A/N- Here, a longer chapter to make up for Thursday's short chapter. I just found out about traffic stats and wow. A thousand people have viewed my stories, and not the 60 like I thought? Mind= Blown.
"Come on Arthur! We're already behind."
"Why can't we use the big metal things?"
"Because that's what the adults use, we're not old enough to handle it." They had been tying the wheat together into bundles for a while now, and they were falling behind all the men. Merlin was becoming increasingly annoyed at Arthur's lack of ability to tie strings into knots. Honestly, it's like he never had to tie anything in his whole life!
Arthur was also annoyed, but for entirely different reasons. How dare Merlin say he couldn't handle those scythe things? They couldn't be much heavier than a sword and he was already a master at wielding those, even at his young age. But he couldn't mention this fact, for fear of discovery. For what average boy would know how to use a sword at his age if he wasn't of noble blood?
And so Arthur continued to fumble with the coarse rope he had received and kept on making awkward and feeble knots. While he was dealing with a fairly difficult one, Merlin walked over and sighed in irritation.
"Here, I'll handle it." Arthur watched as Merlin deftly tied the knot in less than half the time it would have taken Arthur. And so they continued on, Arthur tying one bundle for every three Merlin did, until the farmers said they could stop for the day.
"Finally, I thought that would never end!" Arthur plopped down on the grassy bank they had stopped at near the creek. Merlin glared his way.
"Why do you care? It wasn't like you were doing anything anyway. I was the one who ended up doing most of the work," Merlin huffed.
"Why are you getting in such a tizzy over this Merlin?"
"It just would have been nice to share the work for once. I always have to do it all by myself."
"Don't the other boys help out?"
"No," Merlin sighed, "well, I mean, some do. But only the ones whose fathers are the farmers. Everyone else helps their own father at his job around the village."
"Oh, I see." It was like when Arthur followed his own father through his duties in the castle. Meetings, battle plans, taxes, punishments, executions. One day they would have all been his to deal with. But not anymore, now he was free. Free of those responsibilities. But he was realizing he was also missing home, more and more each day. Had his father given up finding him yet? He didn't know, he didn't think he wanted to.
"Arthur?" His name brought him out of his wanderings.
"What?"
"Do you want to fish? Mother and I have a net we could use. It's kind of old and has some holes, but it should work."
"Alright."
"Okay, just let me go get it. You wait here." Merlin rushed back to his home, eager to have something more fun to do than chores with Arthur. As he entered the house he called out, "Mother, where's the old fishing net we have?"
"In the trunk." Merlin rushed over and quickly opened the old chest that sat at the foot of Hunith's bed. "What do you need the net for?"
"Arthur and I are going to fish with it."
"Alright, but Merlin," Hunith called out before her son could run out the door, "Remember to not use magic, okay?"
"I know Mother."
"And don't get too wet in the creek."
"Yes Mother."
"And be back in an hour."
"Alright Mother!"
"And Merlin?" Merlin turned back around in a huff.
"What?"
"I love you dear."
"I love you too." Merlin had the good graces to look a little bashful than ran out the door toward the creek.
When he returned to where he left Arthur, he found the blonde haired boy leaning up against a tree with a thoughtful look upon his face. Merlin had noticed it more and more lately. It seemed whenever there was a spare moment, Arthur would be lost into his own mind within mere moments.
"Er… Arthur?" He ventured cautiously. Arthur looked up and seemed to consider something for a moment.
"Do you mind if I ask you about something?"
"No." Here was Merlin's chance; maybe he could finally help Arthur bring out the good in him.
"Do you believe someone can… out run their, their destiny?"
"Maybe, but if it's their destiny, and their meant to do it, I think they'll always be pulled back into it."
"That's what I was afraid of."
"What do you mean?"
"I, I don't think know if I should have run away. From home. Do you think I made the right choice?"
"Well, I don't exactly why you ran away from your home, what the circumstances were. But I believe that you should do what you feel is right, and deal with the consequences."
Arthur seemed to consider this. "It doesn't matter now; I can always decide to return later, if I want to. But for now, let's fish!"
And so they did. At first they waded in ankle deep, rolling up their breeches and holding the net between them.
"Arthur, I see one coming!"
"Hold tight Merlin!"
The fish got caught in the net, and they quickly brought their two ends together to firmly secure it.
"Quickly Merlin, grab the string!"
"Er... the string?"
"Don't tell me you forgot something to string the fish up with."
Silence was the only reply Merlin had to that.
"Did you at least grab a pail or something?"
"…No."
"You idiot!" Arthur exclaimed. "How could you forget that?"
"Well, Will normally brings that stuff and I just sort of forgot."
"Hmmm, well let's see if you forget this."
"Arthur, what are you- Ah!" Dropping the net they had been holding, Arthur made a lunge for Merlin, making both of them land in the water with a splash. "Arthur!" Merlin spluttered as he sat there.
Merlin's expression was apparently comical to the young prince, for he started laughing at the sight of him. Merlin, indignant that he was now being laughed at on top of being wet started to wrestle with Arthur, and soon they were both pushing and shoving until they got to the deeper part of the creek and started swimming around.
Merlin collapsed on the bank, exhausted after swimming for so long, and then sat up straight suddenly.
"What is it?" Arthur asked who was reclining next to him.
"Mother said to be back home in an hour," he glanced up at the sky, "And it's definitely been at least two, if not three." Merlin stood up and started to gather his things, quickly running up the bank toward their shoes, socks, and the forgotten net. Arthur followed behind him and picked up his shoes and socks as well. Merlin started running towards his house, Arthur trailing close by.
When they reached the back door of his house, Merlin stopped, took a deep breath, prepared himself for whatever was waiting for him, and then opened the door.
Arthur remembered what his Father was like when he got into trouble at home. There would be a lot of yelling, stern glances, and extra training practices. His father would be disappointed in him for some time, depending on the severities of his digression.
Merlin walked straight into the room and stood there, now realizing how wet he was. Another thing his Mother had told him not to do. At least he hadn't broken the first rule, the most important one. He couldn't imagine how furious she would be if he ever broke that rule.
"Merlin, Arthur, where on earth have you two been? I told you specifically to be home in an hour! And look at you! You're sopping wet!" Arthur was a little surprised to be addressed in this lecture. The last time Hunith had been angry; all her fury had been at Merlin, not him. "Both of you need to change into some dry clothes. Merlin, you know where to go after that." She pointed to a stool in one corner of the house, near the fireplace. "And Arthur, I'll set up a chair for you over there." She again pointed, but this time to the opposite corner of the room.
Arthur was confused at this new development, but kept quiet. He didn't want to anger Hunith further; she had a motherly fury in her eyes. So Arthur changed his clothes and then sat. And sat. And sat. He was rather perplexed as to what to do while sitting there, so he looked over at Merlin. Merlin was sitting there, not saying anything, just staring petulantly at the floor in front of him. Arthur mirrored his expression and soon his mind wandered.
Soon he became bored, and was itching to move. But every time he became too fidgety, Hunith would look over and stop his movements with a look. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Hunith spoke.
"Merlin, Arthur, come here." Both boys came to Hunith, who had been making dinner in the kitchen; they had missed lunch during their time in the creek. "Now, do you both understand why you were punished?" Merlin nodded his head vigorously.
"Yes Mother."
"Arthur?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. And what do you say?"
Merlin responded, "I'm sorry."
"And sorry means?" Hunith prompted.
"I'll never do it again."
"That's my boy." Hunith bent over and gave Merlin a kiss on the top his head. Merlin squirmed away, embarrassed by the display of affection from his mother in front of the other boy. "Now come on, dinner's ready."
Arthur was once again stunned by the lack of hostility that followed after their punishment. The three ate dinner as if nothing had happened, like the boys hadn't broken Hunith's rules.
After dinner, Arthur had a sudden inspiration. He wanted to thank both of them for their hospitality, for taking care of him and helping him in this new stage of his life. He hadn't remembered he'd brought it until he had looked through his pack last night.
Running over to it now, he produced something rather large and bulky from the bag. "Here," he declared triumphantly, laying the thing upon the now cleared table.
"What is it?" Merlin asked excitedly.
"It's my old book. It has a bunch of great stories inside of it. Stories of knights and monsters and beasts. I want you to have it, Merlin."
"Really?" Merlin shrieked. He had never owned a children's book before. Hunith had taught him how to read and write using some parchment, but now he would be able to actually put that knowledge to some use!
"Arthur, we can't accept this." Merlin's gaze darted from the book to his Mother's face.
"Of course you can. It's the least I can do to thank you."
"Please Mother!"
As Hunith looked into her sons excited blue eyes, she knew there was just no way she could say no. "Alight then, we can keep it."
"Yay!" Merlin screamed and danced around in delight. Arthur laughed, but even that couldn't get Merlin's spirits down.
That night, Merlin and Arthur fell asleep to Hunith's voice reading them the tale of a knight going off to battle a dangerous beast named a cockatrice to save his friend. Both were content and happy, as they drifted off to sleep.
Uther couldn't sleep. He was angry about having to stop and make camp, but they really had no choice. It was dark, and they were quickly getting closer to Cenred's kingdom, they had to be careful.
Yet despite these facts, Uther had wanted to continue. He didn't want to waste anymore time. Arthur had already been gone for five days, and he wanted to see his son again. He wanted to make things right between them.
Even though he would deny it, he knew the reason Arthur had run away was because of him. But he had to be tough on the boy, he was going to be King someday, and needed to learn discipline.
But that didn't matter right now. Right now all he wanted was to hold his son in his arms again.
I tried to incorporate some people's ideas, but I think I have the rest of the plot filled out. We are close to the end, only a few more chapters! This was never meant to be too long, it's actually longer than I first thought, probably because of you guys. So thanks again!
-princessmelia