"Merlin!" Arthur yelled. He was doing all this and the idiot still gets himself stabbed in the back because he wanted to spare Arthur's feelings. Damn him. Damn that idiot for putting himself in danger. Arthur was going to knock him silly once they got out of Camelot. If Merlin survived that long.

But Arthur couldn't think of that right now. He was still locked in battle with his own father and Uther's fight was renewed. Angered as he was by Merlin's interference, Uther's swings became less cautious and therefore harder to predict. Arthur knew his father well enough that the main reason he had the upper hand throughout the fight was because he could always predict Uther's next move, but now he was at a loss. Uther's blade was actually starting to push him back, but he couldn't allow that. He needed to end this quick. He needed to get Merlin to Gaius before he lost too much blood.

Arthur saw the swing coming for his head only a moment too late to stop it. The only thing that he could do was duck and allow the sword to take his helmet. He had been so careful not to reveal himself to the people. Once he saved Merlin, the two of them were going to escape out of Camelot and Prince Arthur would go missing. He had left a letter for Morgana in his room telling exactly what he was doing and asking her to make some excuse for him to his father. All this he was doing so as not to sully his father's name in the eyes of the people. For a beloved prince to rise up against the tyrannical king was practically inciting a rebellion by the people.

But now Arthur didn't care. Merlin had taken to the battlefield to protect the king as he had done many times before and yet Uther still shamefully went through him to win the battle. The shame of harming someone unarmed on the battlefield would forever stain his hands. It had already stained his hands. And not only that, but it stained all those who served him thinking he was a just king. It took Merlin's interference for Arthur to see that and it hadn't even been Merlin's plan.

Uther was no longer worth any of this. If he had ever been, Arthur did not know. He raised his head and removed the chainmail from his hair. All now would know that he was the one to protect the sorcerer.

"Arthur?" Uther's eyes widened, his whole body frozen as he readied himself for another swing. "Arthur? What are you doing?"

"I will not let you take the lives of any more innocent people," Arthur said, crouching once more into his battle position. He did not dare attack, though. There was no knowing how Uther would react to this news and Arthur didn't want to take the chance and be caught off guard. For now he would take the defensive. Of course, he only had so much time to keep it. "Not all sorcerers are evil. They should not be sentenced to death just because they practice magic."

Uther remained frozen, staring at his son with such shock that Arthur almost felt bad for the poor man. Such a betrayal was hard on both of them. Then Uther's eyes fell away to rest on Merlin. "He still has you under his spell," Uther muttered, raising his sword once more. "The sorcerer still has you bewitched. Don't you see? He's controlling you. I thought that the iron shackles would hold back his magic, but he's still using it. Don't you see? I'm trying to save you from him."

"No, father," Arthur said, trying for logic. As much as he didn't think his father deserved to be king, he didn't wish death upon him. "I was never under his spell. The only magic Merlin has ever performed on me was healing."

"So he has done magic on you!" Uther yelled, his eyes wide and gleaming with a sort of madness Arthur had never seen in him before. "I won't allow it! I won't let magic take my son from me too!" And then he lunged once more, but not at Arthur. This time his sword was pointed towards Merlin. "I'll kill him!" he was screaming. "I'll kill all of them!"

"No!" Arthur yelled lunging forward himself. He had hesitated for too long. He wouldn't get between them in time to block Uther's sword. He wouldn't get there in time to defend Merlin. But there was one other thing he could do.

The gasp that went through the crowd preceded an eerie silence as Arthur's sword pierced the king's heart. Uther's body fell and Arthur stood numb. He had just killed the king. He had just killed his father. No matter what Uther did, he had never once thought that he would die like this. At Arthur's own hand. Over the sake of a sorcerer.

"The King is dead!" Morgana called out, standing from her perch in the king's box. "Long live the king!" There was a momentary pause and then the entirety of the crowd took up the call.

It all fell upon deaf ears. Never once had Arthur thought of his father dead. He knew that someday it would happen and he would need to take up his place as king, but never had he imagined it. Uther had always been there for him and, although at times he was not a good father, Arthur never doubted that the king loved him. And yet he had stabbed him in the heart.

Now Arthur understood why Merlin had stopped him both now and when he found out the truth of his mother. Why Merlin had always taken the time to protect not only him but his father as well despite Uther's constant decrees against magic. Merlin knew this would be how it would feel and wanted to spare Arthur this pain.

And yet, for Merlin, Arthur would feel it nonetheless.

Suddenly Arthur could feel his body again as though his spirit had been drifting and only now returned to himself. He needed to make sure that Merlin was okay. If Merlin wasn't alive, then all this would be for nothing. He would have killed his father for nothing. He felt for a pulse and his heart stop. For a moment he could feel nothing, but then as if by magic he could suddenly feel the faint thumping of his heart.

"Gaius!" he yelled. He didn't actually know if the healer was there, but someone would hear him and call for him. "Come on Merlin," he muttered. "You're going to be okay. We're going to get you fixed up and you'll be just fine." But the heartbeat was fading and it didn't look like Merlin was breathing anymore.

"My Lord," someone said to Arthur's right. Unconsciously, the new king leaned forward a bit to protect Merlin, but he turned to face his knight. "Gaius was locked in his rooms for this battle. Someone has gone to fetch him now."

"Good," Arthur nodded, trying and no doubt failing to look calm. "Now leave me. All of you."

"The Lady Morgana has already had the citizens removed from the arena," the knight said. "I only stayed behind because I was one who was in charge of keeping the sorcerer."

"His name is Merlin," Arthur growled, "and you don't need to keep him anymore. He's not a prisoner."

"Of course my Lord," said the knight, "which is why I thought you would like the key to remove his shackles. I do not know much about sorcerers, but perhaps having his magic back will hold him over until Gaius arrives." He held out his hand and Arthur snatched the key from him.

"Thank you," he mumbled, his mind only slightly aware of what was going on. The only thing that he knew right now was that Merlin was suffering and removing the shackles might lessen that suffering and this knight had given him the means to do so. He was quick to remove the shackles and he cringed as they fell away to reveal angry red marks on his wrists. He didn't even hesitate before placing a kiss on each red ring. He hadn't yet told Merlin about his feelings and he would forever regret it if he should die without hearing them.

"The ankles as well my Lord," the knight said, surprising Arthur. He didn't even know the other was still there. Not that it truly mattered. He was going to marry Merlin if he would have him so one knight knowing of his love a little early meant nothing to him.

The shackles on the ankles fell away with a clatter and suddenly Arthur was thrown back along with the knight and the body of his father. A thought occurred to him that he should get someone to take his father's body away so it could be readied for a proper funeral, but it was quickly overshadowed. Merlin was glowing. A golden light so bright that Arthur could barely look at it surrounded him and lifted him up. Suddenly, Arthur worried that the magic might take him away from here. Might take him somewhere far away where he would never be seen again. Arthur wouldn't allow that. At least not unless he could go with. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed hold of Merlin's hand without thinking.

The magic was warm and it calmed Arthur even as the knight made an exclamation of worry. It felt just like have Merlin's soothing words talking him through his worries. Arthur never thought magic could feel this way. And, actually, maybe most magic didn't. Merlin was always different in everything and Arthur wouldn't doubt if he was different in this. "Take my father away," Arthur said, his mind suddenly clear enough to think of more than just Merlin. "He will have a proper funeral. Despite all this, he was a good king."

"Of course, your majesty," the knight said, bowing and backing away.

"Merlin," Arthur whispered. "What are you doing? If you die on me now… I don't know if I can be a good king without you Merlin. You've got to pull through. Please. For me."

Suddenly, Merlin's eyes flew open and he took a sudden sharp intake. Arthur couldn't help the smile of relief, but then Merlin began to scream. His unoccupied hand reach up to claw at his chest and Arthur had to catch it before it could do anymore damage to the wound. Merlin struggled against him, screaming in the agony of every move and Arthur could do nothing but mutter soothing words to him.

"Arthur!" Gaius yelled as he came running up to them. "What on earth is going on?"

"I don't know," Arthur said. "He was stabbed in the back," but he couldn't say by who, "and when I removed the iron shackles, this happened."

"Let me see him," Gaius said, though he didn't try to remove Arthur from his place keeping Merlin's hands still. The healer's eyes widened. "He's healing himself," he said. "Or rather, the magic is healing him, but he's fighting it."

"Why?" Arthur asked. Why would Merlin fight the power that's trying to save his life?

"Perhaps he's afraid," Gaius said. "It's not often, but sometimes Merlin's magic gets out of his control and it scares him. He's always afraid that he won't be able to regain control of it."

Arthur understood that feeling. He had felt that way about his own anger multiple times. Something would set him off and he would become so angry that nothing would calm him. Before Merlin came along, it had taken him all his will and several days to calm himself, but with Merlin by his side he found himself becoming less and less angry. Perhaps he could be that soothing balm for Merlin. "Calm down," he soothed, just loud enough for Merlin to hear it. "Just let go. Let it heal you."

Merlin shook his head, his eyes squeezed shut, though at least his screams were starting to get quieter.

"Come on," Arthur said. Other soothing words slipped out until finally Merlin's screams turned into pants, but that still wasn't enough. Not until Merlin was healed. "It's going to be okay. You just have to let go."

"But what if it hurts you?" Merlin gasped. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't hurt me," Arthur said. "You would never hurt me. No matter what. But I can't let you go. You have to survive for me. Come on. Just let go."

And then, as though something snapped, the magic gave one last burst of light and then disappeared. Arthur was forced to release, Merlin's hands for the sake of catching him. For one horrible moment, Arthur thought the magic failed and Merlin was dead, but as he gently place his manservant on the ground he could see a thick scar on Merlin's chest rising and falling with every breath.

"Thank god," he whispered, reaching up to kiss the once again unconscious Merlin's forehead. Merlin would survive. Everything else they could deal with together.

AN: Alright, as I was saying earlier, this is a two shot, but I think it would be nice to continue so I might do so. I make no promises, though.

I hope you guys enjoyed this short story. It would mean a lot to me if you would leave a comment telling me what you think. Thank you so much for reading.