*a couple hours later*

"So are you going to tell me what that was about this morning?"

"No."

"And why not?"

"Because." he said with such little emotion I almost wondered if he said it.

"Because?"

"Because you're a prat." He said lacking anything that would've made that uplifting to hear.

I had opened my mouth to respond when I heard something in the bushes far off. I gave a signal to Merlin to be quiet and listen though that wasn't really necessary these days. He gave me a look telling me he heard it too. We jerked our horses away from the sound, fearing ambushes from bandits. As Merlin jerked the reigns I heard him grimace in pain, but then it looked as though there was a slight smile on his face. In that instant, I'd never been more bewildered.

MERLIN'S POV

The fear I'd felt this morning when Arthur moved toward me had become a normal thing lately. I can't pinpoint exactly when it started but somewhere between Kilgharrah being released, Lamia, and Arthur being crowned. The more we rode the more my wrist throbbed as my shirt rubbed against the burn. However, the more frequently that happened the clearer my thoughts became. My destiny didn't feel so heavy, it meant that maybe I was alive. That there was more to me than the enormous burden that was my destiny. That I am full of life, and have a life to live, that I'm not filled with just fate. A fate I can't control.

My thoughts were interrupted by a Royal Prat's voice that I can never seem to be quite rid of. I knew he'd ask questions about this morning and I didn't want to answer them. Mostly because I didn't know how. However, I also knew Arthur was pigheaded and stubborn, he wasn't going to let this go. I needed time though, time to create a response. Ugh, why couldn't there be a bandit attack right now? That would be great. Not a big one. Just one that would give me time to come up with a reason for the episode that occurred this morning. "Because you're a Prat." I said in a monotone voice that almost surprised me. A minute after saying that bushes rustled, I could almost laugh at the irony of the situation. Almost.

sorry for the short chapter...just got internet felt you guys deserved an update