Author's Note: I blame my friend on getting me hooked on Merlin. Thus here's a new fanfiction (and yes there will be more).

Arthur Pendragon found himself watching Merlin yet again as Gwen and Morgana helped the servant boy learn to fight more easily with a sword. Yes, he probably should be the one doing that, causing their swords to clash against one another's, he should be the one… The one that cause the sweat on Merlin's brow, causing his chest to heave with heavy breaths from how long he had been moving. The servant, for all of his many faults, was fast and able to dodge most of the blows that Morgana sent his way. It pleased the young prince to watch though he would have taken more pleasure from being the one training him, but the girls had insisted. The smile on his lips appeared again as he leaned against the side of the castle watching, it meant he could take Merlin out on a hunt alone, without the guards.

It was something he had done in the past, but always within an hour's ride from the court, this time however, this time he had asked his father if he could go away for several days. To escape the castle and the duties of being a prince (not that he paid much mind to them other than obeying his father), but the one condition had been he had to take a trained knight, and his servant. Normally, that wouldn't had bothered Arthur, but he did not want to still be under his father's thumb. It had been a long shot to ask the all mighty and powerful king Uther for his blessing to go on the hunt, but it worked. They were to leave the next morning.

The young prince Pendragon took one last look at his manservant before he straightened up and went to check on the horses. It would only be a couple of hours till they were set to leave, and Arthur knew that if anyone would make sure everything was set it would be Merlin. With one last glance over his shoulder, Arthur Pendragon went into the stables, thoughts of his manservant still flying through his mind.

It was the only thing he could think of. Merlin in all his clumsiness; Merlin getting pelted by rotten fruit; Merlin doing his chores while he watched him with eager eyes… Lord, if Merlin knew just how long he would sit there and stare from the shadows, watching him with a faint smile on his lips, Arthur was sure the boy would quit his position instantly. Although…that would make his thoughts slightly less damning in his mind. Merlin was his servant, and he was a prince. There should be none of the thoughts that he was having floating around his brain each and every night.

Not to mention his secret wish that some day the servant would just trip close enough to him that Arthur could catch him. That way for once he could save Merlin, even if it was only saving him from possibly falling flat on his face.

There was a faint smile on his lips as his fingers combed out his prized mare's mane, an action Arthur knew the mare loved immensely. It would be a long ride for her and the horse they were letting Merlin use, another young one, strong and fast stallion with a chestnut coat. The two were good strong horses, would serve them both well, but still they were animals and the ride would be hard. When it came to his beautiful brown mare with a mane like onyx, Arthur made sure she was given the best care she could get (even if sometimes that meant Merlin, but Athena, his horse, always appeared to like the servant).

A soft cough and Arthur turned around to see Merlin there, hands gripping the strap of the bag he normally wore over his shoulder. "Sire, you should go to bed, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow Arthur."

For a split second, Arthur considered the vague idea of grabbing Merlin, shoving him up against the wall and finally kissing the man he had been wanting to almost since they day they had met, but the prince came back to reality when he felt Merlin's hand on his shoulder. He simply nodded, gave his servant a pat on the shoulder and went to head up to his chambers.

The room was already set for him, and he had to assume that Merlin at some point had snuck away to prepare his bed and clean the room. The boy truly was amazing… There was a smile on his lips as he climbed into bed, pulling the covers over him. The following day was going to be an interesting one.

It was early, the grass still damp with dew as the pair left the castle walls behind, Arthur on his mare Athena, Merlin on Amadeus; a dark brown almost black stallion, their gear secured to the saddles of their steeds. Arthur had one hand on the reigns, the other resting on his sword.

He was on edge, how could he not be? It was one of the first times that he had been allowed out of the castle and into the woods without an armed guard following him, and he had been sure that that morning his father would have changed his mind and sent someone to follow them. It was something that Arthur was sure would have happened, but it hadn't; Uther Pendragon was actually letting him go without a guard. If anyone had told Arthur that his father would be willing to do that, he wouldn't have believed them.

His eyes were on the sky a frown on his lips. It was gray, looked like at any second the sky would open up and send barrels of precious rain down on top of them. For a moment he wanted to voice his worry about the rain to Merlin, but his pride and thrill that they were finally off on their own with permission from the king wouldn't allow him to do what was probably the smarter idea. So he kept riding, looking for a good place to make camp, set up for the night, they could always hunt tomorrow, but more importantly they'd have shelter from the rain.

It was just as he was turning to his companion that a clap of thunder rang out through the forest. The horses pawed at the ground nervously and Arthur made sure to grab the reigns with both hands, looking to see Merlin petting Amadeus's neck softly looking to him. "We need to get to shelter," Merlin called out to him over another clap of thunder and a flash of lightening.

Arthur nodded in agreement, motioning for Merlin to follow as he squeezed the sides of his horse, getting her going back at a trot. "Can you think of anywhere?" he asked as Merlin rode up beside him.

"No sire…but perhaps by the cliffs there will be someplace. At least an overhang we could get out of the rain from…" They fell into a silence as they made their way down the familiar paths towards the cliffs.

The rain started to pound on the ground, making the ground slick and muddy for the horses as they trotted through the heavy rain. Arthur was soaked, cold and shivering beneath his wet clothes, when finally through the sheets of rain he spotted it, an opening in the cliffs. "Merlin!" he shouted to his servant leading his horse over to the cave and inside, Merlin close behind him.

The cave they had found themselves in was fairly large, big enough for both horses to get away from the rain and stay dry. The ground was covered with branches and other small twigs, just enough for them to be able to make a fire to dry their things, which was what Arthur spotted Merlin trying to do, while he himself was attempting to dry off the horses.

Athena was still pawing at the ground nervously, Amadeus standing by her side pressed close, and Arthur figured there was no way that he would be able to get the two of them apart. They were both cold and trying to get warm in the way they knew best, to stay close.

A soft sound of a fire crackling caught Arthur's attention as he pulled the saddles and packs from the horses, and he glanced over his shoulder watching Merlin through the corner of his eye. The dark haired male was kneeling by a small fire, poking at it with a stick, trying to get it larger, warmer. With a soft sigh Arthur moved beside him unpacking their spare clothes to lay beside the fire, hopefully to allow the clothes to dry. "How are you feeling Arthur?"

The prince glanced over at Merlin, seeing the slightest hint of concern in his eyes, and Arthur simply shrugged his shoulders. "Just cold…and wet…" Some trip this was turning out to be. "And you?" No answer came from Merlin and Arthur glanced over at his companion, watched him shiver. "Merlin…" he said softly and moved closer to him, putting his arm around him, holding him close. "We'll be warmer this way…"

Despite the fact that it was purely to try and help him get warm, his heart was still pounding with having the object of his heart's desire so close to him. "Thanks Arthur," Merlin whispered, thankful for the warmth from his friend.

Would love to know what you think!

"You're welcome," he said softly his eyes staring out the mouth of the cave and into the storm. It didn't look like it was going to let up any time soon. They were trapped there…for how long, there was no way to be sure.