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Warning: light Merther

The next day was, for lack of a better word, odd. Arthur and the knights had been training all day, it wasn't that abnormal. What was abnormal was Arthur's aggressiveness in the one-on-one fights. He landed blows left and right. He beat every knights willing to fight him with more rage then he ever displayed before.

"How could he not tell me? Me of all people! I'm his best friend and-" Arthur's thoughts were interrupted by the smell of blood. His own blood. He looked at his arm. He reopened a wound from one of his and Merlin's misadventures. Leon called out that practice was over and walked over to him. "Arthur?"

"What?"

"Is this about Merlin?"

"Of course it is. Isn't it always?"

Arthur touched the wound. Why did it hurt so much?...Arthur couldn't tell which pain he was talking about, the physical or emotional pain. Arthur looked over to see most of his friends coming over to him. He did the only reasonable thing.

He ran.

Merlin wasn't allowed anywhere without at least two of the guards. They, apparently, didn't want to lose him either. Balinor went to talk with "an old friend" under the castle. Balinor wasn't surprised how easy it was to get to the Great Dragon. It was almost funny. Merlin was desperately trying to find Arthur, when he ran into him, literally. Arthur caught him around the waist before he fell backwards. "Thanks."

"Can we talk? In private?" The two guards watched them. "We are staying outside the doors. They said together. Arthur pulled Merlin inside his chambers and closed the door. "Why didn't you tell me you were a prince?! I thought there were no secrets between us!"

Merlin lowered his gaze. "I-well...you're bleeding."

Merlin placed his hand on Arthur's wound and gently healed it. Arthur tilted Merlin's chin up. "Merlin...you're not going to stay are you?" Merlin shook his head. "I want to, I really do-" Arthur placed his thumb on his lips to hush him. "Merlin...I have something to give you..." Arthur walked over to his bed, reached under the pillow and pulled out a necklace. "I was going to give you this for your birthday but...Here." Merlin took the necklace. It had the Pendragon Crest on it. The dragon had blue gems for eyes, matching Merlin's perfectly.

Arthur fastened it around Merlin's pale neck, making the necklace standout more. "Arthur...It's beautiful."

"Just like you..." Merlin blushed. "What do you want in return?"

"It's a gift. I don't want anything in return."

"Arthur, please."

Arthur sighed. "Fine...A kiss will do nicely." Merlin went for Arthur's cheek but ended up getting his mouth, since Arthur turned his head. He pulled Merlin close to his chest. If he had his way, Merlin would stay with him forever...but that couldn't happen, right?