Arthur

I groaned, sore from sitting in the saddle all night, jostling about in a hunched over position. Just sitting in a saddle was bad enough but that had made it so much worse. I rubbed my neck trying to relieve the ache that appeared from lying in the position I was in.

"Ah, so you're awake at last." Merlin mumbled and I nodded slowly, still rubbing at my neck to get the ache out. It wasn't doing me any good and I sighed frustrated. "Here take the reins, I got your neck." Merlin whispered right next to my ear, his breath ghosting my neck, causing me to shiver. I was pretty sure I was blushing and I took the reins from him quickly.

His hands moved to my neck poking around until he found the spot. He applied a little bit of pressure, moving his hand about, and managed to massage the ache out. I sighed in relief and he chuckled. I thanked him and turned to find his eyes twinkling in the sunlight and he turned bright red when he caught me staring. I turned around and we sat in silence for a moment. "We're almost to Ealdor." he replied and I relaxed a little. I couldn't wait to get out of this saddle.

Merlin wasn't lying when he said we were almost there. They had reached Ealdor only ten minutes later and gladly climbed off the saddle. A woman with wavy brown hair that was tied in a green turban, with a few strands reaching her shoulders, walked over to Merlin, embracing him in a large hug. "Oh it's great to see you again." she whispered. She pulled away smiling before her eyes flickered over to me and her expression hardened.

"What's he doing here?" she asked. I was confused as to why she didn't want to see me.

"Mother it's ok. He's just a friend and we need a place to stay for a while."

"He is no friend of yours. He is a Pendragon. They don't help anyone but themselves because they simply don't care. They are vile and cruel." she spat harshly. I stumbled back against the horse, obviously not welcome.

"He's not like that. He's kind and caring and he is really important... now please let us stay."

"You can but I will not let filth like that in my house." she growled. I started to climb the saddle to get back on and Merlin turned towards me wide-eyed.

"Where are you going?" he asked sadly even though he knew the answer.

"I'm not welcome here Merlin, so I must go find somewhere else to stay and hide." I smiled sadly and his eyes filled with tears as he looked back to his mother. Then he turned back toward me, nodding and starting to climb back on the horse. "What are you doing?"

"I'm coming along with." Merlin's mother choked and growled at his desicion.

"You can't go with him. He'll just screw you over and hand you to his father should he find out anything about you."

"Well he knows and he helped. Now if he's going so am I."

"He... he knows?" she asked shocked. Her expression then turned angry. "You must not go with him. Come along now Merlin... leave him be."

Merlin looked up at me and continued to climb up into the saddle. "Merlin, please stay. I don't want you to starve or be hurt while we look for somewhere to go. Here you'll be safe. My father knows nothing of this place. If I am caught, I promise not to say anything... I care too much to see you hurt. Please... stay here. Stay safe and with your mother. Find someone who will take care of you and love you for you. Someone who won't endanger you." I said, running my fingers through his hair and choking back a sob. I saw that his face was reflecting mine.

"I can't. Arthur, I care about you and won't be able to move on if you leave. Please let me come with." he begged. I shook my head, a tear slipping from my eye as my heart broke. I didn't want to leave him behind but if it kept him safe, then I would.

"I love you." I whispered as I kissed his hair. I started trotting off, not daring to look back because I knew that if I did, I would take him with me and I couldn't risk that.

Merlin

I watched, tears in my eyes, as Arthur rode his horse away. I turned back to my mother but her face was stone cold. Her mind not changing a bit. I fell to the floor and watched as he went into the woods, not looking back. I tried to hold back my tears but a wretched sob escaped my lips. Deciding that I needed to be alone, I walked past my mother, pushing her harshly as I made my way inside. It was getting dark and I noticed this.

I knew I was going to regret asking but I decided I might as well try. "Mother... just one night. It's getting dark out... please." I begged. She sighed and called Arthur back. He looked back, confused for a moment but he did come back.

"Yes, Ma'am?" he asked and she was slightly surprised.

"It's getting dark out and goodness knows what's out there in the dark. You can stay but just for tonight. I want you gone tomorrow morning." she said. I smiled widely as Arthur nodded and smiled back.

Arthur

I was a little surprised that she let me stay, even if it was for a night. I thanked her as I walked over to Merlin, smiling as I did so. I knew she was watching me as I walked into the hut but I tried not to let it bother me.

Later that night she cooked dinner and I thanked her. The table was awkwardly silent and I found myself staring at Merlin in wonder. It didn't matter where he was, he just seemed to fit in. Whether it be at Camelot, here in Ealdor, even in the middle of the woods. I chuckled and Merlin looked at me, head tilted in curiosity. "What?"

"You just seem to fit in, wherever you go." I smiled and he smiled back, digging into his food. I continued to think, wondering when exactly I realized that I fell in love with Merlin.

I knew I couldn't get him out of my mind when I first saw him at the beheading of that man but I don't believe in love at first sight so it couldn't have been then. I thought back to when I first met him. I think it was the way he stood up to me. No one had ever done that before, fearing me because I was the Prince. I snapped back to reality to find Merlin's gaze on me but he wasn't actually looking at me. He too, was thinking.

Hunith

I hated anything that had to do with Camelot, except Gaius of course. So when I saw Merlin coming home with not just someone from Camelot but it's Prince, I was far from happy. They looked happy but I knew from experience that the Pendragon's weren't a very caring family. Yet when Merlin wanted to go with Arthur and Arthur pleaded with him to stay here, I noticed that he cared. That he genuinely cared.

I had almost changed my mind but I also remembered that they were good at acting and getting what they wanted. I was extremely surprised to find out that Arthur knew about his secret and stayed. There was also that fact that he was also hiding but I refused to budge on the matter. Merlin did make a good point though when he said that nightfall was approaching. All kinds of creatures lurked in the shadows.

Against my better judgement I let Arthur stay for just the night. I made dinner and we sat in awkward silence eating. I looked up and saw the ay he was looking at Merlin and I knew that he wasn't acting. You couldn't fake that kind of look. Merlin was staring off into space when I looked over to him and he seemed to snap back to reality. He smiled brightly and I knew that he was truly happy. I hadn't seen Merlin smile like that in a long time. Come to think of it I don't know if I've ever seen him smile like that.

Soon dinner was over and Merlin showed Arthur to his bed. "Here. You can rest here."

"What abou you... where will you sleep?" he asked.

"The floor isn't too bad." Merlin said, trying to hide his shudder at the thought.

"No. You sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the floor. Thanks for the thought though." Arthur replied. He did seem to care about Merlin's well-being. I smiled slightly.

"No. You're the Prince..."

"Former Prince... remember, my father was just about to kill me." Arthur said and both men seemed saddened by this topic.

"Still, I think you should take it." Merlin replied. Arthur sighed in defeat and sat on the bed before pulling Merlin down onto it with him. "What are you doing?" Merlin said laughing, red in the face.

"Well if you won't take the bed, since you insist that I do it, then you join me. We'll both sleep on the bed." Merlin's eyes widened and Arthur chuckled. "Not like that. You're such a child sometimes." Merlin chuckled a bit and Arthur shook his head. "I still love you though." he whispered. Merlin snuggled into Arthur and soon he was asleep. Arthur looked up and saw me, my smile immediately fell. "Thank you... for letting me stay tonight... I'll be gone tomorrow." he said and I nodded.

He looked down at Merlin sadly, placing a kiss on his temple, a tear sliding down his face. Merlin smiled in his sleep and Arthur settled down next to him.

Merlin

I woke up the next morning, terrified for a second because I thought we were back in the cell in Camelot, and we were going to die today. I looked around, frowning because we weren't in the cell. Then suddenly, the events from yesterday came back. I was in Ealdor with my mother and Arthur. I smiled because we were safe. We got away.

I rolled over and found the bed empty. Frowning, I sat up because I was pretty sure that Arthur and I fell asleep in the same bed last night. Then I remembered something else. My mother gave him one night. He had to leave this morning. My heart broke and I brought my knees to my chest, sobbing quietly. I wanted to go with him. I would go anywhere with him because I loved him and I wasn't complete without him.

My face was stained with tears as I stared at the wall in front of me, thinking about him an his smile, and everything he sacrificed to help me. I smiled sadly. I was vaguely aware of the front door opening but I payed no attention to it. My mother rushed over to me, hugging me. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly. I shook my head as I turned toward her.

"No. No... I'm not okay and I don't know if I will be again."

"Why's that?"

"Because I loved him mother. He risked his life for me."

"What do you mean?"

"A while ago, Arthur and I were out and I was kidnapped and tortured under Uther's orders. I came back the next day and told him that I loved him, not expecting a good reaction. He said he felt the same way I did and I was delighted. We were walking down the halls when his father pulled me aside and started yelling at me. He threatened that if I didn't get away from his son the beating wouldn't be the end of it. He figured out that I had magic and he said he would definitely torture me if I didn't get away because I was vile and evil. Then Arthur barged in and he argued with his father. He argued that he was wrong. He stood up for me and Uther beat him too. Kicked him and things. Arthur did something else and it fueled Uther's rage and he had us both sent to the dungeons. We were supposed to be executed but we got out. The guard helping us died too but Arthur stood up for me and helped me."

My mom sat there mouth hanging wide open. "Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

"I didn't expect that." I smiled sadly, tears filling my eyes again. I started crying again and my mother hugged me.

"I can't believe he's gone mother. You sent him away, but you sent my heart away with him. It hurts too much and I don't know if I can handle it." I whispred.

"It's a good thing I'm not leaving then." a voice said and my head shot up to find Arthur staring at me. "You don't think I'd leave without saying goodbye first." he said and I cursed myself for getting my hopes up about him staying.

"No... I suppose not." I replied quietly. Arthur tilted his head to the side slightly and I chuckled. It was adorable really. I was going to miss it. Maybe I could try and come with him again. "Arthur please... don't leave without me. Let me come with you, wherever you go because I will follow you to the ends of the Earth if I had to." Arthur shook his head and my heart shattered again.

I dropped my head down, nodding slightly. "You don't have to follow me..." he started. I tried not to get my hopes up too much but it sounded like he was staying. "... because I'm staying here." he said. My head shot up and I looked at my mother. She nodded her head and I smiled hugging her before getting up and hugging him, leaning down to kiss him passionately.

"Why did you change your mind?" I asked curiously, turning to look at my mother.

"I saw the two of you last night. I don't like the Pendragon's because they are liars but when I heard you two talking yesterday I almost changed my mind. Then you were right of course, about the dark. Creatures lurk about the shadows. When we were eating last night he was looking at you with love in his eyes and it was a look you couldn't fake no matter how hard you tried to. The way you two smiled at one another and seemed to know what the other was thinking. He was selfless with the bed because he cared when I thought he'd just take it, no questions asked. You guys decided to share it and you looked so peaceful in his arms and he looked so sad looking down at you, knowing he would have to leave. So this morning, when I went to go get the water, I saw him sneaking out. I decided to talk to him and found out that he truly cared and decided he could stay because I couldn't bear to see you happy. Especially when I walked in just now and saw how upset you were, when you thought he had left."

I smiled at her and thanked her before turning back to Arthur and wrapping him in a hug. "I'm so glad you're staying."

"I am too."

"I don't know what I'd do if you were to actually leave. I would be in pieces. Thank goodness you can stay. I love you Arthur."

"And I you Merlin." he said, smiling as he placed a kiss on my forehead.