Hidden Secrets

Chapter 8

3rd Person POV:

The group departed from Camelot and soon they picked up speed as they entered the forest and didn't slow down until they couldn't ride sit still any longer. Everyone rode in silence even though all new what the other was thinking, all they could think about was the battle ahead of them, the Camelotian Knights did't know what they were gonna face against but the Knights of Ealoran had a pretty good idea what they were going up against since they fought before with Marcus 

"It's going to be just a four day trip," Adrian says riding just a little behind Merlin and Arthur " Four days probably without any problems or complications," 

"problems and complications come looking for us were ever we go ," James said 

" I almost forgot to tell you lot something," Galahad said perking up "There is a dragon now guarding the border, he wouldn't hurt us, i hope but she will definitely be a problem for you and your Knights, King Arthur,"

"A dragon?" Merlin asked turning around to Galahad "I don't remember ke- being a dragon on the border,"

He then also mentally slapped himself from finishing his sentence which was gonna just reveal a little part of profound identity 

"When did you go to Ealoran?" Arthur asked a little curious "You have never mentioned if before,"

"I use to go there with mum frequently because we were close to the royal family," Merlin lied smoothly " It never came up,"

Arthur gave a nod before they rode again in silence except for Gwaine telling his tavern stories to Merlin's Knights and Arthur's knights groaned as they have heard these stories 10 times before and the giggling and chatting  of Sylvia, Morgana and Gwen. Merlin was happy to see that Sylvia was having a good time with Morgana and Gwen, they both were nice women and Merlin hoped that they would be good friends 

After travelling for several hours when they sun was beginning to hide behind the mountains and the atmosphere was getting more chilly, the group became to a stop 

"Come on," Arthur said stopping his horse as everyone followed "We can make camp here,"

One by one everyone gets of their horses and slowly begin to unpack the belongings they needed for the night. After Merlin had unpacked his bed roll and rolled his blanket as pillow, he set to pick up fire wood, though he could easily magic, he rather have some time alone with himself to think about everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen 

Merlin's POV: 

I forgot to bring the one thing i should have kept first for our journey during the night, a blanket but i didn't even bring a pillow so i just made my blanket into a pillow and then went to pick firewood. I thought about how Arthur would react if he ever found out about the two biggest secrets that i am hiding from him and right now after my family Arthur was more important to me then anyone else right now

 I have been getting this weird feeling in my stomach when ever i am around him, i know that i definitely like him but i don't know if he feels the same way i do. I mean what are the odds that A king would fall in love with someone like me, yeah i might be a prince he doesn't know that, to him i just some peasant who just stumbled upon him one day  

"Merlin?" I jumped at the sound of my name but saw that it was only James "Sorry to scare you like that, but I actually have some important things to give you,"

"Like what?" I asked him curious dropping the woods I was holding

"These," he said "thought you might want them back,"

James held out his hand and there layed the ring that my father had given me when I was 10 summers. It had our crest on it and matching like it was with Sylvia but in the form of a necklace. I took the ring from his hand and slid into my index finger smiling at the sudden familiarity of the metal against my skin.  Then I noticed the black cloth he had given me and I opened that to find the one thing I though I would never see again

"Is that...?" I couldn't finish my sentence in disbelief

"Excalibur?" James said amused "yes, Adrian stole it from Marcus when we were about to leave Ealoran for good,"

"Thank you so much," I replied

I disguised the sword in to a small dagger and clocked with a spell in case I needed somehow. Though i don't know right now what i would tell others when i would use it

"Come on," I told him after picking up the wood "we need to go back before someone noticed were gone for to long,"

He gave me nod before following me out to where we had set up camp and put the woods I had collected in a the correct shape and then looked around if someone was watching, Lanfelot was right beside me taking to Galahad so I just went ahead and used my magic to make the fire appear since evryone else was always oblivious to it. I quickly cook up some rabbit stew and give it to everyone in a plate before there is nothing left for me, though there is like a bite or two which I take before cleaning the dishes out in the stream

One everything was set we get into our sleeping positions and one by one you could hear some light snores. I lay the furthest from the fire since there were so many people and it was the only place I could stare at the lake from in a sitting position since I couldn't sleep. I felt someone shuffle near me but it was only Arthur

"Can't sleep?" He asked sitting up beside me under the tree

"Not one bit," I replied honestly

We just sat in perfect silence since we didn't have anything to talk about. Soon enough my eyes were getting heavy and I couldn't bear be awake any longer but Arthur's constant tapping in the ground with his foot told me that he was still awake but I just slept anyways knowing that Gwaine was on first watch so if anything happens we would know plus I put a spell around us, kind of like a barrier and if anyone comes near it I would know instantly. With that though I closed my eyes and went into a deep slumber