A/N : hey y'all! Alright, I'm sorry it took me this long, but finally - here's chapter 7. I kind of had some trouble writing this chapter, so I'd really really like to know if you like it! Pretty please? It means so much to me!! (And I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far, you are simply amazing)
Hugs, cookies, and XO, as always
Arthur
"Merlin?"
Hunith set down the basket she'd been carrying. Inside, the greyish sheets lay curled up tightly, save for the small piece that fell over the rim, dancing with the wind. He could tell that having her son back in Ealdor worried her more than it brought her joy, and swallowed hard to clear his throat of the suspision that rose within. It was only worry that caused her face to crumple, he convinced himself, not the fear that a long kept secret had been revealed to the world.
She nearly ran over to him, holding his face between her worn hands, her eyes studying every inch of him. "I'm alright, mother." Merlin smiled a little, relaxed for a while – a few precious seconds before the poison set in. Arthur watched as his demeanor changed, he saw the tension return to his friends shoulders, the insecurity bubbling to the surface. "I just need to talk to you."
It was only then that Hunith noticed him standing there, and he acknowledged her with a polite nod. "Hunith."
Her eyes grew wide. "Is something wrong with Arthur?" Her voice shook. "Is that why you have come here?"
"Please, mother…" Merlin curled his fingers around her small wrists, pulling them away from his skin, yet holding holding them close at the same time. "I want to ask you something."
Their eyes connected for long minutes that stretched into eternities, and it was more than he could bear. More than he should, really, for this was something Merlin needed to do on his own. This was his own quest.
"I'll be.." Arthur cleared his throat, feeling awkward at interrupting such a tender scene. But he was a hum in the atmosphere here, in this place that had been Merlin's home for such a long time. "I'm going for a walk, Merlin.'
Merlin turned to face him, tearing his eyes away from his mother for the very first time. "Thank you."
He nodded. "I won't be long."
-
Merlin
"You're asking me if I told him to leave?" He could tell she didn't understand where this was coming from, certainly not now after all these years, until it dawned on her and somewhere behind her eyes, a harsh light dimmed, faded away into the deep pools of brown. "He's come for you, hasn't he?"
She sounded scared – petrified really, as if the man she had once loved so dearly was now nothing more than a dark shimmer that followed her, threatening to close in on them and never let go.
Merlin captured her eyes. "He arrived in Camelot a little over a week ago. And I don't know why he came to us…that's why I need you to tell me what happened." He pressed his hands over her own, tightly, reassuringly, "Even if what you did was wrong." He told her of Garreth's story, all the while monitoring her closely, shocked to see so many emotions rip through her body. When he'd finished, she looked at him, older than he'd ever known her to be, and started again with a quivering voice.
"I… I craved for him to be a better man, a better father to you. He was right about that, though I never once told him. I never spoke those words, Merlin." The cloak fell from he shoulder when she moved closer to him, and his free hand hurried to pull it back around her, keeping her warm.
"I always believed that the main reason Garreth walked away was because we had become strangers to each other. With every day that passed, your father and I grew apart, until he decided that he.. couldn't take it anymore." She touched a hand to his forehead, brushing away the thick black hair.
"Neither of us had been ready for a child, Merlin – especially one who was as precious and yet strong as you were. But I fell in love with you the very minute you started to grow inside of me. I could never deny you anything – especially something of this importance."
-
Arthur
He remembered this place from when they'd fought here. He remembered roaming around with Merlin, trying to discover the town's strengths and weaknesses – the ease that had come over his servant, so completely one with everything that went on inside the town.
In his mind's eye, he saw the line of fire tearing through the village, the anxious horse's neigh. He saw the wind pick up, destroying everything in its path…it had been strong enough to make men fall. He saw William, the sorcerer who had saved his life.
For a long time after they had returned home, he had wondered if Merlin blamed him for the death of his friend; if somewhere deep down he had placed an invisible mark behind Arthur's name, adding to the reasons for justified anger. He had wondered if he should apologize beyond the heartfealt sorry at the young man's funeral. But Merlin had never mentioned it, and it had been pressed to the back of his own mind.
He pushed the branches apart, continuing his path to where he had once kept watch, where in the silence that came before battle he had tried to convince himself that it would be alright. It was so peaceful here.
-
He returned to the village a little while later and found Merlin sitting still beside his house, his hand curled around a small kitchen knife, scraping at the back of a thin twig. Arthur made no point of disguising his approach, but Merlin didn't care, it seemed. His eyes never darted away from the object he held. Not for a second.
He sank down next to his friend, leaning back against the stone. "Is she alright?"
Merlin's hand slipped at the sudden sound of his voice, the blade falling from the wood and grazing flesh instead. Dropping both objects to the damp ground, Merlin immediately suckled on his bleeding finger, murmuring his reply softly. "She was afraid."
"You?"
The young servant closed his eyes, almost pressing his eyelids closed, needing to shut out reality, shut out everything but the one clear vision of what lay ahead. "I'll be alright."
-
He woke up early the next morning, the hard ground not having brought him much comfort in the night. His eyes shot open, suddenly, and the crisp air around him confused him at first. The sight of the familiar ceiling brought more clarity, and if that hadn't done the trick, the pair of feet laying beside his head would have explained it all.
He raised himself so he was resting on his elbows, and grinned at Merlin's sleeping form. Of course, he should have known his servant wouldn't be up yet – lazy git. His mouth was cracked open slightly, and the steady rhythm of the raspy breaths passing between his lips was the only sound that cut through the silence.
This morning calmed his senses, and he inhaled deeply, standing inside the small vegetable garden, the air making his lungs shiver in delight. "Your highness?" Pausing mid – stretch, he turned to Hunith, a guilty smile on his face.
She approached hesitantly, the vegetable case pressed into her side, perfectly balanced against her body. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."
"It's okay.." he told her. "I'm thankful for the company, while your son is still happily snoring." He had hoped to make her laugh, but the word son had made her cringe slightly – for her son reminded her of his father, now.
"You can't trust him, sire." She shook her head, the scarf that held her hair in place coming undone with the movement. It was filled with fear. "Garreth thinks of no one but his own benefit, and it has hurt me more often than I care to remember."
"I don't." Arthur confessed. "But for Merlin's sake, we needed to be sure." He glanced into the direction of the house, and bit the inside of his lip. " I think he's kind enough to give him another chance."
"You must look out for him," she pleaded, her hand now pressed against his skin, the brown color of earth leaving a faint shimmer behind. "Promise me you will."
He nodded, silently vowing to her that he would do everything to keep Merlin safe. Merlin would be alright. He would make sure of that.
Please tell me what you think? Pleaase? It means the world to me!!
Xo, as always