This is fluffy and warm and useless, but unfortunately it's definitely necessary because I need to get the boys moving. Stuff'll start happening soon, don't worry. it's an adventure yet.
If you love me, you'll review. And loving me means getting cookies. So, really...
Anyways. I'll be quiet now - enjoy!
Disclaimer: This is me, still owning nothing. Merlin is all property of BBC.
They run silently, far, and well into the night. Through the woods where Arthur had hunted with knights, and the countryside where Merlin had spent hours collecting herbs for Gaius; past the outlying villages, past rivers and lakes, until finally reaching Camelot's borders.
Their hands never let go.
They climb a final hill, so tired it takes every ounce of willpower they have to put one foot in front of the other, until they've reached it's peak. As they arrive, morning comes; bringing warmth to the darkness and giving them a proper look at the view.
It's stunning. Literally taking what little breath they have away.
The sky is painted with scarlets and pinks, oranges and burnt yellows mixing with the blues of night and the few strange stars left. The horizon stretched further than either could see, and then past that further yet. The strong sudden light past the forest line created a black silhouette against the sky, like two worlds meeting for this short moment.
The warm morning wind blows through Merlin's hair, a relief from the dark's bitter cold. His eyes close gently and he allows himself to, just for a moment, enjoy the feeling.
The prince and the warlock stay there a minute, panting. Taking in the sight along with strong gulps of air, trying to catch their breath.
Merlin, still breathing heavily, glances over towards Arthur. The prince is staring out towards the sky, the reflection bouncing back onto his eyes, turning them a soft orange. Arthur notices Merlin's staring, and shoots him a small smile.
A stutter in heartbeat resonates through Merlin's chest and sends a glow through to his toes - funny how Arthur can still do that, even after all this time. He answers with a small grin of his own.
Glancing back towards the view, where the higher risen sun was casting the fields in a familar early morning glow, Merlin sighs. He knows this moment can't last forever. They need to decide where they were going, what decisions to make. What to do now.
He considered suggesting going to Ealdor, even just briefly, but it just wasn't logical. It would be one of the first places Uther's men would check for them, and the less his mother knew about it the safer she would be.
The very thought of his mother in danger shoots knives through Merlin's heart, and a sharp pang of longing strikes him. He misses home. No, that's not right. Camelot and the people there became his home long ago.
He misses his mother.
Arthur's voice brings Merlin back from his thoughts to the task at hand.
"Leaving Camelot won't stop them looking," he murmurs, turning to face the warlock. "We have to keep going on, further than ever before. We should keep heading East," his arm stretches out and points towards the sunrise. "towards Alianor's kingdom. Set up new lives, a new home," he pauses, "together."
A slight blush stretches on the back of Merlin's neck at the idea of starting a new life with Arthur. He can feel his heartbeat thump irregularly, and can only hope it's not as loud as he thinks it is. Merlin gives Arthur's hand a slight squeeze in agreement, and they begin the long trek down towards the East, away from Camelot. Away from home.
But after a moment, Merlin comes to a sudden stop.
"East..." he mutters, his eyes suddenly distant. Arthur raises an eyebrow curiously, "Merlin? Something particularly intriguing about the direction?" The warlock snorts quietly and meets Arthur's eyes.
"Any chance of... could we go South? South-East, even?" The brunette looks so enthusiastic, so hopeful, Arthur can't help but grin when he answers, "Sure, it's not that big a difference. So long as we keep moving away from Camelot. But why? What's to the South?"
To the prince's surprise, the question brings a blush to Merlin's cheeks. The warlock looks away and ducks his chin, as though trying to disappear into that neckerchief of his. Arthur grins wider.
"Merlin, what's South?"
"You'll think it's silly!"
"No, I won't."
"You will, you prat."
"Merlin!"
Arthur grabs the other man's chin and forces him to face forward. Finally, Merlin sighs and mutters,
"I've never seen the ocean. I figure if we're going to start new lives, why not start somewhere beautiful?"
An unexpected warmth spreads through Arthur, softening his smile. He glances out once again, towards the South - towards their future and answers,
"Yeah. Why not start somewhere beautiful?"
The rest of the trip, when the two aren't talking quietly or exchanging quick banter, Arthur's thoughts are full of Merlin's reaction to the ocean.
The prince himself had only visited the place once, as a child, along with his father on a diplomatic trip. All he remembered was how incredibly small he felt, looking out on the neverending shore, the waves crashing in around him. Mind you, he had been quite young and quite small, but that wasn't what he meant.
That, and the incredible natural beauty of the sight. If Merlin wanted to start somewhere beautiful, he couldn't have picked a better place.
The idea pulled a slight grin onto Arthur's face, which Merlin noted with curiousity. They've relaxed into a calm silence, both of them content to just walk side by side. They haven't stopped much throughout the day, only for short water breaks or a quick bite to eat from what little food they had packed.
This was a problem they were going to have to address, and soon -
They didn't have the supplies to last long. If they didn't reach a village within a few days, the knights will have to problem finding them. Or finding what would be left of them.
Merlin shudders at the thought, and tries to bring his mind back to happier things.
"What's the ocean like, Arthur?"
The grin on the prince's face widens, and he looks over at his friend.
"I couldn't do it justice with words, you'll just have to wait. I know one thing for certain though, and it's that you'll love it." Arthur answers, finally bringing his walk to a stop and glances up above them towards the hazy sky. "Wait a little longer, it seems. It's nearly dark, and we'll be no good stumbling through the woods at night. Especially not with your clumsiness, Merlin, you'll just end up hurting yourself." He teases lightly, tossing the bag onto a nearby log and settling in.
Merlin follows, trying his best to help set up camp. He grabs the waterskins from the bag, they haven't drank since noon, and his heart sinks at the weight of them. They're nearly empty. There was a stream a while back, they may have to backtrack in order to stay within range of fresh waters...
As the warlock loses himself in thoughts and plans, Arthur wanders over to a clear area and starts setting up a fire. After a few failed attempts at getting a spark, he hears an approach behind him and a low voice mumur over his shoulder,
"Forbærnan"
A roaring, crackling fire appears before him. Arthur glances behind him in time to see the warlock's eyes fade from gold back to their natural blue. A little shocked, having never really seen Merlin use magic so publicly (for obvious reasons), Arthur smiles encouragingly. Merlin returns a smile shyly. He's clearly not used to this either. The prince cracks his grin and chuckles,
"Maybe you're useful afterall, Merlin."
Arthur chucks the bones from the game they'd been eating into the woods, wiping his hands on his trousers.
They had been lucky - a few minutes after Merlin had lit the fire, a rabbit had wandered into their camp and Arthur had managed to catch it. Merlin, always the girl, had been hesitant to kill it, but had been outweighed by Arthur's reason. You're no vegetarian, Merlin, how much game have you eaten without complaint before? Merlin had answered with the incredibly intelligent response, But how can you kill something so cute?
He'd stopped arguing once his stomach made an audible growl.
The prince glances over to said girly warlock from across the fire. Having finished his meal, Merlin was now trying to warm himself by the flames, alternating from holding his hands close and rubbing them together. It didn't seem to be working - Arthur could see the shivers travel through the other man from his seat feet away, almost hear his teeth chattering.
Arthur pulls himself up and wanders over to the other side, planting himself down beside the warlock. Without much thought, the blonde pulls Merlin over so he's tucked into the prince's side. He wraps a protective arm around him. Merlin instinctively curls towards the warmth, nuzzling his head into the crook of Arthur's neck.
"Thanks," the brunette murmurs, smiling contentedly despite his still chattering teeth. Arthur drapes his other arm around him, pulling Merlin in so he rested with his head on Arthur's chest. The rise and fall of Arthur's steady breath and heartbeat is calming, and the warlock can feel his eyelids grow heavy.
"Go to sleep, Merlin." the prince whispers, running his hands in absent circles on Merlin's back. The warlocks teeth stop chattering, and his stuttering breath turns even and deep. He is asleep within seconds.
Arthur allows himself a few minutes more to simply revel in the moment, in the warmth of the man curled laying on and beside him and the fire the flickered calming before them. Slowly, his eyes start to flutter close, and sleep takes him as well. His last thoughts before the darkness are of Merlin and the ocean.