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Merlin and Arthur were finally on the road leading to Ealdor.
“We’re soon going to be there,” Merlin announced. Arthur was riding right beside him, attentively watching every bush and tree around them, imagining a much younger version of Merlin roaming around here, climbing up rocks and watching passing travelers hidden behind the tree trunks.
He also couldn’t help but see Merlin’s young companion Will right beside him and he looked at his manservant from the side. He hadn’t known Will at all but from the stories Merlin had reluctantly told him after his death, Arthur could only imagine the pain his passing must have caused him.
He had been his dearest friend after all and Arthur couldn’t help but admit that he had been a good friend and a brave man.
Still, even though this place would be forever haunted by the memories, Merlin seemed cheerful and Arthur decided to join him on that. After all, he hadn’t had a proper chance yet to get to know Merlin’s mother.
They entered the village, the main road was lined with people who were chattering excitedly, some of them joyfully waving at them while others eyed them suspiciously. Arthur tried to look as casual as possible while Merlin greeted people left and right with the kind of infectious joy that made Arthur smile involuntarily.
The few knights that had accompanied them were led into their accommodations for the next few days while Arthur and Merlin kept going until they arrived at Hunith’s hut. She was standing in the doorframe, smiling with such warmth that Arthur suddenly couldn’t wait to talk to her again.
Merlin got off the horse quickly and hugged his mother tightly, still holding the reins in one hand.
“Hey, mum,” he murmured into her hair and she only pulled him closer before releasing him.
“Hello, Merlin,” she smiled and turned towards Arthur who had also dismounted by now.
“And hello to you too, my lord,” she greeted him. Arthur smiled and offered her his hand. She took it and held it with both of her hands for a moment.
“Hello, Hunith. Thank you so much for having me again. And please, it’s Arthur,” he replied, hoping to make a decent impression. The smile he received as an answer left him hopeful that he had succeeded.
“Good to see you again, Arthur,” she said, winking at him as she called him by his first name and Arthur smiled happily. Merlin and Arthur brought the horses to the back of the house where they had a small stable that they would share with sheep and a few chickens.
“Your mother is such a kind woman,” Arthur remarked while stroking his mare’s strong neck. Merlin smiled and hugged him from the side.
“She really, really is. I miss her a lot sometimes,” Merlin admitted and Arthur nodded, not quite relaxing into the hug. He wasn’t entirely used to public affection yet but Merlin knew he was working on it.
“I am sorry,” Arthur replied and he really did feel sorry. He never ever missed Uther but he knew that they couldn’t compare that. He did miss his mother a lot but that was also totally different as he’d never really known her.
“Well, let’s get back to her then?” Arthur asked and Merlin nodded eagerly.
“She’ll have her best food out for you, Arthur, so you better appreciate it,” Merlin instructed and Arthur looked at him offendedly.
“I would never criticize her cooking!” he defended himself and Merlin shook his head.
“No, I know that. But try to actually enjoy it. She really is a good cook, just not a royal one,” Merlin explained and Arthur shook his head.
“I know. You aren’t much of a royal servant either,” he grinned and Merlin pushed him away from him, at least partially affronted.
“You giant dollophead, now get inside and don’t hit your enormous head,” Merlin muttered, entering the hut in front of Arthur. He followed with an amused smile and paid painfully much attention to the height of the doorframe. Just in case.
“Now, get your stuff into the bedroom and then come eat, you must be starving,” Hunith told them and Arthur instantly felt like a child again in the best way possible.
As they sat down, Hunith had already set out their plates, filled with some kind of stew that made Arthur’s stomach growl. He was indeed quite hungry. The nervousness and excitement of going back to Ealdor certainly hadn’t ruined his appetite.
Merlin watched Arthur attentively and loved him more with every moment he saw him interact with his mother. Within a few years Arthur had grown to be the perfect son in law and Merlin just adored him so, so much.
Arthur downed the food in record time and Merlin knew his mother would have normally scolded him. Now, she seemed to be on cloud nine, happily giving him a refill when Merlin hadn’t even finished half of his plate.
“Thanks, mum. It’s delicious as always,” Merlin praised her and she beamed at her son.
“Thank you, Merlin. Good to see that you still appreciate your old mother’s food with all the delicacies they have in the castle,” she joked and Merlin scoffed.
“Well, do I look like they’re for me?” he complained and Arthur looked at him with big protesting eyes.
“Just joking, Arthur,” Merlin grinned but gave him a pointed look. Maybe Merlin would get a few more treats once they returned.
“So, how are you two doing?” Hunith asked. Since Arthur was still busy eating, Merlin started.
“It’s really the same as always. I serve his royal pratness, save his life and go to bed,” Merlin recounted and Arthur started coughing. Merlin couldn’t contain his laughter and only stopped chuckling when Arthur glared at him.
“Merlin, this is no way to address a prince,” his mother lectured him and Merlin shrugged.
“It’s not like I asked to be his servant,” Merlin countered.
“You wouldn’t change it for the world,” Arthur interrupted him and Merlin nodded, shrugging again.
“No, I wouldn’t. Point still stands though,” he replied and smiled at Arthur innocently.
It was then that Hunith was entirely certain that something had changed between the two of them. And whatever it might be, she was thankful it had happened.
“Well, boys, I think I’ll call it an early night. I’ll feed the animals and you do the dishes, Merlin? How does that sound?” Hunith asked and Merlin nodded.
“Good, mum. We’ll get to it,” he replied and Hunith’s eyes widened. Arthur raised his eyebrows at him and Merlin looked at him challengingly.
“Now, don’t tell me you don’t know how to do the dishes?” Merlin mocked him and got up.
“Up you get then, I’ll show you the secret craft of cleaning your own dishes,” Merlin grinned and got over to a bucket of water.
“You get the easy part, take this cloth,” Merlin handed it to him. “And just dry off whatever I give to you without breaking it.”
After a lot of mocking and splashing water they had managed to clean the dishes and gotten to bed as well. Merlin had decided that he would not be sleeping on the ground again and forced Arthur to make himself as small as possible so that Merlin would fit into the small bed with him.
It wasn’t the most comfortable thing ever but laying on Arthur’s chest almost made up for it. Arthur had hesitantly put one arm around Merlin who had fallen asleep rather quickly afterwards.
It took Arthur some more time until he stopped flinching at every unfamiliar sound and sleep finally lulled him in.
It felt to him like only a few minutes had passed when Merlin’s whispering voice found its way inside his dreams.
“Get up, you sleepyhead. Arthur, I know you hear me. Wake up, there is something I need to show you,” Merlin said quietly and Arthur slowly opened up his eyes, looking right into Merlin’s face.
“Now, get dressed,” Merlin commanded and Arthur tried to turn around again.
Merlin wasn’t having any of that and pulled away his blanket.
“Get. Up.”
Arthur groaned and tried to roll out of the bed. It took every bit of Arthur’s tired coordination to not fall right onto the floor. Merlin giggled quietly and threw one of his shirts at him.
“Now, hurry.”
After Arthur had managed to get into his clothes in the dimness of their room and also managed to tame his hair he followed Merlin out of the hut, trying not to wake Hunith. They followed a path behind the house silently. When they had left the village Merlin started to speak.
“I used to go there a lot. Always helped me clear my head and calm down my feelings whenever I felt hurt or confused,” Merlin recalled quietly.
Arthur smiled sadly and carefully reached for Merlin’s hand.
“I really want you to know more of my life before Camelot. It might help you get to know me better, fully. I want you to know me,” Merlin continued and squeezed Arthur’s hand once. Arthur squeezed back.
“How far is it?” Arthur asked and Merlin shook his head.
“Always so impatient. Not far,” he promised.
He kept that promise. After only a few more minutes they rounded a group of dark oaks and Arthur couldn’t believe his eyes.
They had arrived at a lake that was shining with the first sun rays of the day, turning the water into a million little diamonds. They stood there for some time, watching the brilliant beauty in silence while holding on to each other.
“That’s gorgeous, thank you, Merlin,” Arthur said and hugged Merlin from the side.
“Still too early though. You owe me a proper nap.”