Chapter 3

Gwaine walked through the practice grounds talking to Percival; it was a beautiful day again, however storm clouds were rolling in fast from the west.

"We should probably go and see what's keeping Arthur," Gwaine said smiling.

"He's probably arguing with Merlin over some magical beast that Merlin wants to keep in the castle as a pet."

Gwaine laughed as they walked into the window lit corridor that led from the practice grounds to the main halls. "Yeah, do you remember that time with the baby… dragon? Was that what it was?"

"I have no idea, but it was cute, until it decided to try burn the castle down." They both laughed remembering how angry Arthur had been.

Gwaine was the first one to see Arthur, "Sire, Where have you…'he broke off suddenly seeing that Arthur was hunched protectively over someone.

Arthur turned to Gwaine and Percival, and they both froze. His face was a mask of terror, as he held his best friend in his arms.

"Help me!" he yelled. Both knights ran over to Merlin who was weakly trying to grip Arthur's shirt as he struggled to breath.

Arthur was desperately trying to think of what to do as Merlin gripped his shirt, his eyes begging for him to do something. And God, Arthur was trying to think, but no one was around and he would not leave Merlin alone.

He came back to the present as Gwaine yelled, "What should I do? Arthur, God tell me what to do."

Arthur held Merlin closer as another raking cough hit him and blood pooled from his mouth. This was one of those times when he hated being King, his brain had gone numb in terror and he had no idea what to do until one word came through the fog. "Get Gaius," he said realising that all he could do. "Get Gaius, Now!"

Gwaine sprinted down the halls to the physician's chamber his heart hammering in his mouth. His mind was screaming at him that his best friend was dying. Gwaine had been so caught up in the fact that Merlin had seemed better he forgot about the voice. The last month had been too perfect, everything had finally come together, but the man who had brought about this Golden Age was gasping for breath in on the stone floor in Arthur's arms.

As Gwaine sprinted away Arthur tried to sooth his friend telling him that everything was going to be okay. Merlin was always okay, he was a self-sacrificing idiot sometimes but he always came back, he was always at Arthur's side. Merlin's whimpers were becoming less frantic and that sacred Arthur, but as Merlin's eyes began to close Arthur gently shook him.

"No Merlin. Keep your eyes open. Look at me. Look. At. Me!" it was only then that Arthur realised that tears were streaming down his face. Leaving hot salty tracks, which burned Arthur's face. No no no, his mind screamed, please god, please don't let him leave me.' However the silent prayer was left unanswered.

Percival grasped Arthur's shoulders and Arthur nodded, he gathered Merlin in him arms; they needed to get him to Gaius. He would help; everything would be fine there would be some quest, some flower that would make everything better, he would not lose Merlin. Percival went to gather Merlin in his arms when Arthur stopped him with a shake to his head. He wouldn't let anyone touch Merlin until he was better; He lay unconscious in Arthur's arms his head resting on Arthur's shoulder. Merlin's breathing, he noticed, was coming in short shallow gasps, Arthur knew with a hollow sense of dread in the pit of his stomach that he didn't have much time left with his friend.

Arthur felt numb; as Gaius had told him there was nothing they could do. There was nothing left. Arthur felt worthless; he had never felt this pathetic in his life. Even when his father had died he had someone to blame, he had something to do. Merlin had helped him throughout it all. However as he stared dejectedly out at of the rain washed window, the grief that he had tried to keep at bay, broke. The iron hold gripped his chest and squeezed not allowing him to breath properly. A sob tore through him and he was grateful that everyone was gone apart from Gwen, who sat by his feet, they didn't say a word, there was nothing to say. Merlin was going to die.

Arthur sat by Merlin's bed as he heard the bell tower chime midnight. He looked at the deathly pale form of his best friend. Rage bubbled in his stomach until he felt like he was going to be sick. Arthur rose knocking the chair on the floor and almost screaming "God Damn it Merlin!" he paced trying to dislodge the suffocating feeling of grief. The rage left as quickly as it had come and he sagged slowly placing his chair gently back by the bed as tears clouded his eyes. He grabbed his friend's hand rubbing his thumb across Merlin's knuckles.

"Why…?" Arthur babbled, but he knew he had to do this; no rage would dislodge the grief that kept tightening as each minuet ticked past. "Why didn't you just let me and Gwaine go? Why did you have to put me through this… this agony. It was that voice wasn't it? You swapped the great Emrys' life for what? A King and a Knight? Merlin there will be thousands more Kings and knights but only one Emrys, only one… only one Merlin." He broke off as he bit his knuckle hard to stop the chest-shattering sob that wanted to burst free. "Only one you, only one best friend. I'm sorry I never said that before but do you remember that time when we were you went into the tunnels to distract Agravaine and I came back to find you, I meant it, I meant what I said. You really are my best friend and I can't bare to lose you. I'm so sorry you had to sacrifice everything for me, I would have never asked anyone to do that, but especially not you Merlin. You have always stood by my side giving me advice and saving my, what was it, oh yeah 'Royal Ass' and 'Dollophead." Arthur smiled remembering the easier times when Morgana was the best friend not the worst enemy. He sighed rubbing the back of his neck as he said "You haven't called me that for a long time. How did it go so badly wrong, Merlin? What did I do? I wish I had figured out about Agravaine when you told me. God I am so sorry Merlin, there are so many things I wanted to tell you, I wanted you to stand by my side with Gwen, be like a Knight but not in danger. Never in danger, you are never going out without armor again. I know you will complain, that its to heavy or some girly excuse like that," Arthur chuckling slightly, 'but I'm not hearing it you're my best friend and I will not lose you…" his voice choked off as he once again tried to keep check of his emotions. His voice was soft as he went back to stroking Merlin's knuckles. "You're my best friend but also more than that, you've become like a brother to me. When everyone betrayed me you were always there. Your magic, or 'strange feelings' as you used to call it, has saved my men countless times. But sometimes I wish I had seen things differently, seen things not through the eyes of a pompous prince or the king, but as your friend, as your brother, sooner than I have. I would have made you adviser straight away, but then again you have been my adviser, for the last six years now, even without the title." Arthur was quiet for a while just listening to Merlin's breathing and the fire crackling beside him until he finally whispered, "you can't leave me, not now. This Kingdom is at peace because of you, who will I turn to without you." Tears began to slice Arthur's cheeks again.

"I promise you will be okay, I've made sure of it." Arthur jumped at the sound of Merlin's voice his heart hammering.

"Merlin?" he asked gently not wanting to startle him. "Let me get Gaius, you must be in pain" Merlin shook his head, weakly grasping the hem of Arthur's sleeve.

"I'm fine, just stay with me."

Arthur nodded and sat back down plastering a smile to his face and asking lightly, 'who is going to write all my speeches now, and who is going to distract the cook so Gwaine and Percival can grab the last roast chicken."

"You knew" Merlin asked in mock outrage.

"There is nothing that goes on in this castle, Merlin, that I don't know about," Arthur said in the most king-like voice he could muster, and Merlin laughed and rolled his eyes.

"I should go and Gwaine he has been frantic, hasn't left this room until I ordered him to bed, they are all sleeping in the room next door."

"And Arthur Pendragon why are you not sleeping." Merlin asked weakly, but trying hard to look strong and imposing. Arthur's mood deflated as he said gently "I'm not leaving you side that's why."

"Arthur you have got to stop feeling guilty about this, it's not your fault and any way I'm only a ser…."

Arthur's eyes flashed dangerously as he grabbed Merlin's hand in his own "Don't you dare finish that sentence, you are not 'only a servant' you're my best friend my brother and the one that has stood by me through thick and thin for the last ten years, and now I'm not leaving your side until your well again." Merlin's eyes filled with tears as he heard the meaning in Arthur's voice. Merlin had known that Arthur cared for him, but didn't know how much until he saw the pain written all over his King's face.

"You will be a great King without me, you always have been. You are the once and future King, Arthur, the one who will be spoken about in centuries to come and still remembered as being the greatest ruler Albion has ever known."

"And that's thanks to you," Arthur said softly, as he saw Merlin's eyes droop close. "Sleep now we can talk about it in the morning."

Quietly so silently that Arthur could barely hear it Merlin whispered, "Thank you Arthur, for everything, we truly were two sides of the same coin, and for that I will be forever grateful."

Sorry about all the angst.

Thanks again for all the reviews. there will be another 2, maybe 3 chapters left

hope you are enjoying it =D