How To Train Your Dragonlord

Emotions Astir

Arthur P.O.V:
I knew that I had no need to worry about Merlin; he knew how to carry himself when caught in a fight. But I was worried for him. His swordsmanship was still lacking. As soon as I admitted that to myself, worry-some thoughts of him being attacked on the journey started to occur to me, giving me no chance to attempt to allay my own fears for Merlin's safety.
I debated following after them on my own horse, to ensure his safety, but that would leave Camelot defenceless. It would also confirm to the Court that there was something between Merlin and myself. And, despite the amount of comfort it would give me to see Merlin unscathed, it would be useless, as I wouldn't catch up with him in time. So I remained in Camelot. I suffered through meetings. I trained. I ate in silence without Merlin's witty remarks punctuating every mouthful.
One thought kept coming back into mind when I tried to ignore my worry-some thoughts. It was the last thing that Merlin had said to me while we were alone before he left: "Thank you, Arthur. This has been the best birthday present of my life so far." I had blushed when he told me, and I continued to blush every time I remembered it, so it was becoming hard for me to carry out my duties without having a rosy glow to my cheeks.

Merlin P.O.V:
Once we had rested, I had a whole day in Ealdor and a mother refusing to let me help with any of the work. I ambled around the village, the people continuing to ignore me in favour of their daily work. Then, slowly, I wandered up to a creek where Will and I had frequently hidden and played, when we were younger. I stayed there for much of the day: resting in the trees, watching the clouds through the leaves and thinking about what I would've been doing if I were still in Camelot.
As I sat silently and contemplated, Will joined me, evidently having finished his working for the day. My first notification of his presence was his head leaning on my shoulder in the same way he used to do when we were young. "What's up, Merlin?" he asked. "You're even quieter than last time you came, and you had a reason to be quiet, last time."
I put my arm around his shoulders in the same way as I always had. Will was like a little brother to me, despite our close ages. "I'm glad to be here, I honestly am. It's just..." I sighed. "Ealdor isn't my home anymore. It will always be my origins, the place where I grew up. The home of my first friend, and of my mother. But I can't call it home anymore."
"How do you mean?" he asked; not prying, but interested. Will had always been willing to listen to even my maddest thoughts.
"It doesn't feel right for me anymore. There was a time when I first moved to Camelot where returning to Ealdor was my biggest wish, even just for a day. But my life has changed so much since then, Will, I've changed so much since then. I've hurt people. I've killed people. But I've saved people, too. The amount of times I was within choking distance of the old King and could've ended the persecution of my people is ridiculous. What's more ridiculous is the amount of times that I silently disproved his point by saving his life, as well as Arthur's.
"It was almost impossible a lot of the time, Will. At one point, a Witch Hunter - correctly - accused me of sorcery." I paused, remembering the events of those few days.
Will seemed horrified. "How are you still here?" he asked.
"Don't tell my mother about any of this and I'll tell you exactly what happened." Will laughed and agreed, taking his head off my shoulder to sit and face me. "So, it all started on a warm summer's day a few years ago, when Gaius had sent me to collect firewood..."