Feet stepped lightly on the ground as Merlin steadied his bow. He had his sights on a deer. One that would feed him and his mother in the coming winter. Not resorting to magic, he was using his own wits. The hunt was keeping him preoccupied. His heart hurt. Arthur had cast him out of Camelot after finding out about his magic. Instead of understanding, he exiled him. Trying his best to rid himself of the feelings he had for the king, he tried to focus. His face danced in his mind. Seeing how Gaius reacted was enough to kill him instead. When he was told to leave, he begged Pendragon for - forgiveness. Finally, he told him how he felt. “I love you more than life itself, Arthur. Cast me out and you might as well kill me.” It took the guards to drag him out of his sight, sobbing heavily. 

He thought he ran all the way home, with tears running down his face. Choked up, when he saw his mother come out of their home, he dropped to his knees, weeping more. Now, almost a week later, he was just starting to get back into the rhythm of things. Having no clue what was happening in Camelot, he was forced to move on with a heavy heart. At first, he thought he would die with a broken heart. In his room, he curled up for days until his mother told him to go find dinner. Seeing the doe come in his line of sight, he let go of the arrow. The deer flopped to the ground with it so did his heart. 

@excaliborn​ sent a sealed parchment: we had one thing going on, i swear that it was something

Her heart was so torn. Was it wrong to love two people? She knew Merlin loved Arthur, but he loved her, too. As did she with both men. Will they be okay if they don’t let their feelings disappear? She was taught her whole life. Marry one person. Be content with one. She loved both. Struggling, she gazed over to the king and put a gentle hand on his cheek. “I think we have more than one thing going on.” Amnell told him softly. Conflict and love emitting out from her eyes towards him, she sighed. “Is it wrong for my heart to belong to you and Merlin? I know you both have something together, too.”

Arthur was promised to Princess Elena. It couldn't be worse timing since Merlin and the prince just started their relationship. Of course, Pendragon swore to him nothing would come in between them. So they carried on like usual. Or they hoped. Not until one fateful night, Nualllain went to his chambers and the two finally laid with one another. Falling asleep, the blonde had passed out on top of him and the warlock just allowed it. Pounding on the door woke him in the early morning and the king barging into the room with a gasp. Looking up wearily, the king screamed for the guards.

In the carriage with his father, he crossed his arms. The twenty-year-old was being very stubborn. He hated this whole thing. Merlin had heard things about the crowned prince of Camelot. Spoiled, a complete and utter prat... dollaphead. In a few days' time, they would be wed and the first marriage of their kind in the five kingdoms. Overall, it was a unique approach at peace even if there would be no heirs produced, but the princess Morgana would be the one to carry on the line instead. His father had been supportive over his standings over the years but urged him to go through with this for the sake of their people. This is not my idea of fun. 

Huffing to himself, the carriage pulled into the courtyard and the door was opened for the royals. His mother was silent. She had protested the idea for the sake of her son. Climbing out, his cloak followed. He was wearing the traditional dark blue and red with a purple tunic. Chain mail was not his fashion.  Standing near his father as Uther Pendragon greeted their party, his eyes wandered, then stopped on a handsome blonde near the king. His heart raced. Was that him? He was more a looker than he thought originally. Now he was nervous. “This is my son, Merlin.” Bowing his head on cue, he tried to get his thoughts straight. “Your majesty.” 

Arthur Pendragon

"Arthur, are you sure about this?" He knew the prophecy well, and he knew how his father treated him - like a punching bag. Something less than a person. His son, being prince or not, Uther Pendragon was a vile man towards all. Sometimes, his punishments were working alongside of Merlin. Which consisted of cleaning out the stables or doing the laundry in the basement levels. It was stifling hot down there and he feared one day the blonde would pass out. Many servants did, himself included.

To make matters worse, the knights all picked on the poor royal. So when he told him he was going on a quest to search out the sword in the stone, he wasn't too surprised. He had stuck up for him plenty and gotten thrown in the stocks because of it. Nualllain had dubbed himself a sort of protector for the prince.

Still, if he succeeded... it would mean his father would die. Did he really want his blood on his hands? Not that he blamed him. He honestly didn't.

The warlock just focused on what he could do. Teach Arthur how to control his magic. So one day, when it came to it, he could wield it. Merlin didn't think much of teaching him because the blonde immersed himself so much he just soaked up every lesson.

"You know I will come with you. Whatever you decide." He said softly. His eyes lowered, not daring to look on at him quite yet. Maybe it was the fear of him finding out that he had fallen in love with the other. "The horses are ready if you still want to go and try."

@excaliborn sent ❛   and, darling, i will be loving you ‘til we’re 70.   ❜ | modern?

"Arthur?" He thought he was loosing it as he stood on the lake side. Was he hallucinating again? He had a habit of seeing things sometimes. In his old age, Merlin had lost touch a few times. Please don't be a dream. His heart wouldn't be able to take it. Crumbling to his knees, tears streamed on his cheeks. "Please. Don't do this to me. Not again."

@excaliborn : ❝ you’re talking mad shit for a guy within kissing distance. ❞ ⸺ to merlin

🌸  ┊ letter received from @excaliborn         𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙧 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣:  one of us has to make it out of here.

          sweat dripped from her brow, the heat of combat heavy as those who INVADED were well armored and protect. she could feel the walls shaking as stone came tumbling down. the flash of fires breaking loose catching her attention as she motioned for those who could not defend to escape. the attack on the banquet had been SUDDEN, the screams and yelling chilling to the core. and though they were both 𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐓 they were outnumbered and caught off guard.

          still never once did she think of making her own escape, instead grabbing a weapon to join arthur as 𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 went to defend. blood dripped from her own blade after a while, her body shifting towards the WINDOW as she saw that more soldiers were spilling in. she knew the odds were slim if they stayed, her mind racing in thought of the best course of action when arthurs voice had her SPINNING to face him.

        ❝  you cannot honestly think i am going to 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 just to save myself ?  ❞    mulan's voice held a minor offense to her tone, before she motioned towards the SERVANTS stairwell. ❝  if it is the case of one of us making it out off here, it is going to be you. go and i will COVER your escape.  ❞ she would be stubborn about this, for she would not run like a coward and leave him here, but so too did she know that he was the FUTURE of these lands and so it would be wiser to make sure that future was not damped by his 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄.

dramatic & protective RELATIONSHIP PROMPTS