They had travelled a great distance the night before, and the landscape around them was vastly different to what it had been. Although they were still in the depths of the woods the trees themselves had become more spread out allowing a lot more sunlight to reach the forest floor, which was clear of a lot of the thick undergrowth that her and Merlin had had to struggle through before. The sun was almost at its height and the day had warmed up considerably since the mild morning, and the sound of birds and insects filled the air with a contented hum.

To Freya, the whole thing seemed to be the most pleasant and fragile dream. Sure, she was tired and filthy, and completely naked save for Merlin's scratchy brown jacket, which, truth be told, didn't actually do too much to hide her dignity. But she was free. For the first time in longer than she cared to remember, she was absolutely, incredibly, blissfully free.

It was more than just being set loose from the metal and chains of a cage. Now, she was even free of the lies and secrets that had infected her life since that terrible day when that man attacked her, and his mother cursed her. At first she had tried to hide what she'd become for her fellow Druids, but that was impossible. She couldn't deny that she still felt a slight bitterness towards her own people. She had grown up with their teachings, and one of the most important lessons that had been impressed on her since birth was never to turn away someone in need.

And yet … and yet, when she was lost in her darkest hour, she had been shunned by her own kind. Rejected, exiled, and forced to take on a life that was nothing more than running and hiding and constant, never ending lies. Where was their kindness then?

It had been a stranger, someone accustomed to the laws against magic, who had so much more to loose by helping her, who had come to her aid.

I scare most people away.

I am not "most people".

Freya smiled at the memory. At the time she had thought that there had been a slight bravado to that claim – he had no idea how deadly she truly as – but now she realized that he was speaking the absolute truth. He, most definitely, was not "most people".

She took an opportunity to steal a glance out the corner of her eyes at Merlin as he strode along beside her. He'd rolled up his sleeves and loosened his neckerchief against the morning's heat and Freya couldn't help but take a moment to admire his long, lean arms. Yes, he was a skinny lad, but there was no denying that all those hours spent running after his lords and masters had left him strong and sculpted in ways the big burling knights and their fawning followers could never appreciate. But the thing that really got to Freya, the thing that made an unknown, but not unpleasant emotion coil up inside her, way the small smile that constantly stayed upon Merlin's expressive face. Every time she glanced at him, he was smiling, always filled with a joy he didn't even think of tapering. She'd never met anyone so willing to show the world who they were or how they felt. When she thought about how he had to flee his home to be with her, she felt terrible … but when she caught that look on his face, she knew that he, too, was enjoying this new and strange freedom as much as her.

Maybe because of her.

She moved even closer to him and snuck out her hand to catch his as it swung freely by his side. While they didn't slow their pace, Merlin did start slightly and turn his head to her questioningly. Freya merely grinned and shrugged slightly, delighting in the feel of his warm palm against hers. After a second Merlin wrapped his fingers around hers in a solid yet gentle embrace his thumb running across her knuckles.

Together, hand in hand, they made their way out of the woods.

It was mid afternoon by the time they finally found their way to some sort of civilisation. It was tiny, only a collection of small houses that were round in shape with smoke issuing from holes in the top of thatched roofs. There were a variety of people making their way around the homes, but it was clear that the majority of the village was absent – probably tending to their fields in that Freya could just make out in the distance. It was the sort of place that was self sufficient and isolated enough that they were never troubled by the greater affairs of the kingdoms that surrounded them. Freya guessed that, like the Druids who lived apart, that these folk wouldn't take too kindly to strangers.

She and Merlin kept to the tree line as they slowly circled the village. It seemed like everyone had been overcome with the lazy afternoon spirit, as most people moved lethargically or were actually dozing in the soft sunshine. The air was thick and quiet.

"Ah ha!" breathed Merlin in triumph by her side as they crouched in the undergrowth. When Freya looked at him he used his eyes to indicate to a long line strung between two houses, a collection of recently washed laundry swaying languidly in the breeze.

"Merlin!" she gasped in mock shock. "Don't tell me you're thinking of stealing?"

"Stealing? No, never. I'd consider it to be more like …" he trailed off, thinking of the right word. "Commandeering."

"Commandeering?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it is going to get cold later on," he said, turning his attention back to the hunted laundry. "And as much as I enjoy looking at your bare legs it'd probably be more practical to get you covered up."

It took a full five seconds before he realised what he'd actually said. Freya, who was staring at his profile, waiting for the penny to drop, almost burst into laugher at the way that he subtly froze up, eyes widening in blind terror as he kept his gaze firmly on the clothes.

"So …" she said, trying to keep her features neutral. "You've been looking at my legs."

Merlin spun around to face her. "Freya, I – "

"Did you just notice them now, or have you been looking all day?"

Merlin didn't answer, but the way his mouth opened and closed comically pretty much confirmed her suspicions. Her mouth dropped opened.

"You have!" she accused, now unable to keep the smile off her face any longer. "You've spent this whole day just staring at my legs! And all this time I thought you were enjoying the weather …"

"Well," said Merlin strongly, have found his voice. "They are two of the finest legs I have ever seen, and as I said before, I do tend to get distracted by beauty."

Now it was Freya's turn to be at a loss for words. Men staring at her, well, that was no new thing. She was fairly certain every woman had her fair share of that. But being admired by a man, especially a man like Merlin …

She didn't realise it, but they had started to lean into one another. She watched as Merlin's eyes moved to her lips and her breath hitched as she closed her eyes …

The ear piercing shriek of a small child shattered the moment into a thousand pieces and she and Merlin recoiled from one another, tense and ready to fight or flee once again, worried that their hiding spot had been discovered. After a few agonising moments they realised that they hadn't been found, and that the yell had been the result of a child's game, nothing to do with them. Freya blew out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding as Merlin scratched the back of his head in a self-conscious gesture.

"I should probably get some clothes."

"Yes."

"So," Freya paused and cleared her throat, trying to get her voice back to normal. "So, how are we going to do this, then? There's a lot of open space between us and those houses …"

She trailed off when she saw the look Merlin was giving her – one eyebrow raised and a slightly smug smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His lips …

"Oh." She turned her attention back to the clothes. "Of course."

Merlin grinned widely before sobering slightly and focusing all his energy on the clothesline ahead. He whispered some strange words she couldn't place, and she shivered at the way the tone of his voice changed. Off in the distance, a dress suddenly sprung to life, lifting itself off the line and floating in midair, disembodied and strangely hilarious.

"No, wait!" interrupted Freya, putting her hand on Merlin's arm. At her touch the dress dropped to the ground, his concentration effectively snapped. Freya's eyes flickered towards that, but she decided to tactfully ignore that.

"What?" he asked, slightly flustered.

"It's just that … well, a dress isn't very practical, is it?" she said.

Merlin raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Freya, we're not shopping here!"

"No, we're stealing!" she replied. "But if we must steal, we should only take what we need. A dress is lovely, but it's not going to help in the long term, is it? Trousers and a good shirt will do me just find."

Merlin thought about it then nodded, seeing the practicality behind it although he couldn't quite hide his pout. Freya smiled. She knew he wanted to se her in a fine dress, like the one he'd somehow managed to acquire back at Camelot, but it just didn't make sense. Freya wasn't worried that her dressing as a man would lessen his opinion of her, but she did decide to tuck away that little bit of knowledge that Merlin like it when she got girly. Could be useful later.

"Okay," nodded Merlin, rubbing his hands together. "Trousers and shirts it is, and maybe a jacket." He glanced down at her bare feet, biting his lip. "And some shoes."

This time, it was a dark pair of boys trousers and a light shirt that jumped to life, as well as a thick fur lined jacket and a pair of working boots that happened to be sitting by one of the hut's entrances. Like the dress before, it looked like some mad puppeteer had taken control of the laundry. As Freya watched, she was amazed to see the shirt swing to sit roughly above the trousers while the boots made their way under the loose hanging legs. As they swayed jerkily back and forth she realised that Merlin was actually using his great and awe-inspiring powers to make clothing dance.

Freya couldn't help the laugher that bubbled up from inside her, and soon she had to cover her mouth in an effort to keep the noise down. Next to her Merlin's shoulders were shaking in mirth and when the phantom clothing spun around in a strange pirouette Freya turned to lean her head against Merlin's shoulder and wrap her hands around his arm, her grin as wide as his, content to take in the show.

Suddenly a housewife appeared from around a corner, carrying a washing basket. At the sight of the hovering clothes she let out a screech and dropped her fresh laundry all over the ground.

"Uh oh!" declared Merlin, and his complete insincerity had Freya doubling up with laugher again. In a flash the clothes gave up their dance routine and flew towards Freya and Merlin at the speed of an arrow. Together, they deftly caught the bundle of fabric and leather and grabbing each other's hands they darted off into the woodlands, their unbridled laughter drowning out the indignant cries of the woman and her washing.

Their dash through the woods was nothing like before. The sun was out, the earth was fresh, no one was chasing them and as Freya held onto Merlin's hand she felt as light as a bird. Once they were certain they were again alone they stopped, panting and still grinning from ear to ear. As Freya looked up at Merlin, dirty faced, rumpled shirt, arms clasped around a stolen jacket and shoes and the most stunning smile on his face, she felt something click in her head.

Before she really knew what she was doing, she'd flung her arms around Merlin's neck and was kissing him with as much passion and skill as she could muster. At first Merlin froze, completely taken by surprise, but then he threw away the clothes he had and was kissing her back with equal enthusiasm. His hands twined themselves around her waist drawing her as close him as possible as her fingers ran through his hair, delighting in its softness. It was as if the world had decided to spin faster, and it was only them who were on the axis. After a few minutes of this the passion ebbed away slightly, so the hurried kissed turned into slower, softer, more exploratory ones.

Eventually they pulled away from one another, suddenly aware that the sun was much lower in the sky now. Freya gave a tiny shiver; the cold of the evening was just beginning to make itself known. She sighed and leaned her forehead against Merlin's, satisfied for the moment to just listen to his heavy breaths and thudding heart. After another long moment she gave his swollen lips one last peck before drawing back and going to pick up her new clothes.

Once she had all she needed she turned back to look at Merlin. He hadn't moved, and he very much had a dazed, punch drunk look on his face. He was staring at her like she was the most incredible thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

"Uh, Merlin?" she said softly after a while.

"Hm?" he answered, still stunned. Then he seemed to finally notice the clothing in her arms, and the fact that the woods were so spare that there wasn't anywhere for her to hide and get changed. "Oh. Oh! Uh …"

He quickly spun around on the spot so his back was to her, letting out a massive breath, scratching at his head again. Freya also turned her back to him, getting dressed as quickly as possible. The trousers needed to be rolled up and the jacket was several sizes too big so it looked like she was swimming in it rather than wearing it, but overall the effect was quite nice, very comfortable and, considering that kiss, very, very necessary.

When she turned back to face Merlin, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Somehow, the forest floor all around them was no longer bare, but absolutely covered in small, furry dandelions which seemed to have mysterious sprung up all around them. She could see that Merlin was now completely still, like a child caught doing something naughty. Freya cleared her throat and he turned around to face her, a sheepish smile adorning his face.

"I think I went a little overboard this time." He said plainly.

Freya grinned and walked over so she could place her hands on his shoulders, standing up on her toes and plant a quick kiss on his lips.

"Yes, well, the dancing clothes were a bit much." She nodded. She turned back around, picked up Merlin's jacket from where she had left it, and handed it back to him.

"So, where to now?" he asked as he shrugged his jacket back on.

Freya's mouth twisted in thought for a moment, before she dropped down and plucked up one of the dandelions. Pursing her lips she blew gentling on the soft white seeds, smiling as they detached and flew away on the breeze. She turned back to Merlin, who had watched the whole thing in fascination.

"That was seems as good as any." She smiled, before turning to follow the seeds on the wind. After a moment she felt Merlin come up by her side, and his safe, warm hand slide into hers.