Hey Guys! Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it and Happy Thursday to those who don't. Unfortunately this is not a Halloween based chapter, sorry, but maybe if I have time tonight I'll write something Halloweeny.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed, alerted, favorited, or read last chapter. You guys are awesome.

Thanks for reading, drop me a comment if you can, and I don't own 'em.

Bye!

P.S. This one is for andreri who asked for a lost, injured, and alone Merlin who gets found by Percival and Leon.

He remembered falling and pain. Everything else was a complete blur of memories all meshed together, and every time he tried to sort through it all his head gave a nasty throb and he had to stop, rest for a moment. It actually got to a point where he just stopped trying to figure out what happened and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

Merlin stumbled, reaching out, latching onto the closest tree. He breathed deeply, a bout of dizziness washing over him, willing himself not to vomit. The last time, he had nearly passed out and had to rest for nearly a quarter of an hour.

Once his stomach was settled enough to continue, Merlin slowly let go of the tree and started walking again. He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself, wishing he had remembered to pack his jacket. Of course, he hadn't exactly counted on hurting himself, or getting lost, or forgetting most of the day. But he still should have packed his jacket; it wouldn't have killed him to be prepared.

He chuckled softly, half hysterical, at his messed up, concussed thoughts. He probably could use some magic, but he could hardly see straight, much less think of a spell, and using magic might just be what does him in. The final blow that could very well leave him lying on the cold, hard ground, his unconscious body succumbing to the mid-autumn chill, just waiting for some sort of creature to use his remains as part of their food storage for the winter. And, great, now he had that image stuck in his head.

A stick snapped, startling him back to reality, and Merlin jerked to a halt, his blue eyes wide as he scanned the area. He readied his magic, potential death and animal fodder be damned, when a huge shadow burst from a bush followed by a smaller shadow. Merlin very nearly let loose the random jolt of magic, but he refrained when the two shadows stepped into the light.

"Oh thank God," Leon stated softly, as both knights quickly moving forward. "Merlin, are you okay?"

"He looks like he's about to fall over," Percival commented steadying the younger, smaller man as he started to waver. "We've been looking everywhere for you."

"We should get him back to the castle," Leon said carefully tilting Merlin's head, studying the bruises across his face and the bloody gash a few inches from his left eye.

"Where is everyone?" Merlin asked hoarsely, wrapping his arms around his torso again as another shiver wracked his body.

"They're looking for you," Percival answered removing his cloak and wrapping it around Merlin's shoulders. "We've been searching for you for nearly a day. The last time we saw you, you went to get water. What happened to you?"

"I don't remember," Merlin answered honestly, burrowing in Percival's cloak. "Can we please go home?"

"Yes," Leon replied sharing a quick glance with Percival. "Are you okay to walk?"

"Been doing it for a while," the younger man responded going ahead of the two knights. He figured with some time the memories would come back, but right that second he just wanted to go home, sleep in his own bed, and get something to eat when he was capable of keeping anything down. That shouldn't be too much to ask.

"And it's not," Leon said wrapping an arm around Merlin's shoulder, startling the younger man. He hadn't been aware he had been talking out loud.

"Though, now Gwaine and Arthur owe us some gold," Percival commented falling into step behind Merlin, ready to catch him should he fall. "They bet us they'd find you first, but here you are."

"Here I am," Merlin said drily, unsure how he felt about the knights and Arthur betting on who'd find him first. He probably should be a little mad, his safety apparently being a cause for betting on their part, but he was too relieved at being found to actually put forth the effort. He'd let the knights have it later… maybe.

"I was against it," Leon whispered to Merlin, gently squeezing him. "I'm just glad you are well."

"Thank you, Leon," Merlin responded with a small smile. "And so am I."