When Arthur walked into their chambers he found himself with his arms full of Merlin as the young lad threw himself at his husband "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you into a row with your father" he clung to Arthur desperately.
Arthur disentangled himself and smiled down at Merlin "We have both been punished" Arthur kept his face stern "I have been sent on patrol to the northern borders I will be gone for over a month"
Merlin looked even more upset "I can't go that long without you!" then timidly he asked "What is my punishment? I have already lost the three things most precious to me"
Arthur frowned "Three things?"
"Yes you Prat! You, Aithusa and Gwaine" Merlin hit Arthur on his shoulder "Nothing else can be that bad"
"I don't know about that, you are being sent away for a month" Arthur told him with a glint in his eye
"Where!" Merlin demanded
"You are coming with me on patrol, so don't waste time you need to pack. Not to much as you only have your horse to carry it on" he paused as Merlin's face lit up "You don't mind do you? Only it was that or leave you here under Morgana's care to learn the correct behaviour"
"Mind! Of course not I have been on patrols before with both my father and brother. You mean it don't you, you aren't joking"
"I'm not joking my love, we will need to be careful not to expose your secret so I have asked Leon to bring a small tent. Not the full campaign size but enough to give some privacy. George will come as well, we can't take Freya though I don't want to endanger her"
"You have to be joking don't you, you try leaving her behind, don't forget she is Gangani to." Merlin said "I'm not telling her you have to"
"Merlin what could be difficult about telling Freya she is a meek little mouse" Arthur said with that Merlin went to the connecting door to his room and called out.
"Freya I am going on a month's patrol with the Prince, we leave in the morning can you pack." Merlin told his maidservant. "You can have the time to do what you want while we are gone."
Freya flew through the door "What do you mean I'm going to!"
"Sorry Freya the Prince says you are to stay behind, he doesn't want you put in danger" Merlin said his eyes twinkling.
Freya turned to Arthur she pulled herself up to her full height, albeit not very tall, "What do you mean Sire" the title dripped with anger. "I am a Gangani I will follow Merlin whether you like it or not! I can protect myself" with that she got her own dagger out and showed Arthur.
Arthur looked at Merlin in surprise "You didn't tell me she had a dagger! Can she use it?"
"She is in front of you, and yes I can, maybe not as well as Merlin but I can use it" Freya shouted at the Prince "Don't you dare try to stop me"
Merlin looked at Arthur as if to say 'I told you so' then Arthur threw his head back and laughed "OK but you had better ask Leon to bring two tents."
Freya frowned "Why? I mean I can see why you two need one but I don't I have slept in the open before"
"Privacy" Arthur suggested "You will be a woman amongst men,"
"And are you men beasts? There will be trees about or I could use your tent before I take it down in the mornings if I need to. I have no need of a tent Sire" by the time she had finished the sentence her voice had gone back to its normal level.
"That's solved then" Merlin said smugly "You can use my horse Freya I will use Apples he could do with the exercise"
Again Arthur looked surprised "But Apples will be too strong for you Merlin, he's a large stallion"
Merlin rolled his eyes "I have ridden Apples many times, besides I helped his dam when she gave birth to him, he loves me. You really need to control that macho image of yours. Don't worry about Hengroen they will be friends I'll introduce them properly"
Arthur shook his head "Of course you will, it's not like they're not both large stallions and will be trying to prove to each other who is the boss is it?"
"Oh come on Arthur do you knight's act like that around you? Of course they don't, nor will they." Merlin turned to Freya "Would you mind finding George and giving him the good news, I'm sure he will be thrilled"
As Freya left Merlin grinned at Arthur "Poor George no brass to polish for a month"
"You are a wicked person Merlin" Arthur grinned. "For that I won't let you share out last bath in a month"
Merlin grinned back "Punishing yourself are you?" and he disappeared into his chambers to pack. Unlike Arthur he could take far more things as he used his magic to shrink everything before packing. So in the end Merlin packed Arthur's leaving George to worry about previsions and other items. But Merlin was careful not to take too much that it would arouse suspicion with the others. After all they did have a packhorse to carry things. Such a long patrol meant they would be taking several such animals with them as well as some spare riding horses.
Speaking to Arthur later in bed Merlin suggested "Let Freya and myself unpack our things when needed, leave George to set up the camp fire and settle the horses. That way he won't realise how much extra we are taking with us"
"I can see traveling with you is going to be interesting." Arthur admitted as he pulled Merlin closer.
"And useful, I can use my magic if necessary to light wet wood, and I will also set up perimeter warnings, that way if any of your men fall asleep I will still know if we are being attacked"
"My men never fall asleep on duty" Arthur protested fervently as he kissed Merlin "Now go to sleep please we leave early in the morning" He smiled down at his husband and couldn't help but think Fate had been kind to him.