"I'm glad you decided to come with me, Merlin." Arthur looked sideways to his brother. Merlin wasn't exactly smiling, but he wasn't sulking either. It was definitely a win!

It was a long few minutes that they both rode in silence before Merlin answered back. "It does feel good to be out again."

Arthur watched how his brother turned his head to face him and was now definitely giving him a smile, Arthur was delighted and smiled broadly back. They rode on and suddenly Merlin gasped at the sight before him and the smile he had spread even wider.

"Arthur! This-this is… how?"

"It wasn't easy," Arthur chuckled. "But, I found it again after a recent hunt. I knew you'd like it."

Merlin jumped from his horse and quickly tied it to a nearby tree before running into the valley. Arthur quickly followed. It was a valley they had discovered as teenagers some years ago, but couldn't find it again afterwards for the life of them. It was all because of a wrong turn just two weeks ago that Arthur had found it again.

The valley was breathtaking, there was loads of grass and the leaves on the trees were already starting to turn orange as Autumn was setting in. On the far end of the valley was a waterfall with a hidden cave. They even left something behind there and Arthur was curious to see if it was still there. It seemed that Merlin came to that question as well, because in seconds he was Arthur's side, grabbing his arm and dragging him towards the waterfall. He didn't even care that he became soaking wet when he went through the streams.

"It's still here!" Merlin said in delight and held up the small wooden box. Arthur watched how he opened the lid and grabbed the two pieces of paper that were in there. "I just can't believe it." Merlin sat down grinning and Arthur's heart bloomed at seeing his brother so happy for the first time in eight months.

Arthur sat down next to him and reached over to grab one of the small papers. They had scribbled their promise to each other on it. His was to always be there for Merlin and Merlin's said that he would always protect Arthur with his magic.

"And I still mean it." Merlin said. "Just as much as you still mean yours. You are, right?"

"Of course!" Arthur looked incredulously at Merlin. "How can you even question that?"

Merlin looked down and gave a shrug. Arthur guessed that Merlin meant that he was afraid of losing him as well just like he did with his mother and sister. He inched even closer to Merlin and wrapped an arm around Merlin keeping him close to his chest. "I will never leave you, that is my promise."

Merlin just nodded against his chest.

Arthur smiled down at him before a shiver travelled up his spine and cleared his throat. "Erm, Merlin, we should get ourselves dry before we catch a cold. Could you, perhaps –" Arthur twirled his fingers in front of him and Merlin chuckled. His eyes then burnt bright yellow and a warm fire started in the fire pit just a few feet away from him.

"Thanks little brother."

"It felt good to do some magic again." Merlin admitted.

"I – we were worried about you for that actually." Arthur said. "Father and I."

Merlin moved his head up higher to look at his brother. "I'm sorry. I've – I just couldn't."

"I know." Arthur murmured. "You don't have to apologize."

"I just miss them."

Arthur heard his brother's voice crack and he himself had to fight the tears. In these eight months he felt the one that needed to be the brave one. Needed to be the one to suffer in silence while his father and brother were pouring their hearts out. He just made the decision that he should be the one with a somewhat reasonable head while his father was unoccupied, but now – now he couldn't hold back any longer and just let himself grief his lost family members.

~oOoOo~

Uther watched his sons finally come through the city gates again. It was late in the afternoon and he was about to send out a patrol to find them. He was definitely worried that something had happened to his boys and that feeling had only been reinforced after his wife and daughter had died. He was being extra protected of his sons and everyone in the castle knew that.

When Arthur had come to him earlier that day to announce he and Merlin would go out, it was hard for him to let them go unsupervised, but he also knew that his sons needed some alone time. And Arthur was the best swordsman and Merlin the most powerful warlock in the five kingdoms, that also counted for something. Still, he just couldn't shake his worrisome nature when it came to the two of them.

His eyes fell on his sons' faces and he saw them actually smile and it brought a smile to his own face. Whatever happened that afternoon, it had done them a world of good. And he wanted to spent that happy time with his sons so he turned around and quickened his pace to catch his sons before they would both retreat to their own rooms. He wanted to share as much time together with them as he could.

He saw them in the hallway.

"Merlin, Arthur." Uther called out to his sons who turned to greet him.

"Father." They both said in unison.

"You both are just in time for dinner. Would you both like to join me?" He asked hopefully. Arthur had joined him most of the time these past eight months. Merlin, however, was a different story. He liked to eat his dinner in his own chambers.

Arthur knew that as well and looked at his brother. He saw him think about it before finally looking up to their father with a small smile. "I'd like that, father. What are we having?"

Uther was totally thrown off guard, momentarily lost for words. He didn't really expect his youngest son to agree. "We are- well, Mary said she had roasted some chicken."

"I can't wait to dig in." Merlin grinned and started to set course towards the dining room, leaving both Uther and Arthur left behind to watch Merlin go. Then Uther turned to his son and leaned down to kiss him on his temple.

"Whatever you've done this afternoon, son, thank you for that."