Three months had passed, Merlin and Arthur had been trying to spend as much time as they could together but everything and everyone kept getting in the way all of the blaming time. They had nearly been caught a few times and it was starting to drive a wedge between the prince and the warlock, they had been holding onto their relationship throughout everything though but they had been arguing.

Merlin had been trying to get out of doing as many errands all day, he really wanted to spend some time with Arthur and he missed his prince. He had not been able to kiss Arthur in nearly two weeks and the prince had not been able to hug him because someone or something always interrupted them.

It was early afternoon, Guias had given Merlin a list of errands and chores that he needed to complete and Arthur had also given him some chores to do. To say that Merlin was exhausted was an understatement, he did not mind the chores but he did mind the fact that he had not been able to hug his prince. He had been thinking too much and he had started to doubt how safe and secure this secret relationship with Arthur was, but he loved his Arthur more than anyone and the idea of ending everything with the prince ripped his heart to shreds. Maybe he just had to wait?

Morgana stalked down the hallways, her head held high and her face a self-satisfied pout. Drunk on the feeling of power and ranking in society, she glared at whoever dared to look her way, including her own maid at times. Poor Gwen. Seeing that Merlin was walking down the hallway and seeming to realise that he was in her presence made Morgana's blood boil and she fixed him with an icy glare as he did nothing but mind his own business. He was carrying a couple of books and a small but tall wooden crate full of bottles and vials of important medicines and stuff of the sort, so it was understandable that he did not notice that there was anyone at all other than himself. However, Morgana did not care for that and continued to glare meanly at him. Merlin peered around his pile of stuff just in time to avoid being tripped over by Morgana's slightly outstretched foot.

Instead of turning to confront his potential attacker, the warlock continued on his way to Guias's chambers, making Morgana even angrier than before.

"Are you alright, my lady?", Gwen asked, concerned.

Morgana took a sharp breath in through her nose and nodded, "Yes, I am fine.", she hissed before continuing down the hallway.

Merlin continued to walk down the long winding corridors until he eventually made it back to Guias's chambers, he used magic to open the door and he walked into the room. Guias looked up just as Merlin put everything that he was carrying down and then sat down at the table.

Guias walked over to Merlin and he held something out for him "Here, your mother has sent you a letter" he knew what Hunith's handwriting looked like so he knew that she had written the letter.

Merlin looked up and he took the letter "Thank you".

"Arthur was looking for you, he asked that you go to his chambers" Guias stated as he walked back over to his desk.

Merlin stood up and he walked out of the room, he put the letter into his pocket and he started to make his way towards Arthur's chambers. Was this his chance to spend some time with the prince?

It took a few minutes but Merlin arrived at Arthur's chambers and he knocked on the door before he opened it and he entered the room, he saw that Arthur was pacing around the room and that he looked stressed. The warlock shut the door and he locked it "Arthur?" the warlock asked.

Arthur sat down on the end of his bed, his head in his hands as he took in just how long and full of work his day had been. Merlin walked over, he sat down beside Arthur and he hugged the prince's upper arm.

"Talk.", was all the warlock said, his soft voice was comforting to the prince and he felt Arthur relax.

Arthur sighed and groaned before looking up, "I am just stressed... all of this stuff that has been going on is a bit too much for me, and my duties to the kingdom... it is all just more than I expected it to be".

Merlin listened quietly and then he gently embraced Arthur to calm him down.

Arthur smiled as he felt his mind ease and turned to face his love, "Thanks, Merlin, you are always here for me".

"And I always will be, I love you so much, you dollop-head," Merlin said affectionately.

Arthur chuckled and he leaned his head down to rest it against Merlin's shoulder "I love you too, you idiot".

They hugged for a while until Merlin stood up and walked over to sit at the desk, he opened the letter that he had received from his mother and he began to read what she had written. Arthur was sat at the table with some maps and he was reading over them intently as he tried to memorise every tiny detail.

Warm tears trickled out of Merlin's eyes as he stared at the piece of parchment, he sniffled as he read every loving word carefully and he smiled softly.

'My dearest son,

Not a day goes past where I do not miss you with all of my heart, it feels so different without you here and Ealdor will never feel the same about you here. I am so proud of you for becoming the kind-hearted, brave and wonderful young man that you have grown into, it warms my heart to know how far you have come and how strong you are as a person. I am so proud of you for not giving up on your destiny, I am so happy that the prince has been treating you well and that the two of you are friends.

Thank you for the harvesting potion that you sent me, it has really helped the crops to flourish and the harvest has been a successful one this year, all thanks to you, my brilliant son. Please be careful, your powers are a special gift and it is a same that not everyone understands the burden that you carry on your young shoulders, I also fear that some people might try and hurt you in order to steal your gift, please be careful and protect yourself from the cruel and wicked people who walk among us?

I will write to you again soon, goodbye until then. You are forever in my heart,

Your mother.'

Merlin put the letter down on the desk and he wiped away his tears, before he put his face in his hands as he tried to stop crying.

Arthur looked up when he heard the sound of someone crying and he hurried over to crouch down beside Merlin "Merlin, what is it? What is wrong?"

"Nothing, I just read a letter that I got from my mother today" Merlin lifted his head and he looked at Arthur "I just miss her".

Arthur took Merlin's hand in his and he kissed the warlock's knuckles "I do not like it when you are upset, it makes me sad".

Merlin smiled down at the prince "I am happy, I just miss her a lot. I have got you though".

Arthur smiled and he moved to sit on the desk "And you always will" he promised as he slowly rubbed circles over the back of Merlin's hand "I love you so much".

"I love you more" Merlin stood up and he kissed Arthur, he placed his hands on the blond's hips and Arthur cupped his face in his hands as their kiss grew passionate.

After a few amazing seconds of kissing each other's faces off, the couple pulled back for air and they smiled at each other before they hugged.

"I have missed hugging and kissing you, I have missed being with you" Arthur closed his eyes as he rested his head against Merlin's chest.

Merlin kissed Arthur's head and he started to stroke his golden hair "I have missed all of that too. I have missed you as well".

Looks like Merlin did not have to wait that long at all.