Author: LadyFromPoland

Disclaimer: I don't own "Merlin". It is a TV show which belongs to BBC.

Warning: SLASH

English is not my mother language.

Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews that I got! It really made my week. Enjoy the second chapter!

Dearest to his heart

Chapter 2

"The Idea"

It was a week since Lady Miranda had arrived to Camelot. The castle was no longer the same, though Arthur didn't seem to notice any changes. It, of course, annoyed Merlin very much.

"Hello, Merlin." Morgana visited the warlock in the afternoon. She didn't bother to knock. She knew that Merlin didn't really mind it.

"Hello..." he murmured. "What do I owe such a pleasure?"

The woman smirked. "A pleasure?" she asked, raising her eyebrow. "Are you sure it's a right word?"

Merlin didn't say anything.

"Anyway... I've come here to talk to you." Morgana crossed the room and took a seat in the most comfortable armchair.

"I think I have no choice," the warlock said, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Then what is it?"

The woman looked directly at him. "Lady Miranda," she almost whispered.

Merlin instinctively took his gaze away. "What about her?" she eventually asked.

Morgana noticed his confusion. She didn't ask him for any explanation because she knew the reason very well.

"You don't like her," the woman said to him.

The sorcerer shook his head. "That's a big word. Too big," he assured her.

"You don't need to pretend," Morgana said in her lady tone. "Believe me that I'm not fond of her too. I don't understand Arthur..."

"He's a prat," Merlin reminded her. He felt a bit better when he heard that he wasn't alone. "Do you want some wine? I've got here something delicious."

The witch smiled lightly. "Sure," she answered.

The man poured wine into two chalices and gave one of them to Morgana.

"Thank you," she murmured and drank everything in one gulp. She didn't care about good manners.

Merlin followed her and felt some kind of relief.

"More wine..." Morgana asked and the warlock agreed immediately.

After three chalices they were ready to continue their conversation.

"Arthur thinks she's flawless," Merlin mumbled.

"He's so wrong!" the sorceress said aloud. "He's wrong and blind."

The man didn't understand the double-meaning of word "blind". He didn't notice Morgana's meaningful glance.

"Lady Miranda seems to be beautiful but she's not perfect!" Merlin muttered. "I don't like her green eyes."

"Hey! I've got green eyes too!" Morgana protested.

"But your eyes are nice. Hers are annoying." He sighed. "Besides her nose! It's too pointy."

"Her sweet voice is irritating too," the woman added.

"Yes!" Merlin agreed.

They kept silent for a while.

"You've changed him," Morgana said suddenly. "Arthur has become a better man. Don't let Miranda ruin it now. She won't be a good queen and it will break that kingdom and him too."

"What can I do, Morgana?" he asked helplessly.

"You're two sides of the bloody coin, aren't you?" The witch's eyes twinkled. "You are friends. Talk to him!"

"Arthur spends his whole free time with Miranda," Merlin said angrily.

"Change that! Take him for a ride out of Camelot. Let him feel as Arthur, not like the king. I know you can do that." She smiled.

"A ride?" The sorcerer frowned.

"Yes! You two and the nature. Take him Merlin! Take him away from his duties... away from Miranda..."

The last argument convinced him.

"I can try," he said after a while.

"Great!" Morgana grinned. It was a rare thing.

"But will he agree? Won't he prefer to go for a ride with Miranda?" he asked sadly.

"He likes you," the woman assured him. "And I'll help you." She winked.

"What are you going to do?"

Morgana smirked. "It doesn't matter. All you have to do is to invite Arthur. Talk to him tomorrow. In the afternoon."

"Why afternoon?" The man frowned once again.

"Because I'll have to talk to him first," she answered.

oOoOo

The next day was beautiful. The sun was shining pleasantly, making the world warmer. Morgana hoped that the next day would be the same. However now she needed to face Arthur.

"The weather is so nice," she said as a greeting to the king. "It's almost perfect."

"Almost... it's not easy to please you," the blonde mumbled.

"Arthur, Arthur!" Morgana smiled charmingly. "It always can be better." Suddenly she sighed lightly but in the way that Arthur had to notice.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Wrong?" The woman raised her eyebrows. "This is not the right word'."

"What's happening to you? Tell me," the blonde insisted.

"Well... it's not about me," Morgana said honestly. "It's Merlin."

"Merlin?" Arthur immediately got interested. He tried to hide it but it was hopeless.

"Haven't you noticed?" She used a disappointed tone on a purpose. "Merlin doesn't look well. He's paler than usual. I'm really worried."

The king thought a while. "You're probably right... But what can we do?"

"I think that he needs more sun and fresh air but he's so busy. And that's your fault by the way!" Morgana pointed at Arthur's chest.

"Mine? Why mine?"

"You're the king here," she reminded him. "You have to give poor Merlin a few hours off. He should spend some time with nature..."

"You think it will help him?" the man asked.

"Yes," she answered immediately.

Arthur remained silent for a while. "I'm not sure if he agrees," the blonde admitted. "But I'll think about it and maybe... well... we'll see."

Morgana smiled at him. "I think that you are a great friend," she said.

"What about the great king?" the man asked.

"I'm not sure yet," the woman admitted mysteriously. "Now I need to tell you see you later and come back to my duties."

"Your duties?" Arthur mocked. "You don't have any important duties."

"Everybody has some," she answered, turning on her heel.

oOoOo

Merlin took Morgana's advice to his heart and went to Arthur's chamber when the king had a while for himself. It was warlock's only chance.

"Hi, Arthur," Merlin said quietly. As usual he didn't bother to knock even once.

The blonde was resting in his favourite armchair. He had his eyes closed until the sorcerer spoke up. When he noticed his friend, he smiled lightly.

Merlin didn't hear any comment about his always forgetting about knocking and he thought that it was a good sign. The younger man used also his sweet smile. It usually made the things easier. This time was not an exception. Arthur didn't understand it himself but one smile from his friend made his heart melt.

"What is it, Merlin?" the fair haired man asked calmly. He was not angry at his friend, though the warlock had broken his moment of silence and rest.

"You work hard," Merlin admitted at the very beginning. "And I thought that maybe you would..." he hesitated.

"You're not a shy type, Merlin. You always say what you think. Just spit it out."

The blonde sounded serious so the younger man couldn't prolong it any longer.

"You see... I know that you're busy but maybe you would change your day schedule... for me?" The sorcerer looked at the king very carefully.

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked. "What do you want me to do?"

Merlin smiled timidly. "The weather is nice these days..." he said slowly, considering his every word. "I thought about a horse ride. And then I thought that you could go with me."

The fair haired man wanted to say at first that he had lots of work to do and that he couldn't. However then he recalled Morgana's words. The king glanced at the warlock and noticed how pale and unhealthy he looked. He couldn't let it develop. Arthur had his kingdom but he also had his friend. He was meant to care for the other man as well as for his legacy. He couldn't be a good king if he wasn't able to look after his friend.

"I'll understand if you say no," Merlin said. He tried to hide his sadness but the sparks in his eyes faded.

"Possibly I can do this," Arthur told him.

The warlock looked directly into his king's eyes. He was shocked but definitely content. "Tomorrow?" Merlin asked him.

"Even after the breakfast." The fair haired man couldn't help smiling when he saw Merlin's pure smile. Arthur knew that he had made a right decision.

"I'm not disturbing you any longer," the dark haired man said enthusiastically and quickly left the room.

The blonde wanted to tell him that he wasn't disturbing but after a while he thought that it was better that he hadn't done that. Arthur was already confused enough. He just knew that Merlin's good mood made him feel well too.

"Horse ride," the king mumbled to himself. It sounded very good. However something was telling him that the horse ride with Merlin sounded much better.

oOoOo

"You're amazing, Morgana!" Merlin burst into her chamber without knocking.

The woman looked at him victoriously. She was truly proud of herself and she didn't even try to hide it.

"I suppose that Arthur said yes," she spoke quietly.

"I don't know what you've done but it worked." The warlock grinned. "Thank you!"

"That was only one of my female ways of convincing people, especially men, to do whatever I want without saying it openly. You'll learn it in time." Then Morgana winked at him.

"I'm not a woman! How can I learn it if it's one of female tricks?" Merlin asked.

"Of course you're not a woman. Although you have subtle facial features of a girl."

"Morgana!" The warlock groaned.

"Okay, okay... I was only kidding. When I said that you'll learn it in time, I didn't mean to offend you." The witch sighed lightly. "It was just a metaphor," she added in the end.

"I hope so," Merlin mumbled but smiled anyway. He couldn't be angry with her when she had helped him so much.

"Don't waste that trip," Morgana warned him. "You and Arthur need to enjoy it."

"I'll do my best," the man promised and said goodbye to her.

I hope you liked it. I know that it wasn't much but always something. Reviews?