As Merlin stood up Gwaine looked at him as if to check him out. "Come on Merl we need to get out of here" Gwaine sounded concerned as he looked at the devastation around them "There is only six men left who can move, the rest are either too badly injured, dead or soon will be"

Merlin shook his head "I'm not leaving the injured"

"We can't do anything! The enemy will be on us before we know it" Gwaine hated the thought of leaving the men as well but could see no alternative "Pellinore has got off a mayday. We will have air cover soon but we need to get in a better position."

"Then you lot go, I'll stay here and try to give you time" Merlin said resolutely

"You have to be joking right?" Gwaine snarled "We all go or none of us"

Merlin's tone of voice changed it was clear he would tolerate no objections "I've given you an order Sergeant, leave me the mortar and get the walking wounded out of here" Merlin looked at his friend "Don't be a fool they need you"

Pellinore shouted out "To late we can't go anywhere" he pointed at a large number of Taliban soldiers arriving in an assortment of trucks from two directions.

Gwaine looked out of the shell of the crashed chinook "Fuck" was all he said as he aimed his rifle.

"Get down men, take what shelter you can." Merlin moved stiffly to a better position and looked out before turning to his friend "It's been a pleasure knowing you my friend"

Gwaine grimaced "Same here, let's take as many of the bastards as we can down with us"

Pellinore had finished giving details over the radio and stood at Merlin's other side ready to shoot or give directions over the radio if help arrived in time. The other men, even some of the injured found a place to shoot from and waited. Merlin looked at them "Make every shot count men, I am proud to serve with you all"

Back in London Arthur had arrived back home after a long day at the office, he had recently started work every morning at seven thirty so he could make sure he kept everything up together so when Merlin come home he could take time off to be with him. It was a Friday night and he knew Hunith would already be in the house as she had come to London for the weekend. Merlin's mother wanted to do some Christmas shopping and was planning on spending a couple of days out with Morgana. He knew both women were determined to have a good celebration since Merlin would be back in time. Arthur smiled at the thought of seeing Hunith because he knew she would have cooked him a hot meal. After he and Merlin had started to date Hunith had soon become like a mother to the blonde, something that until he had met Merlin he had never experienced. He knew his sister felt the same way as she was drawn into Hunith's net. The woman seemed to have an endless supply of love. At least, Arthur thought happily he wouldn't be coming back to an empty house. He was also looking forward to hopefully having a skype call from Merlin later that evening. They managed a couple of times a week usually, it wasn't enough but Arthur knew how lucky he was to get that.

As soon as he opened his front door he was met by delicious smells of cooking. "That smells great Hunith" he called out

"Thank you dear boy, I hope you don't mind but I have invited Morgana and Leon over, it's so long since I have seen either of them. I know I am shopping with Morgana tomorrow" Hunith turned to Arthur as he walked into the kitchen. She had a slightly worried expression.

Arthur smiled "You can invite whoever you like if I get to have food cooked by you! Anyway I have told you I don't know how many times you are to treat this house as your own."

"I know you have Arthur" Hunith kissed his cheek "You are a good man and Merlin is lucky to have you"

"Not as lucky as I am to have him….only don't tell him that!" Arthur told Hunith.

"Oh I think he knows what you feel for him"

"The last couple of weeks are going to drag, I don't know how you cope with it" Arthur said not for the first time.

"You have to remember Merlin hasn't lived with me since he joined up at 17. So I don't feel it as acutely as you do" Hunith admitted. "I've had ten years to get used to it. But I do worry when he's in a war zone" her face fell as she thought of her son. "He is such a gentle soul it's hard to think of him shooting at people. I know he does but…."

"I know what you mean. But he is immensely loyal and protective and I suppose that's how he does it." Arthur admitted. "I hope we can talk to him later"

Arthur had always had trouble picturing the kind and gentle man he knew with his occupation. In fact when they had met he seriously thought Merlin was having him on. He was sure he was a primary school teacher or a doctor.

It would be an hour before Arthur's sister and her husband Leon arrived so Arthur went to have a shower and change. Then he sat with Hunith and watched the six o'clock news as she liked to. It bulletin started with breaking news from Afghanistan. The reporter said "A chinook helicopter full of troops had been shot down by the Taliban, Full details have yet to be released but we will keep you up to date as soon as information becomes available. It has been reported that there are casualties, but numbers have yet to be confirmed."

Hunith and Arthur looked at each other, neither willing to say anything. The news then continued with other matters. Before the news finished Morgana and Leon arrived so Arthur switched the television off. They were soon sat down in the dining room tucking into a delicious meal when the doorbell rang. Arthur frowned but got up and went through to answer the door, half expecting one of his neighbours. As he opened the door he saw a man and woman in uniform. Arthur's heart dropped and he sagged even before they said anything.

"Mr Arthur Pendragon?" the man asked

"Yes" Arthur forced out, his chest tight and heart pounding.

"My name is John Brown and this is Mary Collins we have some news about your husband. May we come in?"