Chapter 11
Arthur was right it had not an hour after midday and his muscles were on fire and his whole body felt like it was going to collapse. But his mind was free to wonder which was something entirely new to him.
They had finally stopped for a rest and while Arthur laid there trying to catch his breath he was thinking about the weird feeling he had all day since he woke something about him felt different but in a good way like a piece of himself that he had not known was missing until it came back was there again and it confused him. Merlin came over and sat down in front of him but did not look at him he was watching everyone else but he said "How are you doing other than being completely wiped out." Arthur thought that if anyone could help him Merlin might be able to "Other than being completely exhausted from running at breakneck speed for a day, a little confused." "Why what going on?" Even though Merlin was not looking at him Arthur could hear the worry in his tone "Nothing bad I just feel different in a way I guess you could say. When I woke up this morning I just felt strange but as the day has gone on it began to change. It feels like a part of myself I never knew was missing had been reconnected I don't know how else to explain it. I feel that ever since that feeling has surfaced that I felt a little empty before like I wasn't fully myself. But that is crazy right I mean it probably just my head messing with me." Arthur was not even looking at Merlin now either he was staring at the ground in front of him embarrassed that he even brought it up.
When Merlin heard what Arthur was feeling he knew what was going on he just did not believe it possible but there was one sure way to check Arthur but was not looking at him "Arthur look at me." Merlin demanded but not unkindly when Arthur did what Merlin saw made his heart skip a beat and make him jump saying "By the gods." Arthur looked at Merlin like he had lost his mind but was also a bit worried why he would act like that and it reflected in his tone "What the hell is wrong Merlin?" Merlin willed himself to calm down thinking to himself that this was his brother it had always been possible for this to happen he just did not expect it.
"Arthur the feeling you described, you are not crazy it is not your mind playing tricks with you. I'll explain how I know like this and I am sure you can make the connection by my explanation if not I tell you the connection. When I shape shift and bring someone without magic with me the person I brought with me looks exactly like the creature we shifted into without any variations. Like as a wolf the person I brought me looks exactly like the wolves from this region eyes and all while the only difference that I have is my eyes being gold. If I bring another sorcerer with me in the same fashion their eyes are the same as mine. Yesterday your eyes in this form were blue the same color blue they are when you are in your normal form, today when we woke up I did not notice any difference, but now your look exactly like mine, pure gold." Arthur felt like he had been hit in the head with an anvil as he made the connection but he could not believe it "Are you saying that in the last day I somehow got magic?" "Arthur it was always possible especially with our family and with you being my twin it is not uncommon. It is just strange that chose now to surface and now that I am looking for it and I can sense your magic is as powerful as mine which usually is not possible. When we get home we will have to tell father and our uncle, and our uncle can help and I will help you to. I just can't believe it happened. Now I have two people I am going to have to teach." Merlin explained Arthur was confused about Merlin's last statement "What do you mean two people?" "Oh I forgot to tell you, in a little over a week Ashen's magic will surface and I already told him and he has agreed to let me help him. I am usually very adept at sensing if someone else has magic even if it has not surfaced yet your are the first person I have not been able to do that with it is actually shocking to me. But with our family it is pretty redundant to try all I can do with our uncle is catch the signature of his magic when he uses and detect how powerful it is but other than that when he is not using it I can't sense a damn thing. Maybe it is a defense mechanism that our families magic has because I have only met one other who could sense if another sorcerer had magic but not to the degree I could but he did not even know I had it so it might be a defense that our families magic puts up so that no one else will be able to feel how powerful we are and underestimate us and so that we will be safer. I might have to do a little research on that subject." Merlin stopped his musings pausing for a minute then said thoughtfully "If your magic is as powerful as mine and being my twin it might be even more possible then you might be able to do everything I can do including the shape shifting if you felt a connection with the animal. If you want to try on your own next time it might be an interesting experiment. But we can talk more about this later we should get moving again we will be home by late tonight." "Thank the god's I don't know if I could keep this pace up for another day." Arthur said exasperatedly but with a hint of relief underneath Merlin did his best not to laugh because he remembered how long it had been before he had the endurance to run like this for more than a few hours and now he can do it for almost a week if he had to without stopping.
The sun had set almost three hours before Merlin let out a bark the called the pack to a halt. Arthur made his way to Merlin's side and asked "Why are we stopping I thought you said we would be home tonight?" "And we will, we are a mile outside the city the pack will not be accompanying us any further and Freya will take charge of them and she had already told me that they will stay in the area close to Camelot so that if we ever need to find them or we need their help we will be able to find each other depending on who is looking for who. I have already said goodbye to Freya. You and I will continue on to a cave not far away that I remember seeing on my way to rescue you from Ailya, once we are there I'll switch us back and then we will walk the rest of the distance home and we should be there in an hour. After that though we will have to report to father and Uncle Balinor to tell them we are alright and are home safe but I will tell them that we are pretty tired and will tell them whatever they want to know in the morning that way you can get some rest because I know you are exhausted and I can get a little sleep though usually after one of these excursions I don't get back into my normal sleep patterns for a few days so it will be a shock if I get any sleep at all. So come on lets go." Arthur could not help but letting out a barking laugh because of how happy he was and how idiotic Merlin sounded when he talked about how his sleep patter would be messed up.
Merlin led the way to the cave he had mentioned and once Arthur and him were both inside he said "After your first time it is best if you are sitting down when you switch back because then you are off your feet when you switch back. If you are on your feet you might get a little unsteady and fall over and I do not want to be picking you up off the floor so just sit down and after we have switch back wait for a minute or two before standing up so that you can get your bearings. I don't need that luxury because I have been doing this for years now so it is easier for me to be able to be standing when I switch back and be walking right away it is practically second nature to me." Merlin paused then looked Arthur right in the eyes as he asked "Are you ready?" Arthur said he was as he sat down doing as Merlin had suggested.
Merlin shape shifted back and was on his feet Arthur followed an instant later sitting down. Merlin was right it was Arthur felt completely disoriented after the first time it was so bad that he could not help but ask "How long does this disorientation last for?" Noticing it felt strange to be using his mouth again. Merlin laughed saying "Only for a few minutes you'll be just fine."
Just as Merlin predicted Arthur felt better within a few minutes but had to have Merlin help him up and he had to get used to walking on two legs again instead of four like he had the two days, it drove him a little crazy but soon enough he got back in the habit of it quicker than he had with walking on four legs.
In about an hour Arthur and Merlin were reporting to their father who hugged them both tightly before either of them could get a word out saying "I am so glad you are both safe. When we received the message from you that Merlin sent, it made me feel better knowing that you were both alright but I was worried out of my mind, now I am just glad that you are both home safe. You both must be exhausted you can tell me everything that happened tomorrow after you both get some rest now go on I know you are both tired." Uther rambled on as he took them to their rooms himself just happy they were home most of the time Arthur and Merlin did not have a clue what he was talking about just happy to know that their father felt better knowing that they were home but worried what he was going to say when they told him everything.
Uther bade them goodnight hugging them both then left with a huge smile on his face to tell Balinor and Hunith that they were home and safe then go to bed himself. Before going into their own rooms they turned to each other just smiling then Arthur broke the silence saying "I am glad to be home but it is thanks to you Merlin that we even lived long enough to get home. I can't wait to do the shape shifting thing again it was pretty amazing. You are the most amazing, loyal, selfless person I ever met and I could not be happier that you are my brother not some dimwit." Merlin laughed saying "Well good thing you're not a dimwit either or it would be pretty boring but I am glad I was able to get to you in time and that you had a bit of fun with shape shifting thing. But we can talk more tomorrow because we both need to get some rest. You get bed prat I will see you in morning." Arthur just grabbed Merlin in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles into his hair as a response making them both laugh then once they both regained their composure Arthur pulled Merlin into a brotherly embrace and just said "Thanks idiot." "You're welcome prat." Merlin replied then they both to bed for the night. Merlin of course made the same mental connection he made with Arthur every night to help him feel safer since the incident with Ailya so that the few nightmares he still had would not be so frightening to him because he knew that Merlin was there and would not let anything happen to him.
It was going to be a long year with a lot of uncertainty and also a lot of fun for the two siblings but they both knew that they would get through it together hopefully without too much trouble.
Authors Note: Hey everyone hoped you like the story and I am going to make a sequel to it which will take place a year after this one so please keep a lookout for it because it is going to have a little tragedy and a lot sibling rivalry and fun as well as some vengeful people and much more so please keep a look out for it I think I am going to name it "The Lost prince of Camelot 2 the new threat and new dawn" but I am not sure yet so keep an eye out it should be posted in the next few days.
I want to thank everyone who made a favorite of and followed this story it means a lot to me and I am even more thankful for all the great reviews there were so many people that I can't name them all here but you know who you are so thank you and thank you to anyone who read it. it makes me happy to know that I am good enough that people will read my stuff at all so thanks everyone.