Things That Merlin Isn't Allowed To Do (According to Prince Arthur)
7: Play the Hero (Because It Really Doesn't Suit Him)
His reaction comes half a second too late.
The man standing before them, draped in a heavy black cloak, lifts his hand while chanting something loudly in an ancient tongue, a silver swirl of light forms in his palm, and Merlin runs forward to stand in front of the prince and Arthur freezes in horror as the light hits the servant right in the chest like a spear.
"...Merlin...!"
Times seems to slow down, seconds becoming minutes, heartbeats morphing into hours, as Arthur stares in terror on what's happening before him.
With a sickening thud and a cry of pain, Merlin falls to the ground. Fighting unconsciousness, eyelids flickering, his eyes fills with molten gold and he whispers a few hoarse words, causing the cloaked man to crumble. Arthur isn't too focused on what happens to the sorcerer, who have just tried to kill him and his knights, who's just tried to kill Merlin – the man screams curses before disappearing in a veil of black smoke, but Arthur doesn't see it.
"MERLIN!"
Arthur runs up to his fallen friend's body, dropping onto his knees. The warlock lies pale and almost lifeless and a cold intense fear grips Arthur's heart, he's struggling to breathe, and he might be trembling as he grips the boy's shoulders. He's only half-aware of his knights rushing up to his side.
He tries shaking the servant and speaking his name, Merlin! Merlin! Merlin?, but there's no response, nothing at all, and the prince gently maneuvers Merlin's head into his lap. "C'mon," Arthur whispers. "Wake up, you have to wake up. You can't leave me!"
"Sire," one of the knights says gently, "we must get him back to Camelot. Perhaps the court physician could..." Maybe he could save him, are the unspoken words.
Because they're all afraid; they know nothing about magic and have no idea what that spell did, other than it's very bad and Merlin, the one person that ties the group of knights and prince together so tightly, might be lying right before their feet dying, and they can do nothing but helplessly watch.
"Wake up," Arthur pleads, heart thundering in his chest, this can't be happening. Not yet. Not ever. "Open your eyes. You have to wake up – we've not fulfilled our destiny yet. You know, that stupid thing you're always blabbering about: becoming King and Warlock of Albion and all that. You can't just leave me now with the job half done, when I'm still a prat and, and I'm not ready yet to be king and let you go. Come on. Please."
And it's like the warlock can hear him, by a miracle, and though he's still pale and his breathing rash, Merlin's eyes open a crack and he smiles weakly.
"...Never thought you'd be so worried 'bout me, Arthur."
Arthur almost laughs in relief. Oblivious to the knights' presence, he gingerly strokes the warlock's cheek, not hearing the breath of relief the men gathered around them emitts. There's warmth beneath his fingertips, softness. The skin isn't as cold as it looks like, despite the pale hue, and light is returning to Merlin's eyes. Maybe it's luck; maybe it's his own magic driving the other away – Arthur doesn't know, but Merlin seems to be getting better already, and he's certain that the warlock is going to survive now. He doesn't really care how, as long as Merlin is alive and well. It doesn't matter other than he's safe. Unconsciously he holds onto the boy tighter, drawing him to close to his chest, to his heartbeat.
"I always am," the prince admits. "You always are so careless, throwing yourself right into danger without thinking of your safety – of course I am. You shouldn't play a hero, Merlin; it really doesn't suit you."
"Thanks," the warlock retorts dryly, he's a bit weak and doesn't have the energy to say 'I've just saved your arse, you clotpole, and this is how you thank me, by being a prat?' but he's smiling and that's a good sign. Arthur's heartbeat slows down a bit and his hands have stopped trembling. Merlin looks up into his eyes, and they sit like that for a moment, Merlin's head in the prince's lap; staring, smiling, breathing, before the moment is over and they realize they're not alone. The knights snap into motion when the pair does, one runs off to fetch a horse.
"C'mon Merlin," Arthur says looping an arm under Merlin's back, warm and steady, and helping him to his feet. Merlin is a bit woobly and his head spins, his chest aches, and he clenches to the prince's tunic for balance, but he's breathing and awake and alive. "Let's go home."
(He'll save the lecture until they're back safe and sound at the city.)