Work Text:
The pain erupted through his chest. Arthur looked down. Slightly surprised to see the arrow intruding. It took him a few seconds to realise what had just happened. As he fell from his horse.
It was just supposed to have been a quiet stroll. A smile formed on his lips when he realised he wouldn’t hear the end of this.
Why does everything feel so disconnected? As if it was far away. He knows he could faintly hear screaming coming from behind him. Hands-on him, pulling him away. He tried to speak to tell them to leave him alone.
He could hear tree branches breaking, men screaming.
“Arthur, come on.” Merlin whisper as he let his magic rush into Arthur. His eyes scanned the surrounding people. The only thing he can try to do was keep Arthur as comfortable as possible. He tried to edge his magic closer to the wound.
But it was almost against the heart. There was simply no way that he could heal Arthur from this.
Merlin could feel tears burning his eyes. He blinked a few times. Now wasn’t the time.
Arthur forced himself to open his eyes. There was something that he needed to do. Not do, say. Something he needed to say.
He tried to gather his breath, but all that came out was air. He weakly lifted his one hand, reaching for the hand on his shoulder.
When Merlin appeared in his line of vision, something in him let loose like a pop. Merlin was still here even through the end. Why didn’t the idiot run? Arthur tried to gather the strength to open his mouth again.
He needs to tell Merlin the truth. “Merls…” He trailed off. It was painful to speak, and it didn’t seem like Merlin could hear the words.
His eyes fell close again, even when he tried to force it open. So this is how it feels like to die.
“Don’t let go, Arthur, cling to live, please!” Merlin prowled the words like a prayer. But he knows that there is nothing to be done.
Fate had claimed him for herself.
The first tear fell when he realised that Arthur had stopped breathing. He forced himself to let the prince go from his embrace. There was nothing left.
Just a shell of the person he once was.
Merlin looked up, his eyes as sharp as steel. They will pay for this! Magic rolled off him in waves, destroying everyone in his path.
He looked up, scanning for a sign that there was anyone else left out there, but there was only silence. He knows he would need to inform the king of what had happened.
But he couldn’t bring himself to move from Arthur’s side. Some men were only out cold. For now, he would stay with Arthur.
Then, when they woke up, they will go back to Camelot to inform the king and who knows what that would bring.