A/N: Not far off finishing this now. Hope you've enjoyed it. R&R as always. Ive been on night shifts this week and super tired. But i did make a quick trailer to my fic, can be viewed here: watch?v=Qj9yK1BQVws&list=FLRK13Jbuxbofmz319_dt3VA&index=2

Chapter 14

As Gwen rounded the corner she faintly heard the warlock's choked cry, skidding to a halt she stumbled into the ruined room. The dust still lingered in the air, creating a haze amongst the fallen stones and debris. Half way into the room she found them both. Her husband and King flat on his back, covered head to toe in white dust, his pale skin seemingly paler than it. A red trickle of blood ran from his tunic to the floor below, pooling. A limp hand was covering the ugly wound, but it did not belong to the King. Merlin was sprawled face first down on the floor beside him, their shoulders touching, his uninjured arm still remaining on the seeping wound, his other outstretched in front of him, blooded and mangled from shoulder to half way down his upper arm. The Queen was on her knees beside them in a flash.

Gwen turned at a sudden sound and Leon and Percival rounded the corner, swords drawn in fury. "Fetch Gaius!" she shrieked before they could even register her presence. "Now!"

Percival's form disappeared from view and his hurried steps could be heard retreating down the corridor in search of the elderly physician.

"My Lady" Leon placed a hand on the Queen's shoulder as the tears came streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"I can't lose them both" she sobbed as Leon gently rolled the warlock over onto his back and inhaling sharply at the ugly wound. Merlin groaned loudly, flicking his eyes open, he sat bolt upright, his head spinning, Leon steadied him.

"Easy"

Merlin's eyes rolled as he struggled with consciousness but they finally locked on his friend. "Arthur" He grunted, pulling himself up to his knees and over Arthurs body. "Too much blood" he muttered, "just so much" Pressing his only usable hand on the wound he chanted weakly and his palm began to glow golden.

"What are you doing?" Gwen's eyes grew wide with fear but Leon held her back as the warlock performed his spell. The blood flow steadied and almost stopped, the servant sighed then in relief, eyes closing he collapsed backward Leon breaking his fall.

"He's stopped the bleeding" Leon exhaled. Gwen placed a hand across her mouth in disbelief to stifle her cry.

Neither woke then, Gwen seemed plastered to the spot for many minutes as she watched her husbands chest rise and fall, the only testament that he still lived. An age seemed to pass before finally a familiar stooped figure of Gaius came rushing through the door. The man clattered to the floor next to them faster than Gwen had ever seen him do so quickly assessing both the King and servant.

"We need to get them back to my chambers immediately" he sat back.

By now many of the knights had gathered in the small ruined room. Four of them slowly but carefully lifted the king from his spot on the floor, all taking care not to stretch or pull on his horrible wound. He made no attempt to wake, not a murmur passed his lips as he was carried to the physicians chambers. Percival carried Merlin on his own, the young warlock was more responsive and spent the entire journey groaning at every jolt to his mutilated shoulder but he refused to open his eyes, keeping them tightly closed in agony.

Once arrived Gaius worked hastily, ordering Percival to apply pressure to the warlock's shoulder he turned to Arthur. He removed the tattered tunic from the King and inspected the wound quickly, to find it had already partially healed. He had expected as much from his ward, typical Merlin. Gwen hovered over him as he cleaned the wound and applied a pungent salve to it.

"Will he be ok?" she flitted from Gaius's bed where the King had been laid to Merlin who was less dignified laid out on the table. Merlin's eyes remained open but plastered to the ceiling, listening intently to the pair of them. His arm was on fire, any small movement would cause his vision to blur in agony and several times he had to bite his lip to remain quiet. Percival was not helping the matter, Merlin felt as if the whole mans weight was pressed on his agonizing wound.

"He should be, but he has lost a great deal of blood" Gaius looked to the bloodstained cloth and then remembered the state of the floor where his friend had fallen. "It seems the wound may have hit a main blood vessel." Gwen took a short intake of breath, taking her husbands hand she squeezed it tightly in her own. "I think Merlin may have repaired the main damage though. I think we have him to thank for this"

Gwen looked again at the warlock, he was still an silent on the table, but she could see his eyes were open, seemingly staring at nothing. Gaius went to him.

"Merlin?" he spoke softly squeezing his wards good arm, the servant didn't react. "I'm going to look at your wound now ok?" Nothing, not even a blink. Gaius bit back his concern and gently pulled the knights hands off the ugly wound, it was only then that the warlock reacted, making a small whimper he continued his relentless stare to the sky. The physician was surprised that was all the reaction was. The wound was deep and gruesome. Flesh and bone had been torn and exposed and Gaius wondered if the poor boy would ever regain the use of his arm.

"I need to clean it my boy" he said evenly, pulling up the bucket of water close by. The physician poured a small amount of cool water into the open wound and Merlin screamed. The harsh guttural sound tore through the room and even poor Percival took several steps back in horror of the warlocks reaction.

"Merlin?" Arthur groaned unconsciously then and Gwen bent over him, stroking a few stray hairs from his brow.

"It's ok Arthur, he'll be ok" he hushed him, gently brushing his forehead and cheeks, he didn't rouse.

"I'm so sorry" Gwen heard Gaius's voice break and tears start to well in his aged eyes. He crossed the room quickly retrieving a vial and a cloth he returned to the servant. The man carefully poured some of the liquid onto the cloth and holding it at arms length he placed it lightly under his wards nose. Merlin coughed for a moment, but within several seconds Gwen saw his eyes roll and lids close, his head drooped to one side.

"I can't have him awake for this" Gaius could see the worried questioning look the Queen gave him. "it's far too painful for him to take right now" Gwen nodded in understanding.

Gaius worked quickly and efficiently then, he flushed the wound with copious amounts of water and stitched whatever he could, though much of the wound was left gaping, seemingly unable to be closed completely. Gwen recognized the sweet smell of honey as the physician smothered the area in it and then tightly bound the damage, binding the limb close into Merlin's body for extra support. He stood back then and sighed deeply.

Only time would tell how well they would both heal.