Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin (sadly).
Rated: M, for good reason...Mpreg :D
Special Thanks to: Loopstagirl and Speedy Speck for helping me with the editing :D
A/N: Okay! Thank you for all the lovely comments! Sorry that this chapter take a little longer. I want the relationship between the characters to develop a little bit.
Chapter 4
The sun was still hiding slightly behind the horizon when a slim and short figure in a dark blue cape and a large hood, which cover their face, moved through the street of Camelot, almost as if they were gliding. They walked to a small house behind the market and knocked on a door. A skinny bald man, still in his nightwear, opened the door and gasped.
"Evelyn!" He said happily. The person removed her hood to reveal long, platinum-blond hair and a pair of green cat eyes. He pulled her into an embrace.
She happily accepted it with a smile.
"Hello, Uncle Alton," she greeted pleasantly.
He pulled back and let her inside. "How is your mother?" he asked as he led her over to a nearby chair, gesturing for her to take a seat.
"She is well," Evelyn answered gracefully. "But did you do what I ask?"
The man nodded as he poured her a cup of water. "Sir Leon will be going with Prince Arthur on a hunt tomorrow. They will leave at midday. He will not be aware of the aphrodisiac that was put into his water pouch." He showed her the leather pouch.
She nodded understandingly as he moved to get a bundle of clothes, which he then preceded to hand, to her. "These servant clothes are enchanted. When you wear them, no one will see you as a woman, but a man. I will send word to Sir Leon that I can't make it and place you as my substitution for the hunt."
She smiles mischievously and caressed his cheek. "Thank you, Uncle."
He bowed gratefully.
Hanthur was running around town all morning, delivering potions and medicines for Gaius. He even picked up some fresh bread rolls and fruits for breakfast. He was on his way back to the castle when he ran into a chocolate-coloured woman and made her fall down. Luckily, his breads and fruits were in his red leather bag instead of a basket or else they would have been rolling down the dirt road by now. But the woman dropped her flowers and apples.
"I'm sorry," he apologized and helped her up before starting to pick up the flowers and apples running down the street.
"No, no, it wasn't completely your fault," she bent down and helped. "I wasn't looking where I was going."
He smiled and quickly finished picking up the belongings. It was only then that he realized the woman was the same one his father was talking to on his first day in Camelot.
"Hi, I'm Hanthur." It only seemed right that he introduce himself.
"I'm Guinevere, but you can call me Gwen," she answered, smiling sweetly.
Hanthur's smile faltered. How could he not have realized that this was Gwen sooner? But he couldn't help it; the Gwen that he remembered had a burn mark on the right hand side of her face and a large scar on the left, just under her jaw. This Gwen was so beautiful, with smooth flawless skin. Hanthur could only wonder who would dare to ruin such beauty, and it made him tense slightly. Slowly, he smiled again, not wanting to arouse suspicion."It's lovely to meet you, Gwen," he said graciously and kissed her hand.
She smiled shyly with a curtsy and walked pass him, heading toward the castle. He turned to follow her. "Are you going to the castle?"
"Mm hmm," she answered. He couldn't help but note that the sweet smile was still plastered on her face. "Are you going there too?"
"I live there. I'm the Court Physician's grandson," he replied.
She stopped and stared at the boy with wide-eyes. "Really? Gaius has a grandson?"
He nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah, I didn't know I was his grandson until just a month ago."
"And you're not mad at him? I mean...not that you should be because you shouldn't. Gaius is a wonderful man but I don't know if he is to you-"
Hanthur laughed, "No, I'm not upset to find out that Gaius is my grandfather. Quite the opposite actually. I'm just glad that I have a family member left," he said, enthusiastically. "Seems like you are fond of my grandfather."
They continued on walking towards the castle. "Well, he is very kind," she said.
He nodded. "He is indeed," he agreed. "So why are you going to the castle? To do your royal duties as a lady of the court, I assume?"
She smiled flatteringly. "No, I'm not a lady of the court."
He looks at her questioning. "No?"
She shook her head. "I'm a maid."
"A maid?" he almost choked on his own words. He couldn't believe that a beauty like Gwen could be nothing but a maid. "I thought you were a lady of the court."
"Nope," she said with a disappointed shrug. "Just a maid but my Lady is very kind and I'm very thankful for her."
"Your Lady?"
"The Lady Morgana. I'm so glad that they finally found her yesterday. I was so worried—," She was still talking but her voice faded away as his mind started to process the information. Morgana seemed to have strings attached to everyone that he was trying to save. He remembered his Gwen and her son. He lived with them for year in a hidden village in a forest. She was so kind to him despite her scars. It angered him greatly as he remembered how she and her son had both died. "—so that is why I'm heading over there." Her voice pulled him back to reality again and he realized that they had arrived inside the castle whilst Gwen had been talking.
"Well, Hanthur, it was a pleasure to meet you," Gwen said. He gave her a nod with a smile and she turned on her heel and left, his eyes watching her as she did so, clouded with painful memories of what was still to come.
He turned towards the east quarter of the castle, towards the physician's quarters. He had to find Merlin and warn him about Morgana. When he entered, Gaius was treating a patient, whom seemed to have a broken forearm. "Gai—Grandfather, where is Merlin?"
"Prince Arthur requested his presence in Morgana's room," said the physician without so much as looking up from where he was working.
Hanthur's face faltered and he walked out from the clinic to find his mother.
Merlin came out from Morgana's room in relief. He could hardly believe that she was such an understanding person. A smile curved on his lips as the weight of guilt finally lifted from his shoulders. For a good five minutes, he just breathed in and out joyously. Then he made his way to the kitchen to get the Prince's breakfast as fast as possible.
When he arrived inside Arthur's room, the Prince was standing by the window looking down to the training ground. He heard his manservant and turned his attention away from outside to what was happening in the room.
"Did you sleep well?" the Prince asked as he made his way to the chair by the table. Merlin placed the platter of foods and a plate with silverwares on the table and went to make the bed.
"Yes," he answered.
"Good then that means-"
"Clean your room, polish your boots and armors, and probably many more chores that you will name for the fifteen minutes that I am going to be here whilst collecting your dirty laundry," he said sardonically with a smile at the Prince as he finish with the bed.
Arthur scowled at his manservant. "Well, since you insist you may do those chores and finish within one hour," he said, taking a drink from his cup of water. Merlin was going to protest but the Prince cut him off. "And as for the many chores that you want me to assign you will be saddling the horses, preparing the tent, and the hunting gear. We are going to go on a hunt for a few days."
Merlin looked at him in disbelief. After the "banging each other with blunt weapons" tournaments that the Kingdom had every month, he hated hunting the most next to that. The weather was unpredictable, the ground was always muddy, and they always seemed to run into dangerously oversized creatures that wouldn't even be edible. "But we just got back," he complained, finishing picking up the clothes on the floor.
"Yes and my father is holding a banquet for Morgana's safe return in a few days. We will need meats for the occasion," he said in a matter-of-fact way. "Did you forget my sausages again?"
"Well, I thought that you might need to lose a little fat around your thighs." Merlin shot back, the teasing smile already on his face as he turned to walk away. He didn't stay for Arthur to start throwing things at him, but simply picked up the clothes and left. He could hear Arthur's voice thundering his name from the chamber but he just burst out laughing and kept on walking. As he walking down the stairs, he met Gwen coming up with flowers and apples.
"Hello, Merlin," she greeted.
He smiled at her. "Hi, Gwen," he responded cheerfully. "Going to Morgana's?"
She nodded. "Have you seen her yet?"
"Yes."
"Is she doing well?"
It was his turn to nod. "Still shaking from the event but she is fine," he answered. "Well, I've got to go. It's going to be a long day."
"Arthur?"
"Yep."
She covered her mouth as she let out a cute giggle as Merlin continued down the stairs.
"Oh," she called, stopping him from walking any further. "I met Gaius's grandson. He is a very sweet boy."
Merlin just nodded, acknowledging her words but kept on walking towards the clinic. He did feel a little guilty that he hadn't had the chance to speak to the boy properly. He was just so exhausted from the night before that he fell asleep before the boy came back and when he woke, the boy was already up and gone. With the hunt coming up in just a few hours, he wasn't sure if he going to have the chance to talk to the time travel boy.
"Merlin," his name was called cheerfully from his right side and as he turned, two hands grabbed some of Arthur's dirty clothes from him before he noticed that it was Hanthur. The time travel boy was smiling lopsidedly at him. "I was looking for you."
"What a coincidence, I was about to come looking for you," the warlock said honestly.
Hanthur looked away shyly. "Really? Why?"
"Well, to be honest there are a lot of things, you need to explain to me why you're here for a start," said the warlock, opening the door to the clinic for them to enter. They put the clothes in a pail. Merlin whispered a spell and bubbling water started to rise in the pail. Hanthur watched on, amused, and Merlin was enjoying the fact that there was someone else in the room who could appreciate the magic with him. Then, with another whisper of a spell, the clothes started to wash themselves. "So explain to me why you are here?" Merlin pressed, wanting answers.
Hanthur wanted to tell his mother about Morgana but he feared that he would not believe him. "Well, what would you like to know?" he asked instead.
The warlock looked at him curiously with his arms crossed across his chest.
"Well, Gaius told me that in order to perform a time travel ritual you will need to sacrifice your magic. I don't believe that you would sacrifice it just for fun. So, why did you come back?" Merlin said slowly, his eyes searching for answers in Hanthur's face.
"Will you believe me if I tell you?"
Merlin studied the boy closely and nodded.
"I want to prevent Albion from falling."
"Albion was destroyed?" To say that Merlin looked astonished was an understatement.
Hanthur nodded. "Seventeen years from now, my father will be killed by Modred and Albion will fall to the hands of Morgana."
"Morgana?" Merlin was even more surprised at this bit of information than the fall of Albion or Arthur's death. Then his face looked distant as he remembered something the great dragon had said to him a long time ago.
"She will betray Arthur?" he asked absently.
The boy nodded his head, unsure if the warlock believed him or not. He knew that he had to tell Merlin of his upcoming death, but his mouth went dry. Swallowing, he eventually spoke. "Merlin, she kills you."
Suddenly, Merlin's eyes fix on the boy's and gave him a stern look. "She kills me?"
Without faltering, Hanthur said, "Yes."
He moved closer to the warlock. "And there is more. Morgana is in an alliance with Morgause right now. They are planning to take over Camelot."
"Taking over Camelot? But I thought you just said it won't happen for another seventeen years."
"Yes, but that is when Morgana allies herself with Modred. Right now, she is with Morgause," Hanthur explained. "Look, just think about it. Morgana was gone for a year after you...poisoned her-"
He stopped when Merlin looked at him in disbelief. No one knew about the poisoning, except Gaius.
"Gaius didn't tell me," Hanthur said, as if he read the warlock's mind. "You did actually...from the future. You tell me stories of all the enemies that you and Arthur defeated in your long journey together."
Merlin looked hesitant. "Tell me one thing that only I know and Gaius doesn't." He practically ordered, clearly not convinced.
The boy exhaled and then said, "The Lady of the Lake of Avalon was your first love." Merlin was about to protest but Hanthur continued.
"Her name was Freya. She was cursed by a powerful sorceress when she accidentally killed the witch's son in self-defense. She turned into a monster call the Bastet on the stroke of midnight and has the desire to kill. She obtained a fatal injury from Arthur and died in your arms near the Lake of Avalon. That is how she became the Lady of the Lake." After Hanthur finish his explanation, Merlin just stood there, staring at the boy. Merlin remembered mentioning to Gaius that he freed the druid girl but he never did tell the physician her name or how she died. "Now do you believe me?" Hanthur asked quietly.
"Does Morgana hate me?" Merlin didn't answer Hanthur's question, but instead replied with one of his own.
Hanthur didn't know if he should be relieved or not but he couldn't help but smile. He quickly replaced it with a serious face before the warlock noticed. "I guess…since she does blame you for turning her evil."
"What? She did that herself when she agreed to become the source for the enemy." The shocked look was back on Merlin's face.
"Yes, I know that! She is a coward, just like her father, putting the blame on someone else for their mistakes!" Hanthur said angrily.
The wizard looked at the boy in confusion. "What? Sir Gorlois wasn't a coward. He died bravely in a war."
Hanthur shook his head. "Morgana's real father is Uther," he said and Merlin gaped at him, looking lost for words. "She is Arthur's half-sister."
Merlin's gape became wider. "Are you serious?"
He nodded.
The wizard shifted his eyes from Hanthur, still appalled. "Then that makes a lot of sense. Uther didn't want to call off the search because she is his daughter," the warlock said, aghast as all of the pieces slotted together in his mind.
"And now that Morgana and Morgause are allied together, they are going to try to-,"
"Overthrown Uther and Arthur," Merlin finished and Hanthur nodded again.
There was a long silence.
"We have to tell Arthur," said Hanthur.
Merlin shook his head. "He would never believe us."
"Why not?"
"Because she is the King's ward and we...well, you're new in Camelot and I'm just a servant. Our words don't count for anything."
"Surely, there must be something we can do." Hanthur cried, frustrated. He couldn't have come all this way for nothing.
Merlin smiled. "Yeah, you keep an eye on Morgana's every move whilst I protect the royal prat."
"How am I going to do that?" Hanthur protested.
"Well, you are Gaius's grandson. You can make delivery."
"And?"
"Well, you're smart, think of something."
Hanthur frowned.
A knock on the door interrupted them just before a Knight walked in. "Merlin, Hanthur, Prince Arthur has requested both of your presences in his chamber.
"You want me to go to the hunt with you?" Hanthur asked, obviously in shock at the Prince's request. Arthur was standing in the middle of the room while Merlin dressed him. Hanthur was standing by the table, still looking confused. "Why?"
"Well, I saw you fight with Sir Leon yesterday and I was impressed. Since you are the grandson of our Court Physician, I'm considering recruiting you into Camelot knighthood," Arthur explained as he opened his arms to let Merlin slip the red leather jacket on him. "The hunt will be some sort of test."
Hanthur would have felt proud if it weren't for the fact that he sort of cheated. "I don't think I can."
The Prince looked at the boy questioningly and the warlock gave him a weird look that he couldn't make out from where he was standing.
"Why is that?" Arthur asked as he moved closer to the boy curiously.
"Well, I thought..." he paused as he saw Merlin doing a weird dance behind Arthur and looked back to the Prince. "I need some time to think?" He said, giving Merlin a questioning look.
Arthur looked back to his manservant to see why the boy kept looking at him. Merlin quickly stood still with a suspicious smile. The Prince slowly turned back to Hanthur and patted the boy on the shoulder. "Nonsense. You're leaving with us so be ready by midday." Then he left the room.
Merlin walked up to him. "Idiot, why did you reject his offer?"
"What? I don't want to be a Knight!"
Merlin sighed in frustration. "Look, if you become a Knight, the royal court would listen to your words. I'm pretty sure Morgana cannot bring down Camelot by herself. Knowing her, she will have to bring in some help. So if that happens, you can help get rid of them by being a Knight."
Hanthur nodded acknowledging. "Great idea."
The warlock smiled. "Now, you go pack our clothes whilst I'm packing for the royal prat," he led the boy to the door. "And remember you need to impress Arthur."
Hanthur smiled and nodded as he left the room. Then he stopped in the middle of the corridor as he realized that he just spend twenty minutes in the same room with both of his parents. He felt very happy but at the same time very sad too. He never imagined in his whole life that he would have both of his parents back and it was very overwhelming.
He must have been standing there for a good five minutes before continuing his way back to the clinic. He took a turn to another corridor and froze as he saw Arthur lean down and place a kiss on Gwen's lips. As he saw his father kiss the maid, he felt a hand clench around his heart. His eyes narrowed angrily and his hands balled into fists tightly. He was about to bolt over when a strong hand grasped his forearm and pulled him away. He looked up and realized that it was Gaius who was pulling him in another direction; the longer way to the clinic.
"Why!" Hanthur screamed and kicked a box of empty vials as soon as the physician closed the door. "How could he kiss another woman?! How could he do this to Merlin?!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Hanthur. He doesn't know that he will be marrying Merlin in the future."
"Well, he should. Merlin has been by his side all these years! Shouldn't he consider loving him!"
"It is not the time yet!"
"Well, when will it be the time?" Hanthur demanded, anger coursing through him.
"I don't know, Hanthur, but you have to keep in mind that this is not in your time. Whatever happens between Merlin and Arthur, it hasn't happened yet! You need to keep your emotions under control!" the physician said warningly.
Hanthur felt so furious and betrayed that tears threatened to fall from his eyes but he wouldn't let them. His teeth clenched and his lips tightened as he tried to calm down but he couldn't. "I need fresh air." With that, he walked out from the clinic, slamming the door behind him.
As he walked around the castle at full speed, the image of his father kissing the maid keep haunting him and only made him angrier. He went over to the training ground and picked up a sword from the table. The Knights looked at him curiously as he challenged Sir Miles.
When Merlin went to gather food supplies for the hunt, the cook told Merlin that Gaius's grandson challenged Sir Miles and both of them ended up wounded. Despite the fact that he was worrying about the boy, he did finish packing the food before running towards the clinic. As soon as he got inside his eyes immediately searched for Hanthur, but he was nowhere in sight. Sir Miles was unconscious on the patient's bed with Gaius treating three nasty slashes on his chest. "Where is Hanthur?"
The physician nodded his head to the wizard's room. Merlin sighed and was about to go into the room but Gaius stopped him.
"He hurt his hands," he said and handed his surrogate son a pallet of ointment. "Sir Miles already assured me that he won't do anything to Hanthur since it was a fair fight." Merlin nodded in relief before he put the ointment into his pocket and went to get a bucket of water and a washcloth.
When he entered his room, he found Hanthur sitting on the bed with his head down and his elbows resting on his knees, his bleeding hands clasped together. He had an angry look plastered on his face but there were tears in his eyes that looked as if they were threatening to fall. Merlin closed the door softly behind him and put down the bucket of water next to the bed. Then he reached for the strips of white cloth sitting on top of his cabinet. The boy didn't even look when he went to sit next to him.
"Are you all right?" Merlin asked, taking the boy's hand and starting to clean the blood away. "Tell me. What happened?"
Hanthur's lips trembled as he finally let his tears fall freely. "I saw my father...kiss another woman other than my mother," he said and suddenly guilt threatened to overwhelm him. "I didn't mean to hurt Sir Miles but I was just so angry." He clenched his hands again.
"Don't do that!" Merlin shouted as the boy's hands start to bleed again. Hanthur obeyed and unclenched his hands and let the wizard clean it again.
"Well Hanthur," he began, keeping an eye on the boy as he cleaned the wounds. "You can't act like this whenever Arthur does something like that."
"Why not?" He demanded and finally turned to look at the warlock.
Merlin shot Hanthur a warning look and the boy backed down ashamed. The warlock continued cleaning the wounds.
"Arthur hasn't met your mother and they haven't fallen in love yet. You can't go and expect your father to be faithful to someone that he hasn't even met or loved. When the time comes, I know he will be a great husband to her so you need to stop your childish behavior," Merlin said seriously. "I don't want you to get yourself killed." He threw the bloody wash cloth into the water and pulled out the ointment pallet. He smoothly put the ointment on the boy's hands. "You need to ask Sir Miles for forgiveness." He started to wrap the injuries.
Hanthur sighed, yet strangely, he had calmed down. "I know," he said and looked down at the person who would someday be his mother. "I'm sorry."
The wizard glanced at him and smiled. "You are forgiven. Just don't do it again," Merlin said almost sternly and stood up. "I'm going to tell Arthur that you won't be able to make it to the hunt."
The boy jolted up. "Why not?"
"You are injured," Merlin answered evenly.
"I can still hunt."
"Not with those injuries."
Hanthur stood up. "I need to be a Knight in order to help us go against Morgana."
"You can prove yourself to Arthur at some other time. I will not let an injured person go on a hunt. Your injury might get infected."
"I am tired of waiting. I can do this!"
"No, you can't!"
"I'm going anyway." He shot the wizard a determined look that reminded Merlin so much of Arthur that he couldn't help but smile.
"Fine," Merlin gave in and unexpectedly Hanthur pulled him into a tight embrace just as Arthur walked in on them.
The Prince looked surprised but eventually became curious with his head tilted when Merlin pushed the boy away. "Well, I didn't know you played for the other side, Merlin."
Merlin shook his head. "No no, you got this all wrong."
Arthur grinned at the warlock amusingly. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not judging you or anything. I'm just sorry I interrupted you," he teased and walked out. "When you have finished, come out because we're leaving."
"No, wait, Arthur!" Merlin shouted, frustrated, but the Prince just laughed as he walked out from the clinic. Gaius gave both of the boys a questioning look. Hanthur covered his mouth to muffle his laughter but stopped as Merlin glared down at him.
"What? It's not like I knew he was coming in," he said innocently.
The warlock looked at a loss and shook his head.
Sir Leon approached the stable to meet his new temporary servant that his personal manservant, Alton, assigned. Alton couldn't attend the Knight for the hunt due to some contagious sickness. His temporary servant looked rather young, maybe only seventeen or eighteen years old. He was very skinny and short in height, with dark hair and green cat-eyes. He smiled as soon as he saw his master. He straightened up and did a two finger salute. "Hello, my lord, my name is Evan and I will be your manservant for this hunt," he introduced himself cheerfully.
The Knight smiled kindly at the young lad. "Well, is everything ready?"
"Yes," he chirped.
Leon got onto his horse and turned to him. "Then let's go."
Evan nodded and got onto his horse. As he rode his horse behind the Knight, she smiled mischievously as everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Arthur had been studying Hanthur's movements ever since they arrived in the forest. He was astounded by the boy's hunting skills. It was like he had been born to hunt or something. The first hour, Hanthur killed over three doe and the rest of the hours seemed like a competition between him and the boy. By the end of the fourth day, Arthur had killed more than the boy, but it still didn't cease to amaze the Prince what a great hunter Hanthur was—not that he would ever admit it.
As the Prince was about to walk into his tent, he saw Merlin pat Hanthur on the shoulder, smiling. The acts between Merlin and the boy made Arthur have a feeling that he wasn't aware of before. It was like he was becoming very aggravated and wanted to shove the boy away from his manservant. What he saw that morning, when Merlin was holding the boy, really surprised the Prince but he didn't think anything of it because Merlin was always kind, and he would always comfort his friends. However, during the hunt, Merlin seemed to worry not for Arthur's safety but Hanthur's. His manservant's unusual behavior towards the boy really made the Prince infuriated. Shaking his head, he just ignored the feelings and went into his tent. Merlin had already set up the table and had placed the foods on it. He wanted his manservant to join him for dinner but it seemed the warlock wanted to have dinner with the boy.
Leon's temporary manservant, Evan, handed the Knight his plate of food. "Will that be all, my lord?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, you may go," Leon said and joined Merlin and Hanthur by the fire. Without anyone noticing Evan moved into Sir Leon's tent and took the water pouch from his baggage and switched it with the one Alton had given him.
"Where did you learn how to hunt?" Leon asked, sitting next to Hanthur.
Hanthur shrugged. "I'm from a poor family. Hunting is something we do."
"Really?"
He nodded, smiling.
"What about your sword techniques?" he asked.
Hanthur shot the Knight a daringly stare but the Knight didn't appear to be interrogating him but only being curious.
"I...I have five uncles who happen to be very good with swords. They even used to joke that they wanted to become Knights one day," he lied and shifted his stare away from the Knight again.
"What happen to them?"
"They died, killed by an evil sorceress"
Merlin turned to Hanthur unblinkingly with his lips slightly open in worry. Before he could say anything, Leon apologized, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
The boy shook his head. "No, it's fine."
The Knight smiled in embarrassment and then patted the boy's shoulder. "If one day you become a Knight, it will be a honor to fight by your side."
Hanthur smiled appreciatively. "And I the same."
Merlin smiled merrily and finished his food and put it down. "I'm going to go check on the royal prat," he said and walked away from them. As he entered Arthur's tent, he realized that the Prince was sitting on his chair in front of the table filled with food but he hadn't touch anything. Merlin frowned.
"Please, don't tell me you are going on a diet?"
Arthur glared at his manservant dismally. "I have been waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?" Merlin looked at him with one of his brows raised questioningly. "Do you need me to give you a bath? Or you need me to undress you?"
Arthur cocked a brow at his manservant and it took the warlock only a few seconds to catch on to what he had asked. He blushed. "Never mind."
As Merlin started to clear the table, he asked, "So what do you think of Hanthur?"
The Prince shrugged. "I think he is fine."
"And smart."
"Well, you're only saying that because you are an idiot."
"That's not true," the manservant said, offended by it.
Arthur stood up from his chair. "Okay, then name one person that is more stupid than you."
"Well," Merlin started and paused as the Prince started to undress himself. "Prince Arthur."
"What?"
"I'm not calling you, I'm answering your question," Merlin said with an entertaining smirk and Arthur only frowned.
"I am not as stupid as you, Merlin," he protested and threw his tunic at the manservant.
Still smiling, Merlin commented, "No, you're not as stupid as me. You're more stupid than me."
"What?"
"You asked who is more stupid-"
"Shut up, Merlin," he ordered and Merlin obeyed. "Anyway, why do you ask about Hanthur?"
He shrugged. "Just wondering."
"And nothing more?" Merlin didn't answer but smiled. There were a hundred questions behind that one smile. The blond Prince swept his hair with his long fingers stressfully. "What does Hanthur mean to you?"
The question was so sudden that Merlin stumbled on his words. "W-what? Hanthur? What do you mean? He is Gaius's grandson and my friend."
Arthur stood up and walked round the table towards his manservant. "And nothing more?"
Merlin nodded his head. "If this is about that morning the other day, you've misunderstood. He was feeling down and I'm just cheering him up."
"By holding him."
"Well, that is what friends do."
The situation suddenly became awkward for the both of them with the realization of the fact that they didn't know what they were to each other. They were master and servant but they risked their lives for each other on numerous occasions; something that master and servant wouldn't normally do. The category 'friend' still seemed alien to them since they never showed any affection of friendship beside loyalty of duty.
"What am I to you?" Merlin asked inquisitively.
Arthur looked away, crossing his arms. He seemed to be as confused as his manservant. He always wanted Merlin near him at all times. He knew the reason why he kept giving the warlock chore after chore; just so he wouldn't leave the Prince's side. He didn't understand but when Merlin was not with him, he always looked for him, no matter what. Now that it seemed like Merlin was taking an interest in the new boy, it frustrated him to no end.
When Arthur failed to answer Merlin, the manservant shook his head, disappointed, and was about to walk out from the tent but the Prince grasped his wrist. As he turned his attention back to his master, both of their eyes locked and at this non-spoken moment they knew what they meant to each other. Looking from Merlin's eyes to his parted moist lips, Arthur couldn't help but slowly move closer to his manservant, moisten his own lips, and close his eyes as he brought his lips to Merlin's. The warlock's eyes widen and his body tensed from his Prince's action but only for a second. Then slowly he closed his eyes and pressed his lips back.
Arthur's lips felt warm against Merlin's. He caressed his tongue over the Prince's lips, seeking entrance, but Arthur pulled back. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I shouldn't have done that."
Merlin looked confused and hurt. He blinked several times and turned to walk out and back to the campfire with Hanthur and Leon. The Prince wanted to follow his manservant, but somehow his feet were stuck to the ground and he couldn't seem to go after him.
"Are you okay?" Leon asked Merlin as they saw him leave the Prince's tent rather angrily. The warlock didn't answer but just took Hanthur's cup and drank whatever was in it. His face twisted in disgust as he tasted what he had drunk.
Hanthur smiled innocently as Merlin give him the odd look. "It's wine," he answered before the warlock asked.
"Here," the Knight refilled his cup and gave it to Merlin. Then emptied the wine bottle into Hanthur's cup and set it to the side. "I'm going to bed. You both should too. It's going to be another long day tomorrow," said Leon and walked into his tent, leaving the mother and son together.
Hanthur seemed to notice that something was troubling the warlock after he gulped the wine that Leon had given him. "Are you okay?" Before Merlin answered, he took the boy's cup and finished it with another single gulp. The boy just watched him curiously. "Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yes," snapped the warlock but regretted it when he saw Hanthur's smiling face falter. "I...I'm sorry. I'm just little stressed out and confused, that's all."
The time travel Prince nodded in understanding. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I think you're the last person I want to talk about this to."
Hanthur frowned. "I'm your friend," he said. "Aren't I?"
Merlin finally looked up to the younger man and nodded. Suddenly the warlock's shoulder slumped down and his face frowned. "I think I am in love with someone but I can't tell that someone."
Hanthur's eyes narrowed in confusion at the warlock's behavior. He was fine just a second ago but now he looked like he was drunk. It was just three cups of wine but the warlock looked as though he had been drinking a barrel. The boy never saw the future Merlin drunk before. He was curious to know if his mother was a confession drunk. To test his theory, he asked, "You're in love? With whom?"
"Him," Merlin pointed to the Prince's tent and the boy's jaw dropped.
"You're in love with my father? Already? For how long now?"
The warlock's lips thinned and narrowed his eyes as he tried to think but ended up with a shrug. "I don't know. Years now," he answered and kept flopping his head side to side. The surprised expression was still plastered to Hanthur's face as he just realized that his mother had been in love with his father but his father probably never noticed. Merlin huffed out hopelessly. "But nothing can ever happen."
"Why not?"
"Well, he is in love with Gwen now and eventually, he will meet your mother and marry her. I have no chance," Merlin said, smiling goofily even though his eyes were very sad.
Hanthur still couldn't shake the surprising information that Merlin shared with him. He knew his mother would love his father eventually but he never thought that he had already loved him. He didn't see the warlock showing any kind of affection toward Arthur other than loyalty but then again, he had known his parents for only a few days. "Why?"
Merlin shrugged sloppily. "I mean I really really hated him when I first met him. I thought he was just an obnoxious, pompous, arrogant, son of a-"
"Okay, I get it, Merlin," said the future Prince and his mother's head slumped to his shoulder.
"Why can't he see me as more than just an idiot? I mean he doesn't have to love me back. I can settle with just being friends," he said and looked so sad that Hanthur pitied him. He gently smoothed down the messy dark hair.
"He will love you...mother. He is just a blind man now but when he sees you for who you really are, he will love you more than anything in this world," he said and hoped to hear an answer from the warlock but all he received was just a loud snore. He couldn't help but laugh. Just as he looked up to his father's tent, he spotted the Prince was glaring at them before moving away. Hanthur swore he saw envy in the Prince's eyes and he became curious. Had his father already developed feelings for Merlin?
A/N: Yeah...I know...it's just a kiss! :D anyways I think I will have to take some times with chapter 5 too...because it is going to go on into a father/son relationship along with a mother/son...jealousy...misunderstand...and there is going to be one more OC...and she was introduce in this chapter: Evelyn...don't worry, you will enjoy her character hopefully...and she is not a bitch...or evil :D and she is the last OC...I don't want to add too much OC so just Hanthur and Evelyn...
SNEAK PEEKS O.O :
Arthur pat Hanthur's shoulder proudly. "You have proved to me that you are worthy to be a knight," he said. "Tomorrow there will be coronation to three other young men that will become one. Don't disappoint me."
The boy smile broadly at his father. "I promise you, you won't be disappointed." Arthur turn to leave when Merlin run past him and hug Hanthur. "Congratulation!" He cheered and pull back.
Hanthur give him a questioning look. "I just got the news right now. How did you know before I did?"
"Gwen told me," he said, avoiding making eyes contact with the prince who is still standing there. "Lets go to the Yellow Sun Tavern tonight to celebrate this special occasion!"
Arthur clear his throat. "Merlin, did you forget something?"
Merlin didn't want to see the prince but he force himself to with a fake smile. He replied, "No, I didn't forget about you, for course. That is why I ask Gwen to take my place tonight." He wink at the shocked prince. "I'm pretty sure you two have a lot to catch up." He intertwine his arms with Hanthur's and smile mischievously.
"Anyways, I think we don't need to worry about Sir Leon at the moment," Evelyn said, straighten herself.
"Why is that?" asked Hanthur.
She roll her eyes. "Hanthur, Merlin took the water pouch that is spike with aphrodisiac and guess who is going to drink it?" The future prince's face falter and whisper his father's name. "But that is not the worst part."
Hanthur look at her bewildered. "What is the worst part!"
As soon as Merlin touches Arthur's forehead to check his heated skin to see if he have a fever, the prince could no longer control his urges. Without warning, Arthur grab the younger man's hand and pull him into a kiss. Merlin's eyes widen in surprised and wanted to pull away but his body betrayed him and lean into his touch.
"Why can't you just admit to him that you love him?" Hanthur demanded as he is chasing after the wizard.
"Because I know that nothing is ever going to happen between us! You should know, he will be marrying your mother!" Merlin shouted back the answered.
Hanthur wanted to blurt out that Merlin is his mother but for some reason he hold back on it. "That does not mean my father love my mother..." he trailed off as Merlin stop walking and turn to him. He become frustrated with the situation as he just got what he just say out loud.
"Arthur didn't marry for love? Is that why...you throw a tantrum when you saw Arthur kiss Gwen? Because he show his affection for someone else?"
"No...no, that is not what I mean..." Hanthur stammered.
"Then you should hate me too...for loving your father," Merlin said and took off in his speed walking again. He sigh irritatedly at himself.
Arthur lean down and give Gwen a passionate kiss just as Merlin walked in. Both of them jump away as if they were being burn. For two seconds, Merlin give out rejected expression look that make Arthur felt rather guilty. "Sorry," Merlin said and walk back out.
"We can close out eyes to the things we want to see but we can't close our heart to things that we don't want to feel," Hanthur said.
Merlin's lips thinning and close his eyes as he let the tears fall freely down his face. Hanthur's heart break to see Merlin so heart-broken. He came and sit next to his mother and put his arms around his shoulders.