A/N: Hello all, thank you for your patience and all of your lovely reviews. Apologise for again the late update - life does get in the way sometimes. Anyway, do enjoy and R&R. Will update as soon as i can.

Chapter 4

Merlin was frozen. His body shook to conserve as much heat as possible but it was not making a difference. Everywhere ached and he felt as heavy as the rocks he seemed to be laying on. He refused to open his tired eyes, what did it matter anyway, the King was dead, he had failed.

"Merlin" Kilgharrah's familiar voice came through his muddled mind. "young warlock, you must wake now"

Merlin shivered violently and a small groan escaped his lips. Why wasn't he dead too already? His body felt like it was.

"Theres no point" the servant's voice cracked, "Arthur's gone. I've failed in my duty to protect him" Tears suddenly seeped from under his tightly closed eyelids and his stifled the sob overtaking the lump in his throat.

"No, young warlock, the King lives."

Merlin's eyes shot open and he struggled to focus in the dim light. Kilgharrah's face was not far from his. His golden eyes surveyed the boy as if checking him over. "I have healed the young King" he half smiled, if the dragon was able to smile at all. "I do not have much power left, i was only able to partly heal you, but i know your magic is at work and will do the rest."

"Thank you" was all the warlock could muster as he tried to pull his numb body up against the cave entrance wall. Sure enough Arthur was right beside him. His breathing even and deep. He seemed to be in nothing but a long slumber. The small cuts and bruises across his face were faded and his armer was in tatters and cracked in places, blood still stained across much of it. Merlin looked at his own clothes. His red tunic was stained a deeper red across his stomach, but he could feel the wound was beginning to heal slowly yet painfully. His shoulder however was a different story. His tunic and coat was in shreds, revealing the deep and ugly wound underneath, it pained him to even look at it, the poison was spreading down his arm causing agony.

"The serpents poison is strong" the dragon noticed him, "you must rest"

"No" Merlin struggled to his feet, swaying uncontrollably he steadied himself on the wall and winced. "I need to get him back to Camelot. The knights will be looking for us by now"

"You will need as much strength as you can get in the coming days warlock" Was all Killgharrah said. And within a flash he took off with a gust of wind from his wings.

"What do you mean?" Merlin shielded his eyes from the draft. "Killgharrah!" but he was gone. Up into the clouds and beyond.

The servant turned to his master to find Arthurs eyes open.

"Talk to dragon's too then do you?" he spat. Merlin could feel the venom in his voice but did not say anything.

"We need to get you to Camelot" Was all he could think of saying, "Leon and the others will be looking for us"

Arthur pulled himself up, feeling surprisingly well. The warlock was by his side in a flash to help but the king pushed him away as he got to his feet.

"We are on the edge of Camelot, we should make it to the city in an hour or two" Merlin looked over to see the turrets of the castle peeking through the trees in the distance. Arthur did not answer. He stretched his now healed arms out in front of him and gazed at them almost with the look of disgust and then back to his servant with the same expression. After flexing and extending them for several moments he decidedly began out for the city without a single word. Merlin followed slowly behind and in silence they made their way towards Camelot.

After several long minutes Merlin's voice came again. Breathless and tired.

"Please slow down Arthur" He leaned heavily on a tree and clutched his injured shoulder trying not to show the agony on his face.

The King stopped, but did not turn around. He paused, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why are you following me?" he growled through his teeth. Why was this happening to him again, why do all people he trusts and love end up betraying him.

"Your my friend Arthur" the warlock breathed, trying his best to catch it through the haze of pain, "please."

"Get lost Merlin" the king snarled. He carried on forwards and Merlin remained plastered to the spot. He could no longer hold his emotions. He squeezed his eyes shut and fresh tears rolled down his cheeks and to the forest floor. He shook slightly and he slumped down the tree trunk to the dirt clutching his agonizing shoulder. All that he had lived for had failed. Arthur hated him, his purpose in life was pointless now there was no point in going on.

As Arthur disappeared through the next line of trees there was a sudden clang of swords which jolted the servant from his thoughts. He scrambled to his feet but after taking a step forward his head swam and vision blurred. The poison was still coursing through his veins and his magic was struggling to fight it back.

"Arthur!" he shouted and then pitched forward, hitting the ground hard causing a shock of agony to sheer though his body he struggled to remain conscious.

As Arthur carried on he swallowed down the rising bile in his throat. Why was his friend doing this to him. Why couldn't he just be the clumsy useless servant he always had been. Why did he have to be such a traitor to have magic and even worse to conspire with a dragon. Arthur thumped the nearest tree with his fist, feeling fresh blood spill down his knuckles he clenched his jaw in anger.

Within a moment he heard a familiar noise of sword being drawn from scabbard. He swung round to the sound with his sword drawn ready it collided with the attackers weapon.

"Arthur?" Gwaine's face met his. An ugly gash was planted above his right brow.

"Gwaine?" he breathed a small sigh of relief and let his ridged stance sag a little. "What happened?"

"Morgana" the fellow knight said with vengeance. "She's taken over the city"

"Arthur!" A weak voice came from behind them and Gwaine turned to it frowning back at the King.

"Merlin" he said simply racing through the bush to the opening where his friend now lay. The servant was doubled over on the ground emptying what little contents of his stomach onto the forest floor.

"Leave him" Arthur shouted before the knight could reach him.

Gwaine did not stop but came to a halt next to his friend and gently rubbed his back until finally the warlock lost all strength in his body and collapsed over. The knight gently lifted him up into his arms, noting the pale pallor of the warlock's face.

"And why exactly would i leave him Arthur" He stood gently as not to jar any injuries the servant carried.

"He had magic, he's a traitor" The king scowled.

"I doubt he's any kind of traitor" Gwaine hurried forward and past Arthur. "and besides Arthur, if he does have magic, he may be are best chance to reclaim Camelot"