"What are you doing all the way out here by yourself? Where are your parents?" Arthur asked Richard.
For a couple heartbeats Richard couldn't bring himself to answer and though he didn't say anything Lancelot was quite convinced he already knew what the boy's answer was going to be.
"D-dead.." Richard choked out the words his voice cracking with emotion before he buried his face into Arthur's shirt and began to cry soaking the shirt with this tears.
Arthur hugged him and gently rubbed his back trying to comfort him. He didn't judge nor did he blame the boy for crying over the loss of his parents as he was sure that if he was his age he would probably do the same as well.
A small smile came to his face as he remembered the lullaby Merlin used to sing to their kids, Landon and Lil, every night before bed.
In a soft voice he began to sing the lullaby aloud to Richard.
"Come stop you're crying, it'll be alright.
Just take my hand, hold it tight."
He gently took one of Richard's hands into his own and let Richard grip it.
"I will protect you from all around you.
I will be here don't you cry.
For one so small you seem so strong.
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us can't be broken.
I will be here don't you cry."
The music had calmed Richard almost making him wish the moment could go on just like this forever.
Arthur stopped singing when he noticed Richard had indeed stopped crying and was looking up at him smiling. The song had worked like a charm.
Lancelot was smiling as well. After watching the sweet scene between Arthur and Richard he could already being to tell Arthur and Richard were forming a strong bond with each other.
"I like that song. It reminds me of when my dad used to sing to me every night before bed." Richard told Arthur.
"Yes, I do too. My husband, Merlin, used to sing it to our kids every night before they went to bed." Arthur replied.
"Is he nice?" Richard asked.
"Huh?" Arthur replied a little taken aback by Richard's question.
"Merlin. Is he nice?" Richard clarified before repeating the question.
Arthur found himself trying hard to resist the urge to blush as he nodded. "Yes Merlin's always been one of those really nice guys."
"I wish I could meet him.." Richard muttered barely audible before changing the subject and asking "Can you sing some more?" wanting to hear more of the song.
"Sure." Arthur replied.
"I'll go stand watch." Lancelot whispered to Arthur, who nodded in response, as Lancelot got up and walked a couple feet away from them leaning against a tree with his back towards them.
"Where's he going?" Richard asked saddened to see Lancelot go off by himself.
"To keep watch and make sure we stay safe. Don't worry he'll be back later." Arthur reassured him.
"He's very brave." Richard commented watching Lancelot with a smile. 'Maybe someday I'll be just as brave as him and just brave as Arthur. Then I'll go around helping people and not be afraid of anything just like them' He thought to himself.
"Yes he is." Arthur replied nodding his head in agreement before contuining with the rest of the song.
As he softly sang it to Richard, Richard smiled yawning a couple times as he felt himself slowly drifting off to sleep feeling the happiest and safest he had felt in the last few days.
When Richard had finally fallen asleep Arthur stopped singing the lullaby and gently lied Richard down on the ground before repositioning himself and lying down beside him with his arm drapped protectively over him.
For a moment Richard opened his eyes once more and a small smile appeared on his face as he found Arthur sleeping next to him. Again he found himself wishing Arthur and Lancelot could stay with him like this forever as he closed his eyes once more and went back to sleep.
Arthur hadn't been entirely sure at what point he had fallen asleep as he lied on the ground beside Richard but he was sure it had to have been awhile ago because he awoke to Lancelot gently shaking him awake.
"What is it?" Arthur asked him in a whisper after opening his eyes and yawning a couple times.
"It's your turn to stand watch." Lancelot told him yawning a couple times himself clearly exhausted for standing watch most of the night.
Arthur nodded after all it was only fair Lancelot got some sleep too.
He moved slowly and quietly as possible so not to wake Richard as he got up to his feet and walked away to where Lancelot had been standing watch earlier.
"Don't worry, I'll stay with him." Lancelot promised Arthur with a whisper before lying down next to Richard the exact same way Arthur had been earlier. It wasn't long before he too drifted off to sleep.