Author's Note- Please Read!: Hello! Welcome to my new little drabble fic. So here we go, these are the ABC's of Merlin! Pairings will mainly be Merthur, but there might be some other ones. If I think the chapter needs an explicit warning for material (triggering, etc.) then I'll put it at the end of each Author's Note. A - (violence/~gore)

A is for Armour

Arthur was running. This wasn't a common thing for the man, but with the sudden attack of ten or more men he didn't like the chances for Gwaine, Merlin and himself. So he ran, praying that the three of them could get close enough to camp for the other knights to come to their aid before they were run down. Jumping over a log he tried to look behind him to see where his companions were, but it was difficult to spare the glance. He could hear Gwaine's hauberk a step behind him, but the din of metal and foot fall drowned out the soft rustle of Merlin's clothing. Merlin. Arthur regretted bringing him out now but had faith that his servant, however clumsy and idiotic he might be, would make it out of this scrape just fine.

"They're getting closer!" Merlin yelled, and though Arthur told him to shut up he was secretly relieved to hear him only a few paces behind them. Merlin could hear Arthur's whistle, short but shrill, trying to call the knights to their aid. They just needed a few more minutes and they'd be there, but their stamina was waning so Merlin threw a hand behind him, muttering a few words under his breath. There was a crash as a tree branch fell, halting or at least slowing the bandits behind them.

"Archers!" Gwaine yelled, making Arthur nearly stop, but when he heard the unmistakable whistle of an arrow he darted around a tree, moving forward in a staggered fashion to make his body a more difficult target. Gwaine followed suit, ducking under a low hanging branch, but Merlin slowed down. He let his magic flow out, searching out the archer and singeing his hand and making him drop his bow. Merlin could hear the other knights now, Percival, Leon and Lancelot were calling out for Arthur but they needed more time. Feeling his magic tug him backwards, Merlin stopped running, turning and flinging his arm up towards another tree. But pain exploded in his left hip, burning fire through his body. The shout that threatened to spill over his lips turned into a ragged and pained gasp as he stumbled forward, fighting not to cry out in pain so as not to stop Gwaine and Arthur. They needed a moment more, and as Merlin fell forward onto his right side he fought to clear his head. His magic attempted to rush for the wound, but instead he forced it out, breaking the branch the last archer was perched upon.

Percival, Leon and Lancelot were now within reach, and Arthur and Gwaine ran past them a step before turning, allowing them to lead the attack so they'd have a moment to gain their breath. Arthur looked to this right to warn Merlin to stay behind, but his heart which had been beating so furiously before, seemed to stop completely when he realised the man wasn't there. Gwaine suddenly realised the same thing,

"Merlin!" He yelled, rushing forward to find his fallen friend, but he couldn't see him. The bandits didn't either, until one tripped over Merlin as he struggled to get up. Lancelot, seeing the man reach for him rushed forward with his sword, taking down two men before he reached Merlin's side. Percival and Leon followed suit, attacking the enemy with a vigour that soon evened the number of bandits to knights. Arthur stabbed a man, the anger coursing through his veins making the swing of his sword more concentrated and powerful. Gwaine was the first to kneel by Merlin, Lancelot still standing guard above him.

"Merlin, mate, come on." He muttered, rolling him onto his side while surveying his body. There was an arrow buried in his left side, but the tip only seemed to go in a couple of inches leading him to believe it must have hit his hip bone. Gwaine held Merlin on his right side, rubbing circles on his chest worriedly, "Merlin."

After cutting down the last man Arthur ran over, taking a deep breath as he saw Merlin's eyes flutter open. "Mm, 'urts." He murmured.

"Of course it hurts you, you idiot." Arthur responded, kneeling down in front of him as Gwaine spared him a warning glare, "I know I use you to hold the targets at practice but you're not actually a target." Lancelot watched as his Prince interacted with the man. He could hear the worry that laced his tone, but knew the inherent stubbornness that pushed out insults, not comfort.

"Here." Pulling a dagger from a sheath, Gwaine handed it to Arthur before shifting his positing, propping Merlin's upper body on his lap. Percival had gone with Leon to check the dead men and their immediate surroundings, both of them not wishing to see Merlin in so much pain. Even though he was Arthur's servant, the man had wormed his way into all of their hearts with his endless chatter and backtalk, and they would do anything in their power to help him.

"Merlin don't move." Arthur commanded, quickly cutting at the hem of his breeches, opening them enough to see the wound. The wound was bleeding, the skin swollen around the head of the arrow. For now the flow of blood was sluggish, pooling at the edges before spilling down Merlin's pale skin. Arthur feared if he removed it now the bleeding would increase to something they couldn't handle. For the moment he left it there.

"Leon!"

"Yes Sire?"

"Go with Percival to camp and get our things and bring them here with the horses." With a nod the two departed as Arthur kneeled back down.

"Arthur I think the arrow must have been coated with something." Gwaine looked concern, holding Merlin close to him in a way that made Arthur feel unreasonably jealous. Upon second glance Arthur realised that Merlin was shivering, a pale sheen of sweat coated his brow.

"Damnit." He cursed, moving back down to the wound. It was warm now, hotter than the rest of Merlin's body and beginning to turn a painful red. "I have to take it out now." Without a moment of hesitation Gwaine cut a large swath out of his red cloak as Arthur chewed his lip.

"Don', please." Merlin pleaded with a sluggish tongue, but Arthur shushed him,

"Don't be such a girl Merlin, it's just a little scratch." He teased, but his hand found his friends face and he stroked his cheek a moment before taking back the blade. With one last moment, Arthur took a deep breath before quickly cutting into Merlin's skin on either side of the arrow's shaft. Gwaine held his body as he lurched, shaking with ragged breaths. But Arthur had to do it, if he simply pulled it out the jagged edges would do more damage than a clean cut of his blade. It pained him deeply as he pulled on the shaft, feeling sick at the resistance that met his tugs. The head was obviously lodged in bone. Merlin tried valiantly not to cry out, instead letting out ragged sobs of breath as Gwaine held him, placing his lips to Merlin's forehead and comforting him with soft words. One last pull, and the arrow came free, blood flowing up and out the wound. Arthur was about to toss the arrow to the side but thought better, breaking off the main shaft and tucking the tip into his leather satchel in case Gaius needed to evaluate the poison. Pulling off his gloves he cupped his hands around the wound and pressed, encouraging the blood to carry the poison out on it's own accord. Yet as it spilled over the top of his hands Arthur could take no more and quickly pressed the pad of cloth to the wound, holding it down with firm pressure to staunch the bleeding.

Percival and Leon returned quickly enough, and before Arthur knew it he was flushing out the wound with water before pressing the damp cloth back to his hip. Merlin was in and out of consciousness, and the distressed moans that escaped his lips made Arthur hurt. Gwaine put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and before long he stood up,

"Come on, if we ride hard we can make it back to the citadel before night fall." Percival moved to help Merlin up onto the saddle with Gwaine, but Arthur stopped him, "He'll ride in front of me." The knights quietly assembled and Leon lead, while Percival brought up the rear and Gwaine and Lancelot took position at Arthur's side sending worrying glances towards Merlin's limp form. The horses are tired, frothing and protesting the demanding speed, but Arthur refused to let up until they reached Camelot. It was a quiet and tense ride but when they finally reached the inner court yard Arthur was alive with energy. Gwaine helped him down from his saddle and went to take Merlin but Arthur would have none of it.

"I'll take him, run ahead to Gaius." He demanded in a tone that left no room for question, "Percival, can you see to getting a servant for the horses and Leon can you report to my Father, let him know that there was an attack and that..." Faltering, Leon filled in the rest,

"And that you had gone to Gaius with Gwaine to make sure that the fall he took from his horse had not left any damage."

"Thank you Leon."

"Sire." He bowed his head and walked off as Percival flagged down a servant to take the horses, following shortly after Arthur with Lancelot.

"Come on Merlin," he did his best not to jostle the man as he headed down the stairs to Gaius, "You're going to be just fine, it's just a scratch."

"Merlin!" The worry that flooded Gaius' voice made Gwaine feel all the more guilty as the old man hurried Arthur into his chambers, "Set him on the table, quickly now. Fetch a bucket of water" The order was directed in the general direction of the two men, but Gwaine went for the door as Arthur moved forward, nervously watching Gaius work as he untied the bandages.

"The arrow was poisoned, I had to remove it. But I kept the head, just in case."

"If you can put it in a bowl, Sire." Gaius gestured to an array of dishes as he assessed the injury, then felt Merlin's head and checked his eyes, "You've saved his life, if it had remained in I can't imagine what would have happened..."

"Is he going to be okay?" Arthur tried not to sound too desperate.

"Yes, I'll need to clean and stitch the wound, then assess the poison, but I think he'll be fine."

"Thank God." Arthur muttered softly, collapsing into a chair as Gwaine returned with a bucket and hovered nearby with the two other knights. It took nearly an hour until Gaius was done, announcing the wound tended to the best of his abilities, and the poison dangerous, but not lethal.

"He'll need to be resting for the next week Sire," Gaius ventured, "The bone in his hip was mostly likely fractured, but will heal if not jostled unnecessarily. I'll watch his fever, but I suspect the sickness should be over in the next few days." Arthur took in the news as the knights let out a collective sigh of relief. Lancelot smiled, glad to know his friend would recover. Percival clapped him on the shoulder while Gwaine went over, running a rough hand across Merlin's warm forehead,

"That's a mate, I told you you'd be fine." He murmured, carding his fingers through his hair.

"You have served Merlin, myself and Camelot well today," Arthur said, getting up and looking at his men, "I'd be pleased if you were to have your needs attended too, and I will see you for a late morning practice tomorrow."

"Yes, Sire." The three nodded, though Gwaine took a moment longer before releasing Merlin to Arthur's care, looking at him once more before he left.

"If I may, I need to deliver a potion Sire..."

"I'll watch Merlin."

"Thank you Sire," And with that he left. Arthur got up, settling himself down next to the bed they'd placed Merlin in by the fire.

"Idiot, can't go a single day without falling into some trouble can you." As Merlin stirred softly Arthur took the cloth from the bowl of cold water, wrung it out and gently wiped down his face, "And now I've got to take care of you. I'm the Prince, Merlin, but that never did mean much to you, now did it?" Merlin seemed to try to open his eyes, but they were leaden, too heavy to budge. "No, no you never did. But don't expect this to be normal, you probably threw yourself in front of that arrow to annoy me."

"'t..."

"What?" Arthur set the cloth back down in the bowl, stroking Merlin's hair back softly.

"Don' 'ave to be," He opened his eyes weakly, "Prat, about it." Scoffing, Arthur pulled his hand away nervously,

"It's not my fault you're completely useless."

"Mmmhm."

"And did I mention that you were an idiot?"

"Mmmhm."

"Good, Gaius will be back soon so, and you're awake now, I guess I'll just be leaving you to your o-"

"Arthur?"

"What?"

"Stay?" He'd already been starting to get up, but hearing Merlin ask that of him, and seeing the imploring look that met his blue eyes, he simply couldn't say no as he settled back down into his chair.

"Don't expect this to be a normal thing. I'm only doing it because you asked."

"Of course." But Arthur took Merlin's hand and stroked it softly,

"Idiot."

"I love you too Arthur." He murmured in response as Arthur nearly choked on his breath. Coughing softly he squeezed Merlin's hand carefully, bit his lip, then sighed. A small smile graced his lips as he watched Merlin fall back asleep.

"You scared me for a while there," he whispered softly, "I'll have to get you armour, so you can't do that to me again."