Fic - A Quiet Decision (3/4)
Part 3 - Heading in Part 1
“Alright then, Merlin, since you’ve managed to get me out of the castle unsupervised - what’s next?” Arthur spread his arms wide, indicating the expansive and locally deserted, forest.
“Oh! Uh…” Now it seemed it was Merlin’s turn to stammer a bit, having no plan to engage..
“You had a brilliant plan to get me out of the castle and then what - didn’t you think ahead? Really, Merlin.” Arthur tsk-tsked and frowned comically.
“Well, um, yeah, of course!” Merlin offered with a false sense of cheer. “Just you know I didn’t expect it to be today. No sneak-attack plans. Sorry.”
Arthur chuckled again, despite himself. “You did say you were just about to eat?”
“I can wait, it’s no problem.”
“Merlin, don’t be stupid. If you’re hungry, eat. I’ll just…sit down with you. We can talk.”
“Talk.”
“Yes, talk, Merlin. Conversation.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur frowned for real this time. “What’s the matter? Don’t think I can hold a conversation?” Merlin suddenly moved closer toward the path and began walking back toward the horses.
“Of course not! I mean, I’m sure you’re perfectly capable of conversation, sire.”
“Right. I am. So let’s talk.” Arthur hurried his steps just a bit to catch-up to Merlin then slowed-down to match his strides. They walked back to the horses in companionable silence while Arthur struggled to find something to say, and Merlin looked to be trying to smother a laugh. They reached the horses, having said not a word.
“Wow, that was enlightening, Arthur,” Merlin cackled gleefully, after pulling the sack with his lunch out of the horses pack.
“Oh, shut. Up.” Arthur cuffed him upside the head for good measure and to relieve a bit of his own frustration. For once, Merlin actually obeyed him, though it was due to food being stuffed into his mouth rather than any sort of actual acquiescence to Arthur’s demands. He could pretend, though. He was good at that.
He joined Merlin on the ground under the tree next to the horses. He watched, fascinated, as Merlin delicately picked pieces off the bread loaf with his long fingers and then shoved them into his mouth as if he were starving. The juxtaposition between the almost sensual art of picking the bread off and the totally low-brow way he ate it fascinated Arthur, though he couldn’t exactly say why.
“Did you want some, sire?”
Merlin was looking at him, gratefully misreading his staring for hunger. Point - Arthur. “No, I’m fine, thank you, Merlin.”
“Ok. Suit yourself.”
Merlin kept looking over at him, though, and Arthur found it increasingly difficult to sit still whilst watching Merlin’s delicate hands and his fingers being so gentle with the loaf and then sliding obscenely in and out of his mouth…”Got any cheese in there?” Arthur was somewhat amazed he managed to keep his voice even.
“Um, yeah I think so… here.”
Merlin handed him a small chunk but Arthur was grateful for the distraction. He fought a grin as he decided to see if he could give as good as he was getting. Relaxing back against the tree, he dropped one leg straight out in front of him, keeping the other bent. Merlin briefly looked at him but didn’t stop his lunch. Arthur started slow. He didn’t have the same amount of food to work with, although at the rate Merlin was going, they’d be evenly matched soon enough. Doing his best to affect an air of casual nonchalance practiced in front of many dignitaries and courtiers, Arthur picked off his first piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth, letting his eyes fall shut. He couldn’t afford to see if Merlin was watching so soon - he picked off another small chunk and pushed it between his lips, chewing slowly.
“How’s your cheese?”
Merlin sounded a bit high-pitched and Arthur used all his diplomatic skill not to let the smirk show. “Delightful.” If he lowered his voice an octave, well, that was just the way it was done, yes?
“Mmm.” Merlin chewed a bit more on the bread he already had in his mouth. “Guess I should make sure there’s always cheese on your plates from the kitchen, then?”
Damn but that boy recovered fast. Then again, Arthur remembered they’d been playing a variation on this game for well over a year. If Merlin hadn’t built-up some sort of tolerance by now, he should be housed permanently in the dungeons. “It’s your job to serve my whims, Merlin.” Arthur drawled, letting the words hang between them.
But Merlin didn’t respond, and Arthur felt the loss of it.
He felt Merlin standing beside him, and opened his eyes. Merlin brushed-off crumbs casually from his pants and turned to Arthur. The moment was brief wherein he seemed to take-in Arthur in all his relaxation. “Well, that’s all I’ve got for food, I’m afraid. What now?”
Arthur made quick work of his remaining cheese and stood. “You’re the one with the plan, remember?”
Merlin gave him a sour look. “Right.”
Arthur checked-over the horses, making sure they were cooled and seemed to be done grazing. “Do you have anything else to collect for Gaius?”
“Yeah, a few more plants. Most of them grow up by the lake.”
“Well, then - lead the way.” Arthur watched as Merlin made his own inspection of the horses, as he knew he would, and then turned to face him.
“Ready?” Arthur merely gestured forward with his hand, indicating for Merlin to lead the way. They mounted their steeds and proceeded side-by-side down the trail.
“Is this really the plan you had for today?” Merlin’s look was one of confusion.
“Of course not. I’m the Crown Prince. I usually don’t make my own plans.”
It was an absurdly ‘Arthur’ thing to say. Merlin had to chuckle. “No offense, sire, but even if you wanted out of the castle, you could have grabbed a few knights and gone hunting - surely your arm is good enough by now?”
Arthur noticed the way Merlin’s voice caught on the last part and it made him warm, inside. “I’m sure. I just didn’t want to hunt today.”
“Hmm. Well, I suppose it’s no secret I’m happy about that,” Merlin chuckled.
Arthur let himself laugh along and they lapsed once again into companionable silence. After a bit, without the distractions of a hunt for either game or something plaguing Camelot, Arthur noticed Merlin kept looking at him. It wasn’t a terrible thing, and Arthur fancied he was a sight to behold even without his armor. He’d been told so, anyway. He didn’t let on he noticed and tried not to draw any extra attention to himself; merely watched. Arthur had realized recently he could learn much more by simply watching.
part 4 - http://zafra.livejournal.com/134389.html
“Alright then, Merlin, since you’ve managed to get me out of the castle unsupervised - what’s next?” Arthur spread his arms wide, indicating the expansive and locally deserted, forest.
“Oh! Uh…” Now it seemed it was Merlin’s turn to stammer a bit, having no plan to engage..
“You had a brilliant plan to get me out of the castle and then what - didn’t you think ahead? Really, Merlin.” Arthur tsk-tsked and frowned comically.
“Well, um, yeah, of course!” Merlin offered with a false sense of cheer. “Just you know I didn’t expect it to be today. No sneak-attack plans. Sorry.”
Arthur chuckled again, despite himself. “You did say you were just about to eat?”
“I can wait, it’s no problem.”
“Merlin, don’t be stupid. If you’re hungry, eat. I’ll just…sit down with you. We can talk.”
“Talk.”
“Yes, talk, Merlin. Conversation.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur frowned for real this time. “What’s the matter? Don’t think I can hold a conversation?” Merlin suddenly moved closer toward the path and began walking back toward the horses.
“Of course not! I mean, I’m sure you’re perfectly capable of conversation, sire.”
“Right. I am. So let’s talk.” Arthur hurried his steps just a bit to catch-up to Merlin then slowed-down to match his strides. They walked back to the horses in companionable silence while Arthur struggled to find something to say, and Merlin looked to be trying to smother a laugh. They reached the horses, having said not a word.
“Wow, that was enlightening, Arthur,” Merlin cackled gleefully, after pulling the sack with his lunch out of the horses pack.
“Oh, shut. Up.” Arthur cuffed him upside the head for good measure and to relieve a bit of his own frustration. For once, Merlin actually obeyed him, though it was due to food being stuffed into his mouth rather than any sort of actual acquiescence to Arthur’s demands. He could pretend, though. He was good at that.
He joined Merlin on the ground under the tree next to the horses. He watched, fascinated, as Merlin delicately picked pieces off the bread loaf with his long fingers and then shoved them into his mouth as if he were starving. The juxtaposition between the almost sensual art of picking the bread off and the totally low-brow way he ate it fascinated Arthur, though he couldn’t exactly say why.
“Did you want some, sire?”
Merlin was looking at him, gratefully misreading his staring for hunger. Point - Arthur. “No, I’m fine, thank you, Merlin.”
“Ok. Suit yourself.”
Merlin kept looking over at him, though, and Arthur found it increasingly difficult to sit still whilst watching Merlin’s delicate hands and his fingers being so gentle with the loaf and then sliding obscenely in and out of his mouth…”Got any cheese in there?” Arthur was somewhat amazed he managed to keep his voice even.
“Um, yeah I think so… here.”
Merlin handed him a small chunk but Arthur was grateful for the distraction. He fought a grin as he decided to see if he could give as good as he was getting. Relaxing back against the tree, he dropped one leg straight out in front of him, keeping the other bent. Merlin briefly looked at him but didn’t stop his lunch. Arthur started slow. He didn’t have the same amount of food to work with, although at the rate Merlin was going, they’d be evenly matched soon enough. Doing his best to affect an air of casual nonchalance practiced in front of many dignitaries and courtiers, Arthur picked off his first piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth, letting his eyes fall shut. He couldn’t afford to see if Merlin was watching so soon - he picked off another small chunk and pushed it between his lips, chewing slowly.
“How’s your cheese?”
Merlin sounded a bit high-pitched and Arthur used all his diplomatic skill not to let the smirk show. “Delightful.” If he lowered his voice an octave, well, that was just the way it was done, yes?
“Mmm.” Merlin chewed a bit more on the bread he already had in his mouth. “Guess I should make sure there’s always cheese on your plates from the kitchen, then?”
Damn but that boy recovered fast. Then again, Arthur remembered they’d been playing a variation on this game for well over a year. If Merlin hadn’t built-up some sort of tolerance by now, he should be housed permanently in the dungeons. “It’s your job to serve my whims, Merlin.” Arthur drawled, letting the words hang between them.
But Merlin didn’t respond, and Arthur felt the loss of it.
He felt Merlin standing beside him, and opened his eyes. Merlin brushed-off crumbs casually from his pants and turned to Arthur. The moment was brief wherein he seemed to take-in Arthur in all his relaxation. “Well, that’s all I’ve got for food, I’m afraid. What now?”
Arthur made quick work of his remaining cheese and stood. “You’re the one with the plan, remember?”
Merlin gave him a sour look. “Right.”
Arthur checked-over the horses, making sure they were cooled and seemed to be done grazing. “Do you have anything else to collect for Gaius?”
“Yeah, a few more plants. Most of them grow up by the lake.”
“Well, then - lead the way.” Arthur watched as Merlin made his own inspection of the horses, as he knew he would, and then turned to face him.
“Ready?” Arthur merely gestured forward with his hand, indicating for Merlin to lead the way. They mounted their steeds and proceeded side-by-side down the trail.
“Is this really the plan you had for today?” Merlin’s look was one of confusion.
“Of course not. I’m the Crown Prince. I usually don’t make my own plans.”
It was an absurdly ‘Arthur’ thing to say. Merlin had to chuckle. “No offense, sire, but even if you wanted out of the castle, you could have grabbed a few knights and gone hunting - surely your arm is good enough by now?”
Arthur noticed the way Merlin’s voice caught on the last part and it made him warm, inside. “I’m sure. I just didn’t want to hunt today.”
“Hmm. Well, I suppose it’s no secret I’m happy about that,” Merlin chuckled.
Arthur let himself laugh along and they lapsed once again into companionable silence. After a bit, without the distractions of a hunt for either game or something plaguing Camelot, Arthur noticed Merlin kept looking at him. It wasn’t a terrible thing, and Arthur fancied he was a sight to behold even without his armor. He’d been told so, anyway. He didn’t let on he noticed and tried not to draw any extra attention to himself; merely watched. Arthur had realized recently he could learn much more by simply watching.
part 4 - http://zafra.livejournal.com/134389.html