Hiya
I'm so sorry i havent upadated in AGES! I'm afraid there is no real reason except that i forgot about it which is inexcusable i know! :( If I'm honest I'm not too sure where t go with this story so if anyone has any ideas they will be happily recieved. Sorry again! xxx
xxxxx
Merlin sighed irritably as he packed the hunting things into a bag. What a miserable prat deciding to drag him along on this weekend long hunting trip. "Yep," he muttered "You must really love me to do this to me." He grinned as he remembered the night before, if only Arthur's proclamations had been true. Merlin had only recently accepted his own feelings for Arthur but he was pretty sure Arthur couldn't feel the same, he totally loved Gwen. It wasn't that he envied Gwen or anything; she was his best friend and deserved to be happy after the things she'd been through. He sighed again then stood up and slipped the heavy pack onto his shoulders and picked the other one up off the ground. He left the armoury and made his way into the courtyard to see Arthur waiting for him.
"Merlin! I've been waiting here for five minutes, how long does it take to pack a few things to go hunting?"
"Well next time a bit of a heads up would be appreciated." Merlin retorted "Then I could have it ready before hand, but then again, knowing you you'd change your mind and not go. And that would be so-"
"Shut up and come on you idiot!" Arthur sighed and walked towards the gates
"Prat!" Merlin sighed, imitating Arthur then followed at a 'respective' pace behind his master. Merlin hoped if he was too slow today Arthur would give up and come back or they just wouldn't get very far. Arthur strode ahead, eager to get out of Camelot and turned to see Merlin still at the other side of the courtyard, trailing at a snail's pace.
"Get a move on!" he commanded "Unless you would rather be in the stocks for the time I'm hunting." Arthur smirked as Merlin sprinted across the yard, his final comment having had the desired effect. They continued walking in an unusual silence until they were out of Camelot and out of sight from its gates. After several minutes they reached a clearing with an oak tree by the edge "You could probably leave the hunting gear behind that tree Merlin."
"What?"
"I said-"
"I know what you said but why?"
"Because we won't be needing it."
"But you told Uther-"
"I told my father, the King, that we were going hunting." Arthur finished "But what he doesn't know won't hurt him and I don't really feel like hunting much anyway, I just wanted to get out of Camelot for a bit."
Merlin felt his jaw drop for the second time that day. Arthur had lied to his father! And he didn't feel like hunting! "Alright who are you and what have you done with the real Arthur, crowned Prat of Camelot?" Arthur chuckled quietly "Seriously, why didn't you just tell Utherm...I mean why didn't you just tell your father?"
"I don't particularly want another lecture on my duty to Camelot and how royalty don't have time for themselves or to be going on stupid walks in the forest!" he imitated Uther "You should either be training with you knights or finding a wife to produce an heir," he grimaced. Merlin laughed "And then he would have chucked some rubbish in about magic being evil." Merlin looked at Arthur curiously
"So...you think magic being evil is rubbish?" he queried
"Well...yes." Arthur said awkwardly "I suppose the user is the evil one, not the magic." Arthur shrugged, trying to seem not too bothered. Merlin smiled, maybe he could tell Arthur sooner than he'd thought. "What are you grinning at?" Arthur questioned
"Nothing," Merlin shrugged, his grin growing wider, and headed out across the clearing
"Merlin get down!" he heard Arthur yell and turned slightly and the next thing he knew he'd been tackled to the ground and pinned beneath Arthur.
"Arthur what is it?" Merlin hissed, trying to look around from the awkward position on the ground "What's there?"
"Nothing...my mistake...thought I saw something...probably a trick of the light." Merlin waited for Arthur to get up so he too could get to his feet, but he didn't. Instead, he smiled his Prince charming smile and cupped Merlin's cheek.
Arthur watched as Merlin's cheeks were tinged pink and leant forwards slightly. He could feel Merlin's warm breathe against his lips and he felt his eyes drawn to Merlin's crystal blue ones.
"Shouldn't we get moving sire?" Merlin asked quietly and Arthur felt his insides clench. Of course Merlin didn't feel that way; he'd never really given him any real inclination he had. Obviously that 'I love you' the previous night had been strictly platonic. He cleared his throat as he stood up quickly than offered his hand to Merlin, who refused it, before turning and striding across the clearing, leaving Merlin to heave himself up and follow quickly after him.
