A/N : Hey you guys! I'm back.. and it's the aftermath of the fight. You know, I was listening to a song earlier (and am about to put it on again), it's called "My buddy" and it's a Chet Baker version of the song. One of the lyrics is 'My buddy, my buddy, nobody quite so true/ my buddy, my buddy, your buddy misses you.' The rest of the song is a bit too – romantic? – to fit Arthur/Merlin friendship, but these lyrics were just perfect. *grins*

Anyway, I really hope you'll like this chapter, it would mean the world to me if you'd review! Please?

Xo, as always

Arthur

So there it was. The empty plate defied him, yet he refused to pick up the pieces and actually clean up his own mess . Even if he had wanted to, it seemed he didn't know how to begin. Having watched Merlin do this a hundred times over somehow hadn't registered in his mind, and he just gazed at the chunks of left over pork, at the vegetables that had been carelessly thrown aside. Awkwardly, he reached for it, grasping the cold material.

He was saved by a knock on the door, and after letting the plate fall back to its original position, he cleared his throat to get rid of the dry feeling that had settled there ever since Merlin had left. "Yes?"

Gwen walked in, her head bowed slightly, yet she was acutely there. "I was wondering if you knew where …" She looked upon the chaos that had descended over the room, and she shook her head slightly, her smile never faltering. "…where Merlin was," she finished. "But I can tell you don't."

The next words were spoken in a rush, breathless. For some strange reason, he didn't need, or want, air to aid him in saying this. "Merlin's not here anymore."

She seemed to worry about this latest development, and her expression spoke all that she could not say. "So this rattling sound was you trying to clean up after yourself? Why would he leave you?"

"I may have said some things that perhaps I shouldn't have." Arthur walked over to the window ledge, noticing how her eyes followed his every movement. They travelled with him, and it almost appeared as if she could sense his distress. "I was trying to help him, but it seems I've made things even worse than they already were."

She frowned again, still not comprehending why such a loyal servant would suddenly abandon the master he would give his life for. The prince he'd saved on many occasions. "It was that bad?"

"Yes." There was no point in hiding the truth from her, and knowing how close she was to Merlin, she would be able to do good instead of blab like a fool about how Merlin's job affected his entire life. He pinched his brow, closing his eyes for the briefest of seconds. "Yes, Guinevere, it was that bad."

"Then just apologize!" She stepped forward in all her enthusiasm, her wish for things to be alright again pouring from her. "Merlin cares about you, you'd be a fool if you didn't know that by now." Her voice softened. Whispering. "And I can tell you care about him. He will forgive you. I'm certain of it."

"I don't know how to... by the way," he defended himself, his anger building, "I did say I'm sorry, and he just wouldn't believe me. If he wants to be an idiot about this, maybe I should let him." No. For all the stupid decisions Merlin might make, it was up to Arthur to make sure he actually lived to see the day. " But it's this thing with Garreth that's got me worried – some idiot I actually consider to be my friend is walking into a trap with his eyes wide open, and I just can't stand by and watch him do it."

"You should protect him from that man," she reasoned. "I don't trust him."

"Neither do I, but Merlin might. Actually, because of what I said, I may have driven him to it." he paused. "Sometimes, I have trouble knowing what to say."

She smiled confidently. "We'll make it all right again."

-

Merlin

To be honest, he had no idea what he was going to do now. Taking care of Arthur might be tiring, but at least it kept him busy – it kept his mind occupied. When he was around Arthur, he could momentarily forget about whether he would forgive his father or not, and when the subject wouldn't leave him, he could talk to the prince about it.

At least, that's what he'd thought.

He kicked at a rock that lay in his path, watching as it bounced against the wall before shattering through the impact. Two halves. How ironic.

He couldn't believe Arthur had said what he had, how he had spat out the words, not even aware of the venom they would instill inside his servant. Was he really that selfish? For a few months, Merlin had deluded himself into thinking Arthur might actually care, yet now the truth abandoned its hiding place and stared him straight in the face. He feared it, he wouldn't deny that fact. The pain almost equaled the anger that possessed him, the desperate need to scream his lungs out, to puncture Arthur in the way he had been stabbed.

Making his way toward the stables, he didn't even think of asking Arthur if he could borrow a horse – he had been the one mucking out the stables ever since he had become servant to the great prince, and right now, he was the one who deserved to flee the kingdom. Tearing at the open grounds, he didn't care where he went, as long as it was far far away from where he was now.

The wind struck him in the face and he pushed the stallion to go faster, ever faster…away.

-

Arthur

"Merlin's about to give Garreth another chance." He had, as always, not bothered with knocking when he entered Gaius' laboratory, not caring if Merlin were there or not. Let him yell, let him rage, it didn't matter. Arthur had a duty to protect him, and he would not stop until this nightmare was over.

The man responded as if time had lost all its meaning. The eyes that resided behind the glass seemed ageless, the fear only adding to their depth. His left hand caught a hold of the frame, and he pulled the optical aid from its resting place, leaving it dangling in the air. "Are you positively sure about this?"

He nodded. "I think it's up to us to make sure that doesn't happen. Any ideas on how to stop Merlin from making one of the biggest mistakes he's ever made?"

"None." Gaius' sadness turned to a question. "I thought he was with you, today."

His gaze traveled to the far window, gliding past the endless stacks of books, past the wooden structure that made out Merlin's door. He bit his tongue before clearing his throat . "Unfortunately, the situation has changed to one where I'm not too sure he'll trust me when I speak to him." Arthur took a breath and held it, hoping it would clear his mind of failing plans and harsh words. "So if we're going to help him, I need you to make sure he thinks it's just you being a hero."

"I was under the impression Merlin was faithful to you beyond all boundaries, sire. I'm sure he would listen when you spoke." His conviction was strong and touching, and he spoke of knowledge. Arthur wasn't quite as certain.

"Things have changed." He turned his face so there would be no betrayal of his emotion in the old man's vision, the guilt spreading inside his soul like wildfire. "I need you now more than ever, physician."

-

Merlin

Even years after this day, he would look back and think of what a fool he had been to wander too far. He knew nothing of this place, nothing of the dents and dangers; the place where road turned into water, or rock turned into nothingness was like a hidden secret, and his confidence was failing him. Somehow, the heat of the angry flame had turned to glowing ember that filled him with haziness and doubt. He struggled to recall the image of Arthur's tantrum, of the exact emotion when he'd turned Merlin away.

His companion grew restless, and Merlin struggled to regain control while he flew…
then fell, landing onto the hard ground with a heavy thud.

Ok, please tell me what you think? And don't worry too much about that sort-of-cliffhanger, it was just something that came to me. Pleaaaase review?

XO, as always