Philips Car 400 Problem

Let's pretend we're in love. (2/4)


Title: Let's pretend we're in love
Fandom: Merlin
Paringa : Merlin / Arthur,
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not belong Merlin, Arthur does not belong to me, not belong to me everything that makes their side dish.
Summary: Arthur has fallen in love. Merlin can not really be happy.
Notes: Thanks to all the languages of the world mystofthestars, that was the beta so fantastic and in record time, and it was so nice to point out to a lot of duplication and missing commas. This story is
slash. Men with men, yes.



Long Are The Days, and You Have hurt me enough.


The walls of Camelot if they were left behind by only a few minutes, and now the sun began to warm the air pallida (Gaius insisted that he had to leave at dawn) lighting up the woods where they were going.
"Maybe two knights."
Arthur clenched his teeth and struck the side of the horse, even forcing Merlin to increase the pace, "Do not make me repeat. Yet. "
" But I said that perhaps only - "
" Merlin! Stoppered. That. Mouth. "
Merlin shrugged his shoulders and not to insist. He really believed that to carry around a security guard would have been helpful, basically they were going to ride north for a week, but also knew that Arthur would prefer it, and someone else that shares the filter face was something I wanted to avoid at all costs. In fact it was from when they left him haunted with any type of question with the express purpose of forcing him to speak.
When that morning were found in the rooms of Gaius to the latest recommendations, Arthur seemed suddenly turned back weeks, even when asleep. He talked excitedly but confident, listened with attention and that certainly was missing from the evening of the first banquet with Lucan. Merlin did not comment, but he noted that they were more fluid movements, chin up and shoulders loose, at least his voice firm.
Gaius had seized him by the arm as soon as Arthur had passed the door to go check the horses. "The love potion has its own path," he whispered seriously, "In cases like these. Do not think for a moment that will get better from here on. He's fine now because it has a new road ahead, but get worse hour by hour.. "
Merlin had opened his eyes. "Worse?"
"As soon as the filter inside him will realize who you're leaving behind, nostalgia will fool's mad."
"It will have nostalgia of Lucan?"
Gaius sighed, "Have you ever been in love, Merlin? Nostalgia is a human feeling, very painful, which appears every time you move away - ".
"I know what nostalgia! "He protested Merlin. "I left behind my entire village. My mother. "
Gaius nodded gravely and affection" That feeling, ten times magnified by the love potion, will hurt. But then will fade away after a night at most and we can not think of postponing treatment, it is too late. ".
"I could go alone. I would be faster and Arthur would not have to suffer - ".
"This will take seven days and seven to go back, while so Arthur will find the antidote as soon as the flower. You have all written about the book I gave you, it is not difficult, just a bit 'concentration and the spell that you already know. All right? "
Merlin nodded hesitantly and Gaius had a tight shoulder trying to infuse the most security possible.
"Good boy. Now go, come on. "

The hands of Arthur had started ten minutes on the harness to bolt, tightening the leather with all his might. Merlin watched with apprehension the stiffening of the arms. They did not speak to at least half an hour, but merely to ride, and Merlin had already begun to notice the first signs of a change in her mood.
First was the look that they aimed for a while back, with force, as if trying to see beyond the foothills. From inside the walls of Camelot. Arthur had then refused to respond to everything he said Merlin (including an attempt to insult) and the jaw was narrow. And now it was so hard that within minutes he would fall from his horse.
Merlin tried to pretend nothing happened for a while still, talking incessantly and without effect, but was eventually forced to give up and stopped the horse.
"We have to stop to eat something." In a normal situation
Arthur would hit behind the head for even thinking of having a say on stage. Now, Arthur was limited to dismantle and Merlin was to tie the horses and longer bread and cheese.
She looked at him to reach the nearest tree and let himself fall back against the bark as if it could support more than his body voltage was doing, and came up.
"How are you?"
"Good." Teeth squeaked Arthur and raised not to meet the gaze of Merlin, which he knew to be quite worried.
"Mh. I thought, for tonight we can go until the start of forest Gwain, and we can camp there to sleep. Provided that, "he said slowly," you do not want to stop ... before. "
But Arthur was breathing deeply, as if trying to calm down, and closed his eyes, as to be able to see something that was not there. Merlin made a few more steps forward, until the shadow of the tree is not covered them both.
"Arthur ..." Murmured, "Maybe you could ... I do not know, tell me about it? Maybe talk a bit 'you would get better. ".
Arthur opened his eyes only to catch a glimpse of disbelief and destroyed, then without a word got up and went to untie the horses. Went up and talked until the evening.

The sun was already disappearing at the end of April over the mountains farther, lengthening the shadows of the horses and allowing a bit 'cold wind penetrated the clothing of Merlin. Began to be dark and Arthur had not said a word nor looked at him if not for nod to some indication of the path.
Merlin did not know really how to help. He could not even be looked at, let alone give it some 'comfort. It hurt. He would not accustomed to impotence, the magic within him to see Arthur roared as prostrate, so miserable without being able to do anything.
came to the edge of the forest, Merlin was about to recommend a stop, alarmed by the increasingly pronounced tremor of the other, when Arthur stopped shooting the horse.
"Arthur? What - "
Arthur shook his head as if begging him not to say nothing "I'm sorry" He whispered "I can not."
With one stroke of the kidney turned his horse and gallop.
Merlin remained a moment motionless, astonished, then the instinct prevailed and the back of the departing Arthur became the only thing I could see, while urging the horse to run more to take it back. He was not used to riding at that speed, but the magic stroked his body and pushing to get out, and Arthur was running away and he had to get there and stop him and prevent him to abandon everything. The horse Arthur was launched in a gallop exhausting, too fast, its rider bent forward with one thought in mind, and the gods, where Merlin had his hands anyone had done this he would quartered. But Arthur was too fast, had the best horse and rode better, and Merlin had no choice.
He felt his eyes warm.
" Mya nurinde Usse way."
Arthur's horse stopped abruptly, as restrained by invisible reins, shook his rider off gently and walked away towards the plain.
Arthur landed on its side with a strangled groan, and in an instant he was beside Merlin.
"Evil?"
Arthur shook his head. He pulled down hard on the grass, now black because of the lack of light, and grabbed her hands were trembling. Merlin knew that even just looking at him from Arthur would have required all the strength left, all the pride that he was not drowning in the love potion, and then waited. And he waited again, until he decided he might as well stay there and devoted himself to at least pick up a bit 'of wood from the bushes nearby.
lit fire with his own hands and it took twice that with magic, but he did allow time for Arthur to settle in order to have his face in shadow as possible. Then spread out the mats and roasted salted meat they had brought. Finally he cleared his throat.
"I can not - mh. I can not imagine how you are. "Arthur jumped to the sound. "You must miss them. But - you know - is false. How do you feel. It 's all fake. You just try to distract the mind, - "
" I apologize. "Arthur said with his voice more regal, broken only by a deep note and tune "for having shown so weak. Not any more. "
Arthur -" Arthur
raised a hand to stop him from continuing. Merlin stomach feels tight in the grip of a heat for the man in front of him, so full of dignity and the tremor of the firelight on his face joined to tremble all over his body. "And I apologize for having had to assist me in all this."
"But I -"
"You are my servant, I know. But this is something that concerns me and me alone. So do not swear - "He hesitated, choosing the words that were clearly less evil" Do not do anything like that. I know that forward is the only way I can get out of this witch, but I do not want "They shook hands until his knuckles whiten" not want to force you to recover more like a recalcitrant child. So, first thing tomorrow morning - "
" Arthur "Merlin asked to find the right words, because now more than ever his inability to communicate could be a problem. Yet softened tone, "Do not even think about it . No turning back. Are forced when I wash the garment sweat. When you clean the soles of the boots, when I tell Morgan that this time you do not show. Not when you help to resist a witch, right? "
Arthur spelled 'clear' with the incredulity of those who do not ask if I ever felt before, but a fifth of the power had slipped from her shoulders . "You will not be never be able to accept an apology, eh? "
" If you scusaste with sweat, the boots and the hatred of Morgana, maybe ... "
" Forget it. "
Merlin sighed. Arthur seemed calm at first glance, but it was enough to observe for a few seconds to realize that the crisis was only postponed. It still did not know how I could help.
"Are you better now? I mean, talking about you feel better? "
Arthur took a deep breath. "Just - just a bit '. Distracts me. "
forced Merlin a laugh, "Then we must not do is talk all night."
"is not enough."
"I know." Merlin said quietly. "But it's the only thing I can do. ... You tell me how it feels. How do you feel. Help me! "He hastened to add the expression enclosed by Arthur" I could do more. "
" Could you -? Essermela I think I did well without you, before - before you turn this into a ridiculous hunt for a stupid flower! You can not do more, you understand? There is nothing that you can do! Nothing! "
The accusation came out with malice, and it seemed so unfair after all the anxiety of the day that Merlin felt the blood roaring in his ears.
did not deserve it, that's all. Did not deserve to be treated as a burden or as a useless thing, because it was not.
"Sure," he said through gritted teeth "I apologize for doing just thought, Your Highness. But maybe you're right, maybe I'm doing this trip to write in my memories of that time that Arthur has a crush on his rider - "
" I have not taken - "
" And for the record, it is not me who likes 'ridiculous hunts' .
They turned their faces from the opposite side, and for a while 'is heard only the crackling of the flames and slow breaths that Arthur continued to force himself to do.
After a while ', however, fear that Arthur left to himself he could not resist the filter again won the anger, and Merlin found himself bowing his head once again.
"I I am a little 'did take. "She whispered. "I'm sorry."
Arthur nodded rigidly "Apology accepted."
Merlin raised his head in disbelief. "Apology accepted ? You treated me like - like - "
" As a servant. "
If there was just a trace of malice in the voice of Arthur, Merlin would have turned into a rat. He did not know how, but he would. Instead it was just an observation, and did much more harm.
"Yeah."
Arthur looked at him raising an eyebrow, but Merlin only shrugged his shoulders.
"Merlin, listen, I can not explain how I feel. I wish someone could help me, do you understand? I'm going crazy and I know it's all false, that what I feel is not real, but I feel the same, runs through me, I can not ... "Arthur bent down to grab a stick escaped the flames, the fringe that fell disheveled to hide her face. He broke the stick into pieces, with excessive force. "I can not think of anything else. It hurts. "
Merlin rose floor and went to sit next to another boy, pushing his shoulder against her until they were leaning on each other. "Do you miss?" Seeing that he hesitated to answer and did not raise his head, Merlin slipped a hand down his forearm and squeezed his wrist. She felt him tremble under his fingers and squeezed harder.
"I know you do not even know. I know. But ... it's stupid, but I remember his voice better than yours, you've talked about three seconds ago. His face. "
Maybe talk was not a good idea, after all. Arthur had already stopped as if it were too ... and Merlin had no desire to listen. The magic could be a terrible thing, with a sip of filter could take what Merlin was so proud to have won in whole months.
"A deep voice and a pretty face. Well, I think they are right all those voices. "
Arthur asked," What rumors? "With an attempt to return to normal conversation even more tired than that of Merlin.
"After Sofia ..."
"And the other two bids of marriage. "
" And those, a rumor that you're easy. "
Neither of them laughed, because suddenly my teeth squeaked by Arthur and Merlin felt a hand closed on her, shaking so much leave a mark.
Arthur was back in panic, her eyes moving fast looking for something that was not there, his breath panting and broken.
"Calm. Breathe. "Merlin handed the close. "I'll hold you."
Arthur tried to nod, but he suddenly put his hand to his chest and squeezed the cloth, the breath quickened and his eyes wide with terror. Merlin had seen such a scene once, to his village, and knew that something had to be nervous, but one thing was to see someone choking in his own breath, another was Arthur that clung to his clothes.
"Breathe! Passes, but you have to breathe! Arthur! "
He tried to keep it as still as possible, hugging and leaning on his body and whispered to the ear, until, slowly, he felt that the squeeze on him and it was loosening air resume in and out of her lungs on a regular basis. She pretended to ignore the wet sheen on his right cheek.
"It's okay. All right. I see her again, we come back ... come back soon, okay? Tomorrow morning we go back, Arthur. He will be there, "As we continue to whisper slowly, as telling a story, he did lay on the mat without leaving an inch," With that his locks, disheveled as always, is not it? Do not want to cut them, right? He likes that. "
Merlin knew that Arthur would have preferred to die rather than ten times to be humiliated, and certainly not what he was doing Merlin was considered a great humiliation to speak so, as a child, tighten it to prevent him from panicking.
The point is that it worked, and Arthur was slowly relaxing.
"Do you remember? E '... E' as tall as you, and when he laughs is so beautiful , is not it? So open. Ride for you in that way there. Just for you. And when fighting is fast, brave, strong. Better than all the others. Is waiting for you, Arthur. E 'went on the ramparts to watch you leave, you promised that when go back to hunt together, remember? As you speak, with that attitude that only the nobles, the best. He is the best. Do you trust him. Do not ever lie. "
Arthur breathed plan. Merlin saw a star weeping, touching her cheek.

He woke suddenly, a moist heat that pressed behind his ear.
He opened his eyes to the dark and it took several seconds to distinguish under the hair dark eyes and straight nose of Arthur.
"Ar - Arthur?"
Arthur was pressed against the side of Merlin, his eyes tight and light hair wet with sweat, and keep pushing against him, his mouth glued to the nut of his ear. From broken breath and eyes wide open it was clear that he did not sleep.
"Arthur? What - "
" Shh. Shh, I want ... I want - please. I can not - "His voice was hoarse that Merlin had never heard, full of need and tormented as if his life depended on it, and continued to go against him. Merlin tried to escape the grip that the other had on his shirt, but in doing so clearly felt something against his side.
closed his eyes, still. The skin seemed
Arthur incandescent while clawing the sides, passing the fabric, the language that left traces on his neck warm and humid. Soon became biting and movements became more rash. Arthur's right hand while he tried to open his pants and those of Merlin by force, without success.
Merlin still had not moved.
The darkness behind his eyelids were still confused darkness of the dream he was doing before, and all the warmth and strength with which he had climbed Arthur moved to the head, making him shake the thoughts at the same speed with which Arthur pushed against him. He could not think. He had
indications, directions, only knew that was not done, but it was a very vague rule. Vaguer 'you do not use the magic', and that this had not followed to the letter. He wanted to ask 'How bad?'. How bad is what Arthur was doing, that he felt that Merlin, the closeness and warmth and affection? There was a possibility (however small, even tiny) that in the future adversely affect it Arthur?
No one had ever been so close, and it was strange and scary but so hot. He had never heard of anyone cool leaving saliva tracks that made him shiver with every breath.
Arthur had Merlin dropped his pants and was able to loose their own. The moan that came out of his skin when he met the congested side of Merlin Merlin was something that shook up the nerves. No longer able to restrain himself, went up on the Arthur and Merlin only opened eyes for a moment.
His face was sweaty and upset, but it was always Arthur, straight nose, his jaw firm, fair hair to the moon, and now Merlin had above its weight and the weighed on him, crushing him against the ground. When Arthur
clashed his groin against her hurt, he could not in determining the strength and only trying to increase friction.
With another groan, his eyes still closed, he simply pull down the pants of Merlin without loosing, and when he finally picked up the two erections began to shake together, his hips were going to meet every thrust.
Merlin realized that I have never been so hard in his life.
Arthur's fist closed about him was strange, like his hand in the heat and movement but so different in the close, the skin, intent, and then touched the erection of Merlin to Arthur and Merlin he found himself pushing it happened again, again, again .
Her hair was in Arthur's mouth and he was biting his neck hard enough to hurt, and they were both sweaty and dirty, uncoordinated movements that clashed with each other every gesture, but it did not matter . Merlin felt his body twitch and pushed harder against the boy's hands.
"Arthur,"
He clenched his arms behind his back to Arthur, and with one last push came.
fell backward, the well-being that spreads in waves, and the pleasure felt by Arthur to give the final push. He smiled, because it was beautiful and strange and exciting, like nothing he had ever done before.
Then Arthur buried his face over his shoulder, gasped "Lucan." And was.
Merlin stood up with the damp patch on his pants while still hot. Li
closed without turning to look at each other, and threw himself on the mat on the other side of the fire, the one prepared for Arthur. Repeats 'Stupid ' until he fell asleep.

He opened his eyes awakened by the sound of Arthur linking back to the horse what was served for the night.
The sun still has not been seen, but the sky was clear, had to be the last moments before dawn. Merlin was still lying on his back a moment.
images of the night were confused and immersed in his sleep that had come before and after, but the heat was still there, the feeling of Arthur's body pressed against hers was alive. If he closed his eyes he could hear him panting in her ear, she could feel her shaking hand on his erection.
He dared not get up. If approached, Arthur probably would have beaten. It was a stupid
and really believed what to do?
Maybe something was seriously wrong in the brain, because there were too many feelings inside him that had nothing to do. He was tired, so much, and discouraged, and sad, and angry.
was angry with himself because, despite what he was constantly repeated, Merlin knew he was not so stupid. Maybe he was a simpleton, perhaps he did not know what to do or say very often, but he knew that Arthur was under the influence of a love potion. And he was taken advantage. The thought made him
me want to vomit.
And now you would never be spoken, because Merlin had taken advantage of the Crown Prince and the last thing I wanted was the Crown Prince to take advantage of Merlin.
Arthur was having trouble closing the pocket of Merlin.
"Never mind, I do."
Arthur winced and slowly turned to Merlin. The face, incredibly, seemed to have taken at least human traits, and must have changed since the pants were not dirty or broken.
"You're awake."
Merlin nodded just as slowly, resisting the urge to answer something sarcastic. The expression
Arthur inscrutable in his mind was confused with the face that had upset the moments before orgasm. He closed his eyes suddenly, shaking his head to get rid of the image.
"If we move we can come to Camelot tonight."
Merlin felt his stomach contract, missing the last hope to turn a blind eye. He rose quickly from the ground.
Of course you would go back. He had betrayed his trust, had not stopped when it should have, while Lucan Camelot was waiting for him.
He looked up to apologize, but his eyes were fixed most of Arthur down its flanks, cheeks stained red. Merlin did not need to lower their gaze. He was still stained pants, of course, and had not thought of because it was a stupid .
grabbed the blanket and pulled her on him, feeling ashamed about their ears.
"You - you go back?"
Arthur finally looked up, startled. "What?"
"Did you say - well, okay, you know. Camelot could return to take another horse and I go to take the flower. If you want to. If it's better. "
He hoped that his need to be told that it was alright it was not so obvious. He hoped he was not so pathetic. But he knew that his voice trembled. A little.
Arthur watched him for a few seconds "Better?" He said, his voice strangely seemed to shudder. Very little.
Merlin blinked. "I said, if we want to return, not a failure. We tried, it did not go, we'll find another way. If you want to - go back to Lucan. "
" You do not want ... do not want to go back? "Arthur ruffled hair behind his head, which was his way of being embarrassed and confused.
"Me?"
"Yes, Merlin. TU. "He regretted that he immediately raised the tone, and added more gently," I thought you wanted to come back. "
" Me? "
" After that - "He lowered his head, throwing haunted look of the pants hidden Merlin. "You can get the horse and come back alone. I will manage it. "
" I? Sorry. Namely: - "Merlin struggle to find the words. Something was wrong with the whole conversation. "No. Of course not. We can get back together. If you want to. "
" Merlin. "Arthur took a step forward, and without thinking about a Merlin made it back. Perhaps the pain in the past for a moment on Arthur's face if he had only imagined. "Let's stop getting around. Of course I want to go on, did you see what makes me the filter. But I'm not going to force you to follow me. "He raised a hand to stop him from doing anything" I know you would. But in light of what can I do, you have every right to leave. "He concluded coldly.
Merlin could not believe the damage he had done to the brain of Uther's son, if he was really convinced that the magic would not be an excuse.
gasped a moment, undecided whether to cry for relief or Arthur reassure that everything, everything that had happened was only his fault. But the survival instinct prevailed, and the fact that Merlin could not imagine life if Arthur hated him, he was forced to say nothing.
Arthur was still looking at him, trying to hide the anxiety remained motionless.
Merlin smiled. "Not that I'd go back, with all those wonderful stalls to clean. But you know, the call of nature, the whisper of the wind, new adventures ... "
" Stupid. "Arthur said, but did not believe it really.

rode through the forest more slowly than expected, partly 'because it was too thick to do otherwise, a little' because they were found in only two on a horse, a little 'because they were both thinking about something else.
"But you feel better. Gaius had said that a night time and the worst is past. "
Merlin leaned a little 'ahead to speak, and doing it touched the shoulder of Arthur. He retired abruptly.
The conversation was almost non-existent since they started, and despite the position they were both trying not to touch too. It was frustrating, because it starts to do really cool and the body of Arthur was hot and close enough to ...
"Enough." Arthur said, and he made mention of having heard a word, stopped the horse. "E 'idiots insist to ride in these conditions. We're going too slow and a bit of 'I lose feeling in his legs. ".
Merlin immediately nodded, hurrying to follow him when he jumped from the saddle.
Despite the complaints of Arthur, Merlin, which was down nearly fell to the ground in both his legs were asleep. Arthur was the one who jumped off with elegance continuing to complain.
And that was the story of his life.
After a few minutes walking through the bush, with the light that penetrated through the leaves making it more surreal, Arthur decided to reopen the mouth.
"Yes," he said without any sense.
Merlin would not challenge the good fortune, so he tried to seem the least possible confusion and nodded. "Oh. Of course. "
Arthur sighed," I've been responding. Yes, I'm better, Gaius was right as usual. "
" Oh. "Merlin smiled, though Arthur looked ahead and could not see him," Well. I'm happy. "
" ... too. "
probably was all that they could come up again on the night before, so if Merlin did fine. He was still stunned by how things had not ended in tragedy and more progressed most seemed to whisper his name. Not because he wanted to. Only to recover a bit 'lost dignity of the trousers down.
"How do you think we are in the North? He starts to do too much too cold for the horse. "
" For horses not cold. It is not a question of being in the North, is time. "
Merlin snorted.
"What was that?"
"What do you mean 'not cold to the horses'? A bit like 'the servants do not feel fatigue'? ".
Arthur looked up at the sky. "I never said such a thing. It is still true that the horses have a different resistance to cold, I do not feel like humans, horses are. "
Merlin stood in disbelief for the nerve to Arthur" You said it! " Even
Arthur stopped, just as indignant. Merlin's head was recorded that the first time you looked into his eyes without wanting to die that morning. "Not at all!"
"I heard with these ears - do not laugh - no more a week ago! You said that Hugo was not tired because he did not feel fatigue, and Lucan was laughed and told you that you have the ideas - "
" I do not want to hear. "Arthur said quietly, and Merlin was a few seconds, puzzled at the sudden change of voice.
Then he understood and murmured, "Ah, the name. I'm sorry. "Trying not to look at all the one that you just heard him mention that certain topics can not be touched.
After some minutes the silence was lasting too, Arthur said, "And anyway I said it because it is a servant. I said this because an arm of the seven-time Hugo weighs you. I do not think that the servants are a different species. "
Merlin muttered" I'm happy. ", A bit 'embarrassed from having thought badly so quickly.
Although he had his head down to check not to step on any snake or rodent or small animal that hides in the underbrush, however felt that Arthur was watching him carefully.
"You think so, is not it?"
"I think that the servants are different," asked Merlin stunned, turning to face him.
“Pensi che io lo penso.”
Merlin si morse l’interno della guancia. Due settimane fa avrebbe risposto di no, ma poi era arrivato Lucan e Arthur sembrava così contento di aver trovato un suo pari che gli andasse a genio. E poi, certo, si era scoperto del filtro d’amore. Quindi magari…
“Non ti posso dare torto. Dopo quello che ti ho fatto… anche io la penserei così.”. Anche se la voce era salda, per un attimo era sembrato così miserabile che Merlin aveva sentito il respiro bloccarsi. “Mi scuserei, se fosse abbastanza.”
“So che non pensi that we are really different. "Merlin said, trying to put more conviction in his voice than he felt" I know. It 's just that ... sometimes it's hard to remember. "He smiled at Arthur, only to find again that look so lost. "No! I did not want to say. Not last night. Last night ... okay. Really. "
" How can fit? "Merlin
he bit the inside of the cheek. And 'if the same for me okay? He wanted to ask. If I go really good? But then remembered again the voice of Arthur Lucan who called, and was silent for a moment.
"We can not just talk about it more," he asked at last.
"No." Arthur said, spitting out the syllable.
Merlin nodded, and Arthur knew the answer he expected. "Just for now. Only until you're better. "

In the forest the sky grew darker and the cold continued to rise. Merlin was forced to stop twice to get him all the clothes he had brought (or three) but his hands were freezing, and his boots had ceased from time to keep warm.
"I think," sneezed for the third time, "that if we do not stop I will die here."
"You die a little 'cold."
Merlin looked at Arthur. "Not if you have a coat lined with dead animals." Sneezed again.
Arthur looked at him with a mixture of compassion and genuine concern. "League of the horse power."
Merlin smiled.

the evening progressed again, and found that Merlin could talk better in the dark. Light the fire and placing mats spoke of this and that and Arthur also managed to insult him twice without looking about to apologize. Finally he sat by the fire, far enough away not to touch even by accident.
"They are not my business ..." Merlin began.
"Why, after a start as always continue to speak?"
"But I would not bet a dime on your father that you leave as well. It 's weird. "
Arthur clenched tightly in the back" Not surprisingly, it was quite obvious I was not feeling well. And why, I suppose, if one looked carefully enough. ".
Merlin nodded.
"And I think that this trip was organized by Gaius."
'It is true. "
" Yes, well ... but I think to keep me away from the court. From ... Lucan. "
was the first time he spoke the name after the night before, and hear it, albeit with a completely different tone, Merlin felt his throat tighten.
"To distract or stop to ask girls to marry at random."
"Why did you do?" Churches plan Merlin "Why have you continued to make proposals of marriage?"
Arthur shook his head, obviously torn between the answer and just tell him to shut up. But probably due to the night before his head was still to pay, because he took a deep breath, "There is so clear. He was there, and Lynette looked as if it were unique. And I wanted to ... you know. I wanted it. So I thought maybe if I did I do with someone else, "He laughed quietly," It would feel how I felt. Stupid idea. "
Merlin said" ... I wanted? "Because he was stupid and did not know how to stop asking.
Arthur looked at him almost hurt. "Well, this seems clear enough. After yesterday. "
'Clear', Merlin thought, feeling more tired than ever, but what he said was" I wanted ... like yesterday? I thought it was something more ... less ... physical .. "
Arthur clenched his teeth. "No. No. It was really physical .... "The use of the past does not diminish what he felt Merlin.
"You said his name." She whispered.
Arthur jumped up her chin, staring at him full of remorse "What?"
Merlin thought that if Arthur had made the naive again for another second he would really, really beat. At the risk of taking them.
"You said his name. Yesterday. "
Arthur swallowed without taking your eyes. "Yes."
"I was imagining -" He could not bring himself to continue.
"Sorry." Arthur said in a deep voice.
Mortified, Merlin shuddered and clung closer to the mantle.
fell back into silence, Arthur concentrated in loose boots and Merlin just trying to not be behind any kind of implication, while above them had turned black and gray shadows stretched everywhere.
quickly ate a rabbit that Arthur was able to take to the road and pretended to be concentrated on the meat to avoid having to talk over. After a few more minutes, Merlin was pretty sick to stop chewing.
"I go to sleep." Announcement, and the voice was more hoarse than it meant.
Arthur seemed to be destroyed again sitting on the trunk which had set the fire, and Merlin was not used to so much as it was not used to be the cause. Trying desperately to improve the situation, he stopped just behind him. The nape of
Arthur was dark in the absence of light and breeze to the sensed presence. Merlin reached for his shoulder, just to be able to succeed ... ...
"Goodnight." Muttered Arthur without turning around, managing to make it sound like an order. Then he added, "Merlin." It seems more like a prayer.
Merlin nodded to the void. He woke

shooting with the impression that the darkness around him had been moved, the dream faded along with the warmth behind the ear for some strange reason he was dreaming.
He blinked his eyes to get used to the light of the moon changed at times obscured by clouds. Arthur's hair also changed color from silver to gray to black and silver again.
"Arthur?" The prince rose
head. He did not seem to have moved since Merlin had fallen asleep. He was still sitting, and the fire was extinguished at his feet.
"What ..." Merlin rubbed his eyes, "Are not you coming to bed?" As soon as he stopped talking, his mouth mixed with sleep, he realized how it sounded. How strange it sounded. The absence of the bed and everything else. "I mean. It 's night. Do not - do you sleep? "
Arthur shook his head. Was staring at him, Merlin felt it even though it was too dark to view it.
was immediately awake. He sat up. "Can not sleep?"
The wind had risen and was moving the leaves around the small clearing where they had camped, giving the impression that something was living around them, surrounding and embedding them in a cool cocoon.
"Arthur?" He started to rise.
"Stop."
Merlin was not so surprised by the tone of Arthur. She had heard enough to recognize the last days at the first sign, then stood up and did not obey.
"I said. Still. "
" What happened? ... I thought you said you were better. "Sounds a little ' too much like an accusation.
"I know. The night is worse. "
Merlin flew over the fire off and crouched in front. Arthur's eyes followed his movements as if it were a prey, and Merlin were forbidden to shiver despite the cold, because some others would notice and who knows what would have been able to deliver his mind exhausted.
In fact, Merlin did not know what to do. He knew what he wanted to do, but generally the two were irreconcilable.
"Maybe it's dark. The worst fears come out after dark, perhaps the filters do the same. "
Arthur looked at him as if he had never heard such nonsense, and that was an almost normal.
"Look, it's true. The first day I was here I could not sleep even for half a second. "
Arthur frowned" I did not know I had a longing for home. "
" Well, we were not really ... most of the time I chasing with a sledgehammer. Or put me to shame. If I told you I was missing my mother, you had the word with all of your horse and you would have done puppets shaped like a fool serving Mammon and could've hung everywhere and I'd called Merlin baby for two years. "
" Even four. Merlin child. Suits you. "
Merlin raised his chin in disbelief that Arthur does not realize that to be sitting on a log that does not want to sleep at night because he wants to go home. Not that there was nothing wrong under the circumstances, and certainly would never have called Merlin with no nickname, but still. A little 'common sense.
He pulled up the nose "Thanks."
"Please, baby Merlin."
Arthur smiled, and, as it seemed no more than two minutes before, Merlin thought he handled the situation pretty well. He smiled too.
"You think so? Whether the night. Do not think - "Arthur swallowed" What is worse? "
Merlin took a few seconds to think about it seriously," You say that you can? Gaius told me it should have its own path, and after the first night should be better - "
'It's better. But ... do not say how I feel. The filter itself. "
" I do not understand. "
Arthur shook his head, "Never mind, it is unclear even to me."
"I'm trying to understand. How can it get worse? I mean, the filter will fall in love, you can be more love someone? "
Arthur clenched his jaw and looked down, Merlin did not lose even a movement because it was still sitting on your heels and too close.
"Maybe can fall in love with another."
Merlin blinked. Come to think of it, he understood the terror of Arthur. Being forced to fall in love again and again and again, spending all of yourself in one direction then suddenly change course and start all over again ... It was not to be a nice thought.
With one hand clasped his right knee Arthur.
"Do not worry. You just need to find a stupid flower. "

When he fell asleep, Arthur breathed light within walking distance. When you went back to sleep after waking up again, with no apparent sense Arthur was leaning against him, under his blanket, his chest that warmed my back and my breath on her neck. Merlin had too much sleep and was too good, and went back to sleep.
In addition, all too much like the last dream he had done.

Arthur was still asleep and he woke up, shaking the floor beside him. During the night they had parted slightly. Strange, since that was out of the cold pool and the heat of the body of Arthur. If you were away, some had nothing to do Merlin's body was calling him now that he was conscious, let her sleep.
Arthur complained finally giving up and turned over his shoulders. Her hair was matted and dirty with earth and dust. They had to find a stream to the north, saw Merlin half asleep, and would have done better to wash both thoroughly, had never been so dirty. And maybe if the sun had already risen could get some sleep 'more, nor were they ever been so tired.
Merlin slipped under the blanket with his chin and went up to Arthur, until his knees collided with the back of the thighs of the other. They were not even
never been closer.
Merlin whispered a few words to the wind and the deck became closer, forcing Arthur to back to sleep until pressed against Merlin. The air around became less cold and Merlin sighed a grateful thanks to the magic.
How sad you are, it was his last conscious thought for himself, including bitter and resigned, at least Will was a possibility.