Hiding

Chapter 2

Merlin pretended he didn't see Arthur watching him as he got the prince ready the next morning. He pretended he didn't see Arthur studying him intensely, eyebrows furrowed, as if trying to piece together a puzzle. Merlin also pretended he wasn't watching Arthur in much the same way, because he had a feeling the prince would try to get something out of him, even if he wasn't quite sure what that something would be just yet. He wondered if perhaps Arthur had found out about his magic, and was waiting on Merlin to tell him. But that wasn't likely, he reasoned, because it had actually been quite a while since he'd had to use magic to save Arthur's life, so it wouldn't make sense if he'd just started to figure it out now.

No, Merlin thought, it had to be something else. He thought about everything that had happened over the last few weeks. Aside from a completely obvious assassination attempt that hadn't even needed his interference, life in Camelot had gone on as usual. At least, for everyone else. He knew he'd been a bit quieter than usual yesterday, missing much of his usual snark. But he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was going to happen, something more than the monthly attempt on Arthur's life.

So he'd drawn into himself, trying not to make it obvious that something was wrong. He knew he'd failed, of course, but there was nothing to be done about it. So today he tried to exhibit his usual cheery, insolent self, especially because he knew Arthur had sensed something off about him yesterday. But he definitely didn't want to tell the prince that he thought something bad was going to happen, because that would lead Arthur to question why he thought that, and Merlin couldn't simply say, "Oh, it's just that my magic get all tingly whenever there's about to be a big event, and it's seriously tingling right now, but nothing to worry about, right, your highness?" could he?

Merlin decided that it was best if he just kept it to himself, even if Arthur threw him a couple questioning looks for it. As usual, they would just have to ride whatever it was out, and deal with the consequences later.

Arthur, too, was in much a similar state. He knew Merlin had noticed him studying his servant, and he thought Merlin might have been staring right back, even if Merlin was being more surreptitious about it. Arthur also noticed Merlin was back to talking back to him and smiling in that way that made Arthur's heart flutter. But whenever he thought Arthur wasn't looking, he dropped the act, and his face spoke of troubles Arthur couldn't even imagine.

Or rather, he could imagine, because that look was familiar. It was the one he wore whenever he was afraid his secret had gotten out and would reach his father. It was the one he wore whenever there had been a few too many sorcerers executed in a few days. It was the one he wore when he had a particularly difficult decision to make. He was struck by the thought that Merlin, his Merlin, might just be troubled by some of the same things that he himself was. That was ridiculous, however, because a prince and a servant had far too little in common to even think that they could both have the same issues. He didn't dwell on that thought for long before putting it out of his mind.

By the end of the day, Arthur was no closer to figuring out what was wrong with Merlin than he was before. He realized that maybe starting holes in Merlin's back wasn't the fastest approach to a problem he wasn't solved quickly, so the next morning he made a quick decision as Merlin went to fetch his breakfast.

"Merlin, prepare our horses for today. I want to go hunting." Arthur called as Merlin re-entered the room.

"But you have council and training today, si—Arthur." Merlin ran through the list of things the prince had to do today. "As well as a meeting with some foreign dignitaries—"

"Merlin," Arthur was starting to lose his patience, "just get the horses ready."

"Your father isn't going to let you go hunting today. You have too many things to do."

"I'll deal with him later. Just—go!"

Merlin went to do as Arthur asked, wondering what possessed him to skip his duties today to go hunting of all things. Arthur knew he hated hunting, and he also knew his father wouldn't be happy that he abandoned his duties to go on a hunt, not when food is plentiful and there was no good reason to do so. And if Merlin was remembering who the dignitaries were correctly, they wouldn't take kindly to being stood up by the Crown Prince of Camelot. But alas, there was nothing Merlin could do about it, so he just did as his master asked and prepared for a trip to the woods, packing bedrolls and food in case Arthur decided he wanted to stay out there for more than the day, as had happened before.

Once the pair were a fair ways out into the forest, Merlin could feel Arthur getting more and more restless, and not just because they hadn't seen any game. He could see Arthur sneaking glances at him out of the corner of his eye and knew something was up. He thought he'd wait until Arthur made the first move, though, and then deflect whatever "are you alright" questions Arthur seemed so fond of. True to form, Arthur broke the silence a few minutes later.

"Merlin," Arthur gestured for Merlin to ride up next to him. "Has something happened? You were silent one day and wouldn't shut up the next. Perhaps you have actually been a girl all this time and you're having mood swings because you're pregnant. You should've said, Merlin."

Merlin latched onto the bit of humor that he knew was meant to distract from the fact that a prince was concerned about his servant. "I don't believe I would ever tell the likes of you that I was pregnant. I wouldn't survive the teasing."

"Very funny Merlin, but you're avoiding the question. What's wrong?"

Merlin sighed. He should have known that wouldn't work. Trust Arthur to be the most persistent in trying to get information out of him. "I'm completely fine, Arthur. Really. I was quiet because I wasn't having a good day. That's all."

Arthur narrowed his eyes at his servant, but decided that that was a reasonable enough explanation as to Merlin's behavior and nodded before continuing on the path. They really did need to hunt if he expected to get out of serious trouble when they returned to the castle and he had to face his father. In hindsight, Arthur thought, trying to get information out of Merlin on a hunting trip, which Merlin openly hates, when he had other duties to attend to wasn't the smartest decision. But, there was nothing he could do about it now, and he might as well enjoy it. In fact, if they spent a few days out here, the king's anger may wear off a little bit and Arthur would get off easy.

As it started to get dark, Arthur made his decision. "Merlin, we're making camp here. Make a fire, will you?"

Merlin mumbled his assent and got started on building a fire while Arthur tied the horses up and started unpacking the saddlebags. Arthur didn't particularly like this campsite, and would much rather have something with more cover, more of an advantage against bandits, but it was the best they would be able to find before it got too dark to see anything.

He also didn't like the way his magic tingled just slightly, like it was waiting for something to happen. He'd gotten that feeling before, and almost always something bad followed. He dismissed it, though. What could happen? It was just him and Merlin. Merlin was completely defenseless, but Arthur was the best swordsman in all of Camelot and he had magic on his side. There really wasn't much he wouldn't be able to fight off if something were to attack.

On the other side of the small clearing, Merlin was on a similar train of thought. His magic had been tingling a lot more since they'd gone into the forest, and he was almost tempted to let it out with some protective spells around the clearing. If their possible assailant had magic, however, they might be able to tell that Merlin had cast the spells, and he simply couldn't risk that. So Merlin would just have to hope that, just this once, his magic was wrong, and nothing bad would happen.

"I'll take first watch," Merlin announced as he saw Arthur laying out their bedrolls after they'd eaten the food Merlin had packed. Arthur waved him off with a hand and was asleep within minutes of laying down. Merlin simply sat in front of the fire and kept an ear out for any malicious-sounding footsteps.

Soon, though, he seemed unable to keep his eyes open, and not because of his own tiredness. He felt foreign magic, but before he could wake Arthur to alert him, he collapsed into a sleeping lump next to the fire.