Chapter three; part two Title; It doesn't matter what you wish - you'll never cease being who you are Pairing(s): Arthur/Guinevere, Guinevere/Lancelot, slight Merlin/Morgana and perhaps some Merlin/Freya
Author: JennnyJ
A.N. All the characters belong to BBC, I'm just borrowing them for a while
Arthur set camp for the second night and whilst he was preparing his dinner, a rabbit cub, he thought about what he would say to Merlin when he reached Ealdor.
'Hi, I'm Arthur, you won't believe me when I say this but once I was crown prince of Camelot and you was my servant, I might have been kind of rough on you but we were great friends – and well, now I want your help.'
Arthur sighed and threw a branch onto the fire.
"And what do you want help with?" He asked himself. "Why don't you just let him be, Arthur, surely his life is better in Ealdor where he can live with his mother."
He sighed once more and started to cut the warm flesh of the rabbit, his stomach ached – he was hungry.
As the morning came and the bright sunbeams played over the glade where he'd slept, Arthur fed the horse and continued his journey.
He had to stop twice to ask for the way but soon he saw the small village which was filled with life this time of the day.
He jumped of the horse and tied him to a tree before he started to walk along the main road.
He could still remember the fight that had taken place here three years ago, when Canan and his men intimidated the people, he could remember how Merlin summoned the magical wind that scared them away. And he could still remember the sadness in the magician's eyes when his best friend, William, died because of Arthur and his stupidity.
For a long time, he stood before Merlin's door, not knowing if he should knock or not. Perhaps he should return home, let Merlin be. But, with a sigh, he had to remind himself – he wouldn't make it without Merlin. Without him, there would be no Camelot.
"Are you looking for someone, boy?" A dark voice asked and Arthur turned his head only to feel how his jaw fell. The dark hair, the blue eyes – he should have figured this out ages ago.
"Balinor?" He asked, staring at the man who stood before him with firewood in his arms.
"The dragon lord?"
"Yes, that's me", he said with raised eyebrows. "What do you want?"
Arthur didn't know what to say. Why hadn't Merlin told him about this? When his secret was out he thought that they could share anything with each other – but he never said that his father was the dragon lord. The man, who, just as his best friend, died because of Prince Arthur's ego.
"I'm – I", Arthur stuttered. "I'm looking for Merlin."
A smile took form upon the man's lips as he heard his son's name.
"He is in the woods, I think, with his friend William", he said and nodded towards the front door. "Do you think you can help me with this, lad?"
Arthur also nodded and opened the door; he could feel how his heart beat faster.
So Merlin was happy now, he had his father, his best friend. Everything was better this way.
"If you hurry, I think you can catch up with them", Balinor said with a smile and Arthur found himself nodding once again before he started to run down the street towards the woods.
"MERLIN?" He shouted as he slowly spun around, his eyes searching through the glade. "ARE YOU THERE?"
Suddenly, he could feel how someone pressed a wooden branch into his back.
"And who are you?" A suspicious voice asked.
Arthur smiled. "Well, I know who you are. William."
The branch disappeared and he couldn't help smiling.
"What are you? A seer?"
Arthur laughed and turned around, his smile widened as he saw the young boy which once had given his life for him. "Where is Merlin?"
A branch cracked behind them and both boys turned their heads only to see how a thin boy with dark, messy hair tripped and fell to the ground with a loud 'Ouf'.
"Merlin!" Arthur declared as he felt how an urge of laughing flooded over him, it looked as if he had missed Merlin more than he thought.
He reached him a helping hand which Merlin thankfully accepted.
"You are a seer?" He asked with shining eyes as he got up on his feet.
"Well-", Arthur shrugged. "Kind of, I suppose."
"And what do you want with Merlin?" William asked with his arms crossed. "He is just an ordinary boy, why should you have some interest in him?"
"Oh, he is no ordinary boy", Arthur said with a teasing smirk. "I know a lot more than you think, you are not ordinary, are you, Emrys?"
He could see how Merlin's eyebrows were drawn together as he heard the name that the druids once had given him.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know any Emrys?" He said and Arthur spun around, staring at him. There was nothing but confusion in the boy's eyes and Arthur knew that he didn't lie, if he did, he would have sensed it miles away.
"But, you are Emrys", he said with stuttering voice, he could see how a smirk formed upon Will's lips. "And you have this great destiny, you will help me become the King Camelot needs and-"
"King? You?" Will spat and tried not to laugh. "I'm sorry, but you don't seem to be a royal, do you?"
Arthur felt how his mood fell. He was no Prince; Merlin didn't have to help him becoming King. Their destinies weren't entwined anymore.
Merlin stood silent and looked at him with friendly eyes.
"Well, I don't know who you are or how you know me and my friend's names, I've never heard about a great destiny or the name Emrys. But perhaps you want some dinner?"
Arthur shook his head and swallowed.
"No, thank you", he said with a weak smile. "This was a mistake, I'm so sorry."
And with no other word, he turned around and went back to his horse; he could feel how dark clouds filled with misery gathered above his head.
"This was all just a waste of time."
Well, first of all I have to say that I'm so, so, oh so very sorry for this late update. I also have to apologize for my bad English and grammar, I hope it didn't disturbe your reading too much. (oh,andI',whatdoyouthinkaboutthat?) Now, please oh please, if you want a new chapter - don't forget to leave a review!
And, I have to wish you a late Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
Hugs, Jenn
