A/N: Im back. Its true, i got excited about writing another fiction, not that i really have the time in my life to write one, but i love it. Thank you so much for reading my previous Merlin fic: Trapped. This isn't a sequel, so can be read stand alone. Any ideas for a sequel feel free to message me. This fic is dedicated to/with thanks to TegenL74 and Felicity P, who have been very inspirational and supportive with reviews and their own fic. THANKS GUYS!

This is a real hurt/comfort Merlin, Arthur bromance fic. Not sure on the length, will depend on feedback i suppose. Sorry guys... i like to hurt Merlin, just a sucker for whump. Enjoy, and please please R&R.

Chapter 1

"Merlin, you complete Buffoon!" Arthur clouted his servant over the head as his horse whinnied and pranced on the stoney earth.

"What?"

"Your supposed to be looking after my new horse Merlin, not scaring the damn thing!" Arthur pushed on his own steed and carried on up the pathway. His older, trusted stallion was beginning to lame, and Tyr, the Royal stablehand had offered the King one of Camelot's finest bred mares. Arthur had entrusted his new to be horse named Adelaide to Merlin for now, to ensure she was of adequate temperament.

"There's a storm coming" Merlin turned his head to look at the coming clouds, rumbles echoed in the distance and flashes could be seen on the horizon. "She's getting a bit tetchy about it"

"I'll give you tetchy" Arthur's anger was rising, the whole mornings patrol had been a complete waste of time. Scouts had reported bandits on the western border and their patrol had been all but fruitless. The King had better things to do than chasing false pretenses.

Merlin pushed on, catching up with his master and small group of knights. The new chestnut mare was bouncing along, strong headed, and the warlock was having to keep her rained in to steady her gait. He was sure to tell Tyr the mare may well be too much to handle for the King. Arthur's trusted steed Meinhard was fearless and steady and would follow his master into battle without as much of a toss of the head. Merlin wasn't so sure about this horse.

They rode silently for a while, they were several leagues from the city walls yet, and although a storm brewing they went steady, in no hurry to return. It was sometime later when the spots of large raindrops began to hit them that many began to mumble about the inevitable downpour.

Arthur pushed Meinhard into a trot and the others followed suit. The rain spotted on the stoney earth, bouncing back up with force quickening in pace. Within seconds it was coming down in streams, hitting many of the knights armer with a distinctive ping and soaking through cloth in moments. Merlin squinted his eyes against the fleeting gusts of wind as the storm began to gain pace. The thunder rolled heavily above them, echoing across the rapid blackened sky causing day to feel like night all of a sudden.

"We should hurry" Arthur kicked on faster.

"Whats the point?" Gwaine sounded rather downcast to match the whether. "I'm soaked through already" His own loyal mare pranced on forward, flighty yet steadfast, keeping up with the group.

As they rounded into the next turning the rain if at all possible came down even harder. This time it began to sting the faces of the men riding into it. They slowed to an almost standstill, blinded by the deluge.

The thunder crashed again, closer this time, causing some of the less experienced horses to twitch and paw at the ground, their riders pulling them up and calming them. Several more close forks of lightening flashed and the thunder crashed even louder. Adelaide reared back, flailing her legs up and into the air. Merlin leaned forward gripping with his knees on the soaked leather saddle he felt himself begin to slip.

"Merlin?" Arthur shouted over the pouring raining, "get a grip on her will you"

"I have" the servant pulled the rains tighter to stop the frightened mare from bolting in panic. She kicked her feet out sideways and bounced uncontrollably from one side of the pathway to the other. "she wont settle, its the storm"

Arthur pulled his own horse back round to help and then it happened. Almost all in the blink of an eye. A fork of lightening hit the ground all but several meters away sending all the horses into blind panic. The ground vibrated and a few knights had to cover their ears from the shear force of the noise which came. Sparks flew in various directions and the group seemed to scatter wildly. Adelaide reared again and this time Merlin couldn't hold on, he felt his body slip from the saddle and he hit the soaking ground, air whooshing from his lungs from the force. His ankle twisted as it remained stuck fast in the stirrup. The mare kicked out in terror and Merlin tried in vain to dislodge his foot, feeling the panic rising in his chest as the horse became hysterical, thrashing wildly.

"Hold on" Arthur jumped from Meinhard and came rushing to his servant's aid. Too late. Something cracked, Arthur hollered his friends name and Merlin's face exploded in agony. The warlock didn't feel his body hit the stoney ground, or the cries of his friends as he lost consciousness. All he felt then was nothing.

Arthur's heart nearly stopped as he witnessed what happened. The horses hoof connected square with Merlin's face and his head snapped backward. All he saw was a small splatter of blood mixed with rain hit the floor moments before his friends limp body followed. The crazed chestnut mare bolted then, free from her rider.

"Merlin!" the King screamed his friend name crashing to his knees in the muddy stoney path. He shook the warlock at the shoulders blinking the pouring rain from his eyes in an attempt to see better.

Merlin was still and limp as Arthur tried to rouse him, his face was already covered in blood, streaming down freely to his already sodden neckerchief. Arthur placed a trembling pair of fingers on his blooded neck and felt a pulse present, he exhaled in relief. A deep gash lay across the left side of the servants face, akin to the size and shape of the horse's hoof. The King shakily untied the neckerchief and rolling it into a ball he placed it over the wound. He turned to see Gwaine and Leon behind him.

"Well don't just stand there!" he shouted. "find some shelter!" he wafted his hand rudely at them. "And send someone to the city immediately to call for Gaius" he added.