Four days, four days it had been that they were looking for the Sorcerer Tauren, and yet there was nothing, no sign of him. Arthur had allowed the Knights to skip the search for the day, encouraged by his Father, who thought the alone time, would be good for Merlin and Arthur, as they had very little, since returning to Camelot from Ealdor. So, even when being crazed by the thought of a runaway War Sorcerer, it was nice to know Uther still thought of Arthur's love life...

Arthur rolled his eyes at this thought, as they trekked, by foot, through a glen. "Have you ever thought what it might be like to fly?"

Merlin, who was walking ahead of him, who had nearly fell over three different times, due to his own stupidity, only shrugged. "Dragon's can do it..."

"Yes, well, there isn't any of those around now, is there?" said Arthur and Merlin didn't reply to that, so Arthur continued on with his musing. "It would make this search much easier..."

"Going home and sitting down would make it easier as well," said Merlin and Arthur couldn't help but agree with that. There was a noise, just ahead, suddenly, and Arthur stopped, though Merlin didn't seem to notice. "And to eat...that would help a lot. Take a nap-"

"Would you...shut up?" said Arthur and Merlin stopped, turned back to him and scrunched up his face, in dislike. "I heard something."

"Maybe it was nothing like the last six times you heard something..."

Arthur glare over him, "No, it was definitely...something."

Arthur stepped forward, passing Merlin, who followed after him, grumbling. Arthur chose to ignore this, as they walked through thick trees. On the other side, was a field, in the middle of it was a beast, so big, so bizarre looking, Arthur froze and Merlin bumped into him, from behind. Merlin swore openly upon seeing it, and Arthur could understand why.

"Arthur..." said Merlin, in a whisper, and he couldn't listen. Because right as Merlin spoke, the Beast, with the head of a snake, and the body of a...- Arthur wasn't sure. He didn't have a chance to see. It seemed surprised, for a second, seeing them there, and then it was turning, and Merlin was grabbing Arthur's hand and yanked him hard. The Beast stood up on it's back legs and uttered such a sound, like a hundred dogs barking, all at once, and charged. Arthur didn't have to see anymore, he allowed Merlin's pull to lead him and they ran.

They ran and ran, faster than Arthur ever could imagine he could run, it was as if the trees and ground around them were blurred, and all he could see was the dirt in front of them. And it was shocking, how Merlin didn't trip once, not a single time, it was unlike him...that was for sure. Even so, the Beast still was upon them, it could run much faster than man. Merlin noticed a cave, and Arthur didn't know how he could mange it, how he manged to see. He dragged Arthur inside of it, and shoved him against the rock wall, leaning close to him, so that they were both in the shadows. They watched, with bated breath, as the Beast looked around for them, just right outside the cave mouth, and then ran forward, in search for them still.

Merlin took a breath of relief and Arthur stare at him, with a smirk. "What's gotten into you?" Merlin looked at him, confused, as he took a step back. "It's not like you to take charge like that."

Merlin stare at him, like he was quite possibly a moron. "Sorry...I didn't feel like dying?"

Arthur continued to smirk at him. "I never said it was a bad thing..."

Merlin shook his head. "We need to get back to Camelot."

Just as Merlin said this, however, they heard the sound of the Beast again, the honestly terrifying sound it made, and Arthur was not one to be easily shaken. Merlin went pale. "That thing is far too fast, we will never escape it. We are going to have to kill it," said Arthur, and he didn't like the pure fear that covered Merlin, head to toe, but it was the only way. He went to walk out of the cave, but Merlin grabbed him, by the arm and stopped him. "Merlin, I know...you're scared. It's alright."

"No, Arthur, you don't understand," said Merlin, and Arthur paused, and looked back at him. "You can't kill it, from what Gaius showed me, in his books, it's...it's the Questing Beast, Arthur, and no blade can kill it...it's...it's magic."

Arthur stood there, staring at Merlin. He had feared as much, at least that it was a creature of magic, no natural creature looked like that, it only made sense. "Merlin..." he trailed off, and the pleading in Merlin's eyes almost made him change his mind. "This thing could attack my people, Merlin, I...have to at least try. It's my duty."

"I know," whispered Merlin. "But, Arthur...if you die-"

"Have more faith in me, Merlin," said Arthur, and he was trying to use a light tone, but it sounded more like a plead than anything else. He steeled his voice. "I am not going to die."

"The Questing Beast is a curse," said Merlin, quickly, Arthur rolled his eyes, because he didn't care what the lure was, he had no choice, he still had to try. "It isn't just made of magic, it...it was conjured by the Old Religion, Gaius says...the last time it was seen was the night before your Mother died."

Arthur frowned at this, and he knew what this would probably cost him, but it didn't change his mind. "I don't have a choice, Merlin."

"Yes you do, Arthur, we can go back to Camelot..."

"And do what?" retorted Arthur, getting annoyed at this point. "Wait for it to come there and take more lives than just mine? No...I will face it."

Merlin closed his eyes. "You are a stubborn ass..."

"Thank you, Merlin," said Arthur, and he meant that, in more than just one way. As Merlin blinked his eyes open, to stare at him. Arthur grinned, before getting free of Merlin's hold and taking the chance, before Merlin grabbed him again, and ran back into the thick of the trees. There was the sound of the Beast again, and Arthur could hear it, the sound of heavy paws on the ground. Arthur waited, a beat, and then Arthur felt it, behind him. He turned around, pulling the sword from his belt. The Beast roared, in that horrible bark it did, and rose up high, in the air. It lunged at Arthur and Arthur jumped back, but lost his footing, as the Beast bounded upon him. He hit his head, on the ground and his vision became blurry, and he could only just make out the shape of it, over top of him, and something glowing, white gold and very bright, just above the Beast, perhaps it was the sun...? But then, everything went black.

Three days, three days is how long Arthur was dying for. But somehow, thanks to Gaius and his remedies, he was cured. And it was not a quick cure, by any means, Arthur ended up staying in bed for another whole day, after this. Though, Arthur had to admit, what he found most odd about his time of healing was Merlin had not come to see him once. Morgana did, his Father did more than once, even Gwen had, she had even taken to caring for Arthur, as he was still very weak, from nearly dying for three days, and since his Servant, who really should have come to see him by this point didn't feel like taking care of him, at least Gwen was so kind. But then, after an entire day of Arthur being awake, that was when Merlin came to see him, and he insulted him and...behaved very strangely. Now, being struck with sudden grief, as obviously Arthur's death should cause Merlin...it could make you act strangely. And maybe it didn't bother Merlin that much after all, as he didn't come to see him, for some time, and Arthur really wasn't exactly certain where they were in the terms of friendship. Because Arthur would clearly remember Merlin begging him not to face the Questing Beast, but also could clearly remember their trip home from Ealdor and how Merlin very simply stated how little he thought of Arthur...

So, needless to say Arthur was confused by this, and then the words he spoke, if Arthur really thought about it, and as he was stuck in his chambers, not allowed to leave until he was healthy once more, so he had plenty of time to think about it. They sounded like a goodbye. But why would Merlin quit? This puzzled Arthur and puzzled him so much, Gwen, who helped him back into bed, that night, even noticed. But then she told him that Hunith had arrived ill that morning, and then literally fought and won Arthur, to stay in the bed. And Arthur did, he listened, because Gwen was quiet and shy but sometimes she could be quite direct, when she needed to be. She probably learned that from Morgana.

But why would Merlin's Mother being ill have to do with Merlin quitting? Unless...and this thought kept Arthur awake most of the night. Unless he had decided he needed to return to his village, to take care of her. And Arthur, he could understand that, if Merlin chose that, but that didn't mean he would like it...that didn't mean he would be alright with it. After spending the whole night awake, he came to the decision that he really was not.

Early in the morning, long before anyone could come to wake or bother him, he got up and dressed. He was feeling fine, so he hardly needed fussed over, as Gwen or his Father would do, he just wanted to talk to Merlin...before he left, if he was leaving. Arthur was still confused. He walked all the way to Gaius' chambers, half expecting them to all still be asleep, but the door opened almost at once, when he knocked, and it was Hunith who answered it.

"Sire!" she said, and she looked perfectly well. Her smile was kind and she moved, so he could enter. "Arthur..." she remembered, he didn't need her to be polite. "I am glad you are feeling better, I heard you were very ill."

"I heard the same of you," he said, and she nodded and looked down at the floor and then back up at him.

"I woke up this morning and I was good as new," she said, and followed him, as he walked, looking around Gaius' work area. Not that he expected Merlin to jump out at him, but he had come to see him, and it didn't appear that he was there. "He's not here," she said his thoughts for him. "He went to find Gaius who went out during the night to get some herbs for a remedy for me."

"Well, clearly you don't need it," said Arthur, but he was feeling quite sour at the moment. He had really needed to talk to Merlin, he needed to understand why he spoke to him the way he had, and if he planned on leaving with her, to take care of her, now that she was well, would that mean he would stay? Or would he leave sooner? "When do you think they will return?"

"I couldn't say," she told him, and looked worried, toward the door. "I hope soon, I need to return to Ealdor, I left so quickly, when I fell ill...and I wish to say goodbye to Merlin, before I go."

"Why leave?" asked Arthur, suddenly, and the idea struck him so hard over the head, it almost made him dizzy. "Why not stay...live here?"

She looked around the room and pulled a face he saw on Merlin quite often, the look of distaste. "I'm not sure there is enough room here."

"Well," he said, and perhaps this was his desperation to keep Merlin in Camelot talking, he wasn't sure, but he continued anyway. "Not here...but, perhaps in Camelot."

"Oh, I couldn't...I have lived in Ealdor my whole life," she said, looking flustered and almost like Arthur was insane. Perhaps he was. "I have a house...I have a cow."

"There are many fine houses in Camelot," said Arthur now, and she frowned at him. "And I'm sure someone can look after your cow..."

"Houses in Camelot are much more expensive than in Ealdor, Sire...I hardly think I could afford it," she rambled on more and Arthur wanted to kindly, not rudely at all, shake her into some sense. Because this was a very good idea, even if it wasn't, it felt like a very good idea to him, and he was the Crowned Prince of Camelot, so his ideas mattered the most. Alright...maybe that wasn't true, but! "Even if Merlin helped pay...I still-"

"I have gold..."

"Sire..." she said softly, but with warning behind it. "I apprentice the offer, but I have a whole life in Ealdor."

"And you have a son here..." she paused, her disagreeing and stare at him suddenly, eyebrow raised. She would really fit in well with Gaius and Merlin, Arthur had no idea why she argued the idea. "I lost my Mother...I never knew her, she died when I was born, and I just think...how much I would give to have her near me...and I never even met her, I can imagine what Merlin must feel like, is all...and I would never wish that for him, not when you could be close. And I know it would be a change for you, I would do all I could to make you comfortable...I don't care how much it would cost, if I have to pay your taxes...-"

"Arthur," said Hunith, her voice was still soft, but there was no bite behind it, no warning, like before. She leaned forward and touched his face. "You are such a sweet boy...a wonderful man. Your heart is so pure and kind, your Mother must be very proud of you..."

"Some say that, but I don't know if they are right or not," he said, and he didn't want to make this about him, or his Mother, but the tug at his heart at the mention of her being proud of him, made him want to cry again and he really needed to stop feeling that way, he was supposed to be a man.

"As I am a mother, there are only a few things we desire, and it is the same for all mothers about their sons. We want them to be happy, to be kind and most of all, to be loved..." said Hunith, and Arthur shut his eyes, listening to her words. "I know your Mother, though I never met her, I hardly have to, I know she smiles down upon you every single day."

Arthur smiled at this, eyes still closed, Huntih's hand still resting on his cheek. "Thank you..." She caressed his cheek with the pad of her thumb and he opened his eyes once more, suddenly. "So, does that mean you will stay?"

She smiled at him, in return. "I suppose..."

Arthur left Gaius' chambers, still no sign of Gaius or Merlin, but Arthur was feeling a little dizzy in the head and watery in the eyes, so Hunith told him to go rest and as soon as Merlin returned, she would send him to him. Arthur agreed, but he still didn't feel very settled about it, perhaps now that he had convinced Hunith to move to Camelot, he was more at ease with the idea of Merlin leaving or not, but how long did it take to pick some herbs? Surely they should be returning by now? But they didn't return, not for several hours. It was night fall, when the door to Arthur's chambers slowly crept open, and in walked Merlin, his hair was wet and he wore the same clothes Arthur had last seen him in, though...that was not new.

"Oh...look what the rats dragged in," said Arthur, and his none-caring voice was the biggest lie he had ever told in his life, and he had come up with some good ones before. "Do you ever bathe, Merlin, seriously?"

Merlin did not answer this, only took in a sharp breath and walked deeper into Arthur's room. "My Mother says you wanted to see me."

"Yes...as you're my servant, I do have that right," retorted Arthur. But he refused to allow himself to do this, every time, he resorted to name calling and teasing Merlin. But not this time, he wouldn't let himself not say what he felt, even if it killed him. He stood up and walked closer to Merlin, who stood there, eyeing him. They looked at each other for a moment or two, without speaking. "I thought you had quit..."

"I told you, I wasn't..." Merlin trailed off, and yes he had said he wasn't. But the way he sounded said otherwise.

"Yes, but, the the things you said to me...it felt like a goodbye," admitted Arthur and Merlin smiled at him.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Arthur."

"I didn't want to..."

Merlin's eyes widened a little at this, and his smile turned from more playful, to very real. "I don't want to...I want to stay here, forever, with you...I really mean that."

Arthur nodded, feeling some sort of strange tugging at his chest and he tore his eyes from Merlin's. "Don't let my Father hear you say that..."

Merlin laughed, but it sounded almost forced. It was quiet then, and Arthur didn't know what to do. He had asked and he had wanted to speak to Merlin, but truthfully, he didn't know what he had wanted to say this whole time, and now...they just stood there. "My Mother told me you asked her to stay here, in Camelot," said Merlin then, and Arthur was shocked, for a second, for some reason the thought of Merlin knowing this made him feel embarrassed. But of course he would have to know, it was his own mother. "Why did you do that...?"

"I thought it would make you happy," he admitted, and alright...that wasn't entirely true, it was also so Merlin would stay there, but he refused, just simply refused, to admit that. "What is the point of her living so far away? When she can live here...I'm sure I can find her work. a proper-"

"Arthur..." Arthur had several more things to say, that were all rubbish, things like taxes, cows, houses...but they were all lost, when Arthur looked up and met Merlin's eyes again. Arthur gulped at the way Merlin's eyes searched him, as if looking for something desperately important. And he didn't look away this time, as he always would, before. This moment felt real, unlike others had, even when they would argue. It felt real in the sense that there was no name calling, no rank, no title. Merlin just looked at him, as who he was, not what he was, and unlike most other times, and in the future, Arthur probably would not allow it to happen yet again, but right now...he let him.

Arthur stare back, willingly, allowing himself the moment of getting lost in Merlin's blue eyes, which were darker than his own, yet had tiny specks of gold, if you looked hard enough. Arthur did. He felt like he was drowning in them, in the darkest of lakes, being pulled under by something...something very alluring and strange all at once. It was not Arthur who looked away this time, it was Merlin, who looked down at the ground, and Arthur let out a breath he didn't remember holding and felt a little bit stupid all of a sudden.

"Why is your hair wet?" he asked now, again...stupidly. He felt like he should say something important, profound even. Like a true King, that he might one day be, if he doesn't get killed by some magical beast first. But instead, he asked something so foolish. He should ask if this did indeed make Merlin happy, but the grin, he supposed, Merlin gave him now, one that was not foolish or playful, but genuine, said that yes...it did make him happy.

"It was raining..."

"No, it wasn't!" argued Arthur.

"It was, during the night!"

"I was awake, it certainly did not rain..."

"Why were you awake?"

"Because..." Arthur started and then stopped, because the reason he was awake all night was standing in front of him, like an idiot with wet hair, arguing about whether or not it was raining. And he supposed, if he really thought about it, he quite liked it that way. "Shut up, Merlin..."

(A/N: I like this call this Chapter; 'Their First Time: Eye Sex Edition.' Also, this would mark the end of season 1, but like...this story is far from over. Someone asked, (a few people did honestly,) how long this story might be, and I am going to be honest; I am on chapter 23 right now and I haven't even reached the start of season 2 yet, soo...I'm going to say a very loooong, long time, I hope everyone is okay with that. Also, thank you guys so much for reading and commenting on this, I literally love this story so much, I think about it all the time and try to think of new ideas and weird things to shove at our dear boys, and honestly, some GOOD stuff is coming!)