chapter4

In the morning, Merlin awoke when he heard his door. He lifted his head and saw a servant carrying a tray.

"I'm sorry Your Highness but the Queen says to send your breakfast early. She'd like to speak to you about your celebration for tomorrow."

Merlin groaned and throw himself back on the pillow. He shut his eyes when the servant opened the curtains and the bright sun came inside the chambers.

"I'll get you bath water ready, while you eat." The servant bowed, even though Merlin couldn't see because he had covered his head with his pillow. The servant then left the room to get the bath water.

XOXOXOXO

After breakfast and a bath, Merlin walked into the throan room where the Queen and King sat on the throans, their hands reaching out and holding on tight to each other. Their faces looking down.

Next to them was Prince Arthur and his Mother and Father.

"Mother? Father?" The young prince didn't like the looks on their faces. It scared him for his parents to look so worried.

The King glanced at his wife then got up from his throan, and sadly walked over to his son.

"Son. Your uh... mother and I spoke last night..."

Merlin stared as he waited for the rest.

"We think it'd be best if you didn't have a celebration tomorrow."

Arthur and his parents turned the the King and Queen, looking shocked.

Merlins brows lightly narrowed. "What? Why not?" Merlin looked from his father to his mother. "Why not?" He asked again.

"We think it'd be best if you went on a trip... instead." The King answered.

Merlin shook his head. "I still dont understand."

"You'll leave for the trip at sunset tonight." The Queen said.

Merlins breathing picked up. "Whats going on? I never miss a celebration."

"You will take six knights with you." The King said, ignoring the princes words. "You will not return until the next day."

"But-"

"Thats final." The King said and turned his face.

Merlin glanced at Arthur who was staring back. Merlin inhaled deep, then turned and left.

When he was gone the Queen got up from the throan and walked to the King. She grabbed his hand.

"Why didn't you tell him what I did?"

The King shook his head. "I can't have my son upset with his mother." The King whispered. Then his brows narrowed. "That man tricked you. I know if you knew what he wanted, you wouldn't have done it. Until we find him... it's better for Merlin to be far away from here."

The Queen nodded. "Where did you tell the knights to take him?" She asked.

Before he could answer, Arthur cut in. "What are you talking about? Take Merlin where?"

His mother nudged him. "Arthur, dont be rude."

"I'm sorry, mother. But they're hiding something from him." Arthur looked back at Merlins father. "What are you hiding?"

Merlins father sighed. "Prince Arthur, please-"

"No." The Queen interupted. "Lets tell them." The Kings head quickly turned to his Queen as she continued. "Maybe they could help protect Merlin."

The King sighed again. "Only if you want to."

The Queen nodded. "To protect our son."

The King nodded, then turned to his visitors. "It happened 16 years ago..."

XOXOXOXO

Merlin was in his chambers, staring out the window. A servant was gathering supplies that the prince might need on his trip.

Merlin stared out at the servants that passed laughing with each other. Merlin sighed at the thought of how unreal everything felt. He was the Prince. They were servants, yet... they found happiness in anything and everything. Merlin couldn't keep a smile on for more then an hour. Being told what to do 24/7 and not being able to say anything about it...

Sure the servants were told what to do too, but they didn't have the whole kingdom to let down if they made a mistake. Yeah, people laugh when others made mistakes, but Merlins seeing servants evened laughed at their own mistakes as well.

But Merlin...

One mistake and the kindom never forgets. Or in Merlins case, one bully (Arthur) and the kindom never forgets.

Merlin sighed. "It's not like any of them would have come to the celebration anyway." He said.

The servant in the room turned to him. "Your highness?" He asked confused.

Merlin turned to him. He shook his head. "It's hard to belive that i'm the prince and just because of something that happened so many years ago, they don't respect me."

"They? Your highness."

Merlin nodded. "The people. My people." He shook his head. "If they only knew that getting pushed wasn't the only secret I kept." He said, as he thought of the kiss between Arthur and himself.

Getting pushed means getting laughed at. But if the people were ever to find out that Merlin wanted Prince Arthur in more than one way, Merlin would be an outcast for sure.

"Your things are ready for you, sire. Whenever you are ready to go."

Merlin faked a smile. "If it was my decion, I wouldn't be going at all."

The servant nodded, then bowed. "I'll see you when you return."

XOXOXOXO

The servants had gotten everything on the horses. The knights were all ready to leave. Merlin stood with his gaze to the ground. Even as his mother hugged him good bye.

Arthur stood shaking his head. "This is wrong." He whispered to his own mother.

"Arthur, please. Dont get in. They're doing their best. It's for his own good." She whispered back.

Arthur watched as a servant helped Merlin onto the horse.

Once Merlin was on the horse, he glanced at Arthur. He couldn't belive it. Sure he didn't want Arthur there at the castle, but Merlin wished he could have some time with the other prince.

He wished he could steal a small kiss.

Merlin turned forward as he tried to get the thought out of his head.

"Be safe, son." The king said.

Merlin stood quiet.

All Arthur could do was watch as the horse walked away with Merlin, who stole once last glance at prince Arthur.
And that glance was all it took for Arthur to realize, he couldn't leave without saying goodbye.

"Wait!" The prince ran up to the horses.

Merlin turned and watched as Arthur ran up to his horse. Arthur reached out a hand, closed fist down.

Merlin blinked and stared confused.

"Come back safe to me." Arthur whispered.

Merlin slowly reached out his hand palm up under Arthurs fist. Arthur opened his hand and Merlin felt something fall into his hand and just when Arthur was pulling his hand back, Merlin felt a finger gently brush his.

Merlin looked in his hand. He saw a neckless there. It was a round white crystal with a golden dragon on it. Arthurs family seal. Merlin stared back at Arthurs green eyes.

Merlin inhaled deep, and licked his bottom lip. There was no way he would leave and have Arthur think he didn't love him.

So Merlin nodded.

Arthur sighed in relife and backed away a bit. Leaving room for the horses to continue their trip.

This time as Merlin left the gates, he stood staring back at Arthur.

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