Innocence

That chapter yall have been waiting for

"Your what!" Arthur asked Merlin, quite frustrated.

"I'm going to ealdor to go learn about my family" Merlin completed his statement with promptly dropping a tunic into a bag. Arthur however was having very little of it.

"Merlin that's not in my kingdom"

"I would of never guessed" Merlin put his hands on his hips, a eye roll evident.

"You've been spending to much time with Gwaine" Arthur concluded.

"Gwaines been spending to much time with me" just then morgana burst in with a tunic and pants, two swords strapped onto her. A fox rubbed against her leg.

"Did you pack the pans Merlin?" Merlin nodded and showed her old bent pans stuffed in his bag. Morgana nodded and put her bag next to his. Arthur switched his sight back and forth between the two.

"Morgana? Your going?" He exasperated. Morgana nodded, her eyes a daring star on the darkest of nights.

"Well of course, Gwaine wanted to come as well, but after he came in with a bag packed to the rim with mead... well we thought that maybe that wouldn't be the best idea" Arthur scowled.

"Well I'm coming as well" Merlin raised a eyebrow, clearly amused.

"Arthur I'm going to some village in cendreds kingdom, there's no danger, no obligation for you to go" Arthur grabbed a bag and started packing.

"Brother dear, finally got a crush?" Morgana spoke up, a smile played and a raised eyebrow.

Merlin gave a confused look at them both and grabbed his dictionary, only for Arthur to actually swat it out of his hands.

"RUDE!" Merlin gaped.

"No time, keep packing" Arthur's entire neck was red, awkwardly shuffling into himself. As he walked past morgana to get some of his own cloths she grabbed his jacket and leaned into his ear.

"Your going to have to tell him sometime Arthur. The sooner the better" Arthur deflated and looked morgana.

"What if he hates me?" Morgana laughed and shot Arthur a earnest look.

"There is no room in merlins heart for the darkness of hate" and she walked away. Leaving Arthur to the black abyss that was his merry thoughts.

𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙶𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚍-𝚖𝚊𝚗?⌫

After a 4 hours ride, with Guinevere as well after she insisted on coming, they finally reached ealdor. Merlin jumped right down and helped her mom off her horse. The smile given to him was one that only the luckiest children would know the glory of .

Arthur looked around. It was a reasonably small village. The sun shone on happy faces, farming there hearts content. It was a simple life, one most people never threw a second glance. But there was a beauty to it, a true happiness that emerges from it.

A older boy ran out. Surprising Arthur he ran right up to merlin. Merlin gasped, a smile outstretched.

"Will?" He quietly asked. How could merlin know will?

"Hello Merlin, it seems your snotty old language got quite a bit better" he laughed leaning on a fence.

"Thanks to you!" He threw his arms over him, a small twist in Arthur's stomach made him inclined to run up to him.

"Who is this?" Arthur kept a dry face, Merlin however made no notice and continued to focus on will.

"Arthur remember the man I told you who was my first friend, the one who showed me how to speak?" Arthur nodded and Merlin waved his hand all around will, showing him off.