Hidden Royalty Hidden Royalty Chapter Fifteen, a merlin fanfic

Hidden Royalty Chapter Fifteen

Merlin grabbed the bag handle into his hand and stood up from his bed. He looked around him for one last time and sighed deeply. This would be the last time he would see his room.

He was contemplating whether or not to write a note, but then decided against it. He just wanted to leave as soon as possible and he didn't care that he would leave without so much as a goodbye.

He purposely left the TV on, just to make it look like he was still in his room. He grabbed his phone from his bed and shoved it into his pocket. He had made sure that his ticket and passport were in the bag and knew that he was now good to go. He ignored the feeling that told him that he should just blow off the plan and stay instead. But the problem was that he just didn't want to stay any longer in the presence of liars. Sure he was not saint himself, but he hadn't told lies that was as huge as this one was.

He opened the door as quiet as possible and slipped out, quietly pulling the door shut again. He tiptoed over the mezzanine and heard his mother's voice from downstairs. Apparently she was on the phone, but Merlin didn't know who… well he had a feeling who it was.

He heard some snippets of the conversation as he made his way towards his mother's bedroom and was thanking his luck once more that the door was already open since it had the tendency to creak if you wanted to open it.

"He went into his room. I leave him alone until you are here, and then we can try to-"

Merlin didn't heard the last of it, as he quietly slipped into his mother's bedroom. He breathed in deeply, now the most difficult thing of his plan would happen. He slowly turned the handle of the window to avoid creaking and slowly pushed the window open. He waited a few seconds, waiting to see whether his mother heard something. But when he didn't hear anything he turned to the open window and looked out of it. The neighbour's garage was as good as beneath his mother's window, he just needed to step on the ledge and then stretch out his legs to reach the top of the garage.

He picked up his bag and gave it a good swing and released it. It landed on top of the garage. Now he needed to climb out of the window himself. In his head the execution went far better. He had momentarily forgot that the smallest jostle of his upper body would cause quite a stabbing pain through his side. But he wouldn't let that stand in his way right now. Five minutes of pain was worth more than staying in the house.

Merlin breathed in and out a few times, gathering up enough strength and preparing himself for the pain he was sure he would get. He gave himself a nod as if to say he was ready and pushed the arm of his injured side flush against his body, grimacing slightly as he did that. He was tall enough to just sit on the window sill without climbing on top of it first. He then bit his lower lip to not cry out when he lowered himself onto the small ridge below the window and then when he stretched his legs towards the garage, keeping himself steady by holding the windowsill with the arm of his uninjured side. When his foot made contact with the solid surface he swayed body towards it and he landed on the garage with a small grunt and tears sprang into his eyes.

He laid panting and softly sobbing on top of the garage for more than a minute until he thought himself fit enough to get up and face his last difficult obstacle, namely getting down from the garage. He looked around him first to check if there weren't people around who could spot him and only when he was satisfied that there weren't, he walked to the ridge and he was lucky once more. The dumpsters were placed against the garage and he would easily slide off the roof of the garage and onto them and then lower himself to the ground. He couldn't have hoped for anything better!

When he was on solid ground his side hurt a little bit less than the jump he did from the window to the garage and he felt good enough to immediately go to the woods. He didn't run, but he wasn't sauntering either and soon he passed the first line of trees. He had been going through this small patch of woods a million time before, so he hadn't difficulties to find his way. Feeling defiant, Merlin started to jog a little faster but having jogged just a few feet, he knew that that wasn't the best thing to do. He felt the skin around his wounds tightening and his stomach starting to churn. He stopped and leaned with his back against the bark of a tree, trying to control his breathing and hoping that he wouldn't throw up.

He got his phone out of his pocket and turned it on. There were four new messages from Arthur and now also two voicemails from him. He couldn't bring himself to listen them. Instead he looked at the time. His flight was to leave in seventy-eight minutes and he still was about twenty minutes away from the airport. He took far longer to get out of the house than he initially anticipated, but now he needed to get a move on if he still wanted to catch his flight.

He felt the nauseous feeling dying down, just like his side and shoulder area, but it was still noticeable. He breathed deeply in through his nose. He might need five minutes until he would be at the main road and then it was just hoping that there would be any taxi's available.

Merlin grabbed his bag again and pulled the hoodie over his head just to be sure. He would almost be surrounded by people and he didn't know how well known his face would already be.

His side proved to be more painful than he initially thought it would've been and not only that, he was beginning to get tired once he reached the main road. He told himself that he had to hold on for about thirty minutes and then he could rest.

Cars, busses and taxi's whizzed past him, but he didn't saw any available cab. He'd almost given up in flagging down a cab when he tried one last time and this time he saw the blinker light up and the cab pulled up next to him. Sighing in relieve Merlin got in.

"Where to laddie?" The heavily gum chewing cab driver asked as he drove away from the kerb.

"Err. Heathrow Airport." Merlin answered.

The cabbie gave a confirming nod and turned the volume of the radio just a little bit up. Merlin saw the busy London traffic go by and just hoped that he would made the airport in time, fortunally he didn't live all too far from the airport.

The radio blasted some music but since it was close to the hour, the news would start any minute now. Merlin hoped that he wouldn't be mentioned, but that hope was shattered when the news segment started and he was one of the first to be mentioned. He tried not to listen to it, but in the end he did catch a few sentences.

"A spokesperson from the Royal family of Mercia has just announced that the Prince had been released from the hospital early this morning. Spectators were disappointed to have missed sight of the, until now, hidden Prince and hope to catch sight of him in his London home of which the address has been leaked out…"

Luckily they had reached the destination before the whole segment was finished. Merlin just thought it was just too weird to hear people talking about him on national news. He thrust some notes into the cabbie's hand and exited the cab as soon as he could and into the airport hall.

With the bag in his hand he looked up to the information boards, searching for his flight. There were just forty-three minutes left. He'd be certainly pushing it.

~oOoOo~

Back in his home, Hunith just opened her front door to let Balinor and Arthur in. Balinor told Hunith that he had called Arthur and asked him to come too, maybe he would have a better chance in getting through to Merlin. Hunith walked them to the sitting room and offered some tea that she already prepared. They could all hear the loud music coming from Merlin's TV upstairs.

Arthur sat his cup down and stood up. "I'll see if he wants to talk to me." He said grimly. Hunith nodded, putting her head down onto Balinor's shoulders.

"This is all my fault." Hunith said softly once Arthur was out of the room. "If I had just told him earlier than he might've not reacted this way." She sighed deeply again and Balinor put his hand on top of her leg.

"Don't say that Hunith, you had your reasons for not telling and I'm sure Merlin will understand that once he heard the whole story. You'll see."

Hunith tilted her head up but couldn't bring herself to smile. Neither she or Balinor had time to say something else because they heard harsh footsteps on the stairs and moments later Arthur not yet fell into the room.

"Merlin's gone!"

Hunith stood up, frowning. "What do you mean, gone?"

Arthur flapped his arms around. "Just… gone."

Hunith pushed Arthur aside and moved upstairs, followed by Arthur and Balinor. She ran up to Merlin's room and looked around. Merlin was not there, just like Arthur said. She yelled his name but got no response. She looked around the room again, now more critically. She saw that her son's closet door was open and it looked like someone had been rummaging through it.

The next thing she felt a shiver over her back when a gust of wind blew into the house. She turned and walked out of the room, ignoring Balinor's question what was wrong. She walked to her own bedroom and once she saw the open window she knew what had happened. She shook her head in disbelieve and put her head into her hands. From behind, Balinor placed his hands on her upper arms.

"What is it?" He whispered.

"He's gone." She muttered as she turned around. "He has done this before, but now he's…" She took a shivering breath. "Balinor he's injured, what if… what if something happens?" Hunith placed her head onto Balinor's chest who immediately embraced her.

"We'll find him." He murmured and picked his phone out of the pocket of his jacket and pressed one button. Seconds later he heard the door opening and the steps of the stair creaking.

Lancelot entered the room. "Sir?"

"I want you to trace Merlin's phone. Immediately." Lancelot inclined his head, muttering into his headset as he left the room.

Hunith had set herself down on her bed, she was on the verge of tears in not knowing where her son was and if he was alright. Balinor came to sit next to her and rested on hand onto her leg. Arthur kept standing close the door opening, he wasn't sure what he was about to do. There wasn't much he could do.

Hunith was now sobbing softly. "What if something happens again Balinor? He's my baby, I can't -"

"Shh." Balinor softly tried to soothe her and kept her close in his embrace. "We will find him."

The door opened again. "Sire." Lancelot said and made his way to his King. Balinor immediately stood up and gave him a nod to continue.

"He's at Heathrow airport." Lancelot answered.

Arthur gasped quietly. "But he can't travel! He's…" Arthur didn't finished his sentence, instead bolted out of the room with his phone in his hand. He called his own security, telling them to start the car and that they would have to drive him to Heathrow airport.

Balinor and Hunith heard what Arthur had said and Balinor looked up to Lancelot who nodded in response. He knew what the King was asking from him. He was to go to the airport immediately. "I make sure he'll return safely." He inclined his head towards Balinor and Hunith. "Sir, my Lady."

Tires of multiple SUV's screech to a halt as they came to the front of the airport. English and Mercian security guards poured out of the cars with the English security forming a protective circle around the Prince . The Mercian guards followed closely behind them, after all they weren't there to protect the British Prince, they were there to protect the Mercian.

~oOoOo~

"Last call for passengers for flight BA0560 to Rome."

Merlin heard the announcement and made the gate just in time to board the flight. Nobody had recognized him during security nor anyone else on the airport, although he had seen one custom officer watching him intently at one checkpoint, but he hadn't said anything to him and just let him through.

Now he was about to enter the plane, doubt was suddenly starting to get to him. It hit him like a cold bucket of water. He was being stupid, running away like he was some criminal and acting the way he had.

He was a Prince and perhaps he should just accept that, it couldn't be that bad. Right? But it was the principle of being lied too that was making him feel angry. But perhaps his mother had a good reason to keep it from him, after all she had never lied to him, it was just not in her nature to do so. He needed to think now, scolding at himself for not thinking earlier, but acting rationally instead.

But there was no time to think because the next thing he heard was,

"Boarding pass and passport please." The flight attendant asked him once he reached the front of him. He wasn't even aware that he had reached the front. He looked at the flight attendant and then down at his boarding pass and now he was confused. Should he stay or should he go?

~oOoOo~

Flanked by his guards, Arthur arrived out of breath by the gate. People that were passing by started to mutter when they saw the Crown Prince.

Arthur had perhaps threaten a man or two to tell him which flight Merlin took, and in the end he got the information he needed, but they told him that the plane would probably have left before he was even be able to reach the gate. And now having arrived at the gate, that assumption was true.

Arthur saw that the door leading to the jetway was already closed and screens close-by said that the plane was taxying.

"Nonono." Arthur muttered more to himself than to anyone else and sprinted to the window. He saw the plane making speed and moments later taking off. Frustrated, he slammed his palm flat against the window and growled.

"Merlin, why did you leave?" Arthur said to no one in particular and let his head fall against the glass.

Leon was already stepping forward to give Arthur some comfort, when he heard it.

"I haven't."

Leon's head snapped simultaneously with Arthur's towards the direction the voice came from. On a seat just a few feet away from him sat Merlin, looking tired, dishevelled and maybe even a little bit lost.

Merlin pushed the hoodie of his blue jumper down from his head and lifted his head highter to get a better look at Arthur. Arthur immediately sprinted towards him, much like the group of Mercian agents who made sure to flank their Prince from all positions.

However, when Arthur neared Merlin, Merlin stood up with a small grimace and placed his hand on Arthur's chest when Arthur was close to him, effectively holding him at some distance. Arthur frowned and looked down to the hand before looking back at Merlin.

"Merlin…?" He hesitantly asked.

Merlin lowered his hand and looked down to the ground. "How long?" Was the only thing he said at which Arthur frowned some more because he didn't know what Merlin meant. When Merlin didn't got an answer within some seconds, he asked again. Now with a bit more explanation.

"How long did you know that I was a…" Merlin just sighed, still having difficulties to say the word out loud.

Arthur swallowed. He could've known that Merlin would be angry at him too and he tried to tell Merlin, but Merlin wouldn't answer his calls so he couldn't explain himself. But now was as good a time as any. He took a small step forward, hoping that Merlin wouldn't walk away.

He didn't.

"Merlin, I didn't know." Arthur saw that Merlin slowly lifted his head but didn't made eye contact yet. "I found out the day before you… It was on the news." Arthur added low at which Merlin now looked at him. His eyes moving all over Arthur's face to see any signs of him lying, but Merlin couldn't find any.

He lowered his gaze again. "Why didn't you told me when I was awake?" Merlin asked softly.

"I wanted too!" Arthur said, grabbing Merlin's hands into his own. He sighed. "But your…" He paused a second, but then decided to say it. "Your parents asked me not too." Arthur looked down at their hands and he let go. However, he was surprised when Merlin reached forward to grab them again.

"Please, believe me." Arthur pleaded in a soft voice just above a whisper.

Merlin shook his head softly. "I don't know who to believe anymore." He muttered at which Arthur tightened the grip and stepped even closer to Merlin. There were so many guards forming a circle around him that he knew that most of the view would be blocked from curious onlookers.

"Believe me." Arthur whispered, their heads just mere inches apart. He felt bold and closed the distance between them and placed his lips lightly against Merlin's and was waiting for the moment that Merlin would push him away, but it didn't happen. Instead Merlin deepened the kiss, but just for a few seconds before he broke the kiss and laid his head onto Arthur's shoulder.

Arthur released one hand from Merlin's and gently embraced him, trying not to push himself too hard against him.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Merlin muttered against Arthur's shoulder. He lifted his head with a deep inhale through his nose and Arthur knew it was Merlin trying to keep himself from crying. He gently pushed Merlin towards the chair he had occupied minutes earlier.

"Everyone close to me - lied to me. My mother lied to me. She told me that my father wasn't important and that I shouldn't worry about him. Why would she say that? she could've told me that he is a King. I had the right to know!" He stood up again from the chair and turned to Arthur. "You have no idea how it feels to know that your whole life has been a complete lie. I don't even know who I can trust anymore."

Merlin turned around with a sniff and started to walk away, leaving Arthur behind. Merlin was followed by Tom and Lancelot and at least six other security guards.

Arthur stared at Merlin's retreating figure. He couldn't let him leave, not again. He never felt anything this strong for one person and he couldn't let that go, he wouldn't know what would happen if Merlin would walk out of his life now. So without even thinking about it, Arthur stood up and ran after Merlin until he had surpassed him and now he was the one to push his hands against Merlin's chest to stop him. Merlin looked back up to him with some kind of desperation.

"Don't leave… stay with me." Arthur pleaded in a small voice. He'd never had fought for any other before, but he just needed to be with Merlin, even though it had been some mere months that he had known Merlin. He just knew that he was the man he had to be with. Call it destiny, call it fate, call it whatever you like, but he knew it and he hoped that Merlin would just feel that way about him too.

By now a crowd had formed around them and the security guards had their work cut out to keep all the onlookers at a respectable distance.

When Arthur saw that Merlin didn't moved forward anymore, he brought his hands up to Merlin's face and cradled it between his hands and he gently kissed Merlin again. He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against Merlin's. "Please. Just, stay."

Merlin stepped back, looking away from Arthur. "It doesn't matter Arthur. I'm not cut out for this." He waved one arm in front of him, like giving meaning to everything that had happened in the last days. "I am not even sure if I wanted to be a - a Prince."

He said it. Out loud. It was strange and weird and he wasn't feeling comfortable with it at all and he just wanted to leave, but Arthur blocked his way rather persistently.

Arthur heaved one hand up to cup one side of Merlin's face and pushed it lightly so he made Merlin look at him. Once Merlin made eye contact, Arthur softly stroked his thumb over the skin of Merlin's cheekbone. "But you stayed. You must've had a reason for that."

Merlin swallowed before he answered, "It was you. You made me stay. I was on the plane and was preparing myself for the new life I was going to build. I just wanted to be away from all the liars. But then I saw a couple sitting two rows in front of me, and deep inside I knew that that was what I really wanted. And I had that - with you. Arthur I know we are barely in a relationship, but there's just something about us that just feels right. And I know I have been distant and not allowing you or myself to completely commit to it, and I said that it was because of the things in my life, and that was partially true, but it was really because I just didn't want to ruin what we had by going too fast." He sighed deeply for what must've been the umpteenth time that day.

"Arthur, I'm just scared what will happen if I'm going to be the Prince everyone seems to be expecting me to be. What if I have to leave the country and never see you again? And I'm not even sure why I should accept it, I mean I'm just a normal guy, I'm not special."

Arthur stepped forward and once more embraced the slimmer man. "But you are, Merlin. Never think otherwise. You're born to be a Prince and you might be scared at first to have so many people that see you as their role model, but Merlin they couldn't have gotten a better one than you. You will put me to shame!"

Despite the situation, Merlin couldn't help to softly chuckle at that.

"Merlin, I cannot force you to do anything. But I'm asking you to go back home and talk to your mother and father. They need to explain themselves for why they did what they did. You have every right to be angry, but please, if not for yourself, than do it for me. They have seen their mistakes and they want nothing more than to make it up with you, but you have to give them that opportunity. Will you be able to do that?"

Merlin closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. He exhaled loudly before saying. "Alright."

"Alright." Arthur repeated softer and held out his hand, which Merlin grabbed. "I'm positive that the press has been informed, so I hope you're ready for the madness once we get out… literally."

Merlin just gave a nervous nod. He only now noticed how many people had been gathered around and how many bodyguards were actually standing around them. He saw exactly which ones were for Arthur and which one were -apparently- for him. It was overwhelming and a little bit frightening.

Arthur gave the signal to Leon that they were ready to go and Leon nodded his head in return.

They made their way out of the terminal and the main hall from the airport quite quickly and without too many hassle, but once they got outside they were swamped by cameras and people. The security held their ground and kept the press relatively at a distance, but they couldn't stop them from shouting questions or comments.

"Your Highnesses, will there be a wedding?"

"Prince Merlin, how are you feeling?"

"Your Highnesses, give us a kiss."

"Your Highness, what was your first reaction at hearing that you're a Prince?"

"Your Highness…"

Merlin's head started to spin with the overwhelming questions.

Arthur knew exactly how Merlin felt, he knew how pushing the press could be and hated to be surrounded by him. And he was used to it, Merlin wasn't and must've felt quite nervous about all of this. So Arthur gripped Merlin tighter to his side and picked up his pace towards the waiting car.

When they were finally in the sanctuary the car gave, Merlin felt he could breathe again. He softly held his sore side and grimaced, but waved Arthur off when he voiced his concerns.

"I'll be fine." Merlin said. But in Arthur's eyes, Merlin didn't seemed so fine. It was like Merlin could see what Arthur thought and added, "Really, I just need a moment. I think I just walked too fast."

From the front seat, Tom had turned and handed Arthur a bottle of water, who in turn handed it to Merlin. "Here, drink this. Can't have you being dehydrated as well."

Merlin didn't respond to Arthur's supposedly joke, just drank greedily. He was parched. He didn't had a drink for close to three hours.

Meanwhile, the car set direction towards Merlin's house and Merlin knew that there wasn't a way back now. He knew that he would face his mother and his - father in a matter of minutes. And now he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. But Arthur sat next to him and maybe he had somehow felt Merlin's anxiousness, because he extended his hand and smiled at him. "It'll be fine Merlin." He added too.

Merlin tried to take calming breathes, but inside he still felt quite nervous.

~oOoOo~

The car came to a stop in front of Merlin's house and Arthur gently shook Merlin's arm as Merlin had fallen asleep in the short drive home. Arthur didn't had it in him to wake to younger man up and so let Merlin sleep for the few minutes the drive took to get to Merlin's house.

Merlin looked groggily around him, blinked several times to clear his vision and then his eyes widened as he understood that right now he would face his parents.

Arthur seemed to sense once again his boyfriends distress and placed a gently hand on Merlin's arm. "Breathe Merlin , everything will be fine. I'll be with you the whole time if that's what you want."

Merlin nodded slowly and looked nervously out of the window towards his house. He started to bite his lip when the doors were opened and he slipped out of the car. Arthur was at his side almost immediately and murmured some soft reassurances into Merlin's ear as they walked up to the house.

The door was opened by Lancelot and Arthur and Merlin followed the agent towards the living room. Merlin slowed his step the closer they came to the door leading to the room, but Arthur nodded his head and told him it would be alright. Merlin gulped one last time before he finally enter the room and was being stared at by not only his mother, but his father as well.

The man stood next to the couch not yet four feet away from him, and looked almost exactly like the time he had met him in the school library. He was dressed in pressed black trousers with matching dress jacket and his hands firmly clasped behind his back. He perhaps looked a bit more dishevelled than the last time he had seen him, but the man was still looking every bit of the royal person he was.

His stare towards the man was broken when Lancelot excuses himself to go back to his post and only then Merlin took a step forward. Swallowing multiple times as his throat seemed to be as dry as sanding paper. His eyes move between Balinor and Hunith before settling on Balinor.

"Hello… father."

He couldn't believe that he just said that out loud, but seeing the reaction he got to it made it perhaps a little bit better.

Balinor's shoulders seemed to lose some of its tension and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He didn't know what Merlin would say to him and he had expected anything, just not that. But hearing it made his decision of telling Merlin about him worthwhile.

But just as he thought that everything would be fine and they could start explaining Merlin about their actions, he saw Merlin swaying back and forth and moments later Merlin's eyes rolled up into his head and slumped forward. Balinor was just in time to catch his son before he would hit the ground and held him into his arms, lost at what to do now.

Hunith's shriek however brought him back and called Lancelot in since he also had some medical training. Balinor heaved his son up into his arms and gently lowered him down onto the couch.

Arthur went to Hunith to calm her down a bit, but he never moved his eyes from Merlin.

The moment Lancelot came into the room, he saw what had happened and crouched down next to the couch. "Your Highness, can you hear me?" Lancelot smacked lightly against Merlin's cheek. He turned to the people in the room. "I need a cold wet towel."

"I-I'll get it." Hunith said, still slightly shocked, and moved to the kitchen to get the required item and returned moments later. She handed the towel over to Lancelot who gently rolled Merlin on his uninjured side and placed the towel into his neck. He went to check Merlin's heart rate and softly counted the beats.

"Shouldn't we call a doctor!" Hunith cried out, and was now held by Balinor. Arthur went to stand a little closer to Merlin.

Before either man could say something, Merlin's eyes started to flutter and then opened them. He looked unfocussed around him first, but then his vision straightened out and he realised what happened and just knowing that he had just fainted embarrassed him a bit. He wanted to forget it as quickly as possible and sit up and just pretend it never happened, but the man crouched down in front of him prevented him from sitting up.

"Just keep lying still for a few moments, Your Highness." Lancelot said with some sternness in his voice. And, reluctantly, Merlin listened.

They did call a doctor just to make sure that there was nothing serious and after a couple of tests, the doctor confirmed that. He assumed that Merlin had been feeling exhausted and stressful from what happened earlier that day, and that in combination with the other injuries he already had triggered his body into collapsing as a sign that he should be taking it more slow. The doctor told them that it wasn't necessary for Merlin to be admitted to a hospital since there wasn't anything life threatening, but he did prescribe some medication that would help Merlin to relax the following days. The doctor emphasized once more how important it was to keep bed rest until at least the end of the week before he left.

~oOoOo~

Balinor had said that Merlin should be resting more and get stronger before they would tell their story and only visited a few times the next few days. Merlin didn't asked to see him up in his room, but he wasn't against Balinor's presence in his house either and Balinor was happy with that for now.

Merlin still had some problems in understanding why his mother did what she did and his mother told him that she would tell him everything when he was feeling a bit stronger, that she didn't want to keep any secrets anymore from him. Merlin wasn't really happy with that answer, but it was all he got and to hopefully speed up the process of his healing he hadn't done a thing in the following days, besides lying in his bed. Arthur visited every possible moment he had.

It wasn't until Saturday that Merlin was allowed by his mother to get downstairs -only to be immediately seated down onto the couch, where Arthur was already waiting for him- and that she told him that she and Balinor would tell everything today. The man in question arrived just moments later.

Merlin could manage to give the man a small smile. His mother and father sat down onto the couch opposite of the one Merlin and Arthur sat on and Hunith started telling the story about Balinor's parents, hisgrandparents.

Arthur never left Merlin's side and the more the story evolved, the closer he felt Merlin shuffling towards him.

Hunith sighed deeply once she had told the whole story. Same did Balinor as he told Merlin about the moment he found out about him and starting the investigation with the help of a private investigator. They now stared anxiously towards Merlin who had been staring to the ground for some minutes now.

With a deep inhale, Merlin lifted his head. He had gotten a lot of information in just a short time, but he did now know everything and was aware of all the decisions that were made along that way. Some of those decisions were involuntary while some were deliberately made.

He (still) felt a small grudge against his mother for not telling him sooner, and was still a bit confused to why she hadn't told his father about him the moment she knew that his parents had passed away. But what's done is done and he could throw the biggest tantrum in the world about it, but it wouldn't solve or change a sodding thing.

All he had was the now and he had the opportunity to get to know the father he thought he never had.

He looked straight at Balinor. "I really do want to get to know you. It's just that… it's hard to explain." Merlin sighed, he couldn't form the right words in telling his father that eighteen years had been a long time and that it would take time for them to get to know each other.

He tried again. "I don't know you and you barely know me, but I want too. I just hope that you don't expect me to call you father immediately or something like that. I still need to wrap my head around all of this, but I certainly want to try to get to know you." He added a small smile again and hand subconsciously reached his hand out towards Arthur's and grabbed it tightly.

Balinor nodded softly. A smile of his own plastered brightly onto his face. "I'd like that as well…" He nervously laughed. "It will be just as strange for you as it will for me. We will take it slow if that's what you want." He saw Merlin nod.

"But first… " Balinor began, making Merlin look up to him. "Would you like to see Mercia?"

Merlin's eyes grew wide. Visiting the country he was the Prince of, suddenly made it all too real, but he didn't had to think long about it. He looked to his side to Arthur and then back to his parents. "When?"

"Tomorrow." Balinor answered.

"Tomorrow!?" Merlin shrieked. "B-but…"

Arthur shuffled closed and placed a hand on Merlin's leg, momentarily making Merlin look at him. "Remember what I said, I'll be with you. And Mercia is beautiful, you will love it."

Merlin stared at Arthur, thinking whether or not it was a good idea to go to Mercia this shortly after learning about his heritage. What if the people in Mercia didn't like him?

But he couldn't say that he wasn't curious to see the country he only read about in books. He closed his eyes and then nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

~oOoOo~

The next morning came quick and Arthur had stayed the night in the guest room, while Balinor went back to his London condo as he and Hunith didn't want to force Merlin with too many changes in a small amount of time, even when they were convinced that Merlin already knew by now that they had rekindled their relationship.

Merlin and Arthur were ushered into one car, while Hunith and Balinor took a separate car towards the marina. Both ends of the street were still crowded with people and press alike and Merlin was just glad for the tinted windows that would block out any sight of him. He wasn't comfortable yet knowing that people were now interested in him and probably would be for a long time to come.

The drive to the marina was without any difficulties and soon both cars stopped. Merlin's jaw not yet dropped when he got out of the car and saw the huge boat, no yacht, standing in the early morning sun.

"T-that's what we will be traveling with?" Merlin asked, still astounded by the presence of the yacht. Arthur could only chuckle at Merlin's reaction. He linked his arm with Merlin's and ushered him towards the small staircase leading up to the entrance of the boat.

"Yes Merlin, you better get used to it. You now belong to one of the richest on the earth, this will be a common thing for you. Give it six months and you no longer know any differently."

Merlin looked his eyes out as he and Arthur ascended the stair case and walked into the ship. He was greeted by two attendants who inclined their heads at him. "I wish you a pleasant journey, Your Highness." One of them said to Merlin, and he started to slightly blush and mumbled a "Thank you," before he was pulled further into the ship by Arthur.

The yacht was exquisit. Arthur explained that there were four decks, all with their own function. There was even a pool at the top of the deck. The floor they would be staying looked almost like a normal house. Chairs, tables sofas and even a full on kitchen. He couldn't see any further because there were double doors leading to who knew what.

He sat down at one of the chairs more towards the back, with Arthur sitting on the chair next to him, and found out that they were swivel chairs. He looked around him some more and saw his parents sitting more in the front of the boat and were offered, what he thinks, a glass of champagne by one of the attendants.

The other attendant came towards them and asked if they'd like something before they would depart, and Merlin asked for a glass of water and Arthur asked for a coke.

They drank it with no rush and after they placed the glasses on the table, the attendant picked up their empty glasses.

Just moments later the speakers of the radio began to rustle and the captain started to speak moments later. "Here's captain James speaking. We will be taking off in about five minutes, so I want to kindly request for you to take a seat until we're on open water. The weather here is calm, but there is a bit more wind towards MErcia. Our expected time of travel will be around an hour and three minutes. On behalf of myself and my co-captain Morgan I wish you a pleasant journey."

Merlin sat back in his chair with a smile. He was a little scared for the unknown, but right now happiness had the bigger hand; He had found out who his father is, he was having the most wonderful guy in the world as his boyfriend and he and his mother weren't fighting anymore.

Life really couldn't be any better. Merlin thought as the boat started to take off to his new destiny.