I do not own any of the following characters.

Merlin had never felt such urgency before. His heart was beating as fast as a hummingbirds wings and his mind was focused solely on one thing: Arthur. He had to make it in time; he would not leave Arthur to fight alone with such high stakes. The future of Albion depended on the outcome of this battle and he was not about to let it perish. The beat of his horse's hooves became irregular as they neared Camlann.

Arthur fought with wild abandon , his mind focused solely on survival, for Camelot and for Gwen, he would not let himself show any weakness. He slayed each enemy that came into his path but soon found himself surrounded. He readied his sword, his hand steady, confident. The Saxons were well trained, no twitch to betray which direction they would move. Their swords swung to attack when a flash of blinding light poured from the sky , sending them souring through the sky, away from Arthur. He looked around for the source as more Saxon men were thrown like rag dolls. He spotted him on the mountain top, his long white hair flapping in the ferocious wind. He stands tall with a white bone staff, power oozing from him in waves. Arthur could not completely comprehend what it was he was seeing; the man who had used enchantments on him, who had killed his father had just saved him. His thoughts were promptly interrupted by the screech of a dragon, its white form drawing closer to the battle. As he began to panic he heard the sorcerer begin to bellow words that were alien to Arthur, but seemed to be understood by the white dragon, as he gave up the battle. The man turned away and Arthur almost gave in to the urge to call for him, instead he looked around for any of his injured men.

Merlin had arrived in Camlann before Arthur was in any imminent danger. After reaching the mountain top he had stood there, surveying the battle. Many men were already slain, both from Camelot and Saxon but luckily Arthur and his most loyal knights - Sir Gwain, Sir Leon, Sir Percival - were still fighting, although Camelot was still greatly outnumbered. Merlin pulled the strength from deep within him and unleased it on the Saxon men, wiping out great hordes of them; a frenzied scream of "Emrys" drew his gaze to Morgana. Lifting his staff he unleashed another flash of power, causing lightning to strike her unconscious. He let his power strike repeatedly, disposing of the men who were to harm Arthur. He heard Aithusa nearing the battlefield and ordered her away, although her alliance was with Morgana he didn't want any harm to come to her, she had already suffered enough. Once again looking towards Arthur, Merlin made his decision.

Arthur found one of his injured knights reaching for him, a bloodied hand clutching his chest where a gruesome gash could be seen through his armour. Arthur clasped his hand in his and gently helped hi into a more comfortable position for his passing, blessing him for his bravery and asking for his forgiveness for bringing him to his death. Arthur didn't hear the approaching footsteps, his concentration solely on his dying brother in arms, until the foot fell upon loose stones, the sound loud to both the men's ears. Arthur swing into his fighting stance, his sword falling naturally into battle position. Arthur was momentarily hesitant as he saw who his for was no other than Mordred, the recent knight turned traitor. His trust in the once knight clouded his judgement for a split second, enough for Mordred to drive his sword forward...right into the stomach of the sorcerer. Arthur saw Mordred's eyes widen with the same shock he felt, and used the seconds after Mordred withdrew his sword to plunge his own into his heart. Their eyes met briefly, Mordred's changing from shock to a confusing gratitude, like he was thankful to wards Arthur for taking his life. Maybe that was it, for now he could be reunited with the Saxon girl Arthur had sentenced to death. Arthur took a step back, withdrawing his sword with the movement causing the now lifeless body of Mordred to fall to the ground. He looked behind him expecting to see the dying corpse of the sorcerer but the he was not there, droplets of blood the only indication that he had been. He crouched to exam them when he felt a sword slash across his back, not deeply but enough that it would need to be stitched. He swung round, driving his sword into the body of the Saxon man, only to have the helmet fall off to reveal the face of a woman. It was as he stared at the youthful face of the fallen soldier that darkness invaded his vision and he collapsed.

After Mordred drove his sword into Merlin's stomach he felt his form begin to slip away. Merlin disappeared from Arthur's view before he could return his youthful state, he pain from the deep wound almost too much. He made it far enough away from Arthur before his legs gave way, dropping him to the floor. Looking down at his wound, he uttered the words to the healing incantation Kilgarrah had bestowed upon him, after waiting a few precious seconds without nothing happening, merlin removed his sorcerer robe and ripped into a suitable length which he then proceeded to use to try and stem the bleeding, tying it tight to apply enough pressure although he knew it wouldn't be enough, he couldn't go to battle infirmary since he was not supposed to be here. After resting for a few more seconds Merlin rose gingerly, the movement sending excruciating pain up his upper body. Slowly he headed back towards Arthur, hoping the king was still alright, however, when he reached the clearing where he had left Arthur he could not see him anywhere.

`Maybe he headed towards where Gwen and Gaius were tending to the injured knights`, thought Merlin but then he saw him, lying unconscious on the ground. Merlin ran forward, fear helping to numb the pain as he crouched over Arthur, checking for a pulse, which he found. Relief, so strong it almost caused him to collapse again, rushed through him, a smile dancing on his lips. Standing he grasped Arthur's arm and pulled, grunting with pain as he supported his highness's weight. Somehow Merlin managed to manoeuvre Arthur so that he could lift him on his back. Ignoring the pain, Merlin carried Arthur away from the battlefield, towards the safety of the forest.

Sir Leon burst into the camp infirmary just as Gwen had finished bandaging the eyes of a now blind knight.

"The battle is over now, your highness" his voice was gruff as he addressed Gwen.

"And what of Arthur" Gwen had not seen him since he left for battle and she was beginning to fear the worst.

"We will find him Gwen, I promise you that" and with that he left the tent, the flaps swishing behind him.

Arthur woke to the crackle of a fire. He could not see it, but he could not see much of anything at that exact moment. He could sense more than see that someone was with, and the insistent tapping of a foot on the floor back up the feeling. Arthur raised his head, gaze landing on a familiar mop of raven hair.

"Merlin? What are you doing here?" Merlin spun round at the sound of Arthur's voice, relief evident on his face.

"Arthur! You're awake! How are you? Does your back hurt? I used the time you were unconscious to clean and stitch the wound, so it should be alright till we make it back to Camelot." Merlin's word tumbled from his mouth, uncontrolled and unstoppable. Tears were falling silently down his cheeks. Arthur had the urge to wipe the tears from the man's cheeks but his hand was clutched in an iron grip, resting on Merlin's shoulder as he held it.

"I thought you were dead! When I reached you, you were just lying there and I couldn't help it, my mind just automatically jumped to the conclusion that you were dead. I was so scared, Arthur. You may be a prat but you are also the best friend I've ever had and I don't know what I would have done if I had got there and you were dead." Merlin's words were now unrecognisable as he had begun to sob; great, painful sobs that caused his whole body to shake. Arthur used their joint hands to wipe the tears all the while tears of his own began to blur his vision.

"You're the most loyal friend I have ever had the pleasure of making, and although you're a complete idiot you're also very brave, and for that I admire you." Arthur thought his words might stop the tears and create a smile instead and while it did cause a smile of sorts it was more one of self-loathing.

"You won't feel that way after I say what I am about to. In fact you'll say the exact opposite to those words." Merlin laughed mockingly and removed his hand from Arthur to place it on his chest instead. His gaze remained locked with Arthur's.

"The sorcerer from the battle, the one who created that lightning, that was me. I am him. Arthur I am a sorcerer." At first Arthur thought he was joking and he even laughed but Merlin's gaze did not waver and remained piercing. Arthur's laughter died on his tongue and began to shake his head ferociously.

`This has to be some sort of joke, there is no way that Merlin,the bumbling buffoon, could be a sorcerer.` Arthur thought, unwilling to believe that Mer-lin could hide such a thing from him.

"There is no way you're the sorcerer because if you were you would be bleeding profusely from Mordred's killing blow." Arthur smiled, pleased that he had been able to show Merlin up. But what happened next wiped the smile clean off his face.

"Who says I'm not" was the reply Arthur was given as Merlin gave him a sly smile and removed his right hand from his stomach, his palm stained red by his blood, and his shirt, once a dark blue, now soaked with the blood from the mortal wound he had suffered at the hands of Mordred. The wound that had saved Arthur's life.

A/N: I apologise for the improper use of the tenses and promise I am working at them for the chapter. Please review :-)