How To Train Your Dragonlord

Ealdor

Merlin P.O.V:
The journey back to Ealdor was a quiet - too quiet - and peaceful one. For much of the journey, mother and I talked about everything and nothing.
When we set up camp on the first night of my four-day journey (when we were halfway back to Ealdor), mother decided that she wanted to have a specific conversation with me. "So Merlin," she said as we sat beside the fire as the sky faded into the night's blue-black above the trees, "how long since my last visit have you and Arthur had a closer relationship?"
I watched her for a moment, trying to discern the meaning of her question. My eyes widened at her implication. "You do mean my becoming his heir, don't you?" I asked, not believing that was what she meant. She didn't reply, letting me assume that it had been her meaning. "I've been his heir since I used my magic to save his life as we fought for Camelot. It's been around half a year, now."
My mother watched the flames flicker for a moment, before returning her gaze to me. "And how long have you been more... romantically involved?"
I watched her nervously. Arthur and I hadn't even mentioned feelings to anyone in the Court, or to the Knights of the Round Table, let alone my mother.
"What have you heard?" I asked, almost giving away that I knew what she was on about.
"Merlin, dear, my point is that I haven't heard anything. I want to hear it all from you." I looked at her and she sighed. "I may have guessed that there was something from the King having been waiting for you yesterday morning, but I have been told nothing."
"There isn't much to tell, really, mother," I replied, sighing. I didn't like having to avoid topics of conversation with my mother, but Arthur and I weren't sure of much when it came to the two of us. We were trying to avoid mention of love and feelings as much as possible, and - as such - the topics were taboo for the Court. "I'm his heir, and I'm Court Warlock. When there is more to tell, I promise you that you will be the first that I tell."
She sighed again and nodded. "Okay, dear son, get some rest. We'll talk of something else in the morning." I nodded and lay down at a safe distance away from the fire.

Mother didn't wake me until first light. I would have debated the safety of her not sleeping with her, but she looked like she would never have slept in any case, so I thought better of it. "Mother, don't worry about the farm-work when we get back, I'll take care of it," I told her.
"But Merlin,..." she started, as we climbed back onto our horses.
"Mother, you didn't sleep last night. By the time we reach Ealdor, you will be exhausted. And besides, I haven't been royalty for long enough to forget how to tend to crops." She sighed and eventually agreed to sleep when we reached home.
The thought of Ealdor being home no longer comforted me. Ealdor was now as alien to me as Camelot had been, all those years ago. Ealdor was no longer my home, but the home of my mother.
We rode in silence as we neared the village. Mother rode slightly ahead of me, to mask her yawns from me, as they were proof of my being right about her needing to rest. The villagers watched us arrive, no doubt aware of my new position in Camelot.
I watched for Will, my friend, who had narrowly escaped death when we had fought for the village. He was nowhere to be seen and I feared that he now hated me for joining those that he hated.
I told myself that I would show him Camelot one day. Show him the beauty and the splendour and the equality that resided within its walls since the purge against magic had ceased. But I didn't believe that Will would go with me to Camelot, or listen if I tried to explain, so I prayed that he didn't hate me.
He was at the house when we arrived, waiting for my mother's return. Like the rest of the village, he had been unaware that I would be escorting my mother home. But he had waved her off, before she left for Camelot. He had started to help mother with the farm-work after we had saved Ealdor, and had apparently been there when mother heard my good news, six months ago.
"Welcome back, Merlin," Will said, when he saw me. "I'm glad you could be bothered to escort your mother. It shows me that they haven't changed you. Not yet."
Mother and I both rolled our eyes as Will insulted Arthur. We dismounted our horses and tied them to the fence, so that they would be there when I had to leave.
"He better be treating you properly, now. Not forcing you to do his chores for him, or fight for him."
"Will, Arthur has never had to force me to fight for him. If anything, he tries to stop me whenever we need to fight." I smiled to my friend and we embraced each other in a long overdue hug. "I'm sorry I didn't visit more often, I was saving the King's life, because he's reckless when it comes to protecting his people."
Will snorted, still not believing me that Arthur was a good man, though starting to see evidence. "If he does anything to you..."
"If he does anything to me, he'll have the ears of a donkey for the rest of his life!" Will laughed at my interruption. "I know what I'm doing, Will, but thanks for looking out for me." We pulled out of the hug and entered the small house that used to be my home.

A/N ~ Okay, so I guess me and organised don't really go hand-in-hand... At all...
I honestly do have a plan set out for this book - well, for a good while, at least. Then it says - and yes, I am quoting here - "gay shit, good shit". I guess me and planning don't really go hand-in-hand, either. Oops. But that won't be too soon. I hope.
Sorry for not being very good at posting. I hope you think this was worth it, and I hope you think this worthy of votes and comments. Thanks for all of your support!