AN: Hello! This is my first Merlin fanfic. I reject the ending of the series and substitute my own. Enjoy! Review please!

"Arthur. Arthur!" I shouted. I shook him, but got no reaction. His face was pale and he wasn't breathing. I could barely breathe myself. My best friend couldn't be dead. After everything I'd done to protect him, he couldn't die that easily.

I wouldn't allow that. It was my destiny to protect Arthur and I would do anything to keep him safe.

I desperately searched my memory for a spell that could fix this, even though I knew no spell could bring someone back to life.

Except one.

A spell. A very old, very powerful healing spell. It used pure magic as its source, literally draining (and generally killing) the sorcerer who cast it. It was only used in the direst of circumstances. There had been only one record of using the spell on someone and both the caster and victim surviving. I laughed mirthlessly. If Arthur survived, my destiny would be fulfilled. I had nothing to lose. So I closed my eyes and began to sing.

"Flower, gleam and glow.

Let your power shine.

Make the clock reverse.

Bring back what once was mine.

Heal what has been hurt.

Change the fates' design.

Save what has been lost,

Bring back what once was mine.

What once was mine."

My voice cracked on the last note and tried to blink away the tears. A pure gold tear fell from my eye and onto Arthur's cheek. Suddenly, I felt extremely faint. Within seconds, I blacked out.

Ow…

I cracked my eyes open slowly and then shut them again against the glare of the fire. I moaned and tried again. I squinted my eyes against the light and took in the surroundings despite my pounding head. I was back in the woods, my head resting on my pack. A fire crackled in front of me and everything just hurt. I considered trying to sit up when I heard something coming towards me. A moment later, Arthur walked into the clearing, carrying some fire wood.

"Merlin!" he shouted excitedly. "It's about time you woke up. How do you feel?" I couldn't speak for a minute. He was alive. I was alive. I finally realized he had asked me something.

"Awful," I groaned. I tried to sit up, pushing myself with my elbows.

"Nope," I whispered and turned onto my side. I proceeded to vomit for a good five minutes. When I was finished, I rolled back over and laid down, breathing heavily. Arthur came over with a canteen of water and put it to my lips. I drank gratefully.

"Thank you," I said breathlessly.

"I think I should be the one thanking you," the king replied. "You saved my life." I chuckled.

"That's my job. How long was I out?"

"About four hours. I woke up in the field by the lake. You looked like death itself. In fact, I thought," he swallowed nervously. "I thought you were dead," he whispered.

"I'm amazed neither of us are," I replied after a moment of silence. "The spell I used on you killed the last person who used it."

"Wait, you didn't get me to the lake?" Arthur asked. I shook my head and then winced. No sudden movements.

"No. You were- gone. I've never used that much magic at one time before." Arthur sat back against a tree and we were both lost in thought.

"Did you use it all up?" Arthur asked, interrupting the silence.

"Excuse me?"

"Your magic, did you use it all up?" I hadn't thought of that. What if I had? What would I do then?

Probably stay on as Arthur's servant. I thought. But if I do still have magic, will I even be allowed in Camelot? I shoved these thoughts aside and returned to the present.

"I don't know," I replied. "I should probably try." I searched my mind for the easiest spell I could. Summoning wind wasn't too hard. I shakily rose my hand. A soft breeze began to stir, but I had already passed out.

"Merlin?" I asked cautiously as he slumped to the ground. "Merlin!" I ran to his side and picked up his head gently. I placed two fingers under his chin and felt for a pulse, but couldn't find one.

"Oh no you don't." I muttered as I pressed harder. There. Extremely faint, but it was a pulse. I set his head down gently and then began to pack up. I had to get Merlin back to Camelot. I strapped on my sword and what little food we had into Merlin's pack and then I picked him up into a piggy back carry. I noticed he was shivering slightly.

"Come on Merlin. You can make it." After all he had done for me, a lot more than I actually knew about it seemed, I was going to do everything in my power to save him.

He is my best friend.

We, (well really I), trudged through the rest of the night and part of the next day before I couldn't take another step. I nearly fell over trying to put Merlin down in a clearing. His pulse was still faint and his breathing quick and shallow. His black hair was plastered to his forehead by a cold sweat and he was still shaking. I placed my hand on his forehead and drew back sharply at the heat of it. I needed to get him to Gaius. And soon.

So after a quick drink of water, I picked up my dying servant boy and continued on to Camelot. I was really surprised when five minutes later, I walked out of the woods to see Camelot shining in the distance.

Almost there. Hang in there. I had hardly taken three steps when I heard hoof beats coming towards us. Dropping Merlin behind me, I unsheathed my sword and took a shaky stance. Imagine how relieved I was when over the rise, came the knights. One of them yelled and they came speeding towards us. Leon was the first one there. He jumped off his still moving horse and tackled me in an embrace.

"You're alive!" he yelled as the other knights dismounted.

"I can't believe it myself," I replied as I sheathed my sword. "Merlin wasn't so lucky though," I said as I picked him up. "Get him to Gaius as fast as you can. I'll follow." I passed him to Leon who hefted him onto his horse and then galloped away at full speed. I mounted with Gwaine and we followed at a slower pace.

"What happened to you two?" he asked as they rode back. I remained silent for a moment, thinking of all that had happened, particularly of Merlin's secret.

I finally replied, "It's a long story, one that I want Merlin by my side when I tell. Just know that he saved my life." Gwaine nodded and we remained silent until we got back to the castle.

"Gaius!" Leon yelled as he slammed the door open. Gaius looked up from his work to see the knight barge in carrying his surrogate son.

"Merlin! Oh my. Quick set him down on the bed. What happened?" he asked as he scurried around the room gathering ingredients and potions.

"I don't know," Leon replied honestly. "Arthur should be coming along behind. He'll know what happened." Gaius stopped in the middle of mixing something.

"Arthur? He's alive as well?"

Leon grinned. "Couldn't believe it myself. What can I do to help?" The physician put the knight to work removing Merlin's scarf and jacket and putting a cool cloth on his forehead. About a half hour later there was a knock at the door and the king came in.

"How is he Gaius?" Arthur asked urgently.

"Well, I'm glad to see you're alive and well. However, Merlin… I'm not sure if he'll make it. It would certainly help if I knew what happened," he replied as he raised an eyebrow. Arthur nodded and leaned against the wall.

"Leon, would you mind if we had a word in private?" Leon looked at him curiously and then left. Arthur waited until he was gone to tell what had happened. When he was done, the king just shook his head in wonder.

"I-I don't even know where to begin asking questions. Did you know about his… secret?" Gaius nodded.

"Yes, in fact I may have taught him some of what he knows," he replied sheepishly. Arthur just nodded in response. "Sire," Gaius began somewhat nervously, "What are you going to do about Merlin's powers?" Arthur was quiet and pensive.

"I don't know," he admitted finally. "I just don't know. You know the punishment for sorcery Gaius. But he's only ever used his magic for good… as far as I know," he added with a hint of suspicion. "He's loyal to a fault and the best servant I've ever had. The best friend I've ever had. I can't go and betray him like that." Arthur looked over at Merlin, eyes full of worry. "Tell me about the spell he used."

Gaius strode over to his cluttered bookshelf and searched it until he found the one he wanted; a dusty old tome at the very top. He opened it on the table and beckoned Arthur over.

"It is said that all magic originally came from a drop of sunlight. This drop of sunlight grew into a magical flower which was used to heal the queen of the land. Her daughter was born with the same magical properties and she became the first sorceress. All those who have magic are her descendants and each contain a part of that original sunlight.

"The spell Merlin used is one of the oldest enchantments. It was used by the princess to save the life of the one she loved. She used up all of her power to save this man. The only reason they both survived was because she still had the complete drop of sunlight within her.

"Arthur, you need to understand what has happened. What Merlin did should have been impossible. No one else has survived the casting of this spell. The fact that he has, and has still retained his magical abilities, is a miracle. This also proves that he is the most powerful sorcerer this world has seen." Gaius let that sink in for a moment. From the bed, Merlin groaned.

"You should probably go sire. You may come and check on him later." Arthur nodded and turned to leave.

"Thank you Gaius," he said and then he left.

A/N: Well… thoughts? Feelings? Critiques? Ideas? I really have no idea where this story is going to go, so if you have suggestions, please let me know! Thanks for reading!