At first Merlin stared. Before him stood the prince, donned in his battle armour (which seemed as heavy as the bags drooping beneath his sad eyes.) There was scruff forming along his jawline and his body was slumping the slump of the defeated.
"You were clean-shaven this morning," Merlin pointed out warily. Arthur laughed. The sound of it was hollow, and it echoed to the edges of the room and back; foreign and odd and rasping and nothing like the man's usual chuckle. Merlin nearly took a step back in shock.
"Are you hurt? What happened? Arthur, speak to me!"
Those sad eyes lifted up and latched onto his.
"You were right Merlin. We should have believed you."
The warlock stepped forward, "what do you mean!?"
"You said they would arrive. They would kill us and they did."
"I haven't said anything Arthur!"
"You did my friend. And we ignored you. I ignored you...forgive me. I am sorry, yet what I have done...what I condemned us too. Can never be forgiven." Arthur reached out, grabbed Merlin's shoulder and pulled him closer.
"I don't know what you're saying Sire. Where is everyone?"
"Dead. They're all dead."

The prince fell forward into his servant's arms. "What have I d-done..." He tilted his head onto the other man's chest and sobbed. The quaking shivers wracked his body and Merlin instinctively wrapped him into a hug. This isn't happening. This is a nightmare. Ask him questions...this isn't real. No one is dead! No one!

"I can't remember any of this," was all he said as he held the broken royal.

"N-no you wouldn't," came a hiccuped reply, "It hasn't happened to you yet."

The end...nah just kidding!

I know I said I would update a longer chapter...but I'm a liar and a scoundrel so that's not happening! I'll give you another chapter soon to make up for it.

Thanks for your feedback!

(no slash. Merlin is not mine)