Sorry all, updates will be few and far between right now as we manage a new city, new job, and new baby!
Arthur stood in the overgrown field, his arms folded against his chest. Despite his casual appearance in a faded red tunic and scratchy beige trousers, his posture belayed confidence that only comes from a royal upbringing. Merlin, on the other hand, still donning his servant's garb, stood beside Arthur with his hands on his hips in a more relaxed stance, a beaming smile of pride outshining the bright sun of midday. Arthur was not nearly so enthused.
Merlin had led them through dense forest to a clearing well enough away from Ealdor to avoid wandering strangers on the promise of a hut where they could stay unnoticed for a while…but that was not what Arthur was now looking at.
"Merlin?" Arthur said flatly.
"Yes, Arthur?" the man sounded far too pleased with himself.
"What is this?" Arthur cocked his head toward the dilapidated pile of crumbling stone, rotting wood, and moldy straw before them.
"I know you're a bit out of touch with the people, Arthur," Merlin quipped, "but most would call it a 'hut'."
Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know what you think it is, Merlin," he said with a disgusted glare at the building in question, "but you can't seriously expect us to stay here?"
Merlin glowered at Arthur, "there's just no pleasing you. Here's a place where no one will come looking for us and you dismiss it over a couple of rough patches!"
Arthur yells, "A couple of-!" and points angrily toward the hut, "Merlin, it's barely habitable!"
"I told you we'd need to fix it up a bit," Merlin replied like Arthur was the one being difficult.
Arthur let out an exasperated sigh. When he'd pictured their hiatus from Camelot, he'd imagined it more like an extended hunting trip, not a foray into construction. It would take 10 strong men a few days to fix this slum and Merlin was useless when it came to manual labor, which meant Arthur would have to do most of the work. Unless…perhaps….Merlin's other talents could be useful?
Arthur turned to Merlin, "Can't you use magic?"
Merlin's eyebrows shot up, "You want me to use magic to fix the hut? Are you sure?" he asked in disbelief.
"Well, come on," Arthur pushed Merlin toward the hut, making him stumble forward, "let's see what 'the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth' can do," he smirked, crossing his arms again as though he wasn't expecting much.
The familiar look of annoyance on Merlin's face almost made Arthur chuckle, but as Merlin straightened to his full height and raised his arm, the full expectation of what he was about to do hit Arthur, wiping the surly smile from his face.
Merlin started chanting in a language Arthur didn't understand, but immediately recognized and although he knows, he knows he doesn't need to fear Merlin's magic, that doesn't stop the gut reaction of his body tensing and his stomach churning. His eyes widen as the stone rubble scattered around the hut levitates and rebuilds into walls. Brown straw turns yellow as if freshly cut and dried. The crooked door in front rights itself on its hinges and the splintered wood reforms as the rot reverses to strong lumber.
This is much different from lighting a fire. He didn't expect to be bothered this much seeing his friend perform magic, but he is. To put a stop to it, he walks up behind Merlin and whacks him up the back of his head.
"Ow!" Merlin winces and several stones immediately fall to the ground. "I thought you weren't going to hit me anymore!"
"Except when you're being a dollop head," Arthur jibs, seeking the normalcy of their banter.
"That's my word," Merlin mumbles, rubbing his head.
Arthur looks at him like he's a simpleton, "Stop being a showoff. Does your poor judgment know no bounds?"
A smirk spreads across Merlin's face. "Well, I ran away with you, so I guess not."
With a huff, Arthur strides up to the hut, which is already mostly repaired. "We can finish repairing this hut with axe and sinew," he announces as he bends down to pick up a piece of wall and examine it. "We don't need magic for every little thing," he tosses the stone back to the ground and disappears into the hut.
"Yeah," the irritated sorcerer mutters under his breath, "except when you're being an annoying prat."
From inside comes a bellow, "I heard that!"
Merlin enters to find Arthur rummaging through a pile of mostly broken tools, coughing as he disturbed a thick layer of dust.
"Useless…useless…useless…" he comments as he picks up one item after another and tosses them aside.
The hut is simple, even by village standards. Only one room with a fireplace, not even a bedroom or wash basin. Debris is scattered in random piles, most of which are in pieces and fell to disarray long ago.
"Here!" the sudden shout startles Merlin from his perusal.
"This," Arthur holds up a box-like contraption, "this could be useful as a rabbit trap, though it needs a few modifications," Arthur pushes the item at Merlin, "fix it, so we can go hunting."
For a moment, Merlin just stands looking at Arthur dumbfounded. "You want to go hunting? Now?"
"Yes, Merlin, now," he sighs and continues sifting through the debris. "If we're lucky, we can catch a few rabbits before sundown and take them to your mother to cook."
"I can cook dinner," Merlin suggests, but takes offense when he sees Arthur wince, "What's wrong with my cooking?"
"Too salty." Shoving up from his knee, Arthur brushes dust off his hands, "Besides she was kind enough to take me in, I want to repay her," he notices Merlin is still holding the contraption with a confused look on his face, "Well, get on with it and let's go!" he points to the box and heads back outside.
"Clotpole," Merlin scowls, but repairs the contraption with a simple spell and follows Arthur towards the woods.