Author's note: This was something I did on tumblr (my tumblr name can be found as it is the same as my FF name – IMarriedMyFandoms – if you wanted to find it there as well) I posted for people to leave me prompts and I would write a short fanfic for them. Will possibly be posting more (with this same authors note) if they come up.

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It wasn't supposed to happen like this. They were supposed to have this great destiny together. It really wasn't supposed to happen like this. Merlin's breath was ragged, coming in short gasps as he held onto his sides. Arthur was there, his voice now coming in distantly.

"Please… Gods don't die… Merlin…" Merlin's eyes opened a bit wider as he felt a hand brush against his face. The battle raged on around them, men screaming, the clanking of swords, a whoosh of an arrow zipping by, spells being shouted as they were cast. Arthur was hovering over Merlin, pressing his hand into the gaping wound on Merlin's side. He was partially in shock. Half of it was because he was watching his manservant, his best friend, lie there, bleeding out. The other half of it was because Merlin had saved his life… with magic.

Arthur had been fighting when he heard the words. Something flashed behind him and he turned just in time to see Merlin casting a spell before the energy was coming towards him. Merlin had jumped, shoving Arthur out of the way and taking the hit himself.

"Please… you can't… you can't leave me like this." Arthur knew he was crying. Merlin's face was growing pale, his eyes dimming and starting to close.

"Apologies… my King…" Merlin's voice was weak, tired even as his breath shortened. He raised a bloody hand to Arthur's face, wiping away the tears but on really mixing them with his blood. He was slipping. Arthur knew about his magic and now he was drifting away. With the little strength he had left, Merlin brought Arthur's face down to his, he pressed their forehead's together and whispered the spell.

"Tueri vitam donec mea redit." his body glowed a brilliant blue, enveloping himself and Arthur. There was a gasp from Arthur as Merlin's eyes glowed a brilliant gold. He slowly smiled as he whispered the last words to the spell. "Aeternum contributuros nobis." As they left his mouth the glow stopped. His eyes faded back to their normal colour. Everything about Merlin there just stopped.

Arthur sobbed, feeling the cold, dead weight of his friend in his arms. He didn't want to fight any more. He didn't care enough to move. It didn't matter. Merlin was gone. Merlin was dead. There was nothing left for Arthur.

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PS the Latin translates to "Protect this life until my return" and "Forever reunite us"