Arthur was silent as he got his horse ready. He could see Uther from the corner of his eye. The King was glaring at his son.
Arthur tensed up when Uther walked to him. The last thing he wanted to deal with was Uther and his prejudice.
"Are you ready Arthur?" Uther's voice was neutral but there was something in his eyes that made it clear that the only answer would be a yes.
"Yes, Father." Arthur's voice was dead. Uther frowned at the prince for a moment before his eyes softened.
"Go and clear that place, make Camelot proud." Uther gave Arthur a last glance before he moved back to the castle.
For a moment all Arthur could do was wish that he was on any place other than here. He knows no matter what he says the men wouldn't listen to him.
He could still remember the druid camp they had raided two years previously. He had tried so hard to get them to kill the people with dignity. They had done nothing wrong, they were peaceful but no the knights had gone at them as if they were barbarians.
Arthur scratched his arms absent-minded, the buzz under his skin was worse today than he ever had it.
Leon walked over to the prince, he tried to be a friend to him but on a good day it was bad, Arthur had a distrust in the knights.
"Sire." Leon gave him a slight bow. "The men are ready to leave." Leon kept his voice even. He didn't like this part of his job but unfortunately, when the King wanted something, they could only ask how and when he wants it done.
Arthur just nodded before he got onto his horse, with a shout they rode out. The men were silent as they made the trek to where they suspected the village to be.
As the march continued they started to get rowdier. Arthur bit the inside of his lip he wished that they would shut up, they are just as bad as Uther.
It was a three days march before they saw the village. Arthur could feel the hair on his neck standing upright, something wasn't right here.
A man walked to them, his face was sunburned, his hair starting to grey. "Is there something I can help your men with?" His voice was deep and gruff.
Before Arthur could answer the two idiots behind him rushed forward. There swords where drawn. Without even blinking the man sent them flying off there horses. The only sound was a dull thud that could be heard when their bodies hit the floor.
"Now as I had asked, is there something that I can help you with?" The man looked directly at Arthur when he asked it.
Arthur quickly put his hand up, stopping the men from trying to rush him. He knows that if they go back to Camelot without a victory Uther would more than likely kill him, but if he lets the man kill the knights.
Wel Arthur was certain that Uther would find a way to raise the dead and kill him again. The silence was awkward.
The man tilted his head slightly seeing that he wouldn't get an answer.
"Listen, tell the king that your men ain't welcome here and if he puts his feet here again well he would have more than two men dead." The air crackled with magic around him.
Arthur winched slightly. "The message would be delivered to the king." He kept his voice as steady as he could even if the only thing he wanted to do was run.
Run as far as his feet could carry him and then some.
Leon watched how Arthur paled but he knows that there is nothing to be said. It was a village of sorcerers not just druids.
Druids might not fight back but the sorcerers would. Leon knows it would be the right decision but he could feel the anger from the men behind him.
"Let's go." Arthur's voice was firm. The men grumbled but a look from Leon forced them to start moving.
Arthur wished that he could fall into the back but he knows that it wasn't possible in the thing. It is only a bloody farce.
When they finally made camp for the night, Arthur immediately made himself scares. The last thing he wanted to do was deal with them for the night.
Merlin watched silently from the treetops as his father forced the men to leave. His eyes kept on the man in the front.
He could feel the magic in him, repressed. He chocked his head slightly as he watched him pale when Balinor sends them on their way.
Merlin easily slid down the tree when they were away. He walked to his father. "One of them have magic." Merlin's voice was soft.
Balinor gave his son a look – one he knows too well.
"Hey, I didn't even say anything yet." Merlin glared slightly at his father, but he knows Balinor only have his interest at heart.
"You want to go after them Merls, the boy interest you for some reason." Balinor's voice was dry as he said it. He could see a faint blush colouring Merlin's cheeks.
Balinor could only shake his head in fondness at his son. "You think it is your mate?" Balinor kept his voice low.
It was easy enough for a dragon lord to identify their mates.
"He is, but there is something to him. Did you notice how he paled when you sent them away? Even though he is the leader, the men didn't listen to him. So what is going on there really?" Merlin gave his father a searching look.
"I assume Nimeu had spent some time telling you the fact that Camelot once was a magical place?" Balinor looked at the sky as he said it.
"Yes?" Merlin tilted his head slightly as he looked at his father. But Balinor only smiled at him.
"Go after him and be careful son, be careful with Uther." Balinor pulled Merlin into a hug.
Merlin rushed to grab his bag before he started to follow the soldiers. He kept to the wood trails he knows.
When they set up camp he scaled a tree just watching them. He watches the one that had to lead the men disappearing into the darkness.
Without thinking it through he slid off, he could easily track him. When he saw the man sitting curled up against a tree. He slinked closer.
It didn't look like he was on watch but rather just being on his own. Merlin purposely stepped on a few branches to draw his attention.
Arthur could hear the footsteps of someone coming closer, he knows he should reach for his sword but at the moment he hoped that it would be the enemy. Someone to put him out of this misery.
The boy that stepped out near him, made Arthur want to sigh relieve but he stayed quiet as he just watched him. It didn't look like he any weapons on him but Arthur knows that looks could be deceiving.
Arthur wrapped his arms around his chest but he didn't bother to stand up, when the boy sat down next to him Arthur tensed up.
The sudden twitching in his muscles made him grimace, it felt like the magic was trying to climb out of him.
Merlin could feel the magic in the man next to him. He could feel it trying to get out of its bonds, to be used. Merlin wanted to reach his hand out and calm him, but he suspected that he would get an ear full for it.
"Calm down." Merlin kept his voice low, and send a small spell out to warn him if someone is coming closer to them.
Arthur gave him a glare for it, who was this person?
"Your magic is fighting against their bonds." Merlin could feel the irregular pulses of magic being released.
Arthur bit the inside of his lip, even if he keeps himself as still as possible. "H-how?" Arthur's voice was rough. If a person listened they would have heard the small waver in his voice.
"Magic. Your magic is strong but you repress it or had a potion used?" Merlin tilted his head slightly. He didn't enjoy the sadness when someone was scared of there magic.
Merlin moved closer when Arthur only stared at the ground. "You are scared of it." Merlin's voice was soft as he got comfortable next to Arthur.
He had seen it sometimes with new sorcerers who came into the village, they would be scared of the magic they wield. Unsure of the consequence when someone would find out it.
Arthur was tens as he waited for something to happen. He knows he should just get up and go back to camp but he couldn't bring himself to move.
"You know you don't need to fear your magic." Merlin kept his voice gentle as he looked at the man.
Arthur could feel tears burning behind his eyes, he bit the inside of his lip to keep himself quiet. This man didn't know anything about him, how could he tell him that he shouldn't fear his magic when it had only bought him hatred?
To be cast aside? To be hurt?
Merlin winched slightly at how loud Arthur was projecting.
"Look at me." Merlin's voice had changed from soft and gentle to firm and demanding.
He winced slightly when he saw the naked fear in his eyes.
"What is your name? My name is Merlin." Merlin's voice lowered slightly. He could see that the man was trying to pull himself together but it didn't look like he was getting it right completely.
"Ar-Arthur." Arthur couldn't bring himself to look up.
Merlin gave a soft smile. "It is nice to meet you, Arthur." Merlin's voice was soft again.
"Who had hurt you?" Merlin kept his voice low and even. He didn't want to push but he could feel from the magic leaking out of Arthur, that his magic was on a path of self-destructing.
Arthur's eyes widen as he glanced at Merlin. How on this earth had he known about it?
"You are projecting your thoughts anyone who has the telepath ability would be able to hear you." Merlin kept his voice low, he had a feeling that he would soon have a panic knight on his hands.
When Arthur moved backwards he almost hit his head against a tree.
Merlin was silent as he just watched Arthur, it was probably a lot to just take in like this. And he got a feeling that a lot was going on in Camelot that didn't reach there village.
When Arthur finally found the courage to speak was his voice so soft that Merlin barely could hear him. "Start from the beginning please, who are you and how do you know about it?"
"I am Merlin, from the village you wanted to attack today. I know you have magic since I can feel it pulsing into the air, but it is muted. Hence the reason why I said it was repressed." Merlin watched as Arthur took the news.
He knows any other soldier would have reach for his sword when they would have learned that an enemy was sitting across from them but Arthur didn't.
"Why did you follow us?" Arthur glared at the ground, he could feel a headache brewing. He was just plain tired of everything.
"Because I find you interesting." Merlin's hand went to his left arm where a small mark was starting to form.
Arthur was silent, he only glared at the ground. The last thing he needed was to deal with someone that more than likely only wanted to hurt Camelot.
When the moon was high in the air, Arthur realised that he would need to get back to the camp. Even if everything inside him screamed to stay away.
With a groan he pressed himself upright, Merlin's eyes were on him but for the moment Arthur only felt safe, as if there is nothing that could bother him.
Merlin didn't follow Arthur back to the camp, but rather climb into the tree. He would follow them back to Camelot, keeping hidden to the shadows of the forest.
They had already sent word to Gaius that he was on his way. Merlin could feel the pleasing hum in his veins.
Soon everything will fall in place.