Reunited
Author: Gilli_ann
Title: Reunited
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Hunith, Leon
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin (future)
Summary: Arthur reencounters Merlin in Ealdor.
Word Count: 610
Prompt: 'Confront'
Author's Notes: Canon AU, sequel to 'Attack on Ealdor'
Reunited
Merlin nodded at Arthur. "Hello, Prince Prat. It's been a while."
"Deferential as ever, I hear."
Merlin's destiny seemed to be calling forth a mixture of irritation and anticipation in Arthur. Both made themselves known in abundance now.
"How's the fox hunting going?" Merlin asked. "Hit and miss?"
"I haven't got time for that, I'm hunting armed bandits and protecting villages these days."
"Our prince in shining armour?" Merlin asked, tilting his head in a mock-inquisitive manner.
"From the look of your cheek, seems I got here just in time. The villains would have made mincemeat of you."
"I can protect myself. Let me-"
"Enough." Tucking disarrayed strands of her hair back under her headscarf, Hunith gave Merlin a stern glance. "Behave yourself. The prince has just helped save our lives and the whole of Ealdor. It seems you've already met my son, Prince Arthur? We both thank you."
"My pleasure," Arthur said, mollified. "These lawless marauders made everyone unsafe. They won't be bothering you again."
"We've been living in fear recently."
Arthur looked around. "I understand that's why you'd keep such a vicious guard dog, madam, especially if it's only you and Merlin here, but you should keep it in check. You wouldn't want your dog to attack any of my men. Where is it?"
Hunith's eyes went to her son. She opened her mouth to reply, but Merlin got there first.
"No worries. I sent it off into the woods."
"Off to visit with all your little friends, is he?"
Merlin grinned. "You remembered that?"
"Hard to forget. What's his name?"
"It's - uhm."
"It's Dragoon." Hunith said evenly. "He's mostly a very good and obedient dog."
Merlin snorted and rolled his eyes, but didn't make any comment.
Hunith changed the subject. "May we offer you and your men some refreshments, Prince Arthur? We haven't got much, but some apple cider, bread and cheese?"
Feeding Arthur and his men would likely deplete the village stores. He shook his head. "I thank you, but we should return across the border to Camelot at once, and we'll bring the suriving bandits with us. King Cenred will not be pleased to have us on his lands.
"Oh, Cenred," Hunith said, dismissively, her eyes narrowing. "What has he ever done for us?"
In that moment, Arthur saw the clear resemblance between mother and son. He bit back a smile.
Hunith looked from Arthur to Merlin and back again. "Prince Arthur, might I ask another favour of you? I have been in contact with an old friend of mine, your court physician. Gaius has offered to take Merlin on as an apprentice. Would you allow my son to travel to Camelot in your company?"
"Mum!" Merlin looked less than thrilled. "I can make it on my own."
Hunith frowned at him. "It would ease my mind that you didn't. There may be more bandits in the woods, and other dangers as well."
"But Prince Arthur is so annoy-"
"Hush, Merlin," Hunith said forcefully. "Enough of this."
Arthur sensed his familiar blend of annoyance and elation intensifying. "Gaius serves the royal family well. I will be very happy to let his apprentice ride with us. Merlin can borrow one of our spare horses."
"Thank you," Hunith said.
Feigning worry, Arthur looked at Merlin. "You do know how to ride a horse, I hope?"
Merlin's affronted expression made Arthur positively gleeful.
"Of course," Merlin said, jaws clenched.
Arthur nodded at mother and son, and turned to go. "Be ready to leave in half an hour, then. We ride for Camelot."
Title: Reunited
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Hunith, Leon
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin (future)
Summary: Arthur reencounters Merlin in Ealdor.
Word Count: 610
Prompt: 'Confront'
Author's Notes: Canon AU, sequel to 'Attack on Ealdor'
Reunited
Merlin nodded at Arthur. "Hello, Prince Prat. It's been a while."
"Deferential as ever, I hear."
Merlin's destiny seemed to be calling forth a mixture of irritation and anticipation in Arthur. Both made themselves known in abundance now.
"How's the fox hunting going?" Merlin asked. "Hit and miss?"
"I haven't got time for that, I'm hunting armed bandits and protecting villages these days."
"Our prince in shining armour?" Merlin asked, tilting his head in a mock-inquisitive manner.
"From the look of your cheek, seems I got here just in time. The villains would have made mincemeat of you."
"I can protect myself. Let me-"
"Enough." Tucking disarrayed strands of her hair back under her headscarf, Hunith gave Merlin a stern glance. "Behave yourself. The prince has just helped save our lives and the whole of Ealdor. It seems you've already met my son, Prince Arthur? We both thank you."
"My pleasure," Arthur said, mollified. "These lawless marauders made everyone unsafe. They won't be bothering you again."
"We've been living in fear recently."
Arthur looked around. "I understand that's why you'd keep such a vicious guard dog, madam, especially if it's only you and Merlin here, but you should keep it in check. You wouldn't want your dog to attack any of my men. Where is it?"
Hunith's eyes went to her son. She opened her mouth to reply, but Merlin got there first.
"No worries. I sent it off into the woods."
"Off to visit with all your little friends, is he?"
Merlin grinned. "You remembered that?"
"Hard to forget. What's his name?"
"It's - uhm."
"It's Dragoon." Hunith said evenly. "He's mostly a very good and obedient dog."
Merlin snorted and rolled his eyes, but didn't make any comment.
Hunith changed the subject. "May we offer you and your men some refreshments, Prince Arthur? We haven't got much, but some apple cider, bread and cheese?"
Feeding Arthur and his men would likely deplete the village stores. He shook his head. "I thank you, but we should return across the border to Camelot at once, and we'll bring the suriving bandits with us. King Cenred will not be pleased to have us on his lands.
"Oh, Cenred," Hunith said, dismissively, her eyes narrowing. "What has he ever done for us?"
In that moment, Arthur saw the clear resemblance between mother and son. He bit back a smile.
Hunith looked from Arthur to Merlin and back again. "Prince Arthur, might I ask another favour of you? I have been in contact with an old friend of mine, your court physician. Gaius has offered to take Merlin on as an apprentice. Would you allow my son to travel to Camelot in your company?"
"Mum!" Merlin looked less than thrilled. "I can make it on my own."
Hunith frowned at him. "It would ease my mind that you didn't. There may be more bandits in the woods, and other dangers as well."
"But Prince Arthur is so annoy-"
"Hush, Merlin," Hunith said forcefully. "Enough of this."
Arthur sensed his familiar blend of annoyance and elation intensifying. "Gaius serves the royal family well. I will be very happy to let his apprentice ride with us. Merlin can borrow one of our spare horses."
"Thank you," Hunith said.
Feigning worry, Arthur looked at Merlin. "You do know how to ride a horse, I hope?"
Merlin's affronted expression made Arthur positively gleeful.
"Of course," Merlin said, jaws clenched.
Arthur nodded at mother and son, and turned to go. "Be ready to leave in half an hour, then. We ride for Camelot."