Arthur was lounging in his room, Merlin scrubbing his sheild, when he noticed that he didn't know as much about merlin as he would like to belive. He wondered if he had ever gotten a girl, or had one currently. He doubted it.

"Hey merlin?"

"Yes sire?"

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

Arthur was no stranger to body language. He saw how merlin froze, for the slightest moment, then resumed scrubbing the shield, with a but more vigor.

"Why the sudden intrest?"

"Why the sudden defence?"

Merlin turned around and shot him a look that borderlined an angry glare.

"Because it's none of your buisness."

"Merlin!" He was shocked. Merlin had never acted that way before. The closest they had ever gotten to something like this, was when they were searching for the dragon lord. "Why can't you just tell me?"

"Like I said sire," he said putting extra venom in the 'sire' "It's none of you buisness."

"So there was a girl."

"ARTHUR"

"MERLIN"

"FINE!" He threw the sheild down on the ground, producing a large clatter, and threw his hands in the air. "YES! IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT YES!"

Arthur was stunned again. Where had this alarming side of Merlin come from? He had certainly never seen it before.

"There was a girl." He said more calmly. "She was beautiful and perfect and the best person I have ever known. I loved her more than you will EVER UNDERSTAND AND NOW I CAN NEVER BE WITH HER." His voice grew in intensity and emotion and had cracked at the end.

"Why not?" He said, barely a whisper. He feared he already knew the answer.

"She's dead! OK? She's dead."

Merlin stood there, hands clenched at his sides, stiff as a board, with his face upturned and tears pouring out. He looked back down and stared Arthur in the eyes. The he turned briskly away, grabbed the sheild, and started scrubbing it again, fighting back the tears. Arthur stood up, and walked over to his friend and reached for his shoulder, noticing the slight jump as he touched him.

"I'm sorry."

That was all it took for Merlin. He finally cracked. He hugged Arthur and sobbed. He did his best to comfort him, he really did, but the half chocked sobs didn't quiet or lessen. One of the Knights, Elyan, poked his head inside.

"Sire wha?"

Arthur motioned for him to leave, and he did so.

Merlin finally quieted, and pulled back from Arthur.

"What was she like?"

He smiled.

"She was beautiful. Sweet, elegant in her own terrified way. There were people hunting her because they were angry at her over a stupid reason. She was so scared that I just had to protect her."

Arthur nodded.

"What was her name?"

"Freya." He said her name so reverently, as if it was a glass object, beautiful but fragile. He said it as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

"How did she die?" He knew he was passing onto a more dangerous topic of conversation.

"Stabbed. Those hunting her caught up with us. She died in my arms."

"Who was hunting her?"

Merlin stayed silent. Arthur nodded.

"It's alright. You don't have to answer that. I understand." He rubbed Merlin's back comfirtingly. Merlin looked up at him and smiled.

"Thank you Arthur. If that's all" He picked up the sheild "I'll be going." At the door he turned again. "Thank you Arthur." He left, leaving Arthur alone with his thoughts.