MERLIN - CONTACT

AN: Hello. Here's the next chapter. Sorry if it's a little shorter, I wanted there to be a good clean break between where this scene ends and the next one begins for it to continue. I hope it's enjoyable. And thanks soooooo much to everyone who has add this story to their favourites, it's really amazing :) Please review as well so I know what you think. Constructive criticism is welcome too. Enjoy. And again I apologise for any spelling or grammar mistakes I failed to correct :)

...~~C~~...

Previously: Arthur visited Merlin to apologise for his behaviour toward her new dress, not knowing until now it had been a late birthday present. But instead the prince was given news that Merlin's supposedly dead mother had returned to a recently newly built Ealdor as an engaged woman. And his maidservant didn't even looked remotely shocked.

"She's returned to Ealdor... but not alone."

She picked up the piece of paper and held it up in front of her pointedly. "It's an invite. Mother's getting married."

...~~C~~...

"How can that be?" Arthur exclaimed.

Merlin just stood there on the other side of the table with a face that read between sadness and shame, and something else. She had known her mother was alive all along. Or at least, a while after she thought Arthur was responsible for Hunith's death. Of course she couldn't tell Arthur or anyone that, since Uther would find out and would send out more men to go and finish the job. Now the King was incapable of doing much lately, the truth could go free for a little while without complications.

Now Arthur had to know the truth. But not right now. The letter had arrived a day ago, which meant the wedding was into a few days time, and it took nearly that time to reach Ealdor if she left now.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, Arthur. And I'm also sorry that I haven't got time to explain it all now. I must prepare to leave within the hour while there's still a good few hours daylight left to travel. I'd also like to ask for some time off work, starting now," The girl made her way up the stairs to her room, and begun to stuff as many essentials into her backpack as quickly as she could. Arthur, still in confusion, followed her.

"Travel? Where?"

"It's obviously where I just said. Ealdor. For the wedding," Merlin answered without looking up.

"But I still don't understand. Surely, Merlin, this is someone's idea of a sick joke. Your mother... she, she isn't-"

"Arthur I told you, not now. I'll explain when I get back in a week maybe- and would you please move out the way!" She shoved past the prince, who crowded too close to her, as best she could to get to her cupboard. Arthur kept near the bed.

He noticed that Merlin was grabbing a few items of clothing that they both considered her 'boy clothes' to fold into her already bulging bag. Guilt flooded in again and Arthur felt he should jump in cautiously.

"You're going to your mother's wedding you say," he said it but it didn't mean he had finally gotten his head round it. "You should take the dress with you."

"I shouldn't, Sire. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you while I'm in someone else's kingdom."

"Merlin, no, stop this." He moved forward to block her from packing her breeches and tunics, which meant she had to look up at him or her face would have hit his chest. "I am... deeply sorry, for what I said and believe me when I say now the reasons I gave before for you to not wear that lovely dress are not the real ones. It's a wedding you are going to, and most importantly, it's your... mother's. So you'll obviously need to look prettier than the bride," Merlin couldn't help but huff humourly at her master's attempts on cheering her up. Seeing that it was working, Arthur also smiled slightly.

"Take the dress, Merlin. Wear it when we get there and present yourself as the wonderful new daughter your future stepfather will be gaining."

Merlin's smile faded, "We?" she quoted.

"Don't wedding invitations usually mention a plus one?"

"Well... yes I suppose but- Arthur, you can't come."

"Why not?" Now Arthur's grin had disappeared and his arms came up to cross in front of his chest. "You don't expect me to just let you go off on your own. What kind of prince would I be if I did and then heard you never got to Ealdor?"

The sun-haired girl gave the man before her a sweet sad smile, appreciating the unspoken protectiveness he had voiced to her. "You have duties here Arthur. What will you say? You can't just disappear for a week, being the king regent. And anyway you know I'll be alright. I have my magic," She said the last word a little quieter to avoid being heard from anyone outside.

Arthur scratched his head before answering. "I'll just tell the council that I'm going on a long hunting trip with just my servant, the same as I usually say, they'll believe me. I'm sure Lady Elise, Gwen, Guais and Colin can make sure everything's stays quiet until we come back." He placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

"I suppose this is you still trying to apologise, isn't it." She said as a matter of fact.

"You know what, I had completely forgotten about that," the dark blonde man joked.

Merlin stood there just looking at him curiously for a few moments, and then smiled a little bigger. The warmth she could feel from the prince's hand through the material seeping into her skin was comforting, and she covered it with her own hesitantly, still just staring at him.

They remained that way for a few more seconds until the moment was broken by the sound of the outer door opening and closing, indicating the old physician was back.

The two removed their hands and stepped backed from eachother, looking towards the servant's open chamber door.

"Only me," they heard Guais call.

"Hello, Guais," Merlin answered.

The old man's face soon appeared through the door, and his face showed he was caught unawares when he saw the prince standing there before him. "Oh, Good Morning, Sire. Merlin's not late for work again is she?"

"No, no. I just was taking an early morning stroll and as I was passing I thought I might just pop in for a chat." Guais knew that wasn't the case, but nothing had to be said anyway. So he just smiled and nodded, and went back into the main room.

Arthur turned back to Merlin. "I'll, um, just be in my chambers packing then. When will we leave?"

"As soon as possible. I want to be there to help with the preparations. So in half an hour at the latest."

The king regent nodded and in his mind was already thinking he'd get Colin, his other servant, to do all the packing for him while he went and gave the council an excuse for his leaving. He gestured to the cupboard pointedly, so Merlin didn't forget to pack the dress and then made his way out the door so he could leave his maidservant to finish packing.

Merlin stared blankly at the space her master stood before for a few seconds before moving back over to her wardrobe.

Down the corridor, something vital occurred to Arthur, enough to stop him in his tracks and change direction, the direction of the market.

...~~C~~...

AN: Hoped you liked this. I can't say when the next chapter will be uploaded because I'm back to college now and it's gonna be a tougher, hard-working year. Thanks you so much for following and/or favouriting my fic, and please also review :) See ya next time.