Disclamier: I don't own any of the characters but I live in hope.
A/n: If anytime in the story you are confused by any horsey terms, or just what is generally going on, feel free to message me.
A/n 2: You need to remember that Merlin is a horse in this chapter, otherwise it'll sound really weird.
All the joking in the group had died down as the day wore on. Merlin walked along comfortably, rather pleased with himself. He was actually beginning to enjoy the trip, despite being stuck as a horse. At least Arthur was as good a horseman as he was a swordsman; Merlin could see some of the other horses getting quite irritable as their riders bounced and jostled in the saddle. Arthur urged the warlock on, to catch up with two of oldest knights to discuss tactics.
Uther had ordered them to rid the kingdom of a group of bandits which had been increasing its raids recently. Reports from travellers had placed their camp five miles from the village of Willand, in the south-west of Albion. Arthur and his knights planned to wait overnight on the opposite side of the camp from the village, far enough away not to alert the bandits. In the hour before dawn, they would make their way to the camp and charge from the east as the sun came up.
They reached their chosen campsite an hour before dark and Merlin was left tied in the horse-lines as the guards set up camp and the knights went hunting. After a couple of hours of eating, drinking, laughing and singing (someone had brought several bottles of wine), the camp fell silent as the men drifted off to bed. It was well into the night when Merlin was woken by movement in the darkness. Sniffing the air, he relaxed as he recognised the now familiar scent of Arthur. The prince stumbled down the line and stopped before Merlin, squinting to make out the black horse in the darkness.
"You're lucky you're a horse. I bet life's so much simpler for you" Arthur said. I wish thought Merlin, but he listened as Arthur continued.
"I've been in so many fights now, and yet I still get nervous. I wish Merlin was here. Between you and me..." Arthur leaned closer at this point. "He always makes me feel...safer, for some reason." Arthur stroked Merlin's nose, tears glinting in his eyes. Merlin stepped forward and put his head over the prince's shoulder, pulling him into the equine equivalent of a hug. They stood like that for several minutes, Arthur with his arms around Merlin's neck, until the prince had regained his composure. Wiping his eyes, Arthur gave Merlin a couple of pats, and then retired to his tent.
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