He ran.

He ran when he felt the force hitting him.

Magic.

It passed him and for a while it got the surroundings glimmering. Arthur felt himself slamming forward, continuing his run stumbling.

Merlin's magic. He couldn't turn and watch. He didn't want to see, because he knew. He knew that this would be too much to Merlin. After this, there would be no return. Not to Merlin, not to him.

Run. The voice said.

"Merlin?" Arthur whispered, shaking his head, not knowing if he heard right, if it was just imagination. So he ran.

He ran until he tripped and fell. He took a deep breath. He tried to rise, but fell again. There, on his knees he listened. There weren't any sounds. Just silence.

"I left him." He whispered. "I left him behind." He couldn't understand himself. Why? Why he had done so? He had left Merlin behind him. Merlin. Merlin the warlock. Merlin the monster. Merlin the liar. Merlin the friend. Friend.

Merlin was his friend.

Merlin was his most trusted companion.

Merlin was part of his family.

"What I have done?" and still he couldn't stand and turn and run back to him. He felt himself numb. His hands buried on the ground. In his chest was like a heavy rock. He still could feel it in the air; the power. It tickled on his skin, surrounded him like a warm blanket, comforting him. This was Merlin's magic. Powerful, fierce and also in same time so gentle. Like Merlin. And finally it let go of him, disappeared in the air, leaving him alone. Then it hit him; the realization. "Let him be alive." Arthur prayed when he rise and turned around and started his run back to Merlin. He ran far, and he though, was it been Merlin's magic guiding him. Knowing Merlin, it probably was.

"Merlin!"

He didn't get answer. He hoped but he knew. Still he yelled.

"Merlin!"

Was he running on the right direction? If he had lost?

"Merlin!" he yelled on more time and then he stopped. It was Merlin, standing on the moonlight, his eyes glimmering.

"You are alive." Arthur smiled and Merlin turned his head, looking trough of him. "Arthur? Why you are here?" And then Merlin just collapsed. Arthur was fast beside of him, holding him.

"What you did?" he asked and Merlin shook his head.

"I banished them. They never come here again. They find something else in somewhere."

Merlin; always finding a way not to really harm anyone.

"I can go now. Let me go." Merlin said and Arthur felt how fright filled him. "No."

"It's my time. You and Gwen can…"

"No! I have enough, from all of this. Your lies, these running all over the woods, thinking can I trust or not, who will betray me next."

"Arthur…"

"Listen me Merlin. Listen what I say. What ever else you are, you are firstly my friend. My brother. And I never ever again leave you behind. And I never again run without you." Arthur watched with horror how Merlin's empty eyes stared him, how life was pouring out of him.

"You mean it. You really mean it." Merlin smiled." It's good to hear. I'm so glad. Even if that came so late, I like it. My… brother." His eyes glazed slowly. Arthur started to cry. He couldn't stop himself.

"You not leave me here alone. You hear me? You come with me to Camelot and you would not be servant anymore. You're going to be greatest from all. My brother. You hear me? Answer Merlin, please, say something. Merlin?"

But Merlin didn't answer and Arthur rocked back and forth holding his friend, crying like never before. "I will take you back to Camelot. We go home, together. I promise."