Summary: "What's wrong Mer?" Merlin thought about shaking his head and telling Arthur he was fine, but it wouldn't do him any good, the prat wouldn't believe him anyway. "You love me right?"

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin!

The runaway prince

Chapter 1

It was the dead of night a slender boy, no older than 19, swung himself onto his horse and rod quickly out of the kingdom. He waited until the sun rose to get off his horse and send it back. In the forest he shed himself of his clothes and took out the clothes he kept in his backpack. Putting these on he continued on foot towards the mighty kingdom of Camelot.

…

As the sun rose over the beautiful kingdom a scream could be heard throughout all of the castle and even the lower town. The queen sat on her son's, the young prince's bed, and wept. For her son had left the night before. The door to the room banged open and the king entered. He looked upon his wife with regret and took the letter clutched in her hand from her as she continued to weep paying not regards to her husband.

Dear mother and father,

I know that I leave you suddenly and with bad memories in mind. But even if you, father, are the reason for my leaving the kingdom I want you to know that I still care deeply for both you and mother. I am merely unable to comply with the task you have set for me. I have left for another kingdom to find happiness there. Look out for mother for me and once you have changed your mind about the marriage you have set for me you may come find me and I will consider coming back. Until than know that I will love you both deeply and forever.

Love,

Your son

The king put the letter down on his son's bedside cabinet and sat down beside his wife. She finally turned her attentions to her husband and looked deeply into his eyes before laying her head on his shoulder and beginning to cry anew.

"What have we done? We have driven away our only son." "No my love, I have driven away our son and I will get him back. Let this marriage be damned." The Queen looked up from her husband's shoulder and leaned in kissing him softly on the cheek. "We don't know where he went." She reasoned.

"No matter," he answered strongly, "I will converse with all the neighboring kings and asked them if any new knights entered their kingdom matching our son's description and once someone replies positively I will ride out and bring him back."

The Queen looked up sharply and send her husband a glare that could have any king on his knees in fear. "My dear husband if you so much as consider going anywhere without me you will find yourself missing a few important parts of you anatomy." The king chuckled throatily and nodded at his wife. "As you wish my love."

…

On foot it took the prince two more days to reach Camelot. He knew he was still very close to his parents and the kingdom he was leaving behind, but he wanted his father to find him easily once the changed his mind. And he would there was no doubt about it. The king may be pigheaded, but he still cared deeply for his son and the prince knew that.

…

One year later

"We still have not found him. What will we do?" The Queen's eyes were filled with tears she would not allow to let fall as her husband looked out the window on the marketplace below. The king was about to enter when a messenger loudly entered the throne room. "My lord, word from the King of Camelot. A knight was seen entering his court a few days ago matching the description of the prince."

The Queen jumped up from her place on her throne and ran over to the man. "You will be rewarded greatly for delivering this message so quickly." Without further notice of the messenger she and the king left the throne room walking swiftly towards the stables. "Ready our horses!" The king yelled at one of the menservants walking around the stables and the young man complied quickly and without question.

"We have finally found him." The queen said in a low voice. "Let us hope so my love. Let us hope so." As soon as the horses were ready the king and queen left for Camelot with their kingdom in the hands of the king's father(1). After a year of searching for their son they had never given up, yet the king was very cautious with every new reply they got. Since not all positive replies had turned out to be the missing, or rather runaway, prince.

…

"Merlin where is my good jacket?" Arthur turned around and saw his manservant looking out the window sadly. He walked up quietly to him and leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Lock the door for me will you." Merlin's eyes flashed gold briefly and Arthur heard the lock of the door slip into place. The prince's arms wrapped around Merlin's waist and he pulled him into a warm yet firm embrace.

"What's wrong Mer?" Merlin thought about shaking his head and telling Arthur he was fine, but it wouldn't do him any good, the prat wouldn't believe him anyway. "You love me right?" Arthur was surprised at the question. He thought Merlin knew that he was his everything. "Merlin I love you more than anything. I thought you knew that." Merlin shook his head. "I do know that, but would you love me if..." "If what Merlin... wha-" "I've lied to you Arthur."

"We talked about this when you told me about your magic. Yes I was mad and hurt, but I forgave you for lying and-" "No that's not what I mean." Arthur took a deep breath. Merlin had apparently lied about something else. The magic was hard enough to digest, but Arthur had been glad that Merlin had told him about it after he had fallen in love with him. Only god knows what Arthur would have done if Merlin had told him before that.

The king was after all not too fond of magic after his mother had fallen ill when Arthur was born. She had survived, thank god, but Uther still held prejudice against magic users. Much to the queen's dislike. Before Arthur could ask Merlin what it was he had lied about a loud knock sounded on the door.

"Yes, what is it?" Arthur said loudly. "The king wishes to see you in the throne room my lord." Arthur sighed. Without even knowing, his father had the worst timing Arthur had ever had the misfortune to endure. "I will be right there." Turning his attentions back to Merlin Arthur kissed the side of his face. "I love you no matter what. Now come on. Accompany me to the throne room my love."

Merlin turned around and smiled softly at Arthur. He loved it when the prince acted like Merlin was a princess worthy for such wooing, not that he would ever admit to that. Arthur would never stop laughing if he did. With a whispered word the door unlocked and Arthur and Merlin left for the throne room.

…

The king and queen entered the throne room and bowed deeply. "Uther it has been too long, Igraine." the king nodded respectively. "Yes Balinor it has been too long indeed. Hunith my dear how good to see you again." Uther stepped down from his throne and kissed queen Hunith's hand while queen Igraine went to greet king Balinor. "I'm so very sorry for you. I hope the knight truly is your son." The queen said. "We hope so as well Igraine." Hunith smiled at her old friend before embracing her.

The doors opened and Arthur stepped through with Merlin and the knight. As the two kings and queens turned around a gasp could be heard coming from Merlin. Arthur stopped and looked at Merlin with a worried expression before he was shoved away roughly by Hunith. She grabbed Merlin and hugged him tightly. King Balinor soon joined his wife and embraced them both.

Merlin wriggled his way out of his parents' embrace and stepped back. Hunith and Balinor looked at their son with such joy they had finally found him. "Arthur what is going on?" Merlin looked from his parents to Uther and then to Arthur. Arthur looked... well he looked confused for one and hurt. That look of hurt on Arthur's face nearly did Merlin in.

"Uther what is this! Why is my son wearing the clothes of a servant?" Balinor's voice ran through the throne room like thunder on a stormy night. Merlin could see the tension in his father's back as is mother fussed over him. Arthur just looked hurt and angry now. Merlin he... he was a prince. "When?" At first Arthur's voice was but a whisper, yet Merlin heard him perfectly. "When Merlin? When were you going to tell me?"

Everyone was now looking either at Merlin or Arthur. 'How had everything spun out of control like this?' Merlin thought. "Merlin I asked-" "Never! I never would have bloody told you." Merlin was yelling and his mother looked appalled at his language. Turning to his parents Merlin spoke. "What are you even doing here? What a year with out a son was finally enough for you father? A year without me finally opened your eyes to the fact that I won't ever marry Miranda. Well too little too late."

Tears were running down Merlin's face as he looked at his parents. Without looking back Merlin turned around and ran from the throne room while his parents were left looking sadly after him. Arthur turned to Merlin's parents and he felt so angry. "A year? No wonder he was so mad." Arthur sneered at them. He may be angry, but he still loved Merlin and would punish anyone who hurt him.

Balinor turned his head to Arthur and growled in anger. "We have been looking for him all this time, but apparently my son is better at hiding than he thought." Arthur looked down in shame. He apologized quietly before looking back up. "Come with me. I know where he goes when he's upset."

Arthur walked out of the throne room with his and Merlin's parents in tow. They walked half way through the castle before they reached Arthur's old chambers, where he used to live when he was younger. Arthur pushed the door open and saw Merlin sitting at one of the windows his shoulders slumped. Before he could say anything Merlin was already speaking and making Arthur regret having brought their parents with him.

"I'm sorry love, I now I shouldn't have lied to you, but I just wanted to leave my past life where it was. In the past." Merlin spoke without turning to look at Arthur. He couldn't handle the blond's hurt and anger right now. "Love?" Merlin froze. That was not Arthur's voice. Uther was shocked to the bone. His son was... sleeping with his manservant, who apparently wasn't a servant at all but a prince, and he was in love with him?! Merlin turned around slowly and saw Arthur standing in the door with his parents and his own.

"Shit."

…

(1) I know that people didn't get all that old during that time, but yes Balinor's father is still alive in my fic.

A/N: Hope you liked the first chapter... there is just one more following this one and I'll try to upload it tomorrow...