Hello, Merlin fans!

This is my first fan fiction written in English, which is not my mother language. Therefore, this story is written in a simple way, I was quite limited with my knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Just to be honest.

Special thanks to TheSilverSleeper for beta read, all the advice and for the fist review.

And thanks to my sister for checking the first chapter. I know you liked it! :-)

Chapter 1: Another Beautiful Day

Merlin hated hunting trips with all his heart. It was barbaric, and he didn't like being so hopeless. He was forced to be an enemy to all those wild animals while his heart was telling him to protect them. He never regretted being a serving boy to Arthur, but in cases like this, he just wished he could somehow influence Arthur's stubborn decisions.

It was early morning, and the woods were still quite dark. Despite the fact that it was summer, the air was cold, and there was a mist all around. Everything looked so unfriendly, like the woods were trying to force them to leave. Merlin was tired. He spent the whole previous day polishing armours and cleaning the stables and slept badly in the night. His neck hurt and he could never imagine anything more uncomfortable than a horse seat.

"Never fresh enough, right, Merlin?" Arthur said when he heard his servant's long yawn.

Merlin just shook his head. He was tired and bored and wanted nothing but this trip to be over. He was looking forward to a breakfast with Gaius. Yeah, a sweet, tasty breakfast.

"Why haven't you caught anything yet?" asked Merlin with another yawn.

"Because, Merlin," Arthur stopped his horse, "you have to be patient while hunting. You have to create a plan. A strategy. It's nothing a servant could fully understand," he added.

"I think your strategy is failing right now," Merlin noted. There was a rabbit a few steps ahead of them, but the moment Arthur turned his head, the rabbit started running away.

"Shut up, Merlin!" shouted Arthur. With one quick movement he prepared his crossbow and targeted the poor animal. He breathed deeply to focus and without hesitation fired. A smile on his face signalled to Merlin that he hadn't missed. Arthur nodded in satisfaction and put the crossbow down.

"See? Nice shot."

"That was quick. Can we go home now?" Merlin asked, hoping his journey was over.

"What? Of course not, Merlin. What do you think?" Arthur answered angrily. "That was nothing. I can't go back just with one small rabbit. I'm the king of Camelot. And don't just sit there like that. Bring it to me."

Merlin exhaled heavily with disappointment. He got down off the horse and immediately regretted it. His body was stiff and all his muscles responded painfully to the quick movement. He stretched himself a bit and went to the place he expected the animal to lay. He searched the area but found nothing, even not a blood trail.

"Are you really such a useless servant Merlin? One day you'll be running through this forest trying to find your brain!"

"Maybe it run away," Merlin defended himself.

"What do you mean by 'run away?'"

"Nothing. Just run away, you know, like fast walking," Merlin explained.

"Very funny, Merlin. An animal cannot run away with an arrow sticking out of its body. I shot it, and we both saw it. It must be somewhere. Look properly."

"I can't see anything. Just some trees and leaves on the ground. No rabbits," Merlin said, giving his final verdict.

"Let me see," Arthur got down his horse and came to Merlin. He looked widely over the place, trying to find any trace left by the wounded animal. He took his sword to search through the piles of leafs but after a few moments he had to admit the rabbit was gone.

"That's weird," he whispered to himself.

"Now you believe me?" Merlin asked.

"I didn't say anything like that. There's no reason to be so pleased, Merlin," Arthur responded, noticing smile in Merlin's face. "We'll catch another one and then we can return to Camelot."

"Of course, sire," said Merlin with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"You don't have to be rude. Don't say you don't like a juicy roasted rabbit meat."

"You guessed that, but why should we slouch around the woods while you have the whole army of hunters and servants to fetch whatever your royal appetite wishes," Merlin reacted.

"It's not about that, Merlin."

"Isn't it?"

"Well, not entirely. The main reason we're here is to enjoy some time in the woods. To experience something. For example catching a damn rabbit. You see? It's an adventure!"

Arthur looked at his servant who just stared with misapprehension and yawned again.

"Ahhh, Merlin. Why do I even care to explain? It's how the nobles have fun. You are too..."

"Too what?"

Arthur took a moment. "I don't know. Can't find the right word. Never mind."

Ordinary? Poor? Sensitive? Merlin was glad Arthur didn't say the word. It meant that he still cared about his serving boy as he didn't want to offend him. Suddenly Merlin felt great. The sun was rising and he could see glimpses of its shine through the crowns of the trees. The earth was waking up for another beautiful day.

...

They were riding through the woods for almost two hours now and Merlin's stomach was making strange noises. He was definitely hungry. Arthur was riding a few steps in front of him and looked like he was in deep thoughts. Merlin didn't want to interrupt him with questions so he decided to lessen his huger with water he was carrying in his flask. He let one little gulp slide in his throat and found it surprisingly refreshing.

"Can we have a break?" he asked Arthur. No matter how hungry he was, there was nothing he wished more than to dismount his seat and rest on the ground. Well, if he would be able to walk after such a long time spent in his incredibly uncomfortable, stone-hard horse seat, he thought.

"No, Merlin. We're too close to the Valley of the Fallen Kings. It's not safe to get down the horses now," Arthur explained.

"Can I have a question?" Merlin asked carefully a few minutes later. Arthur didn't seem to notice that Merlin made any sound, so the young boy spoke on:

"Why do we always end up in the Valley of the Fallen Kings? I mean we both know it is a dangerous place and yet, wherever we go and whatever we seek, we always find ourselves in this forbidden place. It's like a curse."

"Hmm?" Arthur didn't look like he was actually impressed by Merlin's thoughts but after a short moment of silence he declared: "I guess there is something in human nature which makes us make unreasonable decisions. The reason tells us to avoid this place but deep inside, there is something stronger. Places like this are - let's say - attractive. Not cursed or forbidden. Not at all." Arthur suddenly stopped the horse and raised his hand to make Merlin the same. He slowly turned around and looked wide-eyed on his servant. "Shh."

"What?" Merlin didn't understand.

Arthur led his horse to his servant and whispered: "I think someone's watching us."

Merlin searched around but didn't see anything. The woods were quiet and nothing suggested a presence of anybody else. There was a noise in the scrub somewhere behind them but it appeared to be a harmless bird. The wind was playing with the leaves in the treetops, and somewhere not far from them must have been a spring since Merlin heard a sound of gurgling water. He thought about using magic but then he realised what Arthur ment.

"You're kidding."

Arthur nodded with a gleeful smile. "Yes Merlin, again. Don't be scared, we're heading back."

Merlin didn't understand Arthur's quick decision. "Why?"

"It's late and it's Tuesday. That means I have a council today, which brings me to the fact that you should have reminded me," Arthur explained and pointed his finger Merlin's way. "Besides I really do worry about your belly. The noises you make sound like the screams of wilddeoren."

"But you still don't have your rabbit," Merlin argued.

Arthur looked at his servant with a stone face. "I beg your pardon, Merlin. I thought you'd be glad. You are the one who complained ever since we left the castle."

"And you said it's a shame to return to Camelot with one single rabbit. Now you claim that with no catch it will be less humiliating? It just doesn't make any sense."

"Thinking is not your job, Merlin. I make decisions, you listen. Do you understand?" Arthur said strictly.

"Yes, si-

Merlin suddenly felt a presence of some kind of magic. A Druid? No, it was a different feeling, very distinctive and not pleasant at all. He shook his head to clear his mind and looked around.

"Merlin, what is it?" Arthur asked and looked at his friend with concern.

"Nothing," Merlin forced himself to smile. He didn't understand what happened but he couldn't share his strange feeling with Arthur. He'll tell Gaius later. "I'm really hungry," he said as an explanation.

"You are such a girl Merlin!" Arthur sighed. "Let's go home."

The moment Arthur finished his sentence, Merlin felt another burst of magic, much stronger this time. He turned behind and saw a man resting on a tree brunch with a long bow pointed at the king. Arthur couldn't see the attacker because he was behind him. Merlin didn't hesitate and whispered 'Ic þé wiþdrífe', but to his horror nothing happened. Feeling the raising panic inside, Merlin screamed: "Arthur!"

With that word he quickly jumped off his seat over Arthur, who was sitting on a horse just next to him. The world spun around, and they both hit the ground hard. There was one painful scream and then silence. A second later Merlin finally realised who made the scream which was still echoing through the forest.

It was Arthur.

To be continued...