Treasure, the likes of which Arthur had never seen before in his life. But even so, Arthur could sense the darkness, the looming feeling, it was there, just as soon as he had entered this tomb. Merlin stood with Gaius,by a casket, dropping things, as usual. Uther came swooping in behind Arthur, walking with arrogance and pride, as right behind him, was his Future Wife, Lady Catrina.
"Are you alright?" asked Arthur, leaning into Merlin, to ask this, with a raised eyebrow. He looked a bit shaken. There was a dead man, on the ground after all. To Arthur, it looks as if he had set off some sort of trap. Merlin turned to look at Arthur, and they were very close, Arthur could feel Merlin's breath on his face. Merlin nodded and Arthur took a step back.
"Look at this place," said Uther, with a booming voice. "I was right...treasure did lie beneath Camelot!" There was an obvious sound of someone clearing their throat then, and Uther looked over and grinned, sheepishly. "Well...Catrina was right."
"Yes, I was," she offered, with a smile, and carefully stepped deeper into the tomb. "It is quite impressive, My Lord."
"Yes, it is. And which of my fine predecessors do I have to thank for all this, Gaius?" asked Uther now.
"I am not yet sure, Sire," said Gaius, Arthur did note, that Gaius looked a bit uncomfortable, it did feel strange in here. Like something evil, Arthur had thought it was just him, who noticed it. "I will look into it."
"Then you shall!" said Uther, in good nature, he swept over to Arthur, and put an arm around him. "The tomb must be heavily guarded, I leave that to your care, Arthur."
"I will see to it, Father," said Arthur, quick, and Uther grinned, took his Future Wife by the hand, and they were both off, out of sight. Arthur turned back, to Merlin and Gaius. Gaius was looking around, careful where he stood, Merlin just stood there, and stare down, at the dead man. Arthur knew how he felt, about such things, and he didn't want him to be upset about it. Good men die every day, Merlin needed to learn that. Arthur walked over and placed a gentle hand, on the middle of Merlin's back, he jumped a little, when he did so, but did not look over. "Gaius," Arthur spoke instead, to him. "Is there any idea who this tomb belonged to?"
I will have to check the records, before I know for sure," said Gaius, and this was not technically his job. His job was to tend to sick people, but as Gaius was one of the older resistance of Camelot, he knew much more about these things than anyone else. Leave it to Gaius, to always know way more than he ever would let on. "I am not quite sure it is a King, Sire."
Arthur hadn't thought so, as there was another tomb, deep under Camelot, where most of the late King's were laid to rest. Arthur hoped not to be buried there, if and when he was to become King, and then died, it was rather creepy down there. Arthur realized, all of a sudden, as Merlin shifted next to him, that his hand was still on Merlin's back, he pulled it away and his hands sort of fell to his sides, awkwardly. He thought it was about time to head out, at this point.
"Do you need Merlin, for your research, Gaius?" asked Arthur now, and he was not entirely sure why he asked this. He, Arthur, didn't need anything from Merlin personally. Gaius looked up, and gave Arthur a small smile.
"No, I can manage on my own, Sire."
"Alright, come on," he said to Merlin, and then Merlin followed him out. Where two guards, positioned out side of the gate, on watch, stood. They hurried up the stairs. They didn't say anything at all, almost the entire way to Arthur's chambers.
"Who do you think it belongs to?" asked Merlin, then. "The treasure?"
"I don't know," said Arthur, if he were being honest, he didn't much care about it. Even though it was now his job to protect it. They entered Arthur's chambers and he threw himself into the chair, behind his desk. He yanked the keys, that would now lock the gate, onto the desk, he was going to have to find a good place to hide them, while he slept. "I am just happy the annoying tapping is done with, it was doing my head in..."
Merlin laughed, just a little, it was very soft and sounded a bit like a mouse. So, rather cute, not that Arthur would admit it. "To be fair, a lot of things do your head in..."
"You're ramblings, for one."
Suddenly, the door to Arthur's chambers cracked open, and in walked Cedric, of all people. Arthur had not seen the slimy man in days, not since Merlin had assaulted him and all but thrown him from the room. Now, he looked a bit cleaner and better fed, yet still just as slimy. At once, Merlin's demeanor changed, from open and joking, to closed off and irritated. Arthur wasn't having it, he didn't want another argument with Merlin. In truth, Arthur had just wanted to spend time with him, and he didn't need anyone getting in the way of that. He stood up, as Cedric got closer.
"Sire, I came to apologize, about my actions," said Cedric, Merlin's fingers twitched, Arthur noted. He sighed.
"I would like a word," he said, and then looked over at Merlin, he smiled with raised eyebrows, trying to explain to Merlin what he was doing. But Merlin only huffed and exited through the servants door. He was probably only hiding on the other side of the door, though, so he could listen. Once he was gone, or at least out of sight, Arthur turned back to Cedric. "I respect your good work, you really are a great servant, very attentive. I've never seen anything like it, with...my mine being the way he is. Merlin is lazy, clumsy, augmentative, annoying, but...he is mine," Arthur said, and then pulled a face, at his words. "My servant, that is. And to be honest, I quite like it that way."
"I understand, Sire," said Cedric. "I never meant any disrespect."
"Of course you didn't," said Arthur, and he knew for sure, he was lying. He had very well meant to disrespect Merlin. He was trying to make Merlin look bad, but what he didn't know was Merlin made himself look bad, and Arthur didn't really mind it very much. In fact, it was funny and charming, and the realness was welcomed, rather than whatever fake duty of care Cedric offered him was. He all but ushered Cedric out of his room then, hopefully for the last time, and when he was done, and had slammed the door on him, he turned around and...there was Merlin standing there, with a smile.
"I'm yours, huh?"
"You were listening? How dare you..." complained Arthur, but of course he had known that, the whole time. "And shut up, you know perfectly well what I had meant."
"Yes...that I am annoying, and clumsy, and lazy," Merlin rattled on and Arthur grinned.
"Exactly," he said, and nodded toward the door. "It's a beautiful day outside. Summer is upon us, Merlin, why the hell are we inside?"
"Because it's hot?"
"You are always complaining, I forgot to mention that one..." retorted Arthur then, but the grin had grown now, and he found he couldn't quite control it anymore. "But I suppose that can fall under augmentative."
"I am not augmentative!"
"That proves my point, right there..."
Merlin frowned then, like he might be annoyed at Arthur, and Arthur stare back, willing to challenge him on this. But then Merlin tilted his head to the side, and his eyes looked over Arthur's face for a second, and he grinned. "Well...if you want to go out, I suppose we can go visit my Mother?"
Arthur didn't know if that was a request or a demand, but either way, he was agreeing to it, without much thought on it, and yanked the door open, behind him. He allowed Merlin to exit first, before following him out. They headed out of the Castle and through the courtyard, passed Morgana, who had been out riding that afternoon, Merlin waved as they passed and she smirked at them, as they went.
"Bellatrix finally gave birth." said Merlin, as they entered the town, and they turned, to head toward the Noble housing. Straight on, would lead them to the tavern and down to the lower town.
"Who is Bellatrix?" asked Arthur.
"The cat!" retorted Merlin, with a glare at Arthur. "Don't you remember, I told you? Oh wait...you were too busy being a prat that day."
"Am I not a prat every day, according to you?"
Merlin smiled, almost knowingly, and then bit his lip. "Sometimes you're not...that's the only times I like you."
"Well, I suppose I had better start being a prat more often then." said Arthur, a bit mischievously. "Can't have you liking me, Merlin."
Merlin didn't reply to this, as they had finally reached his Mother's home, and he knocked once, before just walking in. Arthur followed behind him. There was a smell of something cooking, like molded cheese, and a sudden, loud racket of meows. Hunith was bent over a crate, talking in a hushed voice, like possibly to a baby. Or babies, as cat's normally had more than just one kitten at a time. She stopped what she was doing when she realized they were there, and she stood and turned around.
"Merlin...Arthur, what are you two doing here?" she asked, but it wasn't in a rude way, or a way that said she didn't wish to see them, but exactly the opposite, she did wish to see them, and she was very pleased they were there. She hugged Merlin, though Arthur was sure they at least saw each other daily, but he supposed that was just a Mother's love. She then turned to him, and paused for a second, as if thinking about it, before she pulled him into a hug too, and he found he was more than fine with that. So, Hunith he would hug...but not Merlin? "Come to see the babes?" she asked then, as she pulled away from the hug and turned back to Merlin. "Hungry little Devil's they are, always feeding Bellatrix dry."
"Where is she?" asked Merlin then, as he walked over and leaned over the crate, his face turned from normal, to like he had just seen the best thing in his whole life, in the matter of seconds. "They're adorable!"
"Oh, she's just gone out for a bit," said Hunith, as if this was normal, as if Bellatrix was not a cat, but a person. And this, Arthur thought, explained so much about Merlin. "Aren't they just the perfect little bunch?" She leaned down and picked up a all black one, and Arthur thought it might have been a mouse for a second, it was so tiny. She placed it into Merlin's hands. Merlin was not a big man, he had no muscle at all, he was rather feminine, in the way he was shaped, even if he was lanky and tall, unlike Arthur. But even so, he had rather long, thin fingers, and this made the kitten look even smaller. And Arthur felt nervous, how did that thing not break into pieces. Surely, it weighed nothing at all. "I named this one after you, Love, Merlin," said Hunith, and Arthur, in his worried thought, had forgot she was speaking at all, for awhile. "Look at his blue eyes..."
Merlin made noises like a happy child and Arthur just kind of stood there, looking. He placed the kitten back in the crate and made more child like noises, as he picked up yet another, this one was ginger and had strange markings on it's side. "Look, this one should be named Arthur," said Merlin, and walked over to Arthur and held the cat up to Arthur's face. "He looks like he's angry about something, and sort of fat...just like you."
"Oh, you two..." said Hunith, and Arthur could not see her face, but he had a feeling she was rolling her eyes. Merlin was now trying to get Arthur to take the cat, but he simply refused. There was no way he was going to hold one of those things. Not ever. He strongly considered, when, and if, he ever had children, that he would not hold that either. The very idea made his stomach turn, something so tiny and frail...no thanks!
"Arthur...come on!" said Merlin, as the kitten meowed in Arthur's face. Merlin made it's nose, which was barely existing, rub against Arthur's. "He likes you...I don't why, but he does." Arthur shook his head and Merlin let out a huff of air. "At least pet him..."
And Arthur did, he used one single finger to, gently as he could, rub the top of the kittens head. Merlin watched, and he smiled so big and so purely, that he might as well be petting the thing himself. Arthur had no idea why Merlin cared so much, if he were honest. Arthur stopped though, after a second or two, and Merlin gave him a break, and took the kitten back, and started fawning over the others. At this time, as if coming home from a long day, a black and white cat slipped through a crack in the door, which it had made on it's own, and slink into the room. Her green eyes looked around, noting Hunith, her source of food, Merlin, her other source of food, and then Arthur, someone she didn't know. She paused and her eyes narrowed at him. Arthur watch her, as she slowly crept closer and closer, keeping a look of pure innocence on her cat face, as she did. She reminded Arthur of Merlin, when he would come in after being missing for days at a time, always acting like he hadn't been off, doing something he shouldn't have been. She suddenly jumped into the crate, and the nursing process began. Arthur didn't wish to see that either.
After much more fawning over Bellatrix and the kittens, done by Merlin, Arthur was ready to leave. Hunith had gone off to prepare a meal for the cat, and Arthur wondered why this cat was treated better than he was, for a second.
"We could go for a walk," said Arthur. Merlin stopped and looked back at him, with a raised eyebrow. "Come one, Merlin, it's a great day! I want to be outside!"
"Alright...you don't have to start whining."
"I don't whine!"
They both bid Hunith goodbye, who was now very invested in chopping a chicken and barely noticed that they were gone. Unless she was talking to Bellatrix, as they left, Arthur couldn't be sure. They headed through the lower town, and outside of the city, into the woods there. They had just been walking, without really going in any direction on purpose. But Arthur knew these woods quite well, he would hunt in them when he was a child, and the Knights took him here many a time, to train him. Just ahead there was a brook, and Arthur headed for it. It was not quite summer enough that it was boiling heat, but it was warm enough for sweat to be forming on Arthur's forehead, and a cool bit of water would be nice. He grabbed Merlin by the arm, and dragged him, in that direction, without really speaking about it.
When they reached the brook Arthur keeled down next to it, sticking a hand in the cool water, it was nice and crisp, still cold from the winter. The water itself was a clear, blue color. It was shallow enough that you could clearly see the bottom and if you stepped in it, it would only go to about your ankle. Arthur remembered slashing around in it, when he was a small boy...and then the word splashing gave him an idea.
Merlin, who had taken off his neckerchief, due to the fact that it was hot, leaned down by the edge of the water, next to Arthur, doing much the same as him. Arthur didn't say anything, he kept his head straight, for a long moment, while he guided his hand through the water, watching it make waves. He started doing it faster, and Merlin didn't seem to be paying much attention to him, so Arthur then, with as much force as his arm would allow him, slapped the top of the water, and it sprayed all over Merlin's face. Along with Arthur, but it was rather welcomed. But apparently not for Merlin. He yelped and stumbled back, he nearly fell, but caught himself and stood up.
"What was that for?!" he demanded, and Arthur shrugged his shoulders, with a smirk, as he stood up.
"It was funny," he said, Merlin grumbled and started wiping his face repeatedly, apparently trying to get the water off of him. Arthur only watched, amused, but something suddenly struck him. "Why the hell are you wearing a jacket?" he asked then, noting Merlin's usual brown jacket, on, as it always was. "It's nearly summer..."
Merlin paused at these words, looked down at his body, as if he wasn't sure himself, and then looked back up. "It's...my style."
"You're style is to be an idiot? But of course it is..." Arthur shook his head and rolled his eyes, and Merlin's eyes narrowed at him. "You should take it off."
"I don't want to..."
Arthur's lips turned up at this, and he stare at him like he were stupid. "Alright...swelter to death," he commented, and just to prove the point, Arthur yanked his blue tunic over his head, and threw it to the ground. Now, he was shirtless and Merlin was wearing a jacket...
"Why are you taking your clothes off?"
Arthur looked at him, and he wanted this look to convey that, that was not Merlin's business at all, what Arthur did with his clothes, and he would do what he likes. "Because it is hot, you buffoon..." he retorted, and then smirked over at Merlin, yet again. "And I'm not stupid enough to be wearing a jacket."
Merlin rolled his eyes, because he had known Arthur well enough, apparently, to figure out his half assed plan, to prove a confusing point. Basically, Arthur just wanted Merlin to take off the jacket. For God sake! "You're an ass..." Merlin trailed off, and Arthur got a brand new idea now, and he really needed to stop coming up with ideas, or have better ones, at the very least. He stood up now, and took two, long strides, to reach Merlin. Merlin glare at him. "Don't touch me..."
"I think you have forgotten who makes the rules here."
"I think you have forgotten that I don't care..."
Arthur did not reply to that, he reached forward and yanked at Merlin's jacket sleeve, but Merlin pulled his arm back quickly, and took a step back. "Why are you so concerned about keeping the jacket on?" asked Arthur, taking a step forward. "What's the matter with you?"
"I'm not considered about it, I can take it off if I want to," said Merlin, and Arthur pulled a face at this, because he was confused, yet again. "I'm just not going to do it because you tell me to."
"Are you stupid?" asked Arthur then, truthfully this time, he was actually asking. "It's hot..."
"Yes, I know that..." Merlin trailed off, and looked down, and then back at Arthur, and then down again. "But I...I sunburn."
"What?" retorted Arthur
"I sunburn..." said Merlin again. "Not so much on my face, but my shoulders and back, and my chest...really bad."
Arthur considered this, for a long while, or at least what felt like a long while. It was just so...so stupid, so dumb, and silly and...so very much like Merlin, to sunburn, it was honestly, very cute. Arthur couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips, and it betrayed him, he wanted to call him a girl and make fun of him, but it was just...he couldn't find it himself to do so. "Don't worry, Merlin," he said instead. "I'll protect you."
Whether that was a joke or not, he did not know, but Merlin took it as one, or an insult. Perhaps both, as Arthur did that sometimes. "From the sun...?" Merlin retorted. "I know you are a big, tough Prince, Arthur, but..."
Just as before, Arthur didn't respond, only took a step closer to Merlin, yet again, and tried to grab his jacket sleeve. Merlin yanked it away, once more, and walked backwards. But he had turned, and now he was walking backward right into the brook, and then he was stumbling over a rock. And Arthur, being that big, tough Prince Merlin was just talking about, wrapped an arm around his waist, to stop his fall. Thinking, that of course Merlin would then work on getting his footing, but of course he didn't, and instead, grabbed Arthur around the shoulders, and continued falling backwards.
And so they fell, Arthur on top of Merlin. Merlin's entire back and bottom were in the brook, and in water, while only Arthur's arms were wet, due to the fact that the brook was no more than one small leap across, in size, and the rest of him was on top of Merlin, whose body shielded him from the water. Merlin hissed, much like Bellatrix would, if she were annoyed, and arched his back, out of the water, making him press harder into Arthur. Arthur suddenly remembered he was shirtless, felt his ears go red and his neck flush, and a lump formed in his throat, that he couldn't swallow. Hell, he couldn't even breathe suddenly.
Merlin's arms unlocked from around his shoulders, and instead of allowing his dry arms, to fall into the water, they slipped down Arthur's bare back. Arthur pulled back and looked at him, and now Merlin looked at him in a way he had never seen before. His eyes were half lidded and his lips were slightly parted, like he had forgotten to blink or shut his mouth. He often forgot to shut his mouth anyway, but Arthur pushed those thoughts away. Now, as Merlin all but forced him to look into his eyes. They were so deep and dark, darker than normal, Arthur thought. One of Merlin's hands, his right one, slipped from Arthur's back then, down his side, onto his stomach and up his chest. It continued on, so soft and gentle, like a butterfly walking on you, there, but just barely, all the way to Arthur's neck. Where his fingers toyed with some of the Arthur's hair there.
"You need a haircut again," he said, but it didn't matter, it was only noise. Because now there was a steady pressure on the spot where Merlin's hand was, a little push, and Arthur did what it asked him to, and dropped his head down, slightly, closer to Merlin's face, and Merlin was leaning up, closer to Arthur's face. And Arthur felt himself being drawn in, being all but drowned by him, sucked down to the very bottom of whatever Merlin was. "Arthur...." Merlin whispered, barely whispered, and Arthur could feel it, because their lips were almost toughing, all but an inch more and then...
There was a bang, so loud, so big, it rattled the ground around them, and they froze, just how they were, for several seconds, and then Arthur pulled away, and stood on his knees now. He had no choice, he didn't want to. He had wanted nothing more than to continue with whatever the hell that was, but then...there was another bang. And from where it was coming from...it sounded very much like Camelot.
"What is that?" Merlin said, still lying in the brook. Arthur shook his head and stood up.
"I don't know...but I think we had better find out."
(A/N: When I realized this was the chapter I would be posting tonight I got so excited, I love this chapter. I don't know why, but I just do! Little info about the Author here; That almost kiss wasn't supposed to happen, it kind of just did on it's own. They were only supposed to argue about the jacket and then fall into the brook, but it just felt like such a perfect moment for them to kiss, but they can't kiss yet...it's not time yet, so I did some cheating! It was so good though, I love it! Anyway, enjoy! And thanks for all the congrats on my goal, I've set myself a new one and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna reach it!)