Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Just hold me," Arthur whispered desperately, "Please."

He was dying, he knew days ago he wasn't going to survive. Watching Merlin try to save him was heartbreaking. He wasn't about to waste any of their time.

"There's something I want to say,"

"You're not going to say goodbye." He watches Merlin realize he wasn't going to survive, knew he was going to die, that he couldn't save him this time.

"No. Merlin, everything you've done I know now, for me, for Camelot, the kingdom you helped me build," Each word took too long to say, he could barely get through them.

"You'd have done it without me." Merlin responds close to tears.

"Maybe," He knew that the only reason his kingdom was standing and safe was because of Merlin.

"I want to say something I've never said to you before, Merlin," his words are breathy and broken, but he softly grasps Merlin's head making sure he could take in all of his face for the last time. He was gentle but he so desperately wanted to hold his head, feel his hair, caress his face, everything he had been scared to do before.

"I love you," He starts to lose consciousness,

"Arthur, hey, Arthur," Merlin screams trying to keep him awake.

"You'll find me again." He gives him a small smile, wiping a tear off his face gently with his thumb.

"How do you know that?" Merlin cries through the words.

"I just know." At this, he takes his last breath. Knowing he would be reunited with Merlin one day. He didn't know how, but he knew this would not be the last time they would be together.