Chapter 15 – Home sweet Home.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, you've probably guessed by now xD

A/N: Okay, so I know it has been like yearsss since I uploaded this and nobody probably wants to read it, but I thought I should finish it a) because I hate it when fics don't get finished and b) I promised 1MERLIN_FAN that I would, so this chapters for her : ).

This chapter hardly has any dialogue in it so sorry about that :/

The soft moon light had hit the side of Merlin's face through the window by the time him and Arthur had managed to escape from Hunith's ongoing babble (Arthur noted it must run in the family). They made Arthur feel comfortable, like he had never been before with his own family, had him coming out of his shell, being himself in a way he couldn't around Uther. Laughing and actually meaning it, not for show as he normally did in Camelot, Hunith and Merlin made him feel as though he was finally home and belonged here even though he had lived in Camelot his whole life.

They left the small cottage as Hunith slept to wander through the village. It was a type of quite Arthur had never experience in his life, there was always someone up, someone shouting, someone guarding in Camelot and although, on the rare occasion, it was silent there was still a tension that lingered in the air as the castle was forever ready for a battle. Arthur left his daydream to realise Merlin had left him behind slightly and sped up slightly to fall into step with his manservant. His friend, his best friend. He sighed, and it was filled with so much content it startled him slightly.

Arthur only noticed he had fallen back into his daydream when he was abruptly pulled out of it as he fell forwards, toppling flat on his face but not before he managed to grab hold of his skinny friends wrist and drag him down with him.

"MERLIN" Arthur bellowed as he shot up off of the floor to chase Merlin down the hill and away from the small village.

Arthur underestimated Merlin and it took him much longer to catch up with his manservant than he had anticipated. Merlin's long, gangly legs meant he could cover a larger distance with less effort although this was no match for Arthurs training He took a second to congratulate himself on this which caused him to lose Merlin again and consequently trip head over heels over one of those gangly legs that stuck out from behind a tree.

For the second time this evening Arthur found himself lying face down in the mud. Rolling onto his back both men began howling with laughter as though their relationship was not that of Prince and manservant (Arthur deciding to stay on the floor as he didn't trust his legs to hold him up from laughing so hard, and didn't fancy ending up on his face for the third time that evening)

"Ok, so maybe I deserved that." Arthur gasped between laughs, eventually getting to his feet and clasping Merlin on the shoulder.

Merlin wiped a rivulet of tears from his cheeks as he looked to Arthur. "You have mud on your face" Merlin pointed out turning around and swaying his hips exaggeratedly as he pranced off away from Arthur "Meeerlin, do you want to find yourself back in that river?" Arthur then pouted like a spoilt brat and stuck his tongue out behind Merlin's back. Arthur jogged up behind Merlin who had sat down by the river they had run past with his shoes and socks off, dipping his feet gently into the river, watching the ripples that they caused as he swirled them round in circles.

Arthur copied his lead, sitting down next to Merlin, arms casually touching. They chatted late into the night about everything and nothing, finally returning to Hunith's house only when their eyes began to drift closed and they couldn't control it any longer, the fact that they were freezing to death even after huddling together playing a major part. Arthur and Merlin pushed their mattresses together to keep warm when they returned.

"Night, Merlin."

"Night... Dollophead"

"Still your prince... still can't talk to me like that."

"Alright." Merlin sighed "Night... clotpole."

Arthur couldn't help the grin that spread across his face; he turned his head towards Merlin and noticed he'd already drifted off to sleep. "Night idiot" He murmured fondly before drifting into a peaceful sleep, dreams filled with him and Merlin staying in Ealdor and never returning to Camelot.

Arthur opened his eyes, bleary with sleep, and shifted so that the hand that had moved in the night to rest on Merlin's chest slipped off, waking Merlin as the weight left his front. Hunith was already up and cooking breakfast for the two boys, greeting them cheerily as she bustled round the tiny kitchen. Arthur chuckled fondly at Merlin when he looked at his spikes of hair poking in all directions.

"Let's have you lazy daisy!" Arthur all but shouted at Merlin with a huge grin plastered on his face, repeating one of Merlin's favourite wake up calls.

Merlin only groaned in return.

After breakfast both Merlin and Arthur saddled up their horses and said their (somewhat teary) goodbyes to a sobbing Hunith, promising they would both return soon to stay with her again.

5 days later...

"So you think that's it Gaius? The bond was broken as Arthur saved me?" Merlin asked quite excitedly.

"Yes, I do Merlin. It showed that Arthur truly cared for you and was willing to do something out of his way to help you and that, although the gesture not of the largest form, brought out Arthurs true feelings for you. He felt a deep fear when he thought you were dying, and I do not believe that was due to the bond. He has come to respect you Merlin, remember that." Gaius finished off his sentence.

Merlin nodded enthusiastically, feeling pleased with himself just as he heard a loud bang behind him.

"Merlinnnn" The deep growl came from behind him, making Merlin shiver as he felt it go through him. He would know that voice anywhere.

"Coming, sire" Merlin said degrading the word of its status and rolling his eyes to Gaius.

"Take your time Merlin, we have all day..." Arthur said in his most sarcastic tone.

Both men knew the other was only joking and Merlin got to his feet with a grin on his face which he trained into a grimace as he turned to face Arthur, walking to Arthur's side, taking his place where he belonged.

Finished : )