Title: A Walk to Remember
Author: BlueSpottedDog
Summary: Since when has so much hung in the balance of one walk?
Spoilers: Merlin Season 1
Disclaimer: BBC owns Merlin. I wish I could have Colin and Bradley as toys though :)

Ok so people, this is my first Merlin fic, so please be nice. It was meant to be a one-shot, but it can be chaptered if you want.

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The Walk

Merlin yawned as he woke up at 8am that morning. He was unaware of the figure hovering in his doorway. It wasn't until he was about to get dressed that he saw him. 'Arthur! What…are you doing here?' Arthur stepped into Merlin's room and closed the door. 'You and me are going to have breakfast in my quarters this morning.' Merlin looked at Arthur uncertainly. 'We are?' Arthur nodded. 'Yes, so hurry up and get ready and meet me in my quarters in ten minutes.' Merlin stared after Arthur as he walked out. He was having breakfast with Arthur? Was he still dreaming?

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'Ah Merlin! Took your time!' Merlin looked at the food on the table and couldn't believe his eyes. There was every type of food he could ever want sitting right there in front of him. Arthur watched Merlin and smiled. He knew the food would convince him to stay. 'Are you going to sit Merlin, or just gawk at the food all day?' Merlin looked up at Arthur and then at the seats. There was one next to Arthur and one opposite him. Merlin opted for the opposite one.

Arthur shook his head. He motioned to the seat next to him. 'Here Merlin. Come sit here next to me.' Now Merlin was confused. Arthur hated people sitting next to him and he also hated company while he ate. He shrugged and sat next to Arthur. As Merlin sat down, his leg brushed against Arthur's and a sharp intake of breath was taken by Arthur. Merlin looked at Arthur strangely. 'It's a little cold…I was just trying to stay warm…'

Merlin shrugged and began to pile food on his plate. Arthur reached out to grab some bacon and his hand brushed against Merlin's. Merlin didn't take any notice but Arthur was almost hyperventilating.

The reason he had asked Merlin to dine with him was because he was going to tell him they were going for a walk. A walk, in which Arthur would finally reveal his true feelings to Merlin. Of course, if it went badly and Merlin did not return the feelings, Arthur could always laugh it off as a joke. He hoped.

'Say Merlin, what are you doing today?' Merlin turned to Arthur, his mouth full. He swallowed before replying. 'What I usually do. Chores and stuff. Helping you, cleaning your stuff, doing your chores. Yeah, the usual.' Arthur grinned. 'Well today you're coming on a walk with me! I've cleared it with Gaius and everything!' Merlin was even more confused now. 'A walk?'

'Yes Merlin. You know, two feet, moving along the ground, moving you forward. Walking. With me.' Merlin shook his head. 'I'm your servant Arthur.' Arthur shook his head in return. 'No, you're my friend.' 'Since when?' Arthur was shocked. He thought that Merlin thought that they were always friends. 'Since we met Merlin. You're my servant and my friend. You should be grateful. I don't have many friends.'

Merlin sighed. 'Fine. I'll go walking with you. Are we walking to anywhere in particular?' Arthur shook his head. 'Nope, just around.' Merlin nodded and looked at his plate of food. 'You know what; I'm not really that hungry now.' Arthur looked at Merlin incredulously. He was not hungry anymore? This was not the Merlin he knew. Merlin got up to leave, but Arthur grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. 'What is it Merlin. You can tell me.'

No, he couldn't. Merlin could not tell the Prince that he was in love with him. That was just asking for trouble. 'I just feel a little sick.' Yep, sick all right. So sick that looking at the Prince staring at him strangely, made the sickness worse.

'Are you going to eat that?' Arthur finally asked after he turned away. Merlin shook his head and pushed his plate away. 'I-I have to go!' Merlin quickly got up, bumping into Arthur on the way and rushed out the room.

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'Merlin…are you coming for on the walk or not?' Merlin looked up at Arthur in his doorway. 'It's just going to be you and me?' Arthur nodded, clearly annoyed that Merlin managed to forget that. 'Oh…well I just…you know, still feel a little sick.' Merlin! What the hell are you doing? This is your dream! Alone in a forest with Arthur! God, don't be such an idiot!

Arthur looked crushed when he heard Merlin's words. He hadn't been expecting that. Everything except this he had expected. 'Actually…' Arthur's face light up but he quickly turned away so Merlin would not see. 'I think I might be alright to come. But you know, we have to be careful.' Arthur looked up at Merlin and smiled. 'Careful it is!'

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Merlin looked around at all the tall trees in the forest. It looked like they were in the middle of nowhere instead of about twenty miles from the castle. He barely registered that Arthur was there with him. He felt like he was all on his own. Which was strange, because Arthur was never quiet.

Merlin turned to look at him. He was looking at Merlin with a strange look on his face. Could it be…love? Merlin couldn't tell. But all he noticed was the fact that he and Arthur were now standing in the middle of a forest and they were staring straight into each other's eyes.

Merlin suddenly felt the urge to move closer, but he couldn't do it. What if Arthur went all homophobic on him? He would lose all chance of ever having him. Arthur was thinking the same thing. He could not risk losing Merlin. He had almost lost him a couple of weeks before, to Nimueh of all people. He never wanted to feel that way again.

Merlin was the first to react. It took a lot of power for him to do what he did, but he knew it was for the best. Arthur looked like he was almost crying. Merlin's hand was resting on Arthur's chest. Arthur immediately reacted and pulled away. He couldn't help it.

Afterwards though, he wished he hadn't. The look on Merlin's face was of pure sadness. 'Merlin I…' Merlin shook his head. 'Don't. I get it. You don't…look just forget it.' Merlin started walking deeper into the forest and Arthur quickly followed him.

By the time he caught up to Merlin, they were beside a lake. Merlin sat down on one of the rocks and Arthur quickly joined him. 'Merlin…' Merlin shook his head again. 'Seriously…don't.' Arthur put his hand on Merlin's arm. 'Merlin…I…' Merlin turned to Arthur. 'What? Seriously, it better be worth it, or I'm going home.'

Arthur paused, choosing his words wisely. 'I was scared Merlin. You startled me. I hadn't expected…' Merlin was now facing Arthur, less than an arm's width away. 'Expected what? Me to be gay? I mean…you're homophobic after all! Remember when you found out about Lancelot? You know, when he kissed that other knight. You blew up at him. I thought you were going to kill him!'

Arthur didn't know how to explain that. He had been homophobic. That was until he fell for Merlin. He couldn't explain himself. Words could not fix this. Instead, Arthur reached out and grabbed Merlin's hand. Merlin's eyes widened but then he looked accusingly at Arthur. 'Don't play on my insecurities!'

Arthur shook his head. 'Merlin…I…' Merlin rolled his eyes. 'Here we go again. Arthur has something to say, which obviously isn't important because he can't-' 'Love you.' 'say…wait what?' Arthur removed his hand from Merlin's arm and stroked his face. 'I love you Merlin. I have for about three months. And I can't hide it anymore…'

Merlin couldn't breathe. His dream had finally come true. But he couldn't speak. 'Merlin…say something…anything…please!' Merlin still couldn't speak, or breathe. He relayed over everything that had happened since he had met Arthur. All those looks and the excuses to touch him. It all made sense.

Arthur now felt like an idiot. Merlin hadn't said anything. 'Arthur…' Arthur didn't like the tone of Merlin's voice. It sounded like he was holding back tears. Suddenly Merlin's lips were on Arthur's. Tears from Merlin were now dripping down Arthur's face, but that was the last thing on his mind. All he could think about was that he was kissing Merlin. You did it Arthur! Your plan worked!

Merlin's mind had drifted back to memories of the day that he got back from the Isle of the Blessed. Arthur was sitting on his bed, in tears. Gwen had told him that Merlin had gone. He had been gone for about four hours and Arthur thought he had lost him forever. When he had hugged Merlin, he had realised that he had to tell Merlin before he had lost him. He would have told him that day, but Gaius had walked in then and Merlin jumped away.

Arthur pulled away from Merlin. He sensed his mind was elsewhere. 'What are you thinking about?' He asked, resting his hand on Merlin's leg. 'I was thinking about the day I almost died. The day…I was going to tell you everything that day Arthur. Before I left. But I couldn't do it. So I left and realised I could have lost you forever. But when I came back, you were on my bed, crying. You pulled me into a hug and I knew I could never do that again without you knowing.'

Arthur laughed. 'What?' 'I was thinking the same thing. I was going to tell you all of this that day too. While we hugged. But Gaius came…and you pulled away. After that, I knew I had to tell you before I lost you.' Merlin laughed too. 'Let's go back. Gaius will want to know everything.' 'Gaius?'

Merlin nodded. 'That day, he asked me if I liked you. He could tell, so I ended up telling him. He probably didn't care about me going today because I was with you and I would've been quite pissed if he told me I couldn't go.' Arthur shook his head and stood up. 'Secrets were never your specialty Merlin!' He outstretched his hand and Merlin took it.

'There is so much we need to talk about…' Arthur nodded. 'Correct Merlin! But we have a long walk back. So do you want to go first?' Merlin smiled and nodded and squeezed Arthur's hand. 'So, how are you going to tell your father?' Arthur stopped. 'Oh crap!' Merlin squeezed Arthur's hand again. 'Or we could just not tell him!' Arthur grinned. 'I like the way you think!'

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So what did you think? Want another chapter? If so, please review and tell me that it didn't suck! (Unless it did, then tell me that too please!)