A week passed and Arthur, Lancelot, Leon and Merlin were about to head out to hunt.

''I think we should hunt at the east side of the forest,'' Leon suggested.

''Yes, we have not been there in over a month by now,'' Arthur agreed.

''But we'll have to be back before supper, I have promised Morgana to help her with her horse today,'' Arthur added and the rest of them nodded to confirm his wish.

''Have you seen how many flowers the princess has gotten these past days?'' Leon asked all of a sudden as they walked between the trees. Arthur's jaw tensed by the mention of her, he had not dared to go near Elena's room since their latest interaction. He had not seen her either for that matter but guessed that she was still recovering in her room.

''Yes, did you see the dandelions?'' Lancelot chuckled and Arthur turned quickly towards him. 'Why was he in her room?'

''Yes, I reacted to them too,'' Leon laughed.

''Hey! You know how hard it was to pluck them? I had to protect them with my whole body and walked like a snail so the white stuff would not fly away,'' Merlin said offended and Leon and Lancelot started to laugh at the vision Merlin had given them.

''They were from you? Why on earth would you give her dandelions, Merlin?'' Leon laughed as Merlin realized the situation he had put himself in.

''Oh, uhm, yes good question. It was the first thing that I saw,'' he said nervously and since they were used to him being, well Merlin, he managed to get away with that answer.

''How is she now?'' Arthur asked, thinking it would not harm him because it meant that he had not been to see her.

''Well, the bruises on her face has started to fade, but one could still see their tracks. And you can tell by her eyes how exhausted she is,'' Leon replied and Arthur gave away a nod. He wanted Lancelot to speak.

''And when was the last time you saw her?'' Arthur asked Leon, building up his cover to proceed towards Lancelot.

''This morning,'' he replied easily and Arthur nodded.

''And you?'' Arthur asked, now turning towards Lancelot.

''Last time was yesterday,'' he replied and Arthur nodded slowly, understanding by his answer that it did not seem to have been only a one-time visit. Merlin looked at Lancelot and then at Arthur. He saw how Arthur's jaw tensed and understood what was going on in front of him.

''Was it right or left here?'' Merlin attempted to shift the focus back to the hunt, they had arrived at a crossroad.

''Left Merlin, when will you learn,'' Leon sighed and chuckled as he shook his head. Lancelot chuckled as well and looked over at Arthur but was met by his cold gaze. The two men just looked at each other as Lancelot's smile slowly faded. He gave away an unconformable nod before jogging up to Leon to talk strategy on how they should hunt.

''Don't do anything irrational,'' Merlin whispered to Arthur that had not taken his eyes off Lancelot.

''He probably was covering a shift Leon could not attend to, you know how many tasks your father gives Leon,'' Merlin added. Arthur did not respond.

They hunted for a couple of hours but decided after that to give up. Non of them was focused on the hunt and they were not in sync with their positions.

''I'll catch up with you later, I need to pick up some supplies from the blacksmith,'' Leon said when they were hallway back and Arthur nodded, knowing his father had given him that order.

''Merlin, go help him out,'' Arthur said and Merlin turned quickly towards him. He darted his eyes on his friend and was alarmed.

''Perhaps I should-'' he tried but was not given the chance.

''Merlin, it's an order,'' Arthur hissed and Merlin jerked slightly by his sharp tone. He swallowed his words in a gulp and turned towards Leon.

''Shall we?'' Leon said and aimed for them to go towards the direction of the town. Merlin turned and looked concerned at Lancelot, before looking at Arthur. He feared that this would not end well as he and Leon disappeared among the trees.

''I'm sorry if I have offended you somehow, sire,'' Lancelot began and Arthur decided to see where he would take the conversation on his own.

''What makes you think that you have offended me?'' Arthur asked.

''I could tell that you were not pleased by me visiting the princess. And you are right, I should not have been there. It does not look good in other people's eyes. I'm sorry,'' he said as his gaze lowered. Arthur thought carefully about how to address his suspicions, and when Lancelot gave him a free path, he took it.

''It's rather unexcused. I can't help but assume that you must have feelings for the princess?'' Arthur said, not taking his eyes off his knight. Lancelot frowned in surprise, not expecting the conversation to take that path.

''I simply wanted to know how she was feeling,'' he objected to the accusations. Arthur made sure to observe him carefully, trying to read every reaction given possible.

''Mhm. I would think carefully before lying to your future king,'' Arthur continued. He was not proud of himself for doing this, and did not recognize himself in this state. However, he had never felt like this about anyone before. Lancelot looked hurt at him.

''A princess does not marry a nobody, sire,'' Lancelot said with a sad tone and the words hit Arthur like a knife to the heart. 'A princess does not marry a prince either', he thought.

''Marry? Say Lancelot, do you love her?'' Arthur sighed, the anger and jealousy he felt were now replaced with emptiness.

''No, sire, I would not offend the house of South by being so foolish to ever think of being loved by a princess. I admit that I have felt an attraction to her, but I know that it could never be and I should have stayed away from her, I'm sorry,'' Lancelot said.

''You are a noble knight, Lancelot. The south's finest, don't forget that,'' Arthur found himself complimenting the man he was angry at just some seconds ago. He figured it must be that he somehow saw himself in him.

''To a princess, a knight is a nobody. But thank you, sire. I promise to honor my title and your family better in the future,'' Lancelot said and Arthur knew that he had to finish this the way he started it.

''The rules are the rules, Lancelot. Make sure to bare the south's armor with respect and responsibility from now on, and I advise you to set any type of emotions aside if they are to go against that,'' Arthur said and cleared his throat to show dominance again. Lancelot nodded immediately.

''I assure you, sire. It will not happen again,'' Lancelot said and with that he bowed. Arthur gave him a nod in response. With this, Lancelot had admitted his feelings for the princess, and a sad feeling washed over Arthur. Jet, he knew that he could not blame Lancelot for having feeling for a woman. Even if that woman was her.

Merlin ran into Arthur's room and Arthur turned towards him in surprise. They just looked at each other before Arthur sighed.

''Merlin, wha-'' he began rolling his eyes at Merlin.

''Is he alive?'' Merlin said and darted his eyes on Arthur, making Arthur let out a snort of laugh.

''Merlin, must you be so dramatic,'' he replied and Merlin let an exhale out.

''Oh, thank god,'' he said before letting his body relax as Arthur shook his head at him.

''What did he say?'' Merlin continued after a while and the smile on Arthur's face faded slowly.

''That he likes her,'' Arthur said without hesitation. He knew better this time than to keep things from Merlin.

''Oh... yes, I figured as well. How does that make you feel?'' he asked with a concerned frown across his face. Arthur gave away a sigh and turned his gaze out through the window.

''It bothers me, but he is entitled to his feelings,'' he said and Merlin nodded slowly.

''But the two of you are okay, right? We're all still friends, huh?'' Merlin said and Arthur chuckled.

''Yes, Merlin. No woman will come between the bond I have with my friends,'' he assured him and Merlin smiled pleased. He also understood that this was his call to change the subject.

''I saw Morgana walking towards the stables. She wanted me to remind you not to forget her,'' Merlin said and Arthur shook away his thoughts of Elena.

''Damn it! Yes, thank you!'' Arthur said as he rose and ran out of the room.

''You're welcome!'' Merlin shouted after him, laughing.