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“Where are we now?”
“I don’t know,” Arthur reluctantly admits as he takes in his surroundings, but all he sees are trees, a couple of bushes, and more trees, and at this point everything just looks the same to him. There’s nothing specific about this part of the forest that he recognises, that gives him an idea of where exactly they are. They’ve been trying to get away from Camelot as fast as their horses could go, and because of that Arthur may have forgotten to look where they were going – not that the direction was necessarily important, as long as it took them away from Camelot and his father, but it’s still an eerie feeling not knowing where they are… Arthur always knows where he is.
“I don’t know,” he repeats a little quieter, like he can’t actually believe he doesn’t know, but at the same time he also doesn’t know whether or not he minds not knowing: if he doesn’t know where they are, chances are they are far enough from the citadel to be safe from being found by Camelot’s knights. “I don’t know,” he laughs, repeating his words once more.
“Why are you laughing?” Merlin looks at him like he’s gone mad, but Arthur doesn’t care. He jumps off his horse and goes to Merlin’s, pulling at his arm until Merlin awkwardly slides off his horse as well, landing on both feet on the ground in front of Arthur, and Arthur can look him in the eye without having to look up.
“I don’t know,” he snickers again, as he grabs Merlin’s face and presses a kiss onto his lips. “If I don’t know this part of the woods, neither do the other knights, which means we’re safe...for now at least. We’ll have to travel further until we find a village that will take us in, I guess, but for now...we’re safe, and there’s no one around to stop us. Hah!” He throws his head back as he lets out another exuberant laugh.
~~~
Merlin looks at Arthur. He can’t keep the frown off his face as Arthur laughs freely and kisses him spontaneously. He wants to believe they’re safe (for now), but still he lets his magic flow out to search their environment, to see if there’s anyone else around. Apart from the trees and the bushes, some birds and some rabbits, his magic doesn’t pick up anything – or anyone – else. Does that really mean they’re safe? For now?
When Arthur looks back at him, he cocks his head and raises an eyebrow, giving Merlin an expression Merlin is more used to than the freely laughing man he just saw before him.
“Come on, Merlin,” Arthur leans in a little closer as he firms his grip on Merlin’s head for a moment. “This is it. We can be together.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?” Merlin can’t help but ask. He’s asked it several times already, but he still can’t get over the fact that Arthur apparently is okay with leaving his life of luxury behind to run away with him, to run away from Uther, to run away from a kingdom that outlaws magic, to run towards a life with him, a simple life in a small village where they’ll – hopefully – have a small house and can live together while living off the land, helping out others, and being part of a small community.
“Yes, it is, Merlin,” Arthur answers for the umpteenth time. “Camelot is in good hands for now, and I don’t want my father to decide what I’m allowed to do, or who I’m allowed to be with, or to have you executed for something you were born with.” Arthur suddenly becomes very serious as he strokes his thumbs over Merlin’s cheekbones. “I am sure this is what I want. I am sure you are what I want. And if this destiny you keep telling me about is supposed to happen, it will happen even when we are living in a tiny, draughty house, that’ll be so cold in winter we’ll have no choice but to sleep huddled closely together, and you will teach me everything about how to live the life you came from, and I will live it with you.”
“And in return you’ll teach me how to use a sword, right?” Merlin deadpans, not particularly looking forward to that – because what does he even need a sword for if he has magic? – but that’s the deal he agreed to: Merlin would teach Arthur how to lead a simple life, and Arthur would teach Merlin how to fight with weapons. (Merlin will never tell Arthur he only agreed to this so Arthur would feel useful from the start of their new life already.)
“I will,” Arthur smirks, obviously looking forward to it.
“Fine,” Merlin sighs, though he can’t help but smile as Arthur kisses him again.
“I don’t know where we are,” Arthur whispers against his lips. “And if we weren’t safe here, you would’ve told me by now, because I’m sure you’ve scanned the perimeter with your magic, haven’t you?”
“Shut up,” Merlin grumbles in response. It still surprises him how well the prat knows him, and how well he accepts his magic.
Another jubilant laugh escapes Arthur’s throat, and Merlin can’t do anything else but stare at Arthur who’s looking so free and happy and no longer like he’s expected to act a certain way, and Merlin thinks that maybe, just maybe, running away together was the best thing they could’ve done.