The prince and his brother continued to run through the green undergrowth and fog for hours until finally Merlin stopped. Only to have Arthur run straight into him.
"Sorry, my fault." The king muttered.
"Well, we're safe for now but we have to change." Merlin decided, "We're too noticeable in these clothes."
Arthur looked down at his royal clothes and to Merlin's as if he had been unaware that he'd been wearing them until a second ago.
"Whatever you say, I'm in your hands." Arthur replied with a smile.
Oh God that was creepy.
"I'm going to pay dearly for enchanting you like this…"
…
Merlin wasn't a fan of stealing clothes, he knew the people probably needed them but it was necessary. He'd run past quickly, not really paying attention to what size the outfits were. Luckily the slacks and tunic he'd picked for himself fitted perfectly. He felt oddly nostalgic, all he needed was a neckerchief and he'd look just like the peasant he once was.
"Hurry up Arthur!" He called from the other side of the stone wall where Arthur's clothes were now hanging as he changed.
"Agh! Sorry Merlin." Arthur replied, "These clothes are a little on the tight side…"
"Beggars can't be choosers." Merlin pointed out.
"No, you're right." Arthur replied face appearing over the wall, "I should probably think before I speak."
"It'd be a start." Merlin grinned.
Arthur revealed himself and his brother had to hold back a snort of laughter. The rough material was at least two sizes too small. The pants were an inch above his ankles, the shirt was short enough that his stomach showed and the vest barely covered his breastbone.
"Arthur what can I say?" Merlin chuckled, "You look like a turnip head!"
Arthur looked confused by the comment. Maybe he'd made this spell a little too strong…
Oh well, he'd just have to wait until it wore off, in the mean time…
"My gold!" Arthur argued as Merlin took the pouch from him.
"Probably safer with me." Merlin pointed out pocketing it.
"Of course."
…
As funny as this spell had made Arthur it was beginning to get on Merlin's nerves, he couldn't do anything! Half the time Merlin wasn't even sure how much of what he said got through.
"Wait here." Merlin ordered slowly, Arthur nodded enthusiastically.
He made his way forward and glanced down through the trees, ah ha! A travel caravan, he thought he'd heard something. He was about to call Arthur when he felt a sword in his back. Why did he leave that spare sword on the ground?
"Hello." Smiled a blonde woman.
"Sorry Merlin, I couldn't hide and stay in the same place at the same time." Arthur explained as the woman bought them forward. Great, Now his sword was sitting by a tree and Arthur couldn't exactly use his. Not without loosing one of his own limbs.
"I found these two lurking in the woods." The woman reported to an older man.
"Really?" The man smiled casually, "See anything interesting?"
"No." Merlin replied stone faced.
Arthur barely ducked in time when the man threw a knife at his head.
"Watch where you stick your beak boy." The man growled, the friendly act now gone. Well that didn't last long.
"We didn't see anything I swear." Merlin implored.
"They've got no horses, no supplies." The woman reported.
"Like to travel light do you?" Tristan asked.
"Something like that." Merlin admitted, "We're heading over the border."
"Lot's Kingdom…" The man mused, "He doesn't take kindly to strangers."
"So why are you going?" Arthur asked, Merlin shushed him.
"What's wrong with him?" The man scoffed.
"He's a simpleton he can't help it." Merlin argued.
"That's no lie Tristan, didn't even move when I caught him." The woman laughed.
"Look after him do you?" Tristan teased.
"He's my little brother, without me he wouldn't last a day."
"Well then, get going." Tristan sighed.
"Could we not come with you?" Merlin tried, "I…I'd be grateful for the company…"
"I'm very annoying!" Arthur grinned.
"We can pay." Merlin offered, Tristan grinned.
That did it.
…
"No, no brother the door is on the other side." Merlin sighed exasperated as Arthur stuck his leg out the window of the caravan. He could here his new traveling companions snickering.
They had stopped to make camp and he was doing his best to be useful and stay low on the radar. However when your brother was a simpleton it was very hard not to generate attention.
"Just go, look at the trees or something." Merlin said finally, "Just don't wonder off!"
As Arthur went off and enthusiastically started knocking on trees Merlin rolled his eyes and began handing off supplies from the caravan. Suddenly he smelt something, strong, coming from a box at the back. Curiously he opened it up and found it full of frankincense.
"That must be worth a fortune." He breathed. The woman, whom he'd learnt was called Isolde, snapped the lid shut.
"That doesn't concern you."
"You're smugglers." Merlin realised.
"We prefer to think of it as free trade." Tristan smiled placing an arm around her.
"It's illegal, the king could kill you." Merlin argued.
"The king could never catch us." Tristan scoffed, "He's too much of an idiot."
Merlin's eyes flew to Arthur who was listening to the inside of a tree as he knocked at it with his fist.
"You don't say…"
…
While the smugglers let them travel together they were not keen on sharing. They gave Merlin a small pot of soup for himself and Arthur and then ordered they made a campfire of their own instead of sharing.
"More soup?" Merlin offered.
"Yes please!" Arthur replied.
"Oh Please?" Merlin teased as he scooped up the soup and gave it to Arthur, "I could get used to you being so polite."
"I'm not polite?"
"Not really, no." Merlin laughed.
"I'm sorry." Arthur said seriously.
"Oh don't be, the minute this wears off I will pay for it…"
"I'll do the washing up." Arthur offered ignoring the comment.
Well, Merlin was hardly going to pass that up!
This chapter is more filler really, I wanted to wait and do Arthur when he was back to normal in the next chapter and then do all the drama. This chapter is some humour filler :P