The Promise

Chapter three: Caught

The two young boys became the most unlikely of friends and for a time it seemed that the hatred between magic users and the Pendragon bloodline was long forgotten. For once Merlin could open up to someone and not feel so alone as no one really understood him because he had to keep his magic a secret. Arthur also found that his time with Merlin was the only time he felt normal, it was as if the two completed eachother. Perhaps they did, however Uther often caught onto his son's constant tiredness and grew suspicious.
"Arthur you aren't concentrating, have you not been sleeping well? You seem tired. " Uther asked as this was the fourth time this week his son had fallen asleep during a meal.

"No Father I am wide awake, not tired at all. " Arthur lied and just after he yawned making his father's suspicions grow,
"you haven't by any chance been sneaking out have you son? " Uther asked drinking from his goblet, and Arthur shrunk in his seat.
"That can't be my lord, perhaps your son is just overworking himself during practice with the knights. " Morgana suggested as she knew were Arthur went every night and she didn't want him to get in trouble for it.
"I see well both of you run along now and get to your duties, I shall see you both tonight. " Uther said dismissing them and the two ran off however Uther had plans of his own, he knew that his son was going somewhere and he would go to great lengths to find out where.

"Sir Solaris! " He called out and his personal knight appeared
"Yes your Majesty? " He asked bowing to show his respect
"I want to keep an eye on my son, watch him closely but stay inconspicuous, do well and I might promote you. " Uther Commanded and the loyal knight was about to agree when other knight came running into the room,
"Hey what about me? I never get any assignments! " The knight complained and Uther facepalmed
"Uh Nuka.. " He sighed this new knight was honestly terrible as he hadn't done a single thing right since his basic training which is way Uther refused to assign him anything.
"I can do this Sire please give a chance please! " Nuka pleaded

"Oh shut up you foul the last time you went outside the only thing you could find was a squirrel! " Solaris argued as the two had a fierce rivalry with each other
"Enough!" Uther barked making them both stop as he wouldn't tolerate fighting amongst his men.
"You may both watch the prince, " Uther finished and the Nuka ran away almost leaping for joy
"Solaris, " Uther said
"Yes Sire? " the knight asked feeling like he already knew what was coming,
"watch Nuka as well. " Uther said and Solaris groaned under his breath before saying
"yes your highness, "
************
"I was so worried back there, I thought Father would catch me for sure. " Arthur panted as he made his way back to his room, however he was unaware that he was being watched everywhere he went. At first he didn't notice however, he became suscpios when he noticed that the Knights Solaris and Nuka we're watching him during basic training.

"Come on Arthur you have to focus, " Leon called out snapping Arthur out of his thoughts and dueling with the young prince. Arthur smiled he loved the thrill that sword fighting gave him, although he was still young he was very good at it. After about three rounds the match ended in a tie,
"Nicely done Sire, I have no doubt that you will be a great swordsman someday. " Leon complemented, later that night when everyone was asleep Arthur like usual used a rope to sneak out of his chambers to see Merlin. He managed to get away without anyone noticing or so he thought,
"What do you know, you actually came on time today. " Arthur teased as soon as he saw his friend, sitting under a tree we're they always met.

"Or maybe your the one who is late, you prat, " Merlin teased back. The two boys laughed and then went on to their usual thing, Merlin would use his magic to create something to play with and the two would mess with it until they got tired, then they would just talk.
"So tell me, what did you do today? " Merlin asked and Arthur couldn't resist the temptation to brag about his training sessions with the knights.
"You know maybe I should teach you how to fight with a sword then you wouldn't be such a girl, " Arthur teased poking his friend with a stick.

"Hey I am not a girl! " Merlin clarified,
"They why do you act like one? " Arthur asked and Merlin in response threw grass at him.
"Is there anything else you would like to say Arthur? " Merlin asked as Arthur tried to get the grass off his face,
"no I'm good, last time you threatened to turn me into a frog. " Arthur confirmed and Merlin laughed at the memory,
"Still thinking about doing it, but if I did then you wouldn't play with me. " Merlin said at first only kidding but then felt like crying the more he thought about it.
"Arthur you won't ever leave me, will you?" Merlin asked being completely serious as the thought of being alone hit him like a tidal wave.

"No of course not, I'll never leave you. " Arthur promised, his friend's statement shocked him as he didn't ever plan on leaving Merlin. However once he noticed how upset Merlin seemed to be at them getting separated, he gave the young warlock a hug, he usually didn't show that much affection but things we're different with Merlin. He felt like he always needed to show him affection,
"Arthur? " Merlin asked confused by the prince's action but made no move to pull away.
"Shush we're having a moment here, don't ruin it. " Arthur said, not letting his friend go. Unknown to them two knights were spying on then and had heard everything.

"Your sure!? " Uther asked angrily as he couldn't believe that his son would betray him and make friends with a sorcerer.
"Yes Sire I saw it with my own eyes, " Solaris confirmed and Uther had to contain himself from losing his temper right there.
"Find the boy and arrest him, we can't have any of that evil lurking in my kingdom. I only hope that whatever enchantment that's been placed on my son will be lifted once I have the rid the world of this boy. " Uther declared, and the two knights bowed showing their loyalty.