A/N: Hello again. : ) Chapter written and up for you lovely lovely people! I assure you that bad comments will not stop me writing. All those wonderfully lovely people who messaged me to compliment me - this chapters for you guys! (LFB72, Aerist, April29roses - sorry if i missed anyone). Enjoy the BAMF Merlin... (makes me want to write more of it). Happy reading. : ) ...

Chapter 11

Arthur's consciousness tried to pull him back to the surface but his body was refusing. Hours of running had certainly taken its toll on the King, his aching shoulder wound not letting up, he was certain by now that a fever was raging his body. But something was tugging at his mind, pulling him into awareness.

Slowly the sounds around him shifted into something more fathomable. Men shouting at one another in a state of panic. Arthur's eyes snapped open, something was up, the bandits were in trouble. The King pulled himself up, sitting upright slowly, his head swimming with dizziness. He looked around, a handful of bandit's were on their backs, seemingly either unconscious or dead, Arthur couldn't tell from the distance he was. The remaining men were shuffling around clumsily, retrieving swords and crossbows, fighting stances at the ready.

A man went down with a strangled cry and the groups attention was pulled to the fallen man.

"Show yourself you coward!" one bandit shouted creeping towards the tree line. There was silence among the men as they scanned the surrounding area, the damp dew from the night was beginning to evaporate in the morning sun sending streams of mist upward. It obscured the view of the camp boundary. Another man down then, Arthur saw him fall soundlessly to the forest floor, eyes staring unseeing to the sky.

The leader pulled his men attention then, mouthing several words and signing to them. The bandits gathered together and pushed forwards quickly towards the forest edge.

A line of fire shot up in front of them and the men shouted in shock, dashing wildly away from the flames, Arthur could feel the heat, even from his position.

"Get the prisoner, we're getting out of here" a man shouted above the others. Before Arthur could even realize what had happened his bound hands were free, yet no man stood close enough to have cut them free? Taking advantage of his second of freedom he swung his aching hand towards the bandit approaching him, fist colliding with the mans jaw sending him sprawling to the ground.

"I said get the prisoner not free him you fool!" the leader bellowed.

Arthur felt two men grab his arms and he struggled against them, dizziness taking over yet again he stumbled on his feet earth tilting unnaturally.

"Arthur?"

The King's head snapped to the side, his eyes focusing blearily in on a figure behind the dying flames. "Merlin" he whispered under his breath.

"You!" one man shouted noting the warlocks silhouette amongst the trees. "Kill him!" he pointed he sword longways towards the young man. Merlin did not shift but simply stood silently as men took aim with their crossbows. Arrows let loose then and Arthur screamed his friends name. Merlin's hand waved in front of him, eyes flashing gold and the arrows all seemed to hit an invisible barrier bouncing to the ground. Many of the bandit's wailed scattering from the battle scene in a haste to save there own hides.

Many didn't run though. "Your King will pay for your foolish magic tricks" the leader pulled Arthur to him then unsheathing a knife he brought it to Arthurs throat before the warlock had a chance to react.

Arthur hissed against his rough handling as pain radiated from his shoulder, his chest tightened in the agony. Arthur's eyes fixed on his friends then, something in them sent shivers down the King's spine. Merlin's blue orbs gave nothing away though, he stepped forward, through the smoldering earth and smoke. The bandit backed up pressing the blade into the royal's skin, Arthur lifted his chin to free himself from the pinch of the knifes edge, sucking in a shaky breath as his head span again.

"One more step and I'll kill your precious King" the bandit sneered, several of his closest men grouped around him, many pointing crossbows and blades in the servants direction.

Merlin shook his head and stopped. "I don't think so." His voice was even and calculated, Arthur had never heard his tone like this, he sounded almost dangerous. He stepped forward again and the blade was pushed closer again.

"Let him go and I'll let you go with your lives" Merlin sighed. Arthurs jaw almost dropped at his friends tone, and it probably would had hadn't he been in such a tight grip.

"Never." the leader hissed in Arthur's ear, causing the King to flinch at the sound. "Kill him." he growled at his surrounding remaining men.

Arthur watched helplessly then as the bandits sprung back into action again. Merlin sent most of them flying with a flash, deflecting the arrows released and pushing towards his master with confidence in his step. Arthur's eyes widened in shock as he seemed to wave off the men with as much as a flick of the wrist, sending them sprawling to the ground and unconscious.

The warlock was almost on his master when it happened, Arthurs voice paralyzed by the blade forced tightly to his neck he let out a muffled cry as a stray bandit rounded behind the servant. Merlin turned a moment too late as the blade sunk through the flesh on his side and he cried out. The offending attacker flew back, hitting a nearby tree and rolling to earth.

Merlin doubled over, pressing a palm over the wound as crimson quickly soaked through his shirt.

"Your sorcerer not so powerful now is he? Shame your still going to die Pendragon." the man whispered cruelly into Arthur's ear as he watches Merlin gasp against the pain. The warlock stiffens at the sound of the ruffians voice and every piece of agony in him disappears. Turning back towards them the warlock shifts his eyes up to meet the final remaining man on the battlefield.

Arthur nearly didn't recognize the sight of his friend and servant in that moment, his eyes blazed with rage that he didn't realize such a man could even possess. Jaw set, lips hard in a line and his brows furrowed tightly in defiance against the pain, the servant pulled himself up to full height. His hands dropping to the side, Arthur swears he can see sparks of golden energy dancing between his friend's finger tips crackling in the still air. The bandit's face seemed to crumble at the sight of the warlock then, Arthur could feel him faltering behind him, blade loosening in his grip.

"No one touches Arthur." Merlin's voice feral as he says the final words to the bandit. His eyes flickered into life, the rage in them turning into golden spheres. Energy blasts out from his outstretched palm, Arthur feels the air prickle around him. The bandit leader gasps, suddenly letting go of the knife he staggers backward and Arthur pulls away from his grip in a second, skin still tingling from the magical energy. The King stills as he sees the man claw at his throat for air, his face contorting in panic before he lets out a agonizing scream and collapses to the ground, dead.

Arthur rounds back on his friend then to see Merlin's face crumble, twisting in pain and weakness. He stumbles forwards towards his master.

"Arthur?" he cries, pulling a ragged breath rushing to him.

"I'm here" the King reaches forward shakily stumbling himself, grasping his friend around the middle in an embrace. Merlin hisses against the wound as Arthur's hand brushes over the soaked patch. The King pulls back his hand in panic as it comes away coated in blood.

"Just a scratch Sire" Merlin smiles thinly. "I need to heal you" he wheezes frowning in worry at the Kings paling complexion. Arthurs face mirroring the look back.

Both fall then. Almost in unison, Merlin's body slumps into Arthur as he looses his fight with his legs pulling Arthur off balance they tumble into a heap.

"Merlin?" Arthur pulls a shaky hand up pressing it firmly onto the warlocks fresh wound to stem the flow.

"It's nothing" The warlock batts of his masters hand, covering the wound with his own shaky hand. Merlin lets out a short burst of laughter then. "Seems we've got ourselves into one fine mess?" he laughs.

"You could say that" Arthur smiled back with affection.