Arthur huffed and puffed in mock annoyance from his place at the doorway. "Merlin, why are you always the last one to be ready? You wear the same outfit on a daily base."

Then Arthur added under his breath. "Even when I offered you new ones, better ones."

Merlin made a face at him in the mirror, and Arthur had to hid a smile. At least Merlin had agreed to wear better materials, but still refused to wear a different style.

Merlin laid the last hand at tying his neckerchief around his neck, before walking towards Arthur and pressing a soft kiss on his cheek when he walked past.

Arthur snorted and closed the door and sprinted after the love of his life.

It hadn't always been like that, especially when his father was still alive. Their feelings for each other have started somewhere five years ago, but they had to keep it a secret because his father would probably kill or at least exile Merlin if he'd ever found out, and that was something that Arthur couldn't bear. So they kept their relationship a secret. It was just the two of them plus some of Arthur's closest knights tnat knew about it.

When his father died barely a year ago, they have slowly started to touch each other more in public and within three months they've shared their first public kiss. By then, most of the people of Camelot had known about their relationship, or at least had their suspicions.

And now, now nothing could stop Arthur from showing his love to Merlin. In fact, he was building up confidence to ask Merlin to marry him during this trip to the Kingdom of Ambrosia, just behind Lot's Kingdom.

"You're awfully quiet." Merlin said, making Arthur snap out of his thoughts.

"Yes, I am enjoying the silence while I still can. Soon we are surrounded by the knights, and you know how they can prattle on, and that's even without your input."

Arthur moved quickly a step to the side when he saw that Merlin was trying to nudge his ribs with his elbow.

"Ha, ha. You missed." Arthur said over his shoulder to Merlin, descending the grand stairs that lead to the courtyard. Several knights and servants were already mounted on their packed horses. Two horses were still without their riders and they seemed to become impatient from not moving for some time now.

Merlin and Arthur quickly mounted their steeds and the whole party was off.

~oOoOo~

"Merlin," Arthur called, making Merlin halt in his step and turning around to face him. His arms were full with the dirty cookware and plates.

"Merlin, you don't have to do that anymore. There are other servants." Arthur simply said.

Merlin shrugged to his best ability. "I don't mind, it's all I've known for most of my life. And besides, it's nice to have some peace and quiet from those noisemakers over there." Merlin jutted his chin out towards the campfire where most of the knights were sitting around, drinking the mead that the servants topped off as soon as the knights lifted their goblets.

"Should I join you… to help?" Arthur asked, his seductive eyebrow raise suggesting something quite differently than helping Merlin.

Merlin chuckled. "Arthur, when I see you doing the dishes, is probably the day I catch my death. And for what you're suggesting, about what I think you're suggesting… I - no. Not with them around."

"Okay," Arthur said, respecting Merlin's answer. "But at least take this." He stepped closer to Merlin, pulling his knife out of his scabbard and kneeling down to Merlin's feet where he pushed one trouser leg up and putting the knife inside the shaft of Merlin's boot and readjusting the trouser leg again. "You know how to use it." Arthur said when he stood at eyelevel again.

Arthur had figured out just how well Merlin knew how to use it. In fact he was quite the talent. Arthur had initially wanted to teach him some fighting techniques, for if, if, Merlin's magic wouldn't or couldn't work, so he'd still be able to defend himself.

Merlin sighed softly. "Arthur, I'm literally like twenty steps from the camp. Just at the creek. I'm sure I'll be fine and won't come across anyone there."

"Just humour me, okay?"

"Fine." Merlin agreed, "Well, best be going then."

"Okay, but come back quickly okay?"

"I will!" Merlin replied, already disappearing through the first line of trees. He was soon at the creek and set every pot and plate down on the ground before taking off his jacket and easing himself down onto his knees. He then rolled his sleeves up and began to wash everything.

He was almost finished, just busy with rinsing the last plate when it slipped from his hand and started to sink down to the bottom.

"Ah, bugger," Merlin muttered under his breath, reaching forward more and more to reach the plate. He was almost chest in when his fingers grasped the plate and he pulled is arm out, hissing when his upper arm scraped past a particularly sharp pointy tip from an underwater rock.

Merlin inspected the cut by the dim light the moon gave him. It was bleeding, but not a lot and when he pressed his hand against it for a few moments, it seemed to stop the bloodflow. Satisfied by that, Merlin began to roll down his sleeves again, put on his jacket and picked up the now clean dishes that he brought back to the camp. He saw some of the knights already having retired on their sleeping rolls. Maybe because of the mead, or maybe because they needed the rest from this day and for the day to come. Or maybe it was just a combo.

Arthur was at his side the moment he stepped through the trees again and Merlin laughed at that. "Gosh, Arthur. I've only been gone for like twenty minutes or so."

Arthur shrugged. "Can't help it that I miss you." He bent forward and placed a chaste kiss on Merlin's lips. He then took the stuff from Merlin's arms and dumped them unceremoniously down at where the provisions were stacked.

"Hey!" Merlin shout-whispered.

Arthur turned around. "Don't worry about it, you can put everything neatly away tomorrow. Now we should get to bed, because we'll be riding as soon as it gets light. If we're lucky we should be able to reach Ambrosia tomorrow."

At the mention of getting to bed, Merlin yawned. "That's probably a good idea."

Arthur moved to his bed roll and held his blanket up so Merlin could snuggle close to him.

"You've never been to Ambrosia, have you, Merlin?" Arthur asked, deeply inhaling Merlin scent from where his nose was nestled in the nape Merlin's neck.

"Nuh-uh," Merlin answered. "But you've told me that the place is really beautiful, and that magic is legal. That's nice." Merlin mused. He knew that Arthur was busy with repealing the anti-magic law, but some people of Camelot were still somewhat wary of magic, so Arthur-and Merlin-wanted to make a slow transition so people could fully accept it eventually.

"How are the royals?" Merlin asked.

"I don't know them that well," Arthur admitted. "I've met them twice, I believe. I must've been about sixteen the last time I've seen them, but from what I can remember they were really nice. Especially considering what they've been through."

"Oh? What happened to them?"

"They have lost their youngest son when he was about four years old. I don't know the whole story behind his death, but I believe he might wandered from his parents' sight for just a second and fell into the water. They've searched high and low for him, but they've never found him, or his body for that matter."

"That's terrible!"

"It is, I can't even imagine how they must feel. If he'd still be alive, he'd be about my age." Arthur said. Then pressed a kiss on Merlin's temple. "Now, get some sleep, love."