7. The Stowaway
The following morning dawned with a whirlwind of activity as knights, servants, and foot soldiers prepared to depart for the journey ahead. The parade of troops would not fully mobilize until Arthur gave the command, but he remained silent, sitting atop Llamrei and watching as Merlin spoke with Gaius and Guinevere near the castle steps.
"Please look after her, Gaius," Merlin was saying, exhaling a gusty sigh, expression harried. "I know she's unhappy that I'm leaving, but I spoke with her, and I don't believe she'll give you too much trouble."
"Even if she does, I am more than happy to look after her," Gaius assured him.
"He won't be alone in that. We'll all keep an eye on Aithusa," Guinevere added.
Despite his urge to remind Merlin that he could just as easily stay behind with her (and probably should) Arthur stayed quiet. Merlin point-blank refused to allow Arthur to go without him, as though Arthur wasn't already in the company of a tenth of the full garrison.
And only to himself, Arthur could admit that he was loathed to leave Merlin behind as well.
"Thank you," Merlin breathed. "I don't think I could've done any of this without your help."
Guinevere drew him into a brief, but firm hug. "Stay safe out there. All of you," she said, meeting Arthur's eyes over Merlin's shoulders with a sweet smile.
Arthur nodded to her, expression softening.
"And keep up the vocal exercises," Gwaine called, already mounted on his horse, alongside the other knights. "She's so close. I can feel it!"
"Your name will not be her first word, Gwaine," Merlin scowled, marching to Hengroen's side and swinging up and onto the stallion.
Gwaine didn't appear the least bit deterred. "I don't know about that, my friend. I'm her favorite!"
Arthur scoffed. "Only because you allow her to run amok, with little care for her safety."
"Aw, are you jealous, princess?" Gwaine teased, unperturbed by the criticism and flipping his hair back. "It's called having fun. But I suppose we can't all be as pleasant and easygoing as myself."
"Or as insufferable," Percival added.
Arthur smirked. "And impertinent."
"And no one is quite as noisy as Sir Gwaine," Leon added.
"Or as boastful and conceited," Elyan chimed in.
"Traitors, the lot of you," Gwaine huffed.
But Merlin was laughing and that was all Arthur really cared about. "Shut up, Gwaine. It's time to move out."
At Arthur's command, the troops began to gather into formation. Merlin stayed at his right, while the knights rode directly behind them, as they set out. They crossed the drawbridge and rode through the lower town, where the people watched their departure, cheering for them.
It wasn't until they'd marched past the city walls and begun their trek through the Darkling Woods, that Merlin grew pensive once more.
Arthur sighed. "If you're so worried, Merlin, why didn't you stay behind?"
Merlin glanced up, startled, before shooting him a grin. "I already told you, Arthur. You wouldn't last a day without me."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't be an idiot."
"Don't be a prat." Merlin's eyes crinkled as his grin widened.
Arthur scoffed. "I see fatherhood has done little to improve your sense of maturity."
"What?" Merlin wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Did you expect I'd suddenly age a few years and gain a couple of gray hairs?"
"Something like that, I suppose."
The truth was, Arthur hadn't known at all what to expect. He'd hardly been prepared to have Merlin return with a child of his own, let alone been prepared for the changes it would surely bring about.
But, it had been weeks, and Arthur was relieved to see that Merlin hadn't changed in the slightest. Instead, Aithusa had been added as a frequent topic in the course of Merlin's chatter. And everyone was so charmed by her and willing to help out, that Merlin's new responsibilities as a father hardly affected his duty and friendship to Arthur.
Even Arthur himself was willing to concede that Aithusa's addition to their household had been an enjoyable and positive change.
"Merlin, did you ever find out what happened to your brother?" Gwaine asked from behind them. "Surely he's contacted you regarding Aithusa."
To Arthur's annoyance, Gwaine's question caused Merlin's features to sour. Although, Arthur couldn't deny that he too, was curious.
"Kilgharrah didn't even contact me when Aithusa first disappeared with Morgana. He's unlikely to contact me now," Merlin sneered. "Not that I particularly want him too."
"What kind of name is Kilgharrah?" Arthur heard Elyan whisper.
"It is strange," Percival quietly agreed.
Gwaine whistled. "No love lost between the two of you, I take it."
"It's complicated," Merlin huffed.
"If Morgana took Aithusa from him, as you said, could it be that he was hurt? Morgana is―was a formidable opponent," Leon said.
"Oh, I'm not the least bit concerned about him. Morgana couldn't have harmed Kilgharrah if she'd tried." Merlin looked as though he were holding back a laugh.
Arthur glanced over his shoulder and exchanged an apprehensive look with the knights. What kind person was Merlin's brother, that not even Morgana could've been considered a threat to him?
"Sounds like he would've been useful all those times Morgana seized Camelot," Leon noted.
"Trust me, Leon, you of all people would be the least likely to ask him for help."
Bewildered, Leon asked, "Do I know him?"
"I'd rather not talk about this any more."
Arthur shot Merlin a sharp look. "You said the same thing when I asked you if I'd previously met your brother."
"I recall," Merlin said dryly.
Arthur wracked his brain, trying to come up with a likely candidate. Someone who probably looked like Merlin, but maybe older and with jaded eyes. Someone not nearly as likeable.
"You said he lived in Camelot, even before you arrived," Arthur said, when his memories failed to recall any Camelot citizens matching the vague description.
"That's one way to put it."
Behind them, Gwaine blew out a loud sigh. "No offense Merlin, but your brother sounds like a right twit. I'm glad the little dragon is living with us now."
"Why on earth do you call her that?" Leon demanded. "I've met a dragon and frankly, I find it insulting."
"Don't look at me," Gwaine said. "It was Merlin who first called her that. I just followed his lead."
Merlin flushed red. "It was one time! And it was after she bit through Sir Brice's pinky finger. I was fitting then!"
Arthur, along with the knights, burst into laughter.
"He was livid," Arthur recalled.
"And the laughingstock of the knights," Gwaine guffawed. "He got felled by a four-year-old child."
"Served him right," Elyan said. "What kind of knight loudly berates a little girl?"
"Not a very honorable one," Percival said. "At least now, anyone who wishes to scold Aithusa, knows to do so at extreme peril."
"I mean, what did anyone expect?" Gwaine was still laughing. "She's Merlin's progeny. I'm positive any child he produced would be equally as feral."
"That's just uncalled for," Merlin grumbled.
Arthur grinned at him. "Would you rather she have inherited your idiocy?"
"At least she wasn't at risk of inheriting your arrogance, unlike your poor children," Merlin bit out.
"Hey! Those are my future nieces and nephews you're talking about," Elyan cut in. "Personally, I'm putting all my hopes on Gwen contributing all the admirable traits of our family."
Arthur shot Elyan a withering scowl over his shoulder, before turning to Merlin. "I can't believe you still think me arrogant."
Merlin shrugged. "You're certainly not as bad as you used to be, but it still flares up now and again."
"What? Like a rash?" Gwaine barked a laugh.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I don't know why I keep any of you around. You lot are insufferable."
Immediately, they squawked in protest, hurling insults faster than he could keep up.
Arthur wouldn't have had it any other way.
It was on the second night, after they had crossed through the Forest of Powys and set up camp for the night, that Arthur noticed Gwaine's shifty eyes across the campfire.
"What's wrong, Gwaine? Did they run out of apples already?" he teased.
Gwaine smiled, picking at his food. "Uh, I hope not. But I couldn't find any."
"That's rather strange," Elyan said, shooting him a look. "You're like a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing those things out."
"That's a bit of a stretch."
"Not really," Percival disgreed.
"I could go and find some for you," Merlin offered, already setting his plate down.
"What? No, don't do that, mate. You literally just sat down. I'm sure I can find some later," Gwaine protested.
Merlin quirked an eyebrow. "If you're sure…"
"I'm sure! In fact, I might just give it another go! There's a few supply carts I haven't checked."
Before anyone could say anything, Gwaine jumped to his feet and marched off, his plate of food in one hand.
Arthur exchanged a knowing look with Merlin.
"That was odd," Leon said.
"Who's going to follow him?" Percival grinned.
Arthur sighed. "It might as well be me. Whatever he's up to, I'm the one who has to fix it."
"Go easy on him, Arthur," Merlin laughed.
"Not bloody likely."
Arthur followed Gwaine's trail, carefully stepping around other groups of knights, dodging servants, and sidestepping pitched tents. Near the resting horses, a couple of carts were lined up, ready to be re-harnessed in the morning. It was difficult to see this far from the light of the campfires, but Arthur could just barely make out Gwaine's silhouette crouched beside the furthest cart.
"…please," he heard Gwaine saying as Arthur drew closer. "You need to eat something."
Arthur scowled. This really wasn't the time to be picking up strays. And he certainly wouldn't have expected this kind of behavior from Gwaine. If any one of them were to adopt a forest critter at an inconvenient time, Arthur would've placed his coin on Merlin.
"Pretty, pretty please?"
Arthur sighed. "Gwaine, what the devil are you doing?!"
Gwaine jumped up, whirling around with an expression of guilt. "Aw, hell."
Arthur stalked closer, trying to peek over Gwaine's shoulder. "What sort of creature have you troubled us with?"
"Before you take a look," Gwaine said, blocking his view, "I swear I didn't do this! For once, I am innocent!"
"Yeah right," Arthur scoffed, finally shoving him aside and getting a good look at the thing crouching on the edge of the cart.
Arthur blinked, believing for a second that his eyes had deceived him. "Aw, hell."
Aithusa grinned.
A/N: You can thank my bestie for this update. She made me write :(
Hope you like it so far! And please drop a review if you enjoyed the chapter! :3