Do you like to sing?
It was the most normal and decent question that had been asked from the people in the village lately, and yet, Merlin found it to be the hardest question to ask Arthur. It wasn't that he was scared of asking the question; it was more that he dreaded how Arthur would react to it.
Earlier that morning, there had been a sighting of a wild boar bear near Camelot, one that Arthur and his men were told to take care of, and like always, Arthur demanded that Merlin come along for moral support.
They had recently lost track of the beast, so for the rest of the night, he and Arthur were forced to camp out in a damp, cold cave while they looked for it. And for the whole night, as Arthur sat by the mouth of the cave, bow and arrow in hand, Merlin just stared at the fire; irritated that he couldn't figure out how to phrase the question that haunted him since they disembarked from Camelot.
Do you like to sing?
Only five simple words to say and it would be over. He could get back to helping Arthur from the sideline where no one would notice him. It would be so easy too…
Merlin grabbed his water satchel, about to take a drink when a soft humming thrummed through the cave, stopping him speechless.
"Do you here that?" Merlin shouted.
Immediately the humming stopped and a wave of crickets chirping took over. "What are you going on about, now?"
"I thought I heard a humming sound." The confused servant muttered as he brought the satchel to his lips.
And once again, the humming started in full force, freezing Merlin in shock. "I hear it again! It's like someone singing."
Arthur pursed his lips as he turned from his stake out position. "Can you be quite for once, Merlin? I'm trying to pay attention."
"Okay, sorry." But this time Merlin didn't try to take a drink. Instead he squinted his eyes at Arthur in the dark, observing the young man as the humming began yet again.
With a smile that lit up his whole face, Merlin turned back to the fire with a new appreciation for the royal prat.
If you didn't know by the end, it was Arthur who was humming/singing. I found it was a bit refreshing to have the question answered in a different way this time. Thanks for the question, by they way,love^-^
