I am a huge fan of Merlin/Arthur, this story is dedicated to their relationship, as friends and as star-crossed lovers.
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"You're being awfully quiet!" Arthur on horseback turned his head speaking to his manservant walking on foot. "What troubles you?"
"Sire, it's been five hundred steps and we still haven't left the woods." Merlin replied in a half angry manner. "We be getting lost and these ground hogs are not light on my arms either."
"Don't be such a girl, Merlin!" Arthur raised his voice, sealing his lips hard after he spoke like he's becoming even angrier toward his idiotic and complaining fool of a servant. "I'll handle this."
"If I may ask are we going to stop soon? My legs are tired out, my mind well I cannot focus with my stomach yearning for food." Merlin complained.
"You do need to eat more for that wimpy body of yours." Arthur quickly replied and faintly smiled. In his mind he actually likes Merlin's charming thin figure and especially when it does his chores. Arthur quickly tried to erase the thought.
"Clotpole!"
"What's that?" Arthur inquired.
"Nothing, sire!"
Arthur rolled his eyes then moved on. "Stop here we can make camp over there and ride for Camelot in the morning."
Thank goodness he does have some sense to him. "Thank you, sire!" Merlin suddenly stopped his track and exhaled a huge sigh of relief thinking that tomorrow will be another day and for once these dangly things won't be heavily dangling on his arms no more. He hoped this neck of the wood is safe, for his and Arthur's sake. Merlin's mind came rolling. "I'll open the supplies bag for camp."
Not once did they ever get lost on a hunting trip and today would be the first. Merlin could think of hot bath water and warm roasted meal sitting in Gauis' room waiting for the second he and the prince are back in Camelot. It's only be a day and it seems like forever. But what is more important than commodities and food at home, Arthur the prince, the boy or man (whichever way you look at it) was the person he's destined to protect. Is it a horrid thing that he thinks of Arthur all the time beyond his duties? Things like does he think of me when I am not around to make his bed, carry and organize his clothes, tidy his chamber, and fetch his meals. No! Not a bad thing, he thought to himself. We are two sides of a coin the Great Dragon, who claims to know his destiny had told him. Lastly, would Arthur ever accept him for who he is, and his secret?
"Merlin, hurry it up!"
"Yes Sire! I am doing my best," the servant kneeled trying to make in and out of the pieces of camp supplies. This is the first time they ever have to sleep in woods after all.
"Do I have it do it for you? When you're done settling things gather stones and mosses and start a fire."
Merlin finally finished making a tent for him and Arthur. Only this time would Merlin be sleeping next this best friend, unlike others his room is the extension of Gauis' physician house and his friend's room well the chamber at the castle. Great now I must hurry it up with the stones and mosses too. I must build a fire the conventional way unless …
Just as Merlin began tapping (for show) the stones together but his eyes turned golden and enchanted heat and fire onto the gathered mosses and dead grass, Arthur had intervened.
"Ouch!" He screamed murderously. He looked back only to see the prince has this thorny, painful twig pushing against his sore arse. "Why'd you do that for?" He pleaded for an answer.
"I like you, Merlin" The prince smiled and charmed his way out of his wrongdoing. Though he thought it was cute when his servant screamed for murder.
"My arse certainly does not like you." Merlin answered not looking while concentrating fully to keep his fire stronger and growing. He never understood why the prince is obsessed with throwing objects at him, or now does this sort of painful thing. "How so?" He quickly added as if he genuinely wants to know. Don't give me a half arse answer.
Arthur spoke nothing but laughed at the boy.
"This isn't funny sire." Merlin turned and glared at his master. If he thinks this funny then he might as well keep it up unless my arse heals faster than his painful antics. This is the worst part of being a peasant and a servant; mankind constantly makes a fool out of you.
"For starter you do everything as I ordered and you have complained less." Arthur joked.
"That's why I like you."
"I like you too, sire. But you should stop hurting me now and then."
"I will try Merlin." He smiled back.
The fire emerged larger than life and Arthur tossed the thorny twig into it. He threw other small branches and dried leaves into to it as well. Ironically the fire heated strong only when there seems to be moment between him and his manservant. As if there is a fire that burns underneath the "sire," "clothpole," "idiot," "prat," and "fool" talk that the two are sharing. They know they weren't being serious. Funny arguments between the best of friends are always healthy. The true question is whether if they are more than friends.
"Hurry it up with my food Merlin." The prince ordered while taking off his dirty hunting shirt. It certainly was a bit chilly but he can manage the cold as long as he stays near the large campfire. Merlin did his best to shave the ground hogs for their roast.
"It's almost done, Arthur." Merlin spoke Arthur's name for the first time today. Seems like the boy is loosening up and the flesh of Arthur's chest couldn't make it any easier. It was comfortable with his master at night, Arthur tuned down the orders and arguments. They soon would have some peaceful talk that they both enjoy, mothers and fathers, nobles and peasants, crime and justice, time and events…
Arthur cannot help but noticed Merlin called his name for the first time on this hunting day. He must have stopped being angry. He could tell by: the way his servant woke up with an grumpy attitude early this morning after he knocked on Gauis' place and requested for his servant; the way his servant carried on mostly in silence meant he didn't enjoy the hunting trip one bit. It's easy to tell if Merlin is angry, bored, or happy. He's overly smiley and his blue eyes dilate with some inkling tears of joy. What's hard to decipher is when he's confused, sad, or in love. Merlin's affection would be one of Arthur's ultimate quests.
"Thank you Merlin."
Merlin smiled and Arthur smiled back while still wearing nothing above his waist.
"Clotpole." Merlin whispered.
"I heard that." Arthur protested. "You know what Merlin; the stable back in Camelot is waiting for you to clean it up."
"Uhmm Arthur I am not the knights' manservant. They are their horses not yours."
"They are my men and their horses are part of my responsibilities."
"But couldn't you hire another servant to do that? You don't want me to touch the stable and touch the clothes afterward now do you?"
"Is that a threat, Merlin?"
"Not at all, sire!"
"Oh now it's back to being, sire. You are obviously getting upset. I shut up and I expect you to do the same."
"We are thousands of steps away from Camelot. You don't expect me to follow your orders like I always do now would you? As far I am concern I can run away from you and Camelot as far as possible." Merlin said with a huge smile on his face. Then he gave out a huge laugh.
The prince laughed hard as well. "Merlin, sometimes I feel like I know you."
"I know you too, si..Ar-Arthur." Merlin kept his smile knowing that he had made his master laughed.
The prince smiled back staring into this cute blue eyes and how they sit perfectly on the chiseled high cheekbone face of Merlin. His dark hair makes the blue eyes stand out even more.
"It's done my lord. Go on and dig in to your delicious hunt."
Arthur walked over and grabbed a piece. Merlin made his way into the camp, kneeled down, and rested on all four limbs. He was making the tent, cleaning it making sure it's ready for the prince when he sleeps. Merlin would be either in the tent or outside depends on his master. I wish Arthur let me stay in.
Arthur quickly told Merlin to eat too as Merlin had worked hard today and even walked mostly on foot. Occasionally when his servant is tired he lets him take the horse and he would be on his feet. It helped out both since he did not like being on his butt all day of the hunt. Before Merlin moved to the fire and the roasted ground hog meat, Arthur couldn't help but stare happily at the site of Merlin bending out, his arse perfectly thin like his body. Cute as ever and this time the arse is moving and about while he cleaned.
"I will get it soon my lord, tinny tad more and your sleeping ground for tonight is complete."
Merlin completed the tent and whizzing in the air, something as always, Arthur tossed him a piece of meat to munch for the night.
"Thank you my lord!" Merlin said with a smile.
"Need more meat, my servant?"
They both drank from their water bags at the same and soon they both emptied the bag with their thirsty mouths.
"I'll fetch us some water." The prince volunteered. "Promise you won't eat all my meat."
"Ohhh you never know, my lord. Your servant is oftly hungry." Merlin threatened.
Arthur headed in the direction of the large creek they passed earlier, about a couple hundred steps away from their camp. The afternoon sun had made the water glistened and sparkled; something that Arthur couldn't resist taking a sip into it. Despite the current dusk sun, he managed to make out the best part of the creek water to dig in.
Grabbing onto both water bags, his mind urgently bathed in memories with Merlin. It overwhelmed him at the thought of spending alone nighttime with his servant, a rare occasion indeed. He questions if Merlin ever thinks of him more than a master, although lately Merlin has given many suggestive clues. Merlin has done things beyond his duties of a servant and acted as close friend to Arthur. The boy is the closest friend to the prince than anyone at the castle, or anyone for that matter. Memories flushed in his princely mind. Arthur vividly remembered Merlin, by not holding onto the rope that Arthur clung onto, dropped him from castle. The boy was not to be trusted with heavy object like him. Prior to the fall, definitely it was a cute when Merlin lifted his outside shirt and tucked around his belly and chest was a warp of whitish rope. Arthur could easily detect any changes to Merlin, man he even thought for a second his cute servant lost his slimish figure. Arthur brushed those thoughts immediately.
Camelot awaits them. Not today but tomorrow morning, hopefully if they would get out of this woods alive. Who knows what else lurk in these woods besides the ground hogs that Arthur happily caught for his father and knights? But does he ever do anything for Merlin or would his action be the death to the boy and a new manservant replaced Merlin. Arthur certainly needs to bring his orders down some notches if he wants to be with Merlin forever. Forever, that would be amazing.
Arthur returned. "It's extremely cold but I think you will like it. I have never been that thirsty in my entire life." He was wrong, the last time they were that thirsty was when the whole realm of Camelot suffered the curse of the unicorn. There he risked his life for Merlin too.
Arthur seemed confused when no reply followed. "Merlin!"
No reply. Arthur drew out his sword preparing for an attack, beast or man. Merlin was lying unconsciously; his mouth contained un-chewed food, which Arthur quickly removed. The prince then cleaned the grasses and dirt off the boy's face.
"Merlin, can you hear me?" Arthur thought for a minute Merlin had left him. So much for forever. "What's wrong; who did this to you?"
Merlin's lips murmured unknown words to Arthur. Despite being together for years now Arthur cannot understand Merlin broken lip-spoken-only words. Arthur quickly collected himself and tried to decipher what had happened.
"Arrthurr…mmmy bbbackk."
Arthur tore Merlin's brown shirt open revealing the pale wimpy body of his servant, wishing the time when he would undress Merlin could have been when they are passionate and Merlin very much alive. Arthur carefully flipped the half-naked boy on his back. Arthur shed tears knowing his best friend's life can end this very night. His deep feelings for Merlin would forever be untold.
I will release new chapter in about 2-3 days, keep checking in.
And as always please read & review. Thanks!