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Powdery snow kept falling from the grey skies above them as their entourage made its way through the almost blindingly white landscape.
“Mother” asked Merlin, for the third time since they started their journey “Why do I have to go too?”
Hunith, after twenty years of dealing with her son, was immune to his pouting.
“Because you’re a good prince and good princes do what is best for their kingdoms.” she replied, adjusting her winter cape around her shoulders.
“How is it me going to Camelot with you going to help?” he insisted.
Hunith turned to her son with a sigh.
It didn’t matter that she was dressed in rich furs and fabrics or that the glint of her jeweled circlet marked her as the Queen, in that moment she was just like any other mother exasperated with her child.
“Because, Merlin, you’re the Crown Prince. Your presence is a sign of trust and goodwill between Essetir and Camelot. The relationship between our two kingdoms has become…strained. So, this is a good chance to show that we’re still interested in keeping the peace.”
Her son frowned, his bright blue eyes intent on her own.
“Uther Pendragon wouldn’t be as foolish as to try to wage war against Essetir. Our armies are equal in size and our knights are evenly matched. I’d say ours are better prepared even, having trained in both magic and the sword. And most importantly, father is a dragonlord. There’s no way Camelot could win” said Merlin, his frown deepening “It wouldn’t make any sense. There must be something else we aren’t seeing. There’s just no way he’d risk everything on a whim.”
“Men in power do tend to become stupid, Merlin. And Uther Pendragon is as prideful as they come. He’s never liked Balinor because he isn’t of noble blood. The fact that he’s a sorcerer and a Dragonlord just adds insult to injury in his eyes. He wouldn’t need much convincing to attack us if he saw any sort of opportunity. Aside from that, Gaius wrote to me telling me that there’s been conflict between Uther and Nimueh recently.”
“Nimueh? The High Priestess?”
“Her” nodded Hunith “Even though she’s been part of Camelot’s court since before the birth of Prince Arthur, Uther has never fully trusted her. She’s in quite a difficult position. Uther fears her because of her power but if she were to lose it, then he wouldn’t hesitate to dispose of her.”
“But she’s a High Priestess” said Merlin “She doesn’t have to be part of the Pendragon court.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, my son. She has to. It’s her presence and that of Queen Ygraine’s what keeps Uther in check. If either of them left court, there’s no guarantee that he wouldn’t start imposing policies against sorcerers. Or worse. For the sake of Camelot’s magic users, she must stay there. Uther needs the reminder that magic is not to be disrespected.”
“So that’s the real reason that I’m going, then? Why you asked me to perform?” asked Merlin, lips pursed “To scare Uther Pendragon into political agreeability?”
The Queen of Essetir shook her head and took her son’s hands in hers.
“We asked you to come and to perform on the night of the Winter Solstice to show Uther that magic is more than a weapon, more than a tool for conquest. That it’s the core of Albion. And if your performance doesn’t resonate with him, then…”
“…the reminder of what it can do wouldn’t go amiss.” finished Merlin, nodding.
“Exactly. I do hope that everything goes well and that we both get to enjoy the festivities. Uther spares no expenses when it comes to events like this so there’s bound to be a grandiose feast and entertainment. And I’m sure you’ll have a great time showing off in front of the Lady Morgana too.”
“Mother!” screeched Merlin, cheeks flushing “Morgana is just a friend!”
“Really?” teased Hunith, her smile turning into a smirk “Is that why you were glued to her side the last time we visited Camelot?”
“I wouldn’t have spent my whole time with Morgana if a certain someone hadn’t been so insufferable.”
“Oh Merlin, is that why you’ve been whining? Are you still caught up in this ridiculous rivalry with Prince Arthur?”
“It’s not a rivalry. He hates me and takes every chance to remind me of it. He’s a pompous dollophead who thinks he’s too good for basic courtesy. He acts all high and mighty even though he doesn’t understand the simplest things and bullies everyone he thinks is lesser than him! Oh, and he’s fat and ugly.”
Hunith stared at her son, speechless for a second before she started laughing in a way that some nobles would probably think undignified.
“Mother, stop laughing! There’s nothing funny about this!”
“It’s just that, you still act like you’re five years old when it comes to Prince Arthur. What did he even do?”
“Last time he insisted we should spar and then proceeded to beat me up and made fun of me for being too skinny.”
“Well, you did turn him into half an ass.”
“That was only because he tripped me down the stairs.”
“It might’ve been an accident---”
“He said he did it because he knew I was the one to shrink his clothes---”
“Merlin!”
“He deserved that. He was rude to Will.”
“Son” she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose “I know that you feel that you were justified, and I won’t argue with you about that. But please remember that not everything can be solved with magic, the same way not everything can be solved with a sword. Sometimes the best way to approach a conflict is diplomacy, no matter how you feel about the other person.”
“How do you expect me to deal with someone who refuses to even talk about things?”
“With intelligence and tact and poise, the way a prince is supposed to conduct himself.” said the Queen, evenly.
Merlin frowned again, head bowed, conflict clear in his eyes and Hunith felt her own gaze softening.
“I know it’s difficult and oftentimes exhausting to do what is required of us. But please keep in mind that terrible things happen when royalty forgets that they rule to serve their people. Dealing with Prince Arthur might be less than ideal but for the sake of Essetir and its people, you must be on your best behaviour. Your heart is in the right place, my son, so I have no doubts that you will succeed”.
The Crown Prince of Essetir bit his lip and then nodded to himself before raising his head.
“I won’t disappoint. I promise I will do my best to get along with Arthur.”
The sound of quick, sure steps echoed through the stone walls of the castle. With most of the servants helping with the preparations for the Winter Solstice, the hallways were virtually empty making it easier to walk through the maze of corridors and stairs.
It wasn’t unusual that Prince Arthur was summoned by his mother but there had been a note of urgency in her missive that made him abandon his work to go see her.
Soon enough he reached the Queen’s chambers and knocked. He was ushered in by one of his mother’s maids who brought him straight to where the other maids were finishing styling her hair.
“Good afternoon, Mother. You wished to see me?” he asked, straightening his back.
“Ah, my son has finally arrived” she exclaimed, a pleased smile curving her lips.
A maid passed a mirror to the Queen, and she nodded in satisfaction before putting it down and sending the gaggle of handmaids away.
Arthur kept waiting, shifting from foot to foot while his mother gathered her long skirts and moved to seat in front of the fire, patting a seat beside her.
“Come, Arthur, sit. Would you like some wine?”
Ygraine’s pale blonde hair looked golden from the firelight and while her smile was gentle, her clear blue eyes were calculating.
“I’m not in the mood for wine, I’m afraid” he refused the cup his mother was offering “Why did you ask me to come?”
“Can’t a mother wish to see her son?” she inquired, taking a sip of wine, her movements fluid and elegant.
“If only it were just that” replied Arthur “You are making that face again, the one you make when you’re thinking about something troublesome.”
To this, Ygraine giggled, a warm, tinkling sound that reverberated on her chamber walls.
“You are getting better at reading others. Who would’ve thought?” she chuckled “Indeed, your mother is once again thinking about troublesome things. The Queen and Crown Prince of Essetir are due to arrive in Camelot in two days, as I’m sure you already know. And while preparations have been going on for quite some time, there are still some things I wished to discuss with you, privately.”
“What things?”
“I have no doubt that your father has already spoken with you and given you instructions on how to proceed.”
Arthur opened his mouth to speak but Ygraine raised her hand and he stopped, closing it.
“While I don’t know the specifics, I’m fairly certain of what they were. ‘Don’t trust them’ ‘get as much information as you can’ ‘seek any weakness we can exploit’. Am I wrong?”
“Mother---”
“Your father thinks that just because he doesn’t tell me things, I won’t know about them” she sighed, eyes fixed on the flames “Most of the time, it’s harmless and so I let him do as he pleases. But now he’s inching closer and closer to making a mistake that might just condemn us all. I can’t stand by and do nothing.” She then turned towards her son. “You mustn’t listen to him.”
“He’s the King” Arthur replied helplessly.
“That doesn’t make him right.”
“But what if he is? How can you be so sure that we can trust a kingdom filled with magic users, ruled by a sorcerer? We barely have any countermeasures against magic, and they know it. There’s no guarantee that they won’t try to annex Camelot as soon as we lower our guards. After all that has happened with Nimueh---”
“That’s your father talking, not you, Arthur” interrupted Ygraine “And Nimueh has done nothing wrong.”
“Yet”
“Refusing to follow his absurd orders isn’t treason, no matter what your father says. Uther might be King of Camelot, but Nimueh is a High Priestess of the Old Religion. She isn’t here to serve him. And just because Balinor has the power to subdue Camelot doesn’t mean that he will. As long as your father doesn’t provoke him, he has no reason to attack us.”
“How can you trust Nimueh and King Balinor so easily?” huffed the young man “Those with power are bound to use it against those weaker than them. Thinking the opposite is nothing but naivety.”
“It’s not naivety, Arthur. If you gave it some thought, you would realize it too. Balinor is a sorcerer, proficient in offensive magic and a Dragonlord. As such, his power is currently unmatched in all the Five Kingdoms. If he wanted to conquer Camelot, or any other kingdom for that matter, odds are he would succeed without much effort. And yet, he’s done nothing against either of us. For twenty years he’s kept to himself. Same goes for Nimueh. If she wanted to overthrow Uther, she could. But she hasn’t.”
The Queen took her son’s hands in hers and caressed his knuckles while he stayed silent, contemplating the fire.
Ygraine exhaled softly.
“Arthur, I’m not asking you to betray your father. All I’m asking you is that you face Queen Hunith and Prince Merlin without prejudice. Talk to them, actually try to get to know them, and then do as your own heart and conscience tell you.”
Arthur thought about Queen Hunith’s gentle smiles and kind disposition. And then his expression soured, as memories of her awful son went through his mind.
}
“Queen Hunith is a woman of undeniable grace and dignity” he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest “But Merlin is nothing but an annoying, self-righteous fool, who is as stupid as he is ugly. He has no manners, no sense of decorum and no filter. He always says and does as he pleases without regards to the situation and then he has the nerve to smile that ridiculous smile of his!”
Ygraine listened to her son attentively and then a sly smile took over her face.
“Is that why you’ve made a point of following him around?” she asked, her grin widening “You’ve always stayed close to him when he comes to visit, haven’t you?”
“Mother, what are you implying?”
“Nothing, dear! It’s just that it seems a bit curious that even though you claim to dislike him you manage to spend most of your time with him whenever he visits.”
“I am the Crown Prince, it’s my duty to keep him entertained as a guest.”
“You’re right, of course. I hope you continue being this diligent once he arrives. As you said, it is your duty to be a gracious host, specially considering the circumstances we’ve discussed.”
“Of course, Mother. I promise I will be on my best behaviour.”
Snow had finally stopped falling and the skies were a clear blue. The guards had already alerted the royal family that riders carrying Essetir’s banners were approaching and so King Uther, Queen Ygraine and their son had reconvened at the great doors of the castle, along with some of the more senior courtiers.
All three of the Pendragons were dressed in their best winter clothes, meant to display their status and wealth.
Arthur mourned the fact that he had to leave his thickest fur cape behind, as it wasn’t deemed refined enough, and resisted the urge to rub his hands together to warm them up. How his Mother managed to stay as calm and regal as she was even though she was wearing significantly less layers remained a mystery to him.
To her side, King Uther surveilled the distance, his steely blue eyes fixed on the entrance to the citadel. He was wearing his ceremonial armour and kept a cape of bright Pendragon red on his shoulders, his back straight as a rod and his head held high, the light of the morning sun catching on the gold of his crown.
The tense expectation reached a fever point when the guards yelled that the Essetir entourage was to enter the citadel. No sooner had they spoken the words the sound of hooves on cobblestones filled the place.
No less than four knights entered, each carrying a banner depicting the deep blue and silver dragon of Essetir. A fifth rider approached from the center, dismounted, and sounded his trumpet.
“Make way for their Royal Highnesses Queen and Crown Prince of Essetir!” he yelled.
The whole courtyard fell silent, as Queen Hunith and Prince Merlin rode inside the citadel.
They moved with an elegant confidence, riding expertly.
As soon as they reached the center of the courtyard, two servants helped Queen Hunith dismount and Prince Merlin simply leapt from his saddle, landing with unusual grace.
They approached the stairs, each step taken with purpose.
Arthur felt his breath catch on his throat.
Queen Hunith was just as he remembered, even though five years had passed since the last time he had seen her. Her dark hair was in a complicated updo and her own crown glimmered, polished to perfection. She was dressed in a lovely rich blue velvet gown, half covered by an ermine cape.
And slightly behind her…
Arthur could hardly believe that he was looking at Merlin.
Long gone was the lanky teenager of too long, too skinny limbs, whose clothes never seemed to fit.
In his place was a young man with broad shoulders and proud posture, dressed in the blues and silvers of his kingdom. While he was dressed for the weather, it did nothing to hide how the fabric of his doublet tightened against his chest each time he moved.
His face no longer showed that childish innocence that used to be synonymous with him, instead his face showed serene maturity, the cut of his high cheekbones somehow softened by his full lips.
It was only when it was his turn to greet him that Arthur was sure that it was indeed Merlin because no one had eyes like his.
They were blue, like summer skies full of promise, blue like the fresh waters of a lake in the height of spring, blue like longing.
Framed by long, dark lashes and glimmering with something akin to mischief, they pierced him where he stood.
For a second, they stood there, simply looking at each other.
It was only after Ygraine nudged him discreetly that he remembered where he was and what he was supposed to be doing.
“Welcome to Camelot, Prince Merlin. It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest once more” he said, offering his hand to shake.
“The pleasure is all mine, Prince Arthur” replied Merlin, his voice a deeper sound than Arthur remembered “It’s good to be back in Camelot.”
Arthur opened his mouth as if to say something else, but he hesitated under Merlin’s curious stare. He could feel his fingers going numb in the other prince’s hand.
“Well!” said Queen Ygraine, clapping her gloved hands “It’s no good to stay out in the cold! Arthur, dear, would you be so kind as to guide our guests to their rooms?”
“Of course, Mother. If you would follow me, Queen Hunith, Prince Merlin?” he asked, offering his arm to the older woman.
Arthur engaged Queen Hunith in small talk while they walked through the corridors, up to the second floor where the guest rooms were prepared for them.
“I see you went all out with the decorations” said the woman, her eyes following the boughs of holly lined up over the walls.
“The Queen insisted” replied Arthur “Since it’s been a couple years since we last saw each other.”
“Queen Ygraine has always had a keen eye for beauty. Her hospitality honours us” added Queen Hunith “We were just talking about how nice it was to be back in Camelot, weren’t we, Merlin?” she asked, sending a pointed look towards her son.
Merlin, who had stayed silent up until that moment, gave her a pleasant smile.
“Indeed, we were” he answered smoothly “I have the fondest of memories from my previous visits”.
Arthur glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, the right corner of his mouth quirking in what would be called a coy smile in anyone else. Merlin knew it was the start of a mocking grin.
“I’m glad to hear that. I feared for a moment that you hadn’t enjoyed yourself as much as I remembered.”
Merlin narrowed his eyes the slightest bit before smiling back at him, the expression barely managing to crease the corners of his eyes.
“Fret not, Prince Arthur. Each time I have visited you have been nothing but cordial and accommodating.”
Arthur returned his smile with a wider one, his lips stretching in a taut line.
“I do strive to make my guests feel at ease. It doesn’t matter the rank or title, even those who might be considered lesser are sure to be treated with the utmost respect.”
“I will make sure to tell that to William. He has developed a certain fondness for you, you know? After all, he has never laughed as much as he did in your company” replied Merlin staring straight into his eyes, as if challenging him.
Forget everything he had thought before about his eyes, they were just plain annoying.
“Oh, Prince Arthur, is that a new tapestry? Such remarkable handcrafting!” interrupted Queen Hunith.
Merlin made a muted sound as if he was in pain and Arthur hoped his mother had stepped on his foot.
“My mother loves tapestries, you see. She is used to looking at the most exquisite needlework in the Five Kingdoms, courtesy of William’s mother. Saying that something else is remarkable is a high praise indeed!”
Arthur thought he could hear a hissed ‘Merlin’ but he paid it no mind. If Merlin wanted to keep this up, he was more than ready.
“How is William, Prince Merlin? I had wished to play die with him once more but as far as I saw he wasn’t part of your entourage.”
“He is dutifully managing some of my pending affairs back in Essetir. He did send his regards, though. Said that if Prince Arthur was amenable, he would love to play die again.”
“Splendid! Tell him that the next time we’ll play a few rounds. Since he has such good luck, I better be ready.”
“Well, he did win against you fair and square.”
“If only I had a friend like you playing beside me, blessing my die.”
He would not be the first to cave in, he could keep this up, he could keep this up---
“If only, right? Luck is a cruel mistress, as they say. But I’d argue that she tends to favour those who show courage and dignity.”
He couldn't keep this up---
“Are you implying something, Merlin?”
“What would make you say that?” asked Merlin back, batting his eyelashes, voice honey sweet “I’m not implying anything. I’m telling it to your face.”
“Merlin!” cried Queen Hunith.
“Feeling brave now, are we? I could take you apart with one blow.”
“Prince Arthur!”
“And I could take you apart with less than that” replied Merlin, eyes flashing gold.
Wind started rising around them and Arthur could feel his skin tingling from how saturated the corridor was with magic. His blood thrummed inside his veins, adrenaline pumping quickly through his limbs.
But as soon as he readied himself for Merlin’s strike, the wind dissipated, barely ruffling the ends of their capes before disappearing altogether.
“This isn’t worth it” huffed Merlin, flicking his hand dismissively “You don’t have to keep guiding us, Prince Arthur” he added, tone flat “I remember the way from here”.
And before either Hunith or Arthur could react, he strode away.
Merlin hoped that Arthur was, by some miracle, being scolded like he was.
Hunith had been berating him for an hour straight, in that awful way she did when she didn’t raise her voice but kept a constant stream of words, barely taking the time to breathe, her gaze blazing with equal parts fury and disappointment.
And while he wasn’t obtuse enough to deny that he had been a second away from causing a diplomatic nightmare, he hadn’t hexed Arthur, so in the end, it had been a bit of a success, hadn’t it?
“Don’t you dare say that at least you didn’t hex Prince Arthur” growled Hunith as if she had read his mind “This was the exact opposite of everything we agreed on!”
“It’s not my fault, he started it!”
“It doesn’t matter who started it! You are not a child anymore so stop acting like one! Did you listen to a thing I said before? We are supposed to ease the tension, not make it worse!”
“Mother---”
“I don’t want to hear a single sound from you, Merlin Ambrosius. You are going to apologize to Prince Arthur and pray that he hasn’t told anything to King Uther yet. Are we clear?”
Merlin opened his mouth but one quick look at his mother’s face made him fall silent.
Queen Hunith wasn’t just angry at him (which, truly, he couldn’t blame her for) she was scared.
“Mother, what’s wrong?” he asked, gently touching her shoulder.
The woman sighed, her body slumping forward.
“Did I ever tell you how your father became king?”
Arthur hadn’t planned to go into the royal gardens, but he felt incapable of staying inside.
The walls were probably still echoing, the way Queen Ygraine had chastised him as soon as he’d told her what had happened.
He sat in a stone bench and stared at the snow.
Why was it that he was so incapable of behaving when Merlin was involved?
It hadn’t been the first time someone had made snide remarks about him, the Triple Goddess knew that King Olaf took any and all chances to start a fight with him.
But somehow, no matter how humiliating, he had been able to reign in his temper.
Why couldn’t he do the same with Merlin?
Why was it that his words stung more?
“Prince Arthur?” asked a voice from afar, hesitance colouring its tones.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
“ Prince Merlin” he replied, turning around to see the other man making his way through the snow.
“I looked everywhere for you” huffed Merlin once he was closer.
“Well, you found me.”
The young sorcerer faltered; his hands restless. He bit his lip and took another step forward and then a second and a third one, until he stood directly in front of Arthur.
“I wanted to offer my deepest apologies. I have no excuse for the way I behaved earlier today. I know I’m in no position to demand anything of you, but if you could find it in yourself to forgive me, I would be forever grateful.”
Arthur regarded Merlin.
His nose and his hands were reddening from the cold, his shoulders were slightly hunched, as if he were carrying his guilt with him.
And while his mouth was twisted in a grimace, his eyes were wide and vulnerable.
He had no reason to trust it, but everything pointed at Merlin being honest.
Arthur sighed.
“Apology accepted.”
His answer seemed to confuse the other prince, his mouth falling open.
“What?”
“I said, apology accepted, Mer-lin”
“Are you serious? You’re going to forgive me? Just like that?”
“What, are you somehow displeased with that?”
To this Merlin raised his hands in front of his chest in a placating gesture.
“No, no, of course not. But---you do realize I was about to cast a spell against you, right?”
The Pendragon snorted.
“Really. I hadn’t noticed.”
“And yet, you’re willing to forgive me? With no questions or humiliating demands?”
“I could make you run around in Morgana’s dresses again, if you’re so keen on making things difficult for yourself.”
“Why would you even suggest that!”
“You were the one who brought it up.” shrugged Arthur, kicking some snow away.
“Well, excuse me for being surprised. It’s not everyday that you’re so willing to let things go.”
“You'd rather I held a grudge?” he snorted.
“Shut up, you know exactly what I mean.”
“I just felt like it” was all Arthur offered, lightly shrugging again “You looked sorry enough.”
And while he didn’t feel like he’d done anything extraordinary, the way Merlin’s smile lit up his face made him feel like maybe he had.
“You can be considerate when you want to” he said, awed.
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
Merlin took a seat beside him without asking.
“I am sorry, you know” he said “I should’ve never even thought about using my magic against you. No matter how annoying you were being.”
“I shouldn’t have pushed you to it.”
Merlin shook his head.
“It was my fault. You only reacted to the way I was treating you.”
They stayed in silence for a few minutes, simply watching the bluebirds chasing each other.
“Truth is, I didn’t really want to come” continued Merlin “But my mother insisted.”
“Why? She knows we don’t get along, right? why force you to come here?”
The other prince sighed; eyes fixed on the slowly darkening skies.
“As a sign of good faith. It was supposed to help improve the relations between our kingdoms.”
Arthur couldn’t help it. He laughed.
“How?” he chortled “We can’t stand each other”
“I told her the same!” complained Merlin, throwing his hands up “But it was too late to decline the invitation and, well, it’s not like I don’t get why it’s so important for her that we maintain peace with Camelot.”
“Ah, so you’re aware of the situation as well.”
“Indeed” Merlin sighed again.
Another silence, each one lost to their thoughts.
“Do you know how my father became King of Essetir?” asked Merlin abruptly.
“All I know is what my father told me. That Balinor came to Essetir from the Dragonlands, with a pack of dragons and an army of sorcerers and took the throne from Cenred, crowning himself the new king.”
The other man nodded.
“That’s true, of course. But it isn’t the whole story. My father came from the Dragonlands to Essetir during a summer, twenty-two years ago, looking for a dragon egg that was supposedly in the forest between Camelot and Essetir. In order to go undetected, he decided to go on foot rather than ride a dragon and on his way, he stumbled upon the small village of Ealdor and met my mother. My mother offered him a place to stay and well, they fell in love. They courted and then married. My father intended to stay with her in Ealdor but even in a place like that news of what Cenred was doing reached them. He was forcing sorcerers to do his bidding, aided by dark magic. He only kept those who showed the most potential. The others? He killed. My parents knew that sooner than later Cenred would find out about my father and so they planned to go back to the Dragonlands but before they could leave, they realized my mother was pregnant.
So, they had to stay put and wait until my mother gave birth.
And it should’ve been fine…for at least a while longer.
But then, one of Cenred’s sorcerers got hold on an ancient druidic prophecy.
One about Emrys, the greatest sorcerer to ever walk the Earth.
My mother told me that I was barely a week old when Cenred’s men came for me.
But they couldn’t take me because my father killed them.
My mother went into hiding, carrying me in her arms and my father went to confront Cenred.
Wherever he went he liberated the enslaved sorcerers. Some fled, but some went with him.
And once he reached the capital, my father demanded that Cenred free the rest of them and stopped hunting me.
But, of course, it wasn’t that simple.
And war started.
In the end, no matter how big Cenred’s army was, he wasn’t a match for the dragons.
The kingdom without a king and after being ravaged by war, begged him to become king.
That’s the story.”
“Balinor became King of Essetir for you”.
“He did. Just so I, and many others, could live freely.” sighed Merlin. “My father is a kind man and despises violence, no matter how good he is with combat magic. Fighting the war against Cenred killed something inside him. I can’t make him go through that again. I can’t ruin the peace he gave up so much to achieve”
Arthur nodded in silence, willing Merlin to continue.
“That’s why I wanted to apologize. I’ve let my own pettiness get in the way of something more important”
“As I said before, apology accepted.”
Merlin smiled gratefully at him.
“I think that…the first step towards cementing the peace my father fought to achieve…is to stop the conflict between Essetir and Camelot from escalating. And…I think it must start here, with us.”
“What do you propose we do then, Mer-lin?”
"A truce. You stop being a dollophead and I stop hexing you. And who knows? Maybe we can start again. I know it's not like we can suddenly forget the last fifteen years of knowing each other. But I feel like I want to try. What do you say?" asked the other prince offering his hand.
Arthur stared at it before removing one of his gloves and taking Merlin's hand, revelling in the contrast between them. The young sorcerer's slenders fingers curled against his own and even though they were cold, Arthur could feel a strange warmth coursing through him.
And the smile Merlin gifted him then felt like the first step towards a future.