A/N: I don't own Merlin. That was the luck of the BBC.
This has been upload in a double update – if you haven't read chapter 14, go back and read that now, or you're in for one big spoiler.
Disclaimer: No actual real medical knowledge. Only trusty google.
"Merlin?" The word came out so quietly, no more than a breath in the wind, that neither of the men knew who'd actually said it.
They remained momentarily in a silent horror until Arthur managed to propel himself forwards, some unknown inner strength shining through, and lean over Merlin. His body was still warm to the touch, which Arthur prayed was a sign Merlin was still alive, but his prayers fell on deaf ears as he leant his head down to listen to Merlin's heartbeat, or at least where Merlin's heartbeat should've been. There was nothing.
"Well?" Gwaine breathed, already fearing the answer, unable to fully come to terms with what was happening. Arthur's face told him everything he needed to know when he finally looked up, a pure mixture of shock and painful grief.
"He can't be. He just can't. You've got it wrong Arthur." Gwaine laughed, though the sound was something unnatural and hysteric. He too placed his head on Merlin's chest, expecting to hear the dull thud every man should have in his chest. He too could hear nothing. "No, Merlin, wake up. Please, come on, wake up now. Wake up!" Gwaine choked out, a boulder forming itself in his throat, as he softly tapped on the side of Merlin's face, trying in vain to rouse him.
Gwaine's bluster had been enough to wake the knights, and to alert Percival; the large man crashing back into camp, brandishing his sword liberated from an unconscious mercenary. However he froze at the sight before him - Arthur and Gwaine knelt by a very still, very quiet Merlin, with Gwaine repeatedly demanding the warlock wake up.
"I'm so sorry. So, so sorry. I should have gotten you out, should've fought harder, I shouldn't have turned my back on you Merlin." Arthur breathed, unable to stop the apologies tumbling from his mouth.
"What happened?" Elyan faltered, as he found himself lacking the ability to properly form the words.
"He was here, and then he wasn't." Arthur was staring off into the woods, the sight of Merlin adding to the crushing guilt and hurt. "We're going to have to tell Gaius, this'll wreck him." An agonising pain was overtaking the numbness of Arthur's shock, the thought of bringing such news to Merlin's adoptive father made him nauseous.
The group stood in a mournful silence for a moment, no one sure of when to speak or what could possibly be said. That was until Gwaine almost fell over.
"Did his chest move?" Gwaine's voice carried an unrivalled sense of hope as he was by Merlin once more, placing his hand on Merlin's chest, praying for something as slight as a shudder. It felt as though his chest was rising and falling, but Gwaine couldn't be sure if he was mistaking breath for the shake of his hand.
"You're just seeing things Gwaine, he's…" Leon tried to place a comforting hand on Gwaine's shoulder, but it was shrugged off.
"No it did! Merlin! Merlin can you hear me?" Gwaine searched Merlin's face for any sign of life.
"Gwaine…" Percival tried, kneeling next to Gwaine, hoping to speak some sense into him.
"Just look! There's still a slight breath." Gwaine was sure that Merlin was still breathing, though it was so slight they could've easily missed it.
"His heart's stopped, there's no way…" Arthur didn't hear Leon finish his sentence. Instead, he was struck in a moment of epiphany, recalling a memory from long ago. Could he really do that? Would it work? His stomach turned at the thought, but he also realised that he couldn't forgive himself if he didn't try.
So Arthur moved in front of Gwaine, kneeling as close to Merlin as he could. He steadied himself and took in a hesitant breath, then reluctantly balled his hand into a shaky fist and thumped it against Merlin's chest.
"What the hell are you doing to him?" Gwaine seethed, pulling Arthur away from Merlin almost immediately afterwards.
"Trying to save him! I once saw Gaius attempt this with a man who'd collapsed at court. We all thought him to be dead, but Gaius hit his heart and he awoke. We'd never seen anything like it, and he told us that this didn't always work, but if you could restart the heart then you had a better chance of saving the man."
"It's true, I've heard about it before." Percival nodded, deep in contemplation. "I've never seen it myself, but there was a rumour that an elderly man from my village had been revived when he was a boy and fell into a river."
"Will it work?" Gwaine paced, having released his grip on Arthur but eyeing everyone suspiciously. Percival was notably silent, refusing to catch Gwaine's eye. "Or will it just hurt him further?"
"I don't know, Gwaine, but he's on the brink of death. I don't do this, he dies. I do do this, he might live. But it has to be soon, or he'll stay dead." Arthur was imploring to Gwaine. "Let me try. Please." Arthur's eyes were desperate, and Gwaine was beginning to realise the seriousness of the king. He had had his doubts, even with Arthur's revelation a few moments earlier, that the king was still suspicious of Merlin and his magic. But now? Now Gwaine could see, Arthur did not want Merlin to die, and he was frantic in his efforts to keep the boy alive, at all costs.
"Ok, but this better work or I swear to god…" Gwaine's finger remained pointed at Arthur, but his threat died away.
Arthur resumed his position kneeling over Merlin, cupped his hand into a fist and placed it on his chest. He was no doctor, but he had a rough idea of where a man's heart lay. "Forgive me." Arthur whispered in a voice so low no one but him or Merlin if he were awake could hear. He raised his hand and struck him once more, wincing at the sound. He repeated the action, then pressed an ear against Merlin's chest. He could hear nothing but the hollow silence that came from within. "Come on, Merlin. Wake up." Arthur readied himself, then dealt another blow, only this time it was met by a deep gasp and a low groan from the body beneath him.
"Arthur?" Merlin gasped out, and immediately tried to sit up. Arthur placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, keeping him still.
"Don't try and move. Just stay still for a bit, please?" Arthur grinned, a smile so full of relief and joy that Merlin couldn't help but smile back.
"Alright." Merlin nodded, but kept his head tilted so he could see everyone. "What happened?"
"When?" Arthur asked softly, half hoping Merlin might have forgotten the events of the tower.
"Just now. I was asleep, I think. Then I woke up for a moment, then I was asleep again and then… I wasn't." Merlin's voice was slightly slurred. He was still not fully awake, and still in quite a lot of pain, but more conscious than he had been for a while.
"You kind of… um well, you see… died." Arthur stammered awkwardly. He'd never had to tell a person they'd been dead and now they weren't before.
"Died?" Merlin's eyes widened.
"Yes. I hit your chest a bit and you woke up." Arthur shrugged as if he'd performed the most trivial thing.
"…You restarted my heart? You?"
"Don't sound so surprised Merlin, I do actually have a brain in my head you know." Merlin chuckled, wincing as it stung his injuries, but he didn't care. He was alive and Arthur was making jokes. His magic was out in the open, he was alive and Arthur was making jokes. Nothing could be better.
"Thanks." Merlin grinned, unsure if that was enough to relay his gratitude. "I suppose we better get going." He propped himself up slowly onto his elbows.
"Going?" Arthur frowned.
"Yes Arthur. Unless you'd like to become a hermit and live in the woods forever, in which case you need your head looking at because it's freezing, then I suggest we make a move for Camelot." Merlin's smile had become wide and toothy. "You don't care I have magic, I seem to recall." Merlin had lowered his voice, so he was talking solely to Arthur.
"You heard?" Arthur offered a weak smile in return.
"I was hoping it wasn't some feverish dream. Speaking of which, you got any water?" Arthur handed him a flask, and he immediately drank most of its contents. "I woke up just as you were fighting with Gwaine. Then everything when blank." He paused for a moment. "You meant it, didn't you?" He asked worriedly.
"I did." Arthur nodded soberly. "But don't think I've let you off telling me about everything as soon as you're well again. Everything, I mean it Merlin."
"Deal." Merlin grinned. "Come on, help me up."
"Are you sure?" Merlin nodded and Arthur grabbed his outstretched hand, helping Merlin to his feet, then put a supportive arm around him, ensuring he was as steady as he could be before making any attempts at walking.
"You alright Gwaine?" Merlin smiled, completely unaware of the panic and grief he'd created amongst the knights not thirty minutes earlier.
"What me? Never better mate." Gwaine chuckled, though his breath still shaky and his heart was beating a million miles an hour. Percival glanced at Gwaine, raising his eyebrows.
"He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Percival whispered, leaning in towards Gwaine.
"Arthur brought him back." Gwaine shrugged, though his lips held a knowing smirk.
"But you saw that he was alive. You should say something." Percival motioned towards Arthur and Merlin, hobbling along the barely there track, the sound of Merlin's yelps of 'mind the rib' and Arthur's crowing 'I told you so' echoing through the woods.
"Nah, let them have their moment." Gwaine smiled, and for the first time in what felt like a hell of a long time, he could see a bright future for all of them.
"What do you know?" Percival nudged Gwaine slightly. "Sir Gwaine does have some humility after all."
So yeah, that just happened.
I had that idea for ages, basically when I rejigged the plot, I hope it wasn't too much of a downer.
Let me know what you think.