chapter6

"I hope you know what you are doing, Morgana." Arthur growled to the woman, as he watched Merlin stare at some flowers with fasination. The boy reached out to touch one of the flowers.

"Merlin, dont do that." Arthur called.

Morgana tilted her head. "Arthur please, let him have fun." She scowled.

Arthur stared. "It wont be so fun once one of those rose thorns go in his-"

"Ow."

Arthur turned back to Merlin.

Morgana lightly laughed. "If you didnt want him gettting hurt, you should have told him 'why' he couldn't touch the roses... He's still curious." She shook her head as Arthur ran to Merlin.

Merlin was looking at his finger. His eyes wide.

"Let me see." Arthur grabbed his finger. He sighed and shook his head. "You should've listened when I told you not to touch the rose."

"Whats going on?" Merlin asked shakey as he watched Arthur examine his finger.

"Oh Merlin, please. I know you are from far away, but you cant tell me you've never seeing blood."

Merlin shook his head. "I've never seeing blood from someone alive." Then he gasped. "Am I dead? Did a shark bite me?"

Arthur stared. "Merlin, if you were dead, you wouldnt be talking."

Merlins lips turned to an 'oh', then he smiled. "Why does something so beautiful, hurt so much?"

Arthur shook his head as he began to wipe off the tiny blood with his own vest. Which kept the knights staring veeeeery confused.

Merlin stared at Arthur, as the blond continued.

"Things are complicated here, Merlin. Even the most beautiful and simple things can find a way to hurt you."

"Like a rose?" Merlin asked.

Arthur stared up from the finger into Merlins huge sky blue eyes. "Like a rose." He repeated. He stared as Merlin smiled a little more, then he cleared his throat and turned back to the finger. "And like a... shiny sword."

Merlin nodded as he never took his own eyes off the handsome blond before him. "How about love?"

Arthur stopped examining the finger and stared back at Merlin.

"Love hurts too." Merlin said. "Especially when you find your prince is already married."

Arthur smiled a little. "Do you still want to meet him?"

Merlin finally looked down and away from Arthurs gaze, but only to stare down at the blonds hand. Which at the moment was still holding onto Merlins that had the pricked finger, and lay against his broad chest. Merlin shook his head. "I dont know." He said low. "I came to look for a prince, but..."

"But?" Arthur repeated.

Merlin looked back at Arthurs face. He couldn't help but lean in just a bit closer.

Morganas brows raised. Her eyes trailed from Merlin to Arthur, who seemed to be getting a clue from Merlin and leaned in closer too. Closer than the last time. Almost meeting Merlin.

Almost.

"Arthur, where have you been?"

Arthur pulled away much slower than last time and gave a low sigh. He turned. "Morgana, please. Take Merlin inside?" He asked with a look of sadness.

Morgana nodded. Understanding that while Arthur spoke with Uther, it might slip that Arthur was the prince. Morgana knew Arthur didn't want that. She reached out to Merlin.

"Come on, Merlin."

Merlin looked at Arthur sadly, then followed the woman, who he still belived was the queen.

XOXOXOXO

Merlin and Morgana sat in Arthurs chambers. They had waited for a while now, and when the door opened to reveal Arthur, Morgana sighed in relife.

"What did he say?"

Arthur licked his lips. "Merlin, would you like to see the balcony?"

"Whats that?"

Arthur walked over to some double curtains, then brought his hands out and pushed the two doors open.

Merlins mouth open. "Wow." He breathed.

Arthur gestered forward. "You can see the whole villiage."

Merlin walked over, a smile on his face.

"Just... please Merlin, remember what happened with the rose thorn? Falling down will hurt much, much more. Do not lean over this balcony. You can stand next to it. But don't pull your head out further than this balcony."

Merlin nodded and walked next to the balcony.

Arthur walked back inside and stood next to Morgana, as they both faced Merlin to make sure he didn't fall over. "He's only given me until tomorrow." He said low.

Morganas brows narrowed. "What?"

Arthur nodded. "If Merlin finds out i'm the prince before then, I'll have to marry the princess of Stoneridge."

Morgana shook her head. "A person cant fall in love in one day."

"He says i've had two days. Today counts."

Morgana still shook her head. "He's being unreasonable."

Arthur sighed. "I need to spend the whole day with him tomorrow. No knights, Morgana. Can you help?"

Morgana nodded. "But I think it's unfair to Merlin, Arthur. You should tell him who you are. He thinks he's falling for what? A servant?"

Arthur shook his head. " No-"

"Yes he does, Arthur. He said it himself. Remember? 'You work for the prince, and just want to keep the prince to yourself'." She quoted.

Arthur lightly laughed at the thought. "Merlin has nothing to worry about. I dont want to keep the prince to myself. I want to share with Merlin."

Morgana rolled her eyes and smiled. "Just make sure Merlin doesn't get hurt, Arthur. He's a innocent by-stander, and might get hurt. Again. Do you really think Merlin deserves his heart broken twice?"

Arthur frowned. "Merlins the last person I want to hurt."

Morgana nodded again. "So you like him." She stated.

Arthur shook his head. "No." He breathed. "I love him."

Morgana smiled. "Then make the most of tomorrow."

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