It looks like no one understood what Merlin said lol so I'll tell you here: Basically, Merlin and Arthur blames themselves for how Morgana turned out (Evil). Merlin mainly because he has magic, he knew what she was going through, but he kept his mouth shut, and Arthur because he's a Pendragon and actually her half brother, and he could have been mire sensitive around her I suppose :) understand? :p
Btw, what's happening to my old reviewers? :( It seems like with each chapter I get new ones (yay!) but my old ones don't review anymore :/ I hope you still enjoy this story!
thank you to everyone who has read or reviewed or favourited or followed this story - means a lot to me xD
Enjoy!
Chapter Nine (Arthur's POV):
They had just eaten their meal before laying down to sleep prior to their 3 day journey back to Camelot.
"So, Arthur...?"
Arthur shifted in his makeshift bed to face Merlin, although he couldn't see his expression in the dark. "Hmm?"
"What we're you saying - or trying to say - earlier?"
"What?" Arthur pretended to not know what Merlin was talking about. Which wasn't hard as it usually happened a lot anyway.
"Well, you know, something was so important that you tried to stop us from getting to the lake in time."
Arthur turned away from the indistinct Merlin figure and made his voice slow and sleepy. "Nothing is more important...than the...king's survival...Merlin..."
He let his body loosen and closed his eyes.
"Of course not...Arthur?" He heard Merlin whisper.
A few seconds went by until he heard a disgruntled sigh, the fire being stamped out and Merlin settle down for the night.
All was different now.
When he had been about to die...Arthur had wanted Merlin to know how much he cared. He had honestly thought that Merlin had sacrificed himself to keep him afloat when they had been hurtling to the ground. With the same magic that had kept him alive so many times.
Arthur prided himself in not allowing feelings to trespass behind his 'king shield' he had learnt from his father to create, but to think that he was going to die without even thanking Merlin for all he'd done; served him AND saved him for the past 6 years...?
That would have been cruel, even for him.
So why wasn't Arthur saying it all now, you ask?
Well...he wasn't dying anymore. And to say anything which would go against the law of Camelot...
He had been wrong to show affection and compassion to Merlin since he found out about the magic.
His excuse was that he had been dying.
No use hating his closest friend, his only friend with him, helping him...
Sometimes he wished he had died. That way, he wouldn't be faced with the dilemma that was Merlin.
(Merlin's POV):
Waking up, he stretched and his face broke into a grin, before dropping instantly.
The king would live!
But...there was a chance HE wouldn't, not if he still hated him...
Merlin jumped up and found Arthur roasting a rabbit on a makeshift spit over a fire.
"Arthur?"
Arthur looked up, breaking his concentration from the food and sending one end of the rabbit straight into the fire. "No!"
Arthur lifted the other end quickly, producing a blackened rabbit head, staring at him with burnt eyes.
"Look what you made me do!"
Merlin chuckled and gathered a few twigs. "You're supposed to create supports for the spit by slicing halfway through two twigs and placing them like this." He demonstrated and stabbed them into the forest bed. "That way you don't need to hold the spit while the meat is cooking."
Arthur raised his eyebrows, cold distance in his eyes. "Why would a sorcerer have to learn something like this?"
Merlin faltered, placing the spit back rather clumsily.
"Umm I grew up in a farm, remember? And I've been YOUR servant for too long." Merlin turned questioning eyes on his companion, but Arthur abruptly got up, faced into the forest and whistled, loud and long.
When he finished, he just stood there, while Merlin finished cooking the rabbit and broke it in half, making sure Arthur had the bigger portion. He wanted him to gain his strength back as quickly as possible, especially with the long trek back.
"Arthur..." Arthur turned round, and Merlin offered him his half.
He took it silently, then went back to staring at the same spot.
"Umm...what was the whistle for?"
Arthur didn't reply for a few seconds, and Merlin thought he was being ignored until he spoke. "I was calling Chestnut, my horse. She knows my whistle and will track me here."
Merlin nodded "That's a neat skill. Want to teach me it?"
"I'm sure you have many skills you couldn't possibly teach me." Was that tone scathing?
Merlin decided to leave him alone, and sat down to eat his rabbit.
After an awkward period of time, which Merlin spent trying to look busy while not keeping Arthur out of his sight, he heard commotion travelling towards them.
Rushing to Arthur's side, his eyes darted around.
"Relax."
Merlin started at the sound of his friend's voice. He hadn't spoken to him since breakfast.
"But it could be anything! Bloodthirsty savages, cannibals, Thorin's men, Morgana - "
The trees parted.
"Or, it could be my horse."
Merlin grumbled that at least he had been prepared for a fight and stalked to stamp the fire out while Arthur suppressed a grin and soothed Chestnut.
Once their meagre belongings had been packed, Merlin raised his hand over the area, eyes flashing, and leaves were swept this way and that, the magical wind blowing them into their wayward positions.
Turning round, he saw Arthur sitting on the horse, eyes thoughtful, despite himself. "You've done this before, haven't you?"
Merlin lowered his eyes, acknowledging the hint of gratitude in Arthur's tone, even if he hadn't meant for it to be there.
He raised his head then realised -
"We have a problem."
"What's that?"
"We'll I didn't think your highness would have wanted a sorcerer in such close proximity to your person..." Arthur remained silent. Merlin clenched his fists in silent frustration. "I guess I'll just fly to Camelot then?"
Arthur rolled his eyes, exclaiming "Don't be ridiculous Merlin, sorcerers can't fly" in his usual condescending playful tone he always used for his servant, to both his and Merlin's shock.
Arthur shut his mouth quickly and hesitated, before indicating with his head for Merlin to get behind him.
This was going to be a long ride back.
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