Chapter 1

AN: This is unbeta'ed and written on my mobile. I will update the chapters with corrected ones - and continue - if anyone is interested. Enjoy.

*Update* Thanks to my beta Blackbandit111 for the great help

I don't own Merlin

A horn sounded behind them as they stumbled through the undergrowth. The howls that followed couldn't have been any more foreboding, even if they had come from the Black Hound itself. Shouts echoed in the surrounding cliffs and made it nearly impossible to pinpoint where they originated. Instead they just continued to run blindly forwards, unsure if they were headed towards freedom or into a trap.

Soon the sound of hoofbeats and yells of victory coming from in front of them made it clear that they were headed for the last of the two, and that drove them back, deeper into the woods.

They zigzagged through the trees, nearly tripping when they looked over their shoulders, dreading what they would see. No thoughts filled their heads, only their instinctual need to survive was driving their shaking legs to continue.

Until, finally, the sound of their hunters disappeared, leaving only the silence of the woods and their thundering heartbeat behind. They both collapsed to the ground, nearly choking on air as they forced it through their raw throats.

The many weeks of being hunted like animals had taught them to push their body past their limits, and had thereby outlived things that should have been impossible. But it all came with a price. They were both sickly thin and together with their ruined clothes, once rich and colourful, made it look like they were wandering scarecrows. Their will to survive might not have dimmed, but it wouldn't be long before their body betrayed them and they would no longer have the strength to stand back up.

"What now?" The first one asked as he finally regained his breath.

The other just shook his head.

After several tense minutes he stood up, swaying a little on his still unsteady legs. He ran a hand through his golden hair and sighed. "We need to rest. Find some food." He looked around and gestured to their surroundings. "I will scout the area to see if I can find some water."

He started to walk away when the other man stopped him.

"Arthur."

Arthur turned back around slowly. His friend's tone was soft, but his eyes shone with determination.

"It was his own choice."

Arthur shook his head; in denial or something else he wasn't even sure himself.

"He was still one of my men, still my responsibility!" Arthur countered.

"Sir Ethan chose to give his life for you. It is what we as knights are here for; protecting our leader!"

Arthur looked at his last standing knight. Sir Leon was only a few years older than Arthur. He had been his father's First Knight for years, a skilled fighter and an even better friend. He had even been the one to teach Arthur swordplay, up until the day the young prince finally beat his teacher. The knight had been the first to congratulate his student with a proud smile, and the knowledge that his friend would always be there to back him up, should he need it, encouraged Arthur to trust himself every time a new problem arose.

This time, though, he knew it wouldn't be enough.

"I'm not a leader. Not anymore."

Then Arthur turned around again, and quickly let the forest hide him from his friend's disappointed gaze.