Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Merlin it all belongs to the BBC all I own is the twisted plot XD

A/N: Ugh!

A/N2: ANGST GALORE! May become more sappy but not for a long time.

Warnings: Slash! Don't like don't read. Angst, lots, and lots of beautiful angst. Oh! And time travel.

Nothing Out Of The Ordinary

Chapter 14 – Bladders, Rivers, and Apologies

Arthur woke when his bladder protested; he really needed to relieve himself, but on top of the natural pressure of a full bladder was the unnatural pressure of a knee. He smiled seeing Merlin sleeping like a baby, he was curled up in the foetal position as he normal slept, it would be cute, if it was not splitting his bladder.

"Merlin?" he whispered, Merlin grumbled something and nuzzled into Arthurs neck. "Merlin"

"Hmm?"

"Nature calls"

"Hmm" Arthur rolled his eyes and rolled them over carefully then left the room he did his business and then went for a walk freezing when he felt someone watching him. He tensed and turned relaxing slightly when he saw Caleb.

"You're up earlier sire?"

"Nature called" he smiled

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Caleb said indicating to the sun rise which Arthur had been watching

"Very, are you ok Caleb?"

"Yes sire" he smiled back but something was off. "I best return to our camp"

"Yes, otherwise there will be no food left for you"

"Oh, none are up yet" he chuckled and walked off after bowing. Arthur walked back and found Merlin awake and blinking at the ceiling

"Morning"

"Morning" he mumbled sleepily. Arthur perched on the edge and looked at the ankle.

"I'll have Gaius look at that"

"Thank you for allowing me to share the bed"

"I'm not that heartless" he smiled, Merlin smiled back then sat up and went to stand but groaned when his ankle gave, Arthur caught him and shushed him as he stroked his hair soothingly to take his mind off of the pain. He supported him out and turned his back to let him do what he needed before helping him collect clean clothes and a towel for each of them, of course they were just cloth but it would suffice.

"I'm sorry"

"For what?"

"The standard of luxury" Merlin grinned 'directing' Arthur to the river. When they reached it Arthur helped Merlin undress then slide in the water before he followed when Merlin turned away and happily floated without revealing himself, not that Arthur would have minded. "I'm sure the food will not be what you are used to but it is what we have"

"Stop worrying, I want to see how you live. In fact..." he drifted off with a thoughtful look.

"Don't think to hard" Merlin whispered in his ear a few minutes later and Arthur jumped spinning and grabbed ready to flip him into the water. Merlin looked at him with wide eyes and he sighed letting him go

"Sorry you startled me."

"It is alright, you must still be on guard from last night" Arthur hummed and Merlin chuckled

"Turn around, I'll show you something Gaius taught me" Curious Arthur turned and felt Merlin's hands slide onto his shoulders and his thumbs rubbed delightful circles on his shoulders, it hurt slightly but after a minute his shoulders started to relax.

"Hmm" he moaned dropping his head forward. When did Gaius teach you this?"

"When I was a child. My mother did something to her back muscles and it caused her a lot of pain, this helped her a lot. It helps Will when he is hurt from righting as well, and it's just relaxing"

"You're blathering" he chuckled catching the high pitch that came with Merlin's blathering.

"Sorry" he breathed. Arthur suddenly turned and Merlin found his hands on the Prince's chest but he didn't pull away as Arthur eyed him. He looked away nervously and focused on the ring. "May I ask who gave you this ring?"

"Someone very dear to my heart, why?"

"It is covered in magic" he murmured his eyes flashing gold at the power covering it. He saw the colours of the magic and frowned, one colour looked very familiar but it was hard to place with the other colour, it looked like it was meant to be Gold but was more of a dark mud colour with the dark purple edges he could see covering it.

"Protective magic?"

"I believe so; I would have to study it further?"

"No"

"Alright" he nodded his acceptation then touched the ring and wrath spread through him "It's very beautiful" he looked up and smiled when he saw Arthur watching him intently.

"Yes it is, it was brought with three month's wages from two jobs...and maybe a bit of magic" he smiled and Merlin smiled back.

"What happened to them?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're eyes, you're aura, they are dark, and you've been hurt and have yet to forgive. You're eyes show your soul and your aura your emotions. I try not to look but when I was looking at the ring. Something happened to them?"

"They were killed, a few cycles ago" Merlin nodded

"Lay back and I'll wash your hair" he murmured changing the topic when he saw the Prince was uncomfortable. He swam over to the edge and reached for a bottle and poured some of the contents into his palm then swam back over.

"What is that?"

"Fruit oils, it helps remove the dirt from hair." He smiled "I tell my mother she should sell it but she will not listen" he held it to Arthurs nose and he sniffed

"Hmm smells nice"

"I know" he smiled and ran his hand through the blond hair to get it wet before standing him up and rubbing the oils in then laying Arthur back and washing it off whilst rubbing the Princes head to get him to relax. When Arthur closed his eyes he cast a glance over the body and smiled to himself storing it for later when the Prince was gone. When he was finished he pulled back and Arthur blinked up at him before smiling and doing the same for him. Merlin tried to keep his lower half hidden without drowning but was not succeeding unless he wanted to be against Arthur's chest and all though he really did, he did not think it was acceptable. He sighed and closed his eyes smiling as he was taken care of. A hand slid from his hair to his neck and slowly down his neck to his shoulders. He moaned gratefully when Arthur's hands rubbed carefully all of the right spots. He knew it was affecting his body but had given up trying to hide it. He heard Arthurs breathing hitch and a hand ran over his shoulder and to his chest pausing over his heart, a silent question of if it was ok. He hummed and the hand went to leave its place but images shot through his mind and he gasped and jumped in shock effectively sending him under the water. Arthur caught him and held him close to his chest looking scared.

"Sorry, I should not have done that. I am very sorry."

"It is...ok" he mumbled panting slightly as he clung to Arthur. He suddenly realised what he was doing and shot back off of the Prince even though he had already felt the effects. "Sorry!" he quickly got out and wrapped the towel around him then held out one for Arthur who stepped into it

"Thank you" he murmured and Merlin flushed keeping his eyes on the ground as he dressed the best he could and then sat on the floor on the towel whilst Arthur dressed then helped him back to the village. They journey back was silent and almost awkward and both were glad when they got back to find the others awake and just sitting for breakfast.

"Merlin! What happened to your ankle?" Hunith gasped seeing the purple limb.

"I tripped last night, I can't put any weight on it" Gaius tutted and moved to have a look at it he found a balm and a position and made him drink the liquid whilst he blacked the balm on it then wrapped it.

"I'll get you some crutches after you eat, you are to rest as much as you can and keep it elevated."

"But..."

"Caleb can help you with your duties" Arthur said as he picked at the food

"I know it's not to your standard sire..."

"It's lovely" he genuinely smiled "I'm just thinking."

"If you're sure"

"I am, thank you for your hospitality" Gwen and Morgana gave him proud smiles and he rolled his eyes at Merlin which made him smile before flushing slightly and looking away. Arthur did the same but his flush wasn't as prominent. He watched discretely through breakfast as Merlin seemed to drift into his thoughts and a soft frown creased his brow, Arthur was tempted to run his thumb over the crease but batted away the urge.

...

"Sire?" Arthur turned from his study of the animals the village had to see Caleb standing behind him "One of the Knights heard of a Market nearby and as they had the day off they went and got this for you" he held out a bottle of mead

"Tell them thank you"

"I will sire, is everything ok?"

"Just thinking Caleb...just thinking"

"Anything important?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with, you've worked hard today, I'll see you paid double and you may retire for the night I will be fine by myself"

"Thank you sire" he bowed and left Arthur watched him go before humming to him and looking at the bottle. He smiled and returned to Merlin finding two worn goblets and went to the man's room where he was reading. He smiled seeing Arthur and moved over the best he could. Arthur squished beside him and poured them a drink each.

"An apology?"

"Get me drunk in bed?" he teased and Arthur frowned then chuckled

"Perhaps not my best apology"

"But it's nice all the same" he smiled and went to sip it but his head snapped to the side to look at the bottle where smoke was coming from, well smoke to his eyes but a proper look showed it was magic. "NO!" he hit it from Arthurs hand and they started wide eyed as the hay it landed on smoked and shrived up

"Thank you"

"It's ok" he muttered and put the drink down. "Are you ok?"

"Yes" Merlin laid his head on Arthur's chest and his back was stroked.

"I'll sort it in the morning, just stay alert tonight, but rest" he murmured and Arthur nodded.