Chapter Text
“Good morning, Merlin!”
Merlin managed to only drop an apple from his tray of fruits he was bringing for Arthur’s breakfast. “Wh- good morning, sire! This is… unusual!”
“You can have that one.” Arthur snickered, pointing to the red apple rolling underneath his bed.
Merlin grabbed for the apple because he was, in fact, hungry. “Thanks! …Are you feeling okay?” Merlin was both amused and suspicious. First of all, Arthur was laughing. His bed was made, he was clothed, and most surprising he was working. Sitting at his desk, actually reading reports from his father.
“Just fantastic, Merlin! I’ve got good news. You and I are going hunting over the weekend!” Arthur stood up and made his way to his breakfast platter. With a mouthful of food he rambled on, “Nicest weather we’ve had in a long while. There haven’t been any attacks in weeks, so father said now would be a great time for a hunt. We’ll leave tomorrow at dawn. Just us. You can have the rest of the day to help Gaius before your absence.”
Merlin blinked a few times in shock, trying to process the change of events and seeing his Prince so unusually chipper. “Are you sure you can manage without me the rest of the day?”
“I’ve managed pretty well without you so far today, if you hadn’t noticed.”
“Yes… it appears you have.”
“Oh Merlin.” There he goes again, laughing. His annoying, arrogant, strong, beautiful laugh. “Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the help any other day.” Merlin’s jaw slacked while Arthur made his way back to his desk. “Meet me at the stables at dawn.” He said while waving his hand dismissively.
Merlin damn near scurried out of Arthur’s chambers.
Merlin couldn’t help but smile as he walked the stoned streets of the lower town, collecting herbs and other ingredients for Gaius. Spring was blooming, bringing warmth, food, and good spirits all around. Maybe his interaction with Arthur wasn’t so strange. It had been over a year now since Merlin arrived in Camelot after all. He liked to think him and Arthur were on more friendly terms as of late.
Home. Merlin paused, startled at his own thoughts. He looked at his surroundings, admiring the castle in the background. Yes, this is home now.
The thought comforted him. He missed his mother, of course, but now he had a father figure in Gaius. He had friends now; Lancelot, Gwen, Morgana, maybe even Arthur. He even could name most of the commoners selling throughout the lower town.
“Merlin! Merlin!” Tiny hands grabbed at his own, pulling him from his reverie.
“Oh, my little Maysie!
Maysie squealed with delight as Merlin picked her up and sat her on his hip. “Hey, I’m four now!”
“Now that can’t be right!” Maysie just giggled as Merlin booped her nose and turned toward her mother’s booth. “Hi, Sarah.”
Sarah was the first person he ever spoke to upon arriving in Camelot, buying a red neckerchief to protect him from the wind that day. It was still hard for Merlin to imagine this quiet young lady to be raising a child completely alone. Today she was wearing a soft yellow dress, her long dark hair wrapped in a spiral on top of her head, looking anything but common.
“Hi, Merlin. Maysie has been waiting for you to stop by all week.” Sarah smiled sweetly.
“Arthur finally gave me a day off, can you believe it?”
“Mommy, I want to see Prince Arthur!”
Sarah chuckled, “You’ve seen him walk by several times, my sweet.”
“Nooooo, I want to hug him!”
Merlin really laughed at that, imagining Arthur’s face if Maysie were to ambush him with a hug. “Have you been up to the castle before, Maysie?”
“Noooo!” Maysie squealed as Sarah shook her head no.
“Can I show her the gardens, Sarah?”
“That won’t be a problem?”
“Of course not!” Merlin placed the girl back on solid ground and took hold of her hand, and Sarah took his basket of ingredients for safe keeping until their return. “Oh, before I forget the reason I was walking by in the first place!” Merlin reached into his pocket with his free hand, grabbing a few coins and handing them to Sarah. “I need a few more of those red neckerchiefs. I don’t go a day without this one.”
“Oh Merlin, you’re too good to us.” Sarah blushed, reaching up and grabbing two of the red cloths hanging above her head.
Merlin noticed a faded gold neckerchief. That would look perfect on Arthur. “Actually, make it a red one, and a gold one.”