THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM

THE HUNT

AUTHOR NOTE: Whoa that got smuttier than I intended lol ;) As always let me know what you think in the comments MWAH.  

ARTHUR PENDRAGON 

Arthur hummed as he washed up in the lake his thoughts running in circles trying to come up with a plan to find Ramsey and coming up empty, it had been several days since they had left Thea on the hunt for any sign of Ramsey's trail or any sign of Ramsey at all really. The king sighed before he went under the water wondering why every time either he or Merlin were happy something came along to ruin it, first it had been Uther with Arthur having to hide his feelings for Merlin for years burying them so deep that it had taken several years after his father's death for them to resurface; then Merlin had been too busy with helping Morgana recovering from Morgause and teaching her magic and Arthur planning his father's funeral and his coronation that they didn't see each other for more than a few hours in the morning when he helped him get ready for the day, and then Ramsey had made an appearance prompting Merlin to take back his kingdom. Once he had helped Merlin get his kingdom back Merlin had avoided him for weeks not that he could blame him, he had dropped a bombshell on the young prince when Merlin had been about to re-take his kingdom from the very person who had almost killed his entire family just for revenge for kicking him out (he still felt bad about that but he had been so excited after getting Athena's blessing that he had just blurted it out) and when Merlin had finally given him an answer all hell had broken loose. Arthur broke the surface gasping for breath having been under longer than he thought and blinking against the sun, he swam over to the edge of the lake about to get out when Merlin emerged through the trees looking tired and stressed. Merlin didn't even acknowledge him as he sat down and took of his shoes before dipping his toes into the lake and sighing face blank and eyes distant, Arthur tilted his head studying the raven haired prince a small smile on his face. Arthur could see how much this was affecting him though he refused to let it show and Arthur wasn't sure how to help him, he had never been very good with emotions that was Merlin's job.

The king frowned watching Merlin who took a shuddering breath and looked around to see if anyone else was nearby and Arthur ducked under not wanting Merlin to see him as he clearly wanted to be alone right now, Merlin took off his shirt and slowly walked into the river and Arthur was shocked to see tears running down his face. Arthur gasped looking at the boy's chest and seeing all his various scars and remembered that he had asked Merlin about them back in Camelot but had never gotten an answer. The king was worried that most of them had come from protecting him and he wasn't sure how to take that because most of them looked to be fatal. There had been several times over the years where Merlin had disappeared and when he had returned he seemed to be injured or had a faraway look in his eyes like something bad had happened but whenever Arthur questioned him about it he had just shrugged and said that he had fallen over in the woods. Arthur was worried about him he had noticed that Merlin hadn't been getting much sleep lately which was evident from the dark circles under his eyes, the king had woken several times over the past few days to find Merlin nowhere in sight the other side of the bed they shared empty and cold letting the king now that Merlin had been up for a while. Last night had been particularly bad, Merlin had tossed and turned half the night before giving up and slipping out of the tent without waking him obviously not wanting to disturb his sleep even though much like Merlin's had been it had been restless. Arthur broke the surface of the lake quietly not wanting Merlin to see him only to hear a small chuckle and he spun coming face to face with Merlin who raised an eyebrow at him, "You can stop hiding now" Merlin said laughter in his voice and Arthur grinned "You looked like you wanted to be alone" Arthur said pulling Merlin closer to him hearing him sigh as the prince rested his head against the kings chest shivering from the cold of the water. "I do" Merlin said and Arthur pulled away trying not to look disappointed and was about to head back to the shore letting Merlin have what he wanted when Merlin wrapped an arm around him and pulled him against his chest nuzzling the back of his neck and Arthur smiled "Didn't you just..." Arthur started but Merlin turned Arthur to face him a mischievous look in his eyes "This is better" Merlin said tongue darting out to wet his lips and Arthur couldn't help the fact that his eyes followed the movement. Merlins smirk turned wicked and he captured Arthur lips with his nipping at his bottom lip, Arthur hummed and pulled Merlin closer pressing their bodies flush against each other wanting to be as close as he could get. Merlin grinned giving Arthur a knowing look as he pulled back "You do realise we aren't alone" Merlin whispers against his ear before nibbling on it and Arthur's breath hitched as his mind wandered wanting to feel Merlins lips somewhere else. Arthur didn't care that someone could see them, he knew that Merlin needed to blow of some steam and relax and if this was how he choose to do so Arthur wasn't going to complain.