Pairing: Merlin/Arthur, background Gwen/Lancelot.
Warnings: None for this chapter.


The Divine Battle.

Chapter 6: Awakened Bond.

In the end, sunset came without trouble falling on them, and Arthur called off the search for the night. It would be dangerous to look for bandits with the night falling; and so it was better to make camp and wait tomorrow morning.

Arthur watched as his knights, his friends, all gave a hand to make the camp. While they had often teased Merlin; he was like a younger brother to them, and nothing stopped them into helping the raven-haired when it was only them.

Arthur would like to say Merlin was like a little brother to him too, but something in his chest protested wildly. It felt like a younger brother wasn't the real place of Merlin into his soul. But then; what was Merlin to him?

"Arthur?"

The young king startled a bit. He hadn't noticed that the camp was finished, and that Merlin had settled beside him against a log. The Knights, for their part, simply watched the fire going with small smirks. Arthur frowned toward them; then slid his gaze toward Merlin.

He met Merlin's worried ocean eyes with reassuring sky blue ones. "I'm just… thinking."

Merlin glanced down with shame. "About the bandits?"

Arthur's eyes softened at Merlin's display. Any anger he might have against Merlin had vanished some hours ago, leaving only a sadness behind. The blond hated the fact that Merlin hadn't been able to talk to him, even if he understood why. Arthur didn't want to be so busy that his manservant would feel his King wouldn't take some time to listen to him.

"I'm just planning." Arthur reassured with a small smile.

Merlin glanced back up, a shy smile on his lips. Warmth entered Arthur's heart, and he passed his arms around Merlin's shoulders. Vaguely, he noticed Lancelot herding Gwaine to hunt for diner, while Percival, Elyan and Leon went to gather wood. But Arthur soon forgot about that-and about the meaning of their smirks-when Merlin seemed to relax at once before settling against his side.

The utter rightness of having Merlin almost cuddling hit Arthur. He stared as Merlin closed his eyes and soaked into the knowledge Arthur had forgiven that he hid the truth. If Arthur was honest, he felt like some sadness hadn't leave Merlin. However, Merlin seemed to almost… gather Arthur's forgiveness as much as he could; like if he was storing it for later.

A small smile tugged at Arthur's lips; and he couldn't help placing his head on top of Merlin's. The raven-haired first stiffened slightly in surprise; but when Arthur pushed Merlin closer, the younger man followed and simply settled against Arthur's side completely.

"Merlin; never believe again that you can't talk to me. I don't want you to carry alone any burden." Arthur whispered into Merlin's hairs gently.

The king swore he felt Merlin smile against his neck. "Thank you Arthur…" He hesitated then, Arthur feeling his breath on his collarbone as Merlin went to talk and stopped.

Arthur shivered slightly, though not for any cold air around. Why did Merlin's closeness have this effect on him? "What is it, Merlin?"

Merlin stayed silent a bit more, tilting his head slightly as if hearing something Arthur didn't. "I… I always hated hiding anything from you. I always wanted you to know everything. But sometimes…"

Arthur mused what was said as Merlin trailed off. "Do you feel like you can't talk to me?"

"That's not it!" Merlin protested. "It's just…"

Something clicked inside Arthur as his mind connected words and actions. "You are hiding something else, right?"

The sudden intake of breath answered Arthur. "Arthur… I don't…"

Arthur made a hushing sound, effectively silencing Merlin. "I'd really love it if we had a talk when we will go back to Camelot. A nice dinner and a quiet evening. What do you think?"

Merlin released a breath, calming under Arthur's kind voice. "… Yes, I'd love that."

Arthur smiled and parted from Merlin, hearing the knights coming back. "It's settled then. Just… don't hurt yourself too much until then?"

Merlin grinned and nodded; and Arthur swore he saw tears glistening into the ocean eyes. Whatever Merlin had hidden, it had been a burden. Arthur could see it.

The King's best friend jumped to his feet when the knights finally emerged from the trees, intending to help in the making of the dinner. The king himself watched him, his heart fluttering inside his chest.

It was there and then that Arthur finally recognized the feeling Merlin brought into his heart and soul. How could he have taken so long to realize he had fallen in love with Merlin? Arthur didn't know when or how, but along the way; his best friend had stolen his heart-and Arthur had no wish to take it back.

If anything, Arthur hoped he would be able to steal Merlin's heart too.


Merlin turned to his side, unable to stop himself any longer to watch Arthur sleep. He heard Lancelot shifting from his post as the first guard for the night; then the silence of the forest fell again. His King was so peaceful in sleep; it made Merlin's heart beat this little bit faster.

He heard God chuckle into his mind, but Goddess shushed him. Merlin grinned, sending a small thanks toward them. They expressed surprise, and Merlin explained it was for their reassurance when he talked to Arthur earlier.

A blush rose on his cheeks as he swore Goddess let out a long Aww at him. He didn't know why, but he felt like she would have ruffled his hairs if she could-along with God.

Arthur hummed slightly in his sleep, shifting a bit. Merlin smiled fondly, recalling their conversation. Arthur had been so nice to him; he had been able to believe that he would finally be able to confess his secret. And to be honest, Merlin still believed that.

It felt like the time of revealing his magic had finally come. Merlin couldn't wait to find these bandits and to obliterate them.

Easy now, I'm tempted too to throw them into oblivion too; but rushing in won't be too good.

Merlin laughed mentally agreeing. Suddenly, his magic flared inside him, wrapping around him and ringing in alarm. Merlin froze, trying to hear what had triggered his magic.

Oh no… You are encircled by mercenaries!

Merlin sat up, widening his eyes. Lancelot stiffened and watched Merlin with a confused gaze. However, he soon understood the problem when his friend sent a worried gaze toward him before mouthing the word 'mercenaries'.

Merlin watched as Lancelot quietly went toward Gwaine to wake him. The warlock snapped out of his frozen stance and crawled toward Arthur.

"Arthur." He whispered as he heard Gwaine getting up. "Mercenaries-"

It seemed he didn't need to say more. Arthur's eyes snapped open and his hand clenched around his sword. It was a good thing the King slept with his sword under his cushioned head, a hand always around it.

Some seconds later, everyone was up. The forest was silent around them-too silent. They gathered into a circle, Arthur pushing Merlin behind him.

They can see you. They are close.

No sooner that God finished warning Merlin, a loud battle cry broke the silence as many forms rushed at them from the trees. The utter number of them froze the knights for a second. They knew they had to be better trained than regular bandits. Their strategy alone showed it. But now wasn't the time for doubts and fears.

With their own cries, the knights charged and met the mercenaries.


Merlin ducked a sword before sending the man flying backward. Such a move would have been dangerous usually, but with the sea of mercenaries around them; no one noticed Merlin's use of magic.

Each knight had to battle at least three of these mercenaries; and Merlin could tell they were getting tired. Merlin himself felt his breath coming too fast. Even if the knights-and especially Arthur-tried to prevent Merlin from being attacked, there was no way they could stop every man. Luckily, Merlin managed to fight off both with sword and magic any attackers; but he felt like this wouldn't last.

Arthur must have realized this too. The King was trying to gather with his knights, searching with his eyes Merlin. The warlock tried as much as he could to come closer, but he only managed to come at some feet from him.

However, it seemed it was enough for Arthur. With sudden vigor, he parried and slashed down one of the mercenaries, making the others step back with wariness. It seemed like a sort of signal for the knights, as suddenly they all battled more ferociously than before.

The reason of this became clear to Merlin quite soon. They were opening a path to retreat.

The mercenaries realized this too, but it came too late.

"Retreat!" Arthur shouted suddenly.

It was all Merlin needed before dashing into the forest, at the heels of the knights-Arthur at the lead. The raven-haired could hear the mercenaries chasing them, and he pushed himself to run faster. Goddess' warning came just in time for him to go to the right-avoiding an arrow.

From then on it became a game of going left and right to avoid the arrows, while running as fast as possible. Thankfully, the forest was dark, preventing the mercenaries to truly target them.

Arthur felt relief washed through him as he heard less and less the mercenaries. Finally, they were losing them. Taking a sharp turn, Arthur smirked in victory when he heard only his knights behind him. Any mercenaries that had still been at their heels hadn't seen them turning.

For safety, they kept running a bit longer until Arthur spotted rocks. Reaching them, he went to his knees and pressed his back against the rocks. One after another, his knights joined him. They tried to stifle the sound of their quick breathes at the same time they were regaining it. But no sound of steps reached them, and they smiled as they knew they had lost their pursuers.

Arthur grinned toward his men, his friends. And right then, it hit him.

The mercenaries they had lost only some minutes ago had been way fewer than when they first ran away-way too much.

And looking now at his friends, Arthur's heart clenched in fear.

Someone was missing.

"Merlin!"


Merlin had lost them. His friends were nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, he could hear that the mercenaries weren't far behind him. His magic flew into his body, trying to allow him to run faster, to escape.

At least, I hope Arthur is safe.

Merlin went left as God and Goddess let out a nervous urging. But Merlin was tiring, he could feel it. How long would he be able to run?

The answer came when Merlin suddenly broke through the trees and found himself looking at a rocky wall. He was at the foot of a cliff.

Merlin round back toward the trees, but it was too late. Mercenaries emerged from the trees, slowing down when they spotted the situation too.

Merlin took many steps back as they advanced toward him with smirk. His eyes flew from one to another, his heart beating widely under the sheer number.

His magic surged, yet Merlin doubted. Could he defend himself against so many men? His doubt turned to fear as he noticed how they had encircled him. His back hit rocks, announcing how trapped he really was.

I can't… I can't…

Merlin!

Something snapped inside Merlin. His magic flared brightly into his body as something stretched out of his body. From the recoil of the mercenaries, Merlin knew his eyes were glowing golden. Magic suddenly pulsed inside his body, ancient and powerful.

And then Merlin knew. He knew the one word he needed to call. The one name.

"GAIA!"

To be continued…