the lost prince

three

The sun was just peaking over the horizon when Arthur and Leon met at the entrance of the castle, walking to join Merlin together.  Merlin was loading the horses for their journey, but it wasn't that that was distracting.

Merlin was wearing a tight-fitting, short sleeved shirt, and for the first time, Arthur realized Merlin was strong. He had toned muscles along his arms, muscles you couldn't see under his usual baggy shirt and neckerchief.  He had a knife sheathed at his side, and Arthur also spotted the leather chain that Gwaine had mentioned last night. His eyes widened as he saw the royal seal of Aurelia there, as well as a shiny, silver, presumably diamond ring.

Even though Gwaine had said Merlin was in love, it hadn't seemed real. But now, when he saw that ring- Merling had a whole other life he knew nothing about.

Merlin also had tattoos snaking down his arms, and Arthur quickly identified them as Druid's markings. Merlin turned around, eyes tired but still bright. "Good Morning Arthur, Leon." He glanced at them, and then back again when he realized that they were staring.

"Oh, the, um, the tattoos. I usually cover them up, I can glamour them if you want, I-"

Arthur interrupted. "No, Merlin, it's fine. I just wasn't expecting it."

Merlin warily nodded, continuing to help the stable hand saddle the horses as Gwaine and the other knights walked down the steps of the castle.

As soon as the horses were ready, they set off, Merlin and Arthur at the head of the group, Merlin leading them towards Aurelia. As they traveled through the woods, conversation flowed easily between the knights of Camelot and the Knights of Aurelia. They shared war stories, and boasted about their respective Kingdoms.

Arthur, however, was looking at Merlin. It was odd for Merlin to be quiet, he was almost constantly talking, but now he rode along, hardly saying a word. Arthur could tell Merlin was thinking, nonetheless. His fingers were rhythmically tapping on the saddle, and his eyes stared ahead, riddled with intense concentration. What he was thinking about, Arthur had no idea. But seeing Merlin be silent was discerning, to say the least.

As the evening wore on, conversation died down, and Merlin finally allowed them to stop for the evening and set up camp. As they all set up their bedrolls and sat down to eat dinner, Arthur saw Merlin push his food around his plate, running his hands through his hair every once in a while.

The others must have noticed as well, because Elliot, who sat opposite him, got up and sat next to Merlin on the servant - no, king's bedrool. "Merl's, are you alright?" Merlin's head snapped up.

"I... yes. I'm fine. I'm just thinking."

He locked eyes with Arthur, and it looked as if Merlin had aged ten years over the course of a day.

"I'm just going to go to bed. We have a long ride tomorrow." He rolled over, pulling the covers around his chin, and closed his eyes, stopping anyone from asking questions.

Arthur sighed, and laid down on his bedroll as well. As Arthur drifted to sleep, his last thoughts were of Merlin.

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Arthur awoke the next morning just as the sun peaked out from behind the mountains. He sat up, looking around. Merlin was sitting on a log a bit farther away, shirt laying next to him. Arthur couldn't help but notice the wrapping around his ribs. Had that happened because he was protecting Arthur? As he continued to stare, he noticed other scars as well. Long, thin lines down his back, and several bruises in different stages of healing.

Arthur moved closer, and saw that Merlin was sitting, elbows on his knees, with the letter from Jade open in his hands. "Good morning, Arthur." Merlin said quietly, and Arthur jumped.