I don't own Merlin. (Sadly.)

Summary: After discovering a shocking truth, Merlin leaves Camelot with Arthur believing because Hunith is very ill. After receiving letters over the growing weeks that Hunith is getting worse, Imagine the shock when a healthy Hunith turns up in Camelot informing the Prince it is Merlin who's dying.

This has romance, friendship, angst in the middle but a happy ending :D

This is malexmale. It has eighteen chapters in total. A chapter a day :D

Thank you to Forevercullen with the help of the title. x

This story is for, and dedicated to my very good friend cathcer1984. SHE PASSED! I am so happy for her. x :D

I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made :D

Arthur was once again chopping wood in the place where he had fought and called a truce with Will and sent off the message to his mother asking for the ring. Arthur had gotten the ring this morning where he put it safely in his breeches pocket before stripping and going into the lake to bathe and wash for the day. Arthur stopped chopping when he remembered Merlin that morning; he had washed and decided to swim back and forth a little. Merlin had seen him and Arthur watched as Merlin quickly stripped, hurrying as best he could over to Arthur, jumping in his arms telling him to take him and please him. Arthur didn't need telling twice.

It got to midday when it got really hot; Arthur poured some of his water over his face, cooling him down before drinking a little and then took his top off, letting it drop to the floor as he continued to chop the wood.

Merlin had decided to go and fetch Arthur for something to eat. When he reached the opening of the woods he stopped at what he saw. A shirtless Arthur, beads of sweat glistening on his back, muscles moving and tense as Arthur raised his axe, bringing the weapon down hard as he chopped the wood, splitting it in two and placing it among the pile of chopped wood before moving forward to pick up another lump of wood. Arthur set it in place and raised his axe, ready to bring the weapon down and chop the wood in two when Merlin spoke.

"Stop."

Arthur held his arms still and turned, smiling when he saw Merlin stood there, smile on his face, making Arthur's smile grow when he saw Merlin's eyes wander all over him. "You know you don't have to stand there staring, you can touch."

"No thank you."

"Why not?"

"You're all sweaty."

"So? You don't seem to mind when I am like this after we have just got each other off."

"That's different." Merlin stuttered, starting to back back as Arthur moved towards him, smirk on his face.

"Why is it Merlin?"

"Because I said." Merlin started to walk backwards quicker. "Arthur no, I mean it."

"Give me a hug." Arthur grinned opening his arms. "Don't make me chase you."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I? I will give you a five second head start seeing as you are six months along. One..."

Merlin ran.

Hunith walked out of the house and called Balinor, telling him to get some food. Balinor stopped his work in the fields and went to join his wife, kissing her on the cheek. "Oh. Is Merlin alright?"

Balinor turned and looked to where Hunith was looking and saw his son running towards them as quickly has his belly would allow him, looking over his shoulder with the biggest grin on his face, holding his stomach with both hands.

Hunith and Balinor watched as Arthur came into view, laughing as he was chasing Merlin. "No Arthur!" they heard Merlin call.

"Yes Merlin!" Arthur called back, getting closer to Merlin who made the mistake in stopping to look behind him to see how close Arthur was as Arthur used that to speed up. "No!" Merlin laughed, starting to run again, getting closer and closer to where Hunith and Balinor stood.

Arthur opened his arms and caught Merlin, picking the brunet up, one arm around his back, the other under his legs, kissing him on the lips, which Merlin happily returned.

"Now put me down and go and wash, then we can eat."

"How about I wash whilst you pack up the food and me and you go and have a picnic, just us two."

"I say put me down and wash and I will get it all ready."

Arthur put Merlin down and let him walk in the house, smiling when he saw his saw his sorcerer red in the face, embarrassed from being swept up and kissed like that.

Arthur had just finished drying himself off, pulling a clean top over his head when Merlin appeared, basket in hand. "Ready?"

"Ready." Arthur smiled, taking the basket from Merlin, carrying it in his left hand as his right hand held onto Merlin's.

Arthur led Merlin to a secluded spot and opened the blanket up, laying it on the ground and spreading the food around. "A little help Arthur?"

Arthur looked up from spreading the food around. "What with?"

"To get down on the floor I need to be holding onto something. Give me something to hold on to."

Arthur stood up and smirked. "Oh I know what you're thinking." Merlin laughed, shaking his head as he grabbed Arthur's hand and got himself sat down.

Arthur sat down and handed Merlin some food, frowning when he realised some of the food that he had placed out. "Pickles Merlin?"

"Yes. Can you pass the milk please?"

Arthur gave Merlin a goblet full of milk and then watched with a look of disgust on his face.

"What's wrong with your face?"

"You are. Eating pickles is one thing, but dipping them in your milk!"

"It's your fault."

Arthur propped himself up on his elbow and stared at his love. "How is it my fault?"

Merlin moved down and kissed Arthur. "You got me pregnant."

Arthur laughed and let Merlin continue eating his weird choice in foods as he picked out his own food.

All the way through the picnic Merlin had noticed that Arthur had gone quiet, drumming his fingers on his legs or on the ground. "Arthur what's wrong?"

"Nothing why."

"You seem nervous."

"Do I?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Nothing I hope."

"You hope?"

Arthur cleared his throat and helped Merlin to sit and knelt in front of him. "Merlin you know I love you right?"

"Of course I do. And I love you."

"You do? I mean, yes you do, of course you do, um."

Merlin shifted around and got onto his knees in front of his Prince. "Arthur." Merlin whispered, trying to calm Arthur.

"I'm sorry, just nervous a little."

"Arthur all you have been through and faced and fought, what has you so nervous?"

"You'll find out once I get the words out."

"Just take a deep breath and take your time."

"Okay." Arthur took a deep breath and looked into Merlin's eyes. Seeing those piercing blue eyes staring back at him, Arthur found himself calm. "Merlin I love you. So much. Since I came here and made up with you I have never been so happy. This last week spent with you has been the happiest time of my life and I never want it to go, I never want to let you go. Merlin you are my friend, love, soul mate and destiny. You have made me so unbelievably happy and if you let me I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way." Arthur put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the box, opening it and showing Merlin the Pendragon engagement ring. A gold band with the engraving 'Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.' All around the band.

"Merlin. Will you marry me?"

"Yes." Merlin choked, tears coming to his eyes. "Yes I will." he laughed, throwing his arms around Arthur's neck, kissing him full on the mouth which Arthur happily returned.

When air was needed Arthur pulled back and removed the ring from its setting, placing it on Merlin's finger who turned it. "Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours." he read aloud. Merlin's tears continued to fall even more. "I love you so much Arthur."

"And I you sweetheart."

They had packed up the rest of the picnic and made their way back. Merlin wanted to let his parents know straight away. Arthur couldn't help but smile at Merlin who was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Merlin you do know you will have to leave home now we are to be married."

"Arthur wherever you are is where my home is." the brunet told his love with a kiss and hurried into the house. "Ma? Da?"

Hunith who was at the table sewing looked up. "Merlin dear what is it?"

"Where's Da. Me and Arthur have some news we wish to share with you both."

"Outside in the fields."

"I'll fetch him." Arthur helped Merlin sit opposite his mother before leaving the house to get Balinor.

Arthur came back ten minutes later with Balinor on his heels. "Arthur says you have some news son."

"I do, well, we both do."

"What is it?" Balinor asked as he moved further into the house to stand behind his wife. "Whilst on the picnic Arthur asked me to marry him and I said yes." Merlin practically squealed, lifting his hand up to show his parents the ring.

Hunith squealed and moved around the table, hugging her son to her as close as she could. "Oh my boy. I am so happy for you." Hunith praised, crying along with her son.

Balinor walked over to Arthur and shook his hand. "Welcome to the family. Son."

"Thank you. Um, Merlin seems to be crying over the smallest thing lately."

"He will do Arthur, it is his pregnancy that is causing him to be very emotional."

"So he is alright?"

"Yes son." Balinor laughed, reassuring a worried Arthur.

"I suppose this means you will be leaving us again then?" Hunith asked as she pulled back from her son.

"Yes. We will be leaving tomorrow."

"You are best to tell Will as well sweetheart, better coming from you alone, I know we don't fight now but we are not exactly friends either."

"I will go and tell him now whilst you pack up all of our stuff Arthur."

Merlin knocked on Will's door and waited. "Who is it?" Will's voice sounded through the wooden door.

"It's Merlin. Open up I have some great news."

Will opened the door and saw Merlin stood there, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "What has you so excited?"

"I'm getting married." Merlin burst out, holding his hand up to show Will the gold band on the finger on his left hand. "Read the inscription."

Will looked more closely and turned the ring, not moving it off Merlin's finger. "Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours." Will read aloud, frowning when he looked up at Merlin. "What does that mean?"

"It means, forever yours, mine and ours. It is the Pendragon engagement ring."

"You really do love him?"

"Yes Will and I want to spend the rest of my life with him, raising our baby and more that are to come."

"Then my friend. I am happy for you." Will said, smiling when he saw that his approval made Merlin happy and pulled him into a hug.

It was just after dawn the next day and both Balinor and Hunith went to see them both off, Balinor calling the dragon and ordering him to make sure his son and Arthur arrive in Camelot safely and get the as close to Camelot castle as he could as he could as Merlin wouldn't be able to walk far with him being six months pregnant.

After giving her son and Arthur a farewell hug, Balinor having to pry his wife's arms from around them both as she would not let go, Balinor hugged his son, shook Arthur's hand and patted him on the shoulder. "Safe journey to you both, look out for a Merlin bird, we will be wanting to know how you are both doing, especially you Merlin as you get closer to your due date. "Okay Da." and with one last hug Merlin and Arthur got on Kilgharrah who bowed his head to Balinor. "I shall come back here and let you know when I have dropped them both off."

"Thank you old friend."

Kilgharrah then spread his wings and Balinor held his wife close as both of them watched their son and future son-in-law fly away.

Well? What do you think?

Chapter eleven will be up tomorrow :D

Review? x