"Just go! I can't even stand to see your face anymore," Arthur screamed. He turned his back on Merlin and started down the hall.
Merlin watched, ready to shout something back, but Arthur's words stung far more than any of the usual insults they often exchanged, and the words wouldn't come out. He closed his mouth, his shoulders slumping, his brain unable to process what had just happened as Arthur vanished from sight around a corner. Any other time he would have run after Arthur and kept their bickering going, but this time somehow felt different. Like something inside him had broken and not knowing why made him even more confused and angry.
"Merlin."
He jumped, turning towards the voice. It was Cecil, one of the castle guards. "Y, yes?" Had Arthur ordered Cecil to take him to the dungeon? This was definitely a record, even for Arthur.
"There's a woman asking for you, she said, her name was Hunith."
Merlin frowned at that. "My mother?" Why would his mother visit Camelot? None of the letters she'd sent in the past few weeks had even hinted that she might stop by. Oh no... "Where is she?"
"With Gaius."
"Thank you." He took off running down the hall. Something must be horribly wrong for his mother to make another trip to Camelot. They'd agreed to just write after Merlin had received the ungrateful task of dealing with Arthur on a regular basis, and not to mention the prince's wonderful reaction to his childhood friend. If he'd just remained Gaius's apprentice, it wouldn't have been an issue to at least visit around the holidays. Since he'd gotten stuck being Arthur's manservant, though, vacations were nothing but a dream. "I hope there isn't another group of bandits," he muttered.
He made it across the castle and through the hall, and up the tower stairs in what he was sure was his best sprint time ever, panting by the time he reached the door. "Here," he said as loudly as he could given his lack of breath. He entered, grinning, any good cheer he'd been trying to fabricate fading upon seeing his mother. She was sitting in a chair at the table, covered in scratches, bruises, and with a rather deep gash on her right arm that Gaius was dabbing some healing ointment on.
"Mother?!" He ran towards her, grabbing her hand. "What happened!?"
"Merlin." She smiled, but it didn't hide the tiredness in her voice or her eyes. "I'm glad you're doing well. Prince Arthur isn't angry that I asked for you, is he?"
Like Arthur cared about where he was right now. A merchant's caravan could run him over right now and Arthur wouldn't have noticed, even if he was screaming in front of him. Arthur was too busy fawning over Wilona for him to give Merlin a second look unless he needed to yell at him, anyway. So yes, he was doing splendidly. "No, but you're far more beat up than I am. How can I help Gaius?"
"Were you able to get the herbs I asked for last night?"
"I had to meet Halton at home, but yes." He went to their mini storage area to the far left from the steps leading to his room and located the basket he'd used the night before to store the herbs. Thank god he'd walked out on Arthur while the prince prattled off about Lady Wilona the night before and had made it to Halton's before the merchant had gone to sleep. He brought the basket to Gaius.
"Was he angry?"
"No, I warned him ahead of time, Arthur was being difficult." The understatement of the week. Why Arthur thought he wanted to hear about all Lady Wilona's likes, dislikes, and every other bloody detail of her life was beyond him. And not just once, no. Arthur had made sure to repeat it every night as Merlin helped him get ready for bed. First, he'd thought nodding and agreeing would get the whole thing out of Arthur's system. By the fifth day, he'd nonchalantly asked Arthur to shut up, knowing if he made a big deal about it, the prince would do it more. Last night had been day six and Merlin just couldn't take it anymore. What good did it do for him to know Lady Wilona loved yellow flowers? Or that she preferred a lute to a harp. Or that her favorite color was purple, her favorite fruit a peach? He could make a purple peach-flavored cake decorated with yellow flowers for the woman and deliver it to her while the most talented lute musician played her favorite song. It still wouldn't do him any good. She hated Merlin, and she made sure he knew it. Which kind of scared him, because if things kept going as they were, Merlin would be looking for a new job soon.
He really didn't understand Arthur's fascination with the woman either. Morgana was much better looking and had a far better mind than Wilona would ever have. Granted, Merlin preferred Arthur's arse to both of theirs, so maybe he was a bit biased. He'd gone as far as spiking Arthur's drink with a love spell antidote, just in case. The prince had shown no reaction to it.
"I thought the two of you were friends," Hunith said.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "I told you we weren't." Though he'd thought that same thing so many times before that he'd managed to convince himself time and time again that it had to be kind of true, only to have reality thrown back into his face. He really needed to stop. The truth was, Arthur had needed a servant that wouldn't hang themselves while tending to his royal spoiled arse, and Merlin had been the perfect target, solution. He hoped King Uther had been training -brainwashing? - someone else for the position, because there was no way Wilona was going to let him stay on as Arthur's personal servant once they got married. If she let him stay for that long.
Gaius paused, his hands still in the basket, and stared at Merlin. "What happened?"
He hesitated. "Arthur told me he didn't want to see me anymore."
"He's said far worse," Gaius chuckled.
"I think it was how he said it. It sounded... final." Like Merlin accidentally running into his back when Arthur had stopped without warning was his fault. He hadn't even fallen over! Yes, Arthur had staggered a bit and... "I think I hurt his pride. He stopped, and I wasn't paying attention. Lady Wilona saw." She'd laughed at Arthur and then given Merlin a rather displeased look, like he'd kicked Arthur in the shin and thrown mud at him rather than accidentally bumped into him. The two nobles had exchanged words, Wilona had left, and Arthur had screamed, and here they were.
Oh... That's why it hurt, he realized. It wasn't the words themselves; it was because Arthur had lashed out at him in response to Lady Wilona. "I think Arthur might be serious about her." His stomach twisted at the very thought of Arthur falling for anyone. He knew it would happen, eventually. Arthur was of age now, and Uther had been parading noble girls through the castle lately. He'd gotten along with all the others. Why did the idiot have to fall for the one girl who hated him?
"I thought..." Hunith stopped herself.
"I told you, Arthur likes to act like we're friends. And I was foolish enough to let myself believe it, but I knew the truth. Camelot's very different from Ealdor. Social rankings mean everything." He sighed, sitting in the chair closest to his mother. "I need a break from all of this."
"Well... I do need your help." She offered him another tired smile and squeezed his hand.
He returned the smile, warmth rushing through his body. At least someone loved him.
"Merlin!" Gaius hit the back of his head.
"Ow!" He rubbed the spot, glaring at his uncle. "What!?"
Gaius motioned to his mother. "You need to be careful!"
It took him a second to realize he'd unconsciously healed her. "I'm not apologizing for healing someone!" He grabbed his mother's other hand while she laughed. "It's not more bandits, is it?" He could use a stress relief, but even angry and heartbroken, though he'd never admit it, he wasn't stupid enough to believe that he could take on an entire gang of bandits. They'd barely survived last time, granted he was much stronger and far more in control of his magic than he had been the first time. If he pretended, they were Arthur and Wilona he could probably send them all flying with a wind blast into the next country over.
Hunith shook her head. "I wish it was."
Well, that didn't sound good. "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm dismissed for the day." Or forever. "What can I do to help?"
"There's a vrykolakas hunting around Ealdor."
"A vrykolakas? Are you sure?" A vrykolakas wasn't unheard of, but not exactly common and around Ealdor? That seemed odd, like someone had found one and released it near the village odd. Why do people keep attacking my village? Ealdor hadn't done anything to anyone, not like Camelot. Not that Camelot didn't get its share of sorcerers, magical creatures, and whatever else fate could throw at them.
"We found Carver a few days ago just outside the village without a liver," she said, her voice grim. "And something attacked me after I left to get help. Luckily there were some travelers passing by."
Well, Merlin could use a distraction from Arthur and the fact that his life was falling apart. What seemed like a worse fate? Watching Arthur get married to Wilona and have children, while he waited until Arthur's life was in danger so he could thwart it while Wilona treated him as bad as Uther did, or going to Ealdor to hunt and kill a liver eating undead creature that sometimes ate human flesh, and maybe get lost doing so along the way and well, if you're lost, what can you do? Lost people didn't always make it back and his sense of direction was terrible unless he used a spell and what do you know? Magic was illegal in Camelot, so he'd never find the castle again once he left. What a shame. Arthur would just have to find a new man servant to listen to all his gushing and bragging of Lady Wilona.
"We'll need to kill it," Merlin said.
"Yes," Hunith agreed. "Before it harms anyone else."
"It shouldn't be too hard to kill one, right?" He turned to Gaius, who sighed.
"Don't look at me. Get the books while I clean up."
"You mean there's something you don't know?" Gaius glared at him, Merlin grinning in return. He jogged over to the bookcase and started scanning the titles. "Undead creatures and how to dispose of them?"
"That's it," Gaius said without looking up.
Merlin opened the book and started flipping through the pages. Luckily, the creatures were in alphabetical order. "Let's see, former living werewolf or vampire. Says the best way to make sure this thing stays dead is to do three things. Stab it in the heart with a blessed silver stake. Proceed to burn the body and while it's burning, pray for it to rest in peace." He looked up from the book. "Has anyone else died recently?"
"No," Hunith said.
"It has to be somewhere near Ealdor. The book says it has to return to its grave every morning."
So, we'll be searching for miles around the entire perimeter of Ealdor. Well, that'd definitely give him the break he needed from Arthur for the rest of his life.
(X)
"Are you sure about this Merlin?" He nodded. It wasn't like he had much of a choice. Even if he wasn't fighting with Arthur, he couldn't just let a vrykolakas run around near his home. Not only would it kill others, it might manage to take down another — were werewolves and vampires even real? — creature and multiple. He was positive Gaius and he could handle one vrykolakas. But anything beyond that and they might be in trouble. Especially if the things started hunting in packs like the book warned.
"Have you at least spoken with Prince Arthur?"
"No." He'd considered it, but once he'd finally located Arthur, he'd found him speaking with Lady Wilona. Any courage he'd built up had fled, and so he'd left without saying a word. Arthur had said he didn't want to see Merlin anyway, no point in angering him even more by showing up to ask him something. Enough time hadn't passed for that. And another part of him feared to know how Arthur would answer.
"I can't give you permission myself to just leave, not for something like this. We'll be gone for a week at least."
"I have a plan." He grinned at Gaius, the physician groaning.
"Merlin!"
"It's a good plan! There's someone inside this castle who not only outranks Arthur but would absolutely love for me to go away for any sort of extended period of time."
Gaius's eyes widened slightly. "You're going to ask King Uther."
He nodded, knowing he couldn't risk asking Arthur. He might decide to throw Merlin in the dungeon just out of spite, but Uther might hug him and throw him a going away party.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"What good would it do asking Arthur?" At most, the idiot would feel compelled to join him. At least, he might tell Merlin to go and never come back, and he couldn't handle hearing those words. Even though he knew Arthur wanted him gone, it wasn't the same as hearing him say it.
"I know you two are fighting at the moment, but you two are friends, regardless of what you think. In fact, I think it's safe to say you're probably Prince Arthur's only true friend."
Merlin snorted. "The knights returned from the border patrol a few hours ago. They can be Arthur's 'friends'. They can take turns being his servant too."
"Now you're just being stubborn!"
"Gaius, I love Arthur. If I stop and think about this, I won't be able to leave without him joining us." And what good would that do? Arthur clearly didn't want him around for a while, and his home village needed his help again. Maybe once they'd had some time apart, they could talk. He could return with Gaius, see if Arthur had gotten over his outburst and if he hadn't... Well. There were plenty of other places he could go to stay.
"That's your brain telling you to ask for help! Didn't you learn your lesson from the last time you ran off back home? If Prince Arthur, Lady Morgana, and Guinevere hadn't shown up, you wouldn't even be here!"
"It's not a clan of bandits, it's one vrykolakas," he protested.
Gaius scowled, but Merlin could see his resistance was giving. "I'll be back after I ask Uther for permission to leave."
"Fine!"
Merlin left the tower, doing his best not to think about anything. He paused at the tower exit when he heard laughter.
"Prince Arthur! I'm going to fall!"
"I won't let you fall; I promise."
He dared a look outside, the knots in his stomach returning as well as tightening. Wilona was on a pony, a look of utter delight on her face, Arthur walking beside her.
He pulled his head back inside and cursed.
"Merlin," Nyle, the guard, asked.
"Arthur told me he didn't want to see me, but I have to get to the other side of the castle."
"I wouldn't worry about that; they've been oblivious to everything around them."
That was both good and horrible news. "Perfect, thanks Nyle." He took a breath, grinned at Nyle, and ran across the hall, making sure to stay close to the opposite wall. He stumbled through the door leading into the main castle. No one yelled, so Arthur hadn't seen him and if he had, was too engrossed with Wilona to worry about it.
Alright, you can do this. The halls were empty, and it didn't take long for him to arrive at the throne room. He stopped in front of the double doors. "I need to speak with King Uther." The two guards exchanged weary looks. "It's good news. He'll be brimming with joy afterwards."
"No offense, but no one would believe that."
"I promise."
"He'll throw Merlin into the stocks, not us," Ulric said, shrugging, and opening the door.
Swallowing, Merlin entered.
As soon as Uther saw him, he sighed, any happiness he might have had fading fast. "What do you want?"
Merlin glanced around the room. Uther was actually alone. That made this easier. "I would like your permission to leave for a while."
Uther raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, hope flashing into his eyes. "For how long?"
Well, looks like this is my letter of resignation. He'd have to worry about that later. Besides, he'd feel better if he quit like all of Arthur's other servants rather than getting fired. "A week at the very least. I'm needed in Ealdor again."
A smile broke onto Uther's face. "So, you may be gone longer?"
"I could stay gone long enough, until Prince Arthur has grown accustomed to a new servant," he suggested. Merlin had been right. Those were the magic words.
"Take as long as you need. Feel free not to come back at all," he said, beaming. You'd have thought Merlin had told him all the sorcerers in the world had burst into flames and died.
"Thank you, King Uther." He bowed as Gaius had done so many times before. "I'll be leaving soon, before the sun sets if possible."
"Splendid." He looked happier than Merlin had ever seen him.
"Thank you again."
"No, thank you."
Merlin turned and left the throne room. He'd never thought he could make Uther the happiest man on earth.
"I think this is the first time you've gone into the throne room alone and we didn't have to drag you out," Ulric said.
"I told you it was good news." He started down the hall again, stopping at the corner when he heard footsteps. Better not to run into someone else and stand out right before he left. His breath caught when Arthur came into view.
The prince noticed him at the same time, their eyes locking.
For a second he lost what sanity he had and started to tell him everything. Despite their little row, he trusted Arthur. If anyone could help them, it was him. "My-" he snapped his mouth shut.
"What?"
"Never mind," he mumbled, dropping his gaze to the floor before walking around him.
Arthur sighed. "Merlin."
He stopped, mentally cursing. "Yeah?"
"About earlier..."
"Don't." If Arthur apologized, he would give in and then he'd tell him what was going on and it just couldn't happen. Not when Merlin had seen proof that Arthur was happy being with a noblewoman. Happy with having a normal life. He didn't need to get involved in weird things. No more. "It's fine."
"No, it's not. I—"
"I need to get back to Gaius. He needs me to collect some herbs."
"Oh... Right... Did you want some help?"
"No. Some of these will take the rest of the day to find."
"All the more reason for me to help. I'm good at tracking and it'll go faster."
I didn't want to do this. He steeled himself and turned around so he could meet Arthur's eyes. "That would be absolutely unacceptable for me to ask for your help, Prince Arthur," he said, his voice even. "You've Lady Wilona to entertain after all and I'm perfectly capable of doing my assigned tasks without help. But thank you for offering my lord." He repeated the bow he'd used on Uther a moment before.
Arthur's mouth fell open, his face slowly turning red. "Don't mock me!"
Only Arthur would accuse me of mocking him because I used the correct level of politeness. "I don't want your apology."
"Good, because you're not getting it! I hope you spend all night looking for those herbs!"
"So, do I! Then I won't have to look at you either!" He stomped down the hall, praying Arthur wouldn't come after him. He felt bad enough already for lying to him, but the vrykolakas was his problem, not Arthur's. Arthur only needed to worry about when he should have his wedding.
He stole a glance as he turned, frowning when he saw Arthur still standing where he'd left him, his gaze glued to him.
Damn it ... Sighing, he took a step towards Arthur. Leaving on poor terms would definitely make it easier for both of them. If something happened to him after he returned to Ealdor, Arthur wouldn't be nearly as sad if they were fighting. Who am I kidding? You have to care about someone to feel bad when they pass. And Arthur clearly did not.
Arthur glared at him when their eyes met again and walked off in the other direction.
(X)
"Okay, that's everything," Merlin said. They'd packed the books, the ingredients they might need to fight the creature, food, bedrolls, and a change of clothes. Actually, Merlin had packed all his clothes and the more important books, claiming to Gaius that they might need them, but he had a feeling his uncle understood his true intentions.
"Let's get going. The faster we kill this thing, the faster we can come home," Gaius said, as they stepped out into the castle yard.
"I'm surprised King Uther gave you permission." Uther had probably danced when he'd left the throne room, but he couldn't imagine the king reacting the same way when Gaius had asked.
"King Uther likes me," Gaius said, smiling. "Besides, he doesn't like to leave undead creatures stalking his border."
"Thank you again, Gaius," Hunith said.
"Bandits I couldn't help with, vrykolakas I can manage."
Funny, I feel the same way about Arthur.
Together, the three of them left the tower.
(X)
"Who's that woman with Gaius and Merlin," Morgana asked. "She looks familiar."
Arthur looked out the window, frowning. Why does Gaius and Merlin have bags and bedrolls? "Merlin said something earlier about collecting ingredients. Maybe that's the woman who needed them." It would make sense if Gaius left to mix and administer the medicine and, taking Merlin, followed that logic. So, why was he getting such a bad feeling? Arthur hadn't had the time or energy to chase Merlin down after their last run in that afternoon. His father had made it clear he was to entertain the girl and keep her happy given the potential treaty their relationship could establish. The more he was with her though, the less he saw of anyone. Okay, the less he saw of Merlin, and he hated it. Wilona would leave in a few days though, and then his life could go back to normal. Or as normal as his life struggled to be with Merlin around.
"I feel like we're never going to see them again," Morgana breathed. She had that strange look in her eye that she got sometimes.
"So do I." Saying it out loud made the feeling that much worse.
"They're just going to collect some herbs, right?"
"That's what Merlin said..." Not that Merlin always told him everything. How many times had he mentioned something only for there to be a paragraph's worth of an explanation left out of the one sentence he actually said? All of his gut feelings seemed to be screaming at this point. What hadn't he noticed? What had his idiot servant been withholding from him?
"Do you think the knights know where he went?"
"Why... well, maybe." Merlin had some strange friendship with a few of the knights, namely Lancelot. He could see Merlin turn to Gaius and say something as they stepped into the city market. Arthur's heart stopped. "No, we shouldn't bother the knights," he said, shaking his head. "It'll take too long."
"So, we're going to follow them?"
Like we have a choice. "Merlin leaves a trail like a large bear. Grab a few things and meet me at the gate." Once they saw that Merlin was indeed just going to collect ingredients, they could come back, and he could relax.
"What about Lady Wilona?"
"What about her?"
"She'll expect you at dinner. She doesn't care if I'm there, though. I'll go."
"And risk you getting hurt? I don't think so." He'd never forgive himself, nor would his father, if something horrible happened to Morgana. "Either we both go or neither of us go."
"I could go with Lancelot," she said, quickly.
Why doesn't she want me to go? He tried to keep his face blank. "Why are you so against me going?"
"If Uther finds out we're both gone, he's going to have a fit."
He considered that. His father had not been thrilled when Arthur and Morgana had chased after Merlin a year ago. It was unlikely he'd be happy doing it now. Actually, he'd probably be angrier since Wilona was here. They could wait until after dinner so they could get a head start, but... He shook his head. "We'll have to risk it."
(X)
"What do you plan on doing after we kill the vrykolakas?"
They'd been walking for hours and finally decided to stop for the night. His family had been nice enough not to ask him any questions while they'd been walking or setting up their sad excuse of a camp. It seemed now that they had settled down for the evening and had finished eating, Gaius expected some answers. He'd known the question would come, but had been hoping Gaius wouldn't ask so soon.
"I don't know." And he really didn't. He didn't want to leave Gaius behind, he couldn't just abandon Arthur, not with the prophecy and all. But the thought of returning to Camelot... "Perhaps I'll become a hermit."
"What good would that do!?"
"Sorcerers attack Arthur from afar all the time. I can just as easily protect him that way."
Gaius rolled his eyes. "You're impossible sometimes."
"I don't think you understand how much Arthur's words hurt earlier. Besides, it's better if I'm gone. He can court Lady Wilona and..." he bit his lip, unable to get the rest out.
Sighing, Gaius wrapped an arm around Merlin's shoulders. "I know. It's difficult watching the person you love, love someone else."
"And he'd know," Hunith said, nudging Gaius gentle and smiling.
Gaius glared at her.
"So, it's a family curse," Merlin asked. "We're destined to watch the ones we love fall for someone else?"
"Sort of," Gaius muttered.
"Wonderful. Until Arthur, I never even felt this way. How could I be so stupid?"
"It really wasn't much of a stretch for you," Gaius snickered.
Merlin gave his uncle a look before shrugging. What did any of it matter? "I... I found a way so..."
"Found a way to what," Gaius asked.
"I found a way to keep Arthur safe without me needing to be near him." He'd stumbled across the spell by chance in an old book he'd found on one of the knights' quests.
"Why didn't you mention it before!?"
"Because I didn't think I needed to."
"You — Merlin, how could you be so selfish!? So..." his voice trailed off when Merlin dropped his head. "What kind of spell are we talking about?"
"It's a shielding spell."
"And?"
Gaius knew him all too well. "It requires a lot of magic and a lot of energy." The entry in the book said the last person they'd seen cast the spell had collapsed once they'd completed the spell. They'd recovered, sort of, and died a few weeks later with no explanation. The shielded person had lived. An added note in the corner had claimed the shielded person was still alive and well into their eighties.
Gaius snorted. "Both of which you have plenty of."
"Are you really willing to give up your position as Prince Arthur's servant," Hunith asked.
"..." They'd find out sooner or later. "... Uther took my request as my letter of resignation. He's probably already found Arthur a new servant."
"WHAT," Gaius screamed.
(X)
Arthur grabbed the nearest tree trunk, his mind mimicking Gaius's scream. Was that the horrible feeling he's had? "If I hadn't gone after him..."
"Uther probably has someone standing in your room now waiting for you," Morgana said.
He nodded dully.
"What are you going to do?"
"Do?" He tore his eyes away from Merlin. "About what?"
Morgana stared at him, wide eyed. "About Merlin," she hissed, swatting his arm.
"I don't have to do anything."
"You really are as heartless as Uther. After everything Merlin has done for you!"
Arthur frowned, trying to follow Morgana's logic. "What are you talking about?"
"Fine, then. Let the best Pendragon win." She strode into the encampment, her head held high. "Merlin!" The three in the camp jumped, Merlin dropping the stick he was holding into the fire.
Damn it. He'd wanted to hear more of the conversation before they revealed themselves.
"What are you doing!?" Arthur ran after her, the three staring back and forth between Morgana and himself.
"What are you doing," Merlin asked. When he caught sight of Arthur, his eyes widened.
He looked at his servant, not entirely sure what to say. They bickered all the time, but Merlin had never left Camelot over any of their previous rows. More importantly, though... he turned to the woman, surprised at who it actually was. "Lady Hunith?"
"Prince Arthur," she replied, bowing her head.
The bad feeling in Arthur's gut grew. "What are the three of you doing here? Are there more bandits threatening Ealdor?" He sat down next to Merlin, making sure their legs were touching. What in the hell had Merlin been thinking!? Ealdor had barely survived last time, and that was with Arthur's help and a sorcerer!
"What? No. There aren't any bandits," Merlin said.
"Why are you going to Ealdor then?" Wasn't the first time bad enough? He'd practically had William thrown in the dungeons for being Merlin's friend. A strange rage had overcome him the second he'd seen William hugging Merlin. It'd gotten worse when he'd found out they were childhood friends. And if he'd heard the words "He doesn't really know you" one more time, he'd have been the one burning down Ealdor. Actually, that didn't sound like a bad idea since it seemed to be a reoccurring curse that dragged Merlin back once a year now.
Morgana rolled her eyes. "Because it's his home, Arthur."
Arthur scrunched his face up. "No, it's not. Camelot is."
"I haven't visited Ealdor in quite a while. I thought it would be nice," Gaius said. "When I told Merlin, he wanted to go with."
"Humph." Why would Merlin want to go back? Camelot had so much more to offer. And obviously Lady Hunith had traveled to Camelot first to meet with her family. There was no need for this trip, for Merlin to leave. And who was going to tend to his needs if Merlin wasn't with him? Some random servant his father picked out? Sure, he'd gotten Merlin that way, but he wasn't risking it. Merlin was his, and he wasn't letting anyone else into his room, bottom line.
"Why are you two here," Merlin asked. "Uther's going to be mad."
"That's an understatement," Gaius snorted.
He ran a hand through his hair, nodding. His father was going to murder him for skipping out on Wilona. Thank god he had, though! "What's really going on?"
"Just go back to Camelot," Merlin sighed.
"And risk my father forcing some new servant on me? I'm not going back until you do!"
"You can't do that!"
"Watch me." Merlin made a face, but he didn't care. He dropped his head into his hands, hardly able to process the situation. If not for Morgana's prompting and his bad feeling, he might have lost Merlin for good. He could feel his blood beginning to boil. "Come here." He grabbed Merlin by the arm, stood up, and pulled him roughly away from the camp. Once they were far enough so the others couldn't hear them, Arthur turned on him. "So, you were just going to leave? And what?"
Merlin averted his eyes.
Somehow Merlin's silence was worse than him answering.
"I can't believe you. You purposely angered me so I wouldn't question where you were or send the new servant away!"
"No," Merlin said, loudly, looking up at him. "I was going to apologize and explain everything, but you walked away."
Damn it!
"I didn't just decide to run off. After our fight, I went back to the tower and my mother was there. She asked us to help her with something in Ealdor."
"Like what?"
"Nothing we can't manage," he said, uneasily. He refused to look at Arthur again.
"Merlin!"
He winced. "... There's a vrykolakas hunting around the village," he whispered.
"A vrykolakas!? You thought you and Gaius could handle taking on a vrykolakas by yourselves!?"
"It's not hard to kill a vrykolakas," Merlin protested.
"You!" He growled, turning his back on Merlin. Merlin of all people had no chance at fighting, well, anything! He turned back to him. "What would have happened if you'd confronted that thing alone!? I could have lost you!"
"Gaius and I would... wait what?"
Why did I just say that!? He growled in frustration and pulled Merlin into a tight hug. "How could you risk such a thing!?"
(TBC)