A/N: Merlin's POV
The next days flew by like an arrow through the air. We held nothing back. We walked together, hand and hand down the trail, told each other everything and kissed whenever possible.
Of course, the fact there was a third person involved here did cause us to have some restraint.
Speaking of Arthur, after that night in the lake it didn't take him too long to figure out there was something between me and Primrose. Two days in he confronted me about it.
Primrose had gone to get some water for the canteens, and she had us packing up to head out. As I picked up some things she had left lying about, he walked over. "Merlin," He began, "Can I talk to you for minute?"
"Yeah," I said, set somewhat on edge by his tone, "You know you can."
"It's about Primrose," He said,
My heart sank. Seriously, six years he doesn't notice I'm casting spells all around him but it doesn't take him three days to figure out there's something between me and Primrose? "What about her?' I asked.
"Are you courting her?" Arthur came out with it, bluntly.
"What?" I responded, so floored that it just came out.
Arthur huffed and rolled his eyes, back to his old self. "Are. You. Courting. Primrose?" He repeated, slowly, "It's a simple enough question."
"Too bad this isn't a simple enough situation." I murmured. I retrospect, I never should have said it aloud nor to this day do I know why I did just that.
"What does thatmean?!" Arthur replied.
I paused for a minute, trying to come up with a good response. "I guess you could say we are...courting." I said at last, "Why?"
Then it was Arthur turn to pause for a moment before he asked, "Are you sure that wise given the...circumstances?"
"Now what does that mean?" I asked.
"Merlin, we'll be at her cabin in three days," Arthur said, "What are you two gonna do then?"
"We'll just have to-part ways," I replied.
"Part ways?" Arthur repeated in a form of a question.
"Yeah," Merlin said , "Prim would rather hurt from parting then wondering what could have been."
"Alright," Arthur said, "What about you?"
I didn't reply because actually, it was a good question. I had put so much though into what it would do to her, but never even considered what leaving her would do to me.
Just then Primrose emerged out of the woods with the canteens, and we went silent. Too silent, because she noticed. "What's going on guys?" She asked.
"Nothing," We say at the same time and maybe a little too quickly.
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," I said, maybe still too quickly, "We're fine. Everything 's fine. Really, it's nothing you need to worry about."
Primrose paused for a minute, thinking it over. "All right," She relented at last, walking off, "Let's go."
We tried to make the best of the next three days but still sooner than either of us would've liked, we came to the end of the trail. "There's my cabin," She said, pointing to a brown rectangle in the distance. As I got closer I could see the cabin in more detail. It's small, wooden, with a peaked roof. She lead us up to the front door, then stopped. She put her hand through the window and started pulling at something. At one point through the window I saw it was chair. "I don't have a lock," She explained, opening the door, "I didn't want them getting in."
The cabin was one room. There was a small round table with three chairs on one end, and bed in the corner of the other side.
"You have a very lovely home," I told her.
" You're only saying that because you like me." She whispered in my ear.
"I'm saying that because I love you," I whisper back.
She went completely still for a moment, as I paralyzed her, then came back to us. "I gotta go call Dr. Guinan, you guys just sit down, make yourselves at home, okay?"
"Okay," I said, suddenly unsure of what I just did. I knew it was pushing it, and I knew it was risky, but I had to say it. I loved her and she had to know.
Somewhat out of it I lowered myself into the chair she had pulled away from the door. It felt like she was gone for an entirety. Arthur made a few attempts at conversation, but I couldn't bring myself to say more than a few words. At last Primrose came back. "Sorry that took me so long," She said, "They should be here in about half an hour."
An half an hour. One more half hour to be with her.
"Hey, Merle, " Primrose said, "You wanna go take a walk?"
"Sure," I answered, getting up.
Arthur started to get up when Primrose turned around and said, "Sorry, Arthur, you're not-invited."
"Oh," Arthur replied, awkwardly, but understandingly, sitting back down.
"See you in a little bit," I said, following Primrose out of the house.
We walked to a field near her cabin, holding hands. "So," She began, " You ready to go home?"
I grumbled inaudibly in response.
"What?" Primrose asked.
"I guess," I said, but it didn't sound very sincere. Primrose saw right through it.
"Merle-" She began, stopped, then began again, "Merlin, you knew just as well as I did this was just temporary, right?"
"Yeah, I knew," I said, trying to appear in relatively good spirits, "I just-didn't think it would feel like this. I mean, I haven't known you that long."
"Yeah," Primrose said, rubbing the back of her neck, "I feel the same way."
I looked over to her and said, "How are you doing, anyway?"
Primrose sighed. "When are you gonna stop worrying about me and start worrying about your own feelings?"
"Oh, I've thinking about my own feelings since we got to the cabin," I replied, "As for when I'll stop worrying about your feelings-well, has it snowed in springtime yet?"
That made Primrose laugh, good and hard. I couldn't help but think about how much I would miss that laugh.
"You know," I said, "I don't have to go with Arthur. " I tightened my grip on her hand just a little bit as I said, "I could stay here with you. Forever."
Primrose stopped so suddenly I was pulled up a little. "What are you getting at, Merlin?"
" I think I was pretty plain," I replied, not believing that actually had to be repeated, "I 'd leave my own time if it meant I could stay with you."
"Merlin," She began, paused, then said, "Have you really thought about what you're saying? I mean, you've been leaving behind your friends, your family, your mom,-everything you've ever known."
"I know," I said, "And I won't lie to you, it scares me, but so does the thought of losing you."
She was silent for a moment, but I could tell he was thinking it over. "Merlin," She said at last, "I can't ask you to do that for me."
"You didn't ask," I replied, "I volunteered. Just stay the word."
She didn't respond.
"So Prim," I paraphraised what she had said at the lake, "What's it gonna be?"
She opened her mouth to speak but then we're interrupted by a strong wind and the sound of blades. I looked up and saw an oval-like red and black shape like noting I've ever seen before.
"It's the guild's hovercraft," She said, "We gotta go."
When we got back to the clearing the hover craft was on the ground and five people in blue uniforms. They all turned when they heard us coming. A large board-shoulder man with dark hair stepped forward. "Ms. Everdeen-Melark," He said.
"Dr. Guinan," She replied, "This is Merlin. He's one of the two young men who came through."
"And where's the other?" Dr. Guinan asked, "I believe there were two."
"He's still inside," Primrose said, "I'll go get him."
She walked into the house, and after a minute we all saw Arthur and her in the window-fighting over his sword. My heart suck a little. Everyone was staring at them with ranging looks of disbelief and awkwardness.
"You know we can all see you in there!" I called out, hopping to save them some embarrassment.
They both turned around, letting the sword drop to the ground. Arthur quickly picked it up whispering something I couldn't make out fully but sounded like, "Don't worry, I won't use it." To which Primrose whispered back something I think was ,"You better not."
They both walked out. "This is Arthur," She said, "He's the other boy who came through."
"And apparently not the brains of the outfit," I heard a woman on my right whisper.
"Don't worry," Dr. Guinan began, trying to reassure us of our safety, "We mean you know harm, and we can get you back where you belong."
"Only I'm not sure I belong there even more," I thought. I mean, Arthur made it to the throne, Morgana was gone so really, why shouldn't I be free and clear to be with Primrose if she would just say the word? I looked over at her pleadingly. "Just ask me to stay, Prim," I asked silently, "Please, just say it."
But Primrose said nothing.
The team started to walk back to the hovercraft and me and Arthur followed them, my heart cracking in my chest. Suddenly I felt hand slip in mine. I looked up and saw Primrose was right beside me. When we got up to the hovercraft she asked, "You need help getting in?"
"No," I said, "So I guess this is goodbye."
She gave me a smile, mysterious smile. "Not, yet," She said, putting a leg over the side of the hovercraft and jumping in.
"W-What are you doing?" I asked, surprised by this turn in events.
"I'm coming with you."