A/N: thanks for each and every one of the reviews, favs, and alerts. I am always so blown away by what you guys have to say and how popular this is. Thanks all!
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
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"The only way to amuse some people is to slip and fall on an icy pavement." ~ Edgar Watson Howe
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If his self-control was not so well developed, Arthur did not doubt that he would be very ashamed with himself. He was so jittering with excitement that he was, all in all, impressed that said jittering was not visible on the outside. Instead, he kept the adrenalin locked within himself, wrestling it down under the surface and containing it with pure willpower.
There was no doubt in his mind that if he behaved any differently, his father would call off the hunt. And, out of spite, likely refuse to take them out again.
Pausing a moment to take a deep breath and find his calm centre, Arthur readjusted the crossbow on his shoulder before jogging after his father near soundlessly. The king halted ever so slightly as Arthur rejoined him, sending his son a nod before resuming his trek.
"Now Arthur," he called back in a hushed voice. "What is it most important to remember on a hunt?"
"That any noise created will scare away the prey," Arthur replied instantly, his father having drilled him many times before agreeing to even the idea of them hunting together.
"That is correct," Uther nodded, ducking under a branch and beckoning for his son to join him. "What else must we remember?"
"Always shoot to kill. A wounded animal may turn savage and act unpredictably."
Again, a nod.
A crack! to their left caught both royals' attention, the two Pendragons freezing in synchronisation before turning their heads carefully, trying to glimpse the cause of the sound. With great surprise, Arthur realised it was a doe and her fawn that had been foolish enough to step into their sight.
Catching movement out of his peripheral vision, Arthur flicked his eyes back and saw his father retrieving his crossbow from over his shoulder with meticulous patience. Feeling the eyes on him, Uther's own gaze dropped to his son and, when he saw the question those azure orbs were asking him, he gave a slight nod.
Employing the same amount of caution and slowness that his father was, Arthur pulled his crossbow up from where it was hanging limply in his grasp. Lining the weapon up with his shoulder and drawing the bolt back, the prince did not fire, waiting for instructions he knew would be given. After all, he had never done this before. Everything was new to him. He could only hope, that with the amount of exhilaration currently running through his veins, he would be able to aim straight.
A firm hand on his shoulder startled him and said hand tightened its grip, ordering him to listen most attentively. "You will aim for the fawn. Aim for the chest and do not miss."
Arthur swallowed nervously before nodding resolutely, readjusting his aim.
"On my count. One."
His young fingers locked into place, keeping his crossbow completely level.
"Two."
He looked through the carved wooden scope, ensuring his aim was precise one last time.
"Three."
Arthur released the bolt at the same time Uther did, the king making an impressed grunt when his son's aim proved to be true. With cries of pain and surprise, the two deer fell to the ground. Glancing down, Uther was rewarded with a smug grin, Arthur's eyes dancing with elation.
Being waved forward with a hand, Arthur wore an exhilarated smile as he bounded through the woods, for once confident he would not be reprimanded for his actions. Reaching the creature's side, there was not a single shred of remorse present as Arthur eyed the dead beast. This was something he had done, something he had killed. The fact that it had died to bring him glory was lost on the boy and Arthur's only thoughts were of the overwhelming reception he would receive back in the palace and the marvellous accounts his father would give.
After removing the bolts from the deer, the animal's legs were bound together and then slung over their shoulders as father and son made for Camelot. The matching deer brought every amount the praise Arthur had been predicated and he could feel the smile tugging at his lips, the swell in his chest as he was clapped on the back by his father.
Confident that his day could not, in any way, become any better, he was pleasantly surprised when he found his friends gathered at the training grounds, swords glinting in the sun as they ran through their drills. Impatiently beckoning for a sword even as he joined them, Arthur's grin was like a flash of sunlight when he reached their sides.
"I heard about your hunt," Caelin announced, neglecting his drills to give the prince his full attention. "Congratulations Sire!"
Arthur gave an indifferent shrug. "I assure you, it was nothing."
"Hardly Sire!" Edmund protested. "A deer on your first hunt! I would've been satisfied with a pheasant or too."
Muttered agreements came his way and Arthur drank them all in eagerly, flipping his hair out of his eyes. Holding up a hand to stem their praise, Arthur had every intention of resuming their practice when Leofwin's voice called out to him.
"Sire," he called, in that voice everyone associated with trouble, but also with great amusement. "Perhaps you could give us a demonstration of how exactly you felled the deer?" With a sweeping hand, he gestured to a servant that was in the process of returning several shields to the rack.
Immediately seeing where this was going, there was a moment's hesitation before Arthur nodded, abandoning his sword and reaching for the crossbow located on a nearby table. Snickers of approval came from his followers and Arthur shot them a not wholly earnest smirk.
"You there!" he bellowed across the field.
The servant in question straightened instantly, eyes wide as they turned to face the prince. Arthur recognised him. He did not know the man's name, but he was new and foolish, a bit of a bumbling oaf.
He also made outstanding target practice.
"Pick up one of those shields," Arthur ordered, waiting for the command to be fulfilled before continuing. "Now go and stand down by that tree…Faster! That's better…Now hold it above your head."
The servant suddenly paled as he realised Arthur's intent, the young prince preparing his weapon for firing. Glancing up as the notched the string, Arthur rolled his eyes.
"For heaven's sake, I'm not going to hit you," he drawled, earning more laughs.
As the man shifted nervously from foot to foot, shield held dutifully up as high as he could, Arthur smiled. Now this was fun.
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"Come on Merlin!"
"I'm comi-…Oof!"
The sound of hearty laughter met Merlin's ears as he lay face down in the dirt, twisting his head enough so that he might glare at the rabbit hole he had just tripped over. Crunching sounds came from in front of him and when he turned around, he found a hand in his face.
"You idiot," Will told him, still giggling somewhat. "You're always tripping over nothing."
Merlin pouted, taking the offered hand and being pulled to his feet. "You think I don't know that? I am telling you, the ground jumps up to get me!"
Will stared at him incredulously until Merlin let a grin break-through his mock-serious exterior. Ruffling his hair teasingly, Will nudged him forward with a shoulder. Not even sparing his hair a thought, Merlin bounded after his friend, the two of them making the most of the spare time they managed to find in the summer afternoons. They ran through fields – accidentally ruining some Old Man Simmons vegetables in the process – they splashed in the river, sticks turned into swords and shadows blended into bandits. There was little to the imagination these boys had not faced; in their minds, anyway.
Eventually, breathlessly from running so endlessly, the pair flopped down on a grassy knoll. Odd chuckles managed to escape their lips when breath would allow and they wiped the sweat from their brow without remorse. Sending Will a crooked grin, Merlin leant back, desperately trying to catch his breath. It was the slightest of rustling sounds that snagged his attention.
"Will, look!"
Will did indeed look, eyes widening at the sight of the baby hare that was quaking in the grass near them. Without hesitation, the boy clambered over his skinnier friend – something that earned him an indignant 'hey!'.
Seeing his hands reaching forward, Merlin quickly snapped, "Don't kill it!"
Will shot him a hurt look. "I'm not going to kill it! We're not barbarians Merlin. We don't kill things for fun."
Thoroughly ashamed, Merlin ducked his head away as red crept up his neck. Feeling a little less put out now due to his friend's reaction, Will cupped his hands and scooped the leveret up, shushing softly in its ear.
"Should you pick it up?" Merlin asked, intrigue and concern warring away within. "Won't its mother come looking for it?"
Will did a cursory sweep of the area. "I don't think its mother's out here Merlin…I think it's alone."
The young Merlin's blue eyes widened. "You're going to keep it?"
His friend flushed. "I never said that, but come on. I'll ask my mother if that would be alright."
Passing the leveret to Merlin, who, despite his clumsiness, was more gentle and tender, Will led them back to Ealdor. While initially displeased, his mother had come around upon hearing that they had not taken the poor animal from its home. She reluctantly agreed and Merlin found he was at Will's house more often than his own the next few days. Everyday they would find something new and exciting to do – be it sneakily nicking some of Simmons' cabbages, or taking the tiny hare to a grass clearing to play, or making mazes for it out of wooden blocks and ends.
The death of the leveret eight days later shattered both boys' hearts. Hunith telling Merlin that it most likely had an illness from the start, hence why it had been abandoned by its kin, did not make him feel any better. He had, however, repeated her words to Will, but Will had found them equally inconsoling.
Together they dug the unfortunate creature a grave, burying it in the afternoon sun, Merlin being allocated the task of praying for the hare. He did so with utmost sincerity and sadness, patting the grave reverently when done. Will then forced into the ground the wooden cross he had carved. They stood there in silence for several minutes until they felt the due amount of respect had been paid, to which they then left.
Hiking back up the hill that led them to Ealdor, Merlin felt his spirits plummet when they had walked near ten minutes and Will had not given him one smile. In truth, he had not even been sent a jokingly teasing remark, or a playful shove. No, his friend was too miserable to jest.
Looking around furtively, Merlin smothered a grin when he noticed a tree root that was sticking up ever so slightly. Timing himself perfectly, the eleven-year-old allowed his foot to become snagged and plummeted forward, groaning when he collided with the ground. There was beat in which he thoughts his efforts might have been wasted but then he heard it: unmistakable laughter.
Sending his friend a scowl that was wholly faked, Merlin was inwardly beaming when he saw the smile Will had adopted. Being pulled to his feet as always, he was clapped on the shoulder as Will shook his head in amazed disbelief.
"Honestly Merlin," his friend stated, snorting in amusement. "You are…"
As their light-hearted banter continued, Merlin could not help but feel accomplished. His friend was laughing and having fun again. And, if everyone else was happy, Merlin was happy.
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A/N: so this didn't really turn out how I wanted. XD Basically, Arthur has fun killing things and mocking others while Merlin prefers to simply play with Will and please others. I did feel bad for the fawn Arthur killed (hey, I'm like three points shy of a vegetarian), which is why I had Will tell Merlin they weren't barbarians. ;) Reviews are always appreciated.
Also, anyone got a theme that would fit in around age fourteen?
