"I can't believe I'm out here wandering these woods for him!" Arthur proclaimed loudly, throwing his hands in the air. "Bastard is so lucky. No one else in Camelot gets the personal attention of Arthur Pendragon." Arthur had, in his couple hours walking alone, accepted that he may have certain inclinations towards his manservant that were more than platonic. But only just. It wasn't like he was about to burst into a love poem or something. Seriously, he was overly fond of the scarf-wearing clotpole but that would just be obsurd. He had left Lanval to keep an eye out for Merlin, in case his hunch was wrong and had left Gwen to keep an eye on Lanval. The compass was guiding the way. He didn't want to read too much into the change of direction it took.

It was then he heard voices. He ducked out of sight behind a tree.

"You awake?"

"What time is it?" His ears perked. That was Merlin.

"About early afternoon." Arthur peered around the trunk to get a better few. He was about ten meters from their camp/

"How far did we get from those thugs? I can't seem to remember." He saw Merlin sit up. They had camped in a circle of tree, curled up in the roots of the biggest ones. The man he presumed was Gwaine grinned at his servant from the fire. He was about his height but built a little sturdier than Merlin.

"Several of miles. You were plenty useful in the fight back there. I think Lanval took a horse and rode off in the other direction." He passed Merlin the canteen. "You never finished your story."

He shrugged, "I was done."

"You told me you ran. You never said why."

Merlin grinned, "There are reasons… Reasons that could get me killed in Camelot. It's funny because the only reason I am probably not being pursued by the hounds of hell is probably because of the other reason I left." He took a sip from the canteen and passed it back, "I loved a noble I worked for." Gwaine made a face of disgust. And Arthur's throat tightened. "They aren't like most nobles… Okay maybe they were but they were also just and kind. They were my friend and I betrayed their trust in me twice over."

Gwaine shook his head, "So they were going to kill you?" Arthur frowned. That was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

Merlin bit his lip. "I don't know. They walked out without saying anything."

"That's real shat of them then isn't it? Not even giving you a proper answer!" Arthur swallowed; maybe it was right shat of him. "Nerve of some nobles. Bet she's a real stuck up lass too. Turning down a nice young man like yourself, probably because daddy wouldn't approve! If you had some money then maybe they'd have stuck around to answer you."

"I know for a fact it isn't like that."

"Oh really? And how are you so confident this wasn't just noble pride?"

"Because-" Arthur felt his throat constrict. He swallowed again. And Merlin, continued in a shaky voice. "Because he's the prince."

Gwaine frowned, his brow furrowing in the almost grimace. "Oh… When you aim, you aim high my friend. A prince? You've got to be daft."

Merlin shook his head. "Wish I was."

"Well that explains it then… So he really is something then? This prince?"

"He's a prat." Arthur glared. He was NOT a prat.

Gwaine chuckled then clasped Merlin's shoulder. "Aye but he's your prat, ain't he?"

"I wish. He probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone."

"LIES! I bet he's out here looking for you right now."

"Now you're just making fun of me."

Gwaine shook his head, "Never, my friend. If this prince is as noble as you think he is then he is out here wandering the woods looking for you. Ain't that right, Sire!" He called loudly, looking directly at Arthur. He fell backwards out of sight. "Aye, he's found you."

"Oh god, did he hear me?" Merlin said in a loud whisper.

"Doubt it, friend. Let's go get him." In a minute, Gwaine entered his field of vision above him on the ground. "Hello, sire. Tracking us were you?"

Arthur sat up with a groan, "I might have been."

He stuck out his hand and Arthur took it, "Gwaine, nice to meet you."

"Arthur."

Merlin slowly came out from behind the tree, as if afraid of being attacked. He remained behind Gwaine as they talked, staring at the ground. "You come out here to retrieve your servant boy?"

Arthur sighed. "I came back to get Merlin." He looked up at the sound of his name, meeting his eyes for the first time. The relief in them made his heart leapt.

"You did?" He said softly. His blue eyes full of hope. That was a much better picture then the last time he'd seen him.

"Of course I did." He mumbled. "Such an idiot you'd probably be eaten by that beast that's wandering around these parts."

Gwaine blinked, "Beast?"

"Yeah, it's been attacking travelers on the road who travel in small groups."

Gwaine clapped his hands together, "Well let's go kill it then."

Merlin gapped, "Are you mad? We could be eaten!"

Arthur shook his head, "I've got to. It's the excuse I used to come looking for you." Merlin blushed. "Besides you don't need to hold back anymore so I don't see the problem."

Gwaine grinned, "I like this noble of yours." He waggled his eyes brows at the servant, "He's feisty. I'll go get my things then." He then proceeded back to then past their camp, Arthur shook his head.

"Merlin-"

"Is your room getting THAT filthy?" Merlin inquired with a nervous laugh.

"It is actually still pretty tidy."

Merlin looked on the verge of tears, the hope in his eyes becoming desperate. "Why have you come for me? It was so much easier when I thought you hated me."

"My gosh, Merlin, why must you be such a complete girl about things? I come all this way to find you and tell you you can come home and all you can do is mope? Can't we… Talk about this when we get home? Please?"

Merlin studied his face a moment and Arthur shifted self-consciously. He hoped Merlin didn't see the bags under his eyes from the nights he hadn't slept or see that he'd lost some pounds with lack of meals. He hoped Merlin didn't read too much into what he was doing. Arthur didn't think he was ready for that just yet. But Merlin seemed to calm down. He thought maybe it was the 'please' that did it. It really was a magic word. "Alright. But promise I can leave if I can't handle it."

Arthur wanted to tell him no. He wanted to tell him he would chain him up with the dragon before he let him go again. But there was another part that looked in Merlin's eyes and bulked at the misery that would cause. "You have my word, Merlin. I promise."

Merlin smiled. "So, we're to track a beast then?"

"Yes."

"Any idea what kind of beast?

"None."

"Do we know where it is?"

"No."

"Have you brought any other knights with you?"

"Well, Gwen came along and I met that Lanval guy, but that's it."

Merlin chuckled, shaking his head. There'd be time to have their talk later. That gave him time to think of what the hell to say. "Back to the inn then?"

"Are the blokes we fought gone?"

"Yes."

Merlin grinned, "Then I'll just get my things."