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"That's it! I have had enough of this! We're leaving!" Arthur declares as he shoves the doors to his chambers open, startling Merlin so much he drops the armour he was polishing.
"Now I'll have to work that dent out." He mutters, frowning at the armour on the floor.
"You can do that later. I need to get out of the castle!" Arthur says, desperation clear in his eyes.
"Was the meeting that bad?"
"It was awful! My father may or may not come try to yell at me when he's done, so can we please get away before he has the chance?"
"Alright. Shall I get a picnic?"
"No time. All we need is you and me, away from here. Oh! You haven't perfected that teleportation spell yet, have you?"
"Not enough that I'm willing to risk it on you. You'll just have to walk your lazy self to the stables."
"We can't get horses, it'll take too long and I don't want any witnesses."
"Are we just going for a few hours, or are you dragging me away forever?" Merlin asks as they slip out the door.
"Don't tempt me."
"If we're leaving forever, I'm taking a horse."
"Who's the lazy one now?"
"Still you, I would take her because I'd miss her."
"You're such a sap."
"Don't even try. I've seen you slipping them carrots."
"You must've been imagining."
"Oh yes, I'm sure."
They stop bickering for long enough to get out of the castle silently, but as soon as the comforting sounds of the forest envelope them, they start talking again.
"So do you have a plan for all this? Uther's not going to be happy when he finds you gone."
"Maybe we can tell him I went to chase a beast."
"Right, that beast that there's been no reports of."
"Perhaps a knight alerted me of it the second I was out of the meeting."
"And the reason you didn't put on armour, or bring anyone other than me?"
"Merlin. Must we talk about this now? I'm trying to relax." Arthur says as he drops to the ground in the shade of a large tree.
"I'm just worried about you. I don't want you getting in trouble for needing to be away." Merlin replies as he sits beside Arthur, gently lacing their fingers together.
"You're always worried about me."
"You're always doing something that requires worrying."
"Oh, and you aren't?"
"Of course not."
"Because running around after killers in the night isn't worrying."
"Not as worrying as knowing that if I don't get them, they'll get you."
Arthur is never sure what to respond with when Merlin says such things, so he simply squeezes Merlin's hand and drops his head onto his shoulder, hoping he understands the gratitude he's trying to express.
And he does, because he somehow always understands what Arthur is trying to say.
They sit in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the forest.
"I think I could handle staying here forever." Merlin says quietly.
"Me too." Arthur replies just as softly.
"You'd miss your giant bed before long."
"So would you!"
"I haven't had it my whole life, I could manage."
"I could too. As long as you're with me, that's all I need."
Merlin knows how hard it is for Arthur to say nice things, so he doesn't say a sarcastic remark, simply kisses the head still propped on his shoulder.
"And all I need is you."
Arthur moves from Merlin's shoulder to his face, kissing him until the lack of oxygen becomes a problem.
They laugh after pulling away, seeing all the flowers and butterflies they're now surrounded by.
"Show me something else?" Arthur asks, returning to his previous spot.
Merlin smiles at how content Arthur now seems, enjoying the magic that no doubt had been part of the problem earlier, with Uther rambling about it's evils being what upset him.
They stay snuggled up under the tree enjoying magic and
each other's company until the sun has gone down.
They would stay longer, had it not been for the patrol of knights they hear coming toward them.
They scramble off the ground and away from each other before anyone can see them, then sneak away back to the castle, slipping inside Arthur's chambers to pretend like they'd never left.
For once, they actually get away with their mischief.