Chapter 7 - Home

Nathan turned around and suddenly turned chalk-white on the face.

With just a short gesture, she can wipe out the child's life. Morgana looked contemptuously at her brother. Sheer hatred sprang from her eyes. Her powerful brother was completely helpless.

"If you want to kill someone, kill me," Arthur said.

At the same moment, the fiery hurricane broke up with a loud bang. The walls gave way here and there and broke down on the floor. The people in the room fell.

Arthur got up first. He looked around a little confused. Morgana, Lot and the Knights were apparently passed out or dead.

"Arthur!" Merlin yelled and ran into the hall, "Are you okay?"

"It was clear once again that you won't come until everything is over," said Arthur. The Knights Camelots appeared behind Merlin. Percival helped Nathan to his feet. Fortunately, he was not injured. Arthur also remained unscathed.

"Let's get out here," said Leon.

As soon as they were outside the enemy fortresses, Arthur helped the boy get on his horse. Then he swung himself into the saddle.

He gave the horse the commands it needed to get them out of here as quickly as possible.

After a time, Arthur felt a smaller hand grasp his and squeeze it firmly. Since Nathan was sitting in front of him, he unfortunately did not see the child's face. Arthur could only imagine how relieved Nathan must be, but also how exhausting and terrible the last few days were for a child.

"You were right. She's an evil witch," Nathan said, "Thank you for saving me."

They rode straight to the Essetir Forest, "We'll set up the night camp as soon as we cross the border," Arthur announced.

Merlin collected wood for the campfire, Gwaine babbled again without a point and a comma about irrelevant topics, Percival gave the impression that he was listening to Gwaine, Leon leaned against a tree and rested.

Nathan was sitting around the burning campfire. The knees pulled towards the body, the head resting on it. It's still cold even though he was sitting so close to the fire.

Arthur stared at his son for a long time. Even if he is king, at that moment he just felt helpless. If he could, he would immediately take the load off his son's shoulders.

Arthur grabbed a blanket, took a seat next to Nathan by the fire, and wrapped the blanket around the boy's shoulders.

"You should at least have a bite to eat," Arthur handed him a bowl of the stew Merlin had made, which Nathan didn't touch.

"Merlin's cooking skills aren't that bad," winked Gwaine.

"You should hurry up with the food before Gwaine eats it away from you," Leon said.

Nathan looked down and poked around with the spoon. Even without looking up, he knows that the knights stared at him. They actually did that all the time. Do they blame him? He couldn't help it if Lot's men just took him with them. Any attempt to escape was pointless. They were big and armed and he had nothing. Or did they just look at him because they feel sorry for him?

"You traveled all the way just to free me?"

He looked around. First to Arthur, then Leon, Percival, and then Gwaine.

"You didn't say goodbye to us, we had no other choice," Gwaine joked.

"Don't listen to him, Nathan," Merlin threw the collected wood down by the fire, "The truth is that Gaius needs an herb collector."

Nathan poked around in the food before he actually dared a little bite. It was neither particularly good nor bad. It was just a simple and quick stew. His appetite returned completely after the first bite, which is why he gradually ate the whole stew.

"I will keep the night watch," Leon said. Arthur nodded gratefully. He was going to sleep, just like the others did, when he realized that Nathan was still sitting in front of the fire.

"You have to rest, Nathan. Tomorrow will be a long day," Arthur said. His plan was to ride all the way to Camelot. He wants to avoid spending another night outside for the good of the child. But all of them have to be well strengthened and well rested.

Nathan had crossed his arms and ignored the king's words. He struggled to keep his eyes open. The last few nights he was very afraid of his own dreams.

"Have no fear. You have the best Knights Camelots around you," Arthur said softly.

"Merlin?" Nathan whispered, shaking Merlin's shoulder. Merlin groaned in exasperation, turned to a new comfortable sleeping position before opening his eyes and staring at Nathan.

"I want to go home."

"Tomorrow morning at sunrise we'll continue riding," he murmured.

"I don't want to go to Camelot. I want to go home!"

"Camelot is your home," Merlin turned to a sleeping position again and closed his eyes.

Nathan sighed. Merlin just didn't understand him. He doesn't want to go back to Camelot. He wants to go back home. Nathan's eyes wandered over the sleeping knights. If not now then when? Carefully, one step at a time, he tried to sneak out of the camp. No branch may crack, no leaf may rustle. After all, these are the best Knights Camelots.

But he didn't get too far. Soon he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"We didn't save you so you could run away," Leon turned the boy to him. There was no denying the resemblance to Arthur. Nathan looked one-to-one like little Arthur. Leon had known Arthur most of his life. They spent part of their childhood together.

"What's your home name?" Leon asked curiously.

"Charlton."

Leon encouraged the little runaway to lie down and sleep again. He promised to talk to Arthur about a detour.

The next morning the king was far from thrilled. His goal was to get Nathan to Camelot as soon as possible.

However, Sir Leon did not give up, "We could reach Charlton this afternoon and be back in Camelot tomorrow evening."

Arthur gave in. If it is his son's wish, then he also wants to fulfill it. In fact, they reached the small village, Charlton, late in the afternoon. As soon as they saw the village in the distance, Nathan fidgeted back and forth. He was on horseback in front of Arthur again. Nathan jumped off the horse and ran straight to an older woman.

"Nathan!" She stretched out her arms to hold the boy tightly.

Arthur and his men watched the spectacle as they swung down from their horses.

"King Arthur," said the old woman, horrified, "what brings you to our village? I hope Nathan behaved in Camelot."

"Nathan is a great and brave boy," said Arthur.

"I want to see mom," Nathan said, looking at Ida with wide, pleading eyes. She nodded and Nathan ran to the end of the village towards a large field. His mother was buried here. A pile of stones commemorates her grave.

He let himself plop into the tall grass. He missed her very much. Gaius was very nice, he also liked his life in Camelot, but he was very homesick. Homesick for his mother, Ida or his friends.

Nathan heard and felt someone sit next to him. A quick glance was enough to know that King Arthur was settling down.

"I think that's yours," said Arthur, handing him his wooden sword.

"You found it? Thank you very much, my lord "

"Arthur," said Arthur, "please call me Arthur."

"I'll stay here," Nathan said, "I don't want to leave my home a second time."

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked disappointed. Nathan nodded convincingly.

The next morning they saddle up the horses and prepare for their long journey home. Arthur couldn't get his eyes on Nathan any longer. The boy would have had a carefree life in Camelot, and yet he opted for a poor farming life.

Merlin sat down next to Nathan at the table where the boy was eating his oats.

"Do you believe in destinies? Maybe you didn't come to Camelot for no reason. It was your mother's will. She realized that your future was not in a village," Merlin said.

"I don't want to go."

"I know. You like your life here, but Gaius misses you terribly. You know your mom was very close friends with Gaius and even Arthur, right? You want to be a knight of Camelot. Not every child have the honor to train with the best."

"Merlin!" he heard Arthur's voice, "Merlin!"

Merlin sighed. He looked at Nathan one last time, who apparently didn't want to change his mind. Outside everyone was waiting for him. Arthur and the knights were all on their horses. Merlin jumped on his horse, looked one last time at the door where Nathan was sitting before giving his horse commands.

"Wait!" Suddenly a child's voice yelled. Arthur stopped suddenly and looked back. Nathan stood in the village square, "I'm coming with you!"