Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights belong to their respective owners.
I know it has been a long time since I've posted anything, let alone a multi-chapter story. Real life has a way of getting in the way. I hope some of the Merlin fandom are still around to enjoy this!
Merlin stopped, one hand resting on a tree as he stared out across the lake in front of him. He had been stumbling after Arthur all morning and hadn't been paying attention where they were going. Now, however, he knew exactly where they were. Only this time, the sun was shining brightly and he could hear Arthur creeping through the undergrowth somewhere behind him. But Merlin stopped, staring at the body of water and feeling tears film his eyes.
He blinked rapidly. He couldn't cry. Not here and certainly not now. He couldn't believe it had been a month since he had laid Freya to rest. So much had happened with Arthur's latest brush with magic and the enchantment that had left him a gibbering fool in love. Merlin would have mocked him more if he didn't know that Arthur was beginning to understand what love meant now that he had noticed Gwen.
How could he mock their love when his own had been torn from him before he had the chance to explore it? He swallowed hard, adamant that he wasn't going to cry, but unable to stop his heart twisting painfully in his chest.
At least he had given her a resting place where she could be peaceful.
"Merlin! Come on!"
Merlin turned, leaving his hand resting on the tree trunk for a moment as he looked back. Then he smiled a sad smile and set off after his master. Freya was gone, at peace now. Arthur, on the other hand, still had Merlin running around non-stop and he knew if he didn't find the prince fast, Arthur would no doubt find trouble before Merlin could arrive to save him.
It didn't take Merlin long at all to find the prince. He was crouched behind a bush, studying a print on the ground. He looked up as Merlin almost fell over him, arms wind-milling as he attempted to remain upright.
"What are you doing, Merlin? What took you so long?"
"I-never mind." Merlin knew he could hardly tell Arthur why he had stopped. That was what hurt more than anything. He had been the one to come up with a solution to save Arthur from Vivian. He had saved his friend from love and in return, couldn't even tell the prince what had been on his mind the last month. He knew Arthur wasn't that oblivious though; he knew something was wrong. It was why he had been so insistent that Merlin came with him on the hunt.
Merlin was grateful that Arthur was attempting to show he cared. He just wished the prince had other hobbies than stalking things through the woods all morning. Merlin deliberately hadn't been quiet; he had no intention of watching Arthur hunt just for pleasure.
Arthur ignored his broken explanation. He reached up, fisting his hand in Merlin's shirt and yanking the servant down to ground level.
"Look. What do you see?"
"Mud," Merlin muttered and Arthur cuffed him over the head. "Ow!"
"Look again."
"Prints," Merlin said reluctantly. Arthur had taken it as a personal insult just how bad Merlin was at tracking. The warlock didn't think telling the prince all he had to do was mutter a spell and he knew what lay ahead would go down too well, so he put up with Arthur's efforts to teach him and then resorted to magic when Arthur wasn't looking.
"Good. What kind of prints?"
"Hare?" Merlin guessed, staring at the small marks in the mud.
"Don't exaggerate, Merlin. Rabbit at best. Their warren must be around here somewhere. Get a stick, we'll flush them out."
Excitement was shining in Arthur's eyes and there was a flush to his cheeks. Merlin might have been worried if he hadn't seen this hundreds of times before. The hunt was on and Arthur was not one to back down. Merlin, however, had no intention of joining in and he backed away, taking his time to find a stick and not returning until he heard Arthur's angry shout. When he reached his master, Arthur had a rabbit in either hand and a scowl on his face.
"Where the hell did you go?"
"To find a stick," Merlin retorted, holding up the thin twig he had picked up. Arthur stared at it, then rolled his eyes and walked away.
"I give up," he muttered and Merlin grinned, following him. He knew that meant Arthur had had enough of hunting for one day.
But the prince didn't start walking back to Camelot. Instead, he stopped in the first safe clearing they reached and Merlin didn't need to ask. He quickly gathered sticks for a fire and took the rabbits from Arthur. He had heard the prince's stomach grumbling and knew Arthur would rather eat out here than returning to the castle. Arthur had never told his father what had happened with Vivian and Merlin knew the king was still not happy about his son's behaviour.
While Merlin prepared the food, Arthur removed his boots and stretched his feet towards the fire. Merlin waited until both rabbits were over the fire before making himself comfortable. Autumn was drawing in and while it meant there was a slight chill to the air, the ground was cushioned with fallen leaves.
"I've never met anyone quite as oblivious as you, you know, Merlin."
Merlin had been in the process of taking a swig of water when Arthur spoke. He choked, just replacing the stopper in time to stop himself from spilling the rest. He stared at Arthur, fighting a grin.
"What?"
"How can you not notice that you were practically standing on the rabbit warren?"
"Maybe I did know," Merlin said. "Maybe I just didn't see the point of flushing them out so you could have some fun."
"If anyone else spoke to me like that…"
"But I'm not anyone else and we both know that nothing will change." Merlin saw Arthur's lips twitch in a quick smile and knew that while the prince might complain (constantly), he wouldn't change anything. Neither of them would.
"Merlin?"
"What?"
"The food is burning."
With a yelp, Merlin yanked the rabbit off the fire and flung it on Arthur's direction while he nursed his burnt hand. The prince laughed easily, snatching it from the air and drawing his knife. Despite himself, Merlin grinned.
Out here, just the two of them, things were so much easier. Arthur let his guard down in a way he never dared too in Camelot and Merlin didn't feel the weight of his destiny crushing him so much with a breeze playing through his hair. When they were in the forest, he could breathe.
Glancing at Arthur, he knew the prince felt the same. He was concentrating on splitting the meat between the two of them, but he was relaxed and a grin never far from his face. He handed Merlin his portion and the warlock made himself comfortable again as they ate.
The conversation flowed easily between them and Merlin knew what really made the difference when they were out here. In the woods, with no one around, they weren't master and servant. They weren't even prince and warlock. They were just two young men enjoying freedom.
"Have you made it up to Gwen yet?" Merlin asked teasingly once he had finished eating. Arthur blushed and avoided his gaze.
"I tried," he said softly. "I hope she has forgiven me."
"Of course she has. She kissed you, didn't she?"
"Shut up, Merlin."
"Your true love… Who would have guessed it? I don't know what she sees in you."
"What do you know about love, Merlin?"
Although Arthur's tone was teasing, Merlin felt his smile slip as an image of Freya flashed through his mind.
"Nothing," he said. "Nothing at all."
"What's wrong? You've been acting weird for a month."
Despite knowing his behaviour was why they were out here, Merlin hadn't expected Arthur to come out and say it so bluntly.
"Nothing."
"You're a terrible liar, you know that, right?"
"Whatever you say, Sire," Merlin said, rolling his eyes. Arthur stretched out until his foot nudged Merlin's leg.
"Seriously. You're terrible. I know you're not alright."
"I…"
"Don't deny it. I didn't say I wanted to know. God knows, I've got enough to worry about than your problems."
"So you're worried about me?"
"Don't be so absurd, Merlin."
Merlin grinned, shaking his head fondly as he lay back and folded his arm under his head. He knew how to read Arthur and understood perfectly well that his friend was concerned. It made Merlin feel better, although he would never admit that to Arthur.
"You'll be alright," Arthur murmured sleepily and Merlin felt himself relax. It wasn't a question; it was a statement. After everything they had been through together over the last year, Merlin knew Arthur was right. He had faced worse than a broken heart and survived it.
He could survive this as well, even if it meant more hunting trips.
MMM
Considering the hunting trip helped to lighten his mood, the last thing Merlin expected when he walked into Arthur's chambers the next morning was to find the prince ready to ride out again.
"You're dressed."
"How observant, Merlin. I am the future King of Camelot."
"No desire to woo anyone? Send flowers? Make declarations of love?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The last time I didn't have to drag your royal backside out of bed, you were busy falling in love." Once again, Merlin witnessed the blush on Arthur's face. But he couldn't detect magic of any sort and Arthur looked and sounded like his normal self.
"There have been raiding parties and confrontations along the eastern border. I'm riding out."
"I'm coming too."
"What are you going to do?"
"Someone has to hold the horses," Merlin said, dumping Arthur's breakfast on the table and heading out again. Arthur might expect him to come along, but he never thought about making sure there were enough provisions or even horses saddled. Merlin knew that, unless he hurried, he would be left behind and then something drastic would happen to Arthur while the warlock was still trying to catch up.
He sweet-talked one of the kitchen girls into bringing food to the stables while he hurried to prepare both his and Arthur's horses. It was a sign of how used to his job he now was as before Arthur strode into the courtyard to address his men, Merlin had everything ready to go. Leon smiled at him and even Arthur had nothing to say when he took his mount's reins and mounted up. Merlin followed suit, not enthusiastic for another day out in the forest. Arthur didn't relax in the same way when he was leading his men.
They rode out in silence, but Merlin looked back as he left the courtyard. Gwen was watching from a window and Merlin raised his hand in farewell. She returned the wave and Merlin rode out with a grin. It didn't surprise him that Gwen was anxious. Merlin knew how she felt about the prince just as he knew how deep Arthur's feelings ran for her.
He nudged his horse into a trot, catching up to ride by Arthur's side. The knights had long since given up trying to remind him that his place was near the back. They knew their prince didn't take those sorts of comments well when it came to Merlin.
"So where are we going?"
"East."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "I got that bit. East covers a lot of territory."
Arthur shot him a scathing look and didn't say anything. Merlin realised the prince didn't actually know. They were riding in the general direction of trouble, hoping they would find it before it found them. Merlin swallowed and instinctively reached for his magic, comforting himself with the touch of his power. Trouble wouldn't stand a chance against them, not if Merlin had his way.
They rode through the morning and stopped for a terse lunch. The men joked among themselves, but Arthur remained silent, staring out into the trees.
"You need to eat something," Merlin said quietly, approaching him with a platter.
"I don't have an appetite."
Merlin wasn't surprised. He knew how Arthur got when he potentially had to lead his men into danger.
"You won't be any good to them if you faint like a girl."
Arthur snatched the plate from him without another word and Merlin backed away to give him his peace. While he knew what it felt having a burden on his shoulders, at least it was only Arthur he had to think about most of the time. The prince had to constantly worry about his men and the decisions he was making.
But nothing attacked them that lunch time and they set off at a gallop to cover more ground. It was obvious from the equipment no one planned to stay out all night and Merlin knew it wouldn't be long before they were turning back.
Before they reached that point though, Arthur suddenly held up his hand, fist clenched. Everyone stopped, even Merlin knowing what that signal meant. The knights all dismounted, drawing weapons as they did so. It was only then that Merlin heard coarse laughter, shouts and the sound of a fight up ahead.
"See to the horses," Arthur hissed at him before disappearing into the undergrowth with his knights on his heels. Merlin waited just long enough for the final one to be concealed by the bushes before his eyes flashed and all of the reins were tethered to nearby branches. Convinced their mounts wouldn't be able to flee, Merlin tripped through the roots and brambles after the prince.
The bushes had muffled the sounds effectively as when Merlin fought free the other side, it was to find himself in the middle of a battle. The knights were effective, working efficiently as a team as they dispatched bandits methodically. Arthur shouted instructions even as he held off two men and Merlin quickly busied himself with tripping the third man coming up behind the prince. Arthur saw the man fall and looked around, Merlin entering his line of vision.
"What are you doing here?"
"Thought you might need a hand," Merlin said, grabbing a thick branch. A man approached him, sword in hand, and Merlin backed up, trying to get the right angle so he could use magic without Arthur seeing. He hadn't taken more than two paces before the man stopped and suddenly fell. Arthur's dagger was sticking out of his back.
"Get over here," Arthur instructed and Merlin hurried across, dodging battling men. As he drew closer, he stopped and blinked. Arthur wasn't skirting the battle because he wanted to. There was a girl crouched in the roots of a large tree, a terrified expression on her face.
"Guard her," Arthur said before running into the thick of it with a battle cry.
"But…" Merlin looked at the girl and tried to offer her a reassuring grin. "You'll be alright."
"Behind you!"
He turned at her warning, bringing his branch up just in time to block another bandit's sword. He shoved the man away, brought the stick around and clumped his attacker over the head. The man dropped without a sound and Merlin grinned, beaming at his branch before turning his attention back to the fight. He wanted to be by Arthur's side, wanted to make sure the prince had the type of protection that only Merlin could offer. But he could hardly leave a defenceless girl on the edge of the battle. Arthur would kill him himself if Merlin disobeyed that order.
The battle felt like it raged for hours but Merlin knew it must have been only a matter of moments. Arthur's men got the bandits rounded up, but as they attempted to secure them, five men broke free and ran in opposite directions. While Arthur and the knights sprung after four of them, the fifth headed straight for Merlin and the girl. Merlin swung but missed and suddenly found himself grappling with the man.
Backed against the tree and convinced no one could see him, Merlin let the magic roll off him and the man yelled as if he had been struck. To keep up appearances, Merlin lifted his knee and drove it into the man's stomach just as Arthur arrived. The prince looked stunned even as he pulled the man away from his servant.
"Wonders never cease," he muttered as he wrestled the man back to the others. This time, all were secured without any problems and Merlin let go of his branch. His fingers had gone stiff around it and he shook out his hand as he turned towards the girl.
"Here," he said, offering her his hand. She took it timidly and Merlin helped her up. She looked towards the men.
"Thank you," she said.
"It's them you should be thanking, I didn't do much."
"But you did," she said. "I saw you."
Merlin stared at her, not knowing what to say. He didn't want to confirm or deny anything she was saying in case he was misunderstanding. But there was a look on her face, one that said she had seen exactly what he had done. She moved towards the knights before he had the chance to react.
But when she reached the company of the men, she turned back to him and smiled. It was a genuine smile, one of gratitude and relief and Merlin found himself grinning back. She had seen him use magic, he could tell by the look in her eyes. And rather than hating or fearing him, she was thanking him.
Merlin moved over himself and even Arthur's normal quips couldn't stop a light feeling from filling him up. It was the first time since Freya's death that he felt something other than grief. For the first time in a month, he felt hope once again.
