Hidden Royalty Chapter Two

While all his other classmates excitedly started to fan out to find their assigned lab partner, Merlin just thumped his head repeatedly against the worktop of the bench, making Will burst out in loud laughter, but was making Arthur and Percival look at each other with a confused look and both holding their shoulders up at not knowing how to deal with Merlin's reaction, nor Will's.

"Is… something wrong?" Arthur asked, unsure.

Merlin raised his head. "Well the fact that you are my lab partner isn't exactly making my day. But seeing that I'm stuck with you, I have a few things to say." Merlin held his index finger close to Arthur's face. Arthur looked down but his eyes crossed at how close the digit was to his face so he drew his head back a bit to get his vision straightened out. Merlin in the meantime merrily continued.

"One, I'm not your little servant who will serve you at your every beck and call, so I expect you to actually do something in this class as well and not let me do all the work." Arthur opened his mouth to protest but closed it as a second finger is added, effectively cutting him off.

"Two, Chemistry is my favourite subject and also very important for my oncoming career, so if you'll be a prat about it and think this all is just a joke for you, then please be my guest and leave now, okay?" Finally he added a third finger. "To highlight my second point, I just tell you now that if you screw up, there will be consequences. Are we clear?"

Arthur took a good look at Merlin, his amused expression only growing as the points of clearance were named. Arthur almost had to bite his lip to not laugh at Merlin after concluding to himself that Merlinmust be joking. But taking a good look at the dark-haired guy's face in front of him made him realise the seriousness written on it and Arthur was quick to adjust that thought and cleared his throat.

It's quite adorable really. No one ever talked to him like that. People usually walk on eggshells around him, saying the things they think he wants to hear and never speaking their own mind. Merlin on the other hand is doing exactly that and that is quite…liberating. He likes it. In fact he likes it very much.

"Nothing more, just those three?" Arthur replied hopefully sounding serious as he's suppressing the mock tone as best as he can.

"Oh well one more thing." Merlin ruffled in his bag and pulled out a small notepad and scribbled some sentences on it before pushing it in front of Arthur. He held out his pen. "Sign this."

"Why?" Arthur drawled out almost whiningly, one eyebrow rising.

Merlin still held his pen out impatiently, with Arthur still refusing to grab it. "Just something to ease my own mind. I won't let some Prince take the pleasure of ruining my favourite and most important subject."

Arthur glanced at the paper lying in front of him and reads what is written on it. Percy and Will curiously crane their neck to see what exactly Merlin has written.

'I, Arthur Pendragon, hereby comply with all the aforementioned conditions that the opposite party, Merlin Browne, has drawn up. If I break or fail to follow one or more rules, I will agree to whatever activity of choice the other party decides is fair.'

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Arthur Pendragon

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Merlin Browne

Arthur just couldn't help chuckling at Merlin's choice of words, and the apparent punishment for breaking the rules. It sounds so… funny. Arthur likes the humour this guy has and while Merlin might look reluctant and aloof to him now, he will fall for the Pendragon charm soon enough.

So yes, maybe university won't be so bad after all and maybe he can make some friends who, for once, aren't nice to him just because of his title.

"Well?" Merlin asked in a serious tone, the pen vehemently wiggling between his thumb and forefinger. "Are you gonna sign or not. And I used fancy pancy words, so even you can understand what it says."

"Well how very thoughtful of you Merlin." Arthur said with the smallest sarcasm. "Of course I will comply, as you put it, with your conditions." He grabbed the pen out of Merlin's waiting hand, clicking it in a very exaggerated way and brought it down on the lined paper to sign the so-called contract with his signature. Swirly lines scratched onto the paper and Arthur finished with a dramatic point push on the paper, before sliding the paper -together with the pen- back to the waiting Merlin.

"Happy sir?" He mocked.

Merlin glanced down to study the signature and tilted his head to the side with an accompanied shrug of one shoulder. "You've just got to remember that I have witnesses Pendragon." He pointed to the two grinning idiots next to him before bending down himself to sign the paper and folding it neatly in half after he had finished signing it. Merlin put the paper safely between the hardcover and first page of his Chemistry book so he cannot lose it.

Before either Merlin, or Arthur could say anything else, professor Monmouth already drew the class' attention to himself by clearing his throat twice. "Okay class, it seems everyone found their partners. Now let's get really started with the subject you all came for. Open your books at page ten and start up your laptops. We will dive right in."

~oOoOo~

Merlin tried really hard to concentrate, he did, but for some reason he just couldn't.

Well that some reason is Arthur, the prat is just out to get on his nerves, he's sure of it. In the last ninety minutes Arthur's been messing with his head, which is the only explanation to this sudden feeling of his mind being disorientated. Merlin does not like royals, Merlin loathes them. Royals think they're pretentious human beings and too high for any normal commoner.

They are, aren't they? At least that's how his mother raised him.

So why is Arthur being so nice and helpful? It makes no sense to him at all. It only made his head pounds with an evil throb which he decides to call 'Arthur'. As a last resort to get the throbbing down, Merlin started to massage both his temples in slow circular motions with two fingers of each hand.

Professor Monmouth's lecture droned softly through his eardrums but the professor's words just don't seem to make coherent sentences in his brain and Merlin was lost. This was certainly not how he wanted to start his new academic year.

Unwillingly, the Arthur subject flittered back into his mind. It's that entire prat next to him his fault. The prat suddenly proffered his better working (of course) and probably brand new laptop to Merlin. Arthur had probably noticed how Merlin's four year old laptop suddenly froze about fifteen minutes into the class and no matter what Merlin did, it opposed to start working again. Merlin sadly had to admit that his beloved laptop was at the end of its tether, but unfortunally he had not yet enough money to buy a new one.

Not that that was the only thing; after sliding his laptop towards Merlin, Arthur, Prince Arthur, was fumbling inside his expensive looking sleek black leather shoulder bag and pulled out an ordinary paper notebook and a pen a moment later. Then he started to scribble the notes from professor's Monmouth lecture down.

Merlin couldn't believe it, he would have never guessed that he'd ever witness the day that a pretentious royal would give up their electronic device to someone who had not exactly been heart-warming towards him, just to start taking handwritten notes after given said device away. Merlin's sure that Arthur's wrist must be cramping like a total bitch at this point and the class doesn't finish for another twelve minutes, but even if it is than Arthur isn't showing it.

Merlin's guilt did starts playing up though and he started to shuffle a bit closer towards Arthur, nudging Arthur's left arm with his elbow. Arthur looked up, almost surprised, but schooled his features. "Yes?" Arthur whispered.

Merlin looked down to the workbench but slowly moved his gaze up. "I... I just want to say thanks, for lending me your laptop I mean. You didn't have to do it you know, but yeah thanks." Merlin straightened his back and went back to staring at the white board, trying to make sense of any of the professor's messy handwriting. He jolted up at feeling a warm breath encircling his ear.

"You're welcome." Arthur whispered back.

~oOoOo~

"Okay class, that's it for the day. Everyone pick up a sheet with the planning for the required assignments for this year on your way out." Professor Monmouth pulled the just addressed papers out of his case and placed it down at the corner of his larger workbench so the pupils had easy access to it on their way out, then he snapped his suitcase close and gave a small nod to the Prince as he walked out the room.

Multiple stools scraped across the floor and lowered voices started to fill the classroom as everyone quietly shuffled past the bench the Prince is sitting at.

Arthur knows that the whisperings are about him, and it annoyed the crap out of him that people were not afraid to talk about him, but seemed to be very afraid to actually talk directly to him. He knew that this would be happening ever since his father announced that he would be joining an university to get a degree.

Can't people see that I'm a normal person just like anyone else?

Apparently not, since the vast majority of people seemed to think otherwise – but that aside, he is still a person that also craves for normal human contact. He just wanted some people who would talk to him without all those formalities and titles (which he secretly hated with a passion). Arthur sighed inwardly, people just don't seem to get it that it's perfectly normal to talk to him. Hopefully he has more luck with other people in the next classes.

He dared to sneak a glance over his shoulder and saw Percival, Will and Merlin still packing up their stuff into their bags and laughing about something that's probably only understandable between the three of them. How he wishes to be part of that kind of clique, but that's wishful thinking from his part.

He shook his head lightly and scooted his own stool back, bent down to grab his black leather bag at the one strap and hauled it off from the dusty floor. Merlin had already given him back his laptop about five minutes before the end of the class and had muttered a small 'thanks' once more. However, he did not give any indication that he was asking him to join him and his friend into the cafeteria for the little break that was now in progress.

The class was almost completely empty apart from a handful of students and Arthur decided it was time to go and go sit pathetically alone in a cafeteria where everyone can have a laugh at him. Or at least where they can text their friends and maybe even newspapers about it.

Sometimes he really did hate his life.

"Uhm… Arthur?" A voice called when he was already gripping the doorknob.

Arthur turned around and found himself face to face with the last person he'd been expecting to be actually addressing him.

Merlin.

Sure Merlin had addressed him during the class when he thanked him for letting him use his laptop, but otherwise Merlin had been completely ignoring him and looked at him with almost disgust. He's not sure what he had done to deserve that kind of treatment from Merlin though.

His hand lingered a moment longer on the doorknob before he let go of it and turned around completely, only stepping aside as the few strayed classmates were trying to get passed him without actually looking him in the eye or asking him to step aside. The two girls blushed from the tips of their ears to the apples of their cheeks and smiled shyly towards him. After they left, Arthur found himself alone in the room with just Merlin, Will and Percival. He could see Will looking at the two of them with a questionably raised eyebrow.

"Yes?" Arthur said. His princely stance betrayed by the small waver in his voice. The hope he has that he will be asked by Merlin to go and sit with them during the break slightly grows, but he didn't want to push his luck and ask directly, so he waits. He's already glad that Merlin called him 'Arthur' and nothing awkwardly formal.

Merlin thrust a sheet of paper in Arthur's left hand and it takes Arthur just a split second to recognizes the dates and words and connect both things together; the planning.

"You forgot to take this." Merlin said softly.

"Oh. Right. Thanks Merlin." Arthur tried to put the paper with one hand in his bag, but at that exact moment it's hanging in an awkward angle on his shoulder and he can't quite reach the main compartment. He just settled on shoving the paper in one of the zipped compartments on the side.

He couldn't help it that the right-hand corner of his lips quipped up, but it faltered when he looked back up and Merlin still hadn't given him any implication of saying something else.

"Right. I'll just go then." Arthur announced, then turned and opened the door. When he was just a few steps outside the classroom he felt a hand grasp his shoulder. The quick look downwards told him that the hand that gripped his shoulder had long slender fingers and Arthur stopped in his track.

Merlin moved in his line of sight, two other pair of footsteps quickly following. "Are you… maybe you want to sit with us?" Merlin glared angrily towards Will when he spontaneously started to choke on his saliva, Percival desperately trying to help him by smacking one of his big hands on his back. "I mean you don't have to of course. I'm sure you'll have other people to sit with."

"No! … I mean no, it's fine." Arthur could just smack himself over the head at hearing himself with how much desperation he said the word 'no' and the rest of the sentence. Especially since this shy, awkward stance he's sporting right now is not his usual persona. Normally -well in public situations like this - he's a confident Prince that does not fear anything or anyone.

But really, who is he kidding. He is exactly that shy awkward person.

Will shuffled forward after his recovered choking, until he practically stood beside his best friend. His cocked eyebrow still high in its place.

"What?" Merlin replied with a surprised tone after seeing his friend's expression. "I can be nice. See?" Merlin held his hands up in front of Arthur.

Will nodded with an amused tight-lipped smile. "Well I know that, but apparently you can also do it to royalty."

Arthur was lost, but he hoped it didn't show on his face, or well hopefully not too much. He wonders if Merlin is one of those people who don't like royals just for the sole reason that they are royals. Perhaps that's why he was (and perhaps in a small degree still is) acting so coldheartedly towards him. Well he could've guessed that Merlin was one of those people just by thinking back to his first encounter with the guy.

Before he could let his mind on the loose about that, Merlin's words snap him out of his train of thought.

"Well, I might…or might not… be wrong. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now."

Arthur really hated it when people did the thing where they would talk about him like he was not there, even when he was standing directly in their presence.

"Whatever you say mate." Will finished with a nudge of his fist on Merlin's bony shoulder. "So, Arthur, you coming then?"

Arthur gripped the strap of his shoulder bag tighter. "Yes."

~oOoOo~

As Arthur had expected, the minute he and his three associates made their way into the cafeteria the whole cafeteria fell silent for a split second before the low murmurings were starting to wash over them. It, however, didn't stop Arthur from entering the room. He held his head up high with certain poise and started to steer the trio standing next to him towards an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria. The murmuring slowly started to increase again as they sat down. Most people went back to their own thing and conversation after catching a glimpse of the Prince but just a few others kept watching him so intensively, but Arthur was used to that anyways.

Merlin sat down next to Will while Percival and Arthur took the seats opposite from them.

"So." Will began, grabbing a bag of Ready Salted Walkers crisps from his bag. "Where are your bodyguards? I expected you to be swarmed with them." The sealed air released itself the moment Will pulled on both sides of the package to open it.

Merlin rolled his eyes, getting a bottle of water and another apple from his bag. "You just did not ask that." He muttered but Will shrugged, immediately drawing his eyes back to Arthur who found it all amusing.

"Oh they're here. Somewhere. Made a deal with my father that they wouldn't be following me directly, but they're never that far away."

"Hmm, interesting." Will nodded, reaching into the package and pulled out three big pieces of crisps and stuffed his mouth full with it. Crumbs falling down onto his lap from the corner of his mouth.

Merlin turned the cap from the water bottle and took a bite of his apple, immediately washing it down with a swig of water. His eyes kept darting towards Arthur every once in a while.

He still felt confused on what to think about Arthur, sure he has that kind of air around him that says 'move peasants', but at the same time he looked like a small kitten trying to walk for the first time. Yes it was really confusing to him and now he started to think back about when and why he actually got those hatred feelings against anything that was regal and the only thing he could think of was because his mother said so.

From a young age his mother always told him that royals were the worst of all kind of people and they couldn't be trusted. They corrupt and threat and they are not being to rely on at all. Maybe he should scrutinize why his mother is so against it, because it just doesn't make sense to him. His mother is the most kind-hearted person he has ever met, but whenever someone brings up a subject involving something regal she gets really winded up.

Merlin shrugged it off for now, and started to listen to whatever conversation the three of them are in so he wouldn't look like a total uninterested fool.

It wasn't and shouldn't be a total surprise to him that the subject of conversation was about school and Merlin learnt that Arthur's major is English, because according to him History is so 'stuffy' and 'tedious' at times. Percival is also majoring in English, while Will's major is Psychology and his own is of course Chemistry.

The reason why they all winded up with taking Chemistry too, was in Will's case because he needed an extra curriculum and picked Chemistry just for the reason that he was quite good at it on his previous school and of course that way he could spend more time with Merlin. Arthur and Percival's reasoning for taking it, was pretty much the same as Will's… minus the Merlin factor.

"Okay, please, please, enough school stuff for now." Will whined. "It's the first day, there are many to come. So Arthur, Percy, we don't really know you two yet and you don't know us yet. How about some Q-and-A?"

"Fine by me -oh one sec." Arthur's phone started to ring midsentence and Merlin as well as Will looked dumbfounded at each other when they both instantly recognized Arthur's ringtone as it was the exact same as Merlin's. Arthur was too busy with his phone that he missed their complexions, but they still sported it when he looked up almost immediately after punching the decline button on his expensive phone.

"Errr… everything alright?" He asked a bit unsure. Both Merlin and Will's face straightened out with Merlin nodding to the phone.

"Kill Bill?" Is everything he said and Arthur furrowed his brow, about to question what Merlin meant with that before realizing that Merlin probably meant the ringtone.

"Oh, ah, no. Well yes, it is also from that, but I got it from the show American Horror Story.

Three pair of eyebrows rose the second Arthur finished his sentence. They all gaped at him like a goldfish, before they got control over their senses back and like they choreographed it, all three of them asked the exact same question at the exact same time. "You watch that show?" Their eyes widening for an extra enhancement of them being shocked.

Arthur couldn't believe that the three guys around his table were thinking he didn't watch any television shows. It was hardly unavoidable these days, with so many promotions being made around television shows. Plus he got so many questions getting asked by press that had a general teenage public about which shows he was watching that he ultimately started to watch some TV shows. "Err, yes. Don't you?"

The trio nodded in sync, but Will was the one who opened his mouth first. "It's a kind of sick show, but you can't help watching it. It's like a car crash!"

The exclaim might be a bit exaggerated, but accurate nonetheless. Arthur agrees, especially after starting the third season. He gets an idea, but unfortunally couldn't voice that idea just yet before running it by his parents.

Merlin glanced towards the big clock at the wall and sighs. "Break's almost over." He announced, already collecting the waste that was scattered over the table and pushing it into a neat pile. "We all have the same class next right?"

Percival confirmed with a firm nod of his head as he was still very much busy processing the food that had currently taken residence inside his mouth. Arthur and will just replied back with a simple 'yes'.

Arthur couldn't wipe off the big smile that was covering his features right now and stood up. The strap of his bag firmly stuck around his shoulder again. "Shall we go then?"

~oOoOo~

After the last class of the day had finished, Arthur had said goodbye to the three friends he had made today with the biggest of smiles. Even after Percival, the last of the three, left he was still unable to wipe it off his face. He was just feeling so… happy. Happy that he made friends on the very first day that actually treat him like a normal person and not putting him on a pedestal because of his birth. The four of them had exchanged numbers in the second break, the lunch break, and Arthur secretly hopes that one of his three new friends will text him later today.

Leon arrived at his side and exchanged some words through the mic hidden inside his collar to see if the rest of the guards were ready. "Are you ready Arthur? There are paparazzi lined up, but we will make sure that you will have a smooth walk towards the car."

Arthur gave a nod. He never liked the press and the paparazzi even less, but thankfully his father has been able to make a deal with them; on his first day of uni, they're only allowed take pictures of him and no interviews and have to leave him alone for the rest of his academic career so 'the Prince' can fully focus on his studies.

As soon as Leon pushed the door open, the swarm of paparazzi vermin guarded with their evil video and photo cameras came rushing towards him with invading questions about how his first day went, whether he's having a love interest yet, and what his thoughts were about the school. Arthur almost got blinded due the numerous flashings of the photo cameras and bright lights of the video cameras that were shoved into his face.

Arthur had put on the fake smile he's been sporting in front of the camera since the age of four and nodded politely towards the press and the other people that had gathered around, but didn't comment on any question that has been yelled so loudly towards him. Leon pushed most people out of the way with help of two other bodyguards, and Arthur could indeed make a swift walk towards the black SUV with tinted glass windows, that waited just outside the school gates.

Sitting in the back of the car, Arthur heaved a deep sigh. Well at least he had done that without too much trouble, but there was just one question that kept lingering in the back of his mind. 'Your highness, do you have a love interest?' and there was just one image popping up in his head. Merlin.

Arthur shook his head, trying to get rid of the image. No. no! I can't love him, I barely know him! Okay fine there is interest, but no. Those blue eyes and bright smile, completed with those lovely looking ears that would be thought of too big on anyone else but they just fitted with Merlin aren't affecting me in any way.

Ugh, who am I kidding?

I'm fucked.

Big time.

~oOoOo~

"Well this first day was a breeze, don't ya think Merlin?" Will said as they finally managed to walk through the school gates, after pushing through the crowd that was waiting for the moment Arthur would make his appearance.

Will's mood was still as happy as it was this morning and Merlin is quite sure that making friends with the Prince had something to do with that, although Will was seemingly less focussed anymore on the fact that he's royalty and more on the fact that Arthur was a genuine great guy.

Merlin groaned softly. Why oh why did Arthur had to be so nice, his whole head still pounded with the throbbing headache behind his eyes. If he could, Merlin would just fall into a senseless heap there and then, but making a scene in the middle of the street wasn't exactly high on his list, so he kept on moving. And when a sudden wave of a hand flapped in front of his face, he snapped completely out of it.

"Hello-o, earth to Merlin. A yeah, he's back again." Will sniffled at the pointed look Merlin directed to him. Will just jovially prattled on about the school day which made Merlin zone out a bit again, until his name was being said. "-and Merlin, I must say. For one royalty hating bastard you are, you certainly warmed up quickly to our princeling. I wonder why..."

After some stammering, Merlin managed to avert the subject tactfully when he started talking about this one video game that had just came out. He knew it worked when Will enthusiastically started telling him about it and how many times he already saw the commercial for it and…

Merlin stopped listening, just nodded every now and then. He was more occupied with thinking about Arthur and how he was the complete opposite of what he thought Arthur would be. He really should be easing up to Arthur and not giving him a hard time just because he's royalty. Before Merlin realised it he was already standing in front of his house.

"Well see you tomorrow then." Merlin quickly commented, holding the little gate of the fence of his front lawn open. "I'll text you tonight or something."

His escape was swift and quick and with a soft thud he closed the front door of the house. A small pinch of guilt entered his mind, but was quickly replaced by smelling the scent of herbal tea coming from the kitchen. And just like that he has found himself sitting at his usual place at the table.

His mother was nervously flitting around the kitchen with mugs and spoons and ultimately planting a hot steaming cup with a shaking hand in front of him and one for herself on the left of Merlin. Merlin cocked an eyebrow at his mother's nervous acting, but didn't voiced his thoughts, instead he took a long sip of the warm comforting tea that he certainly needed after a long day of battling thoughts in his mind.

Still nervously, Hunith took her seat at the head of the table, Merlin sitting on her right. She was making herself more and more nervous when she looked down at her hands that she kept clasping and unclasping. Eventually she settled on folding them together and letting them rest on the table top. She intensely watched her son from the side and his profile was the exact same as Balinor's, which set off a fierce discussion is in her head; to tell or not to tell merlin about his father and by doing that also letting him find out about his lineage.

Her decision was cut short by Merlin addressing her.

"Mum! Can you please stop staring, it's making me nervous. Did I do something wrong?"

Hunith shook her head and smiled at her son. "It's… nothing. But tell me, how was your first day?" Her hands unfolded from each other to cradle her own mug. She brought it up to her lips, softly blowing into it to cool the liquid down a little more.

Merlin shifted nervously in his seat, he wasn't sure whether or not tell his mother about the fact that he kind of, sort of became friends with Arthur, he's quite positive that his mother would get a fit for sure. But then again, he never in his life lied to her, and even if he wanted too it was hopeless because one way or another she always saw through each and every one of them.

"Well, before you get all mad and hysterical or whatever reaction you might get. Just know that I'm still fine."

His mother's eyebrows knitted so tightly together that they became one.

"The thing is… I spent a really good amount of time with Arthur today… the Crown Prince."

It took a few seconds for her to get the sentence processed in her mind, but when it did it hit her with full force. Her mug suddenly found itself abandoned from her hands and on the table and she abruptly stood up, her hands flailing in the air. "You what!"

"Mum…" Merlin said calmly trying to soothe her down, but it was in vain.

"Merlin, you may never talk to him again. You hear me young man."

A frustrating huff left his mouth as he stood up too and mimicked his mother's movements with an equally deep scowl plastered on his face.

"Mum! I like the guy as a friend. Yes you heard me; I like someone from royal blood. But so what if he is!" Merlin took a deep breath and lowered his arm, slowly releasing all the air from within his lungs. He took a deep breath again and continued on a softer note.

"You've always told me how bad royals are, how they are corrupt and evil and all those other words with practically the same meaning, but I spent the day with Arthur, well almost a whole day and yeah sure he has some kind of cockiness around him, but I think it's all an act. I got to see a glimpse of the real Arthur… at least I think it was the real one… No mum, please, don't walk away."

Hunith had walked over to the backdoor that overlooked the small garden, her memories came slamming back to her and she remembered how Balinor was with her in the privacy of his room and how he was in official gatherings. It was exactly how her son had just described the Prince and reality struck her hard and wetness started to make her eyes glisten just by recalling the past.

A soft hand on her arm brought her back to the here and now, her eyes falling on her son who now stood next to her. His face full of concern and ready to say more, but even before he had the chance to open his mouth, Hunith spoke with a soft voice. "I don't want you to spend any more time with him, Merlin. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Who says I get hurt? What have royals done to you for you to hate them with every fibre in your body? Please mum, tell me 'cause I sure as hell don't understand."

Slowly, Hunith turned to her son and placed a tender hand against his cheek. She hoped the small smile she gave him would be enough to let him trust her, but his eyes told another story. He was still wary of her odd behaviour and misleading answers. She took in a deep breath through her nose. "All in good time, hunnie. I will tell you everything, just not. now."

Merlin jerked his head away to get rid of the hand residing there. "No mum, now is the perfect time. What are you hiding from me!"

"Merlin, please. Later." Her hand started to move up again to place it on the exact same spot, but Merlin was having none of it. Instead he walked backwards, shaking his head. His whisper was soft, but Hunith could still hear it all.

"I can't believe you don't trust me."

Before Hunith could blink, Merlin had fully turned around and had walked in a fast pace to the hallway. Hunith knew her son would storm out of the house if she isn't in time to stop him. She stumbled forward, pushing aside chairs in an attempt to reach her son faster. But it was too late; the front door already slammed close and all she could do was to stand in the middle of the hallway with her head buried in her hands and her shoulders shaking with the tears she let fall freely now.

~oOoOo~

A lone light on the far corner in the kitchen gave the room enough illumination to cover it in a yellow glow, but it wasn't nearly enough to lit the whole kitchen thoroughly.

On her place around the table, Hunith watched the clock on the wall and started worrying again. It had been after midnight and she still hadn't succeeded in getting in contact with her son after he left the house hours ago. Her mind had started to make up things that could've happen to her son and she willed them to stop, but as a mother she just couldn't stop worrying.

The mug with tea -what must have been her fifteenth batch of tea– had gone cold and she finally made effort in standing up from her chair to make herself a new one. As she started to fill the kettle with water, she heard the soft click from the front door and immediately turned the tap off and looked over her shoulder. Soft footsteps that she immediately recognized as them being of her son made way towards the kitchen and she gingerly put the kettle in the sink. When she turned around she saw her son appear at the threshold of the kitchen, his expression full of regret and shame. "Merlin…" She breathed out, her worries disappeared instantly and her feet moved on their own towards her son and when she reached him, she dragged him into a fierce hug.

"I called Will and I tried your phone several times and when you didn't answer, I became so worried and I thought-" She was cut off midsentence by Merlin peeling off her arms that were wrapped around his shoulders and he lowered them with his own hands. Merlin took a step back, eyes darting to the floor.

"I… I'm sorry." He raised his head and Hunith saw those bright blue orbs staring back to her. "I'm sorry about everything, about the way I acted, about what I said. Just everything. But I can see that somethingis worrying you mum, something that has to do with royals. I don't know what or why, but mum please, you can tell me everything. You know you can, please don't hold anything secret for me. I want you to be happy mum and holding this something secret for me isn't making you that. I won't force you to tell me, but please, please, don't wait too long to tell me. I really don't like you being sad."

His eyes moved down in a way that made Hunith heart clench, but she couldn't tell her son the truth. Not now, not yet. It was just… too much of a reality that she could not face yet. Slowly she moved forward to press a kiss on her son's temple and to brush the few hairs of his fringe out of the way that always made him chuckle by how childish it was. Even now -in the seriousness of the situation- he couldn't help to let out a soft chuckle.

"Time is all I ask of you Merlin. I will tell you everything when the time is right, please don't worry too much about it." After a tentative nod from her son in agreement she held out her hand. "Come now, time for bed. It's been a long day."