Hey :) I'm back! I've decided to return to writing some fanfiction, but for those of you waiting I've kinda lost the mojo for my unfinished other stories as i've been away for so long :/ i do want to finish them, though. I hope you enjoy this one.

Concrit wanted :)

He was just in his chambers when it all started, studying the parchment documents that littered his desk. Then everything went wrong and his world fell apart around him.

"Sire!"

Arthur abruptly stood from the chair he was working from as one of the newly recruited guards crashed through his door without warning. Stepping to the side of the table, he frowned disapprovingly and strode over to the youngster, shooting him a glare.

"What is the meaning of this? I recognise you are new to the guard but this – "

"Fire!" the guard cut in, panting. "There's a fire in the heart of the castle! In the Lady Morgana's chambers!"

The guard, still catching his breath, recoiled slightly as Arthur visibly stiffened, his eyes hardening with fiery purpose as he absorbed the news.

"Follow me."

To his credit, the tyro guard never strayed far from the prince's side as he bolted down the castle's familiar corridors that provided the fastest route to Morgana's room, all the while shouting for people to evacuate. By the grey tinge from smoke that was colouring the air, the usually comforting smell of a vibrant fire and the sickening, crackling sound that was echoing down the hallways, Arthur could tell that the fire had already taken a firm hold over his home.

All members of the castle's guard and the Knights of Camelot were all pouring to the scene, but on seeing their prince they snapped to a halt and gathered around him, obediently awaiting instructions on how they were to diffuse the situation.

Arthur stepped into the centre of the crowd, and taking a deep breath to calm himself, he shouted out his orders to his waiting men. "All right, listen up! I will choose some of you to scout the area with me and check for any people trapped in the blaze. As for the rest of you, the guard on my right will fetch water from the courtyard, and guard on my left will evacuate the castle. Knights will supervise this and give any orders in my absence. Let's hurry."

Selecting a handful of guards and knights Arthur knew could handle the pressure the prince swiftly led the way deeper into the stronghold he knew so well, reaching the familiar door that currently imprisoned the fire in seconds.

So soon after Morgana's life had been so close to death and her presence had been ripped away from him, Arthur could barely think straight. The fact that she could be trapped in her chambers and mercy to the wrath of the blaze was sending his mind into blind panic. His sole thought was to secure the safety of his surrogate sister.

Squaring up to the strong, imposing wood that blocked his path, the prince braced himself before charging forward and slamming his body mercilessly at the barrier, stumbling to regain his balance as the door flew away from him and bounced off the wall behind it, emitting a wave of soaring splinters. A sudden explosion of heat burst from the room and clawed at the men, causing them to shield their faces from the onslaught.

But Arthur paid it little heed. He stormed into the room, and began to scan his surroundings through the thick layer of smoke, struggling to keep his breathing even as his thoughts for Morgana and his home screamed at him. Usually he would have knocked politely and waited for his surrogate sister to answer the door with a smile.

"Morgana!" he roared, as he swept further into the room. "Morgana! Are you in here?"

Receiving no answer, the prince began to tear apart the room in a desperate whirlwind. He'd looked in the bed, the remains of the closet, behind the burning wooden screen…he just needed a sign!

"Sire! Over here!"

Coughing and choking as the grey smoke pressed down on him, Arthur saw the guards had gathered near the door, clearing the rubble away from something. The prince tottered unsteadily across the room towards the group.

"What is it?"

Then he saw.

There, on the black stone floor, lay a body. The figure was slumped against the wall, pale and skinny, with one hand lying extended towards Arthur. He wore a blue baggy shirt with a red scarf knotted around his neck.

"Merlin…" The prince's eyes widened in disbelief, before he shook himself and addressed his guard. "Have you found anything else?"

"No, sire," one of the guards reported. "Just him."

Arthur nodded in acknowledgement. "Join the others and fetch water to douse the fire. I'll get him out."

The guards trudged though the rubble and out the door before breaking into a run and sprinting towards the courtyard.

As soon as the last man left, Arthur instantly dropped to his knees next to Merlin. The prince could see that blood coated the side of his head, but even worse looking was that a nearby wooden cabinet had crumpled as the flamed had devoured it and collapsed onto Merlin's outstretched arm. The guards had removed the shattered structure but a threatening, coarse shard of wood had embedded itself deeply into the manservant's arm, which was also badly burned and clearly broken.

Merlin was lying right there by the door and you just ran straight past him.

Mindful of his manservant's injured arm but equally aware of the fire that had spread full-circle around the room, Arthur quickly but carefully gathered Merlin up in his arms and lurched to his feet, heading straight to the safest haven he could think of: his chambers.

Kicking the door open, he hurriedly shuffled across the room and over to his bed, still coughing from the smoke, and gently lowered Merlin onto the plump mattress, taking extra care in settling his arm across his chest. He laid a tender, blackened hand on Merlin's forehead.

"I'll be back."