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Arthur groans, popping his back for what had to be the thousandth time that day. He pulls his hat down, attempting to block out a little more of the sun harshly beating down on his back, and ties up the bag of carrots, dragging them behind him to the little farm house a little ways away.
His home.
"Sometimes, I dream of leaving Camelot," Arthur murmurs, staring out into a field, decidedly not looking at Gwen during his moment of weakness. It didn't matter that they'd been friends a long time, he was still uncomfortable showing his weaknesses to anyone.
"Really? Where would you go?" she asks in turn, seeming almost entirely unsurprised.
Being a prince was hard work with all of the meetings and training and he wanted nothing more than to have no responsibilities, to be with whoever he wished and go wherever he wanted to go.
The people closest to him knew that, helped him relax on occasion, protecting him from his father's wrath.
"I don't know. Somewhere where nobody knew who I was. I'd get some land and become a farmer." The idea was merely a fantasy, something he'd dream about in the morning before he dragged himself out of bed to continue his princely responsibilities.
He's certain that he wouldn't really enjoy being a farmer if he lived that life, but he could wish, could dream of a simpler life.
He dreamed of being away from people, not just his kingdom, but everyone. He wouldn't have to keep up a façade of being brave and strong at any moment of the day.
He dreams of a nice, quiet life where he can breathe fresh air and care for the crops he lovingly plants, for the animals he lovingly feeds.
He dreams of a life where he has to work for money, brutal and hard and not deadly, instead of just inheriting it, where he doesn't have to fight every day to prove his worth, to save anyone.
Gwen laughs and the sound tears him from his thoughts. "I can hardly see you toiling away in the field all day."
"Obviously I'd take Merlin with me. He can do all the hard work," Arthur supplies, knowing that wouldn't be the case, even if Merlin did join him in his fantasy lifestyle. He wanted the satisfaction of farming.
He'd go crazy otherwise.
"I'm sure he'd love that," Gwen mutters, smile softening as she imagined the two living on a farm together. There would be a lot of arguing no doubt, but they would be happy.
Arms snake around his middle when he releases the carrots on the floor, startling him out of his reverie.
Merlin kisses his cheek, a smile adorning his features as he asks, so quiet it's almost unheard in the stillness of their home, "What are you thinking about?"
"I told Gwen, once upon a time, that I wanted to leave Camelot."
"Did you now? Well, you got what you wanted," Merlin muttered into his neck, hugging him tighter.
"She told me she could never see me doing any farm work. I told her that I'd bring you along of course. I'm starting to suspect she knew, even then, that I had feelings for you, before even I had."
"Why bring me then?"
"So you could do all the hard work, of course," Arthur states.
"Ah, but we can't have that because then we wouldn't have any dinner," Merlin chuckled.
"And I would miss all those fine meals," Arthur teases before turning in his grip and pulling Merlin into a loving kiss.
Arthur may have been a prince before, with all the riches in the world and all the food and things he could ask for, but he wouldn't trade this life, here with Merlin on their farm with their sheep bleating in the background, for anything.