A/N: Unbeta'd. Wrote it out of boredom. Don't be hatin'. This, as you'll soon learn, is no literary masterpiece. There was no pre-thought, no plan, nothing. I'm typing this up in between customers/etc at work, because there's no internet connection nearby for me to piggyback.

A fierce battle was raging on in Camelot.

The undead sodiers were completely overwhelming the small but brave knights, and Arthur knew this was the end. His manservant, Merlin, hadn't returned from his task yet and seeing as the soldiers were still the same, the thought of Merlin's failure and probable death were biting at the prince's mind.

"I shouldn't have let him go... what was I thinking?"

His heart ached at the thought of losing his best friend. He'd never told Merlin how much he meaned to him... he was a servant, his father would disapprove, his ego, and various other things would always prevent him from treating Merlin decently. But he hoped Merlin knew anyway.

"He was perceptive like that."

A knight fell, and then another. Arthur's heart raced, his mind unnaturally occupied for being in battle. He thought of Gwen- how he cared for her, how he loved her. The doubt he had in his heart about a relationship between them.

"I love her, but there's something not there..."

He ran through another soldier. It got right back up.

Another knight was down, this time Elian. Arthur knew these were his last moments, and that soon Camelot would be doomed. All of Merlin's comments on him being a great king would never come to fruition. He would never be able to make anything up to Merlin. He thought of how odd it was that his thoughts mainly centered around the dark haired boy. Of course, that was how it was nearly all the time, so why not at the end of his life?

"It's odd that I feel more strongly for my servant than I do for anyone else..."

He felt a sharp slice at his side. He looked down for a moment, and was blindsided by a blow to the head. He went down as he heard a mammoth yell in a language he didn't know. His eyes lifted up, and saw Merlin in the doorway, eyes glowing in golden light.

Arthur's heart warmed at the sight of a living Merlin, as he struggled to stand up against the strong wave of magic. The glow was spreading out in shockwaves, filling the room and, Arthur suspected, the entire castle as well as Camelot. Soldiers exploded as the light touched them, bursting into shreds of black smoke. The knight's injuries started to knit together- Arthur's side began to tingle as well. He heard a scream from another part of the castle- Morgana's. It was cut short, however, and then all was silent.

Merlin collapsed as the light flowed back into him, his sword clattering to the floor beside him.

Arthur crawled over to him, checking if he was alright. Merlin's eyes looked fearful.

"Merlin..."

"Arthur, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. But I was afraid... I still am. I just di-"

Merlin's pleas were cut short by Arthur's arms circling him, bringing him close against his body as he laughed.

"Merlin, shut up, really. I thought you were dead!"

Arthur's smile was as radiant as the sun. He pulled back from Merlin, and looked at him oddly for a moment.

"You know... when I was fighting, and you hadn't come back, I feared you'd fallen. I couldn't stop thinking about how much you mean to me. I'm sorry I've never told you that. You've always been so loyal to me, and now I suspect that you played an even bigger part in my life than I knew... thank you."

Lancelot came up to them, placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder.

"Sire, shouldn't we be checking the castle?" he said with a smile.

Arthur looked up then, noticing the others in the room. He stood up gruffly, held a hand out for Merlin.

"Yes. First thing first- Merlin and I will go get my father. Lancelot, I want you guys to go out and find Morgana and Morgause, try to contain them if they're still alive. Be careful. Then fan out through the castle and find any other survivors, and for the time being keep them under watch in a room as well. We'll go through and question them later today."

"Yes sire"

Arthur turned to Merlin then, a tired but relieved smile upon his face.

"Let's go get my father."