"Merlin...please...wake up..."
Merlin felt Arthur's hand clap against his cheek softly, trying to revive him. His eyes began to flutter. For a moment, he thought this was a morning thousands of years ago, in the fields or woods of Camelot, when they were merely hunting pheasant and he, boyish servant he had been, had fallen from the horse in his sleepiness. His sleepy mind expected Arthur would nag him for this for several hours back to the Citadel.
But then Arthur was shaking him.
"Oh, I haven't the faintest idea how to do this...Emma?! Emma, where are you?!" Arthur's voice was frantic now. Merlin woke up then.
"Shh, it's okay...I'm right here..."Merlin sat up and pulled him close. He hugged him hard. Arthur hugged him back. Merlin instantly felt that he was breathing raggedly, having been properly frightened.
"Merlin...oh goodness, I thought...when you never returned last night, I worried you had been hurt..."Arthur was shaking. He should not have left the hospital. Merlin gnashed his teeth worrying he might have hurt himself. Always over-eager this one.
Merlin sat up, seeing that Arthur had his heart still in his hands.
"I...I...don't know how to put it back."Arthur frowned. He looked immensely uncomfortable holding Merlin's heart. Merlin giggled softly.
"No worries, my lord. You're not likely to break it. Give it here, then. I'll do it." Merlin reached a hand out. Arthur carefully placed Merlin's heart back in his own hands and Merlin forced it back in his chest with a gasp.
Then, he sat up and threw his arms around Arthur as the vision of his grotesque death had come back to him.
Silence fell. Somewhere, a bird burst from the treeline, screaming in dismay. Arthur laced his fingers in Merlin's hair.
"Shh, don't cry. You've been doing a lot of that..."Arthur swallowed hard. Merlin leaned back realizing he was indeed crying. He laughed.
"I'm sorry...Oh, I'm sorry...the Sorceress showed me the day you died. I've never gotten over that. That had to be the worst day of my entire long, long life." Merlin shivered, wiping his hands over his teary cheeks. Arthur frowned, reached for Merlin's scarf, and starting fussing over him, wiping his tears himself.
"Well, it won't make you feel better, but the worst day of my life was the day Morgause poisoned you. But this one, I fear, was behind it all. She's caused us nothing but trouble...Did you learn how to beat her?" Arthur looked fearful.
"No, but I know what she's planning." Merlin shook himself. Arthur tilted his head, listening intently.
"She means to wake your father from the curse he's under and take everything he could have loved or passed on from him. That means completely destroying you and all that your birth created, including the magic that created Emma Swan." Merlin clenched his teeth. Arthur's eyes went wide. Suddenly, there was a look of resolve on his face. One that frightened Merlin in a white, hot flash of fear.
"No. Don't even utter the words." Merlin clapped a hand over his mouth. Arthur brushed it off, frowning at him.
"But if that would stop her...then..."He worried his lips, disarmed by the look on Merlin's face.
"I would rather use my magic to completely turn to dust my own body than ever let you sacrifice yourself again. No. The answer is no. I forbid it." Merlin realized he sounded like an old grandpa with his tone.
"I'm your king, Merlin... you can't tell me what to do..."Arthur smiled, wryly. It was the first time he had reminded him of this since he'd been back.
"And I'm your friend, and I am not going to sit back and let you die for me a second time. It will not happen." Merlin nodded.
Arthur bowed his head. Merlin had the sudden sick feeling he'd have to fight him over this.
"Please promise me that you will not behave rashly. That you would not act on sacrificial impulse unless it was absolutely the last resort,..."Merlin was so frightened then his lips went numb.
Arthur looked at him and smiled bravely, the way he'd always done when he was trying not to scare him.
"Alright, Merlin. I'll let you be the judge of what should happen first. But, if all possibilities are exhausted, and the only way to stop her is to give her my life all over again..."Arthur frowned as Merlin collared him.
"Don't say it...don't. I understand what you're trying to say, but just..."Merlin's eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, perish the thought! Don't even think that way! Don't..you..you literally just came back to life, you blithering fool..."Merlin shook his head. Then, he took both of his cheeks in his hands and kissed his forehead.
"If you ever die without me again, I'll kill you!" Merlin shook him, ruffling his hair.
"What?" Arthur had gone limp in his arms.
"You heard me!"
"You aren't making any sense, though." Arthur laughed. And suddenly, Merlin was laughing, and they were both giddily laughing in each other's arms.
"Get up...you'll catch your death. The forest floor is unusually cold. I joined Emma out here for patrol when we couldn't find you this morning, but...i can't seem to find her either now..."Arthur lifted Merlin to his feet, fussing over him, knocking leaves off his shoulders.
"No worries, I can put a tracking spell on her. Her magic is so similar to yours that I can use the one I made for you..."Merlin rubbed his hands together, stirring up the spell work that would lead him to Emma Swan.
He was halfway through the spell when he heard Emma scream:
'Hands off him! I'll blow you all the way to Hell, sister, I don't care if you are the great wicked witch!"
Arthur's eyes went wide and he looked at Merlin. Then, they darted in the direction of Emma's voice.