A/N: Fixing up a few "bugs," some changes will be made...corrections and a few "rewrites." Also, a big "hello!" To my my new readers, I hope you enjoy what I have to write and if you don't, that's okay too! Thank you for giving my story a chance! :)

Song used: "Goodbye Brother" The Game of Thrones.

Lthien~

Arthur's breath is ragged as he staggers over to the crippled bloody figure on the ground.

"...Merlin," he slurs out brokenly as he falls heavily to his knees. He gingerly reaches out and pulls the man-servant into his arms; ignoring the blood that coats over his chain-mail. Arthur cannot deal with that now, as his brain feels fully disconnected with his body. The king pulls off his gloves and with a shaking hand turns Merlin's marred face to his.

"No…" Arthur sobs, his voice almost completely lost. He can only stare at Merlin's unnaturally dilated eyes, the proof of his friend's horrid demise. The king allows himself to grieve openly, his salty tears sprinkling upon Merlin's pallid skin. Arthur soon covers his manservant's eyes with his palm, his hand trembling with misery. He then presses the back of his left hand to his lips, as the need to throw up overwhelms him. Merlin looks awful…

Arthur half brings his hand up to cover his eyes to spare himself the horrific sight. Alas, he cannot look away. The blonde's right hand fists itself in Merlin's ruined, and bloody, tunic, his hand trembling quite noticeably upon Merlin's torn up stomach. Arthur's eyes trail up and down Merlin's broken body unsure of how to assess his friend.

The king begins to slowly pull Merlin closer to him, his arms holding his friend up the best they can, Arthur's face utterly blank and lifeless. Merlin's head lolls awkwardly against Arthur's right shoulder, a blood trail slick against the king's pristine chainmail. Arthur presses two fingers to Merlin's sweaty neck, his eyes clamping shut, his own heart stilling as he finds nothing. He just had to make sure, he had to.

It shouldn't come as a shock, but it does, and by God does it hurt. Arthur's hold only tightens, his whole body shaking with grief. He presses his face into Merlin's neck, the tears only coming at full force.

He can't bring himself to see the truth, despite the truth he now holds… It tears his heart apart. Arthur takes in a ragged breath, his head pulling away from Merlin completely. Desperation takes ahold of him and he begins to whisper incoherent apologies to Merlin, the words a jumble of useless nothings. Arthur, yet again, pulls Merlin closer, the closest he can without crushing him, his hand helping Merlin's limp head rest more comfortably upon his chest. Arthur rests his chin over Merlin's head, the tears and apologies only growing in strength.

No, no, no, no, NO… Arthur screams to God, to anything willing to listen to his plea.

"Come back, Merlin..." Arthur whispers into Merlin's ebony locks, his chin quivering. At his friend's silence Arthur sobs louder, his arms tightening around Merlin to the point it would hurt if he were alive. He manhandles Merlin until his head once again rests upon his forearm.

Arthur bites onto his lower lip, drawing blood, trying his best not to scream out in agony. He steals a glance at Merlin's pallid face, his eyes shifting to his friend's bloody lips.

Never again would he see Merlin's smile; a smile so bright and innocent. With one smile the man could bring light to the darkness that clouded Arthur's life…

Could Arthur live without his smile?

With a shaking hand Arthur brushes his forefinger over his friend's chalky lips, half hoping to rid the skin of its horrid paint, half hoping to stir Merlin from his damned state.

"…H-hey, smile," The king whispers half smiling at his friend, gently tapping his bottom lip with his finger. "Smile?" he pleads again with a broken laugh, tears plummeting onto the rigid lips.

The king breaks down sobbing, clutching Merlin's head to his neck.

"Smile dammit!" He cries desperately over the boy's shoulder clutching the limp body tightly to his. His body shakes terribly as he strokes the raven locks that stick to his neck with blood and sweat.

"Wake up...! Merlin!" Arthur wails, jarring both he and Merlin. The king's tortured cries echoe all around him, the forest stilled into silence, time itself seeming to stop.

"Wake up...!" Arthur openly begs, face pressed tightly into Merlin's neck, his hands flush against Merlin's sweaty cheek and neck.

"D-don't do this...! Pl-please...Mer'n...w-wake up...!"

"Sire?!" calls an anxious voice behind the broken man, obviously alarmed by the scream he gave.

The king continues to stroke the raven locks and slightly rocks back and forth ignoring the crowd of knights that formed behind him.

"Merlin…?" A voice gasps as the servant's feet are seen sticking out floppily under the king's scarlet cape. Arthur looks up through tear filled eyes to see Leon's face twisted with grief.

"NO!" Gwaine shrieks pushing himself through the other knights and impulsively flings himself to the ground scrambling to where the king still clung to the boy's body. Arthur sways dangerously as Gwaine almost pushes him out of the way.

"Oh my G-God…" Gwaine gasps, his hands hovering over Merlin's broken and bloody body unsure of what to do. The brunette knight indecisively crumbles over the boy's body sobbing, letting his wavy locks cover Merlin's pale face.

"…Merlin," Lancelot gasps half sobbing as he puts his hands over his head and paces the forest floor, staring up at the heavens.

How are we going break this to Gwen? Was his magic not strong enough…? Lancelot gives a nervous glance to Elyan who had his head bowed in thought; a few tears streaming down his face. He was probably thinking the same as he was; the first part that is…

"Oh, Merlin," Lancelot sobs into his arm.

"Sire…?" Questions Leon who sends a vexed look to Merlin's lifeless form. "Can you please explain what happened?" He tears his eyes away from the servant to stare at the back of the king. He gulps, desperately trying to hold back tears as Gwaine let out a broken cry. He is not willing to cry in front of his king who looks as if he'd collapse at any moment, yet he has not the heart to tear Gwaine from Merlin…

Arthur says nothing, his knees icy and wet from where he kneels, his body almost statuesque, in front of Merlin; his face equally as gruesome as the dead servant's. He only continues to study Merlin's face, of which is now completely covered by a sobbing Gwaine.

"Sire…?" Percival asks softly and tenderly squeezes Arthur's stiff shoulder. A few more tears flow down Arthur's stationary face, the only answer the knight is given and Percival gives a concerned glance towards Gwaine, Merlin, and then to Leon.

"…organa…" Arthur incoherently whispers, his face hidden with shadow.

"Sire…?" Percival inquires, straining to hear what he was trying to say, and kneels on one knee before his king, his hand tightening its hold on Arthur's shoulder.

"Morgana," Arthur half growls in a voice that makes Percival flinch and drop his hand from his shoulder.

Arthur's eyes harden as he sees Gwaine holding Merlin in his arms much like he was before. Gwaine soothes a few sweaty locks that stick to Merlin's forehead and rocks slightly, biting his lip trying hard not to break down again.

"She will pay." Gwaine spits looking up to meet Arthur's stare; his brown eyes glistening with hatred and undeniable fury.

"She will die." The king promises through clenched teeth, fire burning in both their eyes as they both stare at Merlin's pallid face.

The knights all look at each other with the same spark in their eyes. Merlin's death would not go un-avenged.