First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 11

The next couple days had Arthur up more, regaining some of his strength, the dark-haired boy always right next to him. "do you see that; you can tell it's going to rain because all the flowers close up. Kinda like people trying to find someplace to stay dry. Have you ever been caught out in the rain? Will and I were once, we were playing in the woods, I told him we needed to go home, but he didn't listen, like usual and mother was so mad when we got home. Will caught a cold from it, mother said I was lucky I didn't." Arthur had never met anyone like the boy, how could someone talk so much, the Prince wondered if he ever took a breath. The boys had been walking around the clearing near the trees, Leon was chopping some wood for Hunith, but was also keeping a close eye on his charge.

"You don't talk much do you?" Merlin stopped and looked at the older boy.

"I talk when I need to, don't really have anyone to talk to or much to say." Arthur looked back toward the house. It reminded him of the villages he had visited, the ones the Lord's cared about. "who helps take care of you all, your village?"

Merlin looked at him with the strangest look, "nobody, we take care of ourselves."

"Aren't their Lord's nearby who help, what of your King, doesn't he help?" Arthur never would have expected the abrupt change that overtook the smaller boy. His seemingly carefree look about things seem to shutter completely, like a wall went up.

"There is nobody but us, the King doesn't care, no one else is around so we take care of ourselves. Is there something wrong with that?" it was almost scary the tone the child took, so defensive almost cold.

"No, it's just…" at that moment Hunith called across the clearing, letting them know lunch was ready. Arthur looked back at the other child, confusion clouding his expression. "I'm sorry, I just thought…" looking down the Prince slowly made his way toward the house, Leon watching closely.

"You okay?" Leon asked the blond as he eyed the dark-haired boy quietly walking into the house. It was probably the first time he had ever seen the smaller boy so quiet. A nod was the older boys only response as he placed a hand on the uninjured shoulder of his charge.

It was a while later Merlin and his mother were tending to the few chickens they had, "why does Arthur think someone should be taking care of us?"

"What do you mean?" Hunith glanced at her son as she noticed him looking back toward their home where Arthur was talking with his brother.

"He asked who took care of us, if the king did or a lord. He seemed confused when I told him nobody took care of us, we take care of ourselves." It would still stun Hunith when it sounded like a grown man's voice coming out of her son.

"Leon said they were from Camelot; things are a little different there than here. You remember me talking about my friend Gaius who lives at the King's Castle?" Merlin nodded, "Apparently there are men in their kingdom who have estates near villages, these men are supposed to try and help the villages near them. If something happens the villagers can go to these men and ask for help and they usually get it. He also said the King regularly visits these estates and villages to make sure the people are taken care of. Arthur doesn't know that our king does not care for his people."

"But you said Camelot isn't safe." In all the unnatural wisdom her son seems to possess, until he is older, he will never truly understand why Camelot is not safe. She knelt before her son, she had protected him every day of his short life, it had never been easy. For those first months she barely left her home, no one ever saw Merlin, she had been so afraid. Even though their village wasn't in Camelot's kingdom it had not stopped its king from tearing her budding family apart before it ever really had a chance to start. She had never told Merlin of his father, just that he wasn't around. It was why as soon as he was able to understand she started to drill into him that he had to hide the wonderful things he could do or someone might come and take him away. She had hated to put such fear in the small boy, but she could not allow anything to ever happen to her son, especially when he was so much like his father her heart ached sometimes. "you know how I have always told you how special you are?" Merlin nodded, "Camelot does not like special people like you, their king would take you away from me if we ever went there. He doesn't understand and is afraid of what he doesn't understand. I pray that one day that will change, but until it does, the people of Camelot may be safe and caring people, but the kingdom is not. That is why we have to be careful and keep your gift hidden."

"So I can't even tell Arthur, he seems really nice even if he is a prat like Will because he can't ask for help." A smile crossed his face when he looked up at Hunith.

"No sweetheart, you can't even tell him. He is from Camelot, we don't want him to accidently tell someone. One day you'll understand that even your dearest friends must not know," her mind drifted to how her loves dearest friend turned against him when the Great Purge in Camelot began. "maybe one day the world will be safe enough to accept people with gifts like yours, but until then."

A faraway look crossed her son's face, one that twisted a knot in her stomach. "Merlin, you didn't did you?"

"No mother, but I…" he trailed off, fear crossing his face.

"You what?" she tried to keep her voice calm even with the fear she felt rising.

"You remember that first night and I told you he was like me, but he wasn't and it was confusing." He watched his mother nod then continued. "I could feel the pain he was in, he was so hurt and scared mother, I could feel him drifting, I don't know but it felt like…like he was leaving and seeing how scared Leon was and feeling how scared Arthur was, I couldn't let him leave, so I gave him a string to hold onto. I saw a memory of him with his father and I gave him a string so he would come back to his father." Hunith put her hand over her mouth, a sob escaping as she pulled Merlin tightly to her. "He doesn't know it was me, I promise mother, but I couldn't." Merlin had started sobbing into his mother's shoulder. He knew she was scared of what he had done, she had even told him not to do anything, but there was something about the blond-haired boy that drew Merlin to him, but he knew down deep he was meant to help him and he did.

"She's been so nice, she helped when she didn't have to. Can't we do something more for them?" Arthur looked at Leon. They had watched as the mother and son were talking and how she hugged him. Something in the Prince stirred as he watched them, "I wish my mother was here." He whispered, looking up at Leon a single tear slipped from his blue eyes, "I've never had a mother hug me. What does that feel like Leon?"

Leon's heart clinched as he looked at his charge never really understanding how much the boy missed out on never having a mother around. The older boy can still remember the tight hugs his mother would give him, her soothing words when he was upset or sad. It was something Arthur had never had. Yes, he had seen the affection Uther showed his son. The occasional pat on the shoulder, a quick side hug, but he had never seen Uther really hug his son, not like Leon's own father hugged him. Though his father's hugs would never replace those of his mother, he could feel the love his father had for him each time he was pulled into his father's strong arms.

Leon reached over and pulled Arthur to him, a brotherly hug they had shared over the time they had been training together and especially through these last several days. "I can't really describe it. When my mother would hug me, it was like everything bad that ever happened would go away and she would not let it near again. It was like she knew everything I was thinking, every fear I had and with just her hug she could protect me from all of it." Leon heard a sob escape the young boy beside him. So much had happened in such a short period of time, they both held on to so much fear still not knowing how their King, how Arthur's father was. They had let it slip to the back of their minds as Arthur healed and Leon distracted himself with helping the kind woman who had taken them in.

"I miss my Father." Arthur whispered, "do you think he would let me hug him like Merlin hugs his mother?" The Prince knew his father loved him and his heart swelled when he had told his father he loved him that last night at Lord Andrew's estate and to hear his father say it back. "Leon, do you think my father is still alive?"

That question slammed into the older boy like nothing ever had. Those hours after the attack with his focus being on getting Arthur to safety, his fear over the injuries his charge had sustained, he had only allowed a moment where he feared his King was dead. He had seen him fall and not rise again before he fled into the trees. Arthur knew his father had been injured, but this was the first time he had voiced the fear they both held. "We must believe that he is until we know differently. I am sure my father has been sending out search parties looking for us and the King if the party did not make it back to the Citadel. But no matter what…" Leon leaned back looking down at the boy against him, "you will be taken care of, you will still be loved by those around you, and I will make sure you are never alone, okay?"

A shuttering breath escaped Arthur, his head becoming heavy, the emotions of the day (or days) nearly overriding the physical injuries he had incurred. "Promise?" Never had Arthur, Prince of Camelot, heir to the throne of one of the most powerful kingdoms in all the lands sounded more like a terrified child than in the moment, with that simple question.

"I promise."