sorry." Merlin apologised, handing Lancelot the stick, "Here."

"What's this for?" He asked

"You look like you're about to fall over." Merlin grinned, Lancelot swung the stick at his head, Merlin dodged.

"Yeah, not as quick as Arthur." He sighed

"Oh yeah?"

"Come on, we need to catch up to the others!" The prince announced as he headed for the horses

"Oh no, You're going back to Camelot!" Lancelot countered

"Maybe you are."

"Merlin."

"Say hello to Gaius for me!"

"Merlin!"

"Arthur can;t finish this without us." Merlin said, turning to face Lancelot.

"He's right, you never do as you're told" Lancelot sighed

"Nope!"

...

Arthur dipped his hands into the water to wash his face, they's cut a day off their journey by heading through the tunnels that lead under the mountain. Unfortunately that meant covering themselves in gia berries. The Wildren, large rat like monsters that lived within the caves, hunted by scent and the berries masked their scent well.

"We need to rest," Leon breathed, "Even Gwaine's gone quiet."

"Sounds like a good reason to keep going." Arthur insisted

WOW this episode is taking a long time to type up, just a heads up I am in my final year and I'm swamped with Homework and study so my updates WILL be a tad slower during the week as apposed to the weekend when I have more time.

Sorry for skipping the tunnels but it didn't seem all that important