Here is the second chapter. I struggled a lot with this chapter. About every time I got an idea in my head on how I wanted this chapter to go it seemed to disappear as soon as it came into my head T^T. Allthingsmagical I hope you the chapter.
Merlin had just walked out of the room when King Uther called his name.
"Merlin?" King Uther called after him. Merlin turned around and walked back into the room.
"Yes, Sire?" Merlin asked once he was in front of the king again.
"Can you please bring King Wolfgar to me?" King Uther asked
"Of course, sire." Merlin said with a bow and turned back towards the door.
"And Merlin." King Uther said from behind him.
"Yes, Sire?" Merlin asked as he looked over his shoulder.
"Please, call me Uther." Uther said with a smile towards Merlin.
"As you wish si-Uther" Merlin said with a smile and walked out of the room again.
"Merlin, bring Arthur with you when you come back. I want to speak to the two of you." Ygraine called from inside the dinging call.
"Okay!" Merlin called over his shoulder
oOo
Arthur ran through the halls of the castle, and towards the courtyard. When he reached the doors that open up to the courtyard he saw two people standing in the middle of the courtyard conversing with each other. One was a man with dark grey hair. He was dressed in a light green tunic, black trousers, and a pair of black hunting boots. The other person who was around Arthur's age had light brown hair. He was dressed in a royal blue tunic and black trousers. He had a dark black belt around his waist and by his right side was a sword that had a strange blue tint to it and a pair of dark brow boots that ran all the way up to his knees
Arthur ran toward the younger of the two with a smile on his face and an evil glint in his eye. By the time the younger one had noticed Arthur running at him it was too late. He was tackled to the ground and wrapped into a tight hug.
"Soren!" Arthur said with a laugh as he squeezed the man under him into an even tighter hug.
Once Soren had recovered from the initial shock of being tackled by Arthur he began to laugh along with Arthur and returned his hug. The hug lasted only for a few seconds and when it was over they released each other and slowly got to their feet and dusted themselves off.
Merlin had made it to the door to the courtyard in time to Arthur tackle Soren to the ground and wrap him in a hug. Although Merlin did not know who the young boy was he could tell that they had been friends and hadn't seen each other in a long time just by the look on Arthur's face. Merlin smiled and shook his head and slowly made his way over to his boyfriend.
Merlin walked passed his boyfriend who had just got off the ground pulling Soren with him and was now brushing himself off.
"King Wolfgar." Merlin said as he approached the visiting King
"Yes?" The king said as he turned towards the voice that called his name.
"King Uther is in the dining hall, and has asked me to bring you to him." Merlin said with smile
"What's your name?" King Wolfgar asked
"Merlin, sir" Merlin replied with a smile
"Well, Merlin, lead the way" King Wolfgar said as he returned Merlin's smile
Merlin turned back towards the castle and began to lead Wolfgar to the dining hall.
Arthur had turned when he heard Merlin address Wolfgar. He watched as Merlin led Wolfgar back towards the castle. His eyes dropping down to Merlin's arse as it swayed along with his hips, a smirk spreading across his face.
"Stop staring at my arse, Arthur, and come on, your mother wants to speak with the two of us."
"How do you always know?" Arthur muttered under his break with a slight shake of his head.
"Because I'm just that amazing Arthur." Merlin called over his shoulder.
"Okay, now you're just showing off" Arthur shouted as he started to follow his boyfriend inside.
"It's not really showing off when I know how my boyfriend thinks" Merlin said as he walked through the doorway and down the hall towards the dining hall with King Wolfgar following close behind.
"Boyfriend?" Soren asked from behind Arthur.
Arthur was about to reply when he was cut off by his boyfriend.
"Arthur, stop dilly dallying your mother is getting impatient." Merlin called from the steps that led into the castle. He was tapping his foot impatiently and had his hands on his hips.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Arthur said as he turned around and started to walk towards his impatient boyfriend with a smile on his face.
Neither noticed the glare that was sent towards Merlin as he took Arthur's hand in his and pulled him inside.
Soren shook his head in frustration and walked up the stairs and into the castle, turning down the hall that led to the dining hall.
oOo
Arthur and Merlin walked into the dining hall hand in hand with smiles of relief on their faces, they were both happy that they could finally stop hiding their relationship.
"Mother, you wanted to see me" Arthur asked when he walked into the room.
"Yes, I did. Since King Wolfgar and his son are going to be staying in Camelot for the next couple of days I am relieving you of your duties as prince." Ygraine said with a smile on her face as her eyes locked on Merlin and Arthur's conjoined hands
"Thank you mother." Arthur said.
"Since you have the day off, want to head down to the lake and have a picnic?" Merlin asked with a hopeful smile and a twinkle in his sapphire blue eyes as he wrapped Arthur in his arms looking up expectantly
Before Arthur could reply Soren came walking into the throne room with a smile on his face which slowly turned into another hateful glare directed at Merlin when he saw the intimae moment Arthur, and Merlin were having. .
"Hey Arthur you feel up for a little sparring practice, and maybe catch up on old times?" Soren asked with when he walked into the room.
"Sure, I would love too I'll meet you on the training feel in a few minutes." Arthur said as he turned to face his friend.
Soren left the room with a triumphant smile and headed out toward the training field.
"I'll have a picnic with you another time, okay?" Arthur said and placed a small kiss on Merlin's lips and hugged him briefly before leaving the room to make is way towards the training field.
Arthur didn't see the hurt look in Merlin's eyes as he turned and left the room, however Ygraine did and her smile faded into a look of sadness. She got up off her throne and walked up behind Merlin and wrapped him in her arms.
"Are you alright, Merlin?" Ygraine asked the boy in her arms
"Yeah, I'm just a little upset. I understand that Arthur wants to spend time with an old friend and all, but this is his first day off in over a month and I just really wanted him to spend the first day with me. I'm not being selfish am i?" Merlin said as he looked over his shoulder and into Ygraine's kind face.
"No Merlin, I don't believe you are, your request was completely reasonable if you ask me." Ygraine said and kissed Merlin's temple.
"Thanks, Ygraine." Merlin said as he smiled at her
She just nodded her head and walked back to her throne.
"If Arthur asks where I am can you tell him I went down to the lake to go swimming?" Merlin asked Ygraine.
"Of course Merlin." Ygraine said with a smile
"Thanks." Merlin said
Merlin walked out of the room and down the hallway that led to his and Arthur's chambers. He walked into the room and walked over to the wardrobe by the window. He opened the door and pulled out an old bag. He opened the bag and put in an old pair of trousers he had cut just above the knees, an towel, and a bottle of special lotion Gaius had given him that was supposed to stop him from getting burnt. Once making sure he had everything he needed Merlin smiled and closed his bag and headed out of the room and down towards the kitchens.
Merlin walked into the kitchen to see cook holding a picnic basket.
"Here you go, Merlin." Cook said with a smile.
"Thank you, but how did you know I was going to come ask for you to prepare food for me?" Merlin asked curiously.
"Queen Ygraine came down here and requested I make you lunch because you were going to go swimming." Cook said with a smile as he handed Merlin the basket.
"She is so kind, well thank you so much." Merlin said as he turned and walked out of the kitchen and down the hall that leads out to the stables.
Merlin walked into the stables and walked down to the last holding pin that had his horse in it. Arthur had given him to Merlin for his birthday. He is pitch black, and in just the right light his coat appears to be a sapphire blue that matches his eyes. He named him Shadowmere.
As Merlin walked closer to the pin Shadowmere stuck his head over the gate and nuzzled Merlin's neck.
"Haha, Shadowmere that tickles." Merlin said with a chuckle.
"You feel up for a ride down to the lake?" Merlin asked
Shadowmere just nudged Merlin and neighed in excitement.
Merlin smiled and put his bag down by the door to Shadowmere's pin and walked over to where he kept Shadowmere's saddle and picked up the Sapphire blue saddle and brought it over to Shadowmere. Merlin opened the gate and walked inside. He put the saddle onto Shadowmere and fastened all the buckles to keep the saddle in place, then proceeded to put a small saddle bag on. Standing back to admire his handiwork Merlin smiled and opened the gate and took Shadowmere's reins in his right hand and picked up his small bad and the picnic basket in his left and walked out of the stables.
Merlin put his bag and picnic bag in Shadowmere's saddle bag and then got on his horse. Merlin urged Shadowmere down the cobble stone streets of Camelot passing the training field and down to the front gate of the castle. He rode out of the gate at a breakneck speed that made him appear to be a blur in the.
Ten minutes later the lake came into view and he slowed Shadowmere down to a slow canter.
Merlin pulled Shadowmere to a halt at the edge of the lake and got down. He took out his bag, and the picnic basket. He then took of Shadowmere's saddle off and laid it down next to a tree. He patted Shadowmere on the side. He never tied Shadowmere up because no matter what he always got loose and did what he wanted so Merlin just decided to save him the time. Shadowmere walked over to the river and began to drink some water while merlin stripped down to nothing before opening his bag and pulling out the pot of oil that Gaius had given him. He opened the lid and gathered a generous amount of the oil on is fingers and then proceeded to massage the oil into his skin. Once that was done Merlin got out his old pair of trousers he a brought with him and put them on.
He wasted no more time and jumped into the cold water.
oOo
Arthur walked onto the training field to see Soren going through his fighting stances.
"You appear to have improved your stances, but let's see if you can put them to use in an actual fight." Arthur said smugly as he drew his sword and took a fighting stance of his own.
"Don't go getting cocky Arthur, if you recall you never could beat me." Soren said with a smile.
Arthur charged forward and slashed his sword aiming right for Sorens neck. Soren brought his sword up to block the blow. He pushed Arthur's sword away and sliced at Arthur with his own sword. Arthur jumped back and knocked the sword away with his own sword, and lunged forward with his sword only to have it get blocked by Soren.
This went on for half an hour before they both fell to the ground in exhaustion.
"Arthur you have . . .*pant*… improved . . . *pant* a lot." Soren said with exhaustion.
"You . . .*pant* . . . too." Arthur said.
They sat on the ground like that for several minutes before getting up and waling over to the water barrel that lay beside the weapon rack to get a quick drink.
"So, what made you see Merlin as more than just a friend?" Soren asked
"Well he didn't care that I was a prince all he saw was another ordinary person and treated me as such. He didn't care that I was a prince he liked me for me and not my position." Arthur says as he turned to face his friend with a smile
"Not to mention he has saved my life almost every other week." Arthur added as an afterthought and an even bigger smile.
"He saved your life? How?" Soren asked
"Well lady Helen came to Camelot to sing for my mother and father's thirtieth wedding anniversary, but it turns out it wasn't really lady Helen, it was an evil sorcerer who disguised herself with her magic. She threw a dagger at me and just before the dagger could reach my chest Merlin pulled me out of the way. As a reward for saving my life my father appointed him as my personal manservant, and he kind of just became a natural part of my life to he claimed my heart." Arthur said with a smile that expressed just how much he loved Merlin.
"It's about time for lunch want to head inside to eat?" Arthur asked
"I could go for something to eat." Soren said with a small smile
They both walked toward the castle. The walked into the courtyard and up the steps that led inside the castle, they walked down the hall and into the dining hall. Where Uther, Ygraine, Morgana, and King Wolfgar were sat eating lunch. Arthur looked to the place where Merlin would be sitting only to see the chair empty.
"Mother, where is Merlin?" Arthur asked in confusion
"He went down to the lake because he wanted to go swimming, so I had cook make him lunch in case he got hungry." Ygraine said as she looked up from her lunch.
"How long has he been gone?" Arthur asked
"He left about twenty minutes after you left this room to go sparring with Soren." Ygraine said.
"Well, I'm going to go to the lake to have lunch with my boyfriend" Arthur said
With that he turned and left heading toward the stables where he saddled up his horse and rode out of Camelot and down to the lake where his boyfriend was.
Ok, this chapter has been a monumental challenge with a lot of erasing as well as some copy and pasting to rearrange this story. It didn't turn out how I wanted it but It but I like how it is now.
Please read and review, I would really like some feedback on this particular chapter. Suggestions for later chapters would be nice as well :)