Here's two chapters, if not three, in a day for you guys for waiting so kindly. I think these may be the last few final chapters, just so you guys know. It has been a pleasure writing for you guys, and i really enjoy seeing everyone who is reviewing and following and favoriting.

It amazes me though... how many people who have followed and favorited and reviewed hasnt got a single story written up.

But, here ya go, and enjoy, because this story has a lot of people loving it, and I'm attached to it... the thought of moving on is unbearable...

Reactions of the Idiot King

Chaper thirty one: Destiny

It had only taken Merlin a few seconds to move from where he was to Arthur's side, a spell leaving his lips before Arthur could register what had even happened. A arrow suddenly hit the cave entrance, unable to move past the shield Merlin had put up. Arthur looked at Merlin, wondering why the boy had jumped in front of him, when he looked into the warlock's eyes to see a deep pain embedded in them, the man clenching his jaw as he tried to mask a deep pain that made Arthur's heart stand still. As his blue eyes met the golden ones Merlin's composure cracked, his soft smile falling into a deep grimace of pain, his head falling right by Arthur's, his forehead touching the cave wall as he stifled a cry of pain as Arthur tried moving him so that he could asess the wound. Arthur flinched as he Merlin shied away from his touch, as if the man was expecting to be hurt.

"Arthur, it hurts." Merlin gasped out as Arthur slowly moved from under him, careful to not jostle the wound, for he had no idea where the arrow had hit him.

"It'll be okay, Merlin, I'm here." Arthur said as he helped lay merlin flat on his chest, his tunic was all blood soaked. Before Arthur could clearly register where the arrow had landed, he heard Merlin go into a huge coughing fit, the man's face going paler from the loss of blood, Arthur realising that Merlin had just coughed up pool of blood. He quickly turned his attention to the arrow in Merlin's back with horror to find the arrow sticking out of Merlin's left side, the arrow having appeared to hit where the boy's heart would lay in his body, and beyond that, his friend was drowning in his own blood, to Arthur's dread. He heard Merlin cough, a wet sick sound coming out.

"Arthur!" Merlin cried out, the name turning into a gurgle as Merlin started coughing up more blood. Arthur recalled the time when he had last saw someone die from a punctured lung. It hadn't been a memory Arthur was ever fond of, and he often thought back to it in horror. To Arthur, it wasn't the way he wanted Merlin to die. Arthur clenched his hands into fists, well aware that a punctured lung wasn't cureable.

"I'm here Merlin." Arthur choked out, hearing another wave of arrows hit the warlock's shield. Merlin tensed at the sound, forcing himself to sit up, a saddened look on his face as he broke out coughing again, blood staining the man's hands. "Merlin, what are you doing?!"

"I'm going to- to f-fufill my destin-" Merling made a choking noise, his eyes growing wider as his skin paled even more so. "I'm going to-to p-protect y-you Arth-" His coughs echoed through the page as Arthur looked at the man with a real deep despairing look.

"No, I need to protect you, I have to save you-" Arthur cried, looking at Merlin in disbelief as he saw Merlin take in a deep breath.

"Arthur," Arthur's heart broke as he saw tears running down Merlin's face, "It's too late, I'm- I'm dying. i-I can feel it." His voice was turning even more raspy, a forced out incantation leaving his lips, his eyes never leaving Arthur's. Eyes that seemed to never stop saying sorry.

"Merlin, what did you do?" Arthur yelled at the boy, his eyes wide as he lunged for Merlin, his hand barely touching the man's hand before he vanished, leaving the warlock behind involuntarily, appearing in front of Gwen and everyone, the great dragon nowhere in sight.

"Arthur?!" Gwen's shock showed through her face as Arthurlet out a frustrated growl, quickly getting up with Leon's help.

"Where's Merlin?" Gaius asked as Arthur kept silent, staring icily ahead of him, not acknowleging his friends.

"Arthur, are you bleeding?!" Gwuinevere's voice leapt an octave and Arthur stared down at is tunic, and his hands, only to see that they were covered in his friend's blood. A man he had betrayed, but yet the warlock still risked his neck to save Arthur, only this time it was only Arthur emerging

with his life.

"It doesn't appear that he himself is injured.." Gaius' voice was soft, filled with dread. "Arthur, what happened?" Arthur turned to meet the old physician's gaze, his shock somewhat breaking as he tried choking out a few simple words that said it all.

"Merlin's dead." He heard Gwaine's sharp gasp along with everyone else's.

"If you killed him.." Gwaine started, reaching for his sword as Arthur stood up straighter, his jaw clenched.

"Someone tried attacking us, Gwiane!" Arthur snapped, glaring at the knight, "Merlin jumped in front of me and- and took a blow both to his heart and his lung." The King now had tears streaming down his cheeks as his blue eyes glistened with grief.

"He saved you," Gaius murmured, looking forlorn. "For good reason, Arthur. You need to be alive and well."

"He's-" Arthur gave up trying to keep his composure and collapsed on his knees, sobs tearing through his chest as he grabbed his hair with his hands. Guinevere stifled her own sob, the knight's all looking very upset.

"He just told me that he was going to protect me, and keep true to destiny and fulfill his." Arthur cried out, "Then he told me he was dying, that he could feel it-"

There wasn't a dry eye out of the group. Arthur unable to think clearly. Gwaine had kicked a tree with tears coursing down his face, cussing his lungs off. Gwen was trying to support a devastated Gaius, Elyan watching his sister with concern. Percival and Leon watching from afar.