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Sunlight filtered around Merlin, warming him. His clothes were still damp from being out in the rain, uncomfortably so, itching almost. His muscles ached from all but carrying Kalian to the cave, but his mind was more awake than it had been the night before. Feverfew, skullcap, passion fruit, lavender, chamomile, mint, rosemary, those herbs names ran through his mind. He knew he would have to hunt, he hated it, but they all needed to eat. But enough of that thought, he went back to his herb gathering. Most of those, if he remembered correctly, were for headaches, pain relief, and calming the patient.
Arthur had joined Merlin on his search for herbs, but was now wondering if staying back with Kalian would have been more interesting. Watching Merlin pick herbs was incredibly dull. "Is picking herbs always like this? How can you stand it?" the prince grumbled. He was sitting on Merlin's shoulder, staring at the green shrubs and leaves Merlin would look at then pick. "This is incredibly boring," he complained.
"Between the other things you and Gaius have me do, I think I'd prefer picking herbs. You can't complain until you've cleaned a leech tank, or your socks for that matter," Merlin said, bending to pick Feverfew leaves. He put them in his pockets, the only way he could carry the herbs at this point.
Arthur rolled his eyes, huffing out an un-amused laugh. "They're not that bad, Merlin. Stop complaining. It's an honor to clean my socks." He found it odd that he could still tease Merlin, after everything he'd found out. How could he still find it in him to tease a warlock, and not find it strange? He didn't know, but it didn't seem to matter much. He'd been doing it for a year or two now, and it hadn't been weird then, so why should it be now?
"An honor, that's what it is, is it? If it's such an honor why don't you do it?" Merlin pointed out. Picking up the last herb he needed, and cramming it into his pocket, he straightened, sighing loudly, knowing he couldn't put off hunting any longer. A grimace on his face, he looked around the wet-from-rain forest, sighing yet again as he tried to convince himself it would be the right thing to do.
Arthur snorted contemptuously. "They're my socks, and I'm doing you a favor," he returned. He went silent after that, contemplating what they would have to do today. He knew already that Merlin would have to go hunting, which he hated doing. Arthur would do it himself, if not for the fact that he'd become the prey, and was no longer much of a hunter. He really despised being a mouse, when he remembered the little things like that.
With a sigh, the prince brought up the fact that Merlin had no weapons. "How do you intend on taking anything down?" The moment the question left his mouth, he felt like a complete idiot. He rubbed a paw over his face as he remembered that Merlin could probably hunt better than he himself did... with magic.
Merlin grinned sadly, "It probably won't take much," he said, almost painfully, or maybe it was guilt, or perhaps a mix of both. But he wasn't just doing it for sport, he reminded himself. After a moment, he bent closer to the ground, putting a palm on the ground and closing his eyes. Life hummed under his fingertips, he could hear the hearts of animals beating, feel their life. Conjuring, calling, a few rabbits.
Arthur watched silently, waiting to see what would happen. He growled at his uselessness. He couldn't do anything. Oh well, Merlin could handle himself. That's what Arthur kept telling himself. He went back to what he'd been doing for a few days now; waiting.
Merlin waited, his breathing collected. Finally he saw the rabbits, hopping in a group towards him. "Swilte déor!" He moved his hand from the ground out towards them, eyes changing colors then back again. The rabbits looked dazed, then drunk, swaying on their feet, then one by one contentedly curling up as if going to sleep. He watched, arms resting on his knees.
Arthur was tempted to tell Merlin how unfair it was that he was such a good hunter, but hated it. Yet, he stayed quiet, knowing that Merlin didn't like hunting anyway, and didn't want to be praised for something he didn't want to do anyway.
Merlin stood up, carefully picking up the lifeless creatures, and turned towards the direction of the cave, walking. Rolling his sore shoulders just slowly enough not to knock Arthur off, he pursed his lips, frowning at the ground in front of him. Putting a wide smile on his face, he looked at the prince, "So, about your socks... I don't think you know the full strength of the smell, if you really think it's such an honor."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I really thought we were past that." He chuckled quietly though, glad Merlin had come up with something to talk about, breaking the silence like he always did. "Lucky for you, I haven't been wearing socks the last few days... so your work load has greatly lessened, you complainer," the prince stated, looking down at his bare mouse-feet.
"That is good news," Merlin said, grinning. He could see the cave ahead, not too far, either. Speeding up his pace, he thought of something else to say, "You do know that once your human again, there's going to be a hole in the back of your trousers, yes?" Merlin's eyes twinkled impishly, "Hopefully it won't happen in front of anyone. And I mean, in front, of anyone."
Arthur twisted around until he could see the back of his pants. "You're right," he grumbled. "Also, you won't be mentioning that to anyone... ever. When I'm human again, we are sticking with the story that I was out hunting, and... and got caught in a storm saving a noble family, got it?" he asked, coming up with something on the fly.
"And the storm tore a tail-sized hole in your... I don't want to be redundant. Trousers, pants, breeches, pantaloons, bloomers? Oh no, not the last one. I hope you don't wear bloomers. You don't wear them, right?" Merlin asked, taking a breath that he had denied up until he had finished speaking.
Arthur's face twisted into an irritated scowl as he swapped a paw at Merlin's face, clubbing him soundly, though it did little good, as his paw was quite small. He frowned, but inwardly, he found it somewhat amusing. He shook his head and answered, "No, I'll tell the king that my idiot servant did that."
"Aww, you're so cute, Arthur!" Merlin's voice rose and he looked at the tiny, furry Arthur. "I'd get thrown in the stocks, for you, again," Merlin said to Arthur's last comment about telling Uther. Despite the tone he'd used, he did find it almost humorous, and his expression practically glowed with amusement.
Arthur huffed out a sigh. "If... no, when I'm 'me' again, I will have you put in the stocks for that little comment. Really, haven't I always told you that you're a terrible servant?" The prince rolled his eyes and turned his back to Merlin, watching the cave as they drew closer to it.
Merlin didn't disagree about the last bit. "But would you want it any other way?" Merlin asked, still smiling. Soon they reached the cave, and Merlin set the rabbits on the ground, getting the herbs he had gathered from his pockets and sifting through them, separating the Feverfew from the others, mostly because the others could be mixed.
Arthur really wouldn't have it any other way. He liked Merlin, despite his failings. Actually, he had very few failings, and quite many talents, though Arthur wouldn't admit it... seeing that Merlin might get big head, or worse... become lazy. He laughed quietly at that... Merlin, lazy? Hardly. Now that he knew... REALLY knew what had been going on, he was well aware that Merlin was not lazy in the least.
"Kalian," Merlin called softly, approaching the man and gripping his shoulder. He waited so see if the wizard was awake, holding several leaves in one hand. He was trying to recall everything he'd learned from Gaius.
The other wizard opened his eyes and blinked up at Merlin hazily. "Where are we?" he muttered incoherently. He tried to sit up, managing to get halfway up, then deciding he liked the ground better, and slipping back down.
"Eat these," Merlin said softly, handing over the herbs and helping the sorcerer take them. "We're still in Camelot, just far enough from the Citadel." He moved back to mixing herbs, once done with that he moved back to Kalian, waiting for him to say something else before giving him the other mixes.
"I see..." Kalian mumbled in response. He was still tired. Kalian took the leaves as ordered, and watcher Merlin as he retrieved still more. He sighed. He'd never enjoyed playing sick... and now that he was sick, he found it even less pleasant than pretending to be.
Merlin gave him the other remedies, not saying anything until he moved away, going back to the rabbits. "We'll only move when you think you can," he said, starting to skin the rabbits with a determined look on his face, his sleeves now rolled up as he sat on the ground.
Kalian nodded. "Thank you," he said quietly. He pushed himself up, slid backward until his back met the cave wall, and stayed there, looking out the front of the cave.
Arthur stayed with Merlin, giving rabbit-skinning advice to the young warlock, whether his help was wanted or not.
Merlin briefly stopped, nodding, smiling, and returning with 'you're welcome', before he went back to it. After the first one was skinned, he moved onto the second, then the third, mostly in silence other than Arthur's tips. Halfway through the third he tried to pick up a subject to talk to Kalian about. "When did you start learning magic?"
Kalian turned to look at Emrys. He pondered the question for a moment, then answered. "When I was young... after my parents died. That is, after the great purge," he stated, emphasizing the last two words and then letting his gaze drop to the floor.
Arthur swallowed a lump in his throat and didn't speak. He knew that wasn't his fault. That was Uther's doing, and he would not repeat the mistakes his father had made.
"I'm sorry about your parents," Merlin said, starting to gut the first rabbit. He sawed back and forth quickly with the blade, cutting open the creature. He stopped to look over at Kalian, staring into green eyes, "I really am, I wish things could have been different," he said, referring to The Purge. "But I think things are going to be different now," he said, and unspoken 'soon', 'After Uther's death.'
Back to gutting the animal, he spoke again, "You're powerful, I felt it in the cells, and again outside of the Citadels walls. Were you taught?"
Kalian blinked at Merlin, listening as the young warlock apologized for what had happened in the past, and how he thought things would be different now. Kalian could only hope.
Arthur didn't say anything, he only stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt... also a bit curious. He knew very little about magic, and so he figured listening to two warlocks talk would be the best way to learn more.
Kalian shifted slightly, looking back outside again and replying shortly. "Yes and no... My father taught me, until he died. After that... I practiced my skills alone and in secret, for only myself..." 'Mostly...' he thought.
"Alright," Merlin said, and for a short while sat in silence, still cleaning the rabbits. After a moment he came up with something to ask, "What were you doing in Camelot?" With the heads and lower legs of the rabbits cut off, skinned, gutted, he cut it into smaller pieces, and started cooking them in the makeshift pan (That may have come from a mix of rock and magic).
Kalian swallowed rapidly and shook his head. "Nothing important. I should have stayed away... I'd be better off then, as would you, and your prince."
Arthur, from his place on Merlin's shoulder, noted the quick way in which the other wizard had answered. That didn't seem entirely honest to him. He walked slightly forward, just to the edge of Merlin's shoulder so that he had a better few of Kalian.
Merlin nodded, leaning his back against the cave wall and staring at the fire, resting one arm on his knee as he pulled it closer to his chest. Glancing back at Kalian, he spoke quietly, "You can tell me if you need to, whatever it is." Emrys let the sentence hang in the air, and checked on the meat, their breakfast, or more like lunch by now.
Kalian let out a harsh, barking laugh. He contemplated turning down the offer with a sharp answer, however, the longer he thought about it, the less he really wanted to deny it anyway. "My daughter lives in Camelot. She was sick. I... she doesn't know who I am. She's safer that way. But what was I to do? Leave her to die? I'd gotten word that your physician couldn't heal her..." he said quietly. "After I healed her, her caretaker told the palace guards, who told the king... and you know the rest."
Arthur's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. Was Uther's hate for magic so extreme that he would lock a man up for healing a child? "I don't believe it..." the young prince muttered, running a paw over his face and frowning in disbelief. So Kalian had been telling the truth after all…
Merlin nodded attentively again, staring at the injured man across the 'room'. "How old is she?" Merlin asked empathetically. He worried his bottom lip, staring into the coals. He looked back at the other wizard. "Is there anyway I can help you? I could... find you a safe place. You and your daughter," Merlin tried.
Kalian turned to Merlin with a look that was both grateful, but annoyed at the same time. "She's twelve... but Emrys, you must understand, she doesn't know who I am. To her, going anywhere with me would be like being kidnapped... so thank you, but no. Any chance of getting to know my daughter was destroyed by your king," the man stated tiredly.
Arthur gulped back harshly, feeling like he'd just swallowed sand. Seeing things from this perspective was so different. He'd been raised to see sorcerers as cruel, wicked and careless. But now... he wasn't seeing that at all. He was seeing that they too had families. That they also loved people... but that the mad pursuit of them drove them away from anyone they cared for.
Arthur began to wonder... had anything like that happened to Merlin? Was that Merlin's life too? Had he left people behind to keep them safe... only because of who he was?
Heaving a sigh, Arthur flopped down, sitting haphazardly on the shoulder of his friend, his servant, and the warlock. Everything he'd thought he knew, was slowly changing. The longer he was in this form, the more he truly learned.
